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Expressing ourselves through language will be the focus of a gathering of academics, policymakers and speakers of different languages this week, Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

Lining up Language: Navigating Policy and Programmes is hosted by the Office of Ethnic Communities and will be held over two days at Te Papa in Wellington from Thursday.

The conference aims to foster discussion about the range of government policies and initiatives designed to promote the use and learning of languages in an increasingly multicultural New Zealand.

This year’s Race Relations Day gives all New Zealanders the chance to contribute to positive race relations and human rights, Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-liga says.

The theme this year is Big Change Starts Small. “We can all do our part, no matter how small, to ensure that New Zealanders of every ethnic background are treated with respect,” Mr Lotu-liga says.

A huge increase in prisoner education aims to help prisoners get jobs on release and reduce their risk of reoffending.

Educational achievement is important to help prisoners take part in and benefit from employment, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.

“We know that prisoners who can hold down a job on release are far less likely to commit crimes. That’s good for them and their families and helps make our communities safer,” says Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

Minister for Pacific Peoples Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has offered his sympathy and support to Pacific Island nations in the wake of the destruction Cyclone Pam has wrought.

“My heart goes out to all those who have been affected. Cyclone Pam has caused deaths and destroyed many homes and much infrastructure,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

“My prayers, thoughts and love go to the people of Vanuatu, including those who live in New Zealand and have family and friends back home.
 

People serving community-based sentences or on bail will think twice before reoffending while using alcohol or drugs with the introduction of a bill that allows them to be tested, Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

The Drug and Alcohol Testing of Community-based Offenders and Bailees Bill will enable Police and Corrections to require certain community-based offenders and people on bail to undergo alcohol or drug testing.

Minister for Ethnic Communities Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has welcomed a new report which details the overwhelmingly positive influence Auckland’s increasing Asian population is having on the city.

The “Asian Auckland: The Multiple Meanings of Diversity” report by the Asia New Zealand Foundation has revealed the increasing diversity of Auckland’s Asian communities.

The report calls Auckland one of the world’s “super-diverse” cities, a name Mr Lotu-Iiga says ushers in an exciting new era for the city.

Kia orana, Mālo ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Talofa lava, Mālō e lelei, Ni sa bula, Fakatalofa atu, Namaste and Kia ora

New Zealand’s diversity will be showcased in 2015, with seven Pacific cultures celebrated in language weeks throughout the year, Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

“These language weeks celebrate our strong links to the Pacific and the rich contribution we make to New Zealand’s culture,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

Greater alignment with New Zealand’s ethnic communities is the focus of a change in the government agency that works to promote the benefit of ethnic diversity.

From today, the Office of Ethnic Affairs will be known as the Office of Ethnic Communities, a change that follows the renaming of the ministerial portfolio from Ethnic Affairs to Ethnic Communities after last year’s general election.      

Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga today confirmed that the government will give $200,000 over three years to ASB Polyfest to ensure the event’s financial future.

Polyfest is the annual Auckland secondary schools Pacific cultural festival. It attracts around 9000 students and up to 100,000 spectators each year.

The Chinese Year of the Sheep will be celebrated this evening at Parliament at an event hosted by Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

Prime Minister John Key will also join around 200 people at the evening function where they will be welcomed with a traditional lion dance.

“Chinese New Year gives us an opportunity to take stock, to celebrate our achievements and set goals.  It is a time to lay the foundations for a brighter and more prosperous future,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has welcomed news that the project to install audio visual links (AVL) in prisons is complete.

This means many prisoners can appear in court without leaving prison.

“Using AVL technology for prisoners’ court appearances improves safety for the public, judges, court and Corrections staff who may be at risk from violent prisoners,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

Working-age Pacific people recorded the largest fall in work-ready jobseeker numbers over the last year, new statistics show.

The number of work-ready Pacific people receiving Jobseeker Support fell by 6.9% in the year to December, down by 404 to 5,485.

