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Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has put Hamilton City Council on notice. Should progress in addressing the Audit New Zealand’s recommendations be insufficient, the Government will look at a review process that could lead to the appointment of commissioners.

“I am very concerned about the findings of the Audit New Zealand report into the Council’s handling of the V8 supercar races.  The report highlighted a number of issues with the Council’s expenditure on the races, governance structures and reporting processes.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

I am very pleased to open the third linear accelerator at Canterbury DHB in just 18 months.

I know this machine will add considerably to Canterbury's ability to provide a high quality, timely service to people with cancer for the Canterbury region and beyond.

Access to advanced cancer treatments continues to improve for Canterbury patients with the addition of a new Linear Accelerator at Christchurch Hospital that is set to lift treatment capacity by 33 percent.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

The Government is supporting exporters through two changes that widen the scope and accessibility of the New Zealand Export Credit Office's trade guarantees, Finance Minister Bill English and Trade Minister Tim Groser say.

"The Government is focused on lifting New Zealand's exports, so we can build a faster growing economy with higher incomes and more real jobs," Mr English says.

  • Bill English
  • Tim Groser
  • Finance
  • Trade

Deputy Prime Minister Bill English will attend the 19th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting on 13 November in Honolulu, USA.

Mr English will join leaders from 21 APEC economies to discuss the region's economic growth prospects and ways to advance APEC's vision for an Asia-Pacific-wide Free Trade Area.

"APEC supports closer trade and economic relationships in the region, making it easier for members to trade and invest in each other’s economies," Mr English says.

  • Bill English
  • Deputy Prime Minister

The Government plans to overhaul consumer credit laws to protect unwary consumers being preyed on by unscrupulous credit companies, Finance Minister Bill English says.

“There has been significant and much-needed reform of the investment side of the financial sector over the past three years,” Mr English says.

“However, credit providers remain largely unregulated and have no conduct requirements, leading some to exploit vulnerable people, resulting in severe financial hardship and spiralling debt. This is not acceptable.”

  • Bill English
  • Finance

Delivered by Te Ururoa Flavell, MP for Waiariki on behalf of Minister Turia

I am delighted to be here tonight at these 13th Annual Provider Awards to acknowledge and celebrate each and every one of the network that comes together under the kaupapa of the Poutiri Trust.

I want to firstly acknowledge the Poutiri Trust chairperson; George Skudder for the invitation to be here tonight; and to also pay tribute to our special guest speaker, Reverend Tom Poata from St Faiths.

The Poutiri Trust is founded on the vision of these words:

  • Tariana Turia
  • Health
  • Whanau Ora

E te marae e takoto nei
E te whare e tu mai nei
Otira e nga uri Ngati Whatua ki Orakei
Karanga mai, mihi mai, whakatau mai
Tenei taku mihi atu ki a koutou me nga iwi katoa e pae nei
Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

Kei te maumahara ki a ratou kua mene atu ki te po
Haere nga mate, haere, haere, haere.

  • Wayne Mapp
  • Defence

The Crown and Tāmaki Collective* have signed a Record of Agreement of the agreements reached in settlement negotiations to this point, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.

“The Record of Agreement is a significant milestone and will form the basis for a deed of settlement about the Collective members’ shared interests to be initialled at a later date,” Mr Finlayson said.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

The Crown signed a Deed of Settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei today, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced.

The deed was signed in a ceremony on Auckland’s Okahu Bay. The Crown was represented by Mr Finlayson, Minister of Defence (and Auckland MP) Dr Wayne Mapp, Minister of Maori Affairs Hon Pita Sharples, and Associate Minister of Maori Affairs Hon Georgina te Heuheu. Maungakiekie MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga also attended.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

The interception of a large amount of the drug GBL is proof of the success Police and Customs achieve in the fight against crime, Police Minister Judith Collins and Customs Minister Maurice Williamson said today.

Last month Customs officers intercepted a package from Hong Kong at the International Mail Centre.

The package contents were declared as a cleaning chemical. But analysis showed the 24.24 kg of liquid was the Class ‘B’ Controlled Drug Gamma Butyrolactone commonly known as GBL or Fantasy.

  • Judith Collins
  • Maurice Williamson
  • Customs
  • Police

It was with great pleasure I saw that the Whanau Ora waiata would be included on today’s agenda.

And it made me ponder again on those kupu

Ruruia mai to rangatiratanga
To aroha, whakapono, tumanako
Hoea ngatahi nei tatou te marea nui tonu
Kia puawaitia te whanau ora e.

In essence, everything I could hope to say about workforce development is covered in that waiata.

It reminds me that together, we can be an incredible engine for creativity and innovation.

  • Tariana Turia
  • Whanau Ora

E nga mana, e nga reo, e te iwi o te motu, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

In this great little country of ours we have 328,000 people of working age receiving a benefit – that’s around 12 per cent of the entire working age population.

More than half of these people have been on welfare for most of the past decade. We have 222,000 children being brought up in homes where the main income is the benefit.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Development and Employment

Mrs Margaret Jane Hubbard has been removed from statutory management, effective from 5pm on 13 November 2011.

Commerce Minister Simon Power said he had received a report from the Registrar of Companies that it was no longer necessary to keep Mrs Hubbard in statutory management.

"The Registrar of Companies has advised me that in the opinion of the statutory managers, Mrs Hubbard is no longer so closely connected to the business of Aorangi Securities Ltd that she must remain under statutory management. The Registrar is also of this view.

  • Simon Power
  • Commerce

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced that Cabinet had agreed to an Order in Council which allows Canterbury based councils to defer their long-term planning and accountability responsibilities.

“Under this Order, Christchurch City Council, Canterbury Regional Council, Selwyn District Council, and Waimakariri District Council can choose to defer adopting a new long term plan until 2013,” Mr Hide said. 

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

“Ramping up New Zealand’s innovation potential across the high-tech manufacturing and services sectors will be a major catalyst for New Zealand's future growth,” says Science and Innovation Minster Wayne Mapp.

Dr Mapp and Acting Minister for Economic Development, David Carter, today released Powering Innovation, an independent report looking at how New Zealand can best grow its high-tech manufacturing and services sectors.

  • David Carter
  • Wayne Mapp
  • Economic Development
  • Science and Innovation

The relatively flat 6.6 per cent unemployment rate in September underlines the importance of the Government continuing with strong and stable economic management, Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett says.

"Unemployment peaked in 2009 and is gradually coming down. And it is good to see an extra 63,000 jobs were created in the past two years, despite challenges from the Canterbury earthquakes and the global financial crisis.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Development and Employment
  • Youth Affairs

The Government will boost investment in the science sector to transform Industrial Research Limited (IRL) into an advanced technology institute, which will function as the ‘high-tech HQ’ for New Zealand, Prime Minister John Key announced today.

“New Zealand’s world-leading performance in the primary sectors has been off the back of world-class science, much of which is publicly-funded,” says Mr Key.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Transport Minister Steven Joyce has welcomed news that the $16.5 million safety makeover of the Rimutaka Hill Road is set to be finished in March, more than three months ahead of schedule.

He says the work, which was accelerated as part of the government’s $142.5 million Jobs and Growth package, will come as a relief to those who travel the notorious Rimutaka Hill Road.

"The upgrade will ease a number of tight curves, including Muldoon's Corner, about 500m south of the Rimutaka Summit.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Transport

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.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts

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.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Development and Employment
  • Youth Affairs

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.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts

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.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Energy and Resources

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.

  • Tariana Turia
  • Disability Issues
  • Health

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.”

  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Development and Employment
  • Youth Affairs