Displaying 1 - 24 of 89 results.

The Crown today signed two Agreements in Principle and a Letter of Agreement with iwi groups today, taking an important step towards settling the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ngāruahine, Te Atiawa and Taranaki Iwi, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

The Crown signed a deed of settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Maui at Waikawa Marae in Waikawa (near Picton) today, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced.

“Te Atiawa were left virtually landless by the historical actions of the Crown,” Mr Finlayson said. “Today we take a significant step towards putting the injustices of the past behind us, and helping Te Atiawa move forward.”

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

The Crown signed a deed of settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Ngāti Kōata at Wakatu Marae today in Nelson, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced.

“The actions of the Crown left Ngāti Kōata without sufficient and suitable lands for their needs, which had serious consequences for their social and cultural wellbeing,” Mr Finlayson said. “Today we take a significant step towards addressing the wrongs of the past, and allowing Ngāti Koata to create an economic base.”

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

The Crown has signed a deed of settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Ngāti Koroki Kahukura at Maungatautari marae near Cambridge, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.

“The actions of the Crown led to the economic, social, environmental and cultural degradation of Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and their physical and spiritual resources,” Mr Finlayson said.

The settlement includes financial and commercial redress of $3 million.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

The Crown signed deeds of settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Ngāti Rangiwewehi and Tapuika at Ngati Moko Marae in Te Puke today, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

New rules come into force tomorrow requiring all adventure tourism operators to strengthen how they manage drug and alcohol-related safety risks in their operations.

“I welcome these tougher rules with the knowledge that tourists and New Zealanders alike will have greater assurance about the safety of adventure activities,” says Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee.

Acting Labour Minister Chris Finlayson says the new requirements will reduce risk and also help protect New Zealand’s reputation as a tourist destination.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport
  • Labour

State Services and Defence Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman has welcomed the release of two reviews in relation to the 2010 ANZAC Day helicopter crash.

The State Services Commission has released an independent review on the Air Force’s implementation of the Court of Inquiry safety recommendations, and also a review of the roles and functions for health and safety in employment in the military context.   

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Christopher Finlayson
  • State Services
  • Labour
  • Defence

The Government has released its detailed action plan for implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and acting Labour Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Steven Joyce
  • Labour
  • Economic Development

The Government will carefully consider the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission’s full report and its recommendations, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson and Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson say.

The third and final part of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission’s report (Volumes 5-7) into the causes of building failures during the earthquake was publicly released by the Government today.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Building and Construction
  • Attorney-General
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

The Crown signed a deed of settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Ngati Toa Rangatira at Parliament Buildings in Wellington today, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson and Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today released the second part of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission’s report (Volume 4), which covers a range of practice and policy issues relating to earthquake-prone buildings, particularly how these buildings are identified and managed.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery
  • Building and Construction
  • Attorney-General

The House today passed a bill to modernise and improve the law regarding publication of legislation, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced.

The Legislation Bill is intended to modernise and improve the law regarding the publication, availability, reprinting, revision, and official versions of legislation, and bring it together into one piece of legislation.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

A bill that gives effect to New Zealand’s international obligations to protect cultural property from destruction or theft in times of war has been passed by the House.

The Cultural Property (Protection in Armed Conflict) Bill strengthens the current operational practice and excellent reputation of our armed services personnel overseas with respect to protecting cultural property in war zones Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Chris Finlayson said.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Auckland lawyer Deborah Marshall has been appointed as a Coroner for the Auckland region, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

The government has received the third and final part (comprising volumes 5 to 7) of the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure Caused by Canterbury Earthquakes, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Ministers will now consider the third part of the report. An announcement about the public release of the report and the government’s response will be made in due course.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery
  • Attorney-General

New regulations will ensure that health and safety is a priority in the growing petroleum exploration and extraction industry, Acting Minister of Labour Christopher Finlayson announced today.

New regulations are being introduced to strengthen management of oil wells over the whole life of the well, including managing hazards that could cause a major accident, and minimising the likelihood of an uncontrolled release of oil and gas. Operators will also be required to prepare and submit safety cases to the regulator for assessment before commencing any new operations.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Labour

The Crown Prince of Belgium, HRH Prince Philippe, accompanied by the Belgian Defence Minister Pieter De Crem, will lead a business delegation to New Zealand from 27 to 29 November, Arts and Culture Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.

In addition to engaging in trade promotion, Prince Philippe will meet the Prime Minister and be guest of honour at a dinner hosted by the Governor-General Lt Gen the Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae at Government House.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Arts Minister Christopher Finlayson has welcomed the first evaluation report of Sistema Aotearoa, saying it justifies the investment made in the children’s classical music programme by the government and private philanthropists.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

The House today passed two bills giving effect to the historical Treaty of Waitangi settlements of Ngāti Manuhiri and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei in the Tāmaki-Makaurau (Auckland) area, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

Acting Labour Minister Chris Finlayson has welcomed the public release of the report of the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy.

Earlier today in Greymouth, the Government released the report to the families of the 29 men who died in the Pike River Mine on 19 November 2010.

The report found multiple operational and systemic issues with Pike River Coal and its operation of the mine. It also found that government regulation of mine safety has been ineffective, with a decline in the support of the mining inspectorate in the past 20 years.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Labour

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson has expressed his condolences on the passing of lawyer Greg King.

“Although young in years, Greg King had already achieved a huge amount in his career,” Mr Finlayson said. “He was a lawyer in the finest traditions of the criminal bar, of the same stature as the likes of Mike Bungay, Kevin Ryan and Roy Stacey.”

“He was a fine advocate and a very nice guy. His early death is very sad, and my deepest sympathies go to his family at this time.”

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Government ministers Gerry Brownlee and Christopher Finlayson will present the report of the Royal Commission into the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy, and the government’s response, to victims’ families in Greymouth on Monday.

Shortly after this private meeting, the report will be released publicly.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Napier solicitor Russell Collins has been appointed as a District Court Judge with a jury warrant to sit in Auckland, and Auckland lawyer Jonathan Down has been appointed as an Acting District Court Judge with general and jury warrants, to sit in Hastings, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

The government has received the report of the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Ministers will now consider the report and its recommendations. The report will be released, first to victims’ families and then to the public, early next week, along with the government’s response.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General