Latest News & Articles
Showing 15 of 2390 articles
Rural Resilience Workshops Help Farmers Prepare for Emergencies Across NZ
10 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 904 viewsAgriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced a series of rural resilience workshops starting next week to help farmers and growers prepare for adverse events following recent damaging floods. These practical workshops, held nationwide alongside a rural resilience roadshow on the West Coast, aim to enhance emergency preparedness in rural communities highly exposed to emergencies. Resources such as a farm emergency plan template and preparedness checklist are available on the Good Farm and MPI websites to support farmers.
Tags: Todd McClay Mark Patterson Agriculture and Forestry Minister Rural Communities Minister New Zealand Otago Blenheim Canterbury Ruapehu WaikatoSunfield Masterplanned Community Approved: 3,854 Homes Boost Auckland Growth
10 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1091 viewsThe Sunfield Masterplanned Community in Auckland, approved through the Fast-track system, will deliver approximately 3,854 new homes, a town centre, healthcare services, retirement villages, and extensive green spaces, generating up to $3.2 billion for the economy and creating thousands of jobs. The approval process took 10 months, with concerns about infrastructure capacity addressed through development design and consent conditions ensuring growth funds its own infrastructure needs. This project marks the seventh housing development approved via Fast-track, highlighting the system’s effectiveness in accelerating major projects to support housing supply, jobs, and growth in Auckland.
Tags: Shane Jones Sunfield Winton Land Limited Auckland Arataki Homestead Bay Drury Metropolitan Centre Maitahi Village MilldaleGovernment Responds to Health Committee Report on Aged Care for Neurological Disorders
10 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 975 viewsThe Government has welcomed the Health Committee’s report on aged care support for people with neurological cognitive disorders, following an inquiry launched in 2024 that gathered extensive input and made 14 recommendations. The Government’s response acknowledges these recommendations and will consider them through ongoing aged care reforms, including work by the Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group. Committed to improving access and quality of care, the Government aims to ensure timely support for older people, particularly those with neurological cognitive conditions.
Tags: Casey Costello Health Committee New Zealand First National coalition Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group Government neurological cognitive disorders dementia aged care ParliamentRoyal Commission Report Reveals Lessons and Impact of New Zealand’s COVID-19 Response
10 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 912 viewsThe Royal Commission's final report on New Zealand's COVID-19 response highlights that initial restrictions were appropriate but later extended beyond public health advice, with economic warnings ignored, leading to excessive spending and increased public debt. Auckland endured the longest lockdown, exceeding official recommendations, and vaccine mandates for under-18s did not align with expert advice, reflecting missed opportunities to balance health and economic impacts. The Government acknowledges the sacrifices made by New Zealanders and plans to respond to the report’s recommendations by July, aiming to better balance future health and economic decisions.
Tags: Simeon Brown Royal Commission New Zealand Auckland Treasury vaccine mandate lockdown economic impact public healthNew Crane Dredging Barge to Boost Access and Resilience for NZ’s Small Ports
09 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1012 viewsNew Zealand is investing $8 million through the Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund to co-fund a purpose-built crane dredging barge aimed at improving access to smaller ports that are often cut off during natural disasters. This new, cost-effective equipment will enable timely dredging of regional ports, ensuring essential supplies can be delivered by sea when road and rail links are disrupted. The $12.9 million barge, co-funded by Johnson Bros Limited, will be operational by late 2027 to enhance nationwide resilience and support community recovery.
Tags: James Meager New Zealand Whanganui Port Cyclone Gabrielle Greymouth Ōpōtiki Johnson Bros Limited Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund Northland Transport MinisterMore Choice and Control for Disabled People’s Flexible Funding from April 2026
09 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 970 viewsFrom April 2026, disabled people will have greater choice and control over their flexible funding without changes to their current budget allocations, as purchasing rules will be removed while still requiring spending to align with individual plans. These changes follow successful efforts since 2024 to stabilize the disability support system, including strengthened financial controls, improved needs assessments, and significant new funding to ensure sustainability and consistency. Support will be provided to help individuals manage their budgets, with some high-cost or specific purchases requiring pre-approval, reflecting feedback from the disability community and recommendations from the 2024 Independent Review.
Tags: Louise Upston disability support flexible funding Independent Review 2024 DSS NASCs Enabling Good Lives Budget 2025 residential care carersErin James Appointed New Aged Care Commissioner to Enhance Quality Care
09 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1033 viewsAssociate Minister of Health Casey Costello announced Ms Erin James as the new Aged Care Commissioner, a role within the Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner focused on advocating for quality health services for older people. Ms James, currently Director of the OPCAT team at the Office of the Ombudsman, will serve a five-year term starting 7 April 2026. Her appointment aligns with ongoing efforts to improve the aged care system by ensuring timely, appropriate, and sustainable care.
Tags: Casey Costello Erin James Aged Care Commissioner Health and Disability Commissioner Office of the Ombudsman Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture OPCAT Associate Minister of Health aged care system health systemThree New District Court Judges Appointed for Kaikohe, Manukau, and Napier
05 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 989 viewsAttorney-General Judith Collins announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges—Rohan Cochrane, Lynn Hughes, and Derek Whitehead—who will assume their roles in March at Napier, Manukau, and Kaikohe Courts respectively. Each appointee brings extensive legal experience in family and criminal law, with significant involvement in child advocacy, legal aid, and professional committees. Their diverse backgrounds and community engagement highlight their qualifications to serve in the judiciary and support the legal system across New Zealand.
