Acting Minister of Finance Steven Joyce has congratulated Labour Party Leader Andrew Little on finally announcing his first “new” policy after eight months in the job, although unfortunately for Labour it’s a cut and paste of a previous Government announcement.
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today announced the successful hosts of the first two new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Graduate Schools to be established in Auckland and Christchurch.
Twelve senior executives and business owners have been given the opportunity to attend the world’s most prestigious business schools after receiving Prime Minister’s Business Scholarships.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says the scholarships will allow our smartest executives to expand their international expertise, and are designed to grow business skills to help make New Zealand firms more internationally competitive.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Trade Minister Tim Groser today announced that New Zealand has finalised its accession to the World Trade Organisation’s Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), and it will come into effect next month.
New Zealand businesses will have guaranteed access to bid for an estimated US$1.7 trillion in annual overseas government contracts through joining the GPA, which creates new opportunities for Kiwi businesses to export more products and services to more destinations, Mr Joyce says.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce today announced that the Government is extending its underwrite of the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) through to 2022.
“NZVIF plays an important role in developing the start-up and growth capital markets for New Zealand-originated companies with high-growth potential,” says Mr Joyce.
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced five appointments to the Education New Zealand board.
Charles Finny has been reappointed as the Board Chair for an eighteen-month term. Mr Finny was the inaugural Chair of the Education New Zealand board and has been an effective contributor since Education New Zealand was established in 2011. Through his reappointment Education New Zealand will continue to benefit from his knowledge and experience in the international education sector and Education New Zealand’s business.
The Government will invest $7.3 million over five years in an agricultural research partnership to improve pasture grasses and lift the performance of livestock farming, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy announced today.
The Government will grant up to $100,000 to enable the West Coast’s Old Ghost Road cycle trail to be completed this year, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry announced today.
The Government is working with the Mokihinui-Lyell Backcountry Trust, the Buller District Council and Development West Coast on the 85km trail, which will connect the ghost town of Lyell in the Buller Gorge to Seddonville township.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce today announced Cabinet approval of a new national strategy to attract more international business investment and increase growth across the country.
The New Zealand Investment Attraction Strategy will be led by a cross-government team of senior officials from NZTE, MBIE, MFAT, Callaghan Innovation and the Treasury. The Strategy sets out a common set of priorities, goals and key actions for government agencies to work with the private sector on investment attraction activities.
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today launched two new tools to help lift numeracy and literacy.
Speaking at the Annual National Centre of Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Symposium in Wellington, Mr Joyce announced “Te Ata Hapara” for Maori learners and the “English as a Second Language Option.” Both are part of the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool which is the key diagnostic tool for adult literacy and numeracy competency in New Zealand.
The Government’s Better Public Services for Business (Result 9) programme continues to show an improvement in reported performance by government agencies, Minister for Economic Development Steven Joyce says.
In 2012, the Government set targets to reduce by 2017 the cost to business of dealing with government by 25 per cent, and to improve performance ratings to levels enjoyed by leading private sector firms.
Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission (EQC), Gerry Brownlee, and Associate Minister of Finance, Steven Joyce, say the Government has developed a number of proposals to reform the EQC Act, which are being released for public discussion today.
Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce has launched the Resilience to Nature’s Challenges National Science Challenge, confirming initial funding of $19.6 million.
The Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa Challenge is the sixth to be launched, and aims to enhance New Zealand’s resilience to natural disasters.
Hosted by GNS Science, it involves a collaboration of three Crown research institutes, six universities and four independent research organisations.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman welcome a PwC report which confirms the positive economic impact of co-hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
New Zealand GDP was boosted by $110 million, over 2,000 new jobs were created and more than 78,000 tickets were sold to overseas visitors.
Regionally GDP increased by $40 million in Wellington, $35 million in Auckland and $15 million in Christchurch. A further $25 million was delivered to the host regions – Hamilton, Napier, Nelson and Dunedin.
Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced a number of board appointments and reappointments.
Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand Ltd (REANNZ) deputy chair Jim Donovan will take over as the new Chair from 1 July. REANNZ is the Crown-owned company that owns and operates New Zealand's high-capacity, high-performance IT advanced network.
Ross Peat has been newly appointed as deputy chair, and Simon Hall has been appointed as director.
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced three appointments to the Tertiary Education Commission board.
John Spencer has been reappointed Chair of the Tertiary Education Commission. John Morris has been reappointed as a member of the Tertiary Education Commission and Susan Paterson has been appointed a member of the Tertiary Education Commission for the first time.
Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced a number of appointments and reappointments to the boards of the seven Crown Research Institutes (CRIs), which carry out scientific research for the benefit of New Zealand.
Three of the CRIs will have a new Chair from 1 July. Denise Church will chair the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), Nicki Crauford will chair the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS), and Jane Taylor will take over as Chair of Landcare Research.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce is in Sydney today to speak at the Infrastructure Partnerships Australia Major Projects Symposium to promote New Zealand as an investment destination.
“Australia remains our biggest financial partner with investments in New Zealand worth $51,837 million. There are opportunities to strengthen our relationship to help us become one of the most prosperous small countries in the world by 2030,” Mr Joyce says.
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has announced $376,325 of co-funding for ten new growth initiatives for the international education sector.
“This funding round supports the development of new products and programmes, and continues to support growth in the export of New Zealand’s education technology.” says Mr Joyce.
The number of international students enrolled to study in New Zealand grew 13 per cent last year, the highest level since 2004, says Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce.
Full year enrolment figures for 2014 shows 110,198 international students studied in New Zealand, 13,091 more than in 2013.
“This is a great result for education providers nationwide. More students lead to a greater economic contribution to education providers and to their communities,” Mr Joyce says.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce has today announced a new panel of suppliers to the All-of-Government vehicles contract, effective from 1 July.
The current contract has been in place for five years and has generated savings of approximately $30 million for 264 government agencies. The new contract has been broadened and includes operational vehicles for New Zealand Police and the VIP transport fleet for the Crown.
$3 million will be invested in marketing New Zealand exporters to the world through the New Zealand Story programme and the Rugby World Cup in the UK later this year, says Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce.
The New Zealand Story programme received $1 million to be expanded and updated as part of Budget 2015.
The New Zealand Story is a marketing toolkit that was launched in 2013 to help exporters from all sectors gain a competitive advantage by building a strong, consistent profile of New Zealand in international markets.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Trade Minister Tim Groser today announced new appointments and reappointments to the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) Board.
Wayne Norrie and Charlotte Walshe are new appointments to the Board. Andrew Ferrier (Chair), Charles Finny, Karen Fistonich and Robin Hapi have been reappointed to the Board, and Julie Christie and Karl Wixon have been reappointed to the New Zealand Story Advisory Board.
Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced $3.2 million in funding for 13 new research projects under the Natural Hazards Research Platform.
The Research Platform was created in September 2009 by the Government to provide secure, long-term funding for natural hazard research, and to help research providers and end-users work more closely together.
