He was sentenced to 18 months in prison

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison.^[29] One of the biggest public sector cases was that of Michael Swann who was chief information officer of the Otago District Health Board. He was convicted of defrauding the DHB of approximately $16.9 million between 2000 and 2006 and was sentenced to nine years six months in prison. HP 519265-001 Keyboard On a smaller scale, tax department investigator Alex Song, was sentenced to three months' home detention in 2008 for soliciting $120,000 to make a tax investigation go away.^[10] The immigration section of the Labour Department also has problems with fraud. It has a fraud unit which investigates the sale of fake degrees, sham marriages and bogus job offers to aid residency applications to New Zealand. Lenovo 45N2106 Keyboard In 2005, former head of the immigration unit, Mary Anne Thompson, told the New Zealand Herald: "We come across many cases every year where people have tried to provide forged documents for qualifications, marriages that are not genuine...it’s pretty brazen and out there, and that’s a worry." National’s Asian affairs spokeswoman Pansy Wong said she had spent years complaining to officials about the scams, but nothing had been done.^[30HP 365485-001 Keyboard Ironically, Ms Thompson was forced to resign three years later after using her position to help three family members from Kiribati gain residency.^[31] In 2012 she was found guilty of fraud after pleading guilty to three counts of using a document for pecuniary advantage. She claimed on her CV she held a PhD from the London School of Economics (LSE) – credentials she used when applying for New Zealand public service jobs in 1989, 1998 and 2004.^[ DELL Vostro 1014 Keyboard Another high-profile case involving a forged CV was that of Canadian John Davy who was appointed head of Maori TV after claiming he held a master of business administration degree. His case was taken much more seriously by the Courts; he was only in the job for three months but was sent to prison and then deported. FUJITSU Lifebook E8210 Keyboard According to one editorial, "he did no harm after dishonestly getting his job" while Ms Thompson benefited from her fraud for much longer but was simply told her offence was 'out of character'. The private sector in New Zealand has seen a significant increase in fraudulent activity in the last 30 years. TOSHIBA 9Z.N4WSC.001 Keyboard Although there have been earlier company failures due to fraud – such as the collapse of Jeff Brother's Ltd (JBL) in 1972 – financial turmoil in New Zealand came to a head in the stockmarket crash of 1987. The crash followed a sharemarket boom in the early 1980s during which investment companies like Brierleys, Chase Corporation,  FUJITSU Siemens M1010 Keyboard Equiticorp, Robert Jones Investments, Renouf Corporation and Capital Market had huge increases in value by issuing shares to the public. The National Business Review suggested at the time that unsophisticated New Zealand investors were 'bedazzled by paper shuffling'.^[34]  GATEWAY V030946FS1 US Keyboard Apparently little of the newly raised equity was going into real projects and financial commentator Brian Gaynor subsequently commented that "There were endless media comments about inside trading, creative accounting, poor disclosure and huge paper profits for IPO promoters." As a result of the crash, many companies on the NZ stock exchange disappeared, wiping out millions in shareholders’ funds.  SONY 148738121 Keyboard In 1989 alone, almost 3,000 companies became insolvent – the collapse of the high-flying Equiticorp stood out as one of the largest. These turbulent events led to the establishment of the Serious Fraud Office to investigate complex cases of fraud including bribery and corruption.^[35] Allan Hawkins, the founder of Equiticorp, was one of the first to be pursued by the SFO.  DELL PVDG3 Keyboard He was convicted of conspiring to dishonestly use a system designed to disguise the source and disposition of money and four counts of defrauding his own company. He was sentenced to six years in prison while other Equiticorp directors were jailed for shorter terms.^[36] The stock market eventually settled down but fell in value from $45.5 billion before the crash to only $14 billion by 1991.^[37]  DELL INSPIRON 1464 Keyboard However, financial institutions in New Zealand continued to run close to the wind. In July 2007, Bridgecorp collapsed owing 14,500 people about $490 million. The five directors were convicted of making untrue statements in the company's offer documents and the judge sentenced Rod Petricevic and Rob Roest to six and a half years in prison.^[38] DELL Vostro 3350 Keyboard Also in 2007, Capital + Merchant Finance collapsed owing $167 million to 7500 investors with the directors facing numerous charges arising out of its demise.^[39] Wayne Douglas and Neal Nicholls, the founding directors of Capital+Merchant were found guilty of 'theft by a person in a special relationship' and jailed for seven and a half years each – the longest sentences so far given to failed finance company directors.^[40]  DELL Precision M4500 Keyboard One of the largest finance companies to fall was South Canterbury Finance in 2010 with debts of $1.7 billion. Charges were laid by the SFO against the owner, Allan Hubbard, but the case against him was dropped after he died in a car crash.^[41] Also in 2010 Stephen Versalko was sent to prison after committing the biggest case of employee theft in New Zealand. HP Pavilion dv6-3040sp Keyboard Versalko stole $17.8 million from wealthy clients while working as an investment adviser at the ASB's Remuera branch.^[42] In 2012,KPMG released its latest fraud figures for New Zealand showing losses in 2011 were $279 million.^[6] Altogether since 2005, more than 50 finance firms have failed, leaving billions of dollars owed to retail investors, lengthy legal tussles and jail sentences for an increasing number of company directors.^[43] HP 519265-001 Keyboard Finance companies aren't the only ones being investigated by the SFO. In 2012 SFO chief Adam Feeley said "We opened 40 new investigations in the last financial year, the most cases the SFO has ever taken on in a year, none of them were finance companies.^[44] We do have a problem [with financial crime], it's endemic in every sector of business, HP G42-415DX Keyboard it exists in the public sector, it's a transnational problem and it's not getting any smaller." In November 2012, the SFO began investigating Ross Asset Management (RAM), possibly New Zealand's largest ever Ponzi scheme, after receivers revealed that only $10m had been recovered of the $450 million which had been invested.^[45] Compaq Presario CQ57 Series Keyboard The following month it was reported that the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) was investigating the role of financial advisors who recommended their clients put money into the scheme. Investor spokesman Bruce Tichbon said some investors had already started legal action against authorised advisors who put them into RAM.  HP Mini 210-1109TU Keyboard The SFO also warns of a rise in "affinity crimes", where in the wake of the collapse of finance companies run by strangers there is a trend for people to feel their trust is better placed in people they know. One such case was that of Jacqui Bradley who in 2012 was convicted on 75 fraud charges relating to a Ponzi scheme that stripped $15.5 million off 28 victims – many of them her personal friends.^[47] SONY VAIO VGN-FS315Z Keyboard Another case was that of Anthony Allison, a stockbroker who was jailed for 4 years after stealing $1.1 million from friends and clients to fund his lavish lifestyle. Allison offered to take care of the finances of family friends and wealthy clients he met through the Parnell Tennis Club and then plundered their bank accounts. HP Pavilion G6-1227TU Keyboard A study by tax lecturer, Dr Lisa Marriott, of Victoria University has found there is 150 times more tax fraud in New Zealand than welfare fraud^[49] – but those who commit welfare fraud are more likely to go to prison.^[50] She examined three years of tax evasion and welfare fraud and found that welfare fraud was also significantly more likely to be prosecuted than tax fraud – despite substantially greater losses from the latter. HP AEUT5U00010 Keyboard In 2010 alone, tax evaders cheated the country of between $1 billion and $6 billion, while welfare fraud cost only $39 million. In 2012, 714 people were convicted for defrauding taxpayers of $23.4million.^[51] The total amount owed back to the Government from welfare fraud was about $106 million because most of those convicted were only able to pay back very small amounts.^[52] HP Mini 110-3004tu Keyboard SONY V072078BS1 Keyboard The average amount stolen by welfare fraudsters was $70,000, and those found guilty had a 60 per cent chance of being jailed. For tax evaders the average fraud was $270,000, but those found guilty had only a 22 per cent chance of being jailed. For example, a welfare fraudster who stole $148,000 – at the upper end of the scale for welfare fraud – received 18 months in prison. SONY VAIO VGN-NR11M/S Keyboard A woman who received an extra $51,000 over five years from Work and Income was given a 12-month prison term.^[53] Meanwhile, a tax cheat who failed to pay $222,000 in tax – at the lower end of the prosecution scale – got eight months' home detention and 250 hours' community service. In 2012 Antoinette Cherrington, Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 Keyboard a Bay of Islands businesswoman pleaded guilty to 59 charges relating to the non-payment of $109,358 in tax and was sentenced to home detention and community work.^[54] Another tax cheat who avoided paying $500,000 was only sentenced to 12 months' home detention.^[50] Marriott found that public attitudes towards tax evasion were indulgent, sometimes admiring, while beneficiaries were considered "scroungers or cheats". ACER Extensa 5635Z Keyboard Commenting on the results of the study, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne. “I don't think that's fair.”^[55] Auckland Action Against Poverty spokeswoman Sarah Thompson said: "We have a cult of prejudice against beneficiaries. This research shows not only is that belief unfounded, but it's wrong. Tax evaders are ripping off the country to a much greater extent than beneficiaries are."  Lenovo 45N2106 Keyboard The term ‘police corruption’ has been used to describe a range of unethical or illegal activities: bribery; excessive use of force; fabrication and destruction of evidence; racism; and, favouritism or nepotism. Police corruption generally involves an abuse of power – what is corrupted is the ‘special trust’ invested in the police. Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E525 Keyboard Corruption in the police service is not necessarily about money but may still involve unethical or illegal behaviour for personal gain – such as the kudos of gaining a conviction or the possibility of promotion.^{[citation needed]} One example of police corruption in New Zealand was that of Arthur Allan Thomas. HP Pavilion DV7-3060us Keyboard Thomas was convicted twice for murdering Harvey and Jeanette Crewe after two detectives, Bruce Hutton and Len Johnston, planted a cartridge case in the garden of the house where the murders were committed to secure a conviction against him.^[56] Author Chris Birt, who spent 37 years studying the Crewe murders, believes that Hutton and Johnston 'were not alone'.  Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E120 Keyboard He says Hutton was pressured by the head of the national Criminal Investigation Branch, Bob Walton, to come up with a "solution" to the murders.^[57] Former police inspector, Ross Meurant, who searched the Crewe's property at the time (and failed to find a cartridge) says he was also pressured by Walton to change his evidence at the Royal Commission which was held into the case nine years later. IBM 42T3671 Keyboard Meurant says: "It's true that New Zealand is largely free of blatant corruption – such as kickbacks, bribes and inducements for the personal gain of officers – but in its place has emerged a corruption of zealousness; where police break the law to put someone behind bars because of the belief within police that they know what is best for society."^[ HP 519265-001 Keyboard This is sometimes known as 'noble cause corruption’ when police commit an offence believing the end justifies the means.The environment of New Zealand is characterised by unique flora and fauna and a variety of landforms contained within a small island nation. Historically having an isolated and endemic ecosystem far into modernity,  SONY Vaio PCG-K215M Keyboard the arrival of first the Maori and then later European settlers began to have significant impacts on this system, with the intentional and unintentional introduction of new species and plants which often overwhelmed their natural competitors, leading to a significant loss of native ecology and biodiversity, especially in areas such as bird life.TOSHIBA Satellite l25-s1196 Keyboard Today, most parts of New Zealand are heavily modified by the effects of logging, agriculture and general human settlement, though large areas have also been placed under protection, combined in many cases with efforts to protect or regenerate native ecosystems (aided by the fact that especially the South Island of New Zealand has only a very low population density). DELL NSK-D8001 Keyboard The biota of New Zealand is one of the most unusual on Earth, due to its long isolation from other continental landmasses. Its affinities are derived in part from Gondwana, from which it separated 82 million years ago, some modest affinities with New Caledonia and Lord Howe Island, both of which are part of the same continental plate as New Zealand and in part from Australia. SONY VAIO VGN-CS31S/R Keyboard More recently a component has been introduced by humans. New Zealand's biodiversity exhibits high levels of endemism, both in itsflora and fauna. Until recently the islands had no native terrestrial mammals except for bats (although mammals did exist in New Zealand until 19 million years ago), the main component of the fauna being insects and birds. HP Pavilion dv6-3045eo Keyboard Its flora is dominated by Gondwanan plants, comprising historically of forests, most famously the giant kauri. New Zealand has developed a national Biodiversity Action Plan to address conservation of considerable numbers of threatened flora and fauna within New Zealand. As with many other countries there are a number of environmental organizations that are working towards addressing various environmental issues in New Zealand.  Lenovo 3000 G530 4151 Keyboard The move to carry out genetic engineering in New Zealand is opposed by environmentalists on economic and environmental grounds and the release of genetically modified organisms now has a strict regulatory regime under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. Mining in New Zealand often encounters opposition from environmentalists. DELL 0PVDG3 Keyboard Coal mining in the West Coast Region is of concern and there are plans to start theCypress Mine, the Escarpment Mine Project, the Mt William North Mining Project, as well as issues at the long established Stockton Mine. Lignite mining in theSouthland Region is also encountering opposition.^[11] Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is also of concern. TOSHIBA PK130260100 Keyboard A proposed soapstone mine in the Cobb Valley has also raised environmental concerns.^[12] Water pollution in New Zealand is an ongoing issue. Fish and Game, a statutory government body, started a dirty dairying campaign to highlight water pollution due to dairy farming. It led to the creation in 2003 of the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord, ACER Aspire 2920-5A2G25Mi Keyboard a voluntary agreement between Fonterra, Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and regional councils. A 2009 study showed that the Manawatu River was found that the river had the highest gross primary production (GPP) compared to 300 rivers and streams in the Western world.^[13] ACER AEZU2R00010 Keyboard High GPP rates are an indication of poor ecological health and can lead to variousenvironmental issues.The management of waste in New Zealand has become more regulated to reduce associated environmental issues.Deforestation in New Zealand is now of negligible concern since logging indigenous forest on public land has ceased and it requires a permit to be carried out on privately owned land. COMPAQ Presario CQ60-215DX Keyboard In the past 800 years of human occupation New Zealand has lost 75% of its forests due to deliberately lit fires and land clearance. Biodiversity of New Zealand is rich and diverse but in serious decline. Migration to New Zealand began with Polynesian settlement in New Zealand, then uninhabited, about 1250 to 1280.  TOSHIBA Satellite M645-S4050 Keyboard European migration provided a major influx following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Subsequent immigration has been chiefly from the British Isles, but also from continental Europe, the Pacific, America, & Asia. Polynesians in the South Pacific were the first to discover the landmass of New Zealand. Lenovo 3000 Y500 Keyboard Eastern Polynesian explorers had settled in New Zealand by approximately the thirteenth century CE with most evidence pointing to an arrival date of about 1280. Their arrival gave rise to the Māori culture and the Māori language, both unique to New Zealand, although very closely related to analogues in other parts of Eastern Polynesia.  ASUS F6VE Keyboard Evidence from Wairau Bar and the Chatham islands shows that the Polynesian colonists maintained many parts of their east Polynesian culture such as burial customs for at least 50 years. Especially strong resemblances link Māori to the languages and cultures of the Cook and Society Islands, which after the 2010 Otago University archaeological research of Wairau Bar, Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 Keyboard are regarded as the most likely places of origin. Moriori settled the Chatham Islands during the 15th century from SE South Island of New Zealand. Due to New Zealand's geographic isolation, several centuries passed before the next phase of settlement, the arrival of Europeans. SONY VAIO VGN NR298E Keyboard Only then did the original inhabitants need to distinguish themselves from the new arrivals, using the adjective "māori" which means "ordinary" or "indigenous" which later became a noun although the term New Zealand native was common until about 1890. Māori thought of their tribe (iwi) as a nation.^{[citation needed]} In neolithic times there was no pan Māori organization.^[ HP Mini 210 Keyboard Cook claimed New Zealand for Britain on his arrival in 1769. The establishment of British colonies in Australia from 1788 and the boom in whaling and sealing in the Southern Ocean brought many Europeans to the vicinity of New Zealand, with some deciding to settle. Whalers and sealers were often itinerant and the first real settlers were missionaries and traders in the Bay of Islands area from 1809. Acer eMachines E732 Keyboard By 1830 there was a population of about 800 non Māori which included a total of about 200 runaway convicts and seamen who often married into the Māori community.^{[citation needed]} The seamen often lived in New Zealand for a short time before joining another ship a few months later. HP Pavilion DV7-3188cl Keyboard In 1839 there were 1100 Europeans living in the North Island. Regular outbreaks of extreme violence mainly between Māori hapu, known as the Musket Wars, resulted in the deaths of between 20,000 and 50,000 Māori up until 1843. Violence against European shipping, cannibalism and the lack of established law and order made settling in New Zealand a risky prospect. TOSHIBA NSK-T4D01 Keyboard By the late 1830s many Māori were nominally Christian and had freed many of the Māori slaves that had been captured during the Musket Wars. By this time, many Māori, especially in the north, could read and write Māori and to a lesser extent English. European migration has resulted in a deep legacy being left on the social and political structures of New Zealand. HP 405963-001 Keyboard Early visitors to New Zealand included whalers, sealers, missionaries, mariners, and merchants, attracted to natural resources in abundance. They came from the Australian colonies, Great Britain and Ireland, Germany (forming the next biggest immigrant group after the British and Irish),^[1] France, Portugal, the Netherlands, Denmark, The United States, and Canada. SAMSUNG Q35 Keyboard In 1840 representatives of the British Crown signed the Treaty of Waitangi with 240 Māori chiefs throughout New Zealand, motivated by plans for a French colony at Akaroa and land purchases by the New Zealand Company in 1839. Britishsovereignty was then proclaimed over New Zealand in May 1840. HP Pavilion dv6-2133ee Keyboard Following the formalising of sovereignty, the organised and structured flow of migrants from Great Britain and Ireland began. Government-chartered ships like the clipper Gananoque and the Glentanner carried immigrants to New Zealand. SONY VAIO VGN NR185E Keyboard Typically clipper ships left British ports such as London and travelled south through the central Atlantic to about 43 degrees south to pick up the strong westerly winds that carried the clippers well south of South Africa and Australia. Ships would then head north once in the vicinity of New Zealand. ACER 9J.N1H82.01D Keyboard The Glentanner migrant ship of 610 tonnes made two runs to New Zealand and several to Australia carrying 400 tonne of passengers and cargo. Travel time was about 3 to 3 1/2 months to New Zealand. Cargo carried on the Glentanner for New Zealand included coal, slate, lead sheet, wine, beer, cart components, salt, soap and passengers' personal goods. HP Pavilion dv7-2185dx CPU Fan On the 1857 passage the ship carried 163 official passengers, most of them government assisted. On the return trip the ship carried a wool cargo worth 45,000 pounds.^[2] In the 1860s discovery of gold started a gold rush in Otago. By 1860 more than 100,000 British and Irish settlers lived throughout New Zealand. HP Pavilion dv7-3125eo CPU Fan The Otago Association actively recruited settlers from Scotland, creating a definite Scottish influence in that region, while the Canterbury Association recruited settlers from the south of England, creating a definite English influence over that region.^[3] In the 1860s most migrants settled in the South Island due to gold discoveries and the availability of flat grass covered land for pastoral farming. HP Pavilion dv4-1133tx CPU Fan The low number of Māori(about 2,000) and the absence of warfare gave the South Island many advantages .It was only when the New Zealand wars ended that The North Island again became an attractive destination.In the 1870s the MP Julius Vogel borrowed millions of pounds from Britain to help fund capital development such as a nationwide rail system, HP 606013-001 CPU Fan lighthouses, ports and bridges and encouraged mass migrantion from Britain. By 1870 the non-Māori population reached over 250,000.Other smaller groups of settlers came from Germany, Scandinavia, and other parts of Europe as well as from China and India, but British and Irish settlers made up the vast majority, and did so for the next 150 years. HP COMPAQ KSB05105HA CPU Fan Between 1881 and the 1920s, the New Zealand Parliament passed legislation that intended to limit Asiatic migration to New Zealand, and prevented Asians from naturalising.