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Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced an Early Childhood Education (ECE) Funding Review to ensure the funding system is simple, fair, and gets value for money. Mr Seymour has established an ECE Funding Review Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG), chaired by Linda Meade to carry out this review. It will report on it’s findings this time next year.
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed Natalie McMurtry as Pharmac’s Chief Executive. Natalie McMurtry will start as Pharmac’s Chief Executive on Monday 15 September, taking over from the Acting Chief Executive, Brendan Boyle. “For the first time, Pharmac has its own Minister.
Repeat violent and sexual offenders are officially on notice Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says. “Tougher penalties are now in place as the Three Strikes law comes into force today and the message is clear. If you commit serious violent or sexual offences, expect to face increasingly severe consequences.
The Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has today launched the Government’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan which sets out a five-year whole-of-government approach to preventing suicide in New Zealand. “I want to acknowledge the people who have lost their lives to suicide, those struggling with their mental health or addiction, and those with lived experience or who have been affected by suicide,” Mr Doocey says. “New Zealand continues to face stubbornly high suicide rates.
The derelict and unsafe Gordon Wilson Flats in Wellington will lose its protected heritage status and become eligible for demolition through an amendment to the Resource Management Act (RMA) in the coming weeks, RMA Reform and Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Gordon Wilson Flats were used as social housing until 2012, when an engineer’s report showed the building was so unsafe that large slabs of the concrete exterior could come off in an earthquake or even a strong wind. The building has sat vacant since then, becoming more dangerous and more of an eyesore every year,” Mr Bishop says.
Vaping law changes that take effect today ban disposable vapes and will make a noticeable difference to shop fronts and the marketing of vaping products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello says. “This coalition Government committed to tackling youth vaping, and we’ve made practical changes to reduce the appeal of vaping to young people and to target retailers who sell vapes and tobacco products to our youth,” Ms Costello says. “Today’s changes implement the final parts of legislation passed in December.
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says amendments to the Employment Relations Act will improve labour market flexibility and help businesses to grow, innovate, and employ with confidence and certainty. “Today I’m announcing the introduction of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill to Parliament, marking a key milestone in this Government’s efforts to help New Zealand businesses employ or contract with confidence and create more and better opportunities for workers,” says Ms van Velden. The changes give effect to several ACT–National Coalition Agreement commitments, including to provide greater certainty for contracting parties.
Health Minister Simeon Brown has today announced the appointment of a Crown manager to oversee the delivery of the New Dunedin Hospital Inpatient Building, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to ensuring the project is delivered successfully. “In late January, I confirmed the Government’s commitment to building the New Dunedin Hospital on the former Cadbury site – providing certainty to the people of Dunedin and the wider Otago and Southland regions,” Mr Brown says. “As part of that commitment, we are putting strong leadership in place to drive the next stage of this project.
In the first twelve months of the Government’s flagship Priority One policy, nearly 1000 families with more than 2,124 children have been moved from dank emergency housing motel rooms to secure, stable homes. “The largescale use of emergency housing was one of the biggest public policy failures in New Zealand history. Under the previous government’s watch, thousands of children were consigned to grow up in cramped, dingy motel rooms at a cost to taxpayers of $1 million every day at its peak,” Housing Minister Chris Bishop says.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says this Government has prioritised student attendance and as a result we’ve seen every term since Term 1 2024 record higher attendance than the same term of the previous year. In Term 1 of 2025 65. 9 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 4.
A new, state-of-the-art CT scanner is now operational at Southland Hospital, delivering a significant step forward for diagnostic services in the region, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “This new CT scanner is a game-changer for Invercargill and surrounding areas. It will provide faster, more accurate diagnosis for a wide range of conditions, including cancer and heart disease – meaning patients can start treatment sooner and with greater confidence.
The Government has signed a new halal cooperation arrangement in Jakarta over the weekend to strengthen trade access to Indonesia and create new opportunities for New Zealand’s red meat and dairy exporters, Agriculture and Trade Minister, Todd McClay announced today. “Indonesia is an important growth market for dairy and meat products – worth over $1. 1 billion in exports last year.
Health Minister Simeon Brown and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey are marking National Volunteer Week by recognising the extraordinary contribution of volunteers to New Zealand’s health system, including this year’s recipients of the Minister of Health Volunteer Awards. This year’s theme – Volunteering weaves us together – highlights the power of volunteering to strengthen the fabric of our communities, helping build a stronger, more inclusive New Zealand. “Since 2013, the Minister of Health Volunteer Awards have been an excellent way for us to celebrate the wonderful health volunteers we have across the country.
New parents can expect more support to take time away from work to care for their children from 1 July, with an increase to the maximum weekly rate of paid parental leave up from $754. 87 to $788. 66 per week, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced today.
Associate Health Minister David Seymour says the oestradiol patch funding decision is an example of Pharmac’s new patient-centric approach. From December 2025 Pharmac will fund two brands of oestradiol patches, Estradot and Estradiol TDP Mylan. “Pharmac received significant feedback at the end of last year about a decision to move to Estradiol TDP Mylan as the only funded brand of oestradiol patch.