AMY ADAMS MP for Selwyn

Budget builds momentum to a brighter future

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:21:10 +1200

This year’s Budget confirms New Zealand is on the right track. It provides more support for families, and it forecasts more economic growth, more jobs, rising wages, and a return to surplus in 2014/15.

The Budget builds on the momentum created by National’s previous four Budgets, and affirms our commitment to responsibly manage the Government’s finances, while at the same time investing in growth and delivering better public services.

We’re spending $5.1 billion over four years on new initiatives in areas such as science and innovation, health, education, welfare, housing and helping the most vulnerable. And we’re signalling ACC levy cuts that will benefit families, and businesses across New Zealand.

New Zealand needs a stronger economy to earn its way in the world, and create more jobs, and opportunities for hard-working New Zealanders. Budget 2013 will help to deliver that.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40999

Speech to WasteMINZ workshop

nospam@example.com (admin) — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:35:05 +1200

Thank you Paul. Good morning everyone, and thank you for inviting me here today.

Sadly, I missed seeing you all at last year’s WasteMINZ conference due to other commitments. However, my colleague, Nicky Wagner, who kindly attended on my behalf, had some great things to say about her experience, and about the important role WasteMINZ plays in supporting the waste sector in New Zealand.

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Speech to the Radio Frequency Users Association of NZ

nospam@example.com (admin) — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:23:00 +1200

Good morning. Thank you, David for your welcome. It is a pleasure to be invited to speak here at your annual conference.

I'd like to begin by acknowledging the Radio Frequency Users Association of New Zealand for organising this event, and for their on-going work in ensuring that key issues affecting spectrum continue to be prominently and actively debated.

I thought it would be useful if I began by giving you some broader context to the Government’s radio spectrum work programme.

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Govt releases spectrum consultation document

nospam@example.com (admin) — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:04:52 +1200

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams has today released a consultation document for the upcoming auction of the 700 MHz band of radio spectrum.

The 700 MHz band is the spectrum freed up by the switchover to digital television. It can be used in the building of fourth generation (4G) mobile networks, capable of speeds up to ten times faster than today’s networks.

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Government appoints Fiordland Marine Guardians

nospam@example.com (admin) — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:54:57 +1200

Environment Minister Amy Adams today announced the appointment of two new Fiordland Marine Guardians and the reappointment of five existing Guardians.

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Rebecca McLeod and Jonathan Clow. Their wealth of experience in the environmental science and tourism sectors will be invaluable to the work of the Guardians,” Ms Adams says.

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Board of Inquiry to consider Peka Peka to North Otaki Expressway proposal

nospam@example.com (admin) — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:34:08 +1200

Environment Minister Amy Adams has today announced that an application for the Peka Peka to North Otaki Expressway will be decided by an independent Board of Inquiry.

The application by the New Zealand Transport Agency and KiwiRail relates to the construction, operation and maintenance of the Peka Peka to North Otaki Expressway and the construction, operation and maintenance of a section of the North Island Main Trunk railway line.

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Combating rheumatic fever

nospam@example.com (admin) — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:24:15 +1200

National’s drive to combat rheumatic fever, part of our commitment to deliver better public services, will receive a $21.3 million boost in Budget 2013.

Rheumatic fever is a serious, yet preventable, disease and has been a problem for too long. We’ve set the ambitious Better Public Services target to reduce the incidence of rheumatic fever by two thirds to 1.4 cases per 100,000 people by June 2017.

The funding boost will include $11.25 million over four years for sore-throat drop-in clinics to reach at-risk families, almost $5 million on an awareness campaign helping families protect their children, research towards a vaccine, and establishing an Auckland-wide healthy homes referral and advice service.

This almost doubles the substantial $24 million investment already being made to fight rheumatic fever.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40903

Supporting parents and communities to lift educational achievement

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:11:28 +1200

National is investing $80.5 million over four years to help support parents and communities to play their part in lifting educational achievement.

$63.6 million will go to the successful Positive Behaviour for Learning programme – which helps address problem behaviour in young people. $14.5 million will support boards of trustees, and $2.4 million will go to Connecting Communities – to help families engage with early childhood services.

It’s vital everyone with a role in a child’s education – parents, caregivers, whānau, communities, early childhood services, schools, boards, teachers – be supported to do their best.

Ensuring every child gets a good education is the most important thing National can do to create a more competitive and productive economy – one of our priorities.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=40920

Budgeting Services get extra funding

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:07:19 +1200

In recognition of the good work Budgeting Services do to help people manage their income, National has allocated an extra $1.5 million for 2013/14.

Budgeting Services provides tools and knowledge to help people manage their budgets without getting into debt, or financial crisis. This is especially important for people on low incomes.

One of our priorities is delivering better public services to New Zealanders, and we are supporting people on low incomes by investing more money into organisations providing budgeting advice and support.

Funding applications for Budgeting Services providers open on Monday 13 May and close Friday 24 May with providers notified by 31 May.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=40913

Shared vision for Mackenzie Basin welcomed

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:02:23 +1200

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith and Environment Minister Amy Adams today welcomed a report proposing a way to manage the contentious land intensification, water, landscape, and biodiversity issues in the Mackenzie Basin.

“This report is the result of a collaborative process by more than 30 groups and individuals working together to develop options for the future of the basin,” the Ministers say.

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Local MP congratulates Selwyn on TV recycling efforts

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:36:00 +1200

Selwyn MP Amy Adams has congratulated the people of Selwyn for their excellent effort in recycling 1,803 televisions so far through the Government’s TV TakeBack programme. The initiative has been so successful that the Government has provided additional funding to the Selwyn District Council to allow a further 800 TVs to be collected at the Sicon Depot at Darfield and Pines Resource Recovery Park at Rolleston.

Ms Adams announced on Wednesday in her capacity as Environment Minister that nationwide more than 50,000 televisions had been collected for recycling under the programme.

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Local MP welcomes plans for new Saddle Hill scenic reserve

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:31:00 +1200

Selwyn MP Amy Adams has welcomed the Government’s involvement in the purchase of 145 hectares of land on Banks Peninsula to create a scenic reserve. Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith announced yesterday that the Government’s Nature Heritage Fund, in association with the Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust and the Josef Langer Trust, had purchased the upper slopes and summit of Saddle Hill, six kilometres east of Little River.

“As the local MP for the area, I am thrilled that local people and visitors alike will be able to enjoy this spectacular place through the creation of a scenic reserve and walkway,” Ms Adams said.

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Strengthening animal welfare laws in New Zealand

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:04:09 +1200

The Animal Welfare Amendment Bill introduced to Parliament this week will enable New Zealand to build a more competitive and productive economy by updating and strengthening animal welfare law.

We earn about $20 billion a year exporting high-value animal products like meat, milk and wool, and this is largely because of our reputation for having one of the best animal welfare systems in the world – but we’re always looking for improvements.

There are 15 codes of welfare, and proposed amendments allow us to create enforceable regulations to support these. The bill details how farm and domestic animals should be treated, and gives wider powers to deal with people who breach welfare laws. It also supports our recently-launched Animal Welfare Strategy.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40924

Strong New Zealand demand for shares

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:03:34 +1200

More than 113,000 New Zealanders have bought shares in Mighty River Power, fulfilling the Government’s commitment to encourage widespread New Zealand ownership.

Of the shares offered, 86.5 per cent will be in New Zealand hands, which meets National’s commitment to ensure at least 85-90 per cent local ownership.

The sale proceeds of $1.7 billion mean New Zealand taxpayers receive an excellent return. This money will go into the Future Investment Fund that the Government can then invest in other assets, such as modern schools and hospitals, without having to borrow on volatile overseas markets.

Mighty River Power is the first company off the blocks in the Government’s share offer programme, which is expected to free up $5 billion to $7 billion. This policy is part of our wider plan to responsibly manage the Government’s finances and build a more competitive and productive economy.

Improving broadband product information

nospam@example.com (admin) — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:22:37 +1200

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams has welcomed the release of a draft code of practice to improve the transparency of broadband product information for consumers.

The code has been developed by the Telecommunications Forum (TCF) in response to a request from Ms Adams that improvements be made to make broadband offerings easier to understand and compare.

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