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Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew has focused on the increasing number of women entering trades as she officially opened Adult Learners’ Week, He Tangata Mātauranga.

Adult Learners’ Week was established in 1998 to raise the profile of adult learning and to celebrate the successes and achievements of those participating in Adult and Community Education.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says Wellingtonians will be delighted that after nearly a century in the making, work on the long-awaited Transmission Gully road is now officially underway.

Mr Brownlee today joined Prime Minister John Key and United Future leader and Ohariu MP Peter Dunne, other local dignitaries and officials, in turning the first sod on the 27 kilometre four-lane highway, which is the first roading Public Private Partnership (PPP) in New Zealand’s history.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is welcoming the establishment of New Zealand’s third Children’s Team, in the Horowhenua and Ōtaki region.

“The Team will be officially launched tomorrow and I’m delighted the communities of Foxton, Levin, Shannon and Ōtaki have succeeded in getting up and running so quickly to implement a new approach to child protection in their area,” says Mrs Bennett.

Five new marine reserves were officially opened today by Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith on the West Coast of the South Island to protect a range of marine ecosystems for conservation, science and recreation.

“These five new marine reserves on the West Coast effective from today are part of the Government’s plan to improve New Zealand’s marine conservation. We are a nation with some of the most spectacular and unique coastlines in the world and we need to recognise the importance and value of these marine habitats,” Dr Smith says.

The Government is providing $60,000 from the Community Conservation Partnership Fund to the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust to support its work in removing wilding conifer in the Abel Tasman Park and translocating the saddleback (tieke) to the Park's Adele Island, Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.

“Abel Tasman is a globally recognised National Park and the enhancement enabled by these grants will make it an even better place for visitors to enjoy some of the best our great outdoors has to offer,” Dr Smith says.

The Crown, Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust (PNBST) and Wellington City Council today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) intended to ensure the heritage of the historically important Watts Peninsula, or Te Motu Kairangi, is protected, preserved and developed with sensitivity, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Watts Peninsula is the prominent northern end of Miramar Peninsula.

The Ministry of Health is investing $3 million to expand the roll out of patient portals and allow more people to securely access their health information online.

Health Minister Tony Ryall was due to make the announcement at the Practice Managers and Administrators Association Conference in Rotorua today.

“Patient portals are secure online sites which allow New Zealanders to access their personal health information and manage aspects of their health care,” says Mr Ryall.

Prime Minister John Key today announced the establishment of a Government Inquiry into allegations regarding Hon Judith Collins and a former Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Adam Feeley.

“I have determined that a full and proper Government Inquiry with full powers of inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2013 is the most appropriate course of action.”

Former High Court Judge Hon Lester Chisholm will conduct the inquiry.

The regulation of engineers is to be strengthened to ensure they have the right knowledge, skills and competence to design safe buildings and to hold them more accountable for substandard work, Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.

“We need to improve the occupational regulation of engineers involved in the design and construction of buildings and to increase the consequences for those found to be incompetent,” Dr Smith says.

Minister responsible for the Earthquake Commission (EQC) Gerry Brownlee says the fourth anniversary of the first Canterbury Earthquake has coincided with the reaching of two significant milestones by the organisation.

“First, the Canterbury Home Repair Programme (CHRP) has reached $2 billion in net payments to contractors since the repair of earthquake damage began in the city in October 2010.

“Second, the programme has just completed its 60,000^th full-scope repair, leaving just under 10,000 repairs to go.

The Government is investing more than $22 million in the redevelopment of four schools across North Canterbury, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says.

“The funding will be used to expand and upgrade Oxford Area School, Rangiora Borough School, Ashgrove School and Southbrook School as part of the Government’s ongoing investment to ensure that schools have buildings fit for purpose and that provide safe and inspiring modern learning environments,” Ms Kaye says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced that New Zealand will contribute a five person team to the Multinational Observer Group for the Fiji election.

“New Zealand is strongly supportive of Fiji’s election preparations and return to democratic rule,” Mr McCully says.

“The Multinational Observer Group will help give the international community, and the people of Fiji, confidence in the outcome of the election.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says the addition of two cash detector dogs at the border, Rajax and Xaria, will increase Customs’ capability to stop illegal movements of money.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today launched the Sustainable Seas Ko Ngā Moana Whakauka National Science Challenge and confirmed initial funding of $31.3 million over five years.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has announced a 10-week window will apply to the Trans-Tasman visa agreement for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

“From 26 January to 5 April 2015, cricket fans and other visitors to Australia and New Zealand will only need to apply for one visa under a new Trans-Tasman Visa Arrangement,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Prime Minister John Key today announced the Government will contribute $2 million to Stadium Southland, fulfilling an undertaking he made when he officially opened the rebuilt facility in May this year.

“When I opened the stadium earlier this year, I said the Government would be prepared to help the Southland community with a contribution to reduce the rebuilt stadium’s funding shortfall,” Mr Key says.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced a new National Intestinal Failure service, costing $1 million over three years, will be established to improve the quality of care for patients suffering with intestinal failure.

Intestinal failure is a serious condition that affects a patient’s ability to keep up adequate nutrition. It is estimated there are around 300 New Zealanders who require long term intestinal care. 

The Government has announced a new initiative to develop better housing and urban environments as part of its programme of National Science Challenges.

Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities – Ko ngā wā kāinga hei whakamāhorahora was one of the areas identified by the National Science Challenges Panel in 2013 where science has the potential to significantly benefit New Zealand. This is the eleventh National Science Challenge to be announced by the Government.

The Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities Challenge will deliver:

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will host his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, for a working visit to New Zealand from 4-5 September.

“China is an important partner for New Zealand, and the visit by Foreign Minister Wang Yi is an opportunity to expand our cooperation regionally and internationally,” Mr McCully says.

“Our trade with China continues to grow. New Zealand’s annual merchandise exports to China are now over $11.5 billion – an increase of $3.5 billion in the past twelve months.

The history of the legendary 28^th Māori Battalion will be further preserved as part of a project to record the histories of the Battalion’s A, B and D companies, says Education Minister Hekia Parata.

New Zealanders are getting more immunisations, checks for diabetes and heart diseases and more help to quit smoking says Health Minister Tony Ryall.

“Primary health organisations (PHOs) are making great strides in preventing long term illness and helping New Zealanders live longer, healthier lives,” says Mr Ryall.

The latest National Primary Care target results shows:

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has today announced a programme of change to how the government delivers its support for recovery in Christchurch and the surrounding area.

“Greater Christchurch’s recovery from the earthquakes remains a top priority for the Government,” Mr Brownlee says.

“But as the recovery evolves, so too will the role of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA), and we need to plan for transition and longer term governance.

Prime Minister John Key today announced further details on the inquiry into matters concerning former Minister Judith Collins.

“As I indicated yesterday, I intend to appoint a Government Inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2013 to investigate allegations that Ms Collins undermined the then Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Adam Feeley, during her time as Minister of Police with responsibility for the Serious Fraud Office,” Mr Key says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand is deeply concerned at the announcement by Israel’s Civil Administration Authority that they will appropriate 400 hectares of privately owned Palestinian land near Bethlehem for Israeli settlements.

“Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem undermine efforts to negotiate a final status agreement with the Palestinians based on a two state solution,” Mr McCully says.