John Key
Release

Prime Minister John Key has acknowledged the sudden passing of Ngati Hine leader Erima Henare.

Mr Henare was the son of the late Sir James Henare and Lady Rose Henare, and held a number of public and iwi leadership roles.

He was the chairman of the Maori Language Commission, executive director of Maori at the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, a member of the Waitangi National Trust Board, and an adviser to the Maori King, Tuheitia Paki.

“I am saddened to learn of Mr Henare’s passing,” says Mr Key.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has announced a further $3 million will be invested in 2015/16 to help fund the completion of Northland’s Twin Coast Cycle Trail Pou Herenga Tai.

The Government is working with the Far North District Council on the 84km trail which will pass through the centre of the Far North District, from Hokianga Harbour on the west coast to the Bay of Islands on the east.

John Key Tourism Prime Minister Budget 2015
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Prime Minister John Key has congratulated Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on the birth of their second child, a girl.

“On behalf of the people of New Zealand I would like to congratulate Prince William, Catherine and Prince George on this wonderful news.

“This is a very special time for any family. The Duke and Duchess are excellent parents and I am sure Prince George will adore his new little sister.”

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key today released further details of Prince Harry’s visit to New Zealand from May 9 -16.

“I am delighted Prince Harry is visiting New Zealand. The Prince has asked to meet a wide range of New Zealanders so his programme has been designed with that in mind,” says Mr Key.

“I’m confident Prince Harry will have a fabulous time here and I encourage all New Zealanders to take the opportunity to go and see him.”

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key today officially opened the new premises of the New Zealand Consulate-General in Dubai.

The new office will house the Consulate, and offices of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Immigration NZ, and the Ministry of Primary Industries.

“This new office reflects our continued commitment to develop a closer relationship with the Gulf region,” Mr Key says.

“It is a signal of New Zealand’s increased investment our growing footprint  in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and the wider region.”

John Key Prime Minister
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The Prime Minister has kicked off the Gulf trade mission by meeting the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and leading business figures.

“These meetings gave me an opportunity to promote New Zealand business and talk about the benefits of our trade and investment relationship,” Mr Key says

John Key Prime Minister
Speech

It’s a pleasure to be with you here in Dubai this morning to open this business seminar.

And I’d like to thank the Dubai Chamber of Commerce for hosting this event today.

As you may be aware, I arrived in Dubai last night after attending significant war commemorations in Turkey.

Today marks the beginning of my visit to several Gulf States, and I’d like to thank you for the warm welcome I’ve received.

John Key Prime Minister
Speech

There are places on this peninsula whose names will never be forgotten.

Each country remembers where their soldiers fought, and where they fell.

Places where extraordinary bravery was shown, in unspeakable conditions.

For New Zealanders, nowhere in Gallipoli is more special than here on Chunuk Bair.

It was not the scene of a great triumph.

But it was the closest the Allied forces came to making a breakthrough in the whole Gallipoli campaign.

And it was led by a few hundred Kiwis, 10,000 miles from home.

John Key Prime Minister
Speech

On this beach, on this day, at this hour, exactly 100 years ago, the first Anzac troops came ashore.

Instead of the open spaces that had been described to them, they landed here with steep hills rising in front of this narrow beach.

And in those hills, Ottoman Turkish soldiers were already positioned and ready to defend this land.

We New Zealanders rarely think of ourselves as anyone’s enemy, or as aggressors.

John Key Prime Minister
Speech

One hundred years ago today, thousands of young New Zealand and Australian soldiers waited anxiously for the orders that would send them ashore in an attempt to secure the Gallipoli Peninsula.

On shore, Turkish soldiers from their 9th and 19th Divisions waited just as anxiously, prepared to lay down their lives to protect their homeland.

Two days later, 25 April - Anzac Day - thousands of soldiers on both sides were dead or wounded, on the first day of a campaign that would last eight harsh months.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key addressed the International Peace Summit in Istanbul, where historic bonds and current security challenges were common topics.

“It’s important to acknowledge the bonds forged between New Zealand, Australia and Turkey through acts of kindness and gallantry on both sides of the battle of Gallipoli and the forgiveness and respect that subsequently grew,” says Mr Key.

Prime Minister Key spoke to hundreds of delegates alongside the Prime Ministers of Australia and Turkey, and the President of Iraq.

John Key Prime Minister
Speech

It is a pleasure and it is also fitting to be here with my Australian counterpart today for the dedication of this magnificent memorial.

