Articles tagged with Iwi

Auckland Rail Network Rebuild Complete: Ready for City Rail Link and More Trains

1 day ago | 48 views

Auckland’s rail network has completed its five-year rebuild ahead of the City Rail Link (CRL) opening, marking the end of the most disruptive upgrade phase and enabling more frequent, reliable train services. Over 1,300 workers upgraded over 80 km of track, replaced key infrastructure, removed level crossings, and successfully tested the largest-ever simultaneous operation of 84 trains on the network. Future work will involve shorter, less disruptive closures focused on final testing and commissioning, promising a modern metro system that supports Auckland’s growth and reduces congestion.

Tags: Winston Peters Chris Bishop Wayne Brown Auckland City Rail Link KiwiRail Auckland Transport Henderson Station Takanini Glen Innes

Health Services and Mental Health Support Mobilized for Storm-Affected Communities

1 day ago | 37 views

Health and Mental Health Ministers Simeon Brown and Matt Doocey report ongoing efforts to support storm-affected communities through coordinated health services, including a recovery team and targeted mental health support embedded in local emergency groups. Health New Zealand is collaborating with local authorities to manage environmental health risks and monitor vulnerable, isolated populations, while government agencies oversee essential infrastructure to maintain access to care. Despite the challenges, health services remain operational, with a strong commitment to providing care, addressing emerging risks, and supporting those grieving from the disaster.

Tags: Simeon Brown Matt Doocey Health New Zealand Mental Health Civil Defence Emergency Management District Psychosocial Coordinators National Public Health Service frontline staff health workers local iwi

Government Deploys Motorhomes for Temporary Housing After Severe Weather Crisis

2 days ago | 47 views

The Government is deploying motorhomes through the Temporary Accommodation Service to provide immediate housing for people displaced by severe weather in regions including Northland, East Coast, and Bay of Plenty. Agencies are collaborating with local councils, Iwi, and community groups to ensure affected individuals can access accommodation and support, with registration encouraged for those needing temporary housing. Additionally, the Government has allocated funding to support relief efforts, including Mayoral Relief Funds and reimbursements to marae providing welfare services.

Tags: Tama Potaka Temporary Accommodation Service Northland Te Tai Tokerau East Coast Tairāwhiti Government motorhomes Iwi marae Mayoral Relief Funds Coromandel

New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement: Boosting Exports with Duty-Free Access

1 month ago | 347 views

New Zealand and India have finalized a Free Trade Agreement that eliminates or reduces tariffs on 95% of New Zealand exports, providing unprecedented access to 1.4 billion Indian consumers and opening opportunities across sectors including agriculture, seafood, and services. The agreement includes duty-free access for key products like sheep meat, kiwifruit, apples, and mānuka honey, alongside provisions for skilled work visas and protections for product names through Geographical Indications. This historic deal aims to boost New Zealand’s exports, create jobs, and strengthen economic ties, with the agreement expected to be signed in the first half of next year.

Tags: New Zealand India Todd McClay Free Trade Agreement kiwifruit mānuka honey Trade and Investment Minister Treaty of Waitangi Working Holiday Scheme Green List

New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement Unlocks Major Export Opportunities

1 month ago | 327 views

New Zealand and India have finalized a Free Trade Agreement that eliminates or reduces tariffs on 95% of New Zealand’s exports, providing unprecedented access to India’s 1.4 billion consumers and significantly boosting trade opportunities across multiple sectors. The agreement includes duty-free access for key products like sheep meat, seafood, kiwifruit, apples, and mānuka honey, along with enhanced services trade, skilled work visas, and protections for iconic New Zealand products. This historic deal aims to create thousands of jobs, increase exports, and strengthen economic ties, with formal signing expected in the first half of next year.

Tags: New Zealand India Todd McClay Free Trade Agreement kiwifruit mānuka honey Trade and Investment Minister Treaty of Waitangi New Zealand exporters

New Parent Portal Updates Help Kiwi Parents Support Kids' Learning at Home

1 month ago | 267 views

The Ministry of Education has launched an updated Parent Portal featuring the refreshed curriculum for Years 0 to 10, enabling parents to clearly understand and support their children's learning at home. The portal will also include curriculum-aligned resources, starting with a free online math practice tool for Years 3 to 8, with additional content coming in January. Education Minister Erica Stanford emphasizes that these updates aim to enhance educational achievement by providing clarity and tools for both teachers and parents.

Tags: Parent Portal Education Minister Erica Stanford Ministry of Education refreshed curriculum Year 0 to Year 10 maths practice tool online learning resources educational achievement Kiwi kids curriculum consultation

Ngākōroa Train Station and SH22 Drury Upgrade Begin Construction in South Auckland

1 month ago | 414 views

Construction has begun on the Ngākōroa Train Station and interim upgrade of the SH22/Jezmond Road intersection as part of the SH22 Drury Upgrade project to improve transport options and support South Auckland's growing population. The project includes widening a 2km section of SH22, adding a fourth leg to the intersection, and building new railway stations funded by a $2.3 billion government investment, with Ngākōroa Station expected to open in 2027. Full construction of the SH22 upgrade, costing between $168 million and $197 million, will start in 2027 after land acquisition and funding approval.

Tags: Ngākōroa Station SH22 Drury Upgrade Mr Peters Mr Bishop Rt Hon Winston Peters KiwiRail NZ Transport Agency Papakura Pukekohe Auckland

New Crown Directors Appointed to Airways and Kiwi Group Capital Boards

1 month ago | 260 views

State Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown has appointed Mayurie Gunatilaka to the Airways Board and Susan Petersen to the Kiwi Group Capital Board, both for three-year terms. Gunatilaka brings extensive infrastructure governance experience to support Airways' air navigation services, while Petersen, also Chair of the Kiwibank Board, is the first KGC director to hold a position on Kiwibank’s Board, enhancing strategic alignment. These appointments aim to strengthen governance and leadership in critical sectors, with KGC adopting overlapping board memberships to boost strategic objectives while maintaining independent oversight.

