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Hon. Dr. Pita Sharples, Associate Minister of Education, has today announced the establishment of Puawaitanga scholarships for students enrolling in a Tutahi Maori Boarding School. These scholarships will be awarded to young people who demonstrate leadership potential, to help them to attend either Hato Paora College, Hato Petera College, Hukarere Girls College, St Joseph’s Maori Girls College, Te Aute College or Turakina Maori Girls College.

Health Minister Tony Ryall today announced the New Zealand Blood Service, in partnership with Ngāi Tahu Property, will build a new blood donor and laboratory centre in Christchurch.

“80 per cent of us will need blood treatment at some point in our lives. Thanks to the country’s 120,000 blood donors, New Zealand is proudly self-sufficient in blood and blood products,” says Mr Ryall.

“The new centre will help ensure New Zealanders receive the blood treatments they need – even as demand continues to increase.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is delighted to announce that former Governor General the Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand will lead the Expert Advisory Group on Information Security.

The Group will oversee implementation of the Vulnerable Kids Information System (ViKi) and new Risk Predictor Tool which have the capacity to better protect children from abuse and neglect.

Applications have been invited for $52.8 million of Government research funding in the 2013 science investment round, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce announced today.

Proposals are invited for science and research that will improve New Zealanders’ health and wellbeing with $52.8 million per annum available for new projects starting next year.

Prime Minister John Key says he was delighted to hear the news that Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are expecting a baby.

“This is fabulous news for Prince William and Catherine, and I know the Queen and Prince Phillip will be extremely pleased.

“It is an important day in any young couple’s life when a baby is expected and I know that Catherine and William will be as nervous and excited as anyone.

“We wish them both the very best and hope Catherine’s stay in hospital is a short one.

The community celebrations recognising the first section opening of the Pureora Timber Trail, part of Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail, which were held over the weekend are the first step to see visitors travelling through ancient rain forests and across the ancestral homelands of several Central North Island hapū. 

“It’s a brilliant example of innovative Māori asset holders and government working together to realise the economic potential of their lands,” said Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples.

Patients who need to travel outside their region for specialist health services or frequently to appointments are receiving more support than ever before.

Health Minister Tony Ryall said this government is committed to improving access to health services for New Zealanders.

“Last financial year, $38 million in travel and accommodation assistance was provided to over 33,000 patients – 40 per cent more funding than in 2008.

The latest Student Loan Scheme annual report shows an 11 per cent increase in repayments and a decrease in the overall cost of the scheme, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

These are some of the key findings of the report, which was tabled in Parliament today by the Minister.

“The Government remains committed to interest-free student loans, but it is important the scheme is affordable for students and taxpayers, and sustainable for the country,” Mr Joyce says.

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson today launched a two-day summit to look for new ways we can try and eradicate stoats, possums and rats - our three biggest pests.

Towards 2050 – A Pest Summit for New Zealand started today in Wellington.

“This workshop is looking for a radical rethink of how we view the pest problem in order to find the best long term solution for New Zealand’s prosperous future, not just short term gains,” Ms Wilkinson says.

I am well used to attending formal signings – but the majority of these are between two parties; the Crown and iwi.

This event today, is remarkable for the scale of collaboration it represents, and I want to formally acknowledge all those parties who have put their hand up, to take ownership and drive leadership of the Taranaki Disability Strategy.

I therefore commend the initiative of the mayors of the

• South Taranaki District Council;
• Stratford District Council;
• New Plymouth District Council;

Primary Industries Minister David Carter has welcomed the announcement of another successful Primary Growth Partnership bid which lifts the total invested to more than $650 million.

The Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) is to fund half of an $87 million innovation programme proposed by leading meat exporter ANZCO.

The Christchurch Public Defence Service (PDS) office will be part of a high quality legal aid system, says Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows.

At the office’s official opening today, Mr Borrows said the PDS delivers quality defence services to some of the most vulnerable New Zealanders.

“The PDS is an important component of the high quality legal aid system in this country, is well-regarded by judges, prosecutors and court staff, and delivers value for money.”

