Displaying 169 - 192 of 2733 results.

Cabinet has accepted a proposal that will see the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) and Tairawhiti Polytechnic merge as of 1 January 2011.

Tertiary Education Steven Joyce says the new institution – which will be one of New Zealand’s largest - is an exciting opportunity for the Hawkes’ Bay and Gisborne.

“The merger will create one institution with a strong base to support and expand vocational education and skills development across the East Coast.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education

Good morning. Thank you Jim (Cotman) for the introduction.

Here in the Waikato, I certainly don’t need to tell this audience how vitally important the dairy industry is to the New Zealand economy.

As I’ve said previously, South Africa has diamonds, Australia has minerals, Saudi Arabia has oil – and in New Zealand we have farming based on pasture.

Dairy holds the lion’s share of our primary production system.

  • David Carter
  • Agriculture

Civil Defence Minister John Carter will present the Ministerial Awards for Civil Defence Emergency Management in Hastings tonight.

The awards were introduced by Mr Carter in October 2009 to recognise career and volunteer personnel with the New Zealand Civil Defence sector.

“Emergencies will happen to communities – we don’t know when or where, but we know that they will strike. Civil Defence volunteers play an integral and extremely important part in responding to events” says Mr Carter.

  • John Carter
  • Civil Defence

Agriculture Minister David Carter has announced that the use of sow stalls on New Zealand pig farms is to be limited to four weeks after mating in 2012, and prohibited by the end of 2015.

Mr Carter has today released the Animal Welfare (Pigs) Code of Welfare 2010 which will come into effect on Friday.

“The growing unease of many New Zealanders about the use of sow stalls, which I share, made it clear that change was necessary. The science also supports this,” says Mr Carter.

  • David Carter
  • Agriculture

Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia has welcomed a photographic exhibition in Parliament showing the experiences of disabled people and their families in other countries.

The Access for All exhibition will be on display in Parliament’s foyer until Monday December 13 and has been organised by CBM, an international disability and development organisation working to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

  • Tariana Turia
  • Disability Issues

Commerce Minister Simon Power has released a discussion document aimed at making investing in KiwiSaver easier to understand for everyday investors.

The discussion paper outlines proposals that require retail KiwiSaver providers to report quarterly on key investment information, including:

  • Simon Power
  • Commerce

Prime Minister John Key has asked that all of New Zealand observes two minutes’ silence at 2pm tomorrow as the Pike River Official Remembrance Service begins.

The service, to remember the 29 men who lost their lives in the Pike River Mine, will be held at the Omoto Racecourse in Greymouth.

Mr Key says, “I hope all of New Zealand will join with those of us at the service and observe two minutes’ silence at 2pm. This tragedy has affected all of us and tomorrow is an opportunity to join together in grief.”

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

New Zealand and Hong Kong have concluded a double tax agreement, Finance Minister Bill English and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

Mr English and Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary John Tsang signed the agreement in Auckland.

"This agreement is an important step forward in strengthening our economic relationship with Hong Kong,” Mr English said.

  • Bill English
  • Peter Dunne
  • Finance
  • Revenue

Earthquake recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed today's release of the Earthquake Commission's Stage 2 geotechnical report into land damage caused by the Canterbury earthquake.

"This report gives Canterbury homeowners more information and certainty around the repair process," Mr Brownlee says.

"For the majority of property owners, the recovery process is relatively straightforward and the repair process can start now."

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Economic Development
  • Earthquake Recovery

Good afternoon everyone – it’s great to be here today.

Today I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Meghan Coppage and the students of Room 21 at Kelston Primary School.

One of the first things I learnt since becoming Associate Minister of Education is that being Deaf is a difference, not a disability.

You are proud of your unique language and values.  You are proud to be part of a passionate and energetic Deaf community.  Most importantly you are proud of who you are. 

  • Rodney Hide
  • Education

Minister for International Climate Change Negotiations, Tim Groser, will travel to Cancun, Mexico, from December 1-14 to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s annual conference. This will be the first full meeting at Ministerial level since the Copenhagen Climate Change meeting in December last year.

At Cancun, Mr Groser will play a key role in the negotiations as a facilitator on the issues of mitigation and measurement, reporting and verification.

  • Tim Groser
  • International Climate Change Negotiations

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia is urging New Zealanders to treat people living with HIV and AIDS with dignity and respect.

Today is World AIDS Day and the theme is Universal Access and Human Rights.

“HIV and AIDS can affect anyone at anytime and it is important to remember that this disease knows no social, ethnic or economic barriers,” says Mrs Turia.

