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Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today announced the Ministerial appointments to the governing council of the new tertiary institution for Canterbury, which merges Aoraki Polytechnic and Christchurch Institute of Technology (CPIT).

The Ministerial appointees are Jenn Bestwick as Chair of the new institution, Janie Annear as Deputy Chair, and Elizabeth Hopkins and Stephen Collins as council members. 

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced two new appointments to the Northland Polytechnic (NorthTec) council.

“I am pleased to welcome Wayne Jackson and Bronwyn Yates into their new roles at NorthTec. They are both high-calibre appointees who bring valuable knowledge and experience to the council,” Mr Joyce says.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

New food safety regulations under the Food Act 2014 will allow businesses to keep their costs down by managing food safety well says Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew.

“These new regulations are designed to help businesses as well as consumers,” says Mrs Goodhew. “It will help us keep pace with changes in science and technology, and bring efficiencies for business.”

  • Jo Goodhew
  • Food Safety

Consultation has opened today on a discussion paper by the Ministry of Health on actions to address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

The public are invited to make submissions to the Ministry until February 26, 2016.

The Government has committed through the National Drug Policy, to publish a cross-government Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Action Plan in the 2015/16 year.

  • Peter Dunne
  • Health

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is welcoming the completion of additional road safety measures on the West Coast ahead of the busy summer holiday period.

NZ Transport agency contractors this week completed the installation of 55 kilometres of rumble strips on State Highway 6 between Hokitika and Haast and 12 road safety billboards throughout the region.

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

Three reports released today show New Zealand met its target for reducing emissions under the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and is on track to meet its 2020 target, Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett says.

“New Zealand’s second biennial report to the United Nations shows that we met our target for the period from 2008-2012 through a combination of emissions reductions, carbon removal by forests, and international trading,” says Mrs Bennett.  

  • Paula Bennett
  • Climate Change Issues

Solid economic growth in recent months confirms the Government’s programme of economic management is on track to deliver more jobs and ongoing wage rises for New Zealanders, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Statistics New Zealand reported Gross Domestic Product expanded by 0.9 per cent in the three months to September – slightly higher than Treasury’s Half-Year Update forecast of 0.6 per cent.

This meant annual economic growth was 2.3 per cent since September 2014. Average annual growth was 2.9 per cent.

  • Bill English
  • Finance

Corrections Minister Judith Collins has announced the government will provide additional funding of $17.6 million to the Department of Corrections.

“The funding will address cost pressures from the greater than expected prison population growth and enhancements to electronic monitoring,” Ms Collins says.

“Despite significant progress in reducing crime and improving public safety, the number of prisoners has been increasing at a rate consistently above forecasts.

  • Judith Collins
  • Corrections

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a new resource will support midwives, nurses and doctors to inform parents about infant immunisation.

“New Zealand’s infant immunisation rate for eight month olds has increased significantly in recent years to almost 94 per cent. Support from midwives, nurses and doctors has been an important factor in this increase,” says Dr Coleman.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Health

The next round of the New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Fund opens for applications today, Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner has announced.

“NZSL is central to Deaf culture and identity, and is crucial to Deaf people’s ability to communicate and fully participate in society,” Ms Wagner says.

“The second round of the NZSL Fund seeks proposals for NZSL community-led projects that strengthen NZSL, especially in the home, within whānau, hapū and iwi, and within the Deaf community.

  • Nicky Wagner
  • Disability Issues

A new disclosure scheme will make it easier for Police to disclose a person’s violent criminal past to a concerned partner or friend.

Justice Minister Amy Adams and Police Minister Judith Collins welcomed the new Family Violence Information Disclosure Scheme as the latest in a series of improvements and new services available to family violence victims.

Justice Minister Amy Adams says the scheme will help reduce the incidents of family violence in the home and potentially save lives.

  • Amy Adams
  • Judith Collins
  • Justice
  • Police

Trade Minister Todd McClay has welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations on the expansion of the World Trade Organisation Information Technology Agreement (ITA) in Nairobi, Kenya.

