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Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew today welcomed five officials from the Chinese Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) who are in New Zealand for a ten week scholarship programme.

“This scholarship programme reinforces New Zealand and China’s commitment to food safety, and strengthens mutual understanding of each other’s food safety systems,” Mrs Goodhew says.

Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee says the Government is very pleased with its busy and productive legislative year, which ended with Parliament’s adjournment this afternoon.

“This is a Government that’s focused on working for New Zealand, delivering sustainable economic growth, and helping households get ahead. The Government’s legislative achievements this year clearly reflect this,” Mr Brownlee says.

“Due to the General election in September, the House sat for 70 days this year, compared to 93 days in 2013.

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says the 10 year anniversary of the passing of the Smoke-free Environments Act is a good opportunity to look forward to further gains in tobacco control.

Mr Lotu-Iiga will today host an event in Parliament to mark the 10th anniversary of the law which bans smoking in bars, clubs, casinos, restaurants, and school buildings and grounds. It also banned the display of tobacco products at point of sale and increased the power of judges to punish retailers caught repeatedly selling tobacco to minors.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced the latest companies to meet eligibility criteria for research and development (R&D) Growth Grants administered by Callaghan Innovation.

Fifteen new companies will be able to increase their investment in R&D through $13 million in Growth Grants, which are aimed at bringing New Zealand’s levels of private R&D investment and innovation closer to those of our major trading partners.

Associate Social Development Minister Jo Goodhew is reminding students to apply for their 2015 Student Allowance and Loan by Tuesday 16 December.

“More than 60,000 students have applied for allowances and loans in the last two months. This is a good start, but with one week to go we’re aiming to exceed the 90,000 students who had applied by 16 December last year,” Mrs Goodhew says.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner announced today that SmartGate is now open to Canadian ePassport holders.

“This automated passenger processing technology has gone from strength to strength since it was introduced in 2009 and it’s great to now open it to Canadian visitors,” Ms Wagner said.

“About 75,000 passengers are now using the technology on arrival and departure each week, and Customs welcomed the ten millionth SmartGate user at Auckland International Airport in September.

The Government is to consider capping Building Consent Authority liability in negligence cases for building failure following the Law Commission’s review into how liability is distributed among multiple defendants who are found to have caused the same damage.

Justice Minister Amy Adams says the core principle of the joint and several liability rule is sound and will remain in place, but further work will consider the need for any targeted amendments.

Ms Adams has today tabled in Parliament the Government Response to the Law Commission Report entitled Liability of Multiple Defendants, which looks at how liability is distributed among multiple defendants in civil cases who are found to have caused the same damage.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has today welcomed the confirmation of a series of nationwide events to mark the 175th anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi in 2015.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed an agreement between the Ministry of Education and NZEI to jointly work on ways to help raise educational outcomes.

Ms Parata says there will be focus on communities of learning, greater collaboration, improved transition through the education system for children, and better career pathways for early childhood and primary teachers.

“I have consistently said the door remained open to NZEI after it withdrew from the work around our $359 million Investing in Educational Success initiative.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more graduate nurses are obtaining jobs sooner as a result of the nationwide recruitment system.

“The national recruitment system (ACE) helps to match new nurses with employers. It enables DHBs to get the graduates they want, and helps new nurses find jobs in their region and specialty areas,” says Dr Coleman.

New Zealand will ratify the Maritime Labour Convention to ensure fair treatment of seafarers and protect the reputation of New Zealand exports, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss announced today.

The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 is an international treaty adopted by the International Labour Organisation.  It sets minimum standards for the health, safety and welfare of seafarers on commercial vessels.

Government revenue continues to grow more slowly than forecast in the Budget, again highlighting the challenge of returning to surplus this year, Finance Minister Bill English says.

For the four months ended October 31, the operating balance before gains and losses (OBEGAL) deficit was $1 billion - $260 million larger than forecast in the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update in May.

Even though Core Crown tax revenue was $1.5 billion (or 7.9 per cent) higher than at the same time last year, it was $97 million lower than forecast in the Budget.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has appointed an advisory group to help children get the best possible start to their early learning and schooling.

The Advisory Group on Early Learning will recommend practical ways to ensure children have consistent teaching and learning from birth to eight years old, including helping teachers to implement the early childhood education curriculum.

Five outstanding young Pacific New Zealanders have taken out this year’s Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards, which is an initiative recognising high achievement among young leaders.

“I congratulate all the winners of the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards,” says Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga. “These hugely talented young people have the potential to contribute significantly to the future of our nation.”

Prime Minister John Key has welcomed the passing of the Countering Terrorist Fighters Legislation Bill in Parliament tonight.

The legislation was passed with the support of the Labour Party, Act and United Future.

The Bill responds to the rapidly evolving threat posed by the issue of foreign terrorist fighters and growing international terrorism, and will enhance the safety and security of New Zealand.

“The threats faced by New Zealand have grown and it is important that we have the ability to respond to that,” says Mr Key.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today congratulated the Customs Service for their role in the interception of a shipment of liquid methamphetamine.

Approximately 3.5 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine with a street value of around $1 million was intercepted and two people arrested following a joint Police and Customs operation, codenamed Operation Gravity.

The Government has agreed to continue work to enable a small number of local authorities to trial online voting, Associate Minister of Local Government Louise Upston said today.

“The agreement to continue work is in response to requests from local government to trial online voting at the October 2016 local authority elections. The councils that may participate in a trial are still to be determined.”

Ms Upston said it is important to ensure the trial process is secure and fair so public confidence in the integrity of local elections can be maintained.

The first revision programme of statutes has been presented to the House of Representatives, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. “This is a banner day for the New Zealand statute books,” said Mr Finlayson. “It is the start of a systematic programme of statute revision which will make the law clearer and more accessible for New Zealanders. There has not been a major revision and consolidation of our legislation since 1908.”

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has today launched a national three year Cancer Plan at Wellington Hospital.

“From prevention and early detection, to diagnosis and treatment and follow-up care - an enormous amount has been achieved in cancer services over the last six years,” says Dr Coleman.

“The New Zealand Cancer Plan 2015-2018 brings all this work together and signals activities that need to happen over the next three years to ensure people with cancer receive even better, faster care.”

State Services Minister Paula Bennett has welcomed the latest Kiwis Count survey results, showing the levels of trust and satisfaction New Zealanders have in the frontline public services they use continues to increase.

The State Services Commission’s annual Kiwis Count survey looks at trust based on experience and perception, and satisfaction in public services, and shows improvements in both measures this year compared to last year.     

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges today announced the award of 15 new oil and gas exploration permits as a result of Block Offer 2014.

Block Offer 2014 includes six onshore permits across the Taranaki, West Coast and East Coast basins, and nine offshore permits across the Reinga-Northland, Taranaki, and Pegasus basins.

Collectively the permits represent more than $110 million in committed expenditure on initial exploration which, if successful, could lead to further work worth more than $1 billion.

Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye welcomes the appointment of Sarah Stuart-Black, the new Director at the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM).

“The appointment was made by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, in consultation with me about the requirements of the role.”

“Sarah has strong national and international experience, and a broad understanding of managing emergencies, as well as building and maintaining systems to prepare for, respond to and recover from them.”

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has today announced the awarding of nine New Zealand Gallantry Awards that recognise the outstanding courage shown by members of 1NZSAS Regiment while serving in Afghanistan.