Articles tagged with Acc
Temporary 30% Mileage Rate Boost for NZ Home and Community Support Workers
1 week ago | 207 viewsHome and community support workers in New Zealand will receive a temporary 30% increase in mileage rates, from 63.5 to 82.5 cents per kilometre, to help offset rising fuel costs caused by global conflicts. This increase, effective immediately and lasting up to 12 months or until petrol prices drop below $3 per litre for four consecutive weeks, applies to workers contracted to Health New Zealand, the Ministry of Social Development, and ACC. Health Minister Simeon Brown emphasized that this targeted support ensures the continuity of essential healthcare services for vulnerable New Zealanders by easing cost pressures on frontline workers.
Tags: Simeon Brown home and community support workers mileage rates fuel costs Health New Zealand Ministry of Social Development ACC essential healthcare services New Zealand frontline workersOpen Banking Expands to Business Banking, Boosting Productivity and Growth
2 weeks ago | 85 viewsOpen Banking will be expanded to business banking channels, enabling businesses to share banking data with trusted providers to access faster loan comparisons, automated accounting, and improved cashflow management. This initiative aims to save businesses time on administrative tasks, boost competition, and enhance productivity, particularly benefiting small businesses by providing clearer financial insights and reducing manual work. While large corporates are exempt due to limited demand, the government prioritizes Open Banking as a key tool to support small business growth and efficiency.
Tags: Scott Simpson Chris Penk Open Banking business banking fintech small businesses loan comparisons automated accounting cash flow productivityGovt.nz App Update: New Digital Wallet and Secure Messaging Features Coming Soon
3 weeks ago | 225 viewsThe Govt. nz app will soon offer new digital features, including a digital wallet for storing accredited credentials from government and private sectors, supported by the Government Credential Issuance Platform. Hospitality New Zealand is collaborating to introduce a digital Kiwi Access Card for age verification, enhancing convenience and security without physical cards. By July 2026, secure messaging will enable direct communication from government agencies, while app use remains voluntary alongside existing service channels.
Tags: Govt. nz app Judith Collins digital identity digital wallet Government Credential Issuance Platform Hospitality New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act Kiwi Access Card New Zealand government servicesNew Zealand Invests $25M to Boost Hospital Capacity and Care This Winter
4 weeks ago | 182 viewsHealth New Zealand is investing an additional $25 million to increase hospital capacity, staffing, and preparedness for higher winter demand, including adding up to 378 full-time staff, 71 extra hospital beds, and 567 short stay beds in aged care facilities. The comprehensive winter plan focuses on prevention, strengthening primary care, improving hospital flow, and supporting timely discharges to manage increased pressure on emergency departments and frontline staff. Health Minister Simeon Brown emphasizes early planning and expanded resources to ensure timely patient care despite rising demand and challenges during the winter months.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health New Zealand hospital capacity winter demand emergency department aged residential care vaccination primary care frontline staffGovernment to Shift Ambulance Medicine Funding to Pharmac for Better Care and Savings
1 month ago | 275 viewsThe Government plans to transfer funding responsibility for ambulance medicines from Health New Zealand and ACC to Pharmac to improve procurement efficiency, ensure nationwide access to consistent emergency medicines, and save costs. This change will create a single nationally consistent medicine list for ambulance services, enhancing continuity of care between ambulance providers and hospitals while leveraging Pharmac’s expertise and buying power. Public consultation on the proposal is open from March 12 to April 2, 2024, with implementation targeted for July 1, 2026.
Tags: David Seymour Simeon Brown Pharmac Health New Zealand ACC ambulance medicines emergency care medicine procurement New Zealand government pharmaceutical scheduleRoyal Commission Report Reveals Lessons and Impact of New Zealand’s COVID-19 Response
1 month ago | 210 viewsThe Royal Commission's final report on New Zealand's COVID-19 response highlights that initial restrictions were appropriate but later extended beyond public health advice, with economic warnings ignored, leading to excessive spending and increased public debt. Auckland endured the longest lockdown, exceeding official recommendations, and vaccine mandates for under-18s did not align with expert advice, reflecting missed opportunities to balance health and economic impacts. The Government acknowledges the sacrifices made by New Zealanders and plans to respond to the report’s recommendations by July, aiming to better balance future health and economic decisions.
Tags: Simeon Brown Royal Commission New Zealand Auckland Treasury vaccine mandate lockdown economic impact public healthGovernment Amends Law to Ensure Fair Treatment of ACC and Welfare Payments
1 month ago | 272 viewsThe Government has passed legislation to clarify the impact of ACC payments on welfare entitlements, addressing an unfair discrepancy between those receiving weekly ACC payments and those receiving lump sum payments while their ACC claims are considered. The Social Security Amendment Act ensures equal treatment for all ACC recipients, correcting a court-interpreted anomaly that previously favored one group over another. This change aims to create a fair and equitable process, with transitional provisions for individuals seeking review before the Bill's introduction.
Tags: Government legislation ACC payments welfare entitlement Social Development Employment Minister Louise Upston Social Security Amendment Act MSD benefit Appeal AuthorityNew Zealand Welcomes Second Private Building Consent Authority to Boost Efficiency
1 month ago | 428 viewsNew Zealand has approved its second private Building Consent Authority (BCA), Farsight NZ Limited Partnership, to increase competition and capacity in the building consent system, aiming to reduce paperwork and speed up approvals. Farsight will manage key building control tasks for Summerset, a major residential builder, which will help alleviate pressure on council BCAs and improve consistency in applying the Building Code. All BCAs, including private ones, must meet strict accreditation and legal requirements to ensure strong consumer protections and efficient service delivery.
