Displaying 1 - 24 of 40 results.

The Minister of Civil Defence, Chris Tremain, travelled to Christchurch yesterday to work with volunteers in the Student Army.

“I just wanted to spend the day working beside the volunteers, and take the opportunity to thank them for their outstanding contribution,” Mr Tremain said.

  • Chris Tremain
  • Civil Defence

It will be frightening and disheartening for the people of Christchurch and Canterbury to be experiencing even more earthquakes of such a magnitude, particularly this close to the holiday season, says Prime Minister John Key.

His comments follow two new aftershocks this afternoon, one a magnitude 5.8 at 1.58pm, and a second strong earthquake at 3.19pm.

“My heart goes out to the people of Christchurch and Canterbury at this time,” says Mr Key.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

The Honourable Justice Robert Chambers has been appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Chambers graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 1975, and in 1978 gained a doctorate from the University of Oxford. He commenced practice as a barrister sole in 1981 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court in 1999 and a Judge of the Court of Appeal in 2004.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

New Zealand has secured oil reserves for 2012 that ensure the country will continue to meet its international obligations, Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley announced today.

“As a member of the International Energy Agency, New Zealand is required to hold 90-days of stock of the previous year’s net oil imports,” says Mr Heatley.

“New Zealand's total 90-day obligation for 2012 is 1.1 million tonnes. The majority of these reserves are commercial stocks held by companies in the oil and gas sector,” says Mr Heatley.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Energy and Resources

The Honourable Justice Douglas White has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice White, a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington, joined Young Bennett & Co after a stint working for the Law Commission in London. He later became a partner of that firm and then Young Swan Morison McKay (now Kensington Swan). He commenced practice as a barrister in 1986 and was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1988. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court, based in Auckland, in 2009.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

The New Zealand Government will contribute $500,000 to the relief efforts of the Philippines Red Cross, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully announced today.

The Philippines Red Cross is providing urgent humanitarian assistance to people affected by Typhoon Washi. Typhoon Washi struck the Mindanao region in southern Philippines in mid December, killing more than 1000 people and displacing 285,000. Estimates suggest 470,000 people have been affected.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

The Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita Sharples, is inviting contributions for designs for tukutuku panels that will enhance the New Zealand Wall in the United Nations Headquarters General Assembly building in New York.

While at the UN Headquarters in 2010, Hon Dr Sharples identified an opportunity to both demonstrate New Zealand’s long-term commitment to the UN, while showcasing the unique cultural identity of Māori as tangata whenua, the indigenous people of Aotearoa.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

As New Zealanders look forward to their Christmas holidays, water safety organisations are joining ACC Minister Judith Collins in urging people to stay safe in and around water this summer.

”This year 117 people have drowned already. This is 30 more than the total drowning toll last year of 87,” says Ms Collins.

“New Zealand’s drowning toll has been falling over the last 20 years, but sadly this has not continued this year leaving more than 100 families grieving the loss of a loved one.

  • Judith Collins
  • ACC

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee is urging road users to do their bit to be safe on the roads these holidays.

“We are currently on target for one of the lowest annual road tolls in 50 years. More lives are being saved and injuries prevented but every road user must continue to take personal responsibility on the roads to stay safe,” Mr Brownlee said.

“The NZ Transport Agency and Police will be working hard to keep the traffic flowing and help to make your trip a safe one.

“I urge road users to work with them and drive responsibly.”

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

The Government has given Canterbury District Health Board the go ahead to develop a business case for rebuilding the city's hospitals.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the 'modified greenfield' option being considered involves rebuilding most of the clinical wards at Christchurch Hospital including a new acute services wing. It also includes a new specialist centre for older peoples' services at Burwood Hospital.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

New guidelines for journalists reporting on suicides have been developed with the media and not imposed on them, and that should be key to their success, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says.

“Media buy-in for such guidelines is crucial. This is the first time that media organisations have agreed to use a single, consistent set of guidelines.

