27 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2713 views
Broadcaster Paul Henry has been appointed to the TVNZ Board, Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Henry has spent nearly his entire career involved in the broadcasting industry, producing news, current affairs, and entertainment programming both here in New Zealand and overseas. “He was integral in the establishment of the successful multi-platform Paul Henry breakfast show, established and sold a radio station in the Wairarapa, and was heavily involved in the launch of the former radio network Today FM.
27 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2312 views
Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour is today announcing it will no longer use the informal name of Te Puna Aonui and will adopt its legal name: the Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence. “This decision reflects the reality that all people are potentially victims of Family Violence and Sexual Violence, as well as the wishes of disgruntled former advisory board members who have asked for the gifted Te Reo name to be returned,” says Mrs Chhour. “They have raised their concerns with me around my decision to not extend their tenure as the Ministerial Advisory Board, as well as concerns around my decision to include other communities in a new, multi-cultural advisory board which will replace the current Māori-only one.
27 Jun 2025
1 year ago
1978 views
The Government’s work to deliver better public services for New Zealanders is paying dividends for people working to gain their driver licence, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “National average wait times are now just four days for a full licence test and seven days for a restricted licence test, down from a peak of up to 90 days in some regions,” Mr Bishop says. “At one point in 2024, we saw wait times get as high as 90 days in some regions, with a backlog of over 80,000 people applying to sit their licence tests at one point.
27 Jun 2025
1 year ago
3334 views
Canterbury’s Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre has been allocated permanent test flight airspace, giving advanced aviation companies the freedom to safely trial next-generation technologies, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “The Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) permanent special use airspace designation for Tāwhaki anchors Canterbury’s growing reputation as a national hub for space and advanced aviation innovation. ”
Ms Collins announced the Tāwhaki designation at the launch of the Waitaha Canterbury Aerospace Strategy, which aims to position Canterbury as a global leader in aerospace innovation by 2035.
27 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2776 views
The Government has agreed in principle to an investment and implementation roadmap to strengthen New Zealand’s emergency management system so it can manage major to severe emergencies, Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced today. “This roadmap is part of our response to the Government Inquiry into the North Island Severe Weather Events and complements the work underway to develop a new Emergency Management Bill,” says Mr Mitchell. “New Zealand is facing more frequent and severe weather events, and we need to ensure our emergency management system is fit for purpose to manage significant, widespread emergencies like Cyclone Gabrielle.
27 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2763 views
Health Minister Simeon Brown and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey have today marked the beginning of construction on the new Sir Mark Dunajtschik Mental Health Centre in Lower Hutt. Joined by Hutt South MP Chris Bishop, the Ministers took part in a sod-turning ceremony to celebrate the start of a project that will transform mental health services across the Wellington region. “Today, I’m proud to announce the Government is investing $38 million in the construction of this world-class facility – alongside an extraordinary $50 million donation from Sir Mark Dunajtschik, who also generously donated $50 million towards the new Wellington Children’s Hospital in 2017,” Mr Brown says.
26 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2419 views
Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis has written to the major supermarkets to restate the basic expectation that they take all steps needed to comply with the Fair Trading Act and ensure Kiwi shoppers are not subjected to misleading price claims. “Supermarkets have statutory obligations under the Fair Trading Act to ensure that pricing information is accurate and does not mislead consumers. “I am disappointed that I have to spell out to some of New Zealand’s biggest and most sophisticated retail operators - Foodstuffs North Island, Foodstuffs South Island, and Woolworths - that they should have in place processes to prevent inaccurate pricing, institute and publicise refund policies, and train staff to ensure that when errors are reported, fixes occur system-wide.
25 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2390 views
Parliament has today passed legislation to formally establish Invest New Zealand, clearing the way for the new investment attraction agency to begin operations on 1 July 2025. “This marks a major step in the Government’s plan to grow the economy by attracting more international capital, businesses and talent into New Zealand,” Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says. “Invest New Zealand will have a clear commercial focus—working directly with global investors to unlock opportunities that create jobs, boost innovation, and lift our long-term productivity.
25 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2231 views
The Government has reinforced its commitment to science-led economic growth by funding 46 high-potential research projects, says Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti. The projects will be funded by the contestable Endeavour Fund, which invests in research that unlocks new knowledge, technologies, and capabilities. The Smart Ideas stream of the fund targets bold, high-risk projects by catalysing and rapidly testing promising, innovative research.
25 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2227 views
Racing Minister Winston Peters says the passage of legislation today will ensure the sustainability of the racing industry in New Zealand. The amendments to the Racing Industry Act 2020 will enable the TAB NZ to be the sole legal provider of online sports and racing betting in New Zealand. “The racing industry generates $1.
25 Jun 2025
1 year ago
4034 views
Opening
Good morning. It’s great to be here today for the release of the draft National Infrastructure Plan – or the NIP. I’d like to thank Raveen Jaduram, Geoff Cooper, and the entire team at the Infrastructure Commission for hosting this Symposium and for their hard work on putting the NIP together.
25 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2118 views
The Government has taken a major step towards protecting food production by ending the large-scale conversion of productive farmland into pine plantations, with the first reading of the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme—Forestry Conversion) Amendment Bill receiving unanimous support in Parliament last night. “This Bill is about protecting our most valuable land that grows food for export and sustains rural communities,” Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay says. “For too long, ETS incentives have driven the wrong outcomes for our rural sector.
25 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2420 views
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop encourages New Zealanders to have their say on the draft National Infrastructure Plan released today by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission. “Improving the way we plan, fund, maintain and build our infrastructure is critical to boosting economic growth and increasing productivity and living standards, and so the Government welcomes today’s draft report by the independent Infrastructure Commission. “Contrary to many perceptions, New Zealand spends a lot on infrastructure.
24 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2143 views
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has met with the Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, to mark 60 years of diplomatic representation between New Zealand and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. “The Netherlands is one of New Zealand’s oldest and closest friends. Our people share strong bonds, enriched by the 150,000 New Zealanders who have Dutch heritage,” Mr Luxon says.
24 Jun 2025
1 year ago
3377 views
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour welcomes the passing of first reading for a Bill to make it easier for New Zealand businesses to receive new investment, grow and pay higher wages. The Overseas Investment (National Interest Test and Other Matters) Amendment Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament today. “New Zealand has been turning away opportunities for growth for too long.