Articles tagged with Ct
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Morag McDowell Reappointed as Health and Disability Commissioner for Two Years
04 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1001 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown has announced the reappointment of Ms Morag McDowell as Health and Disability Commissioner for a two-year term starting 7 March 2026. Ms McDowell brings extensive legal expertise and health sector experience, which will help the organization deliver fair and effective services. The Government aims to keep patients central to the health system and improve healthcare quality for all New Zealanders.
Tags: Simeon Brown Morag McDowell Health Minister Health and Disability Commissioner New Zealand Government healthcare patients legal expertise health sectorNew BoardConnector Database Boosts Women’s Leadership Roles in NZ
04 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1133 viewsA new database called BoardConnector has been launched to support women's progress into leadership and governance roles in New Zealand, providing access to training and a pool of governance-ready leaders. Minister Nicola Grigg emphasizes that increasing female representation on boards strengthens decision-making and economic growth, while addressing gender pay and retirement savings gaps. Despite progress, women hold only 31 percent of private-sector director positions, highlighting the need for tools that drive meaningful change and economic empowerment for women.
Tags: Nicola Grigg International Women’s Day women’s leadership BoardConnector governance female directors economic empowerment gender pay gap New Zealand women in businessWairarapa Hospital Upgrades Diagnostic Care with New $2.46M CT Scanner
03 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 985 viewsWairarapa Hospital has introduced a new $2.46 million CT scanner to enhance diagnostic services, providing faster, more reliable imaging and improving patient access. The upgrade will increase output by around five percent, supporting quicker diagnoses, stronger cancer pathways, and better regional care coordination. Health Minister Simeon Brown emphasizes that this investment strengthens frontline infrastructure, ensuring quality, modern healthcare for regional communities now and in the future.
Tags: CT scanner Wairarapa Hospital diagnostic services Health Minister Simeon Brown imaging technology healthcare investment regional healthcare patient care cancer pathways medical infrastructureGovernment Boosts Mayoral Relief Funds to Support Communities After Severe Weather
03 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 898 viewsThe Government is providing additional funding to Mayoral Relief Funds across several districts to support communities affected by recent severe weather events, supplementing initial contributions made earlier this year. These funds enable local authorities to address urgent needs such as cleaning, debris removal, and supporting families and community organizations while broader recovery efforts are coordinated nationally. A National Recovery Office has been established to ensure a coordinated government response, with various agencies assisting in areas like agriculture, marae resilience, and emergency waste management.
Tags: Mark Mitchell Chris Penk Mayoral Relief Funds Whangārei District Council Gisborne District Council Tauranga City Council Western Bay of Plenty District Council Ōpōtiki District Council Ōtorohanga District CouncilNew Zealand Tourism Hits $46.6B in Spending, Boosts Jobs and Economy
03 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1083 viewsNew Zealand’s tourism sector continues to grow, with total expenditure reaching $46.6 billion for the year ending March 2025, driven by a 7% increase in overseas visitor spending and arrivals. Tourism employment rose by 2.8% to 327,888 people, representing one in nine jobs, and tourism contributes 7.7% of GDP as the country's second highest export. The Government supports this growth through initiatives like the $70 million Major Events and Tourism Package and easing visitor visa requirements, aiming to boost regional economies and sustain long-term development.
Tags: Louise Upston New Zealand Stats NZ Tourism Satellite Account NZeTA Government Tourism and Hospitality Minister Tourism sector Overseas visitors Major Events and Tourism PackageNew Neonatal Unit at Hutt Hospital to Expand Specialist Newborn Care
02 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1018 viewsConstruction of a new neonatal unit at Hutt Hospital will begin in April 2026, expanding specialist newborn care capacity from 12 to 14 cots and increasing the floor area by 61 percent. The $10.5 million facility is designed to improve infection control, clinical workflows, and family comfort, allowing more babies to receive care locally without needing transfer to Wellington Hospital. Local leaders emphasize that this upgrade supports the growing community by providing quality neonatal care close to home, with the unit expected to open in mid-2027.
Tags: Simeon Brown Chris Bishop Hutt Hospital neonatal unit Hutt Valley newborn care Wellington Hospital health infrastructure specialist care hospital constructionNew Collective Agreements Boost Salaries and Support for NZ Public Health Nurses
01 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1074 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the ratification of new collective agreements for approximately 3,500 Public Health and Mental Health Nurses in New Zealand, which include salary increases, lump sum payments, and enhanced professional development allowances. The agreements also commit to recruiting over 550 additional nursing positions to strengthen frontline services. This follows recent approvals of agreements for other health sector workers, highlighting collaborative efforts to ensure staff support and quality care for New Zealanders.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister Public Service Association Public Health Nurses Mental Health Nurses Health New Zealand Nurse Practitioners APEX pharmacy APEX psychologists APEX dietitiansGovernment Removes Barriers for Rural Workers to Use KiwiSaver for First Homes and Farms
28 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1082 viewsThe Government is amending the KiwiSaver Act to allow rural workers in service tenancies, such as farm workers and rural teachers, to use their KiwiSaver funds for first home purchases without needing to live in the property. Additionally, the changes will enable first-time farm buyers to use KiwiSaver balances to buy farms through commercial entities they majority own, reflecting modern farm ownership practices. These reforms aim to remove barriers for rural communities while maintaining KiwiSaver’s core purpose, with legislation expected to be introduced mid-year.
