Celebrating The Hobbit

This week we celebrated our film industry as Wellington rolled out the red carpet for the world premiere of Sir Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

The premiere is a pat on the back for all New Zealanders, with many of our communities having been involved in this production.

Producing these big budget films here is worth $3 billion across our economy. Our vibrant screen industry directly supports more than 2700 businesses, of which over 95 per cent are involved in production and post-production work.

About 3000 people have been employed fulltime on The Hobbit films to date, and more than $1.5 million a week was paid to the shooting crew alone.

For more information, click here.

New Zealand to host IRB Junior World Championship 2014

National welcomes the news New Zealand will host the 2014 International Rugby Board (IRB) Junior World Championship in Auckland.

One of National’s priorities is building a more competitive and productive economy, and this event is expected to bring in about $8 million in economic benefits.

The Government is supporting the event with a capped investment of $1.45 million from the Major Events Development Fund. This is matched by a contribution from Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development.

The annual event is widely acknowledged as the second-most important rugby competition after the Rugby World Cup.

The 2011 Rugby World Cup established New Zealand’s reputation as a successful event-hosting nation, now we have the chance to show what great hosts we are again.

For more information, click here.

Kiwis to bring superannuation home

Kiwis to bring superannuation home

New Zealanders returning home from Australia will soon be able to bring their retirement savings with them. Trans-Tasman portability of retirement savings is expected to take effect from July next year.

An agreement between the two countries in 2009 paved the way for the new scheme, with New Zealand passing legislation in 2010, and Australia doing the same recently.

This important next step in the Single Economic Market programme between our two countries will further help the free movement of labour between New Zealand and Australia, and strengthen our wider Closer Economic Relations agreement.

Under the new rules, retirement savings from certain Australian superannuation funds will be able to be transferred into New Zealand KiwiSaver funds – and vice versa.

For more information, click here.

Better healthcare for New Zealand families

The latest national health targets show great progress in the areas of immunisation, cancer treatment, and elective surgery.

Now, 93 per cent of two-year-olds are fully immunised, up from just 73 per cent in 2008. We are lifting our game through the new goal of having 95 per cent of eight-month-olds fully immunised by December 2014.

Every patient who needs chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment now receives it within the world gold standard of four weeks, and more than 40,000 elective operations were performed this quarter – an all-time high.

Quality healthcare is important for New Zealand families and National has delivered better, sooner, and more convenient healthcare as part of our priority to deliver better public services.

For more information, click here.  

More Kiwi homes warmer and drier ahead of target

More local homes are warmer and drier, as the Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart scheme has passed its original target of 188,500 homes retrofitted – ahead of schedule and below budget.

National extended the scheme this year to a further 41,500 homes, and thanks to savings made within the scheme, this will be achieved for the same overall funding.

Nationwide, it has been an outstanding success, and is a great example of National delivering on its key priority of delivering better public services.

Warmer, drier homes have a positive effect on people’s health, meaning less money spent on doctor visits, and fewer sick days.

For more information, click here.

Korean War veterans to get funding for 60th anniversary commemorations

National has announced 30 Korean War veterans will get funding to attend 60th anniversary commemorations of the Korean War armistice next year.

This is an important chance for veterans to pay tribute to their fellow servicemen and women, including the 45 personnel who did not make it home. Those selected will have all expenses covered, including medical care, as they attend events in Korea for the July anniversary.

Roughly 4700 personnel served in Kayforce, and a further 1300 Naval personnel were also involved. There will also be a New Zealand-based commemoration for those unable to attend. Veterans can register their interest by calling 0800 483 8372, or emailing veterans@xtra.co.nz.

For more information, click here.

Ultra-fast broadband milestone reached

More than 100,000 users in urban areas are now able to connect to the ultra-fast broadband (UFB) network, only 16 months after the project started.

One of National’s priorities this term is to build a more competitive and productive economy. Taking fibre direct to businesses, schools, hospitals, and households will bring significant gains for productivity, innovation, and global reach.

More than 1000 schools have access to fibre under UFB or the rural broadband initiative (RBI). Fourteen of New Zealand’s most remote schools have also been connected to faster broadband.

Through RBI, 55,000 rural homes and businesses have access to improved fixed wireless broadband, and 23,000 users have enhanced fixed-line services.

This project is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever to be undertaken in New Zealand, and will result in 97.8 per cent of Kiwis having access to faster broadband.

For more information, click here.

Oil and gas permit process for 2013 gets underway

National welcomes the start of the Block Offer 2013 process for awarding oil and gas exploration permits.

One of our priorities this term is building a more competitive and productive economy, and oil and gas operations are a significant part of this.

Existing oil and gas operations in Taranaki contribute $2 billion to our GDP, and support more than 5000 jobs in the region. The same formula can work just as well in other areas, growing the local and national economies.

The proposed areas for 2013 onshore and offshore exploration are Northland, Taranaki, the East Coast, Canterbury, and Southland. Consultation with relevant iwi and councils has begun.

For more information, click here.

Making New Zealand a safer place

One of National’s priorities this term is to deliver better public services, and the first results for the justice sector Better Public Service targets have been released.

They show almost 3000 fewer violent crimes over the past year. And our crime rate is now the lowest in 30 years.

The results show total reported crime down by almost 6 per cent over the year to June 2012, that’s 21,337 fewer crimes. Youth crime was also down 4 per cent, and reconviction 7 per cent.

National’s better public services targets aim to further reduce total recorded crime by 15 per cent, youth crime by 5 per cent, and reoffending by 25 per cent by 2017.

For more information, click here.

New order to protect victims from offenders

National is introducing a new restraining order to protect victims of serious violent or sexual crimes from unwanted contact with their attackers.

One of our priorities is delivering better public services for New Zealanders. We want victims of crime to feel safe in their homes and communities.

Currently, protection and restraining orders are only available for active harassment, or if there is a domestic relationship between the offender and victim. And release and parole conditions only apply for six months after an offender’s release. Unfortunately, this means some victims have no access to legal protection. This is not good enough.

The new order will impose a range of conditions on offenders, including restrictions on visiting particular locations, and contacting victims.

For more information, click here.

ETS amendment bill passes

National’s bill, which will assist New Zealand in meeting its current and future international climate change obligations, has passed its third and final reading in Parliament.

The Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill makes changes to the current act, ensuring our Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) operates at least cost to the domestic economy. It also provides the flexibility necessary to accommodate developments between now and 2015, when the Government will next review the ETS.

By maintaining incentives for reducing emissions, without loading costs on households and businesses, our ETS is helping contribute to a stronger and more productive economy – one of National’s priorities this term.

For more information, click here.