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Justice and Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams says a planned refresh of the outdated format of election broadcasts will modernise them in time for the 2017 General Election.

Ms Adams announced today that the Broadcasting (Election Programmes and Election Advertising) Amendment Bill will be introduced to Parliament next week.

The Bill will remove the requirement for political parties’ opening and closing election broadcasts to be aired on television and radio. It will also remove the requirement for TVNZ and Radio NZ to provide free time for these.

An area the size of 450,000 rugby fields has been added to the country’s cell network in just two years, says Communications Minister Amy Adams.

Thirty-four new cell towers have expanded coverage by an extra 3825 square kilometres to rural areas previously without coverage.

The new towers are a result of requirements set in the auction of the 700 MHz band of radio spectrum, won by Spark and Vodafone in 2014. Under the auction agreement Spark and Vodafone were required to build new towers in new rural areas in the first five years after the purchase.

A Bill to improve how low strength beer and wine can be sold passed its second reading in Parliament last night.

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Display of Low-alcohol Beverages and Other Remedial Matters) Amendment Bill makes three minor technical changes to New Zealand’s alcohol legislation.

“Under the wording in the current law, supermarkets and grocery stores that sell low-alcohol and non-alcoholic beer and wine cannot place them in the same area as regular strength alcohol,” says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

Communications Minister Amy Adams confirmed today that the Government has delivered on its commitment to make connecting to the Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) network free for virtually every household.

The recent upgrade to audio visual technology in the Hastings Court is a welcome addition to the network of courts and prisons which allows remote appearances in courts, Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams says.

“Equipping the Hastings Court with an audio-visual link (AVL) will increase the number of defendants who make virtual appearances in our courts without leaving prison,” says Ms Adams.

Parliament has passed legislation tonight that updates and modernises the century-old law underpinning New Zealand courts.

Twenty-three Bills divided from the Bill formerly known as the Judicature Modernisation Bill were passed into law with widespread support.

“At more than 1000 pages, the legislation was one of the biggest law-making tasks ever undertaken by Parliament,” says Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams.

The Electoral Amendment Bill has today passed its first reading with unanimous support, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

The Bill implements recommendations made by the Justice and Electoral Select Committee Inquiry into the 2014 General Election that require a law change, and can be implemented in time for the 2017 General Election.

“The proposed changes in the Bill focus on improving services to voters, candidates and parties by making the law and voting process more user-friendly and adapting to changing voter behaviours,” says Ms Adams.

Only 17 per cent of New Zealanders say they have received training or advice about cyber security at work despite New Zealanders grappling with cyber security issues, says Communications Minister Amy Adams.

“New research conducted by Colmar Brunton found that 20 per cent of New Zealanders have been affected by cybercrime in the last year, and this figure rises to 72 per cent when spam and suspicious emails are included,” says Ms Adams.

Communications Minister Amy Adams says VHF radio channels changes which take place this weekend will ensure New Zealand’s maritime radio services are in line with the rest of the world.  

“The changes come into effect today (1 October) and will allow us to expand ship tracking and data services. These services are part of our international obligations for radio spectrum management,” says Ms Adams.

The changes have been well signalled across the maritime community over the past two months in the lead up to today's changes.

South Island company Amalgamated Builders has won the contract to upgrade and refurbish Dunedin’s historic Stuart Street courthouse, Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams announced today.

Work will start in early October and is expected to finish in December 2017.

Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams has welcomed NZ On Air’s response to the changing needs of the sector with the NZ Media Fund.

“NZ On Air is responding to the rapidly shifting media sector and today’s converging landscape in the way we communicate, conduct business and access entertainment channels,” says Ms Adams.

“With the new fund being open to a broader range of platforms and backing the best ideas, it’s a positive change and a great fit with the cross-Government convergence work programme.

The Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) rollout in Whakatane has finished, bringing the number of fully-fibred towns and cities to twenty, Communications Minister Amy Adams has announced.

Nearly 7000 homes and businesses in Whakatane can now connect to UFB and around 19 per cent of those had taken up a service. All eight Whakatane schools have been connected and have joined the Network for Learning.

Total investment between the Government and Chorus in Whakatane is nearly $12 million. The build began in Whakatane in November 2012.

