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Additional support for families through an extension to Paid Parental Leave and an increase to the minimum wage comes into effect today, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse says.

Paid Parental Leave will extend from 14 to 16 weeks today and by another two weeks next year, while further improvements to the scheme are also being progressed. The adult minimum wage will increase from $14.25 to $14.75 an hour from today and the starting-out and training hourly minimum wages will increase by 40 cents to $11.80 an hour.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse welcomes crime data released today showing recorded crime has dropped by more than 100,000 offences over the last five years.

The 2014 recorded crime rate dropped by 4.2 per cent per head of population, with 10,022 fewer recorded crimes compared to the year before, and 101,016 fewer offences in 2014 compared to 2009.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse today announced a package of measures to strengthen enforcement of minimum employment standards.

“Employers are the backbone of our economy and most do a great job in meeting their employment obligations, but there are a number of serious breaches occurring,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“Those who breach minimum employment standards have an unfair advantage over law abiding employers and it is unfair on employees who work hard to support their families.

Parliament has tonight passed a law which will see MPs pay move in line with changes to public sector salaries, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse says.

“Under the Remuneration Authority (Members of Parliament Remuneration) Amendment Bill passed by Parliament this evening, the average annual percentage change in public sector pay, as measured by Statistics New Zealand’s Quarterly Employment Survey (QES), will now determine MPs’ pay rises,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse have welcomed news that 30 Kiwi employers are travelling to Brisbane to hold on-the-spot interviews for the 1600 jobs that are on offer at this weekend’s job fair.

“New Zealand has a record number of Kiwis in work and an emerging skills shortage,” Mr Joyce says. “Unprecedented growth in building and construction driven mainly by Auckland and Christchurch means that we will need around 26,000 extra tradespeople.

Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei has again shown that not only does she not understand basic math, but she doesn’t understand her own pay slip, says Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Michael Woodhouse.

“The Greens have calculated changes to base salary rather than total MP remuneration – which is what the Remuneration Authority considers and what the Government’s new policy will continue to assess. But even then, Ms Turei can’t get her basic facts right and has got the changes in base salaries wrong for the past seven years.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse welcomes new figures out today showing an increasing number of skilled migrants coming to New Zealand as a sign of the country’s strong economic outlook.

The 14th annual Migration Trends and Outlook report shows that the number of Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) residence approvals increased by 12 per cent in the 2013/14 financial year after showing decreases for the previous four years.

Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Michael Woodhouse today announced Cabinet’s decision to change the process for how the Remuneration Authority reviews MPs pay.

“Today Cabinet agreed that the average annual percentage change in public sector pay, as measured by Statistics New Zealand’s Quarterly Employment Survey (QES), will from now on determine MPs’ pay rises,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“Using the QES public sector index means that MPs pay will increase in line with average public sector salary movements.

Sustainable workforce solutions were at the centre of discussions between Government Ministers and tourism industry representatives in Queenstown today.

Streamlined immigration rules were announced last month as a short term solution to help employers in Queenstown through this period of high demand.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse today announced the adult minimum wage will increase from $14.25 to $14.75 an hour from 1 April.

The starting-out and training hourly minimum wages will increase by 40 cents to $11.80 an hour, as this is set at 80 per cent of the adult minimum wage.

“The Government has taken great care in setting these wage rates to ensure we maintain the balance between protecting our lowest paid workers and ensuring jobs are not lost,” says Mr Woodhouse.

Temporary changes to immigration rules will further help Queenstown employers recruit much needed staff, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett and Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse announced today.

A new streamlined visa process means that from now until June 2015 employers in Queenstown will be temporarily exempt from providing evidence of an attempt to recruit within New Zealand, except for roles that Work and Income has identified it may be able to fill.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has marked the rebuild of the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre at a sod-turning ceremony this morning.

The Government announced the rebuild of Mangere in the 2013 and 2014 Budgets with estimated project costs of around $21 million.