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has ruled out the controversial LD50 animal test as part of the pending psychoactive substances testing regime, and said no decisions have been made on whether animal testing will be needed at all.

“And no decisions will be made without consultation with other ministries and appropriate ethics committee consideration,” Mr Dunne said.

Commerce Minister Craig Foss has welcomed new regulations to help rein in unsolicited share offers and protect shareholders.

"Unsolicited or ‘low ball’ offers are a predatory tactic that damages the health and confidence of our capital markets," says Mr Foss.

Lowball offers are unsolicited approaches to shareholders offering to buy their shares or other securities. Offer letters put pressure on people to sell their shares quickly, often with little information and using unconventional business practices.

The Government has today received the Commerce Commission's draft determination on pricing for the unbundled bitstream access (UBA) and a final determination on the unbundled copper local loop (UCLL), and will now take time to review these decisions.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams says the decisions on both prices, taken together, are potentially significant for the industry and end users.

“I have asked my officials to review the effects of the pricing and report back to me," Ms Adams says.

Ko Hikurangi te maunga, ko Waiapu te awa, ko Whangaokena te motu, ko Hinepare te marae. Te Whānau a Hunaara, Ngāti Porou whānui, e tangi! E tangi ki tō koutou koroua kua mate, ki tō koutou reo kōrero kua wahangū!

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today expressed serious concerns about North Korea’s plans to launch a satellite this month using a long-range ballistic missile.

“This latest announcement from North Korea is extremely disappointing and potentially destabilising. New Zealand considers the use of ballistic missile technology to conduct the proposed launch to be inconsistent with UN Security Council resolutions," Mr McCully says.

Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins has today spoken to women at The Ethnic Women's Leadership Programme in Auckland about the importance of making the most of every opportunity offered to them in New Zealand.

"Our country has an excellent reputation when it comes to women being treated as equals," Ms Collins said.

Justice Minister Judith Collins leaves tomorrow for a week-long trip to Hong Kong and Brussels.

In Hong Kong, Minister Collins will meet her public sector counterparts at the Government Office, including the Secretary for Justice and the Chief Justice of the Final Court of Appeal.

“I look forward to discussing some of the justice issues we are currently facing with my colleagues, such as extradition, financial crime, privacy law reform and how we can mutually assist each other to address these,” Ms Collins says.

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser departs tomorrow for the 18th ministerial climate change conference to be held in Doha, Qatar under the UN Convention on Climate Change. 

“Last year’s conference in Durban made some significant advancements, including the decision to negotiate a new global agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol by 2020,” Mr Groser says.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the first commercial property purchases for Christchurch’s CBD Blueprint Plan represent an important milestone in the city’s recovery.

“I’m pleased with progress made by the Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU) in negotiating with landowners to create a willing-buyer willing-seller scenario,” Mr Brownlee says.

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson congratulated nine students who graduated from the Tauira Kaitiaki Taiao-Māori Cadetship Programme today.

Ms Wilkinson, the Māori King, Kīngi Tūheitia and Paramount Chief of Ngati Tūwharetoa Sir Tumu Te Heuheu attended the students’ graduation at Waikato Tainui College for Research and Development in Ngaruawahia.

Each graduate received the National Certificate in Conservation, the Trainee Ranger Certificate from Nelson/Marlborough Institute of Technology and a Certificate in Tikanga Maori from Te Wananga o Aotearoa.

Tena koutou
Tena koutou
Tena tatou katoa

Thank you for the opportunity to join you all here today to recognise the successful completion of the second Tauira Kaitiaki Taiao cadetship programme and celebrate the graduation of the nine participating cadets.

Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins has welcomed the signing of an MOU between the Office of Ethnic Affairs and the New Zealand Institute of Management (NZIM) to improve the management of our ethnically diverse workplaces.

Ms Collins says the agreement will help New Zealand businesses to manage and promote ethnic diversity in the workplace more effectively.

“New Zealand’s diversity is a very positive force. It has helped us create connections that span the globe, broadened our horizons and enhanced our entrepreneurial spirit,” Ms Collins says.