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The New Zealand King Salmon Company Limited’s (NZKS) proposal to establish eight new salmon faming sites in the Marlborough Sounds has been sent directly to an independent Board of Inquiry under the Government’s nationally significant proposal process with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson and Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

A new temporary stadium with seating for 17,000 will be built in Christchurch for major sporting and cultural events.

"The new temporary stadium will allow Cantabrians to experience the excitement of Crusaders and Canterbury ITM Cup home games again as well as Phoenix football matches, rugby league games, other major sporting events, concerts and festival events," says Mr Key.

"I'm thrilled the New Zealand Rugby Union has also announced today our world champion All Blacks will play a test match against Ireland at the new venue in June next year.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed today's announcement that a new temporary stadium will be built in Christchurch in time for next year's Super Rugby season.

"I'm absolutely delighted the Government has been able to pull together this deal to fund building the new temporary stadium in Christchurch," Mr Brownlee says.

"This means Cantabrians don't have to miss out on major sporting and music events for another year and will have many great occasions to look forward to," he says.

The number of New Zealanders on Unemployment Benefits dropped by 791 last month says Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett.

“There are 13,500 fewer people on Unemployment Benefits since the peak last January and about half of that decrease is made up of young people.”

“We’ve seen 549 fewer 18-24 year olds on the Unemployment Benefit over the last month, which is fantastic,” says Ms Bennett.

There are 54,870 New Zealanders on the Unemployment Benefit and 330,755 people on all benefits.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is pleased to announce the successful applicants to the Fresh Start Innovation Fund.

“Nine providers have received funding to make a real difference with young offenders, particularly with young Maori,” says Ms Bennett.

“As part of the Fresh Start policy for young offenders, the Innovation Fund supports new ideas or programmes that offer a different approach to working with at risk young people,” Ms Bennett says.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today announced four re-appointments and one new appointment as lay members of the High Court under the Commerce Act. 

Lay members assist the Court in cases involving appeals from decisions of the Commerce Commission and in other matters under the Commerce Act, and must have specialist knowledge or experience in industry, commerce, economics, law, or accountancy.

Auckland businessman Evan Williams has been appointed as a member of the board of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa, the Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.

“Mr Williams’ international experience at the highest level in commercial law, communication, negotiation, financing and corporate governance will be an asset to the Board in its future development” Mr Finlayson said.

Prime Minister John Key today expressed his sadness at news of the death of Allan Peachey, the National MP for Tamaki, who passed away on Sunday morning.

“Allan was a very respected and effective Member of Parliament, who represented his constituents well since he was elected in 2005,” says Mr Key. “I also want to acknowledge Allan’s hard work as chairman of Parliament’s education and science select committee over the past three years.” 

The Minister for Social Development and Employment, Paula Bennett and the Minister for Disability Issues, Tariana Turia, today announced the new Disability Innovation Fund making $500,000 available for innovative ways of getting disabled people into work or retaining them in work.

“A priority for me is to get people into work. This fund supports disabled people into work and also supports employers to retain disabled workers,” said Minister Bennett.

Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has put Hamilton City Council on notice. Should progress in addressing the Audit New Zealand’s recommendations be insufficient, the Government will look at a review process that could lead to the appointment of commissioners.

“I am very concerned about the findings of the Audit New Zealand report into the Council’s handling of the V8 supercar races.  The report highlighted a number of issues with the Council’s expenditure on the races, governance structures and reporting processes.

The Government is supporting exporters through two changes that widen the scope and accessibility of the New Zealand Export Credit Office's trade guarantees, Finance Minister Bill English and Trade Minister Tim Groser say.

"The Government is focused on lifting New Zealand's exports, so we can build a faster growing economy with higher incomes and more real jobs," Mr English says.

Deputy Prime Minister Bill English will attend the 19th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting on 13 November in Honolulu, USA.

Mr English will join leaders from 21 APEC economies to discuss the region's economic growth prospects and ways to advance APEC's vision for an Asia-Pacific-wide Free Trade Area.

"APEC supports closer trade and economic relationships in the region, making it easier for members to trade and invest in each other’s economies," Mr English says.

The Government plans to overhaul consumer credit laws to protect unwary consumers being preyed on by unscrupulous credit companies, Finance Minister Bill English says.

