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Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye today announced the recipients of the Youth Week 2014 Awards.

“It is truly impressive to see the difference and change that these award recipients have brought about in their communities,” Ms Kaye says.

Youth Week runs from 17 May – 25 May. Community organisations across the country have been planning their own Youth Week events. Many of these are facilitated by funding grants through Ara Taiohi, who are also administering Youth Week.

Budget 2014 provides $8.6 million of new operating spending over the next four years for social support needs at Youth One-Stop Shops, Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye says.

“Currently Youth One-Stop Shops are funded to provide health care to young people, but the money hasn’t been there to provide social support,” she says. “I understand that social support work can take up about 30 per cent of the time of Youth One-Stop Shops.

The Budget allocates $2.5 million in additional operating funding in 2014/15 to continue to provide more computers in homes and digital literacy training for low-income families, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye say.

“This increased funding means up to 1,500 more low-income families will learn basic computer skills and be provided with access to the internet,” Ms Parata says.

“This will result in families being more engaged with their children’s education.

Budget 2014 invests a total of $172.5 million of capital from the Future Investment Fund and $111.5 million of operating funding over the next four years in new schools, classrooms and other school property improvements, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye say.

This follows the $134 million in capital investment in new schools in Budget 2013.

“The new funding is part of the Government’s wider plans to modernise schools in order to contribute to raising achievement for every child and young person,” Ms Parata says.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye today welcomed the strong support across Parliament for progressing the Food Bill. The Primary Production Select Committee reported the Bill back to the House in early May, and the Bill has now passed its second reading in the House.

Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye has released a cabinet paper that outlines draft arrangements to temporarily relocate Parliament and Executive Government in case of a major emergency in Wellington.

“The draft arrangements cover a worst case scenario where the impact of a major earthquake is so severe that Parliament and Executive Government could not function effectively in Wellington,” Ms Kaye says.

Ms Kaye said they have been developed and amended through a series of workshops, and will require final Cabinet approval.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye said today that the final part (Part A) of the Government Inquiry into the Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) Contamination Incident will begin on 12 May.

“Part A will examine how the potentially contaminated whey protein concentrate entered the New Zealand international markets and how this was subsequently addressed,” Mr Guy says.

Five New Zealand manufacturers have been approved for exporting infant formula to China, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye have announced today.

“These manufacturers represent around 90% of our infant formula exports to China by volume,” says Mr Guy.

“New Zealand officials have been working intensively with manufacturers and Chinese officials to address corrective actions, allowing these five manufacturers to be registered as of May 1.

Chinese officials have provided further advice on the introduction of new regulations affecting New Zealand infant formula exports to China, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye said today a Food Safety and Assurance Advisory Council is being set up to provide independent advice to the government on issues relating to food safety.

Establishing this council is one of the 29 recommendations of the Government Inquiry into the Whey Protein Concentrate Contamination Incident, released in December last year.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced nearly $2 million funding for new classrooms at Tai Tapu School in rural Canterbury.

“Selwyn district is part of a rapidly growing Canterbury region. The nine new buildings for Tai Tapu School are part of a broader classroom building programme which will address the capacity needs for the region,” Ms Kaye says.

“Three of the classrooms will accommodate roll growth and six will replace older classrooms. All of these will meet modern learning environment standards.”

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye today announced that expressions of interest have been released for a Food Safety Science and Research Centre.

Establishing a New Zealand centre of food safety science and research is one of the 29 recommendations from the Government Inquiry into the Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) Contamination Incident, released in December last year.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye said today that legal action will continue in relation to the supply of allegedly defective wall cladding materials by Carter Holt Harvey (CHH).

This follows CHH failing to have the Ministry of Education’s product liability claim struck out in the High Court last week.

“I am pleased with the recent judgment and support the Ministry continuing to pursue all avenues that support delivery of the best possible learning environments for our students and teachers,” Ms Kaye says.

Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye is today asking New Zealanders to recognise outstanding young community members and nominate them for a Youth Week 2014 Award.

Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye today announced the Government will pay $1.46 million to Nelson City Council and $317,000 to Tasman District Council for civil defence emergency response and recovery costs arising from the flood event in the Nelson-Tasman region in December 2011.

“Each council has the responsibility for an initial civil defence response in its area, and then for recovery. I would like to acknowledge the important and significant work done by the Nelson and Tasman Councils and thank all the individuals involved,” Ms Kaye says.

From tomorrow (Tuesday 1 April) the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) will be part of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye said today.

“This move strengthens the Ministry and New Zealand’s ability to plan for and respond to large scale emergencies, and to coordinate the national support needed,” Ms Kaye says.

Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye has today announced one-off funding of $20,000 for 30 Flaxmere College students to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award programme.

“There have been difficulties for young people in Flaxmere and I want to ensure that more young people have opportunities to develop their leadership abilities and contribute to their community,” Ms Kaye says.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye today announced $900,000 has been allocated towards a new food safety scholarship programme with China.

“The Prime Minister confirmed this scholarship programme during his recent visit to China,” Ms Kaye says. “I am pleased to announce both the funding and some of the detail of the programme.

Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye today announced the Government’s final reimbursement to Canterbury councils for civil defence emergency response costs related to the Canterbury earthquakes.

In total, the Government has paid $215.288 million to Environment Canterbury Regional Council (ECan), Christchurch City Council, Waimakariri District Council and Selwyn District Council for their responses to the September 2010 and February, June and December 2011 earthquakes.

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today launched a new digital portal for teachers, students and education administrators with Crown-owned company Network for Learning (N4L).

Ms Parata says the Government has invested $211 million in the N4L managed network as a fully funded package for schools and has also tasked the company with developing the portal.

Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye today announced that New Zealand will provide $2.5 million to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to help farmers in the Philippines recover from Typhoon Haiyan.

“Typhoon Haiyan was one of the most devastating storms in recent history and it is estimated that almost 6 million workers’ livelihoods were destroyed, lost or disrupted,” Ms Kaye says.

Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye will be in the Philippines March 16 and 17.

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.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye said today that she received notification from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) at 3.30pm yesterday that they had laid charges in the Wellington District Court against Fonterra.

“As the matter is before the court, it is inappropriate for Ministers to make any comment regarding these charges and the compliance investigation,” Ms Kaye says.

“It is important to note that the compliance investigation has been run by the regulator (MPI), and has been independent from Ministers.”