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Cabinet has approved the Emergency Relocation of Executive Government and Parliament Plan, Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

The plan outlines the temporary relocation of Executive Government and Parliament to Devonport Naval Base in Auckland under a worst-case scenario, where the impact of a major earthquake in Wellington was so severe that Executive Government and Parliament could not function effectively in Wellington.

“A decision to relocate would be made as a last resort,” Ms Kaye says.

Minister for Food Safety Nikki Kaye today announced that the government will be adopting a new Health Star Rating food labelling system.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today confirmed that a $200,000 project is under way to provide Christchurch students, particularly those in low-decile schools, with better access to digital learning.

“The aim of the programme being run by the Greater Christchurch Schools Network (GCSN) is that every student aged nine and over from participating schools will be able to access online learning both at school and at home,” Ms Kaye says.

Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye today announced the creation of the Canterbury Youth Initiative Fund, which will provide $100,000 for new initiatives for young Cantabrians.

The Ministry of Youth Development funding will help to kick-start initiatives and events for Christchurch youth, following today’s release of the results of the 2013 Youth Wellbeing Survey, Ms Kaye says.

Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye today announced funding totalling $122,000 for a range of youth organisations with a focus on improving opportunities for young people.

The Ministry of Youth Development funding will support a diverse range of organisations and projects. Recipients are the Far North District Council, the Great Potentials Foundation, the Isolated Communities youth grant fund, the LGBTI youth sector, and the volunteer youth programme for New Zealand Fashion Week.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced the appointment of Dr Karen Poutasi to the board of Network for Learning (N4L).

N4L is the Crown company responsible for the Government’s $211 million investment in a managed network for schools, which will provide quick and reliable internet complete with uncapped data, web filtering and network security services.

The government’s building programme for new schools is breaking fresh ground by ensuring new schools meet exacting environmental building standards, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says.

“Children are reaping the benefits of learning in classrooms with plenty of natural light and warmth, and featuring energy efficient lighting and heating.

“Additionally, schools with energy efficient lighting and heating benefit from reduced operating costs and long-term maintenance costs,” Ms Kaye says.

A new, modern-trades academy at Southern Cross Campus will create better career pathways for local students, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

Ms Kaye will attend a sod-turning ceremony at the Mangere, Auckland campus this morning, marking the start of construction of the $20m redevelopment.

“The ceremony signals to the Mangere community that the campus is moving forward and that the young people of this community will have high-quality facilities to support their learning,” Ms Kaye says.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye has announced funding for new classrooms at Arrowtown Primary School, in response to a growing population.

The $2.4 million investment to build six classrooms will provide modern learning environments that are enjoyable to teach in and learn in, Ms Kaye says.

“This Government has a vision for a sustainable network of schools that can accommodate the rapidly growing Queenstown area.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today confirmed the start of the school facilities management pilot project, which will offer schools the ability to reduce their role in school property management.

“The facilities management service is a voluntary service for schools and boards of trustees that want to step away from day-to-day property management,” Ms Kaye says.

The Ministry of Education programme will consider the most appropriate mix of services and likely cost that could be provided to maintain and improve school property.

Schools are to receive a significant increase in funding courtesy of a new initiative that will see them benefit further from the sale of surplus school houses, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“There are about 1,900 school houses on Ministry administered land with a total value of over $300 million,” Ms Kaye says. “This change will enable us to reduce long-term vacancies, sell houses that are no longer required for education purposes, and manage the Ministry land portfolio more effectively.”

The rollout of fast internet to schools has reached a milestone ahead of schedule, with 500 schools now connected to the Government’s Managed Network, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

The Government is investing $211 million in the Network for Learning (N4L) programme, which will provide quick and reliable internet complete with uncapped data, web filtering and network security services for participating New Zealand schools.

A Youth Trust set up in honour of Sir Peter Blake will receive $50,000 in funding to support its 2015 and 2016 Expedition Programme, Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye has announced.

The Young Blake Expedition Programme aims to follow in the footsteps of Sir Peter and motivate the next generation of environmental leaders in the conservation of the Southern Ocean and its islands.

Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chris Finlayson and Minister of Youth Affairs Nikki Kaye today announced $50,000 from the Ministry of Youth Development to support youth participation in the performing arts.

“This funding will encourage young people to develop their musical and performance abilities, grow their confidence and self-management skills, and connect them with industry experts who can foster their talent and creativity,” Mr Finlayson says.

Thirty city and district councils will benefit from the 2014 Youth Development Partnership Fund, Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye says.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye said today that they have received a letter from the Chair of the Government Inquiry into the Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) Contamination Incident, advising that:

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye has today released a report showing that widespread and mobile access to the internet will lead to new and significant opportunities and challenges for the education system.

Associate Minister of Education Nikki Kaye today released recommendations to improve Special Education School Transport Assistance (SESTA).

“Last year I established an independent reference group to provide advice on how best to improve SESTA services for special education students,” Ms Kaye says.

The group has been chaired by Graeme Daniel, Principal of Allenvale Special School and President of the Special Education Principals’ Association. Members represent the special education and disability sectors, commercial operators and government.

New operating spending of $250,000 in 2014/15 will develop a business case for the possible introduction of a telecommunications-based public alerting system to warn people of impending emergencies, Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye says.

“This project is about reaching large numbers of people quickly, through cellphone alerts, to save lives in civil defence emergencies. By using a separate cellphone channel, the technology could reach specific geographical areas without causing communications congestion,” Ms Kaye says.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye today welcomed the unanimous support for the Food Bill during its third and final reading in Parliament today.

“The Food Bill has received support from all parties. It has taken a long time to get here and a lot of work has been put in to developing this significant piece of legislation,” Ms Kaye says. 

The Government is investing $7.6 million in Warkworth School to upgrade its buildings and facilities, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says.

“The increased funding is to be used to replace the old buildings that make up the majority of the junior school, and replace some permanent buildings past their useful life. The redevelopment will also address onsite flooding from poor drainage that causes dampness beneath school buildings,” says Ms Kaye.

Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye has today announced an additional $200,000 in funding to expand the Youth in Emergency Services (YES) programme. 

“Following the Rotorua pilot at the start of 2013 I announced the YES programme would be extended to six locations, in areas such as Alexandra and Kaikoura. I understand that these programmes have received positive feedback from the coordinators, service volunteers, and young participants,” Ms Kaye says.

Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye is inviting civil defence agencies, other organisations and the public to make written submissions on the draft revised National Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Plan from today.

“The National CDEM Plan is required by law, and sets out the hazards and risks to be managed at the national level. It also sets out the civil defence emergency management roles and responsibilities of central government, CDEM Groups and other agencies such as lifeline utilities, emergency services and non-government organisations,” Ms Kaye says.

The Government has confirmed $2.5 million of new operating spending over the next three years for youth enterprise initiatives, Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye says. 

“This funding supports a number of initiatives for young people to learn financial literacy and business enterprise skills, as well as get opportunities to develop social-enterprise projects,” she says.