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New Zealand and Iceland Partner to Boost Geothermal Energy Innovation and Research
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 875 viewsNew Zealand and Iceland signed an agreement to enhance cooperation in geothermal energy development through joint research, industry workshops, and academic exchanges, focusing on superhot and supercritical geothermal systems. This partnership builds on decades of shared expertise and recent collaborations, aiming to advance renewable energy innovation and support New Zealand's goals to double renewable generation by 2050 and boost geothermal production by 2040. The agreement was formalized at COP 30 and includes financial commitments, such as New Zealand allocating up to $60 million for geothermal exploration in the Taupō Volcanic Zone.
Tags: Winston Peters Shane Jones Simon Watts Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson New Zealand Iceland geothermal energy renewable energy COP 30 Taupō Volcanic ZoneNZ Government Proposes Digital Food Labels to Boost New Supermarkets Entry
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 872 viewsThe New Zealand Government is proposing a trial of digital food labelling for lower-risk imported goods to reduce costly re-labelling requirements for new supermarkets entering the market. This initiative aims to provide allergen, ingredient, and nutrition information via QR codes and digital platforms while ensuring compliance with food safety regulations. Public consultation on the trial is open until December 19, 2025, with the goal of enhancing market entry flexibility and supporting trans-Tasman digital labelling efforts.
Tags: Nicola Willis Andrew Hoggard New Zealand Food Act digital labels supermarkets food labelling food safety economic growthGovernment Boosts Mental Health Workforce, Reduces Wait Times in New Zealand
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 931 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 Makes Stalking a Criminal Offence with Up to 5 Years Prison
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 924 viewsNew Zealand has passed legislation making stalking a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison, addressing long-overdue protections against persistent and harmful intrusions. The new law defines stalking as a pattern of behavior likely to cause fear or distress, including acts such as following, unwanted communication, and damaging reputations, with the offence coming into force in May 2026. This legislation prioritizes victim needs, particularly protecting women and children, and includes a police notice system and relevant defenses to effectively combat stalking and harassment.
Tags: Paul Goldsmith Justice Minister New Zealand stalking harassment Crimes Legislation Parliament victims advocacy PoliceNew Zealand Introduces Stalking Offence with Up to 5 Years Imprisonment
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 984 viewsParliament has passed new legislation making stalking a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison, addressing persistent and harmful behaviours that cause emotional, psychological, and economic harm to victims. The law defines stalking as a pattern of behaviour likely to cause fear or distress, including acts like following, unwanted communication, and damaging reputations, with enforcement beginning in May 2026 after necessary training and public information are prepared. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith emphasized the importance of prioritizing victims, particularly women and children, and acknowledged the advocacy efforts that helped bring the legislation to fruition.
Tags: stalking harassment Paul Goldsmith Justice Minister New Zealand Crimes Legislation Parliament victims advocacy PoliceNew Zealand Passes New Law to Combat Foreign Interference and Protect Security
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 1052 viewsNew Zealand has passed the Crimes (Countering Foreign Interference) Amendment Bill to strengthen protections against deceptive, corruptive, or coercive foreign interference. The legislation creates new offences criminalizing foreign interference and updates espionage-related laws to safeguard national security. While encouraging transparent diplomatic and lobbying activities, the law aims to hold accountable those engaging in covert or harmful foreign influence.
Tags: New Zealand Paul Goldsmith foreign interference legislation Parliament Crimes Amendment Bill espionage government information security defenceNew Zealand Passes Law to Combat Foreign Interference and Protect Security
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 901 viewsNew Zealand has passed the Crimes (Countering Foreign Interference) Amendment Bill to better protect the country from deceptive, corruptive, or coercive foreign activities aimed at manipulating society. The legislation creates new offences specifically criminalizing foreign interference and updates existing laws related to espionage and wrongful communication of government information. While normal diplomatic and transparent engagements remain unaffected, the government emphasizes that foreign interference will no longer be tolerated.
Tags: Paul Goldsmith New Zealand foreign interference legislation Parliament Crimes Amendment Bill espionage criminal law government securityNew ECE Regulation Law Prioritizes Child Safety and Streamlines Licensing
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 1022 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 EROHow New Zealand Saved $2.3B with a Smart, No-Nonsense Ferry Solution
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 1069 viewsThe speech highlights the shift from the failed, wasteful iReX ferry project to a fiscally disciplined, pragmatic approach that saves taxpayers $2.3 billion by focusing on essential infrastructure upgrades and acquiring two new ferries within a $1.7 billion budget. The new plan maintains support for rail, keeps costs low to benefit consumers, and involves collaboration with experienced industry partners, including a reputable Chinese shipbuilder, ensuring timely and efficient delivery by 2029. Emphasizing commonsense and practical expertise over costly overreach, the project is already underway with strong leadership and community support, promising a sustainable future for New Zealand’s Interislander ferry services.
