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At Waitangi today to commemorate the 172nd anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, Prime Minister John Key paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, whose Diamond Jubilee year also commences today.

“The Queen took the throne on 6 February 1952,” says Mr Key. “She has reigned for 60 years, and hers has been a reign of commitment and service to her realms and territories, including New Zealand.

A ceremony to rebury the remains of a New Zealand soldier was held at Messines Ridge British Cemetery near Ieper, Belgium on Friday 3 February.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Defence, Dr Jonathan Coleman, the Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones, the Secretary of Defence, John McKinnon, the New Zealand Ambassador (Belgium), Vangelis Vitalis, and the Head of Defence Staff, New Zealand High Commission Brigadier Antony (Lofty) Hayward.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew today announced the recipients of the 2012 Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowships.

Fellows are granted up to 80 per cent of travel costs and can spend between three weeks and three months overseas. The average value of the grants awarded is $5000, and the Trust will provide a total of $75,000 to 15 people.

The number of people on benefits in New Zealand remained relatively steady over the last month says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“Normally you would see a huge spike in benefits over January, but all benefits rose by just 100 to 351,032 in the last month,” says Ms Bennett.

This is the smallest December to January increase since 2008.

“In the last month more than 2,000 Maori went off welfare into work and more than 2,000 young people did the same,” says Ms Bennett.

A new advertising campaign that hits television screens on Sunday highlights new consequences for people that refuse to pay fines and reparation, Courts Minister Chester Borrows says.

The 15-second television commercial is part of the Ministry of Justice’s “Pay your fines, or pay the price” campaign and is timed to coincide with the first provisions of the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill coming into force on February 13.

Prime Minister John Key today confirmed New Zealand was on track to doubling its two-way trade with China to $20 billion by 2015 at the launch of the NZ Inc China Strategy at the Cloud in Auckland.

"We have a strong relationship with China and have seen good growth in trade over the past few years. The launch of the strategy today will help further strengthen that relationship," Mr Key says.

"The goal of doubling two-way trade from $10 billion to $20 billion by 2015 was agreed when I visited Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in 2010.

Police Minister Anne Tolley has turned the sod for a new police station at Rolleston, near Christchurch.

The total cost of the project is $1.6 million, and is set to be completed by September.

“Our police require the best tools for the job to keep communities safe,” says Mrs Tolley.

“The new Rolleston police station will incorporate modern design and technology, and is located much closer to the local community than the existing station.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee is calling for people to take care and drive safely this long weekend.

"Many New Zealanders will want to take advantage of this long weekend and head away. It's important to drive to the conditions, check vehicles before setting off, use patience, and avoid taking risks," says Mr Brownlee.

“Police will be lowering speed tolerances for the month, sending a very clear message that unsafe speeds are not acceptable. I urge people to heed this message.

Minister for Disability Issues, Hon. Tariana Turia is absolutely thrilled by news that Sky Television will be introducing closed captioning on thirteen of its channels.

“I applaud Sky TV for taking this step, which will provide access for the deaf and hearing impaired communities to a world of knowledge and entertainment they have otherwise been locked out of.”

The recovery of justice services in Christchurch is making excellent progress, Minister for Courts Chester Borrows said during a visit to the city today.

Minister Borrows visited seven Ministry of Justice facilities, including the successful District Court operation at Ngā Hau e Whā marae in the eastern suburbs, and the site of a new central city courthouse.

Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples has expressed support for the staff of Te Puni Kokiri, who have been given a preliminary briefing by the Chief Executive on the Ministry’s operating environment.

“How the Ministry manages their fiscal pressures and efficiency dividend is of course an operational matter for management. I expect to be consulted on the Chief Executive’s proposals for how Te Puni Kokiri continues to deliver the most effective services to the public, within the budget they have been allocated,” he said.

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson tomorrow launched the game bird habitat stamp and art prints for 2012 to mark World Wetlands Day, held internationally on February 2 each year.

New Zealand’s game bird habitat stamps initiative is based on the successful American model where the stamps are used to endorse hunting licences with funds raised going towards waterfowl conservation projects.

Auckland litigator Murray Ashley Gilbert SC has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Gilbert graduated with an LLB from Auckland University in 1977. In 1976 he joined Kensington Swan in Auckland as a law clerk, later becoming a partner in 1985. In 1996 he became a partner with Chapman Tripp. He left to form the partnership Gilbert Walker with Campbell Walker in 2004.

