The Government is seeking partners to manage emergency housing and provide support services for tenants in the next step in its plan to increase the number of emergency places throughout New Zealand.

After the success of securing more than 3000 emergency places across the country, the Government is asking community organisations with expertise to help both increase supply and manage new government-owned facilities, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Government has granted nearly $2.5 million in assistance to help people move from social housing to sustainable private housing, freeing up places for those who need it most, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Housing Support Products (HSPs) were introduced in July, 2014, to help people achieve independence by moving into the private housing market and to remain in it. Since then, 1954 HSPs worth a total of $2.44 million have been granted.

New Zealand has helped make history today by ratifying the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett says.

“By ratifying today, we are helping to get the Paris Agreement officially over the line, and demonstrated our commitment to global action on climate change.

Vacant Crown land in Auckland will be turned into a 51-home development to provide transitional housing for families before they move into permanent accommodation, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett has announced.

The 1.6ha site at Luke St, Otahuhu, has been earmarked by its owner the Ministry of Education for a future school, but in the meantime will be developed into 27 two-bedroom, seven three-bedroom and 17 four-bedroom homes for families on the social housing register.

Tourism spending in the regions continued to rise in the year to August 2016 on the back of record visitor numbers, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

According to the Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates released today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, tourism expenditure grew in most regions over the year to August 2016.

The fastest-growing region was Nelson, which increased 11.7 per cent over the year to $304 million, followed by Otago, up 9.6 per cent to $3.2 billion, and Auckland, up 6.9 per cent to $6.7 billion.

The Salvation Army is to receive more than $1.5 million to fund 884 emergency housing places across the country each year.

Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett announced on Tuesday that Budget 2016 funding, directly targeted at emergency housing, has so far resulted in 30 organisations providing 3032 new and existing emergency places.

A report released today shows New Zealand is making good progress in tackling climate change and is focused on the next steps, Climate Change Issues Minister Paula Bennett says.

‘New Zealand’s Action on Climate Change’, produced by the Ministry for the Environment, brings together information about the science, global momentum and domestic work to transition to a lower emissions future.

“Climate change is an incredibly important issue, but too many people find it complex or get put off by the politics,” Mrs Bennett says.

Figures released today by Statistics New Zealand shows tourist numbers are hitting new highs.

For the year ending August 2016 visitor arrivals hit a record 3.36 million, up 11 percent from the August 2015 year. The increase was mainly driven by increases in visitor arrivals from China and Australia.

It was also the most successful August on record, with 221,200 visitors last month, up 9 per cent from 2015 and mainly driven by a 13 per cent increase in holiday arrivals. Visitors from the United States, Australia, and Malaysia saw the biggest increases.

A target of around 3000 emergency housing places funded per year has been exceeded and Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett is seeking even more places to help house vulnerable New Zealanders.

The second round of funding for a share of $33 million announced in Budget 2016, directly targeted at emergency housing, has so far resulted in 51 proposals from 30 providers across the country providing 3032 new and existing emergency places per year.

The Government’s Social Housing Reform Programme is on track with more social housing available in Auckland and more on the way, says Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett.

There are currently 3185 community housing places funded from Income Related Rent subsidies throughout New Zealand and an increase in Housing New Zealand houses in Auckland, with another 3000 to be delivered over the next three years.

The Government is giving an extra $24.4 million to community housing providers to increase the supply of social housing in Auckland.

“We know the property market is extremely tight in Auckland at present, and it is no different for those organisations helping to house our most vulnerable citizens. This extra funding will allow community housing providers (CHPs) create more medium- to long-term social housing, and faster, where the need is most acute,” Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Keeping up progress on global climate action and sharing insights about New Zealand’s efforts to reduce emissions will be the focus of Climate Change Issues Minister Paula Bennett’s visit to Canberra this week.

Mrs Bennett will meet with several Australian Federal Ministerial counterparts, including Foreign Affairs Minister Hon Julie Bishop; Environment and Energy Minister Hon Josh Frydenberg; and Industry, Innovation and Science Minister Hon Greg Hunt. She will also meet with Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Hon Mark Butler.

Winter 2016 continues to break records with visitors spending the most they ever have in every region for the month of July, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The latest Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates released today shows domestic and international visitors spent over $1.7 billion last month, up $288 million from June 2016 and $69 million compared to July 2015.

New Zealand’s tourism sector continues to show impressive growth, with international visitors spending a record $10.3 billion in the June 2016 year, Associate Minister of Tourism Paula Bennett says.

The latest International Visitor Survey results from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) were released today and show visitor spending is up 18 per cent from last year.

The Government is continuing to ensure regional New Zealand benefits from tourism growth with more funding for infrastructure and to help businesses get up and running, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

Changes to the Tourism Growth Partnership (TGP) will see half of the $8 million annual fund made available exclusively for projects in the regions.

The Government plans to ratify the Paris agreement on climate change by the end of the year, Climate Change Issues Minister Paula Bennett says.

The agreement was finalised last December and made available for signature in April this year. Ratification is the formal step that countries must take to be full participants and to ensure the deal takes effect.

IHC subsidiary Accessible Properties has been chosen as the preferred provider to take over the ownership of Housing New Zealand’s properties in Tauranga, Ministers Bill English and Paula Bennett say.

Accessible Properties was one of three shortlisted respondents asked to submit a formal proposal to purchase the 1124 properties and take over the management of their tenancies.

The Government is now working with Accessible Properties to finalise the agreement. It is expected negotiations will be completed by October with a final decision to be made shortly after.

New Zealanders are benefiting from the Government’s continued focus on front-line services and restraint of bureaucracy, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

The latest report of the public sector cap shows a decrease of 190 to 35,917 full-time equivalent positions in the core public service compared to the previous year.

Currently set at 36,475 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions within core government administrative roles, the cap was introduced in 2008 and reset at the present lower level in 2012.

The Government is investing $9 million over two years in the next steps of its programme to support the most vulnerable New Zealanders’ housing needs, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

This flexible fund will assist community organisations to work with around 2,000 individuals and families, to help the homeless and people having difficulty holding onto their tenancies, and to support them into housing independence.

“The evidence is clear that simply finding a bed for the homeless isn’t enough,” Mrs Bennett says.

Grants to help people in or waiting for social housing with the costs of moving from Auckland are off to a good start and are already making a difference, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Since the policy took effect one month ago, 12 applicants have received the non-recoverable grant, supporting 32 people. $54,508 has been paid out, covering things like moving costs, bond, rent in advance and letting fees.

Assistance has been approved for a further 10 applicants, supporting 20 people, pending confirmed moving dates and verification of costs.

The latest monthly Regional Tourism Estimates show a strong start to the winter season with every region experiencing increased expenditure compared to last year, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

Otago led the way with $3.2 billion in spending by domestic and international visitors, an 11 per cent increase on June 2015. Nelson increased 10 per cent to $299 million, followed by Auckland with an eight per cent increase to $6.7 billion.

The latest social housing register shows that the Government is working with vulnerable people to support their housing needs, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Nationwide, applications on the housing register increased by 328 to 3,877 from the March to June 2016 quarter. The transfer register, or people already housed but wishing to move, increased by 99 to 1,135. Over the same period, the Auckland register increased by 24 applications.