“The existing facilities at Mangere were built during the Second World War and are in desperate need of replacement. I’m delighted that today’s ceremony officially marks the start of a new revamped Mangere,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse today welcomed the launch of the government’s Safer Farms programme.

Safer Farms is a multi-year programme designed by farmers and the wider agricultural sector, WorkSafe New Zealand and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).

“The death and injury rate behind the farm gate is simply unacceptable. Someone is killed nearly every fortnight - this needs to change,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse has asked New Zealand Police to undertake a review of the public messages that underpinned the 2014/15 Summer Road Safety campaign.

"While I firmly support Police's zero tolerance for poor driving behaviour that can lead to death and injury on our roads, I also support the application of discretion as articulated in the 4kph summer tolerance used in fixed speed cameras and the vast majority of mobile devices," Mr Woodhouse says.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse welcomes new figures showing New Zealand overstayer numbers are at the lowest since 2000. 

A new report from October 2014 puts the number of overstayers at 12,162 – a significant decrease of 989 on the previous estimate of 13,151 in September 2013. The estimated rate of overstaying (the number of overstayers compared with the number of temporary arrivals) is very small by international standards at around 4 in 10,000 (0.04%).

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse today congratulated Police for the latest successful drug-related operation targeting gang members in the Upper North Island.

Operation Jakarta was the fourth in a series, resulting in charges being laid against 38 Headhunter members and associates, as well as the seizure of over $4 million in cash, $4 million-worth of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals, and a substantial number of firearms.

More than $9 million worth of assets were also frozen under the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act.

New Zealand will ratify the Maritime Labour Convention to ensure fair treatment of seafarers and protect the reputation of New Zealand exports, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss announced today.

The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 is an international treaty adopted by the International Labour Organisation.  It sets minimum standards for the health, safety and welfare of seafarers on commercial vessels.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse today opened the Mobility Innovation Lab and Experience Centre which will help Police, government and business develop mobile tools and technology that benefit New Zealand.
 
“This Mobility Innovation Lab and Experience Centre will bring together stakeholders from the public and private sectors to focus on ideas that will make a difference to all New Zealanders,” Mr Woodhouse says.
 
“It will help foster innovation and encourage rapid deployment of ideas and tools.
 

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse will travel to Paris tomorrow to represent the New Zealand Government at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) high-level policy forum on migration.

The theme of this year’s forum is mobilising migrants’ skills for economic success and Mr Woodhouse will Chair the Forum’s second session on Building public confidence in migration issues, as well as speak to this theme.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss today launched the ‘Reach the beach safely this summer’ campaign, an initiative led by New Zealand Police.

Last year’s Safer Summer campaign had a great impact with a significant decline in the proportion of people speeding on our roads and a reduction in deaths and serious injuries.

“Summer is a busy time on the road and we want to build on last year’s efforts by again enforcing speed limits and lower alcohol limits,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse today acknowledged the combined efforts of New Zealand and international Police to find and capture absconded prisoner Phillip John Smith (Traynor) overnight.

“I commend the work of New Zealand and Brazilian police officers, and Interpol, to trace and re-capture the prisoner,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“This has been a distressing week for the victims of the prisoner, and I hope today’s news goes some way to restoring their sense of safety and security.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a pleasure to join you this morning for the opening of what is the most significant drug driving event to be held in New Zealand.

This is a problem that the Government takes very seriously, so it's great to see such a wide range of experts from around the world gathering to share ideas about how we can reduce the risk to public safety.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse and Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga say agencies are working together to urgently review how a prisoner on temporary release was able to leave the country. 

“The circumstances leading to Phillip John Smith (Traynor) obtaining a passport and later absconding are the subject of multiple investigations involving Police, Corrections and the Department of Internal Affairs,” says Police Minister Michael Woodhouse.

Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett and Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse say Indian nationals travelling to New Zealand on business will now find it easier and faster to get a visa.

Visitors travelling for recognised business events, like conferences, meetings or exhibitions, will now benefit from faster visa processing times and reduced paperwork requirements.

The new arrangements were formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Mumbai overnight between Immigration New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand and six approved travel agents.