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People in need will get the most benefit from Government funding for new housing projects, to be developed by non-government providers.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley today announced the successful applicants to the $25.3 million Social Housing Unit (SHU) Growth Fund.

The aim of the Growth Fund is to increase the supply of social and affordable housing through non-government providers developing and providing housing at scale.

Sixteen of the new projects are in Auckland and will result in 153 extra homes in the city.

High Commissioner Martyn Dunne, thank you for hosting this function tonight.

I want to open by acknowledging Hon David Ridgway from the South Australian Parliament as well as the many New Zealand and  international guests from the oil and gas sector.  I know almost all of you have travelled from across Australia or from overseas to attend APPEA, and be here with us tonight.

The Government welcomes the confirmation today of the conditional sale of the Pike River Coal Mine assets to Solid Energy, the Minister of Energy and Resources, Phil Heatley, said tonight.

“The sale, conditional on a number of mostly procedural matters including transfer of the mining permit, is a positive step towards determining the future of resource development at the mine,” he said.

New social housing funding has gone to Māori and Rural whanau with housing challenges in Northland and the East Coast.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley and Associate Housing Minister Tariana Turia today announced Social Housing Unit (SHU) funding for Māori and Rural segments, from the $37.35 million Social Housing Fund.

“This money goes direct to the non-government providers who applied for it, and have undertaken to direct it straight to people in real need,” Mr Heatley said.

People with social housing needs, including low-income, vulnerable families, are to benefit from funding administered by the Social Housing Unit (SHU).

Housing Minister Phil Heatley has announced the first tranche of funding from the Niche segment of the $37.35 million Social Housing Fund.

“This is tightly targeted funding that is carefully managed by non-government housing providers who are in a position to direct the benefit straight to people in real need,” he said.

Thank you. I’m delighted to be here today to meet you and talk to you, and of course to present this year’s Outstanding Achievement Award.

Affordable, well-planned housing has a wonderful effect on people's lives.  Good housing helps to build vibrant and supportive communities and provide children with a safe, healthy environment in which to to grow up.

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley today welcomed the announcement of a $365 million refining expansion at Marsden Point in Whangarei that will create 700 new jobs.

“This is great news for the industry and the local community,” Mr Heatley said.

“Spending $365 million on this upgrade will mean 700 new jobs, higher energy efficiency and fewer carbon emissions. That’s fantastic news for Whangarei and for the energy industry in New Zealand.”

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley has welcomed the launch of Petroleum Basin Explorer, a new petroleum exploration data portal developed by GNS Science.

“To realise the potential of our oil and gas resources, we must attract reputable operators who are willing to invest in exploration,” said Mr Heatley.

“Providing good quality information has been a key part of New Zealand’s strategy for attracting that investment. Launching the portal as the 2012 petroleum block offers are being finalised is perfect timing.

Thanks for inviting me here today for the opening of the upgraded Hanson Court apartments.

The Wellington City Council has done a superb job on this upgrade. I congratulate them on that and for their commitment to providing quality, affordable housing for vulnerable Wellingtonians.

Wellington City Council Housing Upgrade Project

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley today welcomed the launch in Canterbury of a campaign to raise energy awareness.

The Christchurch Agency for Energy (CAfE) has launched EA12, a public awareness programme for 2012, starting with events in April and May.

“I applaud CAfE’s initiative, which will help Cantabrians use energy more efficiently and encourage them to look for opportunities to use renewable energy.

This is one of the first chances that I have had as Minister to meet senior people from a very important sector of the renewable electricity generation industry. I’m looking forward to getting to know your business better.

I thought I’d start with the big picture.

New Zealand is a fortunate country in its range of energy resources: we’ve got minerals, oil and gas, wind, hydro and geothermal in various stages of development – it’s a long and exciting list.

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley has welcomed the inquiry into fracking announced today by Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Jan Wright.

“I look forward to the results of this inquiry. It will enable us to move forward with confidence and a clear understanding of what’s fact and what’s fiction,” Mr Heatley said.

“This inquiry will enable us to consider all our options around fracking, from the consenting process through to work in the field.

Good morning, and thank you for your invitation to address this conference.  I commend you for your choice of theme – Smart Cities – which is so very relevant to the Christchurch rebuild.  You’ve assembled a very interesting line-up of speakers.

As I am relatively new to the Energy and Resources portfolio, I am also pleased to have the opportunity to get to know the Energy Management Association a little better.  Building issues are of course more familiar to me because of my role as Minister of Housing.

The contribution of renewable energy sources to total annual electricity generation increased to 77 per cent in 2011 from 74 per cent in 2010, Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley announced today.

“This is another positive step towards the Government’s goal of 90 per cent renewable generation by 2025,” Mr Heatley said.

Wind generation increased to 4.5 per cent total generation in 2011, and geothermal generation increased to 13.4 per cent of total generation.

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley heads overseas today to attend the 13th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting in Kuwait.

The IEF is the world’s largest gathering of Energy Ministers. Its 88 member countries account for 90 per cent of global oil and gas supply and demand. It is the world’s leading forum for producer/consumer dialogue within the global energy sector, and on energy issues affecting the world.

The Government welcomes the news of the sale of Pike River Mine to Solid Energy, Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley said today.

“This is a positive step towards a commercial re-opening of the mine. We expect Solid Energy to commit to use its best endeavours to recover the bodies of the deceased miners.

“Any plan for re-opening the mine and recovering the bodies will need to be safe and credible. The Government is not prepared to see any further lives lost at the mine,” says Mr Heatley.

The Government is asking New Zealanders for feedback on proposals to improve the legislation governing oil, gas and mineral permitting.

Minister of Energy and Resources Phil Heatley today released a discussion paper outlining the proposed changes to the Crown Minerals Act 1991, and associated regulations and programmes.

“Energy and mineral resources are major export earners for New Zealand and there is huge potential for them to contribute even more to the economy,” he said.

Good morning and thank you for your invitation to give the opening address at your 2012 Forum.

This is the first chance that I have had, since taking up the Energy and Resources portfolio, to meet with a cross-section of senior people from the energy industry. It is good to be here.

I thought that I would talk first about an important milestone that occurred in the past few months, and which will have a major impact on shaping the way in which the energy industry moves forward over the next few years.

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley today welcomed moves by the Ministry of Economic Development to consult on the exploration potential of the Northland region’s mineral resources.

The consultation process formally begins today on specific areas proposed to be included in a competitive tender for metallic mineral exploration permits. This is the first step of a new economic opportunity for the region, Mr Heatley said.

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley has welcomed the latest “block offer” process for awarding oil and gas exploration permits in selected areas, released today by the Ministry of Economic Development. The 2012 proposed block offer covers 25 areas.

“While we don’t necessarily expect exploration to be undertaken in all the blocks on offer this year, this is an important step in developing New Zealand’s significant resource wealth,” the Minister said.

The Government is welcoming a likely $250 million a year increase to exports and the 500 additional construction jobs as part of the agreement announced this afternoon by the Todd Corporation and Methanex New Zealand to increase methanol production in Taranaki.

Methanex is entering into a 10 year contract with Todd that enable it to restart the second methanol manufacturing train at its Motunui facility, north of New Plymouth.