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Finance Minister Bill English and State Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall today welcomed the High Court decision in favour of the Crown following last month’s High Court action regarding the sale of shares in Mighty River Power.

“The High Court decision confirms the Government can proceed to sell up to 49 per cent of shares in four state owned energy companies, in accordance with the legislation passed by Parliament earlier this year,” Mr English says. 

A Bill that will help deliver a system that answers communities’ planning needs, enables growth and provides strong environmental outcomes has passed its first reading in parliament today.

The Resource Management Reform Bill 2012, introduced by Environment Minister Amy Adams, is part of a resource management reform package that next year will see further reforms, including specific proposals for improving the management of freshwater.

The key features of the Bill are:

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed the decision by PPTA members to ratify a new secondary teachers’ collective agreement (STCA).

“I want to thank secondary school teachers for the great work they do and congratulate the advocates from the PPTA and the Ministry of Education for reaching this very successful outcome,’’ says Ms Parata.

“This is a very good settlement for secondary school teachers and the Government.’’

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew today announced the release of a consultation document on a proposal to allow premium-only aged residential care facilities.

Premium-only facilities are those that provide additional services with all their rooms and therefore charge extra for every room.  A 2009 survey found that 44 per cent of facilities had some premium rooms.

Two recent trials of tablet computers in courts have yet again demonstrated the potential of new technology to improve court efficiency, says Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

The most recent trial – an Environment Court hearing to consider a proposed coal mine on the Denniston Plateau – is currently nearing completion.

“We are constantly looking for ways to improve, modernise and make our courts more efficient.  Using tablets, such as iPads, instead of volumes of paper is a perfect example of this in action,” says Mr Borrows.

Tenders will be sought to upgrade the self-defence and sensor capabilities of the Royal New Zealand navy frigates HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Te Mana, Defence Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman announced today.

“The frigates are a vital part of our Defence Force but the weapons and sensor systems were designed in the late 1980s and require a mid-life upgrade,” said Dr Coleman.

Cabinet has approved a Detailed Business Case and a Request for Tender will be issued by the Ministry of Defence early next year.

Immigration Minister Nathan Guy has today launched the Refugee Resettlement Strategy, aimed at delivering better outcomes for refugees settling in New Zealand.

“New Zealand has a proud record of taking in refugees from around the world and giving them a new life here. However we want to do an even better job of helping them integrate into society, particularly in terms of finding employment and becoming self-sufficient,” says Mr Guy.

Changes to the tax treatment of employer-provided car parks, lease inducement payments and lease surrender payments, and including more non-cash benefits in income calculations for social assistance entitlements are key proposals being added to a tax bill before Parliament, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said today.

Mr Dunne said the changes were in a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) to the Taxation (Livestock Valuation, Assets Expenditure, and Remedial Matters Bill released today.

Yesterday we were full of anger.

Yesterday we were full of despair.

The Te Ohonga Ake report told us absolutely definitively that each year 120 New Zealand children die of poverty.

It told us that this year, 120 children will not wake up on Christmas morning: because they are dead.

That is three buses full of children – gone.

Three ghost buses of Maori, Pasifika, Pakeha and Asian children driven over a cliff of disinterest, neglect, abuse and mere poverty.

Commerce Minister Craig Foss today welcomed the select committee report on the Companies and Limited Partnerships Amendment Bill. The Bill tightens New Zealand’s companies and limited partnerships registration regime to address misuse by overseas entities.

“I want to acknowledge the Commerce Select Committee’s comprehensive work in reviewing the draft legislation and considering views on the proposed changes to our company and limited partnerships laws.

The Government agrees with the Productivity Commission that there are opportunities to lift the performance of the international freight system, and is taking action to make this happen, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

The Government has today released its response to the New Zealand Productivity Commission’s final report on international freight transport services.

“International trade is crucial for New Zealand’s economic success.

Investment in oil and gas exploration will receive a significant boost with the award of 10 exploration permits, announced by Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley today.