More effective systems in polling places and earlier counting of advanced votes are on their way through proposed changes to our electoral laws, Justice Minister Amy Adams says.

The Electoral Amendment Bill has been introduced to Parliament and proposes 14 changes to the Electoral Act to adapt to shifts in technology and voter behaviour. These reflect recommendations made by the Justice and Electoral Select Committee’s Inquiry into the 2014 General Election.

The Evidence Amendment Bill will reduce unnecessary trauma and better protect victims who become involved in the court process through no fault of their own, Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams says.

“Giving evidence can be especially tough for young and vulnerable witnesses. The changes we’re making through this Bill will help to make the court process less traumatic for those it may affect the most,” says Ms Adams.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Communications Minister Amy Adams have today officially opened a technology hub to support new and emerging businesses in Westport.

Enterprise Precinct Innovation Campus (EPIC) Westport, a branch of EPIC Christchurch, provides co-working spaces for local companies looking to be innovative and develop local capacity in digital technology.

“Co-working spaces foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing, start-up businesses are typically the generators of new ideas, products and services,” Mr Joyce says.

A Bill modernising and consolidating New Zealand’s century-old courts legislation took a leap forward in Parliament today.

The Judicature Modernisation Bill passed its Committee of the Whole House stage in Parliament, with widespread support.

“This Bill updates the 108-year-old Judicature Act 1908 and associated legislation that underpins New Zealand courts,” says Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams.

A Bill creating more effective and streamlined processes to verify the identity of offenders has passed its first reading in Parliament with overwhelming support, Justice Minister Amy Adams says.

The Enhancing Identity Verification and Border Processes Legislation Bill enables agencies to work together to identify offenders and ensure they meet the conditions imposed on them.

Sweeping reforms to our laws will build a better system for combatting abuse and will reduce harm, says Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley.

The Government is proposing a broad overhaul of changes to family violence legislation, stemming from the comprehensive review of the 20-year old Domestic Violence Act.

“New Zealand’s rate of family violence is horrendous. It has a devastating impact on individuals and communities, and a profound impact that can span generations and lifetimes,” Ms Adams says.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Communications Minister Amy Adams today launched a new guide to attract more investment in New Zealand’s fast growing technology sector.

The Investor Guide to the New Zealand Technology Sector has been brought to life by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Technology Investment Network (TIN). It provides investors with the most recent data and insights to encourage them to make informed investments in New Zealand’s thriving technology sector.

Confidence in the future of UFB has resulted in an early buyout of Ultrafast Fibre from the Government, Communications Minister Amy Adams has announced.

“Waikato Networks Limited has been a great partner, completing its build in eight central North Island towns and cities six months ahead of schedule. With this work complete, the Crown no longer needs to hold its investment in the network and Waikato Networks Limited wants to take over full ownership early,” says Ms Adams.

On 26 August 1866, New Zealand’s telecommunications took a leap into the future with the successful connection of the Cook Strait Telegraph Cable, says Communications Minister Amy Adams.

“It was a momentous achievement for its time. The successful connection came on the third attempt at laying the cable, and followed a near disaster when the first cable snapped - almost destroying the ship Weymouth in the process,” says Ms Adams.

Comprehensive reforms are being introduced to strengthen how frontline agencies verify the identity of offenders and share that info across public protection agencies, Justice Minister Amy Adams said today.

The Enhancing Identity Verification and Border Processes Legislation Bill has been introduced to Parliament to improve the safety of New Zealanders by streamlining how agencies work together to establish the identity of offenders and ensure their sentences are properly carried out.

A highly skilled group of people from the private sector have been named as the CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) Establishment Advisory Board by Communications Minister Amy Adams.

The Board will provide advice to the Minister for Communications and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on the establishment of the national CERT.

“The national CERT will sit at the centre of New Zealand’s cyber security response. It will be the first point of call for all cyber security incidents,” says Ms Adams.

Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams has today announced the Government’s plans to update the Broadcasting Act to better reflect today’s converged market. 

“The media sector is in a period of great change. New Zealanders are consuming content in completely different ways to even a few years ago,” says Ms Adams.