Articles tagged with Brooke Van Velden

Proposed Changes for Innovation: Health & Safety Regulations in NZ Science Sector

5 min ago | 19 views

Workplace 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 requirements

Manufacturing Regulations Simplified for Safety and Efficiency

1 day ago | 78 views

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is consulting with manufacturers, such as wood processors, bakers, and millers, to simplify machine guarding rules and review exposure standards in the manufacturing sector. The proposed changes aim to align standards with real-world risks and international benchmarks, addressing concerns about clarity and compliance burden. The review will also consider updating Workplace Exposure Standards for substances like wood dust and flour dust to ensure practicality and alignment with safety measures, aiming to reduce costs and stress for businesses.

Tags: Brooke van Velden manufacturers Workplace Relations and Safety Minister wood processors bakers millers WorkSafe inspectors Health and Safety in Employment Regulations Workplace Exposure Standards Mr Seymour

Building Better: Minister Van Velden Spearheads Productivity Boost in Construction Sector

2 days ago | 72 views

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is consulting with builders and construction professionals to simplify scaffolding rules and streamline the prequalification process, aiming to align them better with the level of risk. The current complex rules have led to overuse of costly scaffolding, impacting construction productivity and increasing building time and costs. Van Velden is also addressing the frustration with prequalification systems and overlapping duties in the construction sector, aiming to provide clearer guidance and improve efficiency.

Tags: Brooke van Velden Workplace Relations Safety Minister construction sector scaffolding rules productivity WorkSafe prequalification systems overlapping duties Approved Code of Practice

New Zealand's Employment Relations Bill: Boosting Business Confidence and Worker Opportunities

2 weeks ago | 249 views

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden applauds the passage of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, emphasizing its significance in fostering business confidence and employment opportunities. The bill will now undergo review by the Education and Workforce Select Committee to gather public feedback on proposed changes. Key provisions of the legislation aim to clarify employment arrangements, simplify the grievance process, and enhance flexibility in negotiations between employers and employees.

Tags: Brooke van Velden Workplace Relations Safety Minister Employment Relations Amendment Bill New Zealand businesses workers contracting arrangements personal grievance process Select Committee genuine contracting relationships

New Zealand Minister Proposes Safer Online Gambling Bill, Sets Stricter Rules for Operators

2 weeks ago | 242 views

Minister Brooke van Velden's Bill to regulate New Zealand's online gambling market passed its first reading in Parliament, aiming to protect players and ensure safer gambling practices. The Bill allows for up to 15 online gambling licences to be auctioned, with strict criteria for companies to meet, including harm prevention strategies and compliance history. The Department of Internal Affairs will enforce the new regulations, with fines of up to $5 million for rule violations, and public submissions on the Bill are encouraged as it moves to the select committee stage.

Tags: Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden Bill online gambling New Zealand player safety harm minimisation regulatory system Department of Internal Affairs licensed operators

New Zealand Sends Specialist Team to Support Canada's Wildfire Response

3 weeks ago | 242 views

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says New Zealand is sending a seven-person specialist team to Manitoba on Wednesday 9 July to support Canada in its response to severe wildfires across the country. “Canada is dealing with an intense and escalating wildfire season, with fires raging across multiple provinces,” says Ms van Velden. “More than 20,000 people have been displaced from their homes.

Tags: Brooke van Velden Minister of Internal Affairs New Zealand Canada Manitoba wildfires firefighting Fire and Emergency New Zealand Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre Stewart Islands

New Zealand Introduces Online Casino Gambling Bill for Regulation and Consumer Protection

1 month ago | 377 views

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden has today introduced the Online Casino Gambling Bill to the House of Representatives. “The Online Casino Gambling Bill will introduce a regulatory system for online gambling in New Zealand, which will prioritise harm minimisation, consumer protection, and tax collection,” says Ms van Velden. Cabinet has previously agreed to introduce new legislation to regulate the online casino gambling market, which is currently unregulated in New Zealand.

Tags: Brooke van velden Coalition government House of representatives New zealand Online casino gambling bill

$414,527 worth of lottery-funded cyclone recovery projects now complete in Waikato

1 month ago | 473 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.

Tags: Auckland Bay of plenty Brooke van velden Cyclone gabrielle appeal trust East coast Gabrielle Hawke ’ s bay Malcolm beattie Northland Oparau hall society incorporated Port project Port waikato Sunset beach lifesaving trust Sunset beach surf lifesaving trust Tararua Waikato

Northland Communities Rebuild with $3.59 Million Cyclone Relief Grants from Special Lotto Draw

1 month ago | 373 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.

Tags: Auckland Bay of plenty Brooke van velden Cyclone gabrielle appeal trust East coast Gabrielle Hawke ’ s bay Northland Oakura beach reserve board Surf life saving baylys beach incorporated Tararua Waikato Waimamaku community civil defence group

Gisborne Community Receives $3.55M Cyclone Gabrielle Relief Grants: Minister Brooke van Velden

1 month ago | 359 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.

Tags: Auckland Bay of plenty Brooke van velden Cyclone gabrielle appeal trust East coast Fire and emergency new zealand Gabrielle Gabrielle appeal Gisborne Hawke ’ s bay Northland Pehiri emergency management group Ruatoria volunteer fire brigade St john gisborne area Tahunga residents association incorporated Tararua Waikato

Minister Brooke van Velden Announces $1.8M Grants for Auckland Communities Post Cyclone Gabrielle Relief

1 month ago | 325 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.

Tags: Auckland Bay of plenty Bethells beach emergency resince group Brooke van velden Cyclone gabrielle appeal trust East coast Gabrielle Hawke ’ s bay Kaipara good food Karekare surf life saving club Northland Tararua Titirangi volunteer coastguard incorporated Waikato

62 percent fewer scam texts reported after Internal Affairs crackdown

1 month ago | 344 views

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has made significant progress in tackling scams in New Zealand, with a 62 per cent drop in reports of SMS scams in 2024 from 2023, following the Department’s investigations into scammers. The Department’s 2024 Digital Messaging Transparency Report, published this week, details some of the actions the Department has taken to catch people perpetrating scams, including by conducting search warrants and seizing equipment. “Scams cause serious financial and emotional harm, often preying on vulnerable people in our communities.

Tags: Auckland Brooke van velden Department Department of internal affairs Digital Government Messaging transparency report New zealand Scott simpson Van veld Zealand

Increases to paid parental leave rates to help families

1 month ago | 269 views

New parents can expect more support to take time away from work to care for their children from 1 July, with an increase to the maximum weekly rate of paid parental leave up from $754. 87 to $788. 66 per week, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced today.

Tags: Brooke van velden Employment Employment new zealand Paal leave Place relations and safety Protection act