Search

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne says changes to the gambling sector contained in the Gambling Amendment Bill (No 3), will see potentially dishonest gambling activities tightened up and red tape reduced. The Bill passed its First Reading today.

“The No 3 Bill will give communities better information on grant-making decisions; strengthen provisions that deal with conflicts of interest and reduce the regulatory complexity and cost for gambling operators.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the Government is considering options for moving to the implementation stage of the DHB shared services programme.

“Health Benefits Limited (HBL) has made good progress in developing savings plans for DHBs,” says Dr Coleman.

“These programmes will result in substantial savings being freed up from the back office and re-invested into frontline health services such as more operations, and better cancer treatment.”

The Government has today accepted Solid Energy’s decision not to pursue the Pike River drift re-entry project and committed to working with the Pike River families on next steps for the Pike River site, says Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges and Acting Conservation Minister for issues relating to Pike River, Nick Smith.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced the recipients of the 2014 Rutherford Foundation Trust Awards.

The Trust aims to develop the skills of New Zealand’s brightest and most promising young researchers by providing them with early career support.

“These prestigious awards have this year been granted to seven researchers of the highest quality – four postdoctoral fellowships and three PhD scholarship students,” says Mr Joyce.

The Minister for Māori Development Hon Te Ururoa Flavell is looking forward to a series of regional visits scheduled over the next few months.

“I gave an undertaking when I became a Minister to get out to communities and listen to those people who work with our people every day.  It’s really important that Ministers understand how Government policies impact on our people and I know there are some stark differences across the regions.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley celebrated the success of KickStart breakfasts at Holy Family School today.

Since the Government began partnering with Fonterra and Sanitarium to deliver the KickStart Breakfast programme, an additional 3 million breakfasts have been served bringing the total number to more than 8 million meals since 2009. The programme reaches more than 26,000 children throughout the country.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman has marked one hundred days to go until the first match of the Cricket World Cup in Auckland today.

“It was great to team up with cricketing legend Sir Richard Hadlee and Mayor Len Brown to mark the milestone, and launch a nationwide tour of the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy,” says Dr Coleman.

“The trophy is on display in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter today and will be making 22 stops in total between Kaitaia and Bluff over the next 22 days.”

Speaking after the UNICEF Big Picture Art Exhibition in Parliament today the Minister for Māori Development, Hon Te Ururoa Flavell described child and whānau poverty “as a crisis that demands all political parties and agencies to work together on reducing the inequities in our country.”

Mr Flavell described the estimated 100,000 tamariki Māori living in poverty as a shameful record for our country.

“These are children whose greatest challenge comes from having been born into a situation they have no control over.

The amazing range of Pacific arts in New Zealand was celebrated tonight at an award ceremony in Wellington.

Minister for Pacific Peoples Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga congratulated all the winners of the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards 2014.

“These awards acknowledge the excellence and innovation in Pacific arts in New Zealand,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga. “They are the only national awards to recognise Pacific artists across a range of art forms.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has cast her vote for the little blue penguin in Forest & Bird’s Seabird of the Year 2014.

“All of our marvellous seabirds deserve a vote but I’ve chosen to back the little blue. Although it’s the most common penguin around our coastlines, the species is in gradual decline,” says Ms Barry.

This year the annual poll to select New Zealand’s favourite bird is focusing on seabirds. Nearly half of the species that breed in New Zealand are in danger of becoming extinct.

A new chapter in a 30-year effort by iwi in the Far North to seek redress for Crown breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi began in Parliament today with the introduction of the Te Hiku Claims Settlement Bill. 

The breaches resulted in large scale loss of lands and had a devastating impact economically, socially and culturally on the four Te Hiku iwi – Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kuri and Ngāi Takoto. In 2008 Te Hiku iwi decided that a collective approach to negotiations would make it easier to deal with the complexities presented by their overlapping areas of interest.

Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has welcomed news that Pacific women are benefiting from the strengthening economy.

The latest Household Labour Force Survey shows the unemployment rate for Pacific women fell 6.2 percentage points in the last year, down from 20.5 per cent to 14.3 per cent.

This means 3,700 fewer Pacific women are now unemployed than at the same time last year (down to 8,300 from 12,000).

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says an additional 42,885 New Zealanders benefited from Pharmac’s decisions on funded medicines in 2013/14.

“Pharmac has a good track record on controlling pharmaceutical costs while increasing subsidised medicines and treatments for more New Zealanders,” says Dr Coleman.

“Its latest annual report for 2013/14 shows in the last year Pharmac funded 26 new medicines and widened access to a further 35 medicines. This has benefited thousands of New Zealanders.

The President of the People’s Republic of China, HE Xi Jinping, is to make an extended visit to New Zealand following the G20 meeting of world leaders in Australia next week.

Prime Minister John Key announced today that President Xi, along with a large delegation, will make a state visit to New Zealand from 19 November to 21 November.

Prime Minister John Key has announced Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will make an official visit to New Zealand next week.

The Rt Hon Stephen Harper, the first Canadian leader to visit here in almost 20 years, will be in Auckland for official talks and engagements on Friday 14 November, prior to his travel to the G20 meeting in Australia.

“New Zealand and Canada have a longstanding and warm relationship which has seen us work closely together over many years,” says Mr Key.

Prime Minister John Key has announced German Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit New Zealand next week ahead of the G20 meeting of world leaders in Australia.

The visit on Friday November 14 will be the first to New Zealand by a German Chancellor since Helmut Kohl’s in 1997.

“I am delighted Chancellor Merkel is visiting New Zealand. This is a significant visit by the leader of one of our closest partners in Europe,” says Mr Key.

Trade Minister Tim Groser will depart today for China to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade. Mr Groser will join trade ministers from 20 other APEC economies in Beijing from November 7-8.

This year’s meeting, themed ‘Shaping the Future through Asia-Pacific Partnership’, is an opportunity for trade ministers to discuss the current state of play of the World Trade Organisation, regional economic integration and a range of other trade related topics.

Steady job growth in the September quarter has lowered New Zealand’s unemployment rate to 5.4 per cent in the latest Household Labour Force Survey, the lowest unemployment rate since March 2009.

The HLFS shows an increase of 18,000 people employed in the September quarter and 72,000 over the last year as the economy continues to strengthen following the Global Financial Crisis.

“It’s very encouraging to see the increasing confidence of companies around the country as they build their businesses and hire more people,” Mr Joyce says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that New Zealand will increase its humanitarian support for refugees from Syria and Iraq and ramp up diplomatic efforts to address the rise of ISIL.

“Unrest and violence caused by ISIL is making the already pressing humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq far worse,” Mr McCully says.

“Millions of people have fled their homes as the result of on-going violence in Iraq and Syria, and New Zealand has provided $13.5 million to help address their plight.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee confirmed today that the New Zealand Government has ruled out sending troops in a combat role to Iraq.

“However, we acknowledge that some form of capacity-building is clearly required if Iraq is to have a future as a law-abiding democratic country and this will need to include a modern Iraqi military to maintain peace and security,” Mr Brownlee says.

Prime Minister John Key has announced the Government’s response to threats against New Zealand’s national security posed by growing international terrorism.

“I have a responsibility as Prime Minister to protect New Zealanders at home and abroad and I take that responsibility very seriously,” says Mr Key.

“New Zealand's risk and threat profile is changing and while I do not wish to overstate the risk, I do think we need to acknowledge the facts.

On a visit today to Clifton Terrace Model School in Wellington, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced funding of $5.4 million to enable upgrades to improve wireless connectivity for more than 400 schools.

Ms Kaye says it’s a significant boost for staff and students who want to be more mobile with their devices while at school.

Minister for Māori Development Hon Te Ururoa Flavell has announced that applications for a $2 million per annum fund, Te Pūnaha Hiringa: Māori Innovation Fund are now open.

“Te Pūnaha Hiringa: Māori Innovation Fund will support Māori collectives with realising the economic potential of their assets,” says Mr Flavell.

Te Pūnaha Hiringa: Māori Innovation Fund supports the goals of He kai kei aku ringa - the Māori Economic Development Strategy, which provides a blueprint for a productive, innovative, and export-orientated Māori economy.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley welcomes the first reading of legislation to allow greater flexibility for people to move to the Cook Islands, Niue, or Tokelau, and receive New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension.

Under the Social Assistance (portability to Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau) Bill a person who has lived in New Zealand for 10 years, 5 being after the age of 50, will be able to return to these islands. When they turn 65 they can then apply for Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension.