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Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman and ACC Minister Nikki Kaye welcome Water Safety New Zealand’s campaign launch of ‘Stop and think before you go near the water’, which is supported by ACC.

“On average 103 people die in New Zealand waters each year. Water Safety New Zealand’s campaign reminds people to reflect on whether it really is safe to enter the water,” says Dr Coleman.

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.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye today announced the reappointment of James Miller as a member of the Accident Compensation Corporation Board. 

“I’m pleased to announce that James Miller has been reappointed for a three-year term,” says Ms Kaye.

James has extensive experience in financial markets, investment management and commercial governance. He sits on ACC’s investment subcommittee and is Chair of the Shaping Our Future subcommittee.   

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.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye today announced the release of a discussion paper on the proposed Accident Compensation Appeal Tribunal.

“After listening to stakeholders’ concerns, the Government agreed in June 2015 to review the decision to establish a stand-alone tribunal. This was to take into account work ACC has been doing to resolve accident compensation disputes early on, to consider different options for dealing with accident compensation appeals, and to allow for targeted consultation with key stakeholders,” says Ms Kaye.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye and Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner have congratulated the winners of last night’s Attitude Awards, which recognise exceptional contributions made by New Zealanders who live with disabilities.

“ACC is the principal sponsor of the Attitude Awards, which promote positive role models and celebrate people living with a disability who are achieving great things,” Ms Kaye says.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye has confirmed that Cabinet has signed off a law change that will help some superannuitants better cope with the accidental death of their spouse or partner.

“Under the current law, ACC weekly compensation paid to the spouse of someone who is fatally injured is generally available for five years,” says Ms Kaye.

“However, a clause in ACC’s governing Act requires superannuitants, after receiving both NZ Super and weekly compensation for a year, to choose between receiving either NZ Super or weekly compensation.

Shifting ACC to a greater focus on injury prevention

Introduction

Good morning. It’s great to be here today, with so many of you who have been contributing over a long period of time to ensure fewer New Zealanders lose their lives or are seriously injured in accidents.

We all know the impact on someone’s life from injury, and the importance of doing everything we can across government to ensure the investments and people are in place to prevent as many injuries as possible.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye says a new Safekids Aotearoa campaign supported by ACC will help reduce New Zealand’s high rate of children’s driveway deaths and injuries.

“On average, five children are killed every year and every fortnight a child is hospitalised with a significant injury after being hit by a vehicle on a private driveway,” says Ms Kaye.

“In total, ACC receives around 120 claims a year for driveway injuries to children.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye today welcomed the start of ACC’s public levy consultation process.

“The ACC Board is proposing levy reductions worth $450 million in 2016/17, spread across work, earners’ and motor vehicle levies. This is possible because ACC is now in great financial shape,” says Ms Kaye.

“The proposed reductions are based on the Board’s new funding policy of each levied account targeting assets within a band of 100 and 110 per cent of the account’s liabilities.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye says the passing today of the Accident Compensation (Financial Responsibility and Transparency) Amendment Bill will deliver greater transparency around levy-setting, and help ensure that levies are more stable over time and fairer, with businesses paying the true costs of injuries in their industries.

“The Bill amends the Accident Compensation Act 2001 to introduce a more principled, transparent framework for funding decisions, and more stringent reporting requirements on ACC to ensure the public is better informed,” says Ms Kaye.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye confirmed today that residual levies will be removed from ACC’s Work, Earners’ and Motor Vehicle Accounts next year.

“Parliament will this week debate the final stages of an amendment to the Accident Compensation Act which will allow me to set the date from which residual levies will cease, by notice in the Gazette,” says Ms Kaye.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye has welcomed the major partnership formed between ACC and Paralympics New Zealand.

“This partnership will provide opportunities for people with injury-related disabilities to have a go at sports which can help them lead a more active lifestyle,” says Ms Kaye.

“At the same time, it will enable Paralympics New Zealand to identify new Para-athletes, as they look towards the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and beyond.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye has announced the reappointment of Chair Mark Gilbert and three new appointments which will ensure diverse representation on the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council.

