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Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown today announced three new Special Housing Areas across Wellington.

“The three new SHAs cover around eight hectares of currently underused land in Shelly Bay, Newlands and Newtown and together with the existing Shelly Bay SHA, will provide more than 330 new homes. These additions bring the total SHAs in Wellington to 24, with a total combined capacity of around 2,750 houses,” says Dr Smith.

  • Nick Smith
  • Building and Housing

Education Minister Hekia Parata says parents, school boards, students and home-based early childhood education providers will all benefit from the increased flexibility proposed by the Education Legislation Bill, which had its first reading today.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

A bill that will see offshore property speculators pay a withholding tax on profits from property transactions under the ‘Bright-line test’, and GST applied to online purchases of services and intangibles from overseas suppliers has passed its first reading.

Revenue Minister Todd McClay says the Residential Land Withholding Tax (RLWT), GST on Online Services, and Student Loans Bill is about fairness.

  • Todd McClay
  • Revenue

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a Bill to extend the term of the Southern DHB Commissioner passed its first reading today 95-26.

The New Zealand Public Health and Disability (Southern DHB) Elections Bill will extend the term of the Commissioner and her team to 2019.

“Achieving financial stability at Southern DHB is a long term process. Without legislative change the Commissioner and her team would have less than 18 months to improve the DHB’s position,” says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley has congratulated 24 young people in care who have been acknowledged in the ninth annual William Wallace Awards in Wellington.

“I wholeheartedly congratulate today’s winners – they are achieving well in their chosen field and have overcome many challenges to do so,” Mrs Tolley says.

The William Wallace Awards recognise outstanding young people in care and provide scholarships of up to $4,000 to help them pursue tertiary study, vocational training or leadership development.

  • Anne Tolley
  • Social Development

The achievements of some of the country’s most talented young Pacific people have been recognised at the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards at Parliament this afternoon.

“The Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards celebrate high-achieving young Pacific New Zealanders who have the potential to contribute significantly to the future of our nation,” says Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

  • Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
  • Pacific Peoples

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse welcomes the widespread roll-out of eVisas as a major milestone in modernising travel to New Zealand.

“The expansion of eVisas for online applicants will make the visa application process faster, cheaper and easier,” Mr Woodhouse says.

The roll out means eVisas are now available to the following online applicants:

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Paul Goldsmith announced changes that remove the criminal sanctions for cartel behaviour currently contained in a the Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. 

“The Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill enables companies to collaborate if the activity promotes competition and enhances efficiency,” Mr Goldsmith says.

  • Paul Goldsmith
  • Commerce and Consumer Affairs

The Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Bill has been introduced to Parliament.

The Bill is designed to repeal and replace the now outdated Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966. It provides for the compulsory treatment of a small group of people with severe substance addiction and severely impaired capacity, who are unable to engage in treatment of their own accord.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Health

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says it’s a credit to all involved that the costs of Christchurch’s horizontal infrastructure repair and replacement programme will come in under the maximum budget allocated, saving taxpayers and ratepayers money.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye today confirmed the Government has agreed to $450 million of ACC levy reductions consulted on and recommended by the ACC Board for the 2016/17 year.

“These levy reductions apply across motor vehicle, work and earners’ levies,” says Ms Kaye.

“There will be a 33 per cent reduction to the average motor vehicle levy, comprising the petrol levy and annual licence levy, from an average of $194.25 currently, to $130.26 per vehicle.

  • Nikki Kaye
  • ACC

A new agreement with Microsoft will reduce IT complexity for schools and enhance access to the online world for students, enabling them to learn anywhere, any time and on any device, says Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

Ms Kaye announced the new agreement between the Ministry of Education and Microsoft during a visit to Lyall Bay School in Wellington this afternoon.

  • Nikki Kaye
  • Education

New Zealand Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith and Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison today announced the expansion of cross-appointments between the New Zealand Commerce Commission (NZCC) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

  • Paul Goldsmith
  • Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Students are to be given the chance to earn NCEA credits by obtaining driver licences, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss announced today.

“Too many young people are missing out on jobs because they don’t have a licence and too many others are entering the courts system because they are driving without licences,” says Ms Parata.

  • Craig Foss
  • Hekia Parata
  • Transport
  • Education

The Government will invest $8.4 million over seven years in a research partnership that could transform New Zealand’s wool industry, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy announced today.

The Wool Industry Research Ltd (WIRL) partnership “New Uses for Wool” is co-funded by the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand and worth $21 million overall.

  • Nathan Guy
  • Steven Joyce
  • Science and Innovation
  • Primary Industries

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says an extra $4 million is being made available for DHB colonoscopy services.

“A colonoscopy can identify whether a person has cancer or pre-cancerous growths. Early identification and treatment can save lives,” says Dr Coleman.

“This extra $4 million in funding will support DHBs to undertake additional colonoscopies and help to reduce waiting times.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

The 2015 Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia have been awarded to 152 students from across New Zealand.

“These scholarships are a special opportunity for young New Zealanders to study, conduct research, or take up internships in countries that are hugely important to New Zealand, both today and in the future,” says Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

Statistics Minister Craig Foss is welcoming the release of Cabinet papers on the future of the census and appointments to the working group of the Data Futures Partnership.

Statistics New Zealand has published the Census Transformation paper and a Cabinet paper of the appointments made to the Data Futures Partnership Working Group.

“New Zealand needs the information from the census to enable communities to plan for things like schools, health needs and roads,” says Mr Foss.

  • Craig Foss
  • Statistics

Research released today focusing on Chinese visitors’ preferences will support further strong growth in the tourism sector, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The China Visitor Insight report presents key findings into the needs of Chinese travellers to New Zealand and will to help local businesses develop a deeper insight into the expectations of independent Chinese travellers.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Tourism

New Zealand is the newest member of the Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA), Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges announced overnight in Paris.

The GGA is an initiative led by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to increase geothermal electricity generation and the direct use of geothermal heat. The announcement of New Zealand’s membership of the GGA took place in Paris as part of the Climate Change Conference.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Energy and Resources

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee today announced that Cabinet has approved the purchase of new rifles to re-equip the Defence Force, 28 years after the Steyr 5.56mm rifle was introduced. 

The new rifle is manufactured by Lewis Machine and Tools (LMT) in the United States.

“The LMT is a combat-proven rifle that has seen service in the most arduous conditions,” Mr Brownlee says.

“It gives our personnel a weapon they can rely on in any situation,” Mr Brownlee says.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Defence

Catherine Savage has been named as the Chair of the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation Board, replacing current Chair Gavin Walker, who has resigned, Finance Minister Bill English has announced.

Ms Savage begins her tenure as Chair on 1 January 2016 for a term of just over three years, while Mr Walker’s term will end on 31 December 2015.

“I’d like to thank Gavin for his strong professional and personal leadership during his tenure,” Mr English says.

  • Bill English
  • Finance

New Zealand has formally became a member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Finance Minister Bill English says.

Ratification by members with 50 percent of the capital of the AIIB is needed for it to establish operations. New Zealand’s ratification will contribute to the organisation reaching the 50 percent threshold needed for the AIIB to establish operations.  This is expected to take place by mid-December.

This follows the passage of the International Financial Agreement Amendment Act here in New Zealand in November.

  • Bill English
  • Finance

A Government Bill to require insulation and smoke alarms in all rental properties and to increase enforcement of housing standards received unanimous support in Parliament on its first reading, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith said today.

  • Nick Smith
  • Building and Housing