Latest Parliament Headlines [Page 3]
Questions for Oral Answer - August 7
Wednesday, 7 August 2013, 11:49 am | Office of the Clerk
1. JAMI-LEE ROSS to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he received about international market reaction to the potential whey protein contamination issue? More >>
Minister welcomes new Director-General to DOC
Wednesday, 7 August 2013, 11:49 am | New Zealand Government
Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith today welcomed the State Services Commission’s announcement of Lou Sanson as the new Director-General of the Department of Conservation. More >>
National failing job seekers
Wednesday, 7 August 2013, 11:46 am | Green Party
Household Labour Force statistics out today show that unemployment remains at high levels, rising to 6.4 percent for the June 2014 quarter. More >>
$7.9m to improve drinking-water in small communities
Wednesday, 7 August 2013, 11:29 am | New Zealand Government
Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced approval of $7.9 million in subsidies to help small communities establish or improve their drinking-water supplies. More >>
National acts for its Chorus mates, not Kiwis
Wednesday, 7 August 2013, 11:25 am | New Zealand Labour Party
National has given its mates at Chorus a huge windfall by proposing to keep the price of copper broadband at the more expensive level of fibre broadband, Labour’s Communications and IT spokesperson Clare Curran said today. More >>
NZ First Proposes Independent Review Panel For GCSB
Wednesday, 7 August 2013, 10:38 am | New Zealand First Party
New Zealand First has put forward amendments to the Government Communications Security Bureau legislation to create an independent panel to oversee the GCSB’s information gathering activities. More >>
Major reform of workplace health and safety
Wednesday, 7 August 2013, 9:49 am | New Zealand Government
The most significant reform of New Zealand’s workplace health and safety system in 20 years has been announced today by Labour Minister Simon Bridges. “The Working Safer package represents a major step change in New Zealand’s approach to meet ... More >>
Launch of the Telecommunications Act discussion document
Wednesday, 7 August 2013, 8:46 am | New Zealand Government
This means we are faced with a clear challenge; to help New Zealanders take advantage of digital opportunities, we must ensure they have early access to high-quality, competitively-priced services based on world-leading technologies. More >>
Review to provide certainty to consumers, industry
Wednesday, 7 August 2013, 8:43 am | New Zealand Government
Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams has today released a discussion document that formally begins a review of the telecommunications regulatory framework. More >>
Minister visits Healthline and Plunketline
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 7:08 pm | New Zealand Government
Minister visits Healthline and Plunketline Health Minister Tony Ryall says Healthline and Plunketline have geared up their resources to help keep parents and the public updated about recent infant formula recalls. Visiting both health call centres in ... More >>
Questions and Answers - August 6
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 6:54 pm | Office of the Clerk
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) : This question is to the Prime Minister and asks: does he stand by all of the answers given on his behalf to Oral Question No. 5 on 29 May 2013? More >>
Hiroshima Day remembered - visit of international activist
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 5:23 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
The cross-party group, New Zealand Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (NZPNND), today commemorated the two occasions on which nuclear weapons have been used in war 68 years ago. More >>
Defence of empty houses rings hollow
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 5:03 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
Housing Minister Nick Smith’s defence that 3700 vacant state houses is a very small number shows how out of touch he is with the desperate need for state housing, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. More >>
Samoa school fees scheme launched
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 4:28 pm | New Zealand Government
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today launched the Secondary School Fee Grant Scheme at Alofi O Taoa School on Savai’i, Samoa. More >>
No good news in growing list of complaints
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 4:25 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
Growing numbers of health care horror stories make a lie of Tony Ryall’s ‘better, sooner, more convenient’ mantra, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says. More >>
Clear rules needed for goods repossession
