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Transport Minister Steven Joyce has signed a rule aimed at improving safety in the commercial adventure aviation industry.

“New Zealanders love their extreme sports, and we are a top adventure tourism destination. It is important that we have systems in place to ensure these activities are safe,” says Mr Joyce.

New regulations governing the commercial adventure tourism and outdoor education industries have been finalised and will take effect from November 1.

Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson says while the majority of organisations within the industries already have safety as a top priority, the regulations will ensure consistency across operators and strengthen our international reputation.

The Crown and Whanganui iwi have signed a Record of Understanding which will act as the foundation for negotiating a settlement of historical grievances associated with the Whanganui River, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson and Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

“This is a commitment by both parties to work together to settle grievances which iwi have tried to have addressed by the Crown and the Courts since 1873.

A bill that introduces criminal sanctions to deter hard-core cartel behaviour was introduced to Parliament today by Commerce Minister Simon Power.

“Cartels, by their nature, are secretive and often go undetected, causing substantial harm to businesses, consumers, and the government sector,” Mr Power said.

“Ultimately everyone suffers: increasing costs of production affect the competitiveness of companies in domestic and international markets, while consumers unwittingly pay inflated prices.

A bill that tightens rules around company directors and company registration was introduced to Parliament today by Commerce Minister Simon Power.

“New Zealand has an international reputation as one of the best and most trusted places in the world to do business,” Mr Power said.

“However, that is threatened by overseas interests using New Zealand-registered shell companies to undertake criminal activity.

A bill to establish a full-time Disability Rights Commissioner who will promote and protect the rights of disabled people was introduced to Parliament today by Justice Minister Simon Power.

“Having a dedicated Disability Rights Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission reinforces this Government’s commitment to promoting and monitoring mechanisms that will really make a difference to the lives of disabled people,” Mr Power said.

A bill that re-directs to victims of crime all compensation paid to prisoners was introduced to Parliament today by Justice Minister Simon Power.

The Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (Redirecting Prisoner Compensation) Amendment Bill provides that any compensation awarded to a prisoner and not paid to the direct victims must be used to fund general services for victims of crime.

The Government supports Health Select Committee recommendations around the early detection and treatment of prostate cancer which rule out a national screening programme at this stage.

It also backs HSC recommendations for the development of evidence based information and resources for men, so they can make informed decisions about prostate testing.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says, "I am aware that many men in New Zealand find the issue of prostate cancer management confusing and inconsistent."

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is delighted to announce an increase in numbers of social workers both in schools and on the frontline.

“Protecting children is an absolute priority and we need enough qualified social workers focused exclusively on children to do that,” says Ms Bennett.

“We’re answering the call from low decile schools to provide specialist support for children and we’re also boosting frontline social workers to cope with increasing notifications and findings of abuse,” says Ms Bennett.

I've been to Tauranga again this afternoon and I want to give you an update on the situation there.

As many of you will know, a container ship grounded on the Astrolabe reef, east of Tauranga, last Wednesday. It was carrying 1360 20-foot containers and had 1700 tonnes of heavy diesel oil on board.

As of about 6pm today, an estimated 350 tonnes of oil has leaked into the sea, some of which has reached Tauranga's beaches. Some of the containers have fallen overboard and there are large cracks in the ship which could cause the ship to sink.

ACC levy reductions of more than half a billion dollars a year for workers and businesses have been approved with ACC declaring a healthy surplus for the last year of $3.5 billion.

“These levy reductions will save households $340 million a year and businesses $247 million a year. This is money that will go back into the pockets of hard working New Zealanders and will assist with our economic recovery,” ACC Minister Nick Smith said.

More than half a billion dollars a year is spent by the public health service on diagnosing and treating cancer and this is set to increase more than 20 per cent by 2021.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says, "The Ministry of Health report, Price of Cancer, tells New Zealand for the first time how much taxpayers are paying for the care of people with cancers.

"Identifying each cancer when it is diagnosed and how much it costs to treat, makes it easier to see where future cost pressures are likely and how best to manage them.

