Articles tagged with Cabinet
Showing 15 of 24 articles
New Zealand Passes New Emergency Management Law to Strengthen National Response
28 Aug 2026 | 1 week ago | 197 viewsNew Zealand has passed new legislation replacing the 24-year-old Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 to create a modern legal framework addressing increasingly complex emergencies with clearer roles, improved powers, and stronger community and iwi Māori involvement. The Bill enhances national consistency, animal welfare during emergencies, and incorporates improvements from past inquiries, while most provisions will commence shortly after Royal assent with some delayed to allow phased implementation. This legislation supports a comprehensive, devolved approach across risk reduction, readiness, response, and recovery, and is part of a broader effort including funding for advanced operational technology and a forthcoming review of the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan.
Tags: Mark Mitchell New Zealand Emergency Management Civil Defence Iwi Māori Budget 2026 Cabinet District Controllers Recovery ManagersGovernment Approves Kāinga Ora Arlington Reset to Deliver 104 New Social Homes in Wellington
12 Aug 2026 | 3 weeks ago | 269 viewsThe Government has approved a reset of the Kāinga Ora Arlington development to deliver 104 new social homes in central Wellington, with construction expected between 2027 and 2029, and will provide up to $6 million to Wellington City Council to support housing services for vulnerable people. The redesigned project replaces a previously paused, costly plan of 301 apartments, aiming for a more cost-effective approach with a mix of one-, two-, and four-bedroom homes, funded through Kāinga Ora’s renewals programme. Additionally, part of the Arlington site may be returned to the Council for further housing development, maximizing the use of the site and supporting community housing initiatives.
Tags: Chris Bishop Andrew Little Kāinga Ora Wellington City Council Arlington development social housing New Zealand government Mount Cook housing services Cabinet approval18 Proposals Submitted for Local Government Reform Under Head Start Initiative
10 Aug 2026 | 4 weeks ago | 291 viewsEighteen proposals have been submitted to the Government under the Head Start local government reform initiative, aimed at simplifying and streamlining local councils in response to community needs and past reform challenges. The proposals will be assessed by officials and reviewed by Cabinet in September to decide which proceed to a detailed design phase, with final implementation decisions expected before the 2028 local government elections. The Government will also address areas not progressing through Head Start by considering feedback and lessons learned, and will provide further updates after Cabinet's review.
Tags: Chris Bishop Simon Watts Head Start local government reform RMA Reform Minister Local Government Minister government proposals Cabinet local councils 2028 local government electionsNew Zealand Lowers Public Lending Right Threshold to Boost Author Recognition
05 Aug 2026 | 1 month ago | 296 viewsMinister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden announced that the eligibility threshold for the Public Lending Right scheme will be lowered from 50 to 30 copies held in libraries, allowing around 170 more New Zealand authors to be recognized and paid. This change, supported by 77.1% of consultation submissions, balances broader access with maintaining the fund’s integrity and includes a new mechanism to efficiently address underpayments. The $2.4 million fund, managed by the National Library, aims to keep the scheme fair, relevant, and accessible within the current parliamentary term.
Tags: Brooke van Velden New Zealand Authors Public Lending Right National Library of New Zealand Minister of Internal Affairs Kiwi literary works Cabinet Parliamentary term Department underpaymentsMBIE Biometric Project Cost Overruns Spark Independent Audit and Inquiry
29 Jul 2026 | 1 month ago | 374 viewsThe Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) ceased the seven-year Biometric Capability Upgrade project in December 2025, initially reporting $33 million in costs written off. Subsequent reviews revealed discrepancies in MBIE’s financial reporting, leading to the identification of an additional $6 million in project costs and prompting the commissioning of an independent financial audit. The matter has been referred to the Michael Heron inquiry and the Public Service Commissioner to investigate MBIE’s financial controls and potentially expand the inquiry’s scope.
Tags: Biometric Capability Upgrade Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment MBIE Greg James Education and Workforce Committee Nicola Willis Michael Heron Public Service Commissioner financial audit Cabinet scrutinyNew Zealand to Explore Joining Ocean of Peace Alliance with Australia and Fiji
09 Jul 2026 | 2 months ago | 513 viewsNew Zealand plans to engage with Australia and Fiji about potentially joining the Ocean of Peace Alliance, a mutual defense treaty aimed at enhancing regional security. The alliance builds on existing strong military and diplomatic relationships among the three nations and supports Pacific-led responses to security challenges. Final membership decisions will be made by New Zealand’s Cabinet and Parliament after consultations.
Tags: Christopher Luxon Winston Peters Chris Penk New Zealand Australia Fiji Ocean of Peace Alliance Pacific States military alliance CabinetNew Zealand Rejects Blanket Crypto ATM Ban, Opts for Targeted Regulation
09 Jul 2026 | 2 months ago | 545 viewsThe Government has decided against a blanket ban on crypto ATMs, opting instead for targeted regulations to reduce criminal misuse of virtual assets while allowing legitimate use. Cabinet will introduce regulation-making powers to restrict cash transactions for virtual assets, such as setting transaction limits or banning cash payments for high-risk assets if necessary. These measures are part of broader reforms to New Zealand’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism system, balancing innovation with crime prevention.
Tags: Nicole McKee crypto ATMs virtual assets New Zealand government Cabinet decision Countering Financing of Terrorism cash transactionsNew Tertiary Research Excellence Fund Boosts Innovation and Cuts Red Tape
02 Jun 2026 | 3 months ago | 610 viewsThe new Tertiary Research Excellence Fund (TREF) will replace the Performance-Based Research Fund, investing $315 million annually to enhance research capability in New Zealand's tertiary education system with a focus on economic growth and reduced compliance costs. TREF emphasizes impact through metrics like external research income, citations, commercialisation, and policy outcomes, aiming to reward research excellence in a more efficient and responsive manner. Developed with expert advice and sector engagement, the fund’s operational design begins immediately, with phased implementation from 2027 and full alignment by 2029.
