Articles tagged with Employment
Government Amends Law to Ensure Fair Treatment of ACC and Welfare Payments
2 days ago | 65 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
3 days ago | 104 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 ZealandChamberWorks Launches to Boost Kiwi Employment with MSD and Chambers Partnership
3 days ago | 82 viewsSocial Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston announced the launch of ChamberWorks, a partnership between the Ministry of Social Development and New Zealand Chambers of Commerce, aimed at helping businesses with recruitment and increasing employment. The initiative addresses employers' recruitment challenges by aligning workforce needs with job seekers and leveraging MSD's extensive talent pipeline and training resources. ChamberWorks will operate nationally across 23 chambers, collaborating on workforce plans and opportunities to support businesses and get more Kiwis into work.
Tags: Louise Upston ChamberWorks Ministry of Social Development MSD New Zealand Chambers of Commerce Social Development Employment New Zealand job placements recruitmentMSD Traffic Light System Boosts Jobseeker Responsibility and Employment Outcomes
5 days ago | 105 viewsAn evaluation of New Zealand's traffic light system, introduced in August 2024, shows that 90% of MSD clients find it helpful for understanding their job search obligations, with nearly 99% fulfilling these responsibilities and a 10.6% decrease in sanctions. The system aims to reset welfare expectations, incentivize employment over dependency, and is supported by increased frontline services, job coaching, and incentives like a $1000 bonus for young people securing and maintaining work. The government remains committed to reducing Jobseeker Support recipients by 50,000 by 2030 through a fair, firm, and simple welfare approach that helps jobseekers be proactive and seize employment opportunities.
Tags: Louise Upston Ministry of Social Development MSD Government traffic light system welfare system Jobseeker Support New Zealand employment social developmentNew Insights Reveal Why and How New Zealanders Travel Domestically in 2025
1 week ago | 130 viewsThe new Domestic Visitor Survey, conducted in late 2025, reveals that three in five New Zealanders took overnight trips and nearly half took day trips in the previous six months, with main motivations being visiting family and relaxation. Domestic tourism accounts for about 60% of New Zealand's tourism expenditure, making these insights crucial for industry planning and responding to travel trends, especially as international visitor numbers recover post-COVID. The survey highlights high trip satisfaction, common planning methods, and barriers like cost and weather, with further data releases planned to support ongoing tourism development.
Tags: Louise Upston New Zealand Domestic Visitor Survey Tourism Hospitality Verian Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Tourism Evidence and Insights Centre Covid CensusGovernment Introduces Bill to Clarify ACC Payments Impact on Welfare Entitlement
2 weeks ago | 192 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 PaymentEmployment Relations Amendment Bill Passed: Boosting Business Confidence & Worker Flexibility
2 weeks ago | 154 viewsThe Employment Relations Amendment Bill has passed its third reading, introducing reforms to enhance business confidence and create more job opportunities by clarifying contractor vs employee status and setting a $200,000 income threshold for unjustified dismissal claims. The Bill removes the 30-day rule to allow workers and employers to negotiate agreements from day one and ensures accountability for serious misconduct without rewarding employees financially. These changes aim to rebalance employment relations, providing more choice for businesses and workers, with most provisions taking effect immediately after Royal assent.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Employment Relations Amendment Bill Workplace Relations and Safety Minister employment law contractor vs employee unjustified dismissal employment agreements business confidence workplace reforms Royal assentKiwi Tradies Gain Easier Access to Thousands of Australian Plumbing Products
3 weeks ago | 194 viewsNew Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has expanded recognition of thousands of Australian WaterMark-certified plumbing and drainage products, simplifying their use by Kiwi tradies and homeowners. This change, enabled by the Overseas Building Products Amendment Bill, reduces red tape by allowing Building Consent Authorities to accept these products as compliant without individual assessments, improving supply chain resilience and lowering costs. MBIE plans to continue reviewing overseas products, enhancing access to essential building materials like plasterboard, cladding, windows, and doors to support housing affordability and construction efficiency.
Tags: Chris Penk Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment MBIE WaterMark Building Act Overseas Building Products Amendment Bill Building Consent Authorities New Zealand Australia tradiesSouth Taranaki Green Hydrogen Facility Begins Construction with $19.9M Funding
1 month ago | 238 viewsConstruction has begun on a sustainable green hydrogen facility in South Taranaki, supported by a $19.9 million government investment and additional co-funding, with a total project cost of up to $112.3 million. The facility will supply renewable electricity to Ballance Agri-Nutrients' Kapuni site and produce green hydrogen for emissions-free transport, creating around 50 construction jobs and seven permanent roles. This project, a partnership between multiple organizations, aims to boost the regional economy by integrating wind energy, renewable electricity, and zero-carbon hydrogen fuel production at scale.
Tags: Shane Jones Hiringa Energy Parininihi ki Waitōtara Todd Regional Development Minister Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Provincial Growth Fund South Taranaki New ZealandNew Zealand Job Growth Boosts Economy as Unemployment Rate Slightly Rises
1 month ago | 228 viewsFinance Minister Nicola Willis highlights that an additional 15,000 people gained jobs in New Zealand in the last quarter of the year, alongside increased hours worked and job-seeking activity, indicating a growing economy. Although the unemployment rate rose slightly to 5.4%, it remains below Treasury forecasts, with expectations of a future decline as economic recovery continues. Additionally, the proportion of young people not in education, training, or employment decreased, reflecting positive outcomes from government efforts to support business growth and employment.
Tags: Nicola Willis New Zealand Finance Minister Stats NZ unemployment rate Treasury economy employment youth employment business confidenceGovernment-Funded Driver Licence Training Boosts Job Opportunities in New Zealand
1 month ago | 221 viewsThe Government-funded Driver Licence Support programme in New Zealand is exceeding targets, with over 21,000 enrolments and more than 34,000 licences issued since 2023, helping job seekers gain essential driving skills. Having a driver licence is crucial for about 70% of jobs, enabling individuals to secure employment, support their families, and achieve independence, as illustrated by success stories like a young woman obtaining a traffic management job. The programme, with an 82% pass rate and significant youth participation, contributes to safer, stronger communities by improving employment opportunities and mobility.
Tags: Louise Upston New Zealand Driver Licence Support MSD Jobseeker Support Fulton Hogan Social Development Employment Driver Licence YouthGovernment Activates Temporary Accommodation Service for North Island Weather Victims
1 month ago | 263 viewsThe Government’s Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) has been activated to support people displaced by recent severe weather in parts of the North Island. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is coordinating with emergency agencies, local councils, and communities to provide safe accommodation and additional support services, including social, mental health, and financial assistance. Those affected are encouraged to register for temporary accommodation through the TAS website or phone line, though registration numbers are not yet confirmed.
Tags: Tama Potaka Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment MBIE Temporary Accommodation Service Civil Defence Emergency Management National Emergency Management Agency Northland Coromandel Bay of Plenty TairāwhitiMinister Louise Upston Encourages Timaru Employers to Hire Local Jobseekers with MSD Support
1 month ago | 321 viewsMinister Louise Upston encouraged Timaru employers to prioritize hiring jobseekers and highlighted how the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) supports businesses by matching them with skilled and suitable candidates. MSD collaborates closely with local employers like Fonterra to understand their workforce needs and build trust by connecting them with ready-to-work talent from a large pool of jobseekers. She emphasized that recruitment through MSD is about unlocking potential and creating lasting opportunities, urging employers of all sizes to engage with MSD for workforce solutions.
Tags: Louise Upston Ministry of Social Development MSD Timaru Fonterra Jobseekers Employment Social Development Workforce RecruitmentNew Zealand Allows Granny Flats Without Building or Resource Consents for Affordable Housing
1 month ago | 302 viewsNew Zealand has removed the need for building and resource consents for granny flats up to 70 square metres, simplifying the process and reducing costs by up to $5,650 and 14 weeks. This change, part of the Coalition Government’s housing reforms, aims to increase affordable and diverse housing options while boosting construction jobs and easing council workloads. Homeowners must ensure their granny flats meet Building Code standards and local council rules, with guidance and templates available from government websites.
Tags: Chris Bishop Shane Jones Chris Penk New Zealand Coalition Government RMA Reform Building Act National Direction Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Ministry for the Environment$200M Gas Security Fund Opens Jan 12, 2026 to Boost NZ Natural Gas Supply
2 months ago | 389 viewsThe $200 million Gas Security Fund, opening on 12 January 2026, aims to increase natural gas availability in New Zealand by supporting projects that accelerate supply or enable storage for critical demand periods. Declining gas production is raising costs and hindering economic growth, making natural gas essential during the transition to renewable energy sources. A new gas advisory panel will provide expert guidance to ministers, ensuring informed decisions amid the complexities of gas exploration and market conditions.
Tags: Shane Jones Chris Bishop Gas Security Fund New Zealand natural gas Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Kānoa Grow Regions gas exploration energy transition