Articles tagged with Act
Showing 15 of 350 articles
New Zealand Passes Health and Safety Amendment Bill to Support Safer Workplaces
12 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1056 viewsThe Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill, welcomed by Minister Brooke van Velden, aims to reform New Zealand’s workplace health and safety laws by providing clearer guidance through strengthened Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) and clarifying WorkSafe’s regulatory functions. The Bill introduces practical changes, such as creating safe harbours for compliance, easing obligations for small low-risk businesses, and defining directors' due diligence duties to reduce duplication and focus on governance. These reforms seek to reduce business uncertainty and compliance costs while improving safety outcomes by making WorkSafe a more consistent and supportive agency.
Tags: Brooke van Velden WorkSafe Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill New Zealand Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Approved Codes of Practice WorkSafe regulator Health and Safety Act business compliance workplace safetyKāinga Ora Turnaround: Lower Debt, Build Costs, and Improved Tenancy Satisfaction
11 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1143 viewsOne year after launching its Turnaround Plan, Kāinga Ora has significantly improved financial management by reducing debt forecasts, cutting operating costs, and lowering build expenses through standardized designs and better procurement. The agency is maintaining its social housing stock while enhancing quality via renewals and retrofits, selling unsuitable properties, and exceeding new home delivery targets. Tenant satisfaction and safety have increased, rent arrears and vacancy rates have declined, and Kāinga Ora is more effectively managing anti-social behavior and complaints, reflecting stronger governance and operational focus.
Tags: Kāinga Ora Chris Bishop Tama Potaka Turnaround Plan social housing New Zealand government housing debt tenancy satisfaction build costs community housing providersKiwi Tradies Gain Easier Access to Thousands of Australian Plumbing Products
10 Feb 2026 | 7 months ago | 995 viewsNew Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has expanded recognition of thousands of Australian WaterMark-certified plumbing and drainage products, simplifying their use by Kiwi tradies and homeowners. This change, enabled by the Overseas Building Products Amendment Bill, reduces red tape by allowing Building Consent Authorities to accept these products as compliant without individual assessments, improving supply chain resilience and lowering costs. MBIE plans to continue reviewing overseas products, enhancing access to essential building materials like plasterboard, cladding, windows, and doors to support housing affordability and construction efficiency.
Tags: Chris Penk Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment MBIE WaterMark Building Act Overseas Building Products Amendment Bill Building Consent Authorities New Zealand Australia tradiesNew Zealand Modernises Military Justice System with New Discipline Law Amendment Bill
10 Feb 2026 | 7 months ago | 1040 viewsThe Armed Forces Discipline Law Amendment Bill aims to modernize New Zealand’s military justice system by making it fairer, more efficient, and transparent, aligning it with civilian justice developments. It introduces a Minor Discipline Sanction System for low-level offenses, streamlines serious cases to Court Martial, enhances search powers with better protections, and expands rights such as trial by Court Martial and drug testing. These reforms ensure stronger discipline and operational readiness within the Armed Forces while upholding high standards for personnel.
Tags: Judith Collins New Zealand Armed Forces Military Justice System Defence Minister Court Martial Director of Military Prosecutions Armed Forces Discipline Law Amendment Bill Minor Discipline Sanction System Bill of Rights ActGovernment Launches Te Reo Māori Training and New Education Resources for Teachers
04 Feb 2026 | 7 months ago | 1172 viewsEducation Minister Erica Stanford has announced a new te reo Māori training programme for 50,000 teachers, alongside the release of a refreshed curriculum, educational resources, and language handbooks to support bilingual education and Māori student success. These initiatives, supported by Budget 25, include digital learning modules, advanced language textbooks, STEM materials, and hands-on maths resources, all designed to strengthen Māori-medium pathways and align with evidence-based teaching. Additionally, significant government investments are being made in school property redevelopments to accommodate growing rolls and enhance learning environments in Māori immersion schools.
