The Government is investing $3 million to help make State Highways on key tourist routes in Otago, Southland and the West Coast safer this summer, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

“About $1 million will be spent in each region on road safety works such as no-passing lines, 'keep left' arrows, rest area and curve sign upgrades, and new safety barriers,” Mr Foss says.

The improvements are part of the Visiting Drivers Project’s $15 million road safety engineering programme announced in October.

Simple mistakes on our roads are costing too many lives, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

“Sadly and frustratingly, 308 mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunties, uncles, cousins and friends have died on our roads so far this year,” Mr Foss says.

“Speed and alcohol continue to be major contributing factors. Last year, 90 people died in crashes involving alcohol and 101 died while travelling too fast for the conditions.

Public attitudes to road safety have been put under the spotlight, revealing some encouraging trends as well as some worrying behaviour, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

The 2016 Public Attitudes to Road Safety survey, released on the Ministry of Transport website today, shows public support for road safety advertising and police enforcement remains high but it doesn’t always translate into safe driving behaviour.

A free Business.govt.nz online tool is proving extremely popular, generating an employment agreement for New Zealand businesses every 12 minutes, with a 95 per cent satisfaction rating, Small Business Minister Craig Foss says.

“In New Zealand every employee must have a written employment agreement outlining important contractual details such as hours of work and rate of pay,” Mr Foss says.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is encouraging boaties to get on board this Safer Boating Week.

“The theme for the week is Prep, Check, Know — prep your boat, check your gear and know the rules before you get on the water,” Mr Foss says.

“Labour Weekend, the traditional start of the recreational boating season, is right around the corner so now is the perfect time to make sure you’re prepared.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Craig Foss says that along with other countries around the world today, New Zealand is marking the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction.

“The United Nations International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction is observed each year in October to raise the profile of disaster risk reduction,” says Mr Foss.

“Countries choose their own theme to recognise the day, and here in New Zealand our focus this year is on ‘prepared kids’.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Craig Foss today announced 18-year-old Mina Bixley as the winner of the 2016 Battle of Passchendaele Multi-Media Competition.

Mina, from Tauhara College in Taupo, won a $2000 education grant for her animated short film Passchendaele on a Personal Scale.

“Mina’s moving entry illustrates the personal nature of remembrance. It also captures the very essence of the competition — ensuring New Zealand’s sacrifice on the Western Front is not forgotten,” Mr Foss says.

A $15 million road safety engineering programme designed to help keep all road users safe on key tourist routes in the South Island has got the green light, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

The funding is part of the $25 million road safety package for visiting drivers announced by the Government late last year.  

“We want all visiting drivers to experience New Zealand as a safe, attractive and accessible place,” Mr Foss says.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Craig Foss has directed the Veterans’ Advisory Board (VAB) to consider New Zealand’s repatriation policy and provide advice to him.

New Zealand has a longstanding policy of not repatriating the bodies of military personnel who died while serving overseas between 1948 and mid-1970.

“While successive governments have maintained this policy, it has become increasingly clear that the rationale behind it needs further investigation,” Mr Foss says.

Associate Commerce Minister Craig Foss today congratulated International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) on winning a Business Achievement Award from the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation.

“I am pleased that this Crown entity has been recognised as a top performer.  It stands out – not just in its field, but right across the public and private sectors.  The state sector should be aiming for top marks for its work, and this shows just what can be achieved,” said Mr Foss.

International Day of Older Persons on 1 October is a day dedicated to the celebration of older people throughout New Zealand and the rest of the world.

“Nationally, the response to International Day of Older Persons will feature an exciting range of events planned to honour, celebrate and recognise the valuable contributions older New Zealanders make,” says Senior Citizens Minister Craig Foss.

The tragedies in Christchurch and around the world have given New Zealanders a wakeup call to get better prepared for emergency events, says Civil Defence Minister Craig Foss.

The annual survey of national levels of preparedness shows a significant increase in the number of people who have taken steps to get ready for disasters.

Sixty per cent of those surveyed say they have taken steps to prepare themselves or their household in the last 12 months, up from 44 per cent last year, with the main prompt being the September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes.

Racing Minister Craig Foss today announced the reappointment of Warren Bell, Dr Alan Jackson and Thayne Green to the New Zealand Racing Board’s (NZRB) governing body.

“It is vital that the NZRB displays leadership to work to improve the industry’s economic performance and deliver on its potential. These three bring necessary business and industry experience to the boardroom,” said Mr Foss.

Hon Craig Foss has released the Briefings to the Incoming Minister from the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Social Development.

Senior Citizens Minister Craig Foss says older people need to be aware of their rights, and the services and resources that are available to them.

“Elder abuse and neglect can have devastating consequences for older people, and wide-ranging long-term effects on physical and mental health, finances, living arrangements and family” said Mr Foss.

“Research estimates that between 3 and 10 percent of our seniors are being abused in some way, most don’t get the help they need. I wholeheartedly support anything that is done to turn this around.