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The Government today welcomed the election of New Zealander Adrian Macey as Chair of the Kyoto Protocol at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancún, Mexico.

"This appointment reaffirms the respect in which New Zealand is held in the international climate change negotiations as well as being a personal tribute to Adrian Macey and his work as New Zealand’s Climate Change Ambassador between 2006 and 2010," Dr Smith said.

Civil Defence Minister John Carter today praised three international agreements that will bring New Zealand, Australian and United States civil defence agencies closer together.

“These agreements will allow the agencies to support each other during and after emergencies, including maintaining 24/7 contact points as necessary,” Mr Carter says.

“Our agencies will be better able to share information, expertise and experience to help reduce risks and improve readiness before emergencies.”

The Education Amendment Bill (No 2), which has passed the last of its Parliamentary stages, will increase educational opportunities, reduce bureaucracy and improve student safety, says Education Minister Anne Tolley.

“This Bill provides exciting new opportunities for Year 11 to 13 students by allowing them to participate in Trades Academies, removes unnecessary burdens on short-term child crèches, and ensures that those who pose a potential danger to children can be kept out of the classroom,” says Mrs Tolley.

The science and innovation system in New Zealand will be invigorated by the Research, Science and Technology Bill passed in Parliament today, says Minister of Research, Science and Technology Wayne Mapp.

The Bill amalgamates the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology and the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology into the new Ministry of Science and Innovation (MSI).

“This new Ministry will perform a vital role in our economic growth,” Dr Mapp said.

Legislation to improve parts of the state sector has been welcomed by Nathan Guy, the Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand, the National Library and Internal Affairs.

The National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa) Amendment Act and the Public Records Amendment Act have passed their final readings in Parliament today, paving the way for the three departments to integrate on 1 February 2011.

“The integration of these three departments is an important step in delivering better public services more efficiently.

Today Parliament passed the Research, Science and Technology Bill, the National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa) Amendment Bill, and the Public Records Amendment Bill - all formerly the State Sector Management Bill.

This legislation is an important step towards improved service delivery at a reduced cost, and a more future-proofed State sector says the Minister of State Services Tony Ryall. Passing the Bill today provides certainty to the staff who are expecting to implement the new structures from 1 February 2011.

Ministers Tim Groser and Nick Smith today welcomed the substantial progress made at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Cancún, Mexico, saying it represented a significant step forward towards a global, legally binding and comprehensive agreement on climate change.

The Governments of Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United States jointly condemn any actions that imperil human life in the Southern Ocean. We are deeply concerned that confrontations in the Southern Ocean will eventually lead to injury or loss of life among both whaling crews and protestors, many of whom are nationals of our countries.

We call on the masters of all vessels involved in these actions in the Southern Ocean to take responsibility for ensuring that safety of human life at sea is their highest priority.

The New Zealand Government has decided not to file as a party to Australia’s legal action in the International Court of Justice against Japanese ‘scientific’ whaling in the Southern Ocean, but will instead ‘intervene’ formally in the case, a move welcomed by the Australian Government.

Foreign Ministers Kevin Rudd and Murray McCully say that both countries have agreed to work together towards the elimination of whaling in the Southern Ocean through complementary strategies.

The Government today welcomed the election of New Zealander Adrian Macey as Chair of the Kyoto Protocol at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancún, Mexico.

"This appointment reaffirms the respect in which New Zealand is held in the international climate change negotiations as well as being a personal tribute to Adrian Macey and his work as New Zealand’s Climate Change Ambassador between 2006 and 2010," Dr Smith said.

A bill proposing the most significant changes to the Biosecurity Act in more than a decade passed its first reading in Parliament last night and was sent to select committee.

The Biosecurity Law Reform Bill includes a wide range of amendments to the Act, along with related amendments to four other Acts.

“New Zealand has developed a highly effective biosecurity system which is recognised as world-leading, but the Act has not kept pace with the way the system has had to evolve,” Biosecurity Minister David Carter said in introducing the bill.

Delivered by Hon Nathan Guy on behalf of the Minister

Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister of Internal Affairs)256GUY, Hon NATHAN21:59:32 I move, That the Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Bill be now read a first time.

At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be referred to the Health Committee for consideration and report back by 8 April 2011.

