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Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister John Banks today announced the first Partnership Schools | Kura Hourua.

Minister Parata says Partnership Schools offer a new, innovative and dynamic approach to engaging students in education.

“They will help young Kiwis be the best they can be by helping raise aspirations and encouraging them to succeed,” she says.

 Minister for Small Business John Banks today congratulated Chia Limited, the Supreme Winner of Business.govt.nz’s ANZ Flying Start Business Plan Competition.  

Chia Limited produces naturally flavoured bottled drinks containing the chia seed, a natural ‘superfood’ that is a rich source of vegetable Omega 3, complete protein, minerals, electrolytes, fibre, and antioxidants.

The Nelson-based company is co-owned by father and daughter Ben and Chloe Van Dyke, who both share a passion for health and sport.

Small Business Minister John Banks today welcomed the Government’s progress towards the introduction of a unique New Zealand Business Number for each of the 550,000 businesses on the Companies Register.

 Labour MP Chris Hipkins is wrong - Partnership Schools | Kura Hourua will be subject to the new child protection policies announced yesterday, Associate Education Minister John Banks said today.

“The Vulnerable Children’s Bill will require all Crown-funded or Crown-contracted organisations who work with children – which includes Partnership Schools - to comply with the vetting and screening requirements of the legislation,” Mr Banks said.

Small Business Minister John Banks today congratulated the 51 entrants of the ANZ Flying Start Business Plan Competition who have made it through to Stage 2.

“To those 51 entrants, well done – you’ve proven innovation is alive and well in New Zealand,” Mr Banks said.  

“To those who didn’t make the cut this year, don’t be put off.  Perseverance is just as important in getting a business off the ground as having a good idea in the first place. 

Labour MP David Clark’s claim that the number of new start-up businesses has fallen fails to understand the reality of the Global Financial Crisis, Minister for Small Business John Banks said today.

“While the total number of start-ups has fallen since 2007, 92 per cent of those closures were zero-employee firms – in other words the self-employed,” Mr Banks said.

Good evening; I am very pleased to welcome you all to the beautiful Trentham Racecourse here in Upper Hutt.  I know that having this ‘Biz’ event will inspire you to greater things in your business.

Upper Hutt has a fine reputation of innovative SMEs in high value goods manufacturing and exporting, thanks to firms such as TenderRest and VenTech Systems.
The speakers that have agreed to present at these events are inspirational and I would like to acknowledge Tenby Powell, convenor of the Government’s Small Business Development Group.  

The passing of the third and final reading of the Education Amendment Bill in Parliament this afternoon, paves the way for the first Partnership Schools | Kura Hourua to open at the start of the next school year.

Associate Education Minister John Banks says Partnership Schools | Kura Hourua will improve the life chances of students who are currently being left behind.

Budget 2013 will provide $19 million in contingency funding to establish the first Partnership Schools/Kura Hourua with a focus on accountability and high educational outcomes for New Zealand children.

The initiative will see a small number of schools established, with greater freedom and flexibility to innovate and engage their students in return for stronger accountability for delivering educational results, Associate Education Minister John Banks says.

Small Business Minister John Banks says SME owners looking to grow their business should enter the ANZ Flying Start Business Plan Competition run by Business.govt.nz. 

The competition – now in its third consecutive year - seeks out the best business plans from businesses and start-ups across New Zealand with an annual turnover of less than $1 million.  There is $80,000 worth of prizes up for grabs. 

Minister for Small Business John Banks is encouraging small business owners to apply for the Prime Minister’s Business Scholarships. 

Metiria Turei’s claim that Te Kotahitanga funding is being canned to fund Partnership Schools has no basis in fact, Associate Minister of Education John Banks said today.

“Ms Turei’s claim is akin to saying that government environmental programmes are being canned to pay for the Greens’ $50,000 parliamentary funded asset sales referendum. It’s an absurdly long stretch of the bow to connect the two,” Mr Banks said.

Regulatory Reform Minister John Banks today announced that the Government has agreed to two new initiatives to improve New Zealand’s regulatory performance.

 The two initiatives are:

• More active regulatory stewardship
• Improved disclosure for legislation and regulation

 “Government agencies need to continue to improve their regulatory performance to ensure higher living standards for all New Zealanders,” Mr Banks says.    

Small Business Minister John Banks today released the factsheet ‘Small Businesses in New Zealand’ that highlights the significant contribution small and medium-sized firms make to New Zealand’s economy.

The factsheet is a summary of results from recent Statistics New Zealand surveys relating to small and medium enterprises.  It shows that smaller businesses dominate our industries and play their part in generating jobs, innovation and overseas income.

Key results include:

Associate Education Minister John Banks today gave Labour’s Chris Hipkins an F for comprehension due to his poor understanding of the Government’s Partnership School draft contract.

“Mr Hipkins made a number of claims and got his facts wrong on every count,” Mr Banks said.

Claim:  The Government is preparing to throw large sums of taxpayer cash at Partnership Schools even before legislation allowing for them has been passed into law.

Associate Education Minister John Banks today announced the establishment and appointment of members to the independent Partnership Schools Authorisation Board.

The role of the Board is to evaluate applications for Partnership Schools and make recommendations to the Minister of Education on which applications should be considered for contract negotiations.  No final recommendations will be made by the Board until the Parliamentary process is complete.