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The first school in New Zealand to be built under a public-private partnership has officially opened its doors to students today.

Auckland’s Hobsonville Point Primary School is the first school to be designed, built, financed, and maintained under a public-private partnership (PPP).

The school’s partnership is with Learning Infrastructure Partners, a consortium made up of firms including Hawkins and Programmed Facility Maintenance.

The partnership is for 25 years.

The Government will invest $21 million over a maximum of seven years to support research that will benefit two of New Zealand’s primary industries Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce announced today.

A $16 million investment over seven years will be made in the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium and a $5 million investment over a maximum of seven years will be made in Seafood Innovations Limited.

Conservation Minister Nick Smith today opened a 26 kilometre section of the Old Ghost Road cycle trail in Buller.

The project is a partnership between the Mokihinui – Lyell Backcountry Trust and the Department of Conservation.  It is supported by community and business interests.

The Old Ghost Road is part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail which showcases the very best of what New Zealand has to offer – spectacular scenery, unique culture and first class Kiwi hospitality.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has paid tribute to Hillary Clinton, who stepped down today as US Secretary of State.

Mr McCully described Secretary Clinton as “a great friend of New Zealand and a powerful advocate for the NZ/US relationship”.

“After 30 fairly ordinary years in the relationship following the differences over US ship visits, the relationship has become a fundamentally different and stronger one,” Mr McCully says.

Police Minister Anne Tolley has today attended a ceremony to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the tragic deaths of four Police officers.

Detective Inspector Wallace Chalmers, Detective Sergeant Neville Power, Constable Bryan Schultz and Constable James Richardson were all killed by gunmen within a four-week period in early 1963.

Applications are now open for the next round of the Racing Safety Development Fund, the Minister of Racing Nathan Guy has announced today.

“The Fund supports important projects around the country that improve racecourse health and safety standards,” says Mr Guy.

“In the past this has included projects like improvements to gates, stables, fences and grandstand repairs.

“There is $572,956 available available in this second round from a total figure of $1 million for 2012/13.

The Government’s commitment to improving rural connectivity now means residents, businesses and tourists on Great Barrier Island can abandon frustrating dial-up speeds and access faster technology, Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams says.

The island’s first wireless broadband tower was officially launched today by Prime Minister John Key, as part of the Government’s $300-million Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI).

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today named career diplomat Deborah Geels as New Zealand’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Vienna and Ambassador to Austria.

“The focus of the Permanent Mission is advancing New Zealand’s nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation interests, particularly in relation to the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation,” Mr McCully says.

Sport and Recreation Minister Murray McCully today named former High Court Judge Warwick Gendall as the next Chair of Drug Free Sport New Zealand.

“Justice Gendall’s legal expertise and experience as a sports administrator will be invaluable to the board of New Zealand’s sports drug agency,” Mr McCully says.

As a barrister, Justice Gendall was involved in a number of sport and drug cases. He also served as Chair of New Zealand Football Council, and has been a FIFA delegate and admissions inspector.

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley has officially opened a new probation centre at Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast.

The $1.8 million facility will provide better support for staff and for community offenders trying to steer clear of a return to crime, with a purpose-built Community Work Centre, room for on-site training, and enhanced safety provisions for staff with CCTV and glass interview rooms.

The new probation centre will have 14 staff, who manage 220 offenders in the community, 90 of whom are on community work.

"Callaghan Innovation will accelerate the commercialisation of New Zealand innovation,” says Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce.

The new organisation commences operations today, and is being officially launched at functions in Auckland and Wellington.

“Callaghan Innovation will be a one-stop shop for business innovation support whether it be in science, engineering, design or technology. It will be a high-tech HQ for New Zealand businesses,” Mr Joyce says.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has acknowledged Carl Davidson’s contribution to families as Chief Families Commissioner.

Carl Davidson steps down from the position he has held since August 2010 to focus on his own family and work in Christchurch.

Mrs Bennett says Carl Davidson has done an outstanding job as Chief Families Commissioner, bringing a level of professionalism to the organisation and elevating its role publicly.

“I thank him for his valuable contribution and wish him well in the future.”

Prime Minister John Key says today’s news that Sir Paul Holmes KNZM has passed away is the end of a broadcasting era.

“Paul Holmes was a gentleman broadcaster. He conducted his interviews with intelligence and insightfulness, and while he never suffered fools, his interviews were never without kindness and empathy,” says Mr Key.

“He was a trailblazer in New Zealand journalism with a style that was all his own.

The Government’s Pasifika Education Plan 2013-2017 has been received by the Porirua Pasifika community as the Government continues its focus on raising achievement for five-out-of-five kids. 

Education and Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata says the Planaims to have Pasifika kids participating, engaging, achieving and succeeding in education.

“We know that education is a passport to a better life. That’s why the Government is focused on raising achievement for all our kids.” says Ms Parata.

Mr Speaker

We want to congratulate the Hon David Carter as the Speaker-Elect  to this House.

One of the things that we have noted is that you have had an ability to build relationships because of your thoughtful and constructive manner.

I first came to know you, in fact, when I went with you on the Speaker’s tour to Europe with the Hon Doug Kidd.  As a new member of Parliament at the time, I certainly appreciated the wonderful support that you and your wife gave to me and my husband and I have never forgotten that.

Police Minister Anne Tolley says Labour is once again trying to mislead the public over Police resources.

“Their spokesman has claimed that there are 57 fewer Police Communications Centre staff than in 2009, but this is completely false. There are, in fact, fifty additional staff,” says Mrs Tolley.

“Figures supplied to the Law and Order Select Committee Financial Review clearly show that in 2012 the average number of staff in these centres increased from 508 in 2009 to 558 in 2012.

Prime Minister John Key today congratulated newly-elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon David Carter.

“It’s fitting that David Carter, who has served as an MP since 1994 and who has held a number of ministerial and parliamentary roles, has been elevated to the highest office elected by the House.

“David’s 19 years of experience, and his deep understanding of parliamentary procedure, will serve MPs well, and will stand him in good stead, during his tenure as Speaker.

An appointment round for Queen’s Counsel will take place in 2013, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. 

Amendments to the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 last year reinstated the rank of Queen’s Counsel, and restored the restriction on eligibility to lawyers practicing as barristers sole in order to protect the independence of the role.

New Zealanders are spending less time waiting in hospital emergency departments (EDs), allowing them to receive treatment faster and return home sooner.

“Over 130,000 more patients received emergency care within six hours last year than in 2009, when the Governments National Health Targets began,” says Health Minister Tony Ryall.

“Of the 970,000 ED presentations last year, 93 per cent of patients were admitted, discharged or transferred within six hours or less.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is delighted young people have given the go-ahead for 49 youth programmes around the country.

“I decided young people themselves should consider applications for programmes aimed at their peers and recommend which should receive funding.”

“The panels of young people have made really good decisions to support initiatives to develop leadership skills and community engagement.”

Minister with responsibility for Novopay Steven Joyce today provided an update on Novopay and announced measures to address the situation.

“Novopay is one of the largest payroll systems in Australasia covering approximately 110,000 people and 15 separate collective agreements. After meeting with the key parties involved over the past week, it is clear the issues it has are complex, that there is no quick fix, and problems will continue for some time,” Mr Joyce says.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams has announced the next stage of the Government’s plan to deliver significant improvements in telecommunications for the Chatham Islands.

As part of the Rural Broadband Initiative, the Government approved a grant to the Chatham Islands Council to help secure better broadband connections for its three schools, Kaingaroa, Pitt Island and Te One.

Today, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has issued a Request for Proposals as part of the next stage of the process.

A unique partnership between tertiary education organisations (TEOs) and Pacific churches has seen hundreds of Pacific people trained to help in the Christchurch rebuild, says Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata.

The two groups combined to implement the $6 million Pacific Trades Training Initiative, which is part of the Government’s wider $42 million Skills for Canterbury package to maintain the expanded training pipeline for trades people for the Canterbury rebuild.