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The Government remains committed to halving the budget deficit this year – and again next year – before returning to surplus in 2014/15, Finance Minister Bill English says.

The Crown’s accounts for the year to 30 June 2011 show net expenses of $9.1 billion for the Canterbury earthquake last year made up almost half of the Government’s $18.4 billion operating deficit before gains and losses.

Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson says she is concerned that the Green Party is endorsing misinformation about the impacts of a new Food Bill.

“For some time anonymous agitators have been spreading false information on the internet regarding the Food Bill and despite initially countering their views, Sue Kedgley has now buckled in order to chase their votes because it is an election year.

“Small growers who share or trade their produce with neighbours or who sell direct to consumers have nothing to fear from the new Food Bill.

The Prime Minister and Hon Steven Joyce brief media on the the cargo ship Rena and steps the Government is taking to mitigate the oil spill involved.

The Government has approved a total of $9.4 million in subsidies to improve drinking water supplies in small communities of under 5000 people.

“These subsidies will help 18 territorial local authorities and 11 private supplies to providing safer drinking water for about 22,000 people in small, disadvantaged communities,” Health Minister Tony Ryall said.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson has turned down a recommendation to assign the name Te Kōhua Peak to an unnamed peak located between The Remarkables and Hector Mountains in Central Otago.

The recommendation was made by the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa following a proposal by a member of the public and after an extended public consultation process.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett welcomes the appointment of Murray Edridge as the new head of Family and Community Services.

“Mr Edridge has worked with community organisations for many years and is a well liked and highly respected leader in the sector,” says Ms Bennett.

“He has a big job ahead of him, but his experience, leadership skills and talent will stand him in good stead,” she said.

The Government has asked the Law Commission to review how joint and several liability for defective building work is currently managed, Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson said today.

‘Joint and several’ means that liability is jointly shared between multiple parties, and the payment of damages must be shared by the parties.

Mr Williamson said the Building Act Review includes a review of how liability for defective building work is currently managed, and the Government has now asked the Law Commission to consider this in a wider context.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson is urging people to have their say on a joint discussion document seeking views on limited variations to the Retirement Villages Code of Practice.

The document, Potential variations to the Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008, was released today by the Department of Building and Housing and the Retirement Commission.

Consultation will be open from Monday, 10 October until Monday, 21 November.

Restricted Building Work (RBW) will be introduced from next year, Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson said today.

From 1 March 2012 design and construction work relating to primary structure such as foundations, floor, load-bearing walls and columns, roof work and weathertightness such as exterior cladding and joinery will only be able to be carried out or supervised by licensed building practitioners.

Changes to a production funding scheme will enable more New Zealand feature films to be brought to production over the next two years and will support the sustainability of the local screen industry, says Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Chris Finlayson.

Mr Finlayson announced today that the Qualifying New Zealand Production Expenditure (QNZPE) threshold for feature films to qualify for the Screen Production Incentive Fund (SPIF) has been lowered from $4 million per production to $2.5 million.

The Acting Minister of Energy and Resources, Hekia Parata, today welcomed the launch of a special project that will see the homes of many Pacific Island people in Wellington and Dunedin made warmer and healthier.

The Pacific Peoples Healthier Homes project aims to reduce respiratory illness rates in Pacific Island people, by insulating homes at little cost to the homeowner.

The programme is being run by the Pacific Peoples Wellbeing Trust and is part of Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart, the Government’s insulation and heating programme.

The 49th Parliament passed 293 Government bills, the Acting Leader of the House, Simon Power, said today.

Parliament rose last night for the general election on November 26, and will be dissolved on October 20.

Some 293 Government bills received the Royal assent, and as of today 18 further bills are awaiting assent. The Governor-General will consider those 18 in the coming weeks. Also receiving the Royal assent during the 49th Parliament were two members' bills, two local bills, and five private bills.

A report into approvals of subdivisions in Christchurch and Kaiapoi badly affected by Canterbury's earthquakes has resulted in the Government proposing changes to the Resource Management Act to better manage the risk of natural hazards.

A review will commence in October 2011 on the scope and focus of the Solicitor-General’s role and the operating model of the Crown Law Office, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

“The purpose of the review is to consider all aspects of the roles and functions of the Solicitor-General and determine how these could be discharged most effectively and efficiently, reflecting the constitutional context, and including the organisational support for the role and functions,” Mr Finlayson said.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully, says a New Zealand and Australian airlift operation is starting from today to assist the drought stricken Tuvalu.

A series of RNZAF C130 flights and an RAAF C17 flight will be made over the coming days to deploy a large New Zealand Army desalination unit to Funafuti, Tuvalu.

The Government is satisfied with steps taken by the Law Society to address concerns about the quality of legal aid providers and is not planning to appoint an independent regulator for the profession, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

Dame Margaret Bazley’s report in 2009 into legal aid identified serious problems with the quality of legal services and criticised the Law Society for its over-reliance on complaints as an indicator of lawyers who are failing to perform.

The Acting Minister of Energy and Resources, Hekia Parata, has today announced that three marine energy projects will receive funding as part of the Government’s Marine Energy Deployment Fund.

The projects include a wave energy device for Stewart Island, turbines to generate electricity for the Parnell Baths in Auckland, and funding for a cable to link a wave energy device at Moa Point in Wellington.

“New Zealand has huge potential to generate electricity from marine energy in the future,” says Ms Parata.

Commerce Minister Simon Power and Customs Minister Maurice Williamson today welcomed new powers to help crack down on people who import and sell counterfeit goods.

The Trade Marks Amendment Act and the Copyright Amendment Act, which come into force today, gives new powers to the Ministry of Economic Development and the Customs Service to investigate and prosecute people involved in the manufacture, importation, and sale of illegal goods.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced more than $1 million in funding for six projects across the country and the accreditation of a new product stewardship scheme.

The redeveloped Gisborne Court fitted well with the Government’s aim to bring courts and their processes into the 21st Century, Courts Minister Georgina te Heuheu said today.

“These latest refurbishments bring all of the court’s functions onto one site, creating an integrated court facility that will better meet the needs of the Gisborne and Tairawhiti community,” says Mrs te Heuheu.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has welcomed Parliament's unanimous support for the Sleepover Wages (Settlement) Bill, passed today under urgency.

"This Bill resolves a dispute that dates from 2007 and sets in place a responsible and affordable framework for employers and employees in the health and disability sector," Mr Ryall says.

The Government has moved to open up more land for residential development in Kaiapoi following the announcements in June and August that around 1000 properties in the Waimakariri District had been zoned red because of severe earthquake damage.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee is using his powers under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act to address the impact of noise contours around Christchurch International Airport that could prevent new residential development in parts of Kaiapoi.

Minister for the Environment Nick Smith today announced that The Great TV Take Back campaign netted 28,000 unwanted TVs for recycling – far exceeding the Government’s expectations.

The Great TV Take Back, run by The Warehouse and supported by the Government’s Waste Minimisation Fund, invited New Zealanders to drop off old TVs in store for free recycling. The TVs collected will be recycled by companies with sound recycling credentials and monitored by the Ministry for the Environment.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce has today welcomed the signing by Auckland Transport of a purchase contract for 57 new electric trains just weeks after the government sealed a rail funding and ownership deal with the region.

“This is another key milestone on our way to delivering a real step change in commuter rail travel in the region,” he says.

“We are on track for these new electric trains to start coming into service from the end of 2013.”