Articles tagged with Simon Watts
Government Cuts Council PIM Processing Time from 20 to 10 Days to Speed Up Building Projects
1 week ago | 140 viewsThe New Zealand Government is reducing the processing time for Project Information Memorandums (PIMs) from 20 to 10 working days to speed up building projects and reduce costs. This change aims to improve productivity, enhance competition in the building consent market, and support key sectors like housing, agriculture, and infrastructure. Ministers emphasize that efficient council processes are essential for timely development, benefiting homeowners, businesses, and rural communities.
Tags: Chris Penk Simon Watts Project Information Memorandums PIMs New Zealand building consent councils local government agriculture sector building processWaihi Recycling Station Upgrade to Cut Landfill Waste and Boost Recycling by 2028
2 weeks ago | 192 viewsThe Waihi Recycling Transfer Station will be upgraded with nearly $1.08 million in funding to reduce landfill waste and boost recycling capacity, including a new construction and demolition waste sorting area. Once completed in 2028, the upgrade will divert about 3,400 tonnes of materials annually from landfill, increase recyclables and glass processing by 20-40%, and enable green waste mulching for local reuse. This project exemplifies government efforts to reduce emissions, improve waste management, and support climate goals in the Hauraki and Western Bay of Plenty regions.
Tags: Nicola Grigg Simon Watts Waihi Recycling Transfer Station Hauraki District Council Waste Minimisation Fund landfill reduction recycling capacity climate change green waste emissions reduction planGovernment Boosts Marae Resilience with $10M Māori Climate Platform Funding
3 weeks ago | 199 viewsThe Government’s Māori Climate Platform has allocated over $10 million across Stages 1 and 2 to fund resilience and emergency preparedness upgrades for marae in multiple regions, including solar power and water storage systems. These investments support marae as vital community hubs and refuges during severe weather events and emergencies, ensuring essential services remain operational. Notably, Waiwhetū Marae’s upgrades enable it to function as a Civil Defence hub, exemplifying locally led solutions that enhance community resilience.
Tags: Simon Watts Māori Climate Platform Waiwhetū Marae Kokohinau Marae Uiraroa Marae Kaputahi Marae Te Kauae Marae Korapatu Marae Mirumiru ki Marokopa Marae Ministry for the EnvironmentOnly Elected Councillors to Vote on Committees for Greater Accountability
3 weeks ago | 259 viewsThe Local Government Minister Simon Watts announced that only elected councillors will have voting rights on council committees to enhance democratic accountability, amending the Local Government Act 2002 accordingly. Non-elected members, such as iwi representatives and youth appointees, can still provide advice but will not have voting rights or count towards quorums, except for statutory committees and appointments under other Acts. These changes, included in the Local Government (System Improvements) Bill, will take effect after councils review their delegations within six months of the law’s passage.
Tags: Simon Watts Local Government Act 2002 Local Government Minister council committees democratic accountability elected councillors Treaty settlement Local Government (System Improvements) Bill Far North TaurangaBudget 2026 Boosts Auckland’s Growth with Health, Housing, Transport & Education Investments
3 weeks ago | 317 viewsBudget 2026 invests in Auckland’s health, housing, transport, and education to support its role as New Zealand’s economic engine. Key initiatives include funding for a South Auckland Hospital, a $400 million housing growth fund, over $1 billion for KiwiRail improvements, and $1.6 billion for schools. These investments aim to create a thriving, resilient city that drives national growth and fiscal responsibility.
Tags: Budget 2026 Auckland Simon Watts New Zealand health funding housing growth KiwiRail education investment economic growth infrastructureGovernment Updates Tax Rules to Support Fairness in Charitable Sector by 2028
3 weeks ago | 253 viewsThe Government is updating tax rules for the charitable and not-for-profit sector to enhance fairness, clarity, and sustainability, including raising the tax-free income threshold and capping donation tax credits. These changes aim to support the sector’s integrity and resilience, recognizing its significant community contribution and economic value through volunteering. The reforms will be implemented between 2027 and 2028, with detailed guidance forthcoming from Inland Revenue.
Tags: Simon Watts Louise Upston Government Inland Revenue charitable sector tax rules donation tax credit volunteering New ZealandGovernment Launches $400M Incentives Fund to Boost Housing Growth and Support Councils
3 weeks ago | 283 viewsThe New Zealand Government is investing $400 million over four years in the Incentives for Growth Fund to encourage local councils to support housing growth by providing payments tied to the number of new home consents they approve. This fund aims to transform housing development from a cost burden into a revenue opportunity for councils, helping them finance necessary infrastructure and services ahead of population growth. The initiative is part of the broader Going for Housing Growth programme, which seeks to reform planning laws, improve infrastructure funding, and align council incentives to better address the country’s housing crisis.
Tags: David Seymour Chris Bishop Simon Watts Incentives for Growth Fund Housing Growth Local Government Budget 2026 Going for Housing Growth Resource Management ActBudget 2026 Tax Changes Boost NZ Innovation, Investment, and Compliance
3 weeks ago | 277 viewsBudget 2026 introduces targeted tax changes to support economic growth, including improvements to the Research and Development Tax Incentive for quicker payments and tighter software expenditure caps, as well as adjustments to Foreign Investment Fund rules to simplify offshore investing. It also simplifies fringe benefit tax compliance, strengthens tax system integrity by taxing outstanding shareholder loans after company liquidation, and updates thin capitalisation rules for foreign-owned banks. Additionally, the Government is investing $15 million annually in Inland Revenue compliance efforts to enhance tax collection, contributing to funding public services.
