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Latest News From the Beehive

Fund to improve health of Pasifika communities

A new $6 million Pacific Innovation Fund will help improve the health of Pasifika people, Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says.

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Tobacco excise rise part of wider programme

Tobacco excise taxes will increase by 10 per cent a year on 1 January in each of the next four years as part of a wider government programme to prevent young people from taking up smoking and encourage existing smokers to quit, Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says.

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Cadetships a focus for Māori Affairs

The Government will fund 1,000 Māori cadetships over the next four years, Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says.

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Government support for Māori education

Māori education remains a Government priority, despite the challenging economic climate, Māori Affairs and Associate Education Minister Pita Sharples says.

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More money for successful tax compliance

Budget 2012 will provide Inland Revenue with an extra $78.4 million over the next four years to bolster its successful tax compliance activities in dealing with the hidden economy, debt collection, and following up on unfiled returns, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says.

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Budget changes raise revenue, increase fairness

The Government is taking a number of steps to tighten the tax system by closing loopholes and updating the tax credit system, which will generate hundreds of millions of dollars of extra revenue over the next four years.

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Modern and accessible courts services a priority

The Government is modernising the court system to improve the way it works for all New Zealanders, Courts Minister Chester Borrows says.

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Canterbury survey network receives $800,000

Land Information New Zealand has received $800,000 in new operating funding for 2012/13 so vital re-surveying of the Canterbury region can continue, Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson says.

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Thousands more NZ homes to be insulated

An extra 41,000 New Zealand homes will be warmer, drier and healthier, thanks to the extension of the Government’s Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart programme.

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$104m investment to support affordable housing

Budget 2012 clearly signals the Government’s commitment to supporting affordable housing and the growth of non-government housing providers, Housing Minister Phil Heatley says.

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Govt delivers on Defence White Paper reforms

The New Zealand Defence Force is to retain about $142 million a year in operating savings it has freed up to improve its military capability, delivering on the Government’s promise in the Defence White Paper.

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Setting targets for safer communities, less crime

Budget 2012 supports better public services by contributing to targets that will reduce prisoner reoffending by 25 per cent by 2017 and result in 18,500 fewer victims of crime every year, Police and Corrections Minister Anne Tolley says.

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Extra support for vulnerable youth

Budget 2012 includes an $18.3 million investment over the next four years in mental health services for children and young people, Youth Affairs Minister Paula Bennett says.

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$287.5m up-front investment in welfare reforms

The Government is making an up-front investment of $287.5 million over the next four years in the first phase of its welfare reforms, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.

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Hundreds of schools to benefit from broadband

Budget 2012 continues the Government’s commitment to making New Zealand schools among the most connected in the world, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams say.

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First investment to develop 21st Century Schools

The Government is investing the first $33.8 million of proceeds from the Future Investment Fund into upgrading school IT networks, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Craig Foss say.

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$110.9m to increase early childhood participation

Extra Budget operating funding of $110.9 million for early childhood education (ECE) over the next four years continues the Government’s drive to increase the number of vulnerable children participating in ECE, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

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$511.9m more to deliver better results for students

Budget 2012 focuses on raising student achievement by investing $511.9 million of operating funding for new initiatives in education over the next four years, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

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$33m more for improved cancer services

Budget 2012 is delivering an additional $33 million in operating funding over the next four years for better and faster services for cancer patients, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

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$68m for more operations, scans and tests

Budget 2012 is delivering a further $68 million of operating funding over the next four years to maintain the record levels of elective surgery achieved under the National-led Government, and to further reduce waiting times for patients.

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Health receives largest increase in spending

Health receives the largest increase in government spending in the Budget, with $435 million available to help fund cost pressures and new initiatives in 2012/13, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

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ACC performance improvement continues

Better performance in the ACC Non-Earners’ Account will free up $52.8 million of taxpayer funding in 2012/13, which will be returned to the Government, ACC Minister Judith Collins says.

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Justice sector funding pool for better results

A new cross-agency funding pool will give the justice sector flexibility to invest in areas that deliver better results to New Zealanders, Justice Minister Judith Collins says.

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Two MED funds cancelled

Two Ministry of Economic Development funds with ambiguous aims are being cancelled, with savings returned to the Government, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says.

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$29.5m to stimulate competitive innovation in tertiary sector

Budget 2012 commits $29.5 million operating spending over four years for Private Training Establishments (PTEs), to create a fairer funding system that rewards competitive innovation across the tertiary sector.

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3,000 more Youth Guarantee places funded

Budget 2012 continues the Government’s support for foundation training for young people, with 3,000 more places funded over the next four years under the Youth Guarantee Scheme.

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$159m to strengthen higher-level tertiary education

Budget 2012 commits $158.9 million over four years to invest in engineering, science, and research-led learning in our tertiary institutions, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

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Tertiary savings fund new investment

Budget 2012 rebalances the Government’s $4.3 billion investment in tertiary education between expenditure on student support and investment in tuition and research, says Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce.

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$326m boost for science, innovation, and research

Budget 2012 delivers on the Government’s commitment to building a more competitive and productive economy, with $250 million of new operating funding and $76.1 million in capital funding over four years for science, innovation, and research.

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Government transport investment continues

KiwiRail will receive $250 million of capital in 2012/13 for its Turnaround Plan to help the rail freight business become sustainable, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

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Recovery Fund helping Canterbury communities

Investment from the $5.5 billion Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Fund is on track, with thousands of people benefiting, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

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Changes build on success of KiwiSaver

Budget 2012 makes changes that will further improve KiwiSaver and lift investor confidence, Finance Minister Bill English and Commerce Minister Craig Foss say.

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Future Investment Fund for modern infrastructure

Schools, health, science and innovation, and transport all benefit in Budget 2012 from the Future Investment Fund set up to invest proceeds from the sale of minority shareholdings in four SOEs and Air New Zealand, Finance Minister Bill English says.

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Budget focuses on better public service results

Budget 2012 includes further steps towards an innovative, efficient public sector delivering better results for New Zealanders within tight financial constraints, Finance Minister Bill English says.

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Budget frees up $4.4 billion for higher priorities

Budget 2012 has freed up $4.4 billion to invest in improving frontline public services and getting better results, while running a zero Budget, Finance Minister Bill English says.

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Remaining on track to Budget surplus in 2014/15

Budget 2012 sets out a programme of balanced measures to ensure the Government remains on track to return to surplus in 2014/15, Finance Minister Bill English says.

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Budget 2012 – Investing In Our Future

Builds a platform for growth, while returning to surplus in 2014/15

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Competitive economy, surplus at heart of Budget

Budget 2012 invests in building an innovative and productive economy that sells more to the world, supports more jobs, and delivers better public services while getting back to fiscal surplus, Finance Minister Bill English says.

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Budget 2012: Investing in New Zealand’s future

Budget 2012 invests in New Zealand’s future with significantly more money for science and innovation, and health and education, while keeping the Government on track for surplus in 2014/15, Prime Minister John Key says.

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Budget 2012

The Government is firmly focused on rebuilding and strengthening the economy to get back to surplus by 2014/15. Budget 2012 sets out the next steps we’re taking to meet this commitment.

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