The four year bowel screening pilot has been launched by National MP, Dr Jackie Blue on behalf of Health Minister Tony Ryall at Waitemata DHB in Auckland today.

The $24 million pilot will provide vital information which will help determine whether a bowel screening programme should be rolled out nationally.

Mr Ryall says, "This is an important milestone for New Zealand. We know from overseas experience that bowel screening can help save lives.

A world-class facility in Auckland that will house business incubators, research and development institutions, and business development providers, was announced today by Science and Innovation Minister Wayne Mapp and Auckland Mayor Len Brown.

“The Wynyard Quarter Innovation Precinct will connect entrepreneurs and businesses to international investors and partners,” said Dr Mapp. “It will also be a landing pad for overseas investors looking to connect with New Zealand knowledge-intensive companies.”

A bill which overhauls securities law to improve financial market conduct and restore investor confidence in New Zealand’s financial markets was introduced to Parliament today by Commerce Minister Simon Power.

The 560-page Financial Markets Conduct Bill is the result of a comprehensive review of securities law and takes into account the work of the Capital Markets Development Taskforce, the effects of the global financial crisis, and the failure of finance companies.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Judith Collins today presented a $2000 education grant to the inaugural winner of a nationwide multimedia contest commemorating the Battle of Passchendaele.

Whangaparaoa College student Eve Bain, 17, received the prize from the Minister at a ceremony at Auckland Museum marking the 94th anniversary of the battle.

The competition was launched by Ms Collins to commemorate the Battle of Passchendaele which was fought in Belgium as part of the Allied offensive on the Western Front in 1917.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has announced the next step in the Government’s work to attract high-calibre candidates into teaching as a career.

“Effective teaching has the biggest impact on results for students, and this starts with recruiting high-quality teachers,” says Mrs Tolley.

“We are concentrating on recruiting quality New Zealand candidates into teaching, in a targeted approach which will focus on maths and science teaching, alongside Maori medium, bilingual education and specialist secondary teachers of te reo Maori.

Recommendations in the interim report from the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission of Inquiry will support and assist the rebuild of Christchurch, Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson says.

Mr Williamson welcomed the report, which was released today.

Recommendations in the report cover such matters as soil analysis and appropriate foundation design, changes to some structural design standards and construction practices, and use of new building technologies.

The interim report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure caused by Canterbury Earthquakes has been released today by the Attorney-General, Christopher Finlayson.

Under its terms of reference, the Royal Commission of Inquiry was required to make an interim report report by 11 October, in advance of its findings in April 2012.

The interim report was presented by the Royal Commission of Inquiry to the Governor-General on Monday.

New Zealand has welcomed the release of the UNAMA report on detainees in Afghanistan.

“We have checked our procedures since we became aware of this report in early September and are confident that we have robust systems in place,” said Dr Mapp.

“New Zealand has a legal officer at the NATO/ISAF headquarters in Kabul to ensure that proper monitoring occurs,” said Dr Mapp.

The Government has recognised the need for ongoing support of earthquake-ravaged Cantabrians and extended two temporary measures introduced after the September 2010 earthquake for a further year, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

Interest on late payments
Inland Revenue has the discretion to remit interest on late payments where people were unable to meet their obligations because of the earthquake extended.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has today convened meetings in the residential orange zone with geotechnical engineers and officials in order to get clarity around the myriad of complexities that need to be sorted before rezoning can occur.

Mr Brownlee said he understood the growing frustration of those in residential orange zones, but despite a huge effort to date by hundreds of engineers and officials to find workable solutions the rezoning decisions were proving extremely complex.

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today welcomed the introduction of the Local Electoral Amendment Bill to Parliament, prior to its dissolution on 20 October 2011.

Earthquake Commission (EQC) levies will rise early next year to help rebuild the commission's Natural Disaster Fund (NDF) and to more realistically reflect EQC's operating costs, Finance Minister Bill English says.

"The Government is committed to rebuilding Christchurch and supporting the people of Canterbury," Mr English says.

"The levy increase is a responsible step to ensure EQC can meet its long-term costs and continue to provide disaster cover around the rest of New Zealand in a sustainable way.