Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is clearing the path for Kiwi exporters by reducing trade barriers affecting approximately $600 million worth of exports so businesses can compete, grow, and create jobs, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis and Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay announced today in Auckland.

“Non-Tariff Barriers, such as complex labelling rules, certification costs, or quotas, slow growth. Reducing these barriers returns significant value to exporters, supports the 1 in 4 Kiwi jobs tied to trade, and puts more money into the back pockets of thousands of hard-working New Zealanders,” Nicola Willis says. 

“Market access, predictable trade rules and investment certainty are all crucial to business confidence and growing a strong economy. We’re seeing that confidence build with the latest ANZ Business Outlook at an 11 year high. Firms are reporting stronger recent performance and improving employment outlooks. This is the kind of momentum we want to back with practical action.”

Key examples of actions to free up trade in the last year include: 

• Unlocking access to China’s $200 million cosmetics and skincare market, removing a long-standing regulatory barrier and opening new channels for New Zealand exporters.
• Signing and implementing a deer velvet arrangement with China providing market growth worth $64.5 million in the year to December 2024.
• Working with New Zealand exporters and Mexican authorities to facilitate the flow of New Zealand good through its ports.
• Expanding access for New Zealand dairy products and blueberries to Korea worth $5 to $10 million, and $5 million, respectively.

“Today’s update to the Going for Growth Global Trade and Investment Pillar sets out the next steps to support business, drive export growth, expand market access and attract investment – to give our exporters the certainty and footing they need to scale globally,” Nicola Willis says.

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says, we’re backing Kiwi exporters with practical action – removing barriers to trade and opening doors to new partners. Every NTB resolved moves us closer to our goal of doubling the value of exports in 10 years.

Since coming to government, we have concluded, signed and entered into force the NZ–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, finished negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council, launched Free Trade Agreement negotiations with India and completed 17 trade missions, unlocking more than $2 billion in potential export value.

“Exports have exceeded $100 billion for the first time in our history, with food and fibre contributing a record $60 billion,” Mr McClay says.

Driven by strong growth into the EU and UK, total export value increased more than 10 per cent to $21.7 billion in the June quarter compared to the same period last year, taking total exports for the year ending June 2025 to $108.8 billion, up $98.4 million on the previous year.

“New Zealand is a trading nation and when our exporters do well, New Zealand does well. It is only through strong trade relationships and market access that we can support jobs, lift incomes and fund the public services New Zealanders rely on,” Mr McClay says. 

Source: New Zealand Government

Health Minister Simeon Brown has today presented Health New Zealand’s Annual Report to Parliament and issued a new Letter of Expectations to the Chair of the Health New Zealand Board, setting out the Government’s priorities for the rest of this financial year and into 2025/26.

The Letter of Expectations makes it clear: Health New Zealand must shift decision-making closer to the frontline, while continuing to deliver against the Government’s key priorities and ensuring the health system delivers better outcomes for patients.

“The previous Government’s mega-merger of our health system removed local decision-making and centralised too many decisions into Health New Zealand,” Mr Brown says.

“We want a nationally and regionally planned system, but one that has strong clinical input and buy-in at the hospital level. That means devolving decisions to the people who are closest to patients and communities.”

The publicly released Letter of Expectations outlines the Minister’s priorities and direction for the coming year, including:

• Continued progress on achieving the Government’s health targets.
• Strengthening primary and community care.
• Devolving decision-making to local districts and regions to ensure a nationally planned and locally delivered health system.
• Continuing to grow the health workforce and prioritise recruitment to frontline clinical roles.
• Building modern health infrastructure to support future needs.

“I expect Health New Zealand to rapidly devolve decision-making to its four regions and 20 districts, so they can get on with what they do best – delivering healthcare to patients,” Mr Brown says.

“That includes removing unnecessary bureaucracy and improving recruitment timeframes for frontline clinical roles. People need a health system that is responsive, and this shift in decision-making will support faster, better outcomes for patients.”

The Letter also reinforces the need for strong governance and accountability, with clear delegations in place to support delivery across the health system. Decisions must be made as close to communities and the frontline as possible, while ensuring national consistency.

“Health New Zealand must deliver on the priorities outlined in my Letter of Expectations while ensuring its operations are efficient, transparent, and focused on patients. The Government is investing record funding in health, and New Zealanders expect results.

“Health New Zealand has made good progress in stabilising its financial position. But challenges remain, and I expect the Board to continue driving efficiencies while investing in frontline delivery.”

The Government’s health targets remain central to Health New Zealand’s work, alongside a renewed focus on strengthening frontline services, improving access to GPs, and reducing wait times and wait lists.

“New Zealanders deserve a health system that works for them. That means meeting targets, reducing wait times, and ensuring care is accessible close to home.

