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Samoan culture, ‘talking about it’ and education are key to preventing violence against Samoan women and girls, according to a new report released by the Minister for Women, Hon Louise Upston, and the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

The report, A malu i ‘āiga, e malu fo’i i fafo: Protection for the family, protection for all - Samoan people’s understanding of primary prevention of violence against women, shows Samoan communities see the need to strengthen education on women’s safety. 

Geospatial research and development will focus more on what people actually need, thanks to the new Geospatial Research and Development Priorities and Opportunities document, Land Information Minister Louise Upston said today.

“The launch formed part of New Zealand’s first Geospatial Research Conference, held at the University of Canterbury, which is fitting as this document is the first of its kind for New Zealand,” says Minister Upston.

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.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, Louise Upston have welcomed the announcement today of a new tourism and hospitality college that will open in Northland early next year.

The QRC Tai Tokerau Resort College, will open in Paihia with four student intakes per year. Established by the Queenstown Resort College (QRC), the new college has been developed with support from NZ Māori Tourism.

Kiwi experts are teaming up with French and US scientists in Antarctica this week, as part of international efforts to understand the impacts of climate change on the frozen continent, Land Information Minister Louise Upston said today.

“Antarctica is an important measure of global climate, so the work LINZ is doing will help climate scientists to better understand the impact that global phenomenon like sea level rise have on all of us,” Ms Upston says.

The spelling of Wanganui District will be corrected to ‘Whanganui District’ – reflecting the views of the Wanganui District Council (WDC), local iwi and public submitters, Land Information Minister Louise Upston said today.

“Having reviewed the WDC’s proposal, all public submissions and other materials I’ve agreed that the spelling of the local authority district name should be corrected,” Ms Upston says.

Five district councils and three city councils have been invited to demonstrate they can meet the government’s requirements for an online voting trial. If successful, the councils will be able to offer online voting alongside postal voting in the local government elections next year.

Whanganui, Rotorua, Matamata Piako, Selwyn and Masterton districts have confirmed their interest as well as Porirua, Palmerston North and Wellington cities.

Minister for Women Hon Louise Upston has welcomed the National Council of Women of New Zealand’s report Enabling Women’s Potential – the economic, social and ethical imperative, which champions gender equality, fairness and equal opportunity.

“I welcome the Council’s proactive approach to generating what is an important conversation which affects all New Zealand Women. The more these discussions take place and lead to actions and changed behaviours, the better chance we have of instigating real, sustainable change”

New legislation will help give Canterbury property owners more certainty about where their property boundaries are, Minister for Land Information Louise Upston announced today.

“Due to the effect of earthquake-related ground movement on property boundaries in parts of Canterbury, it is difficult to accurately locate some legal boundaries. 

I am delighted to be here today talking about New Zealand’s approach to open data and leadership.

New Zealand has a strong and internationally recognised history of open and transparent government.  And as I’m sure those of you here know well, one of the pillars of open and transparent government is open government data and information.

Land Information New Zealand Minister Louise Upston leaves today for an official visit to Mexico. Minister Upston will visit Mexico City, where she will give a keynote speech at the Open Government Partnership Summit.

“New Zealand has a strong and internationally recognised history of open data and transparent government. The Open Data Barometer Report shows New Zealand as a world leader in government data available to citizens.

Minister for Women Louise Upston has welcomed a new report released by Statistics New Zealand showing women are now almost as likely as men to work in managerial roles.

“More women in leadership is great news. It reflects the qualifications women are gaining and that New Zealand organisations are recognising the benefits of diversity.”

Statistics New Zealand’s new report examines gender and occupations over the period 1991-2013, based on census information.

Employers and unions have agreed to a Government proposal to set up a Joint Working Group to develop principles for dealing with claims of pay equity under the Equal Pay Act.

Minister for Women Louise Upston says she is pleased that gender equality issues are on the table and this is another way the Government is taking proactive steps to look at how the gender pay gap can be closed.

