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More people with diabetes will soon find it easier to get the medication they need – by seeing a diabetes nurse specialist for their usual prescription, instead of the doctor.

Health Minister Tony Ryall announced during a visit to Southern DHB today that an additional 15 nurses across six DHBs will soon be able to write prescriptions for their patients with diabetes.

“This brings the total number of diabetes nurse specialists able to prescribe to 27 – and more specialist nurses are likely to start training next year,” Mr Ryall said.

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser announced today that New Zealand would join the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

The CCAC is a new initiative focussed on climate pollutants such as black carbon, and greenhouse gases including HFCs and methane that have potent but short-lived effects on climate, human health and agriculture productivity. The Coalition is a voluntary partnership initiated by the United States.

Education Minister Hekia Parata welcomes Fonterra’s nationwide ‘Milk for Schools’ rollout to all New Zealand primary schools today. 

“I congratulate Fonterra for this great initiative. As a Government we continue to encourage business communities and other agencies to work together with our school communities to grow the momentum of raising achievement for five out of five kids,” says Ms Parata.

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley has officially opened a new High Dependency Unit at Rimutaka Prison, the first of its kind in New Zealand.

The new 20-bed unit, which will be operated by Corrections officers and health services staff, will cater for prisoners who can no longer look after themselves and who have high health needs.

It will cater mostly for older men, some of whom have dementia, and for younger prisoners with significant health conditions such as physical disabilities, motor neurone disease or multiple sclerosis.

The Government’s Fresh Start reforms are having a positive impact on youth offending, Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows says.

Child, Youth and Family today released an update report on the seven key policy changes included in Fresh Start.

“Fresh Start is about getting smarter in how we deal with young offenders. While it is still early days, these results are an encouraging indication that we’re on the right track,” Mr Borrows says.

Children in care are benefiting from a life-changing government initiative to ensure health, mental health and educational needs are addressed.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says the $43.7 million Children in Care package has been well justified.

Children come into State care because they have been seriously abused or neglected and their life experiences often include exposure to domestic violence, drug abuse, gang culture and criminal behaviour.

Commerce Minister Craig Foss has congratulated two New Zealand companies for being among the first to register under the Madrid Protocol, a major international trade mark treaty.

“With the full implementation of the Madrid Protocol this week, New Zealand entrepreneurs can now protect their brands in up to 87 countries with just one application,” says Mr Foss.

Accessing health information in your region is now easier following the launch of new health web tool, My DHB, says Health Minister Tony Ryall.

“Public reporting on the performance of our health services is a key focus of this Government.

“New Zealanders can now access, in one place, health information specific to their district health board (DHB) region. This includes rest home audits, health funding and health target results.

Prime Minister John Key today announced Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson and Solicitor-General Michael Heron have been appointed Queen’s Counsel. The rank of Queen’s Counsel recognises outstanding contributions to the legal profession.

The appointments are the first to be made under recent amendments to the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, which restored the title of Queen’s Counsel.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today welcomed the formation of a combined Board of Trustees for Kelston Deaf Education Centre and van Asch Deaf Education Centre.

“Today’s celebration marks a significant step towards providing a nationally consistent service for learners who are deaf or hearing impaired.

“The van Asch and Kelston Boards have each provided strong leadership in the past. The formation of the new Board will combine those strengths and provide unified leadership for the two Deaf Education Centres.

A free whooping cough vaccine will be available to all pregnant women from 1 January 2013 to help protect their new-born babies from this serious disease.

“International research shows the most effective way to protect babies before they are immunised, is to vaccinate the mother during pregnancy so antibodies are passed on to the baby,” says Health Minister Tony Ryall.

There have been 6,700 notified cases of whooping cough since August last year – of which over 200 were babies under one year of age who required hospital treatment.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today condemned North Korea’s launch of a satellite using long-range ballistic missile technology.

