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The Government today announced it is to require reflagging of foreign-owned fishing vessels operating in New Zealand waters to address labour, safety and fisheries practice concerns.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter and Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson say foreign-flagged fishing vessels will no longer be able to legally operate in New Zealand waters after a four-year transition period.

Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson has announced a package of measures that will extend workers’ rights to request flexible working hours and ensure a fair and flexible collective bargaining environment.

The changes were approved by Cabinet today and are expected to go before Parliament this year.

“These improvements are a reflection of National’s election manifesto, and show that we’re keeping our pre-election promises,” Ms Wilkinson says.

Conservation Boards are an important link between DOC and the community - you are independent and whilst you do not have a formal function to represent or be your community’s voice in conservation management – you are representative of your communities . Your members are drawn from your communities with extensive regional knowledge, varying skills and networks. You bring an understanding of what locals want, what is important to your communities and also how conservation initiatives can help them grow.

Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson has welcomed the passing of a new bill that will make it compulsory for unions to use secret ballots when workers vote whether to strike.

The Employment Relations (Secret Ballot for Strikes) Amendment Bill passed its third reading in Parliament today.

The members’ bill, put forward by Hon Tau Henare, requires unions to hold a secret ballot for their members when voting on strike action.

Work stoppage figures for last year reveal an encouraging downward trend, Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson says.

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson has welcomed the conviction of an endangered gecko smuggler but says tougher penalties are needed.

Workplace health and safety will get a $37 million boost over the next four years, Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson has announced.

In addition, Ms Wilkinson has ordered a full review of New Zealand’s health and safety system by an independent taskforce to ensure it is fit-for-purpose.

“Too many New Zealanders are injured or killed at work. People have a right to know that when they leave for work in the morning, they will be coming home safe and well at the end of the day,” Ms Wilkinson says.

Today is International Workers’ Memorial Day - a time for New Zealand workers and employers to reflect on the importance of health and safety on the job, Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson says.

Falling on April 28 each year, it is a day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work.

“This is a time to remember those friends, family and colleagues who didn’t come home from work and to reflect on the role we all must play in ensuring our workplaces are safe,” Ms Wilkinson says.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson joined with a group of cyclists today to celebrate the completion of the Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail.

The 245km trail starts at Ruapehu, crosses the Tongariro and Whanganui National Parks and ends near the mouth of the Whanganui River.

Ms Wilkinson, accompanied by Associate Conservation Minister Peter Dunne, met with the cyclists, Whanganui Iwi representatives and local mayors to unveil a carved pou at the junction of the Mangapurua and Kaiwhakauka Valleys in Whanganui National Park.

Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson has launched a new action plan to bring down the “unacceptable” number of workplace injuries in the agriculture sector.

The Agriculture Sector Action Plan targets four priority areas that account for at least half of all injuries and deaths in the sector, including:

• use of agricultural vehicles and machinery
• the physical and mental health/wellbeing of agricultural workers
• slips, trips and falls, and
• animal handling.

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson has welcomed the signing of a new commercial partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Air New Zealand working together to protect and promote our unique wildlife and special landscapes.

Under the partnership, which was announced in Auckland today, Air New Zealand will fly endangered species to new breeding sites around the country and invest directly in conservation programmes alongside the Great Walks network.

Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson has told the construction industry there’s no longer any excuse for failure to work safely at height.

The Minister today launched the Best Practice Guidelines for Working at Height in New Zealand at the new Wigram Skies housing subdivision in Christchurch.

“These guidelines give everyone in the industry clear, simple advice that will help bring down the death and injury toll from avoidable falls in the construction industry.

Introduction

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you all today.

Health and safety within New Zealand workplaces is something the Government takes very seriously and is a key focus area for me personally, so I am pleased to be able to come and talk to you about the issues and our priorities for the next three years.

This term the Government has four key priorities. These are to responsibly manage our finances; deliver better public services; build a more competitive and productive economy; and rebuild Christchurch.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to talk to you this evening and thank you for organising such an interesting day. The Bay of Plenty is well known as a major producer of food - kiwifruit, avocado and also wine. You are indeed a “foodie” region – with 80% of the national kiwifruit canopy area here and nearly 70% of the avocado export growers.

A review of workers’ rights to ask for flexible work arrangements has found strong support for extending the power to all employees.

The review into section 6AA of the Employment Relations Act was presented to Parliament today by Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson.

It found flexibility delivered positive business benefits, including improved retention and recruitment of staff, reduced staff turnover, and improved employee motivation and loyalty.

Addington Events Centre, Christchurch
22 March 2012

Good afternoon and welcome to you all.  I am very pleased the Productivity Partnership has given me this opportunity to speak to you today, on what is a great step forward for Canterbury – the launch of the Built Environment Skills Strategy.

The Strategy is a very important piece of work which will help the Government to reach two of its four priorities - to build a more competitive and productive economy and to rebuild Christchurch.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to your conference today about my government’s priorities for employment relations for the next three years.

I thought I should start by emphasising our Government’s driving goal – as articulated by the Prime Minister – which is to build a more competitive and internationally-focused economy with less debt, more jobs and higher incomes.

The Government is considering further measures to protect Maui’s dolphins as a new study points to a decline in numbers of the critically endangered species.

A population assessment commissioned by the Department of Conservation shows the number of adult dolphins has gone down in the six years since the previous assessment, with an estimated 55 adult animals remaining.

Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson today launched a new plan to bring down the number of injuries and deaths in the manufacturing industry.

The Manufacturing Sector Action Plan targets the most significant causes of harm to manufacturing workers and outlines a range of initiatives, including improving safe use of machinery and vehicles at work.

Crowne Plaza, Auckland
13 March 2012

Introduction

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to your conference today about my government's priorities for employment relations for the next three years.

I thought I should start by emphasising our Government's driving goal – as articulated by the Prime Minister – which is to build a more competitive and internationally-focused economy with less debt, more jobs and higher incomes.

CHEP Pallets, Wiri, Auckland
13 March 2012

Thank you for that kind introduction and for inviting me here today to launch the Manufacturing Sector Action Plan.

It is great to see so many interested parties in attendance today. From the start there has been wide interest in this plan from across the sector. It was very encouraging for me to see the level of industry involvement in the development of this action plan.

The Government is considering a proposal to establish differential fishing licences for overseas anglers, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson announced today.

Last year the Minister asked Fish and Game NZ to provide a report on the rationale on for a non- resident fishing licence and charging a differential licence fee for visiting anglers fishing in Fish and Game New Zealand regions.

This report, which included input from the Department of Conservation, then went out for public consultation.