Minister: Harry Duynhoven

Safety, Leadership and Culture to 2020

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:48:28 +1200

Today I would like to touch on a number of issues and challenges facing both your industry and government, particularly focussing on the area of safety.

Although there are always dangers and risks in the use of electrical energy, there is no reason why these cannot be managed effectively to protect those working in the industry.

We all recognise that safe working practices and having a safety culture are critical.

The challenge for the electricity industry is to lead by example when it comes to safety.

Government also has a key role to play in terms of its leadership through the development of legislation and regulations to improve safety outcomes.

Within the Ministry of Economic Development, Energy Safety will continue to work with industry partners to promote energy safety within the gas and electricity industries, while also encouraging industry innovation.

The Department of Labour and the Electrical Workers’ Registration Board also have a role to play in improving safety performance in the electricity supply industry and reducing the number of worker accidents.

Improving safety performance is a partnership, between you, your staff and government.

An area where improvements need to be made is in addressing the accident rates in the electricity supply industry.

As you know, as Associate Minister of Energy, I have responsibility for energy safety.

I share your concerns about the number of accidents that occur in the electricity supply industry involving electrical workers, and more particularly. line workers.

While the overall number of accidents involving these workers has been declining over the last decade, I am concerned about the recent upward trend in fatal accidents.

We all recognise that the working environment for line workers and mechanics involves a high level of risk that is rarely seen in other work places. It is dangerous work.

Few jobs have people working in close proximity to high voltage lines or working at the heights line workers do. This is why we all agree that safety must be paramount.

Although there is a relatively low level of incidents, the consequences of accidents, in terms of death and serious harm, is high.

After a period of no fatal accidents in the early 2000s we have seen seven fatal accidents in the last four years. Let’s not forget the serious injury accidents that have also occurred during this recent period.

The challenge for the electricity supply industry and government is to reverse this trend.

There have been, and continue to be, a range of initiatives to raise overall awareness around safe practice for electrical works. It is clear, however, that more needs to be done.

A number of areas where improvements in safety can be made, have been identified, not only by yourselves, but also by Energy Safety, the Department of Labour and the Electrical Workers Registration Board.

I understand the EEA has identified that supervision is key to behavioural change and that you are working towards running safety workshops to address this issue.

However, while competency training and documentation generally appear to be comprehensive and adequate, the work practices and behaviour of some electrical workers in the workplace can be inadequate.

At times competent and experienced workers are failing to follow safe work practices.

Improved supervision and better safety auditing are required, both by employers, as the service providers, and electricity distributors as the network asset owners.

While having expressed concerns about the accident rates in the electricity supply industry, I do believe the general safety culture is reasonably good. But of course there is always room for improvement.

As leaders you have a responsibility, and a key role to play, in continuing to develop and improve the safety culture within the electricity supply industry. The EEA has identified that improving the safety culture within your industry is critical.

I am pleased the EEA is showing its commitment to improving safety performance in the electricity industry and that you are taking leadership and an innovative approach to dealing with safety issues. I congratulate you on the work you are doing.

You have already produced the draft Guide to Power Systems Earthing Practice, on which I understand you have recently completed consultation. I look forward to this being rolled out to the industry when it is finalised.

You have also developed a health and safety strategy - Electricity Supply Industry Workplace Safety Strategy 2020 - which will be the key focus for this workshop and contribute significantly to the discussions you will be having today.

I welcome this strategy and the initiative you are taking. It outlines your industry’s health and safety vision, aims and aspirations, extending to 2020.

The statement identifies key areas for actions to fulfil these aspirations. I am pleased to see the strategy is a living document that will be regularly reviewed.

It shows the EEA is taking action and is committed to improving safety, and sets out how you are going to achieve this over the next decade.

I am also pleased that you are taking an inclusive approach and welcoming comment or suggestions from industry, regulators and other stakeholders.

Looking to the future, government also has work ahead of it, in terms of developing and implementing the new electricity regulations.

