Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Government

Good morning, everyone.

It’s great to be here today at Building Nations 2025.

I’d like to thank Nick Leggett and his team at Infrastructure New Zealand for hosting this conference. I believe this is the big 20. Congratulations, and I look forward to the next 20.

Reflections

Building Nations is always one of the highlights of my year, because it brings together nearly a thousand of our smartest people getting into a large room to talk infrastructure policy.

As Infrastructure Minister, this is what gets me up in the morning.

You know, as I know, that we need do much better as a community.

Getting infrastructure right is a must – not a nice to have – if we are serious about boosting economic growth and lifting the prosperity and living standards of all New Zealanders. 

We are now over half-way into this Parliamentary term, and my biggest takeaway so far as Minister for Infrastructure is:

That we make it too hard to deliver and maintain the infrastructure New Zealand needs. 

Whether it’s roads, hospitals, schools, quarries, or wind farms – all are stuck in a gordian knot of rules, regulation, paper, and underperforming systems.

Building things used to be cheaper and easier. In fact, New Zealand used to be a world leader in infrastructure. In 1965, we built the longest submarine cable of its kind – the Cook Strait cable between Benmore and Lower Hutt, which is 610km long. 

Now we find it difficult to consent a solar farm. Not even build it, just getting permission to build it.

We even find it difficult to get permission to build an 11 storey green office blocks right next to major new train stations. Instead, until recently, our planning system prioritised a heritage-protected gravel pit.

In my view, New Zealand is at an inflection point and we have two choices.

One option is we grow slowly – or not at all – muddle along, take years to make tough decisions, react to things as they come up, and just largely be OK with the status quo. 

I call this managed mediocrity. 

At worst, it is managed decline.

The other option is that we make tough decisions that successive governments have put in the too-hard basket – on planning, housing markets, transport pricing, and more. 

We also take advantage of our extraordinary natural competitive advantages – like cheap, renewable energy – to accelerate growth; increasing our standard of living and making all New Zealanders so much better off than we are today.

Achieving this prosperous future won’t just magically happen. 

As I’ve said before, we need to start saying ‘yes’ a lot more, and ‘no’ a lot less – this is especially true for infrastructure. 

But simply throwing money at the problem won’t fix things because our current system is too inefficient. 

Despite being in the top 10% of high-income countries for infrastructure spend over the last 20 or so years, we are in the bottom 10% for what we get for our spending. 

In reality this looks like poor bang for our buck, funding gaps, cost overruns, delays, a growing infrastructure deficit, and – often – worn-down and failing assets that don’t do their job. 

This isn’t good enough.

My priorities

The only way to fix these problems is to get the underlying system settings right and that’s what I’ve focused on over the last 20 months as Minister for Infrastructure – 

Developing a National Infrastructure Plan,
Establishing National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Ltd – or NIFFCo,
Sorting out consenting and planning,
Improving funding and financing,
Improving health and education infrastructure, and
Strengthening asset management. 

These priorities reflect recommendations from the Infrastructure Commission’s 2022 Infrastructure Strategy and are also based on a big programme of work we undertook in opposition engaging with experts in New Zealand and overseas.

It’s been a big past 12 months. 

We’ve established NIFFCo and it’s already adding value in the system.
We held an extremely successful NZ Infrastructure Investment Summit, attracting private capital from all over the world.
We’ve started a new Market-Led Proposal process with updated guidance and issued new Frameworks on Public Private Partnerships and Strategic Leasing.
We published the first Health Long-Term Investment Plan,
We’ve made decisions to establish a separate School Property Agency, taking the building and management of school property away from the Ministry of Education
Minister Stanford has driven the average cost of a classroom down from $1.2 million to about $600k.
We’ve also made decisions on better and new funding tools for councils to support housing growth.

But today, I want to go over the draft National Infrastructure Plan – or NIP. 

I also want to announce important progress we are making on road pricing reform – in particular, a shift in our approach to road user charges. 

Then, I will briefly go over where we are at on some of my other priorities. 

National Infrastructure Plan (NIP)

Last month, the Infrastructure Commission released the draft NIP. 

As Minister for Infrastructure, I hear regularly that – “what New Zealand needs is a long-term infrastructure plan that transcends political cycles”.

I agree. A plan will give the private sector more certainty so that they can invest in people and equipment. 

