Paula Bennett
Release

Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett announced today that New Zealand’s next Climate Change Ambassador will be Mark Sinclair. 

Currently New Zealand’s Ambassador to Japan, Mr Sinclair is a senior and experienced diplomat with extensive international negotiation experience.

“Mark has a deep understanding of New Zealand’s interests and is an exceptional choice to lead the next steps of our negotiating effort,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett Climate Change Issues
Release

Social housing in Christchurch has been given a boost with the opening today of 15 new units in Aranui.

The Aldershot St development, one of six major developments under construction in the area, is a great example of Housing New Zealand and the local community working together, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

“Aranui was particularly hard-hit by the Canterbury earthquakes, but this also gave HNZ the opportunity to replace many of its properties with modern, fit-for-purpose homes to help rejuvenate the area,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett Social Housing
Release

Modern and healthy new Housing New Zealand homes in Tāmaki are a stark contrast to the old and cold state houses of the past, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett.

Opened by Mrs Bennett today, the 21 new homes at Sunnymead Road in Glen Innes, Auckland have been built on large sections that formerly had only six properties.

“These new homes are a fantastic example of what modern social housing looks like in New Zealand, so I’m thrilled to be here to open them today,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett Social Housing
Release

Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett has today opened the Centennial Community Centre, which she hopes will become the heart of Berhampore as well as the refurbished Centennial Flats it is located in.

The Housing New Zealand (HNZ) Centennial Flats have undergone a $7 million upgrade to make them safer, warmer and healthier for the people who live in them. The community centre is the final part of the complex to be completed.

Paula Bennett Social Housing
Release

The Government has requested formal proposals from four respondents looking to purchase and manage social houses in Tauranga and Invercargill, Ministers Bill English and Paula Bennett say.

As announced last January, the Government proposes to transfer 1,000 to 2,000 Housing New Zealand Corporation houses and tenancies to registered Community Housing Providers.

The shortlisted respondents are the Pact Group for Invercargill, and Accessible Properties, Hapori Connect Tauranga and Kainga Community Housing Partners for Tauranga.

Paula Bennett Bill English Social Housing HNZC
Release

More efficient use of office space and the sharing of facilities by government agencies has saved taxpayers $57 million over the past financial year, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

The fifth Crown Office Estate Report, released by the Property Management Centre of Expertise (PMCoE), shows the government is continuing to reduce the Crown’s property footprint while ensuring its employees are in modern, safe and healthy work environments.

Paula Bennett State Services
Release

Student achievement is ahead of target, welfare dependence continues to fall, immunisation rates are growing and child abuse rates are stabilising, Ministers Bill English and Paula Bennett say.

The Government has released the latest update of the Better Public Services (BPS) Results, outlining their progress against the ten challenging targets set by the Prime Minister in 2012.

Paula Bennett Bill English State Services Finance
Release

An international mountain biking event backed by the Government is underway and expected to inject millions into the Rotorua economy.

Crankworx, visited by Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett today, is the world’s biggest mountain biking festival and last year added $3.68 million to Rotorua’s economy.

Rotorua was able to attract the Crankworx festival after a $225,000 Tourism Growth Partnership grant helped Skyline Rotorua to upgrade its facilities.

Paula Bennett Tourism
Release

Two technical documents are being released to help New Zealanders engage with the second phase of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) review, Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Forestry technical note seeks feedback on the way the ETS and forestry sector interacts and how it will contribute to New Zealand meeting its future. international targets

The second report covers administrative issues including compliance requirements, exemptions under the Climate Change Response Act 2002, and the public’s access to information.

Paula Bennett Climate Change Issues
Release

Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett has today announced details of the Government’s $2 million contribution to increasing the emergency housing supply in Auckland.

Specialist provider Emerge Aotearoa will provide 30 places for individuals or families, for a stay of up to 12 weeks.

“This means we can house at least a further 120 people each year, including parents with children, on top of the emergency housing that is already available with other community organisations,” says Mrs Bennett.

Paula Bennett Social Housing
Release

International visitor spending has increased by 31 per cent to $9.7 billion in the year to December 2015 according to the latest International Visitor Survey.

“These figures further confirm that the tourism sector’s focus on increasing both value and volume is working, with high-spending overseas visitors choosing to spend their money in our country,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett Tourism
Release

Increased spending on maintenance by Housing New Zealand’s is making its Waikato properties better places to live, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Housing New Zealand (HNZ) spent $11.5 million on maintenance in Hamilton and the Waikato Region last year, an increase of $2.9 million since 2012.