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 3:55 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
The Government needs to take action to rein in aggressive repossession agents, says Labour’s Consumer Rights and Standards spokesperson Carol Beaumont. More >>
Inconsistencies and Contradictions from the PM’s Office
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 2:57 pm | New Zealand First Party
Parliamentary questions have revealed major inconsistencies in statements by the Prime Minister and his Chief of Staff regarding the Henry Inquiry, claims New Zealand First leader Rt Hon Winston Peters. More >>
David Shearer response to Ministerial Statement on Fonterrra
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 2:42 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
Mr Speaker, Our priority today and over the next few days is making sure that parents here and abroad have the accurate information they need to ensure that their children are safe. As a parent, I understand how anxious they’re feeling. More >>
Infant formula update 3
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 2:34 pm | New Zealand Government
Health Minister Tony Ryall and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye say a public information campaign is underway to inform parents about the voluntary recall by Nutricia of two lines of infant formula that may be contaminated. More >>
Youth Services making a difference
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 2:06 pm | New Zealand Government
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says young people are responding well to the new way of working with Youth Services. “We introduced welfare changes for young people to help them into work quickly so they can lead positive, productive ... More >>
Dunne’s GCSB review as toothless as MMP review
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 1:42 pm | Green Party
A review of the GCSB, one of the amendments conceded to Peter Dunne by the Prime Minister in exchange for his crucial vote on the GCSB bill up today, is as toothless as the MMP review, the Green Party said today. More >>
Questions for Oral Answer - August 6
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 12:26 pm | Office of the Clerk
1. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of the answers given on his behalf to Oral Question No. 5 on 30 May 2013? More >>
Sale of Historic Home to Nats Appalling Says Peters
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 12:09 pm | New Zealand First Party
The sale of an historic Wellington house that was home to four prime ministers and several cabinet ministers should never have been sold to the National Party, says Rt Hon Winston Peters. Mr Peters, who lived in the house in Pipitea Street himself ... More >>
Infant formula update
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 8:38 am | New Zealand Government
Health Minister Tony Ryall and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye have welcomed a voluntary recall by Nutricia of two lines of infant formula that may be contaminated. More >>
NZ and Viet Nam sign double tax agreement
Monday, 5 August 2013, 5:16 pm | New Zealand Government
Revenue Minister Todd McClay has welcomed the signing today of a new double tax agreement between New Zealand and Viet Nam. The signing took place following official talks in Viet Nam between Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang and New Zealand’s ... More >>
Primary Industries Ministry has questions to answer
Monday, 5 August 2013, 5:06 pm | Green Party
Parents need clear information about which baby formula is safe in the wake of the Fonterra product recall, the Green Party said today. More >>
PM welcomes visit of Papua New Guinea PM
Monday, 5 August 2013, 4:17 pm | New Zealand Government
Prime Minister John Key is welcoming the first bilateral visit to New Zealand by Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, later this week. More >>
Parliamentary Private Secretaries appointed
Monday, 5 August 2013, 4:17 pm | New Zealand Government
Prime Minister John Key has appointed Parliamentary Private Secretaries to assist in the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, Conservation, Local Government and Tourism portfolios. More >>
Minister of Justice receives advice on Teina Pora case
Monday, 5 August 2013, 1:21 pm | New Zealand Government
Justice Minister Judith Collins has received advice from officials regarding calls to re-examine the Teina Pora case. Concerns have been raised about the convictions of Mr Pora in 1994 and again in 2000 for the rape and murder of Susan Burdett. More >>
Privacy Bill puts timely pressure on Govt
Monday, 5 August 2013, 1:14 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
The Privacy Commissioner would have been able to launch her own inquiry into the breach of a journalist’s privacy under a law being proposed by Labour MP, Sue Moroney. More >>
