Displaying 1 - 24 of 75 results.

The Government is making a substantial investment in resources to help new mothers suffering with post natal depression and other mental illnesses.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says Budget 2013 is putting an extra $18.2 million over four years into dedicated maternal mental health beds and new specialist community services around the North Island for around 650 mothers and their babies a year.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health
  • Budget 2013

  • Bill English
  • John Key
  • Prime Minister
  • Finance
  • Budget 2013

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says $14.5 million in new funding for igovt services in 2013/14 demonstrates the commitment to improving New Zealanders’ online interactions with government.

The igovt services have two components:

  • Chris Tremain
  • Budget 2013
  • Internal Affairs

Associate Minister for Social Development, Tariana Turia announced today an additional $8m over four years for the E Tū Whānau programme to help address family violence within Māori whānau, Pasifika, migrant and refugee

  • Tariana Turia
  • Social Development
  • Budget 2013

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce today announced $2 million in new funding to launch the New Zealand Story project – an initiative to help New Zealand companies gain a competitive advantage from the use of the New Zealand brand in international markets.

The funding forms part of the $400 million internationally focused growth package which is a centrepiece of Budget 2013.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Economic Development
  • Budget 2013

Budget 2013 has recognised the importance of the Marsden Fund to New Zealand’s science and innovation system with a funding increase of $20 million over four years.

“This year’s increase for the Marsden Fund reaffirms Government’s on-going support for fundamental, investigator-led research. Since 2008 we have increased support for the Marsden Fund by 37 per cent,” Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce says.

The funding forms part of the $100 million a year internationally focused growth package, which is a centrepiece of Budget 2013.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Science and Innovation
  • Budget 2013

The Budget confirms a further $2.1 billion in funding for the Christchurch earthquake recovery, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery
  • Budget 2013

The Government has committed to a number of initiatives in Budget 2013 to improve the lives of those who live with disabilities, Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia says.

  • Tariana Turia
  • Disability Issues
  • Budget 2013

Budget 2013 provides for new and increased funding for Māori language initiatives, Māori Affairs Minister and Associate of Education Minister Dr Pita Sharples says.

This lays the foundation for the Māori Language Strategy, which will be released later this year.

“Vote Māori Affairs provides $8 million over four years for a new Māori Language Research and Development Fund, which will be administered by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori to strengthen the evidence base for effective Māori language policies and programmes,” Dr Sharples says.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Budget 2013

Small, innovative businesses are set to benefit from proposed changes that will allow them to claim tax losses on research and development, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says.

A public consultation paper will be released in June on a proposal to allow tax losses arising from R&D expenditure to be refunded up to a certain limit. It will be targeted at R&D-intensive start-up firms.

“Small, innovative businesses that invest heavily in research and development are doing the right thing and we want more of them.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Revenue
  • Budget 2013

Changes to the thin capitalisation rules will help ensure multinational companies investing in New Zealand pay their fair share of tax, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says.

The changes flow from an issues paper released earlier this year.

“New Zealand welcomes foreign investors, but we expect everyone participating in the New Zealand economy to contribute their share of tax,” Mr Dunne says.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Budget 2013

Budget 2013 provides a permanent $6.65 million increase in annual funding for Inland Revenue to pursue property investment tax compliance, which is expected to return about $45 million a year, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says.

The extra funding will begin in the 2014/15 financial year.

“This continues the Government’s focus on ensuring that everyone pays their fair share of tax,” Mr Dunne says.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Revenue
  • Budget 2013

Budget 2013 provides an additional $134 million in contingency capital funding for new school property, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says.

“This Government is committed to investing in education and will ensure that schools are provided with high-quality infrastructure. Our focus is to ensure that we deliver more modern learning environments that are safe, connected, fit for purpose, and inspiring to both teachers and students,” Ms Kaye says.

  • Nikki Kaye
  • Education
  • Budget 2013

The Government is investing in a new three-year insulation programme, which will deliver warmer, drier and healthier homes to communities in most need, Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges says.

