Articles tagged with Sit
New Appointments Strengthen New Zealand Infrastructure Commission Leadership
1 week ago | 110 viewsInfrastructure Minister Chris Bishop announced the reappointment of Sue Tindal as Deputy Chair and the appointment of Natasha Possenniskie as a new director to the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission board. Tindal’s extensive financial and governance experience, along with Possenniskie’s 25 years in infrastructure planning and delivery, will enhance the Commission’s capacity to provide strategic oversight and robust project assurance. These appointments demonstrate the Government’s commitment to strengthening leadership and expertise to fulfill the Commission’s expanded mandate and improve infrastructure outcomes in New Zealand.
Tags: Chris Bishop Sue Tindal Natasha Possenniskie New Zealand Infrastructure Commission KiwiRail Auckland Council PwC Commonwealth Bank of Australia Urban Outcomes Limited Massey UniversityNew Zealand's Tourism Growth Plan Aims to Double Export Value by 2034
1 week ago | 156 viewsThe New Zealand Government, led by Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston, has released a Tourism Policy Statement to guide collaboration between central and local governments and industry in growing tourism and boosting regional economies. The policy aims to double the value of tourism exports by 2034 through strategic investments, infrastructure, marketing, and initiatives like the Regional Tourism Boost, which supports campaigns to attract international visitors beyond main centers and peak seasons. With $5 million allocated for round three of the Regional Tourism Boost, targeting key markets such as Australia, China, and North America, recent data shows tourism is recovering strongly, with international visitor numbers reaching 94% of pre-pandemic levels.
Tags: Louise Upston New Zealand Tourism Policy Statement Regional Tourism Boost International Visitor Levy Major Events and Tourism Package Stats NZ Australian market Chinese market North American marketNew Zealand’s Visa Waiver Trial Boosts Economy by $215M with 92,000 Visitors
1 week ago | 180 viewsA 12-month visa waiver trial launched in November 2025 allowing eligible Chinese and Pacific visitors traveling from Australia to use a simpler, faster, and cheaper New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) has generated $215 million for New Zealand’s economy in six months. The trial has led to a 40% increase in Chinese visitor arrivals, filling hotels and businesses, and supporting jobs, with over 80,000 travelers arriving via this new pathway. Decisions on the trial’s future will follow a full evaluation after the 12-month period, while eligible travelers continue to benefit from the streamlined NZeTA process.
Tags: Erica Stanford Louise Upston Immigration New Zealand Chinese visitors Pacific visitors New Zealand economy NZeTA Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Stats NZ New Zealand tourismSupreme Court and Court of Appeal Judges Appointed from July 2026
1 week ago | 152 viewsAttorney-General Chris Bishop announced that Justice Neil Ross Campbell will become a Judge of the Supreme Court and Justice David Gary Johnstone a Judge of the Court of Appeal, both starting on 16 July 2026. Justice Campbell has a distinguished academic and legal career, including roles as a law professor, Queen’s Counsel, and previous judicial appointments, while Justice Johnstone has extensive experience in criminal law, commercial litigation, and prosecution, with recent appointments as a High Court Judge. Both bring significant expertise from academia and practice, reflecting their progression through New Zealand’s legal system.
Tags: Chris Bishop Neil Ross Campbell David Gary Johnstone University of Auckland University of Cambridge Bell Gully Meredith Connell Queen’s Counsel High Court Judge Court of Appeal JudgeWomen Hold Over 50% of Public Sector Board Roles in New Zealand 2025
2 weeks ago | 153 viewsWomen hold 50.2 percent of public sector board and committee roles in New Zealand, maintaining representation above the government’s 50 percent target for the sixth consecutive year. Women also occupy 43.8 percent of board chair roles, a significant increase since 2015, supported by initiatives like the BoardConnector database, which connects over 1,100 experienced women with board opportunities. The government is actively collaborating with organizations to strengthen the pipeline of qualified women for governance roles and promote diverse, skilled candidates in both public and private sectors.
Tags: Nicola Grigg women public sector board roles gender diversity ethnic diversity BoardConnector Institute of Directors governance leadershipNew Zealand Boosts Tourism with $5M Marketing Investment in Key Markets
2 weeks ago | 201 viewsThe New Zealand Government plans to boost tourism growth by investing $4 million in targeted marketing in Australia, the United States, and China, alongside a $1 million boost to attract more business events. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston emphasized that tourism, as the country's second-largest export, is vital for economic growth, with goals to restore visitor numbers to pre-pandemic levels by 2026 and double tourism export value in ten years. These investments, funded by the International Visitor Levy, aim to accelerate visitor numbers, support high-value business events, and deliver economic benefits across New Zealand.
Tags: Louise Upston Tourism New Zealand New Zealand Australia United States China MBIE Stats NZ International Visitor Levy Business EventsGovernment Expands Homelessness Support to Six New Locations in NZ
2 weeks ago | 201 viewsThe New Zealand Government is expanding homelessness support services to six new locations and extending existing initiatives in major cities, backed by an additional $14.54 million funding to provide tailored local assistance. Since September 2025, efforts like the Housing First programme and transitional housing pilots have successfully moved 674 rough sleepers into stable housing and delivered over 1,500 support activities addressing mental health, addiction, and benefit registration. These measures aim to address both immediate housing needs and the broader challenges linked to homelessness, with community organizations playing a key role in delivering effective, locally-led support.
Tags: Chris Bishop Tama Potaka Housing First homelessness New Zealand outreach services transitional housing social homes Government funding homelessness support providers$14.1M Boost for Predator Control to Protect Native Wildlife in NZ National Parks
2 weeks ago | 194 viewsNew Zealand’s Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced a $14.1 million boost from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy to expand predator control efforts across key South Island national parks and valleys. This funding will help protect native wildlife such as mohua, kiwi, and kea from increased threats due to a major beech mast that has fueled predator population growth. The Department of Conservation will implement its largest predator control program ever, covering over one million hectares using aerial 1080 and trapping methods to safeguard biodiversity and support New Zealand’s predator-free goal.
Tags: Tama Potaka mohua kākāriki karaka piwauwau pekapeka whio kea kiwi Department of Conservation International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy$2M Boost to Double Wasp Control in New Zealand's Visitor Hotspots and Biodiversity Sites
2 weeks ago | 200 viewsThe New Zealand government is doubling wasp control efforts in visitor hotspots and priority biodiversity sites with a $2 million boost from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, aiming to expand the Wasp Wipeout program nationwide. This program targets harmful introduced German and common wasps, which significantly damage native species and cost the economy over $130 million annually, by providing bait and technical support to community groups. The increased funding will enable treatment of 60,000 hectares annually, improve coordination and research, and help restore native ecosystems by reducing wasp populations.
Tags: Tama Potaka Wasp Wipeout International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy Department of Conservation New Zealand Vespula wasps German wasps biodiversity invasive species native birdsKiwi Space Activator Funds University of Auckland’s Rakiraki CubeSat Project
3 weeks ago | 318 viewsSpace Minister Chris Penk announced that the University of Auckland received $300,000 from the Kiwi Space Activator pilot programme to develop the Rakiraki CubeSat, a satellite aimed at improving space object tracking to protect essential satellite services. The programme supports New Zealand innovators in advancing space technology from concept to launch, fostering sovereign space capability, commercialisation, and global market access. With $1.78 million awarded across two rounds to four projects, the initiative reflects the growing and high-quality space innovation sector in New Zealand.
Tags: Chris Penk Kiwi Space Activator University of Auckland Rakiraki CubeSat Auckland University of Technology Space Operations New Zealand MBIE New Zealand space sector Kiwi businesses space technologyUniversity of Waikato Medical School Clinical Training Regions Confirmed for 2028
3 weeks ago | 311 viewsThe University of Waikato's new medical school, starting in 2028, will train 120 graduate-entry students annually, with clinical placements across five regional areas to encourage doctors to practice in underserved communities. A nationwide distributed clinical placement network is being established to coordinate training across New Zealand’s three medical schools, including new Community Clinical Learning Centres in smaller towns to support rural healthcare workforce growth. This initiative aims to build a stronger, regionally connected health workforce by embedding students in their home regions, addressing long-term shortages in primary care and rural health services.
Tags: Simeon Brown Matt Doocey University of Waikato New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine Waikato Hospital Tauranga Hospital Taranaki Base Hospital Hawke's Bay Hospital Nelson Hospital Health New ZealandWaikato Medical School Clinical Training Regions Confirmed for 2028 Launch
3 weeks ago | 256 viewsThe University of Waikato's new medical school, starting in 2028, will train 120 graduate-entry students annually with clinical placements across five regional areas to encourage doctors to practice in underserved communities. A new national distributed clinical placement network, developed with Health New Zealand and other universities, will coordinate opportunities and establish Community Clinical Learning Centres in smaller towns to support rural training and retention. This initiative aims to strengthen New Zealand's domestic medical workforce by embedding students in regional and rural settings, addressing long-term shortages, and building a more regionally connected health system.
Tags: Simeon Brown Matt Doocey University of Waikato New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine Waikato Hospital Tauranga Hospital Taranaki Base Hospital Hawke's Bay Hospital Nelson Hospital Health New ZealandGovernment Invests $143M to Boost NZ Food & Fibre Sector Productivity Through Innovation
3 weeks ago | 200 viewsPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay emphasize that New Zealand’s food and fibre sector, which accounts for over 80% of exports, requires increased productivity through innovation and greater land use flexibility. The Government is investing $143 million in six commercial projects across various sectors, partnering with industry to demonstrate how science, technology, and regulatory reform can drive growth while reducing environmental impact. A report from Lincoln University and ASB Bank projects that adopting these innovations and flexible land use could boost the economy by $10 billion within five to seven years.
Tags: Christopher Luxon Todd McClay New Zealand food and fibre sector agriculture innovation land use flexibility Government investment productivity Lincoln UniversityAoraki/Mount Cook Landfill Cleanup Completed to Protect Park Ecosystems
1 month ago | 371 viewsA $3.32 million remediation project to clean up two former landfill sites near Aoraki/Mount Cook Village has been completed, removing about 2500 cubic metres of waste to prevent contamination of the Hooker River and Lake Pūkaki. The Department of Conservation and the Ministry for the Environment jointly funded the project, which addressed erosion and flooding risks that threatened water quality and ecosystems. The work, supported by the Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills Fund and Environment Canterbury, began in April 2026 and finished in June 2026.
Tags: Nicola Grigg Tama Potaka Department of Conservation Ministry for the Environment Environment Canterbury Hooker River Lake Pūkaki Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills Fund remediation projectNew Tertiary Research Excellence Fund Boosts Innovation and Cuts Red Tape
1 month ago | 274 viewsThe new Tertiary Research Excellence Fund (TREF) will replace the Performance-Based Research Fund, investing $315 million annually to enhance research capability in New Zealand's tertiary education system with a focus on economic growth and reduced compliance costs. TREF emphasizes impact through metrics like external research income, citations, commercialisation, and policy outcomes, aiming to reward research excellence in a more efficient and responsive manner. Developed with expert advice and sector engagement, the fund’s operational design begins immediately, with phased implementation from 2027 and full alignment by 2029.
Tags: Penny Simmonds Sir Peter Gluckman Tertiary Research Excellence Fund TREF PBRF Tertiary Education Commission New Zealand Cabinet University Advisory Group