Articles tagged with Kiwi

Showing 15 of 141 articles

Minister Upston Applauds Progress in Job Seeker Preparation and Case Management Boost

14 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 932 views

Minister Louise Upston has praised the progress in preparing Kiwi job seekers for work, emphasizing the focus on matching them with employers through targeted case management. The Ministry for Social Development is increasing case management places and rolling out Individual Employment Plans to help clients become job-ready. MSD aims to support job seekers in securing positions now and in the future, aligning with the government's Jobseeker reduction target and economic growth projections.

Tags: Minister Social Development Employment Louise Upston Kiwi job seekers case management MSD Individual Employment Plans Government Jobseeker reduction target

KiwiRail Welcomes New Directors as Jager and Wattie Conclude Tenure: Minister Peters Announces Changes

14 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 1119 views

KiwiRail directors Rob Jager and Bruce Wattie will finish their service on 31 October 2025, with two new directors appointed starting 1 November 2025, as announced by Minister for Rail Winston Peters. Jager and Wattie are recognized for their contributions, with Jager's leadership background and Wattie's accomplishments highlighted. New directors Murray Harrington and Alastair Bell bring financial acumen and governance expertise to help KiwiRail improve operations and meet expectations for increased efficiency and profitability.

Tags: Rob Jager Bruce Wattie Winston Peters Sue Tindal Murray Harrington Alastair Bell Shell New Zealand Air New Zealand KiwiRail New Zealanders

Reserve Bank Eases Lending Restrictions for First Home Buyers, Finance Minister Welcomes Move

13 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1130 views

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has praised the Reserve Bank's plan to relax lending restrictions, aiming to assist first home buyers in achieving home ownership. The Reserve Bank is considering increasing the limit on new lending to owner-occupiers with less than a 20% deposit to 25%, potentially aiding more first-time buyers. Additionally, the proposal includes raising the amount banks can lend to residential property investors with deposits under 30% from 5% to 10%, following the introduction of debt-to-income restrictions to enhance banking system resilience.

Tags: Finance Minister Nicola Willis Reserve Bank lending restrictions first home buyers property ladder Kiwis loan to value DTI restrictions banking system

Minister Brooke van Velden: Passport Processing Efficiency Soars, Wait Times Slashed by 18 Days

09 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1204 views

Minister Brooke van Velden announces an 18-day reduction in passport processing wait times under the current government, with standard applications now taking 7 days instead of 25. The Department of Internal Affairs has achieved this efficiency through digital processes, staff training, and identity verification automation. Van Velden emphasizes the government's commitment to improving services for New Zealanders and ensuring timely passport delivery as application volumes are expected to rise.

Tags: Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden passport processing efficiency New Zealanders Government Kiwis families Department of Internal Affairs processing times

New Zealand Boosts Local Businesses with Procurement Rule Changes

08 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1112 views

Changes to government procurement rules in New Zealand aim to give local businesses a better chance at winning contracts by introducing an economic benefit test, effective from 1 December. These new rules, resulting from feedback received during consultation, include simplifying processes, reducing the number of rules, and emphasizing the economic value and job creation for Kiwis. The changes are designed to make it easier for both local and international businesses to compete for government contracts while upholding international trade commitments and ensuring responsible use of taxpayer money.

Tags: New Zealand Government contracts Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis procurement rules businesses economic benefit test Kiwi businesses taxpayer money international companies

Finance Minister Hails OCR Cut, Easing Pressure on Kiwi Households and Businesses

08 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 919 views

Finance Minister Nicola Willis highlights the positive impact of the 50 basis point Official Cash Rate reduction on Kiwi households and businesses, easing financial pressure. The reduction in OCR will lead to lower interest rates for mortgage-holders and businesses, stimulating growth and investment. The Government's focus on responsible economic management, along with lower interest rates, aims to support recovery and drive policies for job and income growth to benefit all New Zealanders.

Tags: Official Cash Rate Kiwi households Finance Minister Nicola Willis monetary policy interest rates growth jobs investment inflation

Boosting Economy and Connectivity: Celebrating Rail Infrastructure Milestones in Otago

02 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1077 views

Port Otago hosted an event to celebrate the milestone of the new rail siding, with partners Dynes Transport and KiwiRail. Government ministers outlined investments in Otago's economic development and fast-track consenting steps. The rail infrastructure investments aim to boost efficiency, reduce road congestion, and support economic growth in the region.

Tags: Port Otago directors management workers Dynes Transport KiwiRail Jules Radich Shane Jones Mark Patterson Sir Julius Vogel New Zealand

Government Backs Community Housing Providers with New Loan Guarantee Scheme to Boost Social Homes

01 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1138 views

The Government has introduced a new loan guarantee scheme to support community housing providers in delivering more social homes at a lower cost, with banks providing debt financing at reduced rates. This initiative aims to remove obstacles and inefficiencies in social housing delivery, with the Crown guaranteeing 80% of loans to eligible providers. The scheme, available until 2027, supports up to $900 million in new lending and refinancing, empowering community housing providers to expand and improve housing accessibility for those in need.

Tags: Government community housing providers loan guarantee scheme Nicola Willis Chris Bishop ANZ ASB BNZ Kiwibank Westpac

National Mental Health and Addiction Services Performance in Review: Positive Progress and Targets Exceeded

30 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 964 views

Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey highlights positive trends in mental health and addiction services performance nationwide, with increased access to support and progress in meeting targets observed across various regions. The focus remains on not just meeting national targets but also addressing areas needing additional support, with a 10% growth in the frontline mental health workforce. The government's commitment is to deliver faster support, more frontline workers, and improved crisis response to ensure assistance is readily available for those in need throughout New Zealand.

Tags: Matt Doocey mental health addiction services Kiwis Whanganui district Central region South Island Southern district HNZ regional leaders Health NZ

Government Announces Key Appointments in State-Owned Enterprises Portfolio

28 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1149 views

State-Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown announced appointments and reappointments at Kiwi Group Capital Ltd and NZ Post. David McLean was reappointed as Chair at Kiwi Group, with Scott Pickering appointed as a director. At NZ Post, Alastair Bell and Grant Stapleton were appointed as directors. These appointments aim to ensure strong governance and leadership in State Owned Enterprises to meet future challenges and opportunities.

Tags: Simeon Brown David McLean Scott Pickering Alastair Bell Grant Stapleton Kiwi Group Capital Ltd NZ Post State Owned Enterprises New Zealanders

New Skilled Migrant Residence Pathways to Boost Kiwi Businesses

22 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1217 views

The New Zealand Government is introducing two new skilled migrant residence pathways to help businesses attract and retain the workforce they need. These pathways include the Skilled Work Experience pathway for migrants with at least five years of relevant work experience and the Trades and Technician pathway for migrants with specified qualifications and work experience. The government aims to balance attracting higher-skilled workers with managing migration levels responsibly, prioritizing New Zealanders for jobs, and ensuring that skilled and experienced migrants are placed in occupations where they are most needed.

Tags: Kiwi businesses Government Nicola Willis skilled migrant residence pathways Economic Growth Minister Immigration Minister Erica Stanford skilled workers New Zealanders immigration solutions

Transformative Rail Investment in Auckland: Unveiling the Third Main Line Project and Future Upgrades

18 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1151 views

The Minister of Transport highlighted the Government's significant investment in Auckland's passenger rail system, including projects like the Third Main Line and extending the electrified network. These investments aim to improve both commuter services and freight operations, benefiting the economy and reducing road congestion. Future plans include expanding rail capacity in Auckland's Southern Corridor and developing the Avondale-Southdown corridor to enhance freight connections and regional economic growth.

Tags: David Gordon Mayor of Auckland Minister of Transport New Zealand KiwiRail Wellington Northland Marsden Point Rail Link Fonterra

New Auckland Third Main Line Revolutionizes Rail Freight & Passenger Services

17 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1063 views

The new Third Main Line in Auckland, funded in 2020 with a $328 million investment, is set to revolutionize rail freight and increase the frequency of passenger trains, according to Rail Minister Winston Peters and Transport Minister Chris Bishop. The opening event in South Auckland included a passenger train journey along the 6.5km line from Wiri to Middlemore Station. This project aims to alleviate congestion on roads, boost efficiency in freight connections, and enhance transport options for Aucklanders, complementing other recent investments in the city's transport network.

Tags: Auckland rail freight passenger trains Winston Peters Chris Bishop KiwiRail transport infrastructure economy New Zealand

Stay Safe in Crowded Places: Escape, Hide, Tell Safety Campaign by Police Minister

16 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1074 views

A new safety campaign in New Zealand led by Police Minister Mark Mitchell provides guidance on staying safe during an armed offender incident in crowded places. The campaign emphasizes three key steps: Escape, Hide, Tell, to be followed in the unlikely event of such an incident. The initiative aims to prepare individuals in public spaces like sports venues, transport hubs, and shopping areas, stressing the importance of being informed and ready to respond effectively for personal and public safety.

Tags: safety campaign Kiwis armed offender incident Police Minister Mark Mitchell New Zealanders public spaces active armed offender Escape Hide

RegRoom: Minister David Seymour Launches Online Hub to Improve Regulations

10 Sep 2025 | 12 months ago | 1244 views

RegRoom, launched by Regulation Minister David Seymour, aims to enhance regulations and enforcement by providing an online platform for government regulators to learn best practices and connect with each other. The Ministry for Regulation is addressing regulatory burden through revising old regulations, improving new regulations, and raising the quality of regulators to ensure Kiwis' rights are respected. RegRoom offers learning modules and Quick Guides to teach regulators key skills such as assessing potential regulations, addressing high-risk harms, and communicating clearly with regulated parties, which have been internationally recognized as world-leading.

Tags: Regulation Minister David Seymour RegRoom regulators Kiwis rules Ministry for Regulation good regulation regulators skills