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Department of Labour

322 posts | 2 images

The Department of Labour's primary role is to improve the performance of the labour market and, through this, strengthen the economy and increase the standard of living for those in New Zealand.

Joined August 2007
12,651 profile views
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News 6 Apr 2012
Guidance For Operators Affected By The Adventure Activities Regulations

A new guidance document has been released today providing detailed information on the Adventure Activities Regulations which came in to force last year.

203 views

Employment 7 Mar 2012
Fonterra to pay $62,500 for finger amputation

  Dairy company Fonterra has been fined $50,000 and ordered to pay $12,500 in reparation to an employee who had part of a finger amputated by a cheese packaging machine that Fonterra had twice been advised needed better guarding.

169 views

Employment 5 Mar 2012
Employee's fingers amputated in machine accident

FEILDING — Joint venture partners Green Crow Corporation and Ribbonwood Sawmilling Ltd have today been fined a total of $50,000, after one of its employees suffered serious injuries to their right hand after it became trapped in the circular saw he was working on.

431 views

Business 23 Feb 2012
Gavin Taylor, Acting Chief Inspector Mines, High Hazards Unit

Solid Energy has provided us with the information we required and we have evaluated their response to our concerns.

167 views

News 21 Feb 2012
Prohibition notice issued for Solid Energy's Spring Creek mine

The Department of Labour has issued a prohibition notice at Solid Energy’s Spring Creek mine for failing to report a recent event, and not taking active steps to resolve two others.

142 views

News 20 Feb 2012
Coromandel Mine Closed

COROMANDEL — The mine closed by the Department of Labour for failing to comply with mining regulations is Broken Hills, a small underground gold mine in the Coromandel.

548 views

News 20 Feb 2012
Chief Inspector Petroleum And Geothermal Appointed

The Department of Labour has appointed a Chief inspector Petroleum and Geothermal to its High Hazards Unit.

143 views

Employment 15 Feb 2012
Work Resumes At Hotel Grand Chancellor Site

The prohibition notice stopping demolition work at the Hotel Grand Chancellor following an accident at the site last month has now been lifted.

150 views

Employment 15 Feb 2012
January Shows Positive Growth In Online Job Vacancies

Online job vacancies increased slightly in January after a small fall in December, according to the latest Jobs Online.

180 views

News 10 Feb 2012
2002 Passport Fraudster May Be Deported

An Indian woman who came to New Zealand in 2002 on a false passport that she subsequently used to obtain residence, citizenship and a New Zealand passport now faces possible deportation.

303 views

Employment 10 Feb 2012
Forestry Worker Injured In 3.5 Metre Fall

PALMERSTON NORTH — A pulp mill has today been fined a total of $37,000 after an employee suffered serious injuries when he fell 3.5 metres into a service pit at a forestry site in February last year.

461 views

Employment 7 Feb 2012
Worker Crushed By 2.5 Tonne Concrete Panel

A Wellington transport company has been fined $30,000 following an accident in March this year where a self employed contractor was lucky to survive being crushed by a 2.5 tonne concrete panel.

152 views

Employment 3 Feb 2012
Employee Loses Part Of Finger On Unguarded Auger

A producer of snack and muesli bars has today been fined $28,125 after an employee of a contractor had part of his finger amputated when it came into contact with the auger blade of an inadequately guarded peel dicer machine.

155 views

Migration 2 Feb 2012
Permanent And Long Term Migration Forecast To Improve To Net Gain From Cycle Low; India Now Second Largest Source Of Skilled Migrants

Permanent and long term migration is forecast to move from a cyclical low and return to a net gain to New Zealand during the latter part of 2012 and in early 2013, according to new Department of Labour research: “Permanent and Long Term Migration: The Big Picture”.

426 views

Deaths 1 Feb 2012
One Third Of Workplace Fatalities In Agriculture In 2011

Provisional statistics released by the Department of Labour today show that more than one third of workplace fatalities in New Zealand last year occurred in the agriculture sector.

