Displaying 2065 - 2084 of 2084 results.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says that students can visit the battle sites of World War Two, and enter a nationwide multimedia challenge as part of a revamped package to champion excellence in Māori education and leadership. 

“To ensure the Māori Battalion’s legacy endures, the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board is offering new and exciting ways to grow students’ understanding of the triumph and tragedy of those brave young men,” Ms Parata says.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

New Research & Development Growth Grants worth more than $140 million over three years have been awarded to 31 high tech New Zealand businesses by Callaghan Innovation, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce announced today.

R&D Growth Grants were introduced last year as part of changes to R&D funding designed to encourage more research and development to be undertaken by businesses in New Zealand. They provide up to $5 million co-funding a year to mid-sized and large New Zealand-based companies that are experienced in doing R&D.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Science and Innovation

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has welcomed the latest valuation of the welfare system showing a significant reduction in the liability.

The June 2013 valuation shows the current lifetime liability[i] is $76.5 billion.

“Of the $10.3 billion reduction in liability[ii], $4.4 billion is due to Work and Income actively exceeding expectations by getting more people off benefit for longer, and less people coming onto benefit,” says Mrs Bennett.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Development

GPs across the country are swapping pens for keyboards and are now referring patients for specialist care online – reducing how long their patients wait for an appointment.

When a patient needs to be referred to a hospital specialist for further assessment or treatment, GPs can now complete an electronic referral form, send it at the touch of a button and receive an immediate notification that it has been received.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says last year general practices sent nearly half a million patient referrals electronically to public hospitals.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Hon Tariana Turia, the Associate Minister of Health has released ‘Wharekauri, Rēkohu, Chatham Islands Health and Social Needs’ at a community hui on the Chatham Islands. The report provides an overview of the health and social needs of the Chatham Islanders and the services that are available to meet them. It identifies gaps in the services and discusses options to address these.

  • Tariana Turia
  • Health

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today released the 2014 Occupation Outlook report, a comprehensive overview of job demand, likely incomes, and training requirements for 50 different career options across New Zealand.

“The Occupation Outlook is designed to be one of the first places for young people and their families to look when making decisions on subject choices and future careers,” Mr Joyce says.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

2014 will start with a much simpler vocational training system that is easy to navigate for employers, trainees and educators, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

“Four years ago we had a highly complicated vocational training system in New Zealand with a total of 39 separate industry training organisations and more than 4500 separate qualifications”, Mr Joyce says.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today announced the latest injection of funding to build muscle in the social sector.

The Capability Investment Resource (CIR) provides $31.65 million over four years to strengthen Ministry of Social Development-funded organisations.

“We’ve provided funding so they can work independently or with specialist mentors, to build a plan that will develop and strengthen their organisations.”

  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Development

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand will assist with the immediate response effort following Tropical Cyclone Ian in Tonga.

"An RNZAF P3 Orion arrived in Tonga this morning to assist with aerial assessments following Tropical Cyclone Ian. We will also make $50,000 immediately available to respond to specific requests for assistance," Mr McCully says.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Tonga as they begin to come to terms with the damaged caused by this cyclone."

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith today welcomed a $2.2 million upgrade to the DOC campsite at Momorangi Bay in Queen Charlotte Sound.

“This investment illustrates the Government’s commitment to protecting and enhancing the classic Kiwi camping experience. We are building more campgrounds and enhancing facilities at existing campgrounds like Momorangi to ensure families for generations to come can enjoy the great outdoors,” Dr Smith says.

  • Nick Smith
  • Conservation

Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse has welcomed the unprecedented response to the latest road safety advertisement from the NZTA.

Mistakes, is a powerful new ad that helps drivers understand that no matter how careful they are, other people will always make mistakes, and if we slow down fewer people will pay for mistakes with their lives,” Mr Woodhouse says.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Transport

If you're moving to a new town this new year, shifting your medical records from one general practice to another is now a lot easier.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says transferring medical records between GPs can be a lengthy process, but now all general practices can use a secure electronic system called GP2GP to make the process faster and easier.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith today confirmed the Government’s decision to ban shark finning and have tightened the timetable in response to 45,300 submissions on the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks.

  • Nathan Guy
  • Nick Smith
  • Conservation
  • Primary Industries

Significant increases in the abundance and size of marine species in Tasman Bay marine reserves confirm their conservation benefits, Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith said today while publicly releasing a new research report at the Horoirangi Marine Reserve north of Nelson.

  • Nick Smith
  • Conservation

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith today announced at Karamea on the West Coast the permanent approval of mountain biking on the Heaphy Track from 1 May to 30 September each year.

“The Heaphy Track is New Zealand’s ultimate multi-day mountain biking experience. It traverses dramatic and diverse landscapes from mountain forests, to expansive grasslands and wild West Coast beaches,” Dr Smith says.

  • Nick Smith
  • Conservation

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today condemned the resumption of so-called “scientific” whaling in the Southern Ocean.

“Today’s information suggests the Japanese fleet has commenced whaling for the current season,” Mr McCully says.

“The practice of whaling in the oceans south of New Zealand is pointless and offensive to a great many New Zealanders.

“The New Zealand Government has repeatedly called on Japan to end its whaling programme. We reiterate this message today.”

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

The New Zealand Legislation website at legislation.govt.nz is now an official source of legislation, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson said today.

“This important development puts official up-to-date legislation in the hands of New Zealanders at no cost”, he said. “They can be confident that they are accessing the authoritative source.”

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith today welcomed the awarding of the international Green Flag to five DOC sites around New Zealand from the Lake Matheson Walk in South Westland.

“These Green Flags are symbols of tourism excellence. They indicate these five DOC sites are premium destinations and well worth a visit by both New Zealanders and international visitors,” Dr Smith says.

“These latest recipients confirm what many of us already know – that our country is home to some of the best parks and green spaces in the world.”

  • Nick Smith
  • Conservation

Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse says drivers in New Zealand need to continue to take on board road safety messages and take responsibility on the roads so that more people arrive at their destinations safely, after a higher Christmas holiday period road toll than last year.

Seven people died on the roads as a result of seven fatal crashes during the official holiday period which ran from 4pm on 24 December to 6am this morning. This is one more death than the same period last year which was the lowest road toll for this time since 1956/57.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Transport

The provisional road toll for 2013 of 254 is the lowest in the last 60 years, Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse announced today. This compares with 308 in 2012, 284 in 2011, and 375 in 2010.

“The 2013 road toll was 34 per cent lower than four years ago and it’s particularly pleasing that 15-24 year olds have seen a significant drop with a 37 per cent lower road toll than in 2009,” Mr Woodhouse says.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Transport