Chapter 3 Urban planning and other issues
Background
3.1
The committee met with officers from the Ministry for the Environment, urban
designers and advisors for the Wellington City Council.
3.2
The committee was briefed on New Zealand’s Urban Design Protocol which
forms part of the Government’s Sustainable Development Programme of Action
(SDPA). The SDPA aims to ‘ensure that [New Zealand’s] towns and cities are
healthy, safe and attractive places where business, social and cultural life
can flourish.’[1]
3.3
While the delegation was in New Zealand, it was also fortunate to
receive an advance copy of the policy and a briefing on the Capital City
Initiative.
3.4
While not directly related to its advisory responsibilities as a
committee, the committee also met with officers of the Department of Labour and
was briefed on the Recognised Seasonal Employer Program.
The Capital City Initiative
3.5
The Capital City Initiative (CCI) was jointly launched by the Prime Minister
of New Zealand and the Mayor of Wellington on 1 September 2009. CCI has three
main aims:
n elevate the status of
the capital city
n attract visitors to
the city centre
n create an
infrastructure forum to tell ‘the stories of New Zealand’s democracy.’[2]
3.6
CCI resulted from the Wellington 2040 project which is aimed at creating
a 30 plan for the central city. At the launch of CCI, the Mayor of Wellington
noted:
A capital city is recognised as the symbolic
showcase of a nation, and an expression of that country's unique character. It
is accepted as the right place in which to experience the heritage, culture and
achievements of a country.[3]
3.7
As part of CCI, the improvement to urban design of various
infrastructure in the vicinity of the Parliament has been planned to coincide
with Wellington’s 150th anniversary in 2015. Projects will include:
n improving areas to
allow increased ‘walkability’
n improving the
streetscape to reflect the importance of buildings
n celebrating key
streets such as Molesworth, Aitken and Whitmore streets
n integration of the
capital centre with the central city.[4]
3.8
Funding for CCI has been jointly provided by the Wellington City Council
and the Government of New Zealand through the Ministry for the Environment.
3.9
As part of the investment for the CCI, the Wellington City Council has
contributed:
n ‘$3.5 million
planting of pohutukawa trees on Taranaki Street to create a processional route
to the National War Memorial (2010)
n $2.1 million revamp
of the Molesworth Street area to make it a more appropriate front door to
Parliament
n $1 million upgrade of
the Whitmore Street area, scheduled for 2016/17.’[5]
3.10
In addition, the Government of New Zealand is contributing to the CCI
by:
n ‘construction of the
new Supreme Court (opened January 2010)
n $43 million
renovation of Government House (2011)
n a major upgrade of
the National Library of New Zealand (2011/12)
n land purchase for a
national memorial park on Buckle Street.’[6]
3.11
Suggested projects designed to tell the stories of New Zealand’s
democracy may include:
n ‘a visitor information
centre in the Capital Centre, including a web portal
n encouraging
government institutions to have a central marketing strategy, including an
open-door policy (where appropriate) to welcome visitors, provide tours and
display artefacts
n walking tours of the
Capital Centre
n better signage to
explain and relate stories about each building or space
n more events to mark
historic occasions
n a new bicultural name
to reposition the Capital City in the minds of all New Zealanders.’[7]
Conclusions
3.12
The committee was interested to learn about the Capital City Initiative
and how urban design and town planning for Wellington would be improved into
the future.
3.13
The committee was particularly interested to discover the similarities
in regard to urban planning proposals for Wellington and those included in the
National Capital Plan. The committee was able to share its experience on the planning
issues relevant to Canberra. In particular, the committee discussed the dual
planning systems in place within the Australian Capital Territory and for the
national capital.
3.14
The committee applauded the effort undertaken in regard to consultation
to arrive at the Capital City Initiative.
Recognised Seasonal Employer Program
3.15
The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Program was introduced in New
Zealand on 1 April 2007. The RSE Program is designed to temporarily employ
overseas workers (seasonal) in the horticulture and viticulture industries to
meet labour shortages which are not able to be filled by the domestic labour
market.[8]
3.16
Under the RSE Program preference is placed on recruitment from Pacific
countries. However, workers may also be recruited from outside of the Pacific
if particular criteria are met, such as a pre-existing relationship between the
employer and another country prior to introduction of the RSE Program.
3.17
New Zealand has established ‘kick start’ relationships for the RSE
Program with 6 Pacific countries: Kiribati, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga,
Tuvalu and Vanuatu.[9]
3.18
There are provisions under the RSE Program which ensure that industry
can benefit and its requirements are met, while also protecting the domestic
labour market.[10]
3.19
Under the RSE Program, potential employers may apply for approval for
recruitment of overseas workers for a period of up to 7 months each year or
season. ‘There is no limit to the number of times that workers can be re-employed
in subsequent years/seasons.’ However, the maximum number of overseas workers
employed under the RSE Program is 8000 per annum.[11]
3.20
The RSE Program requires potential employers to:
n be accredited by the
New Zealand Department of Labour
n ‘take all reasonable
steps to recruit and train New Zealanders for available positions before
seeking to recruit migrant workers’
n pay half of the
return airfare for migrant workers returning to their country of origin on
completion of a contract
n comply with New
Zealand employment law which requires provision of suitable accommodation and
pastoral care for workers
n recruit workers
directly.[12]
3.21
In 2009, approximately 7150 overseas workers were employed through the
RSE Program. Of these workers, 78 percent were from Pacific countries and 22
percent were from Asia.[13]
3.22
Following an evaluation of the first season of the RSE Program, changes
to the Program were made which included:
n allowing recruitment
from outside the Pacific for those employers who have a pre-established
recruitment relationship after April 2007
n aligning wage
deductions with the Wages Protection Act 1983 to ensure deductions meet minimum
legal standards
n reducing compliance
and improving access to the RSE Program for employers
n requiring employers
to arrange health insurance for workers.[14]
3.23
Continuing issues in regard to the RSE Program are:
n responding to the
current economic conditions and domestic labour market mix
n managing worker behaviour
issues
n ‘responding to
unsatisfactory performance by accredited employers’
n review of the
Department of Labour’s role in delivery of the RSE Program during the
maturation phase of the program
n ‘operating
effectively under budget and cost pressure’
n establishing and
maintaining effective industry networks and relationships at the national and
regional levels.[15]
Conclusions
3.24
The committee discussed various issues surrounding implementation and operation
of the RSE Program, including the improvement phase of the program following
its first evaluation.
3.25
The committee was also able to gain an appreciation of how such a
program has the added benefit of strengthening New Zealand’s relationship with
Pacific nation countries and assisting in fulfilling New Zealand’s role in
promoting a regional approach to the Pacific.
Senator Kate
Lundy
Chair and
Delegation Leader
16 June 2010