HEALTH and NATIONAL WELL-BEING.
REDUCING RISK FACTORS.
It is essential that the New Zealand government invest and endorse community-based programmes to increase levels of physical activity for all ages, in order to decrease risk factors for chronic disease and mental illness.
Poor diets and low levels of physical activity in New Zealand account for six of the seven leading risk factors for ill health. The lack of physical exercise, coupled with unbalanced diets, has turned obesity into a serious public health problem.
Obesity is a risk factor for many serious illnesses including heart disease, type-2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and certain types of cancer. Poor nutrition and insufficient exercise are among the leading causes of avoidable death in New Zealand.
Child obesity is of particular concern and young people tend to retain excess weight throughout their adult lives and are more likely to become obese and can account for the overall obesity related illnesses that are estimated to account for as much as 7 percent of total health care costs.
Our Kiwi citizens are eating too much and exercising too little, which explains why more than half of Kiwi adults are overweight or obese, thus some their children follow suit. Another contributing factor is the cyber invasion into family life. More and more of our youth are spending too much time online playing virtual games and the like, and parents need to take a pro-active stance in limiting the time their children spend online.
In order to decrease the prevalence of obesity and associated disorders, educational projects should be implemented that include nutrition theory and practical skills, in order to homogenize education in schools throughout New Zealand. The importance of physical exercise will contribute to living healthier lives and will also encourage families to introduce physical activity into their daily routines.
PRODUCTIVITY IN GROWTH NEEDS TO BE ENCOURAGED
Without rising output per worker, it is very difficult to increase the quantity of goods and services available to each consumer. Besides holding down living standards, a decline in productivity growth makes it difficult politically and psychologically to finance a variety of social programmes which many Kiwi's consider important.
Improvements in health care, education, environmental protection, attempts to reduce poverty and many other such activities generally require higher expenditures and therefore, inevitably leads to higher taxation.
If productivity grows rapidly then the taxaxtion increases are not too painful because there would be enough left over so that workers' take-home pay can still rise. But if productivity growth is slow, any substantial increase in expenditure for social purposes is likely to cut into workers' real incomes. Currently, there is a need for the New Zealand government to bring its spending under control.
New Zealand's current Health System is:
- Falling well behind other developed countries
- Has major staffing problems and too much bureaucratic red tape
- Rapid increases in costs - cost plus system applies
- Limited choices - individuals mainly have to take what is provided
- Worst outcomes for those living in our poorest and substandard areas
- Waste and inefficiency
- Health has become politicized, even when it is not political
- Quality standards and outcomes are often poor - lack of fairness resulting in long waiting lists
- Lack of innovation
- Lack of accountability
- Lack of incentives for consumers to acquire knowledge hence becoming informed
- Producer's income depends less on service to patients than on meeting third party reimbursement requirements
- A Caring not Curing approach - Sometimes one has to be "Cruel to be Kind"
- Extra resources have not been matched by higher productivity
New Zealand requires a common-sense approach with some practical (workable and quality), principles:
- Patient First - Healthcare services that are there when you need them, readily available access to healthcare services
- Quality - Better use of technology that will deliver healthcare services that provide real quality to consumers
- Medical Staff - The role of these much needed professionals, the opportunities open to them should be increased with a Health Authority replacing the Ministry of Health bureaucrats in Wellington
- Open-Market Place - Consumers should have a choice of competing for healthcare products as well as policies in order to select the type of coverage best suited to their individual and family needs
- Competition - Hospitals compete in the business of healthcare delivery by improving quality and lowering real prices
Implementing these principles would involve these:
- Patients have the right to choose how they interact with doctors and hospitals not Government
- Patients have the right to know
- Greater consumer choice
- Recognize that more government and more bureaucrats are not the answer for better healthcare
- The answer firstly lies with the individual taking responsibility for one's own and family's health
- Doctors and nurses also quality managers should replace bureaucrats at the centre of health
- Increased competition in healthcare provision leading to reduced prices and improved quality
- De-politicizing decision-making on the funding of healthcare
- Elimination of non-price rationing of health services leading to the virtual elimination of waiting times for elective treatments
- Security against large and unpredictable health costs
- Innovation with greater flexibility and diversity of services
- Optimal insurance agreements
- Production of relevant information on health services
- Better allocation of resources
In Actions To Promote Physical Activity
Pro-active steps to reverse the decline in physical activity levels needs to be addressed and implemented. The creation of a 'Platform' on diet, physical activity and health can represent a new approach from all sectors to address the problem of rising obesity trends in New Zealand. The 'Platform' needs to engage stakeholders to commit to action, such as the promotion of a healthy lifestyle through education, nutrition and physical activity actions.
