Displaying 121 - 144 of 2236 results.

Concerns with former Canadian judge, Justice Ian Binnie’s report into David Bain’s claim for compensation for wrongful conviction and imprisonment show peer review is needed, Justice Minister Judith Collins says.

“After reviewing the report prepared by Justice Binnie in September, I was concerned with some aspects of it. With the consent of the Attorney-General, I received advice from the Solicitor-General on the report. Following this advice, I decided the report should be peer reviewed. I commissioned Hon Robert Fisher, QC to do this.

  • Judith Collins
  • Justice

Building Natural Resources highlights how recommendations from the Green Growth Advisory Group are being integrated into the Government’s wider growth agenda, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Environment Minister Amy Adams say.

“The challenge for New Zealand – and frankly all countries – is how we can make the most of all our opportunities to achieve strong economic growth that delivers jobs alongside policies that improve the environment,” Mr Joyce says.

  • Amy Adams
  • Steven Joyce
  • Environment
  • Economic Development

Environment Minister Amy Adams will today kick-off the next stage of the Government’s plan to reform the Resource Management Act.

This afternoon, the Resource Management Amendment Bill 2012 will have its first reading in Parliament.

The Bill introduces a streamlined process for Auckland’s first unitary plan, a six-month time limit for processing consents for medium-sized projects and easier direct referral to the Environment Court for major regional projects.

  • Amy Adams
  • Environment

Primary Industries Minister David Carter says the go-ahead for the Wairarapa Water Use Project has the potential to irrigate an additional 30,000 to 50,000 hectares of land and boost the area’s GDP by $400 million.

  • David Carter
  • Primary Industries

The latest Business Growth Agenda progress report, Building Natural Resources, sets out how New Zealand can build growth and jobs from sustainably using its natural resources, Finance Minister Bill English and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce say.

Building Natural Resources sets out the 49 initiatives the Government is taking to improve the way we use and manage our resources. It encourages businesses to find ways to become more innovative to get the best results for the economy and the environment.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Bill English
  • Economic Development
  • Finance

The Government has received the Children’s Commissioner’s Expert Advisory Group’s report “Solutions to Child Poverty”, and will consider its 78 recommendations, Finance Minister Bill English and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett say.

“The Government acknowledges that many families are finding times challenging, and I thank the group for its report, which feeds into a great deal of work that is already underway,” Mr English says.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Bill English
  • Social Development
  • Finance

An agreement, which will increase education cooperation between New Zealand and China, has been signed in Wellington today.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says the agreement will enhance business opportunities for New Zealand’s university, polytechnic and skills sectors.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

A New Zealand-China joint declaration, which will boost science and technology links and co-operation between the two countries, has been signed in Wellington today.

The joint declaration, focussing on enhancing and supporting science and technology research co-operation, was signed by Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Chinese Deputy-Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang.

The signing was witnessed by visiting State Councillor Liu Yandong.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Science and Innovation

The Minister of Civil Defence, Chris Tremain, has tonight presented the inaugural Ministerial Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Gold and Silver Awards.

“New Zealand is recognised internationally as having one of the best emergency management systems in the world.  We are often the benchmark for other nations.  As a result of this it is important that we recognise individuals and organisations who achieve this on a daily basis,” says Mr Tremain.

  • Chris Tremain
  • Civil Defence

The Government will carefully consider the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission’s full report and its recommendations, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson and Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson say.

The third and final part of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission’s report (Volumes 5-7) into the causes of building failures during the earthquake was publicly released by the Government today.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Building and Construction
  • Attorney-General
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Prime Minister John Key has welcomed the public release today of the third and final part of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission’s report into the causes of building failures during the earthquake.

“There were 185 people who lost their lives in the Christchurch earthquake on 22 February 2011. Of those, 175 deaths were due to failures of buildings or parts of buildings,” Mr Key says.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today announced the launch of a new contestable fund to improve youth mental health information for parents, families and friends.

