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The latest Student Loan Scheme annual report shows an 11 per cent increase in repayments and a decrease in the overall cost of the scheme, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

These are some of the key findings of the report, which was tabled in Parliament today by the Minister.

“The Government remains committed to interest-free student loans, but it is important the scheme is affordable for students and taxpayers, and sustainable for the country,” Mr Joyce says.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

Tena koutou, tena koutou katoa,

It is a pleasure to be here today to officiate at the opening of this hugely important workshop. I would like to congratulate the Department of Conservation for initiating what I hope will be two days of fruitful discussions and to also thank those agencies that have provided support to allow this event to occur.

  • Kate Wilkinson
  • Conservation

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends in conservation:

Welcome to the 2012 Encore Awards ceremony. I’m delighted to join Greater Wellington Regional Council, the Department of Conservation's Wellington Hawke's Bay Conservancy and the Wellington Hawke's Bay Conservation Board in recognizing those who have made a difference in our local community.

  • Kate Wilkinson
  • Conservation

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson today launched a two-day summit to look for new ways we can try and eradicate stoats, possums and rats - our three biggest pests.

Towards 2050 – A Pest Summit for New Zealand started today in Wellington.

“This workshop is looking for a radical rethink of how we view the pest problem in order to find the best long term solution for New Zealand’s prosperous future, not just short term gains,” Ms Wilkinson says.

  • Kate Wilkinson
  • Conservation

I am well used to attending formal signings – but the majority of these are between two parties; the Crown and iwi.

This event today, is remarkable for the scale of collaboration it represents, and I want to formally acknowledge all those parties who have put their hand up, to take ownership and drive leadership of the Taranaki Disability Strategy.

I therefore commend the initiative of the mayors of the

• South Taranaki District Council;
• Stratford District Council;
• New Plymouth District Council;

  • Tariana Turia
  • Disability Issues

Primary Industries Minister David Carter has welcomed the announcement of another successful Primary Growth Partnership bid which lifts the total invested to more than $650 million.

The Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) is to fund half of an $87 million innovation programme proposed by leading meat exporter ANZCO.

  • David Carter
  • Primary Industries

The Christchurch Public Defence Service (PDS) office will be part of a high quality legal aid system, says Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows.

At the office’s official opening today, Mr Borrows said the PDS delivers quality defence services to some of the most vulnerable New Zealanders.

“The PDS is an important component of the high quality legal aid system in this country, is well-regarded by judges, prosecutors and court staff, and delivers value for money.”

  • Chester Borrows
  • Justice

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has ruled out the controversial LD50 animal test as part of the pending psychoactive substances testing regime, and said no decisions have been made on whether animal testing will be needed at all.

“And no decisions will be made without consultation with other ministries and appropriate ethics committee consideration,” Mr Dunne said.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Health

I want to firstly acknowledge our impressive MCs - Ruth Jones, Kanohi ki te Kanohi Consultancy and Duncan Armstrong, from People First. There are also some key movers and shakers who should be recognised upfront on this important day:

• Paul Gibson, our Disability Rights Commissioner
• Dame Beverley Wakem, Ombudsman
• and Rachel Noble, Chair, Convention Coalition of Disabled People’s Organisations.

  • Tariana Turia
  • Disability Issues

Commerce Minister Craig Foss has welcomed new regulations to help rein in unsolicited share offers and protect shareholders.

"Unsolicited or ‘low ball’ offers are a predatory tactic that damages the health and confidence of our capital markets," says Mr Foss.

Lowball offers are unsolicited approaches to shareholders offering to buy their shares or other securities. Offer letters put pressure on people to sell their shares quickly, often with little information and using unconventional business practices.

  • Craig Foss
  • Commerce

The Government has today received the Commerce Commission's draft determination on pricing for the unbundled bitstream access (UBA) and a final determination on the unbundled copper local loop (UCLL), and will now take time to review these decisions.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams says the decisions on both prices, taken together, are potentially significant for the industry and end users.

“I have asked my officials to review the effects of the pricing and report back to me," Ms Adams says.

  • Amy Adams
  • Communications and Information Technology

Ko Hikurangi te maunga, ko Waiapu te awa, ko Whangaokena te motu, ko Hinepare te marae. Te Whānau a Hunaara, Ngāti Porou whānui, e tangi! E tangi ki tō koutou koroua kua mate, ki tō koutou reo kōrero kua wahangū!

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today expressed serious concerns about North Korea’s plans to launch a satellite this month using a long-range ballistic missile.

“This latest announcement from North Korea is extremely disappointing and potentially destabilising. New Zealand considers the use of ballistic missile technology to conduct the proposed launch to be inconsistent with UN Security Council resolutions," Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins has today spoken to women at The Ethnic Women's Leadership Programme in Auckland about the importance of making the most of every opportunity offered to them in New Zealand.

"Our country has an excellent reputation when it comes to women being treated as equals," Ms Collins said.

  • Judith Collins
  • Ethnic Affairs

Justice Minister Judith Collins leaves tomorrow for a week-long trip to Hong Kong and Brussels.

In Hong Kong, Minister Collins will meet her public sector counterparts at the Government Office, including the Secretary for Justice and the Chief Justice of the Final Court of Appeal.

“I look forward to discussing some of the justice issues we are currently facing with my colleagues, such as extradition, financial crime, privacy law reform and how we can mutually assist each other to address these,” Ms Collins says.

  • Judith Collins
  • Justice

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser departs tomorrow for the 18th ministerial climate change conference to be held in Doha, Qatar under the UN Convention on Climate Change. 

“Last year’s conference in Durban made some significant advancements, including the decision to negotiate a new global agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol by 2020,” Mr Groser says.

  • Tim Groser
  • Climate Change Issues

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the first commercial property purchases for Christchurch’s CBD Blueprint Plan represent an important milestone in the city’s recovery.

“I’m pleased with progress made by the Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU) in negotiating with landowners to create a willing-buyer willing-seller scenario,” Mr Brownlee says.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here today.

I would like to thank the team at Malyon House in particular David and Cecily Munro for inviting me here to officially open the recently rebuilt Malyon House facility.

It is an exciting time for everyone, not only has the facility undergone a major upgrade it has also been extended to provide additional beds and now offers both rest home and hospital level care.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson congratulated nine students who graduated from the Tauira Kaitiaki Taiao-Māori Cadetship Programme today.

Ms Wilkinson, the Māori King, Kīngi Tūheitia and Paramount Chief of Ngati Tūwharetoa Sir Tumu Te Heuheu attended the students’ graduation at Waikato Tainui College for Research and Development in Ngaruawahia.

Each graduate received the National Certificate in Conservation, the Trainee Ranger Certificate from Nelson/Marlborough Institute of Technology and a Certificate in Tikanga Maori from Te Wananga o Aotearoa.

  • Kate Wilkinson
  • Conservation

Tena koutou
Tena koutou
Tena tatou katoa

Thank you for the opportunity to join you all here today to recognise the successful completion of the second Tauira Kaitiaki Taiao cadetship programme and celebrate the graduation of the nine participating cadets.

  • Kate Wilkinson
  • Conservation

Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins has welcomed the signing of an MOU between the Office of Ethnic Affairs and the New Zealand Institute of Management (NZIM) to improve the management of our ethnically diverse workplaces.

Ms Collins says the agreement will help New Zealand businesses to manage and promote ethnic diversity in the workplace more effectively.

“New Zealand’s diversity is a very positive force. It has helped us create connections that span the globe, broadened our horizons and enhanced our entrepreneurial spirit,” Ms Collins says.

  • Judith Collins
  • Ethnic Affairs

Labour Revenue spokesman David Clark is making a habit of going off half-cocked, with the latest example of his comments on the tender process for updating Inland Revenue’s computer system, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said today.

“Yet again it is a case of ‘Ready! Fire! Aim!’ from Dr Clark,” Mr Dunne said.

“He needs to gather his facts and then see if they align to his very obvious political intentions before shooting from the lip.”

  • Peter Dunne
  • Revenue

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has confirmed that New Zealand will vote in favour of the resolution on the status of Palestine, due to go before the United Nations General Assembly this morning. But the Minister says a UN resolution is “a poor substitute for direct negotiations between the two parties”.

Mr McCully says the primary reason for voting in favour of the resolution is that it reflects the long-standing policy of the New Zealand Government.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Trade Minister Tim Groser welcomes the arrival of over 500 negotiators from 11 countries to Round 15 of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, which runs from 3-12 December in Auckland.

“TPP participants already take around 38 percent of our exports and include our largest services and international procurement markets.

“A comprehensive 21st century agreement would provide many more opportunities to New Zealand businesses to grow their trade and investment footprint in the region,” says Mr Groser.

  • Tim Groser
  • Trade