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Consumer Law Reform Bill passes first reading

09 February 2012 8:06pm | New Zealand Government

Hon Chris Tremain Minister of Consumer Affairs 9 February 2012 Media Statement Consumer Law Reform Bill passes first reading More >>

Questions And Answers Feb 9

09 February 2012 5:45pm | Office of the Clerk

1. GARETH HUGHES (Green) to the Minister for Primary Industries : Will he extend the Taranaki set net ban after the recent death of a Maui’s dolphin in a fishing net? More >>

Key should be held accountable for free political hit

09 February 2012 5:41pm | New Zealand Labour Party

John Key should be held accountable for his decision to host an hour long pre-election radio show against advice from officials who warned extreme care should be taken, says Labour’s Deputy Leader Grant Robertson. More >>

Government tenders for disaster

09 February 2012 5:37pm | Green Party

The Government’s decision to open up 25 new blocks for oil and gas exploration is an old fashion economic strategy that ignores New Zealand’s potential to lead the world in renewable energy generation, the Green Party said today. More >>

Protection must be more than hot air

09 February 2012 5:14pm | New Zealand Labour Party

The Government must guarantee that there are adequate environmental protections in place before charging ahead with deep sea oil and gas exploration, Labour's Energy spokesperson Moana Mackey says. More >>

Government has eyes wide shut

09 February 2012 4:53pm | New Zealand Labour Party

National is continuing to distance itself from a party official’s involvement in programmes with political implications, despite admitting that the Broadcasting Minister is in fact accountable for the inappropriate behaviour of NZ on Air board members, ... More >>

Minister inaction will make him accessory to extinction

09 February 2012 4:10pm | Green Party

The Government has today confirmed it will not take steps to further protect the critically endangered Maui’s dolphins following the recent death of one in a set net off the coast of Taranaki, the Green Party said today. More >>

Report on CTV building collapse devastating

09 February 2012 3:52pm | New Zealand Labour Party

The report on the CTV building’s collapse after the 22 February earthquake last year will have a devastating impact on the families of the 115 victims, says Labour’s Earthquake Recovery spokesperson Lianne Dalziel. More >>

Report into CTV building collapse released

09 February 2012 3:51pm | New Zealand Government

The release today of the technical report into the collapse of the CTV building in Christchurch will be a tough day for the friends and families of those who lost their lives in the building, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and ... More >>

2012 proposed block offer released

09 February 2012 3:39pm | New Zealand Government

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley has welcomed the latest “block offer” process for awarding oil and gas exploration permits in selected areas, released today by the Ministry of Economic Development. The 2012 proposed block offer covers ... More >>

Tougher Prison Sentencing Bill Coming

09 February 2012 3:34pm | New Zealand First Party

New Zealand First will be putting forward a Private Members’ Bill to give judges the option of imposing ‘short, sharp sentences’ for repeat offenders. More >>

Racing Safety Fund open for applications

09 February 2012 3:06pm | New Zealand Government

The Minister for Racing Nathan Guy has announced that applications for the next round of the Racing Safety Development Fund are now open. More >>

Joyce: Asia Pacific Science Policy Studies Conference

09 February 2012 2:46pm | New Zealand Government

I’m going to take the liberty of this being my first speech in the Science and Innovation space to place the sector in the context of the challenging economic times that the world is facing and where I see Science and Innovation fitting in and helping ... More >>

Steady progress in job numbers

09 February 2012 1:30pm | New Zealand Government

The fall in unemployment from 6.6 per cent to 6.3 per cent in the December 2011 quarter is further evidence the economy is heading in the right direction, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says. More >>

Jobless looking for real solution

09 February 2012 1:14pm | New Zealand Labour Party

John Key would do well to find a real solution, rather than an elegant one, to the jobless dilemma, Labour’s Employment spokesperson Su’a William Sio says. “Statistics out today show that employment is only just keeping pace with the growth in the working ... More >>

Minimum wage an insult

09 February 2012 12:54pm | Mana Party

“When John Key says lifting the minimum wage too much might cost jobs, all he’s doing is pandering to his rich mates in the Employer’s Federation” said MANA leader Hone Harawira. More >>