The Council represents the motorcycling community and advises ACC on initiatives that will make motorcycling safer on New Zealand roads.

“The new appointments, who are all active motorcyclists, are Johan Bosch, David White and Alan Petrie,” says Ms Kaye.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye says she’s pleased with the positive uptake of the enhanced support for hearing loss that ACC introduced just over twelve months ago.

“Over the past year, New Zealanders have received more than $20 million worth of extra support for injury-related hearing loss from ACC,” says Ms Kaye.

From 1 July 2014, ACC increased its contributions towards hearings aids and audiologists’ fees to enable more people to get suitable hearing aids.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye and Senior Citizens Minister Maggie Barry have welcomed new ACC initiatives aimed at reducing falls amongst older people.

“ACC will roll out a series of initiatives aimed at preventing falls and improving services for older people over the next 12 months,” says Ms Kaye.

“Today I’m pleased to confirm the first of these initiatives, which include:

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and ACC Minister Nikki Kaye have confirmed that from next month people who suffer spinal cord injuries will be taken straight to a specialist hospital if feasible, to maximise their long-term health and rehabilitation outcomes.

“We know it is best for patients with suspected spinal cord injuries to get to a specialist spinal service as soon as possible for treatment,” says Dr Coleman.

Courts Minister Amy Adams and ACC Minister Nikki Kaye have today announced further consultation on the proposed Accident Compensation Appeal Tribunal.

“The Government agreed in April 2014 to establish a new Accident Compensation Appeal Tribunal to replace two existing appeals bodies. The proposal was part of a package of reforms aimed at updating and modernising the justice system. The new tribunal process is expected to be faster, while still maintaining a fair process, and will have greater flexibility in resourcing,” Ms Adams says.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye today announced the reappointment of six members of the board of the Accident Compensation Corporation.

“I’m pleased to announce that Chair Paula Rebstock, Deputy Chair Trevor Janes and Kristy McDonald have all been reappointed for three-year terms,” says Ms Kaye.

“The other three directors whose terms expire this year, Professor Des Gorman, Anita Mazzoleni and Jill Spooner, have been reappointed for a further two years.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye today announced the reappointment of three directors to the board of crown company FairWay Resolution Limited.

“These reappointments will give the company continuity of leadership and balance in terms of diversity, skills, experience and geographical representation.

New Zealanders will have an extra $438 million a year in their pockets through ACC motor vehicle levy cuts that kick in today, says ACC Minister Nikki Kaye.

“From today, the average motor vehicle levy, including the annual licence levy and petrol levy, will fall from around $330 to $195,” says Ms Kaye.

“All car owners will receive annual licence levy cuts of between $40 and $130 for petrol cars, and between $80 and $170 for diesel cars.

“The ACC petrol levy also falls to 6.9 cents per litre from today, down from 9.9 cents per litre.

From today all New Zealand children aged under 13 will be eligible to access free GP visits at any time of the day or night seven days a week, as well as free prescriptions.

“We want to support families in giving their children the best possible start in life. We are making it easier for families to get the medical attention their child needs,” says Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss say car owners can now visit the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) RightCar website to see the reduced ACC levy they’ll pay from 1 July, when ACC introduces risk rating.

“From 1 July, all car owners will pay a reduced ACC annual licence levy,” says Ms Kaye.

“Levies will also reflect how safe a car is in a crash, and the RightCar site makes it easy to see the specific levy that will apply to your vehicle.

The Minister of Civil Defence, Nikki Kaye, has thanked communities and agencies in the Wellington and Bay of Plenty regions for the way they’ve responded to flooding, landslides and a tornado.

The Wellington region, including the Kapiti Coast and Hutt Valley, received torrential rain for much of yesterday, and last night a tornado struck Mount Maunganui.

“The Wellington region in particular faced significant disruption, and it was heart-warming to see how people reached out to support each other, for example by opening their homes to stranded commuters.