Articles tagged with Ite

Tukituki Water Security Project Begins Pre-Construction in Hawkes Bay with $18M Loan

7 hours ago | 67 views

The Tukituki Water Security Project in Hawkes Bay will begin pre-construction work supported by an $18.13 million loan from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to enhance water storage and security. The project aims to enable irrigation of up to 22,000 hectares, create 300 construction jobs, and boost the region’s annual GDP by up to $693 million by supporting horticulture, seed production, and pastoral farming. By storing 104 million cubic meters of water, the facility will address water scarcity in one of New Zealand’s driest regions, promoting long-term economic growth and resilience.

Tags: Mark Patterson Tukituki Water Security Project Hawkes Bay Regional Infrastructure Fund water storage irrigation economic development food production water security Tukituki Water Limited Partnership

WTO Ministerial Conference: New Zealand Advances Digital Trade and Fuel Talks

6 days ago | 80 views

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay concluded his role as Vice Chair at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, where members agreed on the need to modernize the WTO despite failing to finalize reforms and extend the tariff ban on digital trade. Significant progress was made with 66 WTO members agreeing to implement a new Electronic Commerce Agreement, banning tariffs on digital trade flows and benefiting small businesses and exporters. McClay also engaged with international counterparts on critical fuel supply chains and continues to push for limiting fisheries and agricultural subsidies to improve exporters' returns.

Tags: Todd McClay Damien O'Connor World Trade Organization New Zealand United States India China European Union Saudi Arabia Singapore

New Zealand Lowers Bowel Screening Age to 58, Expands Lifesaving Tests

1 week ago | 187 views

New Zealand has lowered the starting age for bowel screening from 60 to 58 across most regions, enabling around 40,000 more people to access early detection and potentially preventing hundreds of cancers and deaths over 25 years. The rollout is staged to ensure sufficient workforce and endoscopy capacity, with the FIT for Symptomatic pathway expanding nationwide to help detect bowel cancer earlier in symptomatic individuals and reduce unnecessary colonoscopies by at least 30%. These initiatives aim to improve cancer diagnostics and care, supporting earlier detection and better prioritization of patients to save more lives.

Tags: Simeon Brown New Zealand MidCentral Australia Auckland Counties Manukau Waitematā Waikato Hawke's Bay

Government Approves Infrastructure Levy to Build 1,500 New Homes at Te Awa Lakes

2 weeks ago | 170 views

The Government has approved the use of an Infrastructure Funding and Financing (IFF) Act Levy to support the construction of around 1,500 new homes in the Te Awa Lakes development near Hamilton by funding up to $50 million in water and roading infrastructure. The IFF Act enables infrastructure costs to be financed through a Special Purpose Vehicle that charges levies to benefiting homeowners, bypassing local government borrowing constraints and allowing growth to pay for growth. Additionally, the Government is enhancing the IFF Act and supporting developments like Te Awa Lakes with the Greenfield Model to reduce financing costs and promote affordable housing growth.

Tags: Chris Bishop Te Awa Lakes Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act Hamilton City Council New Zealand Government Housing Minister IFF Act Levy Greenfield Model National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Limited Coalition Government

Renewed Oil and Gas Prospecting in Canterbury Basin Boosts NZ Energy Outlook

2 weeks ago | 314 views

A new prospecting permit application by CBX Energy Limited in the offshore Canterbury Basin reflects renewed confidence in New Zealand’s oil and gas sector, aiming to conduct technical and economic studies for basin development. The Canterbury Basin is a promising but underexplored area with potential hydrocarbons, offering opportunities to enhance domestic energy resources and economic growth. New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals is accepting competing applications until June 24, prioritizing them under the Minerals Programme for Petroleum 2025, with decisions expected later this year.

Tags: Canterbury Basin New Zealand Shane Jones CBX Energy Limited NZP&M petroleum prospecting permit offshore exploration oil and gas Crown Minerals Act 1991 Minerals Programme for Petroleum 2025

New Child Mental Health Service Opens in Counties Manukau for Faster Youth Support

2 weeks ago | 148 views

A new dedicated child mental health service, Te Ooritetanga oo ngaa Ratonga moo ngaa Tamariki, has been launched in Counties Manukau to provide faster access and early intervention for young people up to intermediate school age facing moderate to severe mental health challenges. This specialist team, part of the Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, includes a range of professionals and aims to support the region's rapidly growing youth population with wraparound care. Funded by an $18.7 million government investment, the initiative is part of a broader plan to expand the mental health workforce and improve crisis response to prevent youth from falling through the cracks.

Tags: Matt Doocey Counties Manukau Te Ooritetanga oo ngaa Ratonga moo ngaa Tamariki ICAMHS child mental health youth suicide New Zealand Mental Health Minister Health NZ whānau workers

Fast-Track Approval Granted for New Zealand’s Green Steel Manufacturing Plant

2 weeks ago | 308 views

National Green Steel Limited’s structural steel manufacturing plant in Hampton Downs, Waikato, has been approved through the Fast-track process, aiming to produce 200,000 tonnes of recycled steel annually using low-carbon electric arc furnace technology. The project will reduce steel imports, enable local recycling of scrap metal, create about 200 skilled jobs, and support New Zealand’s infrastructure development by strengthening supply chains. This is the 13th project approved under Fast-track and the first infrastructure project involving steel manufacturing, reflecting industry readiness to invest in sustainable infrastructure solutions.