212 views

Court 31 Jan 2012
Pike River Hearing – Greymouth District Court

GREYMOUTH — All charges against the three parties charged by the Department over the Pike River tragedy have been adjourned until 27 March 2012 in order that initial discovery may be completed.

767 views

Employment 31 Jan 2012
Workplace Deaths Down In 2011 But Too Many Dying On The Job

Provisional statistics released from the Department of Labour today show there were 41 workplace deaths in New Zealand in 2011, compared with 77 in 2010.

160 views

Court 30 Jan 2012
Administrative Call For Parties Charged Over Pike River Explosion

GREYMOUTH — There will be a hearing in the Greymouth District Court tomorrow relating to the charges laid by the Department over the Pike River tragedy.

734 views

Employment 26 Jan 2012
Online Skilled Job Vacancies Slip In December

The number of skilled job vacancies advertised online decreased slightly across most industry and occupation groups in December compared to the previous month but were up 7.7% on December 2010, according to the latest analysis by the Department of Labour.

185 views

Government 25 Jan 2012
40 Years Of Industrial Mediation Service

A significant player in New Zealand’s industrial history celebrates 40 years in operation today.

170 views

Agriculture 18 Jan 2012
Quad Bike Safety Reminder After High Summer Accident Rate

With a high number of people being injured on quad bikes during the summer holiday period, ACC and the Department of Labour are reminding riders of the dangers of not adhering to safety rules.

194 views

Employment 10 Jan 2012
No Room For Complacency On Construction Sites

As the working year kicks off, the Department of Labour is urging those in the construction sector to remember the importance of safe work practices.

196 views

Employment 4 Jan 2012
Workers And Employers Urged To Keep Safe During Summer

With research showing that longer daylight hours can lead to an increase in workplace deaths, the Department of Labour is reminding workers to think about their safety during summer.

186 views

Health 24 Dec 2011
250 Organisations Pledge To Improve Health And Safety In 2011

This year close to 250 businesses and organisations have made a strong commitment to improve health and safety in their area of work – with more expected next year.

245 views

News 23 Dec 2011
Administrative Call For Parties Charged Over Pike River Explosion

There appears to be some misunderstanding of what will occur at the hearing on 31 January 2012 in relation to charges laid against Pike River Coal, Peter Whittall and VLI Drilling Pty Limited.

150 views

Migration 22 Dec 2011
Auckland Man On 91 Immigration-Related Charges

An Auckland man faces 34 Crimes Act charges of forgery and 34 Immigration Act charges of providing false and misleading information to an immigration officer after an investigation by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

454 views

Tourism 22 Dec 2011
Christmas Safety Reminder For Adventure Tourism Operators

With the Christmas break just days away the Department of Labour is reminding adventure tourism and outdoor education operators to familiarise themselves with new regulations aimed at improving safety in the industry.

149 views

Employment 22 Dec 2011
Report Highlights Expanding Job Market In Canterbury

New research out today highlights the expanding job and training opportunities in Canterbury and some challenges as the rebuild gets underway in 2012.

155 views

Employment 21 Dec 2011
Power Companies Fined After Workers Suffer Preventable Burns

Two Southland power companies have been fined a total of $72,000, after the wrong power line was turned off during maintenance, burning two linemen who were more than a kilometre apart.

192 views

News 19 Dec 2011
High Hazards Unit Recruitment Completed

The Department of Labour’s High Hazards Unit mining team has been appointed and the Chief Mines Inspector from Queensland has been seconded to head the group while recruitment for a suitable permanent candidate proceeds.

272 views

Health 19 Dec 2011
Christmas Break Ideal Time For Employers To Check Machinery Is Adequately Guarded

With the large–scale shut down of many businesses during the Christmas break the Department of Labour, as part of its Safe Use of Machinery Project, is urging businesses to take a fresh look at their machinery to ensure it is guarded appropriately.

