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Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse welcomes new figures showing New Zealand overstayer numbers are at the lowest since 2000. 

A new report from October 2014 puts the number of overstayers at 12,162 – a significant decrease of 989 on the previous estimate of 13,151 in September 2013. The estimated rate of overstaying (the number of overstayers compared with the number of temporary arrivals) is very small by international standards at around 4 in 10,000 (0.04%).

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse today congratulated Police for the latest successful drug-related operation targeting gang members in the Upper North Island.

Operation Jakarta was the fourth in a series, resulting in charges being laid against 38 Headhunter members and associates, as well as the seizure of over $4 million in cash, $4 million-worth of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals, and a substantial number of firearms.

More than $9 million worth of assets were also frozen under the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act.

New Zealand will ratify the Maritime Labour Convention to ensure fair treatment of seafarers and protect the reputation of New Zealand exports, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss announced today.

The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 is an international treaty adopted by the International Labour Organisation.  It sets minimum standards for the health, safety and welfare of seafarers on commercial vessels.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse today opened the Mobility Innovation Lab and Experience Centre which will help Police, government and business develop mobile tools and technology that benefit New Zealand.
 
“This Mobility Innovation Lab and Experience Centre will bring together stakeholders from the public and private sectors to focus on ideas that will make a difference to all New Zealanders,” Mr Woodhouse says.
 
“It will help foster innovation and encourage rapid deployment of ideas and tools.
 

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse will travel to Paris tomorrow to represent the New Zealand Government at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) high-level policy forum on migration.

The theme of this year’s forum is mobilising migrants’ skills for economic success and Mr Woodhouse will Chair the Forum’s second session on Building public confidence in migration issues, as well as speak to this theme.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss today launched the ‘Reach the beach safely this summer’ campaign, an initiative led by New Zealand Police.

Last year’s Safer Summer campaign had a great impact with a significant decline in the proportion of people speeding on our roads and a reduction in deaths and serious injuries.

“Summer is a busy time on the road and we want to build on last year’s efforts by again enforcing speed limits and lower alcohol limits,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse today acknowledged the combined efforts of New Zealand and international Police to find and capture absconded prisoner Phillip John Smith (Traynor) overnight.

“I commend the work of New Zealand and Brazilian police officers, and Interpol, to trace and re-capture the prisoner,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“This has been a distressing week for the victims of the prisoner, and I hope today’s news goes some way to restoring their sense of safety and security.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a pleasure to join you this morning for the opening of what is the most significant drug driving event to be held in New Zealand.

This is a problem that the Government takes very seriously, so it's great to see such a wide range of experts from around the world gathering to share ideas about how we can reduce the risk to public safety.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse and Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga say agencies are working together to urgently review how a prisoner on temporary release was able to leave the country. 

“The circumstances leading to Phillip John Smith (Traynor) obtaining a passport and later absconding are the subject of multiple investigations involving Police, Corrections and the Department of Internal Affairs,” says Police Minister Michael Woodhouse.

Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett and Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse say Indian nationals travelling to New Zealand on business will now find it easier and faster to get a visa.

Visitors travelling for recognised business events, like conferences, meetings or exhibitions, will now benefit from faster visa processing times and reduced paperwork requirements.

The new arrangements were formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Mumbai overnight between Immigration New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand and six approved travel agents.

Good afternoon Ministers,

It's a great pleasure to be here today as we celebrate 100 years of nations working together to combat crime.

Just as it is important for countries to cooperate across borders to detect and prevent crime, so too is it necessary for Police services worldwide to build partnerships across different sectors within their own countries.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse will travel to Monaco tomorrow to represent the New Zealand Government at the INTERPOL Ministerial Meeting on 3 – 4 November.

The INTERPOL Ministerial meeting will be held concurrently with the INTERPOL 83rd General Assembly which marks a century since the concept was proposed at the first International Police Congress held in Monaco in 1914. The 83rd General Assembly is themed ‘Turn Back Crime: 100 years of International police cooperation.’

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse welcomed the recommendations of the Independent Forestry Safety Review and outlined the Government’s initial response.

“The Government supports the findings of this review and acknowledges everyone who played a role in this critically important work. The safety record of the forestry sector is not acceptable and Government agencies are committed to working in partnership with industry to build a safe, sustainable and professional forestry sector,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Michael Woodhouse has welcomed the passage of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill through Parliament.

“The Government campaigned on our commitment to continue to improve employment law, particularly in relation to fairness, flexibility and choice in the labour market,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“The passing of this Bill delivers on that commitment and will improve New Zealand’s employment relations framework by creating a fair and more flexible system for both employers and employees.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Woodhouse today refutes Labour MP Andrew Little’s claims that the Employment Relations Amendment Bill is ‘mean-spirited and unfair’.

“Mr Little’s claims that the Bill will see the end of smoko breaks is nothing but a cynical dog whistle used by Labour to create a climate of fear,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse today officially launched the national roll-out of the Booze Bus Biometrics (BBB) system.

The BBB system will enable Police to confirm within minutes, the identities of people in the system that they intend to charge with drink-driving offences, by electronically scanning fingerprints, taking digital photographs and comparing the data to existing Police records.

The Government has announced that a series of job fairs will be held in capital cities across Australia to encourage more Kiwis to return home and Australians to settle here to help fill emerging skills gaps and support thriving New Zealand-based businesses.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, together with international employment event organiser Working In, will be hosting the first two expos in Perth on 22-23 November and Sydney on the 29-30 November. Further events will follow in Melbourne and Brisbane in the first quarter of next year.

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā hau e whā. 

Ka nui te hari ahau kua tae mai nei, I waenganui a koutou me tēnei hui. No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Good morning everyone and thank you for the invitation to open your annual conference, my first as Minister of Police.

I am looking forward to the challenges that come with this exciting portfolio and to understanding the business of policing.

I am also looking forward to getting out and visiting as many stations and meeting as many staff as I can.