Displaying 1 - 24 of 35 results.

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows today announced the expansion of education services in youth justice residences, to provide on-going education over the summer break.

Up until now, schools at residences followed the standard term breaks of any other school. Now, there will be structured educational programmes except for two weeks over Christmas.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Hekia Parata
  • Social Development
  • Education

Courts Minister Chester Borrows today welcomed the resumption of the online publication of key Disputes Tribunal decisions.

“My number one goal as Minister for Courts has been to bring our courts and tribunals into the 21st century, and putting Disputes Tribunal decisions back online is another step on that journey,” says Mr Borrows.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Courts

Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows today announced the opening of applications to a new Government initiative that will make funding available for fresh new approaches to reducing offending by young people.

The new fund, part of the Government’s Youth Crime Action Plan, will provide grants to groups and organisations with innovative ideas for reducing youth crime.

“The way we work with communities on youth justice is a key part of the Action Plan,” says Mr Borrows.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Social Development
  • Justice

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley and Courts Minister Chester Borrows today welcomed the new audio visual link (AVL) connection linking New Plymouth Court with Whanganui Prison.

The new link is the first in a $27.8 million upgrade programme, which is expanding AVL links from the current four courts and four prisons to a total of 18 courts and 13 prisons by 2015.

Mrs Tolley says around 40,000 remand court appearances are made each year nationwide, and AVL will be used for more and more of those appearances as the rollout continues.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Anne Tolley
  • Courts
  • Corrections

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows is urging students to apply for their 2014 Student Loan and Allowance by Monday 16 December.

“This year StudyLink has been very clear that the best way for students to make sure their financial support is sorted when they start studying is by applying by December 16,” says Mr Borrows.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Social Development

Greater certainty around court scheduling will give parties more clarity as to their court dates and improve the way we use our court and judicial resources, says Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

“A court case can’t proceed without everyone present – lawyers, defendants, witnesses and a judge – and too often this results in delays in cases getting to court and courtrooms sitting idle,” says Mr Borrows.

“It takes too long to get a case through our criminal courts, and any unnecessary delay should not go unchecked.”

  • Chester Borrows
  • Courts

More than 5300 illegitimate benefits have now been stopped by enhanced information sharing between Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) says Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows.

These benefits were costing the taxpayer at least $56 million per year.

“While the vast majority of beneficiaries do the right thing and let us know about their circumstances it is disappointing to see that some people continue to break the law and take money they’re not entitled to,” says Mr Borrows.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Social Development

Courts Minister Chester Borrows says that the Government is determined to deliver a modern, electronic court.

“Transitioning our courts from their antiquated, paper-bound way of working into a modern, electronic model is a huge challenge that offers huge benefits for a faster court system,” says Mr Borrows.

“We’ve already made significant progress, with more and more court services now available online.  We’ve also learnt a lot about what we need, and what better technology can give us.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Courts

Courts Minister Chester Borrows will this week represent New Zealand at the Sixth Bali Democracy Forum, hosted by the Government of Indonesia.

The Forum will bring together Heads of State and ministers from 28 countries from around the world to discuss ways to strengthen democratic institutions across the region.

“New Zealand has a strong democratic history that is more than just a set of laws, but an integral part of our Kiwi culture,” says Mr Borrows.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Courts

Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows today released the Youth Crime Action Plan, which aims to reduce offending by children and young people over the next ten years.

“New Zealand’s youth justice system is one of the best in the world, but we can’t rest on our laurels,” says Mr Borrows.

“This plan brings together the gains we’ve made in youth justice recently, through initiatives like our Fresh Start reforms, Policing Excellence and the Children’s Action Plan, and looks at the gaps, challenges and opportunities that remain.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Social Development
  • Justice

Further improvements to make the coronial system clearer and easier for families were announced today by Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

The changes make it easier for the public to find out how coroners are appointed and how possible conflicts of interest are managed, improve sensitivity in the way families are consulted if tissue samples need to be retained following a post-mortem examination, and clarify when deaths of New Zealanders overseas need to be reported to a New Zealand coroner.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Courts

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows has welcomed the start of new measures to prevent beneficiaries who have previously ripped off Work and Income from cheating the system again.

