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United Kingdom Foreign Secretary William Hague will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully announced today.

“I look forward to welcoming Mr Hague to New Zealand for the second time in two years,” Mr McCully says.

Mr McCully and Mr Hague will hold formal bilateral talks in Auckland on January 15.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

The introduction of time limits for learner and restricted licences is part of this Government’s continuing focus on the safety of young and novice drivers, Associate Minister of Transport Simon Bridges announced today.

“The Government intends to limit learner and restricted licence periods to five years to encourage drivers to move through the Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDLS),” said Mr Bridges.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Health Minister Tony Ryall welcomes the news that over 2,000 people have signed up with Quitline in the first week of January and urges other smokers to contact Quitline for support to quit smoking.

“Smoking kills an estimated 5000 people in New Zealand every year. It’s pleasing so many people have started the new year with the goal to quit smoking,” says Mr Ryall.

“By raising the tobacco tax each year and offering more people help to quit smoking, this government has created a turning point in the campaign against tobacco.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges says the record low holiday road toll is encouraging but efforts need to continue to improve road safety.

Six people died on the roads during the official holiday period which ran from 4pm on 24 December to 6am this morning.

During the Christmas and New Year period last year 19 people were killed, 65 seriously injured and 335 received minor injuries. Injury statistics for the 2012/13 holiday period will take several months to finalise.

The lowest road toll recorded previously was 8 in 1959/60.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

The provisional road toll for 2012 is 306, Associate Minister of Transport Simon Bridges announced today.  This compares with 284 in 2011, 375 in 2010, and 385 in 2009.  This year’s road roll is the second lowest in the last 60 years.

“Although the 2012 toll is one of the lowest on record, I’m saddened that it is an increase on the 2011 toll,” says Mr Bridges.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport