Articles tagged with Zealand
Showing 15 of 1558 articles
Midwives Expand Funded Immunisations to Protect Mothers and Infants in NZ
02 Feb 2026 | 7 months ago | 1085 viewsMidwives in New Zealand can now provide a broader range of funded immunisations to mothers, babies, and eligible family members up to 12 months old, enhancing protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. This expansion builds on previous progress and aims to improve timely access to vaccinations by integrating them into routine maternity care, especially important during outbreaks like measles and pertussis. The initiative is a collaborative effort among Health New Zealand, the Ministry of Health, the Midwifery Council, the New Zealand College of Midwives, and the Immunisation Advisory Centre.
Tags: midwives immunisations pregnancy Simeon Brown Health Minister newborns vaccination Health New Zealand Ministry of Health New Zealand College of MidwivesGovernment-Funded Driver Licence Training Boosts Job Opportunities in New Zealand
02 Feb 2026 | 7 months ago | 1100 viewsThe Government-funded Driver Licence Support programme in New Zealand is exceeding targets, with over 21,000 enrolments and more than 34,000 licences issued since 2023, helping job seekers gain essential driving skills. Having a driver licence is crucial for about 70% of jobs, enabling individuals to secure employment, support their families, and achieve independence, as illustrated by success stories like a young woman obtaining a traffic management job. The programme, with an 82% pass rate and significant youth participation, contributes to safer, stronger communities by improving employment opportunities and mobility.
Tags: Louise Upston New Zealand Driver Licence Support MSD Jobseeker Support Fulton Hogan Social Development Employment Driver Licence YouthNew National Reporting System Gives Parents Clearer Insight Into Student Progress
02 Feb 2026 | 7 months ago | 1121 viewsIn 2026, New Zealand will implement a nationally consistent assessment and reporting system in primary and intermediate schools to provide parents with clearer, comparable information on their children's progress in reading, writing, and maths. This new framework includes twice-yearly progress check-ins supported by the SMART monitoring tool and replaces a system over 20 years old, addressing long-standing concerns from educational experts about inconsistent reporting. Alongside these changes, the government is enhancing support services such as structured literacy and maths interventions to help students early and improve overall achievement.
Tags: Erica Stanford Education Review Office New Zealand Assessment Institute SMART tool Ministry of Education principals’ associations teachers structured literacy learning support coordinators teacher aideNew Rural Health Training Program Boosts West Coast Workforce and Care
01 Feb 2026 | 7 months ago | 1160 viewsA new coordinated rural hospital medicine and specialist GP training programme has launched on the West Coast to strengthen the home-grown rural health workforce by increasing registrar numbers from two to three to eight to ten. The programme, accredited to deliver Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine training, offers six to twelve-month placements with strong supervision, support, and aims to retain trainees long-term by fostering community connections. This initiative aligns with the National Rural Health Strategy’s goal of ensuring accessible healthcare for all New Zealanders, particularly those in rural areas.
Tags: Simeon Brown Matt Doocey West Coast rural health workforce rural hospital medicine specialist GP training New Zealand Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine National Rural Health Strategy rural generalistsNew Zealand Introduces 12-Month Prescriptions to Save Costs and Improve Access
31 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1051 viewsNew Zealand now allows prescriptions for up to 12 months for patients with stable, long-term conditions, reducing costs and simplifying medicine access by eliminating the need for quarterly GP visits. This change lowers prescription charges to a single $5 fee at the first collection and frees up GP time for other patients. Additionally, expanded prescribing rights for health professionals like nurse practitioners further improve timely and affordable healthcare access.
Tags: Simeon Brown New Zealand Health Minister asthma diabetes epilepsy high blood pressure GP nurse practitioners prescriptionsNew ADHD Treatment Access in New Zealand Expanded to GPs and Nurse Practitioners
31 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1089 viewsNew Zealand has expanded who can assess, diagnose, and start treatment for ADHD to improve timely access, allowing specialist GPs and nurse practitioners to manage adults and certain nurse practitioners to treat children under 18. Previously, only specialists could prescribe ADHD medicines, but now prescribing rules have been widened, removing prior restrictions and easing access to medication. These changes, along with removing renewal requirements for funded stimulant medicines, aim to connect more people with support earlier and positively impact education, employment, relationships, and mental health.
Tags: Matt Doocey ADHD New Zealand Medsafe Pharmac GPs nurse practitioners paediatrician psychiatrist Ministry of HealthBiosecurity Levy Reduced by 30% for Incoming Air Passengers in New Zealand
31 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1155 viewsThe biosecurity component of the Border Processing Levy for most arriving air passengers will decrease by 30 percent, from $16.92 to $12.03, as the costs of rebuilding border operations after COVID-19 have been paid off. The levy funds essential biosecurity services like x-ray screening and detector dogs, which protect New Zealand's economy and environment, particularly benefiting farmers and other primary industries. The government plans to use levy funds to modernize border biosecurity through investments in new technology, including a digital border program and enhanced passenger processing systems.
Tags: Andrew Hoggard Biosecurity New Zealand Border Processing Levy biosecurity air travel New Zealand Traveller Declaration detector dogs digital border programmeNZ Extends Defence Liaison Officer Deployment in Israel Amid Gaza Crisis
30 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1057 viewsNew Zealand has extended the deployment of its Defence Force liaison officer to Israel by three months, until May 3, 2026. The extension aims to enhance understanding of the evolving and complex situation in Gaza as the peace plan progresses. The liaison officer will remain based in the US-led Civil Military Coordination Centre to inform future decisions on New Zealand’s contributions.
