Articles tagged with Christchurch
New Visa-Free Pathway Boosts New Zealand Tourism with 13,000+ Visitors
2 weeks ago | 86 viewsNew Zealand’s new visa-free pathway for Chinese and Pacific travellers with eligible Australian visas has attracted over 13,000 visitors in just one month, boosting the economy and benefiting Kiwi businesses. Tourism Minister Louise Upston highlights the positive impact on regional tourism, especially in Christchurch and Queenstown, with increased bookings and job opportunities. The initiative supports New Zealand’s vital tourism sector, encouraging more visitors to experience the country’s hospitality and attractions, particularly during the Chinese New Year.
Tags: New Zealand Chinese travellers Pacific travellers Australian visas Erica Stanford Louise Upston NZeTA tourism Christchurch QueenstownCanterbury’s In-Home Care Service Transforms Healthcare, Frees Hospital Beds
2 weeks ago | 129 viewsCanterbury’s Acute Demand Management Service, celebrating 25 years, provides in-home care to around 110 patients daily, reducing hospital admissions and freeing up beds for those needing hospital-level care. Overseen by primary care doctors and supported by skilled nurses and specialists, the service manages a wide range of conditions and delivers thousands of care packages and diagnostic tests annually. This community-based approach ensures timely, tailored treatment in patients' homes, improving satisfaction and optimizing healthcare resources in the region.
Tags: Simeon Brown Canterbury Christchurch Hospital Acute Demand Management Service primary care doctors community nurses allied health professionals mobile acute nursing team New Zealand healthcareNZ Government Announces $5M Funding for Major 2026 Music, Sports, and Cultural Events
3 weeks ago | 120 viewsThe Government has announced the first tranche of major events funding for 2026, featuring international and local music acts, sports, and cultural events, including Linkin Park in Auckland and Ultra Music Festival in Wellington. This $5 million investment is part of a $70 million Major Events and Tourism package aimed at boosting New Zealand’s economy by attracting visitors and supporting over 70 events nationwide. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston emphasized the significant economic benefits, such as increased business for hotels, restaurants, and shops, and promised more high-profile event announcements early next year.
Tags: Louise Upston Six60 Synthony Linkin Park Ultra Music Festival Tourism Minister New Zealand Christchurch Auckland WellingtonWellington Disputes Tribunal Adopts Electronic Case Files for Faster Justice
3 weeks ago | 122 viewsThe Wellington District Court's Disputes Tribunal has transitioned to electronic case files to provide faster, more flexible justice, allowing referees and staff to securely access and manage cases remotely. Following successful implementations in Christchurch and upcoming plans for Auckland, this digital shift aims to reduce delays and improve the system nationwide. The move supports small businesses and consumers by enabling quicker dispute resolutions, helping them recover losses and maintain operations efficiently.
Tags: Wellington District Court Disputes Tribunal electronic case files Courts Minister Nicole McKee Christchurch District Court Auckland Metro Hub small businesses consumer disputes remote hearings faster justiceNew High-Security Units at Hawke’s Bay Prison to Boost Capacity by 2027
3 weeks ago | 171 viewsTwo new high-security units with 316 beds will be built at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison, increasing its capacity from 755 to 1,071 by early 2027 to address the rising prison population driven by law-and-order measures. This expansion complements recent and ongoing projects at Waikeria and Christchurch Men’s Prisons, which together will add over 1,500 beds by 2029, while Corrections has also bolstered frontline staff with nearly 900 new officers since February 2024. These efforts aim to safely manage growth in the prison population, predominantly violent and gang-affiliated offenders, and maintain public safety without requiring additional funding.
Tags: Mark Mitchell Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison Naylor Love Waikeria Prison Christchurch Men’s Prison Corrections New Zealand prison population violent crime Corrections OfficersNew Zealand Boosts Stem Cell Transplant Services with $27M Investment to Save Lives
3 weeks ago | 140 viewsHealth New Zealand will invest $27.1 million over three years to expand stem cell transplant services, addressing critical delays and increasing capacity by 27–38% to save more lives. This funding supports hiring 79 new staff, expanding hospital beds, upgrading infrastructure, and introducing a digital tool for better transplant scheduling nationwide. These efforts build on a prior $6.11 million boost and aim to provide timely, life-saving treatment for patients with blood cancers and related conditions across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health New Zealand Auckland City Hospital Wellington Regional Hospital Christchurch stem cell transplant allogeneic transplants blood cancers transplant capacity digital toolChristchurch Council Named One-Stop Authority for Large Supermarket Consents
4 weeks ago | 141 viewsThe Christchurch City Council has been appointed as a one-stop consenting authority to streamline approvals for large-scale supermarket developments, reducing the need to navigate multiple councils and processes. This initiative aims to increase competition in a market dominated by Foodstuffs and Woolworths, encouraging new grocery businesses to enter and lower prices for consumers. The service focuses on standalone supermarket buildings over 500m² for non-regulated grocery retailers and complements faster consent processes like MultiProof to enable quicker supermarket construction.
Tags: Christchurch City Council Nicola Willis Foodstuffs Woolworths New Zealand Government MultiProof Regulated Grocery Retailers Kāinga Ora ConsentiumChristchurch City Council Achieves Housing Growth Target, Withdraws Plan Change 14: Minister
1 month ago | 172 viewsThe Christchurch City Council has achieved its Housing Growth Target, allowing it to withdraw part of Plan Change 14, which aimed to update planning rules to facilitate more housing. The Council demonstrated sufficient feasible housing capacity for at least 30 years, exceeding statutory requirements. Ministerial decisions are pending on heritage sites and a special character area, with a focus on removing planning barriers to increase housing supply in the fast-growing city of Christchurch.
Tags: Christchurch City Council Housing Growth Target Plan Change 14 RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop Medium Density Residential Standards National Policy Statement on Urban Development Urbanomics Sense Partners Te Kaha stadiumCanterbury Region State of Local Emergency Terminated by Minister Mitchell
2 months ago | 247 viewsThe Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, Mark Mitchell, has lifted the state of local emergency for most areas in the Canterbury Region, except for Kaikōura District. This decision was made based on advice from the Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Controller. The state of local emergency remains in place for Kaikōura due to ongoing welfare needs and the risk of fires reoccurring, while similar states of emergency continue in the Southland Region and Clutha District.
Tags: Mark Mitchell Canterbury Region Waimakariri District Christchurch City Selwyn District Ashburton District Timaru District Mackenzie District Hurunui District Waimate DistrictAttorney-General Judith Collins Announces High Court & Environment Court Appointments in Christchurch, Auckland, & Wellington
2 months ago | 271 viewsAttorney-General Judith Collins announced High Court and Environment Court appointments for Christchurch, Auckland, and Wellington. Owen Paulsen, a former Associate High Court Judge, has been appointed as a High Court Judge for Christchurch. Helen Wild, with a background in law firms and public service, has been appointed as an Associate High Court Judge for Auckland, while David Caldwell, a seasoned litigator and mediator, will join the Environment Court in Wellington after serving as a partner in various law firms.
Tags: Judith Collins Owen Paulsen Helen Wild David Caldwell High Court Environment Court Christchurch Auckland Wellington Associate High Court JudgeChristchurch Care Residence Upgraded for High Needs Children: Te Oranga Reopens with Therapeutic Focus
2 months ago | 319 viewsTe Oranga Care and Protection Residence in Christchurch is being upgraded and reopened to provide therapeutic, trauma-informed care for children with high and complex needs. Admissions were paused in 2021 due to staffing issues and underinvestment, but the residence will resume operations after undergoing significant infrastructure improvements. Minister Karen Chhour highlights the government's commitment to enhancing care for children, emphasizing the importance of professional standards and investments in facilities to ensure a safe and supportive environment for at-risk youth.
Tags: Christchurch Care and Protection Residence Te Oranga Minister for Children Karen Chhour vulnerable children Oranga Tamariki infrastructure upgrade therapeutic care professional standardsCanterbury to Receive 65+ New Social Homes from Community Housing Providers, Housing Minister Announces
2 months ago | 257 viewsThe Housing Minister announced that more than 65 new social homes will be built in Canterbury by Community Housing Providers (CHPs) as part of the government's commitment to social housing. These homes are part of over 6,800 net new social homes delivered nationwide since November 2023, with 837 in Canterbury, and funding for an additional 2,000 homes over the next two years. The homes in Canterbury will be located in various suburbs and will primarily consist of one- and two-bedroom units to address the high demand for such properties in the region.
Tags: social homes Canterbury Community Housing Providers Housing Minister Chris Bishop Kāinga Ora Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Christchurch Methodist Mission Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust housing register emergency housing.New Zealand's Growing Space and Aviation Sectors: Scale, Ambition, and Global Impact
2 months ago | 301 viewsSpace Minister Judith Collins highlights the growth and global relevance of New Zealand's space and advanced aviation sectors, aiming to double their value by 2030. The sectors have seen significant revenue increases, with space sector revenues reaching $2.68 billion and advanced aviation sector revenue estimated at $530 million in 2024. New Zealand is focused on building a high-tech economy, establishing a world-leading regulatory environment, and developing sovereign space capabilities to address global challenges.
Tags: space advanced aviation sectors ambition global relevance Judith Collins New Zealand Aerospace Summit Christchurch economyChristchurch Hospital's State-of-the-Art Cardiac Lab Upgrade Enhances Care in South Island
2 months ago | 301 viewsThe upgrade of Christchurch Hospital’s cardiac catheterisation laboratory is now complete, with three state-of-the-art labs providing advanced cardiac care services for the South Island. The new facilities offer improved technology, increased capacity, and enhanced resilience, ensuring faster access to treatment and better outcomes for patients across the region. This upgrade establishes Christchurch Hospital as a leading center of excellence in cardiac intervention, delivering cutting-edge care and safeguarding the heart health of New Zealanders in the South Island.
Tags: Christchurch Hospital cardiac care Simeon Brown electrophysiology James Meager heart intervention South Island healthcare technology patients132nd Suffrage Day: Celebrating Progress for Women in New Zealand
3 months ago | 363 viewsMinister for Women Nicola Grigg commemorates the 132nd anniversary of Suffrage Day, celebrating New Zealand's progress for women's rights. The government has made strides in reducing the gender pay gap, promoting women's representation in leadership roles, and improving health outcomes for women and girls. Grigg emphasizes the importance of continuing efforts towards achieving true equality and expresses gratitude to all women and girls for their contributions to New Zealand's advancement.
Tags: Suffrage Day New Zealand Minister for Women Nicola Grigg gender pay gap women's representation public sector boards Free to Lead toolkit health outcomes Christchurch