A new government will have to take the high road in New Zealand in 2009...

The old year is coming to a close. We have just had a general election and the Labour -led government we had been used to and earlier relied on to rectify the abuses of the 1990's has gone. Both Helen Clark and her deputy, Michael Cullen both stood down from the leadership of the party almost immediately. Phil Goff and Annette King are the new leader and deputy respectively, of the Labour Party. What of the future?

The new prime minister and leader of the new rightwing National -led coalition, John Key, has a big task under the present economic difficulties; he may well have a poisoned chalice in leading New Zealand during these times.

This is not my political blog and I don't wish to put off readers of "Down by the HuttRiver" by writing it as such. I just wish to commentate on the present political situation where a brand new government will have to take the high road in their endeavours to justify their elevation to power in 2008. If they are unsuccessful they may not get a second term from a fickle electorate who have never explained just what the change they wished was really all about. Were they just bored with a three term Labour-led administration, or wanted a change of direction? Time will tell!

New Zealand Government approves clinical trials to transfer pig cells into humans...

NZ Government approves pig cell research trials...
Chronic obesity in adults and children is leading towards an epidemic in Type-TWO Diabetes throughout the western world, but a new study suggests type 1 and type 2 are the one and same; governments have become extremely concerned with the future health of their citizens.

Diabetics around the world are now pinning their hopes on a controversial new experiment that was approved by the New Zealand Government this week, which will allow the transfer of pig cells into the bodies of human beings. Previous trials in Russia and other countries have not yet been successful.

New Zealand is the first country to officially allow clinical trials to hopefully transform the lives of people living with Type-One diabetes. These people have up to now had to live with multiple daily insulin injections, the constant monitoring of their blood and consideration of an exercise regime. Type- One diabetes reportedly shaves off one third of their expected lifespan!

The government approved trials in Southland in the South Island of New Zealand; the actual location is top secret at present, will involve the transfer of live cells from the pancreas of piglets into the patients abdomen to produce insulin on demand.

The pigs that will be used in the trials come from a group of unique pigs from the Auckland Islands a few hundred miles off the coast from the New Zealand mainland, who have been totally isolated for two hundred years and are free of any retroviruses.

The scientists concerned are presently selecting suitable diabetic patients for the trials.

I have reproduced part of a scientific report to explain the reasons and necessity behind the decision to hold these forthcoming trials in New Zealand:

The transportation of embryonic pig pancreatic tissue as a source of insulin has been suggested for some time now as a cure for diabetes. Previous limited trials failed in their attempts to treat diabetic patients by the transportation of advanced gestational age porcinc embryonic pancreas.The present study examined the growth potential, functionality and immunogencity of pig embryonic tissue harvested at different gestational ages. I hope this is all clear to readers?

Xeno transplantation.

Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Embryonic Pig Pancreatic Tissue

Transplantation for the Treatment of Diabetics

Read

A reply to my letter to the NZ Government relating to illegal logging...

Dear Peter,

Thank you for your message regarding timber imports and illegal logging.

I share your concerns over the sale of illegal timber in New Zealand and the government is taking practical steps to do something about it.

Over the next few months we will be conducting an assessment of the practicality of introducing a regulatory requirement for suppliers to produce evidence that wood products are sourced from a legally harvested forest. In addition we will be working to encourage stronger public and private sector awareness and action to help address this problem.

In future the government will require its own departments to seek timber and wood products from legally harvested sources and to take all reasonable steps to ensure that those products are from sustainably managed forests.

In addition, our policy recognises the need to work with other countries to find long term solutions to help stop illegal logging at its source. Currently my officials are drafting a comprehensive strategy for international engagement to help guide this work.

Illegal logging is a complex problem and it will take time and effort to address it. But we are committed to doing that through the goals that we have set ourselves.

For more information on the illegal logging policy you may like to visit: Ministry of Agriculture andd Forestry Website
Yours sincerely

Jim Anderton
Minister of Forestry
M P for Wigram and Leader of the Progressive Party