Tags: Chris Penk Farsight NZ Limited Partnership Building Consent Authority Building Consent Approvals Limited Summerset Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Kāinga Ora International Accreditation New Zealand Building Code New ZealandNew Zealand Tourism Hits $46.6B in Spending, Boosts Jobs and Economy
1 month ago | 294 viewsNew Zealand’s tourism sector continues to grow, with total expenditure reaching $46.6 billion for the year ending March 2025, driven by a 7% increase in overseas visitor spending and arrivals. Tourism employment rose by 2.8% to 327,888 people, representing one in nine jobs, and tourism contributes 7.7% of GDP as the country's second highest export. The Government supports this growth through initiatives like the $70 million Major Events and Tourism Package and easing visitor visa requirements, aiming to boost regional economies and sustain long-term development.
Tags: Louise Upston New Zealand Stats NZ Tourism Satellite Account NZeTA Government Tourism and Hospitality Minister Tourism sector Overseas visitors Major Events and Tourism PackageACC Achieves Best Rehabilitation Results in a Decade, Helping Kiwis Return to Work Faster
1 month ago | 278 viewsNew Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has achieved its strongest rehabilitation performance in over a decade, reducing the growth rate of long-term claims and helping injured New Zealanders return to work and independence faster. This improvement follows a government-mandated Turnaround Plan focused on client-centered care, lasting recovery, and organizational reset, reversing previous increases in long-term claim growth under the Labour government. While progress is evident in the latest public report, the government acknowledges more work is needed to ensure consistent support for claimants and build a better future.
Tags: New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation ACC Scott Simpson rehabilitation Turnaround Plan return to work Letter of Expectations injury supportRegulatory Standards Act: Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Local Government
1 month ago | 277 viewsThe Regulatory Standards Act, coming into law by July 1, mandates councils to publish Consistency Accountability Statements (CAS) explaining the impact, costs, and benefits of new bylaws, promoting transparency and accountability in local regulation. This legislation aims to curb poor regulation that burdens ratepayers and stifles productivity by requiring councils to justify and regularly review their secondary legislation, ensuring laws are proportionate and evidence-based. The Act supports better governance by helping councils avoid kneejerk regulations, improve decision-making quality, and ultimately deliver greater value to taxpayers and communities.
Tags: Regulatory Standards Act Consistency Accountability Statement LGNZ councils local government Ministry for Regulation New Zealand ratepayers secondary legislationNelson Hospital Rapid-Build Ward Boosts Inpatient Capacity and Care
1 month ago | 277 viewsConstruction has begun on a 28-bed rapid-build inpatient ward at Nelson Hospital to support service relocation during major redevelopment and seismic strengthening. The project uses parallel off-site and on-site construction to accelerate delivery, reduce disruption, and improve inpatient capacity and patient flow. This ward is part of a nationwide government program, backed by a $90 million Budget 2025 allocation, to quickly expand hospital capacity with modern, cost-effective infrastructure.
Tags: Nelson Hospital Simeon Brown seismic strengthening hospital redevelopment inpatient capacity accelerated hospital wards programme Hawke’s Bay Budget 2025 Nelson MarlboroughGovernment Introduces Bill to Clarify ACC Payments Impact on Welfare Entitlement
1 month ago | 336 viewsThe Government is introducing the Social Security (Accident Compensation and Calculation of Weekly Income) Amendment Bill to clarify how ACC payments affect welfare entitlements and ensure fair treatment between different recipient groups. The bill aims to align the law with longstanding policy by authorizing MSD to retrospectively adjust benefits when backdated ACC payments reduce welfare to zero and to prevent inequities where some recipients receive dual income support for the same need. This legislation responds to court rulings and will not apply retrospectively to cases filed before the bill’s introduction, promoting fairness and certainty in the welfare system.
Tags: Louise Upston Government MSD Social Security ACC Social Development and Employment Social Services and Community Select Committee Social Security Appeal Authority High Court Winter Energy PaymentMidwives Now Offer Expanded Funded Immunisations for Families and Babies
2 months ago | 379 viewsMidwives in New Zealand can now provide a broader range of funded immunisations to mothers, babies, and eligible family members up to 12 months old, enhancing protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. This expansion builds on previous progress allowing midwives to deliver antenatal vaccines and aims to improve timely access by integrating immunisations into routine maternity care. Health authorities and professional organizations are collaborating to implement this initiative, especially important during outbreaks like measles and pertussis to protect vulnerable infants.
Tags: midwives immunisations pregnancy Simeon Brown Health Minister newborns vaccination Health New Zealand Ministry of Health New Zealand College of MidwivesMidwives Expand Funded Immunisations to Protect Mothers and Infants in NZ
2 months ago | 344 viewsMidwives in New Zealand can now provide a broader range of funded immunisations to mothers, babies, and eligible family members up to 12 months old, enhancing protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. This expansion builds on previous progress and aims to improve timely access to vaccinations by integrating them into routine maternity care, especially important during outbreaks like measles and pertussis. The initiative is a collaborative effort among Health New Zealand, the Ministry of Health, the Midwifery Council, the New Zealand College of Midwives, and the Immunisation Advisory Centre.
Tags: midwives immunisations pregnancy Simeon Brown Health Minister newborns vaccination Health New Zealand Ministry of Health New Zealand College of Midwives