

As well as New Zealanders up and down the country, our friends across the ditch are paying attention to our anti-smacking referendum – with Australia's ABC Breakfast radio phoning me for comment this morning...


Just over a week after its launch, the public consultation phase of Defence Review 2009 has been received well and has already drawn a positive response, Associate Minister of Defence Heather Roy said today...


With only little over a week since it was launched, the public consultation phase of Defence Review 2009 has been received well and has already drawn a positive response...


While in Christchurch yesterday I visited Allenvale Special School where I was warmly welcomed with a waiata from the students and a presentation of artwork by two of the students. Allenvale is a co-educational Special School which caters for students aged 5-21...


Hon Heather Roy speech to the Model United Nations Conference; Rutherford House, Victoria University, Thorndon, Wellington; Saturday, July 4 2009. Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa...


While my son and his friends were playing a network computer game at home which they described as an on-line United Nations I joined the UN Youth Association opening ceremony of their 10th Annual Conference at Rutherford House in Wellington, which closely resembled the real UN...


Friends And Allies As a Minister my days consist of appointments following briefings, following meetings and more...


There has been much media interest in Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei's Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill, which was considered in Parliament today. Voting on the First Reading of the Bill was a conscience issue - in that MPs voted as they saw fit rather than along party lines...


As part of the public consultation phase for Defence Review 2009, the Ministry of Defence has developed a number of informative tools to help people understand more about the Review and the New Zealand defence Force (NZDF)...


As if yesterday's news of yet another Student Association executive member being jailed for misappropriation of funds wasn't enough I discovered today that Canterbury University Students Assn has announced an increase in membership fees (compulsory) from $85 to $533 per year...


ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader Heather Roy today reiterated her call for student association membership to be made voluntary, following an article in the 'Press' newspaper that a woman has been jailed for 22 months after defrauding the Christchurch Polytechnic Students' Association (CPSA) of...


Last Friday, Defence Minister Wayne Mapp and I launched the public consultation phase of Defence Review 2009 at Te Papa Marae...


The discovery of what has been described as a "massive fraud" at the Christchurch Polytechnic Students' Association (CPSA) has stregthened the case for student association membership to be made voluntary...


As CoOL As It Gets This week the issue of Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) appeared in the media again with articles in both the 'Sunday Star-Times' and the 'Herald On Sunday' newspapers, as well as press releases from a number of different interest groups...


Minister of Defence Wayne Mapp and Associate Minister of Defence Heather Roy will today launch the public consultation document for Defence Review 2009 at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. "The Defence Review is long overdue, with the last major review being last century...


Hon Heather Roy speech for the launch of Defence Review 2009 Public Consultation; Te Papa, Cable Street, Wellington; Friday, June 26 2009. Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to reinforce Hon Dr Wayne Mapp's introductory comments about Defence Review 09...


Minister of Defence Hon Dr Wayne Mapp and Associate Minister of Defence Hon Heather Roy today officially launched the public consultation document of the National-led Government's Defence review 2009...


Minister of Consumer Affairs Heather Roy has spoken to the First Reading of a Bill designed to improve the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 and make changes to the registration of motor vehicle traders, information disclosure and the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal...


Hon Heather Roy speech to the First Reading of the Motor Vehicle Sales Amendment Bill; Parliament; Wednesday, June 24 2009. Mr Speaker, I move that the Motor Vehicle Sales Amendment Bill now be read for the first time. It is my intention that the Bill be referred to the Commerce Committee...


Hon Heather Roy - General Debate, Slot One; Parliament; Wednesday, June 24 2009 Violence is not acceptable in any shape or form. It is a plague that haunts our communities, and violence against the vulnerable - against our children - is totally abhorrent. I say that as a mother, and as a politician...


It is vital that consumers have easy access to quality dispute resolution, and yesterday I released two discussion papers that address consumer complaints about financial service providers, Minister of Consumer Affairs Heather Roy said today...


