Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew is welcoming International Volunteers Day tomorrow (5 December) and is acknowledging the contribution made by New Zealand’s volunteers.

“My heartfelt thanks goes to all of those who volunteer, in particular those who have given up their time to assist during the response to the North Canterbury earthquake,” Mrs Goodhew says.

The theme of this year’s Volunteers Day is ‘Together we can’, emphasising what can be achieved by communities working together.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew has today launched the 2015/16 Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) Profile in Wellington, marking 30 years of the scheme.

The COGS Profile highlights some of the achievements by organisations across the country that received grants from the $12.5 million in funding available in 2015/16.

Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew is welcoming progress on improving food labelling, including consistent labelling of added fats and oils that are high in saturated fatty acids.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced funding of just over $200,000 to be shared by eight community groups under the Community Internship Programme (CIP), which provides community organisations with a paid intern with specialist knowledge.

“The internship programme focusses on skill-sharing and the exchange of knowledge between sectors, and builds ongoing relationships that continue long after the internship ends,” Mrs Goodhew says.

The eight successful applicants are:

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced the 2017 Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowships.

“The Fellowships help talented New Zealanders from all walks of life to travel overseas and broaden their horizons, eventually returning home with inspiration and experience that benefits their professions and communities,” Mrs Goodhew says.

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced that over 5.5 million new seedlings will be planted during winter 2017, as a result of the latest funding round for the Government’s Afforestation Grant Scheme (AGS).

“The approval of 4,818 hectares to be planted across the country next winter means that an estimated 5,533,200 seedlings will go in the ground, which is a fantastic result for forestry in New Zealand,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew has participated in the New Zealand delegation to the 2016 Social Enterprise World Forum in Hong Kong, and is welcoming the opportunity for New Zealand to play host to next year’s Forum.

“The Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) provided a global platform to share, learn and celebrate the successes of social enterprises around the world,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“I was able to meet with world leaders for social enterprise as well as showcasing ideas and success stories from New Zealand.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew will travel to Hong Kong tonight to attend the Social Enterprise World Forum 2016 and meet with thought leaders in the growing social enterprise sector.

The Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) theme is “New Frontiers New Markets” and will provide a global platform to share, learn and celebrate the successes of social enterprises around the world.

Primary Industries Ministers Nathan Guy and Jo Goodhew have welcomed $3.1 million in new funding for 13 climate change research projects in the agriculture and forestry sectors.

The grants were announced today by the Ministry for Primary Industries through the Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change (SLMACC) research programme.

“This funding plays an important part in helping our primary industries prepare for the future challenges of climate change,” says Mr Guy.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew has announced that communities across New Zealand are now able to take part in the government's innovative new approach to investing in communities.

“The Community-Led Development Programme will help build strong and resilient communities over the long term,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew has welcomed yesterday’s opening of the Fonterra Ying Hub in Ying County, Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province, China.

“The Fonterra Ying Hub represents a significant investment in Ying County,” says Ms Goodhew.

“Once fully operational, the Hub will farm up to 30,000 cows, of which 16,000 will be milking cows.”

“Across the Hub’s three farms almost 400 local people have been employed and around 85 percent of the farm feed is sourced locally.

Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew has announced a two year extension for a scholarship programme that is deepening engagement between New Zealand and China, while boosting mutual understanding of each other’s food safety systems.

The scholarship programme was developed in partnership between New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA). It was the first initiative under the Food Safety Cooperation Agreement signed between New Zealand and China in November 2013.

Food Safety and Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew will travel to China today for bi-lateral meetings and to open a new Fonterra dairy facility in the Shanxi Province.

“The relationship between New Zealand and China has never been stronger, and it is crucial for our economy that we maintain that strong relationship in food safety,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Jane Lancaster has been appointed to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Board, Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew announced today. Ms Lancaster’s term began on 1 July 2016.

“Ms Lancaster will make a valuable contribution to the FSANZ Board with her background in food science, biotechnology, and strong governance experience. In particular, she has professional experience in food safety, food regulation, and the food industry,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew has announced this year’s grant recipients from the Support for Volunteering Fund.

“Around 1.2 million kiwis volunteer for at least one charity or not-for-profit organisation so this fund will help support the enormous contribution they make to New Zealand society and to helping build stronger, more cohesive communities,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew is welcoming the Food Safety Law Reform Bill having passed its first reading in Parliament last night, with unanimous support.

The Bill is the final step in implementing the Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) Inquiry recommendations, in particular those which require legislative change.

Two new reference groups will help support New Zealand’s climate change goals and reduce emissions from the livestock and forestry sectors, Primary Industries Ministers Nathan Guy and Jo Goodhew have announced today.

“As part of ratifying the Paris agreement on climate change, New Zealand has set a target of reducing our emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. The primary sector will need to be an important part of that,” says Mr Guy.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced the first group of grant recipients from the new Community Leadership Fund – Hapori Whakatipu.

“It is fantastic to see such a range of recipients being assisted to improve the sustainability and resilience of the Community and Voluntary Sector,” says Mrs Goodhew.

New forest harvesting technology revealed today in Nelson sets its sights on further increasing safety in steep land harvesting operations, Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew says.

The new ‘tele-operation’ technology provides out-of-harm’s way operation of a purpose-built tracked feller-buncher forest harvester, from the safety of a separate operator cabin and console.

Acting Social Development Minister Jo Goodhew says the number of people receiving a main benefit has continued to fall year on year, with the latest figures the lowest for any June quarter since 2008.

“The number of people receiving a main benefit has fallen by 5,172 (or 1.8 per cent) in the last 12 months, with those on Sole Parent Support continuing to drive the strong downward trend,” Mrs Goodhew says.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister, Jo Goodhew, has today announced the opening of the latest funding round for the Community Internship Programme.

“I strongly encourage community organisations to take this opportunity to gain new skills and knowledge, strengthening not only their organisation, but their ability to work effectively with other sectors and organisations for the benefit of their communities.

Associate Minister for Primary Industries Jo Goodhew has this afternoon marked the success of the first round of the Afforestation Grant Scheme (AGS), by planting a Eucalyptus Globoidea tree at Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula.

Following the re-launch of the scheme last year, $3.77m will be invested in 2,900ha of new forest planted this year, through 81 separate grants.

“The new AGS builds on the success of the previous scheme and over the course of five years will see more than 15,000ha of new forest planted across the country,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew is today congratulating Food Safety officials across New Zealand as the 1000th registration under the Food Act is celebrated.

“This is a stunning start under the new Food act, which came into effect on 1 March,” says Mrs Goodhew.

To celebrate the milestone, the Minister visited the 1000th registration, Columbus Coffee in Timaru, to congratulate the owner and staff.