Articles tagged with David Seymour
Innovative Charter Schools to Open in Auckland and Warkworth in Term 1 2026
1 hour ago | 39 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has announced two new charter schools, Te Kāpehu Whetū – Tamaki and The Forest School, to open in Term 1 2026, joining the eight existing successful charter schools. Te Kāpehu Whetū – Tamaki in Auckland will offer boarding and dual-language education in Te reo Māori and English for students in years 11-13, focusing on cultural links and recognized qualifications. The Forest School in Warkworth will provide primary students with outdoor-focused learning experiences to engage and inspire children, with proven success in improving educational outcomes for underachieving students.
Tags: David Seymour Te Kāpehu Whetū Tamaki The Forest School Tōtara Point School Auckland Whangarei Warkworth Te reo Māori KiwiNew Regulations to Ease Building Restrictions for Kiwi Homeowners
20 hours ago | 86 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk announce changes to reduce red tape for homeowners building garden sheds, sleepouts, or garages by the end of the year. Cabinet has agreed to remove minimum distance requirements and reduce setback distances for single-storey buildings, making it easier and cheaper for property owners to build structures. The changes aim to address frustrations with regulations, improve affordability, and allow homeowners more freedom to utilize their property without the need for building consent, with expectations for implementation by late 2025.
Tags: Red Tape Tipline homeowners garden sheds sleepouts garages Regulation Minister David Seymour Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk setback distance building consent property ownersPharmac's Cost Reductions for New Medicines: Minister Seymour's Positive Impact
6 days ago | 316 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour supports Pharmac's decision to lower the cost of certain funded medicines in order to allocate more funding for new medicines, emphasizing the critical impact of pharmaceutical funding on the lives of New Zealanders. The annual tender process allows Pharmac to save between $30 million and $50 million annually by reducing costs of existing medicines to fund new ones. Pharmac has implemented additional consultation steps in the tender process to gather feedback from patients, healthcare professionals, and advocacy groups, aiming for a more patient-centric approach in decision-making.
Tags: David Seymour Pharmac medicines funding New Zealand annual tender generic competition patents consultation Natalie McMurtryNew Legislation Enhancing Early Childhood Education Regulation for Child Safety and Clarity
6 days ago | 202 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has introduced new legislation to clarify the purpose of regulating early childhood education (ECE) and shift enforcement responsibilities to the Education Review Office (ERO) from the Ministry of Education. The Early Childhood Education Reform Bill prioritizes child safety, aims to reduce regulatory burden on ECE providers, and ensure consistent application of regulations nationwide. The reforms include creating a Director of Regulation, establishing key principles for ECE oversight, and streamlining processes to support high-quality ECE centers and enhance parental choice.
Tags: David Seymour Education Minister legislation early childhood education ECE Education Review Office Ministry of Education child safety regulations Director of RegulationNew Guidelines for Prescribing Psilocybin to Treat Depression Welcomed by Associate Health Minister
1 week ago | 266 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour supports the publication of guidelines by Medsafe for prescribing Psilocybin to treat depression, aligning New Zealand with Australia. The guidelines require practitioners to meet specific criteria, including registration with the Medical Council and expertise in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Approval allows experienced psychiatrists to prescribe Psilocybin to patients with treatment-resistant depression, with the potential for more practitioners to follow suit, expanding access to this treatment option.
Tags: David Seymour Medsafe Psilocybin Depression New Zealand Australia Psychiatrist Medical Council Psychotherapeutic processes GuidelinesPharmac’s New Consumer Working Group: Resetting the Patient-Pharmac Relationship for Better Health Outcomes
2 weeks ago | 319 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac's new consumer working group to improve its collaboration with health consumers, emphasizing the importance of patient input in decision-making processes. The working group, led by Dr. Malcolm Mulholland, includes members representing various health conditions, aiming to reset the relationship between Pharmac and the consumer community. The government's support includes increased funding for Pharmac to negotiate better deals for medicine and enhance access for patients and their families.
Tags: David Seymour Malcolm Mulholland Pharmac Consumer working group Patient advocacy Patient engagement Health consumers Medicines Patient Voice Aotearoa New ZealandersPharmac Innovations: Driving Access to Life-saving Medicines for Kiwis
2 weeks ago | 331 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has outlined clear expectations for Pharmac to enhance innovation and optimize services for better healthcare delivery to New Zealanders. Pharmac has made improvements in consultation processes, funding criteria adjustments, and appointed new leadership to drive positive change. The focus is on modernizing Pharmac, adopting AI technologies, engaging stakeholders proactively, and increasing transparency to ensure timely access to medicines and medical devices for all Kiwis.
