Articles tagged with Epa
Join the 2026 National Wild Goat Hunting Competition to Protect NZ Landscapes
2 days ago | 89 viewsHunting and Fishing Minister James Meager urges Kiwis to participate in the National Wild Goat Hunting Competition to help control wild goat populations and protect New Zealand’s native landscapes. Since its 2023 launch, the competition has removed over 33,000 goats and encourages conservation through hunter-led efforts, offering prizes and involving hunters of all ages. Running from August to November 2026, the event is a collaborative initiative between the Department of Conservation, the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association, landowners, and sponsors.
Tags: James Meager New Zealand National Wild Goat Hunting Competition wild goats conservation hunters Department of Conservation New Zealand Deerstalkers Association hunting landownersGovernment Achieves Early Training Target for 10,000 Frontline Family Violence Workers
3 days ago | 80 viewsThe government has achieved its target of training 10,000 frontline workers in family and sexual violence prevention nearly six months ahead of schedule, enhancing support for victim/survivors. Key agencies including NZ Police, Oranga Tamariki, Department of Corrections, Ministry of Justice, and ACC have delivered training aligned with workforce capability frameworks to improve recognition, response, and referral skills. Ongoing efforts include specialized training for court staff, extensive Corrections staff training, and revamped Police recruit courses to sustain and expand these capabilities through 2026.
Tags: Karen Chhour Te Aorerekura NZ Police Oranga Tamariki Ministry of Justice Department of Corrections ACC family violence sexual violence frontline workersGovernment and Community Fund $950K to Boost Youth Education and Employment in Waikato
1 week ago | 148 viewsThe Waikato Region will benefit from joint Government and community funding initiatives to support over 400 young people in education, leadership, and employment pathways. The Hauraki Māori Trust Board received $316,000 (matched to $632,000) for a two-year early intervention program aiding 320 students' transition to high school, while the Raukawa Charitable Trust got $120,000 to run employability and education programs for 80 youth. Youth Minister James Meager emphasized that these partnerships leverage local knowledge to provide tailored support, align with government targets, and enhance opportunities without extra taxpayer cost.
Tags: James Meager Waikato Region Hauraki Māori Trust Board Youth Development Partnership Raukawa Charitable Trust Len Reynolds Trust Ministry of Youth Development Department of Internal Affairs youth employment education pathwaysHealth NZ to Offer 1800 Graduate Nurse Roles Nationwide in 2024
1 week ago | 167 viewsHealth New Zealand plans to offer around 1800 graduate nurse roles in the coming year to strengthen the nursing workforce with locally trained professionals. Last year, 1716 offers were made, resulting in 1845 graduate nurses employed across various health sectors, including hospitals, primary care, and community services. Recruitment will continue nationwide throughout the year, covering diverse specialties and supporting nurses into frontline, primary, and community care roles.
Tags: Health New Zealand Simeon Brown graduate nurse roles nursing workforce registered nurses enrolled nurses primary care community services emergency departments mental health servicesFirst H5 Bird Flu Case Detected in New Zealand Seabird; Public Advised to Stay Alert
2 weeks ago | 184 viewsA brown skua found on Petone beach in Wellington tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza strain, marking New Zealand's first detection of this globally circulating bird flu, though there is no evidence of wider spread or poultry infection. Authorities, including MPI and the Department of Conservation, are closely monitoring the situation, urging the public to report groups of sick or dead birds without handling them, while continuing biosecurity measures and vaccination programs for endangered native birds. New Zealand remains prepared to protect poultry production and wildlife, emphasizing that eggs and poultry meat are safe to eat and maintaining ongoing surveillance and industry collaboration.
Tags: Andrew Hoggard Biosecurity Minister Ministry for Primary Industries Department of Conservation Health New Zealand Poultry Council kākāpō takahē kakī kākāriki karakaGisborne Opens New Crisis Recovery Café for Mental Health Support
3 weeks ago | 299 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey officially opened Gisborne’s new Crisis Recovery Café, a safe, non-clinical space where people experiencing mental health and addiction challenges can receive peer support and connect with community services without a referral. The café, run by Te Kupenga Net Trust, operates weekdays and aims to provide an alternative to emergency departments, emphasizing the importance of wraparound support and peer workers who understand lived experiences. This initiative is part of a broader rollout of eight Crisis Recovery Cafés nationwide to improve mental health support through trusted community organizations.
Tags: Matt Doocey Te Kupenga Net Trust Gisborne Crisis Recovery Café Te Kāuta café Mental Health Minister Tairāwhiti peer support emergency departments addiction challengesNew Zealand Councils Achieve Major Milestone with Approved Water Services Plans
1 month ago | 330 viewsAll mainland New Zealand councils now have approved water services delivery plans under Local Water Done Well, marking significant progress toward more reliable and financially sustainable water services. Regional water organisations, such as Southern Water and others, are being established to improve efficiency, expertise, and access to finance, with five already operating and thirteen more expected soon, covering three-quarters of New Zealanders. The Government has repealed the previous Three Waters policy, returned water assets to local communities, and implemented regulatory reforms to reduce costs and enhance service delivery, with continued oversight by the new Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport.
Tags: Simon Watts Amy Adams Waitaki District Council Local Water Done Well Southern Water Waikato Waters Tiaki Wai Selwyn Water Department of Internal Affairs Ministry of Cities Environment Regions and TransportNew Zealand Unifies AML/CFT Regulation Under DIA to Combat Financial Crime
1 month ago | 301 viewsNew Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has become the sole regulator for anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), consolidating oversight of about 6,100 reporting entities to provide clearer guidance and reduce compliance burdens. The government has passed multiple reform bills and launched a four-year AML/CFT National Strategy (2026–2030) aimed at making it easier to do business while targeting organized crime and fraud. An industry levy, starting in July 2027 and designed with sector input, will help fund enhanced intelligence sharing, supervision, and regulatory administration to strengthen New Zealand’s ability to detect and disrupt money laundering.
Tags: Nicole McKee Department of Internal Affairs New Zealand Financial Markets Authority Reserve Bank Ministry of Justice Financial Intelligence Unit organised crimeTaranaki Base Hospital New East Wing Opens, Boosting Patient Care and Capacity
1 month ago | 359 viewsThe New East Wing of Taranaki Base Hospital has officially opened, marking a major milestone in the $462.6 million redevelopment to modernize healthcare services in the region. This new facility significantly expands capacity by 57%, integrating emergency, intensive care, maternity, diagnostics, and an Acute Assessment Unit to improve patient flow and treatment speed. The redevelopment also includes enhanced infrastructure like a rooftop helipad and an Integrated Operations Centre, ensuring better coordination and future-proofing healthcare delivery for Taranaki residents.
Tags: Simeon Brown Matt Doocey Taranaki Base Hospital New East Wing healthcare redevelopment emergency department maternity services neonatal unit Acute Assessment Unit hospital expansionNew Zealand Health System Improves with Faster Treatment and Shorter Waits
1 month ago | 298 viewsNew Zealand's health system has shown continuous improvement across all five Government health targets, with more people receiving timely treatments and shorter wait times for elective procedures, specialist assessments, and cancer care. Key metrics such as childhood immunisation rates, emergency department stays, and volumes of care delivered have all increased compared to the previous year, reflecting steady progress in planned care, cancer services, and prevention. Health Minister Simeon Brown emphasizes that these results demonstrate the effectiveness of the Government’s focus on accountability and patient-centered care, signaling positive momentum toward a better and faster health system for New Zealanders.
Tags: Simeon Brown New Zealand Health Minister elective treatment specialist assessment childhood immunisation emergency departments cancer treatment health targets government health systemTe Here ā Nuku Bill Returns 3000 Hectares of Land to Original Owners in NZ
1 month ago | 327 viewsThe Te Here ā Nuku (Nelson Tenths) Bill is being introduced to Parliament to return approximately 3,000 hectares of land in the South Island to its rightful owners, resolving a historic trust law issue dating back to the 1840s. The Bill enables the legal transfer of land held by the Crown in trust to the Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust, while allowing the Crown to lease back some land for public use, including key conservation areas. This resolution, distinct from Treaty settlements, addresses a private law matter and corrects a longstanding injustice over land ownership.
Tags: Te Here ā Nuku Nelson Tenths Chris Bishop Tama Potaka Crown Department of Conservation Abel Tasman Great Walk Kaiteretere Treaty of WaitangiNew Zealand Prepares for Bird Flu Arrival: Biosecurity Measures and Safety Tips
1 month ago | 425 viewsNew Zealand is actively preparing for the potential arrival of the H5N1 bird flu strain, collaborating across government agencies and local councils while urging the public to adopt strong biosecurity measures. Recent detections of the virus in migratory seabirds in Western Australia highlight the risk, prompting close monitoring and communication with Australian authorities. Citizens are advised to watch for signs of illness in birds, maintain cleanliness, avoid contact with wild birds, and report multiple sick or dead birds to authorities, with the human health risk currently assessed as low.
Tags: Andrew Hoggard Biosecurity Minister Ministry for Primary Industries Department of Conservation Ministry of Health Health New Zealand H5N1 bird flu avian influenza Australian authorities$14.1M Boost for Predator Control to Protect Native Wildlife in NZ National Parks
1 month ago | 350 viewsNew Zealand’s Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced a $14.1 million boost from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy to expand predator control efforts across key South Island national parks and valleys. This funding will help protect native wildlife such as mohua, kiwi, and kea from increased threats due to a major beech mast that has fueled predator population growth. The Department of Conservation will implement its largest predator control program ever, covering over one million hectares using aerial 1080 and trapping methods to safeguard biodiversity and support New Zealand’s predator-free goal.
Tags: Tama Potaka mohua kākāriki karaka piwauwau pekapeka whio kea kiwi Department of Conservation International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy$2M Boost to Double Wasp Control in New Zealand's Visitor Hotspots and Biodiversity Sites
1 month ago | 371 viewsThe New Zealand government is doubling wasp control efforts in visitor hotspots and priority biodiversity sites with a $2 million boost from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, aiming to expand the Wasp Wipeout program nationwide. This program targets harmful introduced German and common wasps, which significantly damage native species and cost the economy over $130 million annually, by providing bait and technical support to community groups. The increased funding will enable treatment of 60,000 hectares annually, improve coordination and research, and help restore native ecosystems by reducing wasp populations.
Tags: Tama Potaka Wasp Wipeout International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy Department of Conservation New Zealand Vespula wasps German wasps biodiversity invasive species native birdsMinister Brooke van Velden Calls for Review of Fire and Emergency NZ Funding Model
1 month ago | 368 viewsMinister Brooke van Velden has requested the Department of Internal Affairs to review the current insurance levy system funding Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), as 95% of its income comes from property insurance levies established in 1975. Given FENZ's expanded role beyond fire-related incidents to include medical emergencies and disasters, and the fact that only 59% of recent incidents were fire-related, there are concerns about the fairness and suitability of the existing funding model. The review will explore potential improvements and alternatives, considering issues like free-riding and implementation feasibility, without affecting the new levy rates set from July 2026.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Fire and Emergency New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs Fire Service levy Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 insurance levy FENZ fire incidents levy payers