Tags: Erica Stanford Grant McCullum Ruakere Hond Tīmoti Kāretu Te Ataarangi Te Marautanga o Aotearoa Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kaikohe Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Mokopuna Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāringaomatariki Māori Education Action PlanWorld Cancer Day: Advancing Faster, Fairer Cancer Care Across New Zealand
03 Feb 2026 | 7 months ago | 1071 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown highlights World Cancer Day as an opportunity to recognize advancements in New Zealand’s cancer care, emphasizing patient-centered decisions and improved access to modern treatments. Over the past two years, the government has implemented initiatives such as funding new cancer medicines, expanding screening programs, lowering bowel screening age, and investing in infrastructure and workforce to enhance early detection and treatment. These efforts aim to reduce wait times, bring care closer to home, and ensure equitable, high-quality cancer care nationwide.
Tags: Simeon Brown World Cancer Day New Zealand Taranaki Cancer Centre Pharmac breast screening bowel screening Faster Cancer Treatment Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy Cancer Action PlanWorld Cancer Day: Advancing Faster, Fairer Cancer Care Across New Zealand
03 Feb 2026 | 7 months ago | 1038 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown highlights World Cancer Day as an opportunity to recognize progress in New Zealand’s cancer care, emphasizing patient-centered improvements such as earlier detection, faster treatment access, and modern therapies. Key initiatives include funding new cancer medicines, expanding screening programs, establishing faster treatment targets, investing in infrastructure and workforce, and developing a Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy. These efforts aim to reduce wait times, enhance treatment accessibility, and provide equitable, high-quality care nationwide.
Tags: Simeon Brown World Cancer Day New Zealand Taranaki Cancer Centre Pharmac breast screening bowel screening Faster Cancer Treatment Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy Cancer Action PlanNew Zealand Introduces 12-Month Prescriptions to Save Costs and Improve Access
31 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1051 viewsNew Zealand now allows prescriptions for up to 12 months for patients with stable, long-term conditions, reducing costs and simplifying medicine access by eliminating the need for quarterly GP visits. This change lowers prescription charges to a single $5 fee at the first collection and frees up GP time for other patients. Additionally, expanded prescribing rights for health professionals like nurse practitioners further improve timely and affordable healthcare access.
Tags: Simeon Brown New Zealand Health Minister asthma diabetes epilepsy high blood pressure GP nurse practitioners prescriptionsNew ADHD Treatment Access in New Zealand Expanded to GPs and Nurse Practitioners
31 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1083 viewsNew Zealand has expanded who can assess, diagnose, and start treatment for ADHD to improve timely access, allowing specialist GPs and nurse practitioners to manage adults and certain nurse practitioners to treat children under 18. Previously, only specialists could prescribe ADHD medicines, but now prescribing rules have been widened, removing prior restrictions and easing access to medication. These changes, along with removing renewal requirements for funded stimulant medicines, aim to connect more people with support earlier and positively impact education, employment, relationships, and mental health.
Tags: Matt Doocey ADHD New Zealand Medsafe Pharmac GPs nurse practitioners paediatrician psychiatrist Ministry of HealthNew Tailored Health and Safety Rules to Ease Lab Work Regulations by 2026
27 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1159 viewsHealth and safety regulations for research laboratories are currently impractical and overly restrictive, as they apply the same rules as large industrial hazardous substance operations, leading to increased risks and significant compliance costs estimated between $1.5 billion to $3 billion. The removal of a specialized compliance pathway in 2017 left laboratories bound by unsuitable rules, but the government, led by Minister Brooke van Velden, plans to introduce tailored regulations and an Approved Code of Practice by 2026 to better address the unique risks in laboratory environments. This reform aims to balance safety with practicality, enabling scientists to use their expertise for effective risk management without unnecessary regulatory burdens.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Universities New Zealand Independent Research Association of New Zealand Health and Safety at Work Regulations research laboratories hazardous substances regulatory relief Approved Code of Practice health and safety complianceWSL Championship Tour Comes to Raglan, New Zealand in May 2026
25 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 3576 viewsThe World Surf League (WSL) will host its 2026 Championship Tour event, the New Zealand Pro, in Raglan, marking the first combined men’s and women’s WSL event in the country. Scheduled for May 15-25, the competition will feature top surfers at Raglan’s renowned left-hand point break, boosting local tourism and showcasing New Zealand as a premier surf destination. Supported by the Government’s Events Attraction Package, the event aims to stimulate the economy, create jobs, and enhance New Zealand’s global reputation for major cultural and sporting events.
