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Prime Minister John Key will meet the 100 participants in this year's Prime Minister's Youth Programme at a dinner in Auckland tonight.

The group of 14- to 17-year-olds from South and West Auckland were chosen to take part in the week-long programme of challenging, fun activities in recognition of making positive, life-changing choices.

Youth Affairs Minister Paula Bennett also attended the celebration dinner at the Ellerslie Events Centre with the Prime Minister, along with business leaders, celebrities and community leaders.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key today announced a series of changes to the National-led Government’s Cabinet, refreshing a Ministerial team which is firmly focused on delivering results for New Zealanders.

Mr Key confirmed the Government’s nominee for Speaker to replace the departing Lockwood Smith will be long-serving National MP and Cabinet Minister David Carter.

“I’m pleased to announce David Carter as the Government’s nominee for Speaker and I’d like to thank him for his service as a Minister,” Mr Key says.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key will visit Antarctica from 17 to 21 January to highlight New Zealand’s interests and activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

Mr Key will visit New Zealand science and environmental management programmes, view New Zealand’s historic hut conservation projects, and participate in a ceremony celebrating the installation of Maori artwork at Scott Base.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key said the Government has nominated Trade Minister Tim Groser for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.

WTO members will need to agree by consensus on a new Director-General to replace Pascal Lamy by the end of May next year.

“Nominations have been called for by the end of December, and I can confirm that Mr Groser’s name has been put forward, with the New Zealand Government’s blessing,” says Mr Key.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed the nomination of Dr the Rt Hon Lockwood Smith as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

“Lockwood Smith has had a distinguished political career and his nomination is a mark of the high esteem in which he is held.

“Since 2008 he has held the role of Speaker of the House of Representatives, and was unanimously re-elected in 2011.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key today announced Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson and Solicitor-General Michael Heron have been appointed Queen’s Counsel. The rank of Queen’s Counsel recognises outstanding contributions to the legal profession.

The appointments are the first to be made under recent amendments to the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, which restored the title of Queen’s Counsel.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key has welcomed the public release today of the third and final part of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission’s report into the causes of building failures during the earthquake.

“There were 185 people who lost their lives in the Christchurch earthquake on 22 February 2011. Of those, 175 deaths were due to failures of buildings or parts of buildings,” Mr Key says.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Prime Minister John Key has extended his condolences to the friends and families of the people who died when a tornado struck West Auckland earlier today.

“A thunderstorm and tornado struck West Auckland around 1pm today, tearing down trees, and ripping roofs from houses,” Mr Key says.

“This must have been an extremely frightening situation for many people in the local community.

“I’d like to thank the emergency services staff, who are responding to the situation. It’s critical they are able to focus on the response.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key says he was delighted to hear the news that Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are expecting a baby.

“This is fabulous news for Prince William and Catherine, and I know the Queen and Prince Phillip will be extremely pleased.

“It is an important day in any young couple’s life when a baby is expected and I know that Catherine and William will be as nervous and excited as anyone.

“We wish them both the very best and hope Catherine’s stay in hospital is a short one.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Government agencies’ sustained crackdown on methamphetamine (‘P’) is continuing to stifle the spread of the drug among New Zealanders, Prime Minister John Key says.

“When I launched the Government’s plan to tackle P in 2009, this country had one of the highest proportion of P users in the world. At the time, I said this Government would confront the P problem using the full force of our arsenal.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key says his thoughts are with the family and friends of Lady Diana Isaac, who died peacefully last night at home.

“Lady Diana’s contribution to Canterbury and New Zealand was truly remarkable. From her early philanthropic work with her late husband Neil, right up until the time of her death, she was an outstanding champion for Canterbury, the arts and conservation,” says Mr Key.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key has met Myanmar’s opposition leader, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi.

It follows a meeting between Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and Aung San Suu Kyi earlier this year.