^[5] In particular, the New Zealand government levied a poll tax on Chinese immigrants up until the 1930s. New Zealand finally abolished the poll tax in 1944. HP 538340-001 CPU Fan Large numbers of Dalmatians fled from the Austro- Hungarian empire to settle in New Zealand around 1900. They settled mainly in West Auckland and often worked to establish vineyards and orchards or worked on gum fields in Northland.An influx of Jewish refugees from central Europe came in the 1930s. HP Pavilion dv6-2150us CPU Fan Many of the persons of Polish descent in New Zealand arrived as orphans via Siberia and Iran during World War II.With the various agencies of the United Nations dealing with humanitarian efforts following the Second World War, New Zealand accepted about 5,000 refugees and displaced persons from Europe, and more than 1,100 Hungarians between 1956 and 1959 (see Refugee migration into New Zealand). DELL MD538 CPU Fan The post-WWII immigration included more persons from Greece, Italy, Poland and the former Yugoslavia. New Zealand limited immigration to those who would meet a labour shortage in New Zealand. To encourage those to come, the government introduced free and assisted passages in 1947, a schema expanded by the National Party administration in 1950. HP Pavilion dv7-6187cl CPU Fan However, when it became clear that not enough skilled migrants would come from the British Isles alone, recruitment began in Northern European countries. New Zealand signed a bilateral agreement for skilled migrants with the Netherlands, and a large number^{[clarification needed]} of Dutch immigrants arrived in New Zealand. HP KSB06105HA CPU Fan Others came in the 1950s from Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Austria to meet needs in specialised occupations. By the 1960s, the policy of excluding people based on nationality yielded a population overwhelmingly European in origin. By the mid-1960s, a desire for cheap unskilled labour led to ethnic diversification.  HP Pavilion dv7-3065dx CPU Fan In the 1950s and 1960s, New Zealand encouraged migrants from the South Pacific. The country had a large demand for unskilled labour in the manufacturing sector. As long as this demand continued, migration was accepted from the South Pacific, and many temporary workers overstayed their visas. HP Pavilion dv7-2043cl CPU Fan From 1977 to 1980 dawn raids were carried out by police to remove overstayers most were Pacific islanders. In May 2008, Massey University economist Dr Greg Clydesdale released to the news media an extract of a report, Growing Pains, Evaluations and the Cost of Human Capital, which saw Pacific Islanders as "forming an underclass".^[6] HP 646578-001 CPU Fan The report, written by Dr Clydesdale for the Academy of World Business, Marketing & Management Development 2008 Conference in Brazil, and based on data from various government departments, provoked highly controversial debate. Pacific Islands community leaders and academic peer reviewers strongly criticised the report, while a provisional review was lodged by Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres.^[7][8] SONY VAIO PCG-6L2L CPU Fan A record number of migrants arrived in the 1970s; 70,000, for example, during 1973–1974. While these numbers represent many ethnicities, New Zealand had an underlying preference^{[citation needed]} for migrants from "traditional sources", namely Britain, Europe and Northern America, due to similarities of language and culture. HP Pavilion dv7-2043cl CPU Fan Along with New Zealand adopting a radical direction of economic practice, Parliament passed a new Immigration Act into law in 1987. This would end the preference for migrants from Britain, Europe or Northern America based on their race, and instead classify migrants on their skills, personal qualities, and potential contribution to New Zealand economy and society. SONY Vaio VPC-EB1S0E/BJ CPU Fan The introduction of the points-based system came under the National government, which pursued this policy-change even more than the previous Labour Party administration. This system resembled that of Canada, and came into effect in 1991. Effectively the New Zealand Immigration Service ranks the qualities sought in the migrants and gives them a priority using a points-based scale. HP KSB06105HA CPU Fan As of 2009 this framework continues to control immigration, however from 2010 the new Immigration Act will replace all protocols and procedures.The Government published the results of an immigration review in December 2006.Regulations provide that immigrants must be of good character. SONY Vaio VGN-BX760PS5 CPU Fan This policy resulted in a wide variety of ethnicities in New Zealand, with people from over 120 countries represented. Between 1991 and 1995 the numbers of those given approval grew rapidly: 26,000 in 1992; 35,000 in 1994; 54,811 in 1995. The minimum target for residency approval was set^{[by whom?]} at 25,000. HP Pavilion dv7-2043cl CPU Fan The number approved was almost twice what was targeted. The Labour-led governments of 1999–2008 made no change to the Immigration Act 1987, although some changes were made^{[by whom?]} to the 1991 policy. In particular, the minimum IELTS level for skilled migrants was raised^{[by whom?]}from 5.5 to 6.5 in 2002, following concerns that immigrants who spoke English as a second language encountered difficulty getting jobs in their chosen fields.^[1 HP Pavilion dv7-3065dx CPU Fan ^3] Since then, migration from Britain and South Africa has increased, at the expense of immigration from Asia. However, a study-for-residency programme for foreign university students has mitigated this imbalance somewhat.^{[citation needed]} By 2005, New Zealand accepted 60% of the applicants under the Skilled/Business category that awarded points for qualifications and work experience, or business experience and funds they had available.  HP 550 CPU Fan From 1 Aug 2007, NZD$2.5 million is the minimum for the Active Investor Migrant Category . Changes to the point system have also given more weight to job offers as compared to educational degrees. Some Aucklanders cynically joke that most taxi drivers in Auckland tend to be highly qualified engineers or doctors who are unable to then find jobs in their fields once in the country. HP Pavilion dv7-3170ep CPU Fan In 2004–2005 Immigration New Zealand set a target of 45,000, representing 1.5% of the total population. However, the net effect was a population decline, since more left than arrived. 48,815 arrived, and overall the population was 10,000 or 0.25% less than the previous year. Overall though, New Zealand has one of the highest populations of foreign born citizens. IBM 26R8197 CPU Fan In 2005, almost 20% of New Zealanders were born overseas, one of the highest percentages of any country in the world. The Department of Labour’s sixth annual Migration Trends report shows a 21 per cent rise in work permits issued in the 2005/06 year compared with the previous year. Nearly 100,000 people were issued work permits to work in sectors ranging from IT to horticulture in the 2005/06 year. HP Pavilion dv7-6187cl CPU Fan This compares with around 35,000 work permits issued in 1999–2000. Around 52,000 people were approved for permanent New Zealand residence in 2005/06. Over 60 per cent were approved under the skilled or business categories. New Zealand accepts 750 refugees per year mandated by the United Nations. Toshiba Satellite A205-S5831 CPU Fan As part of the Pacific Access Category, 650 citizens come from Fiji, Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Tonga. 1,100 Samoan citizens come under the Samoan Quota scheme. Once resident, these people can apply to bring other family members to New Zealand under the Family Sponsored stream. Any migrant accepted under these schemes receives permanent residency in New Zealand.  IBM MCF-217PAM05 CPU Fan Effective in New Zealand from 4 May 2007, the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act^[15] requires anyone providing immigration advice to be licensed. It also established the Immigration Advisers Authority to manage the licensing process, both in New Zealand and offshore. From 4 May 2009 it became mandatory for immigration advisers practising in New Zealand to be licensed.  APPLE 661-4952 CPU Fan The introduction of mandatory licensing for New Zealand-based immigration advisers was designed to protect migrants from unscrupulous operators and provide support for licensed advisers. The licensing managed by the Immigration Advisers Authority Official website establishes and monitors industry standards and sets requirements for continuedprofessional development.  Dell Vostro 3500 CPU Fan As an independent body, the Authority can prosecute unlicensed immigration advisers. Penalties include up to seven years imprisonment and/or fines up to $NZ100,000 for offenders, as well as the possibility of court-ordered reparation payments. It can refer complaints made against licensed advisers to an Independent Tribunal. Compaq Presario CQ60-615DX CPU Fan Immigration advisers who work offshore but give advice about New Zealand immigration matters must obtain a license by 4 May 2010. The Immigration Advisers Authority does not handle immigration applications or inquiries. These are managed by Immigration New Zealand. Statements by the government in the mid 2000s emphasised that New Zealand must compete for its share of skilled and talented migrants, and David Cunliffe, HP 646578-001 CPU Fan the former immigration minister, has argued that New Zealand was "in a global race for talent and we must win our share".^[16] With this in mind, a bill (over 400 pages long) was prepared^{[by whom?]} which was sent^{[by whom?]} to parliament in April 2007. It follows a review of the immigration act. The bill aims to make the process more efficient, and achieves this by giving more power to immigration officers. HP Pavilion dv9230us CPU Fan Rights of appeal were to be streamlined into a single appeal tribunal. Furthermore, any involvement of the Human Rights Commission in matters of immigration to New Zealand would be removed (Part 11, Clause 350). The new Immigration Act, which passed into law in 2009 replacing the 1987 Act, IBM Lenovo Thinkpad X200 Series CPU Fan is aimed to enhance border security and improve the efficiency of the immigration services. Key aspects of the new Act include the ability to use biometrics, a new refugee and protection system, a single independent appeals tribunal and a universal visa system. HP KSB06105HA CPU Fan As of March 2012, a draft paper leaked to the New Zealand Labour Party shows Immigration New Zealand is planning to create a two-tier system which will favour wealthy immigrants over poor ones who speak little or no English. This means that applications from parents sponsored by their higher income children, or those who bring a guaranteed income or funds, would be processed faster than other applications. IBM ThinkPad T60 2637 CPU Fan As in most other countries, immigration is a highly contentious issue and has provoked fierce debate from time to time in New Zealand.^{[citation needed]} The political party New Zealand First has frequently criticised immigration on economic, social and cultural grounds. APPLE MG62090V1-Q020-S99 CPU Fan New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has several occasions characterised the rate of Asian immigration into New Zealand as too high; in 2004, he stated: "We are being dragged into the status of an Asian colony and it is time that New Zealanders were placed first in their own country."^[20] On 26 April 2005, he said: HP 535766-001 CPU Fan "Māori will be disturbed to know that in 17 years' time they will be outnumbered by Asians in New Zealand", an estimate disputed by Statistics New Zealand, the government's statistics bureau. Peters quickly rebutted that Statistics New Zealand has underestimated the growth-rate of the Asian community in the past.^[21] HP Envy 17-1090eo CPU Fan In April 2008, deputy New Zealand First party leader Peter Brown drew widespread criticism after voicing similar views and expressing concern at the increase in New Zealand's ethnic Asian population: "We are going to flood this country with Asian people with no idea what we are going to do with them when they come here."^[22 Dell Vostro 3350 CPU Fan "The matter is serious. If we continue this open door policy there is real danger we will be inundated with people who have no intention of integrating into our society. The greater the number, the greater the risk. They will form their own mini-societies to the detriment of integration and that will lead to division, friction and resentment." TOSHIBA NSK-TK001 Keyboard,TOSHIBA 9J.N7482.901 Keyboard,HP Pavilion dv6-2112sa Keyboard

