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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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”...
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...
New Zealand Cadet Forces are one of my defence areas of responsibility...
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...
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...
Hon Heather Roy speech to the Air Training Corps Association of New Zealand National council; Trentham; Saturday, May 16 2009. Air Marshal Sir Richard Bolt, Air Vice Marshal Peter Adamson, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen...
Heather Roy