Prime Minister John Key has today announced the establishment of a new ministerial portfolio, supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration, which replaces the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery portfolio.

“The rebuild of Canterbury is one of the most ambitious undertakings in New Zealand’s history, and supporting the rebuild remains of one of National’s main priorities,” says Mr Key. 

“The passing of the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act and the disestablishment of CERA marks a new phase in the Canterbury rebuild. 

Prime Minister John Key has today announced the New Zealand Government is nominating Helen Clark for the position of the United Nations Secretary-General.

“Having served as the Prime Minister of New Zealand for nine years and held one of the top jobs in the United Nations for the past seven, Helen Clark has the right mix of skills and experience for the job,” says Mr Key.

“There are major global challenges facing the world today and the United Nations needs a proven leader who can be pragmatic and effective.

Prime Minister John Key today announced the appointment of Fiona Leonard as Chief Parliamentary Counsel for a term of five years.

The Chief Parliamentary Counsel is the principal advisor and Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Counsel Office (PCO).  They are responsible for ensuring PCO, which drafts most of New Zealand’s legislation, provides high quality services and advice to the Government and Parliament. 

Ms Leonard holds an LLM from the University of Cambridge as well as a BA and LLB (Hons) from the University of Canterbury.

Prime Minister John Key told the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington today that New Zealand is playing its part to ensure the threat of global nuclear terrorism is never realised.

“Although New Zealand is geographically isolated and has only small amounts of radioactive and nuclear material, this alone does not guarantee our security,” says Mr Key.

“We take our responsibility of ensuring these materials are safeguarded in our country very seriously.”

Prime Minister John Key will spend the next two days in Washington meeting with key economic and trade leaders.

Mr Key will meet with the Federal Reserve Chair Dr Janet Yellen, US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, and US Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew. He will also address the US Chamber of Commerce.

“These meetings are a good opportunity to seek their perspective on the global and US economies,” says Mr Key.

Prime Minister John Key has condemned the attacks in Brussels and says New Zealanders are thinking about the people and the government of Belgium.

“We utterly condemn these appalling acts which have killed and wounded so many,” Mr Key says.

“No innocent person should have to worry about such violence when going about their daily lives and New Zealand stands with Belgium in the fight against terrorism.

Prime Minister John Key has today welcomed the announcement that the Queen has approved the appointment of Dame Patsy Reddy as the next Governor-General of New Zealand.

Prime Minister John Key will attend the fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit in Washington next week.

“The Nuclear Security Summit is an opportunity to address nuclear terrorism threats at the global level,” says Mr Key.

“New Zealand is committed to the goal of securing vulnerable nuclear materials worldwide.  This meeting will be a chance to press for greater international cooperation in this area.”

Prime Minister John Key today announced the appointment of Andrew Hampton as the Director of the Government Communications Security Bureau.

Mr Hampton has been appointed for a five year term commencing 26 April 2016.

“Mr Hampton is a respected senior public servant with experience in senior leadership roles across the public service,” says Mr Key. 

Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Intelligence John Key today welcomed the report of the Independent Review of Intelligence and Security.

“The report contains an extensive range of recommendations which aim to improve the clarity and consistency of the legislative framework governing the security and intelligence agencies,” says Mr Key.

“The central recommendation is that there should be a single, comprehensive Act covering both the agencies and their oversight regime.

Prime Minister John Key has expressed his condolences to the family of Martin Crowe, following the passing of one of New Zealand’s greatest sportsmen.

“Martin was a truly great sportsman - one of our finest-ever batsmen and sharpest cricketing minds,” Mr Key says.

“He was a world-class athlete whose exploits on the pitch endeared him to cricket fans around the world, whose leadership helped propel our Black Caps to the 1992 Cricket World Cup semi-final and whose tutelage has helped the next generation to excel.”

Prime Minister and Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) John Key confirmed the report of the Independent Review of Intelligence and Security has been received by members of the ISC today.

“I would like to thank the independent reviewers, Sir Michael Cullen and Dame Patsy Reddy, for their work on this report,” says Mr Key.

“After the report has been tabled in Parliament, the Government can begin working on its response.”

Prime Minister John Key has acknowledged the passing of leading Māori academic, commentator and writer Dr Ranginui Walker.

Dr Walker, who was of Te Whakatōhea descent, was appointed Professor and Head of Māori Studies at the University of Auckland in 1993. During his career, Dr Walker published a number of books and in 2009 received a Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement for non-fiction work.

1     At the invitation of H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Rt Hon Mr John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand, paid an official visit to Sri Lanka from 23-27 February 2016. During the visit, Prime Minister Key held official meetings with President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo.

Prime Minister John Key launched two significant dairy development projects in Colombo this afternoon, aimed at supporting Sri Lankan dairy farmers and boosting New Zealand’s role in Sri Lanka’s dairy industry.

The agreement was reached at a meeting between Mr Key, Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other Cabinet ministers today.

Prime Minister the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP and Prime Minister the Rt Hon John Key met in Sydney on 19 February 2016 for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting. Prime Minister Turnbull and Mrs Turnbull warmly welcomed Prime Minister Key and Mrs Key to Australia. Prime Ministers Turnbull and Key also welcomed the opportunity to engage with senior representatives of the Australian and New Zealand business communities.

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed Prime Minister Turnbull’s announcement opening the way for more New Zealanders to gain citizenship in Australia. 

At the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ meeting in Sydney, Mr Turnbull announced that New Zealanders who arrived in Australia between 26 February 2001 and 19 February 2016 will be eligible for permanent residence, then citizenship, if they meet certain criteria. 

Prime Minister John Key will make an official visit to Sri Lanka next week to highlight the growing commercial and political ties between the two countries.

Mr Key will meet with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as well as speak with a number of local businesspeople to promote New Zealand’s interests in the region.

He will also lead a business delegation to focus on the significant opportunities to diversify trade between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, which stood at $324m in 2015.

Prime Minister John Key will lead a delegation to Australia this week for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ meeting.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will host the meeting in Sydney on Friday 19 February.

“The Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ meeting is a well-established annual fixture which recognises the significant relationship between our two countries,” says Mr Key. 

Prime Minister John Key welcomed today’s signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement in Auckland, confirming it will be overwhelmingly positive for New Zealand in supporting more trade and investment, jobs and incomes.

“Today is a significant day, not only for New Zealand but for the other 11 countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” Mr Key says. “I’m proud of the role the New Zealand Government and officials have played in getting to this point.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has announced further funding to maintain and improve the premier rides of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

Applications are now open for the fourth round of funding through the Maintaining the Quality of Great Rides Fund, a Government initiative to maintain and enhance the quality of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

“This funding is part of the Government’s $8 million investment over four years to ensure the Great Rides are maintained to their current world-class standards,” Mr Key says.

Prime Minister and Acting Foreign Minister John Key has named diplomat Dr Jonathan Austin as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Singapore.

“New Zealand has a strong relationship with Singapore going back to its foundation in 1965, and it is one of our most valued partners in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr Key says.