Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, has announced the reappointment of George Reedy as chair of Peke Waihanga – Artificial Limb Service. Mr Reedy has been appointed as chair until the end of 2024. “Mr Reedy is an experienced Chair, and I am confident that he will be able to provide sound ongoing leadership and stability for Peke Waihanga during a period of change in the wider health system,” Associate Minister for Social Development Priyanca Radhakrishnan said. “Under Mr Reedy’s leadership Peke Waihanga has gone from an organisation that focussed o ..read more

Tania June Warburton, Tania Margaret Sharkey and Ali’imuamua Sandra Alofivae have been appointed as District Court Judges, Attorney-General David Parker said today. The appointees will take up their roles in July, August and September respectively, replacing judges who are about to retire. Tania June Warburton, solicitor of Wellington, has been appointed as a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction, to be based initially in Wellington. Ms Warburton was as a judge’s clerk to the then Chief Justice, Sir Thomas Eichelbaum, before becoming Crown Counsel with Crown Law in 1999. In 2013 she wa ..read more

Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Dr Duncan Webb has today announced the appointment of Anne Callinan as the new Deputy Chair at the Commerce Commission. “Anne Callinan is a senior commercial litigation partner and the Chair of Simpson Grierson. She has over 30 years’ experience in commercial litigation, acting as a counsel in a wide range of proceedings including interim injunctions, sentencing hearings and commercial arbitrations,” Duncan Webb said. “The Commerce Commission plays a vital role in ensuring our markets are competitive and working well for New Zealand consumers. Working alo ..read more

Introduction – mihi whakatau “Mānawa maiea te putanga o Matariki, Mānawa maiea te ariki o te rangi, Mānawa maiea re Mātahi o te Tau” "Celebrate the rising of Matariki, Celebrate the rising of the Ariki of the sky, Celebrate the rising of the New Year." This invitation to join you today marks the phase of Matariki and the beginning of the Māori New Year. Today, I want to highlight the significance of fostering partnerships in our foreign policy and collaborating to devise solutions – at home, in the Pacific, our wider region and across the globe. Foreign policy has never been more important.&nb ..read more

Freshwater farm plans to help farmers improve local waterways will be progressively phased in across the country, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Environment Minister David Parker said today.  Cabinet has confirmed the freshwater farm plan regulations, which are part of the Government’s Essential Freshwater package, to improve freshwater health and management.  “Freshwater farm plans will be phased in region by region over the coming years to ensure they are practical, starting in parts of the Waikato and Southland on 1 August. This step provides farmers certainty, and they ..read more

The next step in improvements to the building consent system gets underway with the sector and public encouraged to have their say on how it could be improved, Minister for Building and Construction Dr Megan Woods says. “Following last year’s consultation, we have developed options to get a more efficient building consent system, that should minimise unnecessary delays in the building process,” Megan Woods said. “There are opportunities to improve the system, such as through better delivery of building consent services, removing barriers to alternative products being used. “Any improvements to ..read more

Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Climate Minister James Shaw have met in Wellington with their Australian counterparts, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, for the inaugural Australia–New Zealand Climate and Finance Ministers’ meeting. The Ministers discussed areas of enhanced cooperation, supporting accelerated climate action and once-in-a-generation economic opportunities that the clean energy transformation offers both countries. Ministers agreed to a joint statement, as attached, outlining an ambitious forward work programme reflecting bilateral cooperat ..read more

Legislation introduced in Parliament today will ensure New Zealand’s emergency management system learns the lessons of recent and previous responses to natural disasters, including severe weather events and other emergencies. The Emergency Management Bill replaces the two decades old Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002. “The strength of our emergency management system is that it is locally led,” Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty said. “This Bill reinforces that approach while also clarifying the role central government can play. It’s not designed as a fundamental transforma ..read more

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka met in Wellington this morning, reaffirming the strength and spirit of New Zealand and Fiji’s relationship, as outlined in the Duavata Relationship Statement of Partnership. “New Zealand and Fiji are connected by a kinship forged in Pacific culture, identity and interests, founded on our long history, friendship, and mutual respect,” Chris Hipkins said. “Prime Minister Rabuka and I exchanged views on a wide range of issues that are important to our countries and region, including strengthening our regional institutions which have ..read more