Search

Prime Minister John Key has announced the election of National’s new senior whip and junior whip following the National Party Caucus this morning.

Mr Key says the new senior whip will be List MP Michael Woodhouse, who is from Dunedin.

He will replace Chris Tremain, who is now a Minister outside Cabinet.

The junior whip will be MP for Taupo, Louise Upston.

She replaces Jo Goodhew, who is also now a Minister outside Cabinet.

The fourth Indicators and Progress report for the Government’s Tackling Methamphetamine Action Plan shows government agencies’ work is continuing to contain the growth of methamphetamine (‘P’) supply networks, Prime Minister John Key announced today.

“This initiative has been in place for two-and-a-half years, and we can see that efforts to crack down on those who are importing, manufacturing and selling P and its precursors are working,” says Mr Key.

Trade Minister Tim Groser is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr David Walker as New Zealand’s new Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Lead Negotiator.

New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Japan will be career diplomat Mark Sinclair, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully announced today.

"The special relationship between Japan and New Zealand was most evident this year as we came to each other's aid following major disasters," Mr McCully said.

“This appointment comes at an important time in our relationship with our two countries celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2012.

Following a Cabinet decision today a further 1600 homes in the Port Hills area in Christchurch have been rezoned from the white to green zone.

Affected homeowners will be able to clarify their new zoning from tomorrow by visiting www.landcheck.org.nz

A statement will be made by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) when the information has been updated on the Landcheck website, and letters to those residents affected will be mailed to them by CERA tomorrow.

Trade Minister Tim Groser has led a call at the WTO’s 8th Ministerial Conference in Geneva for urgent action to protect global fish stocks. New Zealand is coordinating a group of countries that includes Argentina, Australia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, Peru and the United States.

Prime Minister John Key has welcomed the Norwegian Government’s decision to work with the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust on the Cape Adare preservation project.

Following a bilateral meeting with Mr Key today, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has announced his Government will provide NZD$900,000 to preserve the two huts of Norwegian explorer Carsten Borchgrevink on Cape Adare in the Ross Dependency.

Police Minister Anne Tolley has praised Gisborne and Hawkes Bay Police following successful raids on gang-related properties in Gisborne.

Armed offenders squads targeted major suppliers of methamphetamine in the city, with searches of seven properties uncovering:

Primary Industries Minister David Carter has asked for an independent review of the rules and processes controlling the importation of kiwifruit pollen following new information on how the vine disease Psa may have entered the country.

“I have asked the Director-General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to commission a review of current pollen importing permits, how they were developed, the decision-making around them and whether any changes are needed in future,” says Mr Carter.

IAG's agreement to purchase AMI Insurance, announced today, will strengthen the Canterbury insurance market and reduce the Crown's liability, Finance Minister Bill English says.

As part of the deal, the Crown will take over ownership of AMI Insurance’s Canterbury earthquake related claims.

"The part of AMI dealing with earthquake claims – along with its reinsurance for those events - will be retained as a new Crown company and will continue to manage AMI's customers' earthquake claims," Mr English says.

New all-of-Government contracts for air travel and external legal services will save the Government $178 million over the next six to seven years, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce announced today.

The new contracts include all public sector agencies, councils and up to 2500 schools.

“The contracts we are announcing today will mean we have achieved a total saving to the Government of $293 million from the six contracts that have been completed to date in the Government Procurement Reform Programme,” Mr Joyce says.

The Government has confirmed the next steps in its mixed ownership programme to offer New Zealanders minority shareholdings in four state-owned energy companies and Air New Zealand.

Cabinet has agreed that Mighty River Power should be the first company prepared for an initial public offering (IPO), most likely in the third quarter of 2012, subject to market conditions, Finance Minister Bill English and State Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall said today.

Civil Defence Minister, Chris Tremain, together with Nelson MP, Nick Smith, is this morning visiting Nelson in response to the floods that hit the region over the last 24 hours.

"I want to assess the damage firsthand, ensure Civil Defence is appropriately responding, and identify any ways that Government can further assist the region to protect life and property," said Mr Tremain.

Prime Minister John Key has welcomed the news of a planned visit to New Zealand by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall next year.

“I am pleased New Zealand will be able host the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations,” says Mr Key.

“Prince Charles, heir to the throne, will be visiting New Zealand on the Queen’s behalf.”

Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United States call for responsible behaviour in Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary

The Governments of Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United States jointly condemn any actions that imperil human life in the Southern Ocean.

We are deeply concerned that confrontations in the Southern Ocean will eventually lead to injury or loss of life among protestors, many of whom may be nationals of our countries, and whaling crews.