“Why Politics Matters”
Monday, 5 August 2013, 10:47 am | New Zealand First Party
For better or worse, it has the capacity to change the world on a grand scale. More >>
McCully to visit Samoa and Cook Islands
Monday, 5 August 2013, 9:38 am | New Zealand Government
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will visit Samoa and the Cook Islands this week to meet leaders ahead of this year’s Pacific Islands Forum in the Marshall Islands. More >>
Update on infant formula
Monday, 5 August 2013, 8:46 am | New Zealand Government
Health Minister Tony Ryall and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye advise parents and caregivers to follow the updated Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) advice on potentially contaminated infant formula in New Zealand stores. More >>
Miscarriage of justice warrants inquiry
Sunday, 4 August 2013, 11:52 am | New Zealand Labour Party
There is nothing stopping Minister of Justice, Judith Collins, from setting up an inquiry into the Teina Pora case, and in light of the Police Association call to do so, she should now give the issue her urgent attention. More >>
Govt must step up efforts to save Cook Islands language
Sunday, 4 August 2013, 11:46 am | New Zealand Labour Party
The Cook Islands Language Week from 4 – 10 August should serve as a reminder to the Minister of Pacific Islands Affairs, that simply saying it is up to the community to maintain their language is not good enough. More >>
Amendments aimed at reducing gambling harm
Sunday, 4 August 2013, 11:40 am | New Zealand Labour Party
Labour's Internal Affairs Spokesperson Trevor Mallard has today released a series of amendments to Te Ururoa Flavell’s Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill that seek to reduce the harm caused by problem gambling. More >>
Trading partners informed of contamination of food products
Sunday, 4 August 2013, 11:27 am | New Zealand Government
Trade Minister Tim Groser has today confirmed NZ is working closely with our trading partners to keep them informed of the potential contamination of some products made from whey protein concentrate contaminated with the botulism bacteria. More >>
Food Safety Minister says heed advice on infant formula
Sunday, 4 August 2013, 11:22 am | New Zealand Government
Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye is encouraging consumers to heed the advice on potentially contaminated products provided this afternoon by the Director General of Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). More >>
Energy Minister joins ‘switched on’ celebrations
Sunday, 4 August 2013, 11:01 am | New Zealand Government
Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges today joined in celebrations in Reefton to mark the town switching on the lights 125 years ago. More >>
Teina Pora needs Action Now - Maori Party
Saturday, 3 August 2013, 3:14 pm | The Maori Party
Māori Party Co-leader, Te Ururoa Flavell, has praised the Police Association for turning the heat up and calling for an independent inquiry into the circumstances around the conviction of Teina Pora, saying it highlights the seriousness of the issue, and the urgent need for action. More >>
Privacy breaches and cover ups on Key’s head
Saturday, 3 August 2013, 2:11 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
The Henry Inquiry directly asked for the release of emails and phone logs between Andrea Vance and Peter Dunne, completely contradicting the claims made by John Key that the release was a mistake by a contractor in Parliamentary Services, says Labour ... More >>
Prime Minister’s chief of staff needs to step aside
Saturday, 3 August 2013, 12:33 pm | Green Party
“The latest Henry Inquiry revelations show that the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Wayne Eagleson, bears responsibility for the release of the of Dunne/Vance emails to the Henry Inquiry. Mr Eagleson must now step aside until the full facts ... More >>
Prime Minister And David Henry Must Front And Explain
Saturday, 3 August 2013, 12:29 pm | New Zealand First Party
Rt. Hon. Winston Peters is calling on the Prime Minister and David Henry to explain serious contradictions in both of their past statements on the GCSB leak inquiry. More >>
Key’s media spying scandal deepens
Friday, 2 August 2013, 7:32 pm | Green Party
John Key’s media spying scandal has deepened with revelations that his inquiry received full copies of journalist Andrea Vance’s emails, Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today. More >>
Past time for John Key to accept responsibility
Friday, 2 August 2013, 7:29 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
The release by Parliamentary Services of the full content of emails between a journalist and former Minister Peter Dunne is a result of pressure from the Prime Minister’s office, says Labour Leader David Shearer. More >>
Cook Islands language to be showcased and celebrated
Friday, 2 August 2013, 5:16 pm | New Zealand Government
Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, Hekia Parata says next week’s Cook Islands Language Week is a great way to help ensure the Cook Islands language lives and grows. More >>
Re-planting on One Tree Hill/Maungakiekie takes step forward
Friday, 2 August 2013, 5:13 pm | New Zealand National Party
The re-planting of One Tree Hill/Maungakiekie is a step closer after Parliament passed the first reading of legislation to settle Auckland iwi’s collective interests in the Tāmaki Makaurau region’s iconic volcanic cones, Maungakiekie Member of ... More >>
Dunne “Shocked Beyond Belief” About Email Release
Friday, 2 August 2013, 5:07 pm | United Future NZ Party
United Future leader Peter Dunne says he was “shocked beyond belief” to learn this afternoon the Parliamentary Service had handed over to the Henry inquiry copies of the content of emails between himself and journalist Andrea Vance. More >>
Government housing Bill mustn’t override local democracy
Friday, 2 August 2013, 3:41 pm | Green Party
The Green Party supports Local Government New Zealand’s call for the ‘over-ride’ clause in the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Bill, Green Party housing spokesperson Holly Walker said today. More >>
Wolak comments mischaracterised
Friday, 2 August 2013, 3:41 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
Reports in the media have claimed that Professor Wolak, a world-leading expert on electricity markets from Stanford University, recently said that single buyer electricity markets do not work. More >>
Cost of storm sign of things to come
Friday, 2 August 2013, 3:24 pm | Green Party
New figures estimating the cost of the June storm to the country are even more concerning given the increase in extreme weather events that we face, the Green Party said today. More >>
FoodBowl partnership announced
Friday, 2 August 2013, 3:03 pm | New Zealand Government
Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced the joint venture ownership agreement for New Zealand Food Innovation Auckland Ltd, which is trading as The FoodBowl – Te Ipu Kai. More >>
Healthy homes deserve decent investment
Friday, 2 August 2013, 2:42 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
National’s targeted insulation scheme, announced after it cut the hugely successful Warm Up New Zealand scheme in May’s Budget, will see thousands families continue to suffer in cold, damp homes, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. More >>
Board of Inquiry to consider Basin Bridge proposal
Friday, 2 August 2013, 2:40 pm | New Zealand Government
Environment Minister Amy Adams has today announced that an application for the Basin Bridge proposal will be decided by an independent Board of Inquiry. The application by the New Zealand Transport Agency relates to a two-lane, one-way bridge on the ... More >>
Minister Should Investigate Shonky Student Visas
Friday, 2 August 2013, 2:06 pm | New Zealand First Party
The Immigration Minister should spend some time investigating the thousands of invalid student visas issued by his department while he is in China pretending to be important, says Rt Hon Winston Peters. More >>
Top Issues in the Revenue Portfolio
Friday, 2 August 2013, 2:04 pm | New Zealand Government
Minister of Revenue, Todd McClay has today released Inland Revenue’s supplementary Briefing to the Incoming Minister (known as the BIM) that outlines the key issues facing the tax system. More >>
World Breastfeeding Week marked
Friday, 2 August 2013, 1:56 pm | New Zealand Government
Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today marked World Breastfeeding Week by visiting a Big Latch On event at the Timaru Women’s Community Centre. “Breastfeeding provides babies with the optimum nutrition for the beginning of their lives, protects ... More >>
Green Party : Talley’s and Foreign Charter Vessels
Friday, 2 August 2013, 12:15 pm | Green Party
The Green Party would like to congratulate Talley’s strong and consistent position against Foreign Charter Vessels (FCVs) operating in New Zealand’s waters, and it is great that the National Party has decided not to progress the exemption for settlement ... More >>
Snapper 1 Fishery Decision Must Change
Friday, 2 August 2013, 11:24 am | United Future NZ Party
UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne strongly supports calls by recreational fishers for the Ministry of Primary Industries to dump planned new catch limits for recreational fishers in the Snapper 1 Fishery from October this year. More >>
Health services focused on colonoscopy waits
Friday, 2 August 2013, 10:55 am | New Zealand Government
Health Minister Tony Ryall says major work is underway to reduce how long patients wait for diagnostics tests, such as colonoscopies. More >>
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