Displaying 145 - 168 of 6083 results.

Economic Development Minister David Carter today launched the Food and Beverage Information Project, the most comprehensive analysis of New Zealand’s F&B industry ever undertaken.

“The food and beverage industry accounts for more than half of our total exports and employs one in five New Zealanders, directly or indirectly. Full knowledge of the industry and its performance internationally is key to lifting export growth,” says Mr Carter.

  • David Carter
  • Economic Development

Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce has welcomed today’s announcement that Telecom shareholders have voted in favour of proceeding with structural separation.

He says this is one of the final procedural steps in the roll out of ultra fast broadband to 75% of New Zealanders where they live, work and study.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Communications and Information Technology

New Zealand has been accepted as a member of the International Partnership for Geothermal Technology, announced Science and Innovation Minister Wayne Mapp.

“Geothermal energy is one of our most important renewable energy resources with huge potential for growth,” said Dr Mapp.

“This recognition of our geothermal research programmes will allow our scientists to collaborate with an elite group of researchers in the United States, Australia, Switzerland and Iceland.”

  • Wayne Mapp
  • Science and Innovation

The Government is to make a series of changes to bail laws to improve public safety.

The changes build on work the Government achieved in its first 100 days in office to reverse Labour’s 2007 decision which made it easier for defendants to get bail.

“This announcement fulfils the other half of our 2008 election promise to review aspects of the bail system,” Mr Power said.

  • Simon Power
  • Justice

Acting Minister of Energy and Resources, Hekia Parata, has this evening been briefed in New Plymouth on plans to address the incident that is impacting on gas supply across the upper North Island.

Vector advised early this morning of an incident on the Maui pipeline, which transports gas north from Taranaki.

Vector is the technical and system operator for the Maui pipeline. The area where the gas escape has occurred is steep and difficult terrain.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Energy and Resources

Minister of Trade Hon Tim Groser today welcomed the announcement that agreement had been reached between the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Wellington to explore the feasibility of an economic cooperation agreement between New Zealand and Chinese Taipei.*

“Chinese Taipei is an important trading partner for New Zealand and even after its WTO accession maintains a number of high barriers to our exports” Tim Groser said.

  • Tim Groser
  • Trade

Acting Minister of Energy and Resources, Hekia Parata, has arrived in New Plymouth for a briefing on a gas leak that is affecting customers in the North Island.

Vector was advised this morning of a large gas escape, which resulted in a loss of pressure on the Maui pipeline which transports gas north from Taranaki.

The escape occurred in the remote White Cliffs area, north of New Plymouth.

The pipeline has been isolated and is currently being depressurised.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Energy and Resources

The Government is on track to return to surplus in 2014/15, with the recovery continuing to pick up pace, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Treasury today released the Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU) which forecasts average annual growth of almost 3 per cent between 2012 and 2016, more than 150,000 new jobs over the forecast period and strong growth in wages and household incomes.

  • Bill English
  • Finance

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully leaves today to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth.

The Minister will attend the Foreign Ministers’ meetings and represent the Prime Minister at the Leaders’ meetings.

“It will be an important meeting for the Commonwealth as it debates what reforms are needed to be more effective,” said Mr McCully.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Housing Minister Phil Heatley says social housing providers wanting access to the Government’s $40 million Social Housing Fund can now apply.

The access criteria for four new sub-funds, put in place to support the development of more social and affordable housing, are being released today.

The four funds are:
Growth fund – Pūtea Whakatipu
Māori fund – Pūtea Māori
Niche fund – Pūtea Kaupapa Motuhake
Rural fund – Pūtea Taiwhenua

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Prime Minister John Key has today extended condolences on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand to Turkey, following the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Van Province.

“New Zealanders know all too well the suffering and destruction major earthquakes can cause, and our sympathies are with those who are dealing with the aftermath of yesterday’s earthquake,” says Mr Key.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key today congratulated the All Blacks following their superb victory in the Rugby World Cup final at Eden Park.

“The All Blacks have achieved the ultimate in world rugby - they have won the Rugby World Cup. It is an achievement built on courage, determination, grit and great teamwork.

“These are all values that New Zealanders hold highly and I know Kiwis will be very proud of their team - they are deserving world champions.”