But a plan is only as good as it’s execution. So, the NIP will only be successful if it is – at least in part – accepted and adopted across successive governments over the long term.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t our first plan. 

New Zealand had infrastructure plans in 2010, 2011, and 2015. 

Depressingly, some recommendations in these older plans are identical to those put forward in this Plan – over a decade later. I’m thinking of things like agencies completing 10-year capital plans and making better use of pricing tools and user-pays.

What differentiates this Plan is that it has been developed independently by the Infrastructure Commission – separate from the government of the day.

The NIP is not this government’s Plan, it’s New Zealand’s Plan. 

Each political party in Parliament was offered a briefing on the NIP. I’m really pleased that most parties accepted the offer and have had one or more meetings with the Commission.

Building greater consensus on infrastructure is, unfortunately, not as simple as different political parties getting in a room and convincing each other of the other’s view.

That’s not realistic. 

Instead, consensus will be enabled by strong systems and institutions, robust investment frameworks, high-quality evidence of our infrastructure needs, and advocacy for projects and policies from a better-informed public.

That’s what this Plan is about.

So, I encourage everyone here to give your feedback on the draft Plan.

I have also heard people say – “we need a bipartisan infrastructure pipeline” – as if that will solve all problems.

It’s my strong view we do have a robust infrastructure pipeline. 

The Commission has been running it for over five years, and it’s been progressively improved over that time.

The Pipeline includes over 8,000 initiatives underway and in planning from 114 contributing organisations. It represents over $200 billion in investment value – with over $110 billion of the Pipeline having a funding source confirmed.

I suspect that almost all of the projects underway right now are supported by everyone in Parliament.

It’s the high profile and high-cost disagreements that make the headlines. But it’s the low-profile and often low-cost projects that actually make New Zealand.

We need to move away from the rhetoric of needing a bipartisan pipeline and instead build bipartisan consensus on the idea that governments of all flavours should use best-practice to plan, select, fund and finance, deliver, and look after infrastructure.

That’s not the case at the moment and it’s what I’m working so hard to fix.

The final NIP will be provided to me as Infrastructure Minister in December. Then, the Government will formally respond to the Plan in June next year. 

I truly believe that politicians – and the public – should be having robust conversations about the future of New Zealand’s infrastructure system including what we need, where, when, and how much we are willing to pay.  

So, similar to Budget, we will hold a special parliamentary debate on the NIP early next year, before the Government’s Response.

Improving Infrastructure Funding and Financing 

Let’s move onto improving infrastructure funding and financing. 

Currently, infrastructure is primarily paid for by taxpayers or ratepayers. This makes sense for some infrastructure like schools and hospitals, but our reliance on this blunt approach has led to challenges like congestion, run-down assets, and the unresponsive provision of enabling infrastructure – contributing to unaffordable housing.

In 2024, the Government released a suite of frameworks and guidance – like Treasury’s Funding and Financing Framework and a new Market Led Proposal Process – to help Government be a smarter owner and purchaser of infrastructure services.

Earlier this year, I also announced five changes to New Zealand’s funding and financing toolkit including improving the IFF Act and shifting councils from Development Contributions to a new Development Levy system. 

These changes to our toolkit will move us to a future state where councils can fully recover the costs of housing growth, and where infrastructure providers can recover costs of significant and city-shaping projects.

Shift in our approach to road user charges

Next on my list for improving infrastructure funding is tackling how we pay for roads.

The rhetoric in New Zealand politics that “the left hate roads and cars, and the right hate cycleways and light-rail”, has distracted from this important question. 

I will also say that the polarity is overstated. 

For example, I am not opposed to light rail. Like most New Zealanders, I love visiting cities like Melbourne and Sydney and zipping around on their trams. 

What I oppose is the $30 billion light-rail-metro-monstrosity that New Zealanders couldn’t afford.

I hope we all agree that New Zealand needs a mix of multiple modes to make our cities liveable, productive, and affordable. 

I want commuters to have choices around how they get to work, and a transport network that delivers freight safely and quickly.

But the simple fact is – almost every mode requires roads. Buses need them. Cars need them. Trucks and freight need them. Bike lanes are often shared with them. Even some light-rail relies on them.

Roads are essential, and we need to get serious about delivering the ones we need and maintaining the ones we already have.

For a long time, New Zealand has operated on a “user pays” principle for our roading network. It’s a principle that has served us well, and one we need to utilise more effectively.

Most drivers contribute through fuel excise duty – or FED – every time they buy petrol. 

