Articles tagged with Us
Showing 15 of 725 articles
New Zealand Government Announces Targeted Housing Investment Plan to Address Social Housing Needs
20 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 847 viewsThe Government has introduced a new Housing Investment Plan focused on delivering the right type of homes in the right locations for those in high housing need, based on detailed data analysis and community engagement. Key reforms include fixing Kāinga Ora’s financial and operational inefficiencies, leveling the playing field for Community Housing Providers through reduced borrowing costs, and establishing a Flexible Fund to support diverse housing interventions including affordable rentals. This plan emphasizes targeted investment, competitive procurement, and robust monitoring to improve housing outcomes and ensure effective use of resources in addressing New Zealand’s housing crisis.
Tags: Kāinga Ora Emerge Community Housing Providers Housing Investment Plan Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Housing Register South Auckland Māori providers Flexible Fund Housing RegisterGovernment Unveils Data-Driven Housing Investment Plan for Targeted Social Homes
20 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 886 viewsThe Government has introduced a new Housing Investment Plan that uses detailed data and local insights to allocate funding based on housing needs, focusing on regions with the highest demand such as the Far North, South Auckland, and Eastern Bay of Plenty. From July 2027, a contestable Flexible Fund will replace existing programs, supporting community and Māori housing providers to deliver tailored social housing and affordable rentals that better match the needs of vulnerable groups. The Plan emphasizes transparent procurement, measurable outcomes, and partnerships with local providers to ensure efficient delivery of warm, dry homes with appropriate support, while aiming for equity between community providers and Kāinga Ora.
Tags: Housing Investment Plan Flexible Fund social housing Kāinga Ora community housing providers Māori providers Budget 2025 housing need Mr Bishop affordable rentalsNew Zealand Simplifies AML Rules to Ease Financial Transactions and Cut Red Tape
20 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 920 viewsNew Zealand's Parliament has passed the first of several Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulatory reforms aimed at simplifying financial transactions by reducing red tape. The Statutes Amendment Bill introduces key changes, including eliminating the need to verify a customer's address for standard due diligence, easing processes like opening basic bank accounts. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee emphasizes that these reforms will create a more risk-based, efficient AML system that reduces unnecessary paperwork while better targeting real crime.
Tags: Nicole McKee AML Statutes Amendment Bill New Zealand Associate Justice Minister customer verification financial transactions ParliamentGovernment Reforms Building Research Funding to Boost Innovation and Cut Costs in NZ
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 914 viewsThe Government is reforming building research funding by repealing the outdated Building Research Levy Act 1969 and consolidating research funding into the existing building levy under the Building Act 2024 to improve transparency, efficiency, and innovation. The new system will centrally manage funds with sector input, ring-fence research funding for long-term projects, and make funding contestable to broaden access for universities and industry organizations, while reducing costs for consent applicants. These changes aim to enhance accountability, support a more resilient building sector, and contribute to making building easier, more affordable, and supportive of economic growth in New Zealand.
Tags: Chris Penk Building Research Levy Act Building Research Association of New Zealand BRANZ Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment MBIE Building Act 2024 Building Amendment Bill Building Consent Authorities New Zealand GovernmentNZ Banks Gain Freedom to Share Fraud Data, Cutting Red Tape and Boosting Security
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 954 viewsAssociate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has introduced a ministerial exemption to the AML/CFT Act 2009, allowing banks to share anti-money laundering information to better prevent fraud and scams. This reduction in red tape enables banks to act faster and collaborate more effectively to freeze scam transfers before funds are lost overseas. The government aims to create more agile regulatory settings by freeing businesses from excessive compliance burdens while targeting actual financial criminals through wider AML/CFT reforms.
Tags: Nicole McKee Associate Justice Minister New Zealand fraud prevention scams banks regulatory reform financial crime150+ New Social Homes to Be Delivered in Hawke’s Bay by 2026
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 984 viewsHousing Minister Chris Bishop announced that over 150 new social homes will be delivered by Community Housing Providers (CHPs) in Hawke’s Bay, targeting one and two-bedroom units to meet the region's greatest demand. The government is investing in a new housing system focused on building the right homes in the right places with appropriate support, backed by funding for more than 2,000 additional homes nationwide over the next two years. These efforts, supported by simplified funding and partnerships with local organizations, aim to address housing shortages efficiently, with some homes already delivered and more expected by mid-2026.
Tags: Chris Bishop Kāinga Ora Emerge Aotearoa Habitat for Humanity Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga Ka Uruora Whatever It Takes Trust Hawke’s Bay Matariki Housing Leadership Group Community Housing Providers Ministry of Housing and Urban DevelopmentNew Zealand Makes Stalking a Criminal Offence with Up to 5 Years Prison
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 915 viewsNew Zealand has passed legislation making stalking a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison, addressing long-overdue protections against persistent and harmful intrusions. The new law defines stalking as a pattern of behavior likely to cause fear or distress, including acts such as following, unwanted communication, and damaging reputations, with the offence coming into force in May 2026. This legislation prioritizes victim needs, particularly protecting women and children, and includes a police notice system and relevant defenses to effectively combat stalking and harassment.
Tags: Paul Goldsmith Justice Minister New Zealand stalking harassment Crimes Legislation Parliament victims advocacy PoliceNew Zealand Introduces Stalking Offence with Up to 5 Years Imprisonment
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 975 viewsParliament has passed new legislation making stalking a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison, addressing persistent and harmful behaviours that cause emotional, psychological, and economic harm to victims. The law defines stalking as a pattern of behaviour likely to cause fear or distress, including acts like following, unwanted communication, and damaging reputations, with enforcement beginning in May 2026 after necessary training and public information are prepared. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith emphasized the importance of prioritizing victims, particularly women and children, and acknowledged the advocacy efforts that helped bring the legislation to fruition.
