Articles tagged with Nic

Showing 15 of 306 articles

Government-Funded Infrastructure Projects Worth $6 Billion Set to Boost Economy and Create Jobs Nationwide

19 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1869 views

Billions of dollars in government-funded infrastructure projects are set to begin in the next few months, creating thousands of jobs and driving economic activity nationwide. The projects include new roads, hospitals, schools, and government buildings, aimed at improving infrastructure quality to boost the economy and help with the cost of living. The Infrastructure for Growth work program has delivered on actions to strengthen the infrastructure pipeline, with future projects totaling $207 billion planned across various sectors.

Tags: Nicola Willis Chris Bishop infrastructure projects economic activity jobs roads hospitals schools construction government buildings

Minister Nicola Grigg Leads NZ Delegation to Pacific Trade Ministers Meeting in Fiji

16 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1585 views

Minister of State for Trade and Investment Nicola Grigg will attend the Pacific Island Forum’s Trade Ministers Meeting in Fiji to discuss the importance of trade for economic growth and prosperity in New Zealand and the Pacific region. The meeting aims to shape the future of trade and economic integration among Pacific Island countries. Ms. Grigg highlights New Zealand's commitment to regional cooperation, resilience, and leadership in advancing Pacific trade priorities, including initiatives such as the Fiji New Zealand Business Council's strategy to increase two-way trade to NZ$2 billion by 2030 and the PACER Plus trade agreement benefiting businesses and promoting investment flows in the region.

Tags: Nicola Grigg Trade Investment Pacific Island Forum FTMM New Zealand Suva PIF World Trade Organisation PACER Plus

New Zealand to Reform AML/CFT Laws for Small Businesses: Minister McKee Announces Overhaul

09 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1627 views

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says that small businesses will benefit from upcoming reforms to New Zealand’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) laws, as the Government moves to make compliance more proportionate and practical for low-risk operators. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has announced Cabinet’s approval to draft a new Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (Omnibus) Amendment Bill to overhaul the existing system. Under current rules, even small businesses and professionals, such as real estate agents, face complex and time-consuming checks, often regardless of how much risk they face,” Mrs McKee says.

Tags: Nicole McKee Justice Minister small businesses reforms compliance customer due diligence real estate agents simplified checks

New Zealand Government Strengthens AML/CFT Regime to Combat Financial Crime

09 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1816 views

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee today announced further steps in the Government’s overhaul of the AML/CFT regime, strengthening efforts to combat serious financial crime. “This Government is serious about targeting criminals, not tying up legitimate businesses in unnecessary red tape,” Mrs McKee says. “Cabinet has agreed to introduce a bill to strengthen enforcement powers for Police and regulators to crack down on those involved in money laundering.

Tags: Nicole McKee financial crime Police regulators financial sanctions crypto currencies Financial Intelligence Unit New Zealand businesses criminals.

New Zealand’s Stable Economy: Government’s Fiscal Management Keeps Official Cash Rate Low

09 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 2109 views

The Government’s responsible fiscal management has supported the Reserve Bank to keep the Official Cash Rate low, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand today announced it would keep the Official Cash Rate (OCR) at 3. 25 per cent while continuing to foreshadow further reductions in the OCR.

Tags: Government fiscal management Reserve Bank Official Cash Rate Finance Minister Nicola Willis New Zealand OCR interest rates economic management

Government Reforms to AML/CFT Act Ease Property Transactions for Kiwi Families

07 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1760 views

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says the Government is continuing to cut through unnecessary bureaucracy with reforms to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act, which will make life easier for hard-working Kiwi families managing property through family trusts. “For thousands of New Zealanders, setting up a family trust is part of securing their financial future, especially when it comes to their home. But under the current AML regime, selling a house held in a trust triggers a burdensome level of document verification and compliance checks that has little to do with actual risk,” Mrs McKee says.

Tags: Nicole McKee Justice Minister Family Trusts Real Estate Agents New Zealanders Financial Future Compliance Checks Property Management

Simplified Process: New Reforms Make Opening Bank Accounts for Children Easier

07 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 2106 views

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee is making changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act that will make it easier for parents to open bank accounts for their children. “Opening a bank account for children should be a simple and positive step toward teaching them the value of saving. Unfortunately, regulations designed to prevent serious crimes can make the process unnecessarily difficult,” says Mrs McKee.

