25 Jun 2026
4 months ago
906 views
A 12-month visa waiver trial launched in November 2025 allowing eligible Chinese and Pacific visitors traveling from Australia to use a simpler, faster, and cheaper New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) has generated $215 million for New Zealand’s economy in six months. The trial has led to a 40% increase in Chinese visitor arrivals, filling hotels and businesses, and supporting jobs, with over 80,000 travelers arriving via this new pathway. Decisions on the trial’s future will follow a full evaluation after the 12-month period, while eligible travelers continue to benefit from the streamlined NZeTA process.
24 Jun 2026
4 months ago
1103 views
Attorney-General Chris Bishop announced that Justice Neil Ross Campbell will become a Judge of the Supreme Court and Justice David Gary Johnstone a Judge of the Court of Appeal, both starting on 16 July 2026. Justice Campbell has a distinguished academic and legal career, including roles as a law professor, Queen’s Counsel, and previous judicial appointments, while Justice Johnstone has extensive experience in criminal law, commercial litigation, and prosecution, with recent appointments as a High Court Judge. Both bring significant expertise from academia and practice, reflecting their progression through New Zealand’s legal system.
23 Jun 2026
4 months ago
798 views
Women hold 50.2 percent of public sector board and committee roles in New Zealand, maintaining representation above the government’s 50 percent target for the sixth consecutive year. Women also occupy 43.8 percent of board chair roles, a significant increase since 2015, supported by initiatives like the BoardConnector database, which connects over 1,100 experienced women with board opportunities. The government is actively collaborating with organizations to strengthen the pipeline of qualified women for governance roles and promote diverse, skilled candidates in both public and private sectors.
18 Jun 2026
4 months ago
969 views
The New Zealand Government plans to boost tourism growth by investing $4 million in targeted marketing in Australia, the United States, and China, alongside a $1 million boost to attract more business events. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston emphasized that tourism, as the country's second-largest export, is vital for economic growth, with goals to restore visitor numbers to pre-pandemic levels by 2026 and double tourism export value in ten years. These investments, funded by the International Visitor Levy, aim to accelerate visitor numbers, support high-value business events, and deliver economic benefits across New Zealand.
17 Jun 2026
4 months ago
798 views
The New Zealand Government is expanding homelessness support services to six new locations and extending existing initiatives in major cities, backed by an additional $14.54 million funding to provide tailored local assistance. Since September 2025, efforts like the Housing First programme and transitional housing pilots have successfully moved 674 rough sleepers into stable housing and delivered over 1,500 support activities addressing mental health, addiction, and benefit registration. These measures aim to address both immediate housing needs and the broader challenges linked to homelessness, with community organizations playing a key role in delivering effective, locally-led support.
17 Jun 2026
4 months ago
806 views
New Zealand’s Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced a $14.1 million boost from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy to expand predator control efforts across key South Island national parks and valleys. This funding will help protect native wildlife such as mohua, kiwi, and kea from increased threats due to a major beech mast that has fueled predator population growth. The Department of Conservation will implement its largest predator control program ever, covering over one million hectares using aerial 1080 and trapping methods to safeguard biodiversity and support New Zealand’s predator-free goal.
17 Jun 2026
4 months ago
842 views
The New Zealand government is doubling wasp control efforts in visitor hotspots and priority biodiversity sites with a $2 million boost from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, aiming to expand the Wasp Wipeout program nationwide. This program targets harmful introduced German and common wasps, which significantly damage native species and cost the economy over $130 million annually, by providing bait and technical support to community groups. The increased funding will enable treatment of 60,000 hectares annually, improve coordination and research, and help restore native ecosystems by reducing wasp populations.
11 Jun 2026
4 months ago
948 views
Space Minister Chris Penk announced that the University of Auckland received $300,000 from the Kiwi Space Activator pilot programme to develop the Rakiraki CubeSat, a satellite aimed at improving space object tracking to protect essential satellite services. The programme supports New Zealand innovators in advancing space technology from concept to launch, fostering sovereign space capability, commercialisation, and global market access. With $1.78 million awarded across two rounds to four projects, the initiative reflects the growing and high-quality space innovation sector in New Zealand.
