Hon Kelvin Davis

Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis will travel to China tomorrow to deepen the 2019 China-New Zealand Year of Tourism and our relationship with China.

The Wellbeing Budget shows the Government’s commitment to doing things differently to break the cycle of offending and keep communities safe, with a $128.3 million boost in mental health and addiction services for offenders, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis said today.

Māori learners will be supported to achieve success in education with new investment that will address racism and bias across the system and support whānau to better engage in learning, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis announced today.

Kōhanga reo are set to get a boost with new funding support that will significantly lift wages, allow volunteers to be paid, update ICT capacity, and fund a stock take and repairs of their buildings, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis announced today.

Parliament has today passed legislation enabling the collection of the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) from 1 July 2019. It will also enable digital processing of the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), which will be mandatory from 1 October this year.

The Wellbeing Budget focuses on ways to give Māori and Pacific peoples more scope to lift their own wellbeing. When Māori and Pacific peoples set their own wellbeing goals and aspirations and when we as a Government use our ability to change the system and help Māori and Pacific peoples achieve those aspirations – equality can start to be a reality.

Budget 2019 delivers on many of the recommendations contained in the Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction, He Ara Oranga. The Inquiry revealed that a new approach to mental health and addiction is needed in New Zealand which the Government is starting to deliver.

Following the success of last summer, a further $8 million is being made available to continue delivering a better freedom camping system and to encourage responsible camping across New Zealand, Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis announced today.

The New Zealand-Aotearoa Government Tourism Strategy, which aims to deliver benefits to New Zealanders through productive, sustainable and inclusive tourism growth, has been launched today by Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage.

The Government joins the country in expressing our great sadness at the passing of Ta Hekenukumai Busby, said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Minister Kelvin Davis today.

The Government has today announced it is taking action on the long-term challenge of Māori reoffending rates and delivering on its target to reduce the prison population by 30 per cent, with the creation of a new Māori Pathway at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison and Northland Region Corrections Facility.

The winners and finalists celebrated at the inaugural Qualmark 100% Pure New Zealand Experience Awards, have been congratulated by Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis, who hosted the ceremony tonight at Parliament.

Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis has announced the appointment of Jamie Tuuta as Chair of the New Zealand Tourism Board (known as Tourism New Zealand) and Roger Sharp as Deputy Chair.

An education programme that will grow future young Māori leaders through mātauranga and te reo Māori will be delivered in Te Tai Tokerau in 2020, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis announced today.

The Government is investing a further $2.3 million in the Great Rides, which draw visitors to our regions, boosting local economies and the tourism sector, Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis announced today.

The Government has begun delivering on its plan to integrate te reo Māori across the education system with the launch of Te Ahu o te Reo Māori, which will support the workforce to use te reo Māori correctly, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis announced today.

Five Māori scholars have been awarded the Ngārimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion tertiary scholarship in recognition of their outstanding achievements, Associate Minister of Education and Ngārimu Board Chair Kelvin Davis announced today.

Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis today welcomed the official opening of the 2019 China-New Zealand Year of Tourism. The Year of Tourism was jointly opened with China’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Luo Shugang in a special ceremony held at Te Papa this morning.

The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will invest $2.8 million to further economic growth opportunities in tourism in the Mid-North and help lift the prosperity and wellbeing of its communities, Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis announced today.

A pilot will see release to work prisoners training and working in the forestry sector as part of the One Billion Trees Programme, Forestry Minister Shane Jones and Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis announced today.