01 Aug 2026
2 months ago
686 views
Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager urges Kiwis to participate in the National Wild Goat Hunting Competition to help control wild goat populations and protect New Zealand’s native landscapes. Since its 2023 launch, the competition has removed over 33,000 goats and encourages conservation through hunter-led efforts, offering prizes and involving hunters of all ages. Running from August to November 2026, the event is a collaborative initiative between the Department of Conservation, the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association, landowners, and sponsors.
26 May 2026
5 months ago
963 views
New Zealand's Electricity Authority will implement new rules from July 1 to prevent the country's four largest gentailers—Contact, Genesis, Mercury, and Meridian—from favoring their own retail arms over smaller competitors in managing wholesale electricity price risk. These rules aim to create a level playing field by requiring equal treatment in hedge contracts, regular compliance reporting, and reflecting actual electricity costs in retail prices, with increased penalties for serious breaches starting in 2027. This initiative complements broader government efforts to enhance energy security, affordability, and competition through infrastructure fast-tracking, funding support, procurement of LNG facilities, and promoting renewable energy adoption.
30 Jan 2026
8 months ago
1268 views
The New Zealand Government, through ACC, is partnering with NZ Young Farmers to sponsor the 2024 FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition, aiming to support and develop future leaders in the food and fibre sector. This collaboration emphasizes injury prevention, safety, and recovery in farming, addressing the high risk of agricultural injuries and the significant costs associated with them. By integrating ACC’s expertise, the competition promotes safe, sustainable farming careers while highlighting the skills, resilience, and leadership required in New Zealand’s vital agricultural industry.
17 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1420 views
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has welcomed the Reserve Bank’s decision to ease some capital requirements imposed on banks in 2019, including adjustments to risk weights. These changes aim to enhance competition, particularly benefiting smaller banks and increasing lending to key sectors like agriculture. The revised requirements maintain prudence while promoting a more balanced approach between risk management and fostering competition, with gradual implementation planned.
13 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1410 views
The National Wild Goat Hunting Competition in New Zealand, now in its third year, has removed over 33,000 wild goats, helping protect native ecosystems through hunter-led conservation. The event, supported by the Department of Conservation, the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association, and sponsors, engaged 863 participants, including many youth, promoting conservation and encouraging outdoor activity. With strong backing from the hunting community and significant prizes, the competition has positively influenced hunter behavior and become a key annual event.
10 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1075 views
The Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill has been passed to streamline and expedite the approval process for important projects, particularly benefiting supermarket competition and regional development. The amendments aim to reduce consent processing times by over six weeks, making it easier for new supermarkets to open and boosting economic growth. Ministers emphasize that these changes will promote affordability, regional prosperity, and faster project delivery by addressing previous inefficiencies and red tape.
07 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1279 views
The Government of New Zealand is updating the International Screen Production Rebate to enhance the country's competitiveness in the global film and television industry, responding to industry feedback and increasing incentives to attract screen investment. Changes include lowering the minimum qualifying spend for feature films, reducing thresholds for incentives, expanding eligibility for post-production projects, and removing caps on certain costs. These updates aim to diversify the screen economy, strengthen partnerships in growing markets, and support the local industry while attracting new investment and technology.
03 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1115 views
The Government has introduced the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill to create a fast-track consent option for new supermarkets, aiming to improve grocery competition and provide better prices and choices for consumers. The Bill streamlines the approval process by allowing new supermarket developments to bypass standard resource consent processes and be referred to a fast-track expert panel for quicker decisions. The amendments aim to enhance the efficiency of the Fast-track Approvals Act, with technical changes to cut project application processing times and reduce processing and consideration times by an estimated six weeks or more.
07 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1156 views
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon highlights the Government's focus on growth and pragmatic solutions in its upcoming work programme. The Q4 plan aims to streamline construction processes, facilitate finance for social housing projects, promote competition in key sectors, and support innovative projects to boost job opportunities and incomes. Progress on the Q3 plan shows 26 out of 28 actions completed, with the remaining two, including regulations for open banking and the Crimes Amendment Bill, in progress.
17 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1202 views
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson is traveling to London to enhance New Zealand's partnerships in insurance, emergency preparedness, and business competition. He aims to showcase New Zealand's leadership in resilience and disaster recovery and strengthen ties with global partners facing similar challenges. The Minister's itinerary includes meetings with key industry players, a briefing at the New Zealand High Commission, and participation in events highlighting the New Zealand-UK relationship, such as the Battle of Britain Service and the Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final.
16 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1201 views
The Government is updating the Commerce Act after nearly 20 years to enhance protection for the public and provide more certainty for businesses, focusing on promoting competition, innovation, and fair markets. Key changes include preventing unfair tactics, clearer merger rules, strengthening the Commerce Commission, and facilitating beneficial collaborations among businesses. The amendments aim to ensure the Commerce Commission is more effective, separate governance and regulatory functions, and give the Commission stronger tools to assess mergers and competition concerns, ultimately promoting fairer markets and consumer choice.
16 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1283 views
New Zealand's Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay highlights the benefits for exporters from the World Trade Organisation's Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies coming into effect, aiming to ensure fair competition by prohibiting subsidies that support illegal fishing practices. McClay emphasizes that the agreement aligns with New Zealand's push for global reform in the fishing industry, promoting responsible production and safeguarding fish stocks. New Zealand's ratification of the agreement in 2023 reflects its commitment to supporting fair competition and doubling the value of exports, with a focus on the Pacific region where key partners and exporters operate.
27 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1613 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.
25 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1566 views
Finance Minister Nicola Willis supports the Reserve Bank's consultation on reviewing capital settings for banks and deposit takers to address concerns about impacts on competition, lending costs, and economic growth. The Minister's Financial Policy Remit emphasized the need to balance financial stability with competition, prompting the Bank to consider changes like aligning capital requirements with risk and adjusting overall capital ratio requirements to lower lending rates. The proposed changes aim to benefit smaller players in the market, reduce barriers for new entrants, and create a more competitive environment in the New Zealand banking sector.
22 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1454 views
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has welcomed the release of the Finance and Expenditure Committee (FEC) Inquiry into banking competition, focusing on business, rural banking, and lending to Māori entities. The inquiry supports the Government's efforts to enhance competition in the banking sector for better services for Kiwis. The report, based on submissions from 148 stakeholders and public hearings, will be reviewed by the Government for proposed action items by November 2025.