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A new partnership between the Government and Ngai Tahu will benefit young people living in rural and isolated areas of the South Island, Youth Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“As part of this partnership, around 250 young people will be supported to take part in mentoring and leadership programmes run by Ngai Tahu,” says Ms Kaye.

“An important aspect of the partnership is that it will reach out to those living in remote areas, where this type of opportunity isn’t normally available.”

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says there’s been good uptake of the $3.76 million support package for Kaikōura and Marlborough families.

“The Government is committed to ensuring the people of Kaikōura and Marlborough can access the health services that they need following the 14 November earthquake,” says Dr Coleman.

“In Kaikōura and Hurunui just over 3,500 residents have accessed free GPs visits. Canterbury DHB’s specialist mental health team have also made just over 300 appointments, including visits with children and families.

Three months after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake on 14 November, encouraging recovery progress is being made in affected communities.

Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says the government and local authorities are working alongside not-for-profit organisations and businesses on a multi-pronged recovery effort in the wake of the 14 November earthquake.

“People’s wellbeing and livelihoods are our top priority,” Mr Brownlee says.

Trade Minister Todd McClay will visit Mexico today to meet his counterpart, Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo and discuss the future of trade between our two countries.

“Mexico is already our largest trading partner in Latin America, and there is huge scope to further advance our economies, boosting trade and investment, and working together more closely in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr McClay says.

This will be the Government’s first formal contact with Mexico since the United States withdrawal from the TPP agreement.

The next round of applications for the Racing Safety Development Fund opens tomorrow, Racing Minister Nathan Guy has announced today.

“There is $313,055 available for allocation in this round which opens on 15 February and closes on 31 March 2017,” says Mr Guy.

“The fund supports projects around the country for improving racecourse health and safety. In the past this has included improvements for safety running rails, irrigation and drainage and grandstand repairs.

Prime Minister Bill English has announced Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will make an official visit to New Zealand this week.

Prime Minister Turnbull, Treasurer Scott Morrison and Industry Minister, Senator Arthur Sinodinos, arrive in Queenstown for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ meeting on Friday 17 February. 

New Zealand’s Finance Minister Steven Joyce and Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges will also join the meeting.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says this year’s rheumatic fever awareness campaign starts tomorrow with a focus on reducing cases in Auckland.

“Rheumatic fever is serious but preventable. Children and young people from Pacific and Māori communities are the most vulnerable,” says Dr Coleman.

“While we’re making good progress to reduce rheumatic fever rates, there’s still more work to be done to meet the ambitious BPS target.

InsideOUT Koaro and RainbowYOUTH will receive funding totalling $50,000 to expand the great work they’re doing to support LGBTI young people, Youth Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“InsideOUT Koaro will receive $30,000 over three years to help it deliver leadership workshops, while RainbowYOUTH will receive $20,000 this year to strengthen the support services it provides,” says Ms Kaye.

“The InsideOUT Koaro funding will help grow 120 young leaders, who can in turn support and mentor other LGBTI young people.

Excavators have moved on-site and physical work will begin next week clearing the large slips on State Highway 1 to the north of Kaikoura, Transport Minister Simon Bridges has announced today.

“This is good news not only for Kaikoura but also the rest of New Zealand as we begin to rebuild the road and rail networks that are critical to supporting our economy, to keeping these communities connected and boosting the prosperity of this region,” Mr Bridges says.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has thanked DOC staff and volunteers helping to re-float pilot whales after a mass stranding at Farewell spit overnight.

“More than 400 pilot whales stranded overnight in one of the largest recorded mass strandings in New Zealand history. Sadly it has been confirmed most have died. DOC staff and volunteers re-floated about 100 on this morning’s high tide but unfortunately 50 of them have since re-stranded,” Ms Barry says.

Minister for Land Information Mark Mitchell will represent New Zealand at the World Government Summit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 11 – 13.

“The World Government Summit provides a unique opportunity to showcase the New Zealand Government’s innovative approach in a range of areas,” Mr Mitchell says.

“Prominent world leaders from both the public and private sectors will be in attendance, and it provides a great opportunity to collaborate and exchange new ideas.