I would like to take a few moments to give you an update on where things are at with the development of these regulations.

As you know last year the Ministry of Economic Development released two discussion papers on the proposed safety regulations for electricity and gas.

EEA has fully engaged in the process of the development of the electricity regulations. You have not only had input into areas that concern you directly, such as the development of the regulations relating to Safety Management Systems (SMS), but you have also provided valuable input into other aspects of the regulations.

I want to thank your industry for your input and the significant contribution you have made to the process so far.

I am pleased to be able to tell you that this week Cabinet approved the policy decisions on the electricity regulations.

The process from now is that drafting instructions will be prepared by the Ministry of Economic Development for the Parliamentary Counsel Office, who will then prepare the draft regulations. The aim is to have an ‘exposure draft’ available for discussion with industry and consumer representatives.

MED plans to consult with industry once the ‘exposure draft’ of the regulations is available, giving you the opportunity to provide further valuable input and comment. This is quite an unusual step at this stage of the process, and does not happen very often in New Zealand.

It is difficult to say how long this process will take. As you can imagine the proposed regulations are technically complex, so it could take some time at the drafting stage, and also this work needs to fit in with other priorities at the Parliamentary Counsel Office.

But, what I can say, is that we are on the home straight. It has been a long process since the development of Energy Safe to where we are now.

Of course, as is the case with all new regulations, there will be an implementation and transition period once they have been made. This will ensure that industry has the time to put things fully in place before the regulations come into effect.

Over the coming months MED will keep you informed on progress.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for your industry’s hard work and dedication when endeavouring to restore electrical supply to many thousands of New Zealanders during the recent stormy weather.

This was a difficult time for all and the situations your staff faced while doing this work was challenging to say the least.

Following an incident to a line mechanic during the storms, it was timely and appropriate that a safety alert was sent out through the EEA to remind companies that safety of persons takes priority over restoration of supply.

I wish you well with your workshop.

Further restrictions on noisy vehicles proposed

beehive.govt.nz — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:17:00 +1200

Additional proposed amendments to the Vehicle Equipment Rule have been released today for public consultation by Harry Duynhoven, Minister for Transport Safety.

The proposed amendments are intended to tighten legislation around noisy vehicles that came into effect in June 2008.

The proposed amendments allow Warrant and Certificate of Fitness vehicle inspectors to send light vehicles (vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes) with modified exhaust systems that emit noise they consider not ‘less than or similar to’ the original exhaust system straight for a metered tail-pipe noise test. Inspectors would not have to give vehicle owners the option of repairing the exhaust first.

If a vehicle’s exhaust is found to be louder than 95 decibels, the owner will have to repair it to meet a lower limit of 90 decibels and undergo a second metered test. Only when it has reached 90 decibels will the exhaust get a ‘certified’ sticker.

The use of externally vented or un-muffled types of ‘blow-off’ valves on turbocharged vehicles is also proposed to be prohibited under the amendments.

Noise requirements for vehicles with non-modified exhausts entering New Zealand will also be updated to reflect the standards applying in their country of origin, or first registration.

“It was always the intention to tighten the Rule so that the number of noisy vehicles on our roads can continue to decrease,” Mr Duynhoven said.

“The Government wants to give car owners the chance to do the right thing and legislation introduced in June 2008 allows people to do that, while still being able to deal with the worst offenders.

“These proposed amendments to the Rule will mean further penalties for vehicle owners with noisy exhausts who continue to fail to comply with the law. When they are caught they will have to meet a stricter noise limit.”

Under the proposed amendments, Police will also have the power to send a vehicle with an overly noisy modified exhaust through the same process.

Changes to the Vehicle Equipment Rule, which came into effect in June, now mean that all vehicles with a modified exhaust system that fail the subjective assessment at Warrant or Certificate of Fitness must either repair the exhaust to reduce noise or pass a metered noise test and comply with the decibel limit.

As well as this, vehicles imported into the country with modified exhausts that fail a subjective noise test are required to be repaired or take a metered test and comply with the 90 decibel limit.

