14 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1241 views
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston announced that Great South will receive $393,000 to launch a campaign promoting the Southern Way and the region's hospitality to international visitors. The investment aims to showcase the lower South Island's unique experiences, wild beauty, rich flavors, and warm hospitality to new audiences. Led by Great South and regional partners, the campaign will target Australian travelers, particularly those from the Gold Coast, encouraging them to explore iconic destinations like Milford Sound, the Catlins coastline, and Dunedin, while highlighting the region's local events and genuine southern hospitality.
14 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1284 views
The Government's Regional Tourism Boost will invest $5.9 million to attract more international visitors to regional New Zealand in 2026, aiming to showcase diverse experiences and boost regional economies. Three Regional Tourism Organisations will launch campaigns targeting visitors from Australia and East Asia, featuring tailored offers and fresh itineraries to highlight unique attractions. The campaigns will focus on promoting regional hospitality, encouraging longer stays, and fostering lasting connections with international travelers, as part of a broader effort to support New Zealand's tourism industry.
13 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1308 views
A 20-year campaign to clear Lake Wānaka of an invasive aquatic weed has achieved a major victory, with 40 kilometers of shoreline now weed-free. The success is attributed to collaborative efforts involving various agencies and the community, with innovative control methods like hessian mats proving effective. While progress has been made in shifting the containment line, ongoing vigilance from lake users is crucial to prevent reinfestation and continue pushing towards the ultimate goal of eradicating the weed near the Wānaka township.
13 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1578 views
Construction has commenced on the State Highway 2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway, a significant infrastructure project aimed at enhancing resilience and productivity in the region and creating job opportunities. The project includes various upgrades such as four-laning sections, new overpasses, and a bridge, with completion expected by December 2029. The Expressway serves as a vital link connecting Napier and Hastings, facilitating the movement of people and freight, and is crucial for accommodating the region's anticipated growth.
03 Nov 2025
12 months ago
1157 views
The Government has introduced the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill to create a fast-track consent option for new supermarkets, aiming to improve grocery competition and provide better prices and choices for consumers. The Bill streamlines the approval process by allowing new supermarket developments to bypass standard resource consent processes and be referred to a fast-track expert panel for quicker decisions. The amendments aim to enhance the efficiency of the Fast-track Approvals Act, with technical changes to cut project application processing times and reduce processing and consideration times by an estimated six weeks or more.
03 Nov 2025
12 months ago
1361 views
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones have approved the first renewable energy project under the Fast-track Approvals Act, with Genesis Energy's Tekapo power scheme receiving quick consent after facing delays under the standard process. The Tekapo project generates clean electricity for over 228,000 households in Canterbury and showcases the Act's ability to expedite vital infrastructure projects. The Ministers are working on legislative changes to further streamline the fast-track process and encourage more applications to boost job creation, regional prosperity, and economic growth in New Zealand.
02 Nov 2025
1 year ago
1446 views
Five 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.
01 Nov 2025
1 year ago
1202 views
The Government is funding the completion of Te Ara Mangawhero and Te Hangāruru trails, connecting them to create the Mountains to Sea – Ngā Ara Tūhono cycle journey, aiming to attract more visitors to the Ruapehu region and boost the Central North Island economy. These trails are crucial for completing the full 231km journey from Mount Ruapehu to the Tasman Sea, with only one section left to finish. The project, led by various trusts and organizations, emphasizes partnership, cultural significance, and environmental sustainability, with completion expected by early 2027 through funding from the International Visitor Levy and the Major Events and Tourism Package.
24 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1258 views
The Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, Mark Mitchell, has lifted the state of local emergency for most areas in the Canterbury Region, except for Kaikōura District. This decision was made based on advice from the Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Controller. The state of local emergency remains in place for Kaikōura due to ongoing welfare needs and the risk of fires reoccurring, while similar states of emergency continue in the Southland Region and Clutha District.
24 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1260 views
Minister 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.
22 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1366 views
Minister 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.
17 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1238 views
The Regional Infrastructure Fund, supported by Ministers Shane Jones and Louise Upston, is funding projects in regional New Zealand to create resilient communities and local employment opportunities. Since its opening in mid last year, the RIF has committed over $862 million to projects, with $355.6 million already approved and announced. These projects are expected to provide employment for over 1750 full-time workers during construction, prioritizing local workforce planning and creating job opportunities in construction, agriculture, horticulture, and processing.
16 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1247 views
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to the United Kingdom and the Nordic region for diplomatic engagements. In the UK, he will participate in the UK-NZ Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, meet with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, and discuss enhancing cooperation amidst global challenges. In the Nordic countries, Mr Peters will attend the New Zealand-Nordic 5 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to strengthen relationships and explore opportunities for collaboration in various areas.
16 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1260 views
The Government is investing $97 million in 32 flood resilience projects across New Zealand, protecting 30,000 homes and 350,000 hectares of land. The focus is on equipping regions to bounce back from storms, with 22 projects in the South Island addressing the urgent need for infrastructure resilience. These investments aim to protect 100,000 residents in flood-prone areas and bring the total RIF commitment to nearly $200 million since August 2024, with a significant impact on preventing damages and supporting local communities.
10 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1240 views
The 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.