Tags: Lachie Nadine Taylor Andrew Little Daran Ponter Chris Mackenzie Heather Simpson Greg Lowe Katherine Rich Iain McLeod Guangzhou Shipyard InternationalNew Safeguards for Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogues Prescribing in NZ
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 904 viewsThe Cabinet has agreed to introduce new safeguards on prescribing gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues, restricting their use for new patients with gender dysphoria or incongruence until further clinical trial results are available, while maintaining access for existing patients and those with other medical conditions. This precautionary approach follows a lack of high-quality evidence on the benefits and risks of these treatments for gender dysphoria and aligns New Zealand’s regulations with those of the UK and other countries. The government emphasizes ensuring treatments are safe, evidence-based, and accessible through continued support and centralized youth gender services.
Tags: Simeon Brown gender dysphoria Ministry of Health New Zealand United Kingdom Medicines Act endometriosis prostate cancerGovernment Saves $2.3 Billion with New Interislander Ferries and Infrastructure
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 988 viewsThe Government has secured two new Interislander ferries from Guangzhou Shipyard International under a $596 million fixed-price contract, with the total program costing less than $2 billion and saving taxpayers $2.3 billion by cutting expensive consultancy and excessive infrastructure. Funding for the infrastructure will be recovered through port fees and Interislander is expected to build reserves for future ferry replacements, operating like a normal business. The project is managed by Ferry Holdings with support from CentrePort, Port Marlborough, and KiwiRail, emphasizing fiscal discipline and minimizing disruption, while also strengthening economic ties with China.
Tags: Winston Peters Guangzhou Shipyard International Ferry Holdings CentrePort Port Marlborough KiwiRail Interislander Bluebridge Rail Minister Cook StraitNZ Foreign Minister Winston Peters to Visit Vietnam, Thailand, and China Next Week
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 1069 viewsMinister Winston Peters will visit Viet Nam, Thailand, and China next week to strengthen New Zealand's key relationships in Southeast Asia and discuss regional challenges with senior leaders. He will also attend an event in Guangzhou marking New Zealand’s purchase of two interisland ferries, highlighting the strong trade ties with China. This visit underscores the Coalition Government’s commitment to maintaining and enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation with both Southeast Asia and China.
Tags: Winston Peters New Zealand Viet Nam Thailand China Southeast Asia Guangzhou Ha Noi Bangkok Coalition GovernmentRotorua Ends Contracted Emergency Housing Motels, Rehomes All Families
19 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 912 viewsThe Government has ended the use of Contracted Emergency Housing motels in Rotorua, reducing households in CEH from over 240 to zero through coordinated efforts with local partners. This marks a significant turnaround from a previously broken emergency housing system that caused social and economic harm, restoring safety and stability to the city. Ongoing initiatives, including new affordable rental homes, aim to strengthen Rotorua’s housing supply and support its economic growth.
Tags: Tama Potaka Rotorua HUD MSD Ngāti Whakaue Te Arawa Visions of a Helping Hand WERA Aotearoa Emerge Aotearoa Rotorua Lakes CouncilNew Zealand Passes Defence Bill to Protect Security During Industrial Action
18 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 938 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 personnelBuilding New Zealand’s Future: Transforming Transport for Economic Growth
18 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 1005 viewsThe government is focused on driving sustainable economic growth in New Zealand by reforming the planning system, investing heavily in transport infrastructure, and creating a credible long-term pipeline of major projects like the Roads of National Significance (RoNS). Despite economic challenges and funding constraints, including the need for increased petrol taxes and diversified funding methods, the government aims to improve productivity, reduce congestion, and enhance connectivity for both freight and people. Achieving these goals requires tough trade-offs, realistic sequencing of projects, and collaboration with the construction sector to deliver transformative benefits for the economy and all New Zealanders.
Tags: Matt Freeman New Zealand Roads of National Significance NZTA National Land Transport Programme Waikato Expressway Tauranga Eastern Corridor Wellington Northern Corridor Transmission Gully Kāpiti Expressway