05 Jan 2026
9 months ago
1704 views
Health Minister Simeon Brown has commissioned the Ministry of Health to review the response to a ManageMyHealth cybersecurity breach involving patient information, aiming to assess causes, data protections, and recommend improvements. ManageMyHealth, a private patient portal used by some New Zealand general practices, holds sensitive medical data, prompting concerns about data security and the need for high protection standards. While the review will start by January 30, an Incident Management Team is actively coordinating the immediate response, with Health New Zealand confirming no impact on its systems and general practices continuing to operate.
17 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1541 views
In 2025, the Government made significant legislative progress with 81 Government Bills becoming law, focusing on economic growth, law and order, and reducing living costs through key measures like the Investment Boost tax incentive and trade agreements. Notable achievements include the unanimous passage of the Parliament Bill, modernizing parliamentary governance, and streamlined processes for infrastructure and family support. The year also featured extensive parliamentary activity, including numerous bills introduced, readings, and questions, reflecting a busy and productive legislative session.
17 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1502 views
The road cone digital hotline pilot concluded early after six months of collecting data and building relationships with road authorities, revealing that excessive cone use was often due to councils not applying NZTA’s latest risk-based temporary traffic management guidelines. The pilot met its goals by giving the public a voice, identifying root causes, and clarifying WorkSafe’s enforcement role, while prompting councils to comply fully with new guidelines by July 2027. WorkSafe will continue integrating this approach into its inspections and use lessons from the pilot to improve public and business feedback responses.
16 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1726 views
New Zealand’s Parliament has passed the first reading of the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill, which together will replace the Resource Management Act 1991 with a modern planning system aimed at boosting economic growth, simplifying regulations, and protecting the environment. The Planning Bill focuses on reducing red tape, consolidating regional plans, and streamlining consents, while the Natural Environment Bill sets clear environmental limits and promotes proportionate regulation with respect for property rights and Treaty settlements. These reforms are projected to save $13.3 billion over 30 years, facilitate infrastructure and housing development, support primary industries, and are open for public input through the select committee process before aiming for enactment in 2026.
12 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1441 views
New Zealand’s Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop announced new guidance from the Infrastructure Commission aimed at improving how government agencies maintain and manage nearly half of the country’s infrastructure assets. The Asset Management and Investment Planning guidance provides clear expectations, tools, and accountability measures to address widespread poor asset management in sectors like health, education, and justice. This initiative is part of a broader government program focused on practical improvements now and longer-term system changes, emphasizing the importance of maintaining existing infrastructure to avoid higher future replacement costs.
10 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1299 views
Parliament has passed the Resource Management (Duration of Consents) Amendment Bill, extending existing or expired resource consents until 31 December 2027 to provide certainty for farmers, businesses, and councils during New Zealand’s transition to a new planning system. This temporary extension prevents costly and unnecessary replacement consent processes under the old Resource Management Act, aligning with ongoing reforms including the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill expected to extend consents to around 2031. The new legislation aims to support growth, housing, and environmental improvements by streamlining consent processes and introducing national standards during the transition.
10 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1190 views
The 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.
09 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1139 views
The New Zealand Government is implementing urgent legislation to extend existing consents and ensure a smooth transition from the outdated Resource Management Act (RMA) to a new planning and environmental management system. These transitional arrangements will extend consent expiry dates to around 2031, allow new consent applications under a streamlined process, and prevent unnecessary costs and uncertainty for consent holders during the transition. The reforms aim to reduce red tape, support growth, improve environmental outcomes, and provide certainty while the new system, established by the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill, is fully implemented.
09 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1075 views
New Zealand’s new planning system aims to simplify local government processes by reducing complexity, cutting duplication, and delivering faster decisions through stronger national direction and fewer regional plans. The reform will replace over 100 existing policy statements with 17 regional combined plans developed in two years, aligning with proposed local government reforms to create simpler, more efficient governance structures. The government plans to introduce the related bills to Parliament soon, with national policy finalized within nine months and public consultation open until February 2026.
09 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1465 views
New Zealand’s Government is replacing the Resource Management Act 1991 with two new bills to streamline the planning system, aiming to accelerate renewable energy projects by cutting red tape and reducing costs. Energy Minister Simon Watts highlights that the reforms will provide clearer national policy direction, faster consents, and investor certainty, supporting a renewable electricity boom with 95% of future electricity from clean sources. The bills will be introduced to Parliament soon, with the goal of becoming law by 2026, and public input will be sought through the Select Committee process.
09 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1100 views
The New Zealand Government is replacing the Resource Management Act 1991 with a new planning system designed to simplify and accelerate infrastructure delivery, providing long-term certainty through spatial plans and streamlined consenting processes. Key reforms include protecting important sites early, standardizing rules for common activities, and enabling critical infrastructure projects to proceed even in protected areas, thereby reducing costs and delays. The legislation aims to unlock investment, support growth, and align infrastructure with development, with bills introduced to Parliament and national policy direction to be finalized within nine months of enactment.
09 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1347 views
The New Zealand Government is overhauling its planning system to address the housing crisis by simplifying rules, increasing land supply, and enabling more competitive urban land markets, thereby making it easier and faster to build homes. The reforms include standardizing zoning nationwide, reducing consent complexities, allowing more development without council approval, and providing clear national direction with ambitious housing growth targets. These changes aim to lower costs, increase housing choice, strengthen property rights, and support sustainable urban expansion, with legislation expected to pass by 2026.
09 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1121 views
New Zealand is replacing the Resource Management Act 1991 with two new bills—a Planning Bill and a Natural Environment Bill—to simplify land use regulation and better support farmers by reducing red tape, standardizing rules, and adopting a risk-based approach. The new system emphasizes property rights, fewer consents through flexible freshwater farm plans, and practical environmental management, aiming to lower costs and increase certainty for farmers while promoting sustainable practices. The bills will be introduced to Parliament soon, with public consultation planned and laws expected by 2026 to foster economic recovery and environmental stewardship.
09 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1065 views
Finance Minister Nicola Willis and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop announced a major overhaul of New Zealand’s planning rules aimed at boosting economic growth, job creation, and income levels by replacing the Resource Management Act with a more efficient, pro-growth system. The reforms, introduced through two new bills—the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill—are projected to save $13.3 billion in costs over 30 years and increase GDP by at least 0.56% annually by 2050, while strengthening property rights and reducing regulatory burdens. The Government plans to pass the legislation by 2026, inviting public input through the Select Committee process.
09 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1078 views
New Zealand is overhauling its Resource Management Act 1991 with a new planning system designed to simplify consents, speed up infrastructure and housing development, and strengthen property rights while protecting the environment. The reforms include fewer, faster plans, clearer national direction, mandatory regional spatial plans, and a new Planning Tribunal to reduce red tape and improve accountability, aiming to boost GDP by up to $3.1 billion annually by 2050. The government plans to introduce the bills to Parliament soon, with national policy direction and standards to follow, inviting public consultation through the Select Committee process.