23 Jun 2025
1 year ago
3708 views
The Government is attracting new migrants to bring their capital, experience and skills to New Zealand with a flood of formal interest in the new 'golden’ visa. Since only April – less than three months – Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has received 189 applications for the Active Investor Plus visa, significantly more than the 116 applications received over more than two-and-a-half years under previous settings, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “New applications under the scheme represent a potential $845 million of new investment in New Zealand business.
21 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2287 views
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that red tape is giving Kiwis serious headaches, and the Red Tape Tipline has received over 750 submissions. “A submitter to the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline has complained that the threshold for probate has not kept up with inflation. This means that more Kiwis have to go through the tedious legal process that is probate, while they are mourning,” Mr Seymour says.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2462 views
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says that communities in the Waikato are benefitting from over $414,000 in grants from funds raised through a special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief. “Cyclone Gabrielle had a significant impact on parts of the Waikato, causing destruction to property, blocked roads, and requiring coordinated relief efforts Now, one year after grant applications closed, 18 community organisations have received funding to rebuild thanks to the generosity of Kiwis who bought tickets to the special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief,” says Ms van Velden. Funds raised from the special Lotto draw were passed on to the Cyclone Gabrielle Appeal Trust, which accepted grant applications until May 2024 and distributed all funds by October 2024.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2356 views
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says that communities in Northland are benefitting from $3. 59 million in grants from funds raised through a special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief, two years later. “Cyclone Gabrielle had a devasting impact on Northland, causing widespread destruction to property and requiring significant relief efforts.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2644 views
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says that communities in Hawke’s Bay are benefitting from $4. 77 million in grants from funds raised through a special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief. “Cyclone Gabrielle had a devasting impact on Hawke’s Bay, causing widespread destruction to property and requiring significant relief efforts.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2327 views
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says that communities in the Gisborne region are benefitting from $3. 55 million in grants from funds raised through a special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief. “Cyclone Gabrielle had a devasting impact on the East Coast, causing widespread destruction to property and requiring significant relief efforts.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2302 views
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says that communities across Auckland are benefitting from $1. 8 million in grants from funds raised through a special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief. “Cyclone Gabreille had a devasting impact on parts of Auckland, causing widespread damage to property and requiring significant relief efforts.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2321 views
New quarterly data shows the Government is on track to deliver on both law and order targets ahead of schedule, Minister for Children Karen Chhour and Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith say. “We’re determined to protect communities, reduce victimisation, and to encourage young people not to continue down the path of serious crime and incarceration,” Mrs Chhour says. “A year ago we set a target of reducing the number of children and young people with serious and persistent offending behaviour by 15 per cent by 2029.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2321 views
The Government is progressing a bold work programme to increase productivity and efficiency through comprehensively reforming New Zealand’s land transport rules, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Land transport rules set out how different sectors of the transport industry must operate. They impact all road users - from the suburban mum or dad who has to get a Warrant of Fitness every year no matter how new or well-maintained their car, to the truckies who’ve been loaded up with compliance costs due to rules long since made redundant through advances in technology,” says Mr Bishop.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2327 views
The safety of New Zealanders in the Middle East is a pressing priority for the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “We do not want New Zealanders in harm’s way,” Mr Peters says. “While we face very serious practical constraints of a conflict zone and closed airspace, we will continue to do all we can to help,” Mr Peters says.
18 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2357 views
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson have welcomed a new certification scheme, announced by the Prime Minister in Shanghai today, that unlocks access to China’s $200 million cosmetics and skincare market — a move that will drive stronger returns for New Zealand exporters and boost the economy. “This is a smart, practical step that removes a long-standing trade barrier and opens up valuable new channels for our exporters,” McClay says. “It means more high-quality, innovative New Zealand products on shelves in China - not just online, but in stores across one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets.
18 Jun 2025
1 year ago
4046 views
Health Minister Simeon Brown has today announced three new board appointments to the Health Quality & Safety Commission. The Health Quality & Safety Commission (HQSC) is a Crown entity responsible for improving quality and safety across the health and disability systems within New Zealand. “I am very pleased to welcome Dr Peter Watson, Taima Campbell, and Clare Perry to the HQSC board,” Mr Brown says.
18 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2099 views
Associate Health Minister David Seymour says the Government is delivering on its promise to cut red tape and give Kiwis greater access to more treatments, starting with melatonin and medicinal psilocybin. “Many New Zealanders have asked me why people can buy melatonin overseas but they can’t buy it from their local pharmacy. Medsafe has assessed this and decided there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be available on pharmacy shelves right here at home,” says Mr Seymour.
18 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2288 views
New Zealanders have an opportunity to help shape the new planning system replacing the Resource Management Act (RMA) through public consultation on removing unnecessary barriers to housing growth, says Housing and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “New Zealand’s house prices are among the most expensive in the developed world – a direct result of our current planning system making it too hard for our cities to grow up and out. “Fixing our housing crisis involves fixing the fundamentals of our housing market - freeing up land for development and removing unnecessary planning barriers, improving infrastructure funding and financing to support urban growth, and providing incentives for communities and councils to support growth.
17 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2090 views
Repeat violent and sexual offenders are officially on notice Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says. “Tougher penalties are now in place as the Three Strikes law comes into force today and the message is clear. If you commit serious violent or sexual offences, expect to face increasingly severe consequences.