Displaying 1 - 24 of 68 results.

Budget 2016 is investing $19m over four years in modernising and transforming Customs’ workforce model, Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says.

“Air passenger volumes are forecast to increase by 21% between 2015 and 2020. Trade volumes are forecast to grow by 30% for the same period. We need to ensure that Customs is ready for this growth.”

  • Nicky Wagner
  • Customs
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 provides an extra $15.2 million of operating funding over the next four years for the Commerce Commission to better protect consumers and promote competition, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

“The extra funding means the Commission can actively enforce our recently reformed consumer and credit laws, which gave them more tools and powers to protect consumers from unscrupulous business practices,” Mr Goldsmith says. 

  • Paul Goldsmith
  • Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Budget 2016

Justice Minister Amy Adams says a funding boost of almost $300,000 a year will help the Independent Police Conduct Authority to better address complaints as it faces an increased workload.

“The $1.2 million funding over the next four years will ensure the IPCA can successfully deal with the caseload of complaints which have been growing steadily in recent years,” Ms Adams says.

More than 2500 complaints were received in 2014/15 – an increase of 15 per cent on the previous year.

  • Amy Adams
  • Justice
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 will support the implementation of a new Customs and Excise Act to ensure that systems and processes are in place to maximise the benefits says Customs Minister Nicky Wagner.

“The Government is investing $8.2 million to ensure the effective delivery of a modernised Customs and Excise Act and supporting regulations by developing systems, processes and services to accommodate the changes,” Ms Wagner says.

  • Nicky Wagner
  • Customs
  • Budget 2016

The 2016 Budget invests an additional $4.6 million over four years into FTA (Free Trade Agreement) implementation.

Trade Minister McClay says this new investment will support New Zealand businesses in extracting full value from New Zealand’s network of FTA Agreements.

“New Zealand currently has FTAs with economies that account for more than half our trade. This will increase to 70 per cent once the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) enters into force. 

  • Todd McClay
  • Trade
  • Budget 2016

Whānau Ora will receive a $40 million boost of operating funding over the next four years, allowing it to substantially increase the number of whānau it can support, Māori Development and Whānau Ora Minister Te Ururoa Flavell says.

Budget 2016 also includes $4 million to provide microfinance to whānau and $5 million to go toward increasing Māori electoral participation.

  • Te Ururoa Flavell
  • Whanau Ora
  • Maori Development
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 provides $14.2 million to support the establishment of the new Māori Land Service, which is a key element of the current reform of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993.

The $8 million of operating funding over two years, plus $6.2 million of capital, will be used to engage with Māori landowners and others in the design and establishment of the new Māori Land Service, Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell says.

  • Te Ururoa Flavell
  • Maori Development
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 provides $34.6 million of operating funding over four years to support the revitalisation of te reo Māori across key Māori language initiatives.

The new funding provides all New Zealanders with access to more te reo Māori - a great advance for the Māori language, Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell says.

“The funding will enable whānau, hapū and iwi to play a greater leadership role in the design and planning of initiatives that makes a real difference to the revitalisation of the Māori language,” Mr Flavell says.

  • Te Ururoa Flavell
  • Maori Development
  • Budget 2016

Three major arts organisations will receive a funding boost in Budget 2016, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO), Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) and Te Matatini Kapa Haka Aotearoa will share $11.6 million of new operating funding over the next four years – a permanent increase of $2.9 million a year for the arts.

  • Maggie Barry
  • Budget 2016
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Additional investment in early childhood education, children with special needs, and new schools and classrooms takes annual education spending above $11 billion for the first time, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

“Education is the key to the future and this investment, at a time of low inflation, demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to raising achievement for all our kids,” Ms Parata says.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 will increase the tax on tobacco by 10 per cent on 1 January each year for the next four years, Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga and Māori Party Co-leader Marama Fox say.

“Raising the price of tobacco is the single most powerful tool to reduce smoking.  All smokers will face the price rises. The more they smoke, the more they pay. The more they pay, the greater the incentive to quit,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

  • Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
  • Health
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 will allocate $6.4 million of new operating funding over four years for Pacific peoples initiatives, Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

Funding for Vote Pacific Peoples is at its highest level with $9.9 million allocated in 2016/17, up 25 per cent since 2008/09.

