AM Edition: Top 10 Politics Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for August 15, 2026 – Full Text

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government will strengthen infrastructure funding settings to ensure the costs of growth from incoming Fast-track developments can be recovered, Housing and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Local Government Minister Simon Watts say.

“A key part of this Government’s plan to fix New Zealand’s economy and drive higher living standards is to say yes to growth more often. That’s why we are overhauling planning rules, progressing our Going for Housing Growth agenda, and removing unnecessary red tape. It’s also why we established Fast-track”, Mr Bishop says.

“Councils have told us that they are not able to effectively recover the costs of enabling infrastructure for growth, particularly when it comes to unplanned or out-of-sequence developments. 

“The Government’s position is that that growth should pay for growth and we are building a flexible infrastructure funding and financing system to match our new, flexible planning system. 

“The Government is in the process of replacing Development Contributions with a new Development Levies system. Consultation on this new system has been extensive and final policy decisions will be announced soon, with legislation to follow. The new system will be operational from 2029.

“In short, the Government wants the economics of development (including infrastructure provision) to guide growth rather than restrictive planning rules.”

“As a targeted, interim step on the path to Development Levies, the Government has agreed to amend the Local Government Act 2002 to provide councils with better tools to recover growth-related infrastructure costs from future Fast-track developments,” says Mr Watts.  

“In particular, we’ve identified situations where Fast-track developments may proceed ahead of council infrastructure planning, where developments may take up network capacity intended for live-zoned land, or where developments rely on infrastructure across a council boundary.

“The Government will progress changes so that councils will be able to amend Development Contribution policies where necessary to recover infrastructure costs attributable to growth from eligible fast-track developments. They will also address cross-boundary infrastructure issues by enabling the recovery and transfer of Development Contributions where infrastructure impacts extend into neighboring council areas.

“At the moment, Development Contributions are locked in once applications for resource consent are made. The Government’s changes will allow councils to update Development Contributions after an application has been made through fast-track.

“To support certainty for all parties, these changes must be adopted within six months of a Fast-track approval being granted and, once approved, published as soon as practicable.”

Mr Bishop says that the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 was enacted to enable nationally and regionally significant infrastructure and development projects.

“Projects that should have been creating jobs, delivering homes, and growing local economies were instead caught in prolonged, costly consenting processes.

“Fast-track has been a much-needed circuit breaker. In the short time it has been operating, 31 projects have been approved across housing, infrastructure, mining/quarrying, aquaculture, and renewable energy – representing billions in investment and supporting tens of thousands of jobs. 

“It is important to stress that panels are already setting conditions to address local infrastructure required to service developments, requiring roads, water, wastewater and other services to be delivered. They can also decline a project if its adverse impacts, including infrastructure impacts, are out of proportion to its regional or national benefits.

“However, some Fast-track developments can still put pressure on the wider infrastructure network, beyond what council can currently recover, and the changes we are announcing today recognise that reality.

“Fast-track projects that have been ‘Approved’ or for which a substantive application has been lodged at the time the amendment takes effect will not be impacted by this change.

“For Fast-track developments where these changes will apply, the Development Contributions regime has a series of guardrails to ensure there is reasonableness in determining growth costs. Additionally, developers and councils can enter into development agreements to provide earlier certainty, and we encourage that.

“This strikes an appropriate balance. We are maintaining the effectiveness of Fast-track, while ensuring infrastructure funding arrangements are fair.

“As Fast-track development accelerates across the country, we need infrastructure funding settings that can keep up.” 

Notes to editors:

• The amendments will enable councils to recover growth-related capital expenditure associated with fast-track developments.
• The changes are intended to address situations where developments proceed ahead of infrastructure planning or create infrastructure impacts across council boundaries.
• Councils will be able to amend development contributions policies to provide for appropriate cost recovery where existing policies do not adequately reflect the infrastructure demands created by a fast-track development.
• Any authority recovering costs on behalf of another council will be required to transfer the relevant share of development contributions.
• The amendments will not apply to fast-track developments that have already been approved or where a substantive application has already been lodged with the EPA.
• These changes would be delivered through an Amendment Paper to the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill, which is expected to be passed mid-September. 
• These changes act as a transitional bridge to the future development levies regime by extending development contribution powers to support more effective recovery of growth-related infrastructure costs from Fast-track developments, especially those that are out-of-sequence or cross-boundary in nature. The development contributions regime will be replaced by the development levies system, which is expected to be operational from 2029.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/14/improving-infrastructure-tools-to-for-fast-track/

Source: New Zealand Government

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has released an investigation report and launched consultation on specific provisions in the Hamilton City Operative District Plan.

The report follows a request from Hamilton social housing developers for the Minister to exercise the regulation-making power in the Resource Management Act, which enables the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform to remove or modify provisions in district plans where they negatively impact economic growth, development capacity or employment.

“A social housing provider asked me to look at provisions relating to multi-unit residential development and housing supply in the Hamilton City Operative District Plan,” Mr Bishop says.

“The review covers specific provisions relating to mandatory electric vehicle charging infrastructure, cycle and micro-mobility parking requirements, deep soil planting and urban tree canopy rules, as well as building design controls.

“The investigation found that some of these provisions may be unnecessarily increasing the cost and complexity of development and explores how these impacts can be remedied. I am now consulting on those findings.

“New Zealand needs more homes, particularly affordable and social housing, and we need to ensure planning rules are supporting development rather than making it harder and more expensive to build.

“Community consultation is an important part of this process, and I encourage anyone with relevant information, evidence or views on these provisions to take part.

“The Government’s objective is straightforward: to make it easier to build homes, support economic growth, and ensure planning rules are fit for purpose.”

Hamilton City Council will now be invited to provide feedback on the findings. Consultation with affected parties and the general public opens Monday 24 August 2026 and runs until Monday 7 September 2026.

Notes to editor:

• Following consultation, officials will analyse submissions and provide advice to the Government before any decisions are made on potential regulations.
• The consultation has been launched under the Resource Management Act regulation-making power introduced through the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025.
• The regulation-making power enables the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform to recommend regulations to remove or modify local plan provisions that negatively impact economic growth, development capacity or employment.
• The investigation report is available on the Ministry for the Environment website: Hamilton District Plan – Residential Provisions: Report of Investigations
• Further information will be available on the MCERT Have Your Say webpage as part of the public consultation package.
• Affected parties are:
  • relevant Government entities 
  • Waikato Regional Council, Waikato District Counil and Waipa Council 
  • relevant iwi groups (Waikato-Tainui)
• Further information will be available on the MCERT Have Your Say webpage as part of the public consultation package.
• Public consultation opens Monday 24 August 2026 and closes Monday 7 September 2026.
• Following consultation, officials will analyse submissions and provide advice before any decisions are made on potential regulations.

The provisions being looked at in the Hamilton City Operative District Plan are:

a. Deep soil area requirements in residential zones.

• Provisions relating to the amount, dimensions, depth and definition of deep soil areas.

b. Urban tree canopy requirements in residential zones.

• Provisions relating to tree canopy coverage, tree retention and specimen tree planting.

c. Built form controls for long building walls near external boundaries in residential zones.

• Provisions controlling the design and placement of long building walls near external boundaries in residential zones.

d. Electric vehicle charging requirements for multi-unit residential developments.

• Requirements for electric vehicle charging infrastructure associated with multi-unit residential development.

e. Residential cycle and micro-mobility parking requirements for higher-density housing types.

• Requirements for cycle and micro-mobility parking associated with higher-density residential development.

f. Design and access standards.

• Specific building design and access requirements applying to residential development.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/14/consultation-opens-on-hamilton-city-operative-district-plan-provisions/

Source: Media Outreach

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has approved a revised National Plan of Action to strengthen the conservation and sustainable management of sharks in New Zealand, says Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka.

“Sharks are an important part of our marine ecosystems, and this plan sets a clear direction for protecting them and managing the threats they face,” Mr Potaka says.

“New Zealand waters are home to at least 113 shark species. Seven of these species are recognised as protected because of their conservation status, and eleven are sustainably managed under the Quota Management System due to their significance to customary, recreational, and commercial fisheries.

“Sharks also play a vital role in maintaining the health of our marine ecosystems — as they mature slowly, and produce relatively few young, it is important to carefully manage populations to ensure the survival of all species in our waters.

“A central focus is avoiding the capture of protected and non-target shark species and, where sharks are unintentionally caught, using best-practice handling and release methods to give them the greatest possible chance of survival when returned to the sea.

“The updated Plan identifies that sharks face several threats beyond fishing, including disease, pollution, marine debris, biosecurity risks, climate change, and habitat degradation.

“It also better integrates tangata whenua perspectives and values into shark management, recognising sharks as taonga and their relationships with other species and the wider marine environment.

“We have made considerable progress under previous plans, including the ban on shark finning introduced by the previous National Government in 2014, and improved guidance for fishers on safely handling and releasing protected sharks.

“Our Government is building on that strong record of practical conservation action through this revised plan.”

Notes to editors:

• The National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks 2026 is available at: Shark conservation and management | NZ Government
• The National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks 2026 covers all chondrichthyan species of sharks, rays, skates, and chimaeras.
• The Plan was developed jointly by the Department of Conservation (DOC), Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) and other Government agencies, with input from the Shark Advisory Group, tangata whenua, environmental organisations, commercial and recreational fishers, and feedback from public consultation.
• It builds on previous Plans introduced in 2008, and revised in 2013, and contains seven goals and 23 measurable objectives. 

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/14/revised-plan-for-protection-and-management-of-sharks/

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is scrapping the ‘offensive trades’ list under the 1956 Health Act (the Act), ending annual registrations for affected businesses and saving them time and money, Regulation Minister David Seymour says.

“Red tape isn’t neutral; it’s a tax on productivity and growth. When businesses spend time and money spent on needless compliance it diverts their resources away from things that matter,” Mr Seymour says.

“Following a submission to the Ministry of Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline we are removing the registration requirement for businesses conducting ‘offensive trades’ under the Act. That no longer makes sense 70 years later in 2026.”

Minister of Health Simeon Brown says the change is overdue.

“So-called ‘offensive trades’ are things like fish curing, leather tanning, flax pulping, and nightsoil collection which these days can be well managed through environmental and industry‑specific systems, local councils and other powers under the Health Act,” Mr Brown says.

“One person’s ‘offensive trade’ is another person’s livelihood and where compliance costs are not necessary, they shouldn’t exist. These businesses will no longer have to complete registration paperwork or pay registration fees, and councils won’t have to administer the regime.”

Mr Seymour says the change is expected to deliver up to $2.26 million in savings over 10 years, saving time and money for hundreds of businesses.

“The Red Tape Tipline continues to deliver for Kiwis. If you’ve got a regulatory problem, we want to hear it and fix it,” Mr Seymour says.

“The Ministry for Regulation is in a unique position to take on regulatory costs that make it harder for Kiwis to get on with business. Because these regulations are imposed by so many departments, it takes one ministry with a mandate for doing the dirty work and working with others to cut the red tape.”

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/14/red-tape-tipline-continues-fixing-the-problems-no-one-else-will/

Source: New Zealand Government

A new partnership is supporting The Polyfest Trust to strengthen hundreds of at-risk young people’s educational and employment pathways through leadership development and mentoring opportunities, Youth Minister James Meager says.

The Government is investing $350,000 through the Youth Development Partnership and Innovation Fund to support The Polyfest Trust to deliver its three-month programme to more than 350 Auckland young people aged 12 to 24.

That investment is being doubled to $700,000, through co-funding from Rangitāmiro Limited ($250,000) and One Foundation Limited ($100,000).

Mr Meager says the programme, announced as part of International Youth Day celebrations this week, will be run as part of the ASB Polyfest Māori stage.

“Through four sessions, participants will gain leadership, goal-setting, and decision-making skills as they prepare for the Secondary School Kapa Haka Nationals and ASB Polyfest 2027,” Mr Meager says.

“Personalised attendance and engagement plans will be developed alongside youth mentors, as the young people explore future education, training, or employment opportunities, to set them up for long-term success.

“ASB Polyfest has grown into one of the largest Pacific cultural festivals in the world and is a powerful celebration of culture, language, and identity. It provides young people with opportunities to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and strengthen their sense of belonging.

“We know that culture and community play an important role in helping young people succeed. By investing in these sorts of programmes, we are supporting young people to realise their potential and build strong pathways into education, employment, and leadership.”

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/14/auckland-youth-supported-from-stage-to-study/

Source: New Zealand Government

Farmers, growers and rural businesses are getting faster access to the products they need to protect crops, manage pests and remain competitive, Environment Minister Nicola Grigg says. 

The latest Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) performance report shows good progress in reducing wait times for hazardous substances assessments, with the number of applications awaiting assessment halving since July 2024.

“For years, farmers and growers have told us they were frustrated by lengthy approval processes that delayed access to new products and innovations. We listened, and we’re seeing real progress. 

“Since the start of the term, the EPA has made substantial improvements in processing applications, reducing the assessment backlog and getting decisions made faster while maintaining New Zealand’s robust environmental and health protections.”

The EPA completed 66 hazardous substances assessments in 2025/26, its highest annual total since 2018/19, and reduced the number of applications awaiting assessment by more than a third over the past year. 

“This is a good example of the Government’s focus on fixing the basics. New Zealanders expect regulatory agencies to process applications efficiently and provide timely decisions, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing.

“These products play an important role in helping farmers, growers and other industries manage weeds, pests and invasive species, protect productivity, and continue producing high-quality goods for New Zealand and overseas markets.

The Government is also progressing reforms to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act to create a more efficient and responsive regulatory system.

“The proposed changes will streamline application processes and ensure farmers and growers can access the innovations they need to remain globally competitive, while maintaining the strong environmental safeguards New Zealanders expect,” Ms Grigg says.

The Primary Production Select Committee is expected to report back on the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Amendment Bill in September.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/13/faster-access-to-innovation-for-farmers-and-growers/

Source: New Zealand Government

Our frontline community organisations play a vital role supporting New Zealanders every day, and we are backing them with more funding and greater certainty, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says.

“We are incredibly lucky to have so many fantastic community mental health and addiction providers working on the frontline. I have always said it is our NGOs who know their communities best, and our job is to back them to do that work,” Mr Doocey says.

“That’s why they have been provided more than $34 million in additional annual funding from 1 July 2026 to help providers respond to pressures and continue delivering essential mental health and addiction services in their communities.

“The majority of eligible community mental health and addiction NGO contracts have received a 3.16 per cent funding uplift, recognising the vital role they play.”

Mr Doocey says the Government was also delivering greater certainty by moving the vast majority of providers onto three-year contracts.

“I inherited a system where around 80 per cent of community mental health providers were operating on one-year contracts. That simply wasn’t good enough.

“I asked Health New Zealand to change the way it contracts with providers because organisations supporting people in our communities need certainty about what they can deliver in the years ahead.

“Instead of around 80 per cent being on one-year contracts and 20 per cent on three-year contracts, we are flipping that around. Around 83 per cent of providers will now be on three-year contracts, with only around 17 per cent remaining on 12-month agreements for defined reasons.

“Longer-term contracts give providers greater confidence to invest in their workforce and focus on delivering support for some of our most vulnerable New Zealanders, rather than worrying about whether their funding will continue each year.

“We know they are delivering. More than 82,000 people accessed specialist NGO mental health and addiction services last year, while many more received support through community providers delivering primary mental health services.

“We are backing the organisations that know their communities best because they play a vital role in helping us deliver faster access to support, more frontline workers, and a better crisis response.

“This is just another example of how the Government is fixing the basics and building the future when it comes to mental health support in New Zealand.”

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/13/backing-our-frontline-community-organisations/

Source: New Zealand Government

Hundreds of young people across Otago will turn ideas into action and build the skills they need for work, business and the future through a specialised youth enterprise programme, Youth and South Island Minister James Meager says. 

More than 240 young people in the Dunedin, Clutha, and Waitaki Districts, aged 15 to 24 years, will take part in a 10-week Enterprise Accelerator programme, designed to support youth into enterprise or employment pathways.

Mr Meager says the initiative will give young people the chance to roll up their sleeves through hands-on workshops, group sessions, and applied learning.

“They will work alongside experienced mentors, develop business strategies, learn budgeting and operational planning, and explore how to turn ideas into viable ventures. These skills will benefit them no matter what career path they choose.”

The King’s Trust Aotearoa New Zealand will deliver the programme, backed by $120,000 in Government funding.

“The Trust also delivers He Kākano, a Government-funded national programme which gives young people seed funding to take their business ideas further. Participants will be supported to apply, giving them another practical pathway to turn their ambitions into reality,” Mr Meager says.

“Young people will also have access to He Kākano’s nationwide alumni network, ensuring access to continued mentoring, networking, and enterprise opportunities.

“This investment is about unlocking potential. It will help hundreds of Otago youth gain real-world experience, strengthen their work-readiness, and develop the confidence to pursue opportunities that might otherwise have felt out of reach.

“By providing tailored support and practical learning, we are helping people build the skills employers are looking for and creating pathways into work, business and self-employment. This will enable them to thrive and contribute to the economy.”

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/13/otago-youth-to-turn-ambition-into-enterprise/

MIL OSI