Articles tagged with Cabinet
New Zealand to Replace NCEA with New Senior Secondary Qualification System
13 hours ago | 218 viewsThe New Zealand Government has agreed to replace NCEA with a new senior secondary qualification system featuring two levels over Years 12 and 13, subject-based assessments, and a foundational Year 11 award focusing on literacy and numeracy. This reform aims to create a clearer, more consistent, and internationally comparable qualification aligned with a new knowledge-rich curriculum, addressing longstanding issues of fragmentation and reliability in NCEA. The phased implementation will begin in 2026, with ongoing sector engagement and support, including a national curriculum and assessment roadshow to prepare schools for the changes.
Tags: Erica Stanford New Zealand NCEA Education Minister senior secondary qualifications curriculum reform Foundational Award Year 11 curriculum Cabinet secondary school qualificationsEmployment Leave Bill Passes First Reading to Simplify Worker Pay and Leave
2 weeks ago | 153 viewsThe Employment Leave Bill, recently passed its first reading in Parliament, aims to replace the complex Holidays Act 2003 with a simpler framework that reduces errors and provides clarity for businesses and workers. It introduces hours-based accrual, pro-rata sick leave, and improved entitlements such as immediate access to leave and full pay after parental leave, addressing compliance challenges and worker benefits. Minister Brooke van Velden emphasized extensive consultation and encouraged public feedback to ensure the legislation is effective and sustainable long-term.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Employment Leave Bill Holidays Act 2003 Workplace Relations payroll sick leave annual leave parental leave Cabinet ParliamentNew Zealand Launches VetNet-Biosecurity to Combat Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreaks
3 months ago | 495 viewsNew Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries has partnered with the Veterinary Council to create VetNet-Biosecurity, a network of 200 private veterinarians ready to respond rapidly to serious animal disease outbreaks like foot and mouth disease. This initiative aims to provide urgent field support, including clinical examinations and sample collection, with veterinarians continuing their regular employment while receiving training and financial compensation from MPI. Additionally, free biosecurity training is available to all registered veterinarians to enhance their skills in exotic disease detection and on-farm biosecurity protocols.
Tags: Andrew Hoggard Veterinary Council of New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries New Zealand foot and mouth disease Biosecurity Minister MPI private veterinarians CabinetNew Zealand Reforms Industrial Hemp Regulations to Boost Growth and Innovation
3 months ago | 405 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour announced reforms to scrap the outdated licensing regime for industrial hemp in New Zealand, replacing it with a more practical and proportionate approach that removes licenses and sets a clear THC threshold below 1%. These changes aim to reduce costs, encourage innovation, and generate significant economic benefits, while maintaining safeguards to prevent misuse and ensuring compliance with existing food safety and medicinal cannabis regulations. The Ministry of Health will lead implementation, reflecting the government's commitment to cutting red tape and improving regulatory standards for business growth.
Tags: David Seymour New Zealand industrial hemp Regulation Minister Ministry of Health Regulatory Standards Act medicinal cannabis Ministry for Regulation Parliamentary Council Office CabinetGovernment Welcomes Select Committee Report on Employment Relations Amendment Bill
3 months ago | 398 viewsThe Government welcomes the Select Committee report on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, which supports key reforms to enhance labour market flexibility and reduce compliance costs while maintaining core objectives. The Committee recommends clarifications to the gateway test for contractors, including platform-based arrangements, and supports Cabinet decisions to expand income definitions for unjustified dismissal claims and raise the income threshold from $180,000 to $200,000. Minister Brooke van Velden looks forward to progressing the Bill in early 2026, emphasizing the Government’s commitment to helping businesses grow and innovate confidently.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Employment Relations Amendment Bill Education and Workforce Committee Cabinet Government Labour Market Flexibility Select Committee Workplace Relations and Safety Contractors Income ThresholdNew Online Casino Gambling Bill Advances to Protect Communities and Regulate Harm
3 months ago | 373 viewsMinister Brooke van Velden welcomed the Governance and Administration Committee's report on the Online Casino Gambling Bill, highlighting its alignment with government decisions to regulate online gambling and protect New Zealanders from harm. The Committee received over 5,000 submissions, with significant concern about ensuring community returns from gambling revenue continue to support grassroots groups, leading to the recommendation that the Lottery Grants Board manage these funds. The Bill introduces safeguards to reduce gambling harm, addresses concerns about normalization and advertising, and includes a two-year review to monitor the impact on community funding.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Minister of Internal Affairs Governance and Administration Committee Lottery Grants Board Special Olympics New Zealand Cabinet Kiwis Online Casino Gambling Bill ParliamentGovernment Cancels Cook Strait Emergency Ocean Response Vessel Procurement Due to High Costs
4 months ago | 396 viewsThe Government has decided against procuring dedicated emergency ocean response capabilities (EORC) for the Cook Strait due to significant cost escalations—from $80 million to over $259 million over 10 years—and limited benefits, as existing vessels have resolved past incidents effectively. New Cook Strait ferries with enhanced safety features will reduce the need for external assistance, and the temporary contract for the MMA Vision tugboat will end in February 2026, saving $9 million. Overall, the Government concludes that the investment in dedicated towing capabilities is not cost-effective and cannot justify passing costs onto taxpayers or users through levies.
