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A wide-ranging tax bill passed its final stage in Parliament today, bringing together a suite of proposals to help support the Government’s work in creating a more productive economy, Revenue Minister Michael Woodhouse says.

Welcoming today’s third reading of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2015–16, Research and Development, and Remedial Matters) Bill, Mr Woodhouse says the bill contains some practical measures for businesses, while other measures clarify rules for taxpayers more generally.

Tihe mauri ora!

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e rau rangatira mā

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa

It’s my great privilege on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand to welcome you to your new home here in New Zealand. 

Each one of you arrives here from different places and different experiences. I cannot begin to imagine the horrors you have experienced and the personal sacrifices you have made to make the journey to New Zealand. Many of you will have left behind family members as well as jobs, friends and a way of life.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse is praising a Joint Period of Action carried out by New Zealand and seven other countries to deter people smuggling and trafficking in persons.

Law enforcement and immigration agencies from the eight countries conducted separate but co-ordinated activities as part of a Working Group co-chaired by New Zealand and Sri Lanka under the Bali Process. The Bali

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.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse welcomes the widespread roll-out of eVisas as a major milestone in modernising travel to New Zealand.

“The expansion of eVisas for online applicants will make the visa application process faster, cheaper and easier,” Mr Woodhouse says.

The roll out means eVisas are now available to the following online applicants:

Justice Minister Amy Adams and Police Minister Michael Woodhouse welcome a pilot by frontline Police staff in Palmerston North to record victim video statements using their iPhone 6+ at the scene of certain family violence incidents.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse have announced a new student visa designed to make New Zealand more competitive for retaining and attracting top international students.

The Pathway Student Visa will allow international students to undertake a pathway of up to three consecutive programmes of study with selected education providers. A pathway can be offered by a single education provider or in partnership with other selected education providers. They will be valid for a maximum of five years.

Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Michael Woodhouse today announced the appointment of Fran Wilde as Chair and Geoffrey Summers as a new member of the Remuneration Authority (the Authority).

The Authority is responsible for setting the rates of pay and allowances for Members of Parliament, the Judiciary and local authority members.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse says two recent reports show the huge benefits of the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme to employers, workers and the Pacific region.

A report into a pilot project involving 640 Tongan and Samoan RSE workers has found that they sent home more than 40 per cent of their take-home income between November 2014 and June 2015 –an average of between $4,600 and $5,500.

The first meeting of the Pay Equity Working Group is an important milestone in the work to deal with equal pay claims, Ministers Paula Bennett and Michael Woodhouse say.

Ministers announced the formation of the Group in October to develop principles for dealing with claims of pay equity under the Equal Pay Act.

“Pay equity is a serious issue, and I am very pleased that representatives of employers, unions and Government agencies are getting together to discuss how progress can be made,” State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams and Police Minister Michael Woodhouse will travel to Canberra today to represent the New Zealand Government at the fourth meeting of the Law, Crime and Community Safety Council.

“With key sessions on law enforcement, law reform, and family and community safety, this is an invaluable forum for discussing current justice sector issues and sharing ideas and experiences,” Ms Adams says.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse today announced new rules for Filipino dairy workers who may have provided incorrect information relating to their qualifications and experience with their original work visa applications.

“Today I approved amendments to immigration instructions to allow further work visas to be granted to those workers who admit to previously providing incorrect information,” Mr Woodhouse says.

New measures designed to improve the spread of workers, skills and investment across New Zealand come into effect today.

“The changes, which were announce in July this year, will encourage skilled migrants and entrepreneurs to settle outside Auckland,” says Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse.

“New Zealanders will always be first in line for jobs. But we recognise that for skilled roles that are hard to fill in certain regions we should be doing more to attract and retain high calibre migrants to help those regions grow.”

Justice Minister Amy Adams and Immigration and Police Minister Michael Woodhouse have today met with Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton in Sydney to continue discussions around the deportation of New Zealanders.

“The issue around the deportation of New Zealanders from Australia is a significant issue for us and this meeting was an opportunity to continue to work through our ongoing concerns,” Ms Adams says.

A Bill enabling local communities to decide whether retailers in their districts can open on Easter Sunday was introduced to Parliament today, says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse.

“The Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill will enable communities, through councils, to choose whether or not to allow trading on Easter Sunday,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“The historical Easter Sunday shop trading exemptions are out of date and create an unfair advantage for certain businesses and regions that can continue trading while others stay shut.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss today announced stronger penalties for fleeing drivers and those who withhold information on fleeing drivers.

“Failure to stop when required by a police officer represents a calculated and deliberate attempt by offenders to evade punishment. They deliberately put the public at risk and too often their actions result in serious consequences,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse welcomes the arrest of a dual Filipino / New Zealand national on suspicion of facilitating fraud involving multiple work visa applications submitted by Filipino nationals in the dairy industry.

Mr Woodhouse says an investigation by Immigration New Zealand has uncovered more widespread concerns around the number of Filipino dairy workers currently in New Zealand who may have provided false information as part of their initial visa application.

Employers and unions have agreed to a Government proposal to set up a Joint Working Group to develop principles for dealing with claims of pay equity under the Equal Pay Act.

Minister of State Services Paula Bennett and Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Michael Woodhouse say the group will recommend agreed principles on pay equity that could be applied in all sectors of the economy.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse today acknowledged outgoing New Zealand Council of Trade Unions President Helen Kelly, who formally stepped down from the role yesterday. 

“Helen has made a significant contribution during her time as President of the NZCTU over the last eight years,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“Her hard work and dedication to the NZCTU is a considerable service, not just to the NZCTU itself, but to all workers in New Zealand.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse acknowledges today’s progress in relation to the criminal blackmail threat to poison infant milk formula with 1080 (Operation Concord).

“Today’s arrest is a milestone in what has been a long and complex investigation over the past 11 months,” says Mr Woodhouse.

Justice Minister Amy Adams and Police Minister Michael Woodhouse today announced that an information sharing arrangement with Australia regarding trans-Tasman deportations has been signed by both countries.

The arrangement follows a commitment made in February by the New Zealand and Australian Prime Ministers to progress an arrangement covering information sharing and deportations.

Workplace Relations and Safety and Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse and the Philippines Secretary of Labour and Employment Ms Rosalinda Baldoz have today signed a bilateral Arrangement on the recruitment and treatment of Filipino migrant workers.

“New Zealand greatly values the contribution Filipino workers make to New Zealand’s labour force – particularly in areas such as the Canterbury rebuild,” Mr Woodhouse says.

The duration of paid-parental leave will be extended for eligible parents of pre-term babies, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse announced today.

The Minister agreed earlier this year to work with ACT Leader David Seymour to review the support provided in situations of multiple birth, disability and pre-term births.

The Government has today announced New Zealand will welcome 750 Syrian refugees over the next two and a half years in response to the ongoing conflict in Syria, says Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse.

Of the 750 places, 600 will be by way of a special emergency intake above New Zealand’s annual refugee quota of 750, and 150 places will be offered within the quota.

“Like most New Zealanders, the Government is very concerned at the humanitarian crisis now unfolding in Syria and Europe that has visibly worsened in recent times,” Mr Woodhouse says.