Articles tagged with Ct
Showing 15 of 996 articles
NZ Racing Minister Backs Greyhound Rehoming Plans Amid Racing Phase-Out
13 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 960 viewsRacing Minister Winston Peters supports plans to rehome greyhounds as New Zealand transitions away from greyhound racing, emphasizing a careful, multi-stage process involving industry input and select committee feedback. The Ministerial Advisory Committee proposes establishing a transition agency to manage dog care, provide mental health and retraining support for industry workers, and collaborate with animal welfare groups to ensure successful rehoming. This transition follows years of reviews highlighting animal welfare issues and reflects strong public support for ending greyhound racing.
Tags: Winston Peters Racing Minister greyhound racing Ministerial Advisory Committee select committee SPCA New Zealand greyhound rehoming animal welfare transition agencyOranga Tamariki Improves Child Safety with 97% Timely Visits and Better Support
13 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 953 viewsOranga Tamariki has shown significant progress in child care and protection, with 97% of children visited by social workers on time and improved compliance with caregiver support plans. There has been a notable reduction in serious offending behavior and harm among children in state care, supported by increased social worker recruitment, $68 million investment in case management technology, and enhanced training. Despite challenges like high reports of concern and insufficient supported accommodation, Minister Karen Chhour remains committed to improving the system and prioritizing child wellbeing.
Tags: Karen Chhour Oranga Tamariki Minister for Children social workers child protection National Care Standards caregiver support children in care youth offending case management technologyAttorney-General Announces High Court Judicial Appointments for 2026
12 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1149 viewsAttorney-General Judith Collins announced the appointments of Natalie Walker as a High Court Judge in Auckland and Christopher Gambrill as a High Court Associate Judge in Christchurch. Justice Walker has extensive experience in Crown prosecution and legal practice in New Zealand, while Associate Judge Gambrill brings a background in commercial litigation and international legal consultancy. Their appointments will take effect in March and May 2026, respectively.
Tags: Judith Collins Natalie Walker Christopher Gambrill John Haigh Kayes Fletcher Walker Victoria University of Wellington Chapman Tripp Meredith Connell Simpson Grierson Everys Legal ConsultancyEmployment Leave Bill Passes First Reading to Simplify Worker Pay and Leave
12 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 984 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 ParliamentNZ Hospitality Summit 2026: Boosting Economy and Supporting Industry Growth
12 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1123 viewsTourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston emphasized the hospitality industry's significant contribution to New Zealand’s economy, generating over $9 billion in GDP and shaping visitor experiences. Since the first Hospitality Summit in 2024, the government has collaborated with the industry by introducing the Michelin Guide, investing in regional tourism, supporting major events, and reviewing regulations. The 2026 Summit focused on reflecting progress and planning practical steps to build a strong, resilient hospitality sector through continued partnership between government and industry.
Tags: Louise Upston Tourism and Hospitality Minister Hospitality Summit 2026 New Zealand economy Hospitality New Zealand Restaurant Association Michelin Guide Hospitality Sector Review Regional tourism Hospitality industryGovernment Invests $400K in Digital Platform to Boost NZ Coastal Shipping Resilience
11 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 953 viewsThe New Zealand Government is investing $400,000 in a national digital platform to enhance coordination and efficiency across ports, addressing fragmented operations and improving resilience against disruptions. This funding is part of the final tranche of a $30 million Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund, which also supports equipment upgrades, vessel modifications, infrastructure repairs, maritime training, and dredging capabilities. These initiatives aim to strengthen coastal shipping as a vital, low-emission freight network that ensures essential supplies reach communities during crises, as demonstrated after Cyclone Gabrielle.
Tags: James Meager New Zealand Government Coastal Shipping PortConnect Gisborne Rangitata Greymouth Northland Cyclone GabrielleNew Rural Training Hub in Wairoa Boosts Frontline Health Workforce
11 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1003 viewsA Rural Training Hub will be established in the Wairoa District to grow and retain frontline health workers by coordinating clinical placements, training, and support locally. This initiative, the second of four nationwide, aims to improve access to quality healthcare for rural New Zealanders by bringing education and work opportunities closer to home. The hubs will be co-designed with local communities and provide dedicated coordinators to help health workers settle and connect with local services, enhancing the rural health workforce.
Tags: Matt Doocey Wairoa District Rural Training Hub New Zealand rural health workforce South Taranaki University of Waikato Rural Medical Immersion Programme frontline health workers health worker educationNew Zealand Launches Digital Food Labelling Trial to Boost Consumer Choice
11 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 919 viewsThe New Zealand Government is launching a 12-month digital labelling trial for approved retailers to reduce barriers to market entry and increase consumer choice, focusing on lower-risk, pre-packaged imported foods. The trial will exempt a small number of retailers from physical labelling requirements while ensuring all safety standards and regulatory oversight remain intact. This initiative aims to test innovative technology, maintain food safety, and inform future food labelling policies in collaboration with Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
Tags: Nicola Willis Andrew Hoggard New Zealand Food Act 2014 digital labelling Food Standards Australia New Zealand Economic Growth Minister Food Safety Minister Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code Expression of InterestRoyal Commission Report Reveals Lessons and Impact of New Zealand’s COVID-19 Response
10 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 915 viewsThe Royal Commission's final report on New Zealand's COVID-19 response highlights that initial restrictions were appropriate but later extended beyond public health advice, with economic warnings ignored, leading to excessive spending and increased public debt. Auckland endured the longest lockdown, exceeding official recommendations, and vaccine mandates for under-18s did not align with expert advice, reflecting missed opportunities to balance health and economic impacts. The Government acknowledges the sacrifices made by New Zealanders and plans to respond to the report’s recommendations by July, aiming to better balance future health and economic decisions.