Communications Minister Simon Bridges today confirmed details of the Government’s new approach to regulating fixed line communications services from 2020, and released a consultation paper which seeks feedback on the regulation of the copper network.

“We need a modern communications regime that reflects our increasingly digital world and that delivers better broadband for New Zealanders,” Mr Bridges says. 

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says the opening of two temporary bridges on the alternate state highway route between Picton and Christchurch will improve safety and reduce travel times while repairs to State Highway 1 are underway.

The new Bailey bridges (temporary steel structures) have been installed alongside permanent one-way bridges at Upper Buller and Homestead Creek west of St Arnaud, allowing traffic to flow safely in both directions at all times.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed to New Zealand the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, who he will meet in Auckland tomorrow.

“This year, New Zealand celebrates 45 years of bilateral relations with China, and our important partnership continues to be forward-looking,” says Mr McCully.

“Our two-way trade stands at over $23 billion and our aim is for this to reach $30 billion by 2020. We’ve grown in education connections and tourism, with 70 direct flights a week between our countries.”

Building activity is at a record high, topping $19 billion for 2016 after five straight years of strong growth, Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

“This is the longest and strongest growth phase in building activity in New Zealand history. It involves record levels of investment in homes, commercial buildings and infrastructure. The total value of consents in 2016, at $19b, is the highest ever and 30 per cent more than the previous peak last decade, in inflation adjusted terms,” Dr Smith says.

The Government will introduce a new scheme to address historical convictions for homosexual offences, Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced.

“While the Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986 decriminalised consensual sex between men aged 16 and over, convictions for those offences remain on record and can appear in criminal history checks,” Ms Adams says.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says latest data shows around 148,000 more Kiwis have received a First Specialist Assessment (FSA) since 2008.

“Increasing access to specialist care is a key priority. The answer to increased demand is to do more, whether it’s assessments or operations, and that’s what the Government is focused on delivering,” says Dr Coleman.

An innovative tool designed to improve the consistency of teacher judgements about student progress is being made more widely available.

Education Minister Hekia Parata, today launched a new site that demonstrates how the Progress and Consistency Tool (PaCT) works.

“Ensuring consistent teacher judgements is essential for parents to have confidence that their children are making real progress,” says Ms Parata.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley has asked MSD to carry out further research into the outcomes for people who come off benefit, following the release of a report on the issue from Superu, which analysed pre-welfare reform data.

“Superu looked at historic data from 2010 and 2011, and the report being released today is useful as it provides important baselines for the work which is to be carried out by MSD on clients who moved off benefit following the 2013 welfare reforms,” says Mrs Tolley.

Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins has today announced a Market Study into fuel prices/returns to be undertaken by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

The Fuel Market Financial Performance Study, which is expected to be completed by the end of June is designed to determine how fair petrol and diesel prices are at the pump.

Ethnic Communities Minister Judith Collins will welcome members of the Chinese community to mark the most important festival on the Chinese calendar at Parliament tonight.

“Chinese New Year is the biggest and most important festival in the Chinese calendar, and is fast becoming very popular among the wider New Zealand society. It is a time to celebrate with family and to take stock before moving forward.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith today announced the recipients of more than $5.7 million of funding to improve the management of long-term health conditions.

The contestable funding was awarded to three successful projects, all relating to the prevention and management of diabetes.

“Diabetes affects around six per cent of New Zealanders and their families,” says Dr Coleman.

The most innovative businesses in our financial services sector are now working together to help shape the future of our economy, says Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Jacqui Dean.

Ms Dean welcomed the nationwide launch of the New Zealand Financial Innovation and Technology Association (FinTechNZ) last night at Wellington’s Stock Exchange. FinTechNZ is a new industry body for New Zealand financial technology firms.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has welcomed the successful passing of the Wildlife (Powers) Amendment Bill’s third reading in Parliament this evening.

The bill modernises and strengthens DOC rangers' existing powers to protect native wildlife from poaching and smuggling.

“This legislation is an important part of upgrading DOC’s ability to prevent and prosecute crimes against vulnerable native species such as geckoes and skinks,” Ms Barry says.