Articles tagged with Chris Penk
New Home Consents Surge Past 40,000, Boosting Jobs and Construction Growth
5 days ago | 125 viewsMore than 40,000 new home consents were granted in the year to June, marking a 19% increase and signaling a positive turnaround for the building sector after recent declines. The government is implementing reforms such as reducing red tape, allowing trusted overseas building products, and introducing mandatory inspection targets to boost construction activity and job growth. Significant legislative changes include replacing joint liability with proportionate liability, enhancing homeowner protections, consolidating Building Consent Authorities, and fast-tracking consents for sustainable homes.
Tags: Chris Penk Building and Construction Minister Stats NZ SEEK Building Consent Authorities home warranties professional indemnity insurance building inspection sustainable featuresNew Zealand Seeks Local Industry for Long-Range Strike Drone Acquisition
1 week ago | 140 viewsThe New Zealand Government, led by Defence Minister Chris Penk, is initiating the purchase of long-range one-way strike drones, prioritizing local industry innovation and capability. These human-operated, non-autonomous drones offer a cost-effective alternative to missiles and align with efforts to modernize Defence amid an unpredictable security environment. Additionally, Defence plans to research unarmed long-range drones for maritime surveillance, encouraging domestic businesses to participate, with investments outlined in the Defence Capability Plan totaling $100 million to $300 million.
Tags: Chris Penk New Zealand Defence Force Kiwi industry Defence Capability Plan uncrewed aircraft systems Defence Minister advanced manufacturing drone technology maritime surveillanceNew Zealand and Papua New Guinea Strengthen Defence Cooperation 2026-2029
2 weeks ago | 218 viewsNew Zealand and Papua New Guinea have signed the Statement of Intent on Defence Cooperation 2026-2029 to enhance collaboration through increased defence dialogue, training, exercises, and personnel exchanges. This agreement builds on their existing partnership and reflects a shared commitment to addressing regional security challenges and strengthening economic ties. Additionally, New Zealand is actively supporting Pacific regional cooperation by promoting digital transformation and cybersecurity, highlighted by Defence Minister Chris Penk’s participation in the Pacific Islands Forum ICT Ministers Meeting.
Tags: Chris Penk Elias Kapavore New Zealand Papua New Guinea Pacific Islands Forum Defence Minister ICT Ministers Pacific region Defence Cooperation Statement of IntentNew Zealand to Explore Joining Ocean of Peace Alliance with Australia and Fiji
1 month ago | 324 viewsNew Zealand plans to engage with Australia and Fiji about potentially joining the Ocean of Peace Alliance, a mutual defense treaty aimed at enhancing regional security. The alliance builds on existing strong military and diplomatic relationships among the three nations and supports Pacific-led responses to security challenges. Final membership decisions will be made by New Zealand’s Cabinet and Parliament after consultations.
Tags: Christopher Luxon Winston Peters Chris Penk New Zealand Australia Fiji Ocean of Peace Alliance Pacific States military alliance CabinetDefence Minister Chris Penk to Represent New Zealand at NATO Summit in Turkey
1 month ago | 418 viewsDefence Minister Chris Penk will attend the NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye, to engage with international partners and participate in the Defence Industry Forum, representing New Zealand alongside the Indo-Pacific Four. He aims to discuss the geostrategic environment, enhance collective security, and explore opportunities for New Zealand businesses to contribute to a more capable and interoperable Defence Force. Penk’s visit underscores New Zealand’s commitment to a rules-based international system and fostering collaboration with like-minded countries.
Tags: Chris Penk Defence Minister NATO Summit New Zealand Ankara Türkiye Australia Republic of Korea JapanNew Zealand's Building System Reforms: Faster, Fairer, and More Affordable Construction
1 month ago | 381 viewsThe Building Amendment Bill introduces the most significant building system reforms in 20 years to make construction easier, faster, and more affordable while enhancing homeowner protections through a fairer liability system and mandatory safeguards like professional indemnity insurance and home warranties. It aims to modernize the sector by improving consistency among Building Consent Authorities, reducing processing times, enabling fast-track consents for sustainable buildings, and expanding exemptions for offsite-constructed dwellings. These reforms, developed with extensive sector engagement, seek to unlock innovation, increase accountability, and support New Zealand’s housing and construction needs sustainably and efficiently.
Tags: Chris Penk Building Amendment Bill New Zealand building system reforms construction sector homeowner protections liability system Building Consent Authorities building consent MBIENew Support for 1300 NZ Defence Veterans of Maritime Security Operations
1 month ago | 360 viewsDefence veterans who served in maritime security operations around the Middle East and East Africa will receive health, rehabilitation, and financial support for deployment-related conditions, covering service periods from 1991 to 2026. Their efforts in disrupting drug smuggling and protecting shipping routes have been crucial to New Zealand’s regional security and economic prosperity. Veterans Minister Chris Penk emphasized the government’s commitment to valuing and supporting veterans’ wellbeing now and in the future.
Tags: Chris Penk New Zealand Defence Force Veterans Minister Operational Service Maritime Area Tahi Defence veterans maritime security drug smuggling health support rehabilitation financial supportSeven NZ Postgraduate Students Win 2026 Space Scholarship to Intern at NASA JPL
1 month ago | 357 viewsSeven postgraduate students from New Zealand have been awarded the 2026 New Zealand Space Scholarship to intern at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, working on advanced space technology projects. Their studies cover diverse fields such as physics, engineering, chemistry, and microbiology, contributing to missions like astrovirology and telemetry analysis. This initiative supports the growth of New Zealand’s rapidly expanding space sector and aims to build a skilled workforce aligned with the country's Space and Advanced Aviation Strategy.
