Red Dot NZ – Simplified News

Minister Chris Bishop to Explore Urban Development Strategies in New York and Texas

15 hours ago | 56 views

Infrastructure, Transport and Housing Minister Chris Bishop will travel to New York and Texas tomorrow for a range of meetings across housing, planning, urban development and transport, including a keynote speech at the Urban Design Forum’s Global Exchange Programme. “In New York I will be holding a series of meetings with city officials and other stakeholders about their introduction of congestion pricing. The early results for New York are very promising, and with legislation allowing time of use charging schemes in New Zealand soon to report back from select committee, I look forward to bringing home lessons learned to ensure our scheme is a success from the start,” Mr Bishop says.

Tags: Chris Bishop Infrastructure Transport Housing Minister New York Texas Urban Design Forum Edward Glaeser affordable housing planning

New Zealand Air Force Reactivates No. 62 Squadron for Space Security Mission

17 hours ago | 113 views

The Royal New Zealand Air Force has established its first dedicated space unit with the reactivation of the No. 62 Squadron today, Defence Minister Judith Collins says. “This reflects our commitment to protecting New Zealand’s interests and security in the rapidly evolving space domain,” Ms Collins says.

Tags: Royal New Zealand Air Force space unit No. 62 Squadron Defence Minister Judith Collins space security RNZAF Base Auckland World War II radar technology space domain awareness New Zealand Defence Force

Conservation Minister Announces $22 Million Investment for Native Species and Pest Control in National Parks

17 hours ago | 82 views

Toitū te marae a Tāne-Mahuta me Hineahuone, Toitū te marae a Tangaroa me Hinemoana, Toitū te tangata. Significant investment into supporting native species and tackling invasive pests in national parks has been announced by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. Mr Potaka visited the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust facility near Christchurch today, where he announced $22 million from the International Visitor Levy will go to restoring unique wildlife in national parks, islands and other popular visitor sites over the next three years.

Tags: Hineahuone Tangaroa Hinemoana Tama Potaka Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust Canterbury DOC IVL New Zealand

Innovative Investment Boosts New Zealand's King Salmon Feed Development for Export Growth

21 hours ago | 86 views

The Government is backing innovation to grow New Zealand’s high-value aquaculture exports, with a $455,000 investment from the new Primary Sector Growth Fund to support the development of specialised feed for King salmon, Agriculture, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay announced today. The $1. 2 million project—led by global aquafeed company Skretting—will design feed tailored specifically for New Zealand’s King salmon, supporting the growth of open ocean farming and helping reduce costs for local producers.

Tags: Government innovation aquaculture exports investment Primary Sector Growth Fund Todd McClay agriculture trade King salmon

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

1 day ago | 110 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 Launches Southern Engagement Group for New Dunedin Hospital Project

1 day ago | 117 views

The Government is focused on the delivery of Dunedin’s new inpatient building, with the establishment of a local engagement group to support the next phase of the New Dunedin Hospital project, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “Work is back underway on the inpatient building at the former Cadbury site, marking a critical phase for this major health investment. I’m pleased to announce, alongside Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich, the formation of the Southern Engagement Group, which will help ensure the local community is kept well informed as this vital project progresses,” Mr Brown says.

Tags: Government Dunedin inpatient building local engagement group New Dunedin Hospital project Health Minister Simeon Brown Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich Southern Engagement Group Health New Zealand leaders community.

Major Milestone: Construction Progress on Dunedin's Innovative New Inpatient Building Accelerates

1 day ago | 164 views

Work is back underway on Dunedin’s new inpatient building, marking a major step forward in the Government’s commitment to delivering this critical health project, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “It’s great to be back in Dunedin to see physical works now underway again on the former Cadbury site. This visible progress clearly demonstrates our commitment to delivering this vital project.

Tags: Dunedin inpatient building Health Minister Simeon Brown construction phase pile caps concrete reinforcing steel substructure base isolators IL4 foundations

New Flexible Insulation Rules to Cut Costs for Designers, Builders, and Homeowners

1 day ago | 140 views

Overly rigid insulation rules are being removed to ease costs for designers, builders and homeowners, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced. “I’ve heard clearly from the industry that the current one-size-fits-all approach to insulation requirements is needlessly driving-up costs. “The most prescriptive compliance pathway currently available for insulation – known as the Schedule Method – doesn’t allow for design trade-offs that can affect a home’s energy efficiency, like adjusting window size.

