Dec 1, 2017 - Kia ora tatou. Good morning. Thank you to the Salvation Army for giving me the opportunity to be with you here today. I want to acknowledge the housing NGOs, the activists, campaigners and community organisers, including the Living Wage Movement, for the work you do in our communities fighting for social justice. This is my first opportunity to set out the direction of our housing policy, since being sworn in as Minister in our new Labour-NZ First Coalition Government supported by the Greens. I am going to talk about the future of state housing, and the…

Nov 28, 2017  -  Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker welcomed United Kingdom Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox today in Wellington.  “Secretary Fox and I have had an opportunity to discuss a range of issues of shared interest and to reflect on the areas of our bilateral trade relationship where we may be able to do more” says Mr Parker. Minister Parker and Secretary Fox expressed commitment to maintaining maximum certainty and stability in bilateral trade and investment conditions as the UK prepares to leave the EU. This would include a seamless transition of the…

Nov 28, 2017  -  The next four weeks will mark further significant progress for the Labour-led Government on our 100 Day Plan, says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. “When my government was sworn in just over four weeks ago we promised action and we’ve made huge strides on many issues already. “By Christmas we’ll make further important progress, putting families at the heart of everything this government does. “On Thursday we will pass legislation extending Paid Parental Leave – lifting it to 26 weeks by July 2020. This will be of huge benefit to working families and the well-being of their…

Nov 28, 2017  -  Political scientist Bryce Edwards calls on public servants, academics and journalists to form a coalition to fix the Official Information Act.  Calling all journalists, academics, public servants, political activists, and members of the public who believe in the need for government to be more open with its information. We need to form a coalition to fix the Official Information Act (OIA). It’s time for everyone who believes in reforming the OIA processes to join together and campaign to make that actually happen. Such a coalition could guide the new government in making the necessary changes so…

Nov 27, 2017  -  The Minister of Police, Stuart Nash, today joined New Zealand Police in launching a new recruitment campaign aimed at attracting hundreds of new cops to join next year. The eye-catching new video campaign is aimed at recruiting officers from a range of backgrounds and ethnicities to help serve their communities and keep the country safe. “The Government has a vision of improving the wellbeing of all New Zealanders and I believe Police can play a big part in this.” That is why the Labour and NZ First coalition government is striving towards hiring 1,800 sworn officers.…

Nov 27, 2017  -  The Government is refusing to release a secret document with directives for new ministers, despite Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters promising it would be made public. National leader Bill English has called for the agreement to be made public, saying it is "at the heart of the governing arrangements" for the new Government writes Sam Sachdeva for Newsroom. The existence of the 38-page document was first revealed by Peters the day after Labour and New Zealand First signed a more slender eight-page public coalition agreement. Speaking to media after the allocation of ministerial portfolios, he described…

Nov 23, 2017  -  Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Revenue Minister Stuart Nash today announced the Terms of Reference for the Tax Working Group and that the Group will be chaired by Sir Michael Cullen.  “Our 100 Day Plan includes the establishment of a Tax Working Group. The Working Group will consider changes that would improve the structure, fairness and balance of the tax system,” says Grant Robertson.  “This Government is committed to a fair and progressive tax system. It is important that New Zealanders have confidence in their tax system and know that everyone is paying their fair share.”…

Nov 23, 2017  -  Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Revenue Minister Stuart Nash today announced the Terms of Reference for the Tax Working Group and that the Group will be chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. “Our 100 Day Plan includes the establishment of a Tax Working Group. The Working Group will consider changes that would improve the structure, fairness and balance of the tax system,” says Grant Robertson. “This Government is committed to a fair and progressive tax system. It is important that New Zealanders have confidence in their tax system and know that everyone is paying their fair share.”…

Nov 22, 2017  -  In politics, timing is everything. So it might have been inopportune amid a faux furore over Auckland Council business-class travel spending for Mayor Phil Goff to have to made public the details of his two-week sojourn to Europe and Britain.  Goff, however, has been around too long in the public eye, and is too much of a swot, to allow his time astride the world stage to be portrayed as some cosy junket writes Tim Murphy on Newsroom. Instead, in full-press workaholic mode, he has revealed in a written report to councillors an eye-watering work programme…

Nov 21, 2017  - MBIE commissioned Market Economics to evaluate the potential economic impact of an Auckland-based 36th America’s Cup. In summary it estimated the following:   · From 2018-2021 provides between $0.6 - $1.0 billion in value add to New Zealand’s economy and an employment boost of between 4,700 and 8,300. The range reflects different assumptions around the number of syndicates competing, visiting super yachts, international tourists and the cost of hosting.   · Impacts positively on sectors like services, manufacturing (mainly around boat building and super yacht refits) and tourism, including food, retailing and accommodation.   · The cost-benefit analysis for…

17 Nov 2017  -  New Zealand intends to become a leader in the global fight against climate change, Climate Change Minister James Shaw has told a major United Nations climate change conference. Mr Shaw delivered the New Zealand National Statement at 11.45pm (NZ time) on Thursday at the COP23 conference. Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio is also at COP23. Overnight, New Zealand also joined an international “Powering Past Coal” alliance committed to phasing out the use of coal for electricity generation, led by Canada and the UK. “I have set out to the international community our new government’s…