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The 2016 New Zealand International Film Festival will showcase our thriving film industry and distinctive identity, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.

“Eight New Zealand feature films have their world premieres at the festival, with Poi E: The Story of Our Song by Tearepa Kahi a sold out opening night feature in both Auckland and Wellington,” Ms Barry says.

Launching in Auckland tonight, this year’s line-up brings more than 160 features and documentaries to the big screen in 13 towns and cities.

The ambitious Million Dollar Mouse pest eradication project on remote Antipodes Island in the sub-Antarctic has been completed ahead of schedule, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

A second helicopter drop of rodent bait across the island was finished yesterday afternoon, following a first phase completed on June 29.

“Despite very unsettled weather conditions, the Million Dollar Mouse team have done an outstanding job of making use of every available weather window to get the bait drop completed,” Ms Barry says.

An investment of $30.5 million over four years by ACC, to support new and existing initiatives aimed at preventing falls and resulting injuries, has been welcomed by ACC Minister Nikki Kaye and Minister for Seniors Maggie Barry.

Both Ministers visited Auckland Hospital this morning to celebrate the investment and visit an older persons’ health ward.

Two new appointments to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Board have been announced by Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry.

Auckland businessman Sir Rob Fenwick and experienced director Abby Foote of Christchurch will take up their positions on August 1.

Board Chair Evan Williams will continue in the role he has held since 2013, with existing members Dayle Mace and Paul Majurey also reappointed.

A newly-signed partnership between DOC and Fulton Hogan will help the critically-endangered takahē continue its recovery, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

Worth $1 million, the partnership was signed at the Burwood Takahē Centre near Te Anau today by DOC director-general Lou Sanson and Fulton Hogan’s director of investments, Bob Fulton.

“The Takahē Recovery Programme has just had its most successful breeding season on record, with 38 chicks fledged,” Ms Barry says.

Four new appointments and two reappointments to the Arts Council have been announced by Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry.

“Philanthropist Dame Jenny Gibbs, experienced arts sector leader Roger King and highly regarded Māori arts leaders Karl Johnstone and Professor Taiarahia Black are the new appointments to the council,” Ms Barry says.

The Million Dollar Mouse rodent eradication expedition to Antipodes Island in the sub-Antarctic has completed its first phase today, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

Rodent bait has been carefully applied across the 2000-hectare island by two helicopters working in weather windows over the last 12 days.

“Completing the first bait drop just over a month after the expedition arrived at Antipodes is a significant step on the way to ridding the island of mice,” Ms Barry says.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says the new kakapo recovery partnership between DOC and Meridian Energy is great news for efforts to save one of New Zealand’s most beloved birds.

“I’m delighted to welcome Meridian as the new partner for the Kākāpō Recovery Programme,” Ms Barry says.

“Following the biggest breeding season in living memory, Meridian’s investment will enable DOC and our Treaty partner Ngāi Tahu to expand work with the birds even further.”

Former Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast has been appointed Chair of the New Zealand Film Commission, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has announced.

“Mayor of the capital from 2001-2010 and now chair of both the Environmental Protection Authority and Tourism New Zealand boards, Ms Prendergast brings extensive experience in governance to the role,” Ms Barry says.

She replaces outgoing chair Dame Patsy Reddy, who will be New Zealand’s next Governor-General.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has announced this year’s Dirty Dozen plants as part of the ongoing War on Weeds.

“This year we are going to have a baker’s dozen of weeds – with enemy number one the wilding conifer,” Ms Barry says.

“Wildings now cover approximately 1.8 million hectares of land and are advancing at around 5 per cent a year. They transform entire landscapes, ruin native ecosystems and take over productive land indiscriminately.

Three more high-profile New Zealanders have become SuperSeniors Champions, Seniors Minister Maggie Barry has announced.

Legendary opera singer Dame Malvina Major, former MP and Minister Margaret Austin and the actor, filmmaker and naturalist Peter Hayden are the latest to join the Champions programme, launched earlier this year.

