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Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee today inspected construction progress at the new Christchurch Stadium, joined by members of the Crusaders rugby franchise who pitched in to help lay recycled turf harvested from AMI Stadium.

“It’s a very tight schedule to build an entire stadium in four months but the efforts and outstanding cooperation of the roughly 400 workers on site has this project on track for completion at the end of March, just 43 days away,” Mr Brownlee said.

New figures show nearly 40,000 more women aged 50 to 69 have taken part in the Government’s free breast cancer screening programme in the 24 months to October 2011 than in the previous two years.

In the 24 months to October 2011, a total of 344,268 women had breast screening as part of BreastScreen Aotearoa, compared with 305,839 women in the 24 months to October 2009.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams today released a discussion paper reviewing the 111 emergency calling system.

The review considers the performance of the 111 system through to the point where calls are handed over by Telecom to emergency service providers. It does not cover the response of emergency service providers to 111 calls.

About three million 111 calls are made each year, 25 per cent of which are genuine calls needing to be transferred to emergency service communication centres.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has announced the establishment of two working groups to improve quality early childhood education for young children.

“We are taking action to make sure all early childhood education services are of the highest possible quality,” says Ms Parata.

“The early years of children’s lives are crucial for learning and development, and every single one of our children deserves the best education they can get.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced the re-zoning of a further 255 residential orange zone properties, 42 to green, which means their owners can begin the process of repairing or rebuilding, and 213 to red, which means the properties will be subject to Government offers of purchase.

Mr Brownlee says today’s zoning decisions have been among the most challenging of the over 10,000 flat land properties originally zoned orange, given the complex nature of the damage, which varies from street to street.

Prime Minister John Key has paid tribute to businessman Lloyd Morrison, who died this morning in Seattle.

Mr Morrison was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009.

“It was with much sadness that I learnt of Lloyd's passing this morning,” says Mr Key.

“I had been in regular contact throughout his illness and last spoke to him a few weeks ago.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett welcomes a joint initiative to provide work experience opportunities for young people in Auckland.

The Auckland Council, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Social Development are working together on an initiative to provide around 230 places this year.

“Work experience is vitally important for young people looking for that first job,” says Ms Bennett.

Consumer Affairs Minister Chris Tremain is pleased that the Consumer Law Reform Bill passed its first reading today.

“The Consumer Law Reform Bill is a vital update to New Zealand’s consumer laws and another step towards implementing the Government’s 120-point Economic Development Action Plan,” says Mr Tremain.

“The Fair Trading Act, Consumer Guarantees Act, and other consumer laws are relevant to everyone in daily life. These laws are sound, but have not been updated in over 20 years.

The release today of the technical report into the collapse of the CTV building in Christchurch will be a tough day for the friends and families of those who lost their lives in the building, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson said today.

"The report provides insight into why the building collapsed on 22 February. It also raises some serious questions about the structural integrity of the building," Mr Brownlee said.

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley has welcomed the latest “block offer” process for awarding oil and gas exploration permits in selected areas, released today by the Ministry of Economic Development. The 2012 proposed block offer covers 25 areas.

“While we don’t necessarily expect exploration to be undertaken in all the blocks on offer this year, this is an important step in developing New Zealand’s significant resource wealth,” the Minister said.

The Minister for Racing Nathan Guy has announced that applications for the next round of the Racing Safety Development Fund are now open.

“This Fund supports projects that improve facilities and upgrade the safety standards at racecourses,” says Mr Guy.

“All racing clubs and the racing code bodies are invited to submit applications for funding, with $508,826 available in this second round from a total figure of $1 million for 2011/12.

The fall in unemployment from 6.6 per cent to 6.3 per cent in the December 2011 quarter is further evidence the economy is heading in the right direction, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

The results from Statistics New Zealand show that 3000 more people were employed in the quarter.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has joined the Healthline team celebrating the 2.5 millionth call to the free 24-hour health advice phone line.

Mr Ryall met the parents of a young girl who believe their daughter's life may have been saved by the advice she got from Healthline (story attached). He also met with the nurse who took call number 2.5 million, and was shown how the telephone triage system works.

About 80 percent of calls to Healthline require nurse assessment.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says a Ministerial Inquiry into a case of serious abuse of a nine year old, has led to major changes.

“Both parents responsible for the appalling litany of abuse against their nine year old child have now been found guilty and sentenced and that’s where the primary responsibility lies,” says Ms Bennett.

”But I called for a Ministerial Inquiry because it was clear multiple agencies and adults missed the abuse and we have to do things better.”

Sixteen aerially assisted trophy hunting (AATH) concessions are to be granted by Associate Conservation Minister Peter Dunne under the Wild Animal Control Act.

The Minister said he was obliged to consider the applications within the framework of current legislation and has decided on the following under Section 22 of the Act:

Justice Minister Judith Collins has welcomed the first reading of a bill to improve information sharing between public service agencies.

Ms Collins said the Privacy (Information Sharing) Bill will improve the rules around the collection, storage, and use of personal information while ensuring there are safeguards in place to protect an individual’s right to privacy.

A bill which makes offending against Police and Corrections officers an aggravating factor at sentencing passed its second reading in Parliament today.

Justice Minister Judith Collins says the Sentencing (Aggravating Factors) Amendment Bill shows the Government is taking assaults against Police and Corrections officers seriously, by requiring the courts to specifically consider this as an aggravating factor in sentencing offenders.

The Government will increase the minimum wage from $13 to $13.50 an hour, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson announced today.

The training and new entrants’ minimum wages will increase from $10.40 to $10.80 (or 80% of the adult minimum wage).

“Those working full time on the minimum wage will earn an extra $20 a week or more than $1000 a year,” Ms Wilkinson said.

“This increase strikes the right balance between protecting low paid workers and ensuring that jobs are not lost during these tough economic times.”

Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins will join members of the Chinese community to mark the most important festival on the Chinese calendar this evening.

Ms Collins will welcome Chinese community and business leaders, artists, academics, diplomats and students from around the country to Parliament to celebrate Chinese New Year.

“Tonight’s event will showcase the rich culture and heritage of our Chinese New Zealanders as they share their story with the wider community through arts and entertainment," Ms Collins said.

Internal Affairs Minister Amy Adams has welcomed the first reading of a bill that will make it easier for people to verify their identities to government agencies.

The Electronic Identity Verification Bill will provide people using the Internet with the option of an easy and secure way to verify their identities to access a range of services from government agencies.

The service works in combination with the igovt log-on service, which allows people to use one log-on to access secure online services across multiple government agencies.

The Governor-General has amended the reporting dates for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure caused by Canterbury Earthquakes, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The Royal Commission’s report will now be delivered in parts, to allow the fullest examination of important issues while allowing the rebuild of Christchurch to proceed without unnecessary delay.

On Cabinet’s advice, the Governor-General has extended the reporting date for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Pike River mine tragedy to 28 September 2012, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The Commissioners were originally due to report back by 31 March 2012, but approached Government requesting an extension late last year.

Consumer Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says a new freephone number will help empower and protect consumers from being preyed on by unscrupulous loan companies.

The freephone number 0800 LOAN STRESS was launched today. It will give consumers better access to services to help them clearly understand their rights and resolve disputes with finance companies.

“Too many consumers are being treated unfairly by their loan providers,” says Mr Tremain.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has condemned the escalating violence in Syria and described the killing of 50 citizens in Homs by regime forces yesterday as “reprehensible.”

Mr McCully called for renewed attempts to secure agreement on a UN Security Council resolution on Syria.

“New Zealand is dismayed by the escalating violence in Syria," Mr McCully said.