Blog: A stingy evidence-averse decision on the minimum wage

09 February 2012 12:49pm | Green Party

As I predicted in my blog post last week, John Key’s Government has announced today what amounts to a nil increase in the minimum wage – a paltry increase of 50c an hour. The nominal increase is 3.8% – but at the same time the Consumer Price Index ... More >>

Questions for Oral Answer - Feb 9

09 February 2012 11:57am | Office of the Clerk

1. GARETH HUGHES to the Minister for Primary Industries: Will he extend the Taranaki set net ban after the recent death of a Maui’s dolphin in a fishing net? More >>

Selling SOEs = Higher Power Costs

09 February 2012 11:32am | Mana Party

“News that Mighty River Power is increasing its prices should set alarm bells ringing for those struggling to pay their power bill” said MANA leader Hone Harawira “because Mighty River Power is one of the five State Owned Enterprises being prepared for ... More >>

Parker vs Brownlee: Sideshow or showdown

09 February 2012 11:30am | New Zealand Labour Party

The awkward ‘make-up, break-up’ relationship between the Government and the Christchurch City Council is putting unnecessary stress on Cantabrians, says Labour’s Earthquake Recovery spokesperson Lianne Dalziel. More >>

Healthline clocks up 2.5 million calls

09 February 2012 11:26am | New Zealand Government

Health Minister Tony Ryall has joined the Healthline team celebrating the 2.5 millionth call to the free 24-hour health advice phone line. Mr Ryall met the parents of a young girl who believe their daughter's life may have been saved by the advice she ... More >>

Service delivery before cost-cutting

09 February 2012 10:23am | New Zealand Labour Party

The people of Whanganui need a guarantee from the Government that a proposal to move acute maternity services to Palmerston North is about safety and not simply about saving money, Labour’s Health spokesperson Maryan Street says. More >>

Questions And Answers Feb 8

09 February 2012 10:09am | Office of the Clerk

1. DAVID SHEARER (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister : Does he stand by his statement in the House yesterday, in answer to Oral Question No 2, that his Government is selling assets because “New Zealanders want less debt, more productive ... More >>

Raft of changes to better protect children

09 February 2012 9:48am | New Zealand Government

Hon Paula Bennett Minister for Social Development Minister of Youth Affairs 9 February 2012 Media Statement Learning results in raft of changes to better protect children Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says a Ministerial Inquiry into a case ... More >>

Decision on aerially assisted trophy hunting applications

09 February 2012 9:38am | New Zealand Government

Thursday, 9 February 2012 Media Release Decision on aerially assisted trophy hunting applications Sixteen aerially assisted trophy hunting (AATH) concessions are to be granted by Associate Conservation Minister Peter Dunne under the Wild Animal Control ... More >>

Privacy (Information Sharing) Bill passes first reading

08 February 2012 9:45pm | New Zealand Government

Justice Minister Judith Collins has welcomed the first reading of a bill to improve information sharing between public service agencies. More >>

Assaults on officers to be aggravating factor

08 February 2012 9:39pm | New Zealand Government

8 February 2012 Media Statement Assaults on Police, Corrections officers to be aggravating factor at sentencing A bill which makes offending against Police and Corrections officers an aggravating factor at sentencing passed its second reading in Parliament ... More >>

Paltry increase in minimum wage won’t help workers

08 February 2012 9:22pm | New Zealand Labour Party

Paltry increase in minimum wage won’t help workers The paltry 50 cent increase in the minimum wage will do little to help Kiwis who are working hard but simply can’t earn enough to support their families, says Labour Leader David Shearer. ... More >>

Asenati Lole-Taylor: Maiden Speech

08 February 2012 6:02pm | New Zealand First Party

Mr Speaker, I join the previous speakers in congratulating you on your appointment as speaker of the House along with your deputy and assistant speakers. More >>

Denis O’Rourke: Maiden Speech

08 February 2012 5:45pm | New Zealand First Party

On this occasion I would like to extend greetings to New Zealand First supporters throughout the country, More >>

