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Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says feedback from event organisers and members of the public shows overwhelming support for changes to the rules around spot prize draws which will remove unnecessary red tape.

Currently when spot prizes are used at events, such as fishing competitions and fun runs, they can be classed as gambling under the Gambling Act – which means organisers have to comply with a raft of rules.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain and Associate Minister of Health Todd McClay say they fully support the move by NZ Lotteries to ask their retailers to remove all synthetic cannabis and party pills from sale.

NZ Lotteries has written to six hundred independently owned retailers with Lotto outlets advising them not to sell synthetic cannabis and similar products from 1 July 2013.

State Services Minister Jonathan Coleman and Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain expect the public sector to put a much stronger focus on privacy and security, following the release of a review of the Government’s ICT systems today.

The Government Chief Information Officer (GCIO) Colin MacDonald has published a review of the Government’s publicly accessible ICT systems such as kiosks, wi-fi networks and web services.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain and Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne today released details of the Government’s $55.3 million, three-year gambling harm strategy to be funded and implemented by the Health Ministry, and recouped from the gambling industry through the problem gambling levy.

“Essentially the problem gambling levy is a mechanism to recover the costs from the gambling industry as part of the Government’s continuing commitment to addressing the important issue of gambling harm,” Mr Tremain says.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says $14.5 million in new funding for igovt services in 2013/14 demonstrates the commitment to improving New Zealanders’ online interactions with government.

The igovt services have two components:

Associate Tourism Minister Chris Tremain has praised the efforts of the Waka Tapu crew for successfully completing a return voyage to Rapanui (Easter Island).

After spending nearly 200 days at sea, the two waka hourua (traditional double-hulled sailing canoes) arrived back in Auckland today to an enthusiastic welcome from family, friends and supporters. 

The Government is reprioritising $2.9 million of taxpayer funding in 2013/14 to help more New Zealanders interact with government in a digital environment, Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says.

A new computer software purchasing agreement for government agencies is on track to save an estimated $119 million over three years, and has already saved $35 million says Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain.

The deal with Microsoft, struck through the Government ICT Supply Management Office (GISMO) within the Department of Internal Affairs is the first initiative in a wider Cross-Government Software Acquisition programme. The Microsoft deal includes the Microsoft Office Suite and Microsoft Server Licensing.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain today announced 17 projects commemorating the centenary of the First World War have been granted close to $1.7 million in funding by the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board.

“A total of $1,196,533 has gone to support sixteen community projects. In addition the Massey University Foundation has received a grant of $500,000 towards its three volumes of “The Centenary History of New Zealand and the First World War,” says Mr Tremain.

Local Government Minister Chris Tremain today released a report looking at improving the cost-effectiveness of councils’ provision of infrastructure.

The Local Government Infrastructure Efficiency Expert Advisory Group was established last September to provide independent advice on ways councils can reduce costs in infrastructure without compromising quality.

“The Expert Advisory Group was established as part of the Better Local Government programme focussed on improving efficiency,” says Mr Tremain.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain has announced the extension of the Confidential Listening and Assistance Service until 30 June 2015.

The Service has been operating since mid-2009 to provide a confidential environment in which people in state care before 1992 can voice their concerns about abuse, neglect, or the way in which they were treated.

This includes people who spent time in psychiatric hospital, health camps, child welfare homes, foster care, and special education homes.

Associate Tourism Minister Chris Tremain has congratulated Air New Zealand on the airline’s latest global award.

“Air New Zealand has been named the winner in the Global Tourism Business category at the 2013 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. This reflects Air New Zealand’s strong commitment to sustainability and their contribution to our country’s 100% Pure brand,” says Mr Tremain.

“This award shows that Air New Zealand is punching above its weight internationally and leading the way for sustainable air travel.

Associate Tourism Minister Chris Tremain has welcomed the successful prosecution of two companies and two individuals convicted of mislabelling products that were sold to visiting Asian tourists.

The sentencing in the Auckland District Court resulted from charges brought by the Commerce Commission under the Fair Trading Act followed a multi-agency investigation in August 2011.

Local Government Minister Chris Tremain says changes to the Local Electoral Amendment Bill (No2) through a supplementary order paper tabled in Parliament yesterday will further increase transparency and accountability in local authority elections.

The Local Electoral Amendment Bill (No 2) which amends the rules for local authority elections has passed its second reading in Parliament.

The number of online transactions with government continues to grow, with figures up for the second time since measurements began says Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain.

Figures released today show 38.6 per cent of New Zealanders used secure online government services during the October to December quarter, up from 32.4 per cent for the first quarter. When measurements started in June the figure was at 29.9 per cent.

Associate Minister of Tourism Chris Tremain says today’s arrival of Hawaiian Airlines’ inaugural flight of their new Honolulu to Auckland service is a boost to tourism and will offer New Zealanders a greater choice in flying to the United States.

“This new service has real value for both New Zealand and Hawaii. The new route opens up access to Hawaiian airlines main markets such as San Diego, Seattle, Las Vegas and New York. It’s also an exciting opportunity to grow tourism in one of our premier markets.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain has announced that the Department of Internal Affairs is seeking proposals for an all-of-Government Desktop as a Service (DaaS) contract.

“Desktop as a Service will make government workplaces more flexible by enabling people to access their own desktop from different locations, rather than being tied to their own computer. The service would make it possible to access the same desktop and applications from different PCs, or from a laptop or tablet,” says Mr Tremain.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain is calling for changes to the regulations around spot prize draws.

“When spot prizes are used at events, such as fishing competitions and fun runs, they can be classed as gambling under the Gambling Act – which means organisers have to comply with a raft of rules. In some cases those rules can be overly rigorous and I want to cut the red tape,” says Mr Tremain.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says New Zealanders can be proud of the contribution made by our men and women to the bush fire efforts in North Eastern Victoria.

Mr Tremain has just visited the team of 66 New Zealand fire fighters who have been battling bush fires in the Ovens and Bright mountain areas for the past two weeks.

Local Government Minister Chris Tremain says the passage of the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill will leave Canterbury better off. The Bill passed its third reading in Parliament yesterday.

“The Commissioners have done an outstanding job in turning around the situation in Canterbury over the last three years,” says Mr Tremain.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain leaves for Melbourne tomorrow to show his support for New Zealand fire fighters helping to control bush fires in Victoria.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain today announced seven appointments to the Archives Council Te Rua Wānanga.

The Council has a statutory role to provide the Minister with independent advice on archives and record keeping issues.

There are four new members who will take up their positions in March 2013:

• Dr Aroha Harris
• Diane Morcom
• Dr Gillian Oliver
• David Reeves 

They will join current members Barry Holdaway, George Reedy and Stuart Strachan who have been reappointed for new terms.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says the deployment today of fire fighters to Australia is a reflection of the strong historic relationship both countries share in helping each other in times of need.

The team of 44 fire fighters being sent to Victoria, is New Zealand’s second largest deployment of rural fire fighters. The team will be base in the Gippsland area for 16 days where they will help fight bush fires that have broken out in the region.