“We need better information for those closest to young people, who’re often the first to notice signs of mental health problems but don’t always know when to be concerned and what to do,” says Mrs Bennett.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Youth Affairs
  • Social Development

Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser and Associate Minister Simon Bridges have been leading the New Zealand delegation at the annual Climate Change Ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar.

“This Conference has been challenging and went a day over time, but we are now well placed to confront the real issue: the negotiation of a long-term comprehensive Climate Change Agreement,” says Mr Groser in Qatar.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Tim Groser
  • Climate Change Issues

Education Minister Hekia Parata has thanked all the school communities in greater Christchurch who have provided submissions on the Government’s Education Renewal Plans.

The Ministry of Education has received submissions from all 31 schools proposed for merger and closure, plus two from Aranui cluster schools, who had been given until 7 March to return their submissions

“I would like to thank all the school communities for participating in the consultation process over the last two and a half months and preparing their submissions.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

“It’s unacceptable to see that despite the work and investment being undertaken in health to reduce disparities between Maori and non-Maori, our Maori tamariki are still dying and suffering from diseases at a higher rate than others in this country.”

Associate Minister of Health Tariana Turia commented today on the release of the second of three reports in the Ministry of Health’s Te Ohonga Ake series on Maori child health. This second report focuses on the health status of Maori children and young people. 

  • Tariana Turia
  • Health

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will tomorrow travel to the Pacific for meetings in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu.

"The Marshall Islands will host the Pacific Islands Forum in 2013 and we are keen to support them given our recent experience hosting and chairing the Forum,” Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Minister for Social Development Paula Bennett today met with Auckland Sexual Abuse Helpline (ASAH) and agreed to an interim funding arrangement with contributions from Health, Social Development and Police.

“I met with ASAH today, I’ve heard their concerns and the Government is prepared to step in to keep the service running without interruption,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

They have also committed to a sustainable three year contract with negotiations to be finalised in April 2013.

  • Anne Tolley
  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Development
  • Police

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand will provide $500,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross Appeal to help those most in need following Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines.

"More than 400 lives have been confirmed lost during this disaster and a further 383 are missing.  Around 230,000 people are thought to have been affected, with homes, roads, bridges, power and communications infrastructure either damaged or destroyed," Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Primary Industries Minister David Carter is welcoming a boost to New Zealand’s biosecurity frontline with the graduation today of 46 new recruits.

With training completed of the largest intake of border staff in over a decade, the Ministry for Primary Industries is issuing warrants to 43 new quarantine inspectors and three new detector dog handlers at a ceremony in Auckland.

  • David Carter
  • Primary Industries

Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson has welcomed new trans-Tasman rules for health and nutrition claims on food labels.

At a meeting in Brisbane today, Ministers from Australia and New Zealand agreed to the new rules which permit a range of claims that link properties of foods to health effects. Only claims that are backed up by evidence, whether self-substantiated or pre-approved, will be permitted.

  • Kate Wilkinson
  • Food Safety

The Crown signed a deed of settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Ngati Toa Rangatira at Parliament Buildings in Wellington today, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

There’s been a big increase in the number of children under six getting free doctors’ visits – the numbers are up 25 per cent on four years ago.

Health Minister Tony Ryall visited the Hillcrest Medical Centre in Hamilton today – one of the 965 general practices in the country providing free doctors’ visits to children under six during the daytime.

“We are committed to ensuring more young children get to see the doctor when they need to, and removing cost as a reason not to,” says Mr Ryall.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

State Councillor Liu Yandong will visit New Zealand next week as a guest of the New Zealand Government – the first visit by a senior Communist Party figure since China’s November leadership transition.

State Councillor Liu is a senior leader in China’s 2012-2017 hierarchy. Her portfolios include education, science, screen and television, and culture.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce says he will sign a joint declaration with State Councillor Liu on science and technology in Wellington on 10 December.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Science and Innovation