Waste Not I've just finished separating the plastics from the glassware and newspapers for this week's recycling collection and - as he does most weeks - my husband commented that my efforts are wasted because much of the cardboard, glass and plastic I carefully set aside for recycling ends up...


ACT is a classical liberal political party in New Zealand. ACT currently has five MPs in the New Zealand Parliament. Rodney Hide is the ACT Leader and MP for Epsom. Rodney...
Non-Profit:193 fans


Today is the beginning of Gifted Awareness Week, a nationwide initiative from June 15-22 that is designed to raise awareness of the Gifted Education Centre and of the needs of gifted students throughout the country...


Gifted and Talented Kids Shouldn't Be Forgotten At a time when the media all too often focuses on young people who are in trouble or who are troubled, it can be easy develop a skewed perspective of our young people in general...


Every year my teenage children have gone to support their school's entry in the Stage Challenge contest and have reported how exceptional the performances have been. I went along for the first time tonight and arrived home to report that this years competition was better than ever...


Every now and again I get the opportunity to honour someone for achieving a milestone and yesterday I was able to be involved in another of these occasions...


Peter at 9:01pm June 11
Awesome, well done Ben! And thanks for speaking to one of my POLS lectures this year Heather! good presentation!


Today I was invited to Wilford School in Petone to attend a concert by the New Zealand String Quartet...


Page six of yesterday's 'DominionPost' featured an article about Churton Park which, with just one school, a lone dairy and a real estate agents hut, is described as “the Wellington suburb that progress forgot”...


About two weeks ago, an estimated 300 people gathered in a Wellington Church to commemorate America's Memorial Day - the US equivalent to our ANZAC Day, when we remember those who died to protect our freedom and our way of life...


Special Education - Where Choice Is Vital When it comes to the education of their children, parents - often with advice - are best placed to determine what the right school is. What is right for one is not necessarily right for another...


Today, I joined the maiden voyage of the fourth and last of the Navy's Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs), HMNZS Taupo, from Whangarei to Devonport Naval Base. There is quite a handover process from shipbuilder to Ministry of Defence to Navy when a new ship is built...


Sir John Walker has a nice ring to it. I remember well sitting in my Form 2 classroom listening to the radio commentary of the 1500m at the Montreal Olympic Games. There was jubilation in the classroom of 12 year olds as John Walker crossed the line to take the gold medal...


Navy Gets New Ferrari In my capacity as the Associate Minister of Defence, I today represented the New Zealand Government at a Navy Acceptance Ceremony in Whangarei. Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship (HMNZS) Taupo was formally handed over to the Royal New Zealand Navy...


The issue of Auckland's governance has been running hot in the news over recent weeks – particularly the issue of Maori seats and the resulting Hikoi that marched on Auckland Central...


I read with interest today an article in the Press newspaper about how Qantas will be charging new fees of up to $200 to passengers wishing to sit next to emergency exits on long-haul flights...


In the House this week: Government Bills: Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill - First Reading Act to Support Building Amendment Bill (No 2) - Second Reading...


Last Friday I continued with school visits and had the opportunity to visit the Homai campus of the Blind and Low Vision Education Network New Zealand (BLENNZ) - a facility that currently caters for blind and low vision students with moderate or greater needs...


Board Meetings Or Public Meetings? Earlier this week I received an email about the proposed merger of the Crown Research Institute AgResearch with Lincoln University near Christchurch...


I took the opportunity this recess week to visit a number of schools in Christchurch and Auckland. On Tuesday I was invited to Halswell College which is a decile 2 residential boys special school, located in Christchurch. Year 7 to 10 students attend the College from all over New Zealand...


The Terms of Reference for Defence Review 2009 were launched two weeks ago. These set the scope of the review and for those wanting to have their views heard as part of the Public Consultation process the Terms of Reference will be a useful document to read...


Prime Minister John Key incurred the wrath of a large number of women from the provinces at the Rural Women New Zealand's National Conference last Friday...














Heather Roy