Economy of New Zealand

http://www.all-laptopfan.com/,http://www.all-keyboard.com/ New Zealand has a market economy that depends greatly on international trade, mainly with Australia, the European Union, theUnited States, China, South Korea and Japan. It has only small manufacturing and high-tech sectors, being strongly focused on tourism and primary industries such as agriculture. DELL INSPIRON 1464 Keyboard Free-market reforms over recent decades have removed many barriers toforeign investment, and the World Bank in 2005 praised New Zealand as being the most business-friendly country in the world, before Singapore. Traditionally, New Zealand's economy was built on a narrow range of primary products, such as wool, meat and dairy products. SONY VAIO VGN-NW240F Keyboard As an example, from approximately 1920 to the late 1930s, the dairy export quota was usually around 35% of the total exports, and in some years made up almost 45% of all New Zealand's exports.^[16] Due to the high demand for these primary products – such as the New Zealand wool boom of 1951 – New Zealand enjoyed a high standard of living. ACER TravelMate 2800 Series Keyboard However, commodity prices for these exports declined, and New Zealand lost itspreferential trading position with the United Kingdom in 1973, due to the latter joining the European Economic Community. Partly as a result, from 1970 to 1990, the relative New Zealand GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power declined from about 115% of the OECD average to 80%.Lenovo IBM ThinkPad Edge E420 Keyboard New Zealand's economy has been based on a foundation of exports from its very efficient agricultural system. Leading agricultural exports include meat, dairy products, forest products, fruit and vegetables, fish, and wool. New Zealand was a direct beneficiary of many of the reforms achieved under the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations, with agriculture in general and the dairy sector in particular enjoying many new trade opportunities in the long term. Lenovo IBM ThinkPad Edge S420 Keyboard The country has substantial hydroelectric power and sizeable reserves of natural gas, much of which is exploited due primarily to major Keynesian import substitution-oriented industrial projects (See Think Big). Leading manufacturing sectors are food processing, metal fabrication, and wood and paper products. Lenovo IBM ThinkPad Edge E420S Keyboard Some manufacturing industries, many of which had only been established in a climate of import substitution with high tariffs and subsidies, such as car assembly, have completely disappeared, and manufacturing's importance in the economy is in a general decline. Since 1984, the New Zealand government has undertaken major economic restructuring (known first as Rogernomics and thenRuthanasia), Lenovo IBM ThinkPad T420 Keyboard moving an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access toward a more industrialised, free-market economy that can compete globally. This growth has boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. Lenovo IBM ThinkPad T420i Keyboard Per-capita GDP has been moving up towards the levels of the big West European economies since the trough in 1990, but the gap remains significant. New Zealand's heavy dependence on trade leaves its growth prospects vulnerable to economic performance in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Lenovo IBM ThinkPad T420S Keyboard Between 1984 and 1999, a number of measures of New Zealand's economic and social capital showed a steady decline: the youth suicide rate grew sharply into one of the highest in the developed world;^[18] the number of food banks increased dramatically;^[19] marked increases in violent and other crime were observed;^[20] the number of New Zealanders estimated to be living in poverty grew by at least 35% between 1989 and 1992;^[21] SONY VGN-FE11M Keyboard and health care was especially hard-hit, leading to a significant deterioration in health standards among working and middle-class people.^[22] Between 1985 and 1992, New Zealand's economy grew by 4.7% during the same period in which the average OECD nation grew by 28.2%.^[23] ACER TravelMate 3232WXMi Keyboard From 1984 to 1993 inflation averaged 9% per year, New Zealand's credit rating dropped twice, and foreign debt quadrupled.^[21] Between 1986 and 1993, the unemployment rate rose from 3.6% to 11%. The New Zealand economy has recently been perceived as successful. However, the generally positive outlook includes some challenges.  HP Pavilion DV7-3065dx Keyboard New Zealand income levels, which used to be above much of Western Europe prior to the deep crisis of the 1970s, have never recovered in relative terms. For instance, the New Zealand nominal GDP per capita is about 80% that of the United States. Income inequality has increased greatly, implying that significant portions of the population have quite modest incomes.  HP 516884-001 Keyboard Further, New Zealand has a very large current account deficit of 8–9% of GDP. Despite this, its public debt stands at 33.7% (2011 est.)^[25] of the total GDP, which is small compared to many developed nations. However, between 1984 and 2006, net foreign debt increased 11-fold, to NZ$182 billion, NZ$45,000 for each person.^[13] SONY VAIO VGN-FS315Z Keyboard The combination of a modest public debt and a large net foreign debt reflects that most of the net foreign debt is held by the private sector. At 31 June 2012, gross foreign debt was NZ$256.4 billion, or 125.3% of GDP.^[26] At 31 March 2012, net foreign debt was NZ$141.65 billion or 104.4% of GDP.^[27] New Zealand's persistent current-account deficits have two main causes.  HP Pavilion DV7-2177cl Keyboard The first is that earnings from agricultural exports and tourism have failed to cover the imports of advanced manufactured goods and other imports (such as imported fuels) required to sustain the New Zealand economy.^{[citation needed]} Secondly, there has been an investment income imbalance or net outflow for debt-servicing of external loans. SONY VAIO VPC-F12 Keyboard The proportion of the current account deficit that is attributable to the investment income imbalance (a net outflow to the Australian-owned banking sector) grew from one third in 1997 to roughly 70% in 2008. Historically, New Zealand had a highly protected, regulated and subsidised economy. HP Pavilion dv6-3007tu Keyboard This stemmed at least partly from trends started in the first half of the 20th century, when the Liberal Government and later the First Labour Government introduced social security systems with, for the time, very wide-ranging scope (from state pensions to unemployment benefits and free education and health care), while also regulating industry, mandating trade unionism and industrial arbitration. SONY VAIO VGN-NW35E/W Keyboard Imports were also heavily regulated. While called "welfare statism" by some,^[29]it was accepted that until at least the 1950s both main parties (Labour and National) generally supported this trend, even though critics pointed to negative effects on the general economy and argued that increasing emigration could be blamed to a large degree on these policies.^[30] TOSHIBA Satellite M640-BT2N23 Keyboard By the 1960s, the New Zealand economy's terms of trade began to decline. This was largely due to the decline in export receipts from the United Kingdom, which in 1955 took 65.3 percent of New Zealand's exports. By the year ended June 1973, during which Britain formally entered the European Economic Community, this had fallen to 26.8 percent. DELL NSK-D8001 Keyboard By the year ended June 1990 its share had fallen to 7.2 percent and in the year ended June 2000 its share was 6.2 percent.^[31] To a substantial degree, the economic restrictions remained in place or were even sometimes extended in the early second half of the 20th century. However, reforms in the 1980s and early 1990s were then to turn this situation into its opposite. SONY VGN-FE41S Keyboard Between 1984 and 1995, successive New Zealand governments enacted policies of economic deregulation informed by microeconomics. The policies aimed to liberalise the economy and were notable for their very comprehensive coverage and innovations. Specific polices included: floating the exchange rate; establishing an independent reserve bank; TOSHIBA 6037B0028502 Keyboard performance contracts for senior civil servants; public sector finance reform based on accrual accounting; tax neutrality; subsidy-free agriculture; and industry-neutral competition regulation. Economic growth was resumed in 1991. New Zealand was changed from a somewhat closed and centrally controlled economy to one of the most open economies in the OECD.^[32]  DELL Inspiron 1564 Keyboard Since 1984, government subsidies including agricultural subsides were eliminated; import regulations were liberalised; the exchange rate was floated; and controls on interest rates, wages, and prices were removed; and marginal rates of taxation were reduced. Tight monetary policy and major efforts to reduce the government budget deficit brought the inflation rate down from an annual rate of more than 18% in 1987.  HP Pavilion DV7-2173cl Keyboard The deregulation of government-owned enterprises in the 1980s and 1990s reduced government's role in the economy and permitted the retirement of some public debt. Deregulation created a very business-friendly regulatory framework. A 2008 study and survey ranked it 99.9% in "Business freedom", and 80% overall in "Economic freedom", Lenovo 3000 G430 4152 Keyboard noting amongst other things that it only takes 12 days to establish a business in New Zealand on average, compared with a worldwide average of 43 days. Other indicators measured were property rights, labour market conditions, government controls and corruption, the last being considered "next to non-existent" in the Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal study.^[33]  ACER Aspire 1690 Keyboard According to the Heritage Foundation, New Zealand has the strongest private property rights in the world, scoring 95 on a scale of 100. In its 'Doing Business 2008' survey, the World Bank (which in that year rated New Zealand as the second-most business-friendly country worldwide), ranked New Zealand 13th out of 178 in the business-friendliness of its hiring laws.^[34]  HP 519265-001 Keyboard The 1990s liberalisations also have been blamed for a number of significant negative effects. One of them was the leaky homes crisis, where the liberalisation of building standards (in the expectation that market forces would assure quality) led to many thousands of severely deficient buildings (mostly residential homes and apartments) being constructed over a period of a decade. The costs of fixing the damage has been estimated at over NZ$11 billion. FUJITSU Lifebook E8210 Keyboard Economic growth, which had slowed in 1997 and 1998 due to the negative effects of the Asian financial crisis and two successive years of drought, rebounded in 1999. A low New Zealand dollar, favourable weather, and high commodity prices boosted exports, and the economy is estimated to have grown by 2.5% in 2000. HP Pavilion DV7-3183cl Keyboard Growth resumed at a higher level from 2001 onwards due primarily to the lower value of the New Zealand dollar, which made exports more competitive. The return of substantial economic growth led the unemployment rate to drop from 7.8% in 1999 to 3.4% in late 2005, the lowest rate in nearly 20 years. FUJITSU Siemens M1010 Keyboard Although New Zealand enjoyed low unemployment rates in the years immediately prior to the financial crisis beginning in 2007, subsequent unemployment rose. New Zealand's large current account deficit, which stood at more than 6.5% of GDP in 2000, has been a constant source of concern for New Zealand policymakers and hit 9% as of March 2006. Compaq Presario CQ62-358TU Keyboard The rebound in the export sector is expected to help narrow the deficit to lower levels, especially due to decreases in the exchange rate of the New Zealand dollar during 2008. New Zealand's economy has been helped by strong economic relations with Australia. Australia and New Zealand are partners in "Closer Economic Relations" (CER), which allows for free trade in goods and most services. TOSHIBA 9Z.N4WSC.001 Keyboard Since 1990, CER has created a single market of more than 25 million people, and this has provided new opportunities for New Zealand exporters. Australia is now the destination of 19% of New Zealand's exports, compared to 14% in 1983.^{[citation needed]} Both sides have also agreed to consider extending CER to product standardisation and taxation policy. TOSHIBA Satellite M645-S4070 Keyboard New Zealand initiated a free trade agreement with Singapore in September 2000 which was extended in 2005 to include Chile and Brunei and is now known as the P4 agreement. New Zealand is seeking other bilateral/regional trade agreements in the Pacific area. US goods and services have been competitive in New Zealand, though the then-strong US dollar created challenges for US exporters in 2001.  HP Pavilion DV6-1350us Keyboard The market-led economy offers many opportunities for US exporters and investors. Investment opportunities exist in chemicals, food preparation, finance, tourism, and forest products, as well as in franchising. The best sales prospects are for medical equipment, information technology, and consumer goods.  HP Pavilion DV7-3188cl Keyboard On the agricultural side, the best prospects are for fresh fruit, snack foods, specialised grocery items (e.g. organic foods), and soybean meal. A number of US companies have subsidiary branches in New Zealand. Many operate through local agents, with some joint venture associations. The United States Chamber of Commerce is active in New Zealand, with a main office in Auckland and a branch committee in Wellington. ASUS F6VE Keyboard However, as of the 2010s, China is now New Zealand's second-largest trading partner, behind Australia.^[36][37] On 17 June 2010, Xi Jinping, China's vice-president, travelled to Auckland, New Zealand for a three-day visit, along with more than 100 senior business leaders.^[38] New Zealand welcomes and encourages foreign investment without discrimination. DELL NSK-DB301 Keyboard The Overseas Investment Commission (OIC) must, however, consent to foreign investments that would control 25% or more of businesses or property worth more than NZ$50 million. Restrictions and approval requirements also apply to certain investments in land and in the commercial fishing industry. In practice, OIC approval requirements have not hindered investment. HP Pavilion dv6-3057tx Keyboard OIC consent is based on a national interest determination, but no performance requirements are attached to foreign direct investment after consent is given. Full remittance of profits and capital is permitted through normal banking channels. This free investment by foreign capital has also been criticised. DELL Vostro PP38L Keyboard Groups like Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa (CAFCA) consider that New Zealand's economy is substantially overseas-owned, noting that direct ownership of New Zealand companies by foreign parties increased from $9.7 billion in 1989 to $83 billion in 2007 (an over 700% increase), while 41% of the New Zealand sharemarket valuation is now overseas-owned, compared to 19% in 1989. HP Pavilion DV7-3057nr Keyboard Around 7% of all New Zealand agriculturally productive land is also foreign-owned. CAFCA considers that the effect of such takeovers has generally been negative in terms of jobs and wages. Prior to the economic shocks which occurred upon Britain's joining the EEC in the 1970s and closing as a primary New Zealand export market, measured unemployment in New Zealand was very low. TOSHIBA Satellite l20-135 Keyboard In 1959 and 1960, for example, the country was officially at full employment.^[39] One Labour party representative recently joked in a speech that the Prime Minister of the day knew the name of every unemployed person.^[40] Between 1985 and 2012, New Zealand's unemployment rate averaged 6.29%. Toshiba Satellite L30-10X CPU Fan After the stock market crash of 1989, unemployment began to rise reaching an all-time high of 11.20% in September 1991.^[41] By 2007, it had dropped again and the rate stood at 3.5% (December 2007), its lowest level since the current method of surveying began in 1986. This gave the country the 5th-best ranking in the OECD (with an OECD average at the time of 5.5%). Toshiba Satellite A300-21H CPU Fan The low numbers correlated with a robust economy and a large backlog of job positions at all levels.^[42] Unemployment numbers are not always directly comparable between OECD nations, as they do not all keep labour market statistics in the same way. The percentage of the population employed also increased in recent years, to 68.8% of all inhabitants, SONY Vaio VGN-FS415M CPU Fan with full-time jobs increasing slightly, and part-time occupations decreasing in turn. The increase in the working population percentage is attributed to increasing wages and higher costs of living moving more people into employment.^[42] The low unemployment also had some disadvantages, with many companies unable to fill jobs. HP Pavilion dv6-3109ca CPU Fan From 2008, mainly as a result of the global financial crisis, unemployment numbers began to rise, with job losses especially high amongst women.^[43] In the last quarter of 2012, the unemployment rate fell to 6.9% from a 13-year high. This now makes New Zealand the 14th lowest among developed nations, below Canada's 7.2% and above Israel's 6.7%.HP Pavilion dv9547cl CPU Fan As of 2010, New Zealand had the second-lowest personal tax burden in the OECD, once all compulsory effects (such as superannuation and other mandatory deductions) were included in the tax-take. Only Mexico's citizens had a higher percentage-wise "take home" proportion of their salaries.