Commerce Minister Craig Foss has congratulated the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) on its world-leading online registration system.
“This new system is the best in the world. It removes the need for paper filing, cuts down on processing times, reduces compliance burdens and introduces much greater capabilities for Kiwi entrepreneurs,” says Mr Foss.
More than [...]

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams tomorrow travels to Seoul for the 2012 Korea Australia and New Zealand (KANZ) Summit, and the World Information and Communications Summit.
The summits, in Seoul from May 14-16, bring together Government, industry, research and policy representatives to share insights into their experiences in broadband and to explore joint ventures [...]

New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) is working well overall, says Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser.
Speaking at the opening of a carbon sink forest in Marlborough owned by NZ Carbon Farming, Mr Groser says that the NZ ETS was creating the desired shift towards renewable energy and investment in forestry. There were also [...]

I would like to begin by thanking the President of Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders, Willie van Heusden, for inviting me to speak at your annual conference. I’m delighted to be here and to be able to speak to a theme of considerable personal and professional interest to me – namely whether or not Intra-Asia [...]

Justice Minister Judith Collins has asked the Law Commission to fast-track its recommendations for reducing the harm caused by cyber-bullying.
Ms Collins says the Government is extremely concerned about the growing incidence of this abhorrent bullying and the devastating effects it can have on young people.
“Young people’s lives are increasingly enmeshed in social media and they [...]

Budget 2012 will provide $7.6 million over the next four years for an education programme that gives schools and children a hands-on approach to looking after the environment, Environment Minister Amy Adams and Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples announced today.
Enviroschools and Te Aho Tu Roa (the Maori immersion approach) encourage children, their schools and their [...]

People with social housing needs, including low-income, vulnerable families, are to benefit from funding administered by the Social Housing Unit (SHU).
Housing Minister Phil Heatley has announced the first tranche of funding from the Niche segment of the $37.35 million Social Housing Fund.
“This is tightly targeted funding that is carefully managed by non-government housing providers who [...]

The Education and Tertiary Education Ministers have today released a draft programme to guide the renewal of the education network in greater Christchurch following the Canterbury earthquakes.
“Directions for Education Renewal in Greater Christchurch” is the result of several months of engagement with education leaders, teachers, young people, business leaders, stakeholders, and Ngai Tahu.
It outlines a [...]

New immigration family policies will help New Zealand attract and retain skilled migrants, and ensure that their family members can settle well and are self-sufficient, says Immigration Minister Nathan Guy.
“We are making changes to give priority to migrants who can make a real contribution to New Zealand. Overall we expect these changes will eventually save [...]

The Government’s campaign to stamp out a third world disease reached Porirua today with a new school throat swabbing programme – part of a $24 million five-year campaign to reduce rheumatic fever.
Launching the expanded throat swabbing programme at Holy Family School in Porirua with Prime Minister John Key, Associate Health Minister and Māori Party co-leader [...]