Minister: Christopher Finlayson

Minister expresses disgust at defacement of War Memorial

Beehive — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:45:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Arts, Culture and Heritage

Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson expressed his disgust at protestors who chose to use the National War Memorial in Wellington for political campaigning this morning by hanging banner from the carillon in Wellington. “The National War Memorial commemorates all those soldiers who died protecting our freedom,” Mr Finlayson said, “and to see it defiled for political reasons is offensive to the whole community no matter what an individual’s political beliefs.” ...

Government welcomes New Zealand Music Month

Beehive — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:11:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Arts, Culture and Heritage

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson and Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss today welcomed the beginning of the 12th New Zealand Music Month, saying it was a great way to sample from a full range of local music offerings nationwide. ...

Minister pays tribute to life and work of Grant Tilly

Beehive — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 05:43:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Arts, Culture and Heritage

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson this afternoon expressed his sadness at the death of Grant Tilly, a founding member of Wellington’s Circa Theatre. “Grant had been unwell for some time and his passing is very sad,” said Mr Finlayson. “It is impossible in a press release to list all his achievements in the theatre. He was one of a small group of people who formed Circa Theatre in 1976 and built it into its pre-eminent position today.” ...

The Clark Collection/Creative New Zealand Scholarship Winner Announced

Admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:23:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Arts, Culture and Heritage

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson has named Greg Donson as The Clark Collection/Creative New Zealand Scholar for 2012. Mr Finlayson said he was delighted to announce the 2012 Scholar as the Scholarship is a partnership which enhances New Zealand's body of expertise in the decorative arts and built heritage. ...

Hawke's Bay Regional Planning Committee established

Admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:18:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

Hawke's Bay Regional Council and local iwi are leading the way in the management of natural resources, said Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson after attending the opening ceremony of the Hawke's Bay Regional Planning Committee. ...

Regional Museum and Art Gallery Capital Fund applications open

Beehive — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:22:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Arts, Culture and Heritage

The government is calling for applications for 2012/13 to its regional museums policy fund for capital Construction projects, Arts Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today. The fund assists regional museum and art galleries that house collections of greatest national significance to improve access to and care of these collections through major construction projects. About $3 million will be available for allocation to qualifying museum and art gallery redevelopment projects. ...

Deed of settlement with Ngāti Ranginui initialled

Beehive — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:19:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Consumer Affairs

The Crown today initialled a Deed of Settlement for all historical Treaty claims of Ngāti Ranginui, the first of three Tauranga iwi. Initialling a deed of settlement signals the end of substantive negotiations. The deed was initialled in a ceremony at Huria Marae in Tauranga, with Kingi Tuheitia attending. The Crown was represented by Minister of Consumer Affairs Simon Bridges, who is also Member of Parliament for Tauranga. ...

Five Treaty settlement bills pass third reading

Beehive — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 05:31:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

The House today passed five bills giving effect to historical Treaty of Waitangi settlements, the most Treaty bills passed in any calendar year since the settlement process began in the 1990s. “Today marks the end of a long journey to settlement for Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Whare, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Pāhauwera,” Mr Finlayson said. ...

Statement on Operation Eight matters before the Court

Beehive — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 06:12:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Attorney-General

This morning Labour MP Annette King appeared on television and made allegations about the Operation Eight investigation which occurred when she was Police Minister. There are three on-going matters in the trials arising out of that operation: 1. The defendants’ sentencing on the firearms charges where guilty verdicts were returned; 2. The possibility of the defendants appealing those guilty verdicts; and ...

Further progress resolving Treaty claims

Beehive — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 05:06:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

Parliament has agreed to extended sitting hours today and, if necessary, to sit on Friday 9 March to give five Treaty settlement bills their first readings and to progress several Treaty bills through other house stages, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today. ...

Waka will sail Thames for Diamond Jubilee

Beehive — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 04:35:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Arts, Culture and Heritage

Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson confirmed today that New Zealand will be sending a waka taua (war canoe) as the country's official participant in the Thames River Pageant, which marks the Diamond Jubilee celebrating the 60th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II on 3 June. ...

Government condemns vandalism of Commonwealth war graves

Beehive — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 03:10:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Arts, Culture and Heritage

The New Zealand Government condemns the vandalism of war graves in Libya where hundreds of Commonwealth soldiers are buried and joins the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in expressing shock and sadness, Arts Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson said today. ...