Tags: Judith Collins New Zealand Defence Force Gaza Israel NZDF liaison officer Defence Minister Civil Military Coordination Centre peace plan deployment extension New ZealandTemporary Accommodation and Marae Support Aid Severe Weather Recovery in NZ
30 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1062 viewsMinister Tama Potaka announced that temporary accommodation, including motorhomes, and marae-led welfare support are being provided to those displaced by recent severe weather, with rapid assessments and placements through the Government’s Temporary Accommodation Service. Marae have played a crucial role in offering shelter and kai, supported by a $1 million Marae Emergency Response Fund to acknowledge their leadership and cover associated costs. People needing accommodation or insurance claim support are encouraged to register with the relevant services, and marae or organizations can seek reimbursement through Te Puni Kōkiri.
Tags: Tama Potaka Te Puni Kōkiri Marae Emergency Response Fund Temporary Accommodation Service New Zealand Claims Resolution Service Māori Development Associate Minister of Housing Northland marae whānauNew $200M Mason Clinic Facility Boosts Forensic Mental Health Care in NZ
30 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1352 viewsA new $200 million, 10,000-square-metre facility at Auckland's Mason Clinic has opened, significantly enhancing New Zealand's forensic mental health services with 60 replacement inpatient beds and modern infrastructure. This expansion aims to improve safety, treatment quality, and long-term care for patients while supporting staff and protecting the community. The project is part of a broader nearly $1 billion national investment to modernize mental health facilities, including additional beds funded in Budget 2025 to further improve access and outcomes.
Tags: Simeon Brown Matt Doocey Mason Clinic Auckland forensic mental health E Tū Wairua Hinengaro New Zealand mental health services Budget 2025 Midland regionGovernment Partners with NZ Young Farmers to Promote Safety and Leadership in Agriculture
29 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1055 viewsThe New Zealand Government, through ACC, is partnering with NZ Young Farmers to sponsor the 2024 FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition, aiming to support and develop future leaders in the food and fibre sector. This collaboration emphasizes injury prevention, safety, and recovery in farming, addressing the high risk of agricultural injuries and the significant costs associated with them. By integrating ACC’s expertise, the competition promotes safe, sustainable farming careers while highlighting the skills, resilience, and leadership required in New Zealand’s vital agricultural industry.
Tags: New Zealand Nicola Grigg ACC NZ Young Farmers FMG Young Farmer of the Year agriculture farming safety injury prevention youth competition government investmentCrown and Ngāti Hāua Finalize Historic Treaty Settlement with $19M Redress
29 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1116 viewsThe Crown and Ngāti Hāua have concluded nine years of negotiations with settlement legislation passing in Parliament, acknowledging historical Treaty breaches and returning 64 culturally significant sites along with $19 million in financial redress. The legislation also provides statutory pardons for Te Rangiātea and Mātene Ruta Te Whareaitu, who were wrongfully tried under martial law in 1846, restoring their mana and honouring their legacy. This settlement aims to restore the relationship between the Crown and Ngāti Hāua and support the iwi’s economic, social, and cultural wellbeing for future generations.
Tags: Ngāti Hāua Crown Treaty of Waitangi Paul Goldsmith Te Rangiātea Mātene Ruta Te Whareaitu Taumarunui Te Pua o Te Riri Kore New Zealand Parliament Treaty settlementNew Day Specialist Schools Open in NZ for Children with Complex Needs by 2028
29 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1129 viewsThe New Zealand Government is establishing two new day specialist schools in Palmerston North and South Auckland by 2027-2028 to support children with high and complex needs, marking the first such development in nearly 50 years. This initiative addresses long-standing demand for specialist education, expanding the total number of specialist schools to 29 and providing families with more tailored learning options. Funded through recent budgets, the schools will feature purpose-built, accessible facilities designed to foster inclusion and help students unlock their potential.
Tags: Erica Stanford Nicola Willis New Zealand specialist schools education high and complex needs Palmerston North South Auckland Government learning supportHealth Services and Mental Health Support Mobilized for Storm-Affected Communities
28 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 985 viewsHealth and Mental Health Ministers Simeon Brown and Matt Doocey report ongoing efforts to support storm-affected communities through coordinated health services, including a recovery team and targeted mental health support embedded in local emergency groups. Health New Zealand is collaborating with local authorities to manage environmental health risks and monitor vulnerable, isolated populations, while government agencies oversee essential infrastructure to maintain access to care. Despite the challenges, health services remain operational, with a strong commitment to providing care, addressing emerging risks, and supporting those grieving from the disaster.
Tags: Simeon Brown Matt Doocey Health New Zealand Mental Health Civil Defence Emergency Management District Psychosocial Coordinators National Public Health Service frontline staff health workers local iwiNew Tailored Health and Safety Rules to Ease Lab Work Regulations by 2026
27 Jan 2026 | 7 months ago | 1168 viewsHealth and safety regulations for research laboratories are currently impractical and overly restrictive, as they apply the same rules as large industrial hazardous substance operations, leading to increased risks and significant compliance costs estimated between $1.5 billion to $3 billion. The removal of a specialized compliance pathway in 2017 left laboratories bound by unsuitable rules, but the government, led by Minister Brooke van Velden, plans to introduce tailored regulations and an Approved Code of Practice by 2026 to better address the unique risks in laboratory environments. This reform aims to balance safety with practicality, enabling scientists to use their expertise for effective risk management without unnecessary regulatory burdens.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Universities New Zealand Independent Research Association of New Zealand Health and Safety at Work Regulations research laboratories hazardous substances regulatory relief Approved Code of Practice health and safety compliance