The Universal Serial Number - streamlined

It has been bugging me for years so time to get my thoughts down on paper.

In our country every government department issues many different serial numbers such as:

1. IRD

2. WINZ

3  Health

4. Education 

5. Passport

et al.

Such is the minefield that is Government Bureaucracy that the poor client never really knows what goes where.

My plan is simple.  Centralise all departments under one serial number.

How it works.

1.  When a child is born they are given their National Service Number which is recognised in all facets of bureaucracy. All child health care free (to age 15) and MoH activates a file number accordingly.

2. At aged 5 they are issued a New Zealand Passport for life, only  needs to be renewed on application if the original is full or lost/stolen.
3. NCEA Levels 1 and 2 files use their endemic number.
4.  Aged 15  IRD opens an Account with the same number.
5. Doctors activate the same case file number. All health care has the same number.
6.  Aged 16 WINZ Activate a case file number if needed.

I foresee that bureaucracy will be streamlined.  It would be better for all if they didn't have to wade through Central Government crap. It would also make it easier for Government Departments to cross audit (would you believe IRD has two departments that deal  with clients, IRD itself and Child Support.  15 years ago they didn't talk to each other - not  to mention IRD/WINZ)

Yes I hear the naysayers and Nanny State, but it will work.

Exploding the Myth - 1 Billion Trees

What the 1 Billion Tree forests the Government sounds like is happening.

What the Government will be planting.

Well that is how I see it.  Click on this link for the full rundown on the process.  There is no mention of Native Trees being planted and a veiled reference only to Radiata (Pine)

I have been involved all my life with native forests and a spectator to Pinus Radiata forests.  My breakdown on both.

Native Forest - eons in the making, lush and supporting all manner of native (and introduced) flora and fauna.  There is an old worldly sense of those forests, be it all facet of supported life (see first photo).  The smell is highly desirable, the dampness of after rain effects.  Native forests , if planted by our politicians will take a very long time to have viable growth.  This, despite the time factor is my preferred option.  However there is one drawback.  Building nurseries for seedlings. Also these trees need to be protected in growth as there are many two and four legged creatures that find them desirable. What would be great is if Garden Centres sold only Natives for town/city folks too to assist with the targeted programme.

Pinus Radiata forests -.  Sure they look very pretty and earn big dollars, but they are a blot on the landscape.  They don't support flora and fauna life (see second photo), there is no undergrowth, no humus, no seedlings, just introduced birds and rodents. Don't get me wrong, they are a necessity for export growth but not my first choice for the rest of the country and the One Billion Tree target,