Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government’s taking action to grow New Zealand’s ageing seafarer workforce and improve its supply-chain resilience, through a major investment in training opportunities for those entering the industry, Associate Transport Minister James Meager has announced.

“Our local seafaring industry is under significant pressure. Many experienced seafarers are nearing retirement, and strong competition from international shipping, combined with thin margins make it difficult for Kiwi operators to train replacements,” Mr Meager says.

“These ongoing issues are threatening the long-term resilience of our coastal freight services. That’s why we’ve committed $8.3 million from the Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund to trainee places on ships (known as training berths).

“This support will significantly ease financial pressures on domestic vessel operators training the workforce of tomorrow. It means they can cover things like trainees’ wages, food and travel, course costs and PPE equipment. 

“We’ve seen how recent storms and major events like Cyclone Gabrielle significantly impact communities. In many cases the only way to deliver essential supplies is by sea, due to road and rail links being cut off.

“However, those vessels can only operate if they have skilled, qualified seafarers, engineers and deck officers to staff them. Training capacity is being severely constrained by the number of berths available.

“Maritime schools can provide the required vocational training, but without training berths for sea time, trainees can’t enter the workforce. Time at sea is often a requirement for other roles in the maritime sector such as port pilots, tug operators, harbourmasters and ship surveyors.

“Building a home-grown supply of talent will not only support coastal shipping, but the wider maritime sector that underpins New Zealand’s local and national economy. It will ensure we can move our goods around the country, particularly in a time of crisis.

“This yet another example of our Government’s dedication to fixing the basics and building the future of New Zealand.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can confirm one person has died following a crash in Sumner on 22 February.

A cyclist was transported to hospital following the Evans Pass Road crash.

They passed away in hospital yesterday, 4 March.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash remain ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

Changes to the way first-year GP trainees are employed will make it easier for new doctors to choose general practice and help strengthen the primary care workforce, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“Health New Zealand will directly employ all first-year GP trainees not already in private practice, removing barriers and making it easier for new doctors to begin their careers in general practice, with applications opening on Monday for 2027.

“Currently, doctors have to leave Health New Zealand employment when they move from hospital training into their first year of GP training and instead become employed by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. That shift can affect leave entitlements and continuity of service, discouraging some from pursuing general practice.”

“Under the new model, doctors will remain employed by Health New Zealand during their first year of GP training, keeping the same employment conditions and continuity of benefits as their hospital-based colleagues.”

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners will continue to lead the training programme, including curriculum, standards, quality assurance, and clinical placements.

Currently, around 60 per cent of first-year GP trainees are employed by the College, with the remainder employed by private practices. In later years of training, most registrars are employed directly by general practices.

“We know primary care is the cornerstone of our health system. If we want New Zealanders to see a GP when they need one, we must make it simpler and more attractive for doctors to train in general practice.

“We are focused on strengthening the pipeline because every additional GP means better access to healthcare for patients and their families. Building a stronger workforce now will ensure New Zealanders can get the care they need, when they need it.”

The Government is also progressing a range of initiatives to strengthen the GP workforce, including:

• Increasing medical training places across Auckland and Otago by 100 per year over the course of this Government.
• Establishing the Waikato Medical School, which will train an additional 120 doctors each year from 2028.
• Funding 100 overseas-trained doctors already living in New Zealand to begin work in GP practices over the next two years.
• Funding up to 50 New Zealand-trained graduate doctors a year to train in primary care settings.
• Fully funding GP training fees for all three years of the programme, aligning it with other medical specialties.

Source: New Zealand Government

The launch of New Zealand’s second private Building Consent Authority (BCA) will add competition and capacity to the building consent system, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.

“Easing the paperwork burden and cutting red tape out of our famously unproductive building consent system is a key part of this Government’s efforts to make it easier, faster and more affordable to build the homes and infrastructure Kiwis need,” Mr Penk says.

“We’ve committed to changes that will take lower risk building work out of council hands and back into the hands of trusted tradies, including the introduction of self-certification schemes and a now effective consent exemption for granny flats.

“On top of this, it’s encouraging to see competition and capacity growing in the building consent system, with Farsight NZ Limited Partnership now approved as a private Building Consent Authority.

“Farsight is the second standalone private BCA to get the green light, following Building Consent Approvals Limited in May last year.

“Farsight will handle all key building control tasks for its client Summerset, including processing and approving consents, inspecting work during construction, issuing code compliance certificates, and taking enforcement action if required.

“Summerset is one of New Zealand’s largest residential builders, and having its own BCA will bring greater consistency and certainty in how the Building Code is applied across its developments nationwide, helping speed up the delivery of much-needed retirement homes for Kiwis.

“By covering a substantial number of building projects, Farsight will also take pressure off council Building Consent Authorities that would otherwise have undertaken the work, allowing them to focus on other projects, which over time can lead to faster approvals across the wider system. 

