27 Aug 2026
1 month ago
519 views
A new Crisis Recovery Café called Te Whare Tau has opened in Kaitaia to provide a calm, peer-led support environment for people experiencing mental health or addiction distress, offering an alternative to emergency departments. Delivered by Rakau Ora, the café builds on existing community services and aims to connect individuals with further support, operating during after-hours with trained peer support workers. This café is the first of three planned in Northland, reflecting growing demand for accessible crisis support, with over 100 people accessing the service in its first two weekends.
20 Aug 2026
2 months ago
680 views
A new 16-bed acute mental health and addiction facility has opened at Rotorua Hospital, replacing the outdated 45-year-old unit and providing faster access to support for people in the Lakes district. The facility features individual bedrooms, therapy spaces, family areas, and quieter zones tailored to different needs, enhancing care for patients and working conditions for staff. This $50 million investment is part of a broader Mental Health Infrastructure Programme aimed at improving facilities nationwide and expanding support services to prevent the need for inpatient care.
01 Jul 2026
3 months ago
909 views
The New Zealand government is funding a $4.5 million loan to establish a mussel spat nursery in Houhora Bay, Northland, aiming to stabilize and increase spat supply for the Greenshell mussel industry. The Te Hiku Aquaculture Mussel Spat Project, led by four iwi groups and co-funded with $1.3 million, will develop up to 150 mussel lines to improve spat survival and support nationwide mussel farming. This initiative aligns with the government’s Aquaculture Development Plan to grow the industry to $3 billion annually by 2035 and is progressing through the Fast-track consent process before funding is released.
11 Jun 2026
4 months ago
906 views
The Taupō District’s trout bag limit will increase from six to eight starting 1 July 2026 to improve stock quality and support local businesses, as overpopulation of trout is impacting their primary food source, smelt. This evidence-based change aims to maintain a healthy trout population, enhance fishing conditions, and boost economic benefits from tourism and fishing activities. Additionally, minor regulation adjustments, such as removing the fixed February closure at Lake Otamangakau, will simplify rules and allow more responsive fishery management.
04 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1423 views
One year after the Government’s $200 million investment, 463 affordable rental homes for whānau Māori have been approved across 11 Māori-led projects, with 392 homes contracted and over 260 progressing through early development stages. These homes are located in high-need regions and are intended to remain affordable rentals for at least 25 years, supporting long-term housing stability and community capacity. The initiative aligns with the Government’s broader efforts to fix the housing system by unlocking land, improving infrastructure, and reducing building barriers to increase housing supply and economic growth.
19 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1152 views
The Government has ended the use of Contracted Emergency Housing motels in Rotorua, reducing households in CEH from over 240 to zero through coordinated efforts with local partners. This marks a significant turnaround from a previously broken emergency housing system that caused social and economic harm, restoring safety and stability to the city. Ongoing initiatives, including new affordable rental homes, aim to strengthen Rotorua’s housing supply and support its economic growth.
02 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1950 views
The Government and Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands Inc are partnering to build 80 affordable rental homes at Manawa Gardens in Rotorua by mid-2027, with a total investment of $45 million. These homes aim to provide housing security for kaumātua, working whānau, and others in need, with rents capped at 80% of market rates for 25 years. This initiative is part of the broader commitment to deliver 400 affordable rental homes for Māori across New Zealand by 2027, aiming to address housing pressures and transition away from emergency motels.
27 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1537 views
The Regional Infrastructure Fund is providing $24.62 million to boost horticulture expansion in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti through water storage, flood resilience, and Māori land projects, aiming to enhance regional economies, employment, and export growth while improving resilience to economic shocks and extreme weather events. Specific projects include establishing high-value horticulture on Māori land in Tairāwhiti, expanding water storage capacity in Hawke’s Bay, replenishing the Makauri aquifer in Tairāwhiti, and developing water storage infrastructure for pipfruit orchards. These investments aim to strengthen regional resilience and productivity, with a focus on supporting the regions' economic growth and success.