Release: Bar still too high for small mental health providers

Source: New Zealand Labour Party Small mental health providers will still be locked out of co-funding from the Mental Health Innovation Fund despite a lower threshold. “Though the $100,000 threshold is better than the previous $250,000, it is still an expensive and high bar that will lock out some small providers and prevent them from … Read more

EIT Auckland Valedictorian fulfils dream after long road to education | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti 22 minutes ago EIT Auckland valedictorian Muddassar Khot has always believed that education has no age limit. At 42, he has now graduated with a Master of Information Technology, having balanced work, fatherhood, and student leadership along the way. He crossed the stage as one of EIT Auckland’s … Read more

Category 2C homes in Māngere

Source: Auckland Council Homes across Auckland that were impacted by the 2023 storms are being assessed for their future flood and landslide risk.   Based on the government’s risk categories framework, the assessments are focused on identifying where there is an ‘intolerable risk to life’ from future flooding or landslides, and whether anything can be done … Read more

Man charged with murder following Kawerau homicide

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Wilson, Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Investigations Manager: A man has been arrested and charged with murder following an ongoing homicide investigation in Kawerau. A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder following the death of a man in Onslow Street on 26 … Read more

Speech to KangaNews Debt Capital Markets Forum

Source: New Zealand Government OpeningGood afternoon. I’m excited to be here at the KangaNews Debt Capital Markets Forum. It’s a pleasure to be here with all of you – investors, financial institutions, and wholesale market participants who play a vital role in unlocking New Zealand’s economic future.I’d like to thank ANZ for hosting this event and … Read more

Reducing debt financing barriers for Community Housing Providers

Source: New Zealand Government New Crown lending facilities and a loan guarantee scheme will support the growth of the Community Housing Provider (CHP) sector and put CHPs on a more level playing field with Kāinga Ora, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says.  “This Government believes in social housing. We are working hard to deliver better housing … Read more

Stolen vehicle lands two in court for two separate incidents

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Officers who spotted a stolen vehicle travelling through Kaitaia managed to not only locate the vehicle and those allegedly responsible for taking it, but also link it to a nearby burglary. At about 11.30am yesterday, on-duty officers witnessed a vehicle travelling on Pukepoto Road which had been reported stolen … Read more

Lower Buller Gorge rock blasting next Thursday – 2-hour closure

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency People who drive through the Lower Buller Gorge, east of Westport, will face a 2-hour closure of SH6 next Thursday 3 April, for rock blasting. The highway will be closed from midday to 2pm. If it is wet, the closure could be shifted to the next dry day. SH6 is … Read more

Speech to the Property Council Residential Development Summit

Source: New Zealand Government Good morning. I’m excited to be here at the Residential Development Summit. Thank you to the Property Council for hosting this event. Residential developers, investors, and the broader property community will play a key role in fixing New Zealand’s housing crisis.We need your knowledge, expertise, and big ideas to help New Zealand’s housing system … Read more

Government to support greenfield housing

Source: New Zealand Government The Government has made changes to build more homes on the outskirts of our cities, allocating $100 million to be lent to developers for housing infrastructure, as well as cutting the RMA red tape restricting land available for development, says Housing and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop. “The government is committed to … Read more

Police hone in on Waiuku offenders

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Waiuku Police have identified offenders for some recent pesky offending occurring in the community this month. This includes the large quantity of graffiti and two vehicles that had been putting the community at risk. Sergeant Michael Robinson says a large quantity of graffiti went up on buildings between 6 … Read more

Road closed: State Highway 5, Te Pohue

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) A vehicle fire has closed State Highway 5 in both directions at Te Pohue. Emergency services were called to the scene, between Te Pohue Loop Road and Richmond Road, about 11.20am. The fire has spread to vegetation, and FENZ is attending. Motorists should expect delays. ENDS Issued by Police … Read more

DOC appeals to equine lovers for horse homes

Source: Department of Conservation Date:  27 March 2025 The Department of Conservation (DOC) aims to keep the heritage horse herd at around 300 horses, the agreed limit to keep the horses healthy and protect the fragile ecosystems of the unique Moawhango Ecological Zone. Rehoming is coordinated by the dedicated, not-for-profit group Kaimanawa Heritage Horses (KHH). However, … Read more

New law targets illegal fishing in the high seas

Source: New Zealand Government New Zealand’s fight against illegal fishing in the high seas has been boosted by new legislation which passed its third reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill sets out stronger powers for the investigation of and action against suspected illegal fishing outside New Zealand’s Exclusive … Read more

Outstanding branch activist

Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) Being a unionist is in Lisa Murphy’s DNA. “It’s part of my family heritage, being from a Catholic family there are a lot ofteachers in my background. My Mum was a high school teacher in the 1970s, she taught in all sorts of Auckland schools and was always involved in the union. So, we had … Read more

Charges laid over Murupara incident

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Attributable to Inspector Lincoln Sycamore, Bay of Plenty District Commander (Acting): A 55-year-old Whakatane man has been charged after allegedly breaking into Murupara’s Police Station yesterday. About 6:45am, the man allegedly forced entry into the unmanned Police station by smashing a glass door. The Police Negotiation Team engaged with … Read more

Regional Tourism Boosts drive international growth

Source: New Zealand Government Autumn and winter international visitor numbers are being boosted by six new regional initiatives, taking tourists beyond traditional hot spots to see more of New Zealand.  Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says the successful regional tourism organisations will receive a total of $3 million for short, sharp campaigns across regional … Read more

Driver sentenced for serious crash

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Attribute to Senior Sergeant Fane Troy, Taupo Police: A Canadian woman has been sentenced for her role in a serious two-vehicle crash near Taupō on Sunday. Renee Kelly Vanry, 57, of West Vancouver in Canada, appeared in the Tauranga District Court today, where she was sentenced on four charges … Read more

Speech: Navigating the New World (Dis)order in Turbulent Times

Source: New Zealand Labour Party Special thanks to Diplosphere for helping organise this event. Tena kotou katoa. Mexican poet Homero Aridjis wrote “There are centuries in which nothing happens and years in which centuries pass”. It sure feels like this now. Large swathes of the 80-year-old rules-based world order developed after World War 2 are … Read more

Greens call for Govt to scrap proposed ECE changes

Source: Green Party The Green Party is calling for the Government to scrap proposed changes to Early Childhood Care, after attending a petition calling for the Government to ‘Put tamariki at the heart of decisions about ECE’. “This Government has prioritised profits over our whenua, over our moana, and now looks set to sell out … Read more

Speech to open new building at Lincoln University

Source: New Zealand Government I am very pleased to open the redeveloped George Forbes Building at Lincoln University.The original building was opened by Governor-General Viscount Cobham on 11th August 1960. He inherited Viscount Cobham from his father but his birth name was actually Charles Lyttelton, Lyttelton being named after his great grandfather. The building has undergone … Read more

Cuts to consultant, contractor spend exceed target

Source: New Zealand Government The Government’s move to cut public sector spending on consultants and contractors is on track to save $800 million over two years – double the initial target, Public Service Minister Judith Collins says. “We set a two-year target to cut $400 million in spending on consultants and contractors across the public … Read more

Funding limit change win for mental health sector

Source: New Zealand Government Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey says smaller Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) will now be able to benefit from the Government’s Mental Health Innovation Fund following a change to the match funding threshold. “This fund was created in consultation with NGOs so it’s important that, if changes are made, they are made … Read more

Social worker legislation strengthens professional oversight

Source: New Zealand Government New legislation passed in Parliament highlights the influential role social workers play in communities around New Zealand, supporting some of the most under-served and vulnerable members of our society. Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston says the Social Workers Registration Amendment Bill, which passed its third reading, puts safety … Read more

Teaching Council shouldn’t be policing political speech

Source: ACT Party “The Teaching Council should throw out a vexatious complaint against a teacher who expressed a political opinion online”, says ACT Education spokesperson Laura McClure. According to the Free Speech Union, a complaint has been made about a teacher who made a comment about the Treaty Principles Bill on Facebook. The complaint alleges … Read more

Attendance rates rising but not good enough

Source: New Zealand Government Associate Education Minister David Seymour says this Government has prioritised student attendance and as a result we’ve seen every term in 2024 record higher attendance than in 2023. In Term 4 of 2024 58.1 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.1 percentage points from 53 per cent … Read more

Man charged after indecency incidents on buses, Wellington

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) A 27-year-old man has been charged following a series of offending which occurred on the Wellington public transport network. In early March, Police received reports relating to several incidents where a male passenger travelling on the Metlink bus network had acted in a sexually inappropriate manner, specifically directing his … Read more