Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says increases in vehicle travel and vehicle registrations reflect New Zealand’s economic recovery and growing population.
“Total travel [measured in kilometres travelled] was flat between 2005 and 2012, but growth returned in 2013 with a 1.6 per cent increase in total travel nationwide, and more recent data suggests larger increases are on [...]

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced approval of $9.3 million in subsidies to help small communities establish or improve their drinking-water supplies.
“The subsidies have been approved under the 2013/14 Drinking-Water Subsidy Scheme (DWSS) funding round for projects in 22 small communities across the country,” says Mrs Goodhew.
“These subsidies will help council and community [...]

Today is significant for the Kawerau community with a ceremony to mark the start of construction of new facilities at Tarawera High School, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says.
“The $15.6 million redevelopment of the school reflects the importance the Government places on raising student achievement in Kawerau and on providing a fresh start [...]

Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner says the latest Use and Trust in Official Statistics Survey shows an increasing number of New Zealanders are taking part in surveys and accessing government statistics online.
“Participating and sharing information with Statistics New Zealand benefits everyone. We need to access reliable data for social and economic planning.”
The Use and Trust [...]

Efforts to tackle youth offending are building momentum as communities and government agencies embrace the Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP).
Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows today praised the progress made during the first eight months of YCAP, the Government’s 10-year plan to reduce crime by children and young people, and help those who offend to turn [...]

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today welcomed the Joint Border Management System reaching another milestone.
More than 50 per cent of inward border transactions are now being processed through the Trade Single Window component of the system, which allows importers and exporters to submit shipment details electronically to a single point of contact, rather than dealing with [...]

Applications for the 2015 Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund are now open, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.
“The 6th of February next year marks the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty at the Waitangi grounds,” Mr Finlayson “and this Fund will again allow the opportunity to commemorate the occasion in [...]

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says the new battle training facility for the NZSAS has reached another significant milestone with the signing of a $16.2 million fit out contract with Cubic Range Design Systems.
“It is important the New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) has high quality modern training facilities as they are required to maintain the [...]

Extraordinary Care Fund grants to help children being raised by their grandparents or extended family open for application soon, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett confirmed today.
“The Extraordinary Care Fund recognises the amazing job that grandparents and extended family members do raising children who come into their care, often because of the death of a parent [...]

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says the introduction of a new state of the art drug analyser will free up hundreds of hours a year for more enforcement work at the border.
The handheld device, a Thermo Scientific FirstDefender RM, shoots a laser beam into an unknown substance, accurately identifying it in a matter of seconds. [...]