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Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse is urging road users to travel safely over the summer holidays.

“We are on track to record the lowest annual road toll in 60 years, but we’re not there yet. We still have the busiest holiday period of the year to come so I urge everyone to be extra vigilant on the road this Christmas season,” Mr Woodhouse says.

As at 20 December there have been 245 fatalities due to road crashes for the year, this is 52 fewer than at the same time last year.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has welcomed new figures showing New Zealand overstayer numbers are continuing to fall. 

“A new report estimates 13,151 overstayers are living in New Zealand. This is the lowest number this century, down 893 (6.3%) from last year, and 33 per cent lower than the 2005 estimate of nearly 20,000,” Mr Woodhouse says.

The estimated rate of overstaying (the number of overstayers compared with the number of temporary arrivals) is now very small by international standards at around 5 in 10,000 (0.05%).

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has announced a new business visa policy to encourage migrants to set up high-quality businesses in New Zealand to help create local jobs and support economic growth.

“New Zealand needs to attract talented, enterprising, well-connected business people to invest and grow businesses in New Zealand,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse is urging drivers to put their cell phones away after a survey of 29,000 moving vehicles found one in every 40 drivers using a cell phone.

The Ministry of Transport survey found half of those using a cell phone while driving had a phone held to their head and the other half appeared to be texting.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has announced a review of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, which regulates immigration advice and created the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) and the Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal.

“The Act is now more than five years old and a review is timely to ensure the new system is working as effectively and efficiently as possible.

A bill to crack down on employers who exploit migrant workers and improve the effectiveness of our immigration system has passed its first reading in Parliament today.

“The Immigration Amendment Bill (No 2) forms part of a package of actions this Government is taking to address the exploitation of migrants. It follows changes in June to encourage victims of exploitation to come forward without fear of being penalised,” Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse says.

Mr Speaker, I move that the Immigration Amendment Bill (No 2) be now read a first time. 

I nominate the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee to consider the Bill.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Michael Woodhouse today hosted 76 veterans in Parliament to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the War in the Pacific.

“It is an honour to join our veterans in remembering their service and sacrifice for our country,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“It provides them with the opportunity to reminisce with their fellow veterans and remember those who were lost.

“Today’s service will be a memorable occasion for those veterans who were not able to attend the commemoration in New Caledonia earlier in the year.”

The public ballot to attend the 100th anniversary of Anzac Day at Gallipoli in 2015 is now open, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Michael Woodhouse has announced.

“The 1915 ANZAC campaign is important to our history and helped shape our nation’s identity. One hundred years on, the 2015 commemorations will be especially poignant and a time for New Zealand to reflect.

Associate Minister of Transport Michael Woodhouse will represent the New Zealand Government at the 5th meeting of the Standing Council of Transport and Infrastructure (SCOTI) in Brisbane today.

Mr Woodhouse will join his counterparts from both state and federal Australian governments to discuss a wide range of transport issues, with a particular focus on infrastructure.

“This meeting provides an opportunity to further develop the relationship with our Australian counterparts, and learn from each other’s challenges and experiences,” says Mr Woodhouse.

Changes that will require children up to seven years old to use an approved child restraint when travelling in motor vehicles come into force from 1 November 2013.

“Children are among the most vulnerable passengers on our roads, especially when they are not properly restrained,” says Mr Woodhouse.

“Seatbelts are simply not designed for small bodies and these changes will help reduce injuries and save young lives.”

The ballot for Anzac Day 2015 passes at Gallipoli will open on 15 November 2013 and close on 31 January 2014, says Veterans’ Affairs Minister Michael Woodhouse.

“The Gallipoli campaign is an important part of New Zealand’s history, and demand for the Anzac centenary commemorations in Turkey is expected to exceed the safe capacity for the site,” Mr Woodhouse says.

New Zealand has been granted 2000 attendance passes, and Australia 8000, that will be allocated by a ballot running simultaneously on both sides of the Tasman.

Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse is reminding drivers to take care on the roads this long weekend.

“Our roads are traditionally busier over holiday weekends so it is important to take extra care on the road to ensure everyone arrives at their intended destination safely,” says Mr Woodhouse.

“The zero road toll for Queen’s Birthday Weekend this year shows that it is possible to have a holiday weekend without anyone losing their life on the roads, and I hope we can see that again this weekend.

A bill to better support current and future veterans has passed its first reading unanimously in Parliament this evening.

“The Veterans’ Support Bill enables the Government to better meet the needs of both older veterans who require assistance to remain in their own homes and veterans of modern-day deployments,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has announced his decision to grant New Zealand residence to nine Afghan interpreters and 26 family members.

“Local interpreters worked on the front lines with New Zealand personnel in Afghanistan. The Government recognises its duty of care to these men and their wives and children, and is committed to fulfilling that duty,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Speech to Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (RSA) National Council

I must say what a pleasure it is to be at my first RNZRSA Council Meeting, and what a privilege it is to be your Veterans’ Affairs Minister.

This is a portfolio that a number of my colleagues envy me for holding, and it was certainly a special moment when the Prime Minister offered me the portfolio in January.

New legislation to better support current and future veterans was introduced to Parliament today by Veterans’ Affairs Minister Michael Woodhouse.

The Veterans’ Support Bill follows a Law Commission report that provided the most comprehensive review of veterans’ entitlements since the introduction of the 1954 War Pensions Act.

“New Zealand owes a great debt to our veterans. The National-led Government is committed to honouring their service,” Mr Woodhouse says.

The Government has announced a package of new initiatives to encourage further growth in New Zealand's $2.6 billion international education sector.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse today introduced a new Bill to Parliament that will crack down on employers who exploit migrant workers.

Under the Immigration Amendment Bill such employers will face a jail sentence of up to seven years, a fine not exceeding $100,000, or both. Exploitative employers who hold residence visas will also be liable for deportation if the offence was committed within 10 years of gaining residence.

Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse today announced that a planned review of taxi driver safety is underway.

The review will assess the extent that in-vehicle taxi cameras and monitored two-way taxi despatch systems have improved safety for taxi drivers and identify any possible improvements.

“When these two safety provisions we made compulsory in 2011, the Government committed to reviewing their effect in 2013, and we are delivering on that.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse is welcoming new research from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on the impact of temporary migration on jobs and wages in New Zealand.

Using figures from MBIE, Statistics New Zealand and Inland Revenue, The Rise of Temporary Migration and its Impact on the New Zealand Labour Market is the first report of its kind that specifically considers the effect of temporary migration over the past decade on existing workers.

Good morning and thank you for asking me along to speak to your conference today.

I want to start by acknowledging Peter Townsend, MC for the Conference, and Walter Stone, Chairman of your Association. It’s very important for me to come here to address you as members of New Zealand’s largest immigration adviser association. Developing and maintaining a good relationship with key stakeholders such as the NZAMI is crucial in ensuring we work as collegially and constructively as possible towards our goal of bringing the best people to New Zealand.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has travelled to Indonesia to attend a major regional conference on people smuggling and trafficking.

The Special Conference on the Irregular Movement of Persons is being held in Jakarta today and will discuss prevention, protection, early detection, and the prosecution of people smugglers in the Asia-Pacific region.

“New Zealand recognises that people smuggling and human trafficking are significant regional problems that require countries to work together to find regional solutions,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to speak at the launch of Rail Safety Week.

This year the focus for Rail Safety Week is encouraging pedestrians to be safe around train tracks. I’m pleased to see that students from Mount Albert Primary School are involved in today’s events.

Our young people play a vital role in ensuring that the message about staying safe around trains, railway stations and tracks is shared with their wider communities.