Articles tagged with Workforce
New Zealand’s New Tertiary Education Strategy Boosts Skills, Careers, and Economy
1 day ago | 46 viewsNew Zealand’s new Tertiary Education Strategy focuses on equipping students with skills and knowledge that lead to strong careers and support a productive, innovative economy. It emphasizes employment outcomes, economic impact, access, collaboration, and international engagement, aligning with broader reforms in universities and vocational education. The Strategy also prioritizes responsive regional training, foundation education, and work experience to ensure all learners, especially those at risk, can contribute to the country’s success.
Tags: Shane Reti Penny Simmonds New Zealand Tertiary Education Strategy vocational education Te Pūkenga Workforce Development Councils Industry Skills Boards universities economic developmentNew NZ Government Procurement Rules Boost Kiwi Businesses and Economic Benefits
2 days ago | 42 viewsNew 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 processNew Health Workforce Committee Appointed to Strengthen NZ Healthcare System
5 days ago | 87 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown announced new appointments to the Health Workforce Committee, including Chair Dr David Gow and members Dr Jeremy Dryden, Dr Ruth Large, and Dr Allan Moffitt, with Dr Gary Hopgood continuing. The Committee provides long-term strategic advice on health workforce matters to ensure New Zealand’s health system meets future community needs. The appointments, effective from December 1, 2025, support the Government’s focus on accessible, quality care and acknowledge outgoing members Dr Bryan Betty and Dr Andrew Connolly’s ongoing contributions in new roles.
Tags: Simeon Brown David Gow Jeremy Dryden Ruth Large Allan Moffitt Gary Hopgood Bryan Betty Andrew Connolly Health Workforce Committee Health MinisterHealth NZ to Employ 1800 Graduate Nurses, Boosting Workforce in 2025
5 days ago | 59 viewsHealth New Zealand plans to employ around 1800 graduate registered nurses in hospital-based roles this year, significantly strengthening the workforce and supporting timely, quality care. The government is also investing in primary care roles for graduates, offering funding incentives to rural and urban providers to expand opportunities. Health Minister Simeon Brown emphasizes that these initiatives provide structured support and professional development, contributing to a sustainable, resilient nursing workforce for the future.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health New Zealand graduate nurses nursing graduates health system primary care workforce development nursing workforce New ZealandHealth Minister Simeon Brown Sets Priorities for Health NZ to Improve Patient Care
6 days ago | 63 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown has presented Health New Zealand’s Annual Report and issued a Letter of Expectations emphasizing the need to devolve decision-making closer to frontline services while maintaining national planning and meeting government health priorities. The letter outlines key focuses such as strengthening primary care, growing the health workforce, improving infrastructure, and ensuring efficient, transparent operations with strong governance and accountability. Brown stresses the importance of reducing bureaucracy, improving recruitment, meeting health targets, and delivering timely, accessible care to achieve better patient outcomes.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health New Zealand Health Minister Health New Zealand Board Government priorities healthcare delivery health system frontline clinical roles health workforce health infrastructureNew Zealand Launches Te Haeata Certificate to Boost Business Events Workforce
1 week ago | 74 viewsThe New Zealand Government is investing in the New Zealand Certificate in Business Events (Level 4) “Te Haeata,” an industry-led qualification designed to build a skilled workforce for the business events sector. This practical, online training program aims to address workforce shortages, support career pathways, and enhance the global competitiveness of New Zealand’s tourism and hospitality industries. Launching in early 2026, Te Haeata will also be introduced in high schools to attract and retain talent, promoting sustainable growth in the sector.
Tags: New Zealand Certificate in Business Events Te Haeata Louise Upston business events sector tourism hospitality workforce development career pathways sustainable growthGovernment Boosts Mental Health Workforce, Reduces Wait Times in New Zealand
1 week ago | 82 viewsOne year after launching New Zealand’s first Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Plan, the Government has increased the frontline workforce by around 10%, reduced vacancy rates and wait times, and expanded training and new roles in key areas. Budget 2025 boosted funding for psychology internships and psychiatry registrar positions, surpassing targets and enhancing clinical training capacity. The updated plan, released alongside a $30 million investment to combat meth harm, focuses on faster access to support, more frontline workers, and a stronger crisis response to ensure timely help for those in need.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Addiction Workforce Health NZ Psychology Internships Psychiatry Registrars Addiction Leadership Day Meth Harm Government Budget 2025New Zealand Passes Defence Bill to Protect Security During Industrial Action
2 weeks ago | 83 viewsThe Defence (Workforce) Amendment Bill, passed to maintain national security during industrial action, allows the Chief of Defence Force greater flexibility to manage workforce redeployment without requiring parliamentary debate. It enables uniformed personnel to temporarily perform the duties of civilian staff during strikes, ensuring critical defence functions continue while preserving the right to industrial action. The Bill also streamlines authorisation processes and extends ministerial powers to backfill public servant roles, enhancing New Zealand’s defence readiness amid a challenging strategic environment.
