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Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully leaves today to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth.

The Minister will attend the Foreign Ministers’ meetings and represent the Prime Minister at the Leaders’ meetings.

“It will be an important meeting for the Commonwealth as it debates what reforms are needed to be more effective,” said Mr McCully.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley says social housing providers wanting access to the Government’s $40 million Social Housing Fund can now apply.

The access criteria for four new sub-funds, put in place to support the development of more social and affordable housing, are being released today.

The four funds are:
Growth fund – Pūtea Whakatipu
Māori fund – Pūtea Māori
Niche fund – Pūtea Kaupapa Motuhake
Rural fund – Pūtea Taiwhenua

Prime Minister John Key has today extended condolences on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand to Turkey, following the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Van Province.

“New Zealanders know all too well the suffering and destruction major earthquakes can cause, and our sympathies are with those who are dealing with the aftermath of yesterday’s earthquake,” says Mr Key.

Prime Minister John Key today congratulated the All Blacks following their superb victory in the Rugby World Cup final at Eden Park.

“The All Blacks have achieved the ultimate in world rugby - they have won the Rugby World Cup. It is an achievement built on courage, determination, grit and great teamwork.

“These are all values that New Zealanders hold highly and I know Kiwis will be very proud of their team - they are deserving world champions.”

Trade Minister Tim Groser today welcomed a joint New Zealand/South Africa study of trade trends between New Zealand and South Africa.

Hon Rob Davies, South African Minister for Trade & Industry, and Mr Groser announced the study results at a meeting in Stellenbosch.

“This study shines a light on our trading relationship with South Africa. It underlines the ease and value of that trading relationship, but there is potential to increase our current modest levels of trade” Mr Groser says.

Minister of Trade Tim Groser announced today that New Zealand will join a long list of countries accepting an amendment to WTO rules that will make it easier to export generic drugs to developing countries.

It means that countries faced with public health problems, such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, can import generic copies of patented drugs if they cannot manufacture the drugs themselves.

“Affordable access to medicines makes a critical difference to developing countries,” Mr Groser says.

Sport and Recreation Minister, Murray McCully, says New Zealanders can look forward to seeing more kiwi winners on the world stage with the National Training Centre for high performance athletes opening today.

High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) is based at the AUT Millennium Campus on Auckland’s North Shore.

Its new National Training Centre was officially opened by the Minister and the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge, who is in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup.

Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson today released a discussion document on options to continue farm gate sales of raw drinking milk.

“Selling small quantities of raw milk direct to people at the farm gate is a long standing tradition and there is support for that to continue,” Ms Wilkinson says.

“At present, the law lets farmers sell a daily maximum of five litres of raw milk from their farm to people to drink and give to their family.

A report on the implications for the NZSAS when the Afghan National Police Crisis Response Unit (CRU) detains Afghan nationals was released today by Defence Minister Wayne Mapp.

The advice, from the Chief of Defence Force (CDF), was reviewed after the recent investigation into detainees undertaken by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

British Prime Minister David Cameron will visit New Zealand next week, Prime Minister John Key announced today.

“I am delighted to be able to welcome David Cameron to New Zealand. His visit gives us an opportunity to demonstrate the strength and maturity of the relationship between the United Kingdom and New Zealand,” Mr Key said.

Jury trials in central Christchurch will operate from early next year, Minister for Courts Georgina te Heuheu announced today.

A number of modular buildings, known as portacoms, are being used to construct the purpose-designed jury building. The facility will be located near the Christchurch Central Police Station on Cambridge Terrace.

The Acting Minister of Energy and Resources, Hekia Parata, today launched a project on the East Coast that will see 2,000 homes in the Gisborne and Tairawhiti region insulated over the next two years.

The $5 million special project extends the Eastland Community Trust’s Healthy Homes project to improve the health and wellbeing of people on the East Coast.

A report on released today shows that public prosecution services are generally effective and efficient, but there are opportunities for improvements, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson said today.