Tags: stalking harassment Paul Goldsmith Justice Minister New Zealand Crimes Legislation Parliament victims advocacy PoliceNew Zealand Passes Defence Bill to Protect Security During Industrial Action
18 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 920 viewsThe Defence (Workforce) Amendment Bill, passed to maintain national security during industrial action, allows the Chief of Defence Force greater flexibility to manage workforce redeployment without requiring parliamentary debate. It enables uniformed personnel to temporarily perform the duties of civilian staff during strikes, ensuring critical defence functions continue while preserving the right to industrial action. The Bill also streamlines authorisation processes and extends ministerial powers to backfill public servant roles, enhancing New Zealand’s defence readiness amid a challenging strategic environment.
Tags: Judith Collins New Zealand Defence Force NZDF Defence Minister Parliament industrial action national security Defence (Workforce) Amendment Bill military personnelNZ-UAE Bilateral Investment Treaty Boosts Economic Cooperation and Trade
18 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 900 viewsThe NZ-UAE Bilateral Investment Treaty has come into force, enhancing economic cooperation by providing clear investment rules and complementing the existing Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Both countries view these agreements as key to increasing two-way investment and strengthening private sector engagement, supported by the newly established NZ-UAE Business Council. The UAE serves as a major market for New Zealand and a strategic gateway to a rapidly growing and diversifying regional economy.
Tags: Todd McClay Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi New Zealand United Arab Emirates Bilateral Investment Treaty Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Trade and Investment Business CouncilPrime Minister’s Space Prizes 2025: Dawn Aerospace CEO & Student Honored
17 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 1047 viewsStefan Powell, co-founder and CEO of Dawn Aerospace, and Southland student Sophie Ineson are the 2025 recipients of the Prime Minister’s Space Prizes, recognized for their innovation and contributions to New Zealand’s growing space industry. The space sector has seen significant growth, with revenue increasing 53% to $2.68 billion and supporting 17,000 skilled jobs, highlighting its economic importance and potential. Both winners will receive financial awards to support their work and education, underscoring New Zealand’s commitment to fostering talent and leadership in the global space industry.
Tags: Stefan Powell Sophie Ineson Dawn Aerospace Prime Minister’s Space Prizes Christopher Luxon Megan Whelan Collins New Zealand space industry space exploration advanced aviation sector space sector growthNew 10-Year Strategy to Strengthen and Promote New Zealand Sign Language
17 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 850 viewsNew Zealand has launched a 10-year NZSL Strategy 2026-2036 to strengthen and promote New Zealand Sign Language, making it a more visible and valued part of everyday life. The strategy focuses on increasing NZSL fluency among Deaf people, especially children in hearing families, and improving understanding and acceptance of NZSL among non-users to reduce access barriers. It emphasizes integration across government, business, media, and communities, celebrating NZSL milestones and encouraging everyone to support its use daily.
Tags: Louise Upston New Zealand Sign Language NZSL Board Te Rōpū Kaitiaki Turi Māori Deaf community NZSL Week NZSL users NZSL translationNew Zealand Strengthens Forestry Trade with India in Successful Mission 2025
17 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 882 viewsNew Zealand’s forestry and wood-processing sector led a successful trade mission to India, aiming to expand growth opportunities and strengthen market ties. The mission produced tangible results under the Forestry Cooperation agreement, enhanced understanding of India’s forestry policies, and highlighted New Zealand’s premium timber products suited for India’s urbanization and sustainable construction. A return Indian forestry delegation will visit New Zealand in February 2026 to further develop the bilateral partnership and deepen strategic relations.
Tags: Todd McClay New Zealand India forestry trade mission Piyush Goyal timber products sustainable construction bilateral partnershipNew Zealand Launches Secure Digital Credential Platform for Government Agencies
17 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 1064 viewsNew Zealand company MATTR will develop a shared digital credential platform managed by the Department of Internal Affairs to enable government agencies to issue secure digital identities through a Government App. This initiative aims to simplify identity verification, reduce paperwork, enhance privacy and security, and improve convenience for users, with agencies like MBIE trialing the system for business credentials. By standardizing digital identity services across agencies, the government expects cost savings, greater efficiency, and a more consistent experience for citizens.
Tags: Judith Collins MATTR Department of Internal Affairs Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment New Zealand Government App digital credentials digital identity services New Zealand Business Number public sectorNew Zealand Introduces Safe Harbour Laws to Combat Online Scams Faster
17 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 978 viewsThe New Zealand Government is introducing safe harbour legal protections to enable banks, telecommunications providers, and digital platforms to act swiftly and confidently in blocking suspected online scams without fear of prosecution. These protections require reasonable grounds for suspicion, proportional action, and correction of any unintended disruption, supporting a prevention-first approach against scams that caused $265 million in losses last year. Complementing this, the New Zealand Anti Scam Alliance is developing a trusted flagger system and new fraud intelligence tools to identify and freeze suspicious accounts, enhancing cross-sector collaboration to combat evolving scam threats.
Tags: Scott Simpson New Zealand Anti Scam Alliance Payments NZ New Zealand Banking Association Commerce and Consumer Affairs safe harbour fraud intelligence tool mule accounts online scams trusted flagger system