Articles tagged with Safety
Showing 15 of 99 articles
Government Decisions on Pharmacy Ownership and Medical Advertising in Upcoming Bill
13 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1081 viewsCabinet papers reveal upcoming Medical Products Bill changes including the removal of pharmacy ownership restrictions to enhance access to healthcare. The bill will introduce a supervisory pharmacist role and allow advertising of unapproved medicines under certain conditions. Modernizing advertising regulations will provide better access to medical product information while ensuring consumer safety.
Tags: Casey Costello Government decisions Pharmacy ownership Medical Products Bill Advertising of medicines Supervisory pharmacist Patient safety Pharmacy standards Consumer safety Medical conferencesAmendments to Policing Act: Enhancing Police Powers for Public Safety & Crime Prevention
09 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1031 viewsThe Cabinet has decided to amend the Policing Act to clarify Police's authority to gather intelligence in public places and expand their powers to temporarily close areas in response to antisocial behavior or safety risks. Recent court decisions have raised uncertainty about Police's ability to record images in public spaces, prompting the proposed amendments to reaffirm their authority for lawful purposes. These changes aim to restore Police's crime prevention capabilities, support prosecutions, respond to evolving threats like organized crime, and enhance interventions for public safety, youth offending, and family harm.
Tags: Police Mark Mitchell Policing Act intelligence gathering crime prevention organised crime gang activity public safety youth offending family harmNew Zealand Government Enhances Child Protection System to Prioritize Safety and Wellbeing
08 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1023 viewsThe Government has accepted all recommendations from the Dame Karen Poutasi Review to enhance the children's system and prioritize child safety. Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston emphasizes the need to improve systems to better protect children from harm and ensure every child in New Zealand feels safe. The Government will implement an integrated response overseen by Child and Youth Ministers, focusing on information sharing, supporting children with incarcerated parents, and developing a mandatory reporting regime to enhance child safety.
Tags: children system Government response Dame Karen Poutasi Louise Upston child safety New Zealand child abuse agenciesDriving Economic Growth: 3 Initiatives to Enhance Freight System
01 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1087 viewsTransport Minister Chris Bishop highlights the importance of the freight system in driving New Zealand's economy and supporting job growth. To address the increasing demand for freight services due to population growth, the government is implementing three key initiatives: launching an Action Plan for Freight, updating the National Freight Demand Study, and establishing a Freight Advisory Council. These initiatives aim to enhance the efficiency and safety of the freight system by maximizing economic value, improving data-driven decision-making, and providing strategic insights and advice to support economic growth.
Tags: Transport Minister Chris Bishop freight system economic growth productivity resilience safety Action Plan for Freight National Freight Demand Study Freight Advisory CouncilNew Employment Leave Act: Simplified Leave Payments for Employers and Employees
23 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1215 viewsCabinet has approved the repeal of the Holidays Act 2003 and its replacement with the Employment Leave Act, aiming to simplify leave entitlements for both employers and employees. The key changes include a shift to hours-based accrual for annual and sick leave, pro rata sick leave entitlements, and a Leave Compensation Payment system for casual employees and additional hours worked. The reforms also address issues related to parental leave, family violence leave, mandatory pay statements, and cashing up annual leave, with a 24-month implementation period planned post-legislation passage.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Employment Leave Act Workplace Relations Safety Minister annual leave sick leave parental leave Holidays Act reform casual employees leave entitlementsStay Safe in Crowded Places: Escape, Hide, Tell Safety Campaign by Police Minister
16 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1074 viewsA new safety campaign in New Zealand led by Police Minister Mark Mitchell provides guidance on staying safe during an armed offender incident in crowded places. The campaign emphasizes three key steps: Escape, Hide, Tell, to be followed in the unlikely event of such an incident. The initiative aims to prepare individuals in public spaces like sports venues, transport hubs, and shopping areas, stressing the importance of being informed and ready to respond effectively for personal and public safety.
Tags: safety campaign Kiwis armed offender incident Police Minister Mark Mitchell New Zealanders public spaces active armed offender Escape HideNew Zealand Food Exporters to Benefit from Streamlined Regulations, Boosting Market Access
02 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1185 viewsFood Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard announces a cut to red tape for food exporters in New Zealand, eliminating the need for special exemptions if products meet importing countries' requirements starting from 25 September 2025. This change simplifies compliance by aligning with destination countries' rules, reducing paperwork, costs, and delays previously associated with individual product exemptions. Hoggard emphasizes the benefits of increased efficiency, lower compliance costs, and improved trade opportunities, with a phased approach to extend the streamlined process to all food exports in the future.
