Search

New research released today by the World Bank and Waikato University shows the Government’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme is producing positive spin-offs for Tonga and Vanuatu.

RSE, which supplies migrant workers for the local horticulture and viticulture industry when New Zealanders are not available for work, improved per capita income for Pacific households with RSE workers by almost 40 percent.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Phil Heatley has today acknowledged the key contribution of Honorary Fishery Officers to the sustainability of New Zealand’s fisheries.

Mr Heatley says it is particularly appropriate to thank fisheries volunteers for their work with World Volunteer Day coming up this weekend (5 December).

"Honorary Fishery Officers are a key part of the Ministry’s work throughout the country," Mr Heatley said.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Phil Heatley has today welcomed the opening of a new Ministry of Fisheries office at Kaikoura.

Mr Heatley says the office, to be staffed by two full-time employees and five volunteers, is a significant boost to the Ministry’s presence and capacity in an area where outdoor activity, including fishing, is increasing.

"The new office is opening just in time for the busy summer season," Mr Heatley said.

From next year the NZ Qualifications Authority (NZQA) will assume direct responsibility for quality assurance of Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics, taking the role from ITPNZ which has had the responsibility through ITPQ since 1993.

The Minister for Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, says the change has come about as a result of discussions with the ITP sector about the international trend towards independent quality assurance for both public and private providers.

ITPNZ has voluntarily returned the delegation for quality assurance to NZQA.

Commerce Minister Simon Power today announced the reappointment of Mike Willing as a member and vice-chair of the governing board of the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ).

JAS-ANZ is responsible for overseeing a joint accreditation system that ensures safety and quality, and underpins environmental management schemes. As a trans-Tasman organisation, JAS-ANZ strengthens trade between New Zealand, Australia and other countries.

Health Minister Tony Ryall today announced that Dr Tom Marshall is replacing Dr Virginia Hope on the National Health Board. Dr Hope has recently been appointed chair of both the Hutt Valley and Capital and Coast District Health Boards.

That is the only change on the Board, which is chaired by Dr Murray Horn.

The membership of the National Health Board is Dr Murray Horn, Ms Mary Gordon, Mr Hayden Wano, Mrs Marion Guy, Mr Rob Cooper, Dr Bev O'Keefe, Dr Margaret Wilsher, Dr Jeff Brown, Dr Tom Marshall, Dr Des Gorman, and Dr Murray Milner.

Cabinet has accepted a proposal that will see the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) and Tairawhiti Polytechnic merge as of 1 January 2011.

Tertiary Education Steven Joyce says the new institution – which will be one of New Zealand’s largest - is an exciting opportunity for the Hawkes’ Bay and Gisborne.

“The merger will create one institution with a strong base to support and expand vocational education and skills development across the East Coast.

Civil Defence Minister John Carter will present the Ministerial Awards for Civil Defence Emergency Management in Hastings tonight.

The awards were introduced by Mr Carter in October 2009 to recognise career and volunteer personnel with the New Zealand Civil Defence sector.

“Emergencies will happen to communities – we don’t know when or where, but we know that they will strike. Civil Defence volunteers play an integral and extremely important part in responding to events” says Mr Carter.

Agriculture Minister David Carter has announced that the use of sow stalls on New Zealand pig farms is to be limited to four weeks after mating in 2012, and prohibited by the end of 2015.

Mr Carter has today released the Animal Welfare (Pigs) Code of Welfare 2010 which will come into effect on Friday.

“The growing unease of many New Zealanders about the use of sow stalls, which I share, made it clear that change was necessary. The science also supports this,” says Mr Carter.

Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia has welcomed a photographic exhibition in Parliament showing the experiences of disabled people and their families in other countries.

The Access for All exhibition will be on display in Parliament’s foyer until Monday December 13 and has been organised by CBM, an international disability and development organisation working to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

Commerce Minister Simon Power has released a discussion document aimed at making investing in KiwiSaver easier to understand for everyday investors.

The discussion paper outlines proposals that require retail KiwiSaver providers to report quarterly on key investment information, including:

Prime Minister John Key has asked that all of New Zealand observes two minutes’ silence at 2pm tomorrow as the Pike River Official Remembrance Service begins.

