AM Edition: Top 10 Politics Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for August 14, 2026 – Full Text

Source: New Zealand Government

Good morning, everyone.

I’m excited to be here at the Civil Contractors New Zealand conference.

I’d like to acknowledge David Howard, Alan Pollard and their team at Civil Contractors for hosting and for inviting me to speak.

It’s great to see you all here.

Today, I want to talk to you about this Government’s track record on infrastructure.

Then, I’ll announce our first steps on improving the land transport system, including how we plan to respond to Recommendation 2 in the Infrastructure Commission’s National Infrastructure Plan (NIP), which calls on Government to reform land transport funding and investment oversight.

But first, it’s election year – so forgive me, it’s about to get a little bit political.

National is the Party of Infrastructure.

Roads, rapid transit, hospitals, schools, fibre, and energy – the infrastructure services New Zealanders rely on everyday get built when National is in government.

We know that achieving genuine economic prosperity – the great challenge facing this country – depends on infrastructure that meets our needs, is good value for money, and is deliverable.

It’s the foundation everything else is built on.

As all of you here know, good infrastructure isn’t about the physical structures themselves – it’s about what those structures enable us to do.

New rapid transit projects are about unleashing growth – new homes, shops, offices, eateries, and jobs that follow.

Investing in our state highway network is about getting people and goods where they need to go, more quickly and more safely.

The education estate is about providing warm, dry, and safe classrooms so that our kids can focus on learning and thriving.

The Ultra-fast Broadband rollout was about modernising our country, helping to unlock our wildly successful gaming industry.

Renewable energy is an opportunity for our country to take advantage of our extraordinary competitive advantage, which will put downward pressure on power bills, reduce emissions, and secure our energy independence.

And, every $1 billion invested in infrastructure is estimated to support around 4,500 jobs.

For me, getting infrastructure right means people less occupied by the backdrop of an ordinary day, like “when is my train coming?” or “will my street be OK in this rain?”– and freer to focus on the ideas and opportunities that are important to them.

I want kiwis to be ambitious, knowing they are backed by an equally enterprising nation. I want all of us to enjoy better lives.

I truly believe that our country, at the bottom of the world, can choose to be wealthy, and modern, and prosperous.

That’s the vision.

National also has the track record in infrastructure to back it up.

By the end of this year, the Coalition will have started construction on over $20 billion worth of central government infrastructure projects.

We have signed two major Public Private Partnership (PPP) contracts: Stage 1 of the Northland Expressway, and Christchurch Men’s Prison – supporting thousands of jobs between them.

By early 2027, we will have started construction on six Roads of National Significance, which – within the space of justthree years – is a significant achievement. And one that I need to talk about more often.

Behind it all sits a pipeline of funded projects across transport, health, education, and justice.

We are delivering better value for money too.

The average cost of a classroom has dropped from about $1.2m to around $620k. At the same time, we delivered more classrooms in 2024 than Labour did in 2023 – and even more again in 2025.

When it comes to Kāinga Ora (KO), they were building state homes for up to eight, nine, ten thousand per square metre. In late 2023, the average cost per square metre was about $3,400.

In the year to June 2026, the average cost had fallen to around $2,700 per square metre, and KO tells me that they are now contracting for as low as $2,600 per square metre.

This reduction in cost means that Government can provide and renew more social homes for those in need within the same funding envelope.

This is the power of value for money – it gives us the ability to do more with what we have.

Policy reform agenda

On top of this, we have delivered a bold policy reform agenda in infrastructure.

Before we came into Government, in 2023, National campaigned on five infrastructure policies.

We have delivered on all five.

The first policy was a national infrastructure agency.

We established National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Limited (NIFFCo) on 1 December 2024 to be New Zealand’s shopfront for private capital in public infrastructure as well as the government’s centre of expertise on funding and financing.

To date, NIFFCo has delivered key transactions including:

• Arranging the Te Awa Lakes Infrastructure Funding and Financing (IFF) Act Levy, which will support 1,500 new homes in Hamilton.
• Leading the early monetisation of the Crown’s loans to Chorus, which we provided to accelerate the UFB rollout. This deal delivered $702 million in net proceeds to the Crown and allowed the Government to reinvest funds into more of the infrastructure New Zealand needs – including Cambridge to Piarere, upgrades to hospitals, and hundreds of new classrooms.

The second policy was a National Infrastructure Plan.

We asked the independent Infrastructure Commission to produce a 30-year National Infrastructure Plan (NIP), and the Government responded – supporting all 16 recommendations in full or in part.

I won’t go into all the detail, but there are a few main actions that I think are worth pointing out.

For example, the Government has agreed to legislate the requirement for asset registers, asset management plans, and 10-year long-term capital plans, and reporting and auditing requirements for these in the Public Finance Act.

