Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee says months of design and planning work has the Government on course to open Christchurch’s new Convention Centre in late 2019.
“Today the Government has released an indicative design for the Convention Centre Precinct, to give people an idea of what to expect from this important new facility for Christchurch,” Mr Brownlee says.
Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Gerry Brownlee and Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today welcomed the opening of Kathmandu’s new worldwide head office in the Christchurch Innovation Precinct.
The first anchor tenant to open its doors in the precinct, Kathmandu has brought in over 150 staff, including its product design, systems and online development teams, to the central city location.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says Cabinet has today agreed to extend New Zealand’s contribution to the joint New Zealand-Australia mission to train Iraqi Security Forces until November 2018.
Also agreed was an amendment to the mission’s mandate to allow small numbers (generally around six to eight at a time) of our training and force protection team at Taji to travel for short periods to Besmaya, a secure training location about 52 kilometres south east of Taji.
Minister supporting Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee, and Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel, welcome the appointment by the board of Regenerate Christchurch of Ivan Iafeta as the new chief executive.
Regenerate Christchurch is the agency jointly owned and funded by the Crown and Council, with a focus on development in Christchurch’s central city, residential red zones, New Brighton and potentially other areas.
Minister of Defence Gerry Brownlee today announced the reappointment of the Chief and Vice Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force.
“The recently released White Paper foreshadows a significant period of modernisation of New Zealand’s armed forces, highlighting the need for continuity of effective leadership of the Defence Force at this time,” Mr Brownlee says.
Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission Gerry Brownlee has announced one new appointment and two reappointments to the Board of the Earthquake Commission (EQC).
“I am pleased to re-appoint Sir Maarten Wevers as Chairman for a further term of three years commencing 1 June 2016,” Mr Brownlee says.
“Mary Jane Daly, who has been a board member since March 2014, has been elevated to the position of Deputy Chair for the remainder of her term, which is set to conclude in February 2017.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says he can confirm reports of an explosion this evening close to Camp Taji in northern Baghdad where 106 NZ Defence Force personnel are currently deployed.
“Open source reporting suggests the blast resulted in a number of casualties, however all New Zealand personnel at Taji are safe,” Mr Brownlee says.
“Reports from Taji are that at 5.58pm New Zealand time a car bomb was detonated close to a checkpoint outside the south-western secure perimeter of the camp.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee today launched the Defence White Paper 2016, outlining a 15-year modernisation plan worth nearly $20 billion to ensure the New Zealand Defence Force has the capabilities it needs to meet the country’s security and defence challenges.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee leaves today for Singapore to join counterparts at the 15th annual Shangri-La Dialogue.
“The Shangri-La Dialogue brings together Defence Ministers, military chiefs and senior officials from around the Asia-Pacific to discuss security issues in the region,” Mr Brownlee says.
As well as attending dialogue sessions, the Minister will hold a number of bilateral meetings with counterparts from a range of countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Japan, France, and the United Kingdom.
The Defence Force receives new operating funding of $300.9 million over four years as part of Budget 2016 to support the work it does, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says.
“This funding follows the 2013 Defence Mid-Point Rebalancing Review, which determined indicative funding needs of the Defence Force to 2030,” Mr Brownlee says.
“The Review continues to be implemented, and I’m pleased that this is the third year that new funding has been made available.
The Government’s support for Christchurch has topped $17 billion as new arrangements bring in an exciting phase of regeneration, the Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee says.
“Since the earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, the Government has backed greater Christchurch and our financial support has helped people make huge strides in their recovery,” Mr Brownlee says.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee will today arrive in Stuttgart, Germany, following his first visit to NZ Defence Force (NZDF) troops at South Camp in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, Israel, and the Golan Heights.
“Visiting the Sinai provided a great opportunity to talk with Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) leadership and our 27 strong Kiwi contingent who form part of the deployment that for the past 34 years has maintained peace between Israel and Egypt on the Sinai Peninsula," Mr Brownlee says.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has today arrived in Dubai following his second visit to NZ Defence Force (NZDF) troops training members of the Iraqi Security Forces at Camp Taji, near Baghdad.
