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Latest News From the Beehive

An extra $1.5b allocated from Future Fund

Schools, Christchurch hospitals, KiwiRail and irrigation are four of the biggest recipients of new capital allocated from the Future Investment Fund in Budget 2013, Finance Minister Bill English and State Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall say.

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Housing package improves affordability, access

Budget 2013 contains an ambitious and comprehensive package of measures aimed at making houses more affordable and improving access to social housing, Finance Minister Bill English and Housing Minister Nick Smith say.

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Budget boosts support for low-income families

Low-income families receive considerable further assistance in Budget 2013 to improve their quality of life, Finance Minister Bill English and Whānau Ora Minister Tariana Turia say.

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New tools agreed to enhance financial stability

Finance Minister Bill English and Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler have signed a memorandum of understanding on measures aimed at further protecting the economy and financial system from boom and bust cycles.

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Finance Minister: Budget Speech

It’s my privilege to deliver the National-led Government’s fifth Budget.

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Government investment supports transport

KiwiRail will receive $94 million in 2013/14 as part of the Government’s investment in KiwiRail’s Turnaround Plan to help make the rail freight business self-sustaining, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

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Additional $2.1b for Christchurch’s recovery

The Budget confirms a further $2.1 billion in funding for the Christchurch earthquake recovery, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

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Budget 2013: Investing $200m in science, innovation & research

Budget 2013 delivers on the Government’s commitment to building a more competitive and productive economy with $200 million of new funding over the next four years for science and innovation, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce says.

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$130m boost for Kiwi R&D and start-ups

Budget 2013 is investing nearly $130 million into Callaghan Innovation to encourage businesses to invest more in research and development, and to support new start-ups.

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Focusing student support on younger learners

Budget 2013 focuses on providing the maximum possible level of support for students in the early years of tertiary study and those from low-income families, while ensuring the system is sustainable for taxpayers.

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$40m to boost international education

Budget 2013 invests $40 million over the next four years in marketing and promoting New Zealand’s international education industry, as the country targets doubling the value of international education to $5 billion by 2025.

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Lifting student loan repayments from overseas-based borrowers

Budget 2013 will target overseas-based student loan borrowers with new initiatives to increase repayments and reduce defaulting, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne say.

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Over $130m to strengthen higher-level tertiary education

Budget 2013 commits over $130 million over four years in new funding for investment in tertiary education, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

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Govt signals around $1b of ACC levy reductions

Continuing improvements in ACC provide an opportunity for significant levy reductions to benefit businesses and households, ACC Minister Judith Collins says.

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$4.4m to expand restorative justice services

Budget 2013 supports the Government’s target of further reducing reoffending by 25 per cent by 2017, Justice Minister Judith Collins says.

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Health receives the largest Budget increase

New Zealand’s public health services receive the largest increase in funding in the Budget, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

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$35.5m extra for diabetes and heart disease

New Zealanders with or at risk of developing diabetes and heart disease will benefit from a $35.5 million boost of new funding over four years, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

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$92m to pay family carers of disabled adults

The Government will provide $92 million over four years to pay carers who look after their own disabled adult family members with high or very high needs, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

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$4.3m prostate cancer campaign to save lives

Budget 2013 will deliver $4.3 million over four years to raise awareness of prostate cancer and ensure men have better access to quality information and care, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

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Investment in education increases to over $9.7b

Budget 2013 delivers $901 million in the current year and over the next four years for operating initiatives to lift educational achievement at every level of the system – from early childhood, to primary, to secondary, and into training for work, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

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Early childhood education: $172.5m extra

Budget 2013 will deliver $172.5 million over four years in new operating investment for early childhood education, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

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Schools: $215m more for student achievement

Budget 2013 reinforces the Government’s commitment to schools with an extra $215 million over four years to further lift student achievement, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

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More intensive support through welfare reform

A further investment of $188.6 million for the next stage of welfare reform will ensure beneficiaries get more intensive support to move from welfare to work, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.

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Change from state housing to social housing

Budget 2013 makes fundamental changes to the way the Government delivers housing assistance to those most in need, Housing Minister Nick Smith and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett say.

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$35m for extended family raising children

Funding of $35 million over four years has been set aside in contingency for extended family members caring for children, recognising the difficult job they do.