Regulated utilities and local government are required to have these artifacts by law – but we currently don’t hold central government to the same standard.

That is going to change.

We are also shifting independent assurance for infrastructure projects from Treasury to the Infrastructure Commission.

Ministers want better quality information when making investment decisions, and we want clear, actionable advice from the experts –

Is this a good project? Is it needed now? Is it consistent with the asset management or long-term plan? How could it be improved? Could we strip some cost out? Is the project just bad or undeliverable, and we need to walk away?

We want those answers, because ultimately, we – Ministers – are accountable to the public for spending decisions. And rightly so.

I’ve heard the sector’s concerns around certainty and continuity of pipeline. I understand that.

Right now, there is about $290 billion worth of infrastructure projects in the pipeline – around $190 billion with a confirmed funding source.

Now, all parties probably agree on 90 to 99% of those projects. But there will be disagreements on some.

It’s a handful of big projects that make the headlines, but it is often the small projects that make New Zealand.

When it comes to those big projects, we need to move away from the rhetoric of needing a bipartisan pipeline – we are never going to agree on every single project, and that’s OK. That’s the nature of politics and of people having different views.

Instead, as I’ve often said, we should commit to building bipartisan consensus on the idea that governments of all flavours should use best practice to plan, select, fund and finance, deliver, and look after infrastructure.

And that’s something I have worked incredibly hard on over the past three years, including our response to the NIP.

Fixing the fundamentals of our system is the single best thing we can do to build a pipeline that endures political cycles.

A strong system will make it politically untenable for Ministers to just go out and announce unfunded, inadequately planned projects.

Where these farce projects have been stopped – like in the case of Auckland Light Rail – there are legitimate reasons for that.

Equally, a strong system should make it absolutely punishing for a new government to stop or pause genuinely good, funded projects that make it through the rigours of the system.

That’s the bit we have been missing – a credible and clear evidence-base for the public, the sector, and others to properly hold governments to account for their investment choices.

The third policy was innovative funding and financing tools.

National has progressed several tools to enable a responsive supply of infrastructure to support growth including:

• amending the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act – which was passed into law last month,
• establishing the Incentives for Growth Fund for councils so that they are rewarded for every home consented,
• and progressing the replacement of the failed Development Contributions regime with a more flexible Development Levies system that will match our flexible planning system.

The fourth policy was City and Regional Deals.

The National-led government has signed two deals so far. One with Auckland and the other with Western Bay of Plenty – and a third is not so far away, so watch this space.

The Government already has a range of tools that interact with local government, such as NZTA co-funding for local roads, Urban Growth Partnerships, and Crown funding for significant projects.

So, these Deal aren’t intended to reinvent the wheel and create another layer of bureaucracy.

They are about identifying shared priorities and establishing strong lines of accountability, where sufficiently senior people from central government and council – who have the authority to make decisions – meet regularly. The deals will make it easier to work together, invest together, and get stuff done.

The fifth policy was a fast-track consents process.

31 projects have been consented under our Fast-track legislation representing tens of thousands of jobs and billions in investment – with more in the pipeline.

Legacy of infrastructure

We have made significant progress in the infrastructure space this term, with a core focus on getting the underlying system settings right.

This progress is off the back of a long legacy of infrastructure delivery under National.

Under the Key Government, we rolled out the incredibly successful Ultra-fast Broadband on time, on budget.

National also electrified the Auckland rail network, built Waterview Tunnel, and started the City Rail Link project – which is opening on Sunday 13 September, and will be a game changer for Auckland.

Other parties talk a big game on infrastructure:

• The ironically named “Shovel Ready” programme,
• $30 billion Auckland Light Rail,
• the Auckland cycle bridge across the Harbour,
• the $45 billion mega-monstrosity twin three-lane road tunnels and a separate light rail tunnel under the Waitematā Harbour.

National delivers.

If we are re-elected, our plan is to continue the momentum,

We did all of this in three years. We can and will do more.

Improving the land transport system

Now I’d like to move onto transport.

New Zealand’s economic growth and productivity depend on a high-performing land transport network.

It connects people to jobs, education, and amenities; keeps goods and services flowing; and builds resilience by maintaining critical supply chains and community connections.

This Government has accomplished a lot in the transport space.

We are progressing major revenue reforms via the fleetwide transition to RUC, and time-of-use charging. We have reformed transport governance in Auckland. And we have supported productivity by overhauling inefficient land transport rules.

Our changes to warrant of fitness requirements alone are estimated to deliver $2.6 to $4.1 billion in benefits to the economy over the next 30 years.

The Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2024 outlined an ambitious programme of transport investment including 17 RoNS and major public transport projects.

