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A marginal improvement in the operating deficit before gains and losses in the six months to Dec 31 reflects the Government’s continuing careful stewardship of its finances, Finance Minister Bill English says.

The Government’s financial statements for the six months ended December 31 were published today showing that both Core Crown tax revenue and Core Crown revenue were slightly lower (0.1%) than forecast, but Core Crown expenses came in $273 million lower (0.8%) than expected, helping reduce the OBEGAL deficit by $158 million to $3.2 billion.

Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy has welcomed a new accord from the dairy industry, aimed at lifting environmental performance on dairy farms.

“This is a real step forward and shows the dairy industry is serious about improving its practices.

“The draft ‘Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord’ is more comprehensive than the Clean Streams Accord which it will replace, as it will cover all dairy farmers, not just Fonterra suppliers.

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows has today announced new measures to prevent, detect and catch welfare fraud.

“We know that the vast majority of beneficiaries are honest and do the right thing, but a small minority take advantage of the welfare system. Let’s be clear – welfare fraud is a crime, committed by criminals, for their own benefit at the taxpayer’s expense, and we treat it as such without excuse,” says Mr Borrows.

Defence Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman says the new Chief of Army will be Major General Dave Gawn.

This is one of the first formal speeches I’ve given since being appointed the Minister for Primary Industries three weeks ago.

It’s a great honour to have this portfolio. As most people in this room probably know, the primary sector is the powerhouse of our economy. It is worth around $30 billion a year to our economy and makes up 72 percent of our total exports.

I have a rural background myself. I’m proud to be the local MP for Otaki, and my parents run a dairy farm just north of Levin where I live.

Cantabrians’ positivity and resilience has shone through in the results of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority’s 2012 Wellbeing Survey, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says, with three quarters of residents saying life is good or extremely good.

Conducted for CERA by Nielsen Research between August and October 2012, the Wellbeing Survey garnered responses from 2381 residents selected randomly from the electoral roll in Christchurch city, the Waimakariri and Selwyn districts.

Five years ago the first Programme of Action was launched following a hui co-hosted by Tainui and Ngāi Tahu with the Ministry of Social Development.

That summit brought together a wide range of people from across the country to contribute to a plan on how to address issues of violence for our people. The objective was clear and compelling – how to reduce harm to whānau and to provide the impetus for whānau to recognise they have the solutions to their own issues, particularly for violence.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has welcomed a report linking a national quality and safety project to a reduction in blood stream infections.

“In 2011, about four to six patients per month in New Zealand intensive care units developed a bloodstream infection called central line associated bacteraemia or CLAB.  I am very pleased that the rate has now reduced to between zero and two patients per month,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has asked officials to investigate the whereabouts of Tongan nationals who may have come to New Zealand after their criminal convictions were wrongly stated by Tongan authorities.

“I am extremely concerned about this situation and have asked Immigration New Zealand to place the highest priority on finding any Tongan nationals who have committed serious crimes and should not be in New Zealand,” says Mr Woodhouse.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson has welcomed the opening of the new Air Force Museum extension and the Canterbury Cultural Collections Recovery Centre in Wigram today.

The new Air Force Museum extension was conceived to house aircraft and large objects for conservation but is being used temporarily for the restoration, storage and rehabilitation of heritage and cultural collections affected by the Canterbury earthquakes.  It was opened by His Excellency, the Governor General Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae in Christchurch today.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce today welcomed the release of the report by the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) into the expressions of interest process for an international convention centre in Auckland.

“The report dismisses the Greens’ claim that SkyCity was given an unfair advantage in the bidding process. The OAG makes it clear it has seen nothing to suggest the final decision to negotiate with SkyCity was influenced by any inappropriate considerations,” Mr Joyce says.

The Government has decided it will bring in legislation to put tobacco products into plain packaging.

In April last year the Government had agreed 'in principle' to introduce a plain packaging regime in alignment with Australia pending the outcome of a public consultation process. The public consultation closed on 5 October 2012 and Cabinet considered a report on the consultation outcomes on Monday.

