Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is urging boat users to make safety their top priority as New Zealand’s Safer Boating Week begins today.
“Safer Boating Week is all about being aware of the risks on the water and how to reduce those risks,” Mr Foss says.
“Labour Weekend, the traditional start of the recreational boating season, is just one week away.
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Craig Foss today announced Portia Baine, 18, as the overall winner of the 2015 Battle of Passchendaele Multi-Media Competition.
“Portia’s poem, titled ‘Passchendaele’, captures the very essence of this competition — remembering those who served on the Western Front, particularly those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country,” Mr Foss says.
Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says the West Coast will soon get 12 new road safety billboards, in time for the influx of tourists expected this summer.
The billboards will have three messages: ‘Keep left’, ‘Your speed affects others, slow down’ and ‘Allow extra time on NZ roads’.
“The Government is committed to improving safety for all road users, regardless of where they’re from. Billboards are a simple yet effective way to get the message across,” Mr Foss says.
A Chinese reality TV star’s plea for tourists to take care while driving in New Zealand will help spread the road safety message in one of our most popular tourist markets, Ministers Paula Bennett and Craig Foss say.
The five minute video, released this week in China, is fronted by Huang Lei, the star of China’s number one reality show ‘Dad, where are we going?’
It was filmed in New Zealand during Huang Lei’s visit in June, secured by Tourism New Zealand.
New Zealand’s clean, green brand will be strengthened with the passage of the Environmental Reporting Act by Parliament today, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Statistics Minister Craig Foss say.
“The new Environmental Reporting Act will back up our clean, green brand with authoritative and independent information on the state of our environment. It will tell us where we match up, where we don’t and give regular updates so that we can track long-term changes,” Dr Smith says.
Small Business Minister Craig Foss will travel to the Philippines later today to represent the New Zealand Government at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Meeting on mainstreaming Small and Medium Businesses in the Global Economy.
“In New Zealand SMEs account for 97 per cent of our companies and they generate 27 per cent of Gross Domestic Product and thousands of jobs annually,” Mr Foss says.
Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is welcoming the multi-agency approach to increasing safety for visitors on our roads after meetings with mayors and other members of the Visiting Drivers project group.
“Meeting with the project group was a good opportunity to hear first-hand about the initiatives that are already underway, as well as those planned for the upcoming summer season,” Mr Foss says.
Transport Minister Simon Bridges and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss say the first certified flight of an unmanned helicopter under new aviation rules is a great example of how they can enable commercial use.
Yamaha today received the first certification issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to fly a commercial Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
“The new rules open up a huge range of commercial possibilities that will help Kiwi businesses to thrive, whilst maintaining the highest safety standards,” Mr Bridges says.
New rules that allow buses, including double-deckers, to carry more people will ramp up the public transport offering in our cities, Transport Minister Simon Bridges and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss say.
Changes to the Vehicle Dimensions and Mass (VDAM) rule will allow local government and other road controlling authorities to issue permits for high capacity buses, including double-decker buses, in urban areas - starting in Auckland but moving elsewhere.
Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says the Government is delivering many of the Cycling Safety Panel’s recommendations as part of its commitment to making cycling a safer, more attractive choice for personal travel.
“The Government’s already delivering many of the Cycling Safety Panel’s recommendations through the Urban Cycleways Programme, Safer Journeys and the transport planning and investment process,” Mr Foss says.
“Many popular cycle areas are already benefiting from segregated cycle lanes and off-road cycle paths.”
Veterans will soon find it easier to claim their recreational travel concession, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Craig Foss says.
From December 7, eligible veterans can claim up to $200 per year for travel costs by filling out a statutory declaration, rather than keeping track of numerous receipts.
“This change, part of the new Veterans’ Independence Programme, is about making it easier for those who’ve served our country to access the support they need,” Mr Foss says.
Recreational pilots now have access to specialised weather forecasts free-of-charge, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.
Budget 2015 included funding for MetService to provide the weather forecasts through MetFlight GA — an aviation weather website for recreational pilots.
“Free access to MetFlight GA ensures recreational pilots have the high-quality, specialised aviation forecasts they need to plan their flight and stay safe in the air,” Mr Foss says.
Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is welcoming a significant reduction in wait times for sitting the restricted and full driver licence tests.
Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is welcoming two new in-flight initiatives to help international visitors keep themselves and others safe on New Zealand roads.
A series of short road safety videos and an app will soon be available on Air New Zealand’s in-flight entertainment system.
“I’m pleased to see Air New Zealand has updated and enhanced the information it provides about our road rules and conditions. These initiatives are yet another way of communicating important road safety messages,” Mr Foss says.
The finalised Code of Practice for rental vehicle companies is yet another tool to help ensure visiting drivers have all the information necessary to help keep themselves and others safe on our roads, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.
“I’m pleased to see the Rental Vehicle Association and Tourism Industry Association have worked swiftly to develop this Code. I encourage rental vehicle operators to sign up and implement the Code before the peak tourism season,” Mr Foss says.
Transport Minister Simon Bridges and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss say the launch of the ninth annual Rail Safety Week is a timely reminder to stay alert around trains, tracks and level crossings.
“There are a range of events taking place around the country — all focused on reminding people how to keep safe around trains,” Mr Bridges says.
A new series of stories honouring New Zealand’s unsung heroes of World War I launched online today, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Craig Foss says.
The stories recognise the gallant actions of individuals and military units during the Gallipoli campaign of 1915. The first story, now available on the WW100 website, profiles Lieutenant-Colonel William Malone, who led the Wellington Battalion in the capture of Chunuk Bair.
New Zealand will gain significant economic and social benefits from the formation of the New Zealand Data Futures Partnership, Finance Minister Bill English and Statistics Minister Craig Foss say.
The Partnership — an independent group made up of members from the private, NGO, academic and public sectors — will champion the safe collection, use and sharing of government and business data.
“The volume of data held by the public and private sectors is growing exponentially,” Mr English says.
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Craig Foss will attend the Battle for Chunuk Bair centenary service at Gallipoli on Saturday.
“Chunuk Bair holds a special place in the hearts and minds of many Kiwis,” Mr Foss says.
“During the Gallipoli campaign, hundreds of our soldiers fought and died in an ultimately futile bid for control of this picturesque hill.
“This year’s service, like the Anzac Day commemorations in April, will be extra special, with hundreds of Kiwis expected to attend.”
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Craig Foss says a multi-media competition for year 13 students will help ensure the bravery and sacrifice of New Zealand troops during the Battle of Passchendaele is not forgotten.
“The Battle of Passchendaele was one of New Zealand’s most deadly conflicts during World War I. Many of those killed were of a similar age to the students eligible for this competition,” Mr Foss says.
Small Business Minister Craig Foss today released Small Businesses in New Zealand — an online factsheet highlighting the significant contribution small and medium-sized firms make to New Zealand’s economy.
“This factsheet shows small businesses are consistently punching above their weight,” Mr Foss says.
“They generate 27 per cent of Gross Domestic Product and thousands of jobs annually — for the year ending September 2013, 42 per cent of all jobs created were in businesses with 1-19 employees.
A new online training module will help ensure visiting drivers stay safe on New Zealand roads, Ministers Paula Bennett and Craig Foss say.
Driving in New Zealand provides overseas travel agents with information about New Zealand road rules and conditions.
“Tourism New Zealand has cleverly packaged together all the relevant safety information, in seven languages, and is offering it free of charge to any overseas travel retailers,” Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.
Statistics Minister Craig Foss says a new infographic celebrating 150 years since Wellington became the capital shows how far the city has come.
“Wellington was chosen as the capital city by three Australians 150 years ago. A lot has changed since then and Statistics NZ has been able to track that change through the data it collects,” Mr Foss says.
“Wellington really is the ‘coolest little capital’ but 150 years ago it was seriously little — with a population of just over 7000 people.
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Craig Foss will today present a pin and certificate of appreciation to Hawke’s Bay ‘Land Girl’ Tiny (Helen) White.
During World War II, Mrs White and more than 4000 other New Zealand women volunteered for organisations such as the Women's Land Service.
“These women, commonly referred to as Land Girls, took up the roles of the men sent overseas — they worked on farms and in other essential industries,” Mr Foss says.