People using diesel, heavy vehicles, or electric vehicles pay through road user charges – or RUC – and is based on distance travelled.

Distanced travelled directly reflects how much someone uses the road.

For years, petrol tax has been a proxy for road usage. But the relationship between petrol consumption and road usage is fast breaking down.

For example, petrol vehicles with better fuel economy contribute less FED per kilometre towards road maintenance, operations, and improvements. 

We are seeing a fast uptake of fuel-efficient petrol hybrid vehicles. In 2015, there were 12,000 on our roads, while today there are over 350,000. Which is great – we want more fuel-efficient, hybrid, and electric cars. 

But the current system is regressive. 

Lower income Kiwis don’t necessarily have the option to buy a new, efficient hybrid vehicle. Wealthier folk like me who can afford newer, more efficient cars pay relatively less.

As our vehicle fleet changes, so too must the way we fund our roads. 

It isn’t fair to have Kiwis who drive less and who can’t afford a fuel-efficient car paying more than people who can afford one and drive more often. 

This is why the Government has a plan to transition the entire 3.5 million vehicle fleet to a fairer electronic RUC system.

Essentially, the government will be abolishing petrol tax. People will pay for the roads based on how much they use them.

And, if we get this right, people will pay based on their vehicle type, the distance travelled, the location, and the time of use.

Doing this is a massive undertaking. It will be the biggest change to how we charge for our roads in 50 years.

So, we are taking this in stages. Today I want to outline a bit of detail about what Cabinet has agreed in terms of sequencing.

The first step is to modernise the law so we can facilitate private-sector innovation and competition.

The current RUC system is a hassle. 

It’s manual and paper based. It requires you to constantly monitor your odometer and manually buy and display paper licences on the windscreen. That is not a system fit for today, let alone the future.

Imagine every driver in the country going from easily paying FED at the pump, to queuing up at their local VTNZ to fill in a bunch of forms. That would be a nightmare. 

We need a RUC system that is fair and convenient. 

So instead of expanding a clunky government system, we will reform the rules to allow the market to deliver innovative, user-friendly services for drivers.

A handful of E-RUC companies already do this for about half of our heavy vehicle fleet. Many of you in this room will be familiar with these systems and likely have them installed on your company fleets.

But there are several companies, both domestic and international, with innovative technology that could make complying with RUC cheaper and easier. 

To help speed up this shift to E-RUC, we are progressing a package of legislative changes to prepare our outdated regulatory settings.

We will remove the requirement to display or carry RUC licenses and labels, both digital and electronic. People will just have to have a digital record of their RUC license status. This will make compliance easier for users and enable new business models.

We will reform the electronic device requirements. Many newer vehicles have built-in computers that can record and report distance, but legislation prevents using this technology for RUC. Providers need to be able to use a wider range of electronic RUC devices to provide cost effective options for light vehicles, including solutions that already exist in many cars already.

We will enable different business models better suited to light vehicles. The private sector needs flexibility in how it connects to the E-RUC system. Different providers will have different ideas about the best and most cost-effective technological solution, so we should enable them to compete on that. 

Providers also need the ability to provide options such as post-pay and estimated billing. There are opportunities to make RUC more like an electricity bill, rather than something users need to proactively and manually purchased.

We will separate NZTA’s regulator and retailer roles. We have heard from potential new entrants that NZTA’s current role as both regulator and retailer limits the ability for competition and innovation. So, we will clarify how NZTA enables system access, to signal that third-party innovation is not just possible – it’s what the Government wants. 

These changes will enable private providers to compete to offer New Zealanders flexible and convenient ways to pay for road use. 

We will allow the collector of RUC to collect other transport charges as well. The current form of RUC as a pre-paid licence does not allow for varying location and time charges to be included in a single payment, as these can only be determined after travel. 

With road tolling schemes, as well as time of use charging, providers of alternative payment schemes should have the ability to provide one bill to cover road users’ costs, such as in a single monthly payment.

So that’s quite a lot to do. 

We expect to legislate for these changes in 2026, amend the regulations, and introduce an updated Code of Practice for RUC retailers and customer service providers.  

Next year, we will go out to the market again to understand likely market solutions, costs, and timeframes.

This will build on a previous RFI run in late 2024, which received interest from 25 potential retailers and identified many of the regulatory barriers that I’ve just spoken about.

In parallel, NZTA will prepare corresponding changes to their internal systems and processes to support market participation and promote integrity. This will include work with the New Zealand Police to prepare their systems for RUC monitoring and enforcement once physical labels are removed.

I expect the legislative and operational changes to be in place by the end of 2026. 

In 2027, the RUC system will be open for business, with innovative tech and a range of retail offerings able to operate and compete in the market. A transparent and consistent approval process for RUC retailers will also be in place. 

But this is just the beginning. The full transition of the light vehicle fleet will come later – once the market is ready. I am not going to put a date on that today, intentionally – we are choosing to get this right, not to do it fast.

This is the right thing to do. It is the fair thing to do. And it will ensure that New Zealand’s roading network is future proofed to keep delivering for Kiwis for years to come.

Improving the consenting framework

Now, let me briefly mention a few of my other priorities.

Arguably, the biggest improvement we are making to the infrastructure system is fixing the Resource Management Act. 

You all know that consenting takes too long, costs too much, and makes delivering the infrastructure we need too difficult. 

We are on track to replace the RMA with new legislation next year. Our new system will be effects-based, embrace standardised zoning, and be far more permissive and enabling – while also protecting the environment.

An independent analysis by Castalia estimated the new system could reduce compliance and administrative costs by $14.8 billion – potentially removing about 10 Transmission Gullys worth of red tape from the economy. 

It will be a game changer.

We’re on track for two new Bills to be in the House in November. 

In the meantime, our second RMA Amendment Bill will pass into law next week. It makes a range of sensible amendments for infrastructure and renewable energy.

The consultation on our national direction package – including New Zealand’s first ever National Policy Statement for Infrastructure and a much stronger National Policy Statement on Renewable Energy – also just closed. And, we will be making decisions on this package shortly.

Let’s not forget about fast track. There are 12 projects before expert panels, all due for decisions by the end of this year. A draft decision has been released for the Port of Auckland expansion signalling it will be approved shortly. I’m told what could have taken five years took instead just five months.

Strengthening asset management and resilience

Another huge change to the system will be asset management. 

Everyone knows if you don’t paint the weatherboards on your house, the wood will rot. And billion-dollar infrastructure is fundamentally no different.

Unfortunately, due to decades of diverted maintenance spending, lack of asset registers, and lack of asset management plans – we have schools with leaking roofs, sewage leaks in hospitals, asbestos in police stations, service outages on commuter rail, and mouldy defence accommodation.

In May this year, we started a work programme that will improve asset management in central government. 

We are considering fundamental changes such as legislatively requiring agencies to prepare and publish long-term Asset Management and Investment Plans, and to report on their performance. 

Regulated utilities and local government are legislatively required to do these things – I don’t see why central government thinks it should hold others to a higher standard than it does itself. 

Conclusion

Building Nations is a good time to reflect on successes, failures, and frustrations. 

A few weeks ago, the Minister for Economic Growth and I released an update showing that over $6 billion of government-funded infrastructure is due to start construction between now and Christmas. 

Workers will start construction on $3.9 billion of roading projects – like Melling and Ōtaki to north of Levin, $800 million of school property projects, and a range of health projects and other government buildings.

You’d be surprised, I think, at how difficult this data was to pull together. It’s not rocket science. It’s just a list of projects.

But our central government infrastructure system is incredibly disaggregated. There is a lack of quality data flowing to the market. If you think it’s bad, try being me!

It often takes an age for projects to get to market, and this has been a long-standing problem. Governments appropriate money, but there can be a long lag time between funding approval and construction. Often this is because governments fund projects before they are actually ready. 

This was notable with the NZ Upgrade projects, for which funding was approved in early 2020 – and some of these projects are only just beginning construction now (with large cost overruns).

The Minister of Finance and I are determined to change this. It’s not working for Ministers and it’s clearly not working for the sector. 

So, we are reorienting the system to be more focused on delivery and making smarter investment decisions. This means making changes to Treasury’s Investment Management System and their Quarterly Investment Reporting.

One key improvement is that Treasury will now report on quarterly capital expenditure by government entity, as well as metrics such as planned versus actual spend, and time enter delivery.

I welcome your feedback on what else we need to do to improve the system. 

Because ultimately, we’re all here because we believe in a better New Zealand, powered by high-quality and well-maintained infrastructure. 

That’s what gets me up in the morning.

