Displaying 73 - 96 of 2435 results.

Police Minister Anne Tolley and Labour Minister Simon Bridges today announced the approval of the Underground Mines Emergency Protocol, developed in response to a recommendation by the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy. 

The protocol provides high level guidance on managing a major underground mine or tunnel emergency.  It sets out the persons and agencies responsible for responding, their key functions, duties, and roles, and the lines of authority for decision making and communication.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Anne Tolley
  • Police
  • Labour

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith today welcomed the arrival of four new Tasmanian Devils as part of the official opening of a new Devils exhibit at Wellington Zoo.

“Tasmanian Devils are renowned for their big mouths, bad behaviour and noisiness, so they will fit in well with the nation’s politicians in the capital,” Dr Smith says.

“This new exhibit helps the conservation of the Devils, is good for trans-Tasman relations and adds to the attractions at New Zealand’s oldest zoo.

  • Nick Smith
  • Conservation

Environment Minister Amy Adams and Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith have today announced the appointment of eight board members to the Auckland Unitary Plan hearings panel.

The Auckland Unitary Plan will be the first combined resource management plan for Auckland and will replace the regional policy statement, and the regional and district plans that Auckland Council inherited from the eight former councils of the Auckland region.

  • Amy Adams
  • Nick Smith
  • Environment
  • Conservation

Health Minister Tony Ryall has today announced the government is investing more funding into an initiative to ensure young people with cancer get the support and care they need.

“The Government has allocated an extra $650,000 over two years to help improve adolescent and young adult cancer services,” says Mr Ryall.

“Young people in the 12 to 24 year age group have unique cancer treatment needs. Evidence shows that when young people receive care that is delivered in a way that’s age appropriate, they do much better.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced a new stakeholder advisory group that will help Callaghan Innovation, the Government’s new high-tech HQ for business, achieve its mission of helping businesses grow through commercialising innovation.

“This nine-member panel will be an important source of independent expert advice for Callaghan Innovation’s Board as it aligns with business needs,” Mr Joyce says.

Chair of the group is Dr Andrew Coy, Chief Executive of Wellington technology company Magritek.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Science and Innovation

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges today announced a new appointment and two reappointments to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) Board.

David Coull has been appointed as a member of the Board, while Marion Cowden has been reappointed Deputy Chair and Mervyn English has been reappointed as a member.

“The appointments will ensure the Board maintains its strong governance and strategic capability,” says Mr Bridges.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Energy and Resources

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced an extension for consideration of the Crown’s offer for eligible property owners in the Port Hills residential red zone.

Eligible red zone property owners will now have until 31 August 2014, instead of 31 March 2014, to decide whether to accept the Crown’s offer to purchase properties deemed to have an unacceptable level of life risk from rock roll and cliff collapse.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser has welcomed the publishing of New Zealand’s Sixth National Communication on Climate Change and the associated First Biennial Report.

  • Tim Groser
  • Climate Change Issues

The Government is seeking feedback on draft regulations to classify exploratory oil drilling under the EEZ Act, Environment Minister Amy Adams announced today.

The draft regulations propose classifying exploratory drilling for oil and gas as a non-notified discretionary activity.

  • Amy Adams
  • Environment

Revenue Minister Todd McClay announced today that New Zealand Company Assurity Consulting Limited has been awarded a contract worth up to $30 million as part of the Business Transformation process. Assurity will be the preferred testing provider resulting from an open tender by Inland Revenue on the Government electronic Tender Service website.

  • Todd McClay
  • Revenue

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says the Government will not be paying further compensation to George and Damien Nepata.

“I know today’s decision will be disappointing for George and Damien Nepata,” says Dr Coleman.

“While I have huge sympathy for the brothers who were tragically injured in two separate incidents, it is clear there have been no substantive changes to their case since Cabinet considered the issue ten years ago.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Defence

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has announced amendments to the Layer Hens Code of Welfare 2012, in a move to avoid a large increase in the price of eggs.

“The final date of 2022 for all layer hens to be out of battery cages remains unchanged. However, the amendment alters the transition dates by two years:

  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries

Today, Education Minister Hekia Parata hosted the NZSTA National Board Members and Regional Chairs to thank them for the support they have provided to school boards of trustees throughout the year.

“NZSTA has played an important part in supporting boards across the country to deliver on the Government’s relentless focus of raising student achievement,” says Ms Parata.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has welcomed Cabinet’s approval of the GIA (Government Industry Agreement) Deed as an important tool in strengthening New Zealand’s biosecurity.

“Under the GIA, industry organisations and the Ministry for Primary Industries can sign a Deed that formally establishes the biosecurity partnership. Partners will share decision making, costs, and responsibility in preparing for and responding to biosecurity incursions.

  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries

There is one name that crops up consistently throughout the Rebstock Inquiry, and that is Phil Goff, says State Services Minister Jonathan Coleman.

“It’s unbelievable that Mr Goff has come out and bagged the report. He needs to do some deep reflection,” says Dr Coleman.

“This inquiry is a timely reminder of the responsibility that public servants have to maintain the political neutrality of the public service.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • State Services

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley and Courts Minister Chester Borrows today welcomed the new audio visual link (AVL) connection linking New Plymouth Court with Whanganui Prison.

The new link is the first in a $27.8 million upgrade programme, which is expanding AVL links from the current four courts and four prisons to a total of 18 courts and 13 prisons by 2015.

Mrs Tolley says around 40,000 remand court appearances are made each year nationwide, and AVL will be used for more and more of those appearances as the rollout continues.

  • Chester Borrows
  • Anne Tolley
  • Courts
  • Corrections

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says he is pleased the State Services Commission report on unauthorised disclosures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has finally been released.

“This process has been a distraction from the serious task of improving New Zealand’s external relationships and building a stronger foreign ministry,” Mr McCully says.
Mr McCully says he did not see the report or any part of it until yesterday.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has welcomed Cabinet’s approval of the GIA (Government Industry Agreement) Deed as an important tool in strengthening New Zealand’s biosecurity.

“Under the GIA, industry organisations and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) can sign a Deed that formally establishes the biosecurity partnership. Partners will share decision making, costs, and responsibility in preparing for and responding to biosecurity incursions.

  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries

The Crown has sold its 2.82% shareholding in Invercargill Airport Ltd for $5,600 to four papatipu rūnanga of the Ngāi Tahu iwi, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall has announced.

“The Government has never received a dividend from the investment in Invercargill Airport Ltd. Invercargill City continues to hold 97.18% of the shares in the company,” Mr Ryall says.

  • Tony Ryall
  • State Owned Enterprises

Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today officially opened 32 new two-bedroom Housing New Zealand homes in Johnsonville, Wellington.

“The opening of this new housing complex is great news for the 32 families just prior to Christmas. This project illustrates the Government’s commitment to providing good quality, warm, dry and safe homes for families with high housing needs,” Dr Smith says.

  • Nick Smith
  • Housing

Formal, tertiary-level training is being developed for the country’s more than 180 civil defence controllers, Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye said today.

“When I have visited Civil Defence Emergency Management groups around New Zealand they have all raised with me their desire to have formalised training,” Ms Kaye says.

  • Nikki Kaye
  • Civil Defence

Local Government Minister Chris Tremain today announced that the Department of Internal Affairs has appointed a ten-person working party to look at the feasibility of online voting.

  • Chris Tremain
  • Local Government

Associate Minister of Housing Tariana Turia today announced the opening of a new infrastructure grant fund for developing Maori land as well as changes to an existing proposal development programme to better support Maori housing initiatives.

“Both programmes are designed to enable the development of social and affordable housing projects on Maori land and to prepare Maori organisations to play a bigger role in providing social and affordable housing for their people,” says Minister Turia.

  • Tariana Turia
  • Housing

Health Minister Tony Ryall has welcomed the release of the independent review into residential disability providers’ performance and monitoring.

The review was overseen by an independent review panel chaired by consumer advocate David Russell. Disability Persons Assembly president Beverly Grammer, and management consultant Karen Van Eden were also on the panel.

Mr Ryall called for the independent review following concerns raised this year about some residential disability providers.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health