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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a draft Action Plan to guide training and development of mental health workers is out for sector consultation. 

“New Zealand has a highly skilled and professional health workforce. Each year the Government invests around $20 million in mental health and addiction workforce development,” says Dr Coleman

Three new Law Commissioners appointed

Justice Minister Amy Adams today announced the appointment of Douglas White QC, Donna Buckingham and Helen McQueen as new members of the Law Commission, each for a term of five years.

“Between them, these three new appointees have a tremendous depth of experience and know-how, and bring a fresh perspective to one of the justice sector’s most important policy institutions,” Ms Adams says.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has advised the Ngā Parirau Mātauranga Charitable Trust that she proposes to terminate the agreement under which it runs a partnership school at Whangaruru.

Ms Parata, who met with the board on Tuesday, says a specialist audit conducted in October shows the current board has made significant progress in addressing the governance and management issues that caused her to issue the trust with a performance notice in February.

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner today released the updated Disability Action Plan 2014 – 2018 and announced the first steps in the revision of the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

“The Disability Action Plan brings together multiple government agencies to act on disability issues and is jointly governed with Disabled People’s Organisations. It was updated to make sure it was relevant and focused on the issues that are the most important to disabled people and the disability sector,” Ms Wagner says.

Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says the confirmed results of the first flag referendum mean New Zealanders now have a clear choice whether to change our flag or keep our existing one.

The final results of the first of the two postal referendums have confirmed the Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue) flag by designer Kyle Lockwood as the alternative option to the existing flag.

The Commission says a total of 1,546,734 votes were cast, 48.78 percent of enrolled voters.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has praised farmers’ preparations for this summer’s El Nino climate pattern, as it shapes up to be one of the strongest on record. 

“NIWA has released a report last week confirming that El Nino will definitely continue at least over the next three months, and is likely to intensify and peak over the summer,” says Mr Guy.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Minister for Pacific Peoples Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga have announced $763,000 funding for the Pasifika Education Centre in South Auckland.

“The Pasifika Education Centre (PEC) did not qualify for the full amount of the contestable Adult and Community Education (ACE) funding which it applied for, but I consider the work the centre does around Pacific languages and cultural education boosts Pasifika skills and is in the national interest to be funded,” Mr Joyce says.

Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew has welcomed today’s release of the final report of the Dairy Capability Working Group.

“The Working Group found the food safety capability of New Zealand’s dairy sector is in good shape,” says Mrs Goodhew. “Looking forward, to maintain our reputation as a world class provider of safe and suitable food we now need to anticipate the changing face of food safety.

Treasury’s latest forecasts show ongoing improvement in the Government’s books – reflecting a continued focus on responsible fiscal management, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today cut the ribbon opening the Cambridge section of the $2.1 billion Waikato Expressway.

“This is the country’s newest stretch of road and it has been two years in the making. I’m excited it is open six months ahead of schedule and in time for the upcoming holiday period,” Mr Bridges says.

The $250 million Cambridge section is one of seven that make up the 102 kilometre Waikato Expressway, a Road of National Significance identified early by the Government for progression.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says she is delighted so many members of the public have taken the opportunity to have their say on the future of education.

When submissions on the proposed update of the Education Act closed last night 1814 submissions had been received.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says an evaluation of this year’s national rheumatic fever awareness campaign shows positive results and a scorecard of excellence.

“The independent evaluation by Allen + Clarke Policy and Regulatory Specialists Ltd describes the rheumatic fever campaign as efficient, effective and relevant,” says Dr Coleman.

A total of $315,820 in funding has been approved for 48 applicants from not-for-profit organisations working with refugees and migrants, Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga announced today.

The money comes from the Office of Ethnic Communities’ Settling In fund, which is available for projects or initiatives that seek to support successful settlement for refugee and migrant communities in New Zealand. 

The Government is working to gain a full understanding of treatment injury to inform a range of initiatives to reduce treatment injury rates, say Minister of Health Jonathan Coleman and Minister for ACC Nikki Kaye.

“ACC’s treatment injury liability account is subject to a rising number of claims. It’s important from a clinical and financial point of view to understand why this is happening,” says Dr Coleman.

Newly built social housing units in West Auckland will ensure more vulnerable people can access healthy, modern housing while they need it, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Mrs Bennett today opened 10 new units developed by VisionWest Community Trust at Triangle Road, Massey. The 30-bedroom development cost $4.3 million, which included $2 million in funding from the Government’s Social Housing Unit fund.

Samoan culture, ‘talking about it’ and education are key to preventing violence against Samoan women and girls, according to a new report released by the Minister for Women, Hon Louise Upston, and the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

The report, A malu i ‘āiga, e malu fo’i i fafo: Protection for the family, protection for all - Samoan people’s understanding of primary prevention of violence against women, shows Samoan communities see the need to strengthen education on women’s safety. 

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce leaves for the United States tomorrow on the inaugural Air New Zealand flight to Houston, Texas.

“Houston is the fourth largest city in the US and a major airline hub for the southern and eastern United States,” says Mr Joyce. “It is hugely exciting to see our national carrier flying there and reaching into the middle of the continental US for the first time.

A Selwyn Housing Accord aimed at improving the affordability of housing and availability of land was signed today by Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and Mayor Kelvin Coe.

“Following the Canterbury earthquakes, the Selwyn District grew faster than expected, which led to housing pressures and land supply issues. In addition, the Selwyn district has been the fastest growing region in New Zealand for the last eight years and we expect that to continue well into 2018,” Dr Smith says.

The government remains committed to introducing legislation that will enable co-operation across councils, Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

“When councils need to work together to deliver better local services for their ratepayers, it should be easier for them to do so. At present it is difficult for functions and responsibilities to either be shared or transferred across local and regional councils,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett and Salvation Army Territorial Commander Commissioner Robert Donaldson have dedicated a new social housing site in Royal Oak, Auckland.

As announced by the Government last week, more social housing from the community housing sector in Auckland is expected to deliver over 500 new places, with 87 places provided by The Salvation Army. 50 of these will be new one and two bedroom units built on the currently empty site in Royal Oak.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee will host the Australian Defence Minister, Senator Marise Payne in Christchurch today.

The Ministers will discuss a range of regional and international security issues, including international efforts to counter Da’esh and deployments such as the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai, and Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan.  The respective New Zealand and Australian Defence White Papers will also be a topic of conversation.

“I welcome Senator Payne to New Zealand,” Mr Brownlee says.

The Government has committed to a further five and a half years of support to help small businesses grow through its Regional Business Partner programme, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Small Business Minister Craig Foss announced today.

Regional Business Partners are local hubs of business development know-how and research and development (R&D) expertise for companies.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has welcomed two Law Commission reports on how the justice system responds to victims of sexual violence and on the use of classified and security-sensitive information in civil court proceedings.

Ms Adams says the Government will consider the recommendations of both reports and respond in due course.

Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today welcomed the opening of the Hornby Project complex, an initiative being delivered by a consortium of community housing providers to provide a range of affordable housing solutions for low income Christchurch families.