150 views

Health 17 Dec 2011
Construction Falls From Height Are Preventable

The Department of Labour has launched a three-year harm reduction campaign to raise awareness about working safely at height and reduce the human and financial toll caused by falls from height.

268 views

Employment 17 Dec 2011
Action Plan Released To Reduce Illness And Injury At Work

With an estimated 700 to 1,000 New Zealand workers dying each year, a new action plan has been launched to improve occupational health in this country.

174 views

Migration 17 Dec 2011
Immigration Fraudsters May Be Deported

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is considering deporting four Fiji Indians who gained residence on the basis of bogus job offers.

609 views

Health 15 Dec 2011
Quad Bike Checks Result In Almost 200 Enforcement Notices

Nearly two fifths of the 500 farms visited by health and safety inspectors during spring to check on quad bike safety were issued with an enforcement notice.

178 views

Agriculture 14 Dec 2011
Draft Plan Aims To Reduce High Work Toll In Agriculture

Improving health and safety in the agriculture industry – a sector with one of the highest death and injury tolls - is the focus of a new Action Plan released for consultation today.

214 views

Employment 14 Dec 2011
Online Skilled Job Vacancies Grow Again After Two Month Fall

The number of skilled job vacancies advertised online grew across most industry groups in November after showing a fall in the last two months, according to the latest analysis by the Department of Labour.

176 views

Employment 14 Dec 2011
Company Fined For Failing To Keep Employee And Community Safe

A Wellington demolition company has today been fined $20,000 after a contractor was exposed to asbestos fibres and live electricity while working on an inner city site.

180 views

Health 14 Dec 2011
Testing Of Lipsticks And Hair Dyes

Tests of budget-price lipsticks and hair dyes have shown no dangers to public health.

154 views

Earthquakes 12 Dec 2011
Survey Of Canterbury Employers Shows Impacts Of Quakes On Surviving Businesses

CANTERBURY — A survey of just over 1,700 Canterbury businesses on the impacts of the Canterbury earthquakes will provide information to help businesses and local and Government organisations plan for the future.

280 views

Manufacturing 6 Dec 2011
Feedback Sought On Plan To Reduce Manufacturing Work Toll

A plan aimed at addressing the number of people dying and being seriously injured working in the manufacturing sector has been released for consultation.

458 views

Employment 5 Dec 2011
Essential Skills In Demand Lists Latest Review

The results of the latest review of Department of Labour’s Essential Skills in Demand Lists have been released.

266 views

Employment 2 Dec 2011
Zion Wildlife Park Companies Convicted For Death Of Animal Handler

Zion Wildlife Gardens Limited has been ordered to pay reparations of $60,000 to the partner of the zoo keeper mauled to death by a tiger on 27 May 2009.

253 views

Employment 2 Dec 2011
Charges Laid Following Workplace Fatality In Makara

MAKARA — The Department of Labour today laid three charges following its investigation into an incident in Makara near Wellington in June, which killed one employee and seriously injured another.

635 views

Gas 2 Dec 2011
High Hazards Unit Meets Solid Energy On Methane Spike

HUNTLY — An inspector from the Department of Labour’s High Hazard Unit met with Solid Energy this morning as part of its investigation into the spike in methane levels at the Huntly East mine last week.

678 views

Migration 1 Dec 2011
Migration Trends July-September 2011

The Labour and Immigration Research Centre’s Migration Trends Key Indicators Report, was released today for July-September 2011.

446 views

Employment 30 Nov 2011
Response On Huntly East Mine

HUNTLY — This statement should be attributed to Brett Murray – General Manager, National Services and Support.

671 views

Employment 28 Nov 2011
Employers Urged To Plan For Christmas Holiday Period

With less than a month until the Christmas holiday period begins, businesses and organisations are being urged to ensure they are prepared for public holiday entitlements and shut down periods.

200 views

Court 25 Nov 2011
Charges Laid Following Fatal Gas Explosion In Onehunga

AUCKLAND CITY — The Department of Labour has laid five charges against two parties in the Auckland District Court today in relation to the fatal gas explosion in Onehunga in June this year.