So, I look forward to checking in – same time next year. I hear there’s another big event late next year too. Hopefully I’ll be back in 2027.

Thank you.

 

Source: New Zealand Government

Cabinet has agreed to a series of important legislative changes to enable the transition of New Zealand’s 3.5 million light vehicles to paying for our roading network through electronic road user charges, rather than petrol tax, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop.

“The abolition of petrol tax, and the move towards all vehicles (whether they be petrol, diesel, electric or hybrid) paying for roads based on distance and weight, is the biggest change to how we fund our roading network in 50 years,” Mr Bishop says.

“Right now, New Zealanders pay Fuel Excise Duty (FED, or petrol tax) of about 70c per litre of petrol every time they fill up at the pump with a petrol car. Diesel, electric, and heavy vehicles pay Road User Charges (RUC) based on distance travelled.

“This revenue is funnelled into the National Land Transport Fund which funds the building of new roads and maintaining our existing ones.

“For decades, petrol tax has acted as a rough proxy for road use, but the relationship between petrol consumption and road usage is fast breaking down. For example, petrol vehicles with better fuel economy contribute less FED per kilometre towards road maintenance, operations, and improvements. 

“We are also seeing a fast uptake of fuel-efficient petrol hybrid vehicles. In 2015, there were 12,000 on our roads, while today there are over 350,000.

“As our vehicle fleet changes, so too must the way we fund our roads. It isn’t fair to have Kiwis who drive less and who can’t afford a fuel-efficient car paying more than people who can afford one and drive more often.”

“This is a change that simply has to happen. The government has recognised reality and is getting on with the transition.

“The Government’s plan will eventually see all vehicles pay based on actual road use (including weight) regardless of fuel type.

“The transition will happen in stages, beginning with legislative and regulatory reform to modernise the current RUC system and enable private sector innovation.

“The current RUC system is outdated. It’s largely paper based, means people have to constantly monitor their odometers, and requires people to buy RUC in 1000 km chunks.

“We’re not going to shift millions of drivers from a simple system at the pump to queues at retailers. So instead of expanding a clunky government system, we will reform the rules to allow the market to deliver innovative, user-friendly services for drivers. 

“A handful of E-RUC companies already do this for about half of our heavy vehicle fleet and there are several companies, both domestic and international, with innovative technology that could make complying with RUC cheaper and easier.”

Key legislative changes the Government is progressing include:

• Removing the requirement to carry or display RUC licences, allowing for digital records instead.
• Enabling the use of a broader range of electronic RUC devices, including those already built into many modern vehicles.
• Supporting flexible payment models such as post-pay and monthly billing.
• Separating NZTA’s roles as both RUC regulator and retailer to foster fairer competition.
• Allowing bundling of other road charges like tolls and time of used based pricing into a single, easy payment.

“The changes will support a more user-friendly, technology-enabled RUC system, with multiple retail options available for motorists,” Mr Bishop says.

“Eventually, paying for RUC should be like paying a power bill online, or a Netflix subscription. Simple and easy.

“I expect to pass legislation in 2026, followed by an updated Code of Practice for RUC providers. We will also engage with the market in 2026 to assess technological solutions and delivery timelines. In parallel, NZTA and Police will upgrade their systems to support enforcement in a digital environment.

“By 2027, the RUC system will be ‘open for business’, with third-party providers able to offer innovative payment services and a consistent approval process in place.

“At this stage, no date has been set for the full transition of the light vehicle fleet. That’s a deliberate choice, as we’re focused on getting the system right rather than rushing its rollout.

“This is a once-in-a-generation change. It’s the right thing to do, it’s the fair thing to do, and it will future proof how we fund our roads for decades to come.”

Editors note:

This work progresses the National-ACT coalition agreement to replace fuel excise taxes with electronic road user charging.

Source: New Zealand Police

Taranaki Police are disappointed with licensed premises after multiple breaches were seen during a Controlled Purchase Operation.

A Controlled Purchase Operation (CPO) checking the sale of alcohol to minors was held on 25 July, with six out of eight premises failing.

Police, Te Whatu Ora, and South Taranaki District Council joined forces to run the operation.

CPOs are used in conjunction with licence compliance checks to ensure licensed premises and certified managers are operating within their legal responsibilities.

South Taranaki Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Andrew Russ says, for this operation two volunteers aged under-18 visited eight premises in the area and attempted to buy alcohol.

“Only two premises requested identification, correctly identify the age of the minor and politely decline the sale.

