Articles tagged with Seymour
Government-Backed KidsCan ECE Food Programme Boosts Child Development and Wellbeing
1 week ago | 115 viewsThe Ministry of Education’s ECE Food Programme Kōhanga Reo Survey Report highlights strong support for KidsCan’s delivery of taxpayer-funded meals to up to 10,000 early childhood education (ECE) children, with high ratings for reliability, food safety, communication, flexibility, and professionalism. The report shows significant improvements in children’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development linked to the programme, including better energy, concentration, mood, and social interactions. With $4 million in annual government funding and expected taxpayer savings of $145 million in 2026, KidsCan’s programme continues to expand, supporting more children’s nutrition and learning outcomes.
Tags: KidsCan Mr Seymour Sir Peter Gluckman Ministry of Education Associate Education Minister ECE Food Programme Kōhanga Reo Healthy School Lunch Early Childhood Education taxpayer funded mealsNew Overseas Investment Law Speeds Approvals and Boosts NZ Economic Growth
1 week ago | 116 viewsAssociate Finance Minister David Seymour welcomes the Overseas Investment Amendment Act, which accelerates overseas investment decisions to 15 working days for most sectors, aiming to boost New Zealand business growth, productivity, and wages. The law simplifies the screening process with a modified national interest test, maintains stricter rules for sensitive assets like farmland and residential land, and allows overseas investors with a New Zealand investor resident visa to purchase high-value homes to encourage investment. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford highlights that attracting international investors brings capital, skills, and connections vital for economic development and growth.
Tags: David Seymour Erica Stanford Overseas Investment Act New Zealand LINZ Active Investor Plus immigration foreign investment economic growth productivityNew Zealand Reforms Industrial Hemp Regulations to Boost Growth and Innovation
2 weeks ago | 144 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour announced reforms to scrap the outdated licensing regime for industrial hemp in New Zealand, replacing it with a more practical and proportionate approach that removes licenses and sets a clear THC threshold below 1%. These changes aim to reduce costs, encourage innovation, and generate significant economic benefits, while maintaining safeguards to prevent misuse and ensuring compliance with existing food safety and medicinal cannabis regulations. The Ministry of Health will lead implementation, reflecting the government's commitment to cutting red tape and improving regulatory standards for business growth.
Tags: David Seymour New Zealand industrial hemp Regulation Minister Ministry of Health Regulatory Standards Act medicinal cannabis Ministry for Regulation Parliamentary Council Office CabinetPharmac Proposes Funding Seven Key Medicines to Improve Rural Emergency Care in NZ
3 weeks ago | 167 viewsAssociate Health Ministers David Seymour and Matt Doocey support Pharmac’s proposal to fund seven emergency medicines for rural care, aiming to improve timely access for rural GPs, nurses, and midwives by March 2026. The proposal includes medicines for PRIME services and home births, addressing delays in ambulance and hospital access in rural New Zealand, and is part of broader efforts to ensure equitable healthcare regardless of location. Public consultation on the proposal will run from December 1 to 19, with the goal of enhancing emergency and everyday care in rural communities while reducing hospital pressure.
Tags: David Seymour Matt Doocey Pharmac Health NZ ACC rural health emergency care PRIME services intravenous tranexamic acid rural GPsNew ECE Licensing Criteria Reform to Boost Quality, Cut Costs from 2026
3 weeks ago | 166 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour announced the completion of reforms to Early Childhood Education (ECE) licensing criteria, reducing and simplifying requirements by nearly 20% to lower compliance costs while maintaining child safety. The changes, based on sector feedback, aim to remove unnecessary red tape, improve clarity, and introduce a new Director of Regulation to oversee licensing, enforcement, and support with a collaborative approach. These reforms, effective April 2026, are designed to make it easier to open and operate high-quality ECE centers, increasing parental choice and access.
Tags: David Seymour Early Childhood Education ECE licensing criteria Ministry of Education ECE Sector Review Director of Regulation compliance costs child safety early learning services Government reformCutting Red Tape in New Zealand Yields $223M-$337M Economic Benefits
3 weeks ago | 170 viewsMinister for Regulation David Seymour highlights that cutting red tape in New Zealand has generated significant economic benefits, with a return of $11–$17 for every dollar spent, totaling an estimated net public benefit of $223 million to $337 million over 10 years. Examples include lifting bans on medical conferences and revoking unnecessary sector-specific regulations, which have already brought millions in benefits and promise ongoing savings across various industries. The government aims to continue reducing unnecessary regulations to boost productivity, economic growth, and public value through practical reforms and improved regulatory standards.
Tags: David Seymour Ministry for Regulation New Zealand red tape medical conferences Hairdressing and Barbering Sector Review economic benefits regulatory reform early childhood education MotuNew ECE Regulation Law Prioritizes Child Safety and Streamlines Licensing
1 month ago | 149 viewsAssociate Education and Regulation Minister David Seymour announces a new law prioritizing child safety and establishing a Director of Regulation to oversee early childhood education (ECE) licensing, compliance, and enforcement with a focus on reducing unnecessary costs and red tape. The Director will ensure a proportionate, risk-based approach to regulation that supports children’s development, parental involvement, and high-quality ECE services, based on sector feedback highlighting previous rule confusion and excessive bureaucracy. These reforms, effective February 2026, aim to improve access and quality in ECE while aligning with the Government’s commitment to smarter regulation and will involve legislative changes to transfer regulatory functions to the Education Review Office.
