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Good afternoon and thank you for inviting me to speak to you today.

I am sure that you have all found the conference informative and will be putting a few things in your back pocket to take away and incorporate into your work.

Just over a year ago, I stood before you, new to the role of Associate Education Minister, and still learning what makes the special education sector tick.

And now I know the answer: it is people like you, who everyday make a difference for students with special education needs, their parents and communities.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Education

Chief Executive of Local Government New Zealand, the recipients of the Geok Ling Phang Memorial Award, organisers, ladies and gentlemen - thank you for inviting me to join you here this morning.

I would like to thank the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Planning Institute for hosting this event, on what is a significant day for planning globally.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

President SoLGM, Clare Hadley, Vice Presidents Ross McLeod and Athol Stephens, Chief Executive Karen Thomas, other members of the SoLGM Executive Committee, ladies and gentlemen – thank you for the opportunity to speak to you this afternoon.

Before I begin, I would also like to acknowledge SoLGM’s recently retired Chief Executive, David Smith, for his work over the past 13 years.

My term as Minister of Local Government ends shortly.  I see I am leaving in good company, with David Smith and LGNZ’s Eugene Bowen.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has put Hamilton City Council on notice. Should progress in addressing the Audit New Zealand’s recommendations be insufficient, the Government will look at a review process that could lead to the appointment of commissioners.

“I am very concerned about the findings of the Audit New Zealand report into the Council’s handling of the V8 supercar races.  The report highlighted a number of issues with the Council’s expenditure on the races, governance structures and reporting processes.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced that Cabinet had agreed to an Order in Council which allows Canterbury based councils to defer their long-term planning and accountability responsibilities.

“Under this Order, Christchurch City Council, Canterbury Regional Council, Selwyn District Council, and Waimakariri District Council can choose to defer adopting a new long term plan until 2013,” Mr Hide said. 

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced the Government has advanced a further $500,000 of the Crown’s $5 million contribution towards establishing the Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA).

The Agency will be set up under the Local Government Borrowing Act which received Royal assent on 19 September and which deals with the regulatory and tax implications for setting up the Agency.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today welcomed the introduction of the Local Electoral Amendment Bill to Parliament, prior to its dissolution on 20 October 2011.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Thank you Tom [Parsons, Principal, Queen Charlotte College] for your warm welcome.  It’s great to be here today.

We are here to launch revised guidelines for individual education planning – called ‘Collaboration for Success: Individual Education Plans’.

We are doing this at Queen Charlotte College because you are a fantastic example of what being an inclusive school is all about.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Education

I move that the Spending Cap (People’s Veto) Bill be now read a first time.  At the appropriate time I intend to move that the Bill be referred to the Finance and Expenditure Committee.

The Bill is a timely response to New Zealand’s challenging economic circumstances.  It will provide more certainty around the growth in government spending, greater spending restraint, and will improve the transparency of spending decisions. 

  • Rodney Hide
  • Regulatory Reform

Mr Speaker, I move that the Local Government Borrowing Bill and Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 Amendment Bill be now read a third time.

The purpose of the Local Government Borrowing Bill is to assist local authorities to borrow funds at lower interest rates than they can currently achieve.  The Bill will achieve this by facilitating the establishment and operation of the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency. 

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today met with Mayor Mr Neil Tiller, Chief Executive Jack McKerchar and a representative of Local Government New Zealand following a number of requests from groups and individuals for government intervention in the Kaipara District Council.

“While I am sympathetic to people’s concerns I am strongly of the belief that it is preferable for local issues to be resolved locally and therefore I do not see a need to intervene at this time,” Mr Hide said.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

Government measures to cut red tape are on track to cut compliance costs for businesses and consumers by around $200 million a year, Finance Minister Bill English and Regulatory Reform Minister Rodney Hide say.

The estimate is included in a new Ministry of Economic Development report, Regulatory Reform: Changes Affecting Compliance Costs for Business and Citizens. The report, which will be produced annually, measures progress towards the Government’s goals of better and less regulation.