“To see even one breach is disappointing, but six is so much more concerning.”

Minors are at increased risk of alcohol-related harm and selling alcohol to a minor is a serious offence, attracting heavy fines and/or suspension of liquor licence and manager’s certificate.

Enquiries into the operation are continuing and the premises that failed have been spoken to and will be followed up in due course around outcomes.

Taranaki Police will continue to monitor licensed premises and will continue Controlled Purchase Operations in the area.

We will continue to work with our partner agencies to reduce alcohol-related harm in our community, and ensuring alcohol is not being sold to underage people is a crucial component of this.

If you have any concerns about the sale or supply of alcohol to minors in you community, please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz or by calling 105.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced two new sponsors have been contracted to open two new charter schools in Term 1 2026.  

“Te Kāpehu Whetū – Tamaki and The Forest School will open in Term 1 next year, alongside Tōtara Point School which was contracted earlier this year. They will join the eight that are successfully operating already,” Mr Seymour says. 

“Both of these schools demonstrate the innovation enabled by the charter school model. 

“Te Kāpehu Whetū – Tamaki is a boarding school in Auckland for students in years 11-13. The school will prepare students for the future by offering recognised qualifications. Students will be taught in both Te reo Māori and English, to maintain and strengthen cultural links. 

“Te Kāpehu Whetū has been delivering Te reo Māori education in Whangarei since 2014.  They currently provide education for early learners, and students at primary and secondary school. The charter school model has allowed Te Kāpehu Whetū to meet the demand for a Te reo Māori school in Auckland, which offers recognised qualifications.

“Te Kāpehu Whetū is a tight knit community. Regular newsletters are sent to parents to keep them involved in their children’s learning. At the bottom of each newsletter is reminder about the importance of attending school. This is one of the many values the school will teach. 

“The Forest School in Warkworth will teach primary students. If there were ever a primary school for Kiwi kids, this is it. Students will spend most of their time learning in, and about, the great outdoors. It lets children be children. 

“This approach has been effective with disengaged and underachieving students because it makes children look forward to school. Forest School has seen good results from a one-day a week school they’ve run since 2016.

“Students will learn by experience including by forest and beach exploring, spending time with animals and gardening. This compliment learning core subjects like reading, writing, and maths by adding variation. 

“Charter schools provide educators with greater autonomy and create diversity in New Zealand’s education system. They have been proven to raise overall educational achievement, especially for students who are underachieving or disengaged from the standard system. 

“Charter schools have greater flexibility to respond to diverse student needs in innovative ways, but in return they have greater accountability.  

“We’re on our way to building a lasting network of schools that will support and improve the educational achievement.” 

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Rural Health and Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson are in Tūrangi today to continue engaging with rural communities on how to improve access to care across the country.

“The Rural Health Roadshow is about hearing directly from the people who live and work in our rural communities. I have found it incredibly valuable to have open conversations about what’s working well, and what might not be. It is also a great opportunity to hear how well the Rural Health Strategy is being implemented on the ground,” Mr Doocey says.

“Since launching the roadshow in Levin, I have visited a range of rural communities including Wairoa, Wānaka, Ōamaru, Gore, and Hanmer Springs.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting with people in Turangi and hearing firsthand about their experiences with healthcare in their community.  It’s important we understand both the challenges and the opportunities so we can work together to improve access and outcomes in the rural setting,” Mr Patterson says.

“Tūrangi is home to one of six rural urgent care prototypes rolled out across the country this year. This is about delivering more timely, fit-for-purpose care closer to home for rural New Zealanders,” Mr Doocey says.

“Each prototype will test practical improvements to rural services, such as improved access to diagnostics, on-call pharmacy support, and digital tools to back up rural clinicians.”

The roadshow builds on initiatives already in train to improve rural health care services.

“Budget 2025 delivered for Kiwis living in rural and remote communities. The Government is investing $164 million over four years to strengthen urgent and after-hours care nationwide, meaning 98 per cent of Kiwis will be able to access these services within one hour’s drive of their home,” Mr Doocey says.

The funding includes targeted support for more than 70 rural and remote communities. Key Budget 2025 initiatives for the Midland region include:

•    A new 24/7 urgent care service identified for Tauranga by mid-2026. 
•    Maintaining all existing urgent and after-hours healthcare services in the region. 
•    Extended after-hour services identified for Thames, Whakatāne, Tokoroa, Gisborne, Taupō, Te Kuiti, and Hāwera. 
•    Improved services for rural and remote Midland communities, including better access to diagnostics, urgent medicines, and 24/7 on-call clinical support.