Tags: Simeon Brown Royal Commission New Zealand Auckland Treasury vaccine mandate lockdown economic impact public healthGovernment Amends Law to Ensure Fair Treatment of ACC and Welfare Payments
05 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1004 viewsThe Government has passed legislation to clarify the impact of ACC payments on welfare entitlements, addressing an unfair discrepancy between those receiving weekly ACC payments and those receiving lump sum payments while their ACC claims are considered. The Social Security Amendment Act ensures equal treatment for all ACC recipients, correcting a court-interpreted anomaly that previously favored one group over another. This change aims to create a fair and equitable process, with transitional provisions for individuals seeking review before the Bill's introduction.
Tags: Government legislation ACC payments welfare entitlement Social Development Employment Minister Louise Upston Social Security Amendment Act MSD benefit Appeal AuthorityNew Zealand Boosts Economy with Faster Overseas Investment Approvals and New Visas
05 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 928 viewsThe New Zealand Government has introduced a two-track system under the Overseas Investment Act to speed up investment decisions, aiming to process most applications within five to 15 working days, significantly faster than before. This reform, along with increased Active Investor Plus visa applications, is expected to bring billions in overseas capital, supporting economic growth, productivity, and high-paying jobs by providing access to international capital, expertise, and technology. The Government emphasizes that attracting foreign investment is essential for New Zealand’s future as a high-income economy and is committed to removing barriers to help businesses grow and create opportunities for Kiwis.
Tags: David Seymour Erica Stanford Overseas Investment Act New Zealand Active Investor Plus golden visa overseas investment Kiwi businesses economic growth investment applicationsNew Zealand Passes Bill for Annual Census and Timelier Population Data
05 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 998 viewsNew Zealand has passed the Data and Statistics (Census) Amendment Bill to transition from a five-yearly census to an annual approach using existing government data, a smaller survey, and targeted collection, starting in 2030. This change addresses rising costs, declining response rates, and disruptions, ensuring more timely and accurate population data essential for planning public services. Additionally, the legislation modifies electoral boundary reviews to occur after every second general election instead of after every census, maintaining regularity while reflecting population changes.
Tags: Shane Reti Paul Goldsmith New Zealand Data and Statistics (Census) Amendment Bill Stats NZ census electoral boundary reviews annual census population data government legislationGame On: Empowering Pacific Youth for Careers in NZ’s $750M Gaming Industry
05 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1098 viewsNew Zealand’s Ministry for Pacific Peoples is launching Game On, a $1 million program to support up to 57 Pacific youth into the $750 million gaming industry, addressing ongoing skill shortages. Delivered in partnership with industry leaders and NGOs, Game On offers school outreach, mentoring, internships, and studio visits to help Pacific learners explore STEM careers in real studio environments. The initiative aims to create long-term opportunities for Pacific communities and build on existing efforts to improve Pacific outcomes in STEM, with the first cohort starting training in July 2026.
Tags: Shane Reti Game On The Cause Collective PikPok New Zealand Game Developers Association Ministry for Pacific Peoples Tupu Toa Toloa programme Pacific youth STEM careersHealth NZ to Employ First-Year GP Trainees Directly, Boosting Primary Care Workforce
04 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1017 viewsHealth New Zealand will directly employ all first-year GP trainees to simplify their transition from hospital training and maintain continuity of employment conditions, encouraging more doctors to choose general practice. The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners will continue overseeing the training program, while the government implements initiatives such as increasing medical training places, establishing a new medical school, and funding overseas-trained doctors to strengthen the GP workforce. These changes aim to improve access to primary care by building a stronger pipeline of GPs and making general practice training more attractive and accessible.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health New Zealand Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners Auckland Medical School Otago Medical School Waikato Medical School GP trainees primary care workforce New Zealand doctors medical trainingNew Zealand Proposes Funding Letermovir to Prevent Infection After Stem Cell Transplants
04 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 920 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown support Pharmac’s proposal to fund letermovir from May 2026 to prevent serious CMV infections in stem cell transplant patients and those with severe immunosuppression. This initiative aims to improve patient outcomes by reducing complications, hospital stays, and healthcare system pressure, aligning with the Government’s commitment to expanding stem cell transplant capacity and enhancing cancer treatment access. Pharmac is currently seeking public feedback on the proposal, inviting input from affected patients, families, health professionals, and advocacy groups.
Tags: David Seymour Simeon Brown Pharmac letermovir stem cell transplant New Zealand CMV infection cancer treatment healthcare system Faster Cancer Treatment