Prime Minister John Key has tonight congratulated Malcolm Turnbull on forming an Australian Government.

"I have been in regular contact with Prime Minister Turnbull since the election and have now congratulated him on retaining office,” says Mr Key

“Australia is our closest neighbour and biggest trading partner and like Prime Minister Turnbull I believe our countries should work even more closely together.

“Mr Turnbull and I have a strong and established working relationship which has seen both our countries benefit.

Prime Minister John Key will visit the United Kingdom and Europe next week for a series of bilateral meetings and to attend Bastille Day commemorations, before leading a high level business delegation to Indonesia.

In his first visit to Italy, Mr Key will meet with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Rome before heading to Paris where he will meet with French President François Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls.

A number of government polices come into effect tomorrow that will help support families including our most vulnerable, Prime Minister John Key says.

“We’re committed to making changes that improve people’s lives,” says Mr Key.

“A strong economy allows us to invest more in priority public services such as increased access to medicines and vital social services, ensuring all New Zealanders benefit from our country’s success.”

Prime Minister John Key today announced that the Queen has approved the appointment of Dame Patsy Reddy as an Additional Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and as an Additional Companion of the Queen’s Service Order.

“These appointments are an important step in the process of Dame Patsy becoming the next Governor-General,” says Mr Key.

When she takes office, Dame Patsy will also become Chancellor of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and Principal Companion of the Queen’s Service Order. 

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key has today announced the Government is investing in a further three projects to help boost tourism in the regions.

“Tourism is vitally important to our economy, with over 160,000 people employed in the sector,” says Mr Key. “Under the Tourism Growth Partnership, the Government is investing $8 million per year to support innovative projects that will create new opportunities in tourism throughout New Zealand.”

Prime Minister John Key has acknowledged the passing of Maori leader Sir Graham Latimer.

Sir Graham was President of the New Zealand Maori Council during the 1980s and was influential in shaping the modern state of the Crown-Maori relationship.

During his time at the Council, Sir Graham helped elevate the status of the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand Case Law, which has since had a significant impact for Maori in New Zealand.

Prime Minister John Key has today announced New Zealand’s gift to the Queen to mark her 90th birthday.

A new Education Centre at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington has been chosen as the gift from New Zealand to acknowledge this special milestone for the Queen.

“The Queen has agreed to the new centre being named the Queen Elizabeth II Pukeahu Education Centre,” says Mr Key.

The Government is investing more than $1.2 million in seven new projects for the upkeep and maintenance of the New Zealand Cycle Trail, Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key announced today.

The investment comes from the fourth round of the Maintaining the Quality of the Great Rides Fund and priority has been given to proposals that aim to improve safety and quality of the Great Rides – the premier rides of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

Prime Minister John Key will travel to Fiji to meet with Fiji Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama to further strengthen relations between the two countries.

“My visit marks the next step in what has been the steady renewal of political and diplomatic links with Fiji since its general election in 2014,” Mr Key says.

“Prime Minister Bainimarama and I will use the opportunity to discuss a range of issues including Fiji’s recovery from Cyclone Winston and the Pacer Plus trade negotiations.”

Budget 2016 will see record investment in health and education and more support for businesses to create jobs on the back of a growing economy, Prime Minister John Key says.

“Our eighth Budget shows rising surpluses and falling debt, with the economy forecast to grow at 2.8 per cent over the next five years on average through to 2020.

“This means more jobs and higher incomes and more capacity for the Government to support New Zealanders through better public services and a more confident and prosperous country.

Budget 2016 will provide $25 million in additional funding over the next four years to ensure the New Zealand Cycle Trail, Nga Haerenga continues to offer a world-class visitor experience, Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key announced today.

The investment is part of a $45 million tourism package in Budget 2016 to further support tourism’s contribution to economic and job growth in regions across New Zealand.

The Government will invest an additional $20 million over four years to further support tourism across New Zealand, Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key announced today.

“This funding builds on the wide range of Government support already in place to assist the sector to provide high-quality experiences that attract high-value visitors all year round,” Mr Key says.

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key today announced the Government is investing in three new projects to help boost tourism in the regions.

“Tourism is a significant part of our economy and a major employer,” says Mr Key. “Under the Tourism Growth Partnership, the Government is investing $8 million per year to support innovative projects that will create new opportunities in the tourism sector.”

The new projects are:

Prime Minister John Key has today announced the appointment of Peter Hughes CNZM as the next State Services Commissioner and Head of State Services.

Mr Hughes has been appointed for a five year term starting on 4 July 2016.

“I am very pleased to appoint Peter Hughes as the next State Services Commissioner and Head of State Services,” says Mr Key.

“Peter has dedicated his working life to the public service and is one of New Zealand’s most experienced and respected Public Service Chief Executives.

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed the upcoming visit to New Zealand of the President of the Republic of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee.

“New Zealand is looking forward to hosting the President on this historic visit, the first by an Indian President to New Zealand,” says Mr Key.

Prime Minister John Key has today announced French Prime Minister Manuel Valls will visit New Zealand in the first week of May.

Prime Minister Valls and his delegation arrive on Sunday 1 May for a series of events in Auckland, including an official welcome at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, followed by a wreath laying and bilateral talks.

“This is the first time in 25 years that a French Prime Minister has visited New Zealand,” Mr Key says.

New Zealand’s economy will get a boost of more than $50 million when an additional 10,000 Chinese visitors holiday in Queenstown in 2018, says Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key. 

Each year, Amway China rewards its top sales people with an all-expenses paid international trip as part of the company’s sales incentive scheme. 

Thanks to a competitive business bid led by Tourism New Zealand, Amway’s top sales people will enjoy five days of New Zealand’s famous tourism experiences and hospitality in Queenstown. 

Prime Minister John Key has written to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of the New Zealand government to mark her 90th birthday.

“Like many New Zealanders, I greatly admire Queen Elizabeth’s lifetime of dedicated service and leadership,” Mr Key says. 

“Queen Elizabeth is a beloved figure here and we value her role as Queen of New Zealand. I am sure New Zealanders will join with me in wishing her a very Happy Birthday.”

The Queen’s birthday will be celebrated here on Monday 6 June.

Prime Minister John Key yesterday met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the positive progress in the New Zealand-China relationship since entering into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2014.   

“New Zealand’s relationship with China is broader and deeper than ever before,” says Mr Key. “It was great to see President Xi again, to take stock of what we have achieved and to discuss further opportunities for collaboration.” 

Prime Minister John Key today met with China Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing for wide-ranging talks, which included the upgrade of the NZ-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA).  

“The NZ-China FTA has been a real success for both our countries,” says Mr Key. “China is now our second-largest trading partner, with two-way trade more than doubling since the agreement came into force.