Tags: Judith Collins New Zealand Defence Force NZDF Defence Minister Parliament industrial action national security Defence (Workforce) Amendment Bill military personnelEducation Reform: Enhancing Student Achievement, Attendance, and Freedom of Expression with New Bill
3 weeks ago | 132 viewsThe Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2) has passed its third reading in Parliament, focusing on lifting student achievement, improving education workforce governance, and upholding freedom of expression in universities. Key changes include prioritizing educational achievement for school boards, extending notice period for strike action, implementing attendance management plans, strengthening teacher education requirements, and requiring universities to develop freedom of expression statements. The legislation aims to improve outcomes for young people, enhance academic freedom, and promote critical thinking and diversity in universities.
Tags: Government schools student achievement attendance education workforce governance freedom of expression Education and Training Amendment Bill Erica Stanford unions universitiesGovernment Launches Nurse Practitioner Training Scheme to Empower Nurses for Advanced Primary Care Roles
1 month ago | 214 viewsOver 340 nurses have shown interest in the government's plan to support 120 registered nurses annually in becoming nurse practitioners in primary care, with applications now open, according to Health Minister Simeon Brown. Nurse practitioners are skilled professionals who can assess, diagnose, treat patients, prescribe medications, manage chronic conditions, and provide preventive care, playing a crucial role in delivering quality care in primary and community settings. The Nurse Practitioner Training and Support Scheme (NPTSS) will assist nurses in completing their Master of Nursing qualification and transitioning into nurse practitioner roles, providing comprehensive support such as education costs, mentoring, and employer engagement to enhance the nursing workforce and patient outcomes in New Zealand.
Tags: nurse practitioners primary care Health Minister Simeon Brown Nurse Practitioner Training and Support Scheme nursing workforce advanced training registered nurses primary care advanced roles New Zealand.Health New Zealand's $65M Plan to Slash Diagnostic Wait Times by 75,000 Procedures
2 months ago | 301 viewsHealth New Zealand's $65 million Diagnostic Improvement Plan aims to reduce wait times for critical diagnostic procedures like MRI scans and colonoscopies, with an additional 75,000 procedures to be delivered this year. The initiative, supported by targeted workforce growth, will expand access, reduce delays, and improve patient outcomes by ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment. The investment will increase in-house delivery and outsourcing of diagnostic services, complementing the $30 million investment in community-referred radiology to streamline patient access and alleviate pressure on hospitals.
Tags: Health Minister Simeon Brown Health New Zealand diagnostic procedures MRI scans colonoscopies colposcopies radiology procedures cardiac tests workforce growthNew Zealand's First Rural Training Hub Announced in South Taranaki
2 months ago | 289 viewsAssociate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson announced the establishment of New Zealand's first Rural Training Hub in South Taranaki, aiming to strengthen rural healthcare by linking local services, universities, and training providers. The hub will facilitate the education and training of healthcare workers in rural areas, ensuring timely access to care for all New Zealanders. Four hubs will be established across Health NZ regions, with the South Taranaki Hub involving community input to coordinate placements, training pathways, and pastoral support for healthcare professionals.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mark Patterson Rural Health Rural Communities South Taranaki Health Workforce Rural Training Hub Healthcare Rural Medical Immersion Programme Rural Health StrategyRevolutionizing Health Workforce Regulation for Faster Patient Access
2 months ago | 298 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown announces changes to modernize health workforce regulation to improve patient access to care by reducing bureaucratic red tape and recognizing overseas qualifications more quickly. The changes aim to streamline regulation, increase accountability, and align New Zealand with Australia to speed up access to care and support new healthcare delivery models while maintaining patient safety. Patients will have a voice in ensuring regulators work towards improving access to care, and the changes will help attract, train, and retain the healthcare workforce needed to deliver timely, quality care.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister patients care regulation workforce access professionals New Zealand AustraliaNew Legislation Enhances Defence Force Workforce Management for National Security
3 months ago | 392 viewsNew legislation introduced by Defence Minister Judith Collins allows the Chief of Defence Force to redeploy uniformed personnel to fill roles of striking civilian staff, ensuring national security during industrial action. The Defence (Workforce) Amendment Bill expands the Minister's authority to include instances where national security and core defence functions are at risk, such as security at military bases and aircraft maintenance. The bill aims to address challenges faced during previous industrial actions and will be open for public submissions when referred to a select committee in September 2025.
Tags: Chief of Defence Force CDF workforce national security industrial action Defence Minister Judith Collins Defence Act New Zealand Defence Force civilian staffNew Zealand Approves Psychology Assistant Role to Boost Mental Health Support
3 months ago | 449 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey welcomes the New Zealand Psychologists Board's approval of the Psychology Assistant role to enhance access to mental health and addiction support. The initiative aims to address workforce shortages by providing a career path for psychology graduates unable to enter clinical psychology programs. Psychology Assistants will work under supervision to expand support services, reduce vacancies, and improve mental health outcomes for New Zealanders.
Tags: Matt Doocey New Zealand Psychologists Board Psychology Assistant mental health addiction support workforce shortages clinical psychology programme mental health system mental health workforce Health NZ.