Tags: Simeon Brown Mayurie Gunatilaka Susan Petersen Airways Board Kiwi Group Capital Kiwibank Board State Owned Enterprises Crown directors governance infrastructure planning

Kiwi Food and Fibre Exports Set to Hit Record $62 Billion in 2026

1 month ago | 241 views

New Zealand’s food and fibre exports are projected to reach a record $62 billion by June 2026, driven by strong demand, favorable growing conditions, and diverse sectors including meat, wool, horticulture, forestry, and dairy. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay highlights government support through reforms, trade expansion, and sustainability initiatives, contributing to rising farmer confidence and economic recovery. The sector now accounts for 83% of all goods exports and employs one in seven New Zealanders, underscoring its vital role in the country’s economy and communities.

Tags: Todd McClay New Zealand Kiwi farmers SOPI report Agriculture and Forestry food and fibre exports meat and wool horticulture forestry dairy

Kiwi Space Activator Launches $1.8M Pilot to Boost NZ Space Innovation

1 month ago | 283 views

New Zealand's Space Minister Judith Collins launched a $1.8 million Kiwi Space Activator pilot program to help local companies and universities develop space technologies for future national missions. The program, administered by the New Zealand Space Agency, offers up to $600,000 per project over two funding rounds, supporting innovations aligned with government challenges like maritime security and ecosystem health. Open to New Zealand-based organizations, the initiative aims to advance space technology readiness and maintain the country's leadership in global space innovation, with applications closing on March 1, 2026.

Tags: Judith Collins Kiwi Space Activator New Zealand Space Agency space technology national space mission satellite technology space innovation maritime security biosecurity ecosystem health

New Online Casino Gambling Bill Advances to Protect Communities and Regulate Harm

1 month ago | 223 views

Minister Brooke van Velden welcomed the Governance and Administration Committee's report on the Online Casino Gambling Bill, highlighting its alignment with government decisions to regulate online gambling and protect New Zealanders from harm. The Committee received over 5,000 submissions, with significant concern about ensuring community returns from gambling revenue continue to support grassroots groups, leading to the recommendation that the Lottery Grants Board manage these funds. The Bill introduces safeguards to reduce gambling harm, addresses concerns about normalization and advertising, and includes a two-year review to monitor the impact on community funding.

Tags: Brooke van Velden Minister of Internal Affairs Governance and Administration Committee Lottery Grants Board Special Olympics New Zealand Cabinet Kiwis Online Casino Gambling Bill Parliament

New NZ Government Procurement Rules Boost Kiwi Businesses and Economic Benefits

2 months ago | 273 views

New government procurement rules, effective immediately, aim to boost Kiwi businesses by simplifying tender processes and introducing a minimum 10 percent economic benefit weighting in contract evaluations. The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment will monitor compliance and impact, ensuring agencies prioritize New Zealand economic benefits such as workforce participation and training. These changes apply to contracts over specified thresholds and comply with international trade obligations by allowing foreign companies to demonstrate economic benefits to New Zealand.

Tags: Nicola Willis government procurement New Zealand economic benefit Kiwi firms Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment government contracts workforce participation trade agreements tender process

Open Banking Launches in New Zealand: Faster Loans, Easier Budgeting & Secure Data Sharing

2 months ago | 294 views

Open banking officially launched in New Zealand on 1 December 2025, enabling faster loan approvals, easier bill management, and personalized budgeting through secure, regulated sharing of financial data with customer consent. The new system, regulated under the Customer and Product Data Act 2025, requires major banks to implement open banking capabilities and mandates accreditation for third-party data requestors to ensure security and trust. This initiative aims to boost innovation and competition in the banking sector, benefiting consumers, small businesses, and fintech companies by providing enhanced financial tools and services.

Tags: Scott Simpson Open Banking New Zealand MBIE Customer and Product Data Act 2025 ANZ ASB BNZ Westpac Kiwibank

New Government Strategy Targets Harmful Caulerpa Seaweed to Protect Coastlines

2 months ago | 263 views

Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard announced a new government strategy to combat the harmful exotic Caulerpa seaweed, focusing on prevention, detection, removal, research, and coordination. With $31.7 million invested, efforts including ultraviolet light irradiation and chlorine enclosures have achieved up to 90% biomass reductions at key sites, prompting further research into these successes. The strategy emphasizes national collaboration among iwi, councils, fishers, and communities to protect New Zealand's coastlines through continued tool refinement, elimination trials, and strengthened surveillance.

Tags: Andrew Hoggard Biosecurity Minister Caulerpa exotic seaweed biosecurity strategy New Zealand Omakiwi Cove Okupe Bay Aotea Great Barrier Island

Auckland City Rail Link to Transform Public Transport with 2026 Opening

2 months ago | 328 views

The upgraded Auckland public transport network centered around the City Rail Link (CRL) is set to open to passengers in the second half of 2026, with construction nearing completion and extensive safety testing underway. This major infrastructure project, the largest in New Zealand’s history, aims to transform urban mobility by reducing travel times, increasing train frequency, and revitalizing the city center. Key organizations including City Rail Link Ltd, Auckland Transport, and KiwiRail are collaborating closely to finalize construction, prepare staff, upgrade the rail network, and ensure a seamless transition for passengers.

Tags: City Rail Link Chris Bishop Simeon Brown Wayne Brown Desley Simpson Auckland Transport KiwiRail Rail Network Rebuild Henderson Station Auckland Mayor