Key Notes No.55

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ENCOURAGING SPORT IN SCHOOLS

Often, politics can seem like a tug-of-war. And once in a while it actually is.
I had fun out on the sportsfield with the children from Bairds Mainfreight Primary School in Otara on Tuesday.

I was at the school to launch the Government's Kiwisport initiative, with the help of some well-known sportspeople - such as Sir John Walker, Sir Peter Snell, and Conrad Smith (pictured behind me on the rope).

Kiwisport will invest $82 million in school sport and Regional Sports Trusts over the next four years to encourage more children to take part in sport at school, after school, and during the holidays.

Sport is hugely important. It teaches children about teamwork, leadership, fair play, and success and failure. And it encourages fitness and a love of outdoor activity. Find out more about Kiwisport here.

PLAYING OUR PART IN AFGHANISTAN

On Monday, after a review of New Zealand's commitment to maintaining security and stability in Afghanistan, I announced three important decisions.
The Government will:

- Draw down the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan province over the next 3-to-5 years, and increase the civilian effort in agriculture, health, and education.
- Redeploy the SAS to Afghanistan for up to 18 months, and
- Appoint a senior diplomatic representative to the country.
The recent bombing in Jakarta shows that New Zealanders are not immune to terrorism. By making these decisions about our Afghanistan commitment, New Zealand is playing its part in international efforts to get rid of terrorism, promote peace, and encourage stability. Learn more here.

TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE

On Monday, I also announced that New Zealand's 2020 emissions reduction target range will be 10% to 20% below 1990 levels.

This target is internationally credible, and seeks to balance our economic opportunities with our environmental responsibilities. It's going to be a big ask for New Zealand to achieve these reductions, because our gross emissions are already 24 percent above our 1990 levels. But I think the target range carefully balances our environmental responsibilities with a realistic assessment of the economic costs.

Find out more about our emissions reduction target.

WORKING WITH THE PACIFIC

Last week I was in Cairns for the Pacific Islands Forum. Building a close relationship with my fellow South Pacific leaders is critical if we are to tackle together some of the challenges we face in our region.

We discussed climate change, how we can do a better job of co-ordinating aid, tackling the economic recession, encouraging regional trade, and Fiji. I also announced further improvements to New Zealand's Recognised Seasonal Employment Scheme, and support for business mentoring in the Pacific.
While we were in Cairns, we learnt about the Tongan ferry disaster. I'm glad New Zealand has been able to lend a hand searching for the ferry and helping survivors. I sent commiserations via Prime Minister Sevele and my heart goes out to friends and family who lost loved ones.

I'm heading back to Australia next week for an official visit. Our Governments are working towards a single economic market. Prime Minister Rudd and I will be announcing measures for streamlining trans-Tasman travel. And several Ministers will join me in Sydney for the Australian-New Zealand Leadership Forum.

FROM THE DIARY

On Tuesday at Parliament, I met children from St Anne's School and Harold the Giraffe from the Life Education Trust. Harold is going into space on a NASA space shuttle, and is encouraging children to join the Trust's Wish-Upon-A-Star competition.

I had a cracker day in Gisborne on Wednesday. I met children at Awapuni School who are learning to read and write in an innovative literacy programme, where they report their own progress to their parents. I checked out Gisborne's Vintage Railway. And I chatted to at-risk youth at the Te Ora Hou skate park classrooms about how every single one of us can achieve if we choose to. I also announced GST changes for tour operators at the Inbound Tour Operators Conference.

I was in the Manawatu yesterday to launch Food Innovation New Zealand - a collaborative venture between Massey University, Fonterra, and several food research organisations. Today I'm back in Wellington to attend the investiture of 72 honoured New Zealanders as knights and dames.

YOUR COMMENTS

Thanks for your comments. Please keep them coming. They help inform our thinking. You can comment on this newsletter on my blog at www.johnkey.co.nz, on my Facebook page, or via Twitter. www.twitter.com/johnkeypm

Best wishes

John Key
Prime Minister

ENDS

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