AM Edition: Top 10 Politics Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for August 28, 2026 – Full Text

Source: New Zealand Government

Information collected by government agencies through their ordinary day-to-day interactions is to be made more useful, Statistics Minister Scott Simpson says. 

This week the Government commenced the Admin Data Improvement Plan to help ensure information collected by agencies can better guide decisions in areas like education, health services, housing and infrastructure.

Administrative data – or admin data – is information collected by government agencies as part of their day-to-day interactions with people and businesses. This can include information provided when people access government services or apply for a licence or benefit. 

“The Plan means agencies like the Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport can work with Stats NZ to ensure the information they collect can be used to improve the completeness, accuracy and timeliness of official statistics,” Mr Simpson says.

“More reliable data means better decision making. Government, councils businesses and communities can plan services and invest with greater confidence.” 

The implementation of the Plan is underway, with agencies working alongside Stats NZ to deliver agreed improvements over the next three years. 

Admin data is already used extensively to produce official data and statistics, from population estimates to measuring the economy and the cross-government plan will ensure that existing framework continues. 

The Plan will ensure the improved completeness, accuracy and timeliness of information to give better insights in to such things as where people live, their occupation and ethnicity. 

“This plan will greatly support Stats NZ to produce useful and meaningful official statistics,” Mr Simpson says.  

Notes to editors: 

• Read the Admin Data Improvement Plan
• Stats NZ has worked closely with other government agencies and crown entities to understand existing gaps, opportunities for improvement, as well as practical actions that would strengthen the collection of admin data. This work has informed the Admin Data Improvement Plan.
• The Plan sets out a coordinated effort across government agencies to improve the collection, quality, and supply of key admin data over the next three years.
• Quality data helps government and the private sector to make informed decisions, target investment, and align services with the needs of communities throughout New Zealand.  
• The Plan is an important step towards a stronger, more connected government data system, by driving a collective uplift in the quality of admin data across government.  

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/27/cross-government-plan-to-deliver-stronger-data/

Source: New Zealand Government

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston has welcomed the release of Tourism Industry Aotearoa’s Tourism 2050 strategy.

“The strategy will contribute to ongoing conversations about the future of tourism and highlights a range of opportunities and challenges the sector will need to navigate over coming decades,” Louise Upston says. 

“I congratulate TIA on its development, particularly as it sits alongside other important work within the wider system.

“Earlier this year, the Government’s Tourism Policy Statement set out broad priorities, providing a framework for agencies, industry and communities to work towards shared outcomes. 

“It sets a clear long-term direction to grow tourism in a way that delivers more value for New Zealand while ensuring both visitors and communities benefit.

“The release of Tourism 2050 reinforces strong alignment between the TPS and industry’s own vision for the system, including ambition for balanced growth, regional prosperity, lifting connectivity and competitiveness, and improved use of data technology and AI.

“We look forward to continued engagement with TIA and other partners as work progresses on implementing future work programmes.

“This continued collaboration will help ensure New Zealand’s tourism system remains well positioned to deliver benefits for visitors, businesses, workers, communities and the wider economy over the long term,” Louise Upston says. 

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/27/government-welcomes-tourism-2050-strategy/

Source: New Zealand Government

A backlog of historical minerals permit applications has been cleared, delivering on the Government’s commitment to a more efficient permitting system that provides greater certainty for the minerals sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.

When the Government took office in October 2023, regulator New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals (NZP&M) had a backlog of 311 minerals applications, including 162 that had been awaiting an outcome for more than a year. That backlog has now been largely cleared, with only two applications awaiting the resolution of external matters before they can progress.

“I made a commitment to the sector that we would deliver a permitting system that is efficient, responsive and focused on enabling responsible development, and these results demonstrate the progress that has been made,” Mr Jones says. 

“Clearing this backlog has been a major achievement by NZP&M. It means applicants can have greater certainty when planning new projects and make investment decisions with confidence.”

Interest in New Zealand’s minerals sector has continued to grow, with application volumes reaching record levels and NZP&M delivering a record number of permitting outcomes.

New and change applications for minerals permits including prospecting, exploration and mining permits, increased from 296 in 2023 to 450 in 2024 and 551 in 2025. In the first seven months of 2026, a further 342 applications had been received. NZP&M also delivered record numbers of minerals permitting decisions, including 498 outcomes in 2024 and 521 outcomes in 2025.

“This is what an open-for-business approach looks like in practice: a permitting system that gives investors confidence, supports regional growth, and helps turn New Zealand’s natural resource potential into economic opportunities, jobs, and prosperity.”

“The Government has been clear that New Zealand is open for business, and that approach is helping create the conditions for growth and investment,” Mr Jones says.

“A wide range of factors influence activity in the minerals sector, including global commodity prices, investor confidence, access to capital, geological prospectivity and broader regulatory settings. While we cannot control all of these factors, we can ensure New Zealand has a permitting system that is efficient, predictable and supports responsible development.

“Throughout this period of increased demand, NZP&M has continued to prioritise timely and fair decision-making. Applications are being assessed to ensure decisions are made on their individual merits and in accordance with the law.

“However, the quality of applications remains one of the biggest factors influencing how quickly decisions can be made. Well-prepared applications containing complete technical, financial and operational information can be assessed more efficiently, providing benefits for both applicants and the wider system. I encourage the sector to continue to put their best foot forward.”

NZP&M currently administers 1057 minerals permits and licences, an increase of 11.5 percent on the same time last year. Performance data shows NZP&M decided 100 percent of relevant petroleum applications and 94 per cent of relevant minerals applications within targeted timeframes in 2024/25. In 2025/26, 100 percent of relevant petroleum applications and 75 percent of relevant minerals applications were decided within targeted timeframes. 

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/27/minerals-permit-backlog-cleared/

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is backing a programme to turn a winemaking by product into a valuable resource, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.

“Marlborough produces large volumes of winery lees – the organic residue from winemaking. Traditional disposal pathways are becoming more constrained and costly,” Mr McClay says.

“We’re investing more than $2.79 million through the Primary Sector Growth Fund to help fast track a programme led by Bragato Research Institute that will develop 
a practical, long term solution that reduces waste, cuts emissions, improves soil health, and creates a new value stream for growers.”

The programme is supported by co investors contributing a further $4.19 million. It involves collecting winery lees from participating wineries and converting it into a safe, high value soil amendment made from lees, compost, and biochar.

“This project will provide the testing, monitoring, and system design needed to prove the model works at scale, giving the local council and industry the confidence to invest in a permanent, self funding solution,” Mr McClay says.

“If successful, the programme would establish a long term waste solution for Marlborough’s wine industry and provide a blueprint that could be replicated by wine regions across the country.

“This is a strong example of government and industry working together to turn an environmental challenge into an economic opportunity – delivering benefits for growers, councils, communities, and the environment.”
 

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/27/putting-wine-waste-to-work/

Source: New Zealand Government

People in Kaitaia who need mental health or addiction support now have another place to turn, with a new Crisis Recovery Café officially open, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced. 

“Emergency departments aren’t always the best environment for someone experiencing mental distress. They can be busy, brightly lit and feel far too clinical and scary, when often what someone needs instead, is a calm place to sit down and talk to someone who understands,” Mr Doocey says.

“That’s why we are rolling out Crisis Recovery Cafés across the country, giving people faster access to peer support workers who can help link people back to community services, lend a listening ear, and offer people experiencing distress a safe place to go.”

The Community Wellness Café – Te Whare Tau will be delivered by Rakau Ora, an organisation that already has strong relationships and a trusted presence in the Kaitaia community. 

“Vanessa Kite, Rakau Ora’s Chief Executive and Founder, brings more than 20 years’ experience in addiction services and 18 years as a registered mental health nurse. She will be a real asset as the café becomes established in the community.

“Earlier this year, the organisation began delivering peer support groups as part of the Government’s plan to reduce meth harm. Its Wellness Hub, launched in 2021, has also provided a voluntary, community-led place for people experiencing mental health distress, substance-related harm, and homelessness to get support.

“The Hub has provided a good foundation and now has Government funding to transform into the Crisis Recovery Café, which has been named Te Whare Tau. Already training has been able to be provided for peer support workers, ensuring people coming into the café can receive the best peer-led support.”

Mr Doocey says the café is the first of three Crisis Recovery Cafés being established across Northland, with cafés also planned for Whangārei and Kaikohe by the end of the year.

“We have been successfully rolling out these cafés across the country and have seen real demand for the service, showing that this is exactly the kind of support people are looking for.

“From January to June 2026, an average of 850 people accessed the cafés each month, increasing to an average of 1,148 people per month between April and June.