NZTA is delivering on the GPS, and good progress has been made.

Ōtaki to north of Levin, the Hawke’s Bay Expressway, Takitimu North Link Stage 1, and SH29 Tauriko West (Omanawa Bridge) are all under construction.

The first stage of the Northland Expressway (Warkworth to Te Hana) is due to start construction by the end of the year, and Cambridge to Piarere is due to start construction in early 2027.

By early next year, six RoNS will be under construction.

Key issues in the land transport system

For the past decade, the land transport network has also been under significant strain and is facing complex and enduring challenges, which are only becoming more acute.

Today, I want to focus on two of these issues.

The first issue is that there is a funding gap between planned investment in land transport and National Land Transport Fund (NTLF) revenue.

Essentially there is a mismatch between what we are spending on land transport and the user revenue the land transport network generates.

New Zealand’s land transport system was set up to operate on a principle of user pays.

This serves two purposes:

• it helps generate enough revenue from users – the main beneficiaries – to maintain and expand the system to meet demand, and
• it encourages efficient use of the network because users face the costs of their choices.

But our system has been moving away from the principle of user pays for some time, with successive governments having to top up the NLTF with Crown grants and loans.

In 2018-21, only 3% of the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) was funded by the Crown.

This grew to 24% in the 2021-24 NLTP, and 39% in the current NLTP (2024-2027). This Crown funding comes at the expense of other Government priorities.

One reason for this imbalance is because Fuel Excise Duty (FED) and Road User Charges (RUC) have not been changed since 2020, resulting in FED falling in real terms by around 21%.

This funding gap is also a long-term issue.

Based on current estimates, delivering the RoNS programme in full over the next 20 years would cost $56 billion. Funding this entirely from petrol tax and road user charges, would require a one-off 70% increase. Equivalent to a 49 cent per litre increase in petrol tax.

To be clear, this 49-cent-per-litre increase, would only allow the RONS to be delivered. It would not provide any funding for other major transport projects such as the Second Waitematā Harbour Crossing, or the Northwest Busway.

That kind of increase is obviously not going to happen.

So, on the ‘revenue’ side of narrowing the funding gap – we will need to utilise a mix of the NLTF (including FED and RUC settings), Crown funding, as well as a broader range of funding tools.

Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act levies, tolls, toll concessions, and time of use charging will be effective tools to accelerate and support specific projects, localised networks, or groups of projects.

However, these project-specific tools will not provide general funding for the land transport system as a whole.

As such, the Government will use them where they make sense, like on corridors with high vehicle movements per day, significant land value uplift potential, or projects with a large, identifiable group of beneficiaries.

This will take pressure off the NLTF and take pressure off the demand for Crown funding.

There is another side to narrowing the funding gap – getting costs down.

Which brings me to the second issue, major transport project costs in this country are too high. Delivering major transport projects in New Zealand – including motorways, expressways, and public transport – is expected to cost more per kilometre in real terms than earlier New Zealand projects, and significantly more than the OECD average.

Benefit to cost ratios in land transport have also fallen from a minimum of 4:1 in the 1990s to 1.2:1 in the 2010s.

These cost comparisons have largely been made against business case estimates. But, in practice, major projects frequently underperform against cost estimates in both the frequency and extent of overruns.

This is not a system that is delivering cost-effectively.

Ministers are deeply frustrated, and we simply cannot continue to accept it.

I was on a Stuff Political Infrastructure Panel last week and my friend and colleague, Matua Shane Jones, said that he thinks the Northland Expressway (Warkworth to Te Hana) will be the last four-lane highway built in New Zealand.

I see where he is coming from.

But I respectfully disagree.

I think we can and should build more four lane highways

Perhaps just not at their current design, scope or specifications – or not under the current institutional or regulatory settings.

We can build more.

We just need to find a way to do it in a more cost-effective way. I challenge and encourage all of you in this room to help with that.

According to research from the Infrastructure Commission, New Zealand’s infrastructure cost premiums are concentrated in complex, large-scale projects such as motorways, road tunnels, and underground rail.

These premiums, relative to other countries, are driven in part by:

• higher input costs for equipment and machinery, land, and some construction materials (especially concrete);
• more difficult geology and terrain; and
• more costly consenting and planning processes.

They may also be driven by factors internal to the land transport system such as weak institutional incentives to prioritise low-cost solutions, over-specification and over-scoping of projects, or system settings that allow cost and delivery commitments to be made too early.

It’s worth noting that construction costs have also increased due to factors largely outside of our control such as global supply chain disruption, – initially from COVID-19 and more recently from conflict in the Middle East.

So those are the two key problems:

• The funding gap, and
• The cost of major transport projects being too high.

