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Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today welcomed The Co-operative Bank into the Government’s Welcome Home Loans scheme, bringing the total number of lenders offering the first home loan product to 11.

“The Co-operative Bank’s decision to offer Welcome Home Loans means that more first home buyers will have access to the scheme, and more will be able to realise the Kiwi dream of owning their own home,” Dr Smith says.

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith and Associate Minister Peter Dunne today announced the appointment of 11 members to the inaugural Game Animal Council.

“The new Game Animal Council is about giving hunters of deer, tahr, chamois and pigs an active voice in the management of their recreation. These appointments include a diverse range of interests in hunting and a geographic spread across the country,” Dr Smith says.

The 11 members are:

A Christchurch Housing Accord has been agreed between Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and Mayor Lianne Dalziel to help address housing issues in the city.

From tomorrow selected community groups will be able to offer income related rents for people needing social housing and people will be able to test their eligibility through Work and Income.

“We are growing low cost housing by partnering with dedicated community groups that are providing the properties.  We are also expanding income related rent subsidies beyond Housing New Zealand,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith has dismissed today's pledge by Labour leader David Cunliffe for additional funding for work to protect New Zealand's magnificent kauri forests from kauri dieback disease.

"I made plain last month that the Government would be increasing funding in this year's Budget for controlling kauri dieback. Labour's pledge now is late and lazy," Dr Smith says.

Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today marked the completion of the 1000th Housing New Zealand repair in Christchurch as part of the Government’s large-scale post-earthquake repair and rebuild programme for the Canterbury region.

“The repair of the 1000th state house is a significant milestone in our programme to rebuild Christchurch’s social housing following the devastating earthquakes. It gives me confidence we can meet our commitment that by the end of 2015, all 5000 damaged state houses will be fully repaired,” Dr Smith says.

Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today opened the first new home in the 150-house Pomare mixed housing redevelopment in Lower Hutt, Wellington.

“This first new Pomare home is the future face of social housing in New Zealand under the Government’s new policy which takes effect following this weekend. We are replacing old state house suburbs with mixed housing developments where homes are of better quality and more diverse in size and ownership,” Dr Smith says.

A Community Conservation Partnership Fund to support the work of voluntary organisations undertaking natural heritage and recreation projects was launched today by Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith at the opening of the new Hoddy Estuary Park in Nelson.

"Thousands of New Zealanders contribute to conservation by building tracks, controlling pests, planting trees, and restoring native wildlife. This new fund is about the Government providing finance for the plants, traps, poisons, equipment and coordination to support this voluntary work," Dr Smith says.

Five community housing providers are to receive $14 million from the Government and the Canterbury Community Trust (TCCT) to build 75 units in Christchurch, Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and TCCT trustee Sue McKenzie announced today.

The first monitoring report of the Auckland Housing Accord was released by Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and Auckland Mayor Len Brown following their meeting in Auckland today, with both the Minister and the Mayor welcoming the progress being achieved.

Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today marked the official opening of a Housing New Zealand redevelopment comprising of 22 new two-bedroom apartments in Three Kings, Auckland.

“This modern, fit-for-purpose complex is a far cry from the four old, standalone houses that previously sat on this underutilised site. These apartments will provide a warm, dry and safe home for elderly and disabled tenants in close proximity to key facilities and amenities such as the supermarket, the local library and public transport,” Dr Smith says.

Test results showing the presence of Phytophthora taxon Agathis (PTA) or Kauri dieback disease in the Whangapoua Forest just north of Whitianga is a major concern, Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy say.

An accord between the newly established $100 million NEXT Foundation and the Government was signed in Nelson today by Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith.

“The NEXT Foundation is an incredible deed of generosity which has the potential to deliver huge steps forward for conservation in New Zealand. This Accord is about providing the right framework for DOC to partner with the Foundation and to ensure we maximise the conservation gains from this huge investment,” Dr Smith says.

The establishment of a new conservation board for the East Coast covering Gisborne and Hawkes Bay has been agreed to by the Government following a review last year of the network of boards across New Zealand, Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith welcomed the first reading of a bill to establish new marine protections and management tools for Kaikōura’s coast and ocean, which received unanimous support across Parliament today.

“This bill protects the unique environment off the coast of Kaikōura which has the most biologically rich ocean anywhere in the world over 500 metres’ depth,” Dr Smith says.

The Government today announced a new marine reserve, whale and fur seal sanctuary, five customary fishing areas and amateur fishing regulations to improve the management of Kaikoura’s coast and ocean.

“Kaikoura’s extraordinary marine environment needs the protection and recognition of these new sanctuaries and reserves. This is the most biologically rich ocean anywhere in the world over 500 metres depth because of its deep canyon so close to shore,” Dr Smith says.

New Zealand and Australia will work together on proposals to develop a new international agreement for improving conservation and management of the marine environment beyond countries’ national jurisdiction, New Zealand Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith and Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt announced today in Kaikoura.

“New Zealanders and Australians share a strong association with the ocean environment, both of us have responsibility for huge ocean areas and we both have a strong history of leadership in oceans management,” the Ministers say.

Five new marine reserves on the West Coast at Kahurangi, Punakaiki, Okarito, Tauparikaka and Hautai have passed their final hurdle with concurrence being granted by the Minister for Primary Industries, Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.

“I have carefully considered the impacts of these proposed reserves on the commercial, recreational and customary fishers and have given my concurrence under the Marine Reserves Act for their establishment,” Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says.

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith today announced the appointment of a 14-member community-led forum to consider marine protection for the Otago coastline.

“New Zealand has a nationwide network of marine reserves. However, Otago stands out as being the only region in the country without a marine protected area. This is despite its spectacular coastline being home to some of our most endangered species such as the yellow-eyed penguin, the northern royal albatross and the New Zealand sea lion,” Dr Smith says.

It is great to gather again at this, our 16th Bluegreens Forum, to positively influence how New Zealand manages its natural resources.

It is a special privilege to have Hon Greg Hunt, the Australian Environment Minister, join us. We share a common goal of pursuing policies for our respective nations that marry together sound stewardship of our natural heritage with a strong economy that provides good jobs and incomes for our citizens.

Government Ministers attending today’s launch of the $100 million NEXT Foundation have welcomed its establishment and its commitment to New Zealand’s environmental and education projects at the Foundation’s launch in Auckland today.

Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today launched a new research and development initiative at Hobsonville in Auckland to foster innovation in more affordable homes.

“New Zealand needs to develop more affordable housing options and part of the solution is smart, smaller designs. This Small Home Test Lab research project is about trialling five new standard designs for smaller homes on smaller lots and testing their market acceptance and consumer feedback,” Dr Smith says.

DOC today became the first Government department to formally join the Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum, Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith and Labour Minister Simon Bridges announced.

“I welcome this commitment by the Department’s Director-General Lou Sanson to make health and safety a core focus of the DOC ethos. DOC does dangerous work in remote and hostile parts of New Zealand that requires an extra focus to keep its workforce safe,” Dr Smith says.

The Government today announced the next step in delivering housing assistance to those most in need with reviewable tenancies for all social housing tenants. 

In the first year this will apply to people currently paying market rents or close to market rents to see if they can move into and sustain a private rental.

About 800 reviews, commencing from 1 July 2014, are expected to be completed in the first year, out of approximately 68,000 state house tenancies.