Displaying 121 - 144 of 2733 results.

A new directive letter to the Overseas Investment Office provides extra clarity and certainty for potential investors about the Government’s general approach to foreign investment in sensitive assets, Finance Minister Bill English says.

The letter sets out the changes to regulation the Government announced in September to address concerns around large scale overseas ownership of farm land and vertically integrated primary production companies.

  • Bill English
  • Finance

A financial assistance package for owners of leaky homes is a step closer today with the first reading of a bill to Parliament, Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson says.

Under the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services (Financial Assistance Package) Amendment Bill, the Government will contribute 25% of the cost of repairing a leaky home and local authorities will also pay 25% if they had signed off the original work.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

First let me acknowledge our generous hosts, the people of Mexico.

Madam President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.

New Zealand is committed to playing a constructive role in these negotiations to help secure a global, legally-binding and comprehensive agreement on climate change.

We come to this conference committed to meeting our Kyoto commitments.

We are the first country outside of Europe to have successfully introduced an emissions trading scheme.

73% of our electricity comes from renewables and our policy is 90% by 2025.

  • Nick Smith
  • Climate Change Issues

Nearly 38,000 New Zealanders received colonoscopies to investigate for bowel cancer and other serious bowel issues in 2009/10 – 2,346 more than the previous year says Health Minister Tony Ryall.

"Bowel cancer kills more than 1,200 New Zealanders a year but it is also one of our most treatable and curable cancers if caught early. Colonoscopies detect bowel cancer and early detection can save lives,” says Mr Ryall.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee today welcomed a report commissioned by Venture Taranaki on the value of the oil and gas industry to New Zealand and the Taranaki region.

Mr Brownlee says the report, titled ‘The Wealth Beneath Our Feet,’ highlights the significant contribution of the oil and gas sector to the New Zealand economy.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Energy and Resources

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne today announced that following discussions with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) legislation regarding the tax treatment of resident withholding tax on trusts’ interest income is to be amended.

Mr Dunne explained that the issue related to Inland Revenue’s analysis that resident withholding tax (RWT) deducted from gross interest paid to a trust forms part of the gross interest paid to a beneficiary and had to be distributed with the interest.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Revenue

The Maori Party sought this review because of the interest in constitutional matters among Maori people generally, including how tikanga Maori might be recognised, and the place of the Treaty of Waitangi in the constitution.

I think many people see the Treaty as putting Maori in a privileged position, whereas we believe the Treaty guarantees rights to all New Zealanders, and provides a basis for unity in diversity.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Maori Affairs

The Government is coming to the aid of Northland farmers facing worsening drought conditions.

Agriculture Minister David Carter has today declared all areas north of the Auckland Harbour Bridge a medium-level drought zone, triggering relief measures for farmers.

These include funding for Rural Support Trusts to provide help, welfare support and farm management advice.

Mr Carter has been in Northland today meeting with farmers, Rural Support Trust members and primary sector representatives to discuss the dry conditions.

  • David Carter
  • Agriculture

The Government will conduct a wide-ranging review of New Zealand's constitutional arrangements, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples announced today.

“This is the start of what will be a considered process over the next three years,” Mr English says.

  • Bill English
  • Pita Sharples
  • Deputy Prime Minister
  • Maori Affairs

Auckland-based produce company Fresh Direct Ltd has been awarded the first of the Government’s new Technology Transfer Vouchers, Minister of Research, Science and Technology Wayne Mapp announced today.

Fresh Direct will use the $190,000 investment to work with Industrial Research Ltd to develop a new portable machine that will help process vegetables on the farm.

  • Wayne Mapp
  • Science and Innovation

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.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Communications and Information Technology

I want to firstly acknowledge the significance of this moment; and to recognise a number of individuals and organisations who will be associated with this day.

And so I stand here today, to honour the words, the commitment and the inspiration provided by:

  • Tariana Turia
  • Disability Issues

Education Minister Anne Tolley says the findings of an international study by the OECD show that more needs to be done to lift achievement for all New Zealand students.

The 2009 results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) compare the performance of 15-year-olds in reading literacy, maths and science.

