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The tertiary education sector continued to produce strong educational performance in 2013, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister, Steven Joyce says.

The Tertiary Education Commission today released the 2013 Education Performance Indicators (EPIs) for providers receiving Student Achievement Component (SAC) funding which shows performance against the four EPIs of course completion rates; qualification completion rates; student progression at levels 1-4; and student retention.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

Land Information Minister Michael Woodhouse today announced the reappointment of Phillip Curnow and Ken Taylor to the Valuers Registration Board (VRB) for a further three-year term.

The VRB is an independent statutory body – administered by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) – that oversees the registration of valuers and investigates complaints.

“Both Mr Curnow and Mr Taylor were first appointed to the VRB in 2007 and reappointed in 2011,” Mr Woodhouse says.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Land Information

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne has announced a review of the passport validity period including an independent review of passport security and a review of passport costs with a view to returning to 10-year passports.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Internal Affairs

Environment Minister Amy Adams has announced funding of $150,000 to support the expansion of a community-based recycling operation in Porirua.

The money was awarded to Mana Recovery Trust from the Government’s Waste Minimisation Fund.

Mana Recovery Trust will significantly expand its current operations through the construction of a purpose-built facility to sort and recycle packaging waste from businesses across the lower North Island.

Waste materials targeted by the scheme include paper, plastic, cardboard and glass.

  • Amy Adams
  • Environment

Rail Safety Week is a reminder for all drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to stay alert around level crossings, says Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse at today’s Rail Safety Week launch.

“A near miss can also be seen as a near hit. It’s just not worth taking the risk around level crossings, which is why this year’s focus for Rail Safety Week is on level crossings,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“There are more than 1300 level crossings in New Zealand, and on average, there is a near miss every three days.”

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Transport

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Good afternoon everyone and thank-you Dennis for inviting me to be here today.

The National Government’s business growth agenda has six streams focusing on the inputs businesses need to succeed and grow: export markets, capital markets, innovation, skilled and safe workplaces, natural resources and infrastructure.

There are more than 350 BGA actions, of which more than half are complete or being implemented.

  • Jo Goodhew
  • Primary Industries

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew has announced that 12 projects have been selected for this year’s Community Development Scheme.

“The scheme helps fund projects where communities have identified and found solutions to their own local issues,” says Mrs Goodhew.

  • Jo Goodhew
  • Community and Voluntary Sector

The roll out of the Flagship Programme to reduce crime and re-offending in Papakura, Hamilton and the East Coast is making excellent progress, Justice Minister Judith Collins announced today.

Ms Collins visited both the Papakura and Hamilton projects recently to see first-hand the progress being made and to meet the frontline staff involved.

“The key to the Flagship Programme is increased collaboration between Police, Justice, Corrections and other frontline providers tailored to the specific needs of communities and vulnerable families,” Ms Collins says.

  • Judith Collins
  • Justice

Research and Development (R&D) Growth Grants expected to be worth more than $41m over three years have been approved for 23 high tech companies by Callaghan Innovation, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce announced today.

“These are innovative companies producing world-leading, high-value products and high-quality jobs for New Zealanders. They are all proven businesses that have committed to investing in R&D in this country,” Mr Joyce says.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Science and Innovation

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed regulatory approval for the alliance between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines, describing the initiative as “a game changer” in his meeting with Foreign Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) earlier today.

“The potential for more direct flights into Singapore, with connections to other ASEAN capitals, is a game-changing development for New Zealand’s relationship with Southeast Asian countries," Mr McCully says.

  • Murray McCully
  • Foreign Affairs

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed another milestone for the Wellington Northern Corridor Road of National Significance, as momentum builds towards creating a modern, safe and efficient transport lifeline north of the capital.

“The NZ Transport Agency’s announcement that it has awarded the contract for detailed design of the Peka Peka to Otaki section of the Kapiti expressway to Opus Consultants is another positive step for this important roading project, which is on track for a construction start in 2016,” Mr Brownlee says.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

The Crown has signed a deed of settlement for the historical Treaty claims of Te Atiawa at Rangiātea Complex in New Plymouth, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The Crown was represented by Mr Finlayson and the deed signing was witnessed by New Plymouth Member of Parliament Jonathan Young.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

Construction work is beginning on the first new merged school in the Christchurch Schools Rebuild Programme, following a sod turning event at the site yesterday, Education Minister Hekia Parata says. 