“All New Zealanders deserve timely access to quality health care and this Government is committed to improving health and mental health outcomes, including for the one in five living in our rural communities,” Mr Doocey says.

“The roadshow continues through to October, with future stops planned in communities across the country.” 

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are seeking information of John Bagnall who has been reported missing.

The 57-year-old was reported missing from the Pt Chevalier and Mt Roskill areas on 31 July.

John was last seen at 7.24am on 20 July at Kiwi Storage on Carr Road in Mt Roskill. 

Police are seeking any sightings of John or his van, which is a white Nissan with the registration PSU806.

We are issuing the last known images of John and his van as part of this appeal.

Police and John’s family are concerned for his welfare.

If you have seen John, or have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact Police.

You can contact 105 using the reference number 250731/1615.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is progressing a package of major fisheries reforms that will remove obstacles to the fishing industry achieving its enormous potential for sustainable growth, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says

“These changes are the most significant reforms to the Fisheries Act for decades and they reflect my commitment to the success of our fishing industry which generates around $1.5 billion in exports each year.”

A key feature of the reforms is more efficient and effective decision-making when setting sustainable catch limits. The changes mean specific fisheries will be able to have rules that automatically respond to changes in abundance for up to five years.

“These rules will be subject to the usual scientific evaluation and consultation processes but will allow for greater catch when there are more fish in the water and more responsive intervention when fisheries need to recover,” Mr Jones says.

“This replaces the much slower process currently in place where each change must be assessed and be considered separately.”

Fishers’ privacy will also be better protected through a change that will exclude footage from the Official Information Act.

“We are making changes to the onboard camera programme to protect the privacy and confidentiality of regular New Zealanders going about their legal business.

“The information from on-board cameras will continue to contribute to fisheries management but camera footage will not be subject to the Official Information Act 1982. Fishers won’t need to worry about private or commercially sensitive footage being publicly released and either deliberately or unintentionally misconstrued,” Mr Jones says.

Finally, the reforms set out practical and workable rules around when fish must be landed and when they can be returned to the sea for vessels monitored by onboard cameras or observers.

“As long as the catch is monitored and accounted for under the Fisheries Act, fishers will be able to decide whether to land or discard relevant catch. 

“Together these changes support the Government’s objective to remove unnecessary obstacles to growth. I want a thriving and sustainable fishing industry that continues to contribute to New Zealand’s export-led recovery.”

An amendment Bill will be introduced later this year, and people will have a further opportunity to provide feedback on the Bill during the select committee process.

More information is available on MPI’s website: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/consultations/fisheries-reform-proposed-amendments-to-the-fisheries-act-1996/ 

Source: Privacy Commissioner

6 Aug 2025, 09:00

New Zealand now has new privacy rules for the automated use of biometrics – rules that aim to protect New Zealander’s sensitive personal data, while allowing agencies to innovate.

Biometric processing is the use of technologies, like facial recognition technology, to collect and process people’s biometric information to identify them or learn more about them.

The Privacy Commissioner has issued a Biometric Processing Privacy Code that will create specific privacy rules for agencies (businesses and organisations) using biometrics and give New Zealanders confidence about the use of their sensitive personal information.

Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says “Biometrics are some of our most sensitive information.  It is not just information about us, it is us. The very thing that makes biometrics risky, their uniqueness, also makes them useful.  The aim of the new rules is to allow for beneficial uses of biometrics while minimising the risks for people’s privacy and society as a whole.”

The Code, which is now law made under the Privacy Act, will help make sure agencies implementing biometric technologies are doing it safely and in a way that is proportionate. 

“It’s important that agencies can innovate while keeping New Zealanders safe from privacy risks; this Code will do that” says Commissioner Webster.

“The final Code has the force of law. It has the same legal status as the Information Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act – it just replaces them for when agencies use biometric information in automated processes.”

The Code comes into force on 3 November 2025, but agencies already using biometrics have until 3 August 2026, 12 months from today’s announcement, to align themselves with the new rules. 

“We understand the Code may require some changes to agencies’ processes and policies for them to be compliant, like creating new notifications, training staff, or changing their technical systems, and we wanted to give them enough time to make these happen,” says Mr Webster.

