Articles tagged with Nic
Showing 15 of 306 articles
Defence Minister Judith Collins to Attend Munich Security Conference in Germany
10 Feb 2026 | 7 months ago | 923 viewsDefence Minister Judith Collins is attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany to engage with global leaders on key security issues affecting New Zealand. She will hold bilateral meetings with defence partners and speak on the interconnected security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Collins emphasizes the importance of New Zealand advocating for its interests as a small trading nation in a turbulent world and will return on 16 February.
Tags: Judith Collins John Healey Mark Rutte Munich Security Conference New Zealand United Kingdom NATO RussiaNew Zealand and French Agencies Seize 4.24 Tonnes of Cocaine in Pacific Operation
05 Feb 2026 | 7 months ago | 1106 viewsNew Zealand agencies, including Customs, Defence Force, and GCSB, collaborated with French authorities and the US DEA to intercept 4.24 tonnes of cocaine in French Polynesia as part of Operation Kiwa. This operation is the first major success of the Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) Action Plan aimed at targeting maritime transnational crime networks in the Pacific. The campaign emphasizes international cooperation and enhanced intelligence and surveillance to protect New Zealand and its Pacific partners from organised crime.
Tags: Casey Costello New Zealand Customs Service New Zealand Defence Force Government Communications Security Bureau United States Drug Enforcement Agency French authorities Operation Kiwa Transnational Serious and Organised Crime French Polynesia New ZealandNew Zealand Job Growth Boosts Economy as Unemployment Rate Slightly Rises
03 Feb 2026 | 7 months ago | 1062 viewsFinance Minister Nicola Willis highlights that an additional 15,000 people gained jobs in New Zealand in the last quarter of the year, alongside increased hours worked and job-seeking activity, indicating a growing economy. Although the unemployment rate rose slightly to 5.4%, it remains below Treasury forecasts, with expectations of a future decline as economic recovery continues. Additionally, the proportion of young people not in education, training, or employment decreased, reflecting positive outcomes from government efforts to support business growth and employment.
Tags: Nicola Willis New Zealand Finance Minister Stats NZ unemployment rate Treasury economy employment youth employment business confidenceNew $200M Mason Clinic Facility Boosts Forensic Mental Health Care in NZ
30 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1343 viewsA new $200 million, 10,000-square-metre facility at Auckland's Mason Clinic has opened, significantly enhancing New Zealand's forensic mental health services with 60 replacement inpatient beds and modern infrastructure. This expansion aims to improve safety, treatment quality, and long-term care for patients while supporting staff and protecting the community. The project is part of a broader nearly $1 billion national investment to modernize mental health facilities, including additional beds funded in Budget 2025 to further improve access and outcomes.
Tags: Simeon Brown Matt Doocey Mason Clinic Auckland forensic mental health E Tū Wairua Hinengaro New Zealand mental health services Budget 2025 Midland regionGovernment Partners with NZ Young Farmers to Promote Safety and Leadership in Agriculture
29 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1040 viewsThe New Zealand Government, through ACC, is partnering with NZ Young Farmers to sponsor the 2024 FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition, aiming to support and develop future leaders in the food and fibre sector. This collaboration emphasizes injury prevention, safety, and recovery in farming, addressing the high risk of agricultural injuries and the significant costs associated with them. By integrating ACC’s expertise, the competition promotes safe, sustainable farming careers while highlighting the skills, resilience, and leadership required in New Zealand’s vital agricultural industry.
Tags: New Zealand Nicola Grigg ACC NZ Young Farmers FMG Young Farmer of the Year agriculture farming safety injury prevention youth competition government investmentNew Day Specialist Schools Open in NZ for Children with Complex Needs by 2028
29 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1111 viewsThe New Zealand Government is establishing two new day specialist schools in Palmerston North and South Auckland by 2027-2028 to support children with high and complex needs, marking the first such development in nearly 50 years. This initiative addresses long-standing demand for specialist education, expanding the total number of specialist schools to 29 and providing families with more tailored learning options. Funded through recent budgets, the schools will feature purpose-built, accessible facilities designed to foster inclusion and help students unlock their potential.
Tags: Erica Stanford Nicola Willis New Zealand specialist schools education high and complex needs Palmerston North South Auckland Government learning support2026 Budget Preview: Focus on Core Services and Fiscal Responsibility
27 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1070 viewsThe Government will present its 2026 Budget on 28 May, focusing on supporting core public services such as health care, education, defence, and law and order. Finance Minister Nicola Willis emphasizes tight control of discretionary spending, prioritizing limited commitments without excessive expenditure. The Budget aims to deliver savings and reprioritize existing funds to maintain essential services while restoring fiscal responsibility.
