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Sport and Recreation Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the announcement that the All Blacks have set a date to play Manu Samoa in Apia in 2015.

“Our shared passion for the game of rugby binds New Zealanders and Pacific people together,” Mr McCully says.

“The All Blacks playing in Apia recognises the importance of Samoa and other Pacific nations to our national side and our national game.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully and Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye today announced a new partnership aimed at helping Pacific Island nations prepare for and manage natural disasters.

“The Pacific region is vulnerable to natural disasters such as tsunami, earthquakes and cyclones,” Mr McCully says.

“Over the last three years the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) have been working together with Pacific Island governments to help them prepare for natural disasters.

Subcontractors owed money are to get better protection for payment for work done in changes to the Construction Contracts Act approved by Government, Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.

Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew has focused on the increasing number of women entering trades as she officially opened Adult Learners’ Week, He Tangata Mātauranga.

Adult Learners’ Week was established in 1998 to raise the profile of adult learning and to celebrate the successes and achievements of those participating in Adult and Community Education.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says Wellingtonians will be delighted that after nearly a century in the making, work on the long-awaited Transmission Gully road is now officially underway.

Mr Brownlee today joined Prime Minister John Key and United Future leader and Ohariu MP Peter Dunne, other local dignitaries and officials, in turning the first sod on the 27 kilometre four-lane highway, which is the first roading Public Private Partnership (PPP) in New Zealand’s history.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is welcoming the establishment of New Zealand’s third Children’s Team, in the Horowhenua and Ōtaki region.

“The Team will be officially launched tomorrow and I’m delighted the communities of Foxton, Levin, Shannon and Ōtaki have succeeded in getting up and running so quickly to implement a new approach to child protection in their area,” says Mrs Bennett.

Five new marine reserves were officially opened today by Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith on the West Coast of the South Island to protect a range of marine ecosystems for conservation, science and recreation.

“These five new marine reserves on the West Coast effective from today are part of the Government’s plan to improve New Zealand’s marine conservation. We are a nation with some of the most spectacular and unique coastlines in the world and we need to recognise the importance and value of these marine habitats,” Dr Smith says.

The Government is providing $60,000 from the Community Conservation Partnership Fund to the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust to support its work in removing wilding conifer in the Abel Tasman Park and translocating the saddleback (tieke) to the Park's Adele Island, Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.

“Abel Tasman is a globally recognised National Park and the enhancement enabled by these grants will make it an even better place for visitors to enjoy some of the best our great outdoors has to offer,” Dr Smith says.

The Crown, Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust (PNBST) and Wellington City Council today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) intended to ensure the heritage of the historically important Watts Peninsula, or Te Motu Kairangi, is protected, preserved and developed with sensitivity, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Watts Peninsula is the prominent northern end of Miramar Peninsula.

The Ministry of Health is investing $3 million to expand the roll out of patient portals and allow more people to securely access their health information online.

Health Minister Tony Ryall was due to make the announcement at the Practice Managers and Administrators Association Conference in Rotorua today.

“Patient portals are secure online sites which allow New Zealanders to access their personal health information and manage aspects of their health care,” says Mr Ryall.

Prime Minister John Key today announced the establishment of a Government Inquiry into allegations regarding Hon Judith Collins and a former Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Adam Feeley.

“I have determined that a full and proper Government Inquiry with full powers of inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2013 is the most appropriate course of action.”

Former High Court Judge Hon Lester Chisholm will conduct the inquiry.

My thanks to BECA and IPENZ for the organising of this event, and the opportunity as Minister for Building and Construction to update progress on the implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations, and to announce significant proposed changes to the regulation of professional engineering in New Zealand.

The timing is appropriate as it is the fourth anniversary today of the first of the series of earthquakes to hit this city.

The regulation of engineers is to be strengthened to ensure they have the right knowledge, skills and competence to design safe buildings and to hold them more accountable for substandard work, Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.

“We need to improve the occupational regulation of engineers involved in the design and construction of buildings and to increase the consequences for those found to be incompetent,” Dr Smith says.

Minister responsible for the Earthquake Commission (EQC) Gerry Brownlee says the fourth anniversary of the first Canterbury Earthquake has coincided with the reaching of two significant milestones by the organisation.

“First, the Canterbury Home Repair Programme (CHRP) has reached $2 billion in net payments to contractors since the repair of earthquake damage began in the city in October 2010.

“Second, the programme has just completed its 60,000^th full-scope repair, leaving just under 10,000 repairs to go.

The Government is investing more than $22 million in the redevelopment of four schools across North Canterbury, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says.

“The funding will be used to expand and upgrade Oxford Area School, Rangiora Borough School, Ashgrove School and Southbrook School as part of the Government’s ongoing investment to ensure that schools have buildings fit for purpose and that provide safe and inspiring modern learning environments,” Ms Kaye says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced that New Zealand will contribute a five person team to the Multinational Observer Group for the Fiji election.

“New Zealand is strongly supportive of Fiji’s election preparations and return to democratic rule,” Mr McCully says.

“The Multinational Observer Group will help give the international community, and the people of Fiji, confidence in the outcome of the election.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says the addition of two cash detector dogs at the border, Rajax and Xaria, will increase Customs’ capability to stop illegal movements of money.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today launched the Sustainable Seas Ko Ngā Moana Whakauka National Science Challenge and confirmed initial funding of $31.3 million over five years.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has announced a 10-week window will apply to the Trans-Tasman visa agreement for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

“From 26 January to 5 April 2015, cricket fans and other visitors to Australia and New Zealand will only need to apply for one visa under a new Trans-Tasman Visa Arrangement,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Prime Minister John Key today announced the Government will contribute $2 million to Stadium Southland, fulfilling an undertaking he made when he officially opened the rebuilt facility in May this year.

“When I opened the stadium earlier this year, I said the Government would be prepared to help the Southland community with a contribution to reduce the rebuilt stadium’s funding shortfall,” Mr Key says.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced a new National Intestinal Failure service, costing $1 million over three years, will be established to improve the quality of care for patients suffering with intestinal failure.

Intestinal failure is a serious condition that affects a patient’s ability to keep up adequate nutrition. It is estimated there are around 300 New Zealanders who require long term intestinal care. 

The Government has announced a new initiative to develop better housing and urban environments as part of its programme of National Science Challenges.

Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities – Ko ngā wā kāinga hei whakamāhorahora was one of the areas identified by the National Science Challenges Panel in 2013 where science has the potential to significantly benefit New Zealand. This is the eleventh National Science Challenge to be announced by the Government.

The Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities Challenge will deliver:

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will host his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, for a working visit to New Zealand from 4-5 September.

“China is an important partner for New Zealand, and the visit by Foreign Minister Wang Yi is an opportunity to expand our cooperation regionally and internationally,” Mr McCully says.

“Our trade with China continues to grow. New Zealand’s annual merchandise exports to China are now over $11.5 billion – an increase of $3.5 billion in the past twelve months.

The history of the legendary 28^th Māori Battalion will be further preserved as part of a project to record the histories of the Battalion’s A, B and D companies, says Education Minister Hekia Parata.