Search

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley welcomes today’s release of benefit figures which show year-on-year benefit numbers continue to track downwards.

There were 309,145 people on benefit at the end of the December 2014 quarter.

“Compared with last year there are more than 12,700 fewer people on welfare. This is the lowest December quarter since 2008 and the third consecutive quarter (June, September, December) with such record lows.” Mrs Tolley says.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says ill-informed criticism of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s operation involving illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean ignores the success of the operation.

“The offshore patrol vessel Wellington and its crew have done a very good job in very challenging conditions in the Southern Ocean.

“They have successfully located, tracked and intercepted these vessels, and obtained the necessary evidence and documentation to enable further enforcement steps to be taken by the appropriate authorities.

Prime Minister John Key will travel to the United Kingdom, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Switzerland next week, attending meetings of the World Economic Forum and International Democrat Union.

In London, Mr Key will meet with Prime Minister David Cameron, Opposition Leader Ed Miliband, the Governor of the Bank of England and business leaders.

The Prime Minister will then travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina to Chair a meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Democrat Union and also meet with the President and the Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says HMNZS WELLINGTON has so far hailed and attempted to board two of the illegal vessels in the Southern Ocean, and that Captains of both vessels refused to allow the New Zealand Navy to board.

“Overnight Equatorial Guinea told us that they consider the three vessels located in the Southern Ocean to be operating illegally and agreed New Zealand should board the vessels to verify their flagged status,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says a third illegal fishing vessel has been discovered operating in the Southern Ocean during a patrol by the HMNZS WELLINGTON.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry today announced a new Yealands Family Wines partnership with the Department of Conservation that will provide more than $100,000 over three years for conservation initiatives on and around the Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds.

“Winemaker Peter Yealands is renowned as a leader in sustainable wine production and his company’s values of environmental sustainability are reflected in its significant contribution to conservation on the Queen Charlotte Track and in Queen Charlotte Sound,” says Ms Barry.

New Zealand’s agritechnology exports are worth approximately $1.2 billion annually, and there is a big opportunity to grow them further according to the latest research into the sector, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said today.

Government Communications Security Bureau Director, Ian Fletcher, is stepping down after three years in the role for family reasons, Minister Responsible for the GCSB, Christopher Finlayson, announced today.

“Mr Fletcher has been instrumental in the significant improvements that have taken place at the GCSB over the past three years, where he has led the implementation of the Kitteridge Review and increased the public openness and accountability of the organisation,” Mr Finlayson said.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley has paid tribute to former Children’s Commissioner John Angus who died this week after battling illness.

“Dr Angus, who served as Commissioner for Children between 2009 and 2011, was devoted to improving the lives of New Zealand children,” says Mrs Tolley.

“Beginning his distinguished career as a social worker in Dunedin, Dr Angus rose through the management ranks of the country’s social welfare system focused on improving social policy and services for vulnerable children and their families.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse has asked New Zealand Police to undertake a review of the public messages that underpinned the 2014/15 Summer Road Safety campaign.

"While I firmly support Police's zero tolerance for poor driving behaviour that can lead to death and injury on our roads, I also support the application of discretion as articulated in the 4kph summer tolerance used in fixed speed cameras and the vast majority of mobile devices," Mr Woodhouse says.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Craig Foss says those offered passes in the third tranche of the Gallipoli 2015 ballot have just three days left to accept their place at this year’s Anzac Day commemorations.

The 194 successful applicants have until 11:59pm on 15 January to accept the offer of two attendance passes and confirm travel arrangements for themselves and their accompanying person. 

“It’s likely a small number of passes will become available to the wait list after the January 15 deadline,” Mr Foss says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today put illegal fishing vessels operating in the Southern Ocean on notice and vowed to take action against their owners.

“As part of a multi-agency operation, the HMNZS WELLINGTON has intercepted two vessels claiming to be flagged to Equatorial Guinea, fishing illegally in the Southern Ocean,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister McCully has welcomed the peaceful transition of power in Sri Lanka over the weekend, and congratulates Sri Lanka’s new President Maithripala Sirisena on his victory in Thursday’s Presidential election.

“Over twelve million Sri Lankans cast their votes in a peaceful and orderly election on 8 January," Mr McCully says.

Associate Minister of Conservation, Hon Nicky Wagner today encouraged New Zealanders passionate about conservation to seek nomination for conservation boards, before nominations close on 20 January.

“Kiwis love to get out and about during the summer months. As well as enjoying our magnificent country, we are also passionate about looking after it,” Ms Wagner says.

Prime Minister John Key has strongly condemned the violent attack on the offices of the Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris.

“This horrific attack has reportedly left 12 people dead and others fighting for their lives,” Mr Key says.

“Our thoughts are with the families of those who have lost loved ones, those injured in this brutal attack, and the people of France.”

The French authorities have confirmed the shooting was politically motivated.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomed New Zealand taking up its seat as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

“New Zealand’s term on the Security Council will place us at the heart of international decision-making for the next two years,” Mr McCully says.

“The Security Council is currently considering some of the most pressing issues the international community faces, including; the dire humanitarian situation in Syria, ISIL, and Ebola.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is encouraging anyone travelling on the roads this summer to make safety a priority.

The provisional holiday road toll for 2014/15 is 17.

“Any death or serious injury on our roads is one too many. My profound sympathies go out to the family and friends of those killed or injured this holiday season,” Mr Foss says.

“Provisional data suggests alcohol, speed or both contributed to 12 of the holiday period fatalities.

The provisional road toll for 2014 is 297, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

“Each number in the road toll represents a lost life — someone who will forever be missed by their family, friends and community.  That’s the real impact of crashes on our roads,” Mr Foss says.

“Let's also not forget that for every fatality, there are dozens more people hurt — many of them seriously, leaving them and their families to cope with life-long and debilitating injuries.”

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC has paid tribute to former President of the Court of Appeal, Rt Hon Sir Ivor Richardson, who has died at the age of 84.

"It is hard to think of anyone who has made a more substantive contribution to the law and social policy than Sir Ivor Richardson,” Mr Finlayson said. “His was a career marked by excellence in everything he did.”

Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga welcomes the New Year’s Honours awarded to people who have served the Pacific community.

“My congratulations go to this year's worthy recipients,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga.  “Service to family and the community is one of the core Pacific values. These outstanding individuals have worked for decades to serve and help their communities.”

This year’s recipients include:

MNZM
Ben Taufua, Auckland, for services to the Pacific community.

Ethnic Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga congratulates the recipients of New Year’s Honours who have served their ethnic communities.

"These outstanding people have worked tirelessly to support their respective communities,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga. “Their efforts help ensure that people of diverse cultures maintain their own heritage while joining the wider New Zealand community.”

This year’s recipients include:

ONZM

Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith is welcoming new consumer protections that will require builders to have written contracts, provide information on their relevant skills, experience and qualifications, and disclose their insurance and warranty cover from tomorrow.

“These new requirements are about improving how building work is contracted in New Zealand. They ensure increased professionalism, open disclosure and clear expectations about what work is to be done, at what price, and in what timeframe,” Dr Smith says.