“This is good news for our Pacific community,” said Minister for Pacific Peoples Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga. “People exit the benefit system for a wide range of reasons, but the main one is because they are starting a job.”

A record number of calls to essential services have been made by non-English speakers using the government’s interpreting service Language Line, says Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

Nearly 55,000 phone calls to Language Line were made by people who speak little or no English to communicate with government agencies, health providers, banks, insurance companies and utilities companies in 2013/14.

Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga welcomes the New Year’s Honours awarded to people who have served the Pacific community.

“My congratulations go to this year's worthy recipients,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga.  “Service to family and the community is one of the core Pacific values. These outstanding individuals have worked for decades to serve and help their communities.”

This year’s recipients include:

MNZM
Ben Taufua, Auckland, for services to the Pacific community.

Ethnic Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga congratulates the recipients of New Year’s Honours who have served their ethnic communities.

"These outstanding people have worked tirelessly to support their respective communities,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga. “Their efforts help ensure that people of diverse cultures maintain their own heritage while joining the wider New Zealand community.”

This year’s recipients include:

ONZM

The more than 800kg of tobacco and cigarettes left at the border since 1 November is a further step towards reducing the damage caused by smoking, say Customs Minister Nicky Wagner and Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has announced that full audit reports for all rest homes will be published online from today in a more reader-friendly format.

This follows a year long trial in which 574 full audits were published on the Ministry of Health website.

“The trial has shown the benefit of having the full reports available and publishing will now continue in an improved format,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga. “I am delighted that we have been able to achieve our aim of having these comprehensive reports available by the end of 2014.

Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has welcomed the announcement of successful applicants to deliver Pacific programmes for TVNZ.

TVNZ today named its preferred independent companies to produce Māori and Pacific programmes. These include a new company employing current TVNZ staff as the preferred applicant for long-running Tagata Pasifika and Tiki Lounge for Fresh.

“I congratulate the successful bidders who have taken this opportunity to showcase Pacific talent,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has congratulated a group of young ethnic New Zealanders who have completed a programme aimed at building future public sector leaders.

Fifty-five young people from 24 different ethnic groups completed the Young Leaders Programme this year and many have already gained jobs in government departments.

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says the 10 year anniversary of the passing of the Smoke-free Environments Act is a good opportunity to look forward to further gains in tobacco control.

Mr Lotu-Iiga will today host an event in Parliament to mark the 10th anniversary of the law which bans smoking in bars, clubs, casinos, restaurants, and school buildings and grounds. It also banned the display of tobacco products at point of sale and increased the power of judges to punish retailers caught repeatedly selling tobacco to minors.

Five outstanding young Pacific New Zealanders have taken out this year’s Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards, which is an initiative recognising high achievement among young leaders.

“I congratulate all the winners of the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards,” says Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga. “These hugely talented young people have the potential to contribute significantly to the future of our nation.”

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga say a collection of short films will help raise awareness about rheumatic fever.

“Rheumatic fever is a serious disease which starts with a sore throat and can lead to lifelong heart, joint, skin and nerve problems,” says Dr Coleman.

“The Government has set a target of reducing the rates of rheumatic fever by two-thirds by 2017. To achieve this we have invested more than $65 million over six years to fight the disease.

Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga welcomed the passing of a Bill which will help protect New Zealanders from sexual and violent offenders in the community who are at high risk of re-offending.

The Parole (Extended Supervision Orders) Amendment Bill had its third and final reading in Parliament today and passed with unanimous support from all political parties.

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga welcomes a health report which shows more smokers have quit and fewer people have started smoking.

The New Zealand Health Survey: 2012/2013 Tobacco Use report showed smoking had declined from 1996/97 when 25% of the adult population were smokers to 18% by 2012/13.

The largest decrease was for 15-19 year olds. For this age group, smoking decreased by 36% between 2006/07 and 2012/13.