“Health New Zealand plays a critical role in delivering timely, high-quality healthcare. I have made my expectations clear – I will continue to hold them to account for delivering results,” Mr Brown says.

Source: New Zealand Police

On Thursday 27 November the Murihiku community came together at Invercargill’s ILT Stadium to celebrate Hāpori Manawaroa ki Murihiku, the Southern Resilience to Organised Crime in Communities (ROCC) work programme, and its efforts over the past year.

In attendance were many of the community providers, organisations and agencies who are part of the work programme, as well as special guests including Associate Minister of Police, the Honorable Casey Costello, Police Southern District Commander Superintendent Jason Guthrie, Invercargill Mayor Tom Campbell, local government representatives, and iwi. The event also included performances form local rangatahi groups.

The ROCC work programme was launched in Southland in March 2023 and was gifted the name Hāpori Manawaroa ki Murihiku by local kaumatua. This name reflects the fortitude, strength and stamina of the Murihiku community, resonating with those involved in the programme. A source of pride since its inception has been the magnitude and quality of local buy-in from key Southland stakeholders.

The event provided the opportunity for Minister Costello to revisit and celebrate the successes of the programme of work over the past 12 months, having attended the announcement of the successful ROCC initiatives in 2024. Service providers were also able to share their experiences and details of their projects with the Minister over the course of the celebratory event.

Alongside Southland Police’s sustained focus and successes in enforcing organised crime, the Hāpori Manawaroa ki Murihiku and ROCC work programme has continued to enable local communities to become more connected, and has worked hard to reduce the chance of organised crime and its harmful effects to take root.

A key part of this has been the number of partnership initiatives backed through the ROCC programme of work that Southern District Police have been proud to be involved with.

Southern District Commander Superintendent Jason Guthrie spoke about this collective pride at the celebration event.

“I think it’s important to have an occasion like this, where we can come together and reflect on the many ‘wins’ we are achieving through our community-driven, efforts that are tailor-made for our own Southern Communities.”

Superintendent Guthrie went on to outline a number of the providers that have received funding through the Community Resilience and Whānau Support funding, that Police have been able to assist through the ROCC work programme.

This has included the Gore Blue Light registered charity that works alongside Police, which has this year been able to create camp experiences for local rangatahi aimed at building leadership skills, confidence and encouraging goal-setting. This also included an intensive week-long Life Skills Camp at Burnham Military Camp for seven youth participants as part of an alternative resolution pathway, away from the Youth Court justice system.

“I’m really pleased to say that our local participants in this course returned home with renewed engagement in school, with some gaining part-time or full-time employment, and have not come back to Police attention.” said Superintendent Guthrie.

Another of the many initiatives undertaken throughout the year that was highlighted was the Police partnership with Plunket services, in running special traffic checkpoints to ensure child restraints are correct and safe. Through the funding received, brand new child restraints and seating were able to be provided for those who were found to have unsafe or not fit-for-purpose child restraints.

“And that’s what the ROCC kaupapa is all about,” said Superintendent Guthrie. “This is the kind of prevention work and support Police can, and will, continue to provide alongside our persistent and targeted enforcement of organised crime in Southern Communities.

“Our Southern Organised Crime Units have been able to make some massive dents in the local distribution of meth through their excellent enforcement work, which removes a lot of harm from our streets.

“However, we simply can’t arrest our way out of the harm that organised crime and meth inflict on our communities. That’s why we are so proud and privileged to be part of the important prevention work alongside our highly valued partners, community agencies and organisations working under ROCC.”

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Source: New Zealand Government

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has welcomed the Fast-track approval of a residential and retirement development in Riverhead, Auckland. 

Rangitoopuni Developments Limited lodged an application in May 2025 to subdivide land and develop approximately 208 residential allotments and a 296-unit retirement village, which has now been approved by an independent expert panel. 

“Rangitoopuni Developments Limited’s application also included plans for public amenities, walking tracks, landscaping and the protection of wetland areas” says Mr Bishop.

“This is another housing development approved through Fast-track that will help increase housing supply and address Auckland’s housing needs. 

“The Rangitoopuni development will deliver significant economic benefits to Auckland, with the project projected to inject $708 million and more than 7,000 jobs over the nine-year development period. This will provide a major boost for the region and for local communities.

“This is now the sixth project to be approved through the Fast-track system.” 

Notes to the editor: 

Fast-track projects to date: 

Project approved by expert panels:

• For more information about the project: Rangitoopuni
• Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension [Infrastructure]
• Maitahi Village [Housing]
• Milldale – Stages 4C and 10 to 13 [Housing]
• Tekapo Power Scheme – Applications for Replacement Resource Consents [Renewable energy]
• Drury Metropