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Senior Citizens Minister Jo Goodhew says it’s not OK to pressure older family members into giving or lending money to cope with holiday season costs.

“Abuse isn’t just physical, or emotional. We need to be aware of financial abuse, and we need to be aware that family members are often the abusers,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“While many older New Zealanders are happy to help their family members financially, they should never be pressured to hand over money or assets. It’s OK to say ‘no’.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced that the Government has passed new regulations on hand-held high-power laser pointers.

“High-power laser pointers can cause eye injuries, even blindness, and skin burns. ACC accepts around 10 claims a year for these injuries,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“They can also cause temporary flash blindness, which poses a serious risk if the person affected is a pilot or in charge of a vehicle or equipment. The Civil Aviation Authority reports around 100 laser strike incidents on planes each year.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced that a vaccine for rotavirus will be added to the National Immunisation Schedule.

“Rotavirus is a gastric infection which mainly affects children. It causes illness and diarrhoea that can lead to hospital admission. In severe cases, the infection can be fatal,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“It is estimated that by funding this vaccine up to 1200 hospital admissions could be avoided each year.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today commended DHBs for their dedication to patient safety.

“The Quality and Safety Markers released today show progress is being made in the use of interventions and practices known to reduce patient harm caused through falls, healthcare associated infections and surgery,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“Baseline data was released in June 2013 by the Health Quality & Safety Commission, and this is the first quarterly report against those data.”

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today, on Safe Sleep Day, welcomed a decline in sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI).

“In 2012 there were 36 SUDI cases, down from 55 in 2008,” says Mrs Goodhew. The last decade has seen a significant decline in the rate of SUDI.

“Research has found the risk of SUDI can be decreased with safe sleep practices. This includes putting babies to sleep on their back, keeping bedding away from their face and making sure their rooms are smokefree.

Senior Citizens Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced that the New Zealand Artificial Limb Board is changing its name.

“The organisation will now be known as the New Zealand Artificial Limb Service,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“The name change comes after a review found that many people thought the organisation was only an administrative or governing body.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew has today, on International Day of the Volunteer, praised the unpaid workforce who keep our nation going.

“This group freely donate their time and energy to keep our communities running. They are the backbone of our sports and social groups, search and rescue organisations, and the arts and cultural sector,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew today announced the recipients of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowships for 2014.

“I congratulate all the recipients of this year’s Fellowships and wish them successful and productive study trips,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“The Trust aims to help New Zealanders from all walks of life to travel overseas and bring back new insights and understanding that will enrich their community and, ultimately, New Zealand as a whole.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has welcomed the launch of a new website that will make it easier for New Zealanders to find rest home information, including audit reports.

The website www.health.govt.nz/resthomes offers easy-to-access information on more than 650 aged care providers nationwide. This includes the types of rest home care, number of beds and length of time the provider is certified for.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced details of how an additional $3.2 million will be used to support early diagnosis of dementia, and a framework that will guide DHBs on how best to support people with dementia.

“An early diagnosis means a person has more time to communicate their treatment preferences to their family and whānau,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“Early symptoms of dementia can include forgetfulness, struggling for words, changes in thinking or behaviour or difficulty in being able to look after yourself.

Associate Minister of Health Jo Goodhew today welcomed the broadening of reporting of serious adverse events (SAEs) to include some private providers and other non-DHB organisations.

“It is encouraging to see non-DHB providers contributing data for the Health Quality & Safety Commission’s (HQSC) 2012/13 report,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“This is the first time the report has included incidents that have taken place outside DHB hospitals.

The government is investing an extra $1.6 million into getting the healthy eating message out to Waitemata and Central Auckland’s hardest-to-reach new mums and their families.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says local community health groups and Waitemata and Auckland District Health Boards are working together to encourage families, who are not well linked into health services, to access antenatal, postnatal and infant healthcare.

Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew has opened a new photo exhibition at Parliament which showcases women in the construction industry.

“Women are embracing diverse career paths and making a successful contribution in this traditionally male dominated workforce,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“The exhibition creates a photographic montage of 24 women in many construction disciplines.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has welcomed the release of data which highlights the impact influenza can have, and the importance of getting vaccinated against it.

The data has been released by SHIVERS, the Southern Hemisphere Influenza and Vaccine Effectiveness Research and Surveillance. The New Zealand research is being led by the Institute of Environmental Science & Research and funded by the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Associate Minister for Primary Industries, Jo Goodhew has today announced a new commodity levy on all harvested wood material, including logs, from New Zealand plantation forests.

“The Government has agreed to make this new levy order following a successful referendum of forest growers in March 2013,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew today announced the start of a new funding round for the Community Development Scheme. 

“The fund enables groups to employ a community development project worker to help them identify and respond to local issues,” says Mrs Goodhew.

During each funding round, applications for the scheme are invited from community organisations, hapū, and iwi based in specific areas.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew heads for Washington DC today to attend the Commonwealth Fund’s 16th International Symposium on Health Care Policy.

“A major theme of the 2013 symposium is how different health systems are delivering high quality, integrated care for people with chronic conditions,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Along with a number of other health ministers from Europe and North America, Mrs Goodhew will participate in panels and policy roundtable events.

Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew has commended Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) for its inaugural Top Female Trade Student Award.

“This award recognises and celebrates the achievements of the growing number of women taking up trade roles,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“I congratulate Joy Lalahi on winning this award. Ms Lalahi completed her pre-trade electrical training through CPIT’s Pasifika Trades Training programme.

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew welcomes international participants to the 25th session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC) in Rotorua today.

“APFC meets every two years. New Zealand is chairing this session and will retain this role until the next meeting in 2015,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“It has been 50 years since the last session was last held in New Zealand, and the Government is privileged to host this event once again.

Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector Jo Goodhew has today acknowledged the important role volunteer managers play in volunteer organisations.

“Today marks International Day for Volunteer Managers. This day recognises the great work of managers of volunteers and thanks them for leading volunteers in our communities across the country,” Mrs Goodhew says.

The international theme for Volunteer Managers Day 2013 is ‘connecting and inspiring’.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew today announced details on how a $20 million funding boost will help older New Zealanders stay in their own homes longer.

“A review of district health boards supply contracts for home care support prices found considerable variation across the country,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“This additional funding will help address those differences by lifting the contract prices at those DHBs that were found to be paying below the national average.

Senior Citizens Minister Jo Goodhew is pleased to announce that Auckland’s over 65s will now be able to access SuperGold information in other languages.

“We want more of our older people to take advantage of the benefits this card has to offer”, says Mrs Goodhew.

“The information has been translated into Chinese (simplified and traditional), Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Korean, Samoan and Tongan which were identified as Auckland’s largest ethnic groups.”

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced an extra $9 million to support rural general practices over the next four years.

"This new investment is on top of the $13 million a year already earmarked for rural general practice support. The objective is to help general practices better retain clinical staff and services,” says Mrs Goodhew. 

“This additional funding will take effect from 1 July 2014 when a new way of allocating rural funding will be rolled out.

Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew has today congratulated the winners of the Women of Influence Awards, held for the first time last night.

“These awards are about identifying bold, energetic women who are helping to shape the spirit and future of New Zealand,” says Mrs Goodhew.

The awards recognise 50 influential women across five categories – management and business, local and regional, entrepreneur, community service and social enterprise, and innovation and science.