Category: New Zealand Executive Government

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Record investment to get Auckland moving

The Government and Auckland Council will embark on New Zealand’s largest ever civil construction programme to create a 21st century transport network, Minister of Transport Phil Twyford and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said today.
“Together, we will invest $28 billion over the next decade to unlock Auckland’s potential. We will be building vital projects including light rail, Penlink and Mill Rd, heavy rail and bus upgrades, safety improvements, and more dedicated cycle lanes,” says Phil Twyford.
“These much-needed investments are made possible by a $4.4 billion funding boost resulting from the Auckland fuel tax, increased revenue the National Land Transport Fund, and Crown Infrastructure Partners contributions.
“This plan is funded to deliver the projects we are committed to. The previous ATAP report, released by former Transport Minister Simon Bridges in August 2017, had a $5.9 billion funding gap. National had no plan to fix that fiscal hole, which would have meant the projects they promised couldn’t have been delivered.
“This $28 billion plan will help ease the awful congestion that has been caused by a decade of under-investment. We will create a congestion-free rapid transit network and boost other alternatives to driving to help free up the roads, enable growth, and improve safety for drivers and others,” says Phil Twyford.
Mayor Phil Goff said, “ATAP balances the need to deal with Auckland’s immediate and pressing transport needs, as well as being transformational for the future.
“ATAP reflects the need for efficient roading for green and brownfield housing development, new transport corridors and major arterial routes. But as Auckland grows we need to move from a focus on roading to a more balanced approach that promotes public transport and active transport networks.
“Auckland has to contribute its share and the regional fuel tax allows us to do that. The more than $4 billion expenditure it unlocks is critically important to progressing a better transport system for Auckland.
“To raise the same sum from rates would result in a total rate increase of over 13 per cent this year. Alternatively, to do nothing would see Auckland become increasingly gridlocked.
“New forms of revenue such as an RFT to invest in our transport network and light rail to supplement buses, ferries and heavy rail are critical for an efficient and effective Auckland transport system. Auckland’s growth means additional investment in these areas is vital for us to tackle congestion problems.
“ATAP represents a significant increase in investment in our transport network, but we still need to find innovative ways to fund further development such as PPPs, special purpose vehicles or infrastructure bonds,” Phil Goff says.
ATAP includes $1.8 billion in funding for light rail. A work programme is underway to leverage sources of investment capital outside of ATAP for light rail, and an announcement will be made soon.
Under ATAP, Auckland is expected to receive 38% of the National Land Transport Fund over the next decade, proportionate with the region’s growing share of New Zealand’s population. However, Mayor Phil Goff says that this “still falls short of Auckland’s projected 55 per cent share of the country’s population growth over the next decade”.
ATAP major investments include:
Committed projects like the City Rail Link and northern motorway improvements.
Light rail
Eastern busway (Panmure-Botany)
Airport-Puhinui State highway upgrade, including a high quality public transport link to an upgraded Puhinui rail station
Bus priority programme, to more rapidly grow Auckland’s bus lane network and support faster, more reliable and more efficient bus services
Albany-Silverdale bus improvements
Lower cost East West Link to address key freight issues in the area
Papakura-Drury motorway widening
First phase of the Mill Road corridor
Penlink (tolled)
Walking and cycling programme to expand the network and complete key connections (e.g. SkyPath)
Significant programme of safety improvements
New transport infrastructure to enable greenfield growth
Network optimisation and technology programme to make the best use of our existing network
Rail network improvements including electrification to Pukekohe, additional trains and other track upgrades
More information on the ATAP update is available at www.transport.govt.nz/atap/

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Mental health workers begin in Canterbury schools

Children in 15 Canterbury and Kaikoura schools living with the legacy of earthquakes will have access to additional people to support their wellbeing from today, says Health Minister Dr David Clark.
Seven mental health professionals, counsellors and community workers have begun working in schools in East and West Christchurch under the first stage of the Government’s initiative, Mana Ake – Stronger for Tomorrow.
“Mana Ake will allow us to focus on supporting the wellbeing and positive mental health of children who, along with their families, have been impacted by earthquakes,” David Clark said.
“This first stage is the beginning of a three year $28 million programme to have a mental health support worker available to all primary and intermediate age school children in Canterbury and Kaikoura.
“These seven include health professionals, community workers and counsellors.”
“It is important to identify and support people and their family/whanau when problems arise. Mana Ake follows the principles of prevention and early intervention,” David Clark said.
NB: These seven workers will be deployed in 15 schools. By June 2019 programme support will be available to all primary and intermediate school aged children across Greater Christchurch, the Hurunui and Kaikoura.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Regional fuel tax vote a victory for progress

Auckland Council is to be congratulated for this afternoon voting 15-2 in favour of the regional fuel tax, Transport Minister Phil Twyford says.
“The Council’s National-aligned Councillors deserve a special mention for standing up for their local communities and defying their party heavyweights.
“They are putting the interests of Auckland ahead of petty politicking.
“Today’s decision is a kick in the guts for National Leader Simon Bridges who this morning declared he would keep Auckland in the dark ages by scrapping the regional fuel tax.
“National would deny Auckland the certainty of a fully-funded transport infrastructure programme over the next 10 years that will create a congestion-free network, and unlock the enormous growth and wealth creation potential of our largest city,” Phil Twyford says.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: New High Commissioner to Barbados announced

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced the appointment of diplomat Anton Ojala as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Barbados.
“New Zealand shares a warm friendship with Barbados based on long-standing connections through the Commonwealth and the United Nations,” says Mr Peters.
“New Zealand has strengthened ties even further since it opened a High Commission in Bridgetown in 2014. Since then, the two countries have worked together to advocate for Small Island Developing States and to call for action on climate change.
“Bridgetown has also been an effective base for New Zealand to share our expertise in renewable energy, agriculture, and disaster risk management with the whole Caribbean region via our aid programme,” says Mr Peters.
The High Commission is also accredited to a number of other Caribbean states and liaises with the two major regional bodies – the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Mr Ojala is the outgoing Manager of Global Development and Scholarships at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has had diplomatic roles in the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea and Australia, and most recently in Niue as New Zealand High Commissioner. 
 
 
 

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Minister hails new Secure Exports Scheme partner

Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri today welcomed the signing of a partnership between New Zealand Customs and dairy exporter Synlait Milk Limited that will see the company joining the Customs’ Secure Exports Scheme (SES).
The Minister visited the Synlait head office in Dunsandel, near Christchurch where she presented the Certificate of Partnership signed by Customs and Synlait.
“New Zealand’s SES scheme gives members greater certainty at international borders and ensures minimal delay, and this partnership is an endorsement of the exporter’s standards of security on its chain of supply.
“Synlait is one of the country’s most successful dairy businesses with a range of value added products, including infant formula and milk powders. I’m pleased they have joined this partnership and I am confident they will find real benefits in the scheme.
Exporters approved for the SES have risk management plans that assure other countries that their goods are packed and transported securely.
Customs currently has SES agreements with the United States, China, Australia, Japan and Korea. The SES is voluntary.
“One of the government’s key priorities is to strengthen international trade and support New Zealand exporters like Synlait. We want to work with importers and exporters to find opportunities to make maximize the benefits for our trading partners,” says Hon Meka Whaitiri.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Biosecurity New Zealand launched

