Articles tagged with Ct
Showing 15 of 1019 articles
$848K Government Grants Boost Maritime Safety for Kiwi Boaties This Summer
22 Dec 2025, 9:33 AM | 9 months ago | 1374 viewsThe New Zealand government is investing $848,000 in grants to support community-led safety programs and compliance checks aimed at reducing harm in high-risk recreational maritime environments this summer. Funding includes $773,000 for 30 education initiatives targeting small craft users and vulnerable groups, and $75,000 for 11 regional authorities to conduct on-water compliance checks nationwide. With an average of 37 drowning deaths each summer, officials emphasize the importance of wearing lifejackets and promoting water safety to prevent these tragedies.
Tags: James Meager Cameron Brewer Maritime NZ Watersafe Auckland Inc Queenstown Lakes District Council Associate Transport Minister National MP New Zealand boating safety drowning preventionNew Zealand Invests in Advanced Biosecurity Lab to Protect Primary Industries
19 Dec 2025, 1:33 PM | 9 months ago | 1585 viewsThe New Zealand Government is investing in a new Plant Health and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) at Mt Albert to enhance biosecurity, protect primary industries, and support economic growth. This modern facility will replace the aging MPI lab, strengthen defenses against biosecurity threats, and help maintain export market access critical to the $60.4 billion food and fibre sector. Construction, managed by Crown Infrastructure Delivery and led by Southbase Construction, began with completion expected in 2028 and operation starting in 2029.
Tags: Andrew Hoggard Chris Bishop Biosecurity Minister Infrastructure Minister Ministry for Primary Industries Crown Infrastructure Delivery Southbase Construction Plant Health and Environment Laboratory Mt Albert Research Centre New Zealand GovernmentSouth and East Auckland Urgent Care Expands to 24/7 Service by 2026
19 Dec 2025, 1:23 PM | 9 months ago | 1706 viewsSouth and East Auckland will soon have extended urgent care services, with Local Doctors Ōtara offering care from 7:30am to midnight starting 17 December and moving to 24/7 from 19 January 2026, while Eastcare will extend hours to 1am from 1 March. These improvements aim to provide timely, accessible, and affordable care close to home, reducing pressure on hospital emergency departments. The changes are part of the Government’s national Urgent Care and After Hours Framework, which seeks to ensure 98% of New Zealanders live within an hour of in-person urgent care and introduces a consistent approach to fees and subsidies.
Tags: Simeon Brown Tāmaki Health Local Doctors Ōtara Eastcare New Zealand Government Whangārei Tauranga Invercargill Lower Hutt DunedinNew Parent Portal Updates Help Kiwi Parents Support Kids' Learning at Home
19 Dec 2025, 1:04 PM | 9 months ago | 1410 viewsThe Ministry of Education has launched an updated Parent Portal featuring the refreshed curriculum for Years 0 to 10, enabling parents to clearly understand and support their children's learning at home. The portal will also include curriculum-aligned resources, starting with a free online math practice tool for Years 3 to 8, with additional content coming in January. Education Minister Erica Stanford emphasizes that these updates aim to enhance educational achievement by providing clarity and tools for both teachers and parents.
Tags: Parent Portal Education Minister Erica Stanford Ministry of Education refreshed curriculum Year 0 to Year 10 maths practice tool online learning resources educational achievement Kiwi kids curriculum consultationVictoria Louise Heine Appointed High Court Judge in Wellington Starting 2026
19 Dec 2025, 12:15 PM | 9 months ago | 1468 viewsAttorney-General Judith Collins announced the appointment of Victoria Louise Heine as a High Court Judge, effective 16 February 2026, in Wellington. Justice Heine has a distinguished legal career, including roles as a partner at Chen Palmer and Chapman Tripp, a barrister sole, and an Adjunct Law Lecturer, with expertise in civil remedies, regulatory disputes, and arbitration. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws from Victoria University, a Master of Laws from the University of Chicago, and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2021.