456 views

Employment 25 Nov 2011
Employee Injured When Pinned Under Roller

TARANAKI — Two companies from Taranaki have been fined a total of $71,500 after an employee suffered serious injuries when the hired machine he was operating rolled down a slope, pinning him underneath.

290 views

Employment 16 Nov 2011
Lead Employment Indicator Expects Moderate Growth But Online Job Vacancies Continue To Fall In October

There are signs that employment will grow by the end of the year although there has been a recent drop.

153 views

News 11 Nov 2011
Pike River – Parties charged named

All suppression orders relating to those charged with health and safety failures at the Pike River Coal mine have been lifted.

199 views

Court 10 Nov 2011
Pike River charges laid

The Department of Labour today laid 25 charges against three parties alleging health and safety failures at the Pike River Coal mine following the tragic deaths of 29 miners nearly a year ago.

168 views

Health 2 Nov 2011
Department Of Labour Tackles Demolition Dust In Canterbury

CANTERBURY — With significant quantities of dust being generated from earthquake demolition sites, the Department of Labour has launched an initiative to monitor and evaluate dust exposure levels for demolition crews and other workers.

147 views

News 1 Nov 2011
Notification System Ready For Adventure Tourism Operators

Regulations governing the commercial adventure tourism and outdoor education industries come into effect today.

165 views

Health 26 Oct 2011
Feedback Sought On Plan To Reduce Illness And Injury At Work

A consultation draft of a plan to improve the occupational health of New Zealand workers was released by the Department of Labour this morning.

181 views

Deaths 20 Oct 2011
Employee Killed In Preventable 15 Metre Fall

DUNEDIN — Delta Utility Services Limited has today been fined $75,000 after one of its employees was killed when he fell 15 metres when a power line pole he was working on near Dunedin in December last year collapsed.

302 views

Employment 18 Oct 2011
Fall In Online Job Vacancies In September

The number of skilled job vacancies advertised online dropped in September, according to the latest analysis by the Department of Labour.

172 views

Employment 7 Oct 2011
Employee Severely Injured And In Coma After Six Metre Fall

WELLINGTON CITY — A Wellington man and City Aerials Limited have today been fined a total of $29,750 after an employee suffered serious injuries and was left in a coma after falling six metres from a roof.

357 views

Employment 6 Oct 2011
Roofing Company Fined After Employee Falls More Than 5 Metres

AUCKLAND CITY — An Auckland roofing company was today fined $8,000 and ordered to pay reparations of $40,000 after an employee fell more than five metres, suffering serious injuries.

215 views

Employment 4 Oct 2011
Employee Severely Injured After Being Hit By 400KG Steel Beam

AUCKLAND CITY — An Auckland company specialising in structural steel fabrication and installation has been fined $25,000 after an employee was injured by a 400 kilogram steel beam in June 2010.

245 views

News 30 Sep 2011
Indians Sentenced For Immigration Fraud

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will review the immigration status of four Indian nationals who were today convicted and sentenced to home detention for various immigration fraud offences.

208 views

Employment 28 Sep 2011
Growth in skilled job vacancies indicate gradual improvement

The number of skilled job vacancies advertised online continued to grow in August, according to the latest analysis by the Labour and Immigration Research Centre, a service of the Department of Labour.

216 views

Employment 27 Sep 2011
Poultry Producer Fined After Employee Loses Part Of Finger

CHRISTCHURCH — Tegel Foods Limited has been fined $41,250 today following an accident at its Christchurch factory, where one of their 1,700 employees was injured using an unguarded machine.

380 views

Business 26 Sep 2011
Launch Of Canterbury Employers Survey - Information Required To Help Canterbury Planning

CANTERBURY — Canterbury employers are being asked to provide information that will contribute to planning for the future of business in the region.

145 views

News 20 Sep 2011
Resignation Of The Chief Executive And Secretary Of Labour

The State Services Commissioner, Iain Rennie, announced today that he had accepted the resignation of Christopher Blake, Chief Executive and Secretary of Labour at the Department of Labour.