This park was opened only two days ago, though its origins date back to 1919 when the government agreed to build a National War Memorial here in Wellington.

It was to be visible from any part of the city, from ships entering the harbour, and from Parliament, so that future governments would remember the sacrifice that had been made in the First World War. 

John Key Prime Minister
Speech

Thank you all for being here to witness the official opening of this park as a place of commemoration and remembrance for the whole nation.

This opening comes as we are focussed on the 100th commemorations of the First World War.

That war had a deep and abiding impact on New Zealand and New Zealanders.  In our small nation, almost every family was affected by it.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key will lead an 18-member New Zealand business delegation to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait from 26 April to 1 May.

This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia.

“The visit is an opportunity to strengthen and grow trade and business links between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and New Zealand,” says Mr Key.

It will also provide the opportunity to progress the conclusion of the NZ-GCC free trade agreement.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has welcomed Air New Zealand’s announcement that it will begin operating direct flights between Houston and New Zealand.

The new service will provide for a more direct route for the millions of US citizens living in the south and east of the country, and for New Zealanders heading in the opposite direction.

“We already get thousands of visitors a year from states such as Texas, Florida and New York and this new service should allow us to boost those numbers further,” says Mr Key.

John Key Tourism Prime Minister
Speech

Good afternoon.

It’s great to be with you today. I’d like to thank Business New Zealand for hosting this event.

Like all New Zealanders, we have a shared interest in building a strong economy that provides opportunities for Kiwi families and businesses to get ahead here in their own country.

We don’t always agree on everything – and that’s to be expected.

But I do appreciate Business New Zealand’s pragmatic and positive attitude in engaging on important issues affecting businesses, their staff and their families.

John Key Prime Minister Budget 2015
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Prime Minister John Key today announced Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s second official visit to New Zealand.  

Prime Minister Abbott and his accompanying delegation will arrive in Wellington on Sunday night to take part in the Anzac centenary commemorations.

“It is great to be able to welcome Prime Minister Abbott back to New Zealand so soon after his first visit in February for the Australia-New Zealand leaders’ talks,” says Mr Key. 

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key released today further details on Prince Harry’s visit to New Zealand in May.

“Prince Harry will arrive in Wellington on Saturday 9 May and will leave New Zealand from Auckland on Saturday 16 May.

“An interesting programme is being planned for Prince Harry to try and meet a wide a range of New Zealanders in different communities,” says Mr Key.

During the week he is here Prince Harry will visit Stewart Island, Christchurch, Wellington, Linton, Whanganui and Auckland.

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key says Paid Parental Leave, the parental tax credit, the minimum wage and Superannuation will increase, while average ACC levies will fall, and more people will be helped in to home ownership from tomorrow.

“The National-led Government has focused on ensuring gains from our growing economy flow through to families and these measures demonstrate that.”

A range of Government policies come into force from April 1 including:

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key will attend the final of the Cricket World Cup in Melbourne this weekend.

“I am delighted to be attending the final between New Zealand and Australia,” says Mr Key. 

“Our two countries have a special rivalry. Over the years we have been treated to some truly exceptional sporting clashes and I expect this one will be no different. I wish Brendon McCullum and the Black Caps all the very best.”

John Key Prime Minister
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Prime Minister John Key says New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Korea opens a new chapter in the two countries’ relationship.

Mr Key and President Park Geun-hye of Korea witnessed the signing of the Agreement by Trade Ministers Tim Groser and Yoon Sang-jick in Seoul today.

“The Agreement shows the strength of the relationship between New Zealand and Korea. It symbolises our countries’ commitment to economic openness and market integration in the Asia-Pacific region,” says Mr Key.

John Key Prime Minister
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Prime Minister John Key has expressed his sincere condolences to the people of Singapore following the death of the nation’s first Prime Minster, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

“Mr Lee made an extraordinary contribution to Singapore, both as it found its way to independence in 1965 and in the 50 years since then,” said Mr Key.

“A man of rare qualities, Mr Lee’s courage, determination, commitment, character and ability made him a formidable leader who held the respect of Singaporeans and the international community alike.”

John Key Prime Minister
Release

Prime Minister John Key has today acknowledged the passing of former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser.

“Mr Fraser served Australia with distinction over his many years in office and made a significant contribution to the strengthening of the Australia-New Zealand relationship,” says Mr Key.

“The bonds between our two countries that exist today were forged by past Prime Ministers whose commitment and vision for our two nations, and for the prosperity, security and advancement of our region, rested in part on working more closely together. 

John Key Prime Minister