Tags: Penny Simmonds Sir Peter Gluckman Tertiary Research Excellence Fund TREF PBRF Tertiary Education Commission New Zealand Cabinet University Advisory GroupNew Zealand Government Launches 3-Month Window for Local Government Reform Proposals
05 May 2026 | 4 months ago | 695 viewsThe New Zealand Government is offering councils a three-month “Head Start” window to propose reorganisations aimed at simplifying local government by creating larger, more efficient unitary authorities that reduce duplication and improve decision-making. Proposals must be realistic, support the new planning system, maintain strong local representation, and deliver better value, with final decisions expected in 2027 and changes implemented by the 2028 local elections. If councils do not submit credible proposals, the Government will enforce reforms through a backstop process to ensure nationwide improvements in local governance.
Tags: Chris Bishop Simon Watts New Zealand local government reform councils Head Start pathway unitary authorities Cabinet resource management reform 2028 local electionsGovernment Advances Child Safety with New Training and Early Childhood Protections
04 May 2026 | 4 months ago | 745 viewsThe Government is advancing improvements to the children’s system, implementing recommendations from the Dame Karen Poutasi Review to enhance child safety. Key initiatives include establishing an inter-agency hub for information sharing on at-risk children, rolling out foundational child protection training for workers, and strengthening early childhood education centres’ child protection policies. Additionally, efforts are underway to promote timely abuse reporting and clarify privacy laws to support information sharing for child safety.
Tags: Louise Upston Dame Karen Poutasi Child Poverty Reduction Minister Education Review Office Ministry of Education Office of the Privacy Commissioner Cabinet ERO Poutasi Review Core Children’s WorkersPalau President Surangel Whipps Jr. to Visit New Zealand for Historic Meeting
13 Apr 2026 | 4 months ago | 782 viewsPrime Minister Christopher Luxon will meet Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. during his visit, marking the first visit to New Zealand by a Palauan president. The visit focuses on strengthening cooperation between New Zealand and Palau ahead of their respective Pacific Islands Forum hosting duties in 2024 and 2027. President Whipps will also engage with Cabinet Ministers, agencies, businesses, and iwi, and will be formally welcomed by Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro.
Tags: Christopher Luxon Surangel Whipps Jr. Palau New Zealand Pacific Islands Forum Cindy Kiro Auckland Rotorua Cabinet Ministers Palauan presidentNew Zealand Telecom Review: Cutting Red Tape to Boost Innovation and Save $45M
26 Mar 2026 | 5 months ago | 975 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith announced the completion of the Telecommunications Sector Review, which proposes 22 recommendations aimed at reducing outdated bureaucracy to foster innovation and modernize regulations originally designed for legacy copper networks. Key changes include simplifying Telecommunications Development Levy calculations, removing redundant audit requirements, and updating fibre regulations, projected to deliver $35 to $45 million in net benefits over the next decade. Ministers are currently reviewing the recommendations to ensure telecommunications regulations support a competitive economy and reliable access for all New Zealanders while carefully considering next steps for critical areas like Telecommunications Service Obligations.
Tags: David Seymour Paul Goldsmith Telecommunications Sector Review Telecommunications Service Obligations Telecommunications Development Levy fibre regulations New Zealand telecommunications regulations Cabinet telecom providersNew Zealand to Replace NCEA with New Senior Secondary Qualification System
25 Mar 2026 | 5 months ago | 1478 viewsThe New Zealand Government has agreed to replace NCEA with a new senior secondary qualification system featuring two levels over Years 12 and 13, subject-based assessments, and a foundational Year 11 award focusing on literacy and numeracy. This reform aims to create a clearer, more consistent, and internationally comparable qualification aligned with a new knowledge-rich curriculum, addressing longstanding issues of fragmentation and reliability in NCEA. The phased implementation will begin in 2026, with ongoing sector engagement and support, including a national curriculum and assessment roadshow to prepare schools for the changes.
Tags: Erica Stanford New Zealand NCEA Education Minister senior secondary qualifications curriculum reform Foundational Award Year 11 curriculum Cabinet secondary school qualificationsEmployment Leave Bill Passes First Reading to Simplify Worker Pay and Leave
12 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 951 viewsThe Employment Leave Bill, recently passed its first reading in Parliament, aims to replace the complex Holidays Act 2003 with a simpler framework that reduces errors and provides clarity for businesses and workers. It introduces hours-based accrual, pro-rata sick leave, and improved entitlements such as immediate access to leave and full pay after parental leave, addressing compliance challenges and worker benefits. Minister Brooke van Velden emphasized extensive consultation and encouraged public feedback to ensure the legislation is effective and sustainable long-term.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Employment Leave Bill Holidays Act 2003 Workplace Relations payroll sick leave annual leave parental leave Cabinet ParliamentNew Zealand Launches VetNet-Biosecurity to Combat Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreaks
17 Dec 2025 | 8 months ago | 1245 viewsNew Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries has partnered with the Veterinary Council to create VetNet-Biosecurity, a network of 200 private veterinarians ready to respond rapidly to serious animal disease outbreaks like foot and mouth disease. This initiative aims to provide urgent field support, including clinical examinations and sample collection, with veterinarians continuing their regular employment while receiving training and financial compensation from MPI. Additionally, free biosecurity training is available to all registered veterinarians to enhance their skills in exotic disease detection and on-farm biosecurity protocols.
Tags: Andrew Hoggard Veterinary Council of New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries New Zealand foot and mouth disease Biosecurity Minister MPI private veterinarians Cabinet