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Conservation and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has congratulated the young winners of the 9th annual The Outlook for Someday film challenge.

“The Outlook for Someday is all about sustainability, celebrating New Zealand’s natural world and exploring the social and environmental challenges which confront us as a nation,” Ms Barry says.

  • Maggie Barry
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Conservation

Agencies are taking steps to ensure an effective response to the growing problem of cybercrime with the establishment of a new interagency cybercrime plan.

“In a changing world where online security is an issue, we need to be on the front foot against cybercrime” says Justice and Communications Minister Amy Adams.

The cybercrime plan is part of the Government’s refreshed Cyber Security Strategy, launched in Auckland today by Ms Adams.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Amy Adams
  • Police
  • Justice
  • Communications

Ensuring New Zealanders are safe, resilient and prosperous online is at the heart of the Government’s refreshed national Cyber Security Strategy launched today.

The strategy was launched by Communications Minister Amy Adams with an Action Plan and a National Plan to Address Cybercrime

“The Government is building infrastructure and investing $2 billion into our Ultra-Fast Broadband and Rural Broadband Initiative programmes because we want New Zealanders to engage in the digital economy,” says Ms Adams.

  • Amy Adams
  • Communications

All-of-Government procurement contracts are now estimated to be saving $699 million for participating government agencies and taxpayers, an increase on June’s forecast figure of $415 million, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce announced today.

“The increase in forecast savings is due to improved supplier engagement, greater efficiencies and the implementation of more new contracts,” Mr Joyce says.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Economic Development

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has congratulated students from Palmerston North Girls’ High School for winning the Enterprising Primary Industries Career (EPIC) Challenge today.

The competition involves students promoting careers in the primary sector to their peers.  

“The winning entry included posters with information on becoming a Beef Manager, Dairy Farmer and Bee Keeper and a promotional video,” says Mr Guy

  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the latest data shows the B4 School Check programme is well on track to reach more than 56,000 children across New Zealand by the end of the financial year.

“The first quarter figures show that 27 per cent of the target population, or more than 15,500 four-year-olds, received the free check in the three months ending September 2015,” says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Ten community groups will receive the services of a skilled professional free of charge for up to a year, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew announced today.

The internships, together worth more than $230,000, will be funded from the Community Internship Programme.

  • Jo Goodhew
  • Community and Voluntary Sector

Geospatial research and development will focus more on what people actually need, thanks to the new Geospatial Research and Development Priorities and Opportunities document, Land Information Minister Louise Upston said today.

“The launch formed part of New Zealand’s first Geospatial Research Conference, held at the University of Canterbury, which is fitting as this document is the first of its kind for New Zealand,” says Minister Upston.

  • Louise Upston
  • Land Information

Education Minister Hekia Parata says six new research projects granted funding for the Teaching and Learning Research Initiative will benefits teachers and students for years to come.

Ms Parata has congratulated this year’s recipients of the fund, which has supported 125 high calibre projects since it began in 2003. 

“A lot of this research is focussed on improving outcomes for all students, no matter their backgrounds,” says Ms Parata.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

New Zealand businesses with good cyber security practices could receive a “cyber security tick”, as part of a suite of initiatives to help protect small businesses against cyber attacks.

The cyber credentials scheme is just one initiative proposed in the Government’s new Cyber Security Strategy and Action Plan.

  • Craig Foss
  • Amy Adams
  • Small Business
  • Communications

Auckland Queen’s Counsel Paul Davison has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Justice Davison graduated with an LLB from the University of Auckland in 1975 and was employed at Auckland firm Glaister Ennor & Kiff. In 1977 Justice Davison joined Keegan Alexander Tedcastle & Friendlander, becoming a partner in 1978. 

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Trade Minister Tim Groser has welcomed today’s announcement that the New Zealand-Korea Free Trade Agreement would enter into force on 20 December 2015.

“I’m very pleased to see this high quality agreement enter into force,” Mr Groser says.

“This FTA will help New Zealand exporters grow their business in the world’s thirteenth largest economy.

“Under this FTA, approximately 98 percent of tariffs on New Zealand’s current exports to Korea will be progressively eliminated.

  • Tim Groser
  • Trade

Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee says there is much to celebrate in the Government’s busy and productive legislative year, which ended with Parliament’s adjournment this afternoon.

“The House sat for 88 days this year, compared to 70 days in 2014,” Mr Brownlee says.

“We saw 120 bills pass their third reading and become law this year.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Leader of the House

The opening of a new $3 million fish processing plant in the Chatham Islands yesterday is a major economic boost for the community, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

“Fishing is the major industry on the islands with around $124 million worth caught in the waters here and much of it exported to Asia. The community here punches well above its weight given the population is just 600.

  • Nathan Guy
  • Primary Industries

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye today announced the reappointment of James Miller as a member of the Accident Compensation Corporation Board. 

“I’m pleased to announce that James Miller has been reappointed for a three-year term,” says Ms Kaye.

James has extensive experience in financial markets, investment management and commercial governance. He sits on ACC’s investment subcommittee and is Chair of the Shaping Our Future subcommittee.   

  • Nikki Kaye
  • ACC

Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says he supports Corrections’ decision not to renew Serco’s contract to manage Mount Eden Corrections Facility.

“The decision is one for the chief executive of Corrections to make. However, I fully support the decision he has made. The contract allowed for non-renewal after six years and I have been briefed on the reasons behind this decision,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Ministers will receive advice from Corrections on options for the future management of MECF early next year.

  • Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga

The Ultra-Fast Broadband initiative has been rolled out to at least 200,000 businesses across New Zealand – ahead of schedule and within budget.

“In 2009, the Government promised to make businesses a top priority for delivery of UFB,” says Communications Minister Amy Adams.

“We’ve met that goal two months earlier than we hoped, which means more New Zealand entrepreneurs and operators can connect to speeds of at least 100 Mbps.”

  • Amy Adams
  • Communications

The Government is making good progress in providing better social services by publically releasing data which will assist its agencies – and the social sector - understand the needs of the most vulnerable New Zealanders, Finance Minister Bill English says.

“Reducing misery, rather than servicing it, requires a deep understanding of drivers of social dysfunction. Good information will enable the Government to better help vulnerable people make positive changes to their lives and become more independent.”

  • Bill English
  • Finance

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today announced his intention to establish a new polytechnic in the Bay of Plenty that will better service the tertiary education needs of the Bay of Plenty region.

Both Waiariki Institute of Technology (Waiariki) and Bay of Plenty Polytechnic (BoPP) will be disestablished and merged into the new institution from May 2016.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more than half the country's nurses graduating in November have found jobs before they know their final exam results through the system which matches graduates with employers. 

The national recruitment system (ACE) provides accurate information much sooner for both nurse graduates and employers.

“The latest data shows that 677 students (54 per cent) of the 1,245 nurses graduating in November who applied to the end-of-year ACE recruitment round are employed,” says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Changes to a Transport Rule regulating the size and weight of vehicles could allow truck and bus companies to import newer, safer, more innovative and environmental responsible vehicles, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

A consultation document released today proposes amending the Vehicle Dimensions and Mass (VDAM) Rule 2002 to increase some axle and total vehicle mass limits.

Other proposals include:

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee is pleased that good governance arrangements have been recognised as a key component to Christchurch’s Bus Interchange being successfully completed on time and on budget.

The Performance Audit into the Governance and Accountability Arrangements for the Bus Interchange Project was carried out by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), and its report was released yesterday.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown today announced three new Special Housing Areas across Wellington.

“The three new SHAs cover around eight hectares of currently underused land in Shelly Bay, Newlands and Newtown and together with the existing Shelly Bay SHA, will provide more than 330 new homes. These additions bring the total SHAs in Wellington to 24, with a total combined capacity of around 2,750 houses,” says Dr Smith.

  • Nick Smith
  • Building and Housing

Education Minister Hekia Parata says parents, school boards, students and home-based early childhood education providers will all benefit from the increased flexibility proposed by the Education Legislation Bill, which had its first reading today.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education