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Findings from the Rules Reduction Taskforce show real opportunities for both central and local government to make life easier for New Zealanders, Local Government Minister Paula Bennett says.

‘The loopy rules report: New Zealanders tell their stories’ is being released by the Government today following 50 public meetings and close to 2,000 submissions.

An overseas company’s application to purchase Lochinver Station has been declined because the benefits to New Zealand are not substantial and identifiable, Ministers Paula Bennett and Louise Upston say.

Pure 100 Farm Ltd, a subsidiary of China-based Shanghai Pengxin, applied to the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) last year to buy the 13,800 ha farm near Taupo for $88 million.

Hawke’s Bay residents’ decision to keep their current local government structures shows the value of letting communities decide, Local Government Minister Paula Bennett says.

It was announced today that voters in the Hawke’s Bay have chosen not to amalgamate the Napier, Hastings, Wairoa, Central Hawke’s Bay and Hawke’s Bay regional councils.

“I have consistently said that it is up for communities to decide what they want local democracy to look like in their towns and cities,” Mrs Bennett says.

Eight new properties being opened today show the importance community organisations play in housing vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Productivity Commission’s latest report on social services in New Zealand will be a valued input into the Government’s ongoing programme of public sector reform, Finance Minister Bill English and State Services Minister Paula Bennett say.

The Commission found there are significant opportunities to improve the support given to the most vulnerable New Zealanders.

“The Government agrees with the Commission’s analysis of the weakness in our current social delivery systems,” Mr English says.

Associate Finance Minister Paula Bennett leaves today to visit Indonesia and the Philippines for a range of meetings promoting strong regional ties in Asia and the Pacific.

In Indonesia, the Minister will be guest of honour at the NZ-ASEAN 40th Anniversary Awards event where she will present awards to seven Indonesians who have significantly contributed to deepening New Zealand’s relationship with Indonesia and the ASEAN region. 

Ensuring housing developed on Crown land in Auckland includes provision for social housing will ensure more vulnerable New Zealanders can get access to warm, modern properties, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says. 

Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith announced today that the Crown land Development Programme will proceed at pace and the intention is that 20 per cent of homes developed will be new social housing.

Campaigns promoting New Zealand as an outstanding visitor destination reached more than 1.2 billion people globally last year, Associate Minister of Tourism Paula Bennett says.

Tourism New Zealand’s international PR and media efforts resulted in more than 22,000 stories about New Zealand generated over the year to June 2015.

“This is the equivalent of around 60 stories a day in our key target markets and has supported the achievement of three million annual arrivals, announced last week,” says Mrs Bennett.

Big increases in South Island’s tourist numbers are contributing to strong regional growth rates, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

Mrs Bennett is in Dunedin and Christchurch today speaking with tourism operators and students about the opportunities and challenges faced by the sector.

“New Zealand’s economy is more diverse and resilient because of the growth we’re seeing in sectors like tourism, and the South Island is experiencing some particularly impressive results,” says Mrs Bennett.

Housing New Zealand’s maintenance programme is making its properties warmer and healthier for vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Upgrades have been completed at 2,869 properties since June. Just in the past week, maintenance teams have completed 761 responsive repairs, and 131 minor capital works which include things like upgrading insulation.

“Improvements to Housing New Zealand’s properties are making a real difference to the lives of those who most need our help,” says Mrs Bennett.

Impressive growth in tourist guest nights has benefits for the wider economy, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The June 2015 Accommodation Survey shows national guest nights were 5.3 per cent higher than the year to June 2014, and this was the fifteenth consecutive monthly increase.

“Tourism operators I meet throughout New Zealand tell me about the positive growth they are experiencing, and these figures are a clear reflection of that,” Mrs Bennett says.

Putting citizens at the centre of policy and using information to deliver results will be key themes of a Trans-Tasman conference on Government, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

Mrs Bennett travels to Melbourne today to attend The Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) Annual Conference, where she will be a keynote speaker.

