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Claims by some organisations that the Government’s proposed standards for improving water quality are lower and accept a higher chance of infection are incorrect, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

“The 2003 Ministry of Health guideline of not swimming when the level exceeds 540 E. coli/100ml remains. The 2014 NPS included in bold the statement that this is the ‘minimum acceptable state’ for swimming and it remains so.

New freshwater reforms will result in 56,000 km more fences protecting New Zealand waterways from stock – enough to go round the world one and a half times, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

The new rules on stock exclusion are part of the Government’s plans announced today setting a target for 90% of rivers and lakes to be swimmable by 2040.

Tourism spending over the summer high season continued to grow in most regions, providing jobs for regional New Zealand, Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

According to the latest Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), the fastest growing region in the year to January 2017 was Nelson, which increased 14 per cent to $344 million, followed by the West Coast up 13 per cent to $495 million, and Otago up 11 per cent to $3.5 billion.

The Government today announced a target of 90 per cent of New Zealand’s lakes and rivers meeting swimmable water quality standards by 2040, alongside releasing new policy, regulations, information maps and funding to help achieve the new goal.

“This ambitious plan to improve the water quality in our lakes and rivers recognises that New Zealanders expect to be able to take a dip in their local river or lake without getting a nasty bug,” Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

Around $800,000 will be invested to build two new classrooms at Greenmeadows School in Hawke’s Bay, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“The roll at Greenmeadows School is projected to grow, so we’re investing in these extra classrooms to provide more capacity,” says Ms Kaye.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says that the number of teen mums requiring a benefit has fallen significantly since 2009, alongside increased government support to help them and their families lead independent and successful lives.

There were 57 per cent fewer young mums on main benefits at the end of 2016 compared to 2009, down from 4,263 to 1,836.

Teen parents have some of the highest lifetime costs of any group on welfare, going on to spend more than 17 years on benefits.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has today acknowledged people with diabetes who are successfully managing the condition to live full and active lives.

“Over 250,000 people in New Zealand had been diagnosed with diabetes, with the number continuing to increase each year. Around 10 per cent of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes,” says Dr Coleman.

“The Government understands the toll the disease takes on people’s lives. The management of this long-term condition is a major health challenge for the country.”

A programme is being piloted in South Auckland to help 450 young offenders gain a full driver licence, improving road safety and reducing offending.

“Gaining a driver licence can help young people turn their lives around, get jobs and move away from crime. People in gainful employment are less likely to reoffend,” Corrections Minister Louise Upston says.

The two-year pilot is aimed at Maori offenders aged 17-24 in the community and in prison. Maori have a high proportion of convictions for licence/regulatory offences.

Trade Minister Todd McClay has welcomed the entry into force of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) saying it is a big win for New Zealand exporters.

“The TFA will benefit all New Zealand exporters and is particularly good for small and medium sized enterprises. The TFA reduces the cost, administration and time burden associated with getting products across borders and into the marketplace,” Mr McClay says.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has today announced new measures to stop employers who breach immigration and employment law from recruiting migrant workers.

“Migrant workers make a valuable contribution to our workforce and have the same rights as any other worker,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“It is simply unacceptable that those employers who exploit migrant workers are still able to recruit from the international labour market and disadvantage those employers who do the right thing.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner will travel to Beijing this week to discuss a joint work programme with her Chinese counterpart.

Ms Wagner and Minister of the General Administration of China Customs, Mr Yu Guangzhou, will discuss a wide range of topics, including joint capacity building, trade facilitation and information exchange, data analytics, officer and training exchanges, as well as enforcement activities such as joint operations, targeting and threat assessments.

Pacific People’s Minister Alfred Ngaro says Pacific language weeks give all New Zealanders the chance to celebrate our diversity.

“The dates for our seven Pacific language weeks are now set and I’d love to see kiwis using these weeks as an opportunity to celebrate our Pacific cultures and all that they contribute to modern New Zealand,” Mr Ngaro says.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has welcomed a new report showing a major improvement in bobby calf welfare last year.

“The Ministry for Primary Industries has vets at nearly every processing facility and in the 2016 season the mortality rate for bobby calves between farm and processing has more than halved, from 0.25 per cent to 0.12 percent.