Tags: Chris Penk Alexander Wiseman Angela Xue Laura Doyle Zhen Hong Chai Laura Franssen Kyja McCabe Thomas Phillips New Zealand Space Scholarship NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryGovernment Cuts Council PIM Processing Time from 20 to 10 Days to Speed Up Building Projects
1 month ago | 422 viewsThe New Zealand Government is reducing the processing time for Project Information Memorandums (PIMs) from 20 to 10 working days to speed up building projects and reduce costs. This change aims to improve productivity, enhance competition in the building consent market, and support key sectors like housing, agriculture, and infrastructure. Ministers emphasize that efficient council processes are essential for timely development, benefiting homeowners, businesses, and rural communities.
Tags: Chris Penk Simon Watts Project Information Memorandums PIMs New Zealand building consent councils local government agriculture sector building processNZ Approves Two-Year Extension for Key NZDF International Peacekeeping Missions
1 month ago | 480 viewsThe New Zealand Government has approved two-year extensions for five international NZDF deployments, involving over 100 personnel in peacekeeping, monitoring, and security missions across the Middle East and North Asia. These deployments include contributions to the United Nations Command in Korea, the Multinational Force and Observers in Egypt, Middle East maritime security, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation, and North Korea sanctions monitoring. The extensions reflect New Zealand’s commitment to global security, regional stability, and ongoing collaboration with international partners.
Tags: Winston Peters Chris Penk New Zealand Defence Force United Nations Command Multinational Force and Observers United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation New Zealand Middle East North Korea EgyptKiwi Space Activator Funds University of Auckland’s Rakiraki CubeSat Project
1 month ago | 504 viewsSpace Minister Chris Penk announced that the University of Auckland received $300,000 from the Kiwi Space Activator pilot programme to develop the Rakiraki CubeSat, a satellite aimed at improving space object tracking to protect essential satellite services. The programme supports New Zealand innovators in advancing space technology from concept to launch, fostering sovereign space capability, commercialisation, and global market access. With $1.78 million awarded across two rounds to four projects, the initiative reflects the growing and high-quality space innovation sector in New Zealand.
Tags: Chris Penk Kiwi Space Activator University of Auckland Rakiraki CubeSat Auckland University of Technology Space Operations New Zealand MBIE New Zealand space sector Kiwi businesses space technologyNew Zealand and Timor-Leste Strengthen Defence Cooperation with Updated Agreement
1 month ago | 429 viewsNew Zealand and Timor-Leste have signed an updated Defence Cooperation Arrangement to strengthen their longstanding defence relationship, last reviewed 15 years ago. The agreement focuses on training, education, capacity building, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, maritime security, and expertise exchange. This updated arrangement reflects their shared commitment to ongoing cooperation and supports Timor-Leste's role as the newest ASEAN member.
Tags: New Zealand Chris Penk Donaciano do Rosario da Costa Gomes Defence Cooperation Arrangement ASEAN Defence Minister Rear Admiral Peacekeepers Maritime SecurityDefence Minister Chris Penk to Attend Indo-Pacific Security Talks in Singapore
2 months ago | 611 viewsDefence Minister Chris Penk will attend the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore to engage in defence diplomacy and address security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. He plans to meet international counterparts and discuss enhancing collective efforts for regional security, stability, and prosperity. Emphasizing New Zealand’s commitment to a combat-capable defence force interoperable with partners, Penk highlights the importance of collaboration on issues like drug smuggling, illegal fishing, and climate-related disasters.
Tags: Chris Penk Defence Minister New Zealand Defence Force international security geostrategic challenges regional security diplomacy transnational securityNew Zealand Joins Multi-National Training Mission for Ukraine in Poland
2 months ago | 564 viewsThe New Zealand Defence Force has joined Operation LEGIO, a Norway-led multinational initiative in Poland to train Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel, demonstrating steadfast support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. This effort builds on New Zealand’s earlier involvement in Operation INTERFLEX and adapts to Ukraine’s evolving training needs near its borders. By collaborating with international partners, New Zealand aims to provide effective, high-quality training that significantly contributes to Ukraine’s defense and regional security.
Tags: New Zealand Defence Force Chris Penk Ukraine Poland Operation LEGIO Norway Operation INTERFLEX Operation TĪEKE NATO Armed Forces of UkraineNew Quality Homes Delivered Early for NZ Military Families Under Budget
2 months ago | 584 viewsDefence Minister Chris Penk announced the early and under-budget completion of 23 new, high-quality homes for military families across New Zealand Defence Force bases as part of the Homes for Families programme. This $7.8 million development addresses decades of underinvestment in outdated military housing, providing safe, modern living spaces that support personnel wellbeing and ease housing affordability pressures. The government plans to invest up to $600 million through the 2025 Defence Capability Plan to continue delivering these homes, boosting regional economic activity and improving conditions for Defence personnel and their families.
Tags: Chris Penk New Zealand Defence Force Homes for Families Linton Military Camp Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea Burnham Military Camp Defence Minister Penny Homes Devonport Trentham