First steps to fix land transport system

Fixing the land transport system will take a sustained effort over many years. To start, we should focus on decreasing costs of major transport projects, utilising a broader range of funding tools (which is work we already have underway), and reforming land transport funding and oversight.

So today, I am pleased to announce that Cabinet has agreed to a focused programme of work in the short-term, which includes:

• An independent report on the cost drivers of major land transport projects in New Zealand, led by the Infrastructure Commission; and
• Progressing work on detailed options to reform land transport funding and oversight as a first step to responding to Recommendation 2 of the NIP.

Independent cost driver report

Let’s get into the independent cost driver report.

In my view, the first step to decrease major transport costs is to get an evidence-based and detailed understanding of why current costs are so expensive in New Zealand relative to other OECD countries and relative to earlier projects in our own country.

Every time I ask a different person, I get a different answer

It’s the RMA and consenting, it’s the IPCC’s RCP 8.5 scenario, it’s the Alliance model, it’s gold plating, it’s lack of competition for building materials, it’s poor procurement practices, it’s poor institutional settings and incentives, it’s the excessive risk transfer to contractors, it’s any number of things.

Most likely, it’s a mix. But I want to get to the bottom of it.

As such, I have directed the Commission to prepare a report on the cost drivers of major land transport projects in New Zealand.

This report is due by Q1 2027.

Once we have a better understanding of cost drivers, we can consider actions to reduce premiums where possible, as some may be driven by forces that we can’t control.

As part of this report, I’ve asked the Commission to provide sensible recommendations on how we can get costs down on projects.

Reform land transport funding and oversight

Now I’ll briefly touch on our work to reform land transport funding and oversight.

We are doing this work in response to Recommendation 2 in the NIP:

“Reform the land transport funding and investment oversight system to ensure financial sustainability and enhance economic and social outcomes by aligning investment expectations with available revenue and strengthening efficiency and accountability in delivery.”

As part of the Government response, we supported this in full, and there are many ways to go about it. We could:

• return to a system where investment is confined to user revenues, with investment and borrowing decisions made at arm’s length from Government;
• establish economic regulation or other independent oversight;
• create rules or structures that must prioritise funds for renewals and maintenance;
• put in place independent assurance and clear performance standards; and/or
• review institutional structure, legislation and funding instruments.

Long story short is that I remain open to all of these options – and others.

I have asked the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) to develop more detailed options and a plan for this reform. I will report back to Cabinet on these detailed options in early 2027.

My overall goal is to create a high-performing land transport system where maintenance and renewals are prioritised, the network is mostly funded from users and beneficiaries, investment aligns with demand, and where major projects are sequenced according to value for money.

We are on our way there with the Major Transport Projects Pipeline, and the recent transfer of central government infrastructure assurance to the Commission – but there is more we can do.

Timing of GPS 2027

Given the challenges facing land transport, I am intending to undertake public consultation on a draft GPS 2027 early next year, after the election.

This staging will give us time to consider both:

• the findings of the Infrastructure Commission’s report on cost drivers, and
• the direction of land transport funding and oversight reform.

Waiting a few months to get GPS 2027 right is critical. This document will shape land transport investment for 10-years.

We have big ambitions in land transport. We want to land a GPS that balances our fiscal strategy, economic growth agenda, and resilience and asset management objectives.

I am conscious that Regional Transport Committees are awaiting clarity from the Government on our investment strategy and intentions for the next period.

The current land transport investment cycle means Committees have already started to develop Regional Land Transport Plans.

As such, today I am issuing a statement that outlines the fiscal realities and the priorities for land transport to signal the likely direction of GPS 2027.

The statement signals that the Government is focused on value for money and cost control, maintenance and resilience of the transport network, productivity enhancing investments, ongoing improvements to safety, and maximising the use of the existing network – especially where it creates opportunities to increase housing development.

And I just want to highlight that last point.

That the GPS will likely include a focus on transit-oriented development – or TOD.

This means supporting housing growth through alignment with spatial plans and concentrating development around transit nodes, key corridors, and strategic connections.

It seems completely nuts that TOD has not been featured in a GPS before. The consideration of housing and transport – together – is critical.

Getting it right will allow more people to make the most of our big transport investments like City Rail Link, it supports growth and investment in housing and businesses, and it’s a fantastic opportunity to lift productivity.

I want to ensure that any GPS we deliver recognises the potential of TOD.

Conclusion

To finish, I’d like to thank Alan and the team at Civil Contractors NZ for inviting me to speak.

I’d also like to thank you all for your hard work in the sector and for your commitment to building a better New Zealand.