Tags: Judith Collins Rohan Cochrane Lynn Hughes Derek Whitehead Family Law Specialists Ltd New Zealand Law Society Public Defence Service Legal Aid Performance Review Committee Te Hau Awhiowhio Otangarei Trust Board Sentinel ChambersNew Zealand Strengthens Ties with Brazil in Trade, Education, and Film Cooperation
05 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 891 viewsNew Zealand aims to strengthen its relationship with Brazil through cooperation in agriculture, aviation, trade, education, and film, highlighted by recent agreements on audio-visual co-production and education. Foreign Minister Winston Peters emphasized Brazil's global influence and the importance of collaboration between the two mature democracies on international issues and regional development. The visit included high-level meetings, a business showcase, and reinforced New Zealand’s commitment to Latin America as a key partner in addressing global challenges like climate resilience and food security.
Tags: New Zealand Brazil Winston Peters Mauro Vieira Celso Amorim Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Leonardo Barchini Latin America Argentina UruguayNew Zealand Innovation Showcase 2026: Strengthening Ties with Brazil and Latin America
05 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1006 viewsThe speech highlights New Zealand’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties with Brazil and Latin America, emphasizing shared values such as democracy, multilateralism, and environmental stewardship. It underscores opportunities for collaboration in innovation, trade, climate resilience, security, and education, showcasing successful partnerships in technology, agriculture, and film. The speaker calls for enhanced cooperation to address global challenges like transnational crime and geopolitical instability, while fostering people-to-people links to deepen mutual understanding and prosperity.
Tags: Elias Carmel Sepuloni Nicole McKee Damien O’Connor Tim van de Molen Pelé David Schurmann President Lula President Milei President OrsiGovernment Amends Law to Ensure Fair Treatment of ACC and Welfare Payments
05 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1001 viewsThe Government has passed legislation to clarify the impact of ACC payments on welfare entitlements, addressing an unfair discrepancy between those receiving weekly ACC payments and those receiving lump sum payments while their ACC claims are considered. The Social Security Amendment Act ensures equal treatment for all ACC recipients, correcting a court-interpreted anomaly that previously favored one group over another. This change aims to create a fair and equitable process, with transitional provisions for individuals seeking review before the Bill's introduction.
Tags: Government legislation ACC payments welfare entitlement Social Development Employment Minister Louise Upston Social Security Amendment Act MSD benefit Appeal AuthorityNew Zealand Boosts Economy with Faster Overseas Investment Approvals and New Visas
05 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 925 viewsThe New Zealand Government has introduced a two-track system under the Overseas Investment Act to speed up investment decisions, aiming to process most applications within five to 15 working days, significantly faster than before. This reform, along with increased Active Investor Plus visa applications, is expected to bring billions in overseas capital, supporting economic growth, productivity, and high-paying jobs by providing access to international capital, expertise, and technology. The Government emphasizes that attracting foreign investment is essential for New Zealand’s future as a high-income economy and is committed to removing barriers to help businesses grow and create opportunities for Kiwis.
Tags: David Seymour Erica Stanford Overseas Investment Act New Zealand Active Investor Plus golden visa overseas investment Kiwi businesses economic growth investment applicationsNew Zealand Passes Bill for Annual Census and Timelier Population Data
05 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 995 viewsNew Zealand has passed the Data and Statistics (Census) Amendment Bill to transition from a five-yearly census to an annual approach using existing government data, a smaller survey, and targeted collection, starting in 2030. This change addresses rising costs, declining response rates, and disruptions, ensuring more timely and accurate population data essential for planning public services. Additionally, the legislation modifies electoral boundary reviews to occur after every second general election instead of after every census, maintaining regularity while reflecting population changes.
Tags: Shane Reti Paul Goldsmith New Zealand Data and Statistics (Census) Amendment Bill Stats NZ census electoral boundary reviews annual census population data government legislationGame On: Empowering Pacific Youth for Careers in NZ’s $750M Gaming Industry
05 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1086 viewsNew Zealand’s Ministry for Pacific Peoples is launching Game On, a $1 million program to support up to 57 Pacific youth into the $750 million gaming industry, addressing ongoing skill shortages. Delivered in partnership with industry leaders and NGOs, Game On offers school outreach, mentoring, internships, and studio visits to help Pacific learners explore STEM careers in real studio environments. The initiative aims to create long-term opportunities for Pacific communities and build on existing efforts to improve Pacific outcomes in STEM, with the first cohort starting training in July 2026.
Tags: Shane Reti Game On The Cause Collective PikPok New Zealand Game Developers Association Ministry for Pacific Peoples Tupu Toa Toloa programme Pacific youth STEM careersBluff Oyster Season 2024 Opens with Careful Management Amid Challenges
05 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 992 viewsThe Bluff oyster season has opened with a cautious approach following a pre-season survey indicating challenges such as disease and environmental pressures, but also promising growth of new oysters. Fisheries New Zealand is working closely with local fishers to manage the fishery conservatively, protecting areas with many small oysters and ensuring science-based decisions to safeguard the fishery’s future. The season runs from March to August, with ongoing monitoring planned, and a full survey report to be released later in the year.
Tags: Jenny Marcroft Fisheries New Zealand Bluff oyster Mahurangi oyster Shellfish Working Group Oceans and Fisheries oyster fishers oyster season oyster disease oyster survey