Articles tagged with Epa
Government Adds 31 Specialist Mental Health Beds at Manor Park Hospital
2 days ago | 39 viewsThe Government is enhancing mental health support by adding 31 specialist beds at Manor Park Private Hospital, including 15 for adults with complex long-term needs and 16 psychogeriatric beds for secure and transitional care. This expansion aims to provide faster access to appropriate care, reduce hospital stays, ease emergency department pressure, and improve patient outcomes in the Hutt Valley and Capital Coast regions. The initiative is part of a broader mental health plan focused on better infrastructure, more frontline workers, and improved crisis response to deliver compassionate, effective care.
Tags: Matt Doocey Manor Park Private Hospital mental health support psychogeriatric beds Hutt Valley Capital Coast emergency departments mental health plan New Zealand GovernmentNew Zealand Sees Faster Access and Shorter ED Stays in Mental Health Services Q1 2025
3 days ago | 42 viewsNew data for Q1 2025/26 shows significant improvements in New Zealand’s mental health and addiction access targets, with faster access to primary and specialist services and shorter emergency department stays compared to Q1 2024/25. Progress is evident nationally and across Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities, though shorter ED stays remain the biggest challenge, with efforts focused on supporting under-performing health districts. Minister Matt Doocey emphasizes the goal of equitable access to mental health support nationwide, crediting frontline workers for these advancements.
Tags: Matt Doocey New Zealand mental health addiction support emergency departments primary mental health specialist services Māori Pacific peoples Asian communitiesNew Zealand Health Progress: Faster Cancer Care, Immunisations & Shorter Waits
3 days ago | 67 viewsNew Zealand has seen year-on-year improvements in healthcare access, including faster cancer treatment, higher childhood immunisation rates, and shorter waits for surgeries and specialist assessments, despite a busy winter and union strikes. The government’s investments, such as a $604 million boost to Pharmac and the Elective Boost program, have contributed to these gains by delivering new medicines and additional procedures. Health Minister Simeon Brown emphasizes ongoing efforts to ensure timely, quality care for all Kiwis, supported by increased funding and frontline staff.
Tags: Simeon Brown Pharmac New Zealand healthcare workers cancer treatment childhood immunisations elective surgery emergency departments Elective Boost health targetsCheck Your Passport Expiry Now: Renew Early to Beat 2026-27 Rush in NZ
5 days ago | 71 viewsMinister Brooke van Velden urges New Zealanders to check and renew their passports ahead of a predicted surge in applications due to the 10-year passport validity anniversary. Over 1.3 million passports will expire in the next two years, with 622,000 expected to apply for renewal in 2026 and 759,000 in 2027. The Department of Internal Affairs has improved processing times from 25 to 3 days, encouraging travelers to renew passports early via the easy online system.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Minister of Internal Affairs New Zealand passport expiry passport renewal Department of Internal Affairs passport applications 2026 passport expiry 2027 passport expiry passport processing timesNational Wild Goat Hunting Competition Removes 10,349 Goats in NZ This Year
6 days ago | 102 viewsThe National Wild Goat Hunting Competition in New Zealand, now in its third year, has removed over 33,000 wild goats, helping protect native ecosystems through hunter-led conservation. The event, supported by the Department of Conservation, the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association, and sponsors, engaged 863 participants, including many youth, promoting conservation and encouraging outdoor activity. With strong backing from the hunting community and significant prizes, the competition has positively influenced hunter behavior and become a key annual event.
Tags: James Meager National Wild Goat Hunting Competition New Zealand Department of Conservation New Zealand Deerstalkers Association wild goats hunting community hunting sector conservation outcomesLocal Water Done Well: $48B Investment to Upgrade NZ Water Services by 2034
1 week ago | 80 viewsAll councils' water service delivery plans under Local Water Done Well have been assessed, with 76% of New Zealand’s population receiving services through council-controlled organisations (CCOs), addressing affordability challenges. Councils plan to invest nearly $48 billion over the next decade, including an additional $9 billion compared to previous estimates, to upgrade water infrastructure and ensure regulatory compliance after decades of underinvestment. This reform also anticipates the creation of around 9,000 new water industry jobs, balancing the need to fix existing issues while preparing for future population growth.
Tags: Simon Watts Local Water Done Well New Zealand councils water service delivery Department of Internal Affairs water infrastructure water industry jobs Local Government MinisterGovernment Boosts Funding for New Plymouth Crisis Recovery Café
1 week ago | 91 viewsMinister for Mental Health Matt Doocey announced increased government funding for New Plymouth's local crisis recovery café, run by Taranaki Retreat, to provide a calm, peer-led alternative to emergency departments for those in mental distress. This investment is part of a broader mental health plan that includes expanding peer support roles and establishing new crisis recovery cafés nationwide by June 2026. The initiative aims to deliver faster access to support, more frontline workers, and improved crisis response through community-based solutions.
Tags: Matt Doocey Taranaki Retreat New Plymouth New Zealand Minister for Mental Health peer support workers crisis recovery café emergency departments mental health GovernmentNew Compassionate Stillbirth Registration Process Launched for Grieving Parents
2 weeks ago | 110 viewsThe Government is improving the stillbirth registration process to be more compassionate and supportive for grieving parents, moving away from the standard online form designed for live births. Health NZ and the Department of Internal Affairs are collaborating to enable registrations through the Whetūrangitia website, which offers a culturally safe and sensitive experience tailored to families experiencing baby loss. This initiative aims to provide dignity, care, and appropriate support during a traumatic time, benefiting the hundreds of families affected by perinatal loss annually in New Zealand.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister Health NZ Department of Internal Affairs Whetūrangitia stillbirth registration perinatal loss miscarriage grieving parents New Zealand governmentGovernment to Introduce Rates Cap Limiting Council Increases to 4% from 2027
2 weeks ago | 105 viewsThe Government will introduce a rates cap limiting annual council rates increases to between 2 and 4 percent per capita, aiming to control rising household costs while ensuring councils can maintain essential services. The cap will apply from January 2027 with a transition period for councils to adapt, and a regulator will oversee exceptions for extreme circumstances or justified revenue needs. Legislation will be finalized by early 2026, with the full regulatory framework implemented by mid-2029, including ongoing monitoring and reporting requirements for councils.
Tags: Simon Watts Government Local Government Minister councils rates cap rates increases household budgets Local Government Act Department of Internal Affairs regulatorNew Zealand's New Wastewater Standards Cut Costs and Protect the Environment
3 weeks ago | 140 viewsNew Zealand’s new national wastewater environmental performance standards will streamline consenting processes for over 330 treatment plants, cutting costs by up to 40-60 percent and saving councils and ratepayers up to $830 million over 35 years. The standards use a risk-based approach to ensure strong environmental protection while enabling cost-effective solutions, addressing aging infrastructure and reducing unnecessary delays and over-engineering. Developed through extensive consultation, these flexible standards aim to ease ratepayer financial pressure, improve transparency, and support sustainable wastewater management starting December 2025.
Tags: Simon Watts New Zealand wastewater standards local government ratepayers environmental performance consenting costs councils infrastructure upgrades Taumata ArowaiNew Zealand Local Government Reform: Simplifying City Planning & Regional Management
3 weeks ago | 110 viewsThe Government proposes major reforms to simplify local government by abolishing regional councils and replacing them with Combined Territories Boards composed of mayors, aiming to reduce duplication, costs, and complexity while enhancing accountability and regional collaboration. These Boards would lead locally-driven regional reorganisation plans to improve service delivery, infrastructure, and governance, with plans evaluated against criteria including financial responsibility, national priorities, local representation, and Treaty commitments. Consultation is open until February 2026, with the goal of establishing a more efficient, streamlined local government system that better serves communities and supports sustainable growth.
Tags: New Zealand government local government reform Mr Bishop Mr Watts regional councils Combined Territories Boards regional reorganisation resource management reforms Treaty settlements Department of Internal AffairsNew Zealand Adds Feral Cats to Predator Free 2050 to Protect Wildlife
4 weeks ago | 130 viewsThe Government is adding feral cats to the Predator Free 2050 target list to better protect native wildlife, supported by over 90% of public submissions. This inclusion will enhance national coordination, funding access, research, and conservation efforts against feral cats, which threaten native species and spread diseases like toxoplasmosis. Domestic cats are excluded from this target, with emphasis on responsible pet ownership, while further strategy details will be released in March 2026.
Tags: Tama Potaka Predator Free 2050 feral cats Department of Conservation Aotearoa New Zealand toxoplasmosis pukunui southern dotterel OhakuneNew Zealand Launches Secure Digital Credential Platform for Government Agencies
1 month ago | 185 viewsNew Zealand company MATTR will develop a shared digital credential platform managed by the Department of Internal Affairs to enable government agencies to issue secure digital identities through a Government App. This initiative aims to simplify identity verification, reduce paperwork, enhance privacy and security, and improve convenience for users, with agencies like MBIE trialing the system for business credentials. By standardizing digital identity services across agencies, the government expects cost savings, greater efficiency, and a more consistent experience for citizens.
Tags: Judith Collins MATTR Department of Internal Affairs Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment New Zealand Government App digital credentials digital identity services New Zealand Business Number public sectorGovernment Commits $75M to Enhance New Zealand's Infectious Disease Resilience
1 month ago | 155 viewsThe Government is investing $75 million to enhance New Zealand's resilience to infectious diseases and pandemic preparedness through the Infectious Diseases Research Platform hosted by PHF Science. This initiative aims to deepen pandemic preparedness, reduce exposure to future pandemics, and build an agile research and response system. The investment reflects the Government's commitment to long-term, impactful research in collaboration with key health sector stakeholders.
Tags: Government New Zealand infectious diseases pandemic preparedness Minister of Science Innovation and Technology Dr Shane Reti research Public Health and Forensic Science PHF ScienceGovernment Boosts Crisis Response with $61.6M Investment in Mental Health Services
1 month ago | 213 viewsMinister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has announced a $61.6 million funding boost to improve crisis response services, including adding 40 frontline clinical staff for crisis assessment teams nationwide, establishing two new peer-led acute alternative services, and expanding peer support in emergency departments and Crisis Recovery Cafés. The initiative aims to reduce wait times for crisis assessment and inpatient beds, provide more choice and quicker support for those in mental health distress, and enhance the peer support workforce. This investment complements previous efforts, such as the roll-out of mental health co-response teams and improving crisis helpline capacity, to ensure timely and effective support for individuals reaching out for help.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Crisis Response Peer Support Frontline Workers Crisis Recovery Cafés Budget 2025 Clinical Staff Emergency Departments Crisis Assessment Teams