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Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita R Sharples, today announced the appointment of Miriama Evans, Dr Rawinia Higgins, Hon Paul Swain and Nick Davidson to the Waitangi Tribunal.  Each has been appointed for a term of three years, from 1 January 2013.

They will join Professor Sir Hirini Mead who was reappointed as a member of the Tribunal today.

“All of these new appointees bring their own set of skills and experience to the Waitangi Tribunal,” said Dr. Pita Sharples.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

The Crown today signed two Agreements in Principle and a Letter of Agreement with iwi groups today, taking an important step towards settling the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ngāruahine, Te Atiawa and Taranaki Iwi, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

The Royal New Zealand Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS OTAGO has successfully completed its first patrol of the season in the Southern Ocean - one of the world’s most challenging environments.

“It is important to New Zealand and the world that we protect the fragile marine environment of the Southern Ocean by helping to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing,” Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Murray McCully
  • David Carter
  • Primary Industries
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Defence

The Crown signed a deed of settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Maui at Waikawa Marae in Waikawa (near Picton) today, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced.

“Te Atiawa were left virtually landless by the historical actions of the Crown,” Mr Finlayson said. “Today we take a significant step towards putting the injustices of the past behind us, and helping Te Atiawa move forward.”

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced changes to New Zealand’s representation in Europe following the closure of the embassy in Sweden.

Paula Wilson, recently appointed Deputy Head of Mission at the New Zealand Mission in Brussels, will become Ambassador to Belgium.

Brussels Head of Mission and Ambassador to the EU, Vangelis Vitalis, will also take responsibility as the accredited Ambassador to Sweden. 

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand will provide further assistance to the Philippines to help with the recovery process following Typhoon Bopha.

Two weeks after Typhoon Bopha first hit the Philippines, the death toll stands at 1050, while 838 people remain missing.  Bopha affected 6.2 million people in 34 provinces, destroying thousands of homes and livelihoods.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman say an RNZAF C-130 Hercules has landed in cyclone-ravaged Samoa with additional relief supplies.

“At the request of the Samoan Government we sent a Hercules to Apia with essential humanitarian supplies and diesel generators to support the relief and recovery effort,” Mr McCully says.

“There is an urgent need for generators to ensure the Samoa Water Authority can pump and transport water to affected communities.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Defence

The Crown signed a deed of settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Ngāti Kōata at Wakatu Marae today in Nelson, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced.

“The actions of the Crown left Ngāti Kōata without sufficient and suitable lands for their needs, which had serious consequences for their social and cultural wellbeing,” Mr Finlayson said. “Today we take a significant step towards addressing the wrongs of the past, and allowing Ngāti Koata to create an economic base.”

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

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

Governments of Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United States call for responsible behaviour at sea during the 2012-2013 Southern Ocean whaling season

The governments of Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United States jointly condemn any actions that imperil human life at sea during the 2012-2013 Southern Ocean whaling season.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Tertiary education institutions have continued the trend of year-on-year improvements to their educational, organisational and financial performance, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

The 2011 Tertiary Education Performance Report released today by the TEC reviews each tertiary institution’s performance in the 2011 year as well as how the sector is tracking to achieve the Government’s priorities for tertiary education.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

The Crown has signed a deed of settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Ngāti Koroki Kahukura at Maungatautari marae near Cambridge, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.

“The actions of the Crown led to the economic, social, environmental and cultural degradation of Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and their physical and spiritual resources,” Mr Finlayson said.

The settlement includes financial and commercial redress of $3 million.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

Justice Minister, Judith Collins, and Trade Minister, Tim Groser, have welcomed the European Commission’s formal declaration that New Zealand privacy law provides an adequate standard of data protection for the purposes of European Union (EU) law.

European Union countries can now send personal data to New Zealand for processing without the need for extra controls.

Ms Collins says New Zealand is one of only five countries outside Europe to receive this level of recognition and trust and this is a vote of confidence in New Zealand’s privacy laws.

  • Tim Groser
  • Judith Collins
  • Trade
  • Justice

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the adoption of a Commonwealth Charter - a document that sets out the history, objectives, values, and principles of the Commonwealth.

“New Zealand is an active member of the Commonwealth and a strong supporter of the values which bind the 54 member states,” Mr McCully says.

“Aside from our British heritage, Commonwealth countries share a commitment to democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Exporters will have access to improved support from the New Zealand Export Credit Office under changes announced by the Government today, Finance Minister Bill English and Trade Minister Tim Groser say.

The NZECO, which is based in The Treasury, is the Government’s official export credit agency. It provides financial guarantees and trade credit insurance to exporters and banks.

The main changes announced by the ministers today will:

  • Tim Groser
  • Bill English
  • Trade
  • Finance

Digital literacy will be included as an educational priority area within the $13.8 million funding for Adult and Community Education in schools next year Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce announced today.

Its inclusion within the scope of Adult and Community Education in schools expands the potential for digital literacy within foundation education in New Zealand.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

The economy remains on track for moderate growth over the next few years, despite growth predictably easing a little in the September quarter, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Gross domestic product grew 0.2 per cent in the three months to 30 September. This took annual growth – from the September quarter 2011 to the September quarter 2012 - to 2 per cent, after revisions by Statistics New Zealand to reflect extra data.

  • Bill English
  • Finance

Peter Radich and Leigh Pearson have been reappointed to the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) announced Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss today.

Mr Radich has been reappointed as BSA Chair and Ms Pearson as a BSA member.

Peter Radich is the senior partner in a Blenheim-based legal practice. He is currently a member of the NZ Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal and is a former Coroner. He was previously the chair of the NZ Law Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

  • Craig Foss
  • Broadcasting

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today named career diplomat Bernadette Cavanagh as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Singapore, with cross accreditation to the Maldives.

“Singapore is one of New Zealand’s closest partners in the region, but there is potential to do more,” Mr McCully says.

“The High Commissioner’s role is to champion the strengthening of the New Zealand/Singapore economic relationship, and increase cooperation with Singapore in ASEAN, APEC and other regional forums.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

New Zealand is on the right track on the issue of taxing large multinationals and is committed to working with the OECD and co-ordinating closely with Australia, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said today in releasing an officials’ report on the issue.

“It is a problem facing many countries, but no one country can solve it alone. It is a global issue and it will have a global solution, and New Zealand is constructively working on being part of that solution,” Mr Dunne said.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Revenue

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed the Education and Science Select Committee’s report on the inquiry into 21st century learning environments and digital literacy.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata today acknowledged the resignation of Secretary for Education Lesley Longstone, and thanked her for her efforts leading the Ministry.

Ms Longstone’s resignation was announced this afternoon by State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie.

“I acknowledge Ms Longstone’s efforts during her time at the Ministry,” Ms Parata said.

“It has been a difficult period and there have been a series of tough issues to deal with.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

A report released today on the effectiveness of the Rangatahi Court (te Kooti Rangatahi) shows positive early results for the programme, says Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

The report was released at Hoani Waititi Marae today by Mr Borrows, along with Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples, Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft and Youth Court Judge Heemi Taumaunu.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Courts

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced provision of a further $2 million each for Samoa and Fiji to assist the next stage of recovery from Cyclone Evan.

The government has already provided $600,000 to Samoa and $400,000 to Fiji.

Mr McCully also announced that the P3 Orion that assisted Samoa with aerial assessment work in the early part of the week was moved to Fiji late yesterday to undertake similar work.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs