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As most children prepare to go back to school next week, Associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges has today announced a significant increase in variable speed limit signs. This is part of a wider rural school safety programme launched today.

"Road safety around rural schools is a major concern in many rural communities, where parents dropping off and picking up their children must also deal with high-speed through traffic,” says Mr Bridges.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce has welcomed the introduction of a global building supplies giant to support the Christchurch rebuild, which could see long-term benefits for New Zealanders.

The world’s second largest building supplier, Knauf Plasterboard— along with major New Zealand manufacturer, Winstone Wallboards — have been awarded Government procurement contracts to supply an estimated $40 million worth of plasterboard systems for the residential rebuild effort.

Cabinet has been updated on Mr Bain’s application for compensation for wrongful conviction and imprisonment at its meeting today, says Justice Minister Judith Collins.

“I have updated my colleagues on the status of Mr Bain’s application. Cabinet has not made any decision on the next steps for the application.

“As Mr Bain’s application falls outside the Cabinet guidelines, Mr Bain has no entitlement to compensation. Any decision regarding compensation is entirely at Cabinet’s discretion,” Ms Collins said.

The Government is establishing a company to act as a bridging investor for regional water infrastructure development, Primary Industries Minister David Carter announced today.

In 2011 the Government signalled plans to invest up to $400 million in regional-scale schemes to encourage third-party capital investment.  Cabinet has now directed that $80 million for the initial stages of the company’s operation be set aside in Budget 2013.

The Government is establishing a company to act as a bridging investor for regional water infrastructure development, Primary Industries Minister David Carter announced today.

In 2011 the Government signalled plans to invest up to $400 million in regional-scale schemes to encourage third-party capital investment. Cabinet has now directed that $80 million for the initial stages of the company’s operation be set aside in Budget 2013.

Consumer Affairs Minister Simon Bridges has announced a ban on the sale of sets of small high powered magnets that have caused serious injuries in New Zealand and at least one reported death in Australia.

Youth Affairs Minister Paula Bennett congratulates the 100 young people accepted onto the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme which is running this week.

Prime Minister John Key today announced a series of changes to the National-led Government’s Cabinet, refreshing a Ministerial team which is firmly focused on delivering results for New Zealanders.

Mr Key confirmed the Government’s nominee for Speaker to replace the departing Lockwood Smith will be long-serving National MP and Cabinet Minister David Carter.

“I’m pleased to announce David Carter as the Government’s nominee for Speaker and I’d like to thank him for his service as a Minister,” Mr Key says.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has welcomed the release of new data that compares what students earn after studying different subjects and at different levels in New Zealand.

The data is from the new Ministry of Education report, Moving on up - What young people earn after their tertiary education, andwas gathered by matching information from Inland Revenue with tertiary qualifications data.

Science and Innovation Minister Hon Steven Joyce today announced an eight-member board to lead Callaghan Innovation—the new Crown entity that will better connect New Zealand firms with science, engineering and technology, in order to drive the innovation and commercialisation of products and services and economic success.

“The Callaghan Innovation Board consists of members with a broad range of skills and expertise and the right mix of business and science experience relevant to the high-value manufacturing and services sector,” Mr Joyce says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, next week to attend the African Union Executive Council.

“A quarter of the world’s states are members of the African Union, and Africa is of increasing interest and importance to New Zealand,” Mr McCully says.

“This visit provides an opportunity for New Zealand to engage on a range of important regional issues.”

Thousands of New Zealanders have taken time out to camp and relax in Department of Conservation campsites around the country this summer, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson says.

DOC manages more than 300 campsites from Kapowairua (Spirits Bay) in Northland to Rakiura/Stewart Island.

The most popular campgrounds in the North Island are Maitai Bay (Northland) and Waikawau Bay (Coromandel) with 30,000 visitors (bed-nights) for the 2010/2011 season. In the South Island Totaranui is the most-used with 29,000 users for that period.

The number of people on benefits in New Zealand is the lowest it’s been at the end of a December quarter since 2008.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says the number of people on benefits decreased by nearly 12,000 in the last twelve months.

“But with 339,095 people on benefit in New Zealand, there is much more work to do.”

“We are very much in a transitional phase with the first stage of Welfare Reform currently being implemented and the second stage yet to begin,” says Mrs Bennett.

More New Zealanders are using the free 24-hour health advice phone line, with nearly 400,000 Healthline calls answered last year – 40 per cent more calls than four years ago.

“The increased number of calls shows what a valuable service Healthline provides to New Zealanders,” says Health Minister Tony Ryall.

“When someone is sick or hurt, especially our children, people often worry and need reassurance they are doing the right thing.

Education Minister, Hekia Parata, has extended her condolences to Chair Greg Hollister-Jones and Principal Eoin Crosbie of Bethlehem College over the deaths of participants in their mission partnership programme in Kenya.

Brian and Grace Johnston and Caitlin Dickson died in a minivan accident while travelling to the small village of Mahanga.

“I have conveyed my condolences to Greg and Eoin this morning, extending to the school community and families during this time,” says Ms Parata.

Bay of Plenty MP and Health Minister Tony Ryall has expressed his sympathy to the family of Brian and Grace Johnston who were killed in a bus accident in Kenya this week.

“Grace and Brian were active and well liked members of the Bay of Plenty community and they will be sorely missed.

“I pay tribute to Brian Johnston’s long and dedicated service to Bay of Plenty health services - yesterday would have been his 26th anniversary at Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

Trade Minister Tim Groser has welcomed the OECD-WTO’s estimates of “Trade in Value-Added” at the launch of the new database in Paris.

“This new data estimates trade in value-added terms, which helps convey the interdependencies of global value chains and reveal who ultimately benefits from trade,” Mr Groser says.

“Engaging internationally is crucial to all countries’ future prosperity. New Zealand is especially well connected to global value chains in the agriculture and food sectors.”

Health Minister Tony Ryall welcomes the news that a dedicated stroke unit is opening at Tauranga Hospital next week.

“This is great news for the 300 Bay of Plenty residents who suffer from a stroke each year,” says Mr Ryall.

“The unit will be led by a professor who specialises in stroke care and has been recruited by the district health board (DHB) from Britain.

“Research shows a dedicated stroke unit prevents many people from having a more severe stroke and significantly improves a patient’s recovery after a stroke.

Overview

Nearly three thousand more children most vulnerable to rheumatic fever will join the Government’s battle against the third world disease when they start back at school this term.

The children are from 24 schools in Northland and Waikato.

“Rheumatic fever is largely preventable, yet it can develop into a life threatening heart disease if left untreated,” says Health Minister Tony Ryall.

Trade and Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser will depart for Europe today to attend international trade and climate change meetings.

The focus of Mr Groser’s visit will be the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland from 23-27 January, along with meetings in Geneva.

Prime Minister John Key will visit Antarctica from 17 to 21 January to highlight New Zealand’s interests and activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

Mr Key will visit New Zealand science and environmental management programmes, view New Zealand’s historic hut conservation projects, and participate in a ceremony celebrating the installation of Maori artwork at Scott Base.

Proposals in an Inland Revenue officials’ issues paper released today would bolster the taxation of highly leveraged investments made by foreigners, through changes to the thin capitalisation rules, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said.

“I referred in December to upcoming proposals for strengthening New Zealand’s tax laws and I am pleased to see these now released,” he said.

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha, tēnā koutou katoa.

Thank you for inviting me here today. This is my first official speaking engagement for 2013 and what better way to begin the working year than with a visit here today with Te Taitimu Trust – an iwi based organisation that is focusing on the future of their rangatahi.

To all the rangatahi who have come here to take part in this leadership wānanga – I congratulate you and acknowledge you for participating in what I am certain will be an inspiring and challenging five days.