Displaying 25 - 48 of 2538 results.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has announced the establishment of a new alliance to repair State Highway 1 and the rail line north and south of Kaikoura.

The alliance, known as the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR), is being led by Duncan Gibb, formerly of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT). 

The alliance is made up of the NZ Transport Agency, KiwiRail, Fulton Hogan, Downer, Higgins and HEB Construction.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

An Order in Council will accelerate the reinstatement of State Highway 1 north of Kaikōura, says Transport Minister Simon Bridges.

The Governor-General signed the Order into force yesterday, ensuring work to restore the coastal road and rail route can progress in a timely fashion.

“We’re focused on reconnecting the communities of Kaikōura and the region as quickly as possible. The progress already being made can be accelerated further by recognising this as an emergency situation, and by cutting through red tape,” Mr Bridges says.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

State Highway 1 to the south of Kaikoura is now open to all traffic for daytime travel restoring direct state highway access to Kaikoura, Transport Minister Simon Bridges has announced.

“Re-establishing access to Kaikoura remains our number one priority. Road crews have been working 12 hour days, seven days a week to get the highway south of Kaikoura re-opened in time for the busy holiday period,” Mr Bridges says.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says DHBs and PHOs are working closely together to deliver system wide improvements and better health services for New Zealanders.

“All DHBs and PHOs now have improvement plans to help keep patients out of hospital, improve patients’ experience, and utilise prevention and early detection to avoid unnecessary or early deaths,” says Dr Coleman.

“Earlier this year I announced new system wide measures to move primary and secondary care performance measurements to an outcomes approach.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Education Minister Hekia Parata has thanked parents, teachers, principals, boards and support staff for their hard work, passion and commitment to ensuring that our students get a world-class education.

“As schools across the country wrap up lessons for the year, it is timely to pay tribute to all those involved in making sure Kiwi kids get the best education possible,” says Ms Parata.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

The Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee says discussions are continuing about the future of the ChristChurch Cathedral.

“The Cathedral Working Group was formed in June to consider restoration options for the earthquake-damaged cathedral,” Mr Brownlee says.

“The group delivered its final recommendation on November 28.

“Proposals from the working group were considered by Cabinet today however discussions continue with the Church Property Trustees.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Greater Christchurch Regeneration

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced the appointment of Sue Mackwell as High Commissioner in Papua New Guinea.

“New Zealand and Papua New Guinea enjoy a strong relationship, and we work closely together in the areas of sustainable economic development, agriculture, and renewable energy,” Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

The Mt Albert by-election will be held on Saturday 25 February, Prime Minister Bill English has confirmed.

“Following the resignation of MP David Shearer, which takes effect from 31 December, a by-election now needs to take place to fill the Mt Albert seat,” Mr English says.

“Today I’m announcing that the National Party will not be standing a candidate.

“The National Government is focussed on winning the 2017 General Election later in the year.

  • Bill English
  • Prime Minister

New improvements to biosecurity processing at Auckland Airport have been welcomed by Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy today.

“We are expecting the busiest summer ever for visitor arrivals so the Ministry for Primary Industries is now on high alert for biosecurity threats. These new measures will improve how we process and screen passengers for any extra, unwanted visitors,” says Mr Guy.

The changes include:

  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries

New Zealand is into its fifth straight year of strong growth in construction, with more than 30,000 homes consented in the year to October and record levels of commercial and infrastructure investment, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

  • Nick Smith
  • Building and Housing

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the roll-out of a new technician role in pharmacies is benefiting both pharmacists and patients.

“Pharmacists play an important part in helping to deliver faster more convenient healthcare,” says Dr Coleman.

“Many New Zealanders already benefit from the advice and care of their pharmacist. In order to help pharmacists spend more time with patients a new technician role has been developed.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Internal Affairs Minister Hon Peter Dunne today announced that the $2.7 million profit from the 10 December 2016 Special Lotto draw has been allocated to a Lottery Grants Board Subcommittee set up especially to provide immediate assistance with earthquake recovery activity that is not business and/or employment support.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Internal Affairs

Prime Minister Bill English has today announced his new Cabinet line-up which builds on the success of the last eight years and provides new ideas and energy heading into election year.

