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The Government has agreed to continue work to enable a small number of local authorities to trial online voting, Associate Minister of Local Government Louise Upston said today.

“The agreement to continue work is in response to requests from local government to trial online voting at the October 2016 local authority elections. The councils that may participate in a trial are still to be determined.”

Ms Upston said it is important to ensure the trial process is secure and fair so public confidence in the integrity of local elections can be maintained.

The Government will finalise an options document on the future of Environment Canterbury (ECAN) for public discussion in the new year, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Associate Minister of Local Government Louise Upston said following their attendance at today’s Canterbury Mayoral Forum.

Minister for Women Louise Upston today recognises women around the country for the hours they contribute to their communities.

“With today being International Volunteers Day I want to acknowledge the thousands of New Zealand women who on average spend over four hours a day completing unpaid work.

“These women give up their time to volunteer in their communities in places such as sports clubs, on their marae, in education, social services and in faith communities.

Minister for Women Louise Upston has announced a name change for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, which will represent the Ministry’s work in a more modern way.

“In October the Prime Minister announced new names for several portfolios and following on from this, I am pleased to announce that from today the Ministry of Women’s Affairs will officially be the Ministry for Women.

The limitless potential of location information, and the innovative people working at its forefront, took centre stage last night at the inaugural New Zealand Spatial Excellence Awards (NZSEA), Land Information Minister Louise Upston said today.

Location – or spatial – information tells us where things are, how they relate to one another, and how they change over time.

“Decisions using this sort of information contribute over $1 billion to the economy each year,” Ms Upston says.

Minister for Women Louise Upston is encouraging employers to attract more women to trades work to assist with the Canterbury rebuild.

The Minister has today launched a new handbook for employers, giving practical advice on how to attract women to trade jobs, as well as finding qualified female workers for trade positions.

Land Information Minister Louise Upston has welcomed the removal of aquatic hornwort from Lake Karapiro, saying it will enhance the health of this nationally significant lake. 

The project will ensure the public can fully enjoy the lake, especially with a number of notable events this summer.

“Lake Karapiro – near my home – is one of our most well-known lakes and is enjoyed by both locals and visitors alike,” says Ms Upston.