I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor Catton and others who have made a global impact didn’t wait around for a glossy strategy; they just went for it. That said, we must recognise that government, on behalf of all New Zealanders, pulls many levers that can help or hinder the broader sector.  It could help to articulate a vi ..read more

Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made possible by the unwavering generosity and friendship shown to us by the Turkish government and people.    We thank Governor Aktaş of Çanakkale for his unwavering support.    And we thank Mr İsmail Kaşdemir, of the Gallipoli Historical Site Directorate, for his outstanding efforts to ensure Gallipoli’s n ..read more

Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o koutou toa ki tenei  onekura tupuna, e moe, e moe.   From the distant Pacific Ocean, we arrive with humility upon your land. Our footprints and your footprints are joined forever. The fallen warriors of our people and your people rest together within your ancestral soil. Rest in peace.   We meet at dawn at the site of a great battlefi ..read more

Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial responsibilities to make sure we are best set up to deliver for New Zealanders. “It has become clear in recent months that there are significant challenges in the media sector. Similarly, we have discovered major financial issues with programmes run by the M ..read more

Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and the Chathams will be applied from April 25, along with some other changes to fisheries management settings. “I have listened to the views of tangata whenua, fishers and local communities, as well as considering scientific information, in making these changes. Local knowledge from pe ..read more

Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand Limited, and Green Impact Partners for reaching this important milestone,” Mr Brown says. “Hydrogen can play an important role in decarbonising a number of industries and sectors, such as fertiliser and methanol production, and potentially steel production. “Hydrogen could also ha ..read more

Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen the economy. To do that, it is proposing further changes to the Crown Minerals Act 1991 while balancing the need for environmental protections. “New Zealand taxpayers were left to foot the bill to decommission the Tui oilfield when Tamarind Taranaki went ..read more

Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell says. “This is not about individuals – who do an incredible job in emergency events – but the system as a whole. “Weather events and other emergencies have a huge impact on local communities and regions. Any response requires involvement from communities, local and cen ..read more

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and topics raised by others,” Mr Goldsmith says. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and I’ll be updating the UN on our plan to significantly reduce the number of youth offenders and victims of violent crime.  ..read more

Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of global strong wool production,” Mr Patterson says. “The refurbished facility will bolster New Zealand’s wool scouring capacity and capability, contributing to the local and wider economy and growing our wool sector. “Woolworks’ Awatoto sco ..read more