Releases | Hon Mark Mitchell

Disability Rights Commissioner appointed

Justice

Tue 20 Jun 2017

Disability advocate and former paralympian Paula Tesoriero has been appointed as the Human Rights Commission’s next Disability Rights Commissioner, Associate Justice Minister Mark Mitchell announced today. The position of Disabilities Rights Commissioner was created by an amendment to the Human Rights Act 1993 passed last year. Ms Tesoriero replaces Paul Gibson, who was the first Human Rights Commissioner with a formal responsibility for disability issues. ...

NZDF engineers home from Sinai task

Sun 18 Jun 2017

Defence Minister Mark Mitchell has congratulated New Zealand Defence Force engineers who arrived home from the Sinai today on “a job well done”. The detachment carried out key infrastructure projects for the Multinational Force and Observers peacekeeping contingent in the Sinai. “This team has done a great job in challenging conditions to complete these two vital projects for the MFO,” Mr Mitchell says. The engineers built a new entry control point and helped construct a 3.3-kilometer perimeter fence for the MFO’s South Camp. ...

Defence Minister in talks with top NATO officer

Fri 16 Jun 2017

Defence Minister Mark Mitchell has held discussions today with General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, who is currently visiting New Zealand. General Pavel is NATO’s senior military officer and the principal military advisor to NATO’s Secretary-General. “New Zealand is one of NATO’s strategic partners and General Pavel’s visit reflects the importance of this partnership,” says Mr Mitchell. ...

New building delivers on Defence plan for future

Fri 9 Jun 2017

A new building to house the Aviation Medicine Unit at RNZAF Base Auckland was opened by Defence Minister Mark Mitchell this afternoon. The $6.5 million building is the first of a large number of capital projects to be delivered under the Defence Estate Regeneration Plan, the biggest ever capital investment in the regeneration of Defence Force camps and bases. It will house all the facilities required to provide a modern, safe and efficient aviation medicine service for the Air Force. ...

Speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue

Sun 4 Jun 2017

My thanks to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Dr John Chipman, and the Singapore Ministry of Defence for what has been a very rewarding event. This forum is one of the world's pre-eminent institutions for defence diplomacy. It provides a chance for friends and neighbours from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond to talk openly about the challenges and opportunities we face in our region. ...

Joint Statement recognises valued relationship

Wed 31 May 2017

Defence Minister Mark Mitchell and his Indonesian counterpart, Ryamizard Ryacudu have signed a Joint Statement on Defence Relations today, signalling stronger defence ties between the two countries. Meeting in Jakarta today, the Ministers confirmed the value the two countries place on the bilateral defence relationship, and identified a range of areas of cooperation to further strengthen it. Mr Mitchell says that Indonesia plays a fundamental role in supporting security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. ...

Joint Statement Between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia and the Ministry of Defence of New Zealand on Defence Relations

Wed 31 May 2017

Indonesian Minister of Defense, Ryamizard Ryacudu, and New Zealand Minister of Defence, Mark Mitchell, met for the first time today, on 31st of May 2017 in Jakarta, Indonesia. ...

Minister of Defence on first visit to Asia

Mon 29 May 2017

Defence Minister Mark Mitchell will travel to Indonesia and Singapore this week to attend a range of meetings on defence and security matters. Mr Mitchell will visit Indonesia from 30-31 May. While there he will meet his Defence counterpart General (Rtd) Ryamizard Ryacudu. The two Ministers will sign a joint statement confirming the value both countries place on the bilateral defence relationship. As well as cooperating bilaterally, New Zealand and Indonesia work closely together in regional security groupings. ...

$982m funding boost for Defence

Thu 25 May 2017

New Zealand’s Defence Force will receive a $406 million boost in operating funding over four years and $576 million in capital as part of Budget 2017, says Defence Minister Mark Mitchell. “It is vital that the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has what it needs to meet the country’s security and defence interests. This major increase in funding for the armed services will support a range of NZDF capabilities as identified through the Defence White Paper of 2016,” Mr Mitchell says. ...

$46.9m to reduce burglary and youth offending

Justice

Thu 25 May 2017

Budget 2017 will provide an extra $46.9 million of operating funding over the next four years for new services to reduce burglary and youth offending, Justice Minister Amy Adams and Associate Justice Minister Mark Mitchell say. The funding is part of the Government’s Social Investment Package of $321 million over four years in Budget 2017. “A new initiative to boost our Government’s efforts to prevent and reduce the number of burglaries will receive $32.9 million,” Ms Adams says. ...

Latest Iraq deployment to build on good work

Tue 23 May 2017

Defence Minister Mark Mitchell says New Zealanders can be proud of the achievements of the Defence Force in the fight against Isis. The fifth rotation of Task Group Taji, the combined New Zealand-Australia training force based in Iraq’s Camp Taji, is on the way to Iraq, and Mr Mitchell says the record shows that New Zealanders can have confidence in the professionalism of Kiwi soldiers and the work they do abroad. Since their training mission began in May 2015, the task group has trained more than 22,000 Iraqi personnel. ...

Mitchell to attend Trans-Tasman Justice meeting

Justice

Thu 18 May 2017

Associate Minister of Justice Mark Mitchell travels to Melbourne today to attend the Law, Crime and Community Safety Council (LCCSC). The LCCSC is a joint-ministerial council which helps maintain an Australian and Trans-Tasman focus on fighting crime and promoting best practice in law, criminal justice and community safety. “I am looking forward to meeting my Australian counterparts and discussing ways we can collaborate on issues of real importance like family violence, cyber-bullying, and cyber-crime,” Mr Mitchell says. ...