Trade Minister Tim Groser today released new statistics showing spectacular growth in New Zealand’s exports to Chinese Taipei since the Economic Cooperation Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu (ANZTEC) entered into force in December 2013.
“New Zealand exporters are reaping the benefits of preferential tariff access to [...]

Revenue Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand and international companies are reaping the benefits of the billion dollar programme to modernise and simplify New Zealand’s tax administration.
“We said the transformation of New Zealand’s tax administration would use a mixture of New Zealand and international expertise – and where a New Zealand company could do the [...]

Revenue Minister Todd McClay says Inland Revenue’s Business Transformation programme is likely to take less time, cost less, and deliver more benefits than the original projections.
Mr McClay was speaking at the Trans-Tasman Business Circle, where he released two consultation papers. The first, making it simpler for businesses to manage PAYE and GST and the second [...]

Commerce Minister Paul Goldsmith today released a discussion document which seeks feedback on whether New Zealand should join an international treaty aimed at making more published material available for people with print disabilities.
The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or otherwise Print Disabled, was concluded in [...]

The latest figures released today by Statistics New Zealand showing the number of building consents across the country reaching at an eight-year high have been welcomed by Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith, who says the data confirms that good progress being made in increasing housing supply.
“There were 26,185 consents issued nationwide in [...]

The Inquiry report into Phillip John Smith / Traynor’s escape is being released alongside the Government’s response to its findings, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.
A Government Inquiry was launched in December 2014, following Mr Smith / Traynor’s abscondment while on temporary release from prison.
“I am confident that this review provides information needed by agencies [...]

Justice Minister Amy Adams and Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga have responded to the independent inquiry into matters surrounding the escape of Phillip Smith/Traynor.
The inquiry noted that while Mr Smith’s escape did not indicate fundamental problems with the overall system, it did find there were shortcomings in various agencies’ systems and processes.
The Government accepts, or [...]

Mr President,
New Zealand welcomes the Security Council debate on the resolution of conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa.
And we welcome the fact that it involves foreign ministers from so many members of this Council.
But we do not welcome the fact that today we will pass no resolution, not even agree a Presidential statement; [...]

Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has welcomed new statistics which show New Zealand will become more ethnically diverse in the future.
Figures released by Statistics New Zealand today show that across New Zealand, ethnic diversity is projected to increase over the next two decades.
“New Zealand prides itself on being a welcoming and ethnically harmonious country. [...]

Prime Minister John Key has announced New Zealand will invest $50 million over the next three years to support the transformation of the Pacific fisheries sector.
“Fisheries are the most important natural resource for the majority of Pacific nations and more must be done to conserve stocks and boost returns from this resource,” Mr Key says.
“While [...]