Tags: Simon Watts Budget 2026 New Zealand Research and Development Foreign Investment Fund Fringe Benefit Tax Inland Revenue Tax Compliance Tax System Integrity Tax Policy ScorecardBudget 2026 Invests $294M to Modernize NZ Planning and Boost Natural Hazard Resilience
4 weeks ago | 268 viewsThe New Zealand Government is investing $294 million over four years in Budget 2026 to implement a new digital planning and environmental management system that replaces the Resource Management Act, aiming to streamline planning processes and provide clearer, nationally consistent information. This reform will enhance property rights, reduce delays and costs in development, and improve resilience to natural hazards by supporting tools like the New Zealand Flood Map, which offers detailed flood risk data. The investment seeks to unify planning systems across councils, boost economic growth, and deliver long-term benefits by creating accessible, reliable digital infrastructure for planning, consenting, and monitoring.
Tags: Chris Bishop Simon Watts Simon Court New Zealand RMA Reform Budget 2026 natural hazard risks planning reforms digital planning system Flood MapNew Zealand Launches Guidance to Boost Trust in Voluntary Nature and Carbon Markets
1 month ago | 351 viewsClimate Change Minister Simon Watts has introduced refreshed guidance and tools to help New Zealanders confidently participate in voluntary nature and carbon markets, ensuring projects deliver genuine environmental benefits. The guidance emphasizes high-quality carbon activities that are additional, durable, real, measurable, transparent, and respectful of rights, aiming to build trust and prevent greenwashing. Additionally, online resources support businesses in exploring scientifically robust carbon removal options, facilitating the growth of credible projects and attracting investment.
Tags: Simon Watts Climate Change New Zealand carbon markets biodiversity greenwashing voluntary markets carbon removal environmental claimsGovernment Signs City and Regional Deal to Boost Growth in Western Bay of Plenty
1 month ago | 267 viewsThe Government has signed a City and Regional Deal with Western Bay of Plenty councils to establish a long-term partnership aimed at boosting economic growth, improving living standards, and supporting well-planned regional development. The Deal focuses on six pillars including transport infrastructure, housing development, social infrastructure, export growth, and economic diversification, with coordinated investment and planning aligned with the SmartGrowth partnership. Key projects like the Takitimu North Link and Tauriko West Roads, alongside joint funding mechanisms and strong governance, will support the region’s rapid growth and its role as a critical export gateway.
Tags: Chris Bishop Simon Watts Western Bay of Plenty Tauranga Bay of Plenty Regional Council SmartGrowth Takitimu North Link Tauriko West Auckland New ZealandGovernment Increases Rates Rebate and Sets Rates Cap to Ease Cost of Living in 2026
1 month ago | 411 viewsThe Government will increase the Rates Rebate Scheme from July 2026, raising the maximum rebate and income thresholds to provide targeted support for low-income ratepayers and SuperGold Cardholders, helping seniors on fixed incomes manage rising rates. New application forms will be available through councils and online, ensuring eligible households receive assistance amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures. Additionally, a rates cap will be introduced to control council spending and prevent unsustainable rate increases, with details to be announced later this year.
Tags: Simon Watts Casey Costello Rates Rebate Scheme SuperGold Cardholders Local Government New Zealand Government cost of living income abatement threshold rates cap NZ SuperannuationHave Your Say on Protecting Auckland and Coromandel Shellfish Sustainability
1 month ago | 350 viewsProposals to protect shellfish and marine species in Auckland and Coromandel intertidal zones are open for public consultation, aiming to address concerns about over-harvesting and ecosystem sustainability. Officials, supported by local communities and tangata whenua, seek feedback on potential area closures and restrictions to help shellfish beds recover while managing pollution and runoff. These measures follow a successful two-year ban on gathering sea life in parts of the northern Hauraki Gulf, with the goal of balancing conservation and continued public enjoyment of coastal resources.
Tags: Shane Jones Jenny Marcroft Simon Watts Auckland Coromandel shellfish intertidal zones marine species fisheries management Hauraki GulfNew Zealand Government Launches 3-Month Window for Local Government Reform Proposals
1 month ago | 341 viewsThe New Zealand Government is offering councils a three-month “Head Start” window to propose reorganisations aimed at simplifying local government by creating larger, more efficient unitary authorities that reduce duplication and improve decision-making. Proposals must be realistic, support the new planning system, maintain strong local representation, and deliver better value, with final decisions expected in 2027 and changes implemented by the 2028 local elections. If councils do not submit credible proposals, the Government will enforce reforms through a backstop process to ensure nationwide improvements in local governance.
Tags: Chris Bishop Simon Watts New Zealand local government reform councils Head Start pathway unitary authorities Cabinet resource management reform 2028 local electionsAuckland Transport Reforms Restore Accountability and Boost City Mobility
1 month ago | 401 viewsLandmark reforms to Auckland’s transport system have passed, shifting most transport decision-making powers from Auckland Transport to Auckland Council to restore democratic accountability and improve infrastructure planning. The new legislation establishes a Regional Transport Committee for long-term planning, grants local boards more control over local roads, and refocuses Auckland Transport on public transport delivery. Government and Auckland leaders emphasize that these changes will create a more efficient, connected, and responsive transport system aligned with urban development and community needs.
Tags: Chris Bishop Simon Watts Wayne Brown Auckland Transport Auckland Council Auckland City Deal Auckland Regional Transport Committee City Rail Link Waitematā Harbour crossing Integrated Transport Plan