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Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne is delighted the digital identity service RealMe last night won an international internet award saying it shows how highly the government service is rated.

“The win for RealMe in the Security & Online Safety category at the Australia and New Zealand Internet Awards held in Melbourne underscores the integrity of the RealMe service and the trust and confidence New Zealanders can place in the service.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne has announced a review of the passport validity period including an independent review of passport security and a review of passport costs with a view to returning to 10-year passports.

New regulations requiring gaming machine societies to increase the minimum they return to the community from Class 4 gaming machine (‘pokie’) takings come into effect on 4 September 2014, Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

“The Gambling (Class 4 Net Proceeds) Amendment Regulations 2014 will increase the minimum rate of return from 37.12 per cent of gross proceeds to 42 per cent over five years, beginning in the first financial year after the regulations come into effect”, says Mr Dunne.

Minister of Internal Affairs Peter Dunne is reminding all people intending to stand as candidates in this year’s General Election that they must be New Zealand citizens.

“All candidates for this year’s General Election must be New Zealand citizens at the time of their nomination, under the Electoral Act. The Department of Internal Affairs manages the citizenship process and makes recommendations to me as Minister. I make the final decisions”, says Mr Dunne.

All government agencies now have a shared plan to deliver more and better digital public services. Eight agencies have been working together to implement Better Public Services Result 10 - making it easier for people to do business with government in the digital environment.  Cabinet has now expanded that work to cover the whole State services and endorsed a Blueprint for the work as government policy.

New Zealanders will now have easier, simpler access to government services with the launch of a new, cross-government website, Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

“www.govt.nz is a revolutionary breakthrough in the way the public connects with government information and services because it’s designed from the outside-in – it’s based on real New Zealanders’ experience and feedback,” said Mr Dunne.

Minister of Internal Affairs Peter Dunne welcomed the announcement by NZForex that it will use the RealMe service as a further endorsement of this increasingly successful government service. NZForex said that RealMe will improve the speed and convenience of making international money transfers.

“RealMe is a core component of the Government’s drive to deliver better, faster online services. Large trading banks and the financial services sector have been early adopters of the RealMe service.

Digital Government services are continuing to be a hit with New Zealand families, Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne said today.

"Kiwis are doing more of their government transactions digitally; by March this year, an average of 42 per cent of measured government service transactions were completed digitally – up from 30.4 per cent when measurement started in June 2012”, says Mr Dunne.

Internal Affairs Minister and Presiding Member of the Lottery Grants Board Hon Peter Dunne announced today over $210 million generated from Lottery profits will be available to support a wide range of local and national projects this year.

“It is particularly exciting to see $15 million of funding allocated to the Significant Projects Fund (SPF). The SPF was re-launched in 2013 to assist large scale community projects of regional or national significance to progress.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne today announced three appointments to the Library and Information Advisory Commission (LIAC).

“I am pleased to announce that Haneta Pierce, Carolyn Robertson and Helen Tait have been appointed for one-year terms.  I believe their extensive experience will be of great benefit to LIAC”.

“LIAC’s role is to advise me on the latest developments and opportunities within the library and information sector.  I consider that it remains well placed to handle the challenges ahead,” said Mr Dunne.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne today announced the reappointment of Clare O’Leary, Michael Stephens and Eileen Swan as members of the Film and Literature Board of Review, for new one-year terms.

“The reappointments will maintain the Board’s diverse range of film, art, law and psychology expertise. As incumbent members, Ms O’Leary, Mr Stephens and Ms Swan have a valuable understanding of New Zealand’s classification system”, says Mr Dunne.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne has noted the Report from the Government Administration Select Committee on the validity period for New Zealand passports. The report is in response to the petition of Kyle Lockwood seeking the reintroduction of ten year passports for New Zealanders.

Mr Dunne has said previously that he was open-minded on the question of extending passport duration, and would be guided by the Select Committee’s report.