11 Jun 2026
4 months ago
956 views
The University of Waikato's new medical school, starting in 2028, will train 120 graduate-entry students annually, with clinical placements across five regional areas to encourage doctors to practice in underserved communities. A nationwide distributed clinical placement network is being established to coordinate training across New Zealand’s three medical schools, including new Community Clinical Learning Centres in smaller towns to support rural healthcare workforce growth. This initiative aims to build a stronger, regionally connected health workforce by embedding students in their home regions, addressing long-term shortages in primary care and rural health services.
11 Jun 2026
4 months ago
934 views
The University of Waikato's new medical school, starting in 2028, will train 120 graduate-entry students annually with clinical placements across five regional areas to encourage doctors to practice in underserved communities. A new national distributed clinical placement network, developed with Health New Zealand and other universities, will coordinate opportunities and establish Community Clinical Learning Centres in smaller towns to support rural training and retention. This initiative aims to strengthen New Zealand's domestic medical workforce by embedding students in regional and rural settings, addressing long-term shortages, and building a more regionally connected health system.
10 Jun 2026
4 months ago
779 views
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay emphasize that New Zealand’s food and fibre sector, which accounts for over 80% of exports, requires increased productivity through innovation and greater land use flexibility. The Government is investing $143 million in six commercial projects across various sectors, partnering with industry to demonstrate how science, technology, and regulatory reform can drive growth while reducing environmental impact. A report from Lincoln University and ASB Bank projects that adopting these innovations and flexible land use could boost the economy by $10 billion within five to seven years.
04 Jun 2026
4 months ago
1034 views
A $3.32 million remediation project to clean up two former landfill sites near Aoraki/Mount Cook Village has been completed, removing about 2500 cubic metres of waste to prevent contamination of the Hooker River and Lake Pūkaki. The Department of Conservation and the Ministry for the Environment jointly funded the project, which addressed erosion and flooding risks that threatened water quality and ecosystems. The work, supported by the Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills Fund and Environment Canterbury, began in April 2026 and finished in June 2026.
03 Jun 2026
4 months ago
850 views
The new Tertiary Research Excellence Fund (TREF) will replace the Performance-Based Research Fund, investing $315 million annually to enhance research capability in New Zealand's tertiary education system with a focus on economic growth and reduced compliance costs. TREF emphasizes impact through metrics like external research income, citations, commercialisation, and policy outcomes, aiming to reward research excellence in a more efficient and responsive manner. Developed with expert advice and sector engagement, the fund’s operational design begins immediately, with phased implementation from 2027 and full alignment by 2029.
28 May 2026
4 months ago
1226 views
Budget 2026 allocates over $680 million for major hospital upgrades in Whangārei, Tauranga, Hawke’s Bay, Palmerston North, and other facilities across New Zealand, aiming to strengthen health infrastructure and improve patient care. Key projects include a new 158-bed ward tower at Whangārei Hospital, redevelopment planning for regional hospitals, land acquisition for a new hospital south of Auckland, and upgrades to Auckland’s Mason Clinic. Additionally, Health New Zealand will invest $930 million in clinical equipment, technology, and facility improvements nationwide to support health targets, reduce waiting times, and future-proof services.
25 May 2026
5 months ago
1148 views
The New Zealand Government is launching the Gas Transition Loan Guarantee Scheme, offering up to $1.2 billion in bank loans with an 80% Crown guarantee to help businesses reduce gas dependency, protect jobs, and conserve dwindling gas supplies. Budget 2026 allocates $48 million to cover potential losses and $5.9 million to support businesses exploring alternative energy options, aiming to reduce gas use by up to 10 PJ annually while maintaining or increasing production. Additionally, new legislation will require improved transparency in gas supply and demand data to strengthen market confidence and inform better policymaking amid declining gas reserves and rising prices.