The Economic Dimension of Sport
Sport is a dynamic and fast-growing sector with an underestimated macro-economic impact, and can contribute to New Zealand's objectives of growth and job creation. Sport can serve as a tool for local and regional development, urban regeneration (Christchurch suburbs), or rural development. Sport also has synergies with tourism, which will be experienced by our nation come this October, with the Rugby World Cup prevailing upon us and also the FIFA World Cup™ Under 20 tournament to be held in 2015. These two major tournaments are a great vote of confidence given their scale, significance and world-wide interest.
The current upgraded infrastructures (though we are experiencing a set-back with our Christchurch family - Earthquake), we will suffice and with stimulation being propelled there will be an emergence of new partnerships.
A growing part of the economic value of sports is linked to intellectual property rights. These rights relate to Copyright, Commercial Communications, Trademarks and Image and also Media Rights. In an increasingly globalized and dynamic sector, the effective enforcement of intellectual property rights around the world is becomimg an essential part of the health of the sport economy. In order for New Zealand to bid in the first instance for the 'Rights' to host the Rugby World Cup, the government had to "beef up the laws" and in doing so the government introduced via legislation the 'Major Events Management Act, 2007' - That will protect the Rugby Showcase, this piece of legislation also forfeited New Zealanders 'Freedom of Speech'.
So the Rugby World Cup kicks off in 4 months time, and this will be no ordinary game of Rugby. We have to think Sponsors, Suppliers, Licenses, Exclusive Rights - Because there's billions of dollars at stake and New Zealand's reputation is on the line. So to protect everyones interests ( which I scoff at), these laws were introduced.
There are 3 Reasons as described in the MEMA (Major Events Management Act, 2007):
- The first is to maximize the benefit to all New Zealanders ( I do not see how)
- To prevent Unauthorized Commercial Exploitation of the Event (Non-stakeholders and NZ'rs fit in here)
- The third is to ensure the smooth running of the Rugby World Cup
Why do we have this legislation? its because organisations like:
Well they invest very large sums of money, for the ability to be able to associate with the Rugby World Cup tournament. Without this 'Sponsorship' we would not be able to hold major events like this.
MEMA (Major Events Management Act, 2007), works by introducing 'Sweeping Prohibitions' on 5 aspects of 'Event Management' and 'Sponsorship'.
- You cannot advertise in a way that suggests that you have an association with the 'Event'
- You cannot 'Advertise' or 'Trade' in the designated zones
- You cannot use Special Rugby Insignia or words like, Rugby World Cup or RWC
- You cannot re-sell a ticket for more than the original price ( who can afford one anyway)
- You cannot invade the 'Pitch' or Throw Things Onto It
Courtesy of the Wairarapa (NZ) - Martinborough Hotel
So Kiwi's be forewarned, according to the MEMA Act, you cannot for example, advertise your pub if you are a Publican and write on a Chalk Board Outside anything associated or bearing the words:
RWC Drinks Here...You will be prosecuted under the MEMA Act, 2007.
Also if you wanted to offer your house for accommodation on the internet...
You cannot do this: http://www.rugby.world.cup.com/ But the likes of Beer Brewers TUI's who are not sponsors, but advertising on personal clothing is fine as long as it is worn in coordination with others - Bloody Draconian and 'Bad for One's Health' these archaeic rules!
The
RWC Lawyer, Mike Heron says, " the key to remember is that if you are carrying on Your Honest and Commercial Activities prior, and way prior to the 'Event' then it is not going to trouble you".So, strictly speaking cashing in on a game like this is...'BANNED'. Enforcement teams are already fielding Non-Compliance Complaints or Clamping Down on Banned Advertising.
I cannot for the life of me, see how the number one reason of this MEMA Act, 2007...will "Maximise the Benefits for all New Zealanders" load of BULLSHITE!
No doubt some Advertisers and a lot of Brands and New Zealand people will want to respond to what they perceive as a
DAVID & GOLIATH POSITION. I think there will be a lot of Brands here and also New Zealander's who will enjoy playing that Irreverent Role, so we will see a lot of that coming out and tring to 'Push the Boundaries'.
Which is exactly what happened at the 2010, FIFA World Cup™ tournament in...
DUTCH BEER BRAND - BAVARIA and...
NIKE
Publicity Stunts from Dutch Beer Brand...Bavaria and NIKE. They both had No Official Tournment Branding and they had No Direct Association with the Games and yet they were still able to achieve a massive amount of 'Public Awareness'.
To date there has only been one prosecution under the MEMA 2007 Act and that was for selling counterfeit T-Shirts and this 'Heavy-Handed approach could inevitably result in a 'BackLash' and some pretty good 'AirTime' for companies who push the 'Advertising Boundaries'. Who knows what we could expect from the House of...
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LOOK OUT!...... 
and...
Courtesy of HELL'S PIZZA NZ.
But for the most part, I Siena am of the opinion that KIWI's just want to get on and see some...
PLANKING KIWI STYLE AS WELL.
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