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley has announced that GPS monitoring of offenders is to be extended to include prisoners on release-to-work schemes.

Low security prisoners will be electronically tracked while travelling between prisons and their workplace, as well as on the job, and swift action will be taken if they stray into designated exclusion zones.

Justice Minister Judith Collins today announced the appointment of three new members to the Human Rights Review Tribunal panel.

“I am pleased to announce the new panel members are Gillian Goodwin, Deborah Hart, and Katherine Anderson, all appointed for a five year term.

“Each of the new members brings valuable experience to their role. They will contribute significantly to the work of the Tribunal,” Ms Collins said.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson says a public meeting on proposals for changing the earthquake-prone building policy system will be held in Christchurch this evening.

“The destruction caused by the Canterbury earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 led to questions about the system for dealing with earthquake-prone buildings across the country. As a result, proposals for a consistent national approach to dealing with these buildings are now out for consultation.”

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister, Chris Finlayson and Broadcasting Minister, Craig Foss today marked the successful transfer of responsibility for New Zealand’s Sound Archives.

Responsibility for Radio New Zealand’s Sound Archives (Sound Archives Nga Taonga Korero) was transferred to the New Zealand Film Archive in October 2012. A ceremony to mark the transfer was held at the New Zealand Film Archive today. 

Justice and Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins leaves tomorrow for Geneva, London and Vienna to meet with political counterparts and United Nations officials.

In Geneva, Ms Collins will present the Government’s latest report on New Zealand’s progress in tackling racial discrimination and inequality to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain today announced seven appointments to the Archives Council Te Rua Wānanga.

The Council has a statutory role to provide the Minister with independent advice on archives and record keeping issues.

There are four new members who will take up their positions in March 2013:

• Dr Aroha Harris
• Diane Morcom
• Dr Gillian Oliver
• David Reeves 

They will join current members Barry Holdaway, George Reedy and Stuart Strachan who have been reappointed for new terms.

Defence Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman is attending the NATO-ISAF summit in Brussels this week to outline New Zealand’s on going commitments in Afghanistan.

“It is a useful opportunity to set out New Zealand’s small but valuable contribution to the international operation in Afghanistan after the departure of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in April,” said Dr Coleman.

Justice Minister Judith Collins has announced legislation will be introduced to Parliament today to clear the way for changes to laws dictating the line of succession to the throne.

The Royal Succession Bill allows an elder daughter to precede a younger son in the line of succession, meaning the order of succession to the throne will no longer be based on gender.

Cabinet today agreed on New Zealand’s contribution to Afghanistan beyond the April withdrawal of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) from Bamyan province, in line with the joint ISAF/Afghan transition plan.  

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman say New Zealand will continue to make a small but proportionate military commitment to the international mission in Afghanistan from May 2013, and that we remain committed to international efforts to improve the security and prosperity of Afghanistan.

Taranaki cancer patients and their families will have better support thanks to the appointment of a dedicated cancer nurse who will coordinate and streamline patient care.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the specialist nurse, who starts work at Taranaki District Health Board (DHB) today, is one of 40 dedicated cancer nurses who are expected to be working in public hospitals throughout the country by the end of May.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced she has listened to parents and school communities and decided about a third of the proposals for greater Christchurch schools should now not proceed.

Ms Parata today announced interim decisions for 31 of the 38 schools affected by the Government’s Education Renewal Plans.

“The Government is absolutely committed to rebuilding Christchurch – that’s why we are investing $1 billion into restoring and renewing the education sector in Canterbury over the next 10 years,” Ms Parata says.

Thank you for hosting us here in beautiful Oman at this Symposium on collaboration and innovation in health.

New Zealand and Oman are both proud nations, with similar population demographics, including relatively small and highly distributed populations and both with a real commitment to health system developments in primary healthcare.

Both New Zealand and Oman consequently face similar demands on their health systems.