Articles tagged with Dan

Showing 15 of 49 articles

Hon. Justice Timothy Brewer Appointed as New Inspector-General of Defence, Natalie Pierce as Deputy

05 Nov 2025 | 10 months ago | 1023 views

The House has approved the appointment of High Court Judge Hon Justice Timothy Brewer as the next Inspector-General of Defence and barrister Natalie Pierce as the Deputy. Justice Brewer, a former Brigadier in the NZ Army, will retire on November 15 and assume the IGD role on December 1. Ms. Pierce, with expertise in criminal law and human rights, will start her role on November 10. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith also acknowledged the contributions of Brendan Horsley, who held the IGD role concurrently with his role as Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, in establishing the office and providing oversight.

Tags: High Court Judge Justice Timothy Brewer Natalie Pierce Deputy Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith Barrister Brendan Horsley Intelligence and Security

Innovative Autism NZ Education Hub to Open in 2026: A Personalized Approach for Neurodivergent Students

30 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 1124 views

Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced the opening of the Autism NZ Education Hub in Term 3, 2026, as a charter school, providing a tailored education option for autistic and neurodivergent secondary school students in Wellington and Auckland. The hub will offer personalized learning plans focusing on students' strengths, interests, and needs, aiming to address the high rates of absence and school rejection among neurodivergent and disabled students. The charter school model aims to bring innovative education options to communities, with a focus on flexibility, accountability, and student success, with plans for more charter schools to open in the future.

Tags: David Seymour Autism NZ Education Hub Charter School Autism NZ Dane Dougan Education Minister Education Review Office Alternative Education Charter School Agency Authorisation Board

Strengthening Nordic-New Zealand Partnerships: Shared Values and Future Collaborations

28 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 1158 views

The speech delivered to the Swedish Institute for International Affairs on October 28, 2025, highlighted the historical and current ties between New Zealand and the Nordic countries, emphasizing shared values and experiences dating back to the 18th century. The discussion focused on the strength of partnerships, shared challenges in a complex world, and the need for collaboration on international law, resilience-building, and innovation to address global issues. The importance of unity, cooperation, and principled values-based partnerships in shaping a positive global order was underscored, emphasizing the potential for small and medium nations to influence world affairs through collective action.

Tags: State Secretary Hartelius Tobias Billstrom Ambassadors Daniel Solander Hermann Sporring Ditlev Monrad Helen Lahtinen Jon Johansson Captain Cook Te Papa

Remembering Jim Bolger: A Tribute to a Dedicated Leader and Statesman

22 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 1083 views

Jim Bolger's life and political career are honored, with gratitude expressed for his service and achievements. His leadership as New Zealand's Prime Minister is highlighted, with a focus on his role in important reforms and Treaty settlements. Bolger's enduring legacy includes economic reforms, foreign relations initiatives, and his dedication to public service.

Tags: Jim Bolger Joan Dan Paul Brian Stephen Bernadette Fiona Rachael Matthew

Airways Corporation of New Zealand Announces New Leadership Appointments

21 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 1049 views

State-Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown announced leadership changes at the Airways Corporation of New Zealand. Darin Cusack will become Chair effective October 31, 2025, succeeding Denise Church, with Danny Tuato’o appointed as Deputy Chair. Both Cusack and Tuato’o have been reappointed for extended terms, bringing valuable experience in aviation systems and safety, financial acumen, and risk management to help Airways navigate industry challenges.

Tags: Simeon Brown Darin Cusack Denise Church Danny Tuato'o Airways Corporation of New Zealand aviation sector leadership appointments air navigation services safety systems

Government Saves $915 Million on Consultants, Boosts Frontline Roles

08 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1034 views

In the past two years, the New Zealand government has reduced spending on contractors and consultants by $915 million, exceeding their savings target of $400 million. This reduction has been accompanied by a decrease in the size of the public service by nearly 5%, with a focus on increasing frontline roles while cutting back-office positions. The emphasis has shifted towards prioritizing savings in back-office functions to protect and enhance frontline services, resulting in 1533 redundancies and $80.4 million in redundancy payments in the past year.

Tags: Public Service Minister Judith Collins frontline roles public service contractors consultants savings Government redundancies New Zealanders restructure

Improving School Attendance: ERO Report Shows Positive Trends Under Government

07 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1214 views

Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes the Education Review Office's report on improved parent and student attitudes towards school attendance under the current Government. The report, based on a survey of 14,600 stakeholders, reveals a significant increase in school attendance rates since 2022. Schools and school leaders play a crucial role in setting clear expectations around attendance, with a focus on the importance of education for students' future success.

Tags: David Seymour Education Minister ERO report school attendance students parents teachers school leaders education attendance management plan

Transforming School Attendance Services for Better Student Engagement and Support

06 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1081 views

Associate Education Minister David Seymour has revamped the Government's school attendance services contracting system to enhance support for chronically absent students. Budget 2025 allocated $140 million over four years, with $123 million designated for frontline services, leading to the awarding of 83 contracts to Attendance Service Providers (ASPs) nationwide. The new model emphasizes reaching more absent students, understanding their reasons for non-attendance, collaborating with families and schools, addressing students' basic needs, and escalating cases of chronic non-attendance, with a goal to achieve 80% student attendance by 2030.

Tags: David Seymour Ministry ERO Attendance Service Providers Budget 2025 School attendance Education Minister Contracts Students Services

Raukūmara Pae Maunga: $6 Million Investment Boosts Indigenous Conservation Efforts

29 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1908 views

A $6 million investment in the Raukūmara Pae Maunga restoration project aims to strengthen local employment and iwi-led conservation efforts against destructive pests, supported by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. The project, a collaboration between Ngāti Porou, Te-Whānau-ā-Apanui, and the Department of Conservation, focuses on large-scale pest control, forest regeneration, community engagement, and species protection in the Raukūmara Range. Through innovative approaches like DNA surveying and aerial hunting, the project is enhancing conservation efforts and developing a new generation of indigenous conservation leaders, with funding secured until 2028 from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.

Tags: Tama Potaka Ngāti Porou Department of Conservation Raukūmara Pae Maunga Conservation Minister Dana Kirkpatrick Caleb Wharepapa Te Papa Atawhai Raukūmara Range

Challenges of Political Leadership in the Global Arena

26 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 986 views

The speech emphasizes the importance of political leadership in addressing international challenges, restoring trust in institutions, and navigating the changing global order. New Zealand expresses concern over humanitarian crises in various countries and advocates for bold reforms within the United Nations. The government deliberates on the recognition of Palestinian statehood, highlighting the complexities of the situation and the need for conducive conditions for peace negotiations.

Tags: Madam President New Zealand United Nations Security Council Anwar Sadat Gaza Ukraine Democratic Republic of Congo Syria Sudan

Empowering Intelligence Professionals for National Security

27 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1108 views

The content emphasizes gratitude for the opportunity to address intelligence professionals, highlighting the importance of their work in providing crucial insights for decision-makers. It discusses the evolving landscape of intelligence work, including the need to expand the reach of intelligence services to support a wider range of stakeholders and adapt to technological advancements. Additionally, it touches on the importance of early action, collaboration domestically and internationally, and adopting an integrated approach to national security to ensure New Zealand's safety and prosperity.

Tags: Dan Wildy New Zealand Police intelligence professionals New Zealanders national security GCSB NZSIS Five Eyes artificial intelligence security provisions

Record Attendance Trends in Schools Signal Positive Shifts for Education System

20 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1246 views

Since Term 1 of 2024, attendance rates in schools have consistently increased each term compared to the previous year, with Term 2 of this year seeing a notable rise to 58.4% from 53.4% in Term 2 of the previous year. Associate Education Minister David Seymour highlights improvements in attendance across all regions, with a significant decrease in chronic absence rates. Plans are underway to enforce stricter attendance measures, including mandatory school attendance management plans aligned with the STAR program by 2026, with prosecution as a last resort for parents who persistently fail to ensure their children attend school. A $140 million budget allocation in 2025 aims to enhance attendance rates over the next four years to promote positive educational outcomes and long-term benefits for students.

Tags: Term 1 2024 Attendance David Seymour Education Minister Taranaki Whanganui Manawatū STAR Prosecution Budget 2025

Kiwi Kids' Writing Achievement Boosted with Government's 'Make It Write' Action Plan

19 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1245 views

The Government is launching a Writing Action Plan to improve writing achievement among Kiwi kids. New data from 2024 reveals declining writing performance as students progress through school, with only 24% of Year 8 students meeting curriculum benchmarks. Initiatives like the Writing Acceleration Tool and Handwriting Teacher Guidance aim to address these challenges and ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed academically and beyond.

Tags: Government Writing Action Plan Kiwi kids baseline data English curriculum structured literacy Education Minister Erica Stanford Make It Write Writing Acceleration Tool Handwriting Teacher Guidance

Rail Safety Urgency: Stay Off, Stay Safe Campaign Impact

11 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1246 views

The event begins with acknowledgments to various speakers and attendees, emphasizing the importance of rail safety due to recent deaths on the rail corridor. The message "Stay Off, Stay Safe" is highlighted as a crucial campaign to prevent accidents. Efforts to raise awareness, educate the public, and implement safety measures are commended, stressing the need for vigilance and respect for the rail network to prevent further tragedies.

Tags: Peter Jackson Megan Drayton Peter Reidy Adrienne Wilcock TrackSAFE KiwiRail Students Against Dangerous Driving SADD Patrick Brockie

Celebrating 60 Years of Cook Islands' Free Association with New Zealand

04 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 2321 views

The speech for Constitution Day Celebrations of the Cook Islands highlights the unique 'Free Association' relationship with New Zealand, celebrating 60 years since its establishment in 1965. The model, born out of the Cook Islands Legislative Assembly's desire for self-government while retaining New Zealand citizenship, has been a successful and enduring partnership. The speech emphasizes the economic, cultural, and social successes of the Cook Islands community in New Zealand, as well as New Zealand's ongoing support for the Cook Islands in times of need, reflecting on the strong bonds and mutual respect shared between the two nations.

Tags: Constitution Day Celebrations Cook Islands Upokina Taoro CIDANZ Auckland Council Reverend Charles Pange Mama Tupou Manapori Mama Mi'i Tarapu Sir Tom Davis Norman Kirk