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Environment Minister Amy Adams and Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith have today announced the members of an independent Board of Inquiry to consider a proposal for a new section of highway between Pūhoi and Warkworth.

The proposal was directed to a Board of Inquiry last month by Ms Adams and Dr Smith.

The application by the New Zealand Transport Agency relates to the construction, operation and maintenance of the Pūhoi to Warkworth section of the Ara Tūhono-Pūhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams has today released the final report from Ernst & Young Australia on whether Chorus can deliver on its broadband contracts.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment commissioned Ernst & Young Australia to investigate Chorus’ capability to deliver on its Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) and Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) contractual commitments with the Government, in light of the Commerce Commission’s decisions on final wholesale prices for copper-based broadband services.

Environment Minister Amy Adams and Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith have today announced the appointment of eight board members to the Auckland Unitary Plan hearings panel.

The Auckland Unitary Plan will be the first combined resource management plan for Auckland and will replace the regional policy statement, and the regional and district plans that Auckland Council inherited from the eight former councils of the Auckland region.

The Government is seeking feedback on draft regulations to classify exploratory oil drilling under the EEZ Act, Environment Minister Amy Adams announced today.

The draft regulations propose classifying exploratory drilling for oil and gas as a non-notified discretionary activity.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams has welcomed a new code of practice she had sought that will make it easier for consumers to understand and compare different broadband products.

The code, which comes into effect on 1 March 2014, was developed by the Telecommunications Forum (TCF) in response to a request from Ms Adams for better product information about broadband plans for consumers.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams says the Government has today received a verbal briefing from Ernst & Young Australia on its high level findings on whether Chorus can deliver on its broadband contracts.

Environment Minister Amy Adams has today released a report into a review of the Christchurch City Council’s resource management functions.

Ms Adams asked the Ministry for the Environment to carry out the assessment following International Accreditation New Zealand’s decision to revoke the council’s certification to issue building consents.

The review has found there are a number of minor issues with the council’s consenting function, but these are within the council’s capacity to resolve.

Environment Minister Amy Adams today welcomed the release of a report into the effects of oil pollution on the Bay of Plenty environment, following the Rena grounding.

“While the key findings of scientific monitoring and sampling show that the environment has not yet returned to its pre-Rena state, it is encouraging to see that the environment is recovering,” Ms Adams says.

“The report concludes that the grounding of the Rena should have no long-lasting effects on Bay of Plenty beaches and coastal fisheries.”

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams says public comments from some parliamentary parties that they will not be supporting legislation in regards to copper pricing is not unexpected.

“While we have not sought support for legislation from our support parties, they have indicated to me that legislation was always going to be a challenge, so today’s announcement comes as no surprise,” Ms Adams says.

“For some time the Government has been considering a number of possible non-legislative options.

Environment Minister Amy Adams says David Cunliffe’s so-called secret document has been publicly-available for more than two years.

“David Cunliffe’s shameless scaremongering is ill-informed and smacks of someone desperate for attention.

“The report he refers to has been publicly-available for more than two years. I would have thought as a former ICT Minister and Labour’s current ICT spokesman, he would be able to navigate the internet.

Environment Minister Amy Adams and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy have welcomed a water quality report released today by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

“The report underlines the importance of the Government’s freshwater reform programme, by showing just what could happen with our water quality if we do not have good policy in place to drive more careful and efficient use of our land and water,” Ms Adams says.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams has today announced that the Government intends to auction the remaining 2x5 MHz block of 700 MHz radio spectrum.

Telecom and Vodafone each successfully bid for 2x15 MHz (three lots), while 2degrees successfully bid for 2x10 MHz (two lots) during the first round of the auction last month, leaving one 2x5 MHz block of spectrum unsold.

Environment Minister Amy Adams has today announced the appointment of David McMahon to the Basin Bridge Board of Inquiry.

The Board of Inquiry is considering the New Zealand Transport Agency’s application to construct, operate and maintain a two lane, one-way bridge on the north side of the Basin Reserve.

The proposal is part of the Wellington Northern Corridor Road of National Significance.

Environment Minister Amy Adams and Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith have announced that the New Zealand Transport Agency’s proposal for a new section of highway between Pūhoi and Warkworth will be directed to an independent Board of Inquiry.

The application relates to the construction, operation and maintenance of the Pūhoi to Warkworth section of the Ara Tūhono-Pūhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams has today announced the firm that will undertake an independent assessment of Chorus’ financial position, and released the terms of reference.

Ernst & Young Australia will investigate Chorus’ capability to deliver on its contractual commitments with the Government, in light of the Commerce Commission’s decisions on final wholesale prices for copper-based broadband services.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams has today released the latest quarterly report on the Government’s ultra-fast broadband and rural broadband programmes.

An additional 21,000 end users gained access to fibre over the three months to 30 September 2013.

This means more than 320,000 end users are now able to connect to the Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) network in 26 towns and cities across New Zealand.

Environment Minister Amy Adams today announced the accreditation of two product stewardship schemes that cover the recycling of plastic, aluminium, paper, glass and cardboard packaging.

The Fonterra Milk for Schools product stewardship scheme covers the collection of used packaging generated through its nationwide programme.

The used packaging is processed at Fonterra sites before being sent to international recycling facilities overseas, where it is broken down and used to make products such as roof tiles, books and paper.

Environment Minister Amy Adams and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy have today released proposals for improving freshwater management, including national water standards.

“Ensuring an on-going and reliable supply of healthy water is one of the most important environmental and economic issues facing New Zealand today,” Ms Adams says.

“It is critical that we protect and improve the water quality that we all care so much about.”

Communications and Information Technology Minister has today instructed her officials to commission an independent assessment of Chorus’ financial position and its capability to deliver on its contractual commitments under the Ultra-Fast Broadband and Rural Broadband Initiatives.

Ms Adams has written to Chorus informing the company of her decision.

A Bill that will safeguard public safety and security has passed its third reading in parliament today, Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams says.

Ms Adams says the Telecommunications (Interception Capability and Security) Bill will ensure the legislation remains effective in a rapidly-changing telecommunications environment.

There are two parts to the Bill. The first part relates to obligations for telecommunications companies, and is focused on modernising the existing interception capability regime.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams has today received the Commerce Commission’s final Unbundled Bitstream Access price.

The Commerce Commission today announced a final Unbundled Bitstream Access (UBA) price of $10.92, an increase from the draft price of $8.93.

When added to the current UCLL price, this gives a combined wholesale copper price of $34.44. This compares to the current price of $44.98 and the entry level fibre price of $37.50 to $42.50.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams has today received the Commerce Commission’s final Unbundled Bitstream Access price.

The Commerce Commission today announced a final Unbundled Bitstream Access (UBA) price of $10.92, an increase from the draft price of $8.93.

When added to the current UCLL price, this gives a combined wholesale copper price of $34.44. This compares to the current price of $44.98 and the entry level fibre price of $37.50 to $42.50.

Environment Minister Amy Adams has today launched a campaign aimed at reducing the number of New Zealanders dying from exposure to hazardous substances at work.

The three-year multi-media campaign is designed to awaken New Zealanders to the fact that taking hazardous substances for granted can have deadly consequences.

Environment Minister Amy Adams has today announced that she has decided to prevent damming on the Nevis River in Otago.

Ms Adams says that a dam or diversion on the lower Nevis River would have major negative effects on its wild and scenic qualities, and fishing and kayaking.

“This has been a difficult decision and one that I have given a great deal of thought and consideration.