Prime Minister
Speech

Good afternoon. It’s great to see so many of you here today.

I want to start by acknowledging Mayor Len Brown, the Auckland Council and the Chamber of Commerce – all strong advocates for this city.

And I want to thank the Chamber for hosting this event.

Finally, can I acknowledge my ministerial colleagues Steven Joyce and Nikki Kaye. Unfortunately, Transport Minister Simon Bridges cannot be here today as he’s visiting Antarctica.

It’s good to kick off the New Year here in Auckland - New Zealand’s gateway city.

John Key Prime Minister
Most weeks, following Cabinet, Prime Minister John Key holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited nor verified for accuracy.
John Key Prime Minister
Most weeks, following Cabinet, Prime Minister John Key holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited nor verified for accuracy.
John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key has announced over $5 million worth of assets seized from criminals will be invested in anti-drug initiatives.

A total of 13 initiatives will receive a share of the $5.105 million made available in the latest round of funding under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act. 

Details of the funding were announced today along with the release of the latest Indicators and Progress Report for the Government’s Methamphetamine Action Plan.    

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has announced the Government is investing almost $530,000 in 10 new projects that will contribute to enhancing and maintaining the quality of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

The funding comes through the latest round of the Maintaining the Quality of the Great Rides fund and Mr Key said priority has been given to proposals that aim to improve the safety and quality of the Great Rides - the premier rides of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

John Key Tourism Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister and Acting Foreign Minister John Key has announced Tim Groser as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States.

“New Zealand’s relationship with the United States is one of our most crucial,” Mr Key says.

“As the world’s largest economy and New Zealand’s fourth-largest trading partner, the United States is a key destination for our exporters. New Zealand and the United States also cooperate on a range of international peace and security issues.

John Key Prime Minister Foreign Affairs
Release

Prime Minister John Key today announced that Tim Groser has been appointed New Zealand's Ambassador to Washington and will take up the post early in 2016.

Mr Groser will resign from Cabinet on Monday 14 December, enabling him to fulfil his responsibilities as Climate Change Issues Minister at the current COP21 meeting in Paris.

Mr Groser will resign from Parliament effective from 19 December, and will be replaced in the House by Maureen Pugh from the West Coast. Ms Pugh will be sworn in as a new Member of Parliament when the House resumes in February 2016.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

We have today welcomed the intensification of relations between Germany and New Zealand in the year since the Federal Chancellor’s visit to New Zealand in November 2014, reaffirming that our partnership is defined by shared values, vibrant political, economic, scientific and cultural engagement, strong people to people links and close cooperation on a range of international issues. 

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key and Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel had a productive meeting in Berlin today.

“The relationship between our two countries has grown significantly over the last 12 months,” says Mr Key.

“It was great to meet with Federal Chancellor Merkel today following her successful visit to New Zealand late last year, and continue our discussions on a wide range of political, economic, social and security issues.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key has announced at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris that New Zealand will commit another $20 million to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases.

“This world-leading research has the potential to reduce global emissions, particularly in developing countries that have similar emission profiles to New Zealand,” says Mr Key.

“In New Zealand half our emissions are from agriculture where there are not yet cost effective ways of reducing emissions, but we are working hard to change that.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key has told the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris that it must produce a meaningful agreement.

“New Zealand wants a deal that puts the world on a pathway towards limiting global temperature rise to no more than 2°C.

“Every country needs to contribute towards this goal.  While New Zealand’s emissions are small on a global scale, we are determined to make a strong contribution to the international effort.  

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key today presented UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres with a message from close to 40 nations calling for the removal of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.

“Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies is absolutely vital if the world is to succeed in substantially reducing emissions,” says Mr Key.

“Research shows phasing out these subsidies could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 10 percent.

John Key Prime Minister
Speech

Mr President,

Let me begin by again conveying my condolences to the victims of the attacks here in Paris, to the people of Paris and the French Republic.

The people of New Zealand stand with you and New Zealand remains committed to global efforts to counter terrorism.

Against that backdrop I would like to acknowledge what a significant moment this is.

