Minister: John Banks

Speech to 'The Biz' Wellington SME Event

Hon John Banks — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 06:09:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

Good evening; I am very pleased to welcome you all to the beautiful Trentham Racecourse here in Upper Hutt. I know that having this ‘Biz’ event will inspire you to greater things in your business. Upper Hutt has a fine reputation of innovative SMEs in high value goods manufacturing and exporting, thanks to firms such as TenderRest and VenTech Systems. The speakers that have agreed to present at these events are inspirational and I would like to acknowledge Tenby Powell, convenor of the Government’s Small Business Development Group. ...

Partnership Schools | Kura Hourua to open in 2014

Beehive — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:09:00 +0000

John Banks | Education

The passing of the third and final reading of the Education Amendment Bill in Parliament this afternoon, paves the way for the first Partnership Schools | Kura Hourua to open at the start of the next school year. Associate Education Minister John Banks says Partnership Schools | Kura Hourua will improve the life chances of students who are currently being left behind. ...

Partnership Schools/Kura Hourua: funding focuses on raising achievement

Beehive — Wed, 15 May 2013 02:14:00 +0000

John Banks | Budget 2013

Budget 2013 will provide $19 million in contingency funding to establish the first Partnership Schools/Kura Hourua with a focus on accountability and high educational outcomes for New Zealand children. The initiative will see a small number of schools established, with greater freedom and flexibility to innovate and engage their students in return for stronger accountability for delivering educational results, Associate Education Minister John Banks says. ...

Competition gives businesses a flying start

Mon, 13 May 2013 21:46:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

Small Business Minister John Banks says SME owners looking to grow their business should enter the ANZ Flying Start Business Plan Competition run by Business.govt.nz. The competition – now in its third consecutive year - seeks out the best business plans from businesses and start-ups across New Zealand with an annual turnover of less than $1 million. There is $80,000 worth of prizes up for grabs. ...

SMEs encouraged to apply for the 2013 PM’s Business Scholarships

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:55:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

Minister for Small Business John Banks is encouraging small business owners to apply for the Prime Minister’s Business Scholarships. ...

Greens Mislead Public About Partnership School Funding

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 03:34:00 +0000

John Banks | Education

Metiria Turei’s claim that Te Kotahitanga funding is being canned to fund Partnership Schools has no basis in fact, Associate Minister of Education John Banks said today. “Ms Turei’s claim is akin to saying that government environmental programmes are being canned to pay for the Greens’ $50,000 parliamentary funded asset sales referendum. It’s an absurdly long stretch of the bow to connect the two,” Mr Banks said. ...

New initiatives to improve regulation

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:24:00 +0000

John Banks | Regulatory Reform

Regulatory Reform Minister John Banks today announced that the Government has agreed to two new initiatives to improve New Zealand’s regulatory performance. The two initiatives are: More active regulatory stewardship Improved disclosure for legislation and regulation “Government agencies need to continue to improve their regulatory performance to ensure higher living standards for all New Zealanders,” Mr Banks says. ...

Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:37:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

Small Business Minister John Banks today released the factsheet ‘Small Businesses in New Zealand’ that highlights the significant contribution small and medium-sized firms make to New Zealand’s economy. The factsheet is a summary of results from recent Statistics New Zealand surveys relating to small and medium enterprises. It shows that smaller businesses dominate our industries and play their part in generating jobs, innovation and overseas income. Key results include: ...

Hipkins Fails On Comprehension

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 04:53:00 +0000

John Banks | Education

Associate Education Minister John Banks today gave Labour’s Chris Hipkins an F for comprehension due to his poor understanding of the Government’s Partnership School draft contract. “Mr Hipkins made a number of claims and got his facts wrong on every count,” Mr Banks said. Claim: The Government is preparing to throw large sums of taxpayer cash at Partnership Schools even before legislation allowing for them has been passed into law. ...

Partnership Schools Authorisation Board Established

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:18:00 +0000

John Banks | Education

Associate Education Minister John Banks today announced the establishment and appointment of members to the independent Partnership Schools Authorisation Board. The role of the Board is to evaluate applications for Partnership Schools and make recommendations to the Minister of Education on which applications should be considered for contract negotiations. No final recommendations will be made by the Board until the Parliamentary process is complete. ...

