Articles tagged with Epa
Showing 15 of 126 articles
Government Creates New MCERT Ministry to Unite Environment, Housing, and Transport
27 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 633 viewsThe Government has passed legislation to create the new Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT), consolidating several agencies including the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and Ministry of Transport. The Environment (Disestablishment of the Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill enables this integration by transferring statutory environmental functions to MCERT’s chief executive, ensuring seamless continuation of environmental responsibilities. This restructuring aims to promote coordinated decision-making that balances environmental protection with economic growth across urban development and infrastructure sectors.
Tags: Chris Bishop Nicola Grigg Ministry for Cities Environment Regions and Transport MCERT Ministry for the Environment Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Ministry of Transport Department of Internal Affairs Environment Act RMA Reform MinisterNew Zealand Investor Visa Growth Category Now Allows 20% Philanthropic Gifts
24 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 799 viewsFrom 1 June 2026, investor migrants applying under New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Growth category can allocate up to 20% of their NZD $5 million investment to philanthropic gifts supporting eligible charities or conservation initiatives. This change adds flexibility to the Growth category, which focuses on business growth and innovation, by allowing contributions to social, environmental, and cultural causes while maintaining strong economic outcomes. Eligibility criteria for recipient charities will be strengthened to ensure gifts benefit New Zealand communities and do not personally benefit applicants.
Tags: Active Investor Plus Growth category Erica Stanford Tama Potaka New Zealand philanthropy investor migrants charitable gifts Department of Conservation immigration policyNew ED Pharmacist Role at Dunedin Hospital Speeds Patient Care and Supports Doctors
13 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 621 viewsA new pharmacist role in Dunedin Hospital’s Emergency Department has improved patient flow and safety by taking medication histories, reviewing medicines, and identifying issues early, saving doctors up to 20 minutes per patient. This role enables faster, more accurate clinical decisions and allows doctors to focus more on patient care rather than paperwork, enhancing efficiency across the hospital. Positive feedback from ED doctors highlights the role as a game changer, particularly for patients with complex medication needs, demonstrating the benefits of targeted workforce initiatives.
Tags: pharmacist Dunedin Hospital Emergency Department Health Minister Simeon Brown patient flow medication histories clinical efficiency patient safety healthcare system frontline staffNew Zealand’s Bold Trade Strategy: Innovation, Resilience, and Global Growth
13 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 743 viewsNew Zealand’s economic prosperity fundamentally relies on its status as a trading nation, but the global trading system is under unprecedented pressure from geopolitical conflicts and shifting power dynamics, challenging the rules-based order that underpins market access. In response, the government is proactively strengthening trade rules through FTAs, building resilience by engaging exporters and diversifying relationships, and fostering innovation to secure New Zealand’s competitive edge and leadership in global trade institutions. With ambitious goals to double exports and attract foreign investment, the government is committed to persistent, creative engagement to protect and expand opportunities for Kiwi exporters amid a complex and uncertain global landscape.
Tags: Anand Satyanand James Kember Suzannah Jessep Rosemary Banks Julia Macdonald Auror Halter InvestNZ CPTPP DEPAHauraki Iwi Treaty Settlements Passed: Historic Redress for Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu, Ngāti Tara Tokanui
13 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 783 viewsAfter 15 years of negotiations, the New Zealand Parliament passed the Claims Settlement Bills for three Hauraki iwi—Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu, Ngāti Tara Tokanui, and Ngāti Hei—formally acknowledging the Crown's historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi and providing financial, commercial, and cultural redress. These settlements include Crown apologies, agreed historical accounts, and protocols with government ministries, aiming to support the iwi’s economic, cultural, and environmental aspirations while fostering enduring relationships. The settlements allocate millions in financial redress and property rights specific to each iwi's region, marking a significant milestone in addressing past injustices and strengthening future partnerships.
