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Thousands more children are getting the help they need at school as the Government's record investment in learning support delivers real results, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, we invested three-quarters of a billion dollars in learning support, the largest investment in a generation. 2026 is the first year that investment takes effect, and already thousands more children are getting the support they need.
The New Zealand Government is reforming its social housing system to better target support toward those with the greatest need, encourage independence, and improve fairness by narrowing the cost gap between social and private housing. Key changes include prioritizing severe and persistent housing barriers, introducing defined tenancy durations with regular reviews, and increasing the minimum Income-Related Rent contribution from 25% to 30% of income by April 2027, while reinvesting savings into higher Accommodation Supplement rates. These reforms aim to reduce long-term dependence, improve system efficiency, and ensure social housing remains a pathway to independence rather than a permanent solution.