Articles tagged with Emergency
Showing 15 of 82 articles
New Govt.nz App Launches for Secure, Easy Access to NZ Government Services
09 Dec 2025 | 9 months ago | 911 viewsThe Government has launched the Govt. nz app to provide secure, convenient access to trusted government information and services via mobile phones. Initially offering customizable dashboards and emergency warnings, the app will soon include features like secure messaging and a digital wallet for identity credentials. Participation is optional, aiming to enhance a customer-focused, efficient, and future-ready digital public service while maintaining high safety standards.
Tags: Government app digital public service Judith Collins Govt. nz app National Emergency Management Agency NEMA Fire and Emergency New Zealand secure messagingOtago Peninsula Fishery Closure Extended to Protect Endangered Yellow-Eyed Penguins
09 Dec 2025 | 9 months ago | 897 viewsAn emergency fishery closure around Otago Peninsula to protect the threatened northern hoiho population has been extended until 16 September 2026 to allow careful review of longer-term measures. The closure bans set-net fishing within eight nautical miles of the peninsula to reduce penguin bycatch, while consultations on future measures remain open until 12 December 2025. Delays caused by legal challenges have hindered progress, but officials aim to finalize longer-term protections early in 2026 to balance conservation efforts with the interests of local fishers.
Tags: Otago Peninsula hoiho Shane Jones emergency fishery closure Rakiura Stewart Island MPI fisheries bycatchAuckland City Hospital Upgrades $364M Infrastructure to Boost Resilience and Care
05 Dec 2025 | 9 months ago | 939 viewsAuckland City Hospital has completed a $364.3 million upgrade to its critical infrastructure, including a new Central Plant Building and underground service tunnel designed to ensure resilience and continuous operation during major emergencies. This project, part of the Government’s $743 million remediation programme, protects essential systems like emergency generators and medical gas supplies, enabling the hospital to operate safely at normal capacity for three days during crises. Additionally, a further $73 million has been allocated for the next stage of upgrades to power, heating, and safety systems, reflecting a long-term commitment to modernizing Auckland’s health infrastructure.
Tags: Auckland City Hospital Simeon Brown Facilities Infrastructure Remediation Programme Central Plant Building Government emergency generators medical gas supplies Budget 2025 Greenlane Clinical Centre AucklandPharmac Proposes Funding Seven Key Medicines to Improve Rural Emergency Care in NZ
01 Dec 2025 | 9 months ago | 914 viewsAssociate Health Ministers David Seymour and Matt Doocey support Pharmac’s proposal to fund seven emergency medicines for rural care, aiming to improve timely access for rural GPs, nurses, and midwives by March 2026. The proposal includes medicines for PRIME services and home births, addressing delays in ambulance and hospital access in rural New Zealand, and is part of broader efforts to ensure equitable healthcare regardless of location. Public consultation on the proposal will run from December 1 to 19, with the goal of enhancing emergency and everyday care in rural communities while reducing hospital pressure.
Tags: David Seymour Matt Doocey Pharmac Health NZ ACC rural health emergency care PRIME services intravenous tranexamic acid rural GPsNew Zealand Expands Next Gen Critical Communications to Boost Emergency Response
28 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 1022 viewsThe New Zealand Government is enhancing emergency responder capabilities by creating a new entity and expanding the mandate of Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC) to extend Public Safety Network (PSN) services beyond frontline responders to a broader range of emergency management and public safety organizations. NGCC, responsible for delivering the $1.4 billion PSN infrastructure, aims to modernize critical communications with improved coverage, reliability, and real-time information sharing to better prepare for disasters. The new company, overseen by the Ministers for Emergency Management and Finance, will offer user-pays cellular services to eligible organizations starting mid-2026.
Tags: Mark Mitchell Next Generation Critical Communications NGCC Public Safety Network Emergency Management New Zealand Police Fire and Emergency New Zealand Hato Hone St John Wellington Free AmbulanceGovernment Cancels Cook Strait Emergency Ocean Response Vessel Procurement Due to High Costs
24 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 912 viewsThe Government has decided against procuring dedicated emergency ocean response capabilities (EORC) for the Cook Strait due to significant cost escalations—from $80 million to over $259 million over 10 years—and limited benefits, as existing vessels have resolved past incidents effectively. New Cook Strait ferries with enhanced safety features will reduce the need for external assistance, and the temporary contract for the MMA Vision tugboat will end in February 2026, saving $9 million. Overall, the Government concludes that the investment in dedicated towing capabilities is not cost-effective and cannot justify passing costs onto taxpayers or users through levies.
Tags: Chris Bishop Cook Strait Maritime NZ MMA Vision Golden Mind Ministry of Transport Budget 2024 Cabinet Emergency Ocean Response Capability Transport MinisterGovernment Boosts Crisis Response with $61.6M Investment in Mental Health Services
04 Nov 2025 | 10 months ago | 1005 viewsMinister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has announced a $61.6 million funding boost to improve crisis response services, including adding 40 frontline clinical staff for crisis assessment teams nationwide, establishing two new peer-led acute alternative services, and expanding peer support in emergency departments and Crisis Recovery Cafés. The initiative aims to reduce wait times for crisis assessment and inpatient beds, provide more choice and quicker support for those in mental health distress, and enhance the peer support workforce. This investment complements previous efforts, such as the roll-out of mental health co-response teams and improving crisis helpline capacity, to ensure timely and effective support for individuals reaching out for help.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Crisis Response Peer Support Frontline Workers Crisis Recovery Cafés Budget 2025 Clinical Staff Emergency Departments Crisis Assessment TeamsNew Zealand Government's Fast-Tracked Hospital Wards Programme Boosts Capacity at 5 Busiest Hospitals in 2026
02 Nov 2025 | 10 months ago | 1107 viewsFive busy hospitals in New Zealand, including Middlemore, Waikato, Wellington Regional, Nelson, and Hawke’s Bay, will receive a total of 140 new beds through the Government’s fast-tracked hospital wards programme by 2026, Health Minister Simeon Brown announces. The wards will be constructed off-site and installed on hospital grounds to quickly boost capacity, improve patient flow, and support faster admissions and discharges. Each hospital's new ward will serve specific roles, such as expanding general medicine capacity, providing assessment and diagnostic services, supporting acute flow, enabling services relocation during seismic work, and streamlining care for short-stay surgical patients.
Tags: Simeon Brown Middlemore Hospital Waikato Hospital Wellington Regional Hospital Nelson Hospital Hawke’s Bay Hospital Health Minister hospital wards programme patient care emergency departmentGovernment Announces $100,000 Aid for Kaikōura and Hurunui Communities
27 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 1313 viewsThe Government is providing an additional $100,000 to Mayoral Relief Funds for Kaikōura and Hurunui communities affected by severe weather, in addition to a $150,000 contribution to Southland and Clutha funds. Each of the Kaikōura and Hurunui districts will receive $25,000 to aid in response and recovery efforts. The Ministry for Primary Industries is also contributing $25,000 to each district to support rural sector recovery efforts.
Tags: Government Mayoral Relief Funds Kaikōura Hurunui Mark Mitchell Emergency Management Recovery Ministry for Primary Industries Rural sector CommunitiesGovernment's $150,000 Aid for Clutha and Southland Severe Weather Impacts
26 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 1209 viewsThe Government is providing $150,000 in total to assist Clutha and Southland communities affected by severe weather, with $75,000 allocated to Southland and $25,000 to the Clutha District Council Mayoral Relief Fund for immediate needs. The Ministry for Primary Industries is contributing an additional $50,000 through the Mayoral Relief Fund to aid the rural sector in recovery efforts. The medium scale adverse event classification allows for further support for farmers and growers, including tax relief, Rural Assistance Payments, and activation of Enhanced Taskforce Green, with affected individuals encouraged to contact their local Rural Support Trust for assistance.
Tags: Government Contribution Communities Clutha Southland Labour Weekend Severe Weather Emergency Management Mark Mitchell Mayoral Relief FundState of Local Emergency Declared in Southland Region by Minister Mark Mitchell
23 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 999 viewsMinister Mark Mitchell declared a state of local emergency in Southland due to potential impacts from power outages following a significant weather event, as the Southland Mayors have not been sworn in after local elections. This declaration grants local Civil Defence emergency powers to respond and support services, urging residents to prioritize safety, follow instructions, and stay informed about weather updates. The state of local emergency in Canterbury continues, with the Minister empowered to declare such emergencies when local representatives are unavailable due to election procedures.
Tags: Mark Mitchell Minister Emergency Management Recovery Southland Region local emergency Civil Defence MetService weather information CanterburyNew Zealand Boosts Air Ambulance Fleet with Seven Emergency Helicopters Investment
23 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 914 viewsThe Government of New Zealand is investing $12.6 million to replace ageing air ambulance helicopters with newer aircraft, with $7.3 million from Health New Zealand and $5.3 million from ACC. This investment aims to address the issue of New Zealand having the oldest helicopter fleet in the developed world by 2024. The new helicopters will enhance safety, reliability, weather response capabilities, maintenance efficiency, fuel efficiency, and operational performance, while also supporting standardization for improved maintenance and workforce efficiency.
Tags: Government emergency helicopters air ambulance fleet Casey Costello New Zealand Health New Zealand ACC aircraft safety maintenance.Minister Urges Farmers and Growers to Prioritize Safety During Severe Weather Warnings
22 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 1030 viewsAgriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay advises farmers, growers, and foresters to prioritize safety and heed weather warnings, especially in the Canterbury region under a red level strong wind warning. The warning indicates potential dangers such as flying debris, fallen trees, and powerline hazards, urging caution and avoiding unnecessary risks. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is actively monitoring the situation and collaborating with civil defence teams, while affected individuals are advised to stay indoors, prepare for power cuts, and seek support from the Rural Support Trust if needed.
Tags: Farmers growers foresters weather warnings Agriculture Minister Todd McClay local emergency wind warning human safety power cutsCanterbury Region Declares State of Emergency Due to Severe Weather
22 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 1135 viewsMinister Mark Mitchell has declared a state of local emergency for Canterbury due to severe weather, as the mayors have not been sworn in after recent elections. The declaration grants local Civil Defence emergency powers to respond effectively. Mitchell urges residents to heed advice from local authorities, prioritize safety, and stay informed through official channels like MetService.
Tags: Minister Mark Mitchell Emergency Management Recovery Canterbury Region State of Emergency Civil Defence Weather Event National Emergency Management Agency MetService Local GovernmentGovernment Awards $129,000 for Seaweed Removal in Northland After Cyclone Tam
10 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1006 viewsThe Government awarded $129,000 to Northland Regional Council to assist in removing caulerpa seaweed washed up on beaches after Ex-Tropical Cyclone Tam in April, using emergency waste funding. Local hapū, volunteers, and council staff swiftly removed over 100 tonnes of the invasive seaweed to prevent harm to coastlines and marine ecosystems. Environment Minister Penny Simmonds commended the efforts and highlighted ongoing initiatives like the Exotic Caulerpa Elimination Project supported by $6.2 million to address the issue at its source.
Tags: Government Northland Regional Council Environment Minister Penny Simmonds emergency waste funding caulerpa seaweed local hapū marine ecosystems Tasman District Council Ministry for Primary Industries