Richard Prosser Maiden Speech

08 February 2012 5:14pm | New Zealand First Party

And may I add my voice to those who have offered you their congratulations on your re-election. More >>

PM can’t duck this one; McElrea needs to go

08 February 2012 5:07pm | New Zealand Labour Party

The involvement of a National Party official, closely linked to the Prime Minister, in making decisions about a taxpayer-funded documentary on Whanau Ora - a controversial government initiative - demonstrates high level political cronyism and interference, ... More >>

Andrew Williams, New Zealand First: Maiden Speech

08 February 2012 5:03pm | New Zealand First Party

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, fellow New Zealanders, Kia Ora It is a great honour to be here in the New Zealand Parliament, our nation’s House of Representatives as a New Zealand First Member of Parliament. It is no wonder that the Beatles song ... More >>

Wage Increase Won’t Help Youth Unemployment

08 February 2012 5:00pm | ACT New Zealand

National’s decision to increase the training and new entrants’ minimum wages at a time when 23 per cent of youth are unemployed is not helpful, ACT Parliamentary Leader John Banks said today. More >>

Wage Increase Won’t Help Youth Unemployment

08 February 2012 4:59pm | ACT New Zealand

Smith’s bragging can’t hide clear breach of Act

08 February 2012 4:55pm | New Zealand Labour Party

In a feeble attempt to bolster National’s half-baked efforts to recover costs over the grounding of the Rena, Nick Smith has clearly breached the Resource Management Act, says Labour Deputy Leader and Environment spokesperson Grant Robertson. More >>

Tracey Martin, New Zealand First: Maiden Speech

08 February 2012 4:52pm | New Zealand First Party

Firstly can I begin by congratulating you on your reappointment to the Speaker’s Chair and to take this moment to acknowledge this house. To recognise its importance, a whare where vital discussions are held and binding decisions are made but to also ... More >>

National selling assets returning 18.5% on average

08 February 2012 3:59pm | Green Party

The National Party is planning to sell state-owned assets (SOEs) making an average total shareholder return of 18.5% over the last five years, the Green Party said today. More >>

Christchurch recovery threatened by muddied process

08 February 2012 3:56pm | New Zealand Labour Party

Earthquake tsar Gerry Brownlee has been caught out passing the buck on the heart of Canterbury’s recovery—the Central City Plan-- in an attempt to cover-up serious faults in the Christchurch rebuild, says Labour’s Canterbury Earthquake Recovery ... More >>

National’s motorway projects poor quality spending

08 February 2012 2:45pm | New Zealand Labour Party

Billions of dollars allocated to state highways is now confirmed as ‘poor quality spending’, says Labour’s Transport spokesperson Phil Twyford. “National loves to tell everyone to tighten their belts, but for some reason their pet motorway projects ... More >>

Wage rise lost in translation

08 February 2012 2:31pm | New Zealand Labour Party

The Government’s failure to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour is a lost opportunity to address soaring income inequality in New Zealand and assist low income families that are struggling to makes ends meet, Labour’s spokesperson on Labour ... More >>

Workers Minimum Wage Rise A Pittance, says Peters

08 February 2012 1:55pm | New Zealand First Party

New Zealand First describes the fifty cents an hour minimum wage rise as an insulting pittance. The minimum wage will increase from $13 to $13.50 an hour and the training and new entrant minimum wage will increase from $10.40 to $10.80. More >>

Minimum wage rise “lacks courage, fails to deliver”

08 February 2012 1:53pm | The Maori Party

The Maori Party has condemned a minimum wage rise of only 50 cents an hour as lacking the political courage and strategic vision required to reduce poverty and address wide income disparities. More >>

Minimum wage increased to $13.50

08 February 2012 12:55pm | New Zealand Government

The Government will increase the minimum wage from $13 to $13.50 an hour, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson announced today. The training and new entrants’ minimum wages will increase from $10.40 to $10.80 (or 80% of the adult minimum wage). More >>

