Police Minister Paula Bennett has today announced a new easy-to-remember phone number will be launched for non-urgent police calls.

“It’s important that people can contact the police at all times of the day and night, whether the matter is life-threatening or less serious. We want our police force to be easily accessible and for the entire community to feel connected to them,” Mrs Bennett says. 

“There are currently more than 300 local police phone numbers and some aren’t manned 24/7. More than 1.8 million calls are made to local stations a year and satisfaction levels for those that ring are much lower than for 111 emergency calls.”

The number will be available from next year and will cater for calls that aren’t appropriate for 111 including reporting low-level or historic crime and giving information about suspicious activities. Those with emergencies should continue to call 111.

The number, which will be revealed when the service goes live next year, will be easy-to-remember, such as three digits or an 0800 number.

“A centralised, 24/7 service centre will significantly improve public access to police services no matter where in the country a member of the public is calling from. A non-emergency number has already been successfully introduced in Australia, Canada and the UK.

Non-sworn officers will be recruited and trained to take calls as part of the Safer Communities Package announced by Prime Minister Bill English today. The operators will be based in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch alongside the 111 call centres.

“We know people get frustrated when they can’t easily reach their local station for non-emergencies. This service will improve accessibility for everyone and lead to Police building trust and confidence with the public. 

“Having just one number to remember that’s always available will increase public confidence. Staff answering the calls will be able to assist people themselves, divert them to a local police station if appropriate, or put them through to the 111 operators if it is an emergency.”

A new marketing campaign starting this week to attract Australians to Northland is an excellent approach to encouraging tourists to visit the region, says Tourism Minister Paula Bennett.

The campaign – ‘Every day a different journey in Northland’ – is part of Tourism New Zealand’s regional dispersal strategy and acts as a test to refine techniques for marketing less visited regions.

“The tourism industry is going from strength to strength with 3.5 million people visiting a year and spending $14.5 billion while they are here. That’s great to see but there’s more to be done,” says Mrs Bennett.

“We want to spread the benefits of tourism across the country so regions like Northland can benefit more. Tourism New Zealand’s regional dispersal strategy aims to get visitors to travel to less-visited regions and discover their attractions. It’s about making tourism work for New Zealanders.”

It is the first Tourism New Zealand campaign focused on using a single region to test whether it can influence a shift in traditional travel patterns. The campaign will run in Melbourne from late January to mid-March to encourage Victorians to visit Northland in the shoulder season.

“This is just one part of the Government’s plan to support regional tourism. We recently approved $3 million in funding for 14 infrastructure projects as part of the $12 million Regional Mid-sized Tourism Facilities Grant Fund,” says Mrs Bennett.

“We're also supporting regional tourism as part of the Government’s Regional Growth Programme, including $158,000 for the Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Action Plan and $510,000 for the Southland Regional Development Strategy Action Plan.

“Northlanders will benefit hugely from government support for big projects like the $4 million contribution to the construction of Whangarei's Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Maori Art Gallery as part of the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan.”

The campaign is being run in conjunction with Northland NZ, Facebook, Flight Centre and Air New Zealand.

Nearly every region across New Zealand experienced strong growth in tourism spending this summer, Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

According to the Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), the fastest growing regions in December were the West Coast and Taranaki.

In the year to December the fastest growing region was Nelson, which increased 15 per cent over the year to $340 million, followed by West Coast, up 13 per cent to $488 million and Otago up 12 per cent to $3.5 billion. 

“It’s fantastic to see the regions really benefiting from strong tourism growth. This spending brings a real boost to local economies, benefiting businesses with increased trade and creating jobs,” Mrs Bennett says.

“While the earthquake last November had a limited overall impact on national tourism expenditure, the latest figures show that tourism spending in Kaikoura has been heavily affected. The Government continues to provide wage subsidy support to local businesses that depend on the summer season.

