Communications Minister Amy Adams has marked New Zealand Sign Language Week by announcing a new Video Interpreting Service for deaf and hearing impaired New Zealanders.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has signed a contract with CSD New Zealand for the new service, which will be available from 1 July 2016. The new service combines two existing services – the Video Relay Service and the Video Remote Interpreting Service.

“Around 4000 New Zealanders use sign language as their primary way to communicate,” says Ms Adams.

A Bill to make minor technical changes to New Zealand’s alcohol legislation has passed its first reading in Parliament with unanimous support.

“Since the passing of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act in 2012, we’re already seeing fewer alcohol outlets, the first local plans coming into force, and more communities getting the chance to have their say on the sale of alcohol in their neighbourhoods,” says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

Communications Minister Amy Adams has announced the creation of an Advisory Board to advise her on setting up the new national CERT.

“CERT NZ will be a central part of our cyber security architecture and a one-stop shop for anyone reporting or dealing with cybercrime. I want to see the CERT set up as soon as is practicably possible,” Ms Adams says. 

An investment of $22.2 million from Budget 2016 will enable a significant advancement in the country’s cyber security infrastructure, Communications Minister Amy Adams announced today.

The Government will invest $20 million of operating funding over the next four years on a new national Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) to combat cyber-attacks and cybercrime, with an additional $2.2 million of capital for set up.

Courts Minister Amy Adams says recent refurbishments and upgrades to the Waitakere District Court will improve court facilities and services for the people of Waitakere.

While visiting the 20 year old Court today, Minister Adams said the Court had been badly in need of attention to both improve the presentation of the building and ensure the availability of quality court services.

Communications Minister Amy Adams has welcomed today’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between InternetNZ and the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) on the management of the .nz domain name.

“The agreement will help ensure this important resource continues to be managed in a transparent way that supports the interests of the local internet community and end users of digital services,” says Ms Adams.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced details of how the Government is planning to apply the Social Investment approach to the criminal justice system.

“Across the board, the Government is taking significant steps to better protect the vulnerable in our society. One of the best things we can do to support victims is to stop them from ever becoming one,” Ms Adams says.

A pilot to support judges to make better informed family violence bail decisions expands to Wellington, Wairarapa and Northland, Justice Minister Amy Adams and Police Minister Judith Collins have announced today.

The pilot programme gives judges making bail decisions in family violence cases more information about the risks defendants pose.

New Zealand Music Month is a time to focus on the wealth of musical talent we have here in New Zealand, Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry say.

“NZ Music Month as an opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of all those who create, perform, record or promote New Zealand music.

“The success of NZ Music Month is in the wide support it receives, not only from the partnering organisations but also from New Zealand music labels, venues, media and the public,” says Ms Adams.

Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams today announced appointments to the boards of two of New Zealand’s iconic media organisations, Television New Zealand (TVNZ) and NZ On Air.

“These appointments will ensure there is a good balance of new expertise and experience at a time when the way we communicate, do business and access information and entertainment is changing rapidly,” says Ms Adams.

Joan Withers has been appointed for a further term as Chair of TVNZ.

More than 200 top business people will join Communications Minister Amy Adams for New Zealand’s first Cyber Security Summit in Auckland onThursday (5 May).

Ms Adams signalled the summit at the launch of New Zealand’s Cyber Security Strategy in December, with a call to action for the public and private sector to come together to keep the economy cyber secure.

The number of defendants gaining permanent name suppression has dropped significantly since the Government tightened the rules, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

The Criminal Procedure Act 2011 changed how name suppression is granted and the numbers of defendants receiving permanent name suppression have now halved.  A key change was raising the threshold for a defendant to gain suppression from ‘undue hardship’ to ‘extreme hardship’.

Ministers from across Australia and New Zealand will meet to discuss Trans-Tasman cooperation on topics from family violence to natural disasters.

New Zealand will host the fifth meeting of the Law, Crime and Community Safety Council (LCCSC) in Queenstown from 27-28 April.

Justice Minister Amy Adams will chair the plenary session on Family Violence and Community Safety. Police Minister Judith Collins and Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye will chair sessions on Law Enforcement and Emergency Management, respectively.

Communications Minister Amy Adams says Rolleston, in her electorate of Selwyn, is leading the pack in Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) uptake, at 52 per cent of households and businesses being connected.

“The latest data from local fibre company, Enable, shows the Rolleston community is one of UFB’s greatest supporters,” Ms Adams says.

“Although UFB is the standard in new subdivisions, the rate of penetration in the township’s older suburbs is just as high.”

Coromandel’s Kauaeranga Valley is today celebrating the arrival of 4G broadband and mobile coverage under the Government’s Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI), says Communications Minister Amy Adams.

“Broadband and mobile coverage to Kauaeranga Valley will ensure residents can use fast broadband for their day-to-day business, while visitors who come here to enjoy nature, tramp for the day or camp overnight can stay connected and keep safe,” says Ms Adams.

An increasingly popular justice initiative that gives victims the opportunity to hold offenders to account is proving effective at reducing crime, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

Restorative justice conferences are face-to-face meetings where victims can tell offenders how the crime affected them, and where offenders can take personal responsibility for their actions. The process is run by trained facilitators and only takes place with the consent of both the victim and the offender.

Communications Minister Amy Adams today announced a series of high-level policy decisions on the future regulation of the telecommunications sector.

“Digital technologies are transforming the way New Zealanders live, work and do business. To help reach our 2025 broadband target and to keep our economy growing, we need the right laws in place to make sure high quality and affordable communication services are available for consumers and businesses,” says Ms Adams.

As part of the Government’s commitment to a more integrated, more effective response to family violence, an innovative new approach is to be piloted in Christchurch from 1 July, Ministers have announced.

The Integrated Safety Response pilot will bring together a team of Police, CYF, Corrections, Health, specialist family violence NGOs and Māori service providers to support victims and their families.

The pilot is part of the comprehensive cross-agency work programme overseen by the Ministerial Group on Family Violence and Sexual Violence.

Communications Minister Amy Adams has today announced the rollout of Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) is now finished in Hamilton, the largest area completed so far.

“Hamilton is the sixteenth urban area to have their UFB built completed, and now more than 63,000 homes, schools, medical centres and businesses are able to connect,” says Ms Adams.

“The completed rollout will be welcomed by those living in Hamilton. Broadband is vital to New Zealanders, and connects us to one another and new markets across the world.”

Apartment residents are set to reap the benefits of connecting more quickly to faster broadband under new changes proposed by Communications Minister Amy Adams.

Ms Adams has announced the second phase of Land Access Reforms, making it easier for those living in apartment complexes to connect to Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB). These follow on from changes announced last month to improve access to stand alone properties with shared access.

Two independent reports have found New Zealand’s Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) and Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) programmes continue to deliver faster internet speeds, says Communications Minister Amy Adams.

“In 2008, average broadband speeds were around 2.7 Megabits per second. By the end of 2015, average speeds have more than tripled to 9.3 Mbps,” says Ms Adams.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Communications Minister Amy Adams have welcomed today’s announcement by Hawaiki confirming it will build a submarine cable linking New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

“Hawaiki’s new cable system will provide more international data choice and resilience for Kiwi consumers and business and help progress New Zealand’s digital economy.” Mr Joyce says.