Penalties for operating a vehicle in a noisy manner were also revised and now carry 25 demerit points and a $50 fine.

The draft Rule, accompanying information and an on-line submissions form are available from the New Zealand Transport Agency at: www.nzta.govt.nz/consultation/vehicle-equipment-noise-amendment/, or by calling the NZTA contact centre on 0800 699 000.
Submissions are open until 17 September 2008.
To read the media release and questions and answers about changes to the Vehicle Equipment Rule that came into effect on 1 June 2008, click here: www.beehive.govt.nz/release/noisy+vehicles+under+scrutiny

Automatic identification System (AIS) network launch

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:02:40 +1200

As an island nation, New Zealand has always had a love affair with the sea. Our initial discovery and commerce has been based around ships of various shapes and sizes.

This government has recognised this, recently launching Sea Change, with a boost of 36 million dollars over four years to revitalise and transform coastal shipping. Part of an integrated transport system, coastal shipping will take its rightful place in our 21st century that has imperatives of climate change and sustainability.

Sea transport makes sense as an environmentally friendly, energy efficient and cost-effective alternative for moving freight around the country.

With increased sea traffic comes more potential for hazards and accidents. But safety and security will always be at the heart of any transport strategy. The vision for the 2008 New Zealand Transport Strategy, to be launched tomorrow, is that ‘people and freight in New Zealand have access to an affordable, safe, responsive and sustainable transport system’.

The government has also invested heavily in assets to patrol our waters. These investments include new naval ships, upgrades of the P3 Orion Maritime Patrol aircraft and new police launches.

Although we are a small country, we have a very long coastline. We are surrounded by a vast body of water – and with weather so changeable that it can catch out the most experienced seafarers.

In 2004, I had the pleasure of opening New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre which has made round-the-clock search and rescue coordination a reality. Logically, the centre is co-located at the Maritime Operations Centre. From there, Kordia provides distress and safety radio coverage of the coastline – and the AIS extended network we are celebrating tonight.

Kordia have combined the AIS transponder – and the navigational details it can report – with the functionality of Google earth images. A picture may not actually be worth a thousand words, but it certainly helps in this case. Now we have a web-based, graphic representation with real time data.

Benefits of vessel tracking

Implementing a nationwide AIS network will provide significant benefits in maritime security, navigational safety, search and rescue and environmental protection.

With the AIS network going live at key sites around New Zealand coastal waters, real time monitoring can now take place of any vessel that carries an approved AIS transponder, (Under the IMO Safety of Life at Sea Convention, vessels over 300 gross tons must operate AIS transponders.) These devices can identify the vessel’s name and details, speed, position, course, size and type – all in real time. The pilot project has, on many occasions, shown the value of being able to track vessels in this way.

With the cheaper, lower power Class B transponders now available, there is an added opportunity for AIS use by recreational, fishing and small commercial vessels around the New Zealand coastline. Commercial operators of all sizes should find these a handy alternative to high-end vessel management systems.

Real-time AIS information also has efficiency benefits for those who manage the comings and goings of vessels at ports, including maritime safety inspectors, customs and immigration officials. AIS can provide additional information for coordinating search and rescue operations, and also for responding to marine emergencies and environmental tasks. I understand it even has the ability to broadcast the position of navigational aids such as buoys and beacons.

With any technological advance, further benefits present themselves as other applications and are developed.

To conclude, I’d like to offer congratulations to Kordia for their initiative and enterprise in developing an AIS network, and also the pilot AIS scheme. This ‘testing of the waters’ clearly demonstrated the benefits of this technology. I also congratulate Maritime New Zealand for recognising the need for AIS, and leading on the value of vessel tracking.

Kordia’s network opens the door to national AIS access. I look forward to seeing New Zealand’s maritime community making the most of instant identity at sea.

Tracks are for trains

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:13:07 +1200

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming along this evening to mark the second annual Australasian Rail Safety Awareness Week.