161 views

Crime 17 Sep 2011
Immigration Welcomes Sentencing Of Passport Fraudster

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has welcomed the sentencing of an American man who obtained a passport in the name of his dead step-brother to get permanent residence in New Zealand.

299 views

Deaths 7 Sep 2011
Action Plan Released To Reduce High Rate Of Forestry Deaths

ROTORUA — A new plan to reduce the number of forestry workers being injured or killed has been launched by the Department of Labour in Rotorua this morning.

352 views

Employment 6 Sep 2011
Spring Visits To 400 Farms To Check On Quad Bike Safety

Around 400 farms across New Zealand can expect visits from health and safety inspectors during spring, to check on how quad bikes are being used on their farm.

134 views

Migration 30 Aug 2011
Migration Trends In 2010/2011

The global economic crisis is having an impact on the number of people migrating to New Zealand, as shown in the Labour and Immigration Research Centre’s Migration Trends Key Indicators Report, released today.

437 views

Business 29 Aug 2011
Business Recovery Information At Your Fingertips

CHRISTCHURCH — The Department of Labour is helping Christchurch businesses get back on their feet by providing them with a one-stop shop for health and safety and employment relations information.

170 views

Employment 26 Aug 2011
2011 Skills Highway Award Winner Announced

The Department of Labour congratulates Auckland logistics and freight company Cardinal Logistics – winner of this year’s Skills Highway Award.

183 views

Migration 18 Aug 2011
Visa sale targeting Tongan community

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is urging Tongan nationals to be wary of a scam involving the selling of visas.

1,356 views

Employment 17 Aug 2011
Company fined after employee loses toes

Northland Stevedoring Services Limited has been fined $37,500 today following an accident at Northport Wharf, which resulted in an employee on his first day at work having three toes amputated.

203 views

Migration 17 Aug 2011
Work deciding factor in migrants choosing Auckland

The ability to find work is the determining factor in migrants choosing to settle in Auckland.

387 views

Employment 17 Aug 2011
Scam labour sentencing shows intolerance of immigration fraud

Immigration New Zealand says the conviction of a Blenheim labour contractor for employing foreign workers to enable them to remain in New Zealand unlawfully shows its intolerance of immigration fraud.

232 views

Employment 12 Aug 2011
Ancient kauri manufacturer fined after employee severes fingers

KAITAIA — The world’s largest manufacturer of ancient Kauri wood products has been fined $30,000 in the Kaitaia District Court after a mill supervisor had his fingers severed by a rotating saw blade.

743 views

Employment 9 Aug 2011
Goodman Fielder Employee Loses Fingers In Machine

CHRISTCHURCH — Goodman Fielder New Zealand Limited was today fined $37,500 following an accident at its Champion Flour Mills in Christchurch where an employee was seriously injured because the machine he was working on wasn’t properly guarded.

343 views

Employment 8 Aug 2011
Labour Market Steadily Improving Despite Earthquake Disruption

Latest figures reinforce the trend of gradual improvement in the labour market, according to analysis by the Labour and Immigration Research Centre, a service of the Department of Labour.

127 views

Employment 4 Aug 2011
Nearly 150 organisations pledge to improve health and safety

In the two months since the Department of Labour’s Partners in Action Pledge has been launched, 141 organisations, businesses and individuals have signed up - pledging to do their bit to improve health and safety.

176 views

Employment 4 Aug 2011
Repeat offender kiwi plastics fined $45,000 for unguarded machinery

PORIRUA — A Porirua plastics manufacturing company, which has been prosecuted in the past for failing to guard machinery, has been fined $45,000 for a similar offence.

456 views

Crime 29 Jul 2011
Gerard Otimi Sentenced

Immigration New Zealand says that the sentencing of an Aucklander over an immigration scam sends a strong message to prospective scammers.

