Displaying 25 - 48 of 2236 results.

Associate Social Development Minister Tariana Turia today announced that 63 community projects aimed at preventing bullying will receive grants under the first round of the Te Punanga Haumaru fund.

A panel of young people met over two days to consider the 185 applications received. All panel members had previously taken part in Ministry of Youth Development training on providing input into government decisions that affect them.

  • Tariana Turia
  • Social Development

Health Minister Tony Ryall has today announced the Government is moving to fast track plans to rebuild Grey Base Hospital in Greymouth.

Mr Ryall says a special Hospital Redevelopment Partnership Group will be established to finalise and fast track the redevelopment plans by the end of April next year.

The Group brings the DHB, Ministry of Health and Treasury together in a collaborative approach that will save time and money. The standard large-scale building approval process can sometimes take years.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley has announced three appointments to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

Tom Campbell has been appointed Chair of the Authority. Mr Campbell has had a long-standing interest in improving energy efficiency from roles at Rio Tinto, including as Managing Director (NZ and UK) of Comalco and General Manager of the Tiwai Smelter.

He is Chair of Crown research institute GNS Science and a director of Todd Corporation, PowerNet, Electricity Invercargill and the New Zealand Standards Council.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Energy and Resources

Associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges is urging road users to do their bit to be safe on the roads these holidays.

“The 2012 road toll is already higher than the 2011 toll and we still have the busiest holiday period of the year to come. The seven tragic deaths in the central north island yesterday remind us why extra vigilance is needed in the Christmas season.

“It can be tempting to rush to see loved ones or to get on holiday sooner but the consequences can be irreversibly devastating.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced the nomination of Dr the Rt Hon Lockwood Smith as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Mr McCully describes New Zealand’s relationship with the UK as “one of our most important”.

“While we have strong historical connections, the relationship with the UK today remains one of our closest. It is appropriate that the appointment of our High Commissioner should reflect this.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed the nomination of Dr the Rt Hon Lockwood Smith as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

“Lockwood Smith has had a distinguished political career and his nomination is a mark of the high esteem in which he is held.

“Since 2008 he has held the role of Speaker of the House of Representatives, and was unanimously re-elected in 2011.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

The Government is actively pursuing a wide range of initiatives that provide the certainty and support the Small Business Advisory Group is calling for, Minister for Small Business John Banks said today.

Mr Banks has released the Government’s response to the Small Business Advisory Group’s 2012 report, addressing the eight recommendations the Group believed would make a difference to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

  • John Banks
  • Small Business

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced three new appointments to the councils of Massey University, the University of Waikato and the Nelson and Marlborough Institute of Technology.

Michael Ahie is appointed to the Massey University Council, Ian Fitzgerald is appointed to the University of Waikato Council and Gabrielle Hervey will join the council of the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

ACC Minister Judith Collins today announced changes to the ACC Board with the appointment of a new member, James Miller, and the resignation of a current member, Jane Huria.

“I am extremely pleased to announce the appointment of James Miller.

“Mr Miller’s background is in finance and investment and he has extensive experience as a board director in both the private and public sectors, including the Financial Markets Authority.

  • Judith Collins
  • ACC

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce has today announced the appointment of three new Crown company directors.

Lizzie Chambers and Dr Barry O’Neil will join the Board of the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd (trading as Scion) and Phil Norman will Join the Board of the Research and Education Advanced Network NZ Ltd (REANNZ).

“The new directors bring a valuable range of scientific knowledge, commercial skills and governance experience to their roles on the Scion and REANNZ boards” Mr Joyce says. 

  • Steven Joyce
  • Science and Innovation

  • Bill English
  • Finance

The Government’s economic plan to deliver a faster-growing economy, more jobs and a return to surplus remains on track, despite ongoing uncertainty in many parts of the world, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Issuing the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update today, along with the Government’s Budget Policy Statement, he says Budget 2013 will focus on continuing to implement this plan.

  • Bill English
  • Finance

Sport and Recreation Minister Murray McCully says a Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2011 report released today shows New Zealand’s hosting of the tournament eclipsed expectations on and off the field.

“New Zealand lived up to its promise of being a stadium of four million people during RWC 2011,” Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Sport and Recreation

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced further assistance to Samoa in the aftermath of Cyclone Evan.

“New Zealand will be making an additional $550,000 immediately available to support relief and early recovery efforts in Samoa, taking our support so far to $600,000,” Mr McCully says.

Funding will be available to respond to official requests, to New Zealand non-government organisations and their partners on the ground, and the Samoa Red Cross.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand will assist with immediate relief efforts in Fiji following Cyclone Evan.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Fiji as they respond to Tropical Cyclone Evan,” Mr McCully says.

“As a first step, New Zealand will make $50,000 immediately available to respond to specific requests from Fiji. Tarpaulins, water containers, generators and chainsaw packs are also on the way to Fiji on commercial flights.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

The Government will increase petrol excise duty by three cents a litre on 1 July 2013, 1 July 2014 and 1 July 2015, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

Road user charges will also be increased by an equivalent amount.

Mr Brownlee says the increases are required to deliver the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme and other roading projects to the timeline set out in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding 2012.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

Customs Minister Maurice Williamson announced today that New Zealand Customs has opened a dedicated lane for United States Global Entry programme members at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports.

The lane will streamline and speed up the arrival process for Global Entry members entering New Zealand on a United States passport.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Customs

Garry Denley of Auckland and John Gaukrodger of Hamilton have been reappointed and Nola Dangen of Auckland has been appointed as members of the Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal, Justice Minister Judith Collins announced today.

The Tribunal was established under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 and hears charges, applications and appeals relating to the conduct of real estate agents.

  • Judith Collins
  • Justice

A three month extension to the final settlement date for a small group of residential red zone property owners will ease a number of pressures they are facing, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

The extension will apply to those property owners who under initial rules would have needed to settle with the Crown and vacate the red zone by 30 April 2013.

They will now be able to nominate a new settlement date up until 31 July 2013.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says from today New Zealanders who need officially-verified documents for use in most countries can get them issued electronically.

  • Chris Tremain
  • Internal Affairs

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew announced today that streamlined auditing of rest homes, saving up to six hours for each audit, will be introduced from 1 January 2013.

This follows a successful trial of the new process in 23 rest homes this year.

“We continue to look at ways of reducing the regulatory burden for providers while maintaining the integrity of the audit process,” said Mrs Goodhew.

  • Jo Goodhew
  • Health

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser today announced that the Government is banning some international emissions units from New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) due to concerns over their environmental integrity.

“We are banning international units generated from industrial gas destruction projects and large hydropower projects that do not meet World Commission on Dams guidelines. This change is about ensuring the environmental integrity of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme is maintained,” Mr Groser says.

  • Tim Groser
  • Climate Change Issues

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced that degree-awarding institutions will now be able to provide 180 credit Master’s degrees.

“The introduction of the new Master’s Degree will allow students to complete the necessary credits typically between 12 to 18 months instead of in two years,” Mr Joyce says.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

The Government will increase the visibility and accessibility of its Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update tomorrow through its smartphone and tablet App, Finance Minister Bill English says.

This follows the App’s successful launch in May for Budget 2012, which generated more than 10,000 downloads.

“The App is a new and flexible way of contributing to the Government’s goal of interacting with more New Zealanders online, as part of its Better Public Services programme,” Mr English says.

  • Bill English
  • Finance