Temporary changes to immigration rules will further help Queenstown employers recruit much needed staff, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett and Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse announced today.

A new streamlined visa process means that from now until June 2015 employers in Queenstown will be temporarily exempt from providing evidence of an attempt to recruit within New Zealand, except for roles that Work and Income has identified it may be able to fill.

The Government has set itself ambitious new targets including 75,000 fewer New Zealanders being on benefits by June 2018 as part of its Better Public Services drive, Finance Minister Bill English and State Services Minister Paula Bennett say.

State Services Minister Paula Bennett is calling on Government agencies to put forward their nominations for the Deloitte Fujitsu Public Sector Excellence Awards 2015.   

The awards, organised by the Institute of Public Administration New Zealand (IPANZ), recognise outstanding achievements and innovations by organisations and teams across the public sector.

Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett has expressed disappointment in a U-turn by Labour housing spokesperson Phil Twyford, who has been caught backtracking on commitments made to community housing providers last year.

“In 2014 Mr Twyford addressed a community housing conference, telling members he was committed to them having access to the income-related rent subsidy, capital grants and stock transfers.”

The Rules Reduction Taskforce is underway with the announcement of Taskforce members and public meetings to begin in March to consider submissions. 

Local Government Minister Paula Bennett today announced the nine members of the Taskforce, who will join co-chairs Jacqui Dean MP, Parliamentary Private Secretary for Local Government, and Michael Barnett ONZM, Chief Executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce.

Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett will travel to Sydney on 5 February to attend the biannual Tourism Ministers’ Meeting.

The Tourism Ministers’ Meeting brings together Australian federal, state and territorial tourism ministers, as well as New Zealand. 

“It’s an exciting time for New Zealand and Australian tourism, with things truly kicking into gear in less than two weeks with the opening match of the jointly-hosted Cricket World Cup 2015,” says Mrs Bennett.

The opening of 19 new homes in Auckland today has been welcomed by Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett as an example of New Zealand’s growing social housing sector, which is seeing more people in need receiving housing support.  

Community of Refuge Trust’s (CORT) Mt Wellington development, built with a $3.2 million contribution from the Government’s Social Housing Fund, will see around 22 people on low-incomes supported into affordable and good quality housing.

The Government’s commitment to helping New Zealanders in need by providing more social housing is at the heart of its social housing reform programme, Ministers Bill English and Paula Bennett say.

Prime Minister John Key today confirmed increased funding for social houses, where tenants receive an income-related rent subsidy from the Government.

Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett today opened Accessible Properties’ new community housing development in Johnsonville, furthering the Government’s commitment to providing better social housing for those in need.

Accessible Properties are a Community Housing Provider who manage close to 1000 housing units across New Zealand. Today’s event celebrated the completion of eight new units designed for tenants with social support need, and built with assistance from the Government’s Social Housing Fund.

State Services Minister Paula Bennett has welcomed the latest Kiwis Count survey results, showing the levels of trust and satisfaction New Zealanders have in the frontline public services they use continues to increase.

The State Services Commission’s annual Kiwis Count survey looks at trust based on experience and perception, and satisfaction in public services, and shows improvements in both measures this year compared to last year.     

State Services Minister Paula Bennett has welcomed today’s half-yearly capping report, showing the number of administrative roles in the core public service remain below the cap and are forecast to stay at that level.

“The cap on core administrative positions, introduced by the incoming National Government in 2008, has successfully reduced back office roles and freed up resources, meaning improved public services for New Zealanders,” says Mrs Bennett.

State Services Minister Paula Bennett has today released the draft Terms of Reference for the Government Inquiry into matters concerning the escape of Phillip John Smith / Traynor.

The draft Terms of Reference focus on:

Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett is impressed with Housing New Zealand’s progress in building, redeveloping and repairing properties in Christchurch following a visit to the city today.   

Before 2011, Housing New Zealand (HNZ) had more than 6,000 properties in Christchurch, and 95 per cent of these were damaged in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.

“The scale of destruction resulted in large losses of homes in the region, skyrocketing demand and many families left in desperate situations,” says Mrs Bennett.

Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett and Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse say Indian nationals travelling to New Zealand on business will now find it easier and faster to get a visa.

Visitors travelling for recognised business events, like conferences, meetings or exhibitions, will now benefit from faster visa processing times and reduced paperwork requirements.

The new arrangements were formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Mumbai overnight between Immigration New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand and six approved travel agents.

A significant milestone in the Government’s commitment to the Christchurch rebuild has been achieved, says Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett.

Today marks the half-way point in a comprehensive repair of earthquake-damaged Housing New Zealand (HNZ) properties, with the 2500^th home repair completed ahead of schedule.  

“HNZ has undertaken a large scale repair and rebuild programme that when completed by the end of 2015 will see 5000 damaged homes repaired and 700 new homes built,” Mrs Bennett says. 

State Services Minister Paula Bennett is pleased to announce that today New Zealand formally became a member of the Open Government Partnership, with the publication of New Zealand’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) Action Plan. 

The OGP was established in 2011 and is an international partnership of countries aiming to foster openness, transparency and accountability to their citizens.

“The OGP Action Plan, published today, outlines our commitment to the Partnership, and to ensuring open and transparent government,” Mrs Bennett says. 

Local Government Minister Paula Bennett has today launched the Rules Reduction initiative, opening the way for people to submit examples of property regulations and local rules that don’t make sense.

“People can now head to www.govt.nz/rulesreduction, to start telling us what bugs them when it comes to loopy rules and regulations,” says Mrs Bennett. 

Associate Finance Minister Paula Bennett leaves Monday for Beijing where she will attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) annual meeting of Finance Ministers.

The meeting, on 22 October, will consider the current economic situation and outlook in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as discussing co-operation on infrastructure investment and financing, among other issues. The meeting will be preceded by a ministers’ retreat on Tuesday.