Displaying 1 - 24 of 140 results.

New Zealand warmly welcomes Indonesia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), Disarmament Minister Georgina te Heuheu said today.

“New Zealand is a longstanding supporter of the CTBT, and we congratulate Indonesia for its leadership on this important global issue.”

First opened for signature in 1996, the CTBT will put into place a binding and verifiable ban on all nuclear test explosions worldwide once it enters into force.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Disarmament and Arms Control

Manukau District Court will be extended and improved as part of a wider programme to ensure the Ministry of Justice’s front-line services are well equipped for the future, Minister for Courts Georgina te Heuheu announced today.

“Recent justice sector initiatives are allowing better use of existing resources and reducing the need to invest so much in properties in the region,” Mrs te Heuheu says.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts

Court Registrars and court staff across Christchurch and Canterbury had given extraordinary service to ensure the continuity of justice services for Christchurch following the February 22nd earthquake, Courts Minister Georgina te Heuheu said today.

Mrs te Heuheu made the comments as she visited courthouses at Timaru, Ashburton and Rangiora to talk with staff and thank them for their work since the earthquake.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts

Having overdue fines and reparation may soon impact people’s ability to get credit as the government approves the implementation of the Credit Check of Fines initiative, Minister for Courts Georgina te Heuheu announced today.

The initiative allows credit agencies, such as hire purchase providers and banks, access to information about overdue fines and reparation that they can then take into account when making credit and lending decisions.  It was enabled by the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill, which was passed in July this year.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts

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 Government has agreed to establish a Drug Court pilot in Auckland to deal with offenders with severe alcohol and drug dependencies, Justice Minister Simon Power and Courts Minister Georgina te Heuheu announced today.

The Law Commission’s review of the Misuse of Drugs Act recommended the Government consider establishing a Drug Court pilot subject to a full analysis of the likely cost-effectiveness and availability of funding.

  • Simon Power
  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts
  • Justice

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.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts

The opening of McLean House at the Tauranga District Court signals the Government's commitment to ensuring court buildings keep pace with 21st century needs and ensuring access to justice, Courts Minister Georgina te Heuheu said today.

"Tauranga is one of the busiest courts in the country, based on the volume of business transacted in the courts here," Mrs te Heuheu says.

"It is ranked sixth by volume of cases and this is primarily a reflection of the growing population in the Western Bay of Plenty.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts

Four Māori Affairs Bills have passed their third and final readings in Parliament today, making a range of important changes to legislation affecting Māori, says Associate Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Georgina te Heuheu.

“The changes within the Māori Purposes Bill, the Māori Fisheries Amendment Bill, the Māori Trust Boards Amendment Bill, and Te Ture Whenua Māori Amendment Bill, will lead directly to improvements for Māori.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Maori Affairs

Civil court fees are to be reviewed to ensure they are set fairly and consistently across the range of civil jurisdictions, Minister for Courts Georgina te Heuheu said today.

“There are over 200 individual civil fees with multiple guidelines and as a result, fees have tended to be set in an ad hoc and piecemeal manner. The review will ensure a consistent framework for fee setting in jurisdictions that the Ministry of Justice has responsibilities for,” Mrs te Heuheu says.

“This will ensure that fees are set in a principled, consistent and equitable way.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson, Justice Minister Simon Power and Courts Minister Georgina Te Heuheu have all expressed their shock and sorrow at the death of Chief Judge Russell Johnson, who led the District Court for the last six years.

  • Simon Power
  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Attorney-General
  • Courts
  • Justice

Young Pacific people with talent, leadership skills and passion should be finalising their applications for this year’s Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards, the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Georgina te Heuheu said.

Parents, friends and peers are also being encouraged to think about 17-24 year-olds they know who fit the criteria, and to shoulder-tap them to apply. Applications for this year’s awards close on Monday July 4.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Pacific Island Affairs

Acknowledging the importance of elders as integral to strong families and communities was just one of the key messages raised by the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, Georgina te Heuheu at a Pacific event marking World Elder Abuse and Awareness Day.