Tags: World Surf League WSL Raglan New Zealand Pro Louise Upston Waikato Championship Tour Tourism Surfing Events Attraction PackageNew Mental Health Co-Response Teams Launched in Four NZ Regions for 111 Calls
21 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1226 viewsMinister for Mental Health Matt Doocey announced the launch of the first four mental health co-response teams in Canterbury, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and Counties Manukau, pairing mental health workers with Police to better respond to 111 mental distress calls. These teams aim to provide immediate support and reduce reliance on criminal justice responses, improving outcomes by decreasing emergency department visits and use of Mental Health Act powers. Funded by a $28 million Budget 2025 investment, the initiative expands on previous pilots and is part of a broader government strategy to enhance crisis response and mental health services nationwide.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Police Budget 2025 Canterbury Auckland Bay of Plenty Counties Manukau Mental Health ActNew Cataract and Retinal Surgery Services Boost Eye Care Access in Wellington Region
21 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1135 viewsNew cataract services have launched at Hutt Hospital, providing 20 to 25 surgery sessions monthly to improve local access and reduce waiting times across the Wellington region. Additionally, Kenepuru Hospital is expanding vitreoretinal surgery capacity with two to three extra weekly sessions to address urgent retinal conditions and prevent vision loss. These initiatives aim to treat 300 to 500 more patients annually, enhancing timely care and preserving patients’ independence and quality of life.
Tags: Simeon Brown Hutt Hospital Kenepuru Hospital Wellington Hospitals cataract surgery vitreoretinal surgery Regional Retinal Network Plan retinal detachments elective treatmentFisheries Reform: New Deemed Value Rules to Reflect Actual Fish Market Value
16 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1265 viewsOceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced changes to the deemed value system for fish caught outside commercial quotas, allowing fees to better reflect the actual market value based on how fish are landed, such as fresh versus frozen. The amendment aims to address financial disadvantages faced by fishers using deepwater freezer vessels who currently pay deemed values based on higher fresh fish prices, by enabling alternative rates for inshore stocks caught as bycatch. Additionally, the proposal to allow commercial fishers to land and sell marlin bycatch has been rejected, with the Fisheries Act Amendment Bill set for introduction in early 2026 and public consultation to follow.
Tags: Shane Jones Fisheries Act Amendment Bill commercial fishers deemed value quota management system inshore stocks deepwater freezer vessels marlin bycatch fisheries reforms Oceans and Fisheries MinisterNew Zealand Manufacturing Hits Highest Activity Since 2021 with Growth and Awards
15 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1294 viewsNew Zealand manufacturing activity reached its highest level since December 2021, with the seasonally adjusted PMI rising to 56.1, indicating industry expansion and outperforming major global economies. Manufacturing is vital to New Zealand’s economy, employing over 220,000 people, contributing 8% of GDP, and accounting for 60% of exports, with recent growth signaling a positive outlook. To celebrate this success, the government announced the second annual Minister for Manufacturing Awards, introducing new categories to recognize small businesses, emerging leaders, and lifetime contributions, with entries opening from 23 February to 31 March 2026.
Tags: Chris Penk New Zealand Manufacturing Small Business BNZ BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index Minister for Manufacturing Awards Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa Auckland Showgrounds