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Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew is reminding New Zealanders to follow the 3 C’s and clean, cook and chill over summer to prevent illness over the summer break.

“As the weather heats up and we all spend more time outdoors enjoying a kiwi summer, it’s important that we all take care when preparing and cooking food,” Mrs Goodhew says.

“By using a few simple tips, the risk of falling ill with food poisoning can be reduced significantly.

  • Jo Goodhew
  • Food Safety

A $1 million upgrade of Whangarei Airport is now complete, allowing the airport to host more passengers and accommodate larger aircraft, Transport Minister Simon Bridges says.

Inside the terminal, upgrades include additional seating space for passengers, new bathrooms, and a larger internal baggage claim area.

Outside, there are more taxi ranks and footpaths, and the pathways have been upgraded to ensure pedestrians and motorists stay safe. There is also a second airport entry and a car park extension.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Acting Tourism Minister Paula Bennett today announced $199,500 in funding for public restroom facilities at Springs Junction following the Kaikoura quakes.

“This popular rest stop is facing increased pressure from re-routed traffic,” Mrs Bennett says.

“Following the Kaikoura earthquakes, traffic on State Highway 65 south of Murchison and State Highway 7 between Reefton and Waipara has increased significantly.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Tourism

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce today announced support of up to $350,000 for tourism in Hanmer Springs and the Hurunui District following the Kaikoura earthquake.

“The package will fund marketing work over the next six months to bolster the local visitor economy, ensuring the negative effects of the quake are mitigated,” Mr Joyce says.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Economic Development

The Government will invest $14.7 million to redevelop Grey Lynn School in central Auckland, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“This project will see ageing facilities replaced and will also set the school up to accommodate anticipated roll growth,” says Ms Parata.

“As with many parts of the city, the population in central Auckland is growing rapidly, and we need to ensure local schools have the capacity to meet increased demand.”

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

Volunteer work to support trampers, hunters, climbers and everyone who enjoys New Zealand’s great outdoors has received a significant grant from the DOC Community Fund, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

“The Outdoor Recreation Consortium will receive $347,000 this year to assist with its work to improve, upgrade and maintain huts and tracks.”

Formed in 2014, the Consortium is a collaboration between the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand, the NZ Deerstalker’s Association and Trail Fund NZ.

  • Maggie Barry
  • Conservation

The winners of a prestigious tertiary scholarship awarded annually in honour of the 28th (Māori) Battalion have been announced by Education Minister Hekia Parata.

“The eight winners of the 2016/17 Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships exemplify excellence in education as well as service and commitment to the community,” says Ms Parata, who chairs the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee announced today that approval has been given for the New Zealand Defence Force to progress work on the Consolidated Logistics project at a cost of $130 million over five years.

“New Zealand’s Defence Force holds a wide range of equipment, all of which needs to be stored, maintained and serviced so that it is ready and safe to use when required,” Mr Brownlee says.

“However the systems presently used to do this need to be brought into the modern age.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Defence

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more than half the country’s nurses who graduated in November have already found jobs through the system which matches graduates with employers.

The national recruitment system (ACE) provides accurate information much sooner for both nurse graduates and employers. It helps to streamline the recruitment process for both graduates and DHBs.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has made some appointments to the Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) Board.

Commercial law partner, Kylie van Heerden, has been appointed as a new member.

“Ms van Heerden has experience advising clients on corporate and commercial matters, including company compliance and governance. Her appointment will bring commercial legal skills and an injection of fresh energy to this Board,” Mr Bridges says.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Legislation changing the designation of part of Auckland’s Point England Reserve so houses can be built has passed its first reading in Parliament, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

The Point England Development Enabling Bill allows for housing development on 11.7 hectares of the 48 hectare Point England Reserve in Tāmaki, east Auckland. Ngāti Paoa will have the right to develop the land for housing, in conjunction with the Tamaki Redevelopment Company.

  • Nick Smith
  • Building and Housing

New Zealand’s first strategy to focus on healthy ageing has been launched today by Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

“We all age differently and our needs change at different times of our lives. We each need to build and maintain our physical and mental abilities. That is healthy ageing. It is a life-long task.” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

“We have changed the name and the focus. The re-named ‘Healthy Ageing Strategy’ has a strong emphasis on prevention, wellness and support for independent living.”

  • Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
  • Health

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says that a Bill enabling the second stage of major state care reforms has passed its first reading in Parliament.

The reforms are part of the overhaul of care and protection, aimed at improving the long-term life outcomes for New Zealand’s most vulnerable children and young people.

“The current system is not delivering the futures that our children deserve,” says Mrs Tolley.

  • Anne Tolley
  • Social Development

Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett has welcomed the release of the Ministry of Social Development’s Purchasing Strategy for social housing, saying it gives providers direction and certainty.

The strategy, released today, gives detailed information for providers and outlines the ministry’s plans for extra social housing over the next four years.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Housing

The Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission (EQC) Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between EQC and private insurers.

EQC and New Zealand’s major private insurers have reached an agreement which will help ensure thousands of claims following the November 14 earthquake are resolved efficiently and in a timely manner.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Earthquake Commission
  • Civil Defence

Primary Industries Ministers Nathan Guy and Jo Goodhew have welcomed Fonterra's announcement that it will be investing $240 million to build a new mozzarella plant at its Clandeboye site in South Canterbury, driven in part by the success of the Primary Growth Partnership (PGP).

"This will be the ingle largest foodservice investment in the history of New Zealand's dairy industry, and comes thanks to the success of the Transforming the Dairy Value Chain PGP programme," says Mr Guy.

  • Nathan Guy
  • Jo Goodhew
  • Primary Industries

The Government is committed to building on its proven track record of strong economic and fiscal management, Acting Finance Minister Steven Joyce says.

“New Zealand is in an enviable position compared with most developed countries,” Mr Joyce says. “We are making good economic progress. We’re achieving steady growth, keeping debt well under control, and delivering fiscal surpluses.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Finance

Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith has announced all KiwiSaver annual statements will have to disclose total fees paid in dollar terms from 2018.

“Fund fees can have a considerable impact on an investor’s total retirement savings. Kiwis should have easy access to an accurate statement of the fees they are paying.

“Some providers have indicated they need to make IT system changes and will not be able to provide a dollar figure for fees by next year. The regulations will include a one-year transitional option for these providers.

  • Paul Goldsmith
  • Commerce and Consumer Affairs

An extra $20.7 million will be invested in the redevelopment of Macleans College in Bucklands Beach, Auckland, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“This additional funding will increase the Government’s total investment in the college’s makeover to more than $38 million,” says Ms Parata.

As part of redevelopment work that began in 2010, twelve blocks comprising 55 teaching spaces and a gymnasium have been remediated.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

The Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee has approved the Waimakariri Residential Red Zone Recovery Plan – the first of several major future use decisions in the region.

About 100 hectares of mainly residential land in Kaiapoi, The Pines Beach and Kairaki sustained severe land damage in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.

The Crown subsequently bought almost 1000 properties in the district to allow people to move on with their lives.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Greater Christchurch Regeneration

Associate Minister of Conservation, Peter Dunne, has released a public consultation document on the proposal to establish a game trophy levy under the Game Animal Council Act 2013. 

The proposed levy would apply to game trophies being exported from New Zealand and the revenue would be used to fund the operations of the Game Animal Council as per the Game Animal Council Act 2013. 

  • Peter Dunne
  • Conservation

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today appointed a Crown Manager to Tai Poutini Polytechnic on the South Island’s West Coast. 

“Council Chair Graeme McNally wrote to me on the 8th of November outlining concerns about the organisation’s financial position and weaknesses in the polytechnic’s educational delivery and processes,” says Mr Joyce. “In the letter Mr McNally and the council requested the appointment of a Crown Manager.”

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

Trade Minister Todd McClay says Japan’s passing of TPP legislation demonstrates their support for international trade liberalisation.

“It’s good to see the world’s 3rd largest economy join New Zealand and show leadership on trade,” says Mr McClay.

With the Upper House endorsement on Friday (9 December), Japan has now completed its parliamentary process for the approval of the TPP Agreement. This follows New Zealand’s passage of the primary legislation necessary to ratify the agreement on 15 November.

  • Todd McClay
  • Trade

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges today opened public consultation on a new national renewable energy strategy.

The draft replacement of the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy proposes actions that will help New Zealand make the most of its clean, renewable energy sources.

“Energy efficiency and increased use of our renewables are critical for our environment and our economy,” Mr Bridges says.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Energy and Resources
  • Climate Change Issues