A continued focus by staff to identify overpayments to beneficiaries is reducing the number of people ending up with large debts, says Associate Social Development Minister Jo Goodhew.

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

“Each year, the Fund provides up to $502,000 in grants that support, promote and strengthen volunteering in the community,” Mrs Goodhew says.

“New Zealanders are incredibly generous with their time and energy.  Voluntary work is crucial to many organisations that wouldn’t otherwise be able to provide programmes and services to people and causes that need a helping hand.”

Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew today welcomed the introduction of a Bill to increase the data protection period for companies registering agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines in New Zealand.

“Access to the latest technologies and effective agricultural chemicals is essential for New Zealand’s primary industries,” says Mrs Goodhew. “We need these products to manage plant and animal pests and keep farm animals healthy.  

Associate Social Development Minister Jo Goodhew says more than 130,000 students this year have benefitted from the improvements made to the student loan and allowance application process.

Improvements include simplified website content, fast pre-filled forms, a digital document depository using New Zealand Post’s ‘Connect’ service, and a vastly improved call centre experience.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew is congratulating the fifteen New Zealanders who were honoured today at an awards ceremony for Fellows of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.

"Since 1965 over 840 New Zealanders have taken up this unique opportunity to travel abroad to carry out research that will be beneficial to their profession,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“These Fellows return with fresh perspectives and new ideas which they are able to apply in New Zealand and which benefit our communities greatly.

Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew leaves for Vietnam today to meet with Vietnamese government and business leaders to promote our trade and agriculture relationship.

The trip ties in with the 40th anniversary of the bilateral relationship between New Zealand and Vietnam, and follows the signing of the Food Safety Cooperation Arrangement between both countries in March this year.

Applications open today for community groups to gain a skilled professional free of charge to work in their organisation for up to a year says Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew.

The Community Internship Programme funds the employment costs for community groups to hire specialists to help them on a specific project for one year part-time, or up to six months full-time.

Greater scrutiny of the Charities Register has resulted in over 1000 charities being deregistered says Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew.

A recent inspection of Annual Returns held by the Charities Register found more than 2,000 registered charities had not filed their Annual Returns and financial information for two years or more.

The adoption of a hemp seed food standard remains on the horizon, following work requested by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Ministerial Forum earlier this year says Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew.

“New Zealand supports a standard allowing the sale of hemp seed food products, and I am hopeful that the Ministerial Forum will be able to assess the proposed hemp standard again early next year,” says Mrs Goodhew.

A review to increase uptake for the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative is underway and the government is seeking feedback from industry on the proposed changes, says Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew.

Introduced in 2006, the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative was the first national scheme that allowed forest landowners to earn emissions units for the carbon stored within their forests.

The roadshows held across New Zealand to promote the New Reporting Standards for charities have been a huge success says Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew.

“We had 4,200 enrolments for these events and very positive feedback from those who attended,” says Mrs Goodhew. “Most charities say they are now ready and confident to start implementing the new standards”

There were 76 workshops held in 21 locations from Kaitaia to Invercargill.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew is celebrating National Volunteer Week today on Limestone Island (also referred to as Matakohe Island) where the kiwi population continues to flourish.

Today Mrs Goodhew observed an electronic transmitter being exchanged on a kiwi, and marked the start of planting season by helping volunteers plant trees on the coast of the island. 

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew is congratulating New Zealand’s largest workforce this week, the volunteer community, as National Volunteer Week kicks off.

“Nationally New Zealanders are amongst the most generous in the world when it comes to volunteering and helping others,” says Mrs Goodhew. 

“On average there are just over 400,000 kiwis volunteering every week for a charity, adding up to over 1.5 million hours contributed to our communities.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew officially opened the new High Tech Youth Network studio today at Dunedin’s Carisbrook School.

“This state of the art facility opens up a tremendous range of opportunities for Carisbrook School students, and the wider community,” says Mrs Goodhew.

The Carisbrook School Design Studio is the first High Tech Youth Network studio to open in the South Island. It provides a free environment for young people to learn technological skills such as computer game design, robotics, animation and graphic design.

Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced the Government’s decision to introduce a new policy around the sale of raw milk to consumers.

“Raw milk is a high risk food, particularly for children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“After extensive consultation and review, the Government decision will allow farmers to continue to sell raw milk directly to the public from the farm and via home deliveries.

A new National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry to simplify and standardise Resource Management Act requirements was proposed today by Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Associate Primary Industries

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew has announced the appointment of a new member to the independent Charities Registration Board, and confirmed the reappointments of Chair Roger Miller and Board member Caren Rangi.

Appointed for a three-year term, Simon Karipa is a Wellington-based barrister and solicitor. He will join Roger Miller, who has been reappointed as Chair for a three-year term, and Caren Rangi, reappointed for a one-year term.

Primary Industries Ministers Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew have welcomed the annual KPMG Agribusiness Agenda, which shows strong industry support for the Government priorities of strengthening biosecurity and adding value to exports.

“This annual report surveys over 100 leaders in the primary sector and is a valuable snapshot of industry views,” says Mr Guy.

“It’s no surprise to see biosecurity highlighted again as the number one issue by industry, as it has been my number one priority since becoming Minister.

Associate Social Development Minister Jo Goodhew has announced the appointment of Board Member Mr Len Cook as the Families Commissioner and Chair of the Families Commission (Superu) Board.

“Mr Cook has already provided excellent service in his role as expert advisor to the Superu Board since 2013 and I am extremely pleased to have him continue in his new capacity,” says Mrs Goodhew.

The Government has today launched a new tool for exporters of New Zealand-grown forestry products to help combat illegal logging of tropical forests, Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew says.

“From 15 June this year information statements will be available for our exporters to use when they send products to countries who have imposed requirements to combat illegal logging,” says Mrs Goodhew.

New Zealand’s legislation, and specifically the Resource Management Act 1991, mean that New Zealand’s planted forests are produced sustainably.

Associate Social Development Minister Jo Goodhew has welcomed the continuing success of the government’s welfare fraud initiatives.

“One of the key initiatives is close monitoring of low-trust clients who have previously committed welfare fraud,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“Prior to our welfare reforms, approximately 26 percent of clients re-offended.

However the latest report shows that none of the 1,698 clients who have left the close monitoring initiative so far have recommitted welfare fraud.