I look forward to your questions.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/13/speech-civil-contractors-nz-conference/

Source: New Zealand First

It is not widely appreciated that Winston Peters played a critical role in bringing electoral reform into the political mainstream.

It was his championing of the Royal Commission on Electoral Reform report of 1986 that directly led to the National Party making its 1990 campaign promise to let New Zealanders decide.

And New Zealanders did decide, by referenda in 1992 and 1993, to adopt the MMP (Mixed Member Proportional) system over the existing FPP (First Past the Post) system.

This was despite both National and Labour actively campaigning against reform and even adding 20 extra list MPs in an attempt to reduce its attraction.

The Royal Commission also noted that the Māori electorate seats would no longer be required under MMP, as all parties would ensure Māori representation within their parliamentary teams.

Winston’s arguments in the late 1980s still resonate today. MMP lead to a fairer electoral system, produced a more representative Parliament, and generally stopped a single governing party from imposing radical policies without a popular mandate.

The National Party has never genuinely accepted the popular will. Former Prime Minister John Key tested the electorate again in 2011 by asking whether New Zealanders wanted to keep MMP. Again, New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted “yes”.

Now that party’s distrust of the electoral system and the popular will has surfaced again, with National leader Christopher Luxon dismissing the coalition-building that underpins MMP. He wants a Cabinet solely composed of National MPs.

New Zealand First has always championed direct democracy on constitutional issues. We believe inherently in the right of New Zealanders to determine the best electoral system. Not political parties. Not lobby groups. Ordinary Kiwis.

For that reason, we believe a nationwide referendum on the Māori seats is long overdue.

But we detect absolutely no public appetite to change an electoral system that has now been endorsed by New Zealanders three separate times.

If MMP requires parties and politicians to co-operate more collaboratively before implementing policy or legislation, then that is no bad thing. It provides oversight, tests assumptions, and ultimately leads to better government.

New Zealand First has played a crucial role not only in creating our MMP electoral system, but in proving that it can and does work. We will continue to put a genuinely democratic electoral system at the forefront of our political deliberations.

But we can’t do it without your support.

Unlike the larger parties, New Zealand First doesn’t rely on corporate interests or union war chests. We rely on thousands of ordinary New Zealanders who believe our democracy is worth defending.

If you believe in protecting the democratic choices New Zealanders have already made and in ensuring your voice continues to be heard please consider making a donation today.

MAKE A SECURE DONATION

Every contribution helps us continue taking our message directly to New Zealanders and standing up for the democratic principles that Winston Peters has fought for throughout his political career.

Thank you for standing with New Zealand First.

Michael Laws
Candidate for Waitaki
New Zealand First

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/13/michael-laws-winston-peters-helped-give-new-zealanders-a-voice-we-must-protect-it/

Source: New Zealand Government

More young children with high and complex developmental needs will receive earlier, tailored support to help them learn, grow, and thrive, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced today.

The announcement was made during a visit to The Pudney Hub in Hawke’s Bay, one of the newly appointed providers for the expanded Early Intervention Specialist Service (EISS).

From September, alternate providers will deliver up to 1,000 EISS placements nationwide at any one time, giving more families access to specialist help when it can make the greatest difference. The Ministry of Education will continue to be the primary provider of Early Intervention services across New Zealand.

The additional provider capacity will give eligible children and their whānau greater choice in who delivers their support, while helping more children start receiving specialist services earlier in their learning journey.

“Every child deserves the chance to build confidence, develop their strengths, and experience success from the earliest years of learning,” Ms Stanford says.

“This expansion means more children with high and complex developmental needs will receive the right support earlier, helping them take part, make progress, and flourish in education and in life.”

EISS is a Ministry of Education-funded service that provides tailored specialist support for young children with high and complex developmental needs. Services are delivered through a mixed-market model involving both the Ministry’s Early Intervention Service and alternate providers, supporting families to access help that meets their child’s needs.

The expansion is part of the Government’s multi-year Budget 2025 investment in learning support, the largest boost in a generation. It is focused on identifying needs earlier, meeting growing demand, and giving learners the support they need to achieve their potential.

“This Government is committed to making sure every child has the backing they need to succeed,” Ms Stanford says.

“By increasing both the number of placements and the number of providers delivering services, we are strengthening the learning support system and helping more families get support sooner.”

“This investment is about reducing wait times, giving families more choice, and helping more children participate, progress, and achieve alongside their peers.”

“These are practical changes that will make a real difference for children and whānau, strengthening learning support services and helping every child reach their full potential.”

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/13/government-delivers-more-support-for-children-with-complex-educational-needs/

MIL OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has approved a plan to reset the Kāinga Ora Arlington development, which will deliver 104 new social homes in central Wellington and provide up to $6 million to Wellington City Council to support housing services for vulnerable people, Housing Minister Chris Bishop has announced.