^[45] There is an ongoing political debate between left- and right-leaning political parties as to whether further lowering taxes is appropriate. HP G42-380LA CPU Fan One of the most contentious questions is whether to adjust the relative tax burden of the highest-income earners. New Zealand is the highest-ranked (i.e. least corrupt) country on the Transparency International corruption perceptions index (CPI) of 2011.^[46] However, the validity of this index is disputed by those who investigate such matters. IBM ThinkPad T43P-2668 CPU Fan Adam Feeley, chief executive of the Serious Fraud Office says fraud is widespread in New Zealand and there are fundamental misconceptions about New Zealand's ranking as one of the world's least corrupt countries.^[47] International auditors, PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC), agree. Toshiba Satellite P300 CPU Fan In 2011 PwC conducted a survey on Global Economic Crime which found that 50% of New Zealand organisations (both public and private) had experienced an economic crime in the previous 12 months. This gave New Zealand the 4th highest level of fraud out of the 78 countries surveyed. Australia avoided technical recession due to a number of factors: the country's low levels of public debt allowed government stimulus spending; HP Pavilion dv7-4283cl CPU Fan its proximity to the booming Chinese economy and the related mining boom kept growth ticking over throughout the worst of the global conditions. In fact, sources such as the IMF and theReserve Bank of Australia had predicted Australia was well positioned to weather the crisis with minimal disruption, sustaining more than 2% GDP growth in 2009 (as many Western nations went into recession). HP COMPAQ 2510P Series CPU Fan In the same year the World Economic Forum ranked Australia's banking system the fourth best in the world, while the Australian dollar's 30% drop was seen as a boon for trade, shielding the country from the crisis and helping to slow growth and consumption.^[1][2] Some analysts had predicted the continuing decline of trade in 2009 could put the economy into recession for the first time in 17 years.^[3HP Pavilion dv6-3126ea CPU Fan ^] However these initial fears were proved largely unfounded as the Australian economy avoided recession and the unemployment rate peaked at a much lower rate than had been predicted. New Zealand Institute of Economic Research's quarterly survey showing New Zealand's economy contracted 0.3 percent in the first quarter of 2008 and Treasury figures suggested the economy also contracted in the June quarter putting New Zealand in a technical recession.^[4IBM 41W5269 CPU Fan ^] The Treasury says the economy could recover in the second half of the year under the impact of high dairy prices boosting farmer incomes and cuts to personal tax rates, which come into effect on Oct. 1.^[5] About 23 financial companies in New Zealand have filed for bankruptcy in a year. Housing starts in New Zealand fell 20 percent in June, the lowest levels since 1986.^[6] Compaq Presario CQ60-615DX CPU Fan Excluding apartments, approvals dropped 13 percent from May. Approvals in the year ended June fell 12 percent from a year earlier. Second-quarter approvals dropped 19 percent. The figures suggest a decrease in construction and economic growth. House sales fell 42 percent in June from a year earlier.^[7] HP Pavilion dv6-2057eo CPU Fan The New Zealand Treasury concluded that the country's economy had contracted for a second quarter based on economic indicators, putting New Zealand in a recession.^[8] New Zealand's central bank cut rates by half a percent arguing the economy was in recession.^[9] New Zealand's GDP declined by 0.2 percent in the second quarter putting the country in its first recession in a decade.^[10] HP Pavilion dv7-1135nr CPU Fan The economy emerged from recession in mid-2009, with the second-quarter GDP report showing the economy grew by 0.1 per cent on the March quarter. The table below display all national recessions appearing in 2006-2013 (for the 71 countries with available data), according to the European recession definition, IBM ThinkPad T43P-2668 CPU Fan saying that a recession occurred whenever seasonally adjusted real GDP contracts quarter on quarter, through minimum two consecutive quarters. Only 11 out of the 71 listed countries with quarterly GDP data (Poland, Slovakia, Moldova, India, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Australia, Uruguay, Colombia and Bolivia) escaped a recession in this time period. Toshiba Satellite A100-02M CPU Fan The few recessions appearing early in 2006-07 are commonly never associated to be part of the Great Recession, which is illustrated by the fact that only two countries (Iceland and Jamaica) were in recession in Q4-2007. One year before the maximum, in Q1-2008, only six countries were in recession (Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Portugal and New Zealand). ACER Aspire 5730Z Series CPU Fan The number of countries in recession was 25 in Q2‑2008, 39 in Q3‑2008 and 53 in Q4‑2008. At the steepest part of the Great Recession in Q1‑2009, a total of 59 out of 71 countries were simultaneously in recession. The number of countries in recession was 37 in Q2‑2009, 13 in Q3‑2009 and 11 in Q4‑2009. One year after the maximum, in Q1‑2010, only seven countries were in recession (Greece, Croatia, Romania, Iceland, Jamaica, Venezuela and Belize).  Toshiba Satellite P300-1FN CPU Fan The recession data for the overall G20-zone (representing 85% of all GWP), depict that the Great Recession existed as a global recession throughout Q3‑2008 until Q1‑2009. Subsequent follow-up recessions in 2010‑2013 were confined to Belize, El Salvador, Paraguay, Jamaica, Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand and 24 out of 50 European countries(including Greece).  HP G42-415DX CPU Fan As of October 2013, only seven out of the 71 countries with available quarterly data (Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Belize and El Salvador), were still in ongoing recessions.^[12][13] The many follow-up recessions hitting the European countries, are commonly referred to as being direct repercussions of the European sovereign‑debt crisis.  HP Pavilion dv7-4177nr CPU Fan Corruption manifests in different arenas of life in different ways, and can affect the corporate sector, public sector, individual politicians, political parties and governments. Transparency International generally defines corruption as "the abuse of entrusted power for private gain"^[1] usually through bribery or kickbacks. HP 580718-001 CPU Fan A broader definition of corruption encompasses undue influence over public policies, institutions, laws and regulations by vested private interests at the expense of the public interest.^[2] Corruption is often associated with fraud, which generally involves the deceitful use of documents or information for financial gain.  ACER Aspire One A110-1834 CPU Fan However, fraud can occur at any level of an organisation and does not necessarily require the abuse of power. Transparency International uses a Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) to compare levels of economic crime in different countries and has consistently ranked New Zealand as one of the least corrupt countries in the world.  Dell Vostro 3450 CPU Fan However the rankings are primarily based on opinion surveys rather than empirical evidence – and Transparency acknowledges that corruption is "to a great extent a hidden activity that is difficult to measure".^[3] Notwithstanding the subjectivity of its corruption scale, it has ranked New Zealand as one of the least corrupt out of 183 countries since 2003. SONY Vaio VPC-EB4X1E/BQ CPU Fan Staff at the Serious Fraud Office work at the corporate coalface and see how fraud and corruption manifest in New Zealand. In the past 12 months, the SFO has successfully pursued charges or convictions against eight finance companies and targeted $2.2 billion worth of fraud. They achieved a 100% conviction rate.^[5] HP 646578-001 CPU Fan Based on his experience, SFO chief Adam Feeley says: “Crime, fraud, corruption, call it what you will, is a growing part of organisational reality. We are socially, ethnically and financially – in terms of rich and poor in our society – a very different country than we were a few years ago and, particularly since the global financial crisis.”^[6] HP Pavilion tx2510us CPU Fan Feeley believes that most company boards ignore what he sees as a growing problem in New Zealand in the mistaken belief that their internal auditing processes will deal with it. In reality, internal audits pick up only 2% of fraud cases in New Zealand^[7] and, in the past five years, were unable to prevent 13 cases of staff theft at Work and Income totalling more than $180,000.^[8]  ACER Aspire 7112WSMi CPU Fan Adam Feeley points out that only 44% of the top 50 NZX companies even have formal policies prohibiting bribery. By comparison, in Britain 72% of the top 100 companies have such policies. In Europe the figure is 57% and in the US 69%. Only 16% of NZX companies have a code of ethics that is rated 'Advanced' by Corporate Analysis Enhanced Responsibility (CAER), the Australia-based centre for ethical research. Toshiba GDM610000277 CPU Fan Feeley says there are fundamental misconceptions about New Zealand's ranking as one of the world's least corrupt countries. And that 'incorrect' perception is part of the reason directors feel so smug about resisting formalised anti-corruption and values-based corporate policies.^[6] He dismisses the significance of Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index that ranks New Zealand as the world's least corrupt nation.  HP Pavilion dv7-6107tx CPU Fan “All that survey tells us is how people feel about life here. How they feel and what is actually happening are quite different things. The CPI is nothing more than a perception.” Feeley points to the results of a more recent survey conducted by the SFO which found only 37% of New Zealanders think we are 'largely free' of serious fraud and corruption. And 60% think those who commit financial crime are not held to account.^[6] Dell Vostro 3350 CPU Fan Nick Paterson, general manager of the fraud and corruption unit at the Serious Fraud Office, also believes there is a gap between New Zealanders perceptions of corruption and the reality. Paterson says there is a particular potential for corruption around tender processes and general procurement of services – citing the case of sacked Accident Compensation Corporation property manager Malcolm David Mason. Dell Vostro 3450 CPU Fan The SFO began an investigation into Mason when former ACC Minister Nick Smith questioned a lease ACC signed for a new office in Nelson costing $346,320 a year – two and half times more than what the corporation was previously paying. Mason subsequently pleaded guilty to three charges of bribery and corruption after admitting he took a bribe of $160,000, and a $9000 Singapore holiday for disclosing confidential government information to a businessman who profited from it.^[9] TOSHIBA Mini NB 300 Series Keyboard One of the difficulties in measuring the extent of procurement bribery is in defining what behaviour crosses the line – especially in the private sector. In the public sector there are usually guidelines and codes of conduct. Paterson says: "It's where you draw that line and it varies from organisation to organisation in the private sector... In the public sector there is zero tolerance and taking it to prosecution is required."^[10] SONY VGN-FE28H Keyboard Although fraud cases generally go to court, Paterson says there has been a lack of bribery and corruption cases before the courts, and thinks that may be because the issue has not been taken seriously. He points out that New Zealand is a party to the OECD's Anti-Bribery Convention – but an OECD review in 2010 noted we had no nominated lead agency to head the battle against corruption and bribery. DELL Latitude E5500 Keyboard In 2009 PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) conducted a survey on Global Economic Crime. It revealed that "42% of New Zealand organisations (public and private) have suffered from an economic crime in the previous 12 months, with an average loss of almost $492,000."^[11] In 2011, another PwC survey found the figure had risen to almost 50%.^[12] HP Pavilion dv5-1104tu Keyboard PwC says this is a particularly high proportion and is significantly above the global average of 34%.^[13] It gives New Zealand the fourth highest level of fraud out of the 78 countries surveyed. In 2011, 4% of New Zealanders also admitted to paying a bribe – which is twice as high as the rate in Australia and four times the United Kingdom's rate.^[14] TOSHIBA Equium A100 Series Keyboard Accountancy firm Deloittes is more concerned about the potential for fraud for the growing number of New Zealand and Australian companies with offshore operations. It notes that in 1970, nearly all of New Zealand's export trade was with countries like the UK, US and Australia all of which have low levels of corruption. SONY VAIO VGN-AR570 Keyboard However in 2011, less than 50% of trade went to these countries, as more and more goes to countries with high levels of corruption in both business and government.^[15] In 2012 Deloittes conducted a Bribery and Corruption Survey which found almost half of organisations with offshore operations have never conducted a corruption risk assessment and that 80% do not regard foreign bribery and corruption as a significant risk to their business.^[1DELL Vostro 3350 Keyboard ^6] It concluded that exposure to bribery and corruption is on the rise in New Zealand but the risks are not being addressed.^[17] Barry Jordan, head of the forensics team at Deloitte has never bought into the idea that New Zealand is free of corruption. ACER Aspire 7736ZG Keyboard He says many corporations are reluctant to report fraud or corruption for fear of damaging their brand and private sector cases often never make it into the media because such cases are settled internally. In 2011 the Auditor General released the results of its own survey on fraud awareness in New Zealand's public sector. TOSHIBA NSK-TBD01 Keyboard The survey confirmed a low level of fraud within the public sector, but nevertheless, the OAG acknowledges that "fraud is a fact of business life in New Zealand"^[18] and that there had been "an unprecedented number of high profile requests for (the OAG) to inquire into" in 2011/12.^[19] The Auditor General also found that the larger the organisation, the more likely fraud was to occur. HP 9J.N0Y82.H01 Keyboard For government entities with more than 2,000 staff, 61% of respondents were aware of at least one incident of fraud at their organisation in the preceding 12 months.^[20] In addition to an increase in fraud, the OAG's Annual Report for 2011 rated almost half of central government entities as "needing to improve" their management of information and controls.^[21] HP 517865-031 Keyboard This appears to relate to the high number of confidential information breaches by Government departments in 2012.^[22] ACC sent out 7,000 confidential files to Bronwyn Pullar^[23] and computer systems at Work and Income were found to be open to anyone using their public kiosks.^[24]  Lenovo 0A62039 Keyboard An independent report highlighted the risk with the kiosks in April 2011 and a beneficiary advocate had twice raised concerns. The warnings were ignored and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett acknowledged the privacy breach had exposed "atrocious" practices and that the ministry "woefully underestimated" the risk of hacking.^[25] DELL Vostro A860 Keyboard Although information breaches do not automatically lead to fraud or corruption, they have the potential to. They demonstrate poor governance, inadequate protocols and undermine confidence in the institution of government^[26] – as does corruption. State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie has formally asked the Government chief information officer Colin McDonald to carry out an urgent review of publicly accessible systems operated by State Services. HP Pavilion DV3000 Keyboard Given these differing views, the extent of corrupt practice in New Zealand is not entirely clear – even in the public sector. One especially blurred case involves the Corrections Department. In 2010 the Dominion Post reported that the Department failed to disclose to Parliament a huge contract it gave to one company by claiming that the company provides services and maintenance but "the contract is not to a contractor".^[2ACER Aspire One D150-1920 Keyboard That company was Honeywell – a multinational technology and security firm which Corrections used to install cell phone blocking technology. Originally budgeted at $6 million, the cost of the service blew out to $11 million. Several former Honeywell employees work for Corrections, manage Corrections' contract with Honeywell and even approve payments to Honeywell. HP G42-415DX Keyboard The Dominion Post said the undisclosed contract was among hundreds of contracts worth tens of millions of dollars which Corrections has with consultants and contractors that were never tendered.^[27] The editor of the Dominion Post was sufficiently concerned about the dubious nature of Corrections contracting arrangements to suggest there should be an independent inquiry.^[2SONY VAIO PCG-FRV25 Keyboard A few questions were raised in Parliament about the Corrections Department's procurement processes but no inquiry was held. A much clearer case was that of former Auditor General and ACC boss, Jeff Chapman, who in 1997 was convicted of 10 charges of fraudulently using documents totalling $54,594. DELL Inspiron M5030 Keyboard

