Displaying 1 - 24 of 152 results.

A significant Government investment in Immigration New Zealand’s IT system is a further step in increasing immigration’s contribution to the economy, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Dr Coleman today announced the Government is contributing $75 million towards a new IT system.

‘’This IT initiative is a major step up in INZ’s ability to provide timely, responsive and secure immigration services,’’ says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Immigration

Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman says he is shocked by the sudden death of Radio New Zealand journalist Phillip Cottrell over the weekend.

Dr Coleman today offered his condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Cottrell, who died yesterday in Wellington.

‘’Phillip was clearly a well liked person held in high professional regard,’’ says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Broadcasting

Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman represented New Zealand at the fourth Bali Democracy Forum this week.

The two-day Forum in Nusa Dua, Bali, was an opportunity for countries to share their experiences and best practices on democracy with a view to encouraging wider cooperation on strengthening democratic institutions in Asia and the Pacific.

Established by Indonesia in 2008, The Bali Democracy Forum brings together Heads of State and Foreign Ministers from countries across Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Immigration

Forensic mental health services are being boosted by $33 million to improve early intervention and treatment services for youth offenders, Associate Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman announced today.

The funding, spread over four years, will provide mental health, alcohol and drug assessment services for the 4200 young offenders who appear in youth courts each year. This will allow referral to relevant health services as appropriate.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Extending the use of biometrics will strengthen New Zealand’s border security and enable Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to speed up visa application processing, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

‘’Biometrics provides better tools which allow Immigration to confirm an individual’s identity and protect New Zealand’s border,’’ Dr Coleman says.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Immigration

Mental Health Awareness Week is a timely point at which to measure progress in New Zealand mental health services, says Associate Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman.

’’This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme is to connect with family, friends and neighbours to strengthen your support networks. Support networks are vital for preventing people becoming unwell.

‘’It’s also important that New Zealanders can access mental health services, especially at the primary care level so interventions can take place at an early stage.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Today marks one year before New Zealand starts making the full switch to digital television in stages, and viewers who are not already watching digital should start planning their switch now, says Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Hawke’s Bay and West Coast will be the first regions to farewell the old analogue signal on 30 September 2012. In both regions eight out of 10 households have already gone digital.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Broadcasting

Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman today announced the appointment of Susana Lei’ataua to the National Pacific Radio Trust (NPRT) board.

Ms Lei’ataua, a former Fulbright Senior Scholar and visiting scholar at New York University, runs a Wellington-based communications firm. Her board appointment is for three years.

‘’Susana’s journalism experience in radio, television and print, and her wider strategic communications work with both government agencies and NGOs will strengthen the board,’’ says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Broadcasting

Changes announced today to visa processes for screen, entertainment and music industry workers will support the sector’s growth, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

The changes provide a simpler, more streamlined system for the entry of temporary entertainment industry workers into New Zealand.

‘’The existing policy is out-dated. It’s been in place for 20 years and the entertainment industry has grown hugely over that time,’’ says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Immigration

A bill that gives the public assurances about the safety and efficacy of natural health products passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Associate Health Minister Jonathan Coleman.

The Natural Health Products Bill, one of the shared policy initiatives agreed to by the National and Green Parties under a Memorandum of Understanding, gives consumers confidence that the natural health products they buy are safe, and true to label.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

New improvements to the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) website will provide a more streamlined and user-friendly service for customers, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

‘’Immigration is committed to improving its customer service. Given the important role immigration plays in bringing visitors, students, skilled migrants and others to New Zealand, services such as the website need to be responsive to customers’ needs,’’ says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Immigration

Legislation to ensure consumers can have confidence in the quality of natural health products is being tabled in Parliament today, says Associate Health Minister Jonathan Coleman.

The Natural Health Products Bill is one of the shared policy initiatives agreed to by the National and Green Parties under a Memorandum of Understanding.
Dr Coleman says the Bill provides New Zealanders with assurances that the products they buy are safe and true to claim.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

NZ On Air’s Platinum Fund continues to support quality television programming that Kiwis love to watch, says Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Over two million viewers watched four locally-made dramas which screened on TV One’s Sunday drama season recently – Billy, Tangiwai: A Love Story, Bliss and Rage.