Tags: Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu Ngāti Tara Tokanui Ngāti Hei Paul Goldsmith Treaty of Waitangi Hauraki iwi Crown Pare Hauraki Collective Ministry for Culture and Heritage Department of ConservationMajor Upgrade Completed on SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru with 128 Lane Km Rehabilitated
12 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 928 viewsCritical sections of State Highway 1 between Tīrau and Waiouru have undergone a major upgrade, with 128 lane kilometres rehabilitated or resealed under the Accelerated Maintenance programme, condensing four seasons of work into two. The project, funded by the Government’s $2.07 billion State Highway Pothole Prevention fund, repaired 5,670 potholes and involved extensive resurfacing, stabilising, and structural asphalt work to improve safety, quality, and accommodate future traffic growth. Completed on schedule with zero lost time due to injuries, the upgrade benefits freight, tourism, and local communities by delivering a safer, smoother journey along this critical North Island corridor.
Tags: Chris Bishop State Highway 1 SH1 Tīrau Waiouru Waikato North Island road maintenance pothole repair asphalt concreteNew Zealand Passes Major AML Reform Bills to Cut Red Tape and Boost Business
12 May 2026 | 4 months ago | 787 viewsAssociate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has welcomed the passage of two major Anti–Money Laundering reform Bills that cut red tape, reduce compliance burdens, and improve risk-based requirements for businesses, with some changes effective immediately and others by July 1, 2026. The reforms establish a single AML supervisor to replace three existing ones, enhancing clarity, consistency, and responsiveness, while introducing an industry levy and enabling more flexible rule-making. These changes aim to make AML compliance more efficient, reduce unnecessary paperwork for low-risk entities, and strengthen New Zealand’s ability to detect and disrupt serious financial crime without hindering access to global markets.
Tags: Nicole McKee AML reform Parliament New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs AML supervisor Business Committee Financial Markets Authority Reserve Bank of New ZealandNZ Citizenship Processing Hits Target After Six Years of Delays, Minister Says
11 May 2026 | 4 months ago | 872 viewsAfter six years of delays, New Zealand's citizenship by grant processing has met timeliness targets for six consecutive months, with 94.6% of applications processed within 75 days in 2025. This improvement results from a focus on efficiency, prioritizing older applications, and has coincided with a 12% increase in applications and record processing volumes. Minister Brooke van Velden praised staff efforts and emphasized the importance of granting citizenship to those contributing to the country, while applications can be submitted online or by post.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Department of Internal Affairs citizenship processing New Zealand citizenship applications timeliness targets citizenship by grant citizenship office application backlog citizenship outcomesTransforming AML Compliance: New Zealand’s Practical Reforms for Effective Anti-Money Laundering
11 May 2026 | 4 months ago | 652 viewsThe speech highlights significant reforms underway in New Zealand's Anti-Money Laundering (AML) system aimed at reducing unnecessary compliance burdens, enhancing risk-based approaches, and consolidating supervision under a single agency to improve effectiveness and clarity. Key legislative changes include easing customer due diligence for low-risk entities, introducing a new industry levy to fund better intelligence and guidance, and enabling more agile regulatory responses to evolving risks and technologies. The speaker emphasizes the importance of collaboration between government and industry, the alignment with international standards, and the role of the new National Strategy in ensuring a more efficient, responsive AML framework that supports economic security and combats financial crime.
Tags: AML AML reforms Ministry of Justice Department of Internal Affairs Financial Action Task Force National Strategy AML compliance AML legislationNew Zealand to Introduce Citizenship Test for Grant Applicants from Late 2027
05 May 2026 | 4 months ago | 827 viewsMinister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden announced that from late 2027, a multi-choice test will be introduced to ensure citizenship applicants understand the responsibilities and privileges of New Zealand citizenship. The test will cover topics such as the Bill of Rights Act, human rights, democratic principles, and government structure, requiring a 75% pass mark. This measure aims to strengthen the value of citizenship by grant and will be supported by guidance resources to help applicants prepare.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Minister of Internal Affairs New Zealand Citizenship Act Department of Internal Affairs Bill of Rights Act human rights citizenship by grant democratic principles New Zealand citizenshipNew EPA Board Appointments Announced by Minister Nicola Grigg
04 May 2026 | 4 months ago | 755 viewsMinister for the Environment Nicola Grigg has appointed Lisa Tumahai and Professor Nicola Shadbolt to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board for three-year terms, bringing extensive governance, climate, and regulatory expertise. Lisa Tumahai, Deputy Chair of the Climate Change Commission, and Professor Shadbolt, a former Climate Change Commissioner with over 30 years of governance experience, will strengthen the board's capabilities. Additionally, Mary Anne Macleod has been reappointed for one year and will serve as Deputy Chair from July 2026, succeeding outgoing Deputy Chair Paul Connell.
