23 Oct 2026
1 day ago
89 views
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has today welcomed Pharmac’s decision to extend the 12-month transitional access funding limit for Pertuzumab with trastuzumab (Phesgo) for people receiving treatment for certain types of breast cancer in private clinics. “In the past, when Pharmac funded a new cancer treatment, people already paying for that treatment privately are forced to make a very difficult choice: spend their savings to continue private treatment undisrupted, or transfer to a public hospital. The latter can be detrimental to their recovery,” Mr Seymour says.
16 Oct 2026
1 week ago
193 views
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden launched a new Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) to guide businesses and workers on health and safety responsibilities in New Zealand's residential construction sector, effective from April 1, 2027. Developed with industry input, the ACOP clarifies roles and coordination among multiple trades on site, aiming to improve safety outcomes without imposing new duties, and may provide safe harbour status after reapproval. WorkSafe will assist industry in implementing the ACOP, which sets a practical, sector-specific standard to manage risks and enhance compliance amid upcoming legislative changes.
14 Oct 2026
1 week ago
219 views
New Zealand's recent independent assessments reveal significant improvements in primary and intermediate students' mathematics, reading comprehension, and vocabulary, marking a turnaround in educational achievement. The government’s comprehensive reforms—focused on curriculum clarity, literacy and numeracy approaches, teacher training, and targeted support—have led to measurable gains, including accelerated progress in maths and substantial phonics improvements, especially among Māori and disadvantaged students. These positive trends are supported by multiple data sources, such as PAT, Curriculum Insights, and OECD PISA results, showing narrowed socio-economic gaps and enhanced student outcomes nationwide.
01 Oct 2026
3 weeks ago
319 views
BreastScreen Aotearoa has expanded free breast screening to include women turning 71, continuing a four-year rollout that will eventually cover women aged 70 to 74, benefiting approximately 120,000 more women. The government has increased capacity with four new mobile units and five new or upgraded sites to improve access, particularly in rural areas, leading to early detection of hundreds of breast cancers since the program began. This initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance women's health in New Zealand, including upcoming free cervical screening and improved endometriosis diagnosis.
30 Sep 2026
3 weeks ago
258 views
New Zealand is lowering the starting age for free bowel screening from 58 to 56, expanding access to over 200,000 additional people and funding more colonoscopies to detect bowel cancer early. This $45.6 million investment aims to prevent 638 cancers and save 522 lives over 25 years, with staged program expansion ensuring adequate workforce and endoscopy capacity. The initiative, aligned with Australia’s standards, includes new pathways like the FIT for Symptomatic test to prioritize urgent cases and improve screening efficiency.
05 Sep 2026
1 month ago
447 views
The New Zealand Government, in partnership with Creative New Zealand, is investing $250,000 to support the Pasifika Youth Producers Programme, which offers 32 Pasifika youth practical skills, career exploration, and employment pathways through paid placements and leadership workshops. The 16-week programme targets two age groups, providing hands-on experience in event production, digital media, and other fields while fostering cultural connection and community engagement. This initiative aims to empower Pasifika youth, a fast-growing population, to develop skills, engage in education, and contribute to New Zealand’s workforce and economy.
02 Sep 2026
1 month ago
496 views
Deteriorating and asbestos-riddled buildings on two former Manukau Institute of Technology sites in Ōtara, covering over eight hectares of Crown land, will be demolished to enable future housing redevelopment. The Government acquired these sites in 2019 through the Land for Housing Programme and is seeking zoning changes to repurpose the land from education to housing use. Preparations including project management appointments and contractor procurement will take about six months, followed by approximately 15 months for demolition and site remediation, with community updates planned throughout the process.
02 Sep 2026
1 month ago
521 views
Deteriorating and asbestos-riddled buildings at two former Manukau Institute of Technology sites in Ōtara, covering over 8 hectares of Crown land, will be demolished to address safety concerns and enable future housing development. The government acquired these sites in 2019 through the Land for Housing Programme and is seeking to rezone them from education to housing uses, with demolition and site remediation expected to take about 21 months. Preparatory work, including appointing project management and securing consents, will take around six months, with demolition contracts to be tendered through LINZ to ensure experienced contractors and competitive pricing.