Tags: Judith Collins Victoria Louise Heine Wellington Victoria University of Wellington Russell McVeagh Chen Palmer Chapman Tripp Thorndon Chambers Singapore International Arbitration Centre Equestrian Sports New ZealandNZ to Allow Restaurants with Retail Areas to Sell Take-Home Alcohol
19 Dec 2025, 10:44 AM | 9 months ago | 1405 viewsAssociate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, allowing restaurants with on-site retail areas that sell takeaway food or non-alcoholic beverages to apply for an off-licence to sell alcohol for off-site consumption. This amendment removes restrictive rules that previously prevented such businesses from selling take-home alcohol, aiming to reduce red tape, support responsible operators, and foster entrepreneurial hospitality ventures. The reform, supported by MPs Chris Bishop and Mike Butterick, seeks to adapt regulations to modern business models and enhance customer choice.
Tags: Nicole McKee Chris Bishop Mike Butterick Associate Justice Minister Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act La Bella Italia Hutt South MP Government alcohol reforms restaurantsNew Crown Directors Appointed to Airways and Kiwi Group Capital Boards
18 Dec 2025, 5:29 PM | 9 months ago | 1391 viewsState Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown has appointed Mayurie Gunatilaka to the Airways Board and Susan Petersen to the Kiwi Group Capital Board, both for three-year terms. Gunatilaka brings extensive infrastructure governance experience to support Airways' air navigation services, while Petersen, also Chair of the Kiwibank Board, is the first KGC director to hold a position on Kiwibank’s Board, enhancing strategic alignment. These appointments aim to strengthen governance and leadership in critical sectors, with KGC adopting overlapping board memberships to boost strategic objectives while maintaining independent oversight.
Tags: Simeon Brown Mayurie Gunatilaka Susan Petersen Airways Board Kiwi Group Capital Kiwibank Board State Owned Enterprises Crown directors governance infrastructure planningAuckland's Kings Quarry Expansion Approved for Long-Term Fast-Track Growth
18 Dec 2025, 3:02 PM | 9 months ago | 1435 viewsKings Quarry Limited has received Fast-track approval to expand its quarry operations in Auckland, allowing extraction of up to 500,000 tonnes per year for up to 100 years. The project aims to supply local aggregate materials for major infrastructure, reducing transport costs, emissions, and heavy traffic while providing long-term regional employment. Fast-track approval streamlines the consent process, avoiding lengthy and costly procedures, and is part of a broader initiative with 25 projects now referred to this expedited process.
Tags: Chris Bishop Shane Jones Kings Quarry Auckland quarrying infrastructure New Zealand mining housingWaihi North Mining Project Approved to Expand Operations Until 2043
18 Dec 2025, 2:58 PM | 9 months ago | 1331 viewsThe Waihi North mining project has received fast-track consent to expand operations until 2043, significantly boosting New Zealand’s economy with an estimated $5.2 billion in silver and gold exports and supporting around 800 jobs. The expedited approval process took 112 working days, compared to the usual five years, and is expected to generate $422 million in Crown revenue for public services. Oceana Gold’s application includes new open pit and underground mines, extending mining beyond the original 2030 expiry and highlighting the Fast-track process’s role in accelerating major infrastructure projects.
Tags: Waihi North Chris Bishop Shane Jones Oceana Gold Waikato New Zealand Hauraki District mining project silver and gold exportsEducation Minister Erica Stanford Announces New Pay Deal for Area School Principals
18 Dec 2025, 12:47 PM | 9 months ago | 1382 viewsEducation Minister Erica Stanford announced the successful renewal of the Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement, which benefits over 140 principals with improved pay and conditions. Key enhancements include a 4.7% pay increase, a $6,000 NCEA Change Implementation Allowance, phased increases to principal payments, and a $5,000 mentor allowance. The settlement reflects a commitment to professional development, student achievement, and productive negotiations supporting rural school leadership.