Mr Brownlee was accompanied on his visit by Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little, Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee Mark Mitchell, and Chief of the Defence Force Lt Gen Tim Keating.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee leaves today for Turkey, where he will be New Zealand’s official representative at Gallipoli for this year’s Anzac Day commemorations.
“As we mark the centenary of the first Anzac Day, it is important we remember and reflect on the enormous sacrifices Australia and New Zealand made at Gallipoli and across other battlefields in the First World War,” Mr Brownlee says.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Foreign Minister Murray McCully have announced that the New Zealand Defence Force have completed post-Winston relief operations in Fiji and are preparing to return home.
"The NZDF’s operation in Fiji is one of our biggest peacetime deployments to the Pacific, with close to 500 personnel, two ships and six aircraft, involved in delivering hundreds of tonnes of critical aid," Mr Brownlee says.
Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee says the four Ministerial appointees to the board of Regenerate Christchurch bring an impressive range of skills and experience working in greater Christchurch.
Mr Brownlee has appointed Andre Lovatt (as Chair), Ross Butler (member, Designate Chair of Otakaro Limited), Manaia Cunningham (nominated by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu) and Richard Holden to the board, who will serve alongside three Christchurch City Council appointees to be announced today.
Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee says central city development plans in Christchurch are going strong.
“Today I joined the Prime Minister John Key in opening the first stage of the BNZ Centre, between Cashel and Hereford Streets, which has brought about 380 workers from eight different Government agencies back into the central city, with more staff from one more agency to arrive next month,” Mr Brownlee says.
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the appointment of two contractors for Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) in the Metro Sports Facility is another important milestone in the development of what will be a multi-generational asset for the city.
“In order to keep some competition in the process, we have awarded the ECI contract for stage one to two contractors – a joint venture between Australian company CPB and Christchurch-based Southbase, and Leighs Cockram Joint Venture Ltd,” Mr Brownlee says.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) new Battle Training Facility (BTF), which was officially opened today by the Prime Minister John Key, at a ceremony in Auckland.
“The $46 million facility in Ardmore for special forces training is state of the art,” Mr Brownlee says.
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed unanimous support for the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Bill during its third and final reading in Parliament today.
“Five years on from the February 22 earthquake, the Parliament of New Zealand continues its full support for the people of Canterbury as they go from strength to strength,” Mr Brownlee says.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee will host the Canadian Defence Minister, Hon Harjit S. Sajjan, in Wellington tomorrow.
The Ministers will discuss a range of regional and international security issues, including international efforts to counter Da’esh and deployments such as the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai.
“I welcome Minister Sajjan to New Zealand,” Mr Brownlee says.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says Cabinet has received and accepted the review of the first nine months of the joint New Zealand-Australia mission to train Iraqi Defence Force personnel at Taji, in Iraq.
“So far this has been a successful mission,” Mr Brownlee says.
“It has allowed some of New Zealand’s best soldiers to impart their knowledge and high standards to Iraqi soldiers who need help to rid their country of Daesh,” Mr Brownlee says.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee leaves today for Fiji to meet and thank New Zealand Defence Force personnel helping with the relief effort in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Winston.
“I am visiting Fiji to support and thank our military people who have worked hard to assist the Fijians following last month’s cyclone,” Mr Brownlee says.
The cyclone killed at least 42 people, and damaged or destroyed many thousands of homes and other buildings.
The NZDF has mainly been conducting relief operations in the Lau group of islands.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee today announced the appointment of Air Commodore Tony Davies as the new Chief of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Air Commodore Davies, MNZM, is currently acting Chief of Air Force.
He will shortly be promoted to Air Vice Marshal and a formal command appointment ceremony will be held on 20 April at Whenuapai.
Air Commodore Davies career with the RNZAF started in 1984 when he joined as an Officer Cadet and trainee pilot.