Obvious impacts of the ice on the landscape

Obvious impacts of the ice on the landscape include the formation of glacial valleys such as Glendalough in Wicklow and of corries, or glacial lakes. The depositing of mounds of debris under the melting ice created drumlins, a common feature of the landscape across the north midlands.[ SONY Vaio VGN-CR11S/P Laptop CPU Cooling Fan

Streams also formed under the ice and the material deposited by these formed eskers (Irish eiscir). The greatest of these, the Esker Riada, divides the northern and southern halves of the island and its ridge once served as the main highway connecting the east and west coasts.[11] About one half of the coastline consists of a low lying dune pasture land known as Machair. HP Pavilion dv7-6b55dx Laptop CPU Cooling Fan

 

The large central lowland is of limestone covered with glacial deposits of clay and sand, with widespread bogs and lakes. The Bog of Allen is one of the largest bogs.[12] The coastal mountains vary greatly in geological structure. In the south, the mountains are composed of old red sandstone with limestone river valleys. APPLE MacBook Pro 15 inch MA610LL Laptop CPU Cooling Fan

In Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Down and Wicklow, the mountains are mainly granite, while much of the northeast of the country is a basalt plateau. An area of particular note is the Giant's Causeway, in Antrim, a mainly basalt formation caused by volcanic activity between 50–60 million years ago.[13] HP G71-340US Laptop CPU Cooling Fan

The basalts were originally part of the great Thulean Plateau formed during the Paleogene period.[14]

The soils of the north and west tend to be poorly drained peats and gleys, including peaty podzols. HP Pavilion dv7-6166nr Laptop CPU Cooling Fan

In contrast, in the south and east the soils are free-draining brown earths and brown and grey-brown podzols. This is reflected in the rainfall distribution on the island, with the poorly drained regions being those with the highest rainfalls.

An unusual environment is present in north County Clare, in an area known as the Burren. HP Pavilion dv6-3050et Laptop CPU Cooling Fan

This karst-like landscape consists of limestone bedrock, with little or no soil in the inner-most areas. There are numerous sinkholes, where surface water disappears through the porous rock surface, and extensive cave systems have been formed in some areas. The Pol an Ionain cave, near Doolin, is the site of one of the world's longest known free-hanging stalactites. Dell Vostro 3500 Laptop CPU Cooling Fan

 

Ireland consists of a mostly flat low-lying area in the midlands, ringed by mountain ranges such as (beginning in County Kerry and working counter-clockwise) the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Comeragh Mountains, Blackstairs Mountains, Wicklow Mountains, the Mournes, Glens of Antrim, Sperrin Mountains, FUJITSU Lifebook S7110 Laptop Keyboard

Bluestack Mountains, Derryveagh Mountains, Ox Mountains, Nephinbeg Mountains and the Twelve Bens/Maumturks group. Some mountain ranges are further inland in the south of Ireland, such as the Galtee Mountains, the highest inland range,[16] Silvermine and Slieve Bloom Mountains. HP AELX6U00210 Laptop Keyboard

The highest peak is Carrauntoohil, 1,038 m (3,405 ft) high,[17] is in the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, a range of glacier-carved sandstone mountains in County Kerry, in the southwest of the island. The mountains are not high – only three peaks are over 1,000 m (3,281 ft)[17] and another 457 exceed 500 m (1,640 ft).  SONY VGN-FE31M Laptop Keyboard

 

The main river in Ireland is the River Shannon, 386 km (240 mi), the longest river in either Ireland or Great Britain, which separates the boggy midlands of Ireland from the West of Ireland. The river develops into three lakes along its course, Lough Allen, Lough Ree, and Lough Derg. Of these, Lough Derg is the largest.[17] HP G42-415DX Laptop Keyboard

The River Shannon enters the Atlantic Ocean after Limerick city at the Shannon Estuary. Other major rivers include the River Liffey, River Lee, River Blackwater, River Nore, River Suir, River Barrow, River Bann, River Foyle, River Erne, and River Boyne. (See the list of rivers in Ireland.)

Lough Neagh, in Ulster,[17] is the largest lake in Ireland and the UK. FUJITSU Lifebook S7110 Laptop Keyboard

Legend has it that a giant, Fionn mac Cumhail, was fighting with another in Scotland, and enraged, scooped out a lump of earth, which he threw. It fell into the Irish Sea, creating the Isle of Man, while the hole filled up with water to become Lough Neagh. Other large lakes include Lough Erne and Lough Corrib. HP AESP7U00110 Laptop Keyboard

 

Beginning with County Donegal, Lough Swilly separates one side of the Inishowen peninsula. Lough Foyle on the other side, is one of Ireland's larger inlets, situated between County Donegal and County Londonderry.[19] Further round the coast is Belfast Lough, between County Antrim and County Down.[20] HP COMPAQ NX6310 Laptop Keyboard

Also in County Down is Strangford Lough, actually an inlet partially separating the Ards peninsula from the mainland. Further down the coast, Carlingford Lough is situated between Down and County Louth.[20]

Dublin Bay is the next sizeable inlet, while the eastern coast of Ireland is mostly uniform until Wexford Harbour at the mouth of the River Slaney.[21ACER Aspire 5710 Laptop Keyboard

] On the southern coast, Waterford Harbour is situated at the mouth of the River Suir[22] (into which the other two of the Three Sisters (River Nore and River Barrow) flow). The next major inlet is Cork Harbour, at the mouth of the River Lee, in which Great Island is situated.

Dunmanus Bay, Bantry Bay, Kenmare estuary and Dingle Bay are all inlets between the peninsulas of County Kerry. HP Pavilion dv6-2112sa Laptop Keyboard

North of these is the Shannon Estuary. Between north County Clare and County Galway is Galway Bay. Clew Bay is located on the coast of County Mayo, south of Achill Island, while Broadhaven Bay, Blacksod Bay and Sruth Fada Conn bays are situated on the north west part of Connaught in North Mayo. SAMSUNG N150 Laptop Keyboard

Killala Bay is on the north east coast of Mayo. Donegal Bay is a major inlet between County Donegal and County Sligo.

Malin Head is the most northerly point in Ireland,[23] while Mizen Head is one of the most southern points, hence the term "Malin head to Mizen head" (or the reverse) is used for anything applying to the island of Ireland as a whole. HP G42-365LA Laptop Keyboard

Carnsore Point is another extreme point of Ireland, being the southeastern most point of Ireland. Further along the coast is Hook Head while the Old Head of Kinsale in is one of many headlands along the south coast of Ireland.

Loop Head is the headland at which County Clare comes to a point on the west coast of Ireland, TOSHIBA NSK-TAJ01 Laptop Keyboard

with the Atlantic on the north, and further inland on the south, the Shannon estuary. Hag's Head is another headland further up Clare's north/western coastline, with the Cliffs of Moher along the coastline north of the point.Erris Head is the northwesternmost point of Connacht.

Achill Island, in the northwest, is the largest island off Ireland's coast. HP G72-227WM Laptop Keyboard

The island is inhabited, and is connected to the mainland by a bridge.[24] Some of the next largest islands are the Aran Islands, off the coast of southern Connacht, host to an Irish-speaking community, or Gaeltacht. Valentia Island off the Iveragh peninsula is also one of Ireland's larger islands, HP Pavilion G7-1081NR Laptop Keyboard

and is relatively settled, as well as being connected by a bridge at its southeastern end. Omey Island, off the coast of Connemara is a tidal island.