Following indicative Cabinet approval, Kāinga Ora will finalise a detailed business case for its Arlington site, which is owned by Wellington City Council and leased back to Kāinga Ora as part of a long-term agreement for social housing delivery. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and finish in 2029.

“Providing a long-term pipeline of quality, fit-for-purpose social housing in the right places, for the people who need it most is an essential part of addressing New Zealand’s housing shortage and wider infrastructure deficit,” Mr Bishop says. 

“Subject to Wellington City Council approving a variation to its existing lease, the Arlington development will include 55 one-bedroom apartments, 37 two-bedroom apartments, and 12 four-bedroom terrace homes, helping meet demand for both smaller homes and family-sized housing in the suburb of Mount Cook. 

“Every one of these homes will provide a warm, modern place to live for people who need the security and stability that good social housing provides.

“The Kāinga Ora Arlington development has had something of a tortured history that needed to be resolved with a more cost-effective approach.

“The previous plan for 301 apartment-style homes at Arlington was paused in July 2023, just before the change of government, because costs had blown out from the $296 million originally budgeted in 2021 to an extraordinary $419 million.

“That cost escalation would have led to an eye-watering cost of around $1.4 million per apartment, prompting a redesign of the development.

“For commercial reasons, Kāinga Ora is unable to release the estimated cost of the proposed new development. However, it is expected to cost significantly less than the original project and will be funded through Kāinga Ora’s renewals programme, subject to confirmation through the detailed business case.

“That programme reinvests proceeds from the sale of older state homes that are no longer fit for purpose into new homes that better meet tenants’ needs.

“While the process has taken longer than anyone would have liked, I am pleased Kāinga Ora has thoroughly explored the options for the site, ensuring the redesigned development delivers quality social housing while representing good value for money.

“Subject to the detailed business case and relevant approvals, construction is expected to begin next year and be completed in late 2029.”

Mayor of Wellington Andrew Little says the reset also opens new opportunities for the rest of the Arlington site.

“Subject to Council’s final approval, the renewed Arlington plan will deliver social housing on part of the site, with the remainder returned to Wellington City Council to be used for more homes for Wellingtonians.

“That creates the potential for additional housing, including from private developers and community housing providers, helping maximise the use of this well-located site and deliver more homes for Wellingtonians.”

Alongside approval for the next steps at Arlington, the Government will provide a grant of $6 million to Wellington City Council for distribution through its community grants programme to support housing services that help vulnerable people access, sustain and thrive in housing.

“Building homes is only part of the solution. Strong local support services help people maintain stable housing, improve wellbeing and build better futures for themselves and their families,” Mr Little says.

“This Government is fixing the basics and building the future by delivering more quality homes for people who need them most,” Mr Bishop says.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/13/arlington-reset-to-deliver-104-new-social-homes/

Source: New Zealand Government

The Social Services and Community Select Committee’s report back on the Disability Support Services Bill includes a number of amendments responding to feedback from the disability community.

“It was important this Bill went through a Select Committee process so submitters could have their say,” Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says. 

“More than 3,000 people made submissions, and I thank the Select Committee for its considered approach in ensuring those voices could help inform the Bill. As a result of its recommendations, we can confirm a number of changes.

“These include:

• Making the overall intent of the Bill in representing the current state of Disability Support Services clearer. This includes providing clarity about the role of families, and better recognising the importance of choice, safety and dignity.
• The Bill now explicitly makes it clear that the Government, through DSS, will continue to support families by contributing to care for disabled people.  No additional expectations will be placed on families.
• The revised Bill makes it clear that disabled people will have a stronger voice in future decisions. The Bill explicitly requires formal consultation through disabled people’s representative organisations on future Support Programmes.
• Addressing concerns around the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Enabling Good Lives, changes to the Bill will now reflect the language of the UNCRPD and the EGL principles. This includes choice, safety, dignity and a requirement for consultation ahead of decision-making.

“As Minister, I acknowledge the intent of the Bill was not as clear as it should have been. The Select Committee has heard this, and I agree with their recommended changes.

“This Bill remains very important because until now, there has been no legal framework around Disability Support Services. Feedback on the Bill was clear that people understood the need for clear foundations and a framework for how DSS operates.

“This Bill brings DSS into line with other areas of Government policy where there are existing legislative frameworks and the ability to review these already in place.

“The Bill reflects the way DSS already works. It does not change current eligibility, entitlements or support, or introduce income or asset testing where it is not currently used.

“It will improve consistency, fairness, transparency and sustainability, building on our work after the 2024 Independent Review.

