Steven Joyce
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Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced two new appointments to the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki council. Robin Brockie has been appointed as a member and as Chair, and Lyal French-Wright as a member and as Deputy Chair.

“I welcome the valuable knowledge and skills that these appointees will bring to the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki,” says Mr Joyce.

Steven Joyce Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
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Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today welcomed a report which shows the revenue from New Zealand’s education services delivered offshore rose to $171 million last year, an increase from an estimated $104 million in 2012.

Steven Joyce Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
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Regulatory Reform Minister Steven Joyce has welcomed the release of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s new Regulatory Management Strategy.

“In a world that is changing fast, producing and maintaining high quality regulation is one of the most important activities for Government. It requires regulatory agencies to focus not only on the development of regulation, but also on its implementation, enforcement, monitoring and review,” Mr Joyce says.

Steven Joyce Regulatory Reform
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Figures released today by Statistics New Zealand show New Zealand’s unemployment rate is now 5.1 per cent.

The Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) shows unemployment in the North Island has decreased to 5.2 per cent, reducing the gap between the North and South Islands.  Auckland’s unemployment rate is 4.7 per cent, the lowest since 2008. There were also significant decreases in Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay/Gisborne, Manawatu/Whanganui and Bay of Plenty.

Steven Joyce Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
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Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge will fund eight new scientific research projects through the Challenge’s new Innovation Fund.

“The Sustainable Seas Challenge team looked for proposals that would improve environmental outcomes while adding value to our marine economy,” Mr Joyce says.

Steven Joyce Science and Innovation
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Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Transport Minister Simon Bridges have announced the next stage in the development of a rural ring road for Palmerston North.

The project is highlighted in the Accelerate 25 Manawatu-Whanganui Economic Action Plan which was launched today.

Steven Joyce Simon Bridges Economic Development Transport
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Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce has today announced that AgResearch and Massey University will jointly build New Zealand’s largest agri-food research centre in the Food HQ Precinct on the Massey University campus in Palmerston North.

As part of AgResearch’s Future Footprint Programme, AgResearch and Massey University are investing $39 million in the Food Science Research Centre and the design for the new buildings is well underway.

Steven Joyce Science and Innovation
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Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce today announced the Government will invest $500,000 in partnership with the Whanganui District Council to develop a comprehensive plan to revitalise the Whanganui Port Precinct.

The plan will form the blueprint for a new marine services centre, an expanded boat-building industry and visitor services and recreational area.

“Revitalising the Whanganui Port and port lands is a key priority identified in the Manawatū-Whanganui Economic Action Plan launched today,” Mr Joyce says.

Steven Joyce Economic Development
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Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy have today announced a detailed action plan to boost the Manawatū-Whanganui regional economy.

The Manawatū-Whanganui Economic Action Plan is part of the Government’s Regional Growth Programme, which is increasing jobs, incomes and investment in regional New Zealand.

Steven Joyce Nathan Guy Economic Development Primary Industries
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Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced 245 R&D Experience Grants have been approved for 116 businesses to employ students over the 2016/17 summer break.

The Student Experience Grants, administered by Callaghan Innovation provide New Zealand students in their final year studying science, technology, business, engineering or design the opportunity to gain valuable work experience.

Steven Joyce Science and Innovation
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Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced that a second round of applications will be invited for the Regional Research Institutes initiative.

“This initiative received a further $40 million in funding as part of this year’s Budget, and some of this will be used to establish one to three additional research institutes outside the main centres,” Mr Joyce says.

Steven Joyce Science and Innovation
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Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today welcomed figures that show a greater proportion of domestic degree-level students are enrolling in qualifications in STEM-related subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths). 

A report released today, What are they doing? The field of study of domestic students/learners analyses the fields of study of domestic students in the New Zealand tertiary education system over the past eight years.

Steven Joyce Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
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Figures released today by Statistics New Zealand show the number of filled jobs has grown strongly.

The Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) shows an increase of 3.1 per cent in the year to June.

“It’s great to see more people moving to areas where skills are required. There were an additional 10,000 construction jobs which was up 6.8 per cent. Construction is now at an all-time high and that trend is set to continue,” Mr Joyce says.

Steven Joyce Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
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Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell today announced that 31 Māori collectives will receive funding from Te Pūnaha Hiringa: Māori Innovation Fund Commercial Advisors Scheme.

Through the scheme, funding of more than $2 million is available to help Māori collectives realise the economic potential of their assets by contracting a commercial advisor to provide professional business advice and mentoring.

Te Ururoa Flavell Steven Joyce Science and Innovation Maori Development
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Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced two appointments to the new combined Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytechnic council. Michael Chapman has been appointed as Deputy Chair, while Ian Macrae has been appointed as a member.

“I welcome the valuable knowledge and experience that these people will bring into their new roles. Both have extensive knowledge of The Bay and a deep connection to the region. I’m confident that they will contribute to the successful leadership of the polytechnic,” says Mr Joyce. 

Steven Joyce Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
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A $25 million package of three road access improvements to Napier port has today been announced by the Government as one of the first actions of Matariki – the Hawke’s Bay Economic Development Strategy.

Improving access to the port has been identified through the development of the strategy and its accompanying regional action plan as a key contributor to Hawke’s Bay’s economic growth.

Simon Bridges Steven Joyce Transport Economic Development
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Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce today announced Government support for a proposal to expand the National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier to include marine research and create high-skilled, science-based employment.

Steven Joyce Economic Development
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Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy have today launched a comprehensive plan to diversify and grow the Hawke’s Bay economy, increasing jobs, income and investment in the region.

Matariki – Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan 2016 aims to make Hawke’s Bay the most innovative region in New Zealand, the leading exporter of premium primary produce and a hub for business growth.

Nathan Guy Steven Joyce Primary Industries Economic Development
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More than half a million people will be employed in  construction-related occupations  by 2021 in support of New Zealand’s building boom, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith say.

The ministers today released the National Construction Occupations Projections report, which shows construction-related occupation numbers are expected to hit 539,500 in the next five years, up 10 per cent from 2015.

Nick Smith Steven Joyce Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Building and Housing
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Achieving the goal of a Predator Free New Zealand by 2050 will require a massive team effort across the public, private, iwi and community sectors, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

The Government today announced the adoption of the Predator Free New Zealand 2050 target and plans to set up a new public-private partnership company by the beginning of 2017 to help fund regional large-scale predator eradication programmes.

Maggie Barry Nathan Guy Steven Joyce Science and Innovation Primary Industries Conservation
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Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today welcomed 150 students from rural Korea who will study in New Zealand for the next eight weeks.

The school visits’ programme is a joint initiative between the New Zealand and Korean Governments. It stems from the New Zealand Korea Free Trade Agreement which came into force in December last year.

Steven Joyce Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
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Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today announced a $35 million investment over four years for ‘Entrepreneurial Universities’, a new initiative to attract world-leading entrepreneurial researchers to New Zealand to further strengthen our universities and our broader fast-growing innovation ecosystem.

Steven Joyce Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
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Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman today announced up to $1.35 million will be invested, through the Major Events Development Fund (MEDF), to help New Zealand co-host the Rugby League World Cup 2017 with Australia.

“The Rugby League World Cup 2017 is expected to deliver strong economic benefits for New Zealand, particularly as New Zealand will host a home semi-final game,” Mr Joyce says.

Jonathan Coleman Steven Joyce Sport and Recreation Economic Development
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Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today announced the Prime Minister’s Scholarship programme for international study with be extended to Latin America, as well as Asia.

The Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Latin America will complement the successful Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia initiative.  Under that programme 751 scholarships for Kiwi students to study in Asia have been awarded since it was implemented in 2013. 

Steven Joyce Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment