Displaying 25 - 48 of 2084 results.

The Government has signed a development agreement for the construction of 237 homes as part of its affordable housing project on an 11.5-hectare Crown-owned site in Christchurch, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.

  • Nick Smith
  • Building and Housing

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today confirmed the Government will invest $38.7 billion in New Zealand’s land transport system over the next ten years, with regional networks, public transport, cycleways and road maintenance to benefit.

The investment programme is set out in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS 2015) released by the Minister today.

“Investment in the transport sector drives economic development and productivity, and GPS 2015 outlines the agenda for improvement programmes for the next decade,” Mr Bridges says.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew has today welcomed a new standard under the Animal Products Act that clarifies the labelling requirements for infant formula exports.

“Currently all export dairy products are exempt from New Zealand’s food labelling standards, they instead meet labelling requirements of the importing country,” Mrs Goodhew says.

  • Jo Goodhew
  • Food Safety

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed this morning’s announcement that the United States and Cuba intend to re-establish diplomatic relations after 53 years.

“New Zealand supports this decision which is a significant step forward for both countries and the region,” Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today released the summary of submissions received in response to the Government's first Draft National Statement of Science Investment (NSSI), which sets out the current settings and proposed future priorities for the Government’s science investment.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Science and Innovation

From next year a significant new measure for countering tax evasion will become available to Inland Revenue, says Revenue Minister Todd McClay.

The Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, signed in 2012, provides for administrative co-operation between tax authorities in the assessment and collection of taxes.

  • Todd McClay
  • Revenue

New Zealand’s economy remains one of the fastest growing in the developed world, confirming that the Government’s economic programme is taking New Zealand in the right direction, Finance Minister Bill English says.

  • Bill English
  • Finance

Christchurch City’s reinstatement by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) as a Building Consent Authority (BCA) is a significant step in rebuilding confidence in the Council and progressing reconstruction of the city, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith said today.

  • Nick Smith
  • Building and Housing

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a scheme to fill hard-to-staff health roles is making a real difference to the career choices of graduating health professionals.

“New Zealand produces quality healthcare professionals and we want as many as possible to stay here to work after they graduate,” says Dr Coleman.

“The Government established the Voluntary Bonding Scheme five years ago to provide an incentive for graduates to take up roles in communities and professions which are identified as being harder to fill.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Education Minister Hekia Parata has thanked parents, whānau and staff across the education sector for their passion and commitment to making sure all kids get the best possible education.

“We’re making great progress with kids starting earlier in education, staying longer, and leaving better qualified, and we have built on that throughout this year.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye confirmed today that $23.5 million of funding has been approved towards the second stage of redevelopment of Southern Cross Campus.
 
Southern Cross is a decile 1, co-ed state school for years 1 to 13 in Māngere, Auckland.
 
“This is about fulfilling the Government’s commitment to prioritise several major school redevelopments in Auckland.
 

  • Nikki Kaye
  • Education

A new joint strategy to tackle kauri dieback has been welcomed by Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.

“Kauri dieback is a serious disease which needs a coordinated effort to tackle it. Therefore it’s great to see the Ministry for Primary Industries, Department of Conservation, Auckland Council, Northland Regional Council, Waikato Regional Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and tāngata whenua have developed this new strategy,” says Mr Guy.

  • Maggie Barry
  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries
  • Conservation

Racing Minister Nathan Guy has announced that 25 projects to improve safety at racecourses across New Zealand will be receiving grants worth $703,596.

The money is coming from the Racing Safety Development Fund which provides $1 million annually to racecourse safety, with matching dollar-for-dollar contributions from racing clubs.

“This year’s first funding round has supported a wide range of infrastructure projects including safety running rails, new starting gates, toilet facilities upgrades, and a greyhound kennel block extension,” says Mr Guy.

  • Nathan Guy
  • Racing

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says all pregnant women will be routinely screened for diabetes as part of new national guidelines.

“Diabetes is one of our biggest health challenges in New Zealand. We need to ensure best practice for screening and managing diabetes in pregnancy to reduce the health risks for both mothers and babies,” says Dr Coleman.

“The new national guidelines on gestational diabetes will ensure more consistency across DHBs, and all pregnant women will have access to early diagnosis and management of diabetes in pregnancy.”

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has announced that full audit reports for all rest homes will be published online from today in a more reader-friendly format.

This follows a year long trial in which 574 full audits were published on the Ministry of Health website.

“The trial has shown the benefit of having the full reports available and publishing will now continue in an improved format,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga. “I am delighted that we have been able to achieve our aim of having these comprehensive reports available by the end of 2014.

  • Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
  • Health

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has welcomed a cross-sector report aimed at reducing child deaths in motorcycle, quad bike and other off-road vehicle accidents.

The report from the Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee, which operates under the umbrella of the Health Quality & Safety Commission, found that 33 children aged under 15 were killed in off-road vehicle accidents between 2002 and 2012. Of these,

  • Peter Dunne
  • Health

Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett today opened Accessible Properties’ new community housing development in Johnsonville, furthering the Government’s commitment to providing better social housing for those in need.

Accessible Properties are a Community Housing Provider who manage close to 1000 housing units across New Zealand. Today’s event celebrated the completion of eight new units designed for tenants with social support need, and built with assistance from the Government’s Social Housing Fund.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Housing

Prime Minister John Key says the latest Indicators and Progress Report for the Government’s Methamphetamine Action Plan shows more prisoners are completing drug treatment programmes.

The report released today shows more than 1000 prisoners a year are starting programmes in a drug treatment unit – more than double the number in 2008/2009. Over three-quarters of prisoners successfully complete their programme.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

The report of the Ministerial Forum on Alcohol Advertising and Sponsorship has been released today, with Ministers noting that further work will be required on the feasibility and impact of the proposals.

The Forum was established earlier this year to advise on possible further controls on alcohol advertising and sponsorship. The report makes 14 recommendations to Justice Minister Amy Adams and Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Amy Adams
  • Justice
  • Health

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says today’s visit to South Canterbury DHB marks the end of a 20 DHB tour to engage with the health sector.

“Just two days after I was appointed Health Minister in October I began a 20 DHB tour as getting out and talking with the health workforce was a priority,” says Dr Coleman.

Dr Coleman has met with DHB Chairs and CEOs, as well as a range of clinical leaders, doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and staff.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has now received the report on the Ministerial Inquiry - Events surrounding the request for waiver of the diplomatic immunity of a Malaysian Defence Attaché.

“Mr John Whitehead has now completed the Inquiry into the request for a waiver of immunity in relation to Mr Rizalman’s alleged offending, and provided me with a final report,” Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse today congratulated Police for the latest successful drug-related operation targeting gang members in the Upper North Island.

Operation Jakarta was the fourth in a series, resulting in charges being laid against 38 Headhunter members and associates, as well as the seizure of over $4 million in cash, $4 million-worth of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals, and a substantial number of firearms.

More than $9 million worth of assets were also frozen under the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Police

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has welcomed an innovative partnership to dramatically transform the way invasive predators are managed on mainland New Zealand.

The NEXT Foundation has partnered with philanthropists Gareth Morgan and Sam Morgan, and the Department of Conservation, to set up the Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) project. All parties are contributing funding to the venture, with DOC providing $500,000 per year for an initial three years.

  • Maggie Barry
  • Conservation

Minister Responsible for Novopay, Steven Joyce, has announced that Cabinet has finalised funding arrangements for Education Payroll Limited for the 2014/15 year.

The customisations of the Novopay software have now been valued at $9.4 million.  This takes the total value of the settlement paid by Talent2 to the Ministry of Education to between $29 million and $32 million. 

Cabinet has also finalised the costs of the transition to and operation of the company for the 2014/15 year, and will make an additional appropriation of $8.7m to meet those costs.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Novopay