“Over the past two years our Government has taken urgent action to introduce a nationally consistent assessment process, stabilise its services, improve its financial sustainability, and give people more choice and control over flexible funding.

“We have also committed to $2.1 billion in additional funding through successive budgets which means DSS now has more ongoing funding to support disabled people than ever before. There are more improvements needed and we will soon be consulting on a carers’ package,” Louise Upston says.

Notes to editors

• Passage of this Bill will not affect two successful claims determined by the Supreme Court in December, which found two people being paid to provide care to a family member were employees of the state.
• DSS currently supports around 55,000 disabled people in the community and residential care, and around 100,000 people who access environmental support services products to live safely and independently.
• It also funds Child Development Services for around 26,000 disabled children each year to support them in reaching developmental milestones.

Relevant links

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/13/disability-community-informs-improvements-to-dss-bill/

Source: New Zealand Government

The latest quarterly update from the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission shows the value of projects in the National Infrastructure Pipeline has increased by $15 billion, totalling $290 billion across all initiatives, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says.

“The Infrastructure Pipeline snapshot shows that the total economic value of the country’s infrastructure projects is continuing to grow, complemented by a steady flow of new projects across the country,” Mr Bishop says.

“The newest swathe of initiatives also includes various projects for our healthcare system. That includes upgrades to support cancer treatment and radiology, maternity facilities, special care for babies, building upgrades, extensions, strengthening, and more.

Mr Bishop says the value of fully funded initiatives has climbed $4.5 billion in the last quarter to $95.8 billion.

“The Pipeline provides an independent view of current and future infrastructure projects and programmes across the country, including in areas like roads, healthcare, water infrastructure, and schools. It includes central government, local government and private sector projects.

“We’re seeing sustained momentum, and better information – that helps industry, business, and government to plan and invest. That helps to grow the economy, support jobs, and lift productivity across New Zealand.

“The value of infrastructure work that is in construction has remained constant at $71 billion, with projects in the Pipeline being completed being replaced with new projects entering construction. 

“Another $17.5 billion worth of initiatives is progressing through planning and scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months.”

The Infrastructure Commission’s newly released snapshot report is based on June submissions to the Pipeline from 135 infrastructure providers, which now includes nearly 12,500 infrastructure projects.

Mr Bishop says the snapshot shows $193 billion worth of initiatives with full or partial funding commitments, or a confirmed funding source, up from $190 billion from March.

“In addition to funded projects, the Pipeline includes early-stage initiatives that have not yet secured a funding source. These projects help signal future demand, highlight market constraints and opportunities, and support workforce planning. A more complete Pipeline is better for everyone – from councils and contractors to central government agencies.

“The growth we are seeing is great news for our construction sector up and down the country, and for the wider economy. A stronger, clearer picture of funded work gives the sector the confidence to plan ahead, retain staff, and invest in capability.

“While there is still room for improvement, these indicators are welcome signs as we build for the future.”

Read the latest Pipeline update: http://www.tewaihanga.govt.nz/the-pipeline/pipeline-snapshot

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/13/steady-growth-in-infrastructure-pipeline-update/

Source: New Zealand Government

Youth Minister James Meager says the Government has helped more than 400 young Kiwis turn tragedy into triumph through support for hands-on youth development programmes in areas impacted by recent severe weather events.

“Over the past year, several serious storms have occurred across multiple regions, which has had a devasting impact on many communities,” Mr Meager says.

“This has created significant hardship, disruption, and adversity for many local young people, who are particularly vulnerable to long-term effects when their schools, homes, and communities are impacted.

“That is why we stepped in to support six local organisations to deliver programmes tailored to their communities’ specific needs, which enable young people to re-engage in education, prepare for employment, and embark on positive pathways.”

The $315,000 investment includes:

• Ngātiwai Trust Board ($80,000 – Northland)
• Ngāti Maru Ki Hauraki Incorporated ($45,000 – Hauraki and Thames-Coromandel)
• Whitianga Community Services ($45,000 – Whitianga)
• Te Awanui a Rua Charitable Trust ($60,000 – Ruapehu and Northern Whanganui)
• Ignite Sport Trust ($60,000 – Lower Hutt)
• Whenua Iti Trust ($25,000 – Nelson/Tasman)

“We have seen some incredible outcomes because of these programmes. Participants developed new skills in areas such as forest restoration, weather impact management, and outdoor survival,” Mr Meager says.

“They have also learned about health and safety, chainsaw operation, first aid, and other employment-focused topics.”

“Young people have developed these practical skills while giving back to their communities. Importantly, they have also had access to safe, youth-focused spaces where youth workers can help them process the emotional impact of these events.

“As we celebrate International Youth Day this week, it is a timely reminder to acknowledge the perseverance and contributions these young people have made to their communities, as they recover from these devastating, and in some cases life-changing, events.