Seven of the 10 Block Offer 2012 permits are in the Taranaki Basin, two in the Pegasus Basin and one in the Great South Basin. The permits are equally divided between onshore and offshore areas.

“Strong interest in the Block Offer 2012 permitting round proves that New Zealand is a key destination for both domestic and international investment in oil and gas exploration.

Civil Defence Minister Chris Tremain says an interagency Corrective Action Plan released today will improve the strength of Civil Defence in New Zealand.

“An independent review of the response to the Christchurch earthquake on February 22 found overall that emergency services worked well. However a number of recommendations were made on how the process could be improved,” says Mr Tremain.

Commerce Minister Craig Foss has released a discussion document on regulations to be made under the Financial Markets Conduct Bill.

“These regulations are part of the most significant reform of financial market regulation in a generation. They provide the detail needed to fully implement key aspects of the Financial Markets Conduct Bill,” says Mr Foss.

The discussion document covers a range of issues, including:

New Zealand and Japan have signed a new double tax agreement to replace the existing 1963 treaty, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

The signing of the Wellington Harbour Islands (WHI) Management Plan sets the future vision and management of Wellington’s three harbour islands, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson says.

Ms Wilkinson and Port Nicolson Block Settlement Trust Chair Hon Mahara Okeroa signed the plan at a ceremony in the Beehive this morning.

The Trust manages the Treaty settlement package from the Port Nicholson Block Settlement (PNBST) Act 2009 for Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika - the collective name of the four Wellington based iwi.

Concerns with former Canadian judge, Justice Ian Binnie’s report into David Bain’s claim for compensation for wrongful conviction and imprisonment show peer review is needed, Justice Minister Judith Collins says.

“After reviewing the report prepared by Justice Binnie in September, I was concerned with some aspects of it. With the consent of the Attorney-General, I received advice from the Solicitor-General on the report. Following this advice, I decided the report should be peer reviewed. I commissioned Hon Robert Fisher, QC to do this.

Building Natural Resources highlights how recommendations from the Green Growth Advisory Group are being integrated into the Government’s wider growth agenda, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Environment Minister Amy Adams say.

“The challenge for New Zealand – and frankly all countries – is how we can make the most of all our opportunities to achieve strong economic growth that delivers jobs alongside policies that improve the environment,” Mr Joyce says.

Environment Minister Amy Adams will today kick-off the next stage of the Government’s plan to reform the Resource Management Act.

This afternoon, the Resource Management Amendment Bill 2012 will have its first reading in Parliament.

The Bill introduces a streamlined process for Auckland’s first unitary plan, a six-month time limit for processing consents for medium-sized projects and easier direct referral to the Environment Court for major regional projects.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter says the go-ahead for the Wairarapa Water Use Project has the potential to irrigate an additional 30,000 to 50,000 hectares of land and boost the area’s GDP by $400 million.

The latest Business Growth Agenda progress report, Building Natural Resources, sets out how New Zealand can build growth and jobs from sustainably using its natural resources, Finance Minister Bill English and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce say.

Building Natural Resources sets out the 49 initiatives the Government is taking to improve the way we use and manage our resources. It encourages businesses to find ways to become more innovative to get the best results for the economy and the environment.

The Government has received the Children’s Commissioner’s Expert Advisory Group’s report “Solutions to Child Poverty”, and will consider its 78 recommendations, Finance Minister Bill English and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett say.

“The Government acknowledges that many families are finding times challenging, and I thank the group for its report, which feeds into a great deal of work that is already underway,” Mr English says.

An agreement, which will increase education cooperation between New Zealand and China, has been signed in Wellington today.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says the agreement will enhance business opportunities for New Zealand’s university, polytechnic and skills sectors.

A New Zealand-China joint declaration, which will boost science and technology links and co-operation between the two countries, has been signed in Wellington today.

The joint declaration, focussing on enhancing and supporting science and technology research co-operation, was signed by Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Chinese Deputy-Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang.

The signing was witnessed by visiting State Councillor Liu Yandong.