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Transport Minister Steven Joyce is reminding Kiwis to do their bit to be safe on the roads these holidays.

“The NZ Transport Agency and Police are working hard to keep the traffic flowing and help to make your trip a safe one. I urge road users to work with them and drive responsibly to stay safe.”

The official holiday period begins at 4pm Friday 24 December 2010 and ends at 6am on Wednesday 5 January 2011.

The process to streamline and simplify state sector ICT infrastructure is now underway, with the release today of a request for proposal document.

This has been welcomed by the Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Steven Joyce, and the Minister for Internal Affairs, Nathan Guy.

The government has today confirmed that all taxis operating in our larger centres will be fitted with security cameras from 1 August next year.  This move is designed to enhance the safety of both taxi drivers and their passengers.

The Land Transport Rule: Operator Licensing Amendment (No 2) 2010 will also ensure taxi drivers get around-the-clock telecommunications support.

“Sadly, the safety situation for taxi drivers has changed in recent times and these requirements are now a necessity,” says Transport Minister Steven Joyce.

An air alliance between Air New Zealand and the Virgin Blue group to operate integrated services on trans-Tasman routes has been given the green light by Transport Minister Steven Joyce.

New Zealand’s agreement, in addition to the recent authorisation from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), means Air New Zealand and Virgin Blue will be able to work together on the services and fares they offer on trans-Tasman services.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce has asked officials from the Ministry of Transport, the Treasury and the NZ Transport Agency to work with Auckland Transport, Auckland Council and other agencies to review the business case for a CBD rail link ahead of any further discussions between central government and Auckland Council next year.

The business case, released last month, provides a capital cost of $2.3 billion for the rail link in 2010 dollars. 

Mr Joyce says the business case was a first step but it leaves a number of questions unanswered.

The Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Steven Joyce, announced today that terms of reference for a comprehensive review of the long term future of the 111 calling service have been agreed.

Mr Joyce says the review, which was signalled following 111 disruptions earlier in the year, will ensure a framework is put in place which accommodates changing technologies, practices and structures.

The Minister for Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, today welcomed the release of educational performance information for Industry Training Organisations.

“The release of information about ITOs provides a good summary of how they are performing, both for their industries, and for the country as a whole. It also provides an incentive for ITOs to improve their performance over time,” says Mr Joyce.

The government is investing more funding than ever before in core students in our tertiary system – with a focus on those studying at a higher level, says Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce.

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) has today publicly released individual investment funding decisions for all of our publicly funded tertiary institutions. 

The roll out of ultra fast broadband (UFB) around the country is now underway with the first fibre laid today at Manaia View School in Whangarei.

The Minister for Communications and Information, Steven Joyce, who attended an event at the school to mark the official start of work, says fibre will bring real gains to Whangarei and, as the roll out continues, to the whole country.

“This the first stage in a government plan which will see fibre enabling speeds of at least 100 Mbps rolled out to 75 per cent of New Zealanders where they live, work and study.

The Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Steven Joyce, has welcomed an announcement from Crown Fibre Holdings that further negotiations are underway for the rollout of ultra-fast broadband (UFB).

Crown Fibre Holdings (CFH) has settled on three more parties to start negotiating binding offers for the rollout of UFB infrastructure:

A bill to provide a framework for the government’s broadband policies and to reform the Telecommunications Service Obligations (TSO) framework received its First Reading in Parliament today.

“The First Reading of this bill is an important step towards the government’s goal of improving the availability, quality and price of telecommunications services in New Zealand,” says the Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Steven Joyce.

The government is in the midst of finalising details for its two fast broadband initiatives:

Communications and Information Technology Minister, Steven Joyce, announced today that three of the five Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) proposals received on 12 November had been short-listed.

The three short-listed proposals are: Torotoro Waea, FX Networks/OpenGate and Telecom/Vodafone.

“The short-listed proposals demonstrate that they merit further evaluation based on an their plans to deliver the RBI objectives and provide open access to government-subsidised infrastructure,” says Mr Joyce.

The Minister for Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, today announced new Council members for six of New Zealand’s Universities and all three Wānanga.

The new appointments are as follows:

The cities of Hamilton, Tauranga, Whangarei, New Plymouth and Wanganui will be among the first to benefit from the government’s rollout of ultra-fast broadband (UFB), says the Minister for Communications and Information Technology Steven Joyce.

Crown Fibre Holdings has concluded negotiations with two partner companies, following shareholding ministers’ approval of the deals over the weekend. 

The partners are:

From next year the NZ Qualifications Authority (NZQA) will assume direct responsibility for quality assurance of Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics, taking the role from ITPNZ which has had the responsibility through ITPQ since 1993.

The Minister for Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, says the change has come about as a result of discussions with the ITP sector about the international trend towards independent quality assurance for both public and private providers.

ITPNZ has voluntarily returned the delegation for quality assurance to NZQA.

Cabinet has accepted a proposal that will see the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) and Tairawhiti Polytechnic merge as of 1 January 2011.

Tertiary Education Steven Joyce says the new institution – which will be one of New Zealand’s largest - is an exciting opportunity for the Hawkes’ Bay and Gisborne.

“The merger will create one institution with a strong base to support and expand vocational education and skills development across the East Coast.

The Minister for Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, has today confirmed the initial operating rules for the recently established New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF), which he says will provide more meaningful information for students and employers.

Mr Joyce says the changes announced today follow a review which found that the New Zealand qualifications system at certificate and diploma level had become complex and difficult to understand for both learners and employers.

The approval of funds to build the Ngaruawahia section of the Waikato Expressway is an important step towards completing the Road of National Significance, says Transport Minister Steven Joyce.

The NZ Transport Agency Board has confirmed the $169 million required to fund the Ngaruawahia section.

Mr Joyce says construction of the 10 kilometre section will create up to 300 local jobs directly, with many more downstream.

Cabinet has agreed to a change to the postal deed so that postal workers can have a four day Christmas break each year and have Easter Saturday off.

The Minister for Communications and Infor

Construction on the Tauranga Eastern Link Road of National Significance is under way, with physical works beginning - six months earlier than originally planned.

Cabinet has accepted a proposal that will see Lincoln University and Telford Rural Polytechnic merge as of 1 January 2011.

Changes to the oversight of private training establishments (PTEs) involved in export education will result in greater accountability and higher standards in the export education sector, says Terti

Transport Minister Steven Joyce says the NZ Transport Agency is making good progress on the Puhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance - the least-developed of the seven RoNS projects.

The availability of funding for the government's priority road safety initiatives - which are part of the Safer Journeys road safety strategy - has been confirmed with an amendment to the go