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31 August 2009
Post-Cabinet Press Conference
Report on Ministerial accommodation expenses - timetable
Report on P precursor drug pseudoephedrine - timetable
Alan Bollard reports on economic recovery
ETS select committee report released today - range of views expressed, negotiations continue
Major activities over the coming week
Upcoming agenda for the House when it sits next week
Questions from the media
1. On ETS and points of negotiation
2. On the mining-related stocktake of DOC land
3. On the possibility of Honours for Nancy Wake
4. On the role of the SAS in Afghanistan
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28 August 2009
Key Notes No.56
Click here to watch my latest video diary on YouTube
BOOSTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN
Many parents get their children involved in school holiday activities. Things like sports training, lifesaving courses, kapa haka programmes, or karate workshops.
Mums and Dads like these programmes. They give kids something to do and they get a new range of experiences.
Sadly, the young people most likely to miss out on these kinds of opportunities are the ones who might gain the most from them - young people in some of our most deprived communities, where Mum and Dad might not be able to afford the programme fees, or the programmes might not exist.
Instead of going on an activity programme, kids from some of our poorest families can find themselves with very little to do in the school holidays. I want to make sure that more families like these have the chance to get their children involved in meaningful school holiday activities.
That's why, in a speech on Wednesday, I announced our Break-Away Package to boost school holiday opportunities . It includes funding for what will grow to be 30,000 places a year for young people aged 11-17 in holiday programmes. These will be targeted at deprived communities and families under stress.
I also announced more details of our Fresh Start Package for young offenders which sets aside funding for military-style activity camps, and expands Fresh Start to include a range of other initiatives aimed at tackling youth crime.
These announcements build on the Youth Opportunities Package and Kiwisport initiatives announced earlier this month.
Click here to read and comment on my speech.
GIVING PARENTS COMFORT ON CHILD DISCIPLINE
I know many of you are concerned about the Government's response to the smacking referendum, and I'd like to thank those of you who have commented and posted your thoughts on it.
It's clear from the referendum that New Zealanders don't want to see good parents criminalised for a light smack. As such, on Monday, I announced that the Government is taking steps to give parents comfort that this will not happen. These include:
1. Requesting that Police and Ministry of Social Development review Child, Youth & Family and Police policies and procedures to identify any changes that are needed to ensure good parents are treated as Parliament intended.
2. Bringing forward the delivery of the report from the Ministry of Social Development on data and trends and the effect of the law change from the end of the year to late September/early October.
3. Inviting Police to continue to report on the operation of the law for the next three years.
As I've said before, I think the law is working as intended. But I want to assure parents that the National-led Government will continue to monitor the way it is being implemented. If future Police data shows a worrying trend, we will change the law to ensure good New Zealand parents are not criminalised for lightly smacking.
WORKING WITH AUSTRALIA
I had a really successful trip to Australia last week to meet with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and attend the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum.
We took some important steps towards the Single Economic Market, held our first joint Australia-New Zealand Cabinet meeting, and announced changes to border processes for passengers so that travel between New Zealand and Australia will become faster and easier.
Better links across the Tasman can lead to big gains for our exporters and key industries like tourism. I'm looking forward to making further announcements about our relationship with Australia in the future.
FROM THE DIARY
On Monday, I announced that the National-led Government will not support reserved Maori seats on the new Auckland Council. As a result of this decision, Local Government Minister Rodney Hide and Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples will work together to recommend to Cabinet the most effective mechanism to enable Maori participation on the new Auckland Council.
I had fun in Mangere yesterday meeting the kids at Kiwicare's new Tennessee Pre-school, before opening a new building at Takapuna Grammar on the North Shore.
I also visited the new NZI Centre, one of New Zealand's greenest buildings, and went on board the Spirit of New Zealand to announce guaranteed funding of the trust of $250,000 a year over the next three years.
I'm in Rotorua today to formally apologise to affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapu for Crown breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi. This is the latest step towards our target of resolving all Treaty of Waitangi claims by 2014.
Next week the house is in recess. I'll be spending time meeting the locals in Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin, and the Bay of Islands.
Best wishes
John Key
Prime Minister
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28 August 2009
PM delivers Crown apology to Affiliate Te Arawa
Prime Minister John Key today formally delivered the Crown's apology to Affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapū for breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi.
The apology was given at Owhata Marae in Rotorua, at a ceremony hosted by Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa, a collective of 11 Affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapū.
Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa represents around 24,000 iwi and hapū members, with an interest covering over 500,000 hectares in and around the Rotorua region. The formal apology is a key part of the Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi/Hapū Treaty settlement with the Crown.
Mr Key delivered the apology on behalf of the Crown for past dealings that breached the Crown's obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi.
"These were the failure to adequately protect tribal structures following the impact of the native land laws, the failure to actively protect the interests of Affiliate Te Arawa when purchasing land, and the failure to ensure that some iwi and hapū were left with sufficient land for their present and future needs."
Mr Key says it is an important part of the settlement process for the Crown to acknowledge and apologise for historic treaty breaches.
The Prime Minister congratulated iwi and hapū leaders for their efforts in achieving this lasting settlement and also acknowledged their crucial role in the Central North Island Forest Collective settlement, which was one of the largest in the country's history.
"Affiliate Te Arawa and the Crown can now look forward to building the future, having settled the past."
The settlement of these claims adds further momentum to the Government's 2014 target for the settlement of all historic Treaty of Waitangi claims.
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27 August 2009
PM urges NZ to get behind Spirit of Adventure
Prime Minister John Key and Minister of Youth Affairs Paula Bennett have today announced funding for the Spirit of Adventure Trust and urged other New Zealanders to get behind the Kiwi icon as well.
The Trust has been guaranteed funding of $250,000 a year for the next three years in order to carry out critical maintenance.
“The Spirit of New Zealand is a familiar sight in New Zealand waters,” says Mr Key. “Every year over 1,000 young Kiwis set sail on a journey that will change their lives forever.”
Paula Bennett says the Government is right behind the programmes like those offered by the Spirit of Adventure Trust, but she acknowledges the Trust will need ongoing support from the wider community to continue its work.
“We know the extra government funding will help young New Zealanders continue to enjoy the challenges offered by the Spirit of Adventure experience and we hope this will encourage others to contribute to this worthy cause.”
The Spirit of New Zealand sails 340 days per year, and organises its sailing schedule two years ahead.
“In a time when too many young people are lacking direction, programmes like those offered by the Spirit of Adventure help keep our kids on track,” says John Key.
“This funding will help the Trust and its 200 volunteers continue to make a real difference in the lives of young New Zealanders.”
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26 August 2009
Video Journal No.12
26 August. John talks about his recently completed State visit to Australia, upcoming international travel and recently announced initiatives for young New Zealanders.