“Te Whare Tau started seeing people at the Crisis Recovery Café on Monday, 3 August. Already, 106 people accessed the service in their first two weekends, which is a promising start.”

The café will operate after-hours on Monday and Friday during the week from 3pm to 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 7pm, with at least two peer support workers on each shift.

“This is part of our wider plan to deliver faster access to support, more frontline workers and a better crisis response.”

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/27/kaitaia-crisis-recovery-cafe-opens/

Source: New Zealand Government

Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced today that construction will begin next month on a new two-lane bridge on State Highway 25 (SH25), just north of Whiritoa, to replace the current single-lane Ramarama Stream Bridge.

“Carrying more than 2,500 vehicles per day, 13 percent of that heavy vehicles, the current single lane bridge is nearly a century old and has reached the end of its serviceable life. Replacing it with a modern two-lane bridge will ensure that SH25 remains safe and reliable for road users who rely on it every day,” Mr Bishop says.

“Brian Perry Civil will deliver the new two-lane bridge, and construction is expected to begin next month. The project is expected to cost around $10 million and the new bridge will be built immediately east of the existing bridge, allowing traffic to continue using the current crossing to minimise disruption during construction.

“Traffic is expected to begin using at least one lane of the new bridge by August next year, with the remaining work expected to be completed by the end of 2027 and final landscaping completed in autumn 2028.

“The work to repair or upgrade nine priority bridges and culverts was given the green light in July 2024 as part of the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). Since then, a further five priority locations have been added, and NZTA is progressing design, consenting, and contracting so work can start.

“Replacement of the Ramarama Stream Bridge is also part of wider efforts to increase the resilience of state highways around the Coromandel Peninsula. 

“This includes replacement of the SH25 Pepe Stream Bridge in Tairua which began last month, a full deck replacement for the SH25 Boundary Creek Bridge north of Thames which was completed late last year, and replacement of the SH26 Onetai Stream Bridge north of Paeroa which was completed in early 2025.

“This work is further supported by Crown investment in the Budget 2026 resilience package, including replacement of SH26 Kirikiri Stream Bridge, upgrading the SH25/SH25A intersection, and wider SH25 corridor targeted resilience including retaining works, drainage upgrades, slope stabilisation and road protection works.

“Replacing the SH25 Ramarama Stream Bridge will help improve resilience of the wider Coromandel state highway network and keep local communities, freight and emergency services moving. I look forward to work getting underway next month.”

Notes to editor: 

• NZTA assesses and prioritises bridge replacements nationally, with the programme reviewed through the National Land Transport Programme.
• Projects are prioritised based on the age and condition of each bridge and whether it is suitable for current traffic volumes.

Bridges/culverts set to be replaced in the 2024-27 NLTP period: 

• SH3 Mangapepeke No. 1 Culvert, Taranaki (new addition for 2024-27 period)
• SH3 Mangapepeke No. 2 Culvert, Taranaki 
• SH43 Kururau Stream Water Drive, Whanganui 
• SH25 Pepe Stream Bridge, Coromandel
• SH82 Elephant Hill Bridge, South Canterbury 
• SH82 Waihao North Bridge, South Canterbury 
• SH6 Coal Creek Overbridge, West Coast 
• SH25 Ramarama Stream Bridge, Waikato
• SH27 Ohinekaua Bridge, Waikato  
• SH36 Hauraki Stream Culvert, Bay of Plenty  

Bridge maintenance renewal works: 

• SH25 Boundary Creek Bridge, Coromandel (new addition for 2024-27 period)
• SH35 Mangahauini No. 1 Bridge, Gisborne (new addition for 2024-27 period) 
• SH38 Frasertown Bridge, Hawke’s Bay (new addition for 2024-27 period) 
• SH50 Ngaruroro River Bridge, Hawke’s Bay (new addition for 2024-27 period) 

Other announcements recently made:

• SH2 Pekatahi Bridge, Bay of Plenty. Design and pre-implementation work for a two-lane replacement is underway. Construction is expected to be within the 2027-30 NLTP once funding is approved and a contractor is appointed.

This programme excludes bridges being replaced due to weather event damage.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/27/sh25-ramarama-stream-bridge-to-be-replaced/

MIL OSI

Source: Media Outreach

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

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

MIL OSI

Source: Media Outreach

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

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