Tags: Nicola Willis Scott Simpson Suze Redmayne KiwiSaver first home purchase farm workers rural workers KiwiSaver Act New Zealand government Rangitīkei MPACC Achieves Best Rehabilitation Results in a Decade, Helping Kiwis Return to Work Faster
26 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1019 viewsNew Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has achieved its strongest rehabilitation performance in over a decade, reducing the growth rate of long-term claims and helping injured New Zealanders return to work and independence faster. This improvement follows a government-mandated Turnaround Plan focused on client-centered care, lasting recovery, and organizational reset, reversing previous increases in long-term claim growth under the Labour government. While progress is evident in the latest public report, the government acknowledges more work is needed to ensure consistent support for claimants and build a better future.
Tags: New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation ACC Scott Simpson rehabilitation Turnaround Plan return to work Letter of Expectations injury supportKiwiRail Boosts Performance with $73M Surplus and 7% Volume Growth
26 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1006 viewsKiwiRail has shown significant improvement, achieving a $73.4 million operating surplus and a 7% increase in volumes due to focused commercial discipline and upgraded rolling stock. Investments in modern locomotives, better maintenance funded by legislative changes, and improved infrastructure have enhanced schedule reliability and reduced disruptions from natural events. Additionally, Interislander maintained 100% reliability during peak periods, demonstrating the success of KiwiRail’s strategic focus on reliability, cost control, and asset renewal.
Tags: KiwiRail Winston Peters Suzanne Tindal New Zealand Dunedin Hillside Workshops Stadler locomotives Interislander Infrastructure Commission Rail Minister South IslandNew Collective Agreement Secures Salary Increase for Health NZ Dietitians
26 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1093 viewsAssociate Health Minister Matt Doocey has welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for Health New Zealand dietitians, resulting from a successful APEX vote. The 24-month agreement includes salary increases of 2.5% in the first year and 2% in the second, along with enhanced professional membership contributions and improved terms. This agreement follows recent approvals for other health sector workforce agreements, highlighting ongoing progress in settling employment conditions.
Tags: Matt Doocey Health New Zealand dietitians Association of Professional and Executive Employees APEX collective agreement salary increase workforce agreements public health union representativesRegulatory Standards Act: Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Local Government
25 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1114 viewsThe Regulatory Standards Act, coming into law by July 1, mandates councils to publish Consistency Accountability Statements (CAS) explaining the impact, costs, and benefits of new bylaws, promoting transparency and accountability in local regulation. This legislation aims to curb poor regulation that burdens ratepayers and stifles productivity by requiring councils to justify and regularly review their secondary legislation, ensuring laws are proportionate and evidence-based. The Act supports better governance by helping councils avoid kneejerk regulations, improve decision-making quality, and ultimately deliver greater value to taxpayers and communities.
Tags: Regulatory Standards Act Consistency Accountability Statement LGNZ councils local government Ministry for Regulation New Zealand ratepayers secondary legislationTemporary Steel Bridge to Reopen State Highway 39 by Mid-March After Floods
25 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1325 viewsA temporary 40-meter steel-framed bridge with a 50-tonne weight limit is planned to be operational by mid-March to restore access south of Pirongia after the Mangati Bridge was destroyed in floods. Crews have cleared debris and begun work on both the temporary and permanent bridge, with the permanent two-lane bridge construction set to start later this year. The project has strong support from council partners and landowners, prioritizing safe and rapid reconnection of the community.
Tags: Mangati Bridge State Highway 39 temporary bridge Chris Bishop NZ Transport Agency Pirongia Acrow bridge flood damage bridge reconstruction transport infrastructureNew Zealand Expands RNZAF Ohakea as 24/7 Alternate Runway for Wide-Body Aircraft
25 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1081 viewsNew Zealand will enhance its international aviation resilience by enabling RNZAF Base Ohakea to operate as a 24/7 alternate runway for wide-body aircraft, supported by government funding for round-the-clock air traffic control. This upgrade, part of the Aviation Action Plan, improves flight viability by allowing aircraft to carry less fuel and operate at full capacity, benefiting tourism, exports, and regional economies. Additionally, the government and industry have collaborated on multiple initiatives to address workforce challenges, infrastructure needs, and sustainable aviation, signaling a strong commitment to future-proofing the sector.
Tags: James Meager Airways New Zealand RNZAF Base Ohakea Aviation Council Associate Transport Minister Aviation Action Plan International Civil Aviation Organization New Zealand Government Aviation sector Advanced aviationRNZAF Base Ohakea to Support 24/7 Wide Body Aircraft Landings Boosting NZ Aviation
25 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1058 viewsNew Zealand is enhancing its international aviation resilience by funding 24/7 air traffic control at RNZAF Base Ohakea, allowing it to serve as an alternate runway for wide-body aircraft overnight, which improves flight viability and benefits tourism and regional economies. This initiative completes a key action of the Aviation Action Plan, which includes 25 measures to grow and future-proof the sector, with significant progress made through government and industry collaboration. Additional efforts include supporting regional routes, updating pilot training, promoting sustainable aviation, and addressing workforce and infrastructure needs to reduce barriers and foster long-term growth.
Tags: James Meager RNZAF Base Ohakea Airways New Zealand Aviation Council Associate Transport Minister Aviation Action Plan International Civil Aviation Organization New Zealand government Aviation sector Air traffic control