“For many years Aung San Suu Kyi led efforts to bring democratic reform to Myanmar, and she has made great personal sacrifices on behalf of the country’s people,” says Mr Key.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key today announced a $7 million aid package to Myanmar.

Mr Key made the announcement following a meeting with Myanmar’s President Thein Sein in the country’s capital city Naypyitaw.

“Over the next five years we will be investing $6 million in building Myanmar’s dairy farming capabilities through our aid programme. This will complement the funding we already make available for scholarships, and the English Language Training for Officials programme,” says Mr Key.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key has announced further funding to the Khmer Rouge Tribunal to support its work bringing the former leaders of the regime to justice.

New Zealand will provide a further $200,000 to the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, bringing the total contribution to NZ$1.2 million over six years.

Mr Key made the announcement during a visit to the Tribunal in Phnom Penh yesterday.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key has joined other leaders from Asian countries to launch negotiations for a 16-nation regional free trade agreement.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will include the 10 ASEAN states, together with Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand.

“The goal is an outcome that offers New Zealand businesses improved access to key markets across Asia, and robust trade and investment rules,” says Mr Key.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key says his thoughts are with the people of the West Coast as New Zealand remembers the second anniversary of the Pike River mining tragedy.

“There is no comfort in my words for the families of those who died, as they are still living this tragedy day after day.

“However it is fitting and right that we remember that it was this day two years ago that 29 men lost their lives,” says Mr Key.

The explosion at Pike River Mine, northeast of Greymouth, occurred at 3.44 on the afternoon of 19 November 2010.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

The Prime Minister talks about the Queen's Diamond Jubilee visit to New Zealand by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, next week's trip to Cambodia and Myanmar, the state of the economy both here and in the United States, and the significance of current unemployment rates.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Five high-achieving young Pacific New Zealanders have taken out this year’s Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards – an initiative which recognises outstanding achievement among young leaders.

Prime Minister John Key says the winners have all shone academically, and have made significant contributions to their schools and communities.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Konnichiwa. Good afternoon.

It’s a pleasure to be here at your conference.

I want to thank the members of the Japan New Zealand Business Council – on both sides of the Pacific – for all the good work you do in developing trade relations, and in helping our countries get to know each other even better.

In particular I want to acknowledge Ryu Yano, the Chair of the Japan side of the Council, and Chair of Sumitomo Forestry, who has done so much for New Zealand-Japan relations over many years.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key will visit Cambodia later this month to attend the East Asia Summit, before travelling to Myanmar – the first time a New Zealand Prime Minister has visited that country.

Mr Key will join leaders from 10 ASEAN countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, and new members Russia and the US, at the EAS in Phnom Penh on 20 November.

"This is an important grouping of countries for New Zealand, and discussions will cover political, security and economic issues in our region,” says Mr Key.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key tonight congratulated President Obama on a hard fought victory in the US Presidential elections.

“I will be sending President Obama a letter of congratulations tomorrow, and will also relay them in person when I see him at the East Asian Summit in Phnom Penh later this month.

“The relationship between our two countries is an enduring and close one, and I look forward to developing it further.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed the report of the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy.

“We owe it to the families of the 29 men who died to find out what happened and why, and a Royal Commission was the most appropriate form of inquiry.

“I speak on behalf of the Government when I say I regret deeply what has happened, in terms of the lives lost and suffering caused.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key today expressed his sadness at the death of Lady June Blundell, who passed away yesterday.

Lady June was the widow of Sir Denis Blundell.  He was Governor-General of New Zealand from 1972 to 1977 and, before that, was New Zealand's High Commissioner in London.

"Lady June made a significant contribution to New Zealand in her own right.  She was over 90 when she died, and had worked throughout her life to help others,” says Mr Key.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

30 October. The Prime Minister talks about the Government's new initiatives to promote the development of affordable housing - and covers off some of the less fruitful ideas recently touted by Opposition parties. To read the speech by RBNZ governor Graeme Wheeler referenced at the end of the video, visit http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/speeches/5005204.html

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister