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Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges has today written to the Electricity Authority to request an inquiry into the Auckland power outage.

“This week’s outage was a significant event which disrupted thousands of homes and businesses,” Mr Bridges says. 

“Even in an electricity system that has strong security of supply, which I believe we have, there is always the possibility of something like this happening. 

Good morning ladies and gentlemen — it is a pleasure to be here. 

Our abundance of energy and minerals resources provides us with unique opportunities to build the New Zealand economy. 

Over the past three years the Government has made significant changes to how the sector is regulated.

We’ve done the groundwork necessary to attract investment and build our collective understanding of New Zealand’s potential. 

Introduction

Good morning everyone.   It’s a pleasure to be here for the 2014 AusIMM New Zealand Annual Conference – my second since becoming Energy and Resources Minister.

The minerals industry plays a major role in New Zealand’s economy, contributing more than $1 billion to our GDP, producing vital inputs for industry, and adding significantly to our exports.

It’s a pleasure to be back at the West Coast Minerals Forum for another year. 

The minerals industry is important for New Zealand. 

The sector plays a major role in our economy and contributes more than $1 billion to our GDP.  It is highly productive, provides high-reward jobs for New Zealanders, produces vital materials for industry, and adds significantly to our exports.

Developing our mineral resources can take decades — it is a long term game that the Government is committed to supporting.

Five exploration permits have been awarded in the South Island to a new international minerals exploration company as a result of the New Zealand Platinum Tender 2013. 

Canadian-backed company Lynx Platinum Limited has been awarded three exploration permits covering 355km² near Murchison and two exploration permits covering 168km² north of Invercargill.

New power price data released today shows the Government’s 2010 electricity reforms are making a real difference for consumers, says Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges.

"The sales data released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for the year ending March 2014, shows the lowest annual price increase since 2001 at 2.3 per cent,” Mr Bridges says.

Labour Minister Simon Bridges today released a discussion document seeking feedback on the Government’s proposals to enhance and modernise parental leave.

“One of the Government’s key priorities is to support families and children.  That’s why, as part of Budget 2014, the Government announced an overhaul of parental leave to make it available to more people, for a longer period and with more flexibility,” Mr Bridges says.  

Labour Minister Simon Bridges today announced the reappointment of Rosemary Monaghan as Chief of the Employment Relations Authority. 

“Rosemary Monaghan was first appointed to the position of Chief of the Employment Relations Authority in September 2013.  She will continue to lead the Authority as Chief for a further year,” Mr Bridges says. 

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges leaves for China today to attend the 5th Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Mining.

This year’s meeting has three themes: forging closer cooperation of the mining industry in the Asia-Pacific region; innovation-driven growth; and social responsibility and common development.

“These are all important issues for New Zealand’s mining sector.  The progression of them is key to the development of our rich resource potential in a safe, responsible and environmentally sound way,” Mr Bridges says.

In the first five months of this year, the number of serious injuries reported in forestry has dropped by nearly half compared with last year, Labour Minister Simon Bridges says.

“This is positive news and indicates the work the whole industry – the regulator, the forestry companies, the contractors and the workers - has been doing is paying off, but this is not a time to celebrate,” Mr Bridges says.

“I remain concerned that WorkSafe New Zealand is continuing to find very serious levels of non-compliance in the industry.”

I want to thank you all for the opportunity to be here today.

I know that in this room sit many of the leaders of the Adventure Activities sector.

As leaders, you will be seeking clarity from the Government on the new Adventure Activity health and safety regime and I want to give you that today. 

We have four new audit providers on board.

The new audit providers are taking bookings, and every operator is getting free support from the Government; there’s a financial incentive in place.

Labour Minister Simon Bridges has sent a clear message to adventure tourism operators – the resources are in place to complete audit safety checks before November and it is up to the industry to ensure it has world-class safety standards.

Mr Bridges this morning addressed the Tourism Industry Association in Wellington and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to professionalising the adventure activities sector and lifting safety standards across the board.

I’m very pleased to be here today – thank you for inviting me to open your conference.

The electricity industry plays a vital role in the daily lives of all New Zealanders. It has a proud history, and of course engineers have been an essential part of this.
 
I would like to acknowledge the contribution the Electricity Engineers Association has made for more than 85 years, including providing valuable feedback on government proposals and reforms.

Labour Minister Simon Bridges today released a discussion document seeking feedback on ways to strengthen the enforcement of New Zealand’s minimum employment standards to stamp out exploitation.

“Employment standards protect workers by setting out minimum employment rights and entitlements, such as minimum wage rates and annual leave,” Mr Bridges says. 

Labour Minister Simon Bridges today welcomed the release of the Independent Forestry Safety Review Panel’s public consultation document.

“We know that there is an unacceptable level of death and serious injury in the forestry sector, with 67 fatalities since 2000 and the highest rate of serious harm on a per worker basis,” says Mr Bridges.

“It’s important that the forestry industry has taken ownership of the issue as enduring safety solutions cannot be made by Government alone. 

Ministers today welcomed a report released by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment on oil and gas drilling.

Environment Minister Amy Adams and Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges say the Commissioner’s report is a useful contribution to the discussion on how best to manage the environmental effects of onshore petroleum development, including hydraulic fracturing.

Labour Minister Simon Bridges today announced an improvement to Government procurement rules to ensure all potential suppliers of cleaning services operate on a fair and level playing field. 

“The change means suppliers of cleaning services will no longer be required to join and pay for membership to the industry association to contract with Government,” says Mr Bridges.

“Instead, the Government will be able to contract with all suitable suppliers of cleaning services and award contracts on the merit of tenders.

The Minimum Wage Order is changing to include a fortnightly minimum wage rate, Labour Minister Simon Bridges said today.

This is in response to a recent Court ruling that found a week is the longest period which salaried workers could be assessed for compliance with the Minimum Wage Act. 

Mr Bridges says the ruling does not adequately reflect current work practices, such as salaried employees on fortnightly rosters. 

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges tonight congratulated the winners and finalists in the 2014 EECA Awards. 

“The line-up of exciting projects at the EECA Awards tonight demonstrates that New Zealand businesses and community organisations are taking energy efficiency seriously – and the results are impressive,” Mr Bridges says. 

Labour Minister Simon Bridges today announced that parental leave payments will increase from 1 July 2014.

The maximum payment for eligible employees and self-employed persons will increase from $488.17 per week to $504.10 gross per week.

The minimum parental leave payment for self-employed people will also increase from $137.50 per week to $142.50 gross per week.

“We have increased parental leave payments to reflect the 3.3 per cent increase in the average weekly wage over the past year,” says Mr Bridges.

Labour Minister Simon Bridges welcomes the release today of a discussion document outlining proposals for new health and safety regulations, which will help people to comply with the new health and safety legislative regime when it comes into force next year. 

“Regulations remove the guesswork about what is needed to meet duties under the law. This helps avoid unnecessary compliance costs that could arise from doing too much or too little,” Mr Bridges says.

The Government is spending more than $7 million over the next four years to boost the number of labour inspectors and immigration officers dealing with the Canterbury rebuild.

The money will be used to fund an additional six labour inspectors and seven immigration staff, including three compliance officers and two investigators, and will result in an extra 20 investigations of serious or high-profile cases over an initial 18-month period.

It will also deliver an employment standards audit programme for businesses associated with rebuild activity.

As part of Budget 2014’s comprehensive package of practical measures to help families and children, the Government will spend an additional $171.8 million over four years to enhance parental leave provisions, Labour Minister Simon Bridges says.

“The Government is committed to doing its part to give children the best possible start in life and this comprehensive range of measures will help to reduce some of the stress placed on families when a new child arrives. 

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed a new gold explorer to New Zealand.

Silver City NZ Pty Ltd has been awarded a five-year permit to explore for gold as a result of the Epithermal Gold 2013 tender.  The exploration permit covers 33km² on the central North Island volcanic plateau, south of Kawerau.