Tags: Government 2026 Budget Finance Minister Nicola Willis public services health care education defence law and order public financesMental Health Workforce Grows 11% with Vacancies Halved in New Zealand
06 Jan 2026 | 8 months ago | 1364 viewsThe frontline mental health and addiction workforce in New Zealand has grown by over 11% under the current Government, resulting in significantly reduced vacancy rates across key professions such as social workers, nurses, and counsellors. This workforce expansion has improved access to mental health services, with more than 83% of people receiving primary support within one week and over 82% accessing specialist services within three weeks. The Government’s focused mental health workforce plan, implemented in response to previous challenges, is delivering faster support and aims to continue this positive momentum into 2026.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister Health New Zealand clinical psychology psychiatry social workers mental health nurses drug and alcohol counsellors Health Workforce Information ProgrammeNew Era for NZ Vocational Education: Regional Polytechnics and Industry Skills Boards Launch
31 Dec 2025 | 8 months ago | 1195 viewsNew Zealand has launched a reformed vocational education system with ten regionally governed polytechnics regaining control over local training decisions and eight new Industry Skills Boards overseeing work-based learning across key sectors. This shift aims to create a more responsive, agile, and accountable system aligned with community needs and industry demands, replacing the previous centralized model. The changes focus on delivering practical skills and qualifications that meet real employment opportunities, marking a significant new beginning for learners, employers, and regional development.
Tags: Penny Simmonds Ara EIT NMIT SIT Toi Ohomai Wintec Unitec MIT Otago PolytechnicNZ to Allow Restaurants with Retail Areas to Sell Take-Home Alcohol
18 Dec 2025 | 8 months ago | 1240 viewsAssociate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, allowing restaurants with on-site retail areas that sell takeaway food or non-alcoholic beverages to apply for an off-licence to sell alcohol for off-site consumption. This amendment removes restrictive rules that previously prevented such businesses from selling take-home alcohol, aiming to reduce red tape, support responsible operators, and foster entrepreneurial hospitality ventures. The reform, supported by MPs Chris Bishop and Mike Butterick, seeks to adapt regulations to modern business models and enhance customer choice.
Tags: Nicole McKee Chris Bishop Mike Butterick Associate Justice Minister Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act La Bella Italia Hutt South MP Government alcohol reforms restaurantsGovernment Commits $12M to Eradicate Yellow-Legged Hornet Threat in Auckland
18 Dec 2025 | 8 months ago | 1297 viewsThe Government has allocated $12 million through to June 2026 to eradicate the yellow-legged hornet in Auckland, a predator threatening honeybees and New Zealand’s agriculture. Biosecurity New Zealand, supported by industry partners and beekeepers, has intensified efforts including destroying nests, deploying traps, expanding surveillance, and launching public awareness campaigns. Minister Andrew Hoggard emphasizes the critical need for public vigilance and ongoing expert guidance to prevent the hornet’s establishment and protect the environment and economy.
Tags: Andrew Hoggard Biosecurity New Zealand Auckland Government Industry Agreement beekeepers honeybees New Zealand technical advisory group public awarenessStrong Q3 Economic Growth Boosts Confidence Ahead of Christmas, Says Finance Minister
17 Dec 2025 | 8 months ago | 1300 viewsFinance Minister Nicola Willis welcomed the strong 1.1% economic growth in the third quarter, driven by 14 of 16 sectors, signaling a positive turnaround after challenging years. Key job-rich sectors like manufacturing, construction, and business services showed significant growth, alongside increases in exports and investment, indicating promising future job prospects and higher incomes. With GDP per capita rising 0.9% and forecasts predicting accelerated growth and lower unemployment next year, the government’s strategy to strengthen the economy appears effective.
Tags: economy growth Nicola Willis Finance Minister Stats NZ Treasury Reserve Bank manufacturing sector construction business services GDP per capitaNew Zealand Passes Legislation to Speed Up Courts and Add High Court Judges
17 Dec 2025 | 8 months ago | 1182 viewsParliament has passed legislation aimed at improving court timeliness by updating procedures and increasing the number of High Court Judges from 55 to 60 to expedite serious cases. The Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill introduces measures to streamline case management, prevent abuse of court processes, and enhance judicial efficiency across various courts. These changes prioritize faster justice for victims and families, ensuring the justice system operates more effectively and responsively.
Tags: Paul Goldsmith Nicole McKee High Court Judges Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill Senior Courts Act Criminal Procedure Act 2011 Court of Appeal Coroners Act 2006 New Zealand Justice systemGovernment to Monetise Chorus Debt, Funding New Infrastructure Projects in 2026
17 Dec 2025 | 8 months ago | 1133 viewsThe Government will monetise its debt in Chorus, recovering funds earlier than the original 2036 repayment schedule to invest in capital projects like schools, hospitals, and roads. This decision follows the completion of the fibre broadband rollout, funded by $1.336 billion in interest-free loans to Chorus between 2012 and 2023, with $170 million repaid in 2025. The monetisation process will begin in early 2026, with proceeds ring-fenced for Budget 2026 infrastructure needs, and will not affect Chorus’s ownership or services.
Tags: Nicola Willis Chris Bishop Government Chorus telecommunications fibre broadband New Zealand monetisation infrastructure Budget 2026Reserve Bank Eases Capital Requirements to Boost NZ Bank Competition and Lending
16 Dec 2025 | 8 months ago | 1183 viewsFinance Minister Nicola Willis has welcomed the Reserve Bank’s decision to ease some capital requirements imposed on banks in 2019, including adjustments to risk weights. These changes aim to enhance competition, particularly benefiting smaller banks and increasing lending to key sectors like agriculture. The revised requirements maintain prudence while promoting a more balanced approach between risk management and fostering competition, with gradual implementation planned.
Tags: Nicola Willis Reserve Bank Finance Minister New Zealand banking sector capital requirements risk weights competition lending agriculture sector