The largest funding increase, $4.6 million over four years, is being allocated to Pacific Employment Support Services (PESS) to help young Pacific people in Auckland find and keep a job or find education or training opportunities.

  • Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
  • Pacific Peoples
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 invests $503 million of new operating funding over the next four years and $354 million of new capital funding for Inland Revenue’s new tax administration system, Revenue Minister Michael Woodhouse says.

“It is important that our tax system keeps pace with changes in New Zealanders’ expectations and changing business models,” Mr Woodhouse says.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Revenue
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 will help ensure New Zealanders are better prepared for natural disasters by providing an extra $6.1 million of operating funding over the next four years and $63,000 of new capital funding for the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM), Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye says.

“This is a significant investment for a small agency, which currently has 42 staff and overall baseline funding of around $11 million. The investment is expected to enable MCDEM to increase its staff to around 52,” Ms Kaye says.

  • Nikki Kaye
  • Civil Defence
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 establishes a two-year trial to streamline border processing for low-risk travellers and traders, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Customs Minister Nicky Wagner say.

“The Government is investing $1.6 million of operating funding over two years to make it easier for low-risk travellers to visit New Zealand, and $2.8 million operating funding over two years to speed up clearance of low risk goods across the border,” Mr Guy says.

  • Nicky Wagner
  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries
  • Customs
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 provides $16 million of new operating funding over four years to tackle wilding conifers, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry say.

“These invasive trees are a major threat to our ecosystems, land and farms. They spread fast and are very hard to eradicate once established,” Mr Guy says.

  • Maggie Barry
  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries
  • Conservation
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 confirms $69.8 million of new operating funding over the next four years to help eradicate bovine tuberculosis, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says.

“We’ve made great progress in tackling this destructive disease. This new funding will help achieve our goals of eradicating bovine TB from cattle and deer by 2026, and from TB-infected wildlife in New Zealand by 2055,” Mr Guy says.

“The amended TB Plan is a fundamental shift in approach – from containing the disease to active eradication in livestock and wildlife.

  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to preventing and reducing crime, with Police receiving an extra $299.2 million primarily for pay increases, Police Minister Judith Collins says.

“Since June 2011 the crime rate has fallen by 16 per cent, resulting in over 53,000 fewer crimes. Police are continuing to deliver good outcomes for New Zealanders,” Ms Collins says.

  • Judith Collins
  • Police
  • Budget 2016

New operating funding of $355.6 million over the next four years will ensure that Corrections can cope with a rising prison population, maintain public safety and reduce reoffending, Corrections Minister Judith Collins says.

Despite progress in reducing crime and improving public safety, the number of prisoners has increased faster than expected. The prison population exceeded 9,400 in April and is forecast to reach 9,800 by December this year.

  • Judith Collins
  • Corrections
  • Budget 2016

Housing development on surplus Crown land in Auckland is receiving a $100 million boost in Budget 2016, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

“This capital funding will add momentum to the programme of using public land for increasing the supply of housing. The programme’s goal is to increase the pace of housing development and to put a greater focus on bringing more affordable housing to the market.

  • Nick Smith
  • Building and Housing
  • Budget 2016

A new fund of $100 million of operating funding over 10 years will support initiatives to clean up New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and aquifers, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

“There are significant costs for councils and landowners in meeting the Government’s new national standards for freshwater. This new contestable fund of $100 million will help communities improve water quality standards.”

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 includes $4.2 million of operating funding over four years to support more low-income families access low and no-interest loans as part of the Community Finance partnership, Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says.

“This is a positive example of the Government working closely with the private sector and NGOs to support low-income earners avoid crippling debt caused by finance options with hidden fees and high interest,” Mrs Tolley says.

  • Anne Tolley
  • Social Development
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 invests $111.5 million of operating funding over four years to support more New Zealanders, especially young people, to get off benefits and gain sustainable employment, Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says.

“Building on the success of the Government’s welfare reforms, we are sharpening the focus on New Zealanders at highest risk of remaining on a benefit long-term, so they and their families can thrive and lead successful lives,” Mrs Tolley says.

  • Anne Tolley
  • Social Development
  • Budget 2016

Budget 2016 delivers extra support to students who need it most, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

“In line with our strategy of directing extra funding to where it is most needed, we are putting an additional $42.1 million of operating funding over the next four years into services for students with special needs,” Ms Parata says.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education
  • Budget 2016