The TVNZ archive, including over 500,000 hours of original New Zealand television, is set to become much more accessible, Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss and Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne say.

The Government is in negotiations to transfer guardianship of the archive from TVNZ to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage on 1 August. It will be managed on a day-to-day basis by the New Zealand Film Archive.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne says changes to the gambling sector will see more money returned to communities, the tightening up of potential dishonest gaming activities and a reduction of red-tape.

“Large sums of money are at stake in the Class 4 sector and it is important to ensure, as far as possible, that the maximum amount of gaming machine funds is returned to the community,” says Mr Dunne.

The new streamlined records management standard is simpler to use making it easier for public sector organisations to maintain and keep essential records, says Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Peter Dunne. Speaking at the launch of the standard Mr Dunne said good recordkeeping is essential for good government and the maintenance of accurate public records as legacy information.

“The records of government, documenting the nation’s official history and the stories of our heritage help us share our stories and establish what makes us the nation we are today.

Internal Affairs Minister Hon Peter Dunne will attend the first Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia Pacific regional meeting in Bali, Indonesia on 6 and 7 May.  The OGP is an international group of countries aimed at fostering good governance and improving relations between citizens and their states, making member governments more open, accountable and responsive to citizens. 

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne (Presiding Member of the Lottery Grants Board) has today announced that the Lottery World War One Commemorations, Environment and Heritage Committee has approved funding of over $9.1 million towards 80 projects which commemorate World War One.

“The types of projects that have been funded are very diverse in nature, and will help New Zealanders commemorate a significant event in New Zealand’s history”,  Minister Dunne said. 

Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Peter Dunne was saddened to learn today the passing of Beverley Grammer, Presiding Member of the Lottery Individuals with Disabilities Committee.

"Over the past 13 years Beverley has served both as a committee member, and more recently as Presiding Member, of a committee which is focused on improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities”, says Mr Dunne.

Internal Affairs Minister Hon Peter Dunne today announced that Lotto New Zealand has received international recognition for its commitment to providing a safe gaming environment. 

Lotto New Zealand’s responsible gaming programme has been officially certified to Level 3, out of four possible levels, by the World Lottery Association under its Responsible Gaming Framework. 

Internal Affairs Minister and Presiding Member of the Lottery Grants Board Hon Peter Dunne has announced the names of the successful applicants to the Lottery Significant Projects Fund.

“The Significant Projects Fund enables major community projects to become a reality, building on the vision of communities, and creating legacies for future generations. I am therefore pleased to announce that over $28 million has been approved to fund important projects across New Zealand, supporting a range of environmental, cultural and sporting projects,” says Mr Dunne

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Peter Dunne, has announced the appointment of Maggie Burrill and Tina Wehipeihana-Wilson for a further term on the Lottery Grants Board. Mrs Burrill has been appointed for a three-year term and Ms Wehipeihana-Wilson for a two-year term.

The Board is established under the Gambling Act 2003 to distribute the profits of New Zealand lotteries, arising from activities such as Lotto, Lotto Strike, Instant Kiwi and Keno.

Online Government services are proving popular with Kiwi families Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne said today.

"By December, an average of 43.3% of measured government service transactions were happening online, up from 29 per cent in June 2012. New Zealanders are increasingly choosing to use Government services digitally.”

Minister of Internal Affairs Peter Dunne welcomed the announcement by the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) that it will go live with the RealMe service from mid-February, enabling new customers to prove their identity online.

“The BNZ is to be commended for adopting this innovative new service. RealMe is a core component of the Government’s drive to deliver better, faster online services.  It is good to see the banking sector adopting the technology to give their customers comprehensive online services,” says Mr Dunne.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne says the further deployment today of fire fighters to Australia underscores the close relationship and cooperation our two countries have when dealing with times of national adversity.

The team of 22 fire fighters being sent to Victoria today will be followed by a further contingent on Monday. The New Zealanders will provide much-needed respite to Australian fire forces who have been battling fires for weeks.