Deputy Prime Minister
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A refresh of the Better Public Services targets will further improve the lives of New Zealanders, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

Prime Minister Bill English today outlined a new set of 10 targets which set the Government’s expectations for the public service, building on the success of the initial targets set in 2012.

“These targets are challenging. They won’t all be easily achieved but we’re not here to shy away from these challenges, we’re here to change lives,” Mrs Bennett says.

The new targets include:

Paula Bennett State Services Deputy Prime Minister
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John Key’s intelligence, optimism and integrity as Leader of the National Party and Prime Minister of New Zealand means he will be judged by history as one of New Zealand’s greatest leaders, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says.

“On behalf of the National Party, the Government and New Zealand I thank John for his years of dedicated and outstanding service to our country.

Bill English Deputy Prime Minister
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Deputy Prime Minister Bill English will lead New Zealand's Ministerial delegation to the annual Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF) in Sydney tomorrow.

Mr English will be accompanied by Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy, Trade Minister Todd McClay, Customs Minister Nicky Wagner, and Commerce Minister Paul Goldsmith.

Bill English Deputy Prime Minister
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Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says a robust democratic process has allowed New Zealanders to choose their flag.

Preliminary results, released by the Electoral Commission this evening, show 1,200,003 voted to keep the current flag, while 915,008 voted for the Kyle Lockwood-designed, alternative flag. Final results will be released by the Electoral Commission on Wednesday 30 March.

“We have run a robust, democratic process that has allowed us to discuss who we are and how we want to be represented on the world stage.

Bill English Deputy Prime Minister
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Every New Zealander who is eligible to vote should have their say on which flag will represent the country in the future, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says.

The referendum that allows New Zealanders to choose between the existing flag and the Kyle Lockwood-designed silver fern begins tomorrow.

Mr Lockwood’s design received 670,790 votes in the first postal referendum held late last year.

“A total of 1,546,734 votes were cast in that first referendum, which is 48.78 percent of enrolled voters,” Mr English says.

Bill English Deputy Prime Minister
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The redevelopment of the Lyttelton Port in Canterbury will play a significant role in the future economic growth and prosperity of the South Island by boosting jobs and trade, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee say.

On the same day trade ministers from around the world signed the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, Mr English formally opened the Cashin Quay 2 Wharf, an $85 million expansion that will increase the Port’s ability to grow trade in the coming decades.

Gerry Brownlee Bill English Deputy Prime Minister Canterbury Earthquake Recovery
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Ministers Bill English and Simon Bridges have announced that the proposed alternative Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue) flag will fly alongside the current New Zealand flag on the Auckland Harbour Bridge from Friday 22 January.

The Auckland Harbour Bridge will be the latest in over 250 sites around the country that have the alternative flag on-loan from the Flag Consideration Project to display beside the current flag, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says.

Bill English Simon Bridges Transport Deputy Prime Minister
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Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says the confirmed results of the first flag referendum mean New Zealanders now have a clear choice whether to change our flag or keep our existing one.

The final results of the first of the two postal referendums have confirmed the Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue) flag by designer Kyle Lockwood as the alternative option to the existing flag.

The Commission says a total of 1,546,734 votes were cast, 48.78 percent of enrolled voters.

Bill English Deputy Prime Minister
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Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says the preliminary results of the first referendum to decide on the future of the New Zealand flag show strong public interest.

The first of the two postal referendums closed today and the Electoral Commission has indicated the Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue) flag by designer Kyle Lockwood as the preliminary winner.

The Commission says a total of 1,527,042 votes were cast, with voter turnout of 48 per cent.

Bill English Deputy Prime Minister
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Deputy Prime Minister, Bill English, is encouraging Kiwis to have their say on what New Zealand’s flag should look like.

The first postal referendum, which will give New Zealanders the first ever opportunity to vote on the flag that best represents them, begins today and runs until 11 December.

Mr English says voters should take advantage of the opportunity to rank the five alternative designs selected by the Flag Consideration Panel.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  

Bill English Deputy Prime Minister
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New Zealanders will have a fifth choice in the first postal referendum to rank potential alternative flag designs, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says.

“Parliament has voted by an overwhelming majority to have an additional, fifth option added to the first postal referendum ballot paper with the passing of the New Zealand Flag Referendums Amendment Bill.

Bill English Deputy Prime Minister
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New Zealanders will have their say in choosing the New Zealand flag after legislation enabling two postal referendums was endorsed by Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says.

“The passing of the New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill, with the support of four Parliamentary parties, will secure New Zealanders their first opportunity ever to vote on the flag that best represents them and our country,” Mr English said.

Bill English Deputy Prime Minister
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More young people are achieving higher qualifications, welfare dependency continues to fall and Kiwis are doing more of their government transactions digitally, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and State Services Minister Paula Bennett say.

The Government today published the latest update of progress against the ten challenging targets set three years ago by the Prime Minister.

Paula Bennett Bill English State Services Deputy Prime Minister
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The process for considering the New Zealand flag is structured in the best way to give the fairest outcome, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says.

A petition before the Justice and Electoral Committee today suggested that the question, “Do you want to change the flag?” should be added to the first referendum on the flag, which is likely to be held in November or December this year.

Bill English Deputy Prime Minister
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A bill that sets out how the two postal referendums on the New Zealand Flag will be conducted passed its first reading in Parliament today, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says.

The New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill was referred to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee after a 76 to 43 vote on the first reading.

“New Zealanders will decide whether the flag changes or not,” Mr English says.

Bill English Deputy Prime Minister
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The Government has appointed 12 New Zealanders as members of the Flag Consideration Panel which will engage with the public about a possible new New Zealand flag, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says.

The panel will be chaired by former deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Canterbury Emeritus Professor John Burrows, ONZM, QC of Christchurch who was co-chair of the Constitutional Advisory Panel. Writer and reviewer Kate de Goldi of Wellington will be the deputy chair of the Flag Consideration Panel.

The other 10 members are:

Bill English Deputy Prime Minister
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Cabinet has agreed on the details of the flag referendum process and every political party represented in Parliament has been invited to take part, say Prime Minister John Key and Deputy Prime Minister Bill English.

“Our flag is the most important symbol of our national identity and I believe that this is the right time for New Zealanders to consider changing the design to one that better reflects our status as a modern, independent nation,” Mr Key says.

Bill English John Key Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister

John Key Bill English Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister