AM Edition: Top 10 Politics Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for September 2, 2026 – Full Text

Source: New Zealand Government

The voice of the disability community is reflected in Disability Support Services legislation which passed its final reading in Parliament today.

Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston says the new legislative framework for DSS will be crucial in delivering improved support for thousands of New Zealanders who rely on it. 

“This is an important piece of legislation which helps strengthen support for disabled people and those who care for them. Our opportunity now is to continue making further improvements,” Louise Upston says.

“I again acknowledge the disability community and the Social Services and Community Select Committee for their input to the recent process.  As a direct result of their feedback, important changes agreed to by the House include:

• Making the overall intent in representing the current state of Disability Support Services clearer. This includes clarity about the role of families, and better recognising the importance of choice, safety and dignity. 
• The legislation explicitly makes it clear that the Government, through DSS, will continue to support families by contributing to care for disabled people.  
• The legislation makes it clear disabled people will have a stronger voice in future decisions. It 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, the legislation now reflects the language of the UNCRPD and the EGL principles. 

“As Minister, I recognise that the intent of the Bill as first presented wasn’t as clear as it should have been. Through the Select Committee process and community submissions, we heard this and we have acted.

“This legislation is important because Disability Support Services has been operating without a legal framework.

“It 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 begin consulting with key stakeholders on a carers’ package,” Louise Upston says.

Accessible formats of this Press Release are available here:

www.disabilitysupport.govt.nz/news/disability-support-services-legislation-progresses

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/01/foundational-legislation-strengthens-support/

Source: New Zealand Government

Legislation to halt excessive rates increases and ensure councils’ focus to be on fixing the basics and keeping rates affordable has passed its first reading in Parliament today, Local Government Minister Simon Watts says.

Under the Local Government (Rates Capping) Amendment Bill, councils will be required to keep annual rates increases within a target range of 2-4 per cent.

“Steep and unexpected rates increases add pressure to household budgets at a time many New Zealanders are already feeling the squeeze,” Mr Watts says.

“This Government is serious about bringing stability and certainty to rates increases for New Zealanders and this Bill clearly demonstrates that drive.

“We are committed to refocusing councils on delivering core services, keeping rates down for ratepayers, and putting more money back into Kiwi pockets.

“Nice-to-haves should never come at the expense of delivering the basics and the days of double-digit yearly rates increases are coming to an end.”

Councils will be required to consider the cap range from 1 July 2027 when preparing their long-term plans, and the rates caps will take full effect from 1 July 2029.

The Finance and Expenditure Committee will now consider the Bill.

Editors’ notes:

Under the proposed rates capping system:

• Annual rates increases will remain within an initial target range of 2 to 4 per cent.
• The target range will be reviewed every six years and updated where necessary to reflect costs outside councils’ control.
• The target range includes a minimum level of rates increase to support councils to continue delivering essential services and investing in infrastructure.
• Two types of time-bound exemptions will be available:
  • Exceptional circumstances: where additional rates revenue is needed to recover from events such as natural disasters that go beyond what a council can reasonably be expected to plan for.
  • Prudent financial management exemption: where a council can demonstrate prudent financial management and a justified need to operate above or below the target range. Councils will be required to consult their communities before setting rates.
• Water services are excluded from the rates capping system and will continue to be regulated separately.
• The legislation also establishes an independent regulator responsible for:
• Monitoring compliance with the rates capping system.
• Assessing exemption applications.
• Advising on future target ranges.
• Supporting councils through implementation and transition.
• Providing guidance to councils and reporting on how the system is operating.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/01/rates-capping-bill-passes-first-reading/

Source: New Zealand Government

Legislation which provides the Serious Fraud Office with greater powers to go after criminals has passed its final reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. 

“It’s estimated fraud in New Zealand results in billions of dollars in losses each year, and causes untold harm to countless hardworking New Zealanders and businesses,” Mr Goldsmith says. 

“We know the scale and complexity of fraud is increasing. It challenges the ability of law enforcement to investigate and prosecute the fraudsters who commit these serious crimes.

“We must regularly update our laws to adapt to advances in technology and how fraud is committed. It’s our responsibility to ensure New Zealanders aren’t left vulnerable to gaps in the law.

“Our government has a clear priority to reduce the number of victims of violent crime, but we will never neglect the fight against so-called white-collar crime,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“Our government is committed to fixing the basics in law and order, and that means ensuring law enforcement agencies have the tools they need to hold criminals to account, and to prevent more New Zealanders from becoming victims of fraud and corruption,” Mr Mitchell says.

“Currently, the SFO can experience difficulties obtaining all electronic evidence, applying for warrant when under time-pressure, and managing their own search scenes.

“We need to ensure there is no red tape preventing the SFO from doing their job and protecting New Zealanders,” Mr Mitchell says.

The Bill makes changes to provide the Serious Fraud Office with the authority to:

• Obtain all necessary digital and cloud-based evidence they require.
• Apply for search warrants orally.
• Manage their own search sites and prevent affected parties from interfering with investigations. 

The Bill also makes changes to the evidence admissibility provisions, to enable the Courts to apply the more modern and widely applied test in the Evidence Act 2006 to determine the admissibility of unlawfully obtained evidence. 

It also makes it clear Police can use all of their usual powers under the Search and Surveillance Act 2012, when assisting the SFO to execute a warrant.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/01/greater-powers-to-go-after-fraudsters/

MIL OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

Cervical screening will be free for all eligible women from 1 March 2027, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Women’s Minister Nicola Grigg say.

“Today I am pleased to announce that this Government will make cervical screening free for all women aged 25 to 69,” Mr Brown says.

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Almost every case is caused by HPV, a common virus, which the screening test detects long before any cancer develops. When cervical cancer is found early, around 91 percent of women survive. Once it has spread, survival falls to around 19 percent.

“National screening programmes save lives, but unlike breast and bowel screening, cervical screening is not free for every woman.

Currently, around 55 percent of women who are eligible for cervical screening have to pay for the appointment, which can cost anywhere from $35 to more than $100. That cost can be a barrier, including for younger women, who have the lowest screening rates of any age group.

“From 1 March 2027, an estimated 786,000 additional women will be eligible for free cervical screening.”

Cervical screening is currently free for Māori and Pacific women aged 25 to 69, Community Services Card holders, and women who have never been screened or are overdue. 

Successive Parliamentary Reviews since 2018 have recommended making cervical screening free for all women eligible for the screening programme. 

“Making cervical screening free for all women builds on our other commitments to screening, extending free breast screening to women up to age 74 and lowering the bowel screening age from 60 to 56. The goal is the same every time, and that’s to find cancer earlier, treat it sooner, and save more lives.”

Ms Grigg says the Government is also releasing the New Zealand Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan 2026 to 2040 today.

“This Plan sets out a clear goal for eliminating cervical cancer in New Zealand. Not managing the disease, not reducing it, but eliminating it,” Ms Grigg says.

“We can set that goal because we already have the tools. A vaccine that prevents the virus behind almost every case, a test that picks it up early, and treatment that works when it is caught in time.

“Making screening free is part of that. But elimination needs action across the whole system, from vaccinating young people through to making sure care follows quickly when a test finds something.”

The Plan commits New Zealand to reducing cervical cancer to fewer than four cases per 100,000 women a year, across every population group, by 2040.

By 2030, it sets national targets for:

• 80 percent of women to be up to date with cervical screening
• 80 percent of women referred for a colposcopy to be seen within 30 working days
• 90 percent of women with high-grade pre-cancerous changes to be treated within 40 working days
• 90 percent of women with cervical cancer to start treatment within 31 days of the decision to treat

By 2035, the Plan also targets 90 percent of young people having had their first HPV vaccine dose by age 15. Today it is 69 percent.

“Targets focus the system on what matters. That is how our Government has reduced wait times across health, and it is how we will drive progress towards eliminating cervical cancer,” Ms Grigg says.

“Today is a good day for women, but screening only saves lives if it’s taken up. So my message to every woman who is overdue is simple. Please don’t delay – talk to your healthcare provider today.”

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/01/free-cervical-screening-for-all-women/

Source: New Zealand Government

Regulation Minister David Seymour has today provided an update on the implementation of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Sector Review.

“The Review found that ECE regulation was all over the place and applied with an iron fist. This left the sector confused and forced staff to work double time just to stay above the red tape, when they should be focussed on caring for children,” Mr Seymour says. 

“Last year we passed a law to fix it. Today more changes take effect.”

From today the Education Review Office (ERO) will regulate ECE, giving effect to recommendations made by the Review.

“Previously ECE regulation was confusing, inconsistently applied and was not focused enough on risk. Now the ECE sector has simpler requirements, clearer responsibilities, proportionate enforcement, and better support for providers,” Mr Seymour says. 

“The Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 gives effect to this approach. lt provides that children’s health, safety and wellbeing are paramount, while regulatory decisions must be risk-based, proportionate, fair and transparent, and avoid unnecessary costs for parents and providers.

“My Letter of Expectations to ERO make it clear that those principles should guide how they regulate the ECE sector. 

“These reforms will make it easier to open and run high-quality centres, which means more choice and better access for parents. This is part of the Government’s wider commitment to smarter, more effective regulation that encourages growth and unlocks New Zealand’s potential.”

See below a timeline of the ECE Sector Review and implementation: 

• 5 June 2024: ECE Regulatory Review announced 
• 18 December 2024: ECE Review complete and report released 
• 14 April 2025: Review implementation plan agreed to by Cabinet
• 23 April 2025: Government acceptance of all 15 Recommendations of the ECE Regulatory Review 
• 23 February 2026: Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act provisions came into force, including establishment of the Director of Regulation
• 20 April 2026: Updated licensing criteria for centre-based, home-based and hospital-based services came into effect
• 29 June 2026: Education (Early Childhood Services) Amendment Regulations 2026 came into effect, introducing graduated enforcement tools And associated compliance powers 
• 6 July 2026: Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Act 2026 came into force, establishing the legislative framework for the transfer of ECE regulatory functions from the Ministry of Education to the Education Review Office (ERO)
• 1 September 2026: Responsibility for ECE licensing, certification, monitoring, compliance and enforcement transfers from the Ministry of Education to ERO  

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/01/minister-sets-clear-expectations-for-new-ece-regulator/

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 United States, Cook Islands, and New Zealand intend to partner to deliver a major port upgrade on the island of Penrhyn in the northern Cook Islands, senior representatives announced today.

 Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced the project in Palau ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.

 The United States and New Zealand intend to co-fund the project. The US Department of State, working with Congress, will contribute $50 million USD (approximately $NZ84 million) and New Zealand will contribute $NZ17.5 million (approximately US$10 million). New Zealand will implement the project in close coordination with the Cook Islands and the United States. 

 “This is a positive and hugely significant initiative that demonstrates the strength of New Zealand’s partnerships with both the Cook Islands and the United States,” Mr Peters says. 

 “We are very pleased to be able to partner with the United States and the Cook Islands Governments to deliver this development priority for the Cook Islands, drawing on New Zealand’s experience in infrastructure delivery across the Pacific.”

 “This project underscores the United States’ strong commitment to our partners in the Pacific and builds on the Critical Minerals Framework the United States and the Cook Islands agreed to earlier this year,” Deputy Secretary Landau says.

 “It also highlights our historic ties to Penrhyn atoll, where U.S. personnel constructed Penrhyn’s port and airstrip over 80 years ago.  Through transformational infrastructure initiatives such as this, we are making the United States and our partners safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”

 “This port is a lifeline for Tongareva allowing for safer landings, better access to services, and stronger connections between our Pa Enua and the world. This wharf upgrade complements our new domestic shipping investments and our own efforts in improving transport connections for our Pa Enua. We thank the United States and New Zealand for partnering with us to deliver on a priority our people have themselves identified,” Prime Minister Brown says. 

 Penrhyn (also called Tongareva) is the northernmost island in the Cook Islands and its port is at the village of Omoka. Upgraded port facilities will deliver safety and security benefits, as well as expanding transport links and economic opportunities for the northern Cook Islands.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/01/the-united-states-cook-islands-and-new-zealand-announce-penrhyn-port-project/

MIL OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is investing further in repairs to the Hauraki Rail Trail to ensure it remains a world-class attraction for tourists and local communities following severe storm damage, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.

“This investment will help ensure the Hauraki Rail Trail can continue playing its important role in supporting tourism, local jobs and regional economic growth,” Louise Upston says. 

“This additional $400,000 investment builds on an initial $300,000 assistance in April for immediate safety work so the cycle trail could reopen following extensive damage when the Ohinemuri River flooded in January.”

The repairs are funded by the International Visitor Levy, via the New Zealand Cycle Trail Fund. The Hauraki Rail Trail Charitable Trust will also contribute funding to this stage of repairs. 

“The Hauraki Rail Trail is an important tourism asset for the region, attracting more than 32,000 visitors each year and contributing approximately $12 million annually to the local economy. 

“The trail supports local accommodation providers, hospitality businesses, transport operators and tourism experiences throughout the region, making its recovery important for both local communities and the wider visitor economy.” 

The January weather event caused extensive damage to trail surfaces, riverbank edges, structures and access points, requiring significant repair work, particularly to the Karangahake Gorge section of the trail. 

More than 2 million people enjoy the 23 Great Rides of Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails each year, contributing an estimated $1.28 billion to regional economies. 

“Repairing and reopening Great Rides after extreme weather events remains a priority so these trails can continue to drive regional tourism, support local businesses, and provide high-quality outdoor experiences,” Louise Upston says. 

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/01/backing-the-hauraki-rail-trails-recovery/