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Immigration Minister Nathan Guy has announced that tough new rules for all fishing vessel operators who employ foreign crew in New Zealand’s waters take effect from today.

“These new rules come from the Ministerial Inquiry into foreign chartered vessels (FCVs), which recommended that the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment should strengthen its monitoring and enforcement arrangements.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced three appointments to the Engineering Associates Registration Board.

Deborah Cranko, Ross McArthur and Glynn Cowley have been appointed for two year terms.

Ms Cranko is the director of Cranko Architects and specialises in commercial, educational residential projects.

Mr McArthur is a senior manager at Downer New Zealand, and is responsible for the development and maintenance of the company’s graduate, cadet and apprenticeship programmes.

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.

The Government is working hard across the board to promote and improve water safety, Associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges said today at the Folau Malu event at Auckland’s Mangere Bridge.

Folau Malu translates to “journey safely”, and is aimed at promoting safe boating to the Pacific community.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand will assist with the immediate response effort following Cyclone Evan in Samoa.

“At the request of the Samoan Government, New Zealand will provide a P3 Orion to undertake aerial surveillance and environmental health assessment expertise. We have also made available $50,000 to assist with the on-the-ground response,” Mr McCully says.

Specially trained pharmacists will soon be able to prescribe medication, making access to medication easier for some patients, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

In line with moves already successfully made in Britain, the United States and Canada, clinical pharmacists will be able to undergo special training and competency assessments to register in a new advanced scope of practice developed by the Pharmacy Council with the support of Health Workforce New Zealand.

New Zealand has rejected a push to bring the internet under stronger state control, Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams has announced.

New Zealand joined a number of other OECD states in declining to sign the revised International Telecommunications Regulations at the World Conference on International Telecommunications in Dubai.

The Regulations are a treaty-level text established through the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The Regulations set the rules for connecting telecommunications networks across the world.

Justice Minister Judith Collins today turned the first sod at the Manukau District Court construction site marking the start of the $40.6 million redevelopment project.

The redevelopment will include a new four story extension as well as extensive alterations and a complete refurbishment of the existing court building. When complete, the redevelopment will provide four new jury trial courtrooms with provision for further expansion.

Commerce Minister Craig Foss has welcomed the appointment of Tony Pigou to the Takeovers Panel.

Tony Pigou will succeed current member Colin Giffney on 7 January 2013.

“Mr Pigou will bring value and expertise to the position. As part of the Takeovers Panel he will play an important role in ensuring transparent and equitable takeover processes,” says Mr Foss.

Mr Pigou has been appointed for a five year term.

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.

Statistics Minister Maurice Williamson today announced one appointment and two reappointments to the Advisory Committee on Official Statistics (ACOS).

Professor Natalie Jackson, Director of the National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis, and Professor of Demography at Waikato University, will join the committee for an initial term of three years.

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.   

Tenders are now open for the Pacific Early Learning Mobile Outreach Service says Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata.

“The Ministries of Pacific Island Affairs and Education have worked together to establish a Pacific Mobile Early Childhood Education (ECE) service which will promote the value of ECE to Pacific parents in targeted areas and at community events,” says Ms Parata.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says general practices, supported by Primary Health Organisations (PHOs), are making good progress in the three national preventive health targets.

Over the past year general practices have:

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has today opened the South Island’s first Road of National Significance, the Christchurch Southern Motorway Stage 1.

The $140 million, eight kilometre four-lane motorway and 2.5 km upgrade of Halswell Junction Road, which runs between Collins Street and Halswell Junction Road and then along Halswell Junction Road, was completed within three years – ahead of schedule and on budget.

The Government will move to simplify the rules relating to financial arrangements that are agreements for the sale and purchase of property or services, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

Mr Dunne said the changes reflect concerns expressed by a number of business taxpayers and their representatives over the past few years.

“The proposed changes will have a beneficial impact on business taxpayers who sell or buy property or services. They will be particularly welcomed by businesses who export and import capital equipment,” he said.

Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson has congratulated the Ministry for Primary Industries for making us the first country to sign a Food Safety Systems Recognition Arrangement with the US Food and Drug Administration.

The signing took place at a meeting in Washington DC earlier this week. It means that New Zealand and the United States recognise each other’s food safety systems as providing a comparable degree of food safety assurance.

This is the first time the FDA has recognised another country’s food safety system as comparable to its own.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne said today signalled the launch of Rising to the Challenge, a new national five-year plan for mental health and addiction.

“There has been considerable change in mental health, and in the last 20 years mental health funding has risen more than four-fold to $1.2 billion in the 2010/11 year,” Mr Dunne said.

“And among this, services have grown significantly particularly in community care where three quarters of mental health funding is now invested.

Associate Tourism Minister Chris Tremain today launched a new data collection that provides a never-before-seen insight into New Zealand’s tourism industry.

The Regional Tourism Indicators, produced by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, is based on anonymous electronic card transactions made since 2008. International data is collected from electronic transactions at over 30,000 retailers across the country.  Domestic data is captured from transactions made using BNZ bank cards.

Justice Minister Judith Collins has today released the reports by Canadian former judge Justice Ian Binnie, QC into David Bain’s application for compensation for wrongful conviction and imprisonment, and the Hon Dr Robert Fisher’s peer review of that report.

“Hon Dr Robert Fisher, QC has confirmed the report by former judge Justice Ian Binnie, QC is flawed and would not withstand scrutiny.

“Mr Bain has asked the Government, on behalf of New Zealanders, to consider his claim for compensation.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley and Auckland Mayor Len Brown today announced the appointment of a seven-member Board with a strong mix of community, urban development and business skills to lead the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company.

The Tāmaki Redevelopment Company is New Zealand’s first urban redevelopment company and aims to transform Tāmaki (including Glen Innes, Point England and Panmure) in Auckland over the next 20-25 years through co-ordinated economic, social, and housing initiatives.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss has today announced the appointment of Kim Wicksteed as a member of the Broadcasting Commission (NZ On Air).

Mr Wicksteed is currently the principal of Advice Ltd, a business and marketing consultancy. He was previously the chief executive of Saatchi and Saatchi New Zealand.

Kim Wicksteed’s current directorships include Learning Media, Equinox IT and Frizzell Wines. He is an accredited member of the Institute of Directors.

Associate Minister of Conservation Peter Dunne has welcomed the report of the Local Government and Environment Select Committee on the Game Animal Council Bill sent back to the House today.

“I thank the select committee and particularly the Chair, Nicky Wagner, for their work on this Bill and I look forward to successfully shepherding it through its remaining stages during the first half of next year,” Mr Dunne said.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says the Sinclair Knight Merz report “City Centre Future Access Study” released this afternoon by Auckland Mayor Len Brown is a useful addition to the debate on long term transport management in central Auckland.

“It also falls some way short of convincing the Government it should provide financial support to any fast tracking of the proposed City Rail Link (CRL),” Mr Brownlee says.