Tags: Nicole McKee Minister bank accounts children regulations reforms banks New Zealanders red tape

FamilyBoost Program Enhancements Bring Financial Relief to Thousands of Households

06 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1917 views

Tens of thousands of households will be better off thanks to changes being made to FamilyBoost to help families with the cost of living, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “From the start of this month, families will get larger FamilyBoost rebates on the early childhood education fees they pay, with rebates increasing from 25 per cent to 40 per cent of weekly fees, and those with household incomes of up to $229,000 now eligible to apply. “This means for example that a family with early childhood fees of $100 a week could have their weekly FamilyBoost payment increased from $25 a week to $40 a week, meaning their annual payments would increase from $1,300 to $2,080 over the course of a year, making them hundreds of dollars better off.

Tags: Finance Minister Nicola Willis FamilyBoost households families cost of living early childhood education rebates scheme Inland Revenue

Government Strengthens Trespass Laws to Safeguard Businesses: Proposed Changes and Impact Explained

03 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 2141 views

The Government is strengthening trespass laws to make them more effective and practical for businesses, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “We know our trespass laws are no longer fit for purpose. They’re difficult to enforce and often criminals take no notice.

Tags: Government trespass laws businesses Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee law and order community properties offenders Retail MAG

Government Implements Stronger Penalties for Shoplifters to Restore Justice and Public Confidence

01 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1895 views

The Government is making it easier for police to punish shoplifters and is introducing stronger penalties for low-level theft, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “Public confidence in our justice system is undermined if people can steal with apparent impunity. It’s disheartening, and our government will not sit by while shoplifters rob businesses of their livelihoods,” Mr Goldsmith says.

Tags: Government Police Shoplifting Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee

Former Acting Governor Grant Spencer and Byron Pepper Appointed to Reserve Bank of New Zealand Board, One Vacancy Remains

01 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 2172 views

Former Acting Governor Grant Spencer has been appointed to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Board, Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced. Board member Byron Pepper has been reappointed. Both are on five-year terms, beginning today.

Tags: Grant Spencer Nicola Willis Byron Pepper Reserve Bank of New Zealand Financial Stability

New All-of-Government Data Centre Enhances Secure Digital Storage Capabilities for NZ Agencies

27 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2547 views

The government’s secure digital storage capability has been significantly boosted with the opening of the new all-of-government data centre, the Minister Responsible for the GCSB and Minister of Defence Judith Collins says. “This facility will provide a safe, secure storage capability for New Zealand agencies to process and store some of the government’s most sensitive information for the next quarter of a century,” says Ms Collins. “Today we conduct the vast majority of our business digitally, and the amount of government data that requires safe and secure storage is only going to increase.

Tags: Base auckland Collins Defence Digitising government Government communications security bureau Judith collins New zealand New zealand defence force Royal new zealand air force Whenuapai

Paul Henry Joins TVNZ Board, Brings Extensive Broadcasting Expertise | TVNZ Board Appointments Announced

26 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2488 views

Broadcaster Paul Henry has been appointed to the TVNZ Board, Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Henry has spent nearly his entire career involved in the broadcasting industry, producing news, current affairs, and entertainment programming both here in New Zealand and overseas. “He was integral in the establishment of the successful multi-platform Paul Henry breakfast show, established and sold a radio station in the Wairarapa, and was heavily involved in the launch of the former radio network Today FM.

Tags: John qui Media and communications New zealand Paul goldsmith Paul henry The chase new zealand Today fm Tvnz board Wairarapa

Minister Calls for Supermarkets to Ensure Fair Pricing Practices for Kiwi Shoppers

25 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2173 views

Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis has written to the major supermarkets to restate the basic expectation that they take all steps needed to comply with the Fair Trading Act and ensure Kiwi shoppers are not subjected to misleading price claims. “Supermarkets have statutory obligations under the Fair Trading Act to ensure that pricing information is accurate and does not mislead consumers. “I am disappointed that I have to spell out to some of New Zealand’s biggest and most sophisticated retail operators - Foodstuffs North Island, Foodstuffs South Island, and Woolworths - that they should have in place processes to prevent inaccurate pricing, institute and publicise refund policies, and train staff to ensure that when errors are reported, fixes occur system-wide.

Tags: Australia Commerce commision Commerce commission and consumer new zealand Fair trading act Foodstuffs north island Foodstuffs south island New zealand Nicola willis Paknsave Woolworths Zealand

New Zealand's 'Golden Visa' Program Attracts Record Investment and Talent

23 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 3462 views

The Government is attracting new migrants to bring their capital, experience and skills to New Zealand with a flood of formal interest in the new 'golden’ visa. Since only April – less than three months – Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has received 189 applications for the Active Investor Plus visa, significantly more than the 116 applications received over more than two-and-a-half years under previous settings, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “New applications under the scheme represent a potential $845 million of new investment in New Zealand business.

Tags: Active intor plus English Erica stanford Immigration new zealand Investor plus New zealand Nicola willis North america Stanford Zealand