Minister for Biosecurity Damien O’Connor launched Biosecurity New Zealand at the Zealandia Eco-Sanctuary in Wellington today. 
It is one of four new business units created within the Ministry for Primary Industries to create a stronger focus on key areas of work, along with Fisheries New Zealand, Forestry New Zealand and New Zealand Food Safety. 
“New Zealand’s unique flora and fauna are the foundation of our valued primary sector and part of who we are as Kiwis,” says Damien O’Connor. 
“When I began this role six months ago it was clear biosecurity was our number one challenge with several responses under way including Mycoplasma bovis, Myrtle Rust, Ostrae Bonamia and Kauri Dieback, plus we began turning around ships carrying the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. 
“Pest incursions and disease outbreaks threaten our biodiversity. With increasing pressures such as the growing scale of trade, more visitors from abroad and climate change challenges, we need a greater focus on biosecurity.  
“Biosecurity New Zealand provides a single point of accountability and leadership for New Zealanders who care deeply about the sustainability, safety and health of our environment. 
“It brings together some 900 MPI staff into one focused business unit, which will provide the direction, resources and people-power to protect our country from biosecurity threats and respond quickly to any outbreaks. 
“I am also excited today to announce that Biosecurity New Zealand will establish a new Biosecurity Intelligence Team to provide earlier warning of biosecurity risks. 
“The team will use new, smarter, technologies and skilled analysts to source and look at all available information on overseas pest and diseases. 
“Earlier signals of biosecurity threats will help our border staff to make better decisions to target air passengers and cargo that are most likely to carry risk goods, as well as those who deliberately flout New Zealand’s biosecurity rules. 
“Biosecurity New Zealand supports Biosecurity 2025 – which is building a biosecurity team of 4.7 million, encouraging all New Zealanders to participate in biosecurity.  
“Biosecurity is a challenge for us all – it requires vigilance from everyone and it is vital that every New Zealander is pitching in to protect our environment, way of life, primary industries and the things we enjoy as New Zealanders,” Mr O’Connor says. 
Setting up the four units cost $6.8 million with operating costs of $2.3m a year and is funded through reprioritised spending within MPI at no extra cost to the taxpayer. 
Fisheries New Zealand will be launched by Minister Nash on 1 May, New Zealand Food Safety by Minister O’Connor on 7 May and Forestry New Zealand by Minister Jones on 11 May.

 

 
 

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: National would keep Auckland in the dark ages

National would have to cancel vital Auckland transport projects such as Mill Road and Penlink if it scraps Auckland Council’s proposed regional fuel tax, Transport Minister Phil Twyford says.
“National Leader Simon Bridges is hopelessly confused. One moment he is accusing the Government of robbing the provinces, next he’s saying they should pay to solve Auckland’s gridlock.
“Aucklanders want their traffic nightmare to end now. They can’t wait 30 years while National holds back Auckland’s growth. The majority of Aucklanders want a regional fuel tax because they understand the rest of the country cannot fund their transport solutions.
“Our Government is giving Auckland the certainty of a fully-funded transport infrastructure programme over the next 10 years that will create a congestion-free network, and unlock the enormous growth and wealth creation potential of our largest city.
“Simon Bridges would pull the plug on the largest civil engineering project in New Zealand’s history just to score cheap political points in the middle of a by-election.
“His first economic speech raises more questions than it answers. Simon Bridges needs to explain to Aucklanders why the following projects would not proceed:
Eastern busway (Panmure-Botany)
Airport-Puhinui state highway upgrade, bus/rail interchange and bus priority
Lower cost East West Link
Pukekohe electrification, third main Westfield-Wiri and further new electric trains
Papakura-Drury motorway widening
Mill Road (first phase)
Penlink toll road and Albany-Silverdale bus improvements
Light rail (City-Airport and Northwest corridor), initial investment to leverage further
Significant safety programme
Enhanced walking and cycling, bus priority and network optimisation programmes
New infrastructure to enable greenfield growth
“Simon Bridges says National would fund ATAP through the “national budget”. He needs to tell New Zealanders what social services and infrastructure projects he would cut to find the $4.3 billion raised from regional fuel tax changes, on top of the $10.5 billion worth of new super highways he promised,” Phil Twyford says.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Minister in Rotorua to support recovery