  • Bill English
  • Rodney Hide
  • Finance
  • Regulatory Reform

Mr Speaker, I move that the Local Government Borrowing Bill be now read a second time.

This Bill is to facilitate the establishment and operation of a new company, the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency.  The Funding Agency will issue local government bonds to investors and on-lend the funds raised to participating local authorities to meet their funding needs.  This pooled approach will assist local authorities to borrow funds at lower interest rates than they can currently achieve. 

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced the first stage of a review of the Local Authorities (Members’ Interests) Act 1968, the legislation which governs how conflict of interest rules are managed for members of local councils.

“The current rules are out of step with the way local government now operates,” Mr Hide said.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

President John Burton, Members of the University Club, ladies and gentlemen - thank you for inviting me to join you here this afternoon.

Today I am going to talk to you about one of the largest restructurings, public or private, ever attempted in Australasia. I am going to talk to you about the amalgamation of eight sizeable councils to create one single organisation – the new Auckland Council. 

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced the addition of the Perro de Presa Canario (commonly referred to as Presa Canario) breed of dog to the list of dogs banned from importation into New Zealand.  The breeds and types of dog banned are listed Schedule 4 of the Dog Control Act 1996.

“The tendency of the Presa Canario to exhibit aggressive behaviour or attack, and the size and strength of the breed, makes it of particular concern because of the seriousness of the injuries it could inflict,” Mr Hide said.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

Associate Minister of Education Hon Rodney Hide today congratulated Autism New Zealand on being allocated a $764,500 grant from Pub Charity.

“This grant will allow Autism New Zealand to develop a toolkit to complement other work happening in special education and improve access to education for children and young people on the Autism Spectrum. When finalised, this toolkit will be delivered into every school in the country.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Education

Good afternoon everyone and thank you for inviting me to speak today.

It is a tremendous privilege to be the Associate Education Minister.  I’ve learned so much about the large and complex area of special education in such a short time.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Education

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced the appointment of Anne Carter as a new member of the Local Government Commission.

“Ms Carter is an experienced former public servant with particular focus on strategy development, policy formation, and implementation of government programmes at both a national and local level,” Mr Hide said.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

President Roger, ladies and gentlemen - good afternoon.  Thank you for inviting me to your meeting today.

My talk today is about Auckland, its future and the recent amalgamation of eight councils to create one single organisation – the new Auckland Council.  I would also like to touch on what we need to reverse the ever-increasing burden of red tape that is bedevilling New Zealand.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

President of LGNZ Lawrence Yule, Chief Executive Eugene Bowen, other members of the LGNZ National Council, ladies and gentlemen – thank you for the opportunity to speak to you this afternoon.  I would like to thank Local Government New Zealand for organising this event and bringing us all together. 

This looks to be my last Local Government New Zealand National Conference.  There’s been regime change in my own Party and my time in politics appears over.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced the appointment of Basil Morrison to the position of Chair of the Local Government Commission. 

“Mr Morrison has considerable experience in local government, having been Chairman of the Ohinemuri County Council, Mayor of Hauraki District, a member of the Waikato Regional Council, Chair of Local Government New Zealand and Chair and Vice Chair of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum from 2005 to 2009,” Minister Hide said. 

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

Crane Association President Grant Moffat, Chief Executive Ian Grooby, ladies and gentlemen - good morning to you all.

It’s a pleasure to be here with you once again to talk to you as Minister of Local Government.

Let me begin by acknowledging your contribution to our nation’s critical infrastructure.  And in particular, your support of crane operators and your campaign for increased training and safety standards.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Local Government

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to speak at your conference today.  It’s great to be here today. 

I believe the best education systems are those where parents have a genuine choice of schools.  And a diverse range to choose from.  

High quality integrated schools make an important contribution to this diversity.

Parents value the range of educational programmes on offer at your schools – particularly the religious or philosophical values and aspirations that underpin them.

  • Rodney Hide
  • Education