02 Sep 2026
1 month ago
475 views
The independent Crown Review into the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant failure identified longstanding systemic weaknesses in governance, accountability, asset management, and risk management as key factors behind the 2026 flooding event, rather than a single technical fault. Recommendations for Wellington City Council, Tiaki Wai, and the Minister of Local Government focus on restoring compliance, improving communication, strengthening governance, and linking risk management to investment decisions, with many improvements already underway. The review underscores the importance of the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms to enhance oversight, accountability, and resilience in New Zealand’s water infrastructure to prevent similar future failures.
02 Sep 2026
1 month ago
502 views
The independent Crown Review into the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant failure identified systemic issues in governance, accountability, asset management, risk management, and infrastructure resilience as key contributors rather than a single technical fault. Recommendations were made to Wellington City Council, Tiaki Wai, and the Minister of Local Government to improve compliance, communication, governance, asset stewardship, and risk-linked investment, with recovery efforts expected to complete by February 2027. The review underscores the importance of the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms, which aim to strengthen oversight, accountability, and long-term planning to prevent similar infrastructure failures nationwide.
01 Sep 2026
1 month ago
535 views
From 1 March 2027, cervical screening will be free for all eligible women aged 25 to 69 in New Zealand, removing a financial barrier that currently limits participation, especially among younger women. The government has also released the New Zealand Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan 2026 to 2040, aiming to eliminate cervical cancer by reducing cases to fewer than four per 100,000 women annually through vaccination, timely screening, and treatment targets. Key goals include increasing screening and vaccination rates, ensuring prompt follow-up care, and ultimately saving more lives by detecting and treating cervical cancer early.
01 Sep 2026
1 month ago
467 views
From 1 March 2027, cervical screening will be free for all eligible women aged 25 to 69 in New Zealand, aiming to remove cost barriers and increase screening rates. The government also released the New Zealand Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan 2026–2040, which sets ambitious targets to eliminate cervical cancer by reducing incidence and improving timely treatment and vaccination coverage. These initiatives build on existing programs to detect and treat cervical cancer early, ultimately saving more lives.
21 Aug 2026
2 months ago
586 views
New Zealand has seen a significant decline in tobacco sales, dropping over 20% in 2025 and more than halving in the past decade, though concerns remain about illegal cigarette availability. The government is addressing smoking harm through increased enforcement of tobacco and vape laws, youth prevention programs like Smokefreerockquest, and enhanced support for smokers to quit, including updated clinical guidelines and funded vape kits. Despite progress, efforts continue to focus on reducing smoking-related harm, emphasizing vaping as a less harmful cessation tool.
19 Aug 2026
2 months ago
644 views
The government will establish an independent Urban Land Market Officer to monitor, assess, and ensure councils maintain competitive urban land markets by preventing artificial scarcity and enabling sufficient land supply for housing and business development. This role aims to address housing affordability and economic growth by holding councils accountable for zoning enough land and facilitating reforms such as abolishing rural-urban boundaries, setting housing growth targets, and easing private plan changes. The Officer’s independent scrutiny will promote transparency and enforce action where local planning decisions hinder land market competitiveness, supporting the government’s broader agenda to reform the planning system and boost housing supply.
19 Aug 2026
2 months ago
600 views
The Government is revising freshwater farm plans to create a simpler, more cost-effective system focused on certifying and auditing only higher-risk farming activities, such as dairy farming and intensive grazing. New regulations will streamline requirements, raise thresholds for mandatory plans, extend certification cycles, and enable industry organizations to provide certification services, reducing duplication and paperwork for farmers. These changes aim to better manage actual water quality risks while minimizing costs and administrative burdens for farmers.