Around $1.1 million will be invested to build two new classrooms at Raroa Normal Intermediate School in Wellington, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“The school has an increasing roll so we’re investing in extra classrooms to expand capacity,” says Ms Kaye.

“These new teaching spaces will be modular buildings, which means they meet standards of modern, permanent structures but have the added advantage of being more adaptable.

Around 750 young people and the marine environment from Northland to Waikato will benefit from a new $475,000 partnership providing youth volunteering opportunities with the Sea Cleaners programme, Youth Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

The programme is run by the Sea Cleaners Trust, an organisation dedicated to removing rubbish from our oceans and harbours. Since it was established in 2002, it’s helped remove over 4.3 million litres of rubbish from the sea.

The sixth anniversary of the February 22 earthquake is a significant moment for Cantabrians and all those affected by the devastating events of that day in 2011.

The Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee and Associate Minister Nicky Wagner say today’s commemorations are particularly important, as the unveiling of the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial provides those who lost a family member or friend with a dedicated place to remember and reflect.

Trade Minister Todd McClay says he is extremely confident New Zealand has a strong case following Indonesia's decision to appeal a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling in favour of New Zealand beef and horticulture exports and says he expects Indonesia to meet their WTO obligations following the appeal.

New Zealand and the United States brought a case against Indonesia disputing 18 agricultural non-tariff barriers. The WTO ruled in favour of NZ and the US on all 18 disputed point in December last year.

Good afternoon everyone.

Thank you John and IPANZ for hosting this event today.

Special guests, Ladies and Gentlemen. It’s a pleasure to be here.

Today I’m going to talk about a renewed focus on improving productivity across the public service.

Economic Outlook

At a time when many parts of the world face significant political and economic risks, the outlook for New Zealand is positive. Businesses are investing, job growth is solid and wages are rising faster than inflation.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has written to medical and pharmaceutical organisations clarifying the range of appropriately manufactured cannabis-based products that could be prescribed in New Zealand.

A special tribunal has been appointed to consider an application for a Water Conservation Order on Hawke’s Bay’s Ngaruroro and Clive rivers, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.

“The tribunal will consider an application by the New Zealand Fish and Game Council, Hawke’s Bay Fish and Game Council, Ngāti Hori ki Kohupatiki, Whitewater New Zealand, Jet Boating New Zealand, and the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand to protect the outstanding values of the Ngaruroro and Clive rivers,” Dr Smith says.

Businesses in the upper South Island and Greater Wellington areas hit by last year’s earthquake and aftershocks will be able to replace assets lost in the earthquake without immediately incurring a tax bill, Revenue Minister Judith Collins said today.

A Supplementary Order Paper to the Taxation (Annual rates for 2016-17, Closely Held Companies, and Remedial Matters) Bill released today by Ms Collins provides roll-over relief for depreciation recovery.

Pacific Peoples Minister Alfred Ngaro has expressed his condolences to the Tongan Royal Family today following the passing of Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata’aho.

“Oku mau fie kaungā mamahi moe Fale ‘o Tupou mo Ha’a Moheofo pehe ki he hou’eiki mo e kainga Tonga kotoa pe, ‘i he po’uli kuo tō ‘i Tonga kotoa ‘a e hala ‘a e Ta’ahine Kuini Fehuhu, Kuini Halaevalu Mata’aho, ko e fehuhu ‘ofeina ‘o Tonga. Tauange ke ne toka ‘i he nonga mo e fiemalie ‘a e ‘Otua,” says Mr Ngaro.

A review of New Zealand’s energy policies by the International Energy Agency (IEA) generally praises our approach while pointing out further opportunities, Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins says.

IEA Executive Director Dr Fatih Birol today released Energy Policies of IEA Countries: New Zealand 2016 Review. The IEA, an autonomous body within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), reviews the energy policies of member countries about every five years.

Opening

It’s great to be here with you all today. I’m pleased to see a diverse group of leaders from across the sector, as well as the social sector.

We have DHB Chairs, board members, CEs, clinicians and management. I also want to acknowledge our non-DHB Crown Entity leaders. Our NGO and PHO sector are also well represented.

It’s great to see other government agencies have taken this opportunity to participate in this Symposium. Improving the health and well-being of New Zealanders requires a combined effort.