Some of the best-known peninsulas in Ireland are in County Kerry; the Dingle peninsula, the aforementioned Iveragh peninsula and the Beara peninsula.  HP Mini 110-3135dx Laptop Keyboard

The Ards peninsula is one of the larger peninsulas outside Kerry. The Inishowen peninsula in County Donegal includes Ireland's most northerly point, Malin Head and several important towns including Buncrana on Lough Swilly, Carndonagh and Moville on Lough Foyle.  GATEWAY V021646BS1 Laptop Keyboard

Ireland's most northerly land feature is Inishtrahull island, off Malin Head. Rockall Island may deserve this honour but its status is disputed, being claimed by the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Denmark (for the Faroe Islands) and Iceland. The most southerly point is the Fastnet Rock. TOSHIBA 9J.N9082.001 Laptop Keyboard

 

Ireland's climate is temperate,[25] though significantly warmer than almost all other locations at similar latitude, such as Poland (on mainland Europe) or Newfoundland (on the opposite edge of the Atlantic), due to the warming influence of the North Atlantic drift. The prevailing wind blows from the southwest, breaking on the high mountains of the west coast.  FUJITSU Amilo Mini Ui 3520 Laptop Keyboard

Rainfall is therefore a particularly prominent part of western Irish life, with Valentia Island, off the west coast of County Kerry, getting almost twice as much annual rainfall as Dublin on the east (1,400 mm or 55.1 in vs. 762 mm or 30.0 in). Across the country, about 60% of the annual rainfall occurs between August and January. COMPAQ Presario CQ40 laptop keyboard

 

January and February are the coldest months of the year, and mean daily air temperatures fall between 4 and 7 °C (39.2 and 44.6 °F) during these months. July and August are the warmest, with mean daily temperatures of 14 to 16 °C (57.2 to 60.8 °F), whilst mean daily maximums in July and August vary from 17 to 18 °C (62.6 to 64.4 °F) near the coast, to 19 to 20 °C (66.2 to 68.0 °F) inland. Packard Bell Easynote LM82 laptop keyboard

The sunniest months are May and June, with an average of five to seven hours sunshine per day.[26] Though extreme weather events in Ireland are comparatively rare when compared with other countries in the European Continent, they do occur. Explosive Atlantic depressions, occurring mainly in the months of December, January and FebruaryTOSHIBA Satellite L355-S7905 laptop keyboard

, can occasionally bring winds of up to 160 km/h or 99 mph to Western coastal counties; while the summer months, and particularly around late July/early August, sudden and violent thunderstorms can develop, more especially, but not exclusively, across midland and western areas of the country. SONY VAIO VGN-NW50JB laptop keyboard

 

The table shows mean climate figures for the Dublin Airport weather station over a thirty-year period. Climate statistics based on the counties of Northern Ireland vary slightly but are not significantly different.

From an administrative viewpoint, 20 of the counties in the republic are units of local government. ASUS F9E laptop keyboard

The other six have more than one local council area, producing a total of 34 county-level authorities. Tipperary has two ridings, North Tipperary and South Tipperary, originally established in 1838 and renamed in 2001.The cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford have city councils and are administered separately from the counties bearing those names. COMPAQ Presario CQ61 laptop keyboard

The remaining part of County Dublin is split into Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Fingal, and South Dublin.Electoral areas in Ireland (the state), called constituencies in accordance with Irish law, mostly follow county boundaries. Maintaining links to the county system is a mandatory consideration in the re-organisation of constituency boundaries by a Constituency Commission. TOSHIBA NB100 laptop keyboard

 

In Northern Ireland, a major re-organisation of local government in 1973 replaced the six traditional counties and two county boroughs (Belfast and Derry) by 26 single-tier districts,[33] which, apart from Fermanagh cross the traditional county boundaries. The six counties and two county-boroughs remain in use for purposes such as Lieutenancy. HP Pavilion DV7-3173nr laptop keyboard

In November 2005, proposals were announced which would see the number of local authorities reduced to seven.[34] The island's total population of approximately 6 million people is concentrated on the east coast, particularly in Dublin and Belfast and their surrounding areas.

Ireland has 12,000 km² (4,633 miles²) of bogland, Packard Bell Easynote TK85 laptop keyboard

consisting of two distinct types, blanket bogs and raised bogs. Blanket bogs are the more widespread of the two types. They are essentially a product of human activity aided by the moist Irish climate. Blanket bogs formed on sites where Neolithic farmers cleared trees for farming.  ACER Aspire One A150-BGc laptop keyboard

As the land so cleared fell into disuse, the soil began to leach and become more acidic, producing a suitable environment for the growth of heather and rushes. The debris from these plants accumulated and a layer of peat formed. One of the largest expanses of Atlantic blanket bog in Ireland is to be found in County Mayo.  SONY VAIO VGN-NW11S/S laptop keyboard

 

Raised bogs are most common in the Shannon basin. They formed when depressions left behind after the ice age filled with water to form lakes. Debris from reeds in these lakes formed a layer at the bottom of the water. This eventually choked the lakes and raised above the surface, forming raised bogs.[39] DELL Inspiron N4050 laptop keyboard

 

Since the 17th century, peat has been cut for fuel for domestic heating and cooking and it is called turf when so used. The process accelerated as commercial exploitation of bogs grew. In the 1940s, machines for cutting turf were introduced and larger-scale exploitation became possible. Packard Bell Easynote TK85 laptop keyboard

In the Republic, this became the responsibility of a semi-state company called Bord na Móna. In addition to domestic uses, commercially extracted turf is used in a number of industries, especially electricity generation[40] though peat is being combined with biomass for dual-firing electricity generation.[41] HP AESP7U00110 laptop keyboard

 

In recent years, the high level of bog being destroyed by cutting has raised environmental concerns. The problem is particularly acute for raised bogs as they yield a higher-grade fuel than blanket bogs. Plans are now in place in both the Republic and Northern Ireland to conserve most of the remaining raised bogs on the island. DELL Inspiron N4050 laptop keyboard

 

Offshore exploration for natural gas began in 1970.[43] The first major discovery was the Kinsale Head gas field in 1971.Next was the smaller Ballycotton gas field in 1989,[43] and the Corrib gas field in 1996.Exploitation of the Corrib project has yet to get off the ground because the controversial proposal to refine the gas onshore, FUJITSU Lifebook S7111 laptop keyboard

rather than at sea has been met with widespread opposition. Gas from these fields is pumped ashore and used for both domestic and industrial purposes. The Helvick oil field, estimated to contain over 28 million barrels (4,500,000 m3) of oil, is a 2000 discovery.Ireland is the largest European producer of zinc with three operating zinc-lead mines at Navan, Galmoy and Lisheen.  SONY VGN-FE21B laptop keyboard

Other mineral deposits with actual or potential commercial value include gold, silver, gypsum, talc, calcite, dolomite, roofing slate, limestone aggregate, building stone, sand and gravel.[47]

In May 2007 the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (now replaced by the Department of Communications, TOSHIBA Satellite L355-S7905 laptop keyboard

Energy and Natural Resources) reported that there may be volumes over 130 billion barrels (2.1×1010 m3) of petroleum and 50 trillion cubic feet (1,400 km3) of natural gas in Irish waters[48] – worth trillions of Euro, if true. The minimum 'guaranteed' amount of oil in the Irish Atlantic waters is 10 billion barrels (1.6×109 m3), worth over €450 billion. TOSHIBA Satellite M645-S4110 laptop keyboard

There are also areas of petroleum and natural gas on shore, for example the Lough Allen basin, with 9.4 trillion cubic feet (270 km3) of gas and 1.5 billion barrels (240,000,000 m3) of oil, valued at €74.4 billion. Already some fields are being exploited, such as the Spanish Point field, with 1.25 trillion cubic feet (35 km3) of gas and 206 million barrels (32,800,000 m3) of oil, valued at €19.6 billion. Packard Bell Easynote TK81 laptop keyboard

The Corrib Basin is also quite large, worth anything up to €87 billion, while the Dunquin gas field contains 25 trillion cubic feet (710 km3) of natural gas and 4.13 billion barrels (657,000,000 m3) of petroleum.

In March 2012 the first commercial oil well was drilled 70 km off the Cork coast by Providence Resources. Packard Bell PEW91 laptop keyboard

The Barryroe oil well is yielding 3500 barrels per day, at current oil prices at $120 a barrel Barryroe oil well is worth in excess of €2.14bn annually.

The climate of Ireland can be summed up as being mild, moist and changeable with abundant rainfall and a lack of temperature extremes. SONY VAIO PCG-FR315B laptop keyboard

It is defined as a temperate oceanic climate, or Cfb on the Köppen climate classification system, a classification it shares with most of northwest Europe.The country receives generally warm summers and mild winters. It is considerably warmer than other areas on its latitude, because it lies in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, and as a result is warmed by the North Atlantic Current all year. SONY VAIO PCG-F23 laptop keyboard

 

The influence of the North Atlantic Current also ensures the coastline of Ireland remains ice-free throughout the winter—unlike for example the Sea of Okhotsk and the Labrador Sea which are at a similar latitude. The climate in Ireland does not experience extreme weather, with tornadoes and similar weather features being rare.  Lenovo 63Y0047 laptop keyboard

 

Ireland, as a whole, experiences a lack of temperature extremes compared to other areas of similar latitudes. Summers are generally warm and winters are mild. There is a regional variation, with inland areas being cooler in winter and warmer in summer than their coastal counterparts.

The warmest areas are found along the southwest coast. TOSHIBA Satellite L355-S7905 laptop keyboard

Valentia Island, County Kerry has the highest annual mean temperature, at 10.4 °C (50.7 °F).[2]

The coldest areas are found inland. Clones, County Monaghan and Mullingar, County Westmeath both have the lowest annual mean temperature, at 8.8 °C (47.8 °F).[3][4] TOSHIBA Satellite M645-S4110 laptop keyboard

 

The highest temperature ever recorded in Ireland was 33.3 °C (91.9 °F) at Kilkenny Castle, County Kilkenny on 26 June 1887. The lowest temperature was −19.1 °C (−2.4 °F) at Markree Castle, County Sligo on 16 January 1881.[5]

Extreme heat and cold are both rare throughout the country. Packard Bell Easynote TK81 laptop keyboard

Summer temperatures exceed 30 °C (86 °F) usually once or twice every decade (2013, 2006, 2005, 2003, 1995, 1990, 1989, 1983, 1976 and 1975 are recent examples), although they commonly reach the high 20s °C (low 80s °F) most summers, while severe freezes occur only occasionally in winter, with temperatures below −10 °C (14 °F) being very uncommon, and temperatures below freezing uncommon in many coastal areas. Packard Bell PEW91 laptop keyboard

 

Mean daily winter temperatures vary from 4.0 °C (39.2 °F) to 7.6 °C (45.7 °F), and mean daily summer temperatures vary from 15 °C (59 °F) to 20 °C (68.0 °F).

Air frost occurs frequently in the winter, with most areas seeing over 40 days of air frost every year. In northern areas, air frost occurs on average 10.2 days every January, SONY VAIO PCG-FR315B laptop keyboard

the month in which air frost occurs most frequently.[6] Along the coast, air frost occurs less regularly. In the Sperrins and the Glens of Antrim air frost occurs around 80 days a year.[7] The pattern is similar with ground frost, with on average around 100 days of ground frost in the lowlands and over 140 in the mountains.[8]  SONY VAIO PCG-F23 laptop keyboard

 

Frost is rarer along the coast, in urban areas and also in western and southern areas.

Roches Point, County Cork receives the least number of days with air frost, with an average of 7.0 days with air frost recorded annually.Kilkenny, County Kilkenny receives the most amount of days with air frost, with an average of 53.0 days with air frost recorded annually.[10] Lenovo 63Y0047 laptop keyboard

 

In Dublin, Dublin Airport records air frost on average 24.3 days per year, while Casement Aerodrome (which is further inland) records air frost on average 41.3 days per year.