Minister of Civil Defence Hon Kris Faafoi is travelling to Rotorua this morning to meet residents affected by yesterday’s heavy rain and to support Civil Defence staff managing the local State of Emergency.
 Mr Faafoi says that today may be tough for those seeing now in daylight the effects on their property.
 “My thoughts are with all of those impacted – yesterday was difficult for many and today could be more challenging as we better understand the impacts on people’s property.
 “We are expecting more rain today in Bay of Plenty and other parts of the country, and the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management is continuing to monitor the situation and we will coordinate any Government support that may be needed.
“In the meantime I’d ask that everyone continues to take care – check on your neighbours and any whanau that you have not heard from. Don’t travel unless local conditions are safe – and never drive through floodwaters.”
 Mr Faafoi hopes to meet some of the local emergency services and contractors who are working hard on the clean-up and restoring services as floodwaters recede and damage becomes clearer.
 A local State of Emergency remains in force to assist with evacuations and the Rotorua Emergency Operations Centre has been activated.  A Civil Defence Centre was set up yesterday at the Energy Events Centre, with the Red Cross activated to help manage it. Fire and Emergency New Zealand assisted with the evacuation.
 Mr Faafoi will meet with the Mayor of Rotorua Stevie Chadwick and visit the Rotorua Emergency Operations Centre to meet civil defence staff. Mr Faafoi then hopes to visit residents in Ngongotaha, conditions permitting.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Minister Mahuta welcomes climate change report

Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta has welcomed a Productivity Commission draft report on New Zealand’s transition to a low-emissions economy, saying it raises important issues for Māori.
“The report identifies some key issues related to the well-being of Māori that need to be taken into account as we move forward on the crucial task of tackling climate change,” said Nanaia Mahuta, who is also Local Government Minister.
For future Māori development the report will help in “the consideration of the transition to a low carbon economy, as well as the current and future use of land to improve high value productivity and improved environmental impacts”, the minister said.
She noted the report’s comment that, in particular, many Māori communities and marae are located on the coast and at risk from sea-level rise and storm surges.
Māori also had Treaty interests in protecting ancestral lands, waterways and the wider environment, and emissions-reduction measures would support that, the report said. But there was also the issue of how emissions reduction policies could affect the value and use of natural assets owned by Māori, as well as a greater vulnerability of Māori to the effects of potential price rises arising from measures to reduce emissions.
“As we look to make essential progress of the emissions reduction front we will need to monitor closely the impact of any new policies and measures on Māori given these factors,” the minister said.
For the local government sector, she said the report would inform and help guide the way central Government supports the local government sector to build community resilience in the face of climate change and required measures to combat it.
For example, the report suggested the Government could provide better guidance on the best available technology to support councils to make waste management improvements and regulate waste. Public sector procurement policies could also help cut emissions.
“It will be important to look closely at various ways of helping councils and their communities deal with emissions reduction challenges and the threats posed by climate change,” Nanaia Mahuta said.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: New Auckland DHB chairs announced

Health Minister Dr David Clark has announced new chairs to lead Auckland’s three District Health Boards.
The Auckland, Waitemata and Counties-Manukau DHBs have had acting chairs since December following the resignation of Lester Levy, who had led all three boards.
“No one should underestimate the task of governance in our public health service. DHB chairs play a vital role overseeing the delivery of health services to New Zealanders.
“These are demanding and important roles. I am more than pleased with the calibre of people that have agreed to step up to lead the DHBs,” said Dr Clark.
The new chairs are:
•    Pat Snedden, Auckland DHB (from June 1)
•    Judy McGregor, Waitemata DHB (from June 10)
•    Vui Mark Gosche, Counties-Manukau DHB (from May 3)
“All three incoming chairs are experienced leaders with long records of public service. I know they will provide strong leadership and support the Government to deliver on our vision of a high quality public health service.
“I want to thank the acting chairs who have taken the reins at the three DHBs since December. Kylie Clegg at Waitemata and Gwen Tepania-Palmer at Auckland will continue as members of their respective boards. 
“Rabin Rabindran and fellow board member Mark Darrow will finish their time at Counties Manukau DHB on May 2. I thank both for their service and contribution.
“I have also decided to appoint a Crown Monitor at Counties Manukau DHB, which is dealing with a number of complex issues, including an urgent need for capital investment and forecast rising deficits.
“The Crown Monitor, Ken Whelan, will attend and observe all CMDHB meetings and support the Board as they continue to address these challenges.
“Today’s announcements represent a significant refresh of the leadership of Auckland’s health services,” said David Clark.