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Manukau District Court will be extended and improved as part of a wider programme to ensure the Ministry of Justice’s front-line services are well equipped for the future, Minister for Courts Georgina te Heuheu announced today.

“Recent justice sector initiatives are allowing better use of existing resources and reducing the need to invest so much in properties in the region,” Mrs te Heuheu says.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has received the first substantive report back on progress from Community Response Model Forums.

“I established these Forums around New Zealand with local people because I believe people know their own communities best and can make good decisions about where social service funding is most needed.”

The fourteen Forums have been established across New Zealand to engage with communities on what services work and what supports are missing.

Court Registrars and court staff across Christchurch and Canterbury had given extraordinary service to ensure the continuity of justice services for Christchurch following the February 22nd earthquake, Courts Minister Georgina te Heuheu said today.

Mrs te Heuheu made the comments as she visited courthouses at Timaru, Ashburton and Rangiora to talk with staff and thank them for their work since the earthquake.

Acting Minister of Energy and Resources, Hekia Parata, today released a report from the Electricity Authority on the steps it has taken to improve electricity market performance.

“The report clearly shows the Electricity Authority has made significant progress in delivering priorities identified in the Ministerial review of the electricity market and Electricity Industry Act 2010,'' says Ms Parata.

The Associate Minister of Health and Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia today announced the launch of the Choice in Community Living programme in the Auckland and Waikato regions.

Choice in Community Living is about supporting disabled people who want to move from residential services, where they live in a house owned or rented by their support provider, to a home of their own.

The programme aims to assist disabled people to build a life like other New Zealanders through connection to natural supports and the wider community.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today announced help for small businesses and sole traders impacted by the Rena grounding.

“We’re providing support to businesses that either can’t operate or have experienced significant loss as a result of the Rena grounding and cannot pay employees,” says Ms Bennett.

“This Rena Support Subsidy will give the worst-affected businesses, which rely on the sea and coastline, a hand to keep paying their staff.”

New Zealand’s new Ambassador to Turkey will be career diplomat, Taha Macpherson, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully announced today.

“This is a key appointment. As well as being based in Ankara the Ambassador is also accredited to Israel and Jordan. He will be our main representative dealing with a broad range of Middle East issues,” said Mr McCully.

“Over the next few years the Ambassador will help prepare for the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landing Gallipoli in 2015.”

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister, Tariana Turia, has congratulated the 2011 recipients of the Dynamic Community Learning Awards, who received their awards today at Putiki Marae in Whanganui.

“I am so proud of the amazing contribution so many groups make to enhancing our communities”.

“These awards are a way of ‘giving back’ to these people – recognising the generosity of spirit that characterises their commitment to community”.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has today confirmed the Government’s intention to comprehensively reform the benefit system.

“It’s not socially or financially sustainable to continue to spend eight billion dollars a year to pay benefits to 12 per cent of working age New Zealanders.”

There are clear links between welfare, poverty and poor health. Evidence shows children are better off when their parents are in work, not on welfare.

Good afternoon.

As you know, the Government has had a very strong focus on welfare over the last three years.

We introduced a number of changes to benefits in 2010 which are already having positive effects, and in August we announced a new approach to welfare as it affects teenagers.

What we are announcing today is a much bigger step forward – a comprehensive reform of the benefit system, building off the recommendations of the Welfare Working Group.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Chris Finlayson today announced the establishment of a 76 hectare reserve for the people of Wellington and New Zealand on the iconic Miramar Peninsula.

The new reserve area, known as Watts Peninsula, is a prominent Wellington landmark at the northern tip of the Miramar Peninsula and a historically significant part of New Zealand.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce has approved open access deeds of undertaking provided by the government’s broadband partners.

The deeds set out the requirements for open access on the Ultra-fast Broadband and Rural Broadband networks, and on Telecom’s copper network after structural separation.

Environment and ACC Minister Nick Smith is encouraging Kiwis to take extra care while enjoying fireworks this Guy Fawkes.

“I want people to enjoy Guy Fawkes and fireworks but to do so responsibly to avoid injury, damage to property and harm to animals. I particularly want to encourage people to attend professional public displays that carry the least risk,” Dr Smith said.

Dr Wayne Mapp is travelling to Singapore today to represent New Zealand at the 40th anniversary of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).

Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand are the partners in the FPDA – the second oldest military agreement after NATO.

“This multilateral security framework is a tribute to the commitment of these countries, and a comment on the value of long-standing and stable security agreements in these ever-changing times,” said Dr Mapp.

Having overdue fines and reparation may soon impact people’s ability to get credit as the government approves the implementation of the Credit Check of Fines initiative, Minister for Courts Georgina te Heuheu announced today.

The initiative allows credit agencies, such as hire purchase providers and banks, access to information about overdue fines and reparation that they can then take into account when making credit and lending decisions.  It was enabled by the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill, which was passed in July this year.

Health Minister Tony Ryall and the Minister for Science and Innovation Dr Wayne Mapp have announced funding for three cancer research projects.

Studies of bowel cancer, palliative care and prostate cancer will be undertaken by researchers at Auckland and Massey universities over the next three years.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says, "This research will build our knowledge of the incidence and impact of these particular cancers in New Zealand, and how health professionals from primary care through to specialists work together delivering treatment.”

Thank you for inviting me to celebrate the new Varian TrueBeam radiotherapy linear accelerator machine.

I am told that this particular multi-million dollar machine is the first Varian TrueBeam radiotherapy linear accelerator in Australasia and the first of its kind to treat patients in the Southern Hemisphere.

This is one of ten new cancer radiation machines approved under this John Key government. And it's part of our comprehensive plan for better treatment for cancer patients which we put into action in late 2008.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has welcomed the release of an Education Review Office evaluation of Service Academies, which shows improved engagement, behaviour and academic achievement for the secondary school students enrolled in this important Youth Guarantee initiative.

The evaluation also found improvements in health and fitness levels at the military-focused academies, which offer courses such as leadership and outdoor education, while students work towards achieving at least NCEA Level 1 literacy and numeracy.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has announced that a dedicated nationwide online network for New Zealand schools will be developed, to ensure that teaching and learning is at the forefront of global educational developments and makes the most of new technology.

The safe, secure system, called the Network for Learning, is estimated to cost between $300 -$400 million over the next 10 years, and will provide high-quality educational content and resources to schools and students, to help lift achievement for young New Zealanders wherever they are across the country.

Acting Minister of Energy and Resources, Hekia Parata, says all gas consumers should have their supply restored by midday following a gas leak on the Maui pipeline five days ago.

Welding on the damaged section of the pipeline, just north of New Plymouth, was completed on Friday. The pipe was tested rigorously yesterday and repressurised early this morning, which will see the gradual restoration of the last remaining consumers.

The achievements of world-renowned conservation innovator Dr Don Merton have been immortalised in an award that will see the continuation of his pioneering spirit in the management of endangered species, Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson announced today.

Announcing the award at a special ceremony hosted by Rainbow Springs Kiwi Encounter in Rotorua, Ms Wilkinson praised the work of the former Department of Conservation scientist who died in April this year.

Prime Minister John Key has paid tribute to Business Roundtable executive director Roger Kerr, who died last night in Wellington.

“Roger made a significant contribution to New Zealand business, public policy and the wider economy over several decades,” says Mr Key.

“He was a man of integrity and energy, who was not afraid to debate important issues passionately and often controversially.  But he did it calmly and focused on the issues at hand, rather than making the debates personal.

Prime Minister John Key today officially opened Christchurch’s Restart project in Cashel Mall, the first part of the city’s red zone now open for business.

“A total of 27 businesses have opened today, including the flagship Ballantynes department store, which is great news for Cantabrians and for retailers who are determined to get their businesses up and running,” says Mr Key.

The opening of the Victoria Park Tunnel will bring huge gains for Auckland and the wider New Zealand economy, through reduced congestion and faster, more reliable journey times, says Transport Minister Steven Joyce

The $340 million Victoria Park Tunnel project will increase the capacity of State Highway 1 between the Auckland Harbour Bridge and Newmarket, one of the country’s busiest freight and business routes.