Quake-hit cultural collections receive boost

Beehive — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:12:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Arts, Culture and Heritage

The Air Force Museum in Wigram will be available for the restoration, storage and rehabilitation of heritage and cultural collections displaced by the Canterbury earthquakes thanks to funding from the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust and government, Arts Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today. ...

Review of Crown Law Office welcomed

Beehive — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:13:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Attorney-General

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson has welcomed the findings of a review of the scope and focus of the Solicitor-General’s role and the operating model of Crown Law, released today. The review, by Auckland barrister Miriam Dean QC and Simpson Grierson Special Counsel David Cochrane, was commissioned by Mr Finlayson in October last year. The role of the Solicitor-General had previously been looked at in 1986 and 2006. ...

Government congratulates Bret McKenzie

Beehive — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 04:45:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Arts, Culture and Heritage

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson on behalf of the Government today congratulated actor and musician Bret McKenzie for winning best original song in the Academy Awards. ...

Appointment of Dr David Collins QC as High Court Judge

Admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:43:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Attorney-General

Solicitor-General David Brian Collins QC has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. Justice Collins graduated with an LLB (Hons) (First Class) from Victoria University of Wellington in 1975, subsequently gaining an LLM in 1976 and an LLD in 1993, also both from Victoria University. ...

New standing orders help keep up momentum in Treaty settlements

Beehive — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:28:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

The Government’s commitment to progressing Treaty settlements is being boosted by extended House sitting hours and utilising cognate bill options, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson said today. Mr Finlayson welcomed the decision of Parliament’s Business Committee to extend the House’s sitting hours for Thursday 16 February and to sit on Friday morning, in part to progress at six bills giving effect to settlements of historical Treaty claims. ...

Royal Commission into Canterbury building failures new reporting dates announced

Beehive — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:40:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Attorney-General

The Governor-General has amended the reporting dates for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure caused by Canterbury Earthquakes, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. The Royal Commission’s report will now be delivered in parts, to allow the fullest examination of important issues while allowing the rebuild of Christchurch to proceed without unnecessary delay. ...

Pike River Royal Commission reporting date extended

Beehive — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:38:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Attorney-General

On Cabinet’s advice, the Governor-General has extended the reporting date for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Pike River mine tragedy to 28 September 2012, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. The Commissioners were originally due to report back by 31 March 2012, but approached Government requesting an extension late last year. ...

New High Court Judge appointed

Admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:27:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Attorney-General

Auckland litigator Murray Ashley Gilbert SC has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. Justice Gilbert graduated with an LLB from Auckland University in 1977. In 1976 he joined Kensington Swan in Auckland as a law clerk, later becoming a partner in 1985. In 1996 he became a partner with Chapman Tripp. He left to form the partnership Gilbert Walker with Campbell Walker in 2004. In 2008 Justice Gilbert was appointed Senior Counsel. ...

Return of Toi moko welcomed

Beehive — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:53:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Arts, Culture and Heritage

Arts Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson today welcomed the return of 20 Toi moko (mummified Māori Heads), formerly held in French institutions, to New Zealand. “This is a wonderful day for the people of New Zealand and for those Maori whose ancestors’ remains have been returned home,” Mr Finlayson said. “Toi moko have a great deal of cultural and spiritual value to New Zealand and especially to Maori.” ...

Government congratulates Sir Peter Jackson

Admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:42:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Arts, Culture and Heritage

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson, on behalf of the Government today congratulated Sir Peter Jackson on the Golden Globe awarded for the film ‘Tintin’, which Sir Peter produced. ...

New Supreme Court Judge appointed

Beehive — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:21:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Attorney-General

The Honourable Justice Robert Chambers has been appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. Justice Chambers graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 1975, and in 1978 gained a doctorate from the University of Oxford. He commenced practice as a barrister sole in 1981 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court in 1999 and a Judge of the Court of Appeal in 2004. ...

New Court of Appeal Judge appointed

Admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:19:00 +0000

Christopher Finlayson | Attorney-General

The Honourable Justice Douglas White has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. Justice White, a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington, joined Young Bennett & Co after a stint working for the Law Commission in London. He later became a partner of that firm and then Young Swan Morison McKay (now Kensington Swan). He commenced practice as a barrister in 1986 and was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1988. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court, based in Auckland, in 2009. ...