Hon Tim Groser

Minister of Trade

19 August 2012
 
 Media Statement

Groser welcomes visiting United States Senator
 
Trade Minister Tim Groser will meet with visiting United States Senator Max Baucus this week.
 
Senator Baucus, of Montana, is Chair of the US Senate Finance Committee and influential in trade policy, especially in relation to free trade agreements.
 
“Senator Baucus’ visit presents an excellent opportunity to discuss a range of trade issues, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations,” Mr Groser says.
 
New Zealand and the United States are among nine countries currently participating in the TPP negotiations.
 
During his three-day visit, Senator Baucus will also meet with the Prime Minister, and Speaker of the House Hon Dr Lockwood Smith. He will also meet with industry, particularly in the renewable energy sector, and with representatives from Maori business.
 
Senator Baucus, a Democrat, was first elected to the Senate in 1978 and is currently the fifth longest-serving US Senator in office.
 
TPP participants include Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Viet Nam.  Mexico and Canada will join the negotiations later this year.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>