Displaying 49 - 72 of 2672 results.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has welcomed today’s Court of Appeal’s decision, dismissing the Problem Gambling Foundation’s challenge to the Ministry of Health’s procurement process for problem gambling services.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Health

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the updated guidance on weight management for children and young people released today highlights the importance of sleep and the ongoing need to monitor children’s growth.

“The guidance sets an expectation for primary care to be regularly monitoring height, weight and growth for all children and young people,” says Dr Coleman.

“This is the first time we are formally recognising the importance of quality sleep for children and young people as an aspect of weight management.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

The Crown has signed an agreement in principle with Te Ākitai Waiohua to settle its historical Treaty of Waitangi claims, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Te Ākitai Waiohua is an iwi with an area of interest centred around South Auckland and customary interests claims across greater Auckland.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse today announced two new appointments to the WorkSafe New Zealand Board.

Stephen Reindler and Nikki Davies-Colley will join the board from 16 December for three year terms.

 “These appointments bring to the Board strong governance skills and experience in sectors which WorkSafe is particularly focused on,” Mr Woodhouse says.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Workplace Relations and Safety

A new information sharing agreement between Inland Revenue and the Australian Tax Office has led to the contact details of almost 57,000 student loan borrowers being located across the Tasman, two thirds of whom are in default.

The agreement came into force in October and the details of around 10,000 New Zealanders were found in the first data match. The process has since been refined and a total of 56,897 people have now been located.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
  • Revenue

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says 2016 has seen the New Zealand Defence Force respond to natural disasters, train Iraqi soldiers and future-proof the country’s Defence industry.

“I think most of us will remember 2016 as a turbulent and extraordinary year for the world,” Mr Brownlee says.

“The men and women of the New Zealand Defence Force perform essential roles in protecting New Zealanders, supporting our friends and neighbours and furthering New Zealand’s interests around the globe.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Defence

The Government is investing $3 million to help make State Highways on key tourist routes in Otago, Southland and the West Coast safer this summer, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

“About $1 million will be spent in each region on road safety works such as no-passing lines, 'keep left' arrows, rest area and curve sign upgrades, and new safety barriers,” Mr Foss says.

The improvements are part of the Visiting Drivers Project’s $15 million road safety engineering programme announced in October.

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

A report canvassing views from New Zealand’s vibrant creative sector, and the role copyright and registered designs has in their work, has been released today by Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith.

“Our creative sector spans a range of industries and organisations and face a myriad of challenges as well as opportunities in the digital environment. This is the context in which copyright operates.

  • Paul Goldsmith
  • Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges today announced that while Block Offer 2016 received a low number of bids in comparison to previous years, exploration activity is continuing.

As a result of Block Offer 2016, one onshore Taranaki permit will be granted to Todd Energy.

“The global downturn in the petroleum industry that began in late 2014 has had a profound effect on exploration expenditure worldwide”, Minister Bridges says.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Energy and Resources

A new $12 million support fund for earthquake strengthening work on heritage buildings is now open for applications, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has announced.

Launched in September, the Heritage Earthquake Upgrade Incentive Programme (Heritage EQUIP) offers support for privately-owned heritage buildings needing seismic upgrades.

  • Maggie Barry
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says an independent evaluation of the Prime Minister’s Youth Mental Health Project shows it’s delivering improved outcomes for youth in New Zealand.

“An evaluation by Superu has found that more services and resources are available to identify, support and treat youth with mild to moderate mental health issues,” says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

The expansion of Wakatipu High School in Queenstown to accommodate a roll of up to 1800 will be considered under next year’s Budget, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“A relocated and expanded Wakatipu High School is already on track to open at the start of 2018,” says Ms Parata.

“The project underway will see the school’s capacity increased to 1200 students, up from 1060 at the current site.

“However, we know that Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most popular and fastest growing regions.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

Good morning.

It is a pleasure to be here at the Fourth Data Hui.  As Minister of Statistics, I see these event as a golden opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities we all face in the modern data environment.