Tags: Mr Bishop Mr Jones Mr Watts National Green Steel Limited New Zealand Green Steel Hampton Downs Waikato Auckland

NZ Customs Minister Casey Costello to Attend Global Fraud Summit in Europe

3 weeks ago | 213 views

Customs and Associate Police Minister Casey Costello will attend the Global Fraud Summit in Vienna to address the growing issue of fraud, which is a prevalent crime in New Zealand linked to international organized crime and money laundering. The summit, hosted by INTERPOL and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, emphasizes the need for international cooperation to combat transnational fraud. After the summit, Minister Costello will visit Geneva and London for meetings related to her Customs, Police, and Health responsibilities.

Tags: Casey Costello New Zealand INTERPOL UN Office on Drugs and Crime Global Fraud Summit London Vienna United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Red Cross Red Crescent

New Zealand’s Commitment to Pacific Partnership and Media Connectivity at PCBL 10th Anniversary

3 weeks ago | 200 views

The speech celebrates the 10th anniversary of Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) and emphasizes New Zealand’s strong commitment to the Pacific region through partnership, democratic governance, and regional connectivity. It highlights New Zealand’s efforts in supporting infrastructure, digital transformation, media freedom, and people-to-people connections, including visa cost reductions to enhance travel and collaboration. Amid increasing geopolitical challenges, New Zealand reaffirms its principled support for Pacific sovereignty, regionalism, and the Pacific Way, aiming to foster unity and resilience ahead of hosting the Pacific Islands Forum in 2027.

Tags: Brent Impey Natasha Melesia New Zealand Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited Pacific Islands Forum Kiribati Pasifika TV Pacific Reset Pacific Way Pacific Islands Forum 2027

New Zealand Passes Bill to Digitise Secondary Legislation Access and Services

3 weeks ago | 192 views

The Legislation Amendment Bill, recently passed in Parliament, aims to improve access to secondary legislation by standardizing its publication across all agencies. It addresses current difficulties in finding regulations and other legal materials by creating a single, redeveloped New Zealand Legislation website as a one-stop access point. This digital modernization will help individuals and businesses better understand their legal obligations and reduce compliance costs.

Tags: Judith Collins New Zealand Legislation Amendment Bill secondary legislation government services Parliament digital government compliance New Zealand Legislation website

Government Appoints Crown Review Team to Investigate Moa Point Wastewater Failure

3 weeks ago | 236 views

The Government has established the Crown Review Team, led by Raveen Jaduram and supported by legal and engineering experts, to investigate the catastrophic failure at Moa Point wastewater treatment plant and ensure it does not recur. The team will conduct a coordinated investigation for both Wellington City Council and Wellington Water Ltd, delivering interim and final reports by August 2026, with findings expected before the transfer of water assets to Tiaki Wai Limited. Local Government Minister Simon Watts emphasized transparency, coordination with Greater Wellington Regional Council’s regulatory activities, and the public release of findings while managing legal and enforcement risks.

Tags: Simon Watts Raveen Jaduram Helen Atkins Michael Weatherall Garry Macdonald Wellington City Council Wellington Water Ltd Tiaki Wai Limited Greater Wellington Regional Council Watercare

Sunfield Masterplanned Community Approved: 3,854 Homes Boost Auckland Growth

3 weeks ago | 221 views

The Sunfield Masterplanned Community in Auckland, approved through the Fast-track system, will deliver approximately 3,854 new homes, a town centre, healthcare services, retirement villages, and extensive green spaces, generating up to $3.2 billion for the economy and creating thousands of jobs. The approval process took 10 months, with concerns about infrastructure capacity addressed through development design and consent conditions ensuring growth funds its own infrastructure needs. This project marks the seventh housing development approved via Fast-track, highlighting the system’s effectiveness in accelerating major projects to support housing supply, jobs, and growth in Auckland.

Tags: Shane Jones Sunfield Winton Land Limited Auckland Arataki Homestead Bay Drury Metropolitan Centre Maitahi Village Milldale

New Crane Dredging Barge to Boost Access and Resilience for NZ’s Small Ports

4 weeks ago | 223 views

New Zealand is investing $8 million through the Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund to co-fund a purpose-built crane dredging barge aimed at improving access to smaller ports that are often cut off during natural disasters. This new, cost-effective equipment will enable timely dredging of regional ports, ensuring essential supplies can be delivered by sea when road and rail links are disrupted. The $12.9 million barge, co-funded by Johnson Bros Limited, will be operational by late 2027 to enhance nationwide resilience and support community recovery.

Tags: James Meager New Zealand Whanganui Port Cyclone Gabrielle Greymouth Ōpōtiki Johnson Bros Limited Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund Northland Transport Minister

Three New District Court Judges Appointed for Kaikohe, Manukau, and Napier

1 month ago | 242 views

Attorney-General Judith Collins announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges—Rohan Cochrane, Lynn Hughes, and Derek Whitehead—who will assume their roles in March at Napier, Manukau, and Kaikohe Courts respectively. Each appointee brings extensive legal experience in family and criminal law, with significant involvement in child advocacy, legal aid, and professional committees. Their diverse backgrounds and community engagement highlight their qualifications to serve in the judiciary and support the legal system across New Zealand.

Tags: Judith Collins Rohan Cochrane Lynn Hughes Derek Whitehead Family Law Specialists Ltd New Zealand Law Society Public Defence Service Legal Aid Performance Review Committee Te Hau Awhiowhio Otangarei Trust Board Sentinel Chambers

New Zealand Welcomes Second Private Building Consent Authority to Boost Efficiency

1 month ago | 392 views

New 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 Zealand