Courts Minister Georgina te Heuheu today launched results from the most comprehensive survey ever undertaken of court users.

‘Understanding our Court Users: Court User Survey 2010’ is the result of more than two thousand face-to-face interviews with non-professional court users from the eight largest District and combined District/High courts around the country, as well as the Auckland High Court.

A bill tightening up tobacco controls has passed its first reading in Parliament today and will now go to select committee for public submissions.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says the introduction of the Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Bill is a further signal that this Government is serious about reducing the harm caused by smoking.

The Bill proposes banning tobacco retail displays and retailers from using tobacco trading names to advertise tobacco and stricter restrictions on selling tobacco to minors.

In May this year, the Government announced a significant funding boost for business research and development (R&D). $234m over four years was set aside in new money for several initiatives.

All this was done with a view to grow New Zealand’s economy through science and innovation.

It is very clear to us that New Zealand can only be a player on the world stage if we know how to outsmart the competition.

A bill to provide a framework for the government’s broadband policies and to reform the Telecommunications Service Obligations (TSO) framework received its First Reading in Parliament today.

“The First Reading of this bill is an important step towards the government’s goal of improving the availability, quality and price of telecommunications services in New Zealand,” says the Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Steven Joyce.

The government is in the midst of finalising details for its two fast broadband initiatives:

The Government is spending $92 million over three years on business R&D through the new Technology Development Grant programme.

Announcing grants to 26 companies nation-wide in Christchurch today, Research, Science and Technology Minister Wayne Mapp said that lifting high-tech export business is critical to New Zealand’s future.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson has today introduced a new Bill to Parliament that proposes changes to the Building Act 2004.

The Building Amendment Bill (No 3) is the result of a comprehensive review of the Building Act 2004.

“It forms part of a package of changes aimed at lifting the overall performance and productivity of the building and construction sector,” Mr Williamson says.

I acknowledge the significance of this location in the rohe of Ngati Ruanui; and recognise also the peoples of Tangahoe and Pakakohi.

Your honour the Mayor, Ross Dunlop, Trustees of Taranaki E-learning; Graduates, tutors and whanau.

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There is a by-line on the South Taranaki District Council website which brands South Taranaki as being ‘alive with opportunity’.

This week is an absolute demonstration of the veracity of this claim.

Associate Education Minister Dr Pita Sharples celebrated today’s launch of Ngā Whanaketanga Rumaki Māori as a significant step towards improving literacy and numeracy among students in Māori language immersion classes.

“Ngā Whanaketanga Rumaki Māori will help to raise achievement for Māori-medium students and to develop Māori-medium education,” says Dr Sharples.

Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson welcomed the passage of the Ngāti Apa (North Island) Claims Settlement Act by Parliament this afternoon.

The Act settles of all Ngāti Apa’s (North Island) historical Treaty of Waitangi claims.

The claims of Ngāti Apa (North Island) relate primarily to breaches by the Crown of its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi relating to the purchase in 1849 of the 260,000 acre Rangitikei-Turakina block.

Education Minister Anne Tolley and Associate Education Minister Dr Pita Sharples have announced the establishment of a new secondary school over two sites in Hamilton and Palmerston North.

Tai Wānanga, a Year 9 to 13 secondary school developed in conjunction with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, will deliver a tikanga-based education programme taught in English, but within a uniquely Māori environment.

Its curriculum will deliver employment-based qualifications as well as NCEA by aligning student learning to a pathway to employment or further study.

Justice Minister Simon Power leaves today for a meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General in Canberra.

The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) is comprised of the Attorneys-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, its states and territories, and New Zealand's Minister of Justice. Norfolk Island has observer status at SCAG meetings.

SCAG provides a forum for Ministers to discuss matters of mutual interest, progress projects to harmonise laws across jurisdictions, and simplify legal transactions across state and trans-Tasman boundaries.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley has today confirmed Cabinet’s acceptance of key recommendations made by the Housing Shareholders Advisory Group (HSAG). 

Providing good quality state housing to those most in need, for the duration of that need, is the main driver behind the changes, Mr Heatley says.

"Growing the pool of affordable housing is essential to moving lower need state house tenants along the housing continuum into private or community housing.