Rail safety is not just the responsibility of any one Government agency, rail operator, local body or community group. All of these groups need to work together to make rail safe – particularly at level crossings.

On both sides of the Tasman, every year, we witness terrible crashes at level crossings and on railway tracks. In New Zealand this year, we have already had seven deaths on our railway. This is seven deaths too many.

This evening our thoughts are with the families, friends and loved ones of those who have died or were injured in these crashes. And we also remember the locomotive drivers, who do everything they can to avoid these tragic events.

Since 2003, there have been 86 fatalities at level crossings in New Zealand. While these crashes are not common, they can be avoided. Rail operators, rail track managers and roading authorities do what they can to prevent accidents. But, it is important that the local community also takes responsibility for safety at crossings, and is involved in identifying sites for upgrade.

Road users must remember to take care when approaching a level crossing, and always expect a train. I am sure many of us here today will recall the message we all heard at school and that we taught our children: STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN.

That sounds very reasonable, but tragically, people still cross rail tracks into the path of oncoming trains. Trespassers on the network are also a major source of trauma and we continue to look for ways to keep people off the tracks. It frustrates us that people refuse to recognise that a freight train travelling at 80 kilometres an hour can take as much as a full kilometre to stop.

To put it simply, it’s unrealistic to expect a train to give way, attempt to beat it across a level crossing, or try to walk along the railway line. Trains must be treated with respect.

Just last month (12 June), the bodies of two young men were discovered on top of a wagon in a Christchurch shunting yard. These young men had been hitching a ride and were killed when they struck an overhead bridge.

This is Australasian Rail Safety Awareness Week. I am pleased to see that we continue to work together from both sides of the Tasman. It was clear to me at the ARA’s Rail Safety Conference in February that we have the common goal of safety and that many of our safety problems are the same. We continue to work together, through industry and government agencies, to learn from each other about how to get the safety message across.

The week’s campaign to promote rail safety awareness is timely and it is necessary. Just how necessary came home to me when I discovered a disturbing fact. The first fatal accident involving an internal combustion engine in New Zealand appears to have been in November 1905. It was a crash between a motorcycle and a train at a level crossing. People have been dying unnecessarily on New Zealand level crossings for 103 years – enough is enough!

In 2007 we ran a series of hard hitting television advertisements, originally developed in South Australia. I am delighted to see them back on our screens again in 2008. And it’s not just on the television that these advertisements have proved effective. We’ve also run the campaign at sporting functions and stadiums around the country, enabling us to get the rail safety message across to a key target audience.

There were complaints about the ads last year, and I answered a lot more letters about rail safety in the weeks after Rail Safety Week than I usually would. According to feedback, the commercials were “too graphic,” “too shocking,” and even “too Australian!”

The reality is that these advertisements are not pleasant to watch, but they are intended to drive home the message that ignoring the basic rules around the railway network can end in tragedy – and ultimately to stop more of these tragedies from occurring.

Those of us who were fortunate to be here at the inaugural Safety Week launch last year will remember watching the incredibly moving video of Chris Cairns and his family. The devastating effect of losing your sister Louise to a level crossing crash in 1993 was clear to us all. And let’s not forget, two other young women also lost their lives in this crash. It is tragedies like these that continually motivate us to push the rail safety message.

I would like to acknowledge the considerable contribution KiwiRail, of course, formerly Toll Rail, and ONTRACK have made to rail safety campaigns and initiatives across our national network, and behind the scenes working with officials. Be assured, the government will continue to make safety a priority as David Jackson’s team has in the past.

I would also like to thank Chris Cairns for lending his considerable profile to the face of rail safety through the Chris Cairns Foundation. Chris, the commitment and initiative you have shown to raising awareness about rail safety in New Zealand since you launched your foundation in 2006 is certainly appreciated by all of us here.

As I’m sure most of you will know, Chris has been very busy this week, launching Rail Safety Awareness Week at Rolleston School, in Canterbury. He’s also carried the rail safety message up to the North Island this week at events in Huntley, Ngaruawahia and Auckland.

