Displaying 49 - 72 of 192 results.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman is holding bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart, Senator David Johnston in Auckland today.

“New Zealand has a strong defence relationship with Australia, and I look forward to working closely with Senator Johnston,” says Dr Coleman.

“As part of our bilateral meeting, we will be discussing the current security issues in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as identifying areas where New Zealand and Australia can further develop our practical defence co-operation.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says the Government will not be paying further compensation to George and Damien Nepata.

“I know today’s decision will be disappointing for George and Damien Nepata,” says Dr Coleman.

“While I have huge sympathy for the brothers who were tragically injured in two separate incidents, it is clear there have been no substantive changes to their case since Cabinet considered the issue ten years ago.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

There is one name that crops up consistently throughout the Rebstock Inquiry, and that is Phil Goff, says State Services Minister Jonathan Coleman.

“It’s unbelievable that Mr Goff has come out and bagged the report. He needs to do some deep reflection,” says Dr Coleman.

“This inquiry is a timely reminder of the responsibility that public servants have to maintain the political neutrality of the public service.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • State Services

Phil Goff is again misleading New Zealanders by creating a false picture of the state of the Defence Force, says Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman has announced that the new Chief of Defence Force will be Major General Tim Keating.

Currently the Vice Chief of Defence Force, Major General Keating will be promoted to Lieutenant General and will take over from Lieutenant General Rhys Jones on 1 February 2014 for a three year term.

“I congratulate Major General Keating on his new appointment as Chief of Defence Force,” says Dr Coleman. “I would also like to thank outgoing Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jones for his service to New Zealand.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says the NZDF has officially received 40 new Medium-Heavy Operational Vehicles at a handover ceremony in Auckland today, just seven months after they were purchased.

“The new Rheinmetall-MAN military medium and heavy vehicles are a significant step up in capability for the NZDF, replacing the old Unimog and Mercedes trucks. They are designed for modern military operations and offer better mobility, better protection, enhanced technology, and greater capacity.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

State Services Minister Jonathan Coleman says a new Government Chief Talent Officer will be appointed to drive a new public service talent and leadership programme.

“Developing our future public service leaders is crucial to maintaining an effective public service that is focused on delivering better public services for New Zealanders,” says Dr Coleman.

“It is important the public service offers an attractive career for young New Zealanders, and they get the career development and progression that makes the best use of their skills.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • State Services

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman today praised the work of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the Philippines as the C-130 Hercules stationed in Tacloban prepares to return to New Zealand.

“Typhoon Haiyan had a catastrophic impact on parts of the Philippines, leaving more than 5000 people dead and destroying more than one million homes,” Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence
  • Foreign Affairs

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman has held successful talks with China’s Minister of National Defense, General Chang Wanquan.

“It has been great to visit China for the first time in my role as Minister of Defence,” says Dr Coleman. “It has also been good to reciprocate the many visits to New Zealand by senior members of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), including General Zhao Keshi’s recent visit.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes the signing of a new defence co-operation arrangement with Viet Nam.

“This arrangement reaffirms the value New Zealand places on our defence relationship with Viet Nam,” says Dr Coleman.

“The Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Co-operation formalises our relationship and provides a strong framework to enhance future defence co-operation in areas of mutual interest. It also forms the basis of another important strand in the wider New Zealand-Viet Nam relationship.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

HMNZS OTAGO departs Dunedin today to monitor fishing activities in the Southern Ocean.

New Zealand-designated Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) inspectors from the Ministry for Primary Industries will be on board to conduct compliance checks on the Southern Ocean’s legal fishing fleet.

“New Zealand takes its commitment to Southern Ocean conservation seriously.  It is vital that, as a CCAMLR member, we play our part in tackling illegal fishing activities,” Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says.

  • Nathan Guy
  • Murray McCully
  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Primary Industries
  • Defence
  • Foreign Affairs

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman departs for Viet Nam and China this weekend for a series of meetings with his ministerial counterparts and defence officials.

