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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Members
We have had quite a month so far and much of it has been positive or not as negative as we had feared. The 26th February ruling came and went without significant problems and, as I write this, current demonstrations are continuing in almost a party atmosphere so far.
For those of you who were at the NZI Black & White Ball I’m sure you will agree it was a tremendous success. The band that was brought out from NZ especially for the event was better than ever. Many thanks go to members of both the NZ Chamber and NZ Society for organising this event over many months beforehand and to the sponsors of the Ball. For those of you that couldn’t make it this year, we hope to see you there next year.
On a sad note, we received the news that Khun Sutipong Itipong was killed in a tragic car accident. Khun Sutipong was a valued committee member who had been doing some great work on the Community sub committee. We will miss him as a committee member and as a friend.
The JFCCT Tax committee, after initially having their proposal for tax reform measures rejected, has persevered and worked with the government sub-committee reviewing them. As a result, 8 out of the 11 proposed changes have been passed forward for consideration by the Prime Minister. Although this does not necessarily mean that all 8 will be adopted, it is still a very positive step.
Another important area that the Tax committee has been working on is the role of Regional Operating Headquarters. This is something that could be better utilised than it is and there seems to be agreement that changes should be made. Some of the changes proposed by the committee have been approved by the BOI and are now before the Revenue Department.
Late last year, I met with the heads of the SME committees of both AustCham and BCCT with a view to sharing ideas about better representing this important sector of our respective Chambers. We agreed that since all three Chambers have significant numbers of members who are SMEs operating in Thailand and that we are all facing similar issues and concerns, it would make sense to collaborate and cooperate wherever possible. This month sees the first results of this collaboration with a joint SME breakfast meeting hosted by Bangkok Bank. We look forward to receiving feedback as to how we can better support this sector.
Next month, the ANZAC day anniversary is on the calendar for Sunday 25th April. Memorial services will be held at dawn at Hellfire Pass and at the Allied War Cemetery in Kanchanaburi, later in the morning. The NZ Chamber will have a wreath laid at the later service. For those who require transport assistance to Kanchanaburi, please contact the Chamber as we may be able to assist with information on the travel and accommodation options that will be available.
Many thanks to Don Sutherland from IRS who are our Corporate Knight sponsor this month. Sponsorship by disaster recovery experts is very timely as I’m sure many of you are dusting off your disaster management plans just in case. We look forward to your company at our networking evening on 25th where I’m sure you can get some tips from Don and his team.
Kind regards,
Nikki Cox
President
MARCH CHAMBER NETWORKING EVENTS
Corporate Knight Networking Event
Thursday, 25th February 2010 6.30pm
@ Sheraton Grande
Kindly sponsored by
IRS specializes in offering practical support and solutions to businesses when their premises, contents or equipment are damaged due to fire, flood or other disasters.
IRS has been built on a track record of successful disaster recovery projects. By working with teams of highly skilled personnel IRS can very quickly and effectively customize a solution in response to a crisis and return a business to full operational capacity.
IRS provides solutions for:
- Disaster Recovery Technical Consultancy
- Specialist Technical Equipment Decontamination
- Dry Ice Cleaning Pressure Cleaning
- Structures & Contents Decontamination
- Re-commissioning and testing
- Service work in Data Rooms, Hotels, Manufacturing Facilities, Power Generation
On call 24 / 7, IRS can put a team of technical personnel on the ground within 48 hours anywhere in the Asia Pacific region.
The IRS team is made up of experts, some with over 15 years experience decontaminating technical equipment structures and contents. IRS has extensive industry backgrounds encompassing many types of equipment.
IRS has offices located in Sydney, Brisbane, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia with representation in China and Philippines.
Representatives: Mr. Don Sutherland and Mr. Chris Haydock
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New Zealand Society AGM
Wed, 24th March 2010 7pm
Location: Grande Millennium Sukhumvit Hotel,
Cost: NZ Society Members 500 Baht Non members 700 Baht
Includes buffet dinner with free flow wine, beer and soft drinks
For more information: Liz Mortensen:
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KIWI CORNER
Some recent Kiwi Snippets and Kiwis in the news:
Grape Expectations
Licking the grass and soaking it up with tea towels were two ideas Tokomaru residents had for cleaning up the wine that was split after a train derailed near the Horowhenua village.
There was extensive damage to the wagons and some damage to railway sleepers, but no-one was injured.
Tokomaru residents gathered to watch and take photos. Some even set up deck chairs.
Tongue's new-found sixth sense
Until now, it was thought the tongue could detect only five tastes – sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami, sometimes called savoury (a taste for identifying protein-rich foods) - but the tongue can also detect fat.
A Kiwi scientist has helped discover the "sixth sense" of the human tongue and it may unlock the secret to keeping you slim. Experts believe this discovery could help in developing foods that trick the body into thinking it has consumed enough fat.
Massey University Associate Professor Matt Golding, said "The high fat-tasting population appeared to have a lower BMI [body mass index] than those who had a poor ability to taste fat,"
Kiwis at the Oscars
New Zealanders and the team from Weta Digital were happy to take “Avatar’s” Oscar for best special effects.
The team were on hand to accept the Oscar in Los Angeles, while hundreds of others who worked on the film at Weta headquarters in Wellington, New Zealand, celebrated at The Loaded Hog pub in downtown Wellington, where a live telecast of the ceremony had screened.
But what is less generally known, is thatKiwi stuntman Isaac Hamon, part of a growing legion of New Zealand-based stunt doubles working in the film industry.
The Hurt Locker swept the Oscars last night, earning six awards including best film and best director for Kathryn Bigelow.
