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Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson has announced an $850,000 Government approved fund for Land Information New Zealand's re-establishment of critical surveying information in Canterbury following the 4 September earthquake.

Mr Williamson says Canterbury's landscape has changed significantly since the earthquake.

Customs Minister Maurice Williamson says the New Zealand Customs Service is celebrating 170 years of protecting our borders and being the nations "Guardians at the Gate."

Mr Williamson says the Customs Service is New Zealand's oldest government department and this milestone is an important piece of history for New Zealand.

"The history of Customs mirrors the history of New Zealand and I am proud to celebrate the important work Customs does in protecting our communities.

Cabinet has agreed to a change to the postal deed so that postal workers can have a four day Christmas break each year and have Easter Saturday off.

The Minister for Communications and Infor

Environment Minister Nick Smith today welcomed the unanimous support of Parliament for the first reading of the Environmental Protection Authority Bill.

"New Zealand needs an effective Environmental Protection Authority to strengthen and improve our environmental management," Dr Smith said. "This reform is about providing stronger central Government direction on environmental regulation, better efficiency and cost effectiveness and improving the integrity of systems by delegating administration of regulatory functions to an independent Crown entity.

Commerce Minister Simon Power has welcomed changes to a bill which enables greater co-operation between the Commerce Commission and its international counterparts.

Mr Power said the Commerce Commission (International Cooperation and Fees) Bill is particularly important to advancing the Single Economic Market Outcomes Framework announced by the New Zealand and Australian Prime Ministers in August last year.

A bill which completes the amalgamation of New Zealand's electoral agencies passed its first reading in Parliament last night with unanimous support.

The Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No. 2) transfers the functions of the Chief Registrar of Electors to the new Electoral Commission.

It is the second and final stage of the Government's consolidation of electoral agencies. It was introduced after the new Electoral Commission took over the functions of the Chief Electoral Officer and the old Electoral Commission on October 1.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has condemned the shelling by North Korea of the civilian population on an island in South Korea.

"The attack represents a new and dangerous level of aggression by the DPRK regime, coming in the wake of the DPRK attack on the South Korean vessel, the Cheonan," Mr McCully said.

"This is a time for cool heads in order to avoid this clash escalating into a more serious threat to the stability of the region. It is also a time in which the DPRK's neighbours should leave them in no doubt that their actions are unacceptable.

Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson says the passing into law tonight of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill (No 2) and the Holidays Amendment Bill will provide New Zealanders with more opportunities and choice and boost business confidence.

"These two bills improve our employment law framework by promoting greater clarity where required and increasing flexibility and choice for both employers and employees," Ms Wilkinson says.

"This Government is focused on creating jobs and providing the right conditions for economic growth.

Use-of-money interest rates on underpaid and overpaid tax are to change, in line with market rates on which they are based, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

As well as cutting tax in Budget 2010, the Government is working towards making compliance with tax laws easier, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said today.

Associate Minister of Justice Nathan Guy says he is pleased the Real Estate Agents Authority has reduced its levy on agents after consultation with the industry and public.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced his approval for Environment Canterbury Commissioners to place a moratorium on new water takes from the Waiau River and its tributaries. 

New Zealand Commerce Minister Simon Power and Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer David Bradbury today announced cross-appointments between the Australian Competition and Consumer C

The costs of hearing aids for people with a mix of injury and non-injury-related hearing loss are to be apportioned between ACC and Health from 1 January 2011, ACC Minister Nick Smith announced tod

Science and technology ties between New Zealand and France have been reinforced with the re-signing of the Dumont d'Urville programme, says Research, Science and Technology Minister Wayne Mapp.

Standard and Poor's decision to put New Zealand's foreign currency rating on negative outlook highlights the need to reduce our heavy reliance on foreign debt, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Justice Minister Simon Power has welcomed the Electoral Legislation Select Committee's report to Parliament on the Electoral Referendum Bill.

Broad political consensus has emerged to progress new electoral finance laws, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

The Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the appointed members of the 20 District Health Boards, including 10 new chairs and several people serving on more than one board.

The growing number of successful Pacific Island businesses was a sign of the future make up of the New Zealand economy, Pacific Island Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu said at the 25^th

Three high-achieving young Pacific New Zealanders have become the inaugural winners of the Prime Minister's Pacific Youth Awards.

Biosecurity Minister David Carter has tonight welcomed strong support from kiwifruit growers for a government/industry plan to fight Psa disease.

The Government stands ready to offer whatever assistance it can as events unfold at Pike River mine on the West Coast, says the Minister of Energy and Resources, Gerry Brownlee.

Phil Twyford's detective work has once again shown him to be inept in his efforts to paint the new Auckland Council as a failure, Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide said today.