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Education Minister Hekia Parata has today welcomed an agreement with the union representing around 18,000 secondary school teachers to support the $359 million initiative to lift student achievement.

The Post Primary Teachers’ Association has today reached an interim agreement with the Ministry of Education and the NZ School Trustees Association on how the teaching roles will work as part of the Investing in Educational Success initiative.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has today announced the appointment of Dr Margaret Wilsher as the replacement crown monitor for Capital and Coast District Health Board (DHB).

Dr Wilsher replaces Debbie Chin, who was appointed acting chief executive by the DHB last year.

“Dr Wilsher is the Chief Medical Officer at Auckland District Health Board and a Respiratory Physician who has experience working both in the public and private sectors.

Tūhoe hosted the Crown at a ‘Settlement Day’ ceremony in Taneatua to celebrate the recent passage of Tūhoe Treaty settlement legislation today, with several thousand iwi members joining Crown representatives for the celebration. 

At the ceremony Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson delivered the Crown’s formal apology to Tūhoe for breaches of the Crown’s obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi. 

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says the arrival of the first two new Air Force T-6C pilot training aircraft is an important milestone.

“It is great to see the first T-6C aircraft arrive in New Zealand just seven months after Beechcraft Defense Company was awarded the contract to deliver a new effective military pilot training system,” says Dr Coleman.

Associate Minister of Tourism Todd McClay today announced the opening of an $8 million, four year funding round to enhance and maintain the Great Rides of Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

“This Government is investing in improving our tourism infrastructure to make sure high-value visitors have a great experience and New Zealand remains a top tourist destination,” Mr McClay says.

New Zealand’s international education industry has seen its strongest January to April enrolment period on record with an 8 per cent increase, or an additional 5,100 international student enrolments on the same period last year.

“Sustained hard work by the whole sector has halted a two year decline in student enrolments and resulted in record number of students choosing New Zealand as their study destination,” Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce has welcomed the announcement that Kathmandu will become the second large private sector company to headquarter itself in Christchurch's new innovation precinct.

Kathmandu announced today it will locate its new worldwide head office within the Precinct, and will be bringing in over 150 staff including its product design, systems and online development teams to the central city location.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says important progress has been made on the $359 million initiative to improve student achievement with several secondary schooling sector groups reaching agreements with the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry has reached agreements with the organisations that represent the principals of the 339 secondary schools in New Zealand, and the NZ School Trustees Association which represents those Boards of Trustees and parents, on how the new principal roles will work as part of Investing in Educational Success.

Around 330 future Kiwi innovators will be able to benefit from R&D Student Grants announced today by Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce.

The Government has this year made more than $4 million worth of R&D Student Grants available through Callaghan Innovation to 154 businesses to hire up to 328 students with science, technology, engineering, design, or business degrees to do R&D-related work experience.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the dignitaries and leaders that will visit New Zealand on-route to the Small Island Developing States Conference in Samoa from 1-4 September.

“The United Nations Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference takes place once every ten years and Samoa hosting the event is an opportunity for the Pacific region to set the global agenda,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to Nadi tomorrow to meet with Fiji’s Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.

“My meeting with Minister Kabuabola will focus on foreign policy discussions, regional issues, and Fiji’s ongoing preparations for elections on 17 September,” Mr McCully says.

“It is an opportunity to get Fiji’s perspective on the work that is going into preparing for the ballot, and whether there are further areas where New Zealand can assist.

Budgeting services now have the opportunity to apply for extra funding to support their work with low income New Zealanders, with a $2 million funding round open for applications. 

“Budgeting services work alongside some of the most vulnerable people in the community, providing the advice and financial skills they need to get ahead, and stay out of debt,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says the opening of the first drug screening laboratory at the border will dramatically speed up analysis of unknown substances, saving time and money for Customs.

The $250,000 lab was officially opened by Prime Minister John Key today at Customs’ Auckland Airport facility.  It has been built and equipped from the first proceeds of crime funding allocation. 

Associate ACC Minister Craig Foss today announced a $9.2 million boost to emergency ambulance services which will improve service response times, increase the number of frontline paramedics and provide better tailored patient care.

ACC is moving to a new bulk funding model and is increasing their contribution to emergency ambulance services from $53.9 million in 2013/14 to $63.1 million in 2014/15.

A trust dedicated to protecting kiwi in eastern Coromandel has been awarded $25,000 for predator control, Associate Conservation Minister Nicky Wagner has announced.

The grant from the Community Conservation Partnership Fund will allow the Whenuakiwi Trust to continue its successful kiwi care project at Whenuakite by hiring a contractor to target predators such as possums and rats.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Michael Woodhouse has announced plans to select 25 Youth Ambassadors to attend 2015 Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli.

“The 1915 Gallipoli campaign holds an important place in New Zealand’s history. Gallipoli 2015 is central to New Zealand’s First World War centenary programme,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“Our Youth Ambassadors will be important in carrying the traditions of Anzac Day commemorations forward. They will be encouraged to tell the Gallipoli story in their own voices, from their unique perspectives.

Work to address weathertightness issues is now complete with today’s opening of  a $4 million technology block at Northcross Intermediate School in Auckland, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says.

The two-storey building features a food and nutrition technology kitchen, a sound and light-proof media suite with green screen capability, hard and soft technology workshops, and a graphics studio.

“This impressive new space boasts modern learning spaces for students and staff, providing a fresh approach to learning and teaching,” says Ms Kaye.

Associate Conservation Minister Nicky Wagner today announced the Kauri 2000 Trust has received $57,000 to help prevent the spread of Kauri Dieback disease on the Coromandel Peninsula.

The grant is from the Department of Conservation’s Community Conservation Partnership Fund.

“The Trust is spearheading efforts to establish and maintain a community based action network to help prevent the spread of kauri dieback by raising levels of awareness, and encouraging practical changes in behaviour to reduce the risk to Kauri in the Coromandel.

Latest provisional figures from the Chief Coroner for the year ending 30 June 2014, show an encouraging decline in the number of deaths by suicide among young people aged between 15 and 24 years with 110 suicides compared with 144 last year. The figures also suggest that suicide deaths amongst Māori may have stabilised as have suicide deaths in Christchurch, which, like last year’s figures, are back to pre-earthquake levels.

A ban on the finning of all shark species within New Zealand waters will take effect from 1 October this year, Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy announced today.

“Implementing this ban has happened much faster than originally proposed. It reinforces New Zealand’s strong international reputation for sustainability and protecting our natural environment,” Dr Smith says.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has announced increases to catch limits for a range of New Zealand fisheries today, thanks to healthy stock levels.

“This shows the success of our world-leading Quota Management System (QMS). It is flexible and driven by science, which means that we can increase take as stock levels improve,” Mr Guy says.

Healthy stocks have led to increased Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits for:

Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith today announced two new appointments and five reappointments to the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board.

“The Board has an important role in protecting the health and safety of New Zealanders by ensuring that plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers are competent and properly licensed,” Dr Smith says.

Public health officers are being given additional powers to hold aeroplanes and ships at the border if there is a sufficient concern that a person on board is infected with the Ebola virus, says Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew.

“The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the worst outbreak of this disease on record, leading to the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” says Mrs Goodhew.

New Zealand is on track to Budget surplus this year, backed by good growth, more jobs and higher incomes under the Government’s economic programme, according to Treasury’s Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update issued today.