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Auckland-based produce company Fresh Direct Ltd has been awarded the first of the Government’s new Technology Transfer Vouchers, Minister of Research, Science and Technology Wayne Mapp announced today.

Fresh Direct will use the $190,000 investment to work with Industrial Research Ltd to develop a new portable machine that will help process vegetables on the farm.

Communications and Information Technology Minister, Steven Joyce, announced today that three of the five Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) proposals received on 12 November had been short-listed.

The three short-listed proposals are: Torotoro Waea, FX Networks/OpenGate and Telecom/Vodafone.

“The short-listed proposals demonstrate that they merit further evaluation based on an their plans to deliver the RBI objectives and provide open access to government-subsidised infrastructure,” says Mr Joyce.

Education Minister Anne Tolley says the findings of an international study by the OECD show that more needs to be done to lift achievement for all New Zealand students.

The 2009 results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) compare the performance of 15-year-olds in reading literacy, maths and science.

“We have a lot to be proud of, as this study confirms our top students are among the best in the world,” says Mrs Tolley.

A new report analysing results from government-owned companies and investment funds will help improve their performance, Finance Minister Bill English and State Owned Enterprises Minister Simon Power say.

The Treasury’s Crown Ownership Monitoring Unit today published the first of what is expected to be a series of annual publications about the performance of the 37 Crown-owned entities that have full or partial commercial objectives.

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee today announced changes to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) board.

EECA is a Crown agent with the role of encouraging, promoting and supporting energy efficiency, energy conservation and the use of renewable sources of energy. Its board is appointed by the Minister.

Dr Andrew Pearce, a former chief executive of Landcare Research, has been reappointed a member and appointed deputy chair for a term of two years.

Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia is welcoming the release of a report on the human rights of disabled people in New Zealand.

The report, Disability Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand, was written by the Convention Coalition, which is a collaboration of New Zealand’s disabled peoples’ organisations.

The Coalition comprises the Disabled Persons Assembly, Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand Inc, Deaf Aotearoa NZ, Ngati Kapo, Nga Hau E Wha and People First New Zealand.

The Minister for Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, today announced new Council members for six of New Zealand’s Universities and all three Wānanga.

The new appointments are as follows:

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed the tabling of the Law Commission’s review of the Civil List Act 1979.

“I acknowledge that Ministers’ and MPs’ expenses are a matter of public interest – hence the moves made during this parliamentary term to provide more transparency on their expenditure.

“It is important that the regime for setting Ministers’ and MPs’ expenses has the public’s confidence,” says Mr Key.

Proposed new tax rules, released today, will increase the integrity of the tax system and help ensure everyone pays their fair share, Finance Minister Bill English and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne say.

Mr Dunne today released a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) that will introduce several Budget 2010 tax measures to the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Bill, which is nearing its final stages in Parliament. MPs are expected to debate the amendments on Thursday.

The proposed changes, which have been finalised after public consultation over the past few months, will:

Waitemata District Health Board has been selected to run the four year bowel screening pilot.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the pilot, announced as part of this year’s Budget, will cost $24 million over four years and is expected to begin in October next year. Further details will be finalised soon.

“Waitemata DHB has shown it has the knowledge and experience to run a successful screening programme,” says Mr Ryall.

Defence Minister Wayne Mapp has expressed the Government’s deepest condolences to the family of the New Zealander killed in Afghanistan while serving in the British Army.

“It takes great courage to serve in Afghanistan. Every service person, whether in the New Zealand Defence Force or a similar service such as the British, knows they risk death or injury. They do so because they wish to serve their country and to protect us from terrorism.

Minister for the Environment Nick Smith today released a report that shows dioxin levels in the soil surrounding the former Fruitgrowers Chemical Company site in Mapua are lower than nationally and internationally recommended levels.

“This report should provide the local community with reassurance that the soils around the site have not been contaminated and are fit for purpose,” Dr Smith said.

Good evening and thank you for inviting me to speak tonight.

We’re here tonight to launch a very important study into what is a very important industry.

The Logistics and Supply chain includes wholesale trade, transport, postal and warehousing activities. Nationwide it accounts for about 12 to 15% of New Zealand’s GDP.

Manawatu’s advantages

There are 2,250 fewer New Zealanders on Unemployment Benefits since November, but the overall number on benefits has risen by 1.2%

As usual with universities finishing for summer, an influx of students (5,802) going onto benefits pushed overall benefit numbers up.

“But we are still seeing jobseekers find work, in fact more than 8,000 people went off benefits and into work last month,” says Ms Bennett.

Of the total 8,384 people who cancelled their benefits because they found jobs, 5,418 had been on an Unemployment Benefit.

The cities of Hamilton, Tauranga, Whangarei, New Plymouth and Wanganui will be among the first to benefit from the government’s rollout of ultra-fast broadband (UFB), says the Minister for Communications and Information Technology Steven Joyce.

Crown Fibre Holdings has concluded negotiations with two partner companies, following shareholding ministers’ approval of the deals over the weekend. 

The partners are:

Legislation to discourage smoking by removing displays of tobacco products in dairies and other retail outlets was introduced in Parliament today by Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia.

“This Government is serious about reducing the harm caused by smoking and it is vital that we do more to help people quit smoking and stop young people from being tempted to take up the habit.

“The evidence shows that most people who smoke want to quit. It’s harder to quit when you walk into a shop and are confronted with the instant temptation of tobacco on display.

Chief of Army Major General Rhys Jones has been appointed the new Chief of Defence Force. He will be promoted to Lieutenant General and take over from Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae on 24 January next year.

“Major General Jones is an experienced and highly-respected officer. He has played a key role in developing the Defence White Paper, which will be implemented during his term.

Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith heads to Cancún, Mexico today for the high level ministerial section of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“New Zealand is determined to do its fair share on the global challenge of climate change and re-gather momentum from last year’s conference in Copenhagen,” Dr Smith said.

Prime Minister John Key today announced that Hekia Parata is to be appointed a Minister in Cabinet.

“Ms Parata takes over the Ethnic Affairs and Women’s Affairs portfolios previously held by Pansy Wong. She will also be Associate Minister for ACC, of Energy and Resources and for the Community and Voluntary Sector,” Mr Key says.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson will accompany a research team to New Zealand’s remote Subantarctic Islands today as part of the joint Navy and Department of Conservation expedition, Operation Endurance.

The expedition involves a team of 14 researchers who will look into the recovery of the islands since the removal of sheep and rats and measure the benefits of previous conservation work.

Agriculture Minister David Carter has today confirmed the Government’s commitment of $30 million annually until 2015 to manage bovine tuberculosis (TB).

"New Zealand is widely recognised as the world leader in TB management through its integrated disease control programme, and the Government is committed to supporting efforts to rid farmers of this disease," says Mr Carter.

Prime Minister John Key today introduced legislation to amend the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service Act 1969.

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service Amendment Bill will update the Act to reflect legal and technological developments made in the past four decades and their impacts on the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS).

“This country’s security legislation needs to be relevant to the global security environment in which the NZSIS operates,” says Mr Key.

Larger than forecast deficits in the Crown's financial statements reinforces the need for tight fiscal discipline alongside the Government's ongoing efforts to move resources to frontline services, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Lower than forecast tax revenue combined with the fiscal impact of the Canterbury earthquake have contributed to a $4.4 billion operating deficit before gains and losses in the four months to 30 October.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Tariana Turia is urging New Zealanders to celebrate the outstanding contribution volunteers make to their communities.

This Sunday is International Volunteer Day and today Mrs Turia released the latest Quarterly Generosity Indicators Update June 2010.

“Everyday of the week volunteers are helping in their communities whether it’s saving lives or just ensuring life is a little more comfortable.