Tags: David Seymour Ministry for Regulation Director of Regulation early childhood education ECE licensing Education and Training Act ECE Sector Review Ministry of Education ERONew Zealand Education Reform Bill Advances to Improve Teacher Training and School Standards
1 month ago | 147 viewsThe Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill aims to strengthen New Zealand’s education system by improving initial teacher education quality, aligning system-level settings, and enhancing school property management through a new Crown agency. It introduces updated curriculum requirements, tighter school attendance rules, enhanced oversight of private schools, and expanded support for charter schools to increase educational options and innovation. The bill also mandates participation in international assessments, recognizes micro-credentials, and refines processes to better support student success and system responsiveness.
Tags: Erica Stanford Seymour Education Minister Teaching Council Ministry of Education Education Review Office TALIS report NZQA OECD Charter schoolsNew Zealand Education Reform Bill Advances to Improve Teacher Quality and School Standards
1 month ago | 194 viewsThe Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill aims to strengthen New Zealand’s education system by improving initial teacher education quality, aligning system-level settings, and enhancing school property management through a new Crown agent. It introduces updated curriculum requirements, tighter school attendance rules, transfers regulatory functions to the Education Review Office, and supports charter school expansion to increase educational options. These reforms seek to ensure better student outcomes, clearer standards, and greater accountability across the education sector.
Tags: Erica Stanford Seymour Education Minister Teaching Council Ministry of Education Education Review Office TALIS report NZQA OECD Secretary of EducationRegulatory Standards Bill: Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in New Zealand Law
1 month ago | 232 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour celebrates the passing of the Regulatory Standards Bill, emphasizing its importance in revealing the true costs of regulations to the public and reducing regulatory burdens through political pressure. The bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in legislation by establishing a Regulatory Standards Board to assess consistency with principles of responsible regulation. By promoting evidence-based policy and providing recourse for individuals affected by overreaching regulations, the bill ultimately seeks to improve New Zealand's productivity and empower citizens to hold decision-makers accountable.
Tags: Regulation Minister David Seymour Regulatory Standards Bill Kiwis’ rights Public Finance Act Reserve Bank Act Bill of Rights Act Regulatory Standards Board Regulatory Impact Statements Earthquake Prone Buildings lawBoosting School Attendance: Insights from Education Minister David Seymour
1 month ago | 211 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour expressed disappointment over a drop in attendance rates in the last week of Term 3, attributing it to strike action disrupting learning. The decline in attendance was significant, with almost 20,000 students leaving early, prompting the need for schools to have an attendance management plan in place. Interventions outlined in the plan include escalating responses for declining attendance, with a focus on improving data monitoring and case management to ensure all students have the opportunity for positive educational outcomes.
Tags: David Seymour Education Minister Attendance Term 3 Strike action AMP Education and Training Amendment Bill Daily attendance reporting Frontline attendance servicesNew Zealanders to Benefit from 12-Month Prescriptions and Pharmacist Ownership Changes for Improved Access to Medicines
1 month ago | 220 viewsStarting from February 1, 2026, New Zealanders will have the option to receive 12-month prescriptions for their medications, aiming to save costs and enhance convenience for those on long-term treatments. This change, introduced in Budget 2025, allows stable patients to obtain longer prescriptions, reducing the need for frequent doctor visits and potentially saving up to $105 annually in GP fees. Additionally, the government is removing ownership restrictions for pharmacists to become prescribers, enabling more accessible care and innovation in the healthcare system.
Tags: New Zealanders Health Minister Simeon Brown Associate Health Minister David Seymour prescriptions medicines GP fees pharmacy pharmacist prescribers Medicines Amendment Bill community pharmaciesPharmac Funds Access to New Cancer Treatments, Including Subcutaneous Injections, for Improved Patient Care
1 month ago | 206 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome Pharmac's decision to fund access to five treatments, including for breast and lung cancer, starting from December 1, 2025. Pharmac's decisions include funding new subcutaneous options for existing IV medicines, two new medicines, and ongoing access to certain treatments. The move aims to make patients' lives easier, reduce strain on the health system, and provide better and faster access to cancer care in New Zealand, aligning with the government's focus on improving cancer management and ensuring better access to cancer medicines.
Tags: David Seymour Simeon Brown Pharmac cancer medicines treatments patients access Health Minister Associate Health MinisterNew Zealand's Medicines Advertising Ban Lifted, Boosting Economic Growth
1 month ago | 203 viewsThe Medicines Amendment Bill in New Zealand has lifted the prohibition on advertising medicines at medical conferences and trade shows, signaling the country's readiness for business, according to Regulation Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown. This change is expected to inject cash into local economies through the Red Tape Tipline and provide Kiwis with increased access to needed medicines. The move is projected to generate $90 million in revenue over the next few years, attracting major medical conferences to New Zealand and fostering economic activity.
Tags: Medicines Amendment Bill New Zealand advertising medical conferences trade shows Regulation Minister David Seymour Health Minister Simeon Brown Red Tape Tipline pharmaceutical companies economic growthNew Zealand Implements 'Rule of Two' for Faster Medicine Approvals
1 month ago | 188 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes the passing of the Medicines Amendment Bill, which introduces the 'Rule of Two' for faster approval of medicines with recognition from two overseas jurisdictions. The streamlined verification pathway aims to increase access to medicines for New Zealanders, starting with countries like Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The government prioritizes improving patient outcomes by enhancing access to medicines through initiatives like increased Pharmac funding, patient input in funding decisions, and efficient regulatory processes.
Tags: David Seymour Medicines Amendment Bill Rule of Two Kiwis New Zealand Medsafe Pharmac pharmaceuticals patient outcomes regulatory approval