Tags: David Seymour Natalie McMurtry Pharmac Kiwis New Zealanders Government AI Stakeholders Regulatory systemNew Zealand Welcomes Major Medical Conferences: Economic Boost Expected
2 weeks ago | 347 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome ANZCA and RANZCO medical conferences coming to New Zealand in 2026, with 3300 delegates expected, generating millions in economic activity. ANZCA will bring 1500 delegates, injecting over $3 million, while RANZCO's congress will host 1800 delegates, contributing more than $2 million. The Government's move to end the prohibition on advertising medicines at conferences aims to boost the economy, provide knowledge to medical professionals, and enhance access to healthcare innovations.
Tags: Regulation Minister David Seymour Health Minister Simeon Brown ANZCA RANZCO medical conferences economic activity pharmaceutical companies medical professionalsPharmac Improves Access to Asthma Inhalers and Contraceptives | Minister Seymour's Welcome
3 weeks ago | 436 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac’s decision to improve access to asthma inhalers and long-acting contraceptives from 1 August 2025. “For the first time, Pharmac has its own Minister. Last year I outlined in my letter of expectations that Pharmac should have appropriate processes for ensuring that people, along with their carers and family, can participate in and provide input into decision-making processes around medicines – this is committed to in the Act-National Coalition Agreement,” Mr Seymour says.
Tags: David Seymour Pharmac asthma inhalers contraceptives budesonide eformoterol Mirena Jaydess Kiwis New ZealandersRegulation Minister Applauds BusinessNZ's Support for Regulatory Standards Bill to Cut Red Tape and Boost Business Growth in New Zealand
4 weeks ago | 327 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour is welcoming BusinessNZ’s strong support for the Regulatory Standards Bill as a means to deal with red tape and regulation. “After all the misinformed opposition we’ve heard, the people who get up in the morning to make an honest buck and deliver goods and services to New Zealanders want red tape and regulation dealt to and believe this Bill will help them do that. “Submitting on the Bill at select committee today, BusinessNZ said it was an important step towards improving the quality of regulation and reducing the compliance burden on businesses by putting more scrutiny on politicians when law is made.
Tags: Regulation Minister David Seymour BusinessNZ Regulatory Standards Bill red tape select committee politicians compliance burden academicsHealthy School Lunch Programme: Positive Feedback Soars, Complaints Plummet, Taxpayer Savings of $130 Million
1 month ago | 334 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour is pleased to see the Healthy School Lunch Programme Term 3 menu has received positive feedback from three quarters of students, and complaints have fallen by 92 per cent, while at the same time taxpayers are saving over $130 million. “The menu for Term 3 is being tested with students across the lower North Island. The result is 73 per cent positive feedback.
Tags: David Seymour Healthy School Lunch Programme Term 3 menu students taxpayers meals feedback schools Ministry savingsHealthy School Lunch Programme Term 3 Success: 73% Positive Feedback & $130M Taxpayer Savings
1 month ago | 281 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour is pleased to see the Healthy School Lunch Programme Term 3 menu has received positive feedback from three quarters of students, and complaints have fallen by 92 per cent, while at the same time taxpayers are saving over $130 million. “The menu for Term 3 is being tested with students across the lower North Island. The result is 73 per cent positive feedback.
Tags: David Seymour Healthy School Lunch Programme students taxpayers meals feedback schools menu Term 3 savingsPharmac's Comprehensive List of Medical Devices for Public Hospitals- Enhancing Management and Transparency in Healthcare
1 month ago | 382 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has today announced that Pharmac have created their comprehensive list of medical devices which are used in public hospitals, to improve the way they manage medical devices. “Almost everyone diagnosed or treated at a public hospital relies on medical devices for their care. These can range from bandages and cotton swabs to pacemakers, hip replacements, hospital beds, and robotic surgery machines,” Mr Seymour says.
Tags: David seymour Government Hospital medical devices New zealand Pharmac SeymourEmpowering Pharmac and Medsafe with AI for Faster Medicine Access in New Zealand
1 month ago | 387 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has empowered Pharmac and Medsafe to explore the utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up their processes. “Faster access to medicines has always been a priority of mine. For many New Zealanders, pharmaceuticals are life or death, or the difference between a life of pain and suffering or living freely,” Mr Seymour says.
Tags: David seymour Medsafe New zealand Pharmac SeymourNew Zealand's Path to Economic Growth: Easing Investment for Businesses and Higher Wages
1 month ago | 500 viewsAssociate Finance Minister David Seymour welcomes the passing of first reading for a Bill to make it easier for New Zealand businesses to receive new investment, grow and pay higher wages. The Overseas Investment (National Interest Test and Other Matters) Amendment Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament today. “New Zealand has been turning away opportunities for growth for too long.
Tags: Amendment bill David seymour New zealand Overseas investment ( national interest test and other matters Seymour Zealand