The $15 million Platinum Fund was established by the Government in 2009 to support high quality locally-made programming. It took the TVNZ Charter funding and made it available to all producers and free-to-air channels.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Broadcasting

Associate Tourism Minister Jonathan Coleman today welcomed confirmation China Southern Airlines will commence daily flights on its Guangzhou – Auckland route from 1 November 2011.

‘’New Zealand’s tourism sector and economy will get a significant boost with China Southern’s move from thrice-weekly flights to daily flights,’’ Dr Coleman says.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Tourism

Figures released today show that almost 18,000 New Zealanders experiencing depression have registered to use The Journal – a user friendly online tool aimed at managing mild to moderate depression.

The Journal is fronted by former All Black John Kirwan who acts as an online personal coach to help people through a six-week programme. Launched in June 2010, it teaches techniques people can easily use in everyday life to help their own depression from social and physical activities to eating and sleeping well.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman today announced the appointment of Ross McRobie to the board of New Zealand On Air.

Mr McRobie was formerly General Manager of the Radio Network in Christchurch for over a decade.

‘’Ross’s extensive knowledge of radio, business management and his wider business interests will add a useful perspective to the board,’’ says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Broadcasting

Free-to-air high definition digital television, also known as Freeview|HD, is now available to an additional 160,000 homes in time for the Rugby World Cup, Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman announced today.

The existing digital terrestrial television (DTT) service has now been extended to homes in Whangarei, Rotorua, Gisborne, Taupo, Whanganui, New Plymouth, Wairarapa, Nelson, Timaru and Invercargill.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Broadcasting

A new joint Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and Tourism New Zealand office in Shanghai is an important development in facilitating Chinese visitors to New Zealand, says Immigration Minister and Associate Tourism Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Dr Coleman says it signals the Government's response to meeting demand from one of New Zealand's fastest growing tourist markets which is worth around $365 million a year.

"We are seeing more tourists and business visitors from China," says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Immigration
  • Tourism

Religious communities across New Zealand will benefit from changes giving religious workers a pathway to residence, Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman announced today.

‘’This new policy provides a path to residency for religious workers as well as an updated temporary work visa for shorter stays. Previously there was no residence option available to religious workers, so some communities were having trouble filling positions long-term, ‘’ Dr Coleman says.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Immigration

The dual mandate which shackled Television New Zealand (TVNZ) has been removed following the third reading of the Television New Zealand Amendment Bill tonight, says Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman.

‘’The Bill replaces the current TVNZ charter with a less prescriptive list of functions and leaves the state broadcaster free to concentrate on being a successful television company without the constraints of an unrealistic dual mandate,’’ Dr Coleman says.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Broadcasting

Efforts are being stepped up to support quake-stricken Cantabrians with more resources being channelled into mental health services, says Associate Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman.

Extended GP consultations, increased counselling support and a new specialist earthquake response team has been established to help people cope with the on-going effects of the series of major earthquakes and aftershocks in the region.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health
  • Earthquake Recovery

Dementia sufferers and older people with mental health and addiction problems will benefit from new guidelines for treatment services says Associate Minister of Health Jonathan Coleman.

The national guidelines, released today, aim to improve access to services and provide consistency in service delivery across all District Health Boards and aged care providers.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman today announced the appointment of Barrie Saunders to the board of Television New Zealand.

Mr Saunders, a co-founder of Wellington government relations firm Saunders Unsworth, has been appointed for three years.

‘’Barrie’s knowledge of New Zealand’s economic landscape is extensive and his business experience and ability to deal with a wide range of issues are good attributes for the board,’’ Dr Coleman says.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Broadcasting

Cabinet has given the green light for work to commence on a new natural health products regulator, Associate Health Minister Jonathan Coleman confirmed today.

The natural health products regulator is one of the shared policy initiatives agreed to by the National and Green Parties under a Memorandum of Understanding.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health