Peter Dunne
Speech

Good morning.

I am very pleased that you invited me here today – it is a welcome opportunity to catch up with the Clubs movement once more, and to hear what you have been up to.

I would like to begin by acknowledging Clubs New Zealand delegates from all over the country, and especially your national President, Tom Fisher.

I would also like to acknowledge your Chief Executive, Larry Graham, and host Cosmopolitan Club President, Wayne Henshaw.

Peter Dunne Internal Affairs
Release

Internal Affairs Minister Hon Peter Dunne today announced a new line-up for the Board of the New Zealand Fire Service Commission to lead significant reform of the fire services sector.

Dr Nicola Crauford, Peter Drummond, Te Arohanui Cook and current member Angela Hauk-Willis will join the newly appointed chair, Hon Paul Swain, on the Board from 1 April 2016.

Peter Dunne Internal Affairs
Release

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne welcomed Parliament’s universal support at the First Reading of the Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Bill as it represents a significant step in reform of the law around severe addictions.

The Bill, which replaces the Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act of 1966, provides for the compulsory treatment of people with severe substance addiction who cannot engage in treatment of their own accord.

Peter Dunne Health
Release

For the first time, a majority of New Zealanders' most common transactions with government now occur digitally, says Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne.

"The latest figures show that the average digital uptake for the December 2015 quarter is 52.9 per cent. It's excellent progress; this latest figure is 6.6 percentage points higher than the same quarter in 2014, 6.2 percentage points above the September quarter, and well above the baseline 29.9 per cent in June 2012," said Mr Dunne.

Peter Dunne Internal Affairs
Release

Internal Affairs Minister Hon Peter Dunne today announced that Lotto New Zealand has received the highest possible international recognition for its continued focus on providing a safe gaming environment.

Lotto New Zealand’s responsible gaming programme has been officially certified as best practice by the World Lottery Association under its Responsible Gaming Framework.

Peter Dunne Internal Affairs
Speech

Tena koutou.

I am very glad to welcome you all to New Zealand, and particularly to Wellington, our capital.

A few of you here today, I know, have been here before – and to you I say ‘welcome back’!

However some, even many of you, have not been here before, and I am especially glad to welcome those people – hoping that our small friendly city with its brisk and breezy weather will leave a positive impression on you.

Peter Dunne Internal Affairs
Release

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has welcomed the strong level of interest shown by people in a proposed action plan for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Around 150 submissions have been received from across the country regarding a discussion document on the plan.

“This is a complex issue and I am delighted that people have been taking the time to share their insight and experience.

Peter Dunne Health
Release

Internal Affairs Minister Hon Peter Dunne said planning is on track for the new constitutional exhibition to open at the National Library of New Zealand in Wellington during early 2017.

A design has been selected for the new exhibition which will enable greater access to our three most important constitutional documents: the 1835 Declaration of Independence of the Northern Chiefs/He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni; the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi /Te Tiriti o Waitangi; and the 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition.

Peter Dunne Internal Affairs
Release

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has asked Ministry of Health officials to review the guidelines for considering medical cannabis applications.

Mr Dunne said this is a new policy area for New Zealand’s Ministry of Health and the wider medical profession, so there will inevitably be fine tuning as the process develops.

Peter Dunne Health
Release

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne today announced the appointment of the Hon Paul Swain as chair of the Board of the New Zealand Fire Service Commission for a three-year term from 1 April 2016.

Mr Dunne announced last November that New Zealand’s rural and urban fire services would be merged into a unified organisation.

“The sector is facing significant change as we build a fit-for-purpose, 21st century fire service capable of serving both rural and urban communities,” said Mr Dunne.

Peter Dunne Internal Affairs
Release

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne is welcoming the release of the Family Violence Death Review Committee’s (FVDRC) Fifth Report, which calls for agencies to work together better on preventing family violence. Mr Dunne is the Minister responsible for the Health Quality & Safety Commission. The FVDRC is an independent committee that reviews and advises the Commission on how to reduce the number of family violence deaths.

Peter Dunne Health
Speech

Thank you for your warm welcome.

It is a pleasure to be here today to officially launch the Bariatric Management Innovations Initiative. 

I would like to start by acknowledging those who have developed this initiative – Dr Caz Hales, Lecturer and Researcher, and Lesley Gray, Senior Lecturer and Researcher, both of the University of Otago; and Todd Bishop, General Manager of Essential HelpCare. 

