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Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser has welcomed the assurance of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) regarding future access to existing Kyoto carbon markets after 1 January 2013.

“There has been significant ill-informed commentary regarding the impact of the decisions made in Doha regarding access to Kyoto carbon markets from 1 January 2013 which is causing unnecessary concern for many participants in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.

Legislation overhauling New Zealand’s out dated alcohol laws has passed its final reading in Parliament today.

Justice Minister Judith Collins says new laws for the sale and supply of alcohol mark a major milestone.

“For the first time in more than two decades Parliament has acted to restrict, rather than relax, our drinking laws.

“This Government has delivered for New Zealand a wide range of measures to reduce alcohol-related harm in our families and communities.

I’m very pleased to be here today to launch the Refugee Resettlement Strategy.

Overall, we do well with our settlement of refugees but I’m convinced we can do even better.

The Refugee Resettlement Strategy is a fresh approach in how we look after new refugees and help them settle into New Zealand life.

I know that a number of you here today have been involved in the strategy and I want to thank you for your input.

Finance Minister Bill English and State Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall today welcomed the High Court decision in favour of the Crown following last month’s High Court action regarding the sale of shares in Mighty River Power.

“The High Court decision confirms the Government can proceed to sell up to 49 per cent of shares in four state owned energy companies, in accordance with the legislation passed by Parliament earlier this year,” Mr English says. 

A Bill that will help deliver a system that answers communities’ planning needs, enables growth and provides strong environmental outcomes has passed its first reading in parliament today.

The Resource Management Reform Bill 2012, introduced by Environment Minister Amy Adams, is part of a resource management reform package that next year will see further reforms, including specific proposals for improving the management of freshwater.

The key features of the Bill are:

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed the decision by PPTA members to ratify a new secondary teachers’ collective agreement (STCA).

“I want to thank secondary school teachers for the great work they do and congratulate the advocates from the PPTA and the Ministry of Education for reaching this very successful outcome,’’ says Ms Parata.

“This is a very good settlement for secondary school teachers and the Government.’’

Mr Speaker, I move that the Resource Management Reform Bill 2012 be now read a first time.

I nominate the Local Government and Environment Select Committee to consider the Bill.

Resource management reform is a key part of the Government’s Business Growth Agenda. New Zealand needs a resource management system that enables growth, provides good environmental outcomes and is capable of adapting to changing values, pressures and technology.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew today announced the release of a consultation document on a proposal to allow premium-only aged residential care facilities.

Premium-only facilities are those that provide additional services with all their rooms and therefore charge extra for every room.  A 2009 survey found that 44 per cent of facilities had some premium rooms.

Two recent trials of tablet computers in courts have yet again demonstrated the potential of new technology to improve court efficiency, says Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

The most recent trial – an Environment Court hearing to consider a proposed coal mine on the Denniston Plateau – is currently nearing completion.

“We are constantly looking for ways to improve, modernise and make our courts more efficient.  Using tablets, such as iPads, instead of volumes of paper is a perfect example of this in action,” says Mr Borrows.

Tenders will be sought to upgrade the self-defence and sensor capabilities of the Royal New Zealand navy frigates HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Te Mana, Defence Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman announced today.

“The frigates are a vital part of our Defence Force but the weapons and sensor systems were designed in the late 1980s and require a mid-life upgrade,” said Dr Coleman.

Cabinet has approved a Detailed Business Case and a Request for Tender will be issued by the Ministry of Defence early next year.

Immigration Minister Nathan Guy has today launched the Refugee Resettlement Strategy, aimed at delivering better outcomes for refugees settling in New Zealand.

“New Zealand has a proud record of taking in refugees from around the world and giving them a new life here. However we want to do an even better job of helping them integrate into society, particularly in terms of finding employment and becoming self-sufficient,” says Mr Guy.

Changes to the tax treatment of employer-provided car parks, lease inducement payments and lease surrender payments, and including more non-cash benefits in income calculations for social assistance entitlements are key proposals being added to a tax bill before Parliament, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said today.