“I’m pleased to have the opportunity to offer New Zealand’s perspective on the Conference’s theme of Government engagement with the public in the information age,” says Mrs Bennett.

Vulnerable young people needing a supportive and stable living environment will benefit from a new accommodation service, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Supported Accommodation for Youth will see up to 21 young people aged 16-19, who are on the social housing register, housed for as long as they need it.

Improving the focus on supporting vulnerable New Zealanders’ individual needs has led to more people getting access to social housing, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

The June 2015 Social Housing Register quarterly figures, released today, show the number of applications on the register has decreased by 1,299 from the June 2014 quarter to 4,541 – a 22% decrease.

A new online training module will help ensure visiting drivers stay safe on New Zealand roads, Ministers Paula Bennett and Craig Foss say.

Driving in New Zealand provides overseas travel agents with information about New Zealand road rules and conditions.

“Tourism New Zealand has cleverly packaged together all the relevant safety information, in seven languages, and is offering it free of charge to any overseas travel retailers,” Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

Greater collaboration and strategic thinking by the public sector is delivering real benefits for the public, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

Close to 400 public servants from across New Zealand attended the 2015 Deloitte Fujitsu Public Service Excellence Awards in Wellington last night.

“I was thrilled to be able to celebrate with all the winners, and recognise the talented and hard-working New Zealanders who have dedicated themselves to providing outstanding public services for their communities,” Mrs Bennett says.

Local Government Minister Paula Bennett and Transport Minister Simon Bridges are clarifying the power that local councils and other road controlling authorities (RCAs) have to set speed limits through their bylaws.

The Land Transport (Speed Limits Validation and Other Matters) Bill will be introduced and passed through all stages today, retrospectively confirming that local councils and RCAs, such as the NZ Transport Agency, have the legal power to set speed limits.

More young people are achieving higher qualifications, welfare dependency continues to fall and Kiwis are doing more of their government transactions digitally, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and State Services Minister Paula Bennett say.

The Government today published the latest update of progress against the ten challenging targets set three years ago by the Prime Minister.

Tax provisions to ensure community housing providers can continue to offer housing support to New Zealanders will give the sector the certainty it needs to keep growing, Ministers Paula Bennett and Todd McClay say.

“Some community housing providers risk losing their charitable status by supporting people into home ownership,” Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

“We are of the view these providers give invaluable service and as such we want to ensure they are not worse off financially,” Mrs Bennett says.

New appointments to the Local Government Commission will continue to foster strong and effective local democracy, Local Government Minister Paula Bennett says.

Sir Wira Gardiner has been appointed as Chair, and Mr Leigh Auton has been appointed as a member. They join Commissioner Janie Annear, who has been reappointed. The appointments are for a three year term, commencing 1 August 2015.

Strategic thinking about property needs for Government agencies in Wellington will deliver savings for taxpayers, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Property Management Centre of Expertise (PMCoE) today moves into the second phase of the Wellington Accommodation Project – Tranche Two (WAP2).

“WAP2 outlines a plan to optimise leased office space in Wellington so that agencies can continue to deliver outstanding public services and save taxpayer dollars,” Mrs Bennett says.

The pace of the Government’s rebuild and repair of social housing in Christchurch continues to progress at top gear, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Housing New Zealand (HNZ) has now repaired more than 4,000 of its quake-damaged properties. With this achievement, HNZ enters the final phase of its earthquake recovery programme that will see up to 5,000 earthquake-damaged homes repaired by the end of 2015.

Announcements today on local government reorganisation applications place communities firmly at the heart of decisions about their own local democracy, Local Government Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Local Government Commission (LGC) announced it would not proceed with draft proposals in Wellington and Northland, and would return to those communities to work with them on options for change.

“I have heard these communities say they are up for change, just not in the shape of the initial reorganisation proposals,” says Mrs Bennett.

An establishment board will be formed to assess whether local government’s management of the risks from natural hazards to infrastructure and other assets can be strengthened.

The $1.6 million initiative will be jointly funded by the Crown and Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), Local Government Minister Paula Bennett and Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye say.