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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a new report shows the health workforce continues to grow and adapt to New Zealanders needs.

“New Zealanders need a health workforce that is well equipped to handle current and future demands,” says Dr Coleman.

The Health of the Health Workforce 2015 report outlines key facts and trends in the sector.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to Suva this week to meet with Fiji’s Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.

“This will be my first visit to Suva since the 2014 elections and it is an opportunity to discuss our ongoing re-engagement directly with the Government of Fiji,” Mr McCully says.

"My discussions with Minister Kubuabola and other Government representatives will cover a range of matters including regional issues, trade, and our aid and development programme.

Youth Minister Nikki Kaye has announced $25,000 of funding towards more initiatives to support LGBTI young people.

“This latest funding will help InsideOUT New Zealand deliver workshops at the 2016 Shift Hui in Wellington, and help Q-Topia deliver the RainbowYOUTH education programme in Christchurch schools,” says Ms Kaye.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew is delighted that New Zealand has been recognised internationally as the second most generous country in the world for charitable donations as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP).

Mrs Goodhew says that according to the Charities Aid Foundation, (CAF), a survey of 24 countries confirmed that New Zealanders are amongst the most generous in the world.

"Charitable giving by individuals as a percentage of GDP in New Zealand was recorded at 0.79 per cent" said Mrs Goodhew.

Associate Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Nicky Wagner has welcomed an agreement reached for a community garden and food hub on Crown-owned land in central Christchurch.

“The community garden, called Ōtākaro Orchard, is a great partnership between the Crown as landowner and the Food Resilience Network as operators on behalf of the community,” Ms Wagner says.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed an OECD study that has found New Zealand teachers are among the world’s most professional.

The Teaching and Learning International Study (TALIS) ranked New Zealand teachers fourth out of 35 participating countries, behind the Russian Federation, Estonia and Singapore.

“This is great news, and a real bouquet for our teachers,” says Ms Parata.

In New Zealand the study looked at more than 2800 Year 7-10 teachers and their principals at primary, intermediate and secondary schools.  

Two Acting District Court Judges have been appointed, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Wellington barrister and solicitor Tom Gilbert has been appointed an Acting District Court Judge with a jury warrant to be based in Christchurch. Mr Gilbert has been a partner and Senior Crown Counsel with the Wellington Crown Solicitor’s office, Luke Cunningham Clere, since 2006.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins announced today that a further $100,000 would be given to PARS to assist New Zealand offenders returning from Australia.

“PARS Incorporated (formerly known as the Prisoners’ Aid and Rehabilitation Society has provided practical support to more than 100 returning offenders so far.

“Another $100,000 will enable PARS to support more returning offenders to reintegrate and help them to live crime-free.

The new $10.2 million Marshland School was officially opened in Christchurch today by Education Minister Hekia Parata.

The new school includes a block of four learning studios and a multi-purpose hall, library and community space. It also has three new playgrounds.

“Marshland School’s innovative learning environment will be an inspiring space for kids to learn in new and exciting ways,” says Ms Parata.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today officially opened the new $13.6 million Rāwhiti School in Christchurch.

Rawhiti School was a merger between Central New Brighton, North New Brighton and Freeville Schools and the new school buildings will accommodate up to 600 students. The new school includes six flexible learning studios and a multi-purpose hall, library and community space.

The Attorney-General announced today that an appointment round for Queen’s Counsel will take place in 2016. 

Appointments of Queen’s Counsel are made by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Attorney-General and with the concurrence of the Chief Justice. The Governor-General retains the discretion to appoint Queen’s Counsel in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the law in fields other than advocacy.

New Zealanders wanting to have their say on the future of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Review have one more week to make their views heard.

Submissions on the first phase of the review close 5 PM, Friday 19 February 2016. The priority matters being considered in this phase relate to removing the transitional measure where emitters pay the cost of one unit for two tonnes of Carbon Dioxide.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has turned the first sod for construction on the new Manukau Bus Station in Auckland.

The $26 million project will deliver a high quality, 23-bay station next to the existing Manukau Train Station, connecting bus and train services.

When complete, the two stations will see trains and buses running every 15 minutes from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today launched a new initiative aimed at supporting at-risk students to stay and succeed at school.

Based in the wider Gisborne region, Year 9 Plus will assist some of the most at-risk young people by focussing the right support at the right time.

“Year 9 Plus will make sure that students who may previously have dropped out of school are supported to continue their education,” says Ms Parata.

Key figures released today show tourism is continuing to boom in almost every part of the country, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The December 2015 Accommodation Survey shows national guest nights were 6.2 per cent higher than the year to December 2014, the 21st consecutive monthly increase.

“In towns and cities across New Zealand, local communities I visit tell me about the positive impact tourism growth is having, in jobs, business growth, and a sense of being able to share what they love about their slice of paradise,” Mrs Bennett says.

Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell is delighted to unveil the portraits of two remarkable wāhine Māori who helped change the political and social landscape of Aotearoa.

The photographs of Hon Iriaka Rātana and Hon Whetū Tirikātene-Sullivan will adorn the walls of Parliament’s former Māori Affairs Committee, Matangireia.

“These women were trailblazers of their time. They led the way on issues that remain a priority today such as te reo Māori, education, employment and electoral representation,” he says.

Kia ora tātau, good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you Virginia and Bee Healthy Dental Service for inviting me to open the Selby House dental clinic, I am delighted to be able to join you.

The opening of Selby House marks the completion of the capital development component of the improved model of care for the oral health of children across the Wellington, Kapiti and Hutt Valley regions.

Cabinet has agreed to provide local Councils with more workable and equitable tools to deal with issues around the rating of unused and unoccupied Māori land.

Local councils already have the ability to remit rates on general and Māori land. However this proposed change clarifies the law around the rating of unoccupied and unused Māori land.

The changes will provide councils the ability to remove rates arrears on unoccupied and unused Māori land where there is:

One of the capital’s oldest schools, Thorndon School in central Wellington, will undergo a $9 million redevelopment, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

Thorndon School spans three centuries, having been first established in 1852.

“The redevelopment will see new teaching and administration blocks and a new library built at the school, which has experienced weathertightness issues with its current buildings,” says Ms Kaye.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced a three-year investment of $2.8 million in the Australian Synchrotron, the largest piece of scientific infrastructure in the Southern Hemisphere, to secure preferential access for Kiwi scientists.

The Synchrotron is a source of intense light ranging from infra-red to hard x-rays, and is used for a variety of research purposes. The Government funding, along with co-investment from NZ research organisations, will support the operating costs of the leading-edge research facility.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that New Zealand will provide $500,000 to help the Pacific region to counter the spread of the Zika.

“With the Zika virus now confirmed in a number of Pacific countries, New Zealand is committed to helping limit the impact and spread of the virus in the region,” says Mr McCully.

“New Zealand will provide $250,000 as a contribution to the WHO to implement the Pacific Zika Action Plan, and a further $250,000 to enable countries in the region to respond rapidly if required.

The New Zealand Government today received two international awards for the mobile apps ‘Force Fit’ and ‘Occupation Outlook.’

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce congratulated staff at the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment who developed the apps, which received Best m-Government Service Awards at the annual World Government Summit in Dubai.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says new data shows free GP visits for under 13s is making it easier for families to get the care their children need.

“The Government is committed to supporting families in giving their children the best possible start in life. Removing the cost barrier is making a real difference to many families,” says Dr Coleman.

“While it’s early days, data for Quarter One 2015/16 (July to September) show the rates of children under 13 visiting their GP is 23 per cent higher than the same quarter last year.

Fourteen new Special Housing Areas that will provide more than 4500 new homes across Auckland were announced today by Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and Mayor Len Brown.