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Seaweek is all about inspiring New Zealanders to celebrate and learn from the sea, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson said at the national launch of Seaweek last night.

“New Zealand’s seas are more than 15 times larger than our land area, and home to more than 15,000 known species, many not found anywhere else in the world,” she said.

The launch event at Auckland Zoo kicked off a week of marine conservation activities around the country, and at last count more than 120 events had been registered.

Public conservation land around Nelson has been given a boost with the Government purchasing 333 hectares of private land beside Kahurangi National Park.

The forested block on the coast between Big River and Kahurangi Point, north-west of Nelson, is home to the endangered land snail (Powelliphanta gillesi kahurangica) and one of the area’s last remaining lowland coastal populations of the great spotted kiwi (Apteryx haastii). The coast is also home to the nationally rare sand kanuka.

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson has praised Genesis Energy Ltd for their work with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to increase numbers of the rare native whio (blue duck).

Ms Wilkinson visited Turangi’s National Trout Centre today for the official launch of the Genesis Energy Whio National Recovery Project.

The Government has resolved to take a stronger line on the operation of foreign charter vessels (FCVs) in New Zealand waters, say Primary Industries Minister David Carter and Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson.

The Ministers today released the report of the Ministerial Inquiry into Foreign Charter Vessels.

The Inquiry, which was initiated by the Government last year, focused on several issues, including labour standards and protecting New Zealand’s reputation.

Mr Carter says the Inquiry panel has done a thorough job.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter and Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson today received the report of the Ministerial Inquiry into the use and operation of Foreign Charter Vessels (FCVs).

The Inquiry was initiated by the Government last year to consider key issues relevant to the use of FCVs in New Zealand waters.

A Ministerial Inquiry was regarded as the appropriate course of action as a number of ministerial portfolios have an interest in FCV engagement and operation, including fisheries, labour, immigration, transport and foreign affairs and trade.

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson was shocked to learn of the discovery of a pair of endangered Hectors dolphins that washed up inside a marine sanctuary.

The two dolphins were found entangled in a fishing net on the beach near the Waimakariri River mouth yesterday, around 30km inside the northern limit of the Banks Peninsula Marine Mammal Sanctuary.

The 413,000 hectare zone covers Banks Peninsula and stretches north to the Waipara River.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson has praised the generosity of a private family trust which has launched a multi-million dollar conservation project in Abel Tasman National Park.

Project Janszoon is a partnership between the Department of Conservation and the Project Janszoon Trust. It aims to restore biodiversity - essentially the variety of plant and animal life - to around 80 per cent of the park over the next 30 years.

“Our indigenous flora and fauna are a major part of New Zealand’s culture and heritage,” Ms Wilkinson says.

18 February 2012

Welcome everybody who has made the journey today.

In particular I'd like to welcome Kaikoura MP, Colin King, and Hurunui District Council Mayor, Winton Dalley, and also members of the Combined 4WD Clubs.

Driving into the heart of the St James Conservation Area today has been a unique and special opportunity – certainly a first for me and probably for you. This is a place normally reserved for those who travel by foot, bike or horse. It's mid-way in the St James Walkway and not far from the St James Cycle Trail.

The Department of Labour’s High Hazard Unit (HHU) is now running at full strength, Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson announced today.

The roles for all six specialist Health and Safety Inspectors have been filled. A Chief Inspector Petroleum and Geothermal, Wayne Vernon, has just been appointed and will start work in March.

This follows the appointment of Chief Inspector Mines Gavin Taylor who has been seconded from his position as Queensland’s Chief Inspector of Coal Mines.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson has applauded a private kiwi breeding project for its important contribution to conservation.

This initiative, which started in 2006, saw the release of the 100th kiwi into the privately owned 15,000 acre Maungataniwha Native Forest, in the northern Hawke’s Bay, yesterday.

Ms Wilkinson congratulated the Forest Life Force Restoration Trust and their backer entrepreneur Simon Hall who own the land and are one of the driving forces behind the project.

Saturday 11 February 2012

Forest Life Force Restoration Trust
Special guests: Simon Hall, Tasti CEO and Rachel Hunter

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share in this incredible milestone with you all; in what is arguably one of New Zealand's most significant private environmental initiatives.

Firstly, I would like to thank Simon for the invitation and welcome. It's great to be here with you all and a special welcome to Trust patron Rachel Hunter.

The Government will increase the minimum wage from $13 to $13.50 an hour, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson announced today.

The training and new entrants’ minimum wages will increase from $10.40 to $10.80 (or 80% of the adult minimum wage).

“Those working full time on the minimum wage will earn an extra $20 a week or more than $1000 a year,” Ms Wilkinson said.

“This increase strikes the right balance between protecting low paid workers and ensuring that jobs are not lost during these tough economic times.”

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson tomorrow launched the game bird habitat stamp and art prints for 2012 to mark World Wetlands Day, held internationally on February 2 each year.

New Zealand’s game bird habitat stamps initiative is based on the successful American model where the stamps are used to endorse hunting licences with funds raised going towards waterfowl conservation projects.

Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson says opponents of the Government’s draft Food Bill are scaremongering about its impacts.

"Much of what they claim is untrue and causing many people unnecessary concern," Ms Wilkinson says.

“The Bill is designed to simplify 30-year-old food safety regulations and ultimately aims to reduce our high level of food-borne illness and corresponding economic cost. It’s estimated food-borne illness caused a $162 million loss to the New Zealand economy in 2010."

Minister of Conservation, Kate Wilkinson, today paid tribute to missing Department of Conservation volunteer Mihai Muncus-Nagy, who is presumed to have been swept off rocks on Raoul Island on Monday in a tragic accident.

"My thoughts and sympathies are today with the family of Mr Muncus-Nagy in Romania.

“Mihai was a dedicated and passionate conservationist. He was carrying out valuable conservation work on behalf of the department on this remote and special island," says Ms Wilkinson.