“There has been significant and much-needed reform of the investment side of the financial sector over the past three years,” Mr English says.

“However, credit providers remain largely unregulated and have no conduct requirements, leading some to exploit vulnerable people, resulting in severe financial hardship and spiralling debt. This is not acceptable.”

The Crown and Tāmaki Collective* have signed a Record of Agreement of the agreements reached in settlement negotiations to this point, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.

“The Record of Agreement is a significant milestone and will form the basis for a deed of settlement about the Collective members’ shared interests to be initialled at a later date,” Mr Finlayson said.

The Crown signed a Deed of Settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei today, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced.

The deed was signed in a ceremony on Auckland’s Okahu Bay. The Crown was represented by Mr Finlayson, Minister of Defence (and Auckland MP) Dr Wayne Mapp, Minister of Maori Affairs Hon Pita Sharples, and Associate Minister of Maori Affairs Hon Georgina te Heuheu. Maungakiekie MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga also attended.

The interception of a large amount of the drug GBL is proof of the success Police and Customs achieve in the fight against crime, Police Minister Judith Collins and Customs Minister Maurice Williamson said today.

Last month Customs officers intercepted a package from Hong Kong at the International Mail Centre.

The package contents were declared as a cleaning chemical. But analysis showed the 24.24 kg of liquid was the Class ‘B’ Controlled Drug Gamma Butyrolactone commonly known as GBL or Fantasy.

Mrs Margaret Jane Hubbard has been removed from statutory management, effective from 5pm on 13 November 2011.

Commerce Minister Simon Power said he had received a report from the Registrar of Companies that it was no longer necessary to keep Mrs Hubbard in statutory management.

"The Registrar of Companies has advised me that in the opinion of the statutory managers, Mrs Hubbard is no longer so closely connected to the business of Aorangi Securities Ltd that she must remain under statutory management. The Registrar is also of this view.

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced that Cabinet had agreed to an Order in Council which allows Canterbury based councils to defer their long-term planning and accountability responsibilities.

“Under this Order, Christchurch City Council, Canterbury Regional Council, Selwyn District Council, and Waimakariri District Council can choose to defer adopting a new long term plan until 2013,” Mr Hide said. 

“Ramping up New Zealand’s innovation potential across the high-tech manufacturing and services sectors will be a major catalyst for New Zealand's future growth,” says Science and Innovation Minster Wayne Mapp.

Dr Mapp and Acting Minister for Economic Development, David Carter, today released Powering Innovation, an independent report looking at how New Zealand can best grow its high-tech manufacturing and services sectors.

The relatively flat 6.6 per cent unemployment rate in September underlines the importance of the Government continuing with strong and stable economic management, Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett says.

"Unemployment peaked in 2009 and is gradually coming down. And it is good to see an extra 63,000 jobs were created in the past two years, despite challenges from the Canterbury earthquakes and the global financial crisis.

The Government will boost investment in the science sector to transform Industrial Research Limited (IRL) into an advanced technology institute, which will function as the ‘high-tech HQ’ for New Zealand, Prime Minister John Key announced today.

“New Zealand’s world-leading performance in the primary sectors has been off the back of world-class science, much of which is publicly-funded,” says Mr Key.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce has welcomed news that the $16.5 million safety makeover of the Rimutaka Hill Road is set to be finished in March, more than three months ahead of schedule.

He says the work, which was accelerated as part of the government’s $142.5 million Jobs and Growth package, will come as a relief to those who travel the notorious Rimutaka Hill Road.

"The upgrade will ease a number of tight curves, including Muldoon's Corner, about 500m south of the Rimutaka Summit.

Manukau District Court will be extended and improved as part of a wider programme to ensure the Ministry of Justice’s front-line services are well equipped for the future, Minister for Courts Georgina te Heuheu announced today.

“Recent justice sector initiatives are allowing better use of existing resources and reducing the need to invest so much in properties in the region,” Mrs te Heuheu says.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has received the first substantive report back on progress from Community Response Model Forums.

“I established these Forums around New Zealand with local people because I believe people know their own communities best and can make good decisions about where social service funding is most needed.”

The fourteen Forums have been established across New Zealand to engage with communities on what services work and what supports are missing.