In 2008 Justice Gilbert was appointed Senior Counsel.

A new programme that aims to generate innovative solutions to reduce the number and severity of falls in the home has been launched today by ACC Minister Judith Collins.

The programme, called Idea Nation, features a series of brainstorming forums and a competition encouraging all New Zealanders to submit their falls-prevention ideas and help ACC solve this national problem.

“On the face of it, a fall might not sound too serious but every year thousands of New Zealanders from all walks of life are hurt by a fall at home," said Ms Collins.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows congratulated Ministry of Justice staff today, following the successful launch of a regional way of working across district courts in New Zealand’s most populous region.

From today, services offered at each of the six district courts in the region – North Shore, Waitakere, Auckland, Manukau, Pukekohe and Papakura – will be managed regionally to ensure better service delivery at the local level.

Prime Ministers Julia Gillard and John Key met for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ meeting in Melbourne on 29 January. Their meeting was followed by the second Joint Meeting of Australian and New Zealand Cabinet Ministers.

The Prime Ministers re-affirmed their strong commitment to the closest possible relations between Australia and New Zealand, including through an annual Leaders’ meeting. They agreed to conduct further joint meetings of Cabinet Ministers on a regular basis and at least once in the term of each government.

Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith today met with New Zealand’s newly appointed Minister of Defence Dr Jonathan Coleman for the Ministers’ first formal bilateral meeting.

The meeting was held in Melbourne in conjunction with the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting between Prime Ministers and senior Cabinet Ministers today.

The Ministers announced a new Australia-New Zealand Defence Relationship Framework, which builds on the ANZAC tradition and the longstanding comprehensive defence relationship between Australia and New Zealand.

Local Government Minister Nick Smith and the Christchurch City Council have met today and agreed to the appointment of a Crown Observer to assist the Council.

"The appointment of a Crown Observer onto the Christchurch City Council will help address any governance issues and work to rebuild the public confidence in the Council," Dr Smith says.

The Minister of Defence is attending defence talks in Europe next week after the bilateral meeting with the Australian Defence Minister and attending the joint Australian New Zealand Cabinet meeting in Melbourne this weekend.

On Sunday evening Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman will travel to London to meet defence leaders and to hold talks related to his State Services portfolio.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is delighted with the response to the Green Paper both in terms of turn out and contributions.

“I have been fronting up and listening to a huge range of New Zealanders from local iwi in Whangarei to staff in the lunch room at Carter Holt Harvey, to a children's panel in the Waikato,” says Ms Bennett.

The Minister’s Green Paper tour which started in Kaitaia will end in Invercargill with meetings in 17 towns and cities including all of New Zealand’s main centres.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has today announced the extension of the Government’s buy-out offer to owners of rest homes and retirement villages in Christchurch’s residential red zone.

Mr Brownlee said he was very pleased to be able to make the announcement, as the issue had caused understandable concern to the residents affected.

"This complex matter has been a focus for the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority’s policy team for a number of months, so it's great news that a solution has been found.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says today's commencement of construction on the first multi-level building in Christchurch’s CBD since the February 22 earthquake is an important milestone.

"Moments like this need to be recognised," Mr Brownlee said.

"Today's commencement of construction demonstrates a belief in the future of the central city by the building’s owners, and by the tenants they have secured to occupy the building.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson and Associate Minister of Finance Dr Jonathan Coleman have accepted the recommendation of the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) to grant consent to Milk New Zealand Holding Limited (Milk New Zealand), a subsidiary of Shanghai Pengxin Group Co. Limited, to acquire the 16 Crafar farms.

"It is clear that all criteria under sections 16 and 18 of the Overseas Investment Act 2005 have been met, therefore we accept the recommendation of the OIO to grant consent," Mr Williamson said.

Core Crown tax revenue was about $500 million below forecast in the five months ending 30 November, reinforcing the need for ongoing spending restraint and responsible fiscal management, Finance Minister Bill English says.

“The Government is committed to reducing its deficits over the next two years and returning to surplus in 2014/15,” he says. “This won’t be easy, particularly with ongoing debt problems in Europe reducing forecasts for global growth.