06 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1045 views
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will visit Washington D.C. this week to engage in face-to-face meetings amid what he describes as New Zealand's most challenging global context in 80 years. During his visit, he will meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others to discuss cooperation in the Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions, as well as significant international issues like the Middle East conflict. These discussions aim to advance New Zealand’s diplomatic, security, and economic interests while fostering mutual understanding of priorities.
02 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1119 views
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has appointed Heather Simpson as Deputy Chair of Antarctica New Zealand, recognizing her extensive governance experience and strategic understanding of Antarctica's importance to New Zealand. Ms. Simpson, a board member since 2024, has contributed to supporting research, environmental stewardship, and oversight of the Scott Base Redevelopment Project. Her new role will involve assisting the Chair and Board in navigating a strategically and operationally challenging period, effective from April 1, 2026.
02 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1198 views
Racing Minister Winston Peters has welcomed the passing of legislation to end greyhound racing in New Zealand, citing serious animal welfare concerns and overwhelming parliamentary support for the bill. The government will establish a transition agency to oversee the wind-down of the industry, support dog rehoming, and assist affected workers with retraining and wellbeing services. The ban will take effect from August 1, 2026, ensuring a responsible and compassionate phase-out aligned with global trends away from the sport.
02 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1542 views
Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the successful renewal of the Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement, ratified by NZEI members, which includes cumulative pay increases of around 4.6-4.7% by January 2027 for primary teachers. The agreement also resolves a longstanding inequity by raising the value of primary teaching units from $4,500 to $5,500 by October 2028, achieving parity with secondary teachers. Stanford emphasized the importance of primary teachers’ dedication to education and committed to providing ongoing support and resources to enhance student achievement.
02 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1049 views
The latest Annual Report on the Child and Youth Strategy highlights a significant reduction in youth offending, with serious and persistent offenders decreasing by 25 percent since June 2023, surpassing the original 2030 goal. Communities feel safer as young people make better choices, and there has also been a noted reduction in substantiated child abuse and neglect cases. Minister Karen Chhour praises the progress, thanks Oranga Tamariki staff, and emphasizes ongoing efforts to address generational issues and encourage reporting concerns to protect children.
02 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1215 views
The New Zealand Government will invest up to $21.6 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to support Channel Infrastructure NZ Ltd in increasing diesel storage capacity by 90 million litres at Marsden Point, enhancing fuel resilience amid global supply disruptions. The project aims to recommission storage tanks within two months to secure diesel supplies beyond the current secure period until the end of May. This initiative addresses the critical need for large-scale fuel storage, particularly for diesel, which is vital to the economy, and work is set to begin imminently with close government oversight.
02 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1163 views
The Government’s 2024/25 Annual Report on the Child and Youth Strategy highlights positive progress in reducing youth offending, child abuse, and food insecurity, while improving school attendance and parental support. Despite these gains, challenges persist with 14.3% of children experiencing material hardship and an increase in households receiving main benefits amid tough economic conditions. The Government remains committed to practical, evidence-based solutions through coordinated programs targeting education, health, housing, and welfare to further improve outcomes for children and young people.
02 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1092 views
New Zealand and the Cook Islands have signed a Defence & Security Declaration to clarify and strengthen their special constitutional relationship, particularly regarding defence and security responsibilities amid a complex strategic environment. The Declaration resolves previous misunderstandings, restores New Zealand’s financial support to the Cook Islands, and establishes mutual commitments including consultation on defence matters, New Zealand’s role as the primary security partner, and cooperation on foreign policy within constitutional limits. Both nations have agreed not to engage with other partners in ways that would undermine these commitments, aiming to enhance their partnership and address shared challenges together.
01 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1235 views
The speech highlights New Zealand’s critical economic transition and the government’s commitment to modernizing the science, innovation, and technology system to better connect research with commercial success, particularly in agrifood, agritech, and deep-tech sectors. Key reforms include prioritizing mission-led research aligned with national goals, increasing investment in advanced technologies like AI and synthetic biology, simplifying funding structures, and fostering stronger collaboration between science, industry, and capital. These efforts aim to boost economic resilience, global competitiveness, and sustainable growth by leveraging New Zealand’s natural strengths and emerging technology opportunities.
01 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1111 views
The New Zealand Government is redirecting science funding towards areas with the greatest national impact, emphasizing advanced technology to boost productivity and international competitiveness. The Prime Minister’s Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council identifies four priority areas: primary industries and bioeconomy, technology for prosperity, environmental sustainability, and healthy people. By reallocating $122 million annually over three years, the Government aims to build a future-ready science workforce and strengthen the country’s research system through a carefully managed funding reset.
01 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1123 views
From April 1, 2026, disabled people with flexible funding will have more choice and control as purchasing rules are removed, while budgets remain at current levels and spending must align with individual funding plans. This change follows significant government investment and reforms since 2024 that stabilized the disability support system, ensuring fairer, more consistent access and stronger financial controls. Additional guidance will be provided to help manage budgets, with certain purchases requiring pre-approval, aiming to support disabled people, their families, and carers more effectively.
31 Mar 2026
6 months ago
986 views
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will visit the Cook Islands on April 1-2 for talks with Prime Minister Mark Brown. This visit follows a private meeting between the two leaders in Auckland earlier this month. Peters last visited the Cook Islands in February 2024.
31 Mar 2026
6 months ago
1178 views
New legislation requires the Treasury to include specific fiscal risk statements in economic and fiscal updates, addressing previously unclear risks such as time-limited funding for Pharmac medicines. The Act removes the requirement for Treasury to report on wellbeing, focusing instead on core economic and fiscal advice, and advances the delivery date of the Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update by five working days to better inform voters. This law will take effect on July 1, 2026.
31 Mar 2026
6 months ago
1113 views
New legislation requires the Treasury's economic and fiscal updates to include specific statements on fiscal risks, addressing previous omissions like time-limited funding for essential medicines. It also removes the Treasury's obligation to report on "wellbeing," refocusing its role on core economic and fiscal advice, and advances the delivery date of the Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update to give voters more time to consider election choices. The Act is set to take effect by July 1, 2026.
31 Mar 2026
6 months ago
1201 views
Associate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac’s decision to fund Trikafta and Alyftrek for all children with cystic fibrosis regardless of age from April 1, 2026, expanding access beyond the previous age limits. Pharmac will also widen access to Kalydeco for all eligible patients and allow doctors to prescribe these lifechanging treatments based on clinical judgment, addressing the urgent needs of young children affected by cystic fibrosis. This decision follows positive public consultation and reflects Pharmac’s commitment to working with the cystic fibrosis community to improve health outcomes and reduce pressure on the health system.