Prime Minister Bill English has offered his condolences to the people of the United States in the wake of the mass shooting which took place in Las Vegas overnight.
Prime Minister Bill English has welcomed the announcement that His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge will attend the New Zealand Battle of Passchendaele commemorations in Belgium this month.
Public Defence Service Director and former Crown Counsel Madeleine Laracy, has been appointed Deputy Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security for a three year term, Prime Minister Bill English announced today.
Prime Minister Bill English has acknowledged the passing of All Black great Sir Colin Meads.
“This is a sad day for New Zealand rugby and for New Zealand,” Mr English says.
Croatia’s President, Her Excellency Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, will make her first official visit to New Zealand next week, Prime Minister Bill English has announced.
“New Zealand has a warm and constructive relationship with Croatia. The large Croatian community that has made New Zealand home has made an important contribution to our business, cultural and political life over many years,” Mr English says.
Prime Minister Bill English has announced a new investment of $50 million to help the most at-risk young people in regional New Zealand into jobs.
A total of $42 million over four years will be allocated from Budget 2017 to fund locally-designed projects in four regions with the highest proportion of young people at risk of long-term unemployment.
A further $8 million will also be invested in initiatives aimed specifically at giving young Maori the skills and tools they need to find work.
The allocation of the $1 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund today is another milestone in the Government’s plan to increase housing supply for a growing New Zealand, Prime Minister Bill English says.
“The infrastructure projects announced today will speed up the delivery of 60,000 houses across our fastest growing population centres over the next ten years,” Mr English says.
Prime Minister Bill English is welcoming the launch of a new pathway for New Zealanders to gain citizenship in Australia, which starts tomorrow.
New Zealanders who arrived in Australia between 26 February 2001 and 19 February 2016 will now be eligible for permanent residence, then citizenship, if they meet certain criteria.
“Many hard-working Kiwis have made Australia their home, and in doing so have been making a significant contribution to Australia’s society,” Mr English says.
A landmark pay equity deal is just one of a number of government policy changes coming into effect tomorrow that deliver for New Zealanders, Prime Minister Bill English says.
Legislation to enable 55,000 healthcare workers to receive pay rises of between 15 and 50 per cent from the $2 billion settlement has been passed.
“Record spending in the health sector will have far-reaching effects and will make real changes to the lives of New Zealanders – including the large number of mostly-female workers who will now earn a fair wage,” Mr English says.
Prime Minister Bill English has congratulated Emirates Team New Zealand on the Kiwi leadership, teamwork, and technological brilliance that enabled it to regain the America’s Cup.
Team NZ won the first of two races scheduled in Bermuda this morning to defeat Oracle Team USA 7-1 in the first-to-seven series
“I would like to congratulate chief executive Grant Dalton, helmsman Peter Burling, skipper Glen Ashby and the rest of the team, both on the boat and on shore,” Mr English says.
Prime Minister Bill English has announced funding to kickstart a major upgrade of the electricity network in the Tongan capital.
New Zealand’s early commitment is expected to assist Tonga to attract other investors for the project.
“Our $5 million support will help provide safe, reliable electricity to around 8,500 households and businesses in Nuku’alofa and save around $1.1 million a year through reduced line losses,” Mr English says.
Prime Minister Bill English has today opened new facilities and announced a range of initiatives to support tourism and improve services for local households in Niue.
“In recent years, tourism in Niue has gone from strength to strength, with tourist numbers more than doubling since 2009,” Mr English says.
“The new facilities we have opened at the Matavai Resort today will help establish Niue as an event and conference venue, with spin-offs for tourism operators across the island.
Prime Minister Bill English has announced New Zealand support for a range of infrastructure projects that will benefit local communities and sustainably support increasing tourist numbers in the Cook Islands.
“New Zealand is committing $15 million of funding towards the Manatua submarine cable between Samoa and French Polynesia. When completed it will link Rarotonga and Aitutaki to faster, low-cost, internet that is essential for economic and social development,” Mr English says.
Prime Minister Bill English today congratulated Theresa May on her re-election as British Prime Minister.
"I spoke to Theresa May last night and congratulated her on forming a government,” says Mr English.
“New Zealand and the United Kingdom work closely on many fronts. We have a deep and enduring friendship and share interests which span close defence and security cooperation, strong people to people links, and the promotion of open economies.
Prime Minister Bill English will travel to the Cook Islands, Niue and Tonga next week leading a delegation of New Zealand Pasifika community leaders, iwi and business representatives.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerry Brownlee and the Minister for Pacific Peoples Alfred Ngaro will accompany the Prime Minister, alongside leaders and representatives of parties from across the House.
“The mission is a reflection of the close relationship we have with our Pacific neighbours and the high regard New Zealand places on these relationships,” Mr English says.
Prime Minister Bill English has condemned the latest terror attack in London and reiterated New Zealand’s commitment to the international fight against violent extremism.
“Too many lives are being taken by terrorists set on inflicting pain and suffering on innocent people,” says Mr English.
“No one should be forced to live in fear, no matter their race or religion, their politics or their beliefs.
New Zealand is to put $6.1m towards expanding specialist health services and addressing non-communicable diseases in Samoa, Prime Minister Bill English says.
Mr English announced the funding, to be spread over five years, during a visit to Tupua Tamasese National Hospital, in Apia today. While at the hospital, Mr English met with patients and staff, and had the opportunity to see first-hand how New Zealand’s investments in infrastructure and support of the national health system are benefitting the people of Samoa.
Chocolate lovers and Samoan cocoa growers will both benefit from a $4.8m, five-year programme of support for Samoa’s cocoa industry, Prime Minister Bill English announced in Samoa today.
“Samoa has ideal conditions to produce larger amounts of high value, chocolate-grade cocoa,” Mr English says.
Samoa exported about 5000 tonnes of cocoa annually during the 1960s, but exports have since declined to only 40 to 50 tonnes a year.
New Zealand is to contribute $7.3 million towards boosting Samoan tourism, Prime Minister Bill English announced today.
Mr English announced the funding on the first day of a visit to Samoa to mark the 55th anniversary of the country’s independence.
“New Zealand and Samoa have deep and extensive ties and helping Samoa to develop its tourism industry is a way to further strengthen relations between our countries,” Mr English says.
Prime Minister Bill English will visit Samoa this week for the country’s 55th Independence Day celebrations.
“The visit will be an opportunity to reaffirm the special relationship that exists between our countries and will include a celebration of 55 years of our Treaty of Friendship,” Mr English says.
Budget 2017 shares the benefits of growth by improving public services, investing in the infrastructure needed for a growing country, reducing debt and lifting incomes, Prime Minister Bill English says.
“This is a budget that delivers for New Zealanders from a government that cares about people and knows how to get things done,” Mr English says.
“Our ninth Budget shows continuing improvement in the Government’s books and solid economic growth expected to average 3.1 per cent over the next five years.
Prime Minister Bill English has announced the Australian Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, will make a State visit to New Zealand next week.
Sir Peter will be accompanied by his wife, Lady Cosgrove, while here from Wednesday 31 May to Saturday 3 June.
“Sir Peter’s visit continues the close engagement between New Zealand and Australia,” Mr English says.
1. Prime Minister of New Zealand the Right Honourable Bill English and Prime Minister of Japan His Excellency Shinzo Abe held a productive meeting in Tokyo on 17th May 2017. The two leaders reiterated the Strategic Cooperative Partnership between New Zealand and Japan founded on common values, such as freedom, democracy, rule of law and human rights, as well as a strong commitment to peace and security, free trade and investment, and sustainable development.