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Commitment to Children’s Action Plan continues

The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable children through the Children’s Action Plan, Chair of the Ministerial Oversight Group Paula Bennett says.

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Microfinance support for people on low incomes

The Government is supporting New Zealanders on low incomes with a suite of measures designed to help them become more independent.

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Reducing reoffending, keeping communities safe

Budget 2013 supports the Government’s target of further reducing reoffending, leading to fewer victims of crime, and the redesign of electronically monitored bail, Corrections Minister Anne Tolley says.

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Continued support for frontline crime prevention

Police funding in Budget 2013 will continue to be directed at preventing and reducing crime and rolling out new technology to help frontline officers work more effectively and keep communities safe, Police Minister Anne Tolley says.

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Legislation for housing accords, land supply

Special legislation to enable councils and the Government to streamline new housing developments in areas where housing is least affordable will be introduced to Parliament today.

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Housing WoF to be developed and trialled

The Government is to develop a Housing Warrant of Fitness system and trial it on Housing New Zealand properties, Housing Minister Nick Smith says.

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Reforms focus state housing on highest need

All Housing New Zealand tenancies will be reviewed to ensure state housing is focused on people with the highest housing need, Housing Minister Nick Smith says.

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$80m for irrigation - boost to economy, environment

Budget 2013 has confirmed $80 million in funding for regional irrigation projects, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says.

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Collaborative funding for online services

The Government is reprioritising $2.9 million of taxpayer funding in 2013/14 to help more New Zealanders interact with government in a digital environment, Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says.

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$100m for investing in warmer, healthier homes

The Government is investing in a new three-year insulation programme, which will deliver warmer, drier and healthier homes to communities in most need, Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges says.

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$134m for more modern learning environments

Budget 2013 provides an additional $134 million in contingency capital funding for new school property, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says.

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Property investment focus to return $45m a year

Budget 2013 provides a permanent $6.65 million increase in annual funding for Inland Revenue to pursue property investment tax compliance, which is expected to return about $45 million a year, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says.

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Multinational investors – paying fair share of tax

Changes to the thin capitalisation rules will help ensure multinational companies investing in New Zealand pay their fair share of tax, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says.

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R&D tax-break proposal to boost start-ups

Small, innovative businesses are set to benefit from proposed changes that will allow them to claim tax losses on research and development, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says.

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Budget tax relief for ‘black hole’ expenditure

Budget 2013 will provide relief for six areas of ‘black hole’ business expenditure, bringing in tax deductibility on items where it previously has not applied, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says.

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Partnership Schools/Kura Hourua: funding focuses on raising achievement

Budget 2013 will provide $19 million in contingency funding to establish the first Partnership Schools/Kura Hourua with a focus on accountability and high educational outcomes for New Zealand children.

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Increased investment in Māori language

Budget 2013 provides for new and increased funding for Māori language initiatives, Māori Affairs Minister and Associate of Education Minister Dr Pita Sharples says.

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Funding to support disabled New Zealanders

The Government has committed to a number of initiatives in Budget 2013 to improve the lives of those who live with disabilities, Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia says.

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$136 million investment fast tracks school network upgrades

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced the Government will invest $136 million over the next four years to complete the School Network Upgrade Project (SNUP) by 2016 - two years ahead of schedule.

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Social housing reforms sent to select committee

A bill to create the right environment to support the growth of the social housing sector and ensure housing assistance is focused on those with the highest need passed its first reading in Parliament today.

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Queen’s Counsel appointed

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today the appointments of 26 Queen’s Counsel.

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Labour wrong on Police again

Police Minister Anne Tolley says Labour is continuing its campaign to mislead the public and undermine confidence in the Police.

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Time, safety and the environment win with National

Contrary to Green Party claptrap that more and better roads don’t reduce congestion, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee today welcomed further evidence they do.

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Boost to wilding pines control at Mid Dome

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson today announced Budget 2013 will provide an additional $1.2 million for wilding pines control and eradication work at Mid Dome in Southland.

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Military outputs increased in Budget

Defence Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman says the New Zealand Defence Force is improving its military capability in this year’s budget as it realises the benefits from the annual savings it has achieved.

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