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Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes the release of a discussion document that focuses on supporting older people to stay active.

“If we want New Zealanders to remain active in their later years we have to ensure we’re offering them the right opportunities,” says Dr Coleman.

“Being physically active has many benefits for older people including enhanced social integration, reduced health and social care costs, prevention of injury such as falls, and also improved productivity.

Racing Minister Nathan Guy has announced new funding of $697,193 from the latest round of the Racing Safety Development Fund today, along with reappointing Penny Mudford as Chair of the group.

The grants are made available from the Racing Safety Development Fund which provides $1 million annually to racecourse safety across two funding rounds. Funding is matched dollar-for-dollar with contributions from racing clubs.

Trade Minister Todd McClay leads a senior-level business delegation on New Zealand’s first trade mission to Tehran in twelve years, today. 

Iran and New Zealand have a long-standing trade relationship, dating back to 1975 when New Zealand established an Embassy in Tehran, its first in the Middle East.

“There is enormous opportunity for Iran and New Zealand to work together to boost two-way trade,” says Mr McClay.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce today launched the Waikato Story, a regionally-led initiative to promote Waikato as a unique place to live, work, study, visit and invest.

Mr Joyce says it’s great to see New Zealand’s regions building off the success of the New Zealand Story.

“The Waikato Story provides a way to communicate the region’s value to potential business investors, workers, visitors, students and families – not just within New Zealand, but also around the world,” Mr Joyce says.

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has welcomed the positive results of two trial pilot programmes which have helped pregnant women quit smoking.

“Smoking cessation has immense benefits for mothers and babies. Smoke-free pregnancies will help increase survival rates of young babies and dramatically improve infant health,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

A new community-based driving programme in Eastern Bay of Plenty will help young people take advantage of employment opportunities in the region, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

The NZ Transport Agency is investing $116,000 in the Ōpōtiki Community Driver Mentor Programme to help more teens and young adults gain their restricted licence. 

“This programme will help open up the world for young disadvantaged drivers — providing more freedom, mobility and employment opportunities,” Mr Foss says.

Leader of the House and Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the passing of the Hurunui/Kaikoura Earthquakes Emergency Relief Bill 2016 in Parliament today.

“This is the second of three Bills in response to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake on November 14, and is about supporting individuals and communities to get their lives and livelihoods back on track as quickly as possible,” says Mr Brownlee.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has announced the appointed members of 19 DHBs, including seven new board chair appointments.

“DHBs are on the frontline delivering $12.2 billion in important health services to their local communities,” says Dr Coleman.

“Having the right people governing our DHBs is vital to ensuring New Zealanders around the country have access to the health services they need.

“The newly appointed DHB members and chairs have a wide range of skills and breadth of experience, and will make a valuable contribution.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says the first birthday celebrations for Auckland’s Lightpath cycleway shows the huge popularity and impact cycling is having in the city.

The $18 million cycleway was officially opened a year ago, transforming cycling infrastructure in the city centre.

It provides a vital link in the Auckland Cycle Network, from Upper Queen Street to Victoria Street and connects directly to the Northwestern and Grafton Gully cycleways.

Cyclists are celebrating its anniversary during a special evening ride tonight.

Tourism spending in the regions was again strong in the year to October 2016, reflecting the Government’s commitment to support regional tourism growth.

According to the Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates released today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), tourism expenditure grew in all regions over the year to October 2016.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says recent observations by GNS provide a timely reminder to all New Zealanders about the need to be prepared for earthquakes.

GNS has observed unusual activity involving patches of slow slip movement between tectonic plates in the lower North Island.

“This heightened activity increases the uncertainty about the likelihood and size of future earthquakes,” Mr Brownlee says.

Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today visited Kaikoura with local MP Stuart Smith to assess the environmental, building and housing impacts of the quake, during which he announced $500,000 for a Temporary Accommodation Service for displaced people.

