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New Zealand Government - Latest News [Page 1358]
Govt infrastructure investment picks up speed
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 3:03 pm | New Zealand Government
New Zealand's broadband, rail and schools are top priorities for about $1.6 billion of further infrastructure spending in Budget 2011, Infrastructure Minister Bill English says. More >>
Budget funds new earthquake recovery authority
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 3:02 pm | New Zealand Government
The new Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) will receive $25.5 million of funding over two years, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says. More >>
$1.4b extra for schools, ECE in Budget 2011
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 3:00 pm | New Zealand Government
Budget 2011 invests a significant amount of additional funding in education during constrained fiscal times, Education Minister Anne Tolley says. “The Government has allocated an extra $1.3 billion in operating funding and $109 million in capital ... More >>
Freeing up $980m to improve frontline services
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 3:00 pm | New Zealand Government
The Government expects the wider state service to find $980 million in savings over three years to go towards improving frontline public services and reducing debt, Finance Minister Bill English says. More >>
$8.3m for fight against serious fraud
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:59 pm | New Zealand Government
The Government has allocated more than $8 million in funding for the Serious Fraud Office over two years to continue the fight against white collar crime, the Minister Responsible for the SFO Judith Collins says. “The SFO has an important role to ... More >>
New thin capitalisation rules for foreign banks
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:57 pm | New Zealand Government
The Government will change the thin capitalisation rules for foreign-owned banks, with the minimum prescribed percentage of equity for tax purposes increasing from 4 per cent to 6 per cent from 1 April 2012. “The change is part of the Government’s ... More >>
Budget focuses on success in tertiary education
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:56 pm | New Zealand Government
Budget 2011 continues the Government’s drive for high performance, value for money and the flexibility to respond to demand in the tertiary education sector, Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce says. “We are looking for better performance from ... More >>
Changes to better target Working for Families
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:56 pm | New Zealand Government
The Government is making changes that will better target Working for Families to lower income earners and ensure its cost remains sustainable into the future, Finance Minister Bill English, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett and Revenue Minister ... More >>
Student loans – better value for taxpayers
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:54 pm | New Zealand Government
Encouraging personal responsibility and getting better value for taxpayers are key features of Budget 2011 changes to the student loan scheme, Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne say. The interest-free nature of the ... More >>
$2.2b extra to boost public health services
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:50 pm | New Zealand Government
Budget 2011 is delivering an extra $2.2 billion to public health services over the next four years, including an additional $585 million in initiatives in 2011/12. “Vote Health is the biggest recipient of Budget 2011,” Health Minister Tony Ryall ... More >>
Budget supports increase in affordable housing
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:49 pm | New Zealand Government
Increasing the pool of affordable and social housing is a key priority for the Government, Housing Minister Phil Heatley says. A contingency fund of up to $45 million for 2011/12 has been set aside so the Government can respond to recommendations of the Housing ... More >>
$250,000 for the Karanga Te Kere Whanau Trust
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:49 pm | New Zealand Government
Member of Parliament for Te Tai Hauauru, Tariana Turia, is delighted that Budget 2011 also provides specific allocation for an ex-gratia payment to the Karanga Te Kere Whānau Trust. The Trust administers leases comprising of 15 lots in the Taumarunui ... More >>
$27.6m for improved online government services
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:47 pm | New Zealand Government
New Budget funding of $27.6 million over the next two years for igovt services will help deliver better public services more efficiently. “The igovt services provide an easy and secure way of accessing government services online and proving identity,” ... More >>
Budget maintains momentum for Māori Affairs
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:47 pm | New Zealand Government
Budget 2011 will ensure the Government maintains momentum with its Māori Affairs programmes, which are delivering encouraging results, Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says. “Within existing baselines, we have found $2 million to support ... More >>
Supporting Māori educational achievement
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:46 pm | New Zealand Government
Budget 2011 will provide significant capital and operational funding to strengthen delivery of school and community-based Māori language initiatives, Associate Education Minister Pita Sharples says. It will also help teachers to engage better with Māori ... More >>
Extra $621m for schools over four years
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:45 pm | New Zealand Government
Budget 2011 delivers significant investment to lift achievement in schools and keep students engaged to gain worthwhile qualifications, Education Minister Anne Tolley says. “Budget 2011 invests an extra $1.3 billion in operating funding and $109 ... More >>
Government to pursue mixed ownership model
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:43 pm | New Zealand Government
The Government believes there is significant merit in extending the mixed ownership model to four state-owned energy companies and reducing the Crown’s majority shareholding in Air New Zealand. More >>
More support in Budget 2011 for business R&D
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:42 pm | New Zealand Government
The Government is reprioritising $36 million over four years for business research and development, commercialisation and earthquake research, Science and Innovation Minister Wayne Mapp says. This includes: • $24 million over four years for business ... More >>
Budget 2011 – Building Our Future
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:41 pm | New Zealand Government
• Returns the budget to surplus in 2014/15 – a year sooner than forecast in December – reducing the need for Government borrowing and lifting national savings. •Forecast economic growth of 4 per cent in 2012, with 170,000 new jobs being created by 2015. ... More >>
Budget takes steps to lift savings, investment
Thursday, 19 May 2011, 2:39 pm | New Zealand Government
The Government has confirmed several measures to increase national savings, including mapping a faster path back to budget surplus and providing New Zealanders with a wider range of investment opportunities. “It’s important that New Zealand, across ... More >>