In addition to the usual requirements from the Privacy Act, the Code strengthens and clarifies the requirements on agencies to:

• assess the effectiveness and proportionality of using biometrics – is it fit for the circumstances
• adopt safeguards to reduce privacy risk
• tell people a biometric system is in use, before or when their biometric information is collected. 

The Code also limits some particularly intrusive uses of biometric technologies like using them to predict people’s emotions or infer information like ethnicity or sex, or other information protected under the Human Rights Act. 

“Biometrics can have major benefits, including convenience, efficiency, and security. 

However, it can also create significant privacy risks, including surveillance and profiling, lack of transparency and control, and accuracy, bias, and discrimination,” says Mr Webster.

Most comparable jurisdictions have additional protections for sensitive information like biometric information. In New Zealand, the Privacy Act regulates the use of personal information (and therefore biometric information), but the Code now provides clear privacy rules around using biometric technologies. 

“Having biometric-specific guardrails will help agencies deploy these tools safely, using the right tool for the job and protecting people’s privacy rights as they do it,” says Mr Webster.

Guidance is also being issued to support the Code. The guidance is very detailed and explains how we see the Code working in practice. It also sets out examples so agencies planning to use biometrics can better understand their obligations.

“Our guidance is a starting point; agencies still need to do their own thinking and seek advice to understand their own situation and how they are using or plan to use biometrics.

“Biometrics should only be used if they are necessary, effective and proportionate; the key thing to make sure of is that the benefits outweigh the privacy risks,” says Mr Webster.  

Read a summary of the Biometric Processing Privacy Code

Read the Biometric Processing Privacy Code

See our factsheets for an overview of the Code

Read our guidance on the Code

Source: New Zealand Police

Auckland City Police are investigating the circumstances of a man’s death in Mt Wellington this morning.

At around 1.30am, Police were called to a hardware retail store on Ellerslie-Panmure Highway after an alarm had been activated.

“Police units arrived on scene and established cordons around the store,” Detective Senior Sergeant Anthony Darvill says.

“Eagle had also deployed and located a man lying in the grounds of nearby Sir Woolf Fisher Park.

“It appeared the man was not responsive, and units were directed to his location commencing first aid on him.”

First aid was unsuccessful, and the man was confirmed as deceased.

“Our enquiries are ongoing to link the man’s involvement in the burglary, which occurred about 20 minutes earlier,” Detective Senior Sergeant Darvill says.

“We are treating the man’s death as unexplained at this very early stage, and expect a post mortem examination to be carried out today.

“This will determine next steps in our investigation.”

A scene examination is also being completed at the reserve, which backs off Barrack Road.

Police are also continuing to make enquiries into the initial burglary offending at the store.

Detective Senior Sergeant Darvill says one offender remains outstanding from the burglary.

As part of enquiries, Police would like to hear from anyone in the area who observed suspicious activity or that has additional information.

You can update Police online now or call 105 using the reference number 250806/9585.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand is set to welcome the world’s top athletes as Tauranga is announced as the host city for a series of World Triathlon events over the next three years from 2026, including the 2028 World Triathlon Championship Finals.

“We’re excited to host these high-profile World Triathlon events, attracting international visitors to New Zealand and giving a major boost to our economy,” Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says. 

“Over the three years, the events are expected to attract more than 6000 international visitors, generating 100,000 international visitor nights and $25 million in tourism visitor spend.

“We’re expecting more than 4500 international competitors for the 2028 World Championship final alone.”

The Government is investing $2.65 million from the Major Events Fund to support Tri NZ to host three events: the World Triathlon World Cup 2026, the World Triathlon Championship Series in 2027 and the World Triathlon Championship Final 2028.

“Major sporting events like these attract an international following from athletes and sport enthusiasts alike,” Louise Upston says. 

“A comparable event like The Ironman 70.3 World Championship held last year in Taupō surpassed all expectations, attracting about 15,000 international visitors and generating $23 million in visitor spending in the region and $50 million nationwide.”

“Each event will also be broadcast live and streamed to a global audience, reaching millions of international viewers.

“New Zealand has hosted World Championships in the past – and with a strong history of success in triathlon, it will be a fantastic for Kiwis to see our world class athletes compete on home soil.

“We’re proud to be able to bring these international sporting events to New Zealand, supporting high-performance sport, driving more sport tourism, and showcasing our country on the world stage.