“This Government is determined to set young people up with the necessary skills they need to thrive. This investment helps those in need get back on their feet and realise their highest potential.” 

Notes to editor:

Detailed information on the six youth development programmes is as follows:

• Te Awanui a Rua Charitable Trust ($60,000) was contracted to provide a minimum of 60 young people in Ruapehu and Northern Whanganui Districts with opportunities focused on digital inclusion, driver licensing, ATV, quad bike and chainsaw safety, and recovery-related community activities such as clean-up and food distribution.
• Ngāti Maru Ki Hauraki Incorporated ($45,000) was contracted to operate the Te Weiti Youth Hub and Wellbeing Initiatives across the Hauraki and Thames-Coromandel District to a minimum of 45 young people. The programme was focused on providing practical assistance to help maintain connection and support and return to everyday life e.g., transport, clothing, digital devices, school resources, as well as support their general wellbeing. Additionally, the programme supported the Thames Rangatahi Advisory Panel to undertake youth engagements in isolated and rural areas, designed to connect young people and communities to discuss the impacts of severe weather events, community resilience, and emergency preparedness. 
• Whitianga Community Services ($45,000) was contracted to provide a minimum of 45 young people in Whitianga with access to the Mercury Bay Youth Centre where they have been able to engage in practical learning focused on life skills such as budgeting, cooking, employment-readiness, legal literacy, and driver licensing, and been supported to navigate the emotional impacts of the severe weather events.
• A minimum of 80 young people in the East Coast of the Northland region are being supported through a programme delivered by Ngātiwai Trust Board ($80,000) offering workshops and one-to-one mentoring designed to reconnect them to local pathways and opportunities within their communities, education support, and emergency preparedness training.
• Ignite Sport Trust ($60,000) is providing a minimum of 110 young people in Lower Hutt with workshops centred on achieving educational goals, opportunities to develop leadership and life skills, individualised goal-setting and mentoring, and Activity-Based Learning designed to build self-discipline, identify and strengthen their talents, understand teamwork and accountability, and build resilience and perseverance.

• Whenua Iti ($25,000) was contracted to provide a series of one-day active wellbeing programmes in Nelson/Tasman that supported 88 young people in flood-affected areas to reconnect with the waterways alongside which they live. The programmes were designed to help young people rebuild confidence and strengthen water-safety skills.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/13/young-kiwis-turn-weather-tragedies-into-triumph/

MIL OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

A significant ACC investment has reestablished specialist traumatic brain injury rehabilitation to Canterbury and West Coast communities, Minister for ACC Scott Simpson and Associate Minister for ACC Nicola Grigg say.

“This is fixing the basics and building the future in action. ACC is putting rehabilitation first by ensuring clients from Canterbury and the West Coast can access the specialist rehabilitation they need, close to home,” Mr Simpson says. 

“A closer rehabilitation service for South Island clients means a more seamless recovery, helping them get back to the things that matter, including their families, communities and employment.” 

ACC has awarded the contract to Hauora Ability Services to deliver Traumatic Brain Injury Residential Rehabilitation services at The Granada Rehabilitation Centre in Christchurch from July 2026. 

The Canterbury region has not had a Traumatic Brain Injury Residential Rehabilitation Service since 2020. Patients with moderate to severe TBI requiring residential rehabilitation had to travel to facilities in Dunedin, Wellington or Auckland.

“Unfortunately, it meant some clients chose not to undertake intensive rehabilitation due to the need to transfer away from their home and family. We’re fixing that and making rehabilitation more accessible for Canterbury and West Coast communities,” Mr Simpson says.  

ACC has advised the service has had a successful start since opening on 1 July, with positive early feedback on services and client outcomes. 

Associate Minister for ACC Nicola Grigg says the local service is already demonstrating value for Canterbury. 

“For Canterbury and West Coast families, having this specialist service here in Christchurch is invaluable for receiving timely support they need, without having to leave their home region,” Ms Grigg says. 

“This investment by ACC means a smoother transition for clients from hospital to rehabilitation and back to enjoying life activities, employment and their families.” 

Notes for editors: 

The Canterbury region has not had a Traumatic Brain Injury Residential Rehabilitation Service (TBIRR) service since mid-2020.

In 2025, ACC completed a procurement process for the delivery of a TBIRR service from a Christchurch-based facility. Hauora Ability Services was awarded the contract.

Annual expenditure under the contract is estimated at approximately $3.5 million, based on a five-bed facility. Actual expenditure will vary depending on client volumes and rehabilitation needs.

The current contract expires on 31 March 2028. 

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/13/brain-injury-rehabilitation-boost-for-christchurch/