“By promoting individual human rights new infections can be prevented and people with HIV and AIDS can live free of discrimination.”

  • Tariana Turia
  • Health

Thank you very much for inviting me to be here with you today.

I am especially delighted to be part of tonight’s proceedings honouring leadership in an organisation whose objectives align so closely with my own and those of the Government.

Tonight, we pay tribute to a small group of your members who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, but I want to talk about the leadership that NZICA itself demonstrates in the accounting community in New Zealand and even beyond our borders.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Revenue

Trade Minister Tim Groser today announced that the New Zealand – Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEP) would enter into force on 1 January 2011.

“I am pleased to confirm that Hong Kong and New Zealand have both completed the necessary legislative measures, and the CEP will enter into force from January next year,” said Mr Groser.

The announcement follows today’s meeting between Mr Groser and Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang in Auckland.

  • Tim Groser
  • Trade

(delivered on behalf of Minister Turia by Hannah O'Donnell)

I want to thank Sid Ashton, the Chair of the Board of the Commission and Trevor Garrett, the Chief Executive Officer, for organising today’s forum.

I am genuinely pleased to be invited to speak to your Annual General Meeting for 2010.

  • Tariana Turia
  • Community and Voluntary Sector

Good afternoon.

I’d like to acknowledge the members of the judiciary and the legal profession for being here today for the official opening of the Papakura - Pukekohe Public Defence Service.

The opening of this branch is significant because it marks the completion of the PDS rollout to the Auckland region.

It’s a journey which began back in 2004 when the idea of using an in-house, high-quality legal aid service, through the use of salaried staff rather than contracted lawyers, was trialled in the Auckland and Manukau courts.

  • Simon Power
  • Justice

Justice Minister Simon Power today officially opened the Papakura-Pukekohe Public Defence Service. 

The PDS provides an in-house legal aid service, through the use of salaried staff rather than contracted lawyers.

“The opening of this PDS branch is significant because it marks the completion of the PDS rollout to the Auckland region,” Mr Power said.

  • Simon Power
  • Justice

It’s great to be here with you this afternoon.

As well as being Minister for Tertiary Education, I’m also Minister of Transport so it’s like the stars have aligned for me today.

We’re here to discuss two things that I am particularly passionate about – adult literacy and improving Auckland’s transport network, specifically through the construction of the Victoria Park Tunnel.

On the face of it they might seem unrelated.

They’re not. 

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you, Chris (Laidlaw) for your introduction.. I am pleased to have the opportunity to help set the scene at this water symposium.

I would like to acknowledge our hosts, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. Can I also acknowledge my ministerial colleague, Hon. Nick Smith and my parliamentary colleagues, Chris Tremain and Craig Foss.

Everyone here today has a clear goal of working together on future planning for freshwater.

  • David Carter
  • Agriculture

New data suggests New Zealand could be getting better economic value out of its freshwater, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

Dr Smith today released the findings of a Ministry for the Environment report on freshwater allocation consents at the Hawke’s Bay Water Symposium. The Water Allocation Data 2009-10 report finds most regions use less than 50% of the water allowed to be taken under resource consent. Southland (74%) and Canterbury (57%) have the highest percentages of actual use.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

Nine of New Zealand’s brightest executives and managers have been awarded a Prime Minister’s Business Scholarship to study at a leading international institution, Prime Minister John Key announced today.

Mr Key says the recipients will bring back invaluable skills and experience to New Zealand.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

The Minister for Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, has today confirmed the initial operating rules for the recently established New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF), which he says will provide more meaningful information for students and employers.

Mr Joyce says the changes announced today follow a review which found that the New Zealand qualifications system at certificate and diploma level had become complex and difficult to understand for both learners and employers.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education

I was rapt to receive the invitation from Don Riesterer, on behalf of Te Ao Hou Trust, to join you at this very launch of the Toi Ora Whanau Ora Centre.

It seems so appropriate that we are celebrating Whanau Ora in the context of Te Ao Hou.

We are indeed welcoming the new world - and yet a world that sources its origins, vision and values from a tribal foundation stretching from the beginning of time to eternity.

  • Tariana Turia
  • Health

A national campaign to promote the switch to digital television was launched today by Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman.

The Going Digital campaign provides a website, www.goingdigital.co.nz and a free-phone helpline, 0800 838 800, so people can get the information and advice they need about switching to digital TV.

The Government announced in September that New Zealand will make the switch, region by region, to digital television by November 2013, beginning with Hawke’s Bay and the West Coast in September 2012.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Broadcasting