Government focused on what matters to small business

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 03:13:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

The Government is actively pursuing a wide range of initiatives that provide the certainty and support the Small Business Advisory Group is calling for, Minister for Small Business John Banks said today. Mr Banks has released the Government’s response to the Small Business Advisory Group’s 2012 report, addressing the eight recommendations the Group believed would make a difference to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). ...

Speech to Industry Training Federation's Labour Market Forum

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:19:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

The future is looking brighter for small business in New Zealand. Interest rates and inflation are at record lows. We are just starting to see the first positive signs of productivity growth since 2006. New Zealand is faring a lot better than many other countries. Recent surveys by the BNZ and ANZ have found small business owners are feeling more confident about their prospects in the year ahead. ...

New members of Small Business Development Group announced

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 22:35:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

Announcing the appointment of the Small Business Development Group (formerly Small Business Advisory Group) today, Mr Banks welcomed twelve new members from a diverse range of industries in the economy and representing a number of regions. “SMEs are the lifeblood of our economy, and the Small Business Development Group plays an important role providing the small business voice in business policy development,” Mr Banks said. ...

Submission process for Partnership Schools

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 23:38:00 +0000

John Banks | Education

Many people have shown an interest in Partnership Schools |Kura Hourua. As the Minister responsible for this policy, I warmly encourage everyone to participate in a crucial stage of its development. The legislation required for Partnership Schools to operate was introduced to Parliament last month. ...

Business.govt.nz wins excellence in Business Support Awards

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 03:31:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

Small Business Minister John Banks today congratulated Business.govt.nz for winning the Government category at last night’s AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards. Hosted by the AUT Business School, winners across 13 categories were announced to an audience of over 700 business leaders. This year saw a total of 47 finalists - the highest in the award’s seven-year history. “This award highlights the value Business.govt.nz provides New Zealand’s small and medium enterprises,” Mr Banks said. ...

Education Amendment Bill – First Reading

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 02:21:00 +0000

John Banks | Education

I move that the Education Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Education and Science Committee to consider the Bill. This Government is committed to ensuring that every young New Zealander has the skills and qualifications required to successfully participate in the modern economy. The first objective of the Bill is to provide for Partnership Schools|Kura Hourua. ...

Innovative education policy one step closer

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 04:00:00 +0000

John Banks | Education

The establishment of Partnership Schools|Kura Hourua is one step closer with the introduction of the Education Amendment Bill, Associate Education Minister John Banks said today. “The Bill sets out the legal framework for this exciting new type of school which is based on international best practice but tailored to New Zealand’s unique education and social environment,” Mr Banks said. “The Partnership Schools|Kura Hourua model has been developed to assist those students whose needs are not being met in the current education system. ...

Business.govt.nz judged best site for small businesses

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 03:12:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

Small Business Minister John Banks has congratulated Business.govt.nz for winning their category at the NetGuide Web Awards for the second year running. Business.govt.nz was judged the Best Site for Small Businesses in the 2012 NetGuide Web Awards, which acknowledges New Zealand’s best websites, based on 225,000 votes. “This deserved award recognises the value Business.govt.nz provides small businesses in New Zealand,” Mr Banks said. ...

Flying Start Business Plan Awards

Beehive — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 07:02:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

It is a pleasure to be here today to award the supreme prize for www.business.govt.nz’s ANZ Flying Start Business Plan Competition. More than 760 people put forward ideas for the ANZ Flying Start competition – the kind of ideas that show off the ingenuity and entrepreneurship that New Zealanders are renowned for. Many of these ideas, when partnered with a solid business plan, have the ingredients for success in New Zealand, and across the globe. ...

Flying Start For Canterbury Robotics Firm

Beehive — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 06:59:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

Minister for Small Business John Banks today congratulated Invert Robotics - an innovative Canterbury robotics firm - for winning Business.govt.nz’s ANZ Flying Start Business Plan Competition. Invert Robotics has created a world leading inspection solution for dairy factories and other users of stainless steel equipment. Their remotely-operated climbing robots replace the existing abseil method, providing a fast, accurate and safer way of inspecting dairy equipment. ...

Regulatory Reform Bill and Regulatory Repeals Bill Pass

Beehive — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 06:08:00 +0000

John Banks | Regulatory Reform

Two Bills which amend 13 pieces of legislation to reduce the compliance burden on business and repeal 31 Acts that no longer have any effect or are out of date passed their third and final reading today. Minister for Regulatory Reform John Banks says the passing of the Regulatory Reform Bill will improve the quality of specific regulatory environments, with these improvements flowing on to business and the economy. ...

Regulatory Reform Bill and Regulatory Reform (Repeals) Bill Third Reading Speech

Beehive — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 06:06:00 +0000

John Banks | Regulatory Reform

I move that the: ...

Standards New Zealand's Meritorious Service Awards

Beehive — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 23:51:00 +0000

John Banks | Commerce

Council members, Chief Executive Chin, and distinguished guests – tena koutou. I am honoured to be here today to recognise the commendable and exceptional work of those who have contributed to standards development in New Zealand. I would also like to acknowledge my Parliamentary colleague, the Honourable Lianne Dalziel, for the work she has done in this area in her previous role as Commerce Minister. I understand that there are over 2000 volunteers who freely offer their time and expertise to Standards New Zealand. ...

Partnership Schools – another choice for parents

Beehive — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 06:48:00 +0000

John Banks | Education

Associate Minister of Education John Banks says that the addition of Partnership Schools/Kura Hourua creates another education option for parents to choose from. "Of course they won't be for everyone but parents should have the opportunity to choose what works for their family,” Mr Banks said. "This new model allows for a proportion of the staff not to be registered as a teacher. "This is not the same as not being qualified. ...

Ministers announce framework for Partnership Schools/Kura Hourua

Admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:17:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister John Banks today announced the framework for the New Zealand Model of Charter School. The schools will be known as Partnership Schools or Kura Hourua. “The term ‘partnership’ captures the essence of the concept; they will be a partnership between the Crown and the school’s sponsor, and between the sponsor and the community,’’ says Mr Banks. ...

Better economic performance through better regulation

Admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 01:36:00 +0000

Bill English | Finance

A new system assessing the health of New Zealand’s regulatory regimes will help improve economic performance over the longer term, Finance Minister Bill English and Regulatory Reform Minister John Banks say. The results of preliminary assessments are included in a report, Best Practice Regulation Model: Principles and Assessments, released on the Treasury website today. ...

A flying start for business plan competition

Beehive — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 22:37:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

Small Business Minister John Banks today congratulated the 51 entrepreneurs who have made it to the next stage of the Business.govt.nz Flying Start Business Plan Competition, sponsored by ANZ. “More than 750 small and start-up business owners submitted their business plan proposals for a chance to win a share of $82,000 in prizes. Three finalists have been selected from each of the 17 regions,” Mr Banks said. ...

Speaking up for Small Business

Beehive — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 04:38:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

Minister for Small Business John Banks today announced that new members are being sought for the Small Business Advisory Group (SBAG). “Small and medium business are the foundation of the New Zealand economy. The Government needs to hear what SME owners think so that we can make decisions that help, and not hinder their growth,” Mr Banks said. ...

Another chance for Businesses to get a Flying Start

Beehive — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:33:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

Small Business Minister John Banks today launched the Business.govt.nz second annual ANZ Flying Start Business Plan competition, with more than $80,000 worth of prizes up for grabs. “The ANZ Flying Start Business Plan competition seeks out the best business plan from new or fledgling New Zealand enterprises, and helps them put their plans into action,” Mr Banks said. “Small and medium businesses drive the New Zealand economy, making up 97 per cent of all enterprises and employing over 500,000 Kiwis. ...

Minister welcomes Small Business Advisory Group report

Beehive — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:11:00 +0000

John Banks | Small Business

Minister for Small Business John Banks welcomed the release of the Small Business Advisory Group (SBAG) report ‘Thriving and Surviving in a Seismic Environment’, which contains eight recommendations for the Government to consider. “Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) have had a roller-coaster ride in the past few years with the 2008/2009 global recession, the effects of which were compounded for many in Christchurch with the series of devastating earthquakes,” Minister Banks said. ...