“Once again North Korea has blatantly defied United Nations Security Council resolutions and ignored international appeals not to proceed with the launch.  This action can only aggravate tensions on the Korean peninsula and set back efforts to build peace and stability in the region,” Mr McCully says.

The Government is introducing a range of incentives to help business owners focus on improved safety management and make work places safer, ACC Minister Judith Collins says.

New Motor Vehicle Account levy classes for goods and service vehicles will better reflect the risks posed by heavier trucks that will now be levied by weight, as well as by fuel type. 

“It’s important that we recognise some forms of transport pose higher safety risks, and should attract a levy rate that reflects that risk.

The Government has decided to keep ACC levies in the Work and Earners’ Accounts unchanged for 2013/2014, ACC Minister Judith Collins announced today.

“This Government is committed to rebuilding ACC’s long-term sustainability, so we can invest in its systems, its people and the services it delivers on behalf of all New Zealanders.

“That means making sustainable change over time, and reducing levies over a longer-term framework,” Ms Collins says.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says the safety of children is paramount and was at the forefront during the process to expand the Intensive Wraparound Service and close two and retain two residential schools.

Ms Parata says she will carefully consider yesterday’s High Court’s decision on the closure of Salisbury School.

“The judgment identified issues that I now need to consider in any fresh decision about the school. I will take some time to do that but I am not going to appeal this decision.’’

Defence Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman and Immigration Minister Nathan Guy have announced a widened assistance package for local staff who have been closely involved with the NZ Defence Force and NZ Police in Bamyan, Afghanistan.

Former interpreters who have resigned from employment with the New Zealand-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the last two years will also be offered a resettlement option.

Farm gate sales of raw milk will continue and the amount that can be purchased is likely to increase, Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson said today.

Farmers will also be exempt from the current requirement to have a costly Risk Management Programme for farm gate sales of raw milk and will instead need to adhere to certain animal health and hygiene requirements.

“The current Food Act allows people to buy only up to five litres of raw milk at the farm gate to drink themselves or give to their family,” Ms Wilkinson says.

The report of the Local Government Efficiency Taskforce released today is an essential building block of the Government’s reform programme, says Local Government Minister David Carter.

The independent Taskforce was established earlier this year to look at improvements to local government consultation, planning and financial reporting practices.

Mr Carter says the Taskforce’s report will feed into the Better Local Government reform programme which aims to bring clarity to the role of councils, stronger governance and improved efficiency.

The Government has released its detailed action plan for implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and acting Labour Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows today confirmed the changes to the District Court network announced in October.

The changes involve nine small courts being used only for hearings, rather than being open five days a week, and four small courts being disestablished.

Mr Speaker, I move that the Consumer Law Reform Bill be now read a second time.

I would like to thank the Commerce Select Committee for its consideration of this complex and significant reform.

The Committee has considered changes to ten Acts and reflected on more than 90 submissions covering a wide range of views. Their changes reflect a fair and robust process, and I am very pleased that the Committee was unanimous in their support for this significant update of consumer law in New Zealand. Ideally, law reform such as this should receive cross-party support.

A Bill to ensure victims of crime can continue to seek a share of compensation received by prisoners passed its first reading in Parliament last night.

Justice Minister Judith Collins says the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (Continuation and Reform) Amendment Bill makes permanent the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Act 2005, which will expire in July next year.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says identity legislation which passed its final reading today will enable New Zealanders to prove their identity quickly and securely when dealing with government agencies and businesses.

“The Electronic Identity Verification Bill passed its third reading tonight. This will enable more widespread use of the igovt service, which enables people to log into numerous websites using a single password, and prove their identity via a website rather than using paper documents.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says two international research studies on student achievement released tonight confirm that more work must be done to improve our education system.

“While we have a good education system overall there are persistent signs of under-performance. The findings of these studies must serve as a wakeup call.  We cannot take for granted that our overall achievement at the senior end of our system can be maintained if we do not improve the system all the way through.