Finance Minister Steven Joyce and incoming Acting Reserve Bank Governor Grant Spencer today signed a renewed Policy Targets Agreement (PTA), which sets out specific targets for maintaining price stability. The Policy Targets Agreement takes effect on 27 September 2017, after Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler completes his term on 26 September 2017. It will apply from 27 September 2017 until 26 March 2018. There is no change from the existing agreement which requires the Reserve Bank to keep future CPI inflation outcomes between 1 per cent and 3 per cent on average over the medium term, with a focus on…

Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has today welcomed the appointment of a New Zealander to an important role at the United Nations. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has confirmed the appointment of New Zealander Jan Beagle to the position of Under-Secretary-General for Management for a term of four years. “This is a significant role with the United Nations given the new Secretary-General‘s reform priorities. It is one of a handful of very senior roles within the UN Secretariat,” Mr Brownlee says. “As the Secretary-General noted in making the appointment, Ms Beagle has had a distinguished career in the United Nations serving…

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says New Zealand is to remove restrictions around cannabidiol (CBD), in line with international developments. CBD is a substance found in cannabis that has potential therapeutic value. It has little or no psychoactive properties, yet it is currently a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. “At present CBD products for therapeutic use are only available if approval is given by the Ministry of Health. “I have taken advice from the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) that CBD should not be a controlled drug and am pleased Cabinet has now accepted my recommendation…

Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has today handed over four amphibious boats to the Fiji National Disaster Management Office at a ceremony in Suva. “New Zealand and Fiji have agreed to trial the Sealegs boats in emergency response situations and natural disasters,” Mr Brownlee says. “Amphibious boats do not require infrastructure to launch, which means the emergency responders will be able to get the vessels in the water more quickly and operate more effectively in flooded urban environments. “Fiji’s emergency responders will use the vessels to reach stranded people, as well as to get support and supplies to people who have…

Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the announcement that United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will visit New Zealand next week. Secretary Tillerson will meet with Prime Minister Bill English and Minister Brownlee in Wellington on June 6. “New Zealand and the United States enjoy a long-standing friendship,” Mr Brownlee says. “We share a deep interest in maintaining peace, prosperity and stability in the Asia Pacific region and we have worked closely together to counter terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States is our third-largest individual trading partner. “We welcome Secretary Tillerson’s visit as a chance to…

Associate Transport Minister Tim Macindoe will tomorrow travel to Germany to attend the 2017 International Transport Forum (ITF) Summit of Transport Ministers. The Summit is being held from 31 May -2 June and will bring together members from approximately 57 countries to explore the trends shaping transport governance and to identify the most pressing challenges in the global transport sector. “I look forward to being able to further strengthen the connections we have with our international counterparts and to be part of shaping the transport policy agenda on a global level,” Mr Macindoe says. Mr Macindoe will be speaking on…

Prime Minister Bill English and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated their commitment to the Trans-Pacific-Partnership (TPP) in a meeting in Tokyo today. “Both New Zealand and Japan remain committed to seeing the TPP Agreement come into force, while at the same time ensuring there are opportunities for other economies to join,” Mr English says. “The TPP remains valuable both economically and strategically for New Zealand. It will improve access for our exporters and lower tariffs around the Asia-Pacific.” Mr English and Prime Minister Abe also discussed a number of key bilateral issues, and shared their concerns on regional and…

1. Prime Minister of New Zealand the Right Honourable Bill English and Prime Minister of Japan His Excellency Shinzo Abe held a productive meeting in Tokyo on 17th May 2017. The two leaders reiterated the Strategic Cooperative Partnership between New Zealand and Japan founded on common values, such as freedom, democracy, rule of law and human rights, as well as a strong commitment to peace and security, free trade and investment, and sustainable development. 2. The two leaders acknowledged the success and maturity of New Zealand –Japan relationship at all levels, reflecting strong cooperation over many years. 3. The two…

Prime Minister Bill English will travel to Japan next week to meet with Prime Minister Abe to discuss a range of global and regional issues, before travelling to Hong Kong to promote New Zealand’s economic and trade interests. “I am looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Abe and discussing a wide range of issues, including trade and security, and initiatives our two countries are working on together in food, education, sport and defence,” Mr English says. “Strengthening our trade and economic links with Japan will be a focus, including through the Trans-Pacific Partnership. “New Zealand has long-standing and strong ties…

ABU DHABI - Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has held a telephone conversation with Gerry Brownlee, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, congratulating him on his appointment. During the telephone conversation, Shaikh Abdullah expressed his happiness as New Zealand announced that it joined the list of countries that have signalled their participation in Expo 2020 Dubai. Shaikh Abdullah and Brownlee also discussed joint cooperation relations between the UAE and New Zealand and means of boosting them. |  A Gulf News release  ||  May 09, 2017   |||

New Ambassador to Iraq announced Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee has today named Bradley Sawden as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Iraq. New Zealand established an Embassy in Baghdad in 2015 to support New Zealand and Australia’s joint ‘Building Partner Capacity’ mission. “This mission has trained over 20,000 Iraqi police and army personnel who are on the frontlines of the fight against Daesh,” Mr Brownlee says. “Mr Sawden will be charged with supporting New Zealand’s non-combat training mission to Iraq and assessing how we can continue to support and build relations with the Iraqi government. “In addition to leading New…