14 May 2026
5 months ago
923 views
The Government’s Social Investment Fund is introducing Community-led Commissioning to empower local leaders and organizations with proven track records to decide how social services funding is spent, focusing on measurable outcomes. This approach aims to replace fragmented, Wellington-centric contracts with flexible, community-designed solutions that improve key social indicators such as employment, education, health, and crime reduction. Following an expression of interest and design phase, selected groups will collaborate with the Social Investment Agency to establish shared objectives and accountability, with $190 million allocated in Budget 2025 to support these reforms.
14 May 2026
5 months ago
1110 views
The Government has introduced the Social Security Amendment Bill to improve fiscal sustainability by tightening eligibility for Jobseeker Support for 18- and 19-year-olds and adjusting the Accommodation Supplement calculation for homeowners. The Bill requires young beneficiaries to meet the Parental Assistance Test unless they have dependent children, aiming to reduce long-term benefit dependency and better target assistance to those most in need. Additionally, the Accommodation Supplement changes, the first in 33 years, focus support on vulnerable groups by requiring homeowners to contribute a higher share of income toward housing costs before receiving subsidies.
23 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1130 views
Term 1 2026 school attendance rates increased to 68.6%, the highest since 2022, reflecting a 2.7 percentage point rise from 2025 and significant improvement since 2022’s 46.5%. The government has implemented mandatory attendance management plans with escalating interventions for absences, supported by $140 million funding to improve attendance and accountability in frontline services. Higher attendance is linked to better educational and life outcomes, with Central and East Auckland showing the highest regular attendance rates.
12 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1288 views
Education Minister Erica Stanford supports Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche's decision allowing school boards to offer new pay agreements to around 10,000 primary teachers not bound by the NZEI Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement, enabling pay increases of up to 4.7% within 12 months. The new Individual Employment Agreements (IEAs) include cumulative pay rises, step increases, and a 16.7% increase in management unit values, resulting in salaries reaching $107,886 annually for top-scale teachers by 2027. Meanwhile, negotiations with the NZEI continue, and Budget 2025 covers teaching council certification costs until 2028, reducing expenses for teachers.
10 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1225 views
From April 2026, disabled people will have greater choice and control over their flexible funding without changes to their current budget allocations, as purchasing rules will be removed while still requiring spending to align with individual plans. These changes follow successful efforts since 2024 to stabilize the disability support system, including strengthened financial controls, improved needs assessments, and significant new funding to ensure sustainability and consistency. Support will be provided to help individuals manage their budgets, with some high-cost or specific purchases requiring pre-approval, reflecting feedback from the disability community and recommendations from the 2024 Independent Review.
24 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1273 views
The Government is introducing new Maths, English, and Science resources, including a Writing Acceleration Tool for Years 6-10, digital maths materials for Years 9-10, and hands-on science kits for primary schools, aiming to raise student achievement and close equity gaps. These initiatives, supported by professional development and extensive funding, align with curriculum standards and target improving literacy and numeracy levels, with a goal of 80% of Year 8 students meeting expected benchmarks by 2030. Additionally, specialized resources and support are being developed for Māori-medium education, and widespread teacher and school engagement is planned to ensure effective implementation.
20 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1150 views
Construction has begun on a 28-bed rapid-build inpatient ward at Nelson Hospital to support service relocation during major redevelopment and seismic strengthening. The project uses parallel off-site and on-site construction to accelerate delivery, reduce disruption, and improve inpatient capacity and patient flow. This ward is part of a nationwide government program, backed by a $90 million Budget 2025 allocation, to quickly expand hospital capacity with modern, cost-effective infrastructure.
11 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1365 views
Construction is underway to expand and upgrade Palmerston North Hospital’s emergency department with a $14.455 million investment aimed at increasing capacity by 40 percent and improving patient flow, safety, and privacy. This project is part of the Government’s $100 million hospital infrastructure programme funded through Budget 2025, which supports 21 local projects nationwide to enhance clinical spaces and infrastructure. The emergency department, a key regional hub, will remain operational during redevelopment, expected to finish by June 2026, ensuring continuous patient care amid growing demand.
04 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1364 views
The Government is implementing its Budget 2025 plan by investing $746.7 million to enhance learning support in schools, benefiting hundreds of thousands of students nationwide. Key initiatives include hiring Learning Support Coordinators, expanding the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme, increasing Early Intervention Services, and funding additional Teacher Aide hours, alongside structured literacy and maths intervention programs. To ensure effectiveness, an induction program for Learning Support Coordinators is being launched to provide consistent training and maximize their impact on student achievement.
30 Jan 2026
8 months ago
1643 views
A new $200 million, 10,000-square-metre facility at Auckland's Mason Clinic has opened, significantly enhancing New Zealand's forensic mental health services with 60 replacement inpatient beds and modern infrastructure. This expansion aims to improve safety, treatment quality, and long-term care for patients while supporting staff and protecting the community. The project is part of a broader nearly $1 billion national investment to modernize mental health facilities, including additional beds funded in Budget 2025 to further improve access and outcomes.
23 Jan 2026
9 months ago
1424 views
Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced that Term 4 2025 school attendance reached 57.3%, the highest since 2022, reflecting a steady increase due to government initiatives and parental involvement. Regional attendance was highest in Central and East Auckland at 62.5%, and the government is implementing Attendance Management Plans with escalating interventions for absences to further improve rates. Enhanced frontline attendance services, supported by $140 million funding in Budget 2025, aim to ensure consistent attendance, which is crucial for positive educational and life outcomes.
23 Jan 2026
9 months ago
1428 views
Four new community-based forensic step-down beds will open early in March through a partnership between Ember Services Limited and Health NZ, accelerating the government's Mental Health Plan commitment. Funded by Budget 2025, these beds aim to improve access to specialist forensic services, supported by community teams and specialist staff to ensure patient and public safety while facilitating gradual reintegration and reducing relapse risks. This initiative complements existing facilities and forms part of a broader strategy to enhance mental health support, frontline staffing, and crisis response.
23 Jan 2026
9 months ago
1429 views
Four new community-based forensic step-down beds will open early in March through a partnership between Ember Services Limited and Health NZ, accelerating the government's Mental Health Plan commitment. Funded by Budget 2025, these beds aim to provide faster access to specialist forensic services, supported by community teams and specialist staff, to safely reintegrate patients transitioning from inpatient forensic care. This initiative enhances bed capacity alongside a new acute forensic inpatient facility in Waikato and forms part of a broader strategy to improve mental health support, frontline staffing, and crisis response.
22 Jan 2026
9 months ago
1526 views
Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey announced the launch of the first four mental health co-response teams in Canterbury, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and Counties Manukau, pairing mental health workers with Police to better respond to 111 mental distress calls. These teams aim to provide immediate support and reduce reliance on criminal justice responses, improving outcomes by decreasing emergency department visits and use of Mental Health Act powers. Funded by a $28 million Budget 2025 investment, the initiative expands on previous pilots and is part of a broader government strategy to enhance crisis response and mental health services nationwide.
17 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1544 views
In 2025, the Government made significant legislative progress with 81 Government Bills becoming law, focusing on economic growth, law and order, and reducing living costs through key measures like the Investment Boost tax incentive and trade agreements. Notable achievements include the unanimous passage of the Parliament Bill, modernizing parliamentary governance, and streamlined processes for infrastructure and family support. The year also featured extensive parliamentary activity, including numerous bills introduced, readings, and questions, reflecting a busy and productive legislative session.