“The fact that these have not been imposed from outside augurs well for their success,” Mr Dunne said in launching the resource today.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Health

Climate Change Minister Nick Smith today announced the Government is banning some international emissions units from New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

"We are banning international units generated from industrial gas destruction projects involving HFC-23 and N2O because we are concerned that they create perverse incentives that may not benefit the environment. This change is about ensuring the environmental integrity of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme," said Dr Smith.

  • Nick Smith
  • Climate Change Issues

Prime Minister John Key has confirmed that the NZSAS deployment to Afghanistan will end as scheduled in March next year – a decision which has been foreshadowed for some time.

“The SAS has achieved the job they were sent to do with Kabul’s Crisis Response Unit (CRU), and they have done that job to the very highest of standards,” says Mr Key.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

The economy posted solid growth in the September quarter, despite considerable global uncertainty, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Statistics New Zealand today confirmed gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.8 per cent in the September quarter. The economy has grown in nine out of the past 10 quarters. GDP grew by 1.9 per cent over the last year.

  • Bill English
  • Finance

Earthquake recovery continues to have widespread impact on court and justice services across New Zealand, Minister for Courts Chester Borrows said today.

A firsthand look inside Christchurch’s main courthouse yesterday provided a valuable insight into the demands of frontline recovery efforts. The Minister visited the main court building in Durham Street, as well as viewing the Family Court on Armagh Street which opened for hearings in mid-November.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Courts

Prime Minister John Key will visit Australia from 27 to 29 January 2012 for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting and a joint meeting of senior Cabinet Ministers.

This will be the second time the Australian and New Zealand Prime Ministers have convened a joint meeting of senior Cabinet Ministers – the first was in 2009.

Mr Key will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and six other Ministers - Steven Joyce, Judith Collins, Tony Ryall, Hekia Parata, Jonathan Coleman and Craig Foss.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today released the Ministerial Inquiry into the abuse of a nine year old girl and other matters relating to the welfare, safety and protection of children in New Zealand.

“The Inquiry focused on a deeply saddening case of appalling abuse and also more broadly at how agencies deal with at risk families and children.”

Today this child’s mother was sentenced to seven and a half years for 25 cases of abuse against her daughter.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Development

Education Minister, Hekia Parata, has today announced her decision to establish a new secondary school, for years 7 to 13, in Kawerau to replace both Kawerau College and Kawerau Intermediate.

The Government last month announced $6 million to establish a new secondary school in Kawerau and invited the Kawerau College and Kawerau Intermediate Boards to provide feedback before a final decision was made.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

Prime Minister John Key has appointed Parliamentary Private Secretaries to assist the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Ethnic Affairs.

John Hayes will be Parliamentary Private Secretary to Murray McCully for Foreign Affairs and Melissa Lee will be Parliamentary Private Secretary to Judith Collins on Ethnic Affairs.

Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPS) are MPs appointed to assist Ministers but, unlike Under-Secretaries, are not part of the Executive. They receive no extra remuneration.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

The Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, has today announced that two Wellington schools, Miramar South and Strathmore Community School, will merge.

“I have carefully considered the information provided to me by the Boards of Trustees, and through the wider community consultation, and believe that creating one large, full primary school will strengthen education and provide stability for children and their families in the area,” says Ms Parata.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

An additional synthetic cannabis substance is in the process of being banned and expected to be off the shelves late next week, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

This brings to 20 the total number of substances now banned under Temporary Class Drug Notices, Mr Dunne said, in noting that it comes days after the head of the National Poisons Centre, Dr Leo Schep, said the centre was no longer receiving calls about synthetic cannabis.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Health

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says work is progressing well on a new stadium at Addington in Christchurch.

The facility will host sports matches and outdoor music events, starting with an early season Crusaders home game.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

The Australian and New Zealand Defence Ministers held talks on the Australia-New Zealand bilateral defence relationship over the weekend.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

The Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, says the consolidation of schooling in Murupara will help strengthen education in the area and raise student achievement levels.

Today’s announcement confirms the establishment of a new year 1-13 area school in Murupara. It will open at the start of the 2013 school year on the site of the Murupara School.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education