Tags: Erica Stanford Area School Principals Education Minister pay negotiations collective agreement rural communities professional learning student achievement NCEA Change Implementation Allowance Career Structure paymentsNew Zealand Shortlists Five AI Concepts for $70M National Research Platform
18 Dec 2025, 12:25 PM | 9 months ago | 1583 viewsNew Zealand has shortlisted five leading AI concepts to develop a national AI research platform backed by up to $70 million over seven years, aiming to accelerate innovation, strengthen partnerships, and boost high-tech economic growth. The concepts span diverse sectors including healthcare, robotics, creative industries, and primary industries, with each receiving initial funding to develop detailed proposals for final selection in 2026. Additionally, the newly appointed Institute for Advanced Technology Board will guide advanced technology research, supporting long-term economic growth through science reforms and innovation.
Tags: Shane Reti Steve O’Connor Cather Simpson Greg O’Grady Arama Kukutai University of Auckland Wētā FX Victoria University of Wellington University of Waikato University of CanterburyStrong Q3 Economic Growth Boosts Confidence Ahead of Christmas, Says Finance Minister
18 Dec 2025, 11:32 AM | 9 months ago | 1459 viewsFinance Minister Nicola Willis welcomed the strong 1.1% economic growth in the third quarter, driven by 14 of 16 sectors, signaling a positive turnaround after challenging years. Key job-rich sectors like manufacturing, construction, and business services showed significant growth, alongside increases in exports and investment, indicating promising future job prospects and higher incomes. With GDP per capita rising 0.9% and forecasts predicting accelerated growth and lower unemployment next year, the government’s strategy to strengthen the economy appears effective.
Tags: economy growth Nicola Willis Finance Minister Stats NZ Treasury Reserve Bank manufacturing sector construction business services GDP per capitaNew Zealand Passes Legislation to Speed Up Courts and Add High Court Judges
17 Dec 2025, 4:15 PM | 9 months ago | 1344 viewsParliament has passed legislation aimed at improving court timeliness by updating procedures and increasing the number of High Court Judges from 55 to 60 to expedite serious cases. The Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill introduces measures to streamline case management, prevent abuse of court processes, and enhance judicial efficiency across various courts. These changes prioritize faster justice for victims and families, ensuring the justice system operates more effectively and responsively.
Tags: Paul Goldsmith Nicole McKee High Court Judges Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill Senior Courts Act Criminal Procedure Act 2011 Court of Appeal Coroners Act 2006 New Zealand Justice systemGovernment to Monetise Chorus Debt, Funding New Infrastructure Projects in 2026
17 Dec 2025, 3:33 PM | 9 months ago | 1340 viewsThe Government will monetise its debt in Chorus, recovering funds earlier than the original 2036 repayment schedule to invest in capital projects like schools, hospitals, and roads. This decision follows the completion of the fibre broadband rollout, funded by $1.336 billion in interest-free loans to Chorus between 2012 and 2023, with $170 million repaid in 2025. The monetisation process will begin in early 2026, with proceeds ring-fenced for Budget 2026 infrastructure needs, and will not affect Chorus’s ownership or services.
Tags: Nicola Willis Chris Bishop Government Chorus telecommunications fibre broadband New Zealand monetisation infrastructure Budget 2026Hawke’s Bay Racecourse Transformation to Create 600 Homes and Boost Jobs
17 Dec 2025, 2:02 PM | 9 months ago | 1397 viewsThe Government is investing over $77 million to relocate the Hastings Racecourse in Hawke’s Bay, freeing up prime land for more than 600 new homes and boosting local housing availability. The new state-of-the-art racecourse will support the racing industry’s $37 million annual economic contribution, create around 270 ongoing jobs, and provide a civil defence centre for the Flaxmere community. During its four-year construction, the project will generate over 400 full-time jobs, supporting regional economic growth while preserving over 150 years of racing heritage.
Tags: Winston Peters Shane Jones Hawke’s Bay Hastings Hawke’s Bay Racing Incorporated New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Incorporated Hastings Racecourse Regional Infrastructure Fund Flaxmere thoroughbred racing