United States Navy ship, the USS Sampson, has been given clearance to visit New Zealand next month by Prime Minister John Key.

“I am pleased to announce that the USS Sampson, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, will attend the Royal New Zealand Navy’s International Naval Review in November,” Mr Key says.

“Under New Zealand’s nuclear free legislation I am required to be satisfied that any foreign military ship entering New Zealand is not nuclear armed.

Almost $15 million dollars seized from criminals will be invested in anti-drug initiatives, with more funding for Police and Customs and a greater focus on treatment for drug abusers, Prime Minister John Key says.

This year’s funding is the highest-ever allocated under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act as authorities continue to clamp down on illegal activity, and will fund the Government’s ongoing efforts to combat the scourge of methamphetamine and other drugs.

Prime Minister John Key today confirmed Fiji Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama will visit New Zealand from 19 - 23 October.

“This will be Prime Minister Bainimarama’s first official visit to New Zealand as Fiji’s Prime Minister,” Mr Key says.

“I look forward to welcoming him, following my own visit to Fiji in June.

“New Zealand and Fiji have strong ties in a range of areas, and the Prime Minister’s visit presents a further opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest.”  

Prime Minister John Key will lead a high-level business and education delegation to India next week, visiting Mumbai, New Delhi and Kochi.

“India is a key partner for New Zealand. It is a leading source of skilled migrants, international students and tourists, and in the five years since I last visited our two way trade has grown by 41 per cent to $2.4 billion,” Mr Key says.

Prime Minister John Key says his thoughts are with the people of Thailand following the death of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

“King Bhumibol was the world’s longest serving monarch and presided over a period of transformative growth and development that saw Thailand emerge as a regional leader and one of South East Asia’s major economies,” says Mr Key.

“During his reign, New Zealand and Thailand developed a close and friendly relationship, built on a shared desire for peace and security in our region.

The Mt Roskill by-election will be held on Saturday 3 December, Prime Minister John Key confirmed today.

“I have been advised that given that Mr Goff’s resignation will take effect on 12 October, it is now appropriate to set a date for the by-election,” says Mr Key.

“The by-election Writ Day will be 2 November. The deadline for candidate nominations to be received will be midday on 8 November, and the last day for the return of the Writ will be 22 December.”

More than a million people used the New Zealand Cycle Trail last year, generating around $37 million in economic benefits for local communities, according to a new report released today by Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key.

The evaluation the New Zealand Cycle Trail, includes an independent cost benefit analysis showing that for every dollar attributable to construction and maintenance of the trails, approximately $3.55 of benefits was generated.

Prime Minister John Key has today congratulated Antonio Guterres on becoming the next United Nations Secretary-General.

“We look forward to working with Antonio Guterres. He is a friend of New Zealand,” says Mr Key.

"He has solid credentials. He is the former head of government for Portugal and was the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for ten years. 

“The role of UN Secretary-General is more important than ever and we have high expectations of him.”

Mr Key says he is obviously disappointed for Helen Clark.

Prime Minister John Key has today announced New Zealand will establish a diplomatic post in Sri Lanka, and welcomed news that Sri Lanka will establish a post in New Zealand.

Mr Key met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Auckland this morning.

“Prime Minister Wickremsinghe’s visit to New Zealand follows my visit to Sri Lanka in February and shows the commitment of both our governments to strengthen the relationship between our two countries.

Prime Minister John Key today released further details of the visit to New Zealand on 7-9 November by Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.

“The visit by Their Majesties is a reflection of the strong ties, shared values and interests between our two countries,” Mr Key says.

Their Majesties will be welcomed with a formal ceremony by the Governor-General at Government House in Wellington on Monday 7 November, before laying a wreath at Pukeahu National War Memorial and paying a visit to the Great War Exhibition.

Prime Minister John Key today announced that Dame Patsy Reddy will be sworn in as Governor-General on Parliament's forecourt at 11.45am on Wednesday 28 September.

“I am delighted to welcome Dame Patsy Reddy to the position of Governor-General,” says Mr Key.  “Dame Patsy will become New Zealand’s 21st Governor-General, and the third woman to hold the position.” 

Prime Minister John Key has today urged United Nations Security Council members to show greater leadership over the crisis in Syria.

New Zealand is currently the President of the Security Council and convened a high level meeting on Syria in New York today during UN Leaders’ week.

Mr Key told the Security Council members that no other issue demands the attention of world leaders more urgently than the need to end the Syrian conflict.

Prime Minister John Key used his speech to the United Nations General Assembly today to urge the Security Council to meet its responsibilities, address the Syria crisis and commit to a united stand against North Korea.

Mr Key told the General Assembly that the Security Council has shortcomings which risk undermining its relevance and standing in world affairs.

Prime Minister John Key has reinforced the benefits of the Trans Pacific Partnership in a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York today.

Mr Key told the Council he welcomes the priority that the US Administration has placed on TPP’s passage through Congress this year.

Prime Minister John Key has today announced Sri Lanka Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, will visit New Zealand from 1-3 October.

“I am very pleased to welcome Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to New Zealand,” Mr Key says. 

“This will be the first time a Sri Lankan Prime Minister has undertaken a bilateral visit to New Zealand, and is an important step in the growing relationship between our two countries.

Prime Minister John Key has today announced an overhaul of New Zealand’s family violence laws which will see more support for victims and new offences introduced.

“The Government is committed to doing all we can to ensure New Zealanders are protected from family violence,” says Mr Key.

“New Zealand’s rate of family violence is unacceptable. Police currently respond to 110,000 family violence call-outs a year. Children are present at nearly two-thirds of these incidents.

Prime Minister John Key has announced a $10 million Pacific Sporting Partnerships programme aimed at getting more children in Pacific countries playing sports and making them healthier.

“Sport plays an important role in New Zealand and in the Pacific, and our region is known for producing world class sportspeople,” Mr Key says.

“Playing sport not only provides opportunities for young people, but it teaches them the importance of things like team work, hard work and fair play, and it means they are more healthy."

Prime Minister John Key has announced a new package of support for renewable energy projects in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands and Palau.

“New Zealand is committed to boosting the supply of renewable energy across the Pacific in order to help Pacific nations build resilience, and reduce both emissions and dependence on imported diesel,” Mr Key says.

“So I’m pleased to announce today that we will be investing $5 million in renewable energy projects in Micronesia.

New Zealand has today been updating Pacific Leaders on our support for regional fisheries management, noting strong progress in combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Pacific.

“The Pacific’s tuna fishery is the region’s greatest natural asset and is currently valued at more than $3.2 billion,” says Prime Minister John Key.

New Zealand will provide up to NZ$11.5 million in support for clearing Viet Nam War-era unexploded munitions in Laos, Prime Minister John Key announced today.

The funding will include trialling innovative New Zealand technology which destroys unexploded ordnance (UXO) by melting casings without having to dig up or explode each piece, making it safer and easier to clear, particularly in densely populated or built up areas.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key today announced the opening of the fifth funding round of the Tourism Growth Partnership.

“Through the Tourism Growth Partnership, the Government is making $8 million a year available to boost innovation and productivity, and the lift the value of international tourism,” Mr Key says.

“Half of this funding will now be tagged for projects that grow tourism in the regions and create tourism-related jobs, through the new Regional Stream.