Each year, the Meat Industry Association (‘MIA’) recruits halal slaughtermen for the New Zealand export meat industry. Our role is to interview potential halal slaughtermen and build a list of suitable candidates.

As vacancies arise within meat processing companies, most will contact the MIA and draw halal slaughtermen from this list of candidates.

The MIA is currently seeking applications from Muslims wishing to undertake halal slaughter in the 2006/2007 meat processing season. Applicants MUST be (among other things):

For more information click here.

A princess at my table: Trans-Pacific environment relationships strengthen

The recent two day Environmental Impacts Assessment (EIA) workshop held in Brunei by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and the Brunei Ministry of Development was a good opportunity for MfE to provide training on how to reduce the environmental impacts of major industrial projects.

An EIA identifies and evaluates impacts of pollutive activity, how to prevent, monitor and minimize environmental effects of economic activity.

The June workshop was the first formal activity under the Trans-Pacific Environment Cooperation Agreement. The Environment Cooperation Agreement was signed with Brunei, Chile, and Singapore in July 2005 as part of the Trans-Pacific (P4) trade agreement.

A highlight of the event was the attendance of Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bulqiah. The Princess has a strong interest in environmental issues and works in Brunei’s Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation.

Ministry for the Environment Deputy CEO, Lindsay Gow says that the New Zealand government aims to harmonise its objectives for both trade and the environment with the overarching objective of promoting sustainable development.

“The government believes that maintaining high standards for environment protection is both important in its own right and fully compatible with economic prosperity. “Environmental impact assessments are an important tool for environmental planning and management and useful for promoting environmentally sound and sustainable development” he said.

“This type of workshop promotes environmental sustainability through a greater understanding of environmental management as well as helping to strengthen our trans-pacific relationships.”

“Feedback from workshop participants confirmed that this was a very worthwhile activity and that there is an opportunity to develop more activities along similar lines between P4 partners in future”.

Lindsay Gow spent last week in Thailand attending the first Environment Committee Meeting established as part of our bilateral trade agreement with Thailand. It is expected that similar cooperative activities and information exchanges with Thailand will be developed in coming months.

Photo - Workshop participants
Front row:- Iain Haggarty (MfE), Her Royal Highness Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bulqiah, Martinah Haji Tamit (Dept of Environment, Brunei), Haji Mohd Zakaria Haji Serudin (Director of Dept of Environment, Brunei)

For more information contact
Karen Coltman Senior Communications Adviser Ministry for the Environment ph: 04 439 7492 fax: 04 439 7706 mobile: 021 574 156 www.mfe.govt.nz

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA), has prepared an article about food safety during an emergency. The article talks about food safety before, during and after an emergency. The weather over the past few days is a reminder that this is the season when disaster is likely to strike.

Being prepared for a disaster is crucial if you live in New Zealand. We are at the mercy of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and, possibly, tsunamis. With winter on our doorsteps, extreme weather can cause floods and storms.

To view the full article click here.