Over 150 countries working together to address climate change.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key has welcomed an announcement by the Queen of a new initiative to protect rainforest and native forest throughout the Commonwealth.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy initiative (QCC) was announced at the Opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta today.

The initiative is a partnership between The Palace, the Royal Commonwealth Society, and a rainforest charity called Cool Earth. It will highlight the best conservation practice across the Commonwealth’s 53 members.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key has announced details of the public memorial for Jonah Lomu.

A public service will be held on Monday 30 November from 1pm to 3pm at Eden Park in Auckland.

“Jonah touched people’s lives across the country and around the world,” says Mr Key.

“This service will be open to all members of the public who want to remember the significant contribution Jonah made, not only to rugby here and overseas, but also to the wider community through his work with charities such as UNICEF and Kidney Kids NZ.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key will travel to Malta later this week for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, before attending climate change talks in Paris and heading to Berlin for a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“CHOGM determines the Commonwealth’s activities and direction for the coming years, and is an opportunity to meet with leaders from countries that share a similar heritage.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key has welcomed an agreement to work more closely with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to boost trade and investment links and announced New Zealand will invest over $200 million into the region.

Mr Key made the announcement, that New Zealand’s formal relationship with ASEAN would be upgraded from a Comprehensive Partnership to a Strategic Partnership, at the ASEAN-NZ Commemorative Summit in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key and the Leaders of the other 11 Pacific-Rim nations today marked the conclusion of negotiations of the historic Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.

TPP Leaders met in the margins of the APEC meetings in Manila to welcome the final agreement reached in Atlanta in October.

“Leaders are pleased that after more than five years of negotiations we have delivered a result that takes forward our vision of an ambitious regional agreement,” Mr Key says.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key today expressed his sadness at the unexpected passing of All Black legend Jonah Lomu. 

“Jonah Lomu was an inspirational athlete who was generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union,” Mr Key says. 

“He was the rare combination of size, speed and power, and was a game changer whenever he stepped onto the field.”  

John Key Prime Minister
Release

New Zealand and Viet Nam launched a new era in bilateral relations today which will see increased cooperation and trade between our two countries, Prime Minister John Key says.

Mr Key and Viet Nam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made a series of significant announcements in areas including aviation, development and education following their meeting in Hanoi today.

“Today’s announcements demonstrate that New Zealand and Viet Nam are more connected than we have ever been,” Mr Key says.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key has condemned the attacks in Paris and expressed condolences to the people and government of France.

"Details are still emerging but the coordinated attacks are shocking," says Mr Key.

"Our hearts go out to those involved and our thoughts with them and their families.

"New Zealand stands with France in the global fight against terror and while it is too soon to attribute blame, the attacks have targeted innocent civilians and are therefore an act of terrorism.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has welcomed today’s announcement by Air New Zealand that it will fly direct between Auckland and Ho Chi Minh City.

The service will begin in 2016, flying three times a week on a seasonal basis between June and October.

“Air New Zealand is the first carrier to fly direct from Auckland to Viet Nam, and the service will give greater choice and lower fares for New Zealand passengers flying to this major South East Asian centre,” Mr Key says.

John Key Tourism Prime Minister
Release

Acting Foreign Minister John Key has welcomed the peaceful conduct of Myanmar’s election on November 8.

“The election is an important milestone in Myanmar’s democratic transition, which now needs to be maintained by all parties respecting the will of the voters,” Mr Key says.

“We commend the people of Myanmar, the candidates, and the country’s electoral authorities for the scale of participation and the orderly conduct of the polls.

John Key Prime Minister Foreign Affairs
Release

Prime Minister John Key will travel to Viet Nam, the Philippines and Malaysia for a series of meetings aimed at boosting New Zealand’s trade, political and security links in the region.

Mr Key will lead a trade delegation to Viet Nam and attend the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur and the APEC leader’s meeting in Manila.

“The Asia-Pacific region is a significant driver of global economic growth with massive demand for New Zealand products - around 70 percent of our total trade now takes place with APEC economies alone,” Mr Key says.

John Key Prime Minister