“The role of pharmacists is evolving and we need to ensure that we have a plan in place to respond and harness these changes,” says Dr Coleman.

“Pharmacy has the ability to provide more care to people with long term conditions and older patients so they can live longer healthier lives away from hospitals and in their own communities.

“This plan helps set out how we can make better use of the knowledge and skills of our pharmacy workforce.

“It will help ensure pharmacy services are better integrated with other health professionals in multi-disciplinary teams.”

The Draft Pharmacy Action Plan 2015-2020 sets out a direction for pharmacy services under five themes:

Population and personal health – pharmacists providing public health interventions that enable people to stay well
Pharmacist clinical services – pharmacists working collaboratively as part of an integrated team to deliver a range of medicines management services
Acute demand management – patients having equitable and timely access to self-care advice, treatment of minor ailments, acute demand triage and appropriate referral
Dispensing and supply services – more effective use of the pharmacy workforce and technology to streamline the dispensing and supply process
Prescribing pharmacists – prescribing pharmacists contributing to better health outcomes by improving medicines management.
A copy of the draft plan can be downloaded from the Ministry of Health website, here. The document will be available for feedback until 23 November 2015.

“Record numbers of Chinese tourists are travelling to New Zealand — 310,000 last year alone. Many are opting to self-drive and it’s important we help them do so safely,” Mr Foss says.

The ‘Driving Safely in New Zealand’ leaflet is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Transport, New Zealand Transport Agency, New Zealand Police, Tourism New Zealand, the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Chinese Embassy.

“The leaflet, part of an ongoing body of work focussing on the safety of visiting drivers, will be distributed with every approved visa. This is yet another way to spread the road safety message to this key tourism market,” Mr Foss says.

“Whether borrowing, buying or renting a vehicle in New Zealand, the leaflet contains important information on road safety and local conditions.

“Of course, every country wants its citizens to be safe when travelling abroad. I recently met representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, Australian, German and Chinese embassies to discuss how best to educate and inform visitors from their countries. I was pleased to see many already have measures in place. For example, the UK includes road safety information on its travel advisory website

“As well as educating and informing drivers, we’re making changes to road infrastructure — this means more centre-line rumble strips, keep left arrows and no passing lines.

“The Tourism Industry Association and Rental Vehicle Association are also developing a range of resources, including a code of practice for rental vehicle companies.

“Together, these improvements will help make the roads safer for everyone,” Mr Foss says.

“People seem to be learning about the change. The amount of tobacco abandoned at airports by those not wanting to pay duty is dropping from the 100 kilograms Customs was initially collecting every week,” Ms Wagner says.

“The change was well signalled in advance and advertising to highlight the change continues. Customs’ passenger surveys show most people are aware of and accept the change in regulations.

“Customs recorded over 7,600 individual transactions for people choosing to pay duty, with the total collected in the six months adding to over $1.35 million.

“Nonetheless, 2.5 tonnes of cigarettes and tobacco left at airports is an incredible amount, and I’m pleased Customs is actively supporting the aim of making New Zealand smoke-free by 2025,” Ms Wagner says.

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga welcomed the reduction in the amount of tobacco being brought into New Zealand through airports.

“The amount, 2.5 tonnes, is staggering. Every time a traveller abandons their tobacco at Customs or decides not to bring it in at all, is a victory for our health system.

“The fact that people appear to be aware of the changes to our duty-free tobacco limits and accept them is confirmation that our Government’s policies are making a real difference.

“We are determined to reduce the harm tobacco causes and the cost to our health system. The new duty-free tobacco limits, together with tax increases on tobacco sold in New Zealand, are pricing tobacco out of reach of many users. This is reflected in the numbers of smokers giving up tobacco,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Notes for editors

From 1 November last year, passengers have to declare any tobacco over the 50 cigarettes or 50 gram limit, and either dispose of the excess or pay duty on it. Tobacco sent by mail or cargo also no longer qualifies for a gift allowance.

Passengers can go to www.whatsmyduty.org.nz, or www.customs.govt.nz to calculate charges on cigarettes, tobacco and other goods, or get the free What’s My Duty app.

Youth Service provides intensive wrap around support for young people, getting them help with paying bills, budgeting and parenting, and supporting them into education.

“The Youth Service has been very successful, with 86.5 per cent of clients engaged in education, training or work-based learning at the end of March 2015,” Mrs Tolley says.

The Bill extends the extensive wrap around support provided by the Youth Service to at risk 18 and 19 year olds and 19 year old teen parents.

“Extending the Youth Service means more of our at-risk young people will be supported into education, training or work and be less likely to remain on a benefit long term,” Mrs Tolley says.

“The welfare reforms have already reduced the expected future time on a benefit by an average of 2.8 years for youth beneficiaries and just over half of those who left the Youth Service remained independent from benefits three months later.”

Eighteen and 19 year-olds without dependent children will be assessed when they apply for a benefit and those at risk of long term welfare dependence will receive Youth Service support.

All clients referred to the Youth Service will have a youth coach, budgeting obligations and be money managed. They may also receive incentive payments when they meet certain obligations.

Teen Parents referred to the Youth Service also have an obligation to attend a parenting course, enrol their children with a Primary Health Organisation, complete Well Child checks and ensure children attend Early Childhood Education.

The extension of the Youth Service was part of the Government’s 2014 election manifesto.

“Core banking services for government haven’t been tendered for over 20 years and banking trends and technology have evolved considerably during this time,” Mr Joyce says.

“This RFP, released via GETS today, is an opportunity for payments and banking suppliers to work with government to put in place a modern banking solution that is flexible enough to accommodate future innovation.”

Mr Joyce says taking to market the banking business of core government agencies is a significant achievement in itself which will provide greater opportunities for better financial payment interaction between government, business and taxpayers.

“Providing opportunities for all government agencies under the planned new cross-government contracts will assist the Government’s better public services goal of making it easier for individuals and businesses to interact with government,” Mr Joyce says.

“An all-of-government banking solution is part of the wider Government Procurement Reform Programme aimed at making government buying as efficient as possible, encouraging innovation, reducing costs and improving competition.”

Given the major transformation programme Inland Revenue is already currently undertaking, its banking services in relation to Crown Revenue will remain with Westpac for the duration of the initial eight year term of the Transactional Banking Services contract. However Inland Revenue will participate in all of the sub-categories, including transactional banking for departmental expenses, card services and foreign exchange transactions. All other core crown agencies will participate in full in the new contract.

Respondents have at least 60 working days to complete the RFP which closes on 10 October 2014.

For more information on the all-of-government banking tender visit: http://www.business.govt.nz/procurement/all-of-government-contracts/under-development/banking-services