“We know the overwhelming majority of beneficiaries are honest and follow the rules,” says Mr Borrows.

“Yet those very few who choose to defraud the system place a very real cost on a system which should be there to support our most vulnerable citizens.”

  • Chester Borrows
  • Social Development

Courts Minister Chester Borrows will depart for the United Kingdom today to address the Restorative Justice Council’s Annual General Meeting.

“Restorative justice is a growing field in responding to crime, with huge benefits for the victim and for society,” says Mr Borrows.

“The Restorative Justice Council’s AGM will be a great opportunity to share ideas and experiences with our international colleagues.”

  • Chester Borrows
  • Justice
  • Courts

Legislation to ensure that both parties in relationship welfare fraud are held to account passed its first reading in Parliament today.

“We know the overwhelming majority of beneficiaries are honest and follow the rules,” says Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows.

“Yet those very few who chose to defraud the system place a very real cost on a system which should be there to support our most vulnerable citizens.”

  • Chester Borrows
  • Social Development

New mandatory training regulations for the security industry announced today will ensure security personnel have the skills to do their job safely, says Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows.

“The security industry does an important job and the public rely on them for their safety,” says Mr Borrows.

“The new training requirements we’re announcing today will ensure security personnel have the skills they need to work safely and effectively.”

  • Chester Borrows
  • Justice

Another strong year for court collections has driven the level of fines and reparations owed to their lowest level in almost a decade, Courts Minister Chester Borrows announced today.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Courts

Courts Minister Chester Borrows has welcomed the return of jury trials to Dunedin with the temporary Dunedin Court complex in High Street set to open on Monday.

Parts of the Dunedin Courthouse were closed in December 2011 after a seismic assessment raised concerns about the building’s safety. Since the closure, jury trials have been held in Invercargill, while some court services operated out of John Wickliffe House and the former CIB building in Dunbar St.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Courts

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows has slammed opposition claims that welfare fraudsters are treated more severely than tax fraudsters.

“The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has a duty to take care with taxpayer money. When they find evidence someone has fraudulently taken money they are not entitled to, they will prosecute, and make no apologies for that,” says Mr Borrows.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Social Development

Enhanced information sharing between Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has identified and stopped 3139 illegitimate benefits in just six months, says Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows.

“While it is always disappointing to see some people are willing to break the law and take money they’re not entitled to, it happens, and we have a responsibility to the taxpayer to stop it,” says Mr Borrows.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Social Development

The Law Commission will review the rules governing the media’s reporting of suicide, Courts Minister Chester Borrows said today.

The Coroners Act 2006 currently restricts the information that can be made public about a self-inflicted death without the authorisation of the coroner.  Concern that some aspects of the restrictions are unclear was raised during the recent review of the Coroners Act.

“Media reporting of suicides is a delicate subject, and there are strong views as to the benefits and risks it can carry,” says Mr Borrows.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Courts

Major changes to the way courts operate from today will make them work better for people, by reducing unnecessary delay and allowing modern technology to be used, says Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

The changes, part of the Criminal Procedure Act, which passed with near unanimous support in Parliament in 2011, represent the largest overhaul of criminal procedure in 50 years.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Courts

Improvements to the coronial system, announced today following a targeted review of coroners, will make the process faster and more effective, says Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

The changes include improving coroners’ recommendations by making their scope more focused, strengthening the role of the Chief Coroner to improve timeliness and consistency in the system, and reducing effort spent on cases where a coronial investigation or inquest is unnecessary.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Courts

Courts Minister Chester Borrows officially reopened the Masterton courthouse today following a $3.5 million refurbishment and strengthening project.

“I want to acknowledge the support from our staff, the judiciary, local government, lawyers, Police and Corrections staff and other court users for their patience and support since we were forced to close the court,” Mr Borrows says.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Courts

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley and Courts Minister Chester Borrows have announced that safety and security is being enhanced with the expansion of audio-visual links (AVL) to a further 14 District Courts and nine prisons, allowing more prisoners to make court appearances while physically remaining inside the wire.

The $27.8 million expansion will take place over the next two years, with connected courts able to link with connected prisons anywhere in the country. 

  • Chester Borrows
  • Anne Tolley
  • Courts
  • Corrections