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Parliament has today passed new law to improve the accountability of government institutions and meet the recordkeeping challenges of electronic information technology.

The Public records Bill reflects the changes in technology, legislation and recordkeeping practices that have occurred in the last half century.

A greater focus on education and good governance programmes, particularly in the Pacific region, should result from a $15 million increase in New Zealand's international aid budget

National is confused about the Waitaki legislation and don't understand what it does.

The Minister for the Environment Marian Hobbs has annouced that she is to establish a Special Tribunal to hear an application to modify the Buller Water Conservation Order.

A new Ministry for the Environment office opens in Oamaru on January 6, giving the community easy access to information and assistance on the Waitaki water allocation process, Environment Minister Marian Hobbs said today.

Marian Hobbs spoke about the Public Records Billto the people who will put the new law to the test when it is enacted.

New Zealand needs a record of what has gone before, it needs a reliable memory of its past if it is to have any sort of sensible future.

Records and archives have a vital role in supporting democracy and identity in all modern societies. Good record keeping ensures that citizens can hold their governments to account and is therefore an important part of the system of checks and balances on government power.

Accountability is a crucial component of democracy, and good recordkeeping is an integral tool of accountability.

The government says work is proceeding to decide how the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 can be amended to more appropriately reflect the Treaty of Waitangi relationship between Maori and the Crown.

Sustainable development must be at the core of decision making according to the Environment Ministry's briefing for Environment Minister, Marian Hobbs, released today.