The service, to remember the 29 men who lost their lives in the Pike River Mine, will be held at the Omoto Racecourse in Greymouth.

Mr Key says, “I hope all of New Zealand will join with those of us at the service and observe two minutes’ silence at 2pm. This tragedy has affected all of us and tomorrow is an opportunity to join together in grief.”

New Zealand and Hong Kong have concluded a double tax agreement, Finance Minister Bill English and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

Mr English and Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary John Tsang signed the agreement in Auckland.

"This agreement is an important step forward in strengthening our economic relationship with Hong Kong,” Mr English said.

Earthquake recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed today's release of the Earthquake Commission's Stage 2 geotechnical report into land damage caused by the Canterbury earthquake.

"This report gives Canterbury homeowners more information and certainty around the repair process," Mr Brownlee says.

"For the majority of property owners, the recovery process is relatively straightforward and the repair process can start now."

Minister for International Climate Change Negotiations, Tim Groser, will travel to Cancun, Mexico, from December 1-14 to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s annual conference. This will be the first full meeting at Ministerial level since the Copenhagen Climate Change meeting in December last year.

At Cancun, Mr Groser will play a key role in the negotiations as a facilitator on the issues of mitigation and measurement, reporting and verification.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia is urging New Zealanders to treat people living with HIV and AIDS with dignity and respect.

Today is World AIDS Day and the theme is Universal Access and Human Rights.

“HIV and AIDS can affect anyone at anytime and it is important to remember that this disease knows no social, ethnic or economic barriers,” says Mrs Turia.

“By promoting individual human rights new infections can be prevented and people with HIV and AIDS can live free of discrimination.”

Trade Minister Tim Groser today announced that the New Zealand – Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEP) would enter into force on 1 January 2011.

“I am pleased to confirm that Hong Kong and New Zealand have both completed the necessary legislative measures, and the CEP will enter into force from January next year,” said Mr Groser.

The announcement follows today’s meeting between Mr Groser and Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang in Auckland.

Justice Minister Simon Power today officially opened the Papakura-Pukekohe Public Defence Service. 

The PDS provides an in-house legal aid service, through the use of salaried staff rather than contracted lawyers.

“The opening of this PDS branch is significant because it marks the completion of the PDS rollout to the Auckland region,” Mr Power said.

New data suggests New Zealand could be getting better economic value out of its freshwater, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

Dr Smith today released the findings of a Ministry for the Environment report on freshwater allocation consents at the Hawke’s Bay Water Symposium. The Water Allocation Data 2009-10 report finds most regions use less than 50% of the water allowed to be taken under resource consent. Southland (74%) and Canterbury (57%) have the highest percentages of actual use.

Nine of New Zealand’s brightest executives and managers have been awarded a Prime Minister’s Business Scholarship to study at a leading international institution, Prime Minister John Key announced today.

Mr Key says the recipients will bring back invaluable skills and experience to New Zealand.

The Minister for Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, has today confirmed the initial operating rules for the recently established New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF), which he says will provide more meaningful information for students and employers.

Mr Joyce says the changes announced today follow a review which found that the New Zealand qualifications system at certificate and diploma level had become complex and difficult to understand for both learners and employers.

A national campaign to promote the switch to digital television was launched today by Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman.

The Going Digital campaign provides a website, www.goingdigital.co.nz and a free-phone helpline, 0800 838 800, so people can get the information and advice they need about switching to digital TV.

The Government announced in September that New Zealand will make the switch, region by region, to digital television by November 2013, beginning with Hawke’s Bay and the West Coast in September 2012.

Mr Peter Marshall has been appointed as the Commissioner of Police, Police Minister Judith Collins announced today.

Mr Marshall has been the Commissioner of Police, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force since May 2008. He was seconded from the New Zealand Police to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force in February 2007.

Mr Marshall has held a wide range of command and operational positions in the New Zealand Police.

Minister of Trade Tim Groser has welcomed the ruling of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Appellate Body, which has found in New Zealand’s favour in the Australia – Apples case.

“The appeal report upholds the thorough analysis undertaken by the WTO dispute Panel around risk assessment and the science at issue. These findings – reached by independent external arbiters – settle any debate. This is good news for New Zealand apple exporters,” said Mr Groser.