“Ensuring vulnerable social housing tenants have homes that are healthy, safe, and suitable for their needs is a priority for this Government,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett Social Housing
Release

A new online one-stop-shop for tourism data will help businesses and regions take advantage of unprecedented growth in the industry, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The New Zealand Tourism Dashboard brings together a range of tourism datasets produced by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Statistics New Zealand.

Paula Bennett Tourism
Release

The Government’s wide-ranging support for Christchurch has ensured the city’s housing market is nearing recovery five years on from the Canterbury earthquakes, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett and Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith said today.

“Housing has been one of the most complex and challenging problems arising from the Canterbury earthquakes with the loss of 10,500 homes,” the Ministers say.

Nick Smith Paula Bennett Social Housing Building and Housing
Speech

Good afternoon everyone, it’s great to be with you all at my first Bluegreen conference!

I want to start by first acknowledging my predecessor Tim Groser. 

He’s someone I know our party and in fact all New Zealanders should be immensely proud of, from global leadership in Climate Change and trade, right through to his unique and encyclopedic knowledge of 18th Century Prussian military leaders.

I’d also like to acknowledge my Bluegreen colleagues, many of whom you have or will hear from this weekend. 

Paula Bennett Climate Change Issues
Release

Submissions on the first phase of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Review have now closed.  

The priority matters being considered in this phase relate to removing the transitional measure where emitters pay one unit for two tonnes of Carbon Dioxide.

“Following on from the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Government is focusing on ensuring our domestic settings are in the right place to help New Zealand meet our fair and ambitious 2030 target,” says Mrs Bennett.

Paula Bennett Climate Change Issues
Release

Growing a strong and vibrant community housing sector that understands local needs is good for vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Social Housing Reform (Transactions Mandate) Bill passed into law today.

As a Crown entity, Housing New Zealand (HNZ) can be directed to implement a Government policy, but cannot be directed to implement policy in a specific way. This means it would be difficult for the Government to direct HNZ to transfer specific properties.

Paula Bennett Social Housing
Release

State Services Minister Paula Bennett has today announced that the process for appointing the next State Services Commissioner will soon begin, with applications expected to open in March.

Current State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie’s term ends on 30 June 2016.

“Mr Rennie has advised me that he is not seeking a further term as Commissioner, but will be staying in the role until the end of his current term,” says Mrs Bennett.

Paula Bennett State Services
Release

New Zealanders wanting to have their say on the future of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Review have one more week to make their views heard.

Submissions on the first phase of the review close 5 PM, Friday 19 February 2016. The priority matters being considered in this phase relate to removing the transitional measure where emitters pay the cost of one unit for two tonnes of Carbon Dioxide.

Paula Bennett Climate Change Issues
Release

Key figures released today show tourism is continuing to boom in almost every part of the country, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The December 2015 Accommodation Survey shows national guest nights were 6.2 per cent higher than the year to December 2014, the 21st consecutive monthly increase.

“In towns and cities across New Zealand, local communities I visit tell me about the positive impact tourism growth is having, in jobs, business growth, and a sense of being able to share what they love about their slice of paradise,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett Tourism
Release

Three technical documents are being released to help New Zealanders engage with the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) review, Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett says.

The first report, modelling the economic impact of removing the transitional measure where emitters pay the cost of one unit for two tonnes of Carbon Dioxide, was produced by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research.

The second report outlines different ways the forestry sector may respond to various carbon prices and was produced by the University of Canterbury’s School of Forestry.

Paula Bennett Climate Change Issues
Release

The decision by P&O Cruises to base a ship out of New Zealand is an endorsement of our growing cruise industry, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Pacific Pearl will spend five months based out of Auckland, the longest deployment of a P&O ship in New Zealand.

Mrs Bennett today attended a celebration on board the Pacific Pearl to mark the beginning of the Downer National Rugby League Auckland Nines.

Paula Bennett Tourism
Release

Changes announced last year to discourage people from refusing reasonable social housing offers come into effect from today. 

“Too many people have been refusing offers of social housing properties without a good reason and this is delaying others from getting into homes that suit their needs,” Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Paula Bennett Social Housing
Release

The December 2015 Social Housing Register shows that better understanding applicant’s particular needs is housing more vulnerable people, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Today’s release of the latest quarterly figures show a decrease of 345 from the December 2014 Register to 4,619 applicants. Of this, 1,143 are already housed and are seeking to transfer to a different property. 

The December 2015 quarter also saw 1,760 new tenancies started, the most of any 2015 quarter.

Paula Bennett Social Housing