03 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1250 views
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones have approved the Milldale housing project in Wainui, Auckland, which is expected to provide 1100 residential allotments and inject $595 million into the region over three years. The project aims to address housing shortages by creating jobs and streamlining development processes through the Fast-track Approvals Act. Minister Jones is collaborating with Minister Bishop on legislative changes to expedite regional housing projects and other developments in the pipeline.
19 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1534 views
Construction has commenced on the State Highway 2 (SH2) Melling Transport Improvements Road of Regional Significance in Lower Hutt to enhance safety, accessibility, and resilience, according to Transport Minister Chris Bishop. The project, including a new interchange and bridge over the Hutt River, aims to alleviate congestion, enhance safety, and promote economic growth by improving public transport and active transport options. Led by the NZ Transport Agency, AECOM, and Fletcher Construction, the initiative is part of a broader $1.5 billion RiverLink program to boost economic growth, resilience, and flood protection in Lower Hutt, with completion expected by 2031.
18 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1276 views
The Government passed the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme Forestry Conversions) Amendment Bill to prevent wholesale conversion of farmland to pine forests, aiming to balance food production and Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) confidence. Key changes include limits on exotic forestry registrations for productive farmland, flexibility for farmers to convert up to 25% of land to forestry, and provisions for Māori-owned land. The Bill aims to support rural economies, create jobs, and ensure ETS credibility, with a review planned for 2028 to assess effectiveness.
17 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1404 views
The Government, led by Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson, is expanding the surcharge ban to include foreign-issued cards and commercial cards, aiming to simplify transactions for businesses and consumers. The Retail Payment System (Ban on Merchant Surcharges) Amendment Bill has passed its first reading, prohibiting surcharges on in-store EFTPOS, Visa, and Mastercard payments. The ban, set to be implemented within a month of passing the Bill, aims to save businesses up to $90 million annually and prevent surprise costs for Kiwi shoppers at payment terminals.
16 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1308 views
The Government, through RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop, supports Auckland Council's request to withdraw controversial Plan Change 78 to allow for more local decision-making on growth and housing. This move will give Aucklanders greater choice and input on future development, particularly around key stations benefiting from the City Rail Link project. The process includes a submission period from November to December, followed by hearings before an Independent Hearings Panel, aiming for an 18-month timeframe to provide certainty and address delays in decision-making for Auckland's growth and housing options.
16 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1214 views
Public consultation has concluded on a proposal to replace NCEA, with over 8,200 submissions received, showing significant engagement. Education Minister Erica Stanford appreciates the feedback from various stakeholders and plans to carefully consider the responses to strengthen foundational skills and improve teaching coherence. The aim is to create a credible, consistent qualification that prepares students nationwide for success beyond school.
04 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1826 views
The NZ Transport Agency has awarded a $42 million contract to HEB Construction Limited to begin construction on the Ōmanawa Bridge replacement in October, as part of the State Highway 29 Tauriko West project. This project aims to enhance safety, resilience, and freight efficiency along SH29, a crucial corridor in the Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga triangle, with a total of $7 billion already allocated for Government-funded projects nationwide. Future phases of the project will involve route protection and consenting for a new four-lane SH29, supporting growth in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty with improved travel times and reduced accidents.
28 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1373 views
Kiwis are encouraged to provide input on proposed regulatory changes in the telecommunications sector, as their feedback is crucial to the review process, according to Ministers David Seymour and Paul Goldsmith. The review focuses on key regulatory issues such as the Telecommunications Development Levy (TDL), shareholder caps, and service quality regulations. Proposed draft changes include implementing a consumer code, updating infrastructure obligations, eliminating outdated rules, and enhancing investor appeal for telecom companies to boost growth in the sector.
27 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1393 views
The speaker expresses skepticism towards the theme of the conference, "Regulation 2025 to 2050: Disruption, Change, and Continuity," highlighting the negative impact of regulatory growth on resources, project viability, and culture. They discuss the need for regulatory reform in New Zealand, emphasizing the importance of addressing housing affordability and productivity challenges. The speaker advocates for greater public scrutiny of regulatory initiatives to ensure cost-effective benefits and urges a shift towards more efficient and transparent regulatory practices.
27 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1616 views
The Government plans urgent legislative and policy changes to remove barriers for competitor supermarkets in New Zealand, aiming to boost competition and offer better deals for consumers. These changes include fast-track approvals for new supermarkets, streamlining building consent processes, and amending regulations to combat predatory pricing. The initiative aims to encourage new domestic competitors and potential international retailers like Costco to expand in New Zealand, with further considerations on potentially restructuring major supermarket players Foodstuffs and Woolworths to enhance market competition.
26 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1499 views
The Social Investment Fund, recently launched by Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis, targets children facing challenging family or school situations, such as those with incarcerated parents or who have been suspended from school before age 13. By investing in these priority groups, the fund aims to improve outcomes for individuals and communities, based on data showing early intervention can lead to better long-term results and cost savings for the government. With a budget of $190 million over four years, the Fund emphasizes evidence-based approaches and transparent impact measurement, empowering organizations to make targeted investments that work.
06 Aug 2025
1 year ago
2747 views
The New Zealand Cabinet has approved legislative changes to transition 3.5 million light vehicles to electronic road user charges instead of petrol tax, marking a significant shift in road funding. The move aims to ensure all vehicles, regardless of fuel type, contribute fairly based on distance and weight, replacing the outdated petrol tax system. The transition will involve modernizing the current RUC system, allowing for digital records, multiple payment options, and fostering competition among RUC providers for a user-friendly and efficient road funding mechanism.
25 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2109 views
The Government has taken a major step towards protecting food production by ending the large-scale conversion of productive farmland into pine plantations, with the first reading of the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme—Forestry Conversion) Amendment Bill receiving unanimous support in Parliament last night. “This Bill is about protecting our most valuable land that grows food for export and sustains rural communities,” Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay says. “For too long, ETS incentives have driven the wrong outcomes for our rural sector.
17 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2507 views
The derelict and unsafe Gordon Wilson Flats in Wellington will lose its protected heritage status and become eligible for demolition through an amendment to the Resource Management Act (RMA) in the coming weeks, RMA Reform and Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Gordon Wilson Flats were used as social housing until 2012, when an engineer’s report showed the building was so unsafe that large slabs of the concrete exterior could come off in an earthquake or even a strong wind. The building has sat vacant since then, becoming more dangerous and more of an eyesore every year,” Mr Bishop says.