“We have a lot to be proud of, as this study confirms our top students are among the best in the world,” says Mrs Tolley.

  • Anne Tolley
  • Education

Welcome to Parliament.

I want to start by extending my thanks to Professor Andy Buchanan, the Timber Design Society and NZ Wood for your long-standing commitment to providing your expertise and services to this industry.

Forestry is critical to New Zealand’s growth agenda.

It is New Zealand’s third largest merchandise export earner, accounting for 10 percent of all merchandise exports and generating around $4 billion in export revenues a year. The forest industry also contributes around 2.8 percent of GDP.

  • David Carter
  • Forestry

Thank you for inviting me here today to close your conference.

But more importantly thank you for your commitment to Rural Support Trusts.

It has been a busy year – droughts, floods, storms and earthquakes.

Unfortunately, I am unable to stand here and tell you that it is going to get any easier; instead it looks like you are in for a busy summer.

Tomorrow I’m heading to Northland – where it’s my expectation I will see a very serious situation.

  • David Carter
  • Agriculture

A new report analysing results from government-owned companies and investment funds will help improve their performance, Finance Minister Bill English and State Owned Enterprises Minister Simon Power say.

The Treasury’s Crown Ownership Monitoring Unit today published the first of what is expected to be a series of annual publications about the performance of the 37 Crown-owned entities that have full or partial commercial objectives.

  • Bill English
  • Simon Power
  • Finance
  • State Owned Enterprises

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee today announced changes to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) board.

EECA is a Crown agent with the role of encouraging, promoting and supporting energy efficiency, energy conservation and the use of renewable sources of energy. Its board is appointed by the Minister.

Dr Andrew Pearce, a former chief executive of Landcare Research, has been reappointed a member and appointed deputy chair for a term of two years.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Energy and Resources

Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia is welcoming the release of a report on the human rights of disabled people in New Zealand.

The report, Disability Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand, was written by the Convention Coalition, which is a collaboration of New Zealand’s disabled peoples’ organisations.

The Coalition comprises the Disabled Persons Assembly, Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand Inc, Deaf Aotearoa NZ, Ngati Kapo, Nga Hau E Wha and People First New Zealand.

  • Tariana Turia
  • Disability Issues

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:

 

Institution

Appointee

University of Auckland

Michael Daniell

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed the tabling of the Law Commission’s review of the Civil List Act 1979.

“I acknowledge that Ministers’ and MPs’ expenses are a matter of public interest – hence the moves made during this parliamentary term to provide more transparency on their expenditure.

“It is important that the regime for setting Ministers’ and MPs’ expenses has the public’s confidence,” says Mr Key.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Proposed new tax rules, released today, will increase the integrity of the tax system and help ensure everyone pays their fair share, Finance Minister Bill English and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne say.

Mr Dunne today released a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) that will introduce several Budget 2010 tax measures to the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Bill, which is nearing its final stages in Parliament. MPs are expected to debate the amendments on Thursday.

The proposed changes, which have been finalised after public consultation over the past few months, will:

  • Bill English
  • Peter Dunne
  • Finance
  • Revenue

Waitemata District Health Board has been selected to run the four year bowel screening pilot.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the pilot, announced as part of this year’s Budget, will cost $24 million over four years and is expected to begin in October next year. Further details will be finalised soon.

“Waitemata DHB has shown it has the knowledge and experience to run a successful screening programme,” says Mr Ryall.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Defence Minister Wayne Mapp has expressed the Government’s deepest condolences to the family of the New Zealander killed in Afghanistan while serving in the British Army.

“It takes great courage to serve in Afghanistan. Every service person, whether in the New Zealand Defence Force or a similar service such as the British, knows they risk death or injury. They do so because they wish to serve their country and to protect us from terrorism.

  • Wayne Mapp
  • Defence

Minister for the Environment Nick Smith today released a report that shows dioxin levels in the soil surrounding the former Fruitgrowers Chemical Company site in Mapua are lower than nationally and internationally recommended levels.

“This report should provide the local community with reassurance that the soils around the site have not been contaminated and are fit for purpose,” Dr Smith said.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment