Articles tagged with Epa
Environmental Protection Authority Chief Executive Dr. Allan Freeth Acknowledged for Decade of Service; Successor Search Begins
20 hours ago | 25 viewsEnvironment Minister Penny Simmonds expressed gratitude for Dr Allan Freeth's ten years of service as Chief Executive of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), highlighting his leadership in implementing new risk assessment models and enhancing scientific expertise to improve decision-making efficiency. Dr Freeth played a key role in the establishment of the Fast-track process, aligning with the government's objective to facilitate prompt and well-informed decisions supporting New Zealand's development. The EPA Board will now initiate the selection process for a new Chief Executive to continue the organization's mission of providing timely, transparent, and reliable assessments for the benefit of the country and its environment.
Tags: Environment Minister Penny Simmonds Dr Allan Freeth Chief Executive Environmental Protection Authority EPA risk assessment models scientific expertise New Zealand EPA BoardNew Zealand Government's Fast-Tracked Hospital Wards Programme Boosts Capacity at 5 Busiest Hospitals in 2026
2 days ago | 57 viewsFive busy hospitals in New Zealand, including Middlemore, Waikato, Wellington Regional, Nelson, and Hawke’s Bay, will receive a total of 140 new beds through the Government’s fast-tracked hospital wards programme by 2026, Health Minister Simeon Brown announces. The wards will be constructed off-site and installed on hospital grounds to quickly boost capacity, improve patient flow, and support faster admissions and discharges. Each hospital's new ward will serve specific roles, such as expanding general medicine capacity, providing assessment and diagnostic services, supporting acute flow, enabling services relocation during seismic work, and streamlining care for short-stay surgical patients.
Tags: Simeon Brown Middlemore Hospital Waikato Hospital Wellington Regional Hospital Nelson Hospital Hawke’s Bay Hospital Health Minister hospital wards programme patient care emergency departmentNew Zealand, Singapore, and Chile Launch Green Economy Partnership Agreement in Korea
4 days ago | 86 viewsPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay, along with their Singaporean and Chilean counterparts, launched negotiations for the Green Economy Partnership Agreement (GEPA) in the Republic of Korea. The agreement aims to boost trade and investment opportunities in the global green economy, estimated to reach US$11 trillion by 2040, by focusing on areas such as sustainable finance, green goods and services, and low emissions fuel alternatives. The negotiations, set to continue until 2026, follow the signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Singapore and underline New Zealand's commitment to meeting climate targets and fostering a greener economy through international collaboration.
Tags: Christopher Luxon Todd McClay New Zealand Singapore Chile Green Economy Partnership Agreement GEPA Republic of Korea trade agreements climate targetsDefending Democracy: The Role of Courts in Upholding the People's Voice
1 week ago | 159 viewsThe speech delivered in the Oxford Union debate argues that courts are undermining democracy due to judicial overreach and challenges to popular will. It emphasizes the importance of democratic principles, separation of powers, and judicial independence in upholding the people's voice in governance. The speaker highlights concerns about judicial activism and the need for prudential leadership to ensure that laws are made by elected representatives, emphasizing the role of parliament as the voice of the people and the importance of defending democracy against current threats.
Tags: Democracy Courts Judicial Overreach Separation of Powers Leadership Judicial Independence New Zealand Parliament Aristotle Winston ChurchillWaitaki District Council to Receive Crown Facilitator for Water Service Plan Amendment
2 weeks ago | 140 viewsA Crown facilitator will assist Waitaki District Council in amending and resubmitting its water service delivery plan under the Local Water Done Well legislation, as requested by the Secretary for Local Government. The focus is on including an assessment of the condition, lifespan, and value of the district's water networks to ensure fair and transparent costs for infrastructure upgrades. The Council must conduct an asset condition assessment and update its plan by June 30, 2026, with the appointment of a Crown facilitator expected by mid-November to provide expertise and tools for this process.
Tags: Waitaki District Council Local Water Done Well Simon Watts Crown facilitator water service delivery plan financial sustainability asset condition assessment infrastructure upgrades ratepayers delivery modelsMinister Brooke van Velden: Passport Processing Efficiency Soars, Wait Times Slashed by 18 Days
3 weeks ago | 145 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 timesPeer Support Workers Enhance Mental Health Crisis Response in Auckland Hospitals
3 weeks ago | 152 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey celebrates the inclusion of peer support workers in North Shore Hospital's Emergency Department, marking the completion of the service's implementation in all major Auckland hospitals. The initiative aims to provide timely and tailored support for individuals in mental distress, enhancing their experience in busy emergency settings. The positive impact of peer support specialists is recognized nationwide, leading to plans for expanding the service across the country to improve mental health outcomes and crisis responses.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister peer support workers North Shore Hospital Emergency Department Auckland hospitals mental distress peer support specialist mental health crisis New Zealand's first Minister for Mental HealthMinister Celebrates Peer Support Workers in Dunedin Hospital to Enhance Mental Health Crisis Care
3 weeks ago | 137 viewsMinister for Mental Health Matt Doocey visited Dunedin Hospital to celebrate the addition of peer support workers in the Emergency Department, emphasizing the benefits of having individuals with lived experience to support those in mental health crisis. The service, already implemented in five other major hospitals, aims to provide individuals with a sense of connection, support, and improved access to ongoing care. The expansion of peer support services across New Zealand is part of the government's commitment to strengthening the mental health workforce and improving crisis response for individuals seeking help.
Tags: Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey peer support workers Dunedin Hospital Emergency Department Life Matters Suicide Trust mental health crisis peer support specialist community services mental health systemRaukūmara Pae Maunga: $6 Million Investment Boosts Indigenous Conservation Efforts
1 month ago | 267 viewsA $6 million investment in the Raukūmara Pae Maunga restoration project aims to strengthen local employment and iwi-led conservation efforts against destructive pests, supported by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. The project, a collaboration between Ngāti Porou, Te-Whānau-ā-Apanui, and the Department of Conservation, focuses on large-scale pest control, forest regeneration, community engagement, and species protection in the Raukūmara Range. Through innovative approaches like DNA surveying and aerial hunting, the project is enhancing conservation efforts and developing a new generation of indigenous conservation leaders, with funding secured until 2028 from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
Tags: Tama Potaka Ngāti Porou Department of Conservation Raukūmara Pae Maunga Conservation Minister Dana Kirkpatrick Caleb Wharepapa Te Papa Atawhai Raukūmara RangeNew Earthquake-Prone Building System: Lowering Costs and Enhancing Safety for Communities
1 month ago | 190 viewsBuilding and Construction Minister Chris Penk announced a shift in the earthquake-prone building system to reduce repair costs and revitalize communities. The current system places a heavy financial burden on building owners, leading to abandoned and unsafe structures. The new risk-based system will focus on high-risk buildings in seismic zones, remove NBS ratings, and provide relief by lowering costs and allowing for extensions to remediation deadlines.
Tags: repair costs communities seismic risk building owners Chris Penk seismic zones New Building Standard remediation deadlines seismic hazard areaAttorney-General Judith Collins Appoints 12 King's Counsel for Exceptional Legal Contributions
1 month ago | 196 viewsAttorney-General Judith Collins announced the appointment of 12 King’s Counsel, primarily recognizing barristers sole for their career excellence or extraordinary contributions to law. Chief Parliamentary Counsel Cassie Nicholson was appointed a KC for her significant legislative drafting contributions. The newly appointed barristers sole, including Brian Dickey, Tiana Epati, and Kevin Glover, have diverse legal expertise and a strong commitment to improving access to justice through pro bono work and community involvement.
Tags: Judith Collins Cassie Nicholson Brian Dickey Tiana Epati Kevin Glover Katie Hogan Sarah Jerebine Paul Keegan Simon Ladd Richard MarchantHealth Minister Announces $20 Million Boost to Emergency Departments Nationwide
1 month ago | 190 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown has announced a $20 million boost for emergency departments nationwide to increase frontline staffing over the next nine months, aiming to reduce wait times and improve patient care. The investment will allow hospitals to recruit more doctors, nurses, and support staff, with a focus on hospitals facing the greatest challenges. This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen healthcare services, improve workforce capacity, and enhance patient access to timely and quality care.
Tags: Emergency departments frontline staffing hospitals Health Minister Simeon Brown New Zealanders doctors nurses support staff Health New Zealand patient careMinister of Internal Affairs Achieves Shortest Citizenship Wait Times in Five Years
1 month ago | 228 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 cultureMajor Nelson Hospital Redevelopment: Enhancing Care for Growing Community
1 month ago | 196 viewsEnabling works for the Nelson Hospital Redevelopment are underway, with preparations being made for major construction, according to Health Minister Simeon Brown. The project, part of a $1 billion investment in hospital infrastructure, aims to provide modern facilities to meet the needs of a growing population. The redevelopment will include increasing points of care by 44, adding a new inpatient building with 128 beds, and expanding the Emergency Department to support urgent care services.
Tags: Nelson Hospital Redevelopment Health Minister Simeon Brown hospital infrastructure modern facilities inpatient building temporary inpatient unit Emergency Department expansion acute care Energy Centre refurbishment.Commerce Minister Scott Simpson Strengthens NZ Partnerships in London
1 month ago | 170 viewsCommerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson is traveling to London to enhance New Zealand's partnerships in insurance, emergency preparedness, and business competition. He aims to showcase New Zealand's leadership in resilience and disaster recovery and strengthen ties with global partners facing similar challenges. The Minister's itinerary includes meetings with key industry players, a briefing at the New Zealand High Commission, and participation in events highlighting the New Zealand-UK relationship, such as the Battle of Britain Service and the Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final.
Tags: Scott Simpson London New Zealand Insurance Emergency preparedness Business competition Resilience Disaster recovery Aon Lloyd's of London