Budget 2013 allocates $100 million of operating funding over three years to the Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes programme, targeting low-income households for home insulation, particularly those families with children and high health needs. It is expected to insulate around 46,000 additional houses.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Energy and Resources
  • Budget 2013

The Government is reprioritising $2.9 million of taxpayer funding in 2013/14 to help more New Zealanders interact with government in a digital environment, Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says.

  • Chris Tremain
  • Internal Affairs
  • Budget 2013

Budget 2013 has confirmed $80 million in funding for regional irrigation projects, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says.

“After the extreme drought that most of the country has struggled through this year, the need for better water storage is obvious,” he says.

“There is no shortage of water in New Zealand, but we lack the ability to store and use that water when it’s needed most. Currently, only 2 per cent of rainfall is used for irrigation. We need to do a better job of using this resource.

  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries
  • Budget 2013

All Housing New Zealand tenancies will be reviewed to ensure state housing is focused on people with the highest housing need, Housing Minister Nick Smith says.

“The Government will this year develop pathways for New Zealanders in social housing to regain independence and self-sufficiency as their individual circumstances permit and as alternatives allow,” he says.

“Reviewable tenancies, which currently apply to some tenants, will then be extended progressively to all social housing tenants.

  • Nick Smith
  • Housing
  • Budget 2013

The Government is to develop a Housing Warrant of Fitness system and trial it on Housing New Zealand properties, Housing Minister Nick Smith says.

“There are real gains for the health, safety, and welfare of New Zealanders, particularly children and the elderly, from having a better standard of housing,” he says.

“This year, the Government is going to develop a Warrant of Fitness with the support of a Rental Housing Standards Forum.

  • Nick Smith
  • Housing
  • Budget 2013

Special legislation to enable councils and the Government to streamline new housing developments in areas where housing is least affordable will be introduced to Parliament today.

“Council decisions can affect the entire economy by increasing house prices, driving up rents, and putting increased pressure on family budgets,” Housing Minister Nick Smith says.

“Housing supply constraints are causing widespread concern about financial stability, with potentially negative impacts on interest rates and the exchange rate.

  • Nick Smith
  • Housing
  • Budget 2013

Police funding in Budget 2013 will continue to be directed at preventing and reducing crime and rolling out new technology to help frontline officers work more effectively and keep communities safe, Police Minister Anne Tolley says.

Baseline operating spending for Police is being maintained at $1.49 billion in 2013/14, as Police remain firmly focused on meeting their Better Public Service target of a reduction in recorded crime of 15 per cent by 2017.

  • Anne Tolley
  • Police
  • Budget 2013

Budget 2013 supports the Government’s target of further reducing reoffending, leading to fewer victims of crime, and the redesign of electronically monitored bail, Corrections Minister Anne Tolley says.

Some $10 million in operating funding over two years is being made available from the Justice Sector Fund to establish a new post-release service for offenders, at a time when they are at a high risk of returning to crime.

  • Anne Tolley
  • Corrections
  • Budget 2013

The Government is supporting New Zealanders on low incomes with a suite of measures designed to help them become more independent.

“We’re increasing funding for Budgeting Services, procuring whiteware to bring down costs for beneficiaries, and exploring options for low- and no-interest loans through microfinancing,” Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.

To help Budgeting Services provide advice for people to manage on low incomes, the Government has already announced an extra $1.5 million for 2013/14.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Development
  • Budget 2013

The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable children through the Children’s Action Plan, Chair of the Ministerial Oversight Group Paula Bennett says.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Development
  • Budget 2013

Funding of $35 million over four years has been set aside in contingency for extended family members caring for children, recognising the difficult job they do.

More than 12,000 New Zealand children are being cared for by wider family members because of the death of a parent or family breakdown, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.

“We know they are doing a tough job, often on limited incomes with children who need extra attention and help, and we’re determined to support that.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Development
  • Budget 2013