Small Business Minister Craig Foss says the Taking Care of Business roadshow has been so successful, more events are likely next year.

“Over five months, more than 2000 business owners and operators attended 22 Taking Care of Business events around the country, from Invercargill to Whangarei,” Mr Foss says.

“Every event got bigger and better and the feedback from attendees was outstanding.

A new action plan setting targets for protection of New Zealand’s unique native animals and environment has been officially released by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.

New Zealand’s Biodiversity Action Plan 2016-2020 sets out how the country intends to turn the tide of biodiversity loss and counter threats to native species.

Ms Barry leaves for Cancun, Mexico today to attend the International Convention on Biological Diversity, where she will present the new Action Plan to a global audience.

The Minister for Women Louise Upston has today welcomed the selection of the first Future Directors participant since the expansion to the state sector.

Ruth Smithers will join the WorkSafe New Zealand board early in the New Year, following the expansion of the Future Directors programme to include state sector boards and committees in June this year.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins has welcomed 27 new Corrections Officers who graduated today.

The new staff will be based at Northland Region Corrections Facility, Mt Eden Corrections Facility, Spring Hill Corrections Facility, Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison, Manawatu Prison, Arohata Prison, Rimutaka Prison, Christchurch Men’s Prison, and Otago Corrections Facility.

A former army officer’s exceptional leadership and people skills saw her awarded the Minister’s Excellence Award.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew has today launched the 2015/16 Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) Profile in Wellington, marking 30 years of the scheme.

The COGS Profile highlights some of the achievements by organisations across the country that received grants from the $12.5 million in funding available in 2015/16.

Trade Minister Todd McClay today published a summary of what New Zealand businesses think about Brexit and the impact they believe it could have on trade with the United Kingdom – New Zealand’s fifth largest trading partner.

This follows a public consultation held earlier in the year to better understand the position of New Zealand exporters and investors into the UK market.

Internal Affairs Minister Hon Peter Dunne today announced new appointments to the Library and Information Advisory Commission (LIAC) and to the Guardians Kaitiaki of the Alexander Turnbull Library (Guardians Kaitiaki).

“I am pleased to announce that I am appointing Matthew Oliver to LIAC for a three-year term. His digital expertise will bring to LIAC a strong understanding of current and emerging technology developments within the library and information sector”. 

Today marks the end of the two year period for the financial markets industry to transition to the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 (the FMC Act) regime, says Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith.

Mr Goldsmith says all offers of financial products to retail investors must now be made under the FMC Act.

“The purpose of the reforms is to increase public confidence in our financial markets and give businesses better access to capital to grow. Both aspects are vital to support New Zealand’s growing economy.

Kia ora tatou.

I am very excited to be here to celebrate the launch of Te Puna Foundation.

The Foundation is the start of a wonderful new chapter in the National Library story and for the people of New Zealand.

For Aotearoa to thrive as a nation, for its people to become all they can be and achieve their potential, we need to unlock the knowledge held within the National Library.

A funding increase for the Wireless School Network Upgrade Project (WSNUP) will see $1 million provided towards retrofitting wireless technology at 34 state-integrated schools, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“This is about schools having the digital infrastructure they need to make the most of online resources for learning,” says Ms Parata.

In 2014, WSNUP was set up to retrofit wireless technology to schools that had not received wireless as part of the School Network Upgrade Project (SNUP).

Applications for funding from the primary industries Earthquake Relief Fund are now open, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has announced today.

“Recently we announced a $4 million fund for uninsurable on-farm infrastructure repairs in the Hurunui, Kaikoura and Marlborough districts. Applications are now open and will close at the end of February, and I’m hopeful the panel will make an initial assessment of some applications before Christmas,” says Mr Guy.

A showcase for New Zealand’s significant places has been launched in Northland today, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.

“Landmarks Whenua Tohunga will pick out our must-see places – connecting them together and creating a journey to some of our most important heritage sites,” Ms Barry says.