Electric vehicles to pay road user charges
The coalition Government is confirming that the exemption from road user charges (RUC) for owners of light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids will end from 1 April, Transport Minister Simeon...
View ArticleInaugural Women’s British and Irish Lions tour to kick off
The inaugural Women’s British and Irish Lions Tour will receive government funding to support matches played across New Zealand in September 2027, offering significant economic, social and cultural...
View ArticleBenefit numbers show scale of repair job ahead
Benefit numbers released today paint a grim picture of the previous government’s economic mismanagement, Social Development and Employment Minister, Louise Upston says. “The fact there is now 66,759...
View ArticleUnacceptable number of empty Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities homes
The number of new social houses sitting vacant across New Zealand is completely unacceptable, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I was dismayed to learn that, as of late last year, the total number...
View ArticleMinister formally requests water information from councils
The Minister of Local Government Simeon Brown has written to Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau and Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy to formally request further information on how these councils are addressing...
View ArticleTrade Minister travels to Geneva and Dubai
Trade Minister Todd McClay to visit the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Following his appointment as a WTO Vice Chair, Mr McClay is traveling to...
View ArticleNew Zealand deploying NZDF team to protect Red Sea shipping
New Zealand is deploying a six-member Defence Force team to the Middle East region to uphold maritime security in the Red Sea, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “Houthi attacks against commercial...
View Article151st anniversary of the birth of Tahupotiki Wiremu Rātana
No reira, tēna koutou, tēna koutou, tēna tatou katoa. He hōnore, he kororia, ki te Atua He maungarongo ki te whenua He whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa. Ki ngā mate, haere haere haere. Ka āpiti-hono....
View ArticleInflation decline welcome but more to do
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has welcomed the decline in the inflation rate but says there is still more to do. Stats NZ reported today that prices rose 4.7 per cent in the year to December, the...
View ArticleMinister for Emergency Management and Recovery
Flood resilience across the Wairarapa will be increased thanks to the Government’s commitment of more than $8 million across five projects. “Today, I am visiting the Wairarapa as part of the...
View ArticleGraduate vets get financial boost to work in rural communities
The Voluntary Bonding Scheme (VBS) for Veterinarians continues to deliver more vets to work across rural New Zealand, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. “Thirty-three graduate vets have been...
View ArticleHunter-led conservation project helps boost the health of Kaimanawa Forest Park
A hunter-led conservation project has removed hundreds of deer from a remote part of the Kaimanawa Forest Park, helping improve the forest’s health, Hunting and Fishing Minister Todd McClay says. “An...
View ArticleNew Associate Minister and Under-Secretary portfolio allocations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced a number of additional portfolio allocations of Associate Ministers and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries. “Ministers have hit the ground running since they...
View ArticleHigh Court Judge appointed
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Whanganui Crown Solicitor Michele Marina Wilkinson-Smith as a High Court Judge. Justice Wilkinson-Smith graduated with an LLB (Hons)...
View ArticleGovernment withdraws voting age bill
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to lower the voting age to allow 16-year-olds to vote in council elections, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says....
View ArticleFunding to increase flood resilience in Northland
The Government is contributing an additional $4 million towards flood resilience projects in Northland, ensuring communities will be better protected in future severe weather events. “This funding will...
View ArticleWork begins on SH1/SH29 intersection upgrade
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has kicked off the construction of a new roundabout on SH1/SH29 at Piarere this morning, which will increase the safety and reliability of movement for people and...
View ArticleNew school year starts with focus on students’ success
As schools start back for 2024, Education Minister Erica Stanford says there will be a relentless focus on ensuring students are achieving at school. “It’s concerning that student achievement has...
View ArticleGovernment introduces Productivity Commission Act Repeal Bill
The Government is starting work to improve the quality of regulation and boost productivity as part of its 100-day plan. Tonight, it is introducing and progressing under urgency a Bill to repeal the...
View ArticleNZ-Aust Foreign Affairs, Defence ministers to meet
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins will travel to Melbourne today (31 January) for the inaugural Australia and New Zealand Foreign and Defence...
View ArticleReducing barriers for financial services
The Government will reform financial services regulations, ensuring clarity and cutting red tape for both institutions and Kiwis, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced at a...
View ArticleNZ-Australia work to advance space science
Space Minister Judith Collins is welcoming an agreement with Australia under which up to $6 million will be available to New Zealand researchers. The funding will be available from the Government’s...
View ArticleAdditional supplies of free Rapid Antigen Tests until June
Additional supplies of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) will enable continued free testing for the public and health sector through to the end of June 2024, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has...
View ArticleSpeech at Financial Services Council Outlook 2024
Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Good morning. It is fantastic to be with you this morning. My thanks to the Financial Services Council and Richard Klipin for inviting me to speak. Thank you also to Rob Flannagan...
View ArticleGovernment strengthens NCEA Level 1 rollout
The coalition Government has moved quickly to support teachers with the rollout of the new Level 1 NCEA standards, which the Labour Government rushed to implement, Education Minister Erica Stanford...
View ArticleContinuing support to community flood resilience
The Government is contributing more than $15 million to support councils and communities to build flood resilience in three regions, following the 2023 severe weather events. “Last week I announced...
View ArticleStep Closer for European Union Free Trade Agreement
New Zealand has moved closer to ratifying the New Zealand – European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with the First Reading of legislation to bring the Agreement into force being held in Parliament...
View ArticleIncreased security improves ED safety over summer
Increasing the number of security staff in emergency departments (EDs) over the busy Christmas and New Year period improved the safety of both staff and patients, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says....
View ArticleMinimum wage set for cautious increase
The adult minimum wage rate will increase by 2 per cent to $23.15 an hour from 1 April 2024, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced today. “This Government is committed to...
View ArticleJOINT STATEMENT ON AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND MINISTERIAL CONSULTATIONS (ANZMIN) 2024
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence the Hon Richard Marles MP and Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator the Hon Penny Wong hosted New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign...
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