Articles tagged with Efficiency
Government Updates Law for Court Technology Efficiency & Access
2 days ago | 71 viewsCourts Minister Nicole McKee is updating the law to encourage the use of audio and audio-visual links (AVL) in courts for increased efficiency and improved access to justice. The new law will establish default appearance types for court events, promoting consistency in the use of remote participation. Additionally, the legislation will introduce new offences and penalties for unauthorized recordings of court proceedings to protect safety and fair trial rights.
Tags: Courts Minister Nicole McKee Government law court efficiency remote participation justice system Court Rules technology judiciaryMinister Brooke van Velden: Passport Processing Efficiency Soars, Wait Times Slashed by 18 Days
5 days ago | 76 viewsMinister Brooke van Velden announces an 18-day reduction in passport processing wait times under the current government, with standard applications now taking 7 days instead of 25. The Department of Internal Affairs has achieved this efficiency through digital processes, staff training, and identity verification automation. Van Velden emphasizes the government's commitment to improving services for New Zealanders and ensuring timely passport delivery as application volumes are expected to rise.
Tags: Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden passport processing efficiency New Zealanders Government Kiwis families Department of Internal Affairs processing timesNew Board Members Appointed to Strengthen Civil Aviation Authority Leadership
3 weeks ago | 148 viewsAssociate Transport Minister James Meager has appointed Mike Schubert and Peter O’Regan for three-year terms starting in October 2025, along with Mel Templeton whose term begins in May 2026. The new board members bring extensive experience in aviation and governance to strengthen the Civil Aviation Authority's focus on efficiency, performance, and innovation. The Government aims to support sector growth through strong governance, with the refreshed board expected to enhance safety, deliver better outcomes, and provide leadership for the aviation industry.
Tags: James Meager Mike Schubert Peter O’Regan Mel Templeton Jill Hatchwell Charles Spillane CAA Aviation Governance EfficiencyMinister of Internal Affairs Achieves Shortest Citizenship Wait Times in Five Years
3 weeks ago | 168 viewsMinister Brooke van Velden highlights significant improvements in citizenship application processing, with wait times reduced from 180 to 69 days, the shortest in five years. The Department of Internal Affairs prioritized clearing the backlog, resulting in a 70% decrease in the number of people waiting for a decision. Van Velden emphasizes the importance of recognizing and valuing the contributions of those applying for citizenship, acknowledging the efforts and sacrifices made by new Kiwis.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Minister of Internal Affairs citizenship government services efficiency Labour Department of Internal Affairs New Zealand economy cultureGovernment Invests $300 Million in School Infrastructure Upgrades
1 month ago | 210 viewsThe Government is investing approximately $300 million to repair and upgrade 33 schools with challenging property conditions, aiming to provide safe and improved learning environments for children. The initial $87 million investment will address urgent needs in seven schools, with construction set to begin within the next 12 months. Efforts include cost-saving measures, such as modular construction and standardized designs, to deliver efficient and quality solutions, with further tranches of funding planned for future projects.
Tags: Government school infrastructure investment Education Minister Erica Stanford classrooms refurbishment construction efficiency transparency childrenNew Capital Settings Proposals Aim to Boost Competition in New Zealand Banking Sector
1 month ago | 438 viewsFinance Minister Nicola Willis supports the Reserve Bank's consultation on reviewing capital settings for banks and deposit takers to address concerns about impacts on competition, lending costs, and economic growth. The Minister's Financial Policy Remit emphasized the need to balance financial stability with competition, prompting the Bank to consider changes like aligning capital requirements with risk and adjusting overall capital ratio requirements to lower lending rates. The proposed changes aim to benefit smaller players in the market, reduce barriers for new entrants, and create a more competitive environment in the New Zealand banking sector.
Tags: Finance Minister Nicola Willis consultation Reserve Bank capital settings banking industry lending New Zealanders competition efficiencyNew Flexible Insulation Rules to Cut Costs for Designers, Builders, and Homeowners
3 months ago | 899 viewsOverly rigid insulation rules are being removed to ease costs for designers, builders and homeowners, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced. “I’ve heard clearly from the industry that the current one-size-fits-all approach to insulation requirements is needlessly driving-up costs. “The most prescriptive compliance pathway currently available for insulation – known as the Schedule Method – doesn’t allow for design trade-offs that can affect a home’s energy efficiency, like adjusting window size.
Tags: insulation rules designers builders homeowners Chris Penk energy efficiency Building Code Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Far North