A national Maori flag will fly from Auckland Harbour Bridge, Premier House and other significant sites on Waitangi Day, Prime Minister John Key and Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples announced today.

"Earlier this year I asked Dr Sharples to undertake consultation with Maori about what Maori flag should be flown on Waitangi Day," Mr Key says.

"More than 1200 submissions were received and 80 per cent favoured the flag commonly referred to as the ‘tino rangatiratanga' flag as the preferred Maori flag.

"Cabinet today accepted Dr Sharples' recommendation that this flag be flown on Waitangi Day at significant sites such as the Auckland Harbour Bridge and Government buildings.

"The Maori flag will not replace the New Zealand flag, but fly alongside it, to recognise the partnership the Crown and Maori entered into when signing the Treaty of Waitangi.  No changes are being made to the status of the New Zealand flag," Mr Key says.

Dr Sharples says: "The Maori flag is a simple way to recognise the status of Maori as tangata whenua and their contribution to New Zealand.  Flying the Maori flag symbolises the Crown-Maori relationship which has grown out of the Treaty.

"However, the New Zealand flag remains the symbol of our nation, and there is no intention to change this, nor to diminish the status of our national flag."

Dr Sharples says Te Puni Kokiri and the Ministry of Culture and Heritiage will publish guidelines later this week describing the appropriate way to fly the Maori flag in relation to the New Zealand flag.

John talks about his recent visit to CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) in Trinidad, climate change issues, the Government's success with combatting the "P" scourge and more.

The first of a new series of videos from Prime Minister John Key providing updates on major policy issues. This one deals with progress and prospects on the education front.

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed significant results achieved just weeks after announcing the Government's plan to tackle the dangerous drug ‘P".

"In early October I outlined the National Government's plan to tackle the menace that is ‘P'.  The Government Plan on Methamphetamine included a range of initiatives involving various agencies like Police and Customs. 

"This seriously addictive drug is ruining lives and costing society.  Part of our approach has been to attack the supply chain of this drug," says Mr Key.

"In an intensive period from the start of October through to November, Customs intercepted a total of 230kgs of methamphetamine precursor pseudoephedrine at the border, compared with 67kgs over the same period last year.  Fifteen arrests were also made.

"The 230kgs seized has come in a large number of interceptions of smaller amounts of the precursor, not through one or a small number of large hauls.

"The amount seized in that period is more than three times as much as was seized in the same period last year.

"Customs advises that this is the most successful eight weeks on record, stopping what would have been an estimated $84 million worth of ‘P' hitting the streets with all the consequent harm that causes.

"The success so far from these interceptions is evident not just in the amounts being seized, but also anecdotal evidence that the price of the drug has increased on the streets.

"Part of the Government Action Plan involved the redeployment of up to 40 Customs staff from other duties to aid in the effort.

"More than 140 Customs staff are involved now, and criminals should be warned that Government agencies, including Customs, will be maintaining the pressure.

"The plan announced in October attacked the ‘P' problem from all directions -cracking down on precursors, breaking supply chains, providing better routes to treatment, supporting families, and strengthening leadership and accountability.

"The Government will not let up in its efforts to target the ‘P' trade, which is causing so much harm to society.  We will continue our approach, and look at new equipment, new tactics, and new ways to combat the trade."

For details on the Government Action Plan on Methamphetamine, see:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm+outlines+national+govt039s+plan+fight+%e2%80%98p039

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed the final report of a review into the policies and procedures used by the New Zealand Police and Child, Youth and Family around the issue of smacking.

The review was conducted by the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development Peter Hughes, the Commissioner of Police Howard Broad, and well known clinical psychologist Nigel Latta.

Releasing the final report today, Mr Key said the findings reinforced his view that the law is working as Parliament intended.

"Nigel Latta, as an independent reviewer, spoke to staff working on the frontline for the Police and CYF and was given full access to files," Mr Key says.

"He also personally examined several individual cases that have been highlighted in the media by advocates for a law change."

"Mr Latta has found that the Police and CYF responded appropriately and proportionately to the child safety concerns that were raised," Mr Key says.

The review finds that both the Police and CYF have effective guidelines for ensuring good parents are treated as Parliament intended, however more can be done to reassure parents they will not be criminalised or unduly investigated for a light smack.

It makes recommendations for new measures to reassure parents and Mr Key says the Government has accepted all of them.

The recommendations include:

• The establishment of a new parent support helpline within CYF so that parents who have questions or concerns about how they are being treated can be dealt with more quickly.
• The immediate publication of guidelines for social workers dealing with child abuse reports that involve smacking, and a subsequent briefing for all CYF social workers.
• A requirement for Police officers and social workers to provide families with specific information on what to expect, what their rights are and what they can do to question what is happening when they have to deal with Police or CYF.
• The collection of more specific information on the application of S59, so a clearer picture is available of how the law is operating in practice.

Mr Key says the recommendations are aimed at improving public information, achieving greater transparency and providing better support for parents.

"The Government does not want to see good parents criminalised for a light smack," Mr Key says.

"I can assure parents the National-led government will continue to monitor the way the law is being implemented."

Related document:

Review of New Zealand Police and Child, Youth and Family Policies and Procedures relating to the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act (pdf, 1675 Kb)