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The settlement of legal action by the Ministry of Education against two New Zealand subsidiaries of James Hardie over weather-tightness of school buildings is good news for the future of New Zealand schools, says Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

“This settlement represents a win-win situation for both parties and I’m very pleased to see it reached,” Ms Kaye says.

The Ministry and James Hardie have agreed to a settlement that includes mutually beneficial terms to the supply of certain James Hardie products.

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye said today that the Ministry of Education’s Infrastructure Service team has been shortlisted for a global risk management award.

The London-based Institute of Risk Management, with members in over 100 countries, has shortlisted the Ministry of Education in the category of Delivering Value through Risk Management.

“I congratulate the Ministry on being short-listed for the Global Risk Awards 2014,” says Ms Parata.

Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye today announced national guidelines for Volunteer Coordination in CDEM (civil defence emergency management) which provide advice to 16 regional CDEM groups.

“Volunteers provide valuable support to civil defence and are vital links to and within communities,” Ms Kaye says.

Formal, tertiary-level training is being developed for the country’s more than 180 civil defence controllers, Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye said today.

“When I have visited Civil Defence Emergency Management groups around New Zealand they have all raised with me their desire to have formalised training,” Ms Kaye says.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye today released the report on the first stage of the Government Inquiry into the Whey Protein Concentrate Contamination Incident and said the Government accepts in principle all 29 recommendations.

“This part of the inquiry focused on our dairy food safety system and we are pleased to confirm it found the whey protein concentrate (WPC) incident in August this year (2013) was not the result of any failure in the regulatory system,” Mr Guy says.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye have received the first of two reports from the Government’s inquiry into the whey protein concentrate contamination incident. The report is on Parts B and C of the inquiry.

Ministers will now consider the report on Parts B and C and its recommendations. The report will be released along with the Government’s response within the next two weeks.

Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye today presented the first civil defence identification tags for disability assist dogs.

“This nationwide initiative means that in an emergency, the tags will make it easy for certified disability assist dogs to be identified and remain with their owners or, if they become separated, to be quickly reunited,” Ms Kaye says.

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced Massey Primary in Auckland is the first to connect to the Network for Learning (N4L) managed network.

“Today we are celebrating a significant day for New Zealand schools, as Massey Primary is the first to take advantage of the $211 million that this Government is investing in the managed network,’’ Ms Parata says.

Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye today announced that 47 projects will benefit from the Ministry of Youth Development’s Youth Fund 2014 totalling $200,000.

“I am pleased to be announcing that 47 projects will be supporting young people to engage in and contribute to their communities. This is a great way for these young people to develop skills and knowledge in decision-making and leadership,” Ms Kaye says.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced that Murupara Area School would be included in the Government’s major school development funding initiative.

“While detailed costs are yet to be finalised, at least $10 million will be committed to redevelop and extend the Murupara school site to upgrade infrastructure, remediate facilities and accommodate an extended roll and curriculum,” Ms Kaye says.

State Services Minister Jonathan Coleman and Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye say civil defence emergency management will be strengthened by transferring the agency to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC).

“We are shaping our government agencies so they can deliver better services to New Zealanders out in the community when they most need it,” says Dr Coleman.

Schools with ultra-fast broadband will soon be able to share their fibre connections with their local communities, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye said today.

“In communities with poor connectivity, typically rural or remote areas, schools will be able to make their fibre infrastructure available to the wider community,” Ms Kaye says.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye will travel to the United States today to attend Google’s first Global Education Symposium.

The symposium will be held at Google’s California headquarters. It will be attended by 40 education leaders including Ministers, Secretaries of Education and senior officials from Malaysia, India, Brazil, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and the United States.

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced major property redevelopments for Freemans Bay School and Southern Cross Campus in Auckland.

“We know that great teaching and learning goes on in our schools, but having modern learning environments just makes the whole process of raising achievement for all our young people that much easier,” says Ms Parata.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye today announced research has been commissioned to assess New Zealand consumer understanding and the impact of nutrition labelling on food.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye welcomes a food safety agreement signed today between New Zealand and China to strengthen cooperation in food safety and food quality. 

The Food Safety Cooperation Arrangement between the Ministry for Primary Industries(MPI) and the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) was signed today in Wellington by the Chinese Vice Minister, Liu Peizhi and MPI Deputy Director General Carol Barnao.

Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye today announced $28,500 funding to help send 12 young environmental leaders to the Auckland Islands on a Young Blake Expedition programme.

“I am allocating this grant to the Sir Peter Blake Trust to enable these young leaders to go on the expedition to the beautiful and remote sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands in February 2014,” Ms Kaye says.

“The participants will help draft a feasibility study for the establishment of a research station.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced 57 Christchurch schools are set to get their wireless network upgraded as part of the national Schools Network Upgrade Project (SNUP). 

“From next year, these schools will be able to make full use of ultra-fast broadband with entire campus coverage through the upgrade of their wireless network,” Ms Kaye says.

“These upgrades will provide tailored, appropriate solutions to ensure the best long-term value for each school.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says ground-breaking research released today by the Ministry of Education has found timber-framed classrooms are extremely resilient to earthquakes.

“This is good news for the education budget because we will not have to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on earthquake strengthening these buildings,” Ms Kaye says.

“The research has confirmed these buildings are safe and resilient in quakes. This means that we can focus on modernising buildings to provide better learning environments.

Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye today announced $60,000 funding to deliver mentoring opportunities for up to 50 for young people with disabilities.

“I am allocating a total of $60,000 over the next three years to the YES Disability Resource Centre,” Ms Kaye says.

“This is to assist the Carabiner youth mentoring programme which matches young people with disabilities, aged 17 to 24, with a volunteer mentor.

Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye says good planning has helped in the response to the state of local emergency that was lifted at 2.30pm today.

“The Horizons District Council has done excellent work predicting river levels from rain within the catchment areas,” Ms Kaye says.

“This allowed the Wanganui District Council to declare a state of local emergency at 3.30pm on Tuesday to ensure evacuations could take place before the Whanganui River reached its predicted peak.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced the first 21 schools in New Zealand to sign agreements with Network for Learning (N4L) to connect to its managed network.

“The first three to be connected by December and take advantage of Government funding for a managed network package are West Auckland’s Massey Primary School, South Canterbury’s Waimate High School and Wanaka’s Mt Aspiring College,” Ms Kaye says.

“There are 18 other schools to be connected by the end of the year.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced a change in how schools can use their capital funding to support building bicycle or fitness tracks at schools.

“We know that cycle tracks have numerous benefits, including helping to develop safe cycling habits and building up confidence and fitness,” Ms Kaye says. “I want to make it easy for schools that want to promote exercise to engage students in lifelong healthy habits that also help with their learning.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye are welcoming Martyn Dunne CNZM as the new Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

“Mr Dunne has an outstanding record of service in the military, the public service and as a diplomat,” says Mr Guy.

“His appointment signals a fresh start for MPI. I look forward to working with him on important issues like biosecurity and doubling our exports by 2025.”