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Trade Minister Tim Groser today welcomed a joint New Zealand/South Africa study of trade trends between New Zealand and South Africa.

Hon Rob Davies, South African Minister for Trade & Industry, and Mr Groser announced the study results at a meeting in Stellenbosch.

“This study shines a light on our trading relationship with South Africa. It underlines the ease and value of that trading relationship, but there is potential to increase our current modest levels of trade” Mr Groser says.

  • Tim Groser
  • Trade

Minister of Trade Tim Groser announced today that New Zealand will join a long list of countries accepting an amendment to WTO rules that will make it easier to export generic drugs to developing countries.

It means that countries faced with public health problems, such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, can import generic copies of patented drugs if they cannot manufacture the drugs themselves.

“Affordable access to medicines makes a critical difference to developing countries,” Mr Groser says.

  • Tim Groser
  • Trade

Sport and Recreation Minister, Murray McCully, says New Zealanders can look forward to seeing more kiwi winners on the world stage with the National Training Centre for high performance athletes opening today.

High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) is based at the AUT Millennium Campus on Auckland’s North Shore.

Its new National Training Centre was officially opened by the Minister and the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge, who is in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup.

  • Murray McCully
  • Sport and Recreation

Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson today released a discussion document on options to continue farm gate sales of raw drinking milk.

“Selling small quantities of raw milk direct to people at the farm gate is a long standing tradition and there is support for that to continue,” Ms Wilkinson says.

“At present, the law lets farmers sell a daily maximum of five litres of raw milk from their farm to people to drink and give to their family.

  • Kate Wilkinson
  • Food Safety

A report on the implications for the NZSAS when the Afghan National Police Crisis Response Unit (CRU) detains Afghan nationals was released today by Defence Minister Wayne Mapp.

The advice, from the Chief of Defence Force (CDF), was reviewed after the recent investigation into detainees undertaken by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

  • Wayne Mapp
  • Defence

British Prime Minister David Cameron will visit New Zealand next week, Prime Minister John Key announced today.

“I am delighted to be able to welcome David Cameron to New Zealand. His visit gives us an opportunity to demonstrate the strength and maturity of the relationship between the United Kingdom and New Zealand,” Mr Key said.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Jury trials in central Christchurch will operate from early next year, Minister for Courts Georgina te Heuheu announced today.

A number of modular buildings, known as portacoms, are being used to construct the purpose-designed jury building. The facility will be located near the Christchurch Central Police Station on Cambridge Terrace.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts

The Acting Minister of Energy and Resources, Hekia Parata, today launched a project on the East Coast that will see 2,000 homes in the Gisborne and Tairawhiti region insulated over the next two years.

The $5 million special project extends the Eastland Community Trust’s Healthy Homes project to improve the health and wellbeing of people on the East Coast.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Energy and Resources

A report on released today shows that public prosecution services are generally effective and efficient, but there are opportunities for improvements, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson said today.

The review, by John Spencer, was initiated in March 2011 to determine whether prosecutions brought by public sector agencies could be delivered in a more cost-effective and sustainable manner at the same or higher quality levels.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Transport Minister Steven Joyce says while this year’s road toll is at a record low to date, there is no room for complacency on the roads this long weekend.

To date this year, 220 people have died on the roads.  This time last year the toll was 297.  The rolling 12 month total is 298 which is the first time it has been under 300 since 1952.

Mr Joyce says while the low toll is encouraging, there’s still a lot of work to do to reduce the level of death and injury on our roads.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Communications and Information Technology
  • Transport

Prime Minister John Key today launched the NZ Inc India Strategy at the Cloud in Auckland.

“This is the first of what will be many NZ Inc country and regional strategies that will set ambitious medium term goals and provide a clear direction for the whole of government effort over a five year period,” says Mr Key.

In addition to India, strategies are being developed on China, the US, Australia, South East Asia, Middle East, and the European Union.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

A demonstration project where pharmacists have taken on a greater role in managing patients on the traditional blood thinning drug Warfarin, has resulted in excellent outcomes for patients and high levels of satisfaction.

An independent evaluation of the project, which has been running in 15 community pharmacies across New Zealand, confirmed that management of Warfarin treatment by pharmacists is safe and convenient for patients with heart disease, and could save millions of dollars.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health