Lyttelton Primary School, which is the result of the merger of Lyttelton Main and Lyttelton West schools, is being built on the site of the previous Lyttelton Main school and is expected to be completed in Term 4, 2015.

  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew says the results from a trial using remote control technology in tree felling, which could save lives in forestry harvesting operations, show promising results.

“During the successful trial the operator was able to successfully fell and bunch several trees from a safe distance at the top of a steep slope using a remote control device,” says Mrs Goodhew.

  • Jo Goodhew
  • Primary Industries

Associate Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga today announced a further step in the Government’s drive to reduce the cost of building new homes with the appointment of 26 commissioners to the Register of Development Contributions Commissioners.

“These commissioners will serve as a panel to ensure transparency and accountability in the charging of development contributions,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

“We are committed to making sure development contributions do not unnecessarily impact housing affordability.”

  • Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
  • Local Government

Environment Minister Amy Adams today announced funding of $120,000 for a project run by Tasman District Council to control erosion and sediment going into waterways.

“Erosion and sediment control are a problem for our water ways, but Tasman District Council has identified there is little in the way of up-to-date research or information for landowners and regional councils who need to manage erosion and sedimentation in our rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands,” Ms Adams says.

  • Amy Adams
  • Environment

Consumer Affairs Minister Craig Foss says new Fair Trading Act infringement fees coming into force today will further boost consumer confidence and drive competition.

The Commerce Commission is now able to issue infringement fees of up to $1500 for clear-cut offences, including breaching consumer information standards and disclosure requirements. 

For example, a motor trader who fails to attach a completed consumer information notice to a used vehicle could be fined $1000.

  • Craig Foss
  • Consumer Affairs

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce today announced the Major Events Fund is investing $1.5 million in Winter Games New Zealand 2015 and $1.25 million in Winter Games New Zealand 2017.

Winter Games New Zealand is a bi-annual event held in the Southern Lakes district and attracts some of the world’s most elite snow sport athletes. Investment in the next two Winter Games will support the events goal to become one of the top three snow sports events in the world and continue to profile New Zealand internationally as a premier winter destination.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Economic Development

Associate Minister of Tourism Todd McClay emphasised the importance of the Government’s Tourism Growth Partnership as he helped launch Skyline’s Rotorua Mountain Bike Gravity Park today.

The Government’s Tourism Growth Partnership co-invested $225,000 alongside the $225,000 invested by Skyline Gravity Park to upgrade the park to international race standards.

“The Park offers an outstanding experience to the New Zealand mountain biking scene and will also grab interest from international mountain biking events and visitors,” Mr McClay says.

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism

A national service will be held at the New Zealand Memorial on Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli on 8 August 2015 to commemorate the centenary of the historic Anzac battle, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Michael Woodhouse has announced.

“On the 99th anniversary of this battle, I am pleased to confirm a national service will be held on the Gallipoli peninsula next year for the centenary.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Veterans’ Affairs

The first phase of weathertightness repairs to Gisborne Intermediate School is now complete, Associate Minister of Education Nikki Kaye says.

The $2.3 million project is being carried out in three phases as part of the Ministry of Education’s Building Improvement Programme, which was set up in 2009 to manage the testing and remediation of school buildings affected by water damage.

“The administration building has been re-clad and re-roofed, and work on the  technology block will begin this month,” Ms Kaye says.

  • Nikki Kaye
  • Education

Latest Ministry of Health data shows over 162,000 hips, knees and other elective operations were performed last financial year – 44,000 more operations than six years ago.

Mr Ryall says this significant increase means every day 170 more patients are getting the operations they need and they’re getting them faster compared to 2008.

“Elective surgery makes a real difference to patients and their families – it reduces pain, restores independence and improves quality of life.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

The Crown has made an all-of-government submission to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council partially opposing the application to leave the Rena wreck where it is on the Astrolabe (Ōtāiti) Reef, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia welcomed the release of the second report of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism on Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ‘Making disability rights real - Whakatūturu ngā Tika Hauātanga,’ today.

  • Tariana Turia
  • Disability Issues