10 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1255 views
The Government is investing an additional $3 million to extend the Active Me - Kia Tū Hardship Fund for another year, aiming to support young New Zealanders facing financial challenges in accessing sports and recreation opportunities. The program, delivered by Variety – The Children’s Charity in partnership with Sport NZ, has already benefited over 10,000 children and their families by providing grants of up to $300 per child annually to enable participation in physical activities and remove financial barriers. Minister Mark Mitchell highlights the positive impact of the fund on children's well-being, social skills, and community safety, emphasizing the importance of exploring sustainable funding options and reducing costs for participants through ongoing research by Sport NZ.
10 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1250 views
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour highlights the importance of faster overseas investment decisions for businesses to access capital and create jobs with higher wages. Changes to the Overseas Investment Act have led to significant improvements in processing times, with almost 87% of consent applications processed faster than before. The government aims to streamline the process further to attract more investment, boost economic growth, and support job creation in New Zealand.
09 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1220 views
The Cabinet has decided to amend the Policing Act to clarify Police's authority to gather intelligence in public places and expand their powers to temporarily close areas in response to antisocial behavior or safety risks. Recent court decisions have raised uncertainty about Police's ability to record images in public spaces, prompting the proposed amendments to reaffirm their authority for lawful purposes. These changes aim to restore Police's crime prevention capabilities, support prosecutions, respond to evolving threats like organized crime, and enhance interventions for public safety, youth offending, and family harm.
09 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1250 views
In the past two years, the New Zealand government has reduced spending on contractors and consultants by $915 million, exceeding their savings target of $400 million. This reduction has been accompanied by a decrease in the size of the public service by nearly 5%, with a focus on increasing frontline roles while cutting back-office positions. The emphasis has shifted towards prioritizing savings in back-office functions to protect and enhance frontline services, resulting in 1533 redundancies and $80.4 million in redundancy payments in the past year.
09 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1316 views
Changes to government procurement rules in New Zealand aim to give local businesses a better chance at winning contracts by introducing an economic benefit test, effective from 1 December. These new rules, resulting from feedback received during consultation, include simplifying processes, reducing the number of rules, and emphasizing the economic value and job creation for Kiwis. The changes are designed to make it easier for both local and international businesses to compete for government contracts while upholding international trade commitments and ensuring responsible use of taxpayer money.
08 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1201 views
Minister Louise Upston praises MSD's focus on frontline partnerships to better prepare jobseekers for employment, citing the success of the 'Into Work' regional workshops for employers. MSD's proactive engagement with job seekers has led to a significant increase in appointments and successful job placements, with tailored seminars providing practical job readiness support. Despite economic challenges, there has been a notable rise in Jobseeker work exits, highlighting the positive impact of prompt employment assistance on individuals, families, communities, and the economy.
08 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1249 views
Over 340 nurses have shown interest in the government's plan to support 120 registered nurses annually in becoming nurse practitioners in primary care, with applications now open, according to Health Minister Simeon Brown. Nurse practitioners are skilled professionals who can assess, diagnose, treat patients, prescribe medications, manage chronic conditions, and provide preventive care, playing a crucial role in delivering quality care in primary and community settings. The Nurse Practitioner Training and Support Scheme (NPTSS) will assist nurses in completing their Master of Nursing qualification and transitioning into nurse practitioner roles, providing comprehensive support such as education costs, mentoring, and employer engagement to enhance the nursing workforce and patient outcomes in New Zealand.
07 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1127 views
Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk is representing New Zealand at the G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting in South Africa, aiming to advance the country's interests with major global economies. New Zealand, as a guest country alongside G20 members, will discuss trade and investment matters, including upholding the international rules-based trading system. During the meeting, Mr Penk will focus on advocating for New Zealand's priorities within the World Trade Organisation while also strengthening the relationship between New Zealand and South Africa.
07 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1426 views
The Government confirmed the establishment of a permanent Aviation Council to enhance sector leadership and shape the industry's future, as announced by Associate Transport Minister James Meager at the NZ Airports Hui. The Council, consisting of 14 members from various stakeholders including government agencies, regulators, and industry associations, aims to support economic growth, enhance aviation safety, and address workforce and infrastructure needs outlined in the recent Aviation Action Plan. The Council will provide strategic leadership, report annually on progress, and ensure representation for smaller airlines and industry voices to support regional connectivity and workforce development in the aviation sector.
07 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1591 views
New Zealand has expanded access to over 90,000 overseas building products following a law change, with the WaterMark certification scheme now recognized as an endorsed standard. This change aims to make it easier for Kiwi tradies and homeowners to choose from a wide range of plumbing products, boosting competition and lowering costs. By amending the Building Act, the Government has streamlined the approval process for quality overseas building products, ensuring compliance with the Building Code and providing greater choice for building owners and designers.
07 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1309 views
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has revamped the Government's school attendance services contracting system to enhance support for chronically absent students. Budget 2025 allocated $140 million over four years, with $123 million designated for frontline services, leading to the awarding of 83 contracts to Attendance Service Providers (ASPs) nationwide. The new model emphasizes reaching more absent students, understanding their reasons for non-attendance, collaborating with families and schools, addressing students' basic needs, and escalating cases of chronic non-attendance, with a goal to achieve 80% student attendance by 2030.
02 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1291 views
Transport Minister Chris Bishop highlights the importance of the freight system in driving New Zealand's economy and supporting job growth. To address the increasing demand for freight services due to population growth, the government is implementing three key initiatives: launching an Action Plan for Freight, updating the National Freight Demand Study, and establishing a Freight Advisory Council. These initiatives aim to enhance the efficiency and safety of the freight system by maximizing economic value, improving data-driven decision-making, and providing strategic insights and advice to support economic growth.
01 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1455 views
The Government of New Zealand is proposing changes to the Animal Welfare Act 1999 to improve welfare outcomes for pigs, including new requirements for farrowing crates and mating stalls, with the regulations set to take effect on December 19, 2035. These changes aim to elevate animal welfare standards in New Zealand, balancing the needs of the farming industry with public expectations, following extensive consultation with stakeholders. The proposed amendments will increase minimum spacing for grower pigs, limit sow confinement in farrowing crates to seven days, and restrict mating stall use to three hours at a time, emphasizing the importance of providing manipulable materials and meeting space requirements for pigs.
01 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1184 views
Health Minister Simeon Brown announces new investment in physiotherapy workforce to improve access and reduce wait times for orthopaedic care. The Musculoskeletal (MSK) orthopaedic pathway, launched in August 2024, has already completed over 7200 first specialist assessments and 9500 follow-up appointments. By expanding the Advanced Clinical Practice Physiotherapist workforce and supporting postgraduate training, the initiative aims to increase assessment capacity, reduce unnecessary surgeries, and ensure 95% of patients receive timely care within four months.
29 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1195 views
New Zealand's first Advanced Practitioner Radiation Therapist specializing in prostate cancer is revolutionizing care in the lower South Island, providing faster access to treatment, personalized support, and improved outcomes for men. The role allows for consistent patient support throughout the treatment journey and enables specialists to see more patients in need of care. The new approach is already demonstrating tangible benefits for patients and clinicians, with plans to extend the model to a wider range of urological conditions in the future to improve patient experience and ensure timely, quality healthcare.