Scholarships 2012 are now open for applications from Maori students seeking support to either start or finish their studies in health related courses.
“These scholarships have been established to support Maori to enter into health related fields of study, while also recognising their contribution to their community,” said Hon. Turia
“They are funded through the Maori Provider [...]

The Government will deliver Budget 2012 on Thursday, 24 May, Finance Minister Bill English announced today.
“It will focus on implementing the Government’s clear and comprehensive plan to build a more productive and competitive economy,” he says.
Within that plan, the Government has set out its priorities. They are:
• Responsibly managing the Government’s finances.
• Building a more [...]

A new project designed to attract highly skilled workers to New Zealand is a great example of collaboration between the Government and the private sector, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says.
Speaking at the Medical Technology conference in Auckland today, Mr Joyce said 12 New Zealand health technology companies – including Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and [...]

The latest quarterly results for the six National Health Targets show record improvements.
“District Health Boards are focusing even more strongly on patients, and patients are benefiting from the Government’s $1.5 billion extra funding over the past three years,” says Health Minister Tony Ryall.
“These achievements have undoubtedly been helped by the fact that DHBs employed an [...]

The Government is providing $6 million to support Pacific peoples enter into trades training in 2012 and 2013 to assist with the Christchurch rebuild, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce and Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Hekia Parata announced today.
The initiative, part of the Government’s wider Skills for Canterbury contingency package of [...]

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today announced that stage one of the National-led Government’s comprehensive welfare reforms will get underway next month.
Delivering better public services is one of the Government’s four key priorities for its second term and welfare reform is central to that.
The welfare reform programme will put a clear emphasis on work availability, [...]

The first stage of welfare reforms announced today build on the success of Future Focus changes says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.
“Just by requiring people to reapply for the Unemployment Benefit after one year, so far 12,500 have cancelled their benefit, saving $17 million.”
Of that number, more than half didn’t even complete the application and [...]

Justice Minister Judith Collins has asked the Justice and Electoral Committee to defer consideration of the Legal Assistance (Sustainability) Amendment Bill, until completion of the Family Court Review.
“Many of the changes in the Bill relate to family matters and it would make more sense to align and take into account decisions arising from the Family [...]

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson on behalf of the Government today congratulated actor and musician Bret McKenzie for winning best original song in the Academy Awards.
He won the award for penning the song Man or Muppet, from The Muppets Movie, and joins fellow Wellingtonians Sir Peter Jackson and Sir Richard Taylor as an [...]

Prime Minister John Key says that Australian Governor-General, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce AC CVO, will visit New Zealand later this month.
Ms Bryce will be accompanied by her husband, His Excellency Mr Michael Bryce, on the five-day visit and will have engagements in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
“It will be my pleasure to welcome Her Excellency [...]