Articles tagged with Tauranga
New Tauranga Mental Health Co-Response Team Enhances Crisis Support
1 week ago | 146 viewsTauranga has launched a new mental health co-response team combining Police and mental health workers to better support people in crisis, replacing the traditional criminal justice response to 111 calls. This initiative, part of a $28 million Budget 2025 investment, aims to reduce distress caused by Police-only responses and improve outcomes by providing specialized mental health support. The program builds on successful models like Wellington’s, addressing high regional demand and correcting previous funding cuts under the former government.
Tags: Matt Doocey Tauranga Mental Health Minister New Zealand Police Mental Health Act Bay of Plenty Wellington Labour Government National PartyOnly Elected Councillors to Vote on Committees for Greater Accountability
1 week ago | 163 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 TaurangaNew Social Homes in Tauranga Designed for Autistic Adults Opened
1 week ago | 194 viewsHousing Minister Chris Bishop announced the opening of seven new social homes in Tauranga specifically designed for autistic adults, developed by Autism NZ’s provider Equity House and funded through Budget 2024. These homes address the shortage of one-bedroom social housing and feature sensory-friendly designs like dimmer switches and neutral colors to support residents' independence and comfort. Each resident has a self-contained unit within a supportive community, with access to pastoral care for daily needs, ensuring safety, dignity, and confidence.
Tags: Chris Bishop Equity House Autism NZ Housing Minister Tauranga Budget 2024 social homes autistic community New Zealand social housingWaikato Expressway Extension Approved with $1.77B Budget for Safer Travel
1 week ago | 150 viewsThe Budget 2026 allocates $1.773 billion to extend the Waikato Expressway from Cambridge to Piarere, a critical freight and economic corridor connecting Auckland, Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty. This 16-kilometre four-lane expressway aims to improve safety, reduce serious injuries by around 70%, enhance resilience, and support economic growth in one of New Zealand’s most important transport routes. Early works are underway following consents granted in September 2025, as part of the Government’s broader Roads of National Significance programme to boost infrastructure, jobs, and productivity nationwide.
Tags: Chris Bishop Waikato Expressway Cambridge to Piarere State Highway 1 Roads of National Significance New Zealand Auckland Tauranga NZTA Warkworth to Te HanaMajor Hospital Upgrades and $680M Investment to Boost NZ Health Infrastructure
1 week ago | 182 viewsBudget 2026 allocates over $680 million for major hospital upgrades in Whangārei, Tauranga, Hawke’s Bay, Palmerston North, and other facilities across New Zealand, aiming to strengthen health infrastructure and improve patient care. Key projects include a new 158-bed ward tower at Whangārei Hospital, redevelopment planning for regional hospitals, land acquisition for a new hospital south of Auckland, and upgrades to Auckland’s Mason Clinic. Additionally, Health New Zealand will invest $930 million in clinical equipment, technology, and facility improvements nationwide to support health targets, reduce waiting times, and future-proof services.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister Health New Zealand Whangārei Hospital Tauranga Hospital Hawke’s Bay Hospital Palmerston North Hospital University of Waikato Mason Clinic Budget 2026$2.1B Mahere Pūtea 2026: Whakawhanake Mātauranga Kura Tuarua Aotearoa
1 week ago | 162 viewsThe 2026 Budget allocates $2.1 billion to continue building a world-leading education system in New Zealand, focusing on enhancing secondary curriculum development, professional learning for teachers, and expanding industry-aligned vocational pathways. Significant investments include $90 million for updating national qualifications through NZQA, $559 million for school infrastructure, and targeted funding for supporting diverse learner needs such as health, language, and special education. These initiatives build on prior reforms to improve literacy and numeracy, aiming to raise achievement, close equity gaps, and prepare students with skills aligned to the future workforce.
Tags: Erica Stanford Mahere Pūtea 2026 Mātauranga NZQA Poari Pūmanawa Ahumahi Kura Ringarehe Kiwisaver Whakaako Kairangi Te Marautanga o Aotearoa KāwanatangaFast-Track Approval Granted for Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme Renewal
3 weeks ago | 221 viewsThe Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme in the Bay of Plenty has received Fast-track approval for re-consenting, enabling its continued operation and supporting New Zealand’s renewable energy goals by generating 169 GWh annually and avoiding 26,693 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. This approval, the 23rd under the Fast-track process, took five and a half months following an independent expert panel review and highlights the scheme’s critical role in supplying electricity to approximately 24,600 households and contributing significantly to Tauranga's demand. The Fast-track process aims to expedite important infrastructure projects efficiently, with 46 projects currently progressing and 149 eligible under the Fast-track Approvals Act.
Tags: Chris Bishop Shane Jones Manawa Energy Limited Tauranga Bay of Plenty New Zealand Infrastructure Minister Regional Development MinisterGovernment Signs City and Regional Deal to Boost Growth in Western Bay of Plenty
3 weeks ago | 198 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 ZealandSouth Island Needle Exchange Programme Launches to Reduce Substance Harm
1 month ago | 272 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey officially opened the South Island Needle Exchange Programme, New Zealand’s first harm reduction initiative aimed at preventing substance-related harm and reducing blood-borne infections like HIV and hepatitis C. The programme, delivered by the Te Waipounamu Collective, provides not only clean equipment but also health information, overdose prevention, and referral services to support people at all stages of addiction. This initiative complements broader government efforts, including increased investment in substance harm prevention, workforce expansion, and community-based support services, resulting in improved health outcomes and reduced addiction-related harms.
Tags: Matt Doocey South Island Needle Exchange Programme Te Waipounamu Collective Ngā Kete Mātauranga Pounamu Trust He Waka Tapu Poutini Waiora Te Piki Oranga Mental Health Minister HIV preventionNew Roundabout at SH2/Wainui Road Boosts Safety and Traffic Flow Near Ōpōtiki
1 month ago | 419 viewsTransport Minister Chris Bishop announced the completion of a new roundabout at the SH2 and Wainui Road intersection near Ōpōtiki, enhancing safety and efficiency on a busy corridor with a history of crashes. This upgrade is part of a $37.5 million SH2 safety improvement project, which includes two additional tear-drop roundabouts near Waiōtahe River Bridge, expected to be finished by April 2027. The project also features road widening, new barriers, and improved markings, aiming to reduce accidents and support local communities and freight traffic.
Tags: Chris Bishop Dana Kirkpatrick Transport Minister SH2 Wainui Road Ōpōtiki Waiōtahe River Bridge Tauranga Gisborne New Zealand GovernmentSH36 Culvert Replacement Begins This Month Between Tauranga and Rotorua
2 months ago | 418 viewsTransport Minister Chris Bishop announced that replacement of the aging SH36 Hauraki Stream Culvert between Tauranga and Rotorua will begin this month, with completion expected by early 2027. The $10-12 million project, led by Isaac Construction Ltd, uses prefabricated components to deliver a wider, stronger bridge as part of the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), which prioritizes upgrading nine bridges and culverts, with five more recently added. This initiative reflects the government's focus on maintaining critical state highway infrastructure to support freight, tourism, and community connectivity across New Zealand.
Tags: Chris Bishop NZ Transport Agency Isaac Construction Ltd State Highway 36 Tauranga Rotorua National Land Transport Programme Hauraki Stream Bridge Mangapepeke Culvert Pekatahi BridgeNew Pāpāmoa East Interchange Boosts Access to Tauranga Eastern Link by Easter
2 months ago | 455 viewsA new interchange in Pāpāmoa East is now complete and will open by Easter, enhancing access to the Tauranga Eastern Link and supporting the development of thousands of new homes in the area. The $98 million project, co-funded by the National Land Transport Fund and Tauranga City Council, aims to reduce congestion, improve travel times, and provide a second route in and out of Pāpāmoa East. Construction began in April 2022, with the eastbound off-ramp opening early in August 2025, marking a significant milestone for regional growth and transport capacity.
Tags: Chris Bishop Tom Rutherford Tauranga City Council NZTA Pāpāmoa East Tauranga Eastern Link Golden Sands Wairākei Te Tumu Bloxam Burnett & OlliverKura Toa: New Iwi-Led Charter School Opening in Porirua in 2026
2 months ago | 903 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour announced that Kura Toa, an iwi-led charter school for Years 7–13 in Porirua, will open in Term 3, 2026 to improve education outcomes for Māori students by providing tailored support through partnerships with Puna Mātauranga and Te Pikau o te Rangi. The school aims to address disparities in achievement and attendance among Māori youth by integrating cultural identity, wellbeing, and real-world learning experiences within an iwi framework called Mauriora. This initiative exemplifies the charter school model’s flexibility and accountability, expanding educational choices and fostering community-driven innovation, with Kura Toa being the 21st charter school approved and more expected to follow.
Tags: David Seymour Kura Toa Ngāti Toa Puna Mātauranga Te Pikau o te Rangi Māori students Porirua Charter schools Mauriora Charter School AgencyGovernment Launches Inquiry into Fatal Tauranga Landslides and Safety Measures
2 months ago | 501 viewsThe Cabinet has approved the Terms of Reference and membership for a Government Inquiry into the fatal landslides in Tauranga that killed eight people on 22 January 2026, aiming to determine how the events occurred, assess agency responses, and identify lessons to prevent future tragedies. The Inquiry will be led by retired Supreme Court Judge Sir Mark O’Regan, with experts Dr Helen Anderson and Steve Symon supporting, and will maintain respectful communication with victims' families throughout the process. It will begin gathering evidence on 30 March and must deliver its final report with recommendations by 3 December 2026.
Tags: Chris Penk Sir Mark O’Regan Helen Anderson Steve Symon Tauranga Mauao Pāpāmoa Mount Maunganui WorkSafe New ZealandGovernment Boosts Mayoral Relief Funds to Support Communities After Severe Weather
3 months ago | 478 viewsThe Government is providing additional funding to Mayoral Relief Funds across several districts to support communities affected by recent severe weather events, supplementing initial contributions made earlier this year. These funds enable local authorities to address urgent needs such as cleaning, debris removal, and supporting families and community organizations while broader recovery efforts are coordinated nationally. A National Recovery Office has been established to ensure a coordinated government response, with various agencies assisting in areas like agriculture, marae resilience, and emergency waste management.
Tags: Mark Mitchell Chris Penk Mayoral Relief Funds Whangārei District Council Gisborne District Council Tauranga City Council Western Bay of Plenty District Council Ōpōtiki District Council Ōtorohanga District Council