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New Collective Agreement Boosts Support and Stability for NZ Pharmacists
17 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 976 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for about 300 pharmacists employed by Health New Zealand, following a vote by APEX members. The agreement recognizes pharmacists' valuable work, offers workforce stability, and includes uplifts to professional membership contributions and other improvements. This initiative aims to build a more stable and supported pharmacy workforce to ensure timely, quality care for New Zealanders.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister Health New Zealand pharmacists Association of Professionals & Executive Employees APEX collective agreement pharmacy workforce New Zealand professional membership contributionsNew Collective Agreement Boosts Support and Stability for NZ Pharmacists
17 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 946 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for pharmacists employed by Health New Zealand, benefiting approximately 300 pharmacists nationwide. The agreement recognizes their valuable work, provides greater workforce stability, and supports their essential role in health service delivery. It also includes uplifts to professional membership contributions and other improvements, aiming to build a more stable and supported pharmacy workforce.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister Health New Zealand pharmacists Association of Professionals & Executive Employees APEX collective agreement pharmacy workforce New Zealand professional membership contributionsAndy Knight Named Chair of Expert Panel for $200M Gas Security Fund
16 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 953 viewsAndy Knight has been appointed chair of the expert panel advising the New Zealand Government on applications to the $200 million Gas Security Fund, which aims to enhance domestic gas supply and storage amid declining production. The panel also includes geophysicist Tim Allan and energy sector professional John Pagani, with two more members to be appointed, and will provide independent, expert advice to decision-making ministers Shane Jones and Chris Bishop. The fund, administered by Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, supports projects with short- to long-term benefits to secure affordable and reliable gas for New Zealand’s economy.
Tags: Andy Knight Shane Jones Tim Allan John Pagani Chris Bishop Gas Security Fund New Zealand Oil & Gas Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority Taranaki Iwi Holdings OMVEducation Minister Calls for Major Reforms in Teaching Council After Serious Reviews
16 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 983 viewsEducation Minister Erica Stanford emphasizes the urgent need for major reforms within the Teaching Council following two serious external reviews revealing significant failures, particularly regarding child protection, leadership, and organizational culture. The reports highlight inadequate regulatory focus, misuse of fees, and lack of support for teachers, raising concerns about the capability of previous boards. In response, new board members have been appointed to restore governance and confidence, with a focus on ensuring child safety, supporting teachers, and rebuilding public trust.
Tags: Erica Stanford Teaching Council Education Minister child protection leadership regulatory standards teachers governance organisational culture board membersNew Zealand's 30-Year National Infrastructure Plan Unveiled by Minister Bishop
16 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1120 viewsInfrastructure Minister Chris Bishop introduced the National Infrastructure Plan in Parliament, emphasizing its role in enhancing New Zealand’s prosperity through improved planning, funding, and maintenance of infrastructure over the next 30 years. The Plan acknowledges existing challenges such as inefficiencies and fragmented asset management despite high infrastructure spending, and outlines ten priority actions including hospital investment, water renewals, transport project sequencing, flood resilience, and legislative reforms. The Government has begun implementing many of these priorities and will respond to the Plan’s recommendations by June 2026, seeking cross-party engagement to build durable consensus for future infrastructure development.
Tags: Chris Bishop National Infrastructure Plan New Zealand Infrastructure Commission National Party Infrastructure Minister Health New Zealand Auckland Council Regional Infrastructure Fund Resource Management Act City Rail LinkNew Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Visa Attracts $3.39B in Global Investments
16 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1206 viewsSince its refresh in April 2025, New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus visa has attracted $3.39 billion from 573 applicants, significantly surpassing previous investment levels and supporting sectors like tech, healthcare, and horticulture. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford highlights that this influx of international capital and expertise is driving productivity, job creation, and business expansion, aligning with the Government’s economic growth goals. Additionally, new visa settings allow investor visa holders to purchase or build high-value homes, fostering deeper connections to New Zealand.
Tags: Erica Stanford Active Investor Plus Hectre New Zealand Immigration Minister Going for Growth AIP visa international investment investor visa Growth CategoryIndependent Crown Review Launched into Wellington's Moa Point Sewage Plant Failure
16 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 987 viewsAn independent Crown Review Team will investigate the failure of Wellington Water’s Moa Point sewage plant to determine its causes and recommend actionable steps to prevent recurrence. The team, comprising experts in engineering, governance, commercial, and legal fields, will be appointed by both Wellington City Council and Wellington Water Ltd to ensure a thorough and transparent review. This investigation is urgent due to the upcoming transfer of water service management to the new council-controlled organization Tiaki Wai Ltd, emphasizing the need for wise investment in water infrastructure.
Tags: Simon Watts Andrew Little Wellington Water Moa Point Wellington City Council Tiaki Wai Ltd Local Government Minister wastewater infrastructure water services Crown Review TeamNew Zealand to Host Historic First State of Origin Match at Eden Park in 2027
15 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1025 viewsNew Zealand will host its first-ever State of Origin rugby league match in 2027 at Eden Park, marking a historic milestone expected to attract over 10,000 Australian visitors and generate $17.4 million for Auckland's economy. The event, supported by the New Zealand Government, Auckland Council, and the Australian Rugby League Commission, aims to boost tourism and showcase Auckland as a premier destination for major international events. Recent changes to planning restrictions at Eden Park will facilitate hosting more large-scale events, further enhancing New Zealand's global sporting profile.
Tags: New Zealand Eden Park Auckland Louise Upston State of Origin Australian Rugby League Commission Blues Maroons Queensland New South WalesEden Park to Host More Major Events with New Government Planning Rule Changes
15 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1108 viewsThe New Zealand Government is reforming outdated planning rules to enable Eden Park, Auckland’s largest stadium, to host more and diverse major events, boosting local and national economic growth. Changes include increasing permitted concerts from 12 to 32 annually, allowing longer event durations, removing restrictions on night sports games, and enabling various community and cultural events without resource consent. These reforms, expected by April 2026, leverage new powers under the Resource Management Act to modernize Eden Park’s operations, supporting job creation, tourism, and Auckland’s status as a world-class destination.
Tags: Chris Bishop Louise Upston Simeon Brown Eden Park Auckland New Zealand Resource Management Act RMA Reform major events government planningNew Zealand Joins Global U=U Call-to-Action to End HIV Transmission by 2030
14 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1067 viewsNew Zealand has signed the global Call-to-Action on Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U), reinforcing its commitment to ending HIV transmission and reducing stigma by promoting that effective treatment leads to an undetectable viral load, preventing sexual transmission. This endorsement aligns with New Zealand’s National HIV Action Plan aiming to eliminate local HIV transmission by 2030 and addresses barriers like stigma despite strong treatment and viral suppression rates. New Zealand is the fifth country to join this initiative, which supports equitable access to testing and treatment, community-led efforts, and public understanding, building on recent progress in HIV prevention and care.
Tags: Matt Doocey New Zealand HIV U=U HIV transmission stigma discrimination National HIV Action Plan HIV Monitoring ReportNew Two-Year Ban to Protect Marine Life in East Coast Rockpools North of Auckland
14 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1081 viewsThe Government has approved a two-year ban starting March 12, 2026, on harvesting various invertebrates and seaweed from rockpools and coastlines north of Auckland to protect fragile marine ecosystems from over-collection. This temporary closure, supported by the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust’s traditional rāhui, excludes species with existing restrictions and aquaculture activities, while allowing continued kina harvesting to manage their populations. Officials are also developing educational materials and broader proposals for sustainable intertidal fisheries management, with public consultations planned for Auckland and Coromandel.
Tags: Shane Jones Jenny Marcroft Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust Auckland Hauraki Gulf Rodney Hibiscus Coast Oceans and Fisheries Fisheries New Zealand CoromandelValentine’s Day Reminder: Prioritize Heart Health for a Longer, Healthier Life
14 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1002 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown urges New Zealanders to use Valentine’s Day as a reminder to prioritize heart health for themselves and their loved ones, emphasizing that many heart disease and stroke risks are preventable through small lifestyle changes. He encourages people to assess their personal risk via conversations with healthcare providers or the Heart Foundation’s free online assessment, and highlights the importance of regular physical activity and quitting smoking, with support available. The government is committed to prevention, early diagnosis, and faster treatment to help New Zealanders maintain heart health and enjoy more time with those they care about.
Tags: Simeon Brown New Zealand Valentine’s Day heart health Heart Foundation Health Minister stroke heart disease smoking cessation Health New ZealandGovernment Urges North Island Residents to Prioritize Safety Amid Severe Weather Warnings
14 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1057 viewsThe Government is urging North Island communities to prioritize safety amid severe weather warnings and recent flooding that has already caused a fatality. Emergency services and agencies, including the NZDF and local Civil Defence, are actively supporting response efforts and have resources pre-positioned in vulnerable areas. Authorities advise avoiding floodwaters, non-essential travel, and staying alert to landslide risks while following updates from official channels for safety guidance.
Tags: Government North Island Cyclone Gabrielle Mark Mitchell Emergency Management Civil Defence NZDF Severe Weather Flooding South WaikatoGovernment Allocates Land for New Kumeū Secondary School in North-West Auckland
13 Feb 2026 | 7 months ago | 1188 viewsThe Government is prioritizing land for a new secondary school in Kumeū, North-West Auckland, to support the rapidly growing community, with the Notice of Requirement now lodged with Auckland Council. Education Minister Erica Stanford highlighted the government's efforts to deliver more school property efficiently, including halving classroom construction costs, funding new schools, and investing heavily in maintenance. Local MP Chris Penk welcomed the move as a vital step for families, and further school property announcements are expected this year to meet future educational needs.
Tags: Erica Stanford Chris Penk Kumeū Huapai District School Kaipara ki Mahurangi Education Minister Government Resource Management Act 1991 Auckland CouncilNew Zealand Tourism Surges in 2025 with Strong Growth from China and Australia
13 Feb 2026 | 7 months ago | 1219 viewsNew Zealand’s international visitor arrivals surpassed 3.5 million in the year to December 2025, driven by strong growth from China and Australia, marking significant progress toward pre-COVID tourism levels. The Government supports this recovery through initiatives like promoting New Zealand as a year-round destination, streamlining travel processes, and introducing the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) for easier access, which has notably encouraged Chinese and Pacific visitors. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston emphasizes that these efforts are boosting economic growth, supporting jobs, and establishing New Zealand as a preferred holiday destination.
Tags: Louise Upston New Zealand China Australia Stats NZ NZeTA Pacific Island Forum Tourism Government Hospitality