“This agreement will remove tariffs from 201 products, including new-generation semi-conductors, GPS navigation systems, MRI machines, telecommunications satellites and touch screens.  

  • Todd McClay
  • Trade

Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry today announced the appointment of three additional members to the Auckland Unitary Plan independent hearings panel.

“The remaining Auckland Unitary Plan hearings include significant work relating to site specific hearings on the rural urban boundary, rezoning and precincts. The additional members will help ensure the panel meets its deadline of delivering recommendations to the Auckland Council on the proposed Unitary Plan by 22 July 2016,” Dr Smith says.

  • Nick Smith
  • Maggie Barry
  • Environment
  • Conservation

Associate Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Nicky Wagner is delighted work will soon begin to enhance Christchurch’s iconic Bridge of Remembrance.

“Today I have released images showing the new design for the bridge and its surrounds, which I think will ensure this memorial is of a standard befitting those whom it commemorates,” Ms Wagner says.

  • Nicky Wagner
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

A new safe house in Hamilton will help women and children escaping from family violence start to get back on their feet, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

The property, provided by Housing New Zealand for Waikato Women’s Refuge Te Whakaruruhau, was opened today and is well situated for medical services, supermarkets, public transport, parks and other community infrastructure.

It replaces a property first occupied by Te Wakaruruhau nearly 20 years ago that had become unsuitable for the refuge because of its location and configuration.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Housing

Trade Minister, Todd McClay, today issued a call for public submissions on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between New Zealand and the European Union (EU).

“New Zealand enjoys a close and long-standing relationship with the EU and last year concluded a Partnership Agreement on Relations and Cooperation.  A modern, high-quality FTA is the missing link in our important relationship,” says Mr McClay.

  • Todd McClay
  • Trade

The latest report by the Environmental Protection Authority on the use of 1080 in New Zealand provides further reassurance to the public that the poison is safe and is being used responsibly, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

An assessment of local government civil defence organisations shows their capabilities continue to improve across New Zealand, says Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye.

“The assessment of New Zealand’s 16 regional Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) groups began last year and was carried out by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM),” says Ms Kaye.

  • Nikki Kaye
  • Civil Defence

Prime Minister John Key has announced over $5 million worth of assets seized from criminals will be invested in anti-drug initiatives.

A total of 13 initiatives will receive a share of the $5.105 million made available in the latest round of funding under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act. 

Details of the funding were announced today along with the release of the latest Indicators and Progress Report for the Government’s Methamphetamine Action Plan.    

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

More than 1000 people have so far made their voices heard in the development of a new national Health of Older People Strategy, says Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

More than 20 workshops and meetings have been held by the Ministry of Health around the country this year to gather information on what works well for older people and what needs improvement before the strategy is drafted.

“We want to make sure older people live well, stay well and have a dignified end of life when that time comes,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

  • Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
  • Health

Thousands of visitors have taken the chance to experience the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington since it opened in April this year, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.

“In April the park attracted 16,116 visitors with a further estimated 50,000 at the Anzac Day Dawn Service, and numbers have remained high,” Ms Barry says.

  • Maggie Barry
  • Conservation
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams has announced a range of board appointments to some of New Zealand’s iconic broadcasting institutions.

“Across the board, these appointments will see a mix of new experience and valuable continuity retained at a time when we are looking at the impact of convergence on the sector,” Ms Adams says.

  • Amy Adams
  • Broadcasting

Good morning.  It’s my pleasure to host you in Parliament for this morning’s Block Offer awards for 2015.

It is clear that this has been a challenging year for the sector.  New Zealand has, along with the rest of the world, felt the ramifications of the global commodity price, which has been lower for longer as a result of increased supply and decreased demand.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Energy and Resources

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges today announced the award of nine new oil and gas exploration permits for Block Offer 2015.

Block Offer 2015 includes three onshore permits and six offshore permits, all in the Taranaki Basin.  Collectively the permits include a committed work programme expenditure of $4.4 million, with the potential of more than $364 million if all contingent work is realised.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Energy and Resources