“Over the last eight years National has provided a strong and stable Government which is delivering strong results for New Zealanders,” says Mr English.

“This refreshed Ministerial team builds on that success and provides a mix of new people, alongside experienced Ministers either continuing their roles or taking up new challenges.

  • Bill English
  • Prime Minister

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner announced today that over 20 million people have used Customs’ eGates since their introduction in 2009.

“Each week approximately 105,000 passengers self-process when crossing our border and this number is expected to continue to grow with the increasing volume of visitors to New Zealand,” Ms Wagner says.

“Visitor arrivals to New Zealand are expected to grow 5.4 per cent a year, reaching 4.5 million visitors in 2022 from 3.1 million in 2015.

  • Nicky Wagner
  • Customs

The public has one week left to make a submission on new proposals to modernise and future-proof New Zealand’s fisheries management system, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

“The Future of our Fisheries is a major programme of work to improve the sustainable, long-term benefits enjoyed by all New Zealanders,” says Mr Guy.

  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae will be New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

“The appointment of Sir Jerry Mateparae as our High Commissioner in London underlines the significance New Zealand places on our relationship with the UK,” Mr McCully says.

“Sir Jerry has been Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force and Chief of Army, and until recently he was New Zealand’s Governor-General.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

The Kaikoura inland road (route 70) will open for unrestricted use next week, providing a two-way road link in and out of Kaikoura for the first time since the earthquakes, Transport Minister Simon Bridges has announced.

Crews have worked relentlessly for the past five weeks to make the severely damaged road safe for general use. This includes clearing the road of more than 50 slips, stabilising slopes, repairing damage and building an entirely new diversion road around the highly unstable Whalesback section of route 70.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a new report shows more pregnant women are getting earlier access to the services and support they need.

“We know that healthy mothers generally have healthy babies, and a mother who receives high quality care throughout pregnancy is well placed to provide the best possible start for her baby,” says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has named diplomat James Munro as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He will also be accredited to Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.

“New Zealand has a strong and growing bilateral relationship with the Gulf states,” Mr McCully says.

“Our exports to the Gulf Cooperation council were worth $1.7 billion in 2015 and Saudi Arabia is one of New Zealand’s top 20 trading partners.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced an appointment to the Board of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura).

Te Kura is a distance education provider offering personalised learning programmes from early childhood to Year 13. It works in partnership with students, whānau, school and communities to support students to achieve their educational and personal goals.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced two new appointments and four reappointments to the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Established in July 2015, the Education Council is the professional organisation for teachers.

“I am pleased to make these appointments on the advice of the chair Barbara Ala’alatoa,” says Ms Parata.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

The temporary emergency closure of the rock lobster (crayfish) fishery along the east coast of the South Island will be officially lifted at 5pm on Tuesday 20 December next week, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has announced today.

“This is really positive news for the local community and economy given this fishery is worth around $23 million per year,” says Mr Guy.

“This fishery was temporarily closed on 21 November so we could assess the impact of the earthquake with the help of a $2 million research package.

  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries

Education Minister Hekia Parata has officially established a new primary school in the fast-growing north Hamilton suburb of Sylvester.

The school, located at the corner of Borman Road and Hare Puke Drive, will enrol year one to six students from Term One 2019.

“This is an exciting time for this new community. The school will be a focal point for families living in the area and a valuable community asset, Ms Parata says.

“This school will provide safe, supportive and inclusive learning environments that reflect the community.”

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has announced extended funding to continue projects which are already improving the health and wellbeing of Pacific people.

“With initial funding from the $6m Pacific Innovation Fund several Pacific providers developed tailored solutions to improve health and wellbeing. One example is the Tapuaki pregnancy and parenting programme,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

  • Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
  • Health