Tags: food safety minister andrew hoggard exporters new zealand rules compliance dairy sector trade innovationForestry Industry Launches Approved Code of Practice for Workplace Safety
26 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1260 viewsWorkplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden launched the Approved Code of Practice for Forestry and Harvesting Operations to improve health and safety compliance in the forestry industry. The ACOPs are sector-specific guidelines developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders to reduce deaths and serious injuries in forestry operations. This initiative is part of broader health and safety reforms aiming to provide clear and practical guidelines for high-risk sectors, with plans to extend ACOPs to other industries like agriculture and construction.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Workplace Relations Safety Minister ACOP Forestry WorkSafe Health and Safety New Zealand Industry RegulationsWhanganui Airport Invests in Safety and Connectivity Boost
10 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1406 viewsThe Government will invest $3.35 million in Whanganui Airport to build a new sealed parallel taxiway, enhancing safety and regional connectivity. This investment aims to address safety concerns by reducing the risk of collisions and aircraft congestion, making flying safer for pilots and passengers. The taxpayer-funded project, supported by local MP Carl Bates, will improve resilience, support economic growth, and benefit the region's aviation industry and community.
Tags: Whanganui Airport safety regional connectivity economic growth James Meager investment taxpayer funding Carl Bates aviation New Zealand International Commercial Pilot AcademySuccessful Military-Style Academy Pilot Transforms Young Lives, Reducing Youth Offending
08 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1336 viewsA 12-month Military-Style Academy pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga in Palmerston North has successfully supported youth offenders and their families, resulting in improved behavior and reduced re-offending rates. Minister for Children Karen Chhour received overwhelmingly positive feedback on the pilot's outcomes, with many participants showing promise and making positive life changes. The government's initiatives, including the pilot program, have contributed to a significant reduction in serious and persistent youth offending, leading to safer communities and increased opportunities for at-risk youth.
Tags: Karen Chhour Minister for Children Youth Justice Social Workers Te Au rere a te Tonga Palmerston North Youth Offenders Support Services Community SafetyNew Zealand Government Enhances Building Code for Improved Fire Safety
07 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1820 viewsThe Government will amend the Building Code to enhance fire safety protections for New Zealanders, prompted by a nationwide fire safety review following a tragic fire at Loafers Lodge in Wellington. Over 100 organizations and individuals contributed feedback during the consultation, highlighting the need for clearer regulations and improved evacuation measures, especially in larger residential buildings. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will incorporate this feedback into proposed Building Code changes separate from the regular update cycle, with a focus on aligning fire safety provisions with modern technologies and ensuring the safety of occupants and firefighters.
Tags: Government Building Code New Zealanders fire safety Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment MBIE Loafers Lodge WellingtonConsultation on Recreational Safety Regulations for Better Compliance Efficiency
31 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1972 viewsWorkplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is proposing changes to health and safety regulations in the recreation and entertainment sectors to reduce compliance pressure while maintaining safety standards. The proposed changes include amending the definition of 'adventure activities' to differentiate between high-risk and low-risk activities, as well as updating the Amusement Device Regulations to streamline the permit process for transportable high-risk devices. Additionally, there is a focus on clarifying health and safety obligations for volunteer organizations to encourage voluntary activities while ensuring safety.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Workplace Relations Safety Minister health and safety regulations recreation entertainment sectors compliance pressure adventure activities safety requirements Amusement Device RegulationsNew Legislation Enhancing Early Childhood Education Regulation for Child Safety and Clarity
30 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1888 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has introduced new legislation to clarify the purpose of regulating early childhood education (ECE) and shift enforcement responsibilities to the Education Review Office (ERO) from the Ministry of Education. The Early Childhood Education Reform Bill prioritizes child safety, aims to reduce regulatory burden on ECE providers, and ensure consistent application of regulations nationwide. The reforms include creating a Director of Regulation, establishing key principles for ECE oversight, and streamlining processes to support high-quality ECE centers and enhance parental choice.
Tags: David Seymour Education Minister legislation early childhood education ECE Education Review Office Ministry of Education child safety regulations Director of RegulationProposed Changes for Innovation: Health & Safety Regulations in NZ Science Sector
30 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 3793 viewsWorkplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is proposing changes to health and safety regulations to support innovation in New Zealand's science and technology sector by simplifying compliance requirements. The proposed changes aim to align hazardous substances requirements for university laboratories with their actual risk, addressing discrepancies in regulations that hinder scientific progress. Additionally, consultations are underway to remove regulatory barriers for the development and use of hydrogen technologies, with the goal of creating a flexible and internationally aligned regulatory environment to unlock the potential of hydrogen technologies across various sectors.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Workplace Relations and Safety Minister health and safety regulations innovation science and technology sector hazardous substances university laboratories regulatory barriers hydrogen technologies safety requirementsMajor Safety Improvements Coming to SH2 Moonshine Hill Road Intersection in Upper Hutt
30 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1701 viewsSafety improvements, including intersection upgrades and a speed limit review, will be implemented soon at the Moonshine Hill Road intersection on State Highway 2 in Upper Hutt, following Transport Minister Chris Bishop's announcement due to the high number of crashes at the intersection. The upgrades will involve installing traffic lights, signage, and line markings to enhance safety for motorists and cyclists. NZTA will consult the public on a proposed 80km/h speed limit, with construction scheduled to start in October and be completed by the end of the year.
Tags: safety improvements State Highway 2 Moonshine Hill Road intersection upgrades speed limit review Transport Minister Chris Bishop NZTA Whakatiki Street intersection speed limit consultation