Burton: Address to IAATI Australasian Seminar

27 February 2006

Welcome Address to the 13th IAATI Australasian TrainingSeminar

Welcome Address to the 13th IAATI AustralasianTraining Seminar

GoodMorning. It's my pleasure to be here today to extend to youall a very warm welcome to Wellington and New Zealand. I amvery happy that you have chosen Wellington, for the firsttime, as host city for the 13th IAATI Australasian TrainingSeminar.

This is an excellent opportunity to showcase NewZealand's efforts to reduce vehicle crime and to recogniseyour collective expertise and commitment to helping preventthe occurrence of this type of crime - the impacts of which,and its links to other criminal activity are oftenunderestimated.

I see from the programme that you have astimulating three days ahead in which you will deal with anumber of important issues relating to the reduction ofvehicle crime.

Perhaps the most important outcome of thistype of gathering is the opportunity for experts from arange of different jurisdictions to exchange their ideas andexperiences with each other.

To our guests from thenorthern hemisphere I hope you get an opportunity to enjoythe sunshine and all that our country has to offer and Ihope that the food, culture and entertainment will helpbanish any remnants of jetlag you may have.

Vehiclecrime is an important issue in New Zealand. We have one ofthe highest car ownership rates in the world.

A recentsurvey by AC Nielsen found that 89 percent of New Zealandersowned cars placing us fourth in the world behind the US,Italy and Australia. The country's vehicle fleet numbersaround three million, nine hundred thousand - almost onevehicle for every person.

For most New Zealanders thepurchase of a car is their second largest investment. It's adecision that is not often made lightly. A large proportionof our time is spent on the road.

As a people we have hada love affair with the car that perhaps rivals that of thecitizens of Los Angeles.

The upshot is that most NewZealanders have a vested interest in seeing that vehiclecrime is taken seriously. Many people have first handexperience of the impact of vehicle crime. Myself included.Some years ago our family car was stolen. It turned up 30kilometres away, a burnt out wreck. It still irks today.Aside from the fact that they just don't build cars likethat 88 Commodore anymore, the theft and destruction ofone's car is a very invasive crime.

In New Zealand, theGovernment is committed to reducing vehicle crime - not onlyin recognition of the serious financial impact, but and alsothe emotional costs can have for individuals and theircommunities.

Early last year, we announced acomprehensive and innovative vehicle crime reductionprogramme. The aim of the programme is to significantlyreduce both opportunistic and professional vehicletheft.

Its key elements are the compulsory fitting ofimmobilisers and whole-of-vehicle marking technology toimported passenger vehicles aged less than fifteen yearsold. The Whole-of-Vehicle Marking initiative should be fullyoperational by the end of the year with the immobiliserprogramme beginning in 2007.

Justice Ministry officialsare also currently establishing a national safer parkingaccreditation programme. This will promote safety andsecurity criteria in parking facilities and acknowledgethose that implement these measures through an awardsscheme.

I would also like to take this opportunity toformally recognise the invaluable assistance that IAATI hasgiven during the development of the Vehicle Crime ReductionProgramme.

I would like to specifically acknowledge PaulThomas and Ray Carroll. Your support, knowledge and advicehave been very important during the formative stages of theprogramme's development.

As I noted earlier, this type offorum provides a great opportunity to exchange ideas andexperiences. I see this as key to developing effectivesolutions to vehicle crime - and so its time for me to letyou get on with the substance of your seminar.

So - again,welcome to Wellington and while you're here, I encourage youto get out and explore the city's harbour, its restaurants,theatre and even an event being held as part of theInternational Arts Festival, which is currently underway. I wish you well for a successful seminar, and to ourinternational guests - a great visit, and a safe returnhome.

Thankyou.

ENDS
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