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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.

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.

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.

Prime Minister John Key has today announced the President of the Republic of Hungary, János Áder, will visit New Zealand from November 13-16.

“I am delighted to welcome the President in his first official visit to New Zealand,” says Mr Key.

“His visit comes on the 60th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution. This is a significant occasion in our shared history as New Zealand welcomed 1,100 refugees from Hungary at the time who then went on to contribute so much to New Zealand life.

Prime Minister John Key today announced that New Zealand will strengthen its political, security and economic relationship with India, following a meeting with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

“It is important we work together with likeminded countries to enhance regional prosperity and stability and working more closely with India, which is playing an increasingly important role in global and regional affairs, will build on our efforts to do this,” Mr Key says.

Figures released today show tourism contributed $14.5 billion to the New Zealand economy in the year to March 2016, says Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key.

“Exceptional growth in the sector has generated around 6,600 new tourism jobs in the year to March 2016, and the industry now accounts for 20.7 per cent of export earnings,” says Mr Key.

United States Navy ship, the USS Sampson, has been given clearance to visit New Zealand next month by Prime Minister John Key.

“I am pleased to announce that the USS Sampson, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, will attend the Royal New Zealand Navy’s International Naval Review in November,” Mr Key says.

“Under New Zealand’s nuclear free legislation I am required to be satisfied that any foreign military ship entering New Zealand is not nuclear armed.

Public attitudes to road safety have been put under the spotlight, revealing some encouraging trends as well as some worrying behaviour, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

The 2016 Public Attitudes to Road Safety survey, released on the Ministry of Transport website today, shows public support for road safety advertising and police enforcement remains high but it doesn’t always translate into safe driving behaviour.

A free Business.govt.nz online tool is proving extremely popular, generating an employment agreement for New Zealand businesses every 12 minutes, with a 95 per cent satisfaction rating, Small Business Minister Craig Foss says.

“In New Zealand every employee must have a written employment agreement outlining important contractual details such as hours of work and rate of pay,” Mr Foss says.

Almost $15 million dollars seized from criminals will be invested in anti-drug initiatives, with more funding for Police and Customs and a greater focus on treatment for drug abusers, Prime Minister John Key says.

This year’s funding is the highest-ever allocated under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act as authorities continue to clamp down on illegal activity, and will fund the Government’s ongoing efforts to combat the scourge of methamphetamine and other drugs.

Prime Minister John Key today confirmed Fiji Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama will visit New Zealand from 19 - 23 October.

“This will be Prime Minister Bainimarama’s first official visit to New Zealand as Fiji’s Prime Minister,” Mr Key says.

“I look forward to welcoming him, following my own visit to Fiji in June.

“New Zealand and Fiji have strong ties in a range of areas, and the Prime Minister’s visit presents a further opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest.”  

Prime Minister John Key will lead a high-level business and education delegation to India next week, visiting Mumbai, New Delhi and Kochi.

“India is a key partner for New Zealand. It is a leading source of skilled migrants, international students and tourists, and in the five years since I last visited our two way trade has grown by 41 per cent to $2.4 billion,” Mr Key says.

Prime Minister John Key says his thoughts are with the people of Thailand following the death of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

“King Bhumibol was the world’s longest serving monarch and presided over a period of transformative growth and development that saw Thailand emerge as a regional leader and one of South East Asia’s major economies,” says Mr Key.

“During his reign, New Zealand and Thailand developed a close and friendly relationship, built on a shared desire for peace and security in our region.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is encouraging boaties to get on board this Safer Boating Week.

“The theme for the week is Prep, Check, Know — prep your boat, check your gear and know the rules before you get on the water,” Mr Foss says.

“Labour Weekend, the traditional start of the recreational boating season, is right around the corner so now is the perfect time to make sure you’re prepared.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Craig Foss says that along with other countries around the world today, New Zealand is marking the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction.

“The United Nations International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction is observed each year in October to raise the profile of disaster risk reduction,” says Mr Foss.

“Countries choose their own theme to recognise the day, and here in New Zealand our focus this year is on ‘prepared kids’.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Craig Foss today announced 18-year-old Mina Bixley as the winner of the 2016 Battle of Passchendaele Multi-Media Competition.

Mina, from Tauhara College in Taupo, won a $2000 education grant for her animated short film Passchendaele on a Personal Scale.

“Mina’s moving entry illustrates the personal nature of remembrance. It also captures the very essence of the competition — ensuring New Zealand’s sacrifice on the Western Front is not forgotten,” Mr Foss says.

The Mt Roskill by-election will be held on Saturday 3 December, Prime Minister John Key confirmed today.

“I have been advised that given that Mr Goff’s resignation will take effect on 12 October, it is now appropriate to set a date for the by-election,” says Mr Key.

“The by-election Writ Day will be 2 November. The deadline for candidate nominations to be received will be midday on 8 November, and the last day for the return of the Writ will be 22 December.”

More than a million people used the New Zealand Cycle Trail last year, generating around $37 million in economic benefits for local communities, according to a new report released today by Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key.

The evaluation the New Zealand Cycle Trail, includes an independent cost benefit analysis showing that for every dollar attributable to construction and maintenance of the trails, approximately $3.55 of benefits was generated.

A $15 million road safety engineering programme designed to help keep all road users safe on key tourist routes in the South Island has got the green light, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

The funding is part of the $25 million road safety package for visiting drivers announced by the Government late last year.  

“We want all visiting drivers to experience New Zealand as a safe, attractive and accessible place,” Mr Foss says.

Prime Minister John Key has today congratulated Antonio Guterres on becoming the next United Nations Secretary-General.

“We look forward to working with Antonio Guterres. He is a friend of New Zealand,” says Mr Key.

"He has solid credentials. He is the former head of government for Portugal and was the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for ten years. 

“The role of UN Secretary-General is more important than ever and we have high expectations of him.”

Mr Key says he is obviously disappointed for Helen Clark.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Craig Foss has directed the Veterans’ Advisory Board (VAB) to consider New Zealand’s repatriation policy and provide advice to him.

New Zealand has a longstanding policy of not repatriating the bodies of military personnel who died while serving overseas between 1948 and mid-1970.

“While successive governments have maintained this policy, it has become increasingly clear that the rationale behind it needs further investigation,” Mr Foss says.

Prime Minister John Key has today announced New Zealand will establish a diplomatic post in Sri Lanka, and welcomed news that Sri Lanka will establish a post in New Zealand.

Mr Key met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Auckland this morning.

“Prime Minister Wickremsinghe’s visit to New Zealand follows my visit to Sri Lanka in February and shows the commitment of both our governments to strengthen the relationship between our two countries.

Prime Minister John Key today released further details of the visit to New Zealand on 7-9 November by Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.

“The visit by Their Majesties is a reflection of the strong ties, shared values and interests between our two countries,” Mr Key says.

Their Majesties will be welcomed with a formal ceremony by the Governor-General at Government House in Wellington on Monday 7 November, before laying a wreath at Pukeahu National War Memorial and paying a visit to the Great War Exhibition.