“Consumer protections remain strong because all BCAs, public or private, must meet the same legal requirements. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) only approves those that are fully accredited, run by ‘fit and proper’ persons, and able to manage the liabilities of their role.

“This Government is fixing the basics and building the future. Approving providers like Farsight strengthens the building consent system, giving New Zealanders more choice, better service, and faster, more efficient results.” 

Notes to editor:  

There are now 69 BCAs responsible for delivering building control functions in New Zealand: 66 territorial or regional authorities (councils), two private BCAs (BCAL Limited and Farsight) and an independent division of Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities (Consentium).  
To be registered as a standalone or private BCA an organisation must gain accreditation from International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) and be able to demonstrate to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) that it:

meets a ‘fit and proper person’ test (including requirements for impartiality and independence, conducting business responsibly, acting professionally etc), and
has adequate means to cover civil liabilities that may arise from their operation as a BCA and that effective consumer protection is provided by whatever arrangements are proposed.

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome Pharmac’s proposal to fund letermovir, which helps prevent serious infection following stem cell transplants. 

“Improving access to medicines in New Zealand is important to patients and their families. That’s why it has been a focus of this Government,” Mr Seymour says.

Pharmac is proposing to fund a medicine called letermovir from 1 May 2026.

Under this proposal, letermovir would be funded for the prevention of CMV infection in:

• people who have had a stem cell transplant, and
• a small number of other people with severe immunosuppression who cannot use other funded antiviral medicines.

“For many people, stem cell transplants are life‑saving, but recovery can be tough,” Mr Seymour says.

“Clinicians involved in stem cell transplants and Pharmac’s clinical advisors told Pharmac that letermovir will help people with very weak immune systems, particularly when it’s used early after a stem cell transplant.

“Stem cell transplants are only carried out in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Many people must travel and stay away from home for long periods while their immune systems recover. Preventing a serious infection following a stem cell treatment could reduce hospital stays, take pressure off the health system, and could return patients who might have otherwise experienced complications home to their families faster.

“This proposal is about supporting the whole needs of the patient. Preventing complications means less disruption, fewer setbacks, and more time where people want to be – at home with their families. 

“This Government has committed to increasing our stem cell transplant capacity. Pharmac recognise that as that capacity increases, more people will need this medicine.” 

Mr Brown says improving cancer treatment and outcomes for New Zealanders is a key priority for the Government.

“Today’s announcement builds on last year’s funding boost to expand stem cell transplant services for patients with blood cancers and related conditions, enabling more people to access this critical, life-saving treatment sooner. Too many Kiwis have experienced distressing delays for these procedures, which is why boosting transplant capacity and reducing wait times is so important.

“This $27.1 million investment will strengthen the specialist workforce, increase hospital capacity, and upgrade infrastructure to support more timely stem cell transplants. It means between 27 and 38 per cent more patients will be able to receive allogeneic transplants when they need them, giving more people the best possible chance of recovery.

“This is about keeping people with cancer at the centre of our healthcare system. Alongside investment in new medicines through Pharmac and delivery of our Faster Cancer Treatment target, we’re focused on improving access, reducing delays, and ensuring patients get the care they need, when they need it.”

Pharmac is seeking feedback on this proposal from people who may be affected, including people who have had, or need, a stem cell transplant or who have severe immunosuppression, their families and carers, health professionals, and advocacy groups.

Consultation opens at 11am, Thursday 5 March and closes at 5pm, Thursday 19 March. Have your say here: Proposal to fund letermovir for prevention of Cytomegalovirus infection

Source: Green Party

The Green Party says scrapping the Clean Car Standard will mean New Zealanders end up paying more to run their cars,

“Less efficient cars burn more fuel and burning more fuel costs more money. Families will be paying the price every time they fill up,” says Julie Anne Genter, Green Party spokesperson for Transport.  

“With petrol prices spiking, the last thing the Government should be doing is removing the one standard that encourages importers to bring in vehicles that are cheaper to run.  

“This decision is not being made in the interests of New Zealand consumers. It is being made in the interests of the motor vehicle industry.  

“Australia introduced its own vehicle efficiency standard just six months ago. Two-thirds of car makers are meeting their targets and vehicle prices have fallen in real terms.  

“If New Zealand abandons its standard now, we become the market where high-emitting vehicles that can no longer be sold in Australia end up instead.  

“This Government scrapped the Clean Car Discount, gutted the Clean Car Standard in November, and is now considering abolishing it altogether.  

“The Clean Car Discount created the demand for low-emission vehicles that allowed importers to meet the Standard. Without it, EV purchases collapsed from one in five to one in 13.   

“Now the Government wants to go further by removing the only standard we have left.  

“Climate action and reducing the cost of living go hand in hand,” says Genter.