Tags: insulation rules designers builders homeowners Chris Penk energy efficiency Building Code Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Far North

New Zealand's State Highway Road Renewal Success: Enhancing Safety and Infrastructure for Better Journeys

1 day ago | 352 views

The Government’s focus on improving roads across the country is well on its way, with the successful completion of one of the largest state highway road renewal programmes in New Zealand history, Transport Minister Chris Bishop confirmed today. “We are focused on ensuring government agencies are better at looking after the infrastructure assets we already have, to ensure New Zealanders get the most from their public infrastructure,” Mr Bishop says. “That’s why we’ve invested in road maintenance and renewals through the $2 billion State Highway Pothole Prevention fund, which ensures vital work is carried out to keep our roads safe and suitable for the people that use them.

Tags: Government roads infrastructure maintenance renewal Transport Minister Chris Bishop State Highway Pothole Prevention fund road rebuilding NZ Transport Agency road users

Government Invests $56 Million in Rural Canterbury Water Resilience Projects for Increased Productivity and Climate Adaptation

1 day ago | 167 views

The Government is investing more than $56 million into water resilience projects in rural Canterbury to help protect against changing weather patterns and increase productivity through higher value land use, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson say. “Ease of access to water is a top priority for Canterbury’s rural communities,” Mr Jones says. “Canterbury has so far avoided the extreme drought experienced in previous years, thanks in part to high rainfall over December and January.

Tags: Shane Jones Mark Patterson Government Water resilience projects Canterbury Rural communities Regional Infrastructure Fund Opuha Dam Balmoral Water Storage Facility Waimakariri Irrigation Scheme

Exploring Toll Concessions for New Zealand's Road Infrastructure Development

1 day ago | 214 views

Market soundings with international and local toll road investors, operators and financiers will begin next week as the next step in exploring how toll concessions could help fund, build and operate important road infrastructure, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Government is focused on improving high-quality road infrastructure to boost economic growth and ensure people and freight can travel efficiently and safely. To accelerate the delivery of vital transport projects, we’re looking into alternative funding and financing methods, including the use of toll concessions.

Tags: toll concessions road infrastructure Chris Bishop toll roads private sector involvement market sounding infrastructure funding toll collection transport projects

Boosting Employment: Minister Louise Upston Leads Regional Events to Get Kiwis Into Jobs and Grow the Economy

2 days ago | 189 views

Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says a strong turnout for the first in a series of regional employment events reinforces a cross-sector commitment to get Kiwis into jobs, boost employment and grow the economy. Kicking off the MSD-led series in Levin, Minister Upston and officials met with representatives of around 30 employers and other stakeholders, reinforcing job opportunities across the Horowhenua and Kāpiti Coast regions. “It was great to attend this event, acknowledge the commitment of MSD and recognise the partnership with local employers,” Louise Upston says.

Tags: Louise Upston Social Development Employment Minister MSD Kiwis Jobseeker Benefit Horowhenua Kāpiti Coast New Zealanders Gisborne

Boosting Professionalisation in Residential Workforce for Safer Care Environments: Minister for Children Announces $41 Million Investment

2 days ago | 137 views

Minister for Children Karen Chhour has announced that the residential workforce is being boosted by an investment in their professionalisation. Secure residences provide care for children and young people, placed there for either care and protection or youth justice reasons. They often have complex needs and can be highly vulnerable.

Tags: Minister for Children Karen Chhour residential workforce professionalisation children young people

New Zealand Government Launches City and Regional Deals to Drive Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development

2 days ago | 137 views

The Government has laid out its expectations for City and Regional Deals (CRDs) as long-term partnerships that will increase economic growth, create jobs, and boost productivity for New Zealanders, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Local Government Minister Simon Watts say. The Government has also signed the first Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to negotiate deals with Auckland, Otago/Central Lakes and Western Bay of Plenty. “City and Regional Deals will be strategic 10-year partnerships between local and central government to progress joint priorities including economic growth, enabling abundant housing, better management and utilisation of local assets, and closing the infrastructure deficit,” Mr Bishop says.

Tags: Government City and Regional Deals Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop Local Government Minister Simon Watts New Zealanders

Scott O’Donnell Joins KiwiRail Board to Enhance Freight Expertise and Drive Growth Strategies

2 days ago | 199 views

The appointment of Scott O’Donnell to the KiwiRail board will bolster its freight expertise Minister for Rail Winston Peters says. “Railways have no shortage of potential for New Zealand, and we expect to see sustained growth in earnings, revenue, volumes, reliability, and safety to turn this business into something great. ” Mr O’Donnell is a current director of HW Richardson Group and was its managing director from 2006 to 2015.

Tags: Scott O’Donnell KiwiRail Winston Peters HW Richardson Group Sue Tindal