20 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2462 views
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has wrapped up his successful China visit by meeting with his Chinese counterpart Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. “My first official visit to China allowed me to reconnect with Premier Li on the full scope of our bilateral relationship,” Mr Luxon says. Following their meeting, Mr Luxon and Premier Li issued a Joint Statement of Outcomes and witnessed the signing of 11 new government-to-government arrangements covering cooperation on climate change, cultural linkages, tourism and a range of practical initiatives to facilitate trade flows.
20 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2378 views
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. “My meeting with President Xi was a valuable opportunity to reflect on the depth and breadth of this important relationship, and to reaffirm our bilateral ties,” Mr Luxon says. “I outlined how our strong and innovative economic relationship has grown to cover a broad range of areas.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2465 views
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says that communities in the Waikato are benefitting from over $414,000 in grants from funds raised through a special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief. “Cyclone Gabrielle had a significant impact on parts of the Waikato, causing destruction to property, blocked roads, and requiring coordinated relief efforts Now, one year after grant applications closed, 18 community organisations have received funding to rebuild thanks to the generosity of Kiwis who bought tickets to the special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief,” says Ms van Velden. Funds raised from the special Lotto draw were passed on to the Cyclone Gabrielle Appeal Trust, which accepted grant applications until May 2024 and distributed all funds by October 2024.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2356 views
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says that communities in Northland are benefitting from $3. 59 million in grants from funds raised through a special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief, two years later. “Cyclone Gabrielle had a devasting impact on Northland, causing widespread destruction to property and requiring significant relief efforts.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2650 views
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says that communities in Hawke’s Bay are benefitting from $4. 77 million in grants from funds raised through a special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief. “Cyclone Gabrielle had a devasting impact on Hawke’s Bay, causing widespread destruction to property and requiring significant relief efforts.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2327 views
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says that communities in the Gisborne region are benefitting from $3. 55 million in grants from funds raised through a special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief. “Cyclone Gabrielle had a devasting impact on the East Coast, causing widespread destruction to property and requiring significant relief efforts.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2308 views
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says that communities across Auckland are benefitting from $1. 8 million in grants from funds raised through a special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief. “Cyclone Gabreille had a devasting impact on parts of Auckland, causing widespread damage to property and requiring significant relief efforts.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2439 views
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has concluded the successful Shanghai leg of his official visit to China, accompanied by Ministers Louise Upston and Mark Mitchell and a delegation of senior New Zealand business leaders from across the food and beverage, health and wellbeing, education, and tourism sectors. “Our bilateral trade relationship with China is one of our most important, with two-way trade exceeding NZ$39 billion in the year ending March 2025. “This relationship accounts for more than 20 per cent of New Zealand’s total goods and services exports,” Mr Luxon says.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2627 views
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has made significant progress in tackling scams in New Zealand, with a 62 per cent drop in reports of SMS scams in 2024 from 2023, following the Department’s investigations into scammers. The Department’s 2024 Digital Messaging Transparency Report, published this week, details some of the actions the Department has taken to catch people perpetrating scams, including by conducting search warrants and seizing equipment. “Scams cause serious financial and emotional harm, often preying on vulnerable people in our communities.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2132 views
The Government’s ensuring some of New Zealand’s most isolated schools get the pipeline of teachers they need to teach the basics brilliantly. “For most new teachers, school placements play a significant role in deciding where they choose to teach once they qualify as a teacher. We know rural and isolated schools struggle to fill these rolls.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2075 views
A total of 180 overseas-trained doctors have expressed interest in a new Government-funded training programme aimed at boosting New Zealand’s primary care workforce, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand needs more doctors – particularly in primary and rural healthcare care settings – and this Government is taking action to make that happen,” Mr Brown says. “That’s why we’ve launched a new two-year training programme to support up to 100 additional overseas-trained doctors across the country.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2237 views
A $750,000 investment into Iwi and community led biodiversity protection at Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park will benefit the environment and sustainable tourism, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “We’re backing much-needed protection for one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most unique conservation parks and southern-most kauri habitats through work to eradicate destructive wild goats, contributing to a healthier and scenic visitor experience near Tauranga,” Mr Potaka says. “Browsing animals, like wild goats affect forest regeneration significantly, and are considered a potential spreader of kauri dieback through soil they carry.
19 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2333 views
The safety of New Zealanders in the Middle East is a pressing priority for the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “We do not want New Zealanders in harm’s way,” Mr Peters says. “While we face very serious practical constraints of a conflict zone and closed airspace, we will continue to do all we can to help,” Mr Peters says.
18 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2294 views
The Government is boosting tourism and trade by making it simpler, faster and cheaper for Chinese nationals to transit via New Zealand. From November, Chinese passport holders will no longer need to obtain a Transit Visa before transiting through New Zealand airports. Instead, they will be able to get a New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).
18 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2360 views
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson have welcomed a new certification scheme, announced by the Prime Minister in Shanghai today, that unlocks access to China’s $200 million cosmetics and skincare market — a move that will drive stronger returns for New Zealand exporters and boost the economy. “This is a smart, practical step that removes a long-standing trade barrier and opens up valuable new channels for our exporters,” McClay says. “It means more high-quality, innovative New Zealand products on shelves in China - not just online, but in stores across one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets.