06 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1143 views
Canterbury’s Acute Demand Management Service, celebrating 25 years, provides in-home care to around 110 patients daily, reducing hospital admissions and freeing up beds for those needing hospital-level care. Overseen by primary care doctors and supported by skilled nurses and specialists, the service manages a wide range of conditions and delivers thousands of care packages and diagnostic tests annually. This community-based approach ensures timely, tailored treatment in patients' homes, improving satisfaction and optimizing healthcare resources in the region.
03 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1191 views
The Government has announced the first tranche of major events funding for 2026, featuring international and local music acts, sports, and cultural events, including Linkin Park in Auckland and Ultra Music Festival in Wellington. This $5 million investment is part of a $70 million Major Events and Tourism package aimed at boosting New Zealand’s economy by attracting visitors and supporting over 70 events nationwide. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston emphasized the significant economic benefits, such as increased business for hotels, restaurants, and shops, and promised more high-profile event announcements early next year.
02 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1040 views
The Wellington District Court's Disputes Tribunal has transitioned to electronic case files to provide faster, more flexible justice, allowing referees and staff to securely access and manage cases remotely. Following successful implementations in Christchurch and upcoming plans for Auckland, this digital shift aims to reduce delays and improve the system nationwide. The move supports small businesses and consumers by enabling quicker dispute resolutions, helping them recover losses and maintain operations efficiently.
30 Nov 2025
10 months ago
1440 views
Two new high-security units with 316 beds will be built at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison, increasing its capacity from 755 to 1,071 by early 2027 to address the rising prison population driven by law-and-order measures. This expansion complements recent and ongoing projects at Waikeria and Christchurch Men’s Prisons, which together will add over 1,500 beds by 2029, while Corrections has also bolstered frontline staff with nearly 900 new officers since February 2024. These efforts aim to safely manage growth in the prison population, predominantly violent and gang-affiliated offenders, and maintain public safety without requiring additional funding.
28 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1220 views
Health New Zealand will invest $27.1 million over three years to expand stem cell transplant services, addressing critical delays and increasing capacity by 27–38% to save more lives. This funding supports hiring 79 new staff, expanding hospital beds, upgrading infrastructure, and introducing a digital tool for better transplant scheduling nationwide. These efforts build on a prior $6.11 million boost and aim to provide timely, life-saving treatment for patients with blood cancers and related conditions across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
26 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1206 views
The Christchurch City Council has been appointed as a one-stop consenting authority to streamline approvals for large-scale supermarket developments, reducing the need to navigate multiple councils and processes. This initiative aims to increase competition in a market dominated by Foodstuffs and Woolworths, encouraging new grocery businesses to enter and lower prices for consumers. The service focuses on standalone supermarket buildings over 500m² for non-regulated grocery retailers and complements faster consent processes like MultiProof to enable quicker supermarket construction.
10 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1114 views
The Christchurch City Council has achieved its Housing Growth Target, allowing it to withdraw part of Plan Change 14, which aimed to update planning rules to facilitate more housing. The Council demonstrated sufficient feasible housing capacity for at least 30 years, exceeding statutory requirements. Ministerial decisions are pending on heritage sites and a special character area, with a focus on removing planning barriers to increase housing supply in the fast-growing city of Christchurch.
24 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1237 views
The Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, Mark Mitchell, has lifted the state of local emergency for most areas in the Canterbury Region, except for Kaikōura District. This decision was made based on advice from the Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Controller. The state of local emergency remains in place for Kaikōura due to ongoing welfare needs and the risk of fires reoccurring, while similar states of emergency continue in the Southland Region and Clutha District.
10 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1279 views
Attorney-General Judith Collins announced High Court and Environment Court appointments for Christchurch, Auckland, and Wellington. Owen Paulsen, a former Associate High Court Judge, has been appointed as a High Court Judge for Christchurch. Helen Wild, with a background in law firms and public service, has been appointed as an Associate High Court Judge for Auckland, while David Caldwell, a seasoned litigator and mediator, will join the Environment Court in Wellington after serving as a partner in various law firms.
10 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1519 views
Te Oranga Care and Protection Residence in Christchurch is being upgraded and reopened to provide therapeutic, trauma-informed care for children with high and complex needs. Admissions were paused in 2021 due to staffing issues and underinvestment, but the residence will resume operations after undergoing significant infrastructure improvements. Minister Karen Chhour highlights the government's commitment to enhancing care for children, emphasizing the importance of professional standards and investments in facilities to ensure a safe and supportive environment for at-risk youth.
10 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1262 views
The Housing Minister announced that more than 65 new social homes will be built in Canterbury by Community Housing Providers (CHPs) as part of the government's commitment to social housing. These homes are part of over 6,800 net new social homes delivered nationwide since November 2023, with 837 in Canterbury, and funding for an additional 2,000 homes over the next two years. The homes in Canterbury will be located in various suburbs and will primarily consist of one- and two-bedroom units to address the high demand for such properties in the region.
08 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1414 views
Space Minister Judith Collins highlights the growth and global relevance of New Zealand's space and advanced aviation sectors, aiming to double their value by 2030. The sectors have seen significant revenue increases, with space sector revenues reaching $2.68 billion and advanced aviation sector revenue estimated at $530 million in 2024. New Zealand is focused on building a high-tech economy, establishing a world-leading regulatory environment, and developing sovereign space capabilities to address global challenges.
27 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1276 views
The upgrade of Christchurch Hospital’s cardiac catheterisation laboratory is now complete, with three state-of-the-art labs providing advanced cardiac care services for the South Island. The new facilities offer improved technology, increased capacity, and enhanced resilience, ensuring faster access to treatment and better outcomes for patients across the region. This upgrade establishes Christchurch Hospital as a leading center of excellence in cardiac intervention, delivering cutting-edge care and safeguarding the heart health of New Zealanders in the South Island.
19 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1317 views
Minister for Women Nicola Grigg commemorates the 132nd anniversary of Suffrage Day, celebrating New Zealand's progress for women's rights. The government has made strides in reducing the gender pay gap, promoting women's representation in leadership roles, and improving health outcomes for women and girls. Grigg emphasizes the importance of continuing efforts towards achieving true equality and expresses gratitude to all women and girls for their contributions to New Zealand's advancement.
16 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1391 views
The refurbishment of Christchurch Hospital's Ambulatory Care Hub is complete, as announced by Health Minister Simeon Brown, marking a significant advancement in outpatient care in Canterbury. The hub, costing $4.7 million, consolidates six key outpatient services into one location, providing a coordinated and patient-friendly environment for services like medical and oncology day units, respiratory physiology, and neurophysiology. The integrated hub aims to streamline patient experiences, improve care efficiency, and support faster cancer treatment, demonstrating a commitment to patient-focused health infrastructure by ensuring accessible outpatient care for New Zealanders.