03 Nov 2026
2 hours ago
23 views
A loan from the Regional Infrastructure Fund will help fund a much-needed new 24-bed wing at O’Conor Home for senior citizens in Westport, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Associate Health Minister Casey Costello say. “Providing safe, fit-for-purpose facilities for our senior citizens is a marker of a compassionate and caring society. When older people need this type of specialist care, it should be near their family, friends and community,” Mr Jones says.
14 Sep 2026
1 month ago
486 views
The New Zealand Government is providing up to $580,000 in one-off funding to support the Roderique Hope Trust and YMCA Taranaki in helping people experiencing homelessness in the Taranaki region secure stable housing. This funding will enable coordinated efforts through the Taranaki Housing Pathways Initiative, with Roderique Hope Trust leading community collaboration and YMCA Taranaki delivering targeted outreach to those sleeping rough. The investment is part of a broader $14.5 million national package aimed at expanding effective short-term homelessness initiatives.
10 Sep 2026
1 month ago
551 views
The average KiwiSaver balance has surpassed $40,000 for the first time, with total investments reaching $138.8 billion and strong growth in member contributions and new enrollments. Increased competition in the KiwiSaver market is evident, with 460,000 fund switches and $7.4 billion moved between providers last year, encouraging members to review and choose better options. Additionally, the government introduced a bill allowing workers in service tenancies to use KiwiSaver for home purchases, supporting first-home buyers and enhancing savings accessibility.
09 Sep 2026
1 month ago
556 views
The New Zealand Defence Force and Ngāti Rangi have signed an agreement to build 50 new homes at Waiouru Military Camp, honoring commitments from the Ngāti Rangi Treaty settlement. This deal includes the sale and long-term leaseback of land and buildings, strengthening the partnership between NZDF and Ngāti Rangi. The homes, aimed at improving soldiers' wellbeing and retention, are expected to be completed by mid-2028 as part of the broader Homes for Families programme.
02 Sep 2026
2 months ago
525 views
New legislation will allow farm workers to use their KiwiSaver savings to buy their first home, addressing rules that previously excluded rural workers from first-home withdrawals. The bill also permits first-time farm buyers to use KiwiSaver funds for farms owned through companies, trusts, or partnerships they control, reflecting how farm ownership typically operates. These changes aim to make homeownership fairer and reduce debt for rural workers, enabling them to own property alongside their work.
02 Sep 2026
2 months ago
606 views
New legislation allows farm workers to use their KiwiSaver savings to buy their first home, addressing previous rules that excluded rural workers required to live on-site. The KiwiSaver (First Home or Farm) Amendment Bill also permits first-time farm buyers to use their savings when purchasing a farm through a majority-owned company, trust, or partnership, reflecting how farm ownership typically operates. This change aims to make farm ownership more accessible, reducing debt for new owners and recognizing the contributions of rural workers.
31 Aug 2026
2 months ago
627 views
The Government is seeking public feedback on updating rules to make it easier to buy and process animals from local farmers, including relaxing the 28-day care requirement and potentially allowing wider sharing of homekill and hunted meat. Proposed changes include labeling homekill and hunted meat to indicate they haven't undergone standard retail checks, while maintaining provider requirements and the ban on selling such meat. The consultation aims to clarify vague rules, especially to enable hunters to donate meat to foodbanks, and runs until 5 October 2026.
03 Aug 2026
3 months ago
650 views
More than 40,000 new home consents were granted in the year to June, marking a 19% increase and signaling a positive turnaround for the building sector after recent declines. The government is implementing reforms such as reducing red tape, allowing trusted overseas building products, and introducing mandatory inspection targets to boost construction activity and job growth. Significant legislative changes include replacing joint liability with proportionate liability, enhancing homeowner protections, consolidating Building Consent Authorities, and fast-tracking consents for sustainable homes.
02 Jul 2026
4 months ago
1059 views
The Building Amendment Bill introduces the most significant building system reforms in 20 years to make construction easier, faster, and more affordable while enhancing homeowner protections through a fairer liability system and mandatory safeguards like professional indemnity insurance and home warranties. It aims to modernize the sector by improving consistency among Building Consent Authorities, reducing processing times, enabling fast-track consents for sustainable buildings, and expanding exemptions for offsite-constructed dwellings. These reforms, developed with extensive sector engagement, seek to unlock innovation, increase accountability, and support New Zealand’s housing and construction needs sustainably and efficiently.
17 Jun 2026
4 months ago
843 views
The New Zealand Government is expanding homelessness support services to six new locations and extending existing initiatives in major cities, backed by an additional $14.54 million funding to provide tailored local assistance. Since September 2025, efforts like the Housing First programme and transitional housing pilots have successfully moved 674 rough sleepers into stable housing and delivered over 1,500 support activities addressing mental health, addiction, and benefit registration. These measures aim to address both immediate housing needs and the broader challenges linked to homelessness, with community organizations playing a key role in delivering effective, locally-led support.
02 Jun 2026
5 months ago
1118 views
Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced the opening of seven new social homes in Tauranga specifically designed for autistic adults, developed by Autism NZ’s provider Equity House and funded through Budget 2024. These homes address the shortage of one-bedroom social housing and feature sensory-friendly designs like dimmer switches and neutral colors to support residents' independence and comfort. Each resident has a self-contained unit within a supportive community, with access to pastoral care for daily needs, ensuring safety, dignity, and confidence.
27 May 2026
5 months ago
929 views
The Government has paused proposed regulation changes for homeschooling after receiving feedback that the issue is more complex than initially thought. While recognizing that most parents provide quality education at home, the Government agrees some checks are reasonable to ensure adequate education for all homeschooled children. The Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill will be reconsidered to remove homeschooling amendments, with future legislation potentially including homeschool provisions.
21 May 2026
5 months ago
1113 views
Legislation granting Police the power to issue move-on orders to individuals displaying disorderly behaviour in public places has passed its first reading in Parliament, aiming to address disruptions in city centres. These orders target behaviours such as threatening conduct, obstructing business access, begging, and rough sleeping, requiring individuals to leave specified areas for up to 24 hours without criminalizing homelessness. The government emphasizes this measure is to restore safety and enjoyment in public spaces while maintaining support for those in need.
18 May 2026
5 months ago
1133 views
Defence Minister Chris Penk announced the early and under-budget completion of 23 new, high-quality homes for military families across New Zealand Defence Force bases as part of the Homes for Families programme. This $7.8 million development addresses decades of underinvestment in outdated military housing, providing safe, modern living spaces that support personnel wellbeing and ease housing affordability pressures. The government plans to invest up to $600 million through the 2025 Defence Capability Plan to continue delivering these homes, boosting regional economic activity and improving conditions for Defence personnel and their families.
05 May 2026
6 months ago
1074 views
The Government has launched a free online food safety training module to simplify and improve accessibility for food businesses, addressing previous challenges of cost and difficulty. Developed with industry input, this module is the first of six aimed at modernizing New Zealand’s food safety system to be fairer, more efficient, and responsive to business needs. Additional modules and initiatives are planned to further support the sector with appropriate, risk-based regulations and tools.