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Three months since opening, the new He Tohu exhibition at the National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, is delivering on its purpose to engage more people with New Zealand’s key constitutional documents.

With a focus on providing New Zealanders with easy access to public services, the government’s Result Action Plan released today will see 80% of the transactions for the twenty most common public services completed digitally by 2021.  

Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Peter Dunne has today announced moves to improve transparency about the number of people gaining New Zealand Citizenship through exceptional circumstances.

The Department of Internal Affairs will be publishing six-monthly figures showing the number of grants made under the exceptional circumstances contained in section 9(1)(c) of the Citizenship Act 1977.

These figures are available from today.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has today welcomed the removal of a range of controls on cannabidiol (CBD), calling the changes an important step in New Zealand’s continued implementation of a compassionate, innovative and proportionate drug policy.

The changes, to come into effect in early September will see CBD, a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, no longer subject to a range of conditions that other controlled drugs are required to adhere to.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne today announced a new record figure of $272 million in lottery funding to help build stronger, more sustainable communities across New Zealand.

The funding is a result of a very strong 2016/17 financial year for Lotto New Zealand.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Associate Minister Peter Dunne have announced that, following a successful trial, the Ministry of Health will extend its funding for the Suicide Mortality Review Committee (SuMRC).

“Our suicide rate is too high, particularly the rates for youth and specifically Maori and Pacific young people,” says Dr Coleman.

“Although wider interventions and support have been made available, there is always more we can do.

This year’s Conference theme is “Growing the Business”, with a focus on how the Deerstalkers Association can grow and therefore have more influence on decisions affecting the wider hunting community.

Mr Dunne told delegates he welcomed and encouraged this focus.

”Deerstalkers are a significant part of the hunting community, and therefore should play a major part in issues like hunter safety and education, and firearms licensing and control.

Today The Fletcher School at Tufts University in Boston released their latest Digital Evolution Index which, again, puts New Zealand as a standout nation. The report identifies New Zealand as among the digital elites characterised by high levels of digital development and a fast rate of digital evolution.

"I am delighted to see that New Zealand is, for the second time, at the top of the world when it comes to the outstanding progress we have achieved in providing government services to our citizens via digital platforms.

The new caller location system for 111 mobile phone calls has already made a significant impact in the two months it has been up and running, say Police Minister Paula Bennett, Communications Minister Simon Bridges and Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne.

The system automatically provides emergency services with the probable location of a caller when they dial 111 from a mobile phone, enabling police, fire and ambulance services to respond more quickly.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says that statistics provided to him by the Ministry of Health show progress is being made in improving access to cannabis-based products.

“Since 2014, 167 applications have been approved by either me or the Ministry of Health, compared to just 43 in the six years prior.

“For the same period, the average processing time for applications has dropped from a peak of 27 days in 2014, to 13.4 days in 2017.

It is my great pleasure to welcome you all this morning to the Healthy Drug Law Parliamentary Symposium, and to our sponsor, the New Zealand Drug Foundation.

I thank Alison for her warm introduction.

Alison has taken a strong interest on drug issues for some time now, and she and I have spoken on it relatively frequently – I cannot think of a better Chair for this event.

Today we have come from all corners of the world to work together on shifting attitudes and responses to drug issues.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne today launched the second service designed around significant events in the lives of New Zealanders.

“’Te Hokinga ā Wairua - End of Life Service' is a source of expert, trusted and accessible information to help guide people facing the loss of a loved one and also allows people to record their preferences ahead of time to make it easier on those they will leave behind.

Good morning, Kia ora tatou everyone.

Thank you for the opportunity to be here, on this momentous day in New Zealand’s firefighting history, to mark the establishment of Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

Firstly, I want to acknowledge a few special guests:

The launch of Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) today marks a major and historic step on the path to a truly world class emergency response service for New Zealand says Internal Affairs Minister Hon Peter Dunne, who is in Ashburton attending a launch event, one of a number across the nation, to celebrate this occasion.

“The historic change will see more than 14,000 firefighters brought into one national organisation for the first time.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne today announced the reappointment of Dr Gareth Schott and Sandy Gill as members of the Film and Literature Board of Review, for new three-year terms along with the appointment of Rachael Schmidt-McCleave as President.

“Ms Schmidt-McCleave will bring expertise in public law and public decision-making, governance and mediation. The reappointments will also maintain the Board’s diverse range of film, art, law and psychology expertise.

Kia ora and good evening everyone.

Welcome to all of you to celebrate the achievement of some significant milestones in Government’s digital journey, which you have all had a part in delivering over the past five years.

Through the Better Public Services Programme and Functional Leadership, Ministers set some ambitious goals.

I am delighted to see how far we have come – in the way we use technology, in the services provided to our citizens and the way we are working collaboratively across Government.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne says the growing popularity of services designed to prove who you are online and to get your baby off to the best start is evidence of strong progress being made to make digital government a reality for New Zealanders.

“RealMe built up 200,000 verified users over its first two and a half years but achieving the 300,000 mark only took a further seven months and now people are using their secure, trusted and verified online identities up to 24,000 times per month during peak periods.

Budget 2017 has committed $12 million over four years to fund the infrastructure needed to fluoridate more drinking water, say Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne.

“While New Zealand’s oral health has improved dramatically over the last 30 years, we still have high rates of preventable tooth decay,” says Dr Coleman.

“Public drinking water currently supplies about 85 per cent of the population. Of those on public water supplies, 54 per cent receive fluoridated water.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says New Zealand is to remove restrictions around cannabidiol (CBD), in line with international developments.

CBD is a substance found in cannabis that has potential therapeutic value. It has little or no psychoactive properties, yet it is currently a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

“At present CBD products for therapeutic use are only available if approval is given by the Ministry of Health.

Associate Conservation Minister Hon Peter Dunne today announced new appointments to the Game Animal Council (GAC). The GAC was established in 2013 for the management of game herds (deer, tahr, chamois and pigs) throughout New Zealand.

“I am pleased to announce that I am appointing three new members to the Council, Richard Burdon, Rachael Dean and Stephen Hall, who will join six sitting Councillors,” said Mr Dunne.

The full Council membership is :

The Government is investing $3.4 million of new operating funding over the next four years in Budget 2017 to complete works for the Pitt Island Wharf resilience programme on the Chatham Islands.

“The Pitt Island Wharf is an indispensable lifeline asset for the island’s small population of approximately 50 to be able to travel to Chatham Island. In early 2015, the newly-redeveloped Pitt Island Wharf was severely damaged by a series of storms,” Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne says.