Articles tagged with Acc

Showing 15 of 105 articles

Transforming New Zealand's Universities for Future Success: Government Initiatives to Enhance Education & Innovation

01 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1171 views

The New Zealand Government is implementing initiatives to modernize universities, aligning teaching and research with the country's future skills and innovation needs. The reforms aim to strengthen collaboration between universities, government, industry, and global experts, while simplifying funding mechanisms and enhancing quality assurance systems. Led by Universities Minister Dr. Shane Reti, these changes are designed to ensure universities remain competitive globally, support economic growth, and deliver benefits for New Zealand.

Tags: Government New Zealand Universities Shane Reti Tertiary Education Strategy University Strategy Group Tertiary Research Excellence Fund Quality Assurance Governance Accountability

Have Your Say: Kiwis Invited to Shape Telecommunications Regulatory Changes

28 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1145 views

Kiwis are encouraged to provide input on proposed regulatory changes in the telecommunications sector, as their feedback is crucial to the review process, according to Ministers David Seymour and Paul Goldsmith. The review focuses on key regulatory issues such as the Telecommunications Development Levy (TDL), shareholder caps, and service quality regulations. Proposed draft changes include implementing a consumer code, updating infrastructure obligations, eliminating outdated rules, and enhancing investor appeal for telecom companies to boost growth in the sector.

Tags: David Seymour Paul Goldsmith Telecommunications sector Regulatory change Telecommunications Development Levy Retail Service Quality Fibre Fixed Line Access Telecommunications service obligations Telecommunication services Commerce Commission

Accelerated Land Acquisition Bill Boosts Infrastructure Projects

21 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1354 views

The passing of the Public Works Act Amendment Bill will expedite critical infrastructure projects, aiming to address New Zealand's infrastructure deficit by streamlining land acquisition processes. The new accelerated process offers incentives and recognition payments to landowners, while also introducing a faster objections resolution mechanism. The Government plans to further modernize the Public Works Act to improve landowner engagement, disaster recovery support, and overall efficiency in delivering public infrastructure projects.

Tags: Public Works Act Amendment Bill Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop Land Information Minister Chris Penk infrastructure projects critical infrastructure accelerated land acquisition process Public Works Act landowners infrastructure deficit New Zealand.

Kiwi Kids' Writing Achievement Boosted with Government's 'Make It Write' Action Plan

19 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1245 views

The Government is launching a Writing Action Plan to improve writing achievement among Kiwi kids. New data from 2024 reveals declining writing performance as students progress through school, with only 24% of Year 8 students meeting curriculum benchmarks. Initiatives like the Writing Acceleration Tool and Handwriting Teacher Guidance aim to address these challenges and ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed academically and beyond.

Tags: Government Writing Action Plan Kiwi kids baseline data English curriculum structured literacy Education Minister Erica Stanford Make It Write Writing Acceleration Tool Handwriting Teacher Guidance

Innovating Healthcare: Transforming New Zealand's Medical Devices System for a Stronger Future

11 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1656 views

The Government emphasizes timely, effective, and affordable healthcare for all New Zealanders, viewing health as an investment in societal well-being and economic productivity. Efforts are underway to streamline the medical devices system, address uncertainties, and enhance patient outcomes through strategic decision-making and collaboration between agencies. The goal is to drive innovation, improve access to new technologies, and ensure Pharmac evolves to support broader fiscal and societal objectives, ultimately aiming to deliver better care, increase efficiency, and secure a sustainable future for the healthcare system.

Tags: health innovation medical devices Pharmac New Zealand technology patients government access outcomes

Public Service Amendment Bill: Enhancing Efficiency and Accountability for Taxpayers

31 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1891 views

Legislation for public service overhaul emphasizing value for taxpayers has passed first reading, led by Public Service Minister Judith Collins. The Public Service Amendment Bill aims to enhance public service performance by clarifying its purpose and chief executives' responsibilities. The bill reinforces merit-based appointments, increases chief executives' accountability, and ensures a competitive selection process, maintaining political neutrality and professional standards for better taxpayer outcomes.

Tags: Legislation public service value for money taxpayers Judith Collins performance chief executives accountability political neutrality

Improved Access to Maternal Mental Health Support in Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Mid Central, and Wellington Regions

30 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 2047 views

New funding of $4.9 million will improve access to specialist mental health support for women and families during and after pregnancy in Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Mid Central, and Wellington regions. The investment aims to provide timely and appropriate care for those facing mental health challenges during pregnancy or postpartum, including support for birth trauma or stillbirth. This funding will create more roles in community-based specialist infant and maternal mental health services, ensuring more equitable access and reducing wait times for those in need of care.

Tags: women families mental health support pregnancy specialist care Mr Doocey maternal mental health investment access funding

Government's Initiative to Reduce Excise on Heated Tobacco Products for Smoking Cessation

29 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 2506 views

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello highlighted that the Government's reduction in excise on Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) aims to help more people quit smoking. The focus is on promoting public health by encouraging smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives like HTPs. The Ministry of Health is monitoring the impact of the excise change and has set up an expert advisory group to enhance regulations on all nicotine and tobacco products.

Tags: Government Heated Tobacco Products Smoking Casey Costello Ayesha Verrall Treasury Excise Duty Ministry of Health HTPs Vaping

Enhancing GP Funding and Access for Kiwis: Government's New Health Initiatives

24 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 3294 views

The Government, led by Health Minister Simeon Brown, is enhancing access to healthcare for New Zealanders by focusing on improved funding for rural practices, faster GP access, and bolstering the GP workforce through training and retention initiatives. Changes to GP funding will better reflect patient needs by updating the capitation model to include factors like multimorbidity and socioeconomic deprivation, effective from July 1, 2026. A new national health target aims to ensure over 80% of people can see a primary care provider within one week, aligning with efforts to improve access to mental health services, while targeted investments in GP training seek to attract and retain more doctors, especially in rural and high-needs areas.

Tags: Government Kiwis doctor funding rural practices primary care GPs Simeon Brown health target GP access

New Auckland Central Police Station Enhances Public Safety and Crime Reduction Efforts

17 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1848 views

The new Auckland central police station enhances police visibility and accessibility to the public, retail sector, and business community in the city center, addressing community demands for a central police presence. Minister Mark Mitchell emphasizes the importance of public safety and highlights the positive impact of the 51 inner city beat officers in reducing crime rates, with notable decreases in victimizations, robbery, and theft. The collaboration between police officers, stakeholders, and volunteers has contributed to these results, and the central police base is expected to further improve crime response and community safety in Auckland.

Tags: Auckland central police station police visibility accessibility public safety Mark Mitchell law and order agenda police officers inner city beat officers crime reduction community involvement

Government Bill Enhances Focus on Core Council Services for Better Value

14 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1622 views

The Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill aims to refocus councils on core services like roading, infrastructure, water, and waste, addressing public frustration over rising rates and declining services. Minister Simon Watts emphasizes the need for discipline, transparency, and performance improvement to benefit ratepayers. The Bill includes reforms such as prioritizing core services in managing finances, introducing new financial performance measures, and enhancing transparency and accountability, with the goal of delivering better value for money and avoiding new taxes for local authorities.

Tags: Government councils core services infrastructure rates transparency accountability financial focus local government Simon Watts

Childhood Immunisation Rates Continue to Soar, Reflecting Government Commitment to Kiwi Health

14 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1736 views

Childhood immunisation rates in New Zealand have increased to 79.3% at 24 months, reflecting the government's commitment to improving health outcomes for children. Health Minister Simeon Brown emphasizes the importance of protecting children from preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough. Progress has been seen nationwide, with districts such as Auckland and South Canterbury showing significant improvements in immunisation coverage.

Tags: childhood immunisation health minister Simeon Brown measles whooping cough vaccination GPs Government Kiwi children health outcomes

Simplified Process: New Reforms Make Opening Bank Accounts for Children Easier

07 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 2100 views

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee is making changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act that will make it easier for parents to open bank accounts for their children. “Opening a bank account for children should be a simple and positive step toward teaching them the value of saving. Unfortunately, regulations designed to prevent serious crimes can make the process unnecessarily difficult,” says Mrs McKee.

Tags: Nicole McKee Minister bank accounts children regulations reforms banks New Zealanders red tape

Investment Summit drives strong bids for Northland Expressway

21 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2801 views

The positive impact of the Government’s Infrastructure Investment Summit earlier this year is beginning to show, following the shortlisting of three consortia for the Warkworth to Te Hana section of the Northland Expressway, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Investment Summit, which took place in Auckland in March 2025, attracted international and local companies which collectively manage over $6 trillion in capital,” Mr Bishop says. “Ministers’ presentations at the Summit left the investors in no doubt that New Zealand is serious about attracting investment into the big infrastructure projects our country needs.

Tags: Acciona cons s And transport Auckland Chris bishop Construction Construction limited together Dome valley Engineering Express For proposals Grandjet Highways Holdings Infrastructure Infrastructure investment summit Investment summit Limited New zealand Northland expressway Northway

INVESTMENT SUMMIT: Investors excited at Summit’s opportunities

14 Mar 2025 | 1 year ago | 2210 views

International investors have left New Zealand excited about the opportunities created at the first Investor Summit held in Auckland over the past two days, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “Many millions of dollars is now under discussion and when those deals come to fruition, New Zealanders will not only see their roads, hospitals and schools built faster but they will see jobs created and businesses thrive around the new infrastructure. “Over the past few days, our growth agenda has been turbo-charged, and I am very excited about the prospects,” says Mr Luxon.

Tags: Acciona jose Auckland Christopher luxon Étienne Expressway Guido cacgue Harbour Investor Manuel entrecanales New zealand Northern Northland expressway Patrick lauren Spanish Webuild Zealand