2010, a year in review – New Zealand

Its been an big year in the New Zealand media, in April a Roy Morgan poll showed some interesting facts about the way its being consumed. The two biggest stories of the year are the 7.1 magnitude earth quake that hit Canterbury on September 4th, and the mine disaster that claimed the lives of 29 miners in November. Showing how the Internet is changing the way things become news, the big 'viral' story of the year came when a video of then ACT on Campus president Rick Giles pontificating about his disbelief in climate change started the Internet meme “My argument is so powerful its not necessary to talk about it” and thankfully, morning news anchor and professional bigot Paul Henry finally got a long overdue dismissal from his job. Below is a summary of stories from the year, many of them neglected by traditional media outlets.

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Labour

The year began with the announcement of a below inflation minimum wage increase, contributing to the further decline in real wages. Under pressure from Unite union activists the prime minister admitted he couldn't live on the minimum wage. The unemployment rate shrank- though remained above pre-recession levels- and the government introduced a raft of industrial relations reforms that were met with protests from the organised labour movement. There was continued concern over the treatment of migrant workers on the controversial Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, and the Council of Trade Unions spoke of the need for a farm workers union. In October some labour laws got a rewrite to ensure The Hobbit would be filmed in New Zealand after actors threatened a boycott of the project and in November, Unite leader Matt McCarten ran in a by-election on a platform of job creation, an increased minimum wage, and abolishing Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Environment

The government invited disdain from the international environmental movement when it announced a plan to allow mining in national parks. Issues over resource management in Canterbury saw the government take the drastic step of sacking an entire local council and cancelling an election. Prime Minister John Key was greeted by a noisy protest over the issue when he visited Christchurch.

Civil liberties

Significant liquor law reforms were passed and the protests against cannabis prohibition that have become an annual event continued, this year in the wake of police raids against garden supply stores. The controversial search and surveillance bill was passed following a rewrite that retained all but the most draconian provisions, and the “3 strikes” criminal justice law that was the pet-project of now disgraced former ACT MP David Garett was passed despite criticism from legal experts.

Indigenous affairs

If only John Key's bad-taste joke implying that a Maori iwi (tribe) were cannibals was the worst news for New Zealand's indigenous population; this year an Auckland medical school professor described the health of Maori children as an “international scandal”. Maori kids and others from poor families are growing up in third world conditions similar to the worst slums in countries like Chile and India. The UN special rapporteur on indigenous human rights expressed his concern at the high incarceration rate of Maori, who make up only 15% of the general population but 50% of prison inmates.

Social issues

A funding shortfall caused a free youth clinic in Christchurch to close its doors. Tax changes shifted the tax burden further onto those least able to afford it and at the end of the year, the divide between the haves and the have nots was made clear by welfare minister Paula Bennett when she told media of her plans to indulge in opulence over the summer, while reforms have plunged those on welfare further into poverty.

Foreign relations, trade & immigration

The new Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) was opposed by the Creative Freedom Foundation and Oxfam, for changes it would cause to intellectual property and drug patent laws. Australia wanted New Zealand to be part of 'regional processing centre' plan for asylum seekers, a plan slammed as illegal and unethical by the refugee council. The Special Air Service (SAS) was investigated over their handling of prisoners in Afghanistan, and Wikileaks revealed some unknown truths about NZ-USA relations, including the fact that a former immigration boss colluded with the US embassy to advance American interests in New Zealand.