Tags: Nicola Grigg Lisa Tumahai Nicola Shadbolt Mary Anne Macleod Paul Connell Environmental Protection Authority Climate Change Commission Treaty of Waitangi governance EPA boardFast-Tracked Waitaha Hydro Project to Boost West Coast Renewable Energy
17 Apr 2026 | 4 months ago | 908 viewsA fast-tracked 23MW Waitaha Hydro project in the Waitaha Valley, supported by Westpower Limited and Poutini Ngāi Tahu, aims to generate renewable electricity for 12,000 homes and reduce CO₂ emissions by 129,000 tonnes annually, enhancing the West Coast’s energy resilience and lowering high electricity costs. The project, which took about 20 years to progress and received necessary approvals within five months under the Fast-track Approvals Act, is expected to create 71 full-time jobs during its $160-$200 million construction phase. This initiative also contributes to New Zealand’s broader energy system by managing dry-year hydro risks and supporting local economic development.
Tags: Chris Bishop Shane Jones Maureen Pugh Westpower Limited Poutini Ngāi Tahu Waitaha Hydro Department of Conservation Infrastructure Minister Regional Development Minister New ZealandMajor $8M Repairs Begin on SH73 Retaining Wall at Candys Bend for Safety
15 Apr 2026 | 4 months ago | 876 viewsA resilience project is commencing to repair a damaged retaining wall on State Highway 73 at Candys Bend, a vital route between Christchurch and the West Coast, damaged by 2018 flooding. The repairs, funded by the Crown Resilience Programme with a budget of around $8 million, aim to prevent potential collapse during future flooding or seismic events and ensure long-term safety and connectivity. Work will begin soon and conclude early next year, with efforts to protect the area's native flora and fauna in collaboration with local iwi and the Department of Conservation.
Tags: Chris Bishop State Highway 73 Candys Bend NZ Transport Agency Hunter Civil Arthur’s Pass Village Otira Crown Resilience Programme New Zealand Government Department of ConservationSH73 Candys Bend Retaining Wall Repair Begins to Boost Resilience
15 Apr 2026 | 4 months ago | 760 viewsA major repair project is commencing on a damaged 1950s retaining wall at Candys Bend on State Highway 73 between Christchurch and the West Coast, crucial for freight, tourism, and local communities. The work, funded by the Crown Resilience Programme with an $8 million budget, aims to prevent potential collapse from future flooding or seismic events by filling voids, improving drainage, and reinforcing the structure. NZTA will collaborate with local iwi and the Department of Conservation to protect the area's native flora and fauna during the repairs, which are expected to start soon and finish early next year.
Tags: State Highway 73 SH73 Candys Bend Christchurch West Coast Chris Bishop NZ Transport Agency Hunter Civil Crown Resilience Programme Department of ConservationNew South Island Crisis Recovery Café Opens in Dunedin for Mental Health Support
14 Apr 2026 | 4 months ago | 1124 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced the opening of the second South Island Crisis Recovery Café in Dunedin, providing a calm, peer-led, non-clinical space for people experiencing mental distress as an alternative to busy emergency departments. The cafés, operated by the Otago Mental Health Support Trust, will run at two sites in South Dunedin and North East Valley, offering 16 hours of support weekly and connecting individuals to long-term community services. This initiative is part of a broader mental health plan to enhance crisis response through increased peer support workers and faster access to care.
Tags: Matt Doocey Otago Mental Health Support Trust South Island Crisis Recovery Café Dunedin North East Valley peer support mental health crisis recovery addiction challenges emergency departments