Mrs te Heuheu was acknowledging the work of TOA Pacific Incorporated of Auckland, provider of services to older Pacific people for up to 15 years, mainly in Auckland and Manukau.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Pacific Island Affairs

Palmerston North Court will be the first of six additional courts to operate a baggage x-ray machine during security screening, further improving the safety of court users, Minister for Courts Georgina te Heuheu QSO announced today.

The baggage x-ray facility will be operational in Palmerston North District Court from 13 June. The remaining five baggage x-rays will be installed at Whangarei District Court, New Plymouth District Court, Napier District Court, Wellington High Court, and Wellington District Court, and will be in place by the end of this year.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts

Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman and Pacific Island Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu today welcomed the opening of the new Pacific Media Network studio in Wellington, and in collaboration with Whitireia Journalism School.

The studio expands the Pacific Radio Network with Niu FM now broadcasting across the Wellington region.

‘’Niu FM’s foray into the Capital increases the reach of Pacific language programming and news to Pacific communities which helps many people stay connected with their culture and identity,’’ Dr Coleman says.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Broadcasting
  • Pacific Island Affairs

From modest beginnings some four years ago, Samoan Language Week has not only grown into a prominent fixture in the national calendar of important events, but it has also gone global says the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, Georgina te Heuheu

Mrs te Heuheu was referring to the myriad of events being staged around New Zealand this week, as well as the entry of Samoan communities in the USA and Australia into New Zealand’s celebrations.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Pacific Island Affairs

Some three months after the Christchurch earthquake, strong leadership and commitment from Ministry of Justice staff together with unique arrangements have been central to the Ministry’s earthquake response in keeping the courts and wider justice services running, says Minister for Courts, Georgina te Heuheu.

The Minister was in Christchurch today to view first hand some of the services, and to personally thank staff for their efforts in helping to maintain public confidence in the region’s justice services.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts

Pacific Island Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu is calling on young Pacific people to apply for the Prime Minister's Pacific Youth Awards, which recognise creativity, leadership, innovation and inspiration.

"I'm asking them to put aside any shyness and put themselves forward for these important awards.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Pacific Island Affairs

National Member of Parliament, Georgina te Heuheu, today announced her decision to retire from politics at the end of the current term.

"Now is a good time to go. The National Party is in good heart. It has strong leadership. The National Government has outlined a credible programme for New Zealand's future, and it's now time for family and friends.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts
  • Disarmament and Arms Control
  • Maori Affairs
  • Pacific Island Affairs

More than 200 Pacific scholarships are being awarded at this year's Pacific Health Workforce Awards in Auckland.

"To have so many successful candidates of such outstanding calibre is very good news for overall Pacific health outcomes," says Pacific Island Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu.

This year 203 Pacific students in medicine, nursing, oral health, midwifery and the allied health areas of physiotherapy and social work are receiving awards at the annual Pacific Health Workforce Awards

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Pacific Island Affairs

New Zealand warmly welcomes US President Obama’s decision to seek Senate consent to ratify the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty protocols, Disarmament Minister Georgina te Heuheu said today.

“This is a very pleasing development. US ratification, if approved by the Senate, would further strengthen the South Pacific’s status as a nuclear-weapon-free zone.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Disarmament and Arms Control

Courts Minister Georgina te Heuheu and Justice Minister Simon Power today welcomed improvements made by a public awareness programme to increase juror attendance rates.

The programme features ordinary New Zealanders, committed to making a contribution to their community by attending jury service, in a series of posters which are currently being run in community and mainstream papers, as well as on Stuff and TradeMe as website message boards.

  • Simon Power
  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts
  • Justice

Pacific people in Christchurch, while hard-hit by the February earthquake, are being well-supported in their efforts to recover, Pacific Island Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu says.

Mrs te Heuheu is today visiting some badly damaged sites in the eastern suburbs - home to many of the city’s 12,000 Pacific people.

“I am interested to see how well services are being accessed,” said Mrs te Heuheu.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Pacific Island Affairs

Ministry of Justice staff working from a temporary office facility in Christchurch are helping to improve the delivery of essential justice services, Minister for Courts, Georgina te Heuheu said today.

  • Georgina te Heuheu
  • Courts
  • Earthquake Recovery