And next month (August) he starts the longest walk of his life when he walks from Pukekohe to Rolleston, near Christchurch, to raise funds and awareness for rail safety. I understand Chris is already in serious training for the 1001 kilometre walk. He’s hoping many local identities, and people who may have lost friends or relatives through tragedy on the rail network, will join him for parts of this challenging walk. Chris, we’re warming up our walking shoes to join you on your huge trek.

Chris expects to finish his walk on Sunday 21 September in Rolleston, the site where his sister Louise lost her life. I would encourage everyone here to support this magnificent cause and, if possible, join Chris at some point in his journey.

As we enter an era where sustainability is becoming much more than just a slogan, rail, in my view, is destined to make a great contribution to the nation.

This is borne out in the New Zealand Government’s National Rail Strategy to 2015 which highlights the benefits that rail has to offer, such as reducing traffic congestion on roads and contributing to a better environment.

It’s been a big year so far for rail. The National Rail Strategy continues to focus on increasing efficiencies in the key areas of freight and urban passenger transport.

The government has welcomed KiwiRail into the fold, which will enable the implementation of an integrated transport strategy. The government has recognised there are safety issues that need to be addressed in the purchase of KiwiRail and the initial investment announced by the Minister of Finance earlier this week confirms this government’s commitment to safety enhancements.

And in October, we celebrate a piece of New Zealand rail history with the centenary of the North Island Main Trunk Line.

But safety remains a key priority. As our government continues to look at how rail might expand, we are also determined to improve rail-related safety. So, do keep an eye out for the various promotional material and activities going on during the rest of Rail Safety Awareness Week and throughout the rest of the year.

I would like to congratulate all the organisations that are participating in this Rail Safety Awareness Week. Again, I would like to acknowledge the Australasian Railway Association, but also the Chris Cairns Foundation, ONTRACK, KiwiRail and Land Transport New Zealand for coming together to make this initiative work. You have all done a great job and I hope that all your hard work brings about the results you clearly deserve.

Minister calls for greater rail safety awareness

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:17:43 +1200

Minister for Transport Safety Harry Duynhoven is urging people to take greater care at level crossings and on rail tracks following the launch today of Australasian Rail Safety Awareness Week.

“On both sides of the Tasman, every year, we witness terrible crashes on our railway tracks. In New Zealand this year we have already had seven rail-related deaths. This is seven deaths too many,” said Mr Duynhoven.

This is the second annual Australasian Rail Safety Awareness Week and reflects the close working relationship that exists between New Zealand and Australia as both countries tackle the same rail safety issues. The week runs through to Sunday 27 July and aims to improve safety at rail crossings and reduce trespass on rail tracks.

New Zealand’s rail safety awareness week is a joint effort involving ONTRACK, KiwiRail (TOLL NZ), Veolia, Ministry of Transport, Auckland Regional Transport Authority, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Chris Cairns Foundation and Land Transport New Zealand’s Rail Regulation Unit.

Since 2003 there have been 86 fatalities on the New Zealand railway. Mr Duynhoven said rail operators, rail track managers and roading authorities do what they can to prevent crashes, but it is also important that the local community and individuals take responsibility for safety at rail tracks.

“Tragically, people still cross rail tracks into the path of on-coming trains. Trespassers on the network are also a major source of trauma and we continue to look for ways to keep people off the tracks. People have to understand that tracks are for trains only,” said Mr Duynhoven.

A series of hard-hitting Australian-made advertisements featuring accident scenarios at level crossings and illegal track crossings appeared on New Zealand televisions last night and will run throughout the week. Similar advertisements went to air last year.

“The reality is that these advertisements are not pleasant to watch, but they are intended to drive home the message that ignoring the basic rules around the rail network can end in tragedy. The advertisements ultimately aim to stop more of these tragedies from occurring,” said Mr Duynhoven.

A number of events are planned for rail safety awareness week, including a launch yesterday by Chris Cairns at Rolleston School, near Christchurch. Rail heritage operators are also supporting the week with open days in Christchurch and Dunedin.

Mr Duynhoven will host a formal reception at Parliament on Wednesday evening to mark Rail Safety Awareness Week.

Speech to the Aviation Industry Annual Conference

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:17:31 +1200

What lessons does the past give us in ‘defining the future.’

A pioneering spirit is closely linked to flexibility and adaptability. We adapt to cope with change, in order to survive in the future. Survival may be environmental or economic, and they are increasingly interdependent. Survival is the bottom line when it comes to sustainability.

Our Prime Minister has already set the challenge for New Zealand to become the first truly sustainable nation on earth – to be pioneers, and to make history, as we’ve done before in many areas.

Sustainability will define the future of the aviation industry as well as this country. It is a key competitive advantage. In today’s market place, consumers increasingly have ethical or environmental concerns. The carbon footprint of products and services is an issue. So, if we are to persuade people thousands of kilometres away to buy our goods or travel to our country, we have to be able to assure them that we care about our carbon footprint and are doing everything in our power to address this.

To protect our markets as well as our environment, we all need to act pre-emptively. People will change their travel behaviour and purchasing preferences. But we can front-foot the issue by correcting misinformation about food miles, for example.

Aviation has been estimated to account for two per cent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. Looking just at global transport use, aviation is responsible for 12 per cent of CO2 emissions. Eighty per cent of aviation’s emissions are related to passenger flights exceeding 1500 kilometres.

‘Time is money’ was never more true than in aviation. In Europe alone, delays are costing 15 million minutes of unnecessary flight a year which translates into $1.5 billion wasted operating cost and more than a million tonnes of CO2.

However, if world air traffic growth continues at approximately 5 percent per annum, we can expect the 2030 level to be more than twice that of today’s – with around 18,000 more aircraft, doubling of the world fleet and two billion more passengers a year. Air transport is one of the fastest growing modes. If this continues as forecast by IATA last year, by 2011 the industry will be handling 2.75 billion passengers (and 36 million tonnes of international freight) – 620 million more passengers (and 7.5 million tonnes) than in 2006. Growth in international passenger numbers in the Asia-Pacific region is likely to be 87 million by 2011.

Closer to home, in the year 2000, on average each week, 119, 000 people flew within, or to and from New Zealand, on 840 flights. This increased in 2007 to 172,000 people on average each week, on 1,130 flights.

Soaring oil prices may curb the growth. Airlines around the world are currently being crippled by jet fuel costs that have more than doubled in the past year to over US$170 a barrel. Travellers can expect higher fares and fuller passenger jets, as airlines cut flights to save fuel. New technology with more fuel-efficient aircraft will help offset the fuel costs, but such aircraft are expensive to purchase.

Certainly for New Zealand, our geographical isolation adds to the pain. This oil price impact will flow on to local tourism flight operators. Speaking to those in the audience, I understand you plan around 18 months in advance with your business usually pre-sold. Margins are squeezed as you are stuck with your lower prices, while fuel prices rise.

These are the issues. New Zealand has an enormous challenge and responsibility ahead of it to make the transport system sustainable. So, what are the pre-emptive actions we can take or are already taking in the aviation industry for sustainability?

Air New Zealand and Airways are taking sustainability in their stride, collaborating over more efficient arrival procedures. For example, Air New Zealand asked its pilots to fly a little slower, with continuous descent – engines idling – to the runway at some airports to save fuel. And there’s also its ‘weight loss’ programme. Carrying an extra kilogram costs $500 a year in fuel and more carbon emissions. So the plastic cups have to stay.

Air New Zealand and many of the other international airlines serving New Zealand are also ordering new, more fuel-efficient aircraft, although delivery delays are very disappointing. This will be positive for margins and for marketing to discerning tourists.

On the downside, our national carrier is one the nation’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, producing out 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 a year, as it transports people around New Zealand and the world.

A future advance for aviation is likely to be in using sustainable biofuel.

Air New Zealand expects that, within five years, biofuel will make up at least one million of the nine million barrels it uses a year. Their proposed source of biofuels, jatropha oil, grows readily on non-arable land, and is 20 to 30 percent cheaper than current jet fuel. By 2013 the airline aims to use at least 10 percent biofuel, reducing its carbon footprint by 400,000 tonnes a year.

Legislation is in final stages for a mandatory biofuel sales obligation for New Zealand. While at this stage the legislation covers biofuels that displace petrol or diesel, as developments in aircraft fuels advance, we anticipate their inclusion as well. The legislation as recommended by Select Committee requires 2.5 percent of petrol and diesel sales to be biofuel by 2012, and that the biofuels we use in New Zealand come from sustainable sources. The sales obligation aims to provide an incentive for oil companies and others to invest in research and development.

The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme reflects New Zealand’s seriousness about climate change. It creates a fair, flexible and effective way for New Zealand business and society as a whole to play their part in combating what is a global problem. In simple terms, it means that the price of carbon will be reflected in the goods and services we buy. Leah will describe the general principles of the scheme and will discuss how it affects the transport sector, including aviation.

The New Zealand Energy Strategy, released last October, demonstrates serious commitment to addressing climate change with its goal of halving domestic transport emissions per capita by 2040, relative to 2007 levels.

The strategy also identifies the key concern of fuel supply security. We rely on imported oil for around half of all our energy needs, including almost all our transport energy needs. The pressure on global oil resources will only increase, so we have to decrease our dependence on imported oil to shield us from international events and price increases.

The government has set out what we see as our role in both the Energy Strategy and in the NZ Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, its companion action plan. We are using a combination of legislation, standards, funding, partnerships and setting sector targets to steer and encourage various elements of the transport system to reduce fuel use and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

We need more energy efficient vehicles, buildings and appliances that reduce both financial costs and impacts on the environment. It will take serious and concerted collaboration across sectors to make this shift.

Technology, which is part of the problem, can be part of the sustainability solution.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliners, now due to start arriving here in 2012, will be 20 percent more fuel-efficient than similar sized aircraft currently used, such as the Boeing 767.

There’s also performance-based navigation (PBN) that utilises the GPS satellite system, and which has a range of benefits – safety as well as savings on fuel consumption and emissions.

As your members will be aware, PBN recognises that advanced aircraft systems are achieving a more accurate level of navigation performance and distance clearance. This makes for greater safety than existing ground-based navigation aids and instrument approaches to airports.

PBN allows a more efficient use of available airspace with associated savings in distance and fuel consumption. This, along with techniques like continuous descent, brings environmental benefits of fewer emissions and less noise.

There are already elements of PBN in New Zealand, notably the required navigation performance approaches into Queenstown airport. This means that Air New Zealand and Qantas aircraft with this system can safely fly there in more adverse weather conditions, improving the reliability of our air transport network.

We recognise that there needs to be a comprehensive framework, including regulatory development, to allow New Zealand aviation to use PBN to best advantage. The Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority recently met with industry representatives including members of your association, the Airways Corporation, airlines, the Airline Pilots’ Association, and the Aviation Community Advisory Group. They have agreed to work together to develop a State implementation plan for Performance Based Navigation in New Zealand.

While on the subject of rules and other future developments, we’re also looking at the Multi-crew Pilot Licence, Safety Management Systems and an amendment to Part 137, Agricultural Aircraft Operations. Later this year, we’ll be bringing in the requirement for Part 135 operators to install Terrain Awareness Warning Systems.

And just before I leave technological innovations and safety matters, I was pleased to hear recently a pioneering Kiwi enterprise story. The Spider Tracks system, developed by a Manawatu-based company, is one of the most advanced portable tracking systems in the world, and already being used in 26 countries. This can enhance the safety of pilots lost or in difficulty because of unexpected bad weather. It will be used by Massey University’s School of Aviation in selected aircraft with student pilots as they fly through the many parts of the country where there is no radar cover.