The scene regularly used to promote the film shows Auckland-based Hamon, 33, running away from an explosion in an 80kg bomb suit.
Hooray for Wellywood!
Wellington International Airport has announced plans to erect a Hollywood-style sign on the Miramar peninsula celebrating the location of the heart of New Zealand’s burgeoning film industry, "Wellywood".
"Wellington Airport is a big supporter of the capital’s film industry. It’s a relationship that has steadily grown since the industry began to flourish around 17 years ago" said a spokesman.
Kiwis in London to Auckland jet-ski attempt
A group of six New Zealanders is attempting the daunting task of jet-skiing from London to Auckland, via Sydney, later this year. The 32,000km world record bid will start in August and aims to boost awareness of healthy living, cancer prevention and to raise funds for cancer research.
The trip, dubbed The Ultimate Ride, will set off from London on the Thames River outside Parliament buildings on August 1 before heading across the North Sea to Holland through Europe to Turkey, past Greece, along the west coast of the Red Sea and into the Gulf of Aden at Yemen. From there they will cut across to Pakistan and travel along the Indian coastline Sri Lanka, Thailand and Singapore.
The route continues to Indonesia, through to Australia and along its east coast until Sydney. The team will then cross the Pacific Ocean and hopefully land at Auckland at the end of November.
Kiwi saddles up to ride in Mongol Derby
A Taranaki mother of two will head for the Mongolian steppes in August to tackle the world's longest horse race. Netta Burnside, 37, will line up alongside 34 other riders from all corners of the globe for the 1000-kilometre long Mongol Derby, which follows the postal trail established by the legendary Genghis Khan in the 13th century.
It was not just a matter of entering and turning up. She had to write an article explaining why she should be included.
"I wrote I had led a life of utter self-indulgence and it was about time I got off my backside and did something. One of the organisers in the UK rang to say that did it for him."
ASEAN-AUSTRALIA NZ FTA COMES INTO FORCE
On 12 March the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia/New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) came into force for Thailand. The Agreement covers trade between the 10 countries of ASEAN, and Australia and New Zealand. So far, in addition to Thailand, the Agreement has entered into force for New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Viet Nam.
The AANZFTA is a comprehensive single-undertaking Trade Agreement, which includes provisions on trade in goods, services, investment and trade facilitation.
Information on the full provisions of the Agreement, and how to take advantage of them, can be found at www.asean.fta.govt.nz. Traders are encouraged to familiarise themselves in particular with the Rules of Origin and certification requirements outlined in the document Exporting and importing goods under the FTA. This can be found in the “Key Outcomes” section of the website.
Trade between New Zealand and Thailand also remains covered by the Thai-New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership (www.mfat.govt.nz/Trade-and-Economic-Relations/Trade-Agreements/Thailand/index.php). Importers and exporters are free to chose the Agreement which best suits their needs.
Detailed analysis on the comparative benefits to traders of the AANZFTA and TNZCEP is currently underway. The results of this will be shared once the study is completed.
NZ ANNUAL MIGRATION CLIMBS
 New Zealand recorded the highest annual immigration in more than five years as fewer kiwis headed overseas, providing added stimulus to the housing market and underpinning consumer demand.
The number of permanent arrivals exceeded departures by 22,588 in the 12 months ended Jan. 31, according to Statistics New Zealand. That’s the highest since May 2004.
Stronger migration will be evaluated by Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard, who releases his quarterly review of monetary policy next week. The property market has shown a more tepid recovery than expected by Bollard, who has stood by his intention not to raise interest rates until about the middle of the year – later than some economists expect. NZ annual migration growth is adding to demand for housing and consumer goods
“Net migration remains a key source of support for the economic cycle,” said Philip Borkin, economist at Goldman Sachs JBWere. “The key to watch over the coming 12 months is whether we see a reversal in departures to Australia given the Australian economy’s outperformance.”
According to the data, there were 33,414 permanent and long-term departures for Australia in the 12 months through January, down from 50,531 a year earlier
The global financial crisis has capped the exodus of kiwis going overseas, as jobs dry up and home seems like a more attractive alternative.
The number of short-term visitors to New Zealand rose 5% last months from January 2009. There were 2.47 million visitor arrivals for the year to Jan 31, up 1% on the previous year.
ONLINE KIWIS MAYBE FEELING CENSORED
Oz censorship trickledown
Australia’s drive to protect its own population from the negative effects of the internet may be starting to have knock-on effects on the surfing habits of New Zealand internet users - some websites may no longer accessible in NZ via Australian ISPs.
According to a reader on one site: "NZ surfers being routed via Optus routers in Australia have been blocked from some sites".
NZ internet filter goes live
New Zealand’s internet filtering system went live last month – but, according to online freedom campaign Tech Liberty, the government forgot to mention this to its electorate until its hand was forced.
Thomas Beagle, a spokesman for the group, said he was "very disappointed that the filter is now running" and that its launch had been conducted in such a "stealthy mode". He added: "It's a sad day for the New Zealand internet."
The Department of Internal Affairs’ Censorship Compliance Unit feels differently. Steve O’Brien, manager of the unit, says that trials have been going on for two years and the media has been notified “for quite some time.”
CHAMBER UPDATES
The NZI 2010 Black and White Ball was a great evening, a few photos of the event are below and more will appear on the web site soon. We would like to thank those who joined us and supported the event, plus we give a big thanks to the sponsors who made the event possible.
Keep Up to Date with Kiwi Regional Events
Check out whats going on with Kea – New Zealand’s global talent network around the region HERE or New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Singapore HERE
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Chamber News 
NEW ZEALAND THAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 
