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Prime Minister John Key today outlined the Government’s next steps to prepare Mighty River Power for its partial sale in the first half of 2013.

“I’m pleased to announce today Cabinet made three decisions regarding our shares sales programme:

“First, the Government will not implement the Waitangi Tribunal’s ‘shares plus’ concept, or engage in further negotiations in relation to that concept, before the sale of shares in our energy companies.

Prime Minister John Key will welcome the Samoan Prime Minister, Hon Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, to New Zealand later this week to mark the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between the two countries.

“I visited Samoa in August to mark the anniversary, and I am pleased to host Prime Minister Tuilaepa for a return visit during this special milestone year in our relationship,” Mr Key says.

Prime Minister John Key will host the President of the Philippines for discussions on two-way trade and other bilateral matters later this month.

President Benigno Aquino III will be accompanied by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario, other members of the President’s Cabinet and a large trade delegation.

“I am delighted to welcome President Aquino on his first visit to New Zealand, particularly as our countries share so many interests, including as members of regional forums such as APEC and the East Asia Summit,” says Mr Key.

Prime Minister John Key will host Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong when he visits New Zealand next week.

This is the second visit to New Zealand by Mr Lee since becoming Prime Minister in 2004. Mr Lee also hosted Mr Key when he visited Singapore in April.

Mr Key says New Zealand’s relationship with Singapore is a deep and enduring one, and this visit underscores those close ties.

Prime Minister and Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau John Key this morning released the results of a full review of GCSB files conducted by Director Ian Fletcher.

Since 17 September, the date on which Mr Fletcher advised the Prime Minister of the illegal activity in respect of Mr Dotcom, the bureau has been working through its Dotcom-related files in order to cooperate with both the Neazor inquiry and the matters before the High Court.

I'm about to head off to Los Angeles for a series of meetings with top movie and television executives in which I'll be promoting New Zealand as a great choice for major projects. The film industry in New Zealand accounts for a small but significant portion of national GDP and employment. It's the kind of industry we want and need more of to make the economy grow.

Prime Minister John Key today announced that he will make a brief visit to Los Angeles to meet with heads and senior executives of major United States’ studios this week.

The trip, which is at the invitation of Film New Zealand, is to support New Zealand’s growing international reputation as a centre of excellence for screen production and post-production.

Selamat pagi. Good afternoon.

It’s a pleasure to be here at this forum and I’d like to acknowledge the organisers – the ASEAN-New Zealand Combined Business Council and Export New Zealand.

As you know, I took a trade delegation to Indonesia earlier this year.

Some of you were on that trip, and I hope you found it valuable.

I had the pleasure of having Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan as my host Minister, meaning we got to spend a lot of time together.

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key has announced continued funding to support and rebuild tourism in Christchurch.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has provided $500,000 towards a second year of the Canterbury Tourism Partnership. This has been matched by contributions from Christchurch International Airport and Christchurch City Council.

Mr Key made the announcement at the Ibis Hotel opening ceremony this morning.

Prime Minister and Minister Responsible for the GCSB John Key today released the report of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Hon Paul Neazor into the unlawful interception of communications of certain individuals involved in the Megaupload case.

“I welcome this report, which outlines the facts relating to this issue and the nature of the error,” says Mr Key.

Prime Minister John Key today announced he has requested an inquiry by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security into the circumstances of unlawful interception of communications of certain individuals by the Government Communications Security Bureau.

John talks about his overseas visits during the last couple of weeks, including his time at the Pacific Leaders Forum, the TPP and meeting the leaders of major economies during APEC in Russia as well as his time in Japan where he met with Prime Minister Noda and commemorated the earthquakes in Canterbury and Sendai. He's now off to the Chathams for his first visit and hopes to sample some of the legendary local fare while he's there.

The Government will invest another $400,000 in new social housing on the Chatham Islands, Prime Minister John Key announced today.

“There are a number of low-income households in the Chatham Islands, but there is no state housing and only a limited supply of social rental housing. A definite need for affordable rental housing exists,” Mr Key said during a visit to the Chatham Islands.

Prime Minister John Key today announced he will be putting a greater focus on giving more graduates of the Limited Services Volunteer (LSV) course an opportunity to transition into employment.

“I’ve seen first-hand the dramatic effect LSV has on young people who volunteer to go through it,” Mr Key says.

“The course’s unique mix of fitness, personal presentation and other employment-focused activities really motivates young people, leaving them ready to work and keen for a job.”

Prime Minister John Key today announced the first details of the visit to New Zealand by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.

“It will be a great pleasure to welcome Their Royal Highnesses to New Zealand from 10 until 16 November.

“Their itinerary includes Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, as well as a brief stop in Manawatu,” says Mr Key.

At each of these centres, members of the public will have an opportunity to see the royal couple.

It is a great honour for me to be here in Tohoku and to attend this memorial service. I would also like to thank the Governor of Miyagi, Yoshihiro Murai, for helping to make this visit possible.

It is particularly poignant coming here from New Zealand, another land of earthquakes and volcanoes.

Today I saw parts of Miyagi Prefecture which were terribly damaged on March 11 last year.

It was a dark day that will be permanently etched into the minds of the people of Japan.

Ministers and Members of Parliament, Ambassador Xu, members of the Diplomatic Corps, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting me here today.

Can I start by acknowledging the Contemporary China Research Centre at Victoria University and the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs who are hosting this event.

This seminar today marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and China.

I welcome the opportunity to reflect on those 40 years.

The Government will proceed with an initial public offering of up to 49 per cent of Mighty River Power in the period of March to June  2013, Prime Minister John Key says.

That would be followed in the latter part of the year by an IPO of up to 49 per cent in either Meridian or Genesis.

“The Government’s preference would have been for a share offer for Mighty River Power this year.

Prime Minister John Key will attend the 20th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ meeting in Russia this week, followed by a visit to Japan to mark the country’s 60 years of diplomatic relations with New Zealand.

Mr Key will join leaders from the other 20 APEC economies to discuss trade and investment liberalisation, regional economic integration, strengthening food security and establishing reliable supply chains, as well as cooperation to foster innovative growth.

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed a new partnership between the Cook Islands, China and New Zealand that will deliver an improved water mains system in Rarotonga.

“This major infrastructure project will improve water quality and address health and sanitation issues in Rarotonga,” Mr Key says.

“Ensuring communities and businesses have access to clean drinking water is critical and will improve livelihoods and promote economic growth.

New Zealand will commit NZ$50 million over the next three years to support Pacific fisheries and oceans, Prime Minister John Key announced today.

Mr Key, who is in Rarotonga at the Pacific Islands Forum, says this represents $10 million over and above existing commitments.

“The region faces challenges to sustainably develop what is its single most important resource for food security, livelihoods and economic development.”

Prime Minister John Key has extended New Zealand's condolences to the people of Australia, who have suffered the loss of five brave soldiers in two separate incidents in the southern Uruzgan and the Helmand provinces in Afghanistan.

This news is particularly painful coming less than two weeks after the deaths of three New Zealand soldiers in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) incident in the Bamyan province.

Pacific leaders.

Distinguished guests.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Kia Orana and warm Pacific greetings to you all.

Last year New Zealand was very privileged to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Pacific Island Forum leader’s meeting in our own Pacific capital – Auckland.

It was an exciting time, as New Zealand was counting down to the Rugby World Cup and its opening game between the All Blacks and Tonga.