Transport Minister Steven Joyce announced governments new measures “aimed at reducing the road death toll, which is 60% per capita higher than Australia's.” The measures include zero alcohol level on drivers under 20. Raising the driving age to 16 and abolition of the right hand turn rule. "We need a systematic approach to the issues around young people dying on our roads." Said Joyce. “The choice becomes simple wrote The Timaru Herald: If you drink and you're under 20, you give up your right to drive on that occasion. This is a much clearer and fairer situation than our current approach.” Why not point the finger at older drivers as well? Asked the Taranaki Daily News. Are Mr Joyce and his experts saying older drivers are any better with a couple of beers under the belt? Focused on the political play, The Transport Minister swept aside official caution to bring the cellphone ban in cars said The Herald. He has not shown the same resolve (here). It augurs badly for bigger decisions that need to be made soon. The Marlborough Express noted The AA’s opposition to the move who claimed that it is drivers aged between 17 and 19, largely on restricted licences, who are most involved in serious crashes and Federated Farmers call that raising the driving age to 16 will disadvantage rural people. But The Press would have none of that argument, “Finally the present administration has decided to act” adding “The rite of passage argument is a red herring, as the age of 15 used to correspond to the school leaving age.” It is not a panacea for the country's record of teenagers killing themselves, said The Nelson Mail, improving driver skills at the licensing stage and continually reinforcing the responsibilities that go with a driver's licence must remain the focus.

For the second time in just a few months, coastal New Zealand, including the South Canterbury coastal belt, has been placed on high alert about the possibility of a tsunami. The Timaru Herald, An awareness that our authorities are taking warnings seriously might be just what it needs for the ordinary man, woman and child in the street to adopt the same approach. The Press, there was much better communication, for which Civil Defence authorities and the news media organisations concerned can take credit. NZ Herald, Civil Defence has done better this time. It is to the credit of Civil Defence's communications effort, and the radio stations that gave their morning programming over to the tsunami warning. Striking a balance between acting upon legitimate safety concerns, and unduly alarming people, needlessly disrupting their lives, is a delicate business, But it was achieved with success on this occasion ODT. The threat of natural disaster will always be accompanied by confusion and uncertainty wrote the The Nelson Mail. Little can be done to protect those who wilfully ignore the warnings and head to the coast to watch a spectacle. But there is room to do better at ensuring those who simply want some clear, reliable and accessible advice, about what to do and where they shouldn't go, know they are getting just that.