“New Zealand engages with a wide range of defence partners in the Asia-Pacific region, co-operating on matters of common interest,” says Dr Coleman.

“A good example of this co-operation is Exercise Phoenix Spirit, which was held in New Zealand in August, where NZDF, Australian, US and Chinese personnel worked through humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenarios.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

Phil Goff continues to mislead the New Zealand public on the state of the New Zealand Defence Force, says Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman.

“On the back of today’s Select Committee hearing on defence, Mr Goff has painted a misleading picture on the state of the NZDF,” says Dr Coleman.

“He is completely distorting the Chief of Defence Force’s words when he claims that the CDF says it will take seven years for the NZDF to ‘recover from the damage done to it in the last couple of years’.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

State Services Minister Jonathan Coleman and Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain say there will be a stronger focus on privacy and security across government with the creation of a Government Chief Privacy Officer (GCPO).

“It is important that New Zealanders have confidence in government agencies to do all they can to ensure personal information is kept safe,” says Dr Coleman.

  • Chris Tremain
  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Internal Affairs
  • State Services

State Services Minister Jonathan Coleman and Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye say civil defence emergency management will be strengthened by transferring the agency to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC).

“We are shaping our government agencies so they can deliver better services to New Zealanders out in the community when they most need it,” says Dr Coleman.

  • Nikki Kaye
  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Civil Defence
  • State Services

A RNZAF Hercules C-130 which left New Zealand on Thursday has delivered key emergency aid equipment and food to the battered cities of Tacloban and Ormoc and the town of Guiuan.

The Hercules was the first C-130 to land at Ormoc since Typhoon Haiyan hit the region. Crew unloaded the cargo of World Food Programme stocks, and then 126 Filipino evacuees were transported to Cebu.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman is today visiting Exercise Southern Katipo in Timaru.

“Exercise Southern Katipo is a significant exercise for the NZDF,” says Dr Coleman. “It is the largest ever international exercise held in New Zealand with up to 2,200 military personnel taking part, including personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Malaysia, PNG, Singapore, Tonga, UK and US.”

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says Navy frigate HMNZS Te Mana has departed Darwin today for counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

State Services Minister Jonathan Coleman says the latest statistics on core government administration positions show the public service continues to remain within the cap set by the Government in March 2012.

“As of 30 June 2013, there are 36,474 full-time equivalent positions in core government administration,” says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • State Services

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman told the Defence Industry Association annual conference today that the Government remains committed to a sustainable and affordable future Defence Force out to 2030.

“The Government inherited a substantial long term funding gap in defence, and the 2010 Defence White Paper signalled that new money would be required over time to maintain and improve NZDF capabilities,” says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

State Services Minister Jonathan Coleman has confirmed at the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Summit in London that New Zealand will join the OGP initiative which promotes open and transparent government.

“New Zealand has a strong tradition of open and transparent government, and we celebrated one hundred years of our professional, politically neutral public service this year,” says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • State Services

State Services Minister Jonathan Coleman says the latest Kiwis Count survey shows New Zealanders’ satisfaction with public services continues to rise.

“The government is committed to delivering better public services for New Zealanders, and ensuring our public services are more effective and efficient,” says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • State Services

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman and US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel have agreed to extend co-operation on peacekeeping initiatives. 

“Our defence relationship with the US is in great shape, and provides a strong platform for working closely together in the future,” says Dr Coleman.

“We have agreed to expand our co-operation on peacekeeping training initiatives. We will be looking for opportunities to support our Asia-Pacific partners to build the capacity of their peacekeeping forces.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says this incident highlights the reality of operations in Afghanistan.

"The work our personnel undertake in Afghanistan is dangerous. Our people are well trained and are prepared to respond to a range of situations," says Dr Coleman.

"While we have a preliminary understanding of what occurred, there will be an investigation into this incident.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence