Displaying 121 - 144 of 2672 results.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the passing of the Hurunui/Kaikōura Earthquakes Recovery Bill 2016 by Parliament today.

This is the third of three Bills in response to the Kaikōura earthquake sequence that started with a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on November 14.

“It will establish a time limited process to enable Acts and associated plans, to be amended by Order in Council, for earthquake-affected areas,” Mr Brownlee says.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Leader of the House
  • Civil Defence

Revenue Minister Michael Woodhouse today released proposals to simplify and modernise the Tax Administration Act (TAA), as part of the Government’s major transformation of the revenue system.

“The Government is committed to ensuring our tax administration is fit for purpose and meets the needs of modern New Zealand,” Mr Woodhouse says.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Revenue

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner has today congratulated Customs’ five new detector dog teams at a graduation ceremony in Trentham.

“Customs received over $500,000 from Budget 2016 to boost the total number of detector dog teams across the country from 15 to 20, adding to its multi-layered enforcement at the border,” Ms Wagner says.  

“The five new teams are a welcome addition, especially as we head into the peak summer season when more people cross our border.”

  • Nicky Wagner
  • Customs

The Ultra-Fast Broadband build on Auckland’s Waiheke Island is now complete, meaning more than 5600 local homes and businesses can now connect to faster and more reliable internet, says Communications Minister Amy Adams.

On hand at Waiheke Island today, Ms Adams said total private and public investment in the build totalled nearly $9.6 million, and took less than 18 months to complete after the rollout began in June 2015.

  • Amy Adams
  • Communications

Treasury’s latest forecasts show the Government’s programme of responsible economic and fiscal management is delivering benefits for New Zealanders, Finance Minister Bill English says.

“Economic growth is expected to average around 3 per cent over the next five years – considerably stronger than forecast in Budget 2016 - supporting more jobs, falling unemployment and higher incomes,” Mr English says.

  • Bill English
  • Finance

The Government is investing $837,132 in nine new projects for the upkeep of the New Zealand Cycle Trail, Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key announced today.

The investment comes from the fifth round of the Maintaining the Quality of Great Rides Fund, which aims to ensure New Zealand’s premier rides are maintained to their current world class standard.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says the second stage of major legislative reforms aimed at improving the long-term life outcomes for New Zealand’s most vulnerable children and young people has been introduced into Parliament.

“Significant reform is essential for truly transformational change in the overhaul of state care and protection, to provide children and young people with loving, stable homes and the successful lives they deserve,” says Mrs Tolley.

  • Anne Tolley
  • Social Development

Acting Youth Minister Anne Tolley today announced the successful applicants for Youth Fund 2017.

“I’m pleased to announce that 36 projects will share $150,000 of funding available under Youth Fund 2017,” says Mrs Tolley.

Youth Fund is about supporting community initiatives designed and led by young people, either working alone or in partnership with youth organisations.

“Young people made up the panel which assessed applications, making this a completely youth-led initiative,” says Mrs Tolley.

  • Anne Tolley
  • Youth

Prime Minister John Key and Transport Minister Simon Bridges have turned the sod on the first section of the long awaited Pūhoi to Wellsford Road.

The Puhoi to Warkworth road will be a new 18.5km motorway between Auckland and Northland. It is the first section of the Pūhoi to Wellsford Road to get underway, one of the Government’s Roads of National Significance.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Corrections Minister Judith Collins has welcomed five new members to Corrections Detector Dog team.

Corrections’ newest detector dogs were purchased from the Australian Border Force and graduated today, alongside their canine colleagues from Aviation Security and Customs, following a nine week training course.

“It is evident that the Dog Section has an essential role in the effectiveness of contraband reduction plans and has a real impact in keeping our prisons safe.”

  • Judith Collins
  • Corrections

Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith today welcomed the KiwiSaver findings of the Retirement Commissioner’s three-yearly review of retirement income policies.

“I have received the KiwiSaver recommendations made by the Commissioner and will give them considerable thought.

  • Paul Goldsmith
  • Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Three place names in North Canterbury containing the word ‘nigger’ will be changed to reflect the offence caused by that word, Land Information Minister Louise Upston says.

Nigger Stream, near Arthur’s Pass, will now officially be named Pūkio Stream after a native grass (Carex Secta) found in the area.

Niggerhead, which is above Lake Sumner, will be called Tawhai Hill after a species of native Beech Tree found in the South Island.

  • Louise Upston
  • Land Information

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says DHBs will receive an extra $4 million to deliver more colonoscopy services.

“Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death. A colonoscopy can identify whether a person has cancer or pre-cancerous growths. Early identification and treatment can save lives,” says Dr Coleman.

“This is the latest in a number of funding packages for colonoscopy services since 2013/14, taking the total amount of additional funding to $19 million.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Prime Minister John Key and Transport Minister Simon Bridges have helped celebrate the start of construction on a long sought intersection upgrade in Auckland’s Northwest.

A new roundabout in the township of Waimauku will replace the current intersection on State Highway 16 and Muriwai Road, making it a safer environment for all road users including pedestrians and cyclists.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Police Minister Judith Collins has congratulated 40 new police constables as they mark the end of their training at the Royal New Police College with an attestation parade today.

Today’s parade is being attended by Wing Patron Hon Luamanuvao Winne Laban and Police Commissioner Mike Bush, along with family and friends of the 40 new constables.

Ms Collins says the parade marks the beginning of a challenging but rewarding career for the new officers as they look to be leaders within New Zealand’s diverse communities.

  • Judith Collins
  • Police

Two New Zealand principals will have the chance to lead schools in South Australia as part of a trans-Tasman exchange programme, says Education Minister Hekia Parata.

“The South Australia/New Zealand Principal Exchange programme is the first of its kind and offers principals an exciting opportunity to experience leading a school in a different jurisdiction,” says Ms Parata.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

Economic Minister Steven Joyce and Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett announced today that $158,000 is being committed to a visitor economy project as part of the Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Action Plan. The Plan has a key action to develop a collaborative regional tourism framework that supports growing the visitor economy to $2.5 billion by 2030.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Paula Bennett
  • Tourism
  • Economic Development

New case studies on top performing dairy farms will help other farmers drive their economic and environmental performance, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

The studies are part of the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Farm Systems Change programme, which is looking at ways to help farmers boost performance by learning from the strongest performers.

“Last year the Government allocated $800,000 towards this project which is focused on understanding the drivers of farm performance and sharing that knowledge with others.

  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries

Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga is encouraging Pacific students to apply for Toloa Scholarships and to take up science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects at tertiary level.

“Pacific youth need to be armed with skills, knowledge and confidence in STEM subjects so they can take part in an innovation based economy. Those skills are essential for much of the workforce,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

  • Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
  • Pacific Peoples

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley has congratulated the young people who have been recognised at today’s tenth annual William Wallace Awards ceremony in Wellington.

The awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of young people in care or with experience in care, and provide scholarships of up to $3,000 to help them pursue tertiary study, vocational training, leadership programmes or an Outward Bound course.

  • Anne Tolley
  • Social Development

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the visit to New Zealand later this week by Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Pehin Lim Jock Seng and Energy and Industry Minister Pehin Yasmin Umar.

“Brunei is an important partner for New Zealand in South East Asia, and we enjoy friendly cooperation in defence, trade and education,” Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Sixteen councils up and down New Zealand will share $231,400 of funding under the Local Government Youth Project Fund 2017, Acting Youth Minister Anne Tolley announced today.

“This fund supports city, district and regional councils to deliver projects that provide young people with leadership, mentoring and volunteering skills, and help them make a difference in their communities,” says Mrs Tolley.

  • Anne Tolley
  • Youth

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has welcomed the New Zealand Horticulture Export Authority Amendment Bill passing its third reading in Parliament last night.

“Horticulture is now New Zealand’s fourth largest export industry and this bill provides an improved framework for producers and exporters to collaborate in marketing their products,” says Mr Guy.

“The changes provide more clarity around the entry and exit requirements, and more efficient methods for the Authority to collect fees and levies from producers and exporters.

  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries

The youth justice system will be extended to include lower risk 17 year-olds, Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley have announced today.

The changes, which will take place by 2019, will ensure that all 17 year-old offenders are dealt with according to which jurisdiction is best suited to the particular case.

The vast majority of 17 year-old offenders are lower risk. They will be dealt with in the Youth Court where the interventions are more targeted and lead to better results.

  • Anne Tolley
  • Amy Adams
  • Social Development
  • Justice