Mr Dunne said the changes were in a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) to the Taxation (Livestock Valuation, Assets Expenditure, and Remedial Matters Bill released today.

Yesterday we were full of anger.

Yesterday we were full of despair.

The Te Ohonga Ake report told us absolutely definitively that each year 120 New Zealand children die of poverty.

It told us that this year, 120 children will not wake up on Christmas morning: because they are dead.

That is three buses full of children – gone.

Three ghost buses of Maori, Pasifika, Pakeha and Asian children driven over a cliff of disinterest, neglect, abuse and mere poverty.

Commerce Minister Craig Foss today welcomed the select committee report on the Companies and Limited Partnerships Amendment Bill. The Bill tightens New Zealand’s companies and limited partnerships registration regime to address misuse by overseas entities.

“I want to acknowledge the Commerce Select Committee’s comprehensive work in reviewing the draft legislation and considering views on the proposed changes to our company and limited partnerships laws.

The Government agrees with the Productivity Commission that there are opportunities to lift the performance of the international freight system, and is taking action to make this happen, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

The Government has today released its response to the New Zealand Productivity Commission’s final report on international freight transport services.

“International trade is crucial for New Zealand’s economic success.

Welcome to the Block Offer 2012 Awards Ceremony.

It’s a great pleasure to be hosting this event to award the permits from the Government’s first annual Block Offer. 

In August last year we announced the move to an annual block offer process and the abolition of the Priority in Time permits.

Block Offer 2012 areas have now been consulted on, tendered, carefully considered, and today, permits are being awarded to the strongest bids and to those companies most capable of delivering their proposed work programmes. 

We are very fortunate in New Zealand to have an abundance of energy and minerals resources.

These provide us with unique opportunities to grow our economy, ensure we have a secure supply of affordable energy, and respond to the global challenge of climate change. 

The oil and gas sector is already a major contributor to our economy. It’s our fourth-largest export and directly and indirectly supports around 7,700 jobs.

Good morning everyone. It’s great to be here as part of the launch of the 5th Business Growth Agenda Progress Report – Building Natural Resources.

As we conclude the parliamentary year, I certainly hope we have firmly established in most minds that this Government has a very clear focus on our economic growth agenda.

Part of that has to be the better use of New Zealand’s natural resources.

Investment in oil and gas exploration will receive a significant boost with the award of 10 exploration permits, announced by Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley today.

Seven of the 10 Block Offer 2012 permits are in the Taranaki Basin, two in the Pegasus Basin and one in the Great South Basin. The permits are equally divided between onshore and offshore areas.

“Strong interest in the Block Offer 2012 permitting round proves that New Zealand is a key destination for both domestic and international investment in oil and gas exploration.

Civil Defence Minister Chris Tremain says an interagency Corrective Action Plan released today will improve the strength of Civil Defence in New Zealand.

“An independent review of the response to the Christchurch earthquake on February 22 found overall that emergency services worked well. However a number of recommendations were made on how the process could be improved,” says Mr Tremain.

Commerce Minister Craig Foss has released a discussion document on regulations to be made under the Financial Markets Conduct Bill.

“These regulations are part of the most significant reform of financial market regulation in a generation. They provide the detail needed to fully implement key aspects of the Financial Markets Conduct Bill,” says Mr Foss.

The discussion document covers a range of issues, including:

New Zealand and Japan have signed a new double tax agreement to replace the existing 1963 treaty, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

The signing of the Wellington Harbour Islands (WHI) Management Plan sets the future vision and management of Wellington’s three harbour islands, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson says.

Ms Wilkinson and Port Nicolson Block Settlement Trust Chair Hon Mahara Okeroa signed the plan at a ceremony in the Beehive this morning.

The Trust manages the Treaty settlement package from the Port Nicholson Block Settlement (PNBST) Act 2009 for Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika - the collective name of the four Wellington based iwi.