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The latest National Health Target results show more New Zealanders are getting help to quit smoking and getting checked to see if they are at risk of developing diabetes or heart disease.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the latest results reflect the government’s strong focus on prevention and improving the health of New Zealanders.

The Waimahia Inlet housing development at Weymouth consisting of 282 homes at the Government's first Special Housing Area is a flagship of the Government's new housing policies, Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith said today.

The National-led Government is increasing the rest home bed subsidy by $10 million a year – a 5 per cent increase – as part of the government's ongoing plan to meet the changing needs of our population.

Health Minister Tony Ryall today announced a $40 million funding boost over the next four years for aged residential care and dementia services. The extra funding was earmarked in Budget 2014.

A visit to Hobsonville Point was made today by Prime Minister John Key and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith to highlight the opportunities for the Government's new KiwiSaver HomeStart package to improve home ownership for Aucklanders.

The arrival of around 2000 top international scientists and researchers in Auckland later this month will make New Zealand the focus of the world science community, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce says.

The scientists are in New Zealand for a series of meetings to be held under the umbrella of World Science Week New Zealand.  The week brings together a range of major international science summits alongside a series of public science lectures.    

Minister Tim Groser travels to Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, this week to participate in a series of annual regional trade meetings.  He will also attend the Sixth Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations in Bali, Indonesia.

The Government is doubling support for first home buyers to help tens of thousands more young New Zealanders into home ownership and encourage the building of more affordable new homes, Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

“This new package will help about 90,000 lower and middle income first home buyers over the next five years. It will ensure more New Zealanders are able to attain the dream of owning their own home, giving families greater security and building stronger communities,” Dr Smith says.

The package comprises three changes:

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today welcomed an agreement with the union representing around 18,000 secondary school teachers to support the $359 million initiative to lift student achievement.

The Post Primary Teachers’ Association has today reached an interim agreement with the Ministry of Education and the NZ School Trustees Association on how the teaching roles will work as part of the Investing in Educational Success initiative.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has today announced the appointment of Dr Margaret Wilsher as the replacement crown monitor for Capital and Coast District Health Board (DHB).

Dr Wilsher replaces Debbie Chin, who was appointed acting chief executive by the DHB last year.

“Dr Wilsher is the Chief Medical Officer at Auckland District Health Board and a Respiratory Physician who has experience working both in the public and private sectors.

Tūhoe whenua
Tūhoe tangata
Te mana motuhake o Tūhoe
Mihi mai, whakatau mai

(Tūhoe land
Tūhoe people
The special mana of Tūhoe
Greet(us) Welcome (us))

Te reo Maori has many wonderful sayings, for example:

"Whaia te iti kahurangi
ki te tuohu koe
Me he maunga teitei"

Translated, I believe it means:

"Persue the treasures of your heart
If you should stoop let it be to a lofty mountain."

Tūhoe hosted the Crown at a ‘Settlement Day’ ceremony in Taneatua to celebrate the recent passage of Tūhoe Treaty settlement legislation today, with several thousand iwi members joining Crown representatives for the celebration. 

At the ceremony Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson delivered the Crown’s formal apology to Tūhoe for breaches of the Crown’s obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi. 

Good afternoon.

I’d like to thank you for the invitation to be a part of the Midwinter Dialogues series here at the University of Otago in Christchurch.

It has been three years since I last spoke to you all, and much has happened since then.  In 2011, the Christchurch rebuild was forefront in our minds. 

Once more, I want to thank the health professionals and students in this room for your leadership and hard work during such a challenging time.  And the challenges are still ongoing.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says the arrival of the first two new Air Force T-6C pilot training aircraft is an important milestone.

“It is great to see the first T-6C aircraft arrive in New Zealand just seven months after Beechcraft Defense Company was awarded the contract to deliver a new effective military pilot training system,” says Dr Coleman.

Associate Minister of Tourism Todd McClay today announced the opening of an $8 million, four year funding round to enhance and maintain the Great Rides of Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

“This Government is investing in improving our tourism infrastructure to make sure high-value visitors have a great experience and New Zealand remains a top tourist destination,” Mr McClay says.

New Zealand’s international education industry has seen its strongest January to April enrolment period on record with an 8 per cent increase, or an additional 5,100 international student enrolments on the same period last year.

“Sustained hard work by the whole sector has halted a two year decline in student enrolments and resulted in record number of students choosing New Zealand as their study destination,” Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce has welcomed the announcement that Kathmandu will become the second large private sector company to headquarter itself in Christchurch's new innovation precinct.

Kathmandu announced today it will locate its new worldwide head office within the Precinct, and will be bringing in over 150 staff including its product design, systems and online development teams to the central city location.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says important progress has been made on the $359 million initiative to improve student achievement with several secondary schooling sector groups reaching agreements with the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry has reached agreements with the organisations that represent the principals of the 339 secondary schools in New Zealand, and the NZ School Trustees Association which represents those Boards of Trustees and parents, on how the new principal roles will work as part of Investing in Educational Success.

Around 330 future Kiwi innovators will be able to benefit from R&D Student Grants announced today by Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce.

The Government has this year made more than $4 million worth of R&D Student Grants available through Callaghan Innovation to 154 businesses to hire up to 328 students with science, technology, engineering, design, or business degrees to do R&D-related work experience.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the dignitaries and leaders that will visit New Zealand on-route to the Small Island Developing States Conference in Samoa from 1-4 September.

“The United Nations Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference takes place once every ten years and Samoa hosting the event is an opportunity for the Pacific region to set the global agenda,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to Nadi tomorrow to meet with Fiji’s Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.

“My meeting with Minister Kabuabola will focus on foreign policy discussions, regional issues, and Fiji’s ongoing preparations for elections on 17 September,” Mr McCully says.

“It is an opportunity to get Fiji’s perspective on the work that is going into preparing for the ballot, and whether there are further areas where New Zealand can assist.

Budgeting services now have the opportunity to apply for extra funding to support their work with low income New Zealanders, with a $2 million funding round open for applications. 

“Budgeting services work alongside some of the most vulnerable people in the community, providing the advice and financial skills they need to get ahead, and stay out of debt,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says the opening of the first drug screening laboratory at the border will dramatically speed up analysis of unknown substances, saving time and money for Customs.

The $250,000 lab was officially opened by Prime Minister John Key today at Customs’ Auckland Airport facility.  It has been built and equipped from the first proceeds of crime funding allocation. 

Associate ACC Minister Craig Foss today announced a $9.2 million boost to emergency ambulance services which will improve service response times, increase the number of frontline paramedics and provide better tailored patient care.

ACC is moving to a new bulk funding model and is increasing their contribution to emergency ambulance services from $53.9 million in 2013/14 to $63.1 million in 2014/15.

A trust dedicated to protecting kiwi in eastern Coromandel has been awarded $25,000 for predator control, Associate Conservation Minister Nicky Wagner has announced.

The grant from the Community Conservation Partnership Fund will allow the Whenuakiwi Trust to continue its successful kiwi care project at Whenuakite by hiring a contractor to target predators such as possums and rats.