Ms Barry made the announcement at a function in Parliament this evening to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Seniors Minister Maggie Barry says tomorrow’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is an opportunity for New Zealanders to show all older people need to be respected and valued.

Ms Barry will host an event at Parliament tomorrow to mark the day alongside SuperSeniors Champions, who are articulate advocates for older people, strong voices against abuse and role models for positive ageing.

Seniors Minister Maggie Barry says she is concerned older people in Auckland are worried and confused about the forthcoming changes to how the SuperGold Card travel concession works in the city.

Following an Auckland Transport decision to integrate the SuperGold Card with its HOP smartcard system from July 1, cardholders must have a HOP to continue to use their free travel concession.

A facility to research new methods of pest control opened at Lincoln University today will make a major contribution to the ongoing war against introduced predators, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

The facility, built by the DOC-backed initiative Zero Invasive Predators as part of an ongoing collaboration with Lincoln University, is an opportunity to research new ways to control possums, rats and stoats.

Te Whangai Trust from Waikato has today been announced as the Supreme Winner of the 2016 Green Ribbon Awards.

Now in their 26th year, the Green Ribbon Awards recognise exceptional environmental achievements by individuals and organisations around New Zealand. 

The Awards were presented at a Parliamentary function today, co-hosted by Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has presented New Zealand’s foremost botany award, the Loder Cup, to Neill and Barbara Simpson of Queenstown.

One of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, the Loder Cup recognises outstanding work to investigate, promote, retain and cherish the country’s incomparable native plant life.

“Neill and Barbara Simpson truly deserve to be honoured with the presentation of the cup at the Green Ribbon Awards tonight,” Ms Barry says.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says the newly named Queen Elizabeth II Pukeahu Education Centre will be an excellent home for education programmes at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington.

“The War Memorial Park is a place where New Zealanders can learn about our nation’s involvement in war, honour those who fell and remember the impact of conflict throughout our history,” Ms Barry says.

Glenfern Sanctuary on Great Barrier Island has been bought for the public thanks to a joint bid backed by the Government, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

“I’m pleased to announce that after considerable negotiations the sale of the Glenfern property has been completed and its future is now secure,” Ms Barry says.

“I acknowledge the hard work of local MP Nikki Kaye, who has been strong advocate for the project and its benefits for Great Barrier Island.”

Two young kakapo will be returned to the species’ pest-free island sanctuaries on a special helicopter flight today, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

The chicks, Konini 2 and Wendy 2, will be flown back to Whenua Hou/Codfish Island from Invercargill, with Ms Barry and Ngāi Tahu representative Tane Davis as chaperones.

“This is a milestone not only for Konini and Wendy but for the entire recovery programme,” Ms Barry says,

An ant considered one of the most destructive invasive species in the world has been successfully eradicated from Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

“Tiritiri Matangi is one of the few places in the world where Argentine ants have been successfully eradicated, the culmination of 16 years of hard work by DOC staff and volunteers,” Ms Barry says.

New Zealand conservation will benefit from Budget 2016 with a wide range of funding commitments to protect native wildlife and landscapes, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

Suggestions from the Opposition and some NGOs there has been a cut in DOC’s budget are incorrect.

“In reacting to the Treasury documents released as part of Budget Day, the $472m figure for the final total Vote Conservation spend in 2015/16 has been compared with the starting figure for the Vote in 2016/17 - $430m.

Three major arts organisations will receive a funding boost in Budget 2016, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO), Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) and Te Matatini Kapa Haka Aotearoa will share $11.6 million of new operating funding over the next four years – a permanent increase of $2.9 million a year for the arts.

Budget 2016 provides $16 million of new operating funding over four years to tackle wilding conifers, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry say.

“These invasive trees are a major threat to our ecosystems, land and farms. They spread fast and are very hard to eradicate once established,” Mr Guy says.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has said bon voyage to the Million Dollar Mouse expedition sailing for Antipodes Island in the Sub-Antarctic on a mission to eradicate mice.

A supply ship leaves Timaru today carrying helicopters and equipment to join a passenger yacht already on its way. A 13-strong team of experts including pilots, engineers and eradication specialists are on board the two vessels.