143 views

Employment 22 Jul 2011
Fulton Hogan fined $38,400 after employee falls from bridge

Contracting giant, Fulton Hogan, has been fined $38,400 after an employee fell about three metres onto a riverbed while repairing a bridge on the West Coast of the South Island.

217 views

Employment 19 Jul 2011
Steady growth in online job vacancies

The number of job vacancies advertised online continued to grow in June, according to the latest Jobs Online index.

154 views

Employment 15 Jul 2011
Employers must keep employment agreements for all staff

The Department of Labour is reminding employers that the law now requires them to keep signed written employment agreements for all their staff.

213 views

Tourism 13 Jul 2011
Draft adventure tourism regulations released

Draft regulations to improve safety in the commercial adventure tourism and outdoor education industries are now available for consultation.

145 views

Employment 6 Jul 2011
Employee seriously injured while in "safe area"

HOKITIKA — A Hokitika forestry worker was off work for months with debilitating spinal fractures, bruising and kidney injuries after he was hit by a log while in a designated safe area.

718 views

Employment 6 Jul 2011
Employee loses fingers in machinery accident

ROTORUA — A Rotorua-based saw blade and cutting tool manufacturer has been fined $30,000 for failing to properly guard a machine, which amputated an employee’s three fingers last September.

388 views

Employment 4 Jul 2011
Essential Skills in Demand Lists latest review

The latest review of the Essential Skills in Demand Lists will be released on 11 July.

160 views

Employment 30 Jun 2011
Reporting for hazardous work goes online

From 1 July all notifications of hazardous work will be able to be completed online, saving time and effort.

142 views

Employment 30 Jun 2011
Study links firms' productivity with population density and R&D spending

Department of Labour research shows a positive relationship between population density and expenditure on research and development, and business productivity.

166 views

Health 30 Jun 2011
Feedback sought on forestry health and safety plan

The Department of Labour is seeking feedback on the draft version of the Forestry Sector Health and Safety Action Plan, part of the National Action Agenda to reduce workplace deaths and injuries.

115 views

Health 30 Jun 2011
Quarries fined after employee suffers multiple fractures

A Dunedin quarryman fractured his skull, neck, back and ribs when he fell almost four metres and today his employer, Blackhead Quarries was fined $28,128 for not keeping him safe while he was at work.

108 views

Health 29 Jun 2011
Third of farms visited warned about quad bike safety

Almost a third of farms visited by the Department of Labour between April and mid June were warned about using their quad bikes safely.

128 views

Business 17 Jun 2011
Company fined after employee amputates his fingers

LOWER HUTT — Wellington based Aquaheat Industries Limited has been fined $16,000 after an employee chopped off four fingers while cutting steel with a guillotine.

222 views

Employment 15 Jun 2011
Job Vacancies Steady in May

The latest Jobs Online index shows steady growth in vacancies advertised online in the three months to May, driven by strong growth in demand for skilled workers in Canterbury.

137 views

Employment 14 Jun 2011
Skills Highway Award 2011: entries show positive results from literacy training

This year’s Skills Highway Award entries show workplace literacy training continues to yield positive results for organisations across the country, says Labour Department Deputy Chief Executive for Policy and Research Jeremy Corban.

468 views

Court 13 Jun 2011
Brothel-keeper sentenced for trying to smuggle prostitute

AUCKLAND CITY — Immigration New Zealand says the conviction of an Auckland brothel-keeper for trying to smuggle a prostitute into New Zealand is a warning to others contemplating doing the same thing.

579 views

Marine 9 Jun 2011
Draw date is set for Pacific Immigration Quota

Applications for the annual immigration quota for 1,100 Samoan, 250 Tongan, 75 Tuvalu and 75 Kiribati citizens wanting to move to New Zealand will be drawn this Friday 10 June in a computerised ballot system.

165 views

Employment 7 Jun 2011
Company fined after contractor falls five metres

AUCKLAND CITY — An Auckland-based company has been fined $55,000 after one of its contractors was seriously injured when he fell five metres from a ladder.

219 views