Message from the Minister of Internal Affairs, Rick Barker

Welcome to my first monthly update of what’s happening in the Internal Affairs portfolio.

June was a busy month for Internal Affairs. We have some major work on legislation underway, including the Births Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Amendment Bill which is currently being considered by the Government and Administration Select Committee, and the review of fire and rescue services.

The Prime Minister and I also announced the recipients of the Significant Community Based Projects Fund.

Grant pays for night goggles

In June I tested out new state-of-the-art night-vision goggles on the Life Flight Trust Westpac Rescue helicopter.

The goggles, which come courtesy of a $40,342 lottery grant, will greatly enhance the chance of survival if people get lost or stranded at night.

Lottery Community Facilities Fund

Over $8 million has been set aside for the Lottery Community Facilities Fund to make grants to organisations for projects to build or improve community facilities. Applications for the first funding round close on 27 July 2007 and funding decisions will be announced in early December 2007.

In 2002 falling lottery profits resulted in the Lottery Community Facilities Fund being discontinued. However an increase in New Zealand Lotteries profits over the last few years has allowed us to reintroduce the fund

More information go to www.cdgo.govt.nz or phone 0800 824 824

Review of Fire Legislation: Submissions now closed

A review of New Zealand's Fire Legislation is underway. The purpose is to acknowledge the evolving rescue role of the Fire Service and resolve inconsistencies between urban and rural fire systems.

The Fire Service has a growing role in assisting at road accidents and in the development of urban search and rescue capability. It also has new duties under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002.

Main benefits of the proposal would be: 

• A stronger national organisation to lead regional planning and coordinate fire services, developing minimum national standards


• A wide mandate for rescue and legal protection for fire and rescue workers


• Standardised brigade system and support for all volunteers 


• Flow on benefits to civil defence emergency management

The next step is for my officials to analyse the 360 submissions received

Significant projects get funding

In June the Prime Minister and I announced projects would receive funding from the Significant Community Based Projects Fund.

The Fund was set up by the Labour-led Government in 2005 to support major community projects which have regional or national significance.

• Just over $6.5 million was granted to assist in the construction and fit-out of an all-weather Visitor and Education Centre at the Karori Reservoir Wildlife Sanctuary. 


• Rotokare Wildlife Sanctuary  received $578,699 towards the creation of a secure, pest-free, environment around a 230ha forested catchments. 


• McLean Park in Napier received $2,929,472 to assist with the upgrade of lighting and other facilities.


• $172203 will go to complete the Riverton Heritage and Tourist Centre


• Tauranga Art Gallery received $650,000 for the provision of a public art gallery for the Bay of Plenty.