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The scope of redevelopments already planned for two Auckland schools has been expanded prior to work starting, to accommodate further roll growth, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“An extra $6.8 million will be invested in the Waterview Primary School redevelopment, taking the total value of this project to $17 million, and an extra $5 million will be invested in the Freemans Bay School redevelopment, taking the total value of this project to $18 million,” says Ms Kaye.

New Zealand has reinforced its commitment to combating corruption by ratifying the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

The Convention is a legally binding global agreement to address corruption in the private and public spheres.

“While New Zealand already has a strong reputation for having low levels of corruption, we cannot be complacent. We have broadly complied with the Convention for a number of years, but we needed to make a limited number of law changes before we could ratify it,” says Ms Adams.

We have today welcomed the intensification of relations between Germany and New Zealand in the year since the Federal Chancellor’s visit to New Zealand in November 2014, reaffirming that our partnership is defined by shared values, vibrant political, economic, scientific and cultural engagement, strong people to people links and close cooperation on a range of international issues. 

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says an evaluation of the cancer nurse coordinator initiative shows overwhelmingly positive feedback from patients and their families.

The independent evaluation by research consultancy Litmus comes two years into the $4 million a year initiative to fund cancer nurse coordinators across the 20 DHBs.

“Cancer nurse coordinators fill a very important role - acting as a single point of contact for patients and families,” says Dr Coleman.

A pioneering Kiwi-German artificial limb project has been recognised by Europe’s largest applied research institution, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce says.

The Bionic Joint project, developed by the University of Auckland’s Bio-engineering Institute and the Fraunhofer IPA, has been awarded ICON status by Germany’s Fraunhofer Society, which will provide additional support and funding.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister John Key in Berlin today.

Prime Minister John Key and Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel had a productive meeting in Berlin today.

“The relationship between our two countries has grown significantly over the last 12 months,” says Mr Key.

“It was great to meet with Federal Chancellor Merkel today following her successful visit to New Zealand late last year, and continue our discussions on a wide range of political, economic, social and security issues.

New Zealand’s screen and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industries stand to benefit from technology developed by VorTech, the winner of Callaghan Innovation’s inaugural C-PRIZE competition, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce said today.

Launched in April, the first C-PRIZE competition aimed to boost New Zealand’s position as world-leader in the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology and help keep the country's innovative screen industry at the cutting-edge.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has introduced a bill to update and futureproof the New Zealand Horticulture Export Authority Act 1987.

“The proposed changes in the bill will update the export framework and enable New Zealand industries to be global leaders in horticultural exports,” says Mr Guy.

“The changes will enable growers and exporters of horticultural products like avocados, summerfruit and buttercup squash to better target their marketing strategies to meet the specific needs of different markets.

Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission (EQC) Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the Auditor General’s report released today highlighting the progress being made with the Canterbury Home Repair Programme (CHRP), and the continued benefits it is delivering.

Today’s report is a follow-up to a 2013 report by Auditor General Lyn Provost that recommended that EQC make improvements in five areas of the Canterbury Home Repair Programme.

New Zealand will ratify the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser announced today.

“We see ratification of the amendment as critical for maintaining momentum in global climate change negotiations,” says Mr Groser.

The Doha Amendment created a second commitment period from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2020. It needs to be ratified by three-quarters of Kyoto Protocol parties to enter into force.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has announced that Dr Margaret Wilsher has been appointed to the Southern Partnership Group.

The Southern Partnership Group was set up in September to oversee the redevelopment of Dunedin Hospital. Dr Wilsher joins Chair Andrew Blair, Andrew Connolly, Dr Tony Lanigan and Richard Thomson.

“Dr Wilsher brings significant clinical expertise to the Southern Partnership Group,” says Dr Coleman.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today announced changes to student loan borrowing for long undergraduate programmes in medicine, optometry, dentistry and veterinary science.

From next year all eligible graduate-entry students in these long undergraduate programmes will be able to apply for an extra 1 EFTS of student loan support on top of the 7 EFTS they can already access. This extra 1 EFTS was previously only available to help graduate students complete post-graduate qualifications.

Today marks the start of a new phase in Christchurch’s earthquake recovery, with responsibility for around 8,000 residential red zone properties transferring from the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) to Land Information New Zealand (LINZ).

Minister for Land Information, Louise Upston, said the transfer will provide communities with confidence about the future management of the land.

“The immediate focus will be on maintaining current service levels and minimising any disruption to residents and neighbours of red zone properties.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today turned the first sod on construction of the new $22 million Kawarau Falls Bridge on State highway 6 at Frankton near Queenstown.

The bridge will replace the existing, historic 90 year-old single lane bridge and will be one of the biggest roading infrastructure projects seen in the Queenstown area in a number of years.

Promoting New Zealand as an outstanding tourist destination and stronger ties between nations is the focus of Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett’s visit to Argentina this week.

Mrs Bennett travels with Air New Zealand today aboard its inaugural flight to Buenos Aires. A Boeing 777-200 will operate three return services a week out of Auckland.

Justice Minister Amy Adams and Police Minister Michael Woodhouse welcome a pilot by frontline Police staff in Palmerston North to record victim video statements using their iPhone 6+ at the scene of certain family violence incidents.

Prime Minister John Key has announced at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris that New Zealand will commit another $20 million to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases.

“This world-leading research has the potential to reduce global emissions, particularly in developing countries that have similar emission profiles to New Zealand,” says Mr Key.

“In New Zealand half our emissions are from agriculture where there are not yet cost effective ways of reducing emissions, but we are working hard to change that.

Prime Minister John Key has told the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris that it must produce a meaningful agreement.

“New Zealand wants a deal that puts the world on a pathway towards limiting global temperature rise to no more than 2°C.

“Every country needs to contribute towards this goal.  While New Zealand’s emissions are small on a global scale, we are determined to make a strong contribution to the international effort.  

Prime Minister John Key today presented UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres with a message from close to 40 nations calling for the removal of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.

“Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies is absolutely vital if the world is to succeed in substantially reducing emissions,” says Mr Key.

“Research shows phasing out these subsidies could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 10 percent.

Mr President,

Let me begin by again conveying my condolences to the victims of the attacks here in Paris, to the people of Paris and the French Republic.

The people of New Zealand stand with you and New Zealand remains committed to global efforts to counter terrorism.

Against that backdrop I would like to acknowledge what a significant moment this is.

Over 150 countries working together to address climate change.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne has announced seven appointments to the Film and Literature Board of Review, commencing from 1 January 2016.

The Board is established under section 91 of the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act 1993 (the Act) as a statutory appeal body to review classification decisions of the Office of Film and Literature Classification.

Finance Minister Bill English says the release of two reports today on its investment practices and the performance of its major investment projects provide an overview to the public for the first time.

The annual report Managing Government Investment Projects 2014-15 - the first of its kind – provides a snapshot of the Government’s overall investment programme and the recently implemented changes to the way it is managed.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has asked the Law Commission to begin three new projects in 2016.

These are to review the Property (Relationships) Act 1976, the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 and the Declaratory Judgments Act 1908.

The latest figures released today by Statistics New Zealand showing the number of building consents in Auckland at an 11-year high have been welcomed by Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith, who says strong momentum is underway for Auckland’s new house build rate.