Peter Dunne Health
Speech

Kia ora tātau, good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you Virginia and Bee Healthy Dental Service for inviting me to open the Selby House dental clinic, I am delighted to be able to join you.

The opening of Selby House marks the completion of the capital development component of the improved model of care for the oral health of children across the Wellington, Kapiti and Hutt Valley regions.

Peter Dunne Health
Speech

Tena koutou katoa, good morning and thank you for the invitation to speak today at the opening of the Sixth International Gambling Conference.

This is an important event in the national and international gambling calendar and I am pleased to note that it is my first official speaking engagement in New Zealand for 2016.

The theme of the conference is Preventing harm in a shifting gambling environment: Challenges, Policies and Strategies.

Once again, this year the conference is host to a wide range of international delegates.

Peter Dunne Health
Speech

Good evening.

Thank you for the invitation and opportunity to share some thoughts about New Zealand’s experience in transforming the way we provide government services to our citizens in the digital age.

New Zealand’s digital journey is a story about better public services.

It is about how our government is reshaping our relationships and interactions with our citizens to meet their changing expectations.

The word “journey” implies a known destination.

Peter Dunne Internal Affairs
Release

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne travels to London today to present the Digital Leaders Network 2016 Annual Lecture.

This is a ministerial hosted event that takes place in Westminster, with a theme of meeting the demands and expectations of on-going digital transformation.

Peter Dunne Internal Affairs
Release

In light of recent and increasing commentary on the use, access to and funding of cannabis based medical products, attached is a fact sheet on the definition, current availability, status and authorisation process around the use of these products for therapeutic purposes. Further information can be found on the Ministry of health’s website at: http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/medicines-control/medicinal-cannabis

Peter Dunne Health
Release

Consultation has opened today on a discussion paper by the Ministry of Health on actions to address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

The public are invited to make submissions to the Ministry until February 26, 2016.

The Government has committed through the National Drug Policy, to publish a cross-government Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Action Plan in the 2015/16 year.

Peter Dunne Health
Release

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has welcomed the Ministry of Health’s update of key New Zealand Health Survey results, released today.

The data shows an increase to 84% of children (aged 1-14 years) visiting a dental health care worker in the preceding 12 months, up from 76% in 2006/07 and 79% in 2011/12.

The number of children who have had teeth extracted has also come down, from 3.9% in 2011/12 to 3.4% in 2014/15.

Peter Dunne Health
Release

The Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Bill has been introduced to Parliament.

The Bill is designed to repeal and replace the now outdated Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966. It provides for the compulsory treatment of a small group of people with severe substance addiction and severely impaired capacity, who are unable to engage in treatment of their own accord.

Peter Dunne Health
Release

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne has announced seven appointments to the Film and Literature Board of Review, commencing from 1 January 2016.

The Board is established under section 91 of the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act 1993 (the Act) as a statutory appeal body to review classification decisions of the Office of Film and Literature Classification.

Peter Dunne Internal Affairs
Release

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne has today welcomed New Zealand’s return to 10-year adult passports.

Legislation necessary to effect this change, a change driven by public demand, was passed into law on 20 October and enables the Passports Office to start issuing 10-year adult passports to applicants from today.

“It is gratifying to announce the wait is over and New Zealanders can now apply for and receive a passport that has a more practical lifespan that reflects their travel patterns and requirements.”

Peter Dunne Internal Affairs
Release

Australia and New Zealand have struck a new agreement which will enable government agencies and businesses to electronically verify official government issued identity documents in either country.

This will help organisations to offer more efficient online services and to promote cross-border travel, migration and commerce.

Importantly, the agreement will also help to better protect the more than 600,000 New Zealanders settled in Australia and the 65,000 Australians in New Zealand from the destructive effects of identity crime. 

Peter Dunne Internal Affairs
Release

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne will represent New Zealand at the meeting of the D5 Digital Leaders’ Summit in Tallinn, Estonia 18-20 November 2015.

The D5 is a grouping of five nations–New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Korea, Estonia and Israel – considered amongst the most advanced in the provision of on-line government services. Its establishment is a British Government initiative and this is the second meeting of this group following the inaugural summit held in London in December last year.

Peter Dunne Internal Affairs