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Andrew Robert McRae, a partner at law firm Gresson Dorman & Co, has been appointed Crown Solicitor for Timaru, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Mr McRae takes over the role of Crown Solicitor for Timaru from Tim Gresson, following Mr Gresson’s retirement from the Crown Solicitor role. Mr Gresson remains a partner of Gresson Dorman & Co.

Police Minister Anne Tolley says that frontline foot patrols have risen by 70 per cent in the past year, as Police increase their focus on crime prevention to make our communities safer.

The total number of Police foot patrols increased by 28,855 in 2012, rising from 40,918 in 2011 to 69,773 last year.

“Police are taking a back to the future approach, by having more officers on the beat to tackle and prevent crime,” says Mrs Tolley.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain has released the report of an independent review into Fire Service Functions and Funding.

The independent Panel led by Hon Paul Swain was set up to review the current provision of fire services, including:

New Zealand will be strongly aligned with the OECD in tackling the issue of fairly taxing multinationals, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said today.

He said transparency was important in New Zealand operations generally.

“It is part of the Government’s better public services work and as part of this work, there has been on-going consideration of the role of tax secrecy and how to retain its important principles, yet actually achieve what we need to in a complex financial and corporate world,” he said.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain announced today that Wellington company, SilverStripe, has secured the contract for a single web platform for government agencies.

“A web platform is the underlying system which allows an agency to create and deliver high quality websites for New Zealanders. Creating a single web platform is part of the Government's better public services initiative and will bring savings to taxpayers,” says Mr Tremain.

A panel of top researchers and some budding young scientists have been appointed to identify New Zealand’s National Science Challenges for the Government.

The 11-person panel has been tasked with identifying the biggest science challenges facing New Zealand and will be chaired by the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Adviser Sir Peter Gluckman.

Mihi.

Tihēi Mauri Ora!

First let me congratulate Dr Lance O’Sullivan for winning Māori of the Year announced today. He is an inspiration for us all; working with whānau and communities at the grass-roots making a real difference.

//

Tēnā koutou katoa.

E nga Rangatira

E tau nei ki Waitangi

Tena koutou

Te hunga mate ki te hunga mate

Te hunga ora ki te hunga ora

No reira

Tena tatau katoa

There is no occasion on which the weight of New Zealand’s history is felt in quite the same way as it is here in Waitangi on Waitangi Day. 

Health Minister Tony Ryall visited the newly reopened St Martins Pharmacy in Christchurch today where he announced over 45,000 New Zealanders have benefited from new and more accessible medicines in the past six months.

Auckland District Court Judge Mark Perkins has been appointed a permanent Employment Court Judge, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Judge Perkins was appointed to the District Court Bench in 1999 sitting in the general and jury jurisdictions. He was an experienced practitioner in employment law before his appointment and served as a temporary Judge of the Employment Court on two previous occasions in 2006 and 2009. 

More investment and more innovative processed foods will be needed to double New Zealand food exports by 2025 according to a new report released today by Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce.

The report, Driving Growth in the Processed Foods Sector, says that doubling export sales in the food sector by 2025 will require an export growth of 7.7 per cent to 9.3 per cent per annum for 15 years, leading to approximately $30 billion in new exports.

Fast tracking the rebuild of Grey Base Hospital in Greymouth is now underway with the inaugural meeting of the West Coast Hospital Redevelopment Group at the hospital last week says Health Minister Tony Ryall.

“The Group brings the West Coast DHB, Ministry of Health and Treasury together in a collaborative approach that saves time and money,” says Health Minister Tony Ryall.

“The members also contribute in-depth understanding and experience of the unique challenges of providing health services in remote and rural settings.

The Crown today signed a Social Development Accord with Te Hiku o Te Ika as part of the iwi Treaty Settlement.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says this Accord commits the Crown and government agencies to work with Te Hiku to improve social outcomes for the iwi hapū and whanau.

The Ministry of Social Development is the responsible agency for implementing the Accord which was signed by Prime Minister John Key.

“Ten Government agencies will be working alongside Te Hiku to determine what intervention is needed before doing the work together.”

Statistics Minister Maurice Williamson says it’s now just one month until the Census takes place.

“The 2013 Census is likely to be the largest activity undertaken by any government department this year as we seek to count every person in New Zealand on Tuesday, March 5th.”

The 2011 Census was postponed due to the Canterbury earthquakes.

“Statistics New Zealand is expecting over two million census forms to be completed online, with internet access codes being delivered alongside paper forms,” Mr Williamson says.

Justice Minister Judith Collins says the Government is looking to improve the legislation and processes that govern the openness and transparency of public agencies.

The Government’s response to recommendations in the Law Commission’s recent review of the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) and the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA) was tabled in Parliament today.

“The Law Commission found that the legislation’s underlying principles are sound and are fundamentally working well,” says Ms Collins.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the Government has accepted Environment Canterbury’s recommendation to change the water conservation order that covers the Rakaia River.

The change will allow TrustPower to release water from Lake Coleridge for irrigation when the river is low, increasing the reliability of the water supply.

Prime Minister John Key will host Australian counterpart Julia Gillard in Queenstown this coming weekend for the annual New Zealand – Australia Prime Ministers’ talks.

“This year marks 30 years since the conclusion of CER, one of the most comprehensive and successful trade agreements in the world.  CER has helped make Australia and New Zealand two of the most integrated economies anywhere,” says Mr Key. 

Minister with responsibility for Novopay Steven Joyce today announced details of the Ministerial Inquiry into the education payroll system.

The Ministerial Inquiry is one of five measures the Government announced last week to address the issues surrounding Novopay.

Minister Joyce says the Ministerial Inquiry will be undertaken by former Chief Executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Sir Maarten Wevers and Chairman of Deloitte New Zealand Murray Jack.

Cabinet has agreed to a formal request from David Bain to delay its consideration of his application for compensation for claimed wrongful conviction and imprisonment, says Justice Minister Judith Collins.

“Mr Bain is not entitled to any compensation as his application falls outside Cabinet guidelines. The process for considering Mr Bain’s application and any decision regarding compensation is entirely at Cabinet’s discretion.

“Cabinet has agreed to put Mr Bain’s application on hold, as he has requested.

The Crown has welcomed the recommendations of the Waitangi Tribunal for providing redress to historical claims in the Far North, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Far North iwi Ngati Kahu applied to the Tribunal for recommendations as to remedies for the Crown's historical breaches of the Treaty after withdrawing from negotiations in 2011.

The Tribunal has outlined its recommendations for a fair settlement of Ngati Kahu's historical claims.

Judge Laurence Ryan has been appointed Principal Family Court Judge, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Principal Judge Ryan was the acting Principal Family Court Judge since October 2012, when Judge Peter Boshier signalled his retirement. He took over the permanent role on 1 February 2013.

On World Cancer Day, Health Minister Tony Ryall would like to thank health professionals for their hard work and commitment to providing New Zealanders with better and faster cancer services.

“Cancer is one of our biggest killers, and being diagnosed with cancer is difficult for patients and their families,” says Mr Ryall.

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne today praised Telecom for leading the way for large corporates in supporting payroll giving, as the Telecom Foundation hit $1 million in donations to New Zealand charities, schools and community groups.

“Telecom and the Telecom Foundation have shown the way on payroll giving since they came on board with the scheme 18 months ago,” Mr Dunne said.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson says public submissions will be crucial in establishing a new policy to deal with earthquake-prone buildings.

Proposals for a national approach to deal with earthquake-prone buildings are currently out for consultation, and if adopted would mean all such buildings would be dealt with within 15 years, compared with an average of 28 years currently.

The first public meeting on the proposals will be held tomorrow night in Wellington.