The first reading of a Bill to establish a mixed governance council for Environment Canterbury (ECan) at next year’s local body elections ahead of a return to a fully elected council in 2019 has been welcomed today by Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Associate Local Government Minister Louise Upston. 

Minister for Women Louise Upston says she is disappointed by updated figures showing the gap between men’s and women’s median earnings has grown.

The New Zealand Income Survey released today by Statistics New Zealand shows the gender pay gap is now 11.8 per cent, up from 9.9 per cent in 2014.

“While it’s been encouraging to see a downwards trend in Gender Pay Gap figures over the past 17 years, it’s disappointing to see this increase.

Online data provided free of charge by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) is proving critical to the success of businesses across New Zealand, Land Information Minister Louise Upston says.

“LINZ’s Data Service has more than 19,000 users, and a recent customer survey found more than half of those surveyed rely on its data. A further 20 per cent reported the service’s data is critical to the success of their business,” Ms Upston says.

Suffrage Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate how far New Zealand women have come since they won the right to vote in 1893, Minister for Women Louise Upston says.

“While it is 122 years since New Zealand women have been able to exercise their democratic rights, we can still be proud of brave Kiwi women like Kate Sheppard whose tireless work broke down social barriers.

An overseas company’s application to purchase Lochinver Station has been declined because the benefits to New Zealand are not substantial and identifiable, Ministers Paula Bennett and Louise Upston say.

Pure 100 Farm Ltd, a subsidiary of China-based Shanghai Pengxin, applied to the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) last year to buy the 13,800 ha farm near Taupo for $88 million.

Land Information Minister Louise Upston has welcomed today’s passing of the Reserves and Other Land Disposal (ROLD) Bill in Parliament.

ROLD Bills make non-controversial changes to land status such as Crown land, reserves and land held for public or private purposes. In essence this legislation works to tidying up small issues that do not warrant their own legislation.

“This particular Bill deals with a number of iconic New Zealand locations including the Dunedin Octagon, Mahinepua Bay reserve, Taieri Airport, and more,” Ms Upston says.

A toolkit of resources for women looking to achieve their leadership goals has today been launched by Minister for Women Louise Upston.

Speaking at a breakfast event at Parliament this morning to celebrate Suffrage Day on Saturday 19 September, Ms Upston officially launched the Ministry for Women’s new Inspiring Women project, featuring real-life stories of emerging women leaders.

Associate Minister of Local Government Louise Upston has today announced the signing of the Pumicelands Constitution, confirming rural fire authority responsibilities for a number of offshore islands in the Bay of Plenty.

“Offshore islands that will now be administered by the Pumicelands Rural Fire Authority (RFA) include the Tūhua/Mayor and Motiti islands, as well as the Whakaari/White and Moutohorā islands,” Ms Upston said.

Revenue Minister Todd McClay and Land Information Minister Louise Upston say people buying and selling property for profit will now be unable to avoid paying their fair share of tax.

Provisions introduced in the Taxation (Land Information and Offshore Persons Information) Bill passed the Third Reading in Parliament today.

The resulting measures amend the Land Transfer Act and Tax Administration Act 2015, and will see Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) collect additional information when property is bought and sold, and pass this information to Inland Revenue.

Kia ora and welcome everyone.

I am delighted to be here today to launch the report Getting it done: Utilising women’s skills in the workforce.

This report focuses on our work with Canterbury stakeholders to increase women’s participation in trades training and jobs, and how these lessons can be applied to opportunities in the labour market elsewhere. 

I’d like to start by thanking Leeann Watson for the warm welcome on this slightly chilly day.

It’s great to see my colleagues Hon Nicky Wagner and Jo Hayes here today.

Minister for Women Louise Upston has today launched a new report detailing how employers can make the most of women’s talents in their workplace.

“Getting it done: Utilising women’s skills in the workforce is a product of the Ministry for Women’s work with partners in Canterbury to increase women’s work choices and boost the number of women in trades,” says Ms Upston.