The sunniest months are May and June. During these months sunshine duration averages between 5 and 6½ hours per day over most of the country. HP Pavilion DV6-1000 laptop keyboard

The south-east gets the most sunshine, averaging over 7 hours a day in early summer. December is the dullest month with an average daily sunshine ranging from about 1 hour in the north to almost 2 hours in the south-east. Over the year as a whole most areas get an average of between 3¼ and 3¾ hours of sunshine each day.  SONY Vaio PCG-K45 laptop keyboard

 Irish skies are completely covered by cloud roughly half of the time.

The sunniest part of the island is the south-east coast. Rosslare, County Wexford is the sunniest area, and receives on average 4.38 hours of sunshine per day (1,598.41 hours per year)

The dullest, i.e., least sunny, part of the island is generally in the west and northwest of the country. However, Birr, SONY VGN-FE790 laptop keyboard

County Offaly, in the midlands, is the dullest station, receiving on average 3.2 hours of sunshine per day, considerably less than the stations at Malin Head in the North or Belmullet in the West.[15] Inland areas tend to receive less sunshine than coastal areas due to the convective development of clouds over land.  HP Pavilion dv6-2150es laptop keyboard

Cloud develops because of vertical air currents caused by thermal heating of the ground.

Rainfall is the most common form of precipitation on the island, and is extremely common throughout Ireland, although some parts of the west coast receive over four times as much rain as the east coast. HP Pavilion dv6-3124tx laptop keyboard

Rainfall in Ireland normally comes from Atlantic frontal systems which travel north-east over the Island, bringing cloud and rain. Most of the eastern half of the country has between 750 and 1,000 mm (29.5 and 39.4 in) of rainfall in the year. Rainfall in the west generally averages between 1,000 and 1,250 mm (39.4 and 49.2 in). SONY VGN-FE790 laptop keyboard

In many mountainous districts rainfall exceeds 3,000 mm (118.1 in) per year. The wettest months almost everywhere are December and January. April is the driest month generally, but in many southern parts June is the driest. HP Mini 110-3007tu Laptop Keyboard

 

The average number of "wet days" (days with more than 1 mm (0.039 in) of rain) ranges from about 151 days a year along the east and south-east coasts, to about 225 days a year in parts of the west.

The wettest weather station is Valentia Island, County Kerry, which receives 1,430.1 mm (56.30 in) of rain per year, on average.[2] DELL Vostro 3450 Laptop Keyboard

 

The driest weather station is Casement Aerodrome, County Dublin, which receives 711.4 mm (28.01 in) of rain per year, on average.[12]

The weather station with the highest number of "wet days" is Belmullet, County Mayo with 193 days per year,[18] while the station with the lowest number of "wet days" is Dublin Airport, County Dublin with 128 days per year. HP Pavilion dv4t-1400 CTO Laptop Keyboard

 

Severe cold weather is uncommon in Ireland with the majority of winter precipitation coming in the form of rain. Although hills and mountainous regions in the country can see up to 30 days of snowfall annually, most low lying regions of the island only see a few days of lying snow per year (from December to March inclusive), or may see no snow at all during some winters. Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 Laptop Keyboard

However, in recent winters, there has been a significant increase in prolonged "cold snaps", in which heavy snow does fall across Ireland for several weeks, often causing disruption to traffic and services across Ireland. Consequently, there have been increased calls to prepare the country for snow and ice, ASUS K012462A1 Laptop Keyboard

including the distribution of grit, salt, and other snow-treatable minerals. In late 2011, the Irish Government set up "Winter-Ready", in order to prepare the country for such severe weather.[20]

Due to the volatility of Ireland's weather (which is mainly because of the influence of the Atlantic Ocean,  DELL Vostro 3550 Laptop Keyboard

Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift, as well as Ireland's Northerly latitude and vulnerability to Siberian/Arctic winds) weather during the Winter months is very variable and difficult to predict, with the aforementioned factors making both extremely low temperatures and relatively mild temperatures possible. DELL Vostro 3450 Laptop Keyboard

 

The snowiest weather station is Clones, County Monaghan; which receives, on average, nearly 30 days of snow and/or sleet per year. Of these, 10.8 days have snow lying at 09:00.[3]

The least snowy weather station is Valentia Island, County Kerry; which receives, on average, 5.6 days of snow and/or sleet per year. Of these, 0.8 days have snow lying at 09:00. Compaq Presario CQ57 Series Laptop Keyboard

 

Generally, the coast tends to be windier than inland areas; and the west tends to be windier than the east.

The station with the highest mean wind speed is Malin Head, County Donegal; averaging at 16.3 kn (30.2 km/h; 18.8 mph). Malin Head also receives the most gale force winds, recording them on average 66.0 days per year.[21] HP G61-406SA Laptop Keyboard

 

The station with the lowest mean wind speed is Kilkenny, County Kilkenny; averaging at 6.5 kn (12.0 km/h; 7.5 mph).[10]

The station that records the least amount of gale force winds is Birr, County Offaly; recording them on average 1.2 days per year.[24]

The highest wind speed ever recorded in Ireland was 327 km/h (203 mph; 177 kn) at Kilkeel, County Down on 12 January 1974.  HP G61-406SA Laptop Keyboard

 

Tornadoes are very rare in Ireland, with around less than ten reported every year - mostly in August.

Irish cuisine is a style of cooking originating from Ireland or developed by Irish people. It evolved from centuries of social and political change. The cuisine takes its influence from the crops grown and animals farmed in its temperate climate. COMPAQ Presario CQ61 Laptop Keyboard

The introduction of the potato in the second half of the 16th century heavily influenced Ireland's cuisine thereafter and, as a result, is often closely associated with Ireland. Representative Irish dishes include Irish stew, bacon and cabbage, potato, boxty, coddle, and colcannon. IBM Lenovo ThinkPad X300 Laptop Keyboard

 

There are many references to food and drink in Irish mythology and early Irish literature such as the tale of Fionn mac Cumhaill and the Salmon of Knowledge[1] The old stories also contain many references to banquets, although these may well be greatly exaggerated and provide little insight into everyday diets. Honey seems to have been widely eaten and used in the making of mead. SONY VAIO VGN-N21S/W Laptop Keyboard

There are also many references to fulacht fiadh, which may have been sites for cooking deer, consisting of holes in the ground which were filled with water. The meat was placed in the water and cooked by the introduction of hot stones. Many fulacht fiadh sites have been identified across the island of Ireland, and some of them appear to have been in use up to the 17th century. SONY Vaio PCG-K315B Laptop Keyboard

 

Excavations at the Viking settlement in the Wood Quay area of Dublin have produced a significant amount of information on the diet of the inhabitants of the town. The main meats eaten were beef, mutton, and pork. Domestic poultry and geese as well as fish and shellfish were also common, as was a wide range of native berries and nuts, especially hazel. DELL Vostro 3550 Laptop Keyboard

The seeds of knotgrass and goosefoot were widely present and may have been used to make a porridge.

From the Middle Ages, until the arrival of the potato in the 16th century, the dominant feature of the rural economy was the herding of cattle. The meat produced was mostly the preserve of the gentry and nobility. DELL Latitude D830 Laptop Keyboard

The poor generally made do with milk, butter, cheese, and offal, supplemented with oats and barley. The practice of bleeding cattle and mixing the blood with milk and butter (similar to the practice of the Maasai) was not uncommon. Black pudding is made from blood, grain, (usually barley) and seasoning, and remains a breakfast staple food in Ireland. HP Pavilion dv6-3136ee laptop keyboard

 

Potatoes form the basis for many traditional Irish dishes. The potato was introduced into Ireland in the second half of the 16th century, initially as a garden crop. It eventually came to be the main food crop of the poor. As a food source, the potato is extremely valuable in terms of the amount of energy produced per unit area of crop. HP Pavilion dv6-3136ee laptop keyboard

The potato is also a good source of many vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C when fresh.

Potatoes were widely cultivated, but in particular by those at a subsistence level; the diet of this group of this period consisted mainly of potatoes supplemented with buttermilk. Lenovo 45N2141 laptop keyboard

Potatoes were also fed to pigs, to fatten them prior to their slaughter at the approach of the cold winter months. Much of the slaughtered pork would have been cured to provide ham and bacon that could be stored over the winter. HP Pavilion DV6-1350us laptop keyboard

 

Fresh meat was generally considered a luxury except for the most affluent until the late 19th century and chickens were not raised on a large scale until the emergence of town grocers in the 1880s allowed people to exchange surplus goods, like eggs, and for the first time purchase a variety food items to diversify their diet. HP Mini 210 laptop keyboard

 

The reliance on potatoes as a staple crop meant that the people of Ireland were vulnerable to poor potato harvests. Consequently several famines occurred throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. The first Great Famine of 1739 was the result of extreme cold weather but the famine of 1845 to 1849 (see Great Irish Famine) was caused by potato blight which spread throughout the Irish crop which consisted largely of a single variety, the Lumper. HP Pavilion dv6-3034ca laptop keyboard

During the famine approximately 1 million people died and a million more emigrated from Ireland.

In the 21st century, the usual modern selection of foods common to Western culture has been adopted in Ireland. Common meals include pizza, curry, Chinese food, and lately, Lenovo 63Y0011 laptop keyboard

some West African dishes and East European (especially Polish) dishes have been making an appearance, as ingredients for these and other cuisines have become more widely available.

In tandem with these developments, and led by Myrtle Allen,[3] the last quarter of the 20th century saw the emergence of a new Irish cuisine based on traditional ingredients handled in new ways. HP 519265-001 laptop keyboard

This cuisine is based on fresh vegetables, fish (especially salmon and trout), oysters, mussels and other shellfish, traditional soda bread, the wide range of cheeses that are now being made across the country, and, of course, the potato. Traditional dishes, such as Irish stew, coddle, the Irish breakfast, SONY Vaio PCG-K23 laptop keyboard

and potato bread have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. Schools like the Ballymaloe Cookery School have emerged to cater for the associated increased interest in cooking.

Fish and chips take-away is popular. The first fish and chips were sold in Dublin in the 1880s by an Italian immigrant from San Donato Val di Comino, Giuseppe Cervi. TOSHIBA PK13CW10200 laptop keyboard

His wife Palma would ask customers 'Uno di questa, uno di quella?' This phrase (meaning 'one of this, one of the other') entered the vernacular in Dublin as 'one and one', which is still a common way of referring to fish and chips in the city.[4]

In much of Ulster (especially Northern Ireland and County Donegal), fish and chips are usually known as a 'fish supper'.  DELL NSK-DJ301 laptop keyboard

 

The proliferation of fast food has led to increasing public health problems, including obesity, where it was reported that as many as 327,000 Irish children are now obese or overweight and in response the Irish Government is now considering introducing a "Fast Food Tax".[5] Government efforts to combat obesity have also included television advertising campaigns and education programmes in schools. ACER TravelMate 3020 laptop keyboard

 

The eating of seafood, particularly shellfish has always been very popular in Ireland, especially in coastal cities like Galway and Dublin. Such is the impact of shellfish in Irish culture that in Dublin the fish seller is celebrated in the traditional folk song Molly Malone and in Galway the international Galway Oyster Festival is held every September.[10 DELL Inspiron N4050 laptop keyboard

] An example of an Irish shellfish dish is Dublin Lawyer (lobster cooked in whiskey and cream).[11] Salmon and cod are perhaps the two most common types of fish eaten. Carrageen moss and Dulse (both types of red algae) are commonly used in Irish seafood dishes. Lenovo 04W0872 laptop keyboard,HP Pavilion dv4-1318tu laptop keyboard,HP Mini 210-1107TU laptop keyboard