On the subject of training, we also need to ensure that we have a sustainable industry, and a skilled and plentiful workforce to draw on are key to this. There is currently a world-wide pilot shortage, with about 17,000 new pilots needed each year to keep the airlines going, due to the rapid growth of the industry in China and India in particular. We need to think about the multi-crew pilot licence training introduced in Europe and Australia – with graduates coming out after 18 months with most of the work done on simulators – but balancing this with an awareness that there is no substitute for experience, and their ongoing training needs should be carefully monitored.

Again, acting pre-emptively will help offset future shortage of skills and personnel.

You will be hearing more tomorrow about the great initiative in schools that the Gateway programme is, allowing students to taste a range of aviation careers in the workplaces. We also need to move perceptions beyond piloting, to encompass aeronautical engineering, air traffic control and airport security. In this way we’re wrestling with a problem from the ground up, and I encourage industry to engage with the training organisation in providing workplaces where this can happen.

Air New Zealand plans to establish an aviation academy to develop home-grown pilots, cabin crew, engineers and specialist airline management staff. This aims to ensure a steady flow of local talent to the national carrier and other airlines in the Asia-Pacific region.

On another positive note, we’re looking forward to developing a comprehensive aviation agreement with the European Union. This will cover all 27 member states and replace the 12 air services agreements New Zealand already has. Air services underpin the people and trade movements that are integral to the New Zealand-Europe relationship. We welcome the prospect for expanding the opportunities available for air carriers, and for travellers and traders.

We expect to be announcing in the near future the positive outcomes of air services negotiations led by the Ministry of Transport here and its counterparts in both South Africa and in Turkey.

It is essential for New Zealand’s economic prosperity to maintain and improve international air links. In addition, New Zealand must comply with increasingly stringent and international security and environmental standards. It is critical that New Zealand participates in international forums, so that its interests are understood and considered in international agreements relating to safety, security and environmental standards for travel and transportation.

Before I conclude, I would like to show aviation in the wider transport context – as part of an integrated transport system. The government has established four broad or overarching principles to guide what we do in the wider transport sector. All are equally relevant to aviation.

1. Transport is critical to economic progress. A high level of value for money investment is required across the different forms of transport to address our ongoing infrastructure needs.

2. Transport must be thought about in an integrated way. Each mode – from walking to rail freight, road transport to coastal shipping and air -- must play its part in our long-term transport strategy.

3. Transport must be environmentally sustainable. There is no one solution, but an innovative approach to creating sustainable transport alternatives will mean we will achieve our targets whilst still also meeting New Zealand's economic and social needs.

4. New Zealand’s international transport links cannot be put at risk, and we must meet our obligations to be a responsible international participant – especially with aviation in regard to safety and security.

These are what we must get right – ‘critical success factors’ – if we want economic and environmental sustainability, as well as other transport demands for greater mobility, accessibility and safety.

To check we’re tracking on course, we will have targets set out in the New Zealand Transport Strategy 2008 to be released on the 5th August. The first strategy appeared six years ago. It’s been updated to sharpen its focus on sustainability, and how to reduce our greenhouse emissions from transport. A cross-sector strategy, it includes priorities for aviation and the challenges that face this sector, a number of which I have touched on here. As well as providing direction for the transport sector for the next 30 years, it will help move forward the government’s sustainable development, energy and climate change agendas as well.

The vision expressed in this Transport Strategy is that ‘people and freight in New Zealand have access to an affordable, integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable transport system’. Each mode of transport must play its part, and collaboration and compromise, will be key to our success in realising this vision.

Transport is complex, and aviation is always needing to adapt, to take advantage of new technologies and to meet changing market demand. Sustainability – and change – and will define the future.

Perhaps the motto of the Royal New Zealand Air Force is relevant here – ‘Per ardua ad astra’ – literally ‘through difficulties, to the stars’. The stars we could see as a metaphor for a sustainable future. A tall order and a long way to go, but we have wings to soar.