Tags: Chris Bishop Cook Strait Maritime NZ MMA Vision Golden Mind Ministry of Transport Budget 2024 Cabinet Emergency Ocean Response Capability Transport MinisterIntroducing the Employment Leave Act: Simplifying Leave Entitlements for Employers and Employees
6 months ago | 705 viewsThe speaker acknowledges the complexity and challenges associated with the Holidays Act 2003, highlighting the need for reform to simplify calculations and reduce compliance costs. They introduce the Employment Leave Act as a replacement, outlining key changes such as transitioning to an hours-based accrual system for annual and sick leave. Additionally, the new legislation includes provisions for casual workers through a Leave Compensation Payment system and addresses issues related to parental leave entitlements, with a focus on clarity, fairness, and simplicity in the new employment laws.
Tags: Holidays Act 2003 Employment Leave Act Cabinet MBIE EMA members Leave Compensation Payment parental leave annual leave sick leave public holidaysUnlocking New Zealand's Offshore Wind Potential: Government Amendments for Industry Growth
6 months ago | 545 viewsThe Government is amending legislation to support New Zealand's offshore wind potential, aiming to boost economic growth and energy production. The Offshore Renewable Energy Bill is being revised to address concerns from offshore wind developers about coexisting with seabed mining activities. The amendments will create designated marine spaces for offshore wind projects, providing investment certainty while pausing new permits for seabed mining under the Crown Minerals Act.
Tags: Government legislation offshore wind potential Energy Minister Simon Watts economic growth regulatory regime Offshore Renewable Energy Bill seabed mining CabinetNew Zealand Cabinet Agrees to Close Greyhound Racing Industry by 2026: Key Details and Transition Plan
7 months ago | 970 viewsCabinet in New Zealand has officially agreed to close the greyhound racing industry, with a bill being drafted to enact this decision by July 31, 2026, following concerns about animal welfare and safety issues outlined in multiple reviews. The Ministerial Advisory Committee has recommended a clear plan for transitioning away from greyhound racing, including re-homing programs and support for industry participants through a Transition Agency funded by the TAB. Racing Minister Winston Peters emphasizes the importance of public input during the process, highlighting the global trend of phasing out greyhound racing due to ongoing welfare and safety concerns.
Tags: Winston Peters Heather Simpson Murray Johnson Lindsay Burton Cabinet greyhound racing New Zealand animal welfare Transition Agency Ministerial Advisory CommitteeNew Zealand's Consideration of Recognizing a Palestinian State
7 months ago | 1084 viewsForeign Minister Winston Peters of New Zealand will carefully consider recognizing a state of Palestine in September, taking into account the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and New Zealand's support for a two-state solution. New Zealand's independent foreign policy will guide its decision, weighing factors such as the viability of a Palestinian state and progress towards peace. A formal decision on recognition will be made by Cabinet in September, following a thorough assessment of various perspectives and considerations.
Tags: Government Winston Peters Palestine New Zealand Cabinet recognition state United Nations Leaders’ WeekKiwi Red Tape Woes: Outdated Probate Threshold Causes Delays in Estate Administration
9 months ago | 1450 viewsRegulation 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.
Tags: Administration All blacks Cabinet David seymour High court Justice Ministry Ministry for regulation New zealand Paul goldsmith Red tape tipline Regulation Regulations Rugby world cup Seymour