I often talk about the magic of statistics.  To me, that means data and statistics have the power to inform and enhance many areas of our lives, helping NGOs, businesses and government make better decisions.

  • Craig Foss
  • Statistics

Satellite images of the impact of the Kaikoura earthquake show the level of devastation and will help speed up the recovery, Land Information Minister Louise Upston says.

The imagery, taken from planes, gives a clear picture of dramatic changes to the coastline following the initial quakes and aftershocks. The project was a joint effort between Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and NZTA, and will support the reconstruction work on the coastal rail and road route announced by Minister Bridges today.

  • Louise Upston
  • Land Information

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has turned the sod to mark the start of construction on the West Coast’s new Taramakau Bridge, a $25.8 million investment in the region.

The new bridge, between Greymouth and Kumara Junction on State Highway 6, is part of the Government’s Accelerated Regional Roading Package, announced in 2014 to speed up the delivery of transport projects considered important to regions.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Around $17.5 million will be invested to redevelop three more Wellington schools, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

The schools are:

  • Northland School - $8 million redevelopment
  • Churton Park School - $6 million redevelopment
  • Brooklyn School - $3.5 million redevelopment.

“These schools have experienced issues such as ageing or leaky buildings, so this investment will be welcome news for their communities,” says Ms Parata.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

Simple mistakes on our roads are costing too many lives, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

“Sadly and frustratingly, 308 mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunties, uncles, cousins and friends have died on our roads so far this year,” Mr Foss says.

“Speed and alcohol continue to be major contributing factors. Last year, 90 people died in crashes involving alcohol and 101 died while travelling too fast for the conditions.

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry have welcomed initiatives by the seafood industry to further protect Māui dolphins.

“There are already extensive fishing protections over a large part of the Māui dolphin distribution, and these new steps will provide even greater reassurance and protection,” says Mr Guy.

The proposed changes by Moana New Zealand and Sanford cover the area from Maunganui Bluff in the North to the Whanganui River Mouth. They include:

  • Nathan Guy
  • Maggie Barry
  • Primary Industries
  • Conservation

A grant of up to $5 million to help with the post-earthquake restoration of Kaikoura Harbour was announced today by Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce.

“This grant will ensure work can begin as soon as possible to dredge the harbour, which is a pivotal lifeline to the Kaikoura region,” Mr Brownlee says.

“The magnitude 7.8 earthquake on November 14 resulted in the seabed rising between one and two metres in some areas, which has severely restricted access to the region by sea.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Steven Joyce
  • Civil Defence
  • Economic Development

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman will tonight help mark the success of New Zealand rugby at the 2016 NZ Rugby Union Awards.

“I’d like to congratulate all the nominees. It’s been a fantastic year for rugby with so many great team and individual performances,” says Dr Coleman.

Dr Coleman will present the ASB Coach of the Year Award at tonight’s awards, which are being held at Sky City, Auckland.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Sport and Recreation

Cabinet has agreed to reinstate the coastal route to Kaikoura and will provide additional funding to speed up the process, Transport Minister Simon Bridges has announced.

The existing State Highway 1 and rail corridor along the coastal route to the north and south of Kaikoura will be rebuilt, with additional improvements to increase safety and resilience.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne is applauding a campaign by St John to reduce assaults on ambulance officers. The campaign has been launched because of the high and increasing number of cases of verbal and physical assaults on staff.

“Ambulance staff arrive at a scene to provide care, so it is distressing that they become a target for violence and abuse,” says Mr Dunne.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Health

Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee says this afternoon’s adjournment of Parliament brings to an end an extremely busy legislative year.

“Parliament sat for 88 days this year, the same number of days as in 2015, passing 107 bills – 98 Government bills, four Members’ bills, three private bills and two local bills,” Mr Brownlee says.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Leader of the House

A change made to tax rules will provide businesses with faster access to GST refunds from February next year, says Revenue Minister Michael Woodhouse.

The Tax Administration (Direct Credit of GST Refunds) Order 2016 will make it compulsory for Inland Revenue to provide GST refunds by direct credit to a taxpayer’s identified account, resulting in much faster GST refunds.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Revenue