Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell says a new $4 million pilot initiative he announced today as part of Budget 2017 will help young Māori obtain essential documents to help set them up for their futures.

“Successful young Māori have a significant impact on the country’s social and economic success and we want to give them all a chance to share in the opportunities that are out there,” says Mr Flavell.

The initiative, Passport to Life – Taiohi Ararau, will assist taiohi aged 15-24 to get all-important credentials for life.

Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Trade Minister Todd McClay have welcomed appointments and reappointments to the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Board (NZTE) and the New Zealand Story Board (NZ Story Board).

Minister for Economic Development Simon Bridges has congratulated the team at Rocket Lab on the successful launch of their first test rocket on the Mahia Peninsula.

“Today’s successful launch is a major milestone in the development of New Zealand’s space industry,” says Mr Bridges.

“It is the first visible sign of a space industry in New Zealand and is an achievement Rocket Lab, and all New Zealanders can be proud of.”

Budget 2017 will invest $372.8 million of new operating funding in the second round of the Government’s Innovative New Zealand programme, Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith say.

“Every initiative in the Budget flows from having a strong economic plan that delivers sustainable growth and jobs,” Mr Bridges says. “The Government’s Innovative New Zealand programme invests in the skills and innovation that will keep our economy growing in the years ahead.”

The funding includes:

Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell has wrapped up his business and cultural mission to Malaysia with a public lecture on the Māori experience at the Universiti Teknologi (UiTM) MARA in Sabah, Malaysia.

“The people of Malaysia and New Zealand are already bound by culture, language, history and trade.  Our kinship to one another stretches back 5,000 years.  It can be found in our shared languages, our shared cultures and our shared DNA,” says Mr Flavell.

A $3.4 million investment into the Taranaki Crossing is part of the Government’s plan to boost growth in Taranaki, Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry say.

The investment will over time form part of Taranaki’s Economic Action Plan as part of the Government’s Regional Growth Programme.

This week, Minister Bridges welcomed the launch of Make Way for Taranaki. The project, led by the region, will prepare an economic strategy and plan of action for Taranaki for the next 10 years.

Māori Development Minister and Associate Minister for Economic Development Te Ururoa Flavell attended the re-opening of Fonterra’s Susumas plant in Malaysia yesterday.

The re-opening event is part of Mr Flavell’s business and cultural mission in Malaysia.

“We have strong ties with Malaysia in trade, education, security and defence, and tourism and we want to build on that.

“As such this mission has a specific focus on establishing relationships in the food and beverage sector.

Māori Development Minister and Associate Minister for Economic Development Te Ururoa Flavell witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Miraka Ltd and its Malaysian distribution partner, Storiiu, in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Miraka is New Zealand’s first Māori-owned dairy processor. The agreement means the company will start exporting its first own-branded consumer product.

Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell has told Malaysian businesses they can rely on high quality, fresh and safe food and beverage products from Aotearoa New Zealand.

Speaking at a business matching event to introduce Malaysian businesses to Māori business leaders Mr Flavell says there is a huge untapped potential to work together in the food and beverage sector.

“It’s one we know well, because we have been growing and gathering kai in Aotearoa New Zealand for hundreds of years,” says Mr Flavell.

Māori Development Minister and Associate Minister for Economic Development Te Ururoa Flavell will leave tomorrow for a business and cultural mission to Malaysia with a focus on the food and beverage sector.  

“We know that Malaysia is a proven market opportunity with plenty of un-tapped scope to explore for Māori businesses. Malaysia is one of our top 10 trading partners and the second biggest in the ASEAN region. 

Budget 2017 will see $303.9 million allocated to support the continuation of the New Zealand screen industry production grants, both globally and domestically, say Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry.

This includes $222 million over four years and $18 million in 2016/17 for the International Screen Production Grant to bring international productions to New Zealand.

Up to $63.9 million over four years remains available to ensure the domestic component of the grant continues.

Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith today launched a new edition of an investment guide into New Zealand’s fast growing technology sector.

The Investor Guide to the New Zealand Technology Sector showcases the breadth and variety of technology companies in New Zealand.

Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell says a nationwide event, Techweek’17 will provide more opportunities for Māori participation in the technology sector.

Techweek’17 is a nationwide initiative bringing together Aotearoa’s brightest technology and innovation talent with more than 100 events scheduled over nine days.

Mr Flavell who is committed to increasing Māori participation in the technology sector says,

Associate Economic Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell is thrilled at the calibre of the winners of DreamBig Māori, a social media competition targeting Māori youth.

“We wanted to inspire rangatahi to think about their aspirations and economic future, and I’m blown away with the kaupapa and level of our winners’ creativity. This is a celebration of the future of Māori in Aotearoa and we should all be proud of these young rangatahi determining their own destiny,” said Mr Flavell.

Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman congratulate organisers and participants on the outstanding success of the World Masters Games 2017 as the games draw to a close at a ceremony in Auckland today.

“The World Masters Games is the largest major event that New Zealand has hosted since the Rugby World Cup 2011,” says Mr Bridges.

Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell is welcoming the opening of two whare by Te Tuinga Whānau Support Services Trust to provide more emergency accommodation in Tauranga.

“I commend Te Tuinga Whānau Support Services Trust for their enthusiasm, determination and commitment to provide safe and secure homes for whānau,” says Mr Flavell.

“The Trust has intimate knowledge and understands the needs of whānau,” he says.

Minister for Economic Development Simon Bridges has announced that the Business Recovery Grants programme for quake-affected businesses will be launched on 1 May. 

The new one-million dollar grant programme will be available to eligible business in Kaikōura, Hurunui and Marlborough.

“It’s been six-months since the devastating earthquake hit Marlborough and North Canterbury. Some areas have returned to relative normality, but for others it’s going to take time to repair roads to bring back traffic, and customers,” Mr Bridges says.

Economic Development and Transport Minister Simon Bridges today released a Government commissioned report that assesses the economic impact of the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.

The report details the impact on small businesses and tourism caused by disruptions to transport infrastructure and the economic impacts.

“The quake has had a significant effect on people’s lives and businesses which the Government is strongly focused on supporting. As well as the Kaikōura economy, the report shows the national economy has also felt the impact,” Mr Bridges says.

Māori Development Minister Te Uruora Flavell has announced a funding partnership between Te Puni Kōkiri and Waikato-Tainui to support employment opportunities in Waikato.

“Māori unemployment statistics continue to be higher than other population groups.  Partnering with Waikato-Tainui to address and arrest this trend is how we make the most of our collective resource.

“This funding will have a direct impact on employment opportunities and outcomes for up to 90 Waikato-Tainui tribal members,” says Mr Flavell.

Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Trade Minister Todd McClay have announced that New Zealand will participate in World Expo 2020, to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The announcement was made during Mr Bridges’ visit to Dubai.

“Through Budget 2017, the Government is committing $53.3 million to construct a New Zealand Pavilion that will allow Kiwi businesses to highlight their innovative products and services and open doors to new export markets,” says Mr Bridges.

Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges will travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tomorrow for meetings with Ministerial counterparts in Dubai.

“New Zealand’s relationship with the UAE continues to go from strength to strength. This visit will be an opportunity to progress discussions across a range of areas, including economic opportunities and collaboration in areas such as renewable energy and the New Zealand-Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement,” Mr Bridges says.

The Outer Space and High-Altitude Activities Bill has been reported back to Parliament today following consideration by the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee.  

Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges says the Bill will enable the development of a safe, responsible and secure space industry in New Zealand.

Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman have today welcomed the World Masters Games 2017 to New Zealand.

The World Masters Games is the largest multi-sport event in the world, with New Zealand set to host 28 sports, 45 disciplines and more than 28,000 participants from 100 countries.

Under the Major Events Development Fund, the Government has invested $11 million into the event, making it the largest investment from the fund to date.

An extra $700,000 will be available to further support businesses affected by the flooding in Edgecumbe and the Bay of Plenty, say Minister for Economic Development Simon Bridges and Lead Minister for Edgecumbe Anne Tolley.

“It’s going to be some time before things get back to normal after the flooding which devastated Edgecumbe and the Bay of Plenty,” says Mr Bridges.