“Tourism spending in the North Canterbury region, which includes Kaikoura, is slowly starting again, though it is still far below what it normally would be in the December month.

“Other regions in the South Island have recovered well from the impact of the earthquakes in November, some have benefited from traffic being diverted due to the closure of State Highway One. International and domestic tourism spending was at similar or higher levels when compared with December 2015.”

Key facts for earthquake affected areas:

• Tourism spending in North Canterbury, which includes Kaikoura and Hurunui Districts, saw a 28 per cent fall in tourism spending in December 2016 (to $27 million) compared with December 2015.
• International visitors’ spending in North Canterbury fell 48 per cent in December 2016 (compared with December 2015), while domestic visitor spending fell 16 per cent over the same period.
• In areas adjacent to North Canterbury: Marlborough grew four per cent in December 2016 (compared with December 2015); Christchurch grew by two per cent; and South Canterbury grew five per cent.

More information can be found at http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/tourism/tourism

Tourism spending continued to grow throughout most regions in the year to November 2016, providing a solid base ahead of the high summer season, Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

According to the Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates released today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), tourism expenditure grew in most regions over the year to November 2016. The fastest growing region was Nelson, which increased 15 per cent over the year to $337 million, followed by Otago (up 14 per cent to $3.5 billion) and West Coast (up 11 per cent to $475 million).

“Tourism spending has continued its growth trend over this year, and it’s great to see spending so strong before the summer season when tourist numbers are at their highest,” says Mrs Bennett.

“The latest data shows that, overall, the earthquake on 14 November had a limited impact on national tourism expenditure. However it had a significant impact on the total visitor spend in the North Canterbury region.

“The Government has already announced a number of support packages for the earthquake affected areas, underlining our commitment to supporting the local tourism industry.

“As the earthquake occurred midway through November, the full impacts on the regional economies in affected areas are not completely shown. The data for the month of December, due to be released on 26 January, will give a clearer indication of how tourism spending has been affected.”

Key facts for earthquake affected areas:

• Tourism spending in North Canterbury, which includes Kaikoura and Hurunui Districts, saw a 20 per cent fall in tourism spending in November 2016 (to $22 million) compared with November 2015.
• International visitors’ spending in North Canterbury fell 29 per cent in November 2016 (compared with November 2015), while domestic visitor spending fell 13 per cent over the same period.
• In areas adjacent to North Canterbury: Marlborough fell 1 per cent in November 2016 (compared with November 2015); Christchurch increased by 1 per cent; and South Canterbury grew a strong 12 per cent.

For more information see http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/tourism/tourism-research-data/monthly-regional-tourism-estimates.

Some of New Zealand’s most inspiring women have been recognised in the 2017 New Year’s Honours list released today.

Olympian Valerie Adams, Maori educator Georgina Kingi and former Wellington Mayor Fran Wilde were all made Dames Companion and were among 81 women to receive a New Year Honour. Minister for Women Paula Bennett says all New Zealanders will be celebrating their achievements.

“Everyone on this list has been recognised for the exceptional work they do, for their communities and for their country. They are role models for all New Zealanders, and I am very proud of their achievements,” says Mrs Bennett.

“This year 43 per cent of recipients were women. Every day I met women across New Zealand who are making a huge contribution to our country and these Honours reflect that.

“These are real stories of success and proof that we live in a country where women can do anything. I’m especially proud of members of our police service Senior Constable Susan Guy and Sergeant Susan Robinson who have been made Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit.”

Senior Constable Guy and Sergeant Robinson co-established the Wahine Toa initiative to work with young women who have been victims of sexual abuse and provide support programmes to improve the wellbeing, education, safety and self-esteem of the participants.

Co-founder of Napier Community Patrol Sandra Ibbotson has also received the Queen's Service Medal for services to the community.

“I am a staunch advocate for women and will continue to fight for equal rights for everyone. Making women more visible in all layers of society will help us fight unfairness and inequality wherever it may arise,” says Mrs Bennett.