Government needs to take survey on board

08 February 2012 12:53pm | New Zealand Labour Party

The dearth of women board members in New Zealand – highlighted in a survey which ranks us as the worst in the Asia/Pacific region – is due to a lack of leadership from the Government, Labour’s Women’s Affairs Spokesperson Sue Moroney says. ... More >>

Questions for Oral Answer - Feb 8

08 February 2012 12:47pm | Office of the Clerk

1. DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement in the House yesterday, in answer to Oral Question No 2, that his Government is selling assets because “New Zealanders want less debt, more productive assets, and an economy ... More >>

Double shock for Kiwi electricity users

08 February 2012 11:56am | New Zealand Labour Party

Rising electricity prices will only be exacerbated by privatisation of state-owned power companies, and it is Kiwi consumers who will pay, Labour’s Energy spokesperson Moana Mackey says. More >>

Whanau Ora - Transforming Real Lives

08 February 2012 11:09am | New Zealand Government

Hon. Tariana Turia, Minister for Whanau Ora has responded to remarks made by Winston Peters on Whanau Ora, calling the comments " inaccurate, mischievous and misinformed." More >>

Minister welcomes Year of the Dragon

08 February 2012 10:41am | New Zealand Government

Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins will join members of the Chinese community to mark the most important festival on the Chinese calendar this evening. More >>

Speech: Turia - School of Maori Education

08 February 2012 9:36am | New Zealand Government

Te Uru Märaurau – School of Maori Education A collaboration between Runanganui o Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori and Massey University Launch of Te Aho Tätairangi Maori medium teacher education Hon Tariana Turia, Co-leader of the Maori Party Tuesday ... More >>

Identity verification service bill passes first reading

08 February 2012 9:17am | New Zealand Government

Bill supporting identity verification service passes first reading Internal Affairs Minister Amy Adams has welcomed the first reading of a bill that will make it easier for people to verify their identities to government agencies. The Electronic Identity ... More >>

Questions And Answers Feb 7

07 February 2012 7:44pm | ParliamentToday.co.nz

(uncorrected transcript—subject to correction and further editing) TUESDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 2012 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS More >>

New reporting dates announced for Royal Commission inquiry

07 February 2012 5:54pm | New Zealand Government

The Governor-General has amended the reporting dates for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure caused by Canterbury Earthquakes, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. More >>

Illegal laser use endangers pilots and travellers

07 February 2012 4:48pm | New Zealand Labour Party

The unlawful targeting of aircraft by reckless laser users is endangering the safety of both pilots and travellers, says Labour’s Transport Safety spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway. More >>

Hola, hola, holiday

07 February 2012 4:24pm | New Zealand Labour Party

Moving public holidays which fall at the weekend to Monday would ensure New Zealanders are not deprived of well-deserved statutory breaks, Labour’s MP for Dunedin North David Clark says. More >>

Pike River Royal Commission reporting date extended

07 February 2012 4:23pm | New Zealand Government

On Cabinet’s advice, the Governor-General has extended the reporting date for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Pike River mine tragedy to 28 September 2012, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. More >>

The Treaty and the Queen

07 February 2012 4:13pm | Mana Party

MANA leader and Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira certainly isn’t letting any opportunities to promote the Treaty go by. More >>

Peters Questions Whanau Ora Funding

07 February 2012 3:45pm | New Zealand First Party

New Zealand First has accused the government of wasting millions of dollars of tax-payers’ money on Whānau Ora handouts. In parliament today Rt Hon Winston Peters called on the prime minister to explain the ‘Whānau Integration, Innovation and Engagement ... More >>

MP aims to include treaty into oath

07 February 2012 2:36pm | The Maori Party

Māori Party MP, Te Ururoa Flavell, is proud that the first bill the Maori Party has submitted in the 50th Parliament was the Oaths and Declarations (Upholding the Treaty of Waitangi) Amendment Bill. More >>

Freephone number to empower consumers

07 February 2012 1:00pm | New Zealand Government

Consumer Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says a new freephone number will help empower and protect consumers from being preyed on by unscrupulous loan companies. More >>