The review, by John Spencer, was initiated in March 2011 to determine whether prosecutions brought by public sector agencies could be delivered in a more cost-effective and sustainable manner at the same or higher quality levels.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce says while this year’s road toll is at a record low to date, there is no room for complacency on the roads this long weekend.

To date this year, 220 people have died on the roads.  This time last year the toll was 297.  The rolling 12 month total is 298 which is the first time it has been under 300 since 1952.

Mr Joyce says while the low toll is encouraging, there’s still a lot of work to do to reduce the level of death and injury on our roads.

Prime Minister John Key today launched the NZ Inc India Strategy at the Cloud in Auckland.

“This is the first of what will be many NZ Inc country and regional strategies that will set ambitious medium term goals and provide a clear direction for the whole of government effort over a five year period,” says Mr Key.

In addition to India, strategies are being developed on China, the US, Australia, South East Asia, Middle East, and the European Union.

A demonstration project where pharmacists have taken on a greater role in managing patients on the traditional blood thinning drug Warfarin, has resulted in excellent outcomes for patients and high levels of satisfaction.

An independent evaluation of the project, which has been running in 15 community pharmacies across New Zealand, confirmed that management of Warfarin treatment by pharmacists is safe and convenient for patients with heart disease, and could save millions of dollars.

A Bill to modernise management of the Defence Force was introduced to Parliament today by Defence Minister Wayne Mapp.

“The Defence White Paper identified amendments to the Defence Act 1990 that would improve defence management, and realise efficiencies,” said Dr Mapp.

“These changes to the Defence Act 1990 will sit alongside the Defence Capability Plan to position the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) for the challenges of operating in today’s highly-integrated and high-tech military environment.”

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced the Government has advanced a further $500,000 of the Crown’s $5 million contribution towards establishing the Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA).

The Agency will be set up under the Local Government Borrowing Act which received Royal assent on 19 September and which deals with the regulatory and tax implications for setting up the Agency.

Extending the use of biometrics will strengthen New Zealand’s border security and enable Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to speed up visa application processing, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

‘’Biometrics provides better tools which allow Immigration to confirm an individual’s identity and protect New Zealand’s border,’’ Dr Coleman says.

The Government has agreed to establish a Drug Court pilot in Auckland to deal with offenders with severe alcohol and drug dependencies, Justice Minister Simon Power and Courts Minister Georgina te Heuheu announced today.

The Law Commission’s review of the Misuse of Drugs Act recommended the Government consider establishing a Drug Court pilot subject to a full analysis of the likely cost-effectiveness and availability of funding.

A $10 million investment package to reduce harm from alcohol and drug abuse has been announced by Justice Minister Simon Power and Health Minister Tony Ryall.

The package is designed to assist thousands of people with alcohol and drug related issues of all severities.

The funding, which comes out of alcohol excise revenue, is on top of the approximate $120 million spent on specialist alcohol and drug treatment services each year.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today launched the clean up of New Zealand’s most contaminated site at Tui Mine with the Green Party and announced a new national environmental standard for better managing contaminated sites.

“Tui Mine poses real safety and environmental risks for the Te Aroha Community. The $15.2 million contribution from the Government, in tight financial times, is the largest ever for a clean up. It shows the Government’s commitment to improving management of the environment,” Dr Smith said.

Archives New Zealand is considering displaying the original 1840 Treaty of Waitangi in a new and improved public space at the refurbished National Library building, the Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand, Nathan Guy, has announced today.

“The Treaty is currently on display at the Archives New Zealand building on Mulgrave Street in Wellington. However, the National Library’s newly refurbished building on Molesworth Street is due for completion later next year and we want to maximise the use of this fantastic new facility.

Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples has congratulated Ngati Whatua, Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, the Auckland Council and the Rugby World Cup organisation on the huge success of te Waka Maori.

“Te Waka Maori, the uniquely indigenous pavilion on Auckland’s waterfront and its associated artisan village, was visited almost 170,000 times in its first four days open to the public,” said Dr Sharples.