Christchurch Earthquake Update 3pm 23/12/11

Budget 2012: Prescription Charges Help Fund Health
Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the Government will increase the $3 prescription charge to $5 per item up to a maximum of 20 items from 1 January 2013. The savings will be reinvested in the health sector. More >>
Also:

• Announcement - PM's Post Cabinet Press Conference Held In Hospital
• Gordon Campbell - On the Rise in Prescription Charges
• Labour - User Pays Plan Confirms Failure
• Otago University - Public Health Expert Questions Prescription Charge Move
• Labour - Minister of Illness Misses the Mark
• NZ First - Don’t Increase Prescription Charges
• Govt - Budget 2012: $101m for Surgery, Cancer Services
• Govt -Budget 2012: Prescription Charges Help Fund Health
• Medicines New Zealand - Additional Investment in Health Welcomed
• Cancer Society - Good News for Cancer Patients!
• Pharmacy Guild - Payment Increase Expected
• NZMA - Extra funding for Surgery, Cancer Services Welcomed

Court of Appeal: Govt Should Pay Family Caregivers

The victory in the Court of Appeal for families caring for disabled family members should be taken notice of by the Government says Green MP Catherine DelahuntyMore >>

ALSO:

• NZ First - About Time For Landmark Disability Decision
• Labour - Government Should Drop Legal Action and Support Carers

Warm Up: Insulation programme reaches 150,000 houses
The Government’s programme to help insulate New Zealand homes has now reached the milestone of 150,000 insulated homes, Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley announced today. More >>


Also:

• Greens - Sensible Policy
• Maori Party - Proud to celebrate success of the Warm Up NZ


Solid Energy: Pike River Mine Sold

Solid Energy has completed its due diligence and signed a full but still conditional sale and purchase agreement with the Receivers to buy the assets of Pike River Coal Limited (in Receivership). The agreement remains conditional on the transfer of permits and land access agreements.

In conjunction with this, Solid Energy has made clear commitments regarding recovery of the bodies of the 29 Pike River mine workers, and entered into an agreement with the Government that sets out the roles each will play... More >>

Also:

• Receivers - Update Regarding the Sale of the Pike River Coal Mine
• Govt - Pike River mine sale welcomed
• Greens - Govt fails to honour Pike River promise
• Business.Scoop - Solid Energy could pay up to $32.5 mln for Pike River
• Labour - Trail of Broken Promises for Pike River Families



No Urewera Four Retrial

The "Urewera Four", Tame Iti, Rangi Kemara, Urs Signer and Emily Bailey, will not face retrial. In March the four remaining defendants in the Urewera case were found guilty of possessing firearms but the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the Section 98a charges of ‘Participation in an Organised Criminal Group. They were to be sentenced on the firearms offences later this month, however following the decision by the Solicitor General not to pursue a re-trial two of the defendants have now applied to have the firearms charges overturned.

October 15th Solidarity Movement - Urewera 4: State Nil "We are relieved," said Ana Cocker from the October 15th Solidarity Group in response to the announcement that the Urewera 4 will not be re-tried on Section 98a, 'Participation in an Organised Criminal Group.'More>>

TRIAL:

• No retrial for 'Urewera Four' | TV3 Video On Scoop



Trial Coverage/Summing Up:

• Scoop - Urewera Trial - Participation in an Organised Criminal Group
• Scoop - Urewera 4 - The Judge's Summing-Up
• Scoop - Urewera 4 Trial Day 24 - The Verdicts In
• Scoop - Urewera 4 Trial - The Crown's Closing Argument

REACTION:.

• Global Peace And Justice - All convictions should be quashed against Urewera Four
• Green Party - Green Party comment on Urewera verdict
• Maori Party - Urewera Four - Rotorua Supports Flavell
• The People Of Parihaka - Parihaka on the verdict for the Urewera Four
• Don Franks - Urewera Trial Comment
• CTU - Free the Urewera four

BUDGET 2012: Extra Funding for Welfare Reforms
The Budget this month will provide $287.5 million over the next four years for the first phase of the Government’s welfare reforms to help more New Zealanders into work, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says. More >>




ALSO:

• Maori Party -Environmental programme benefits schools
• Govt - Enviroschools “future focus” the way forward says Flavell
• Greens - Alternative Student Loan Repayment Solution
• TEU - No money in budget, just shuffling and cuts
• AUSA - Students deeply concerned at support cuts
• Labour - Black Budget for Students
• Govt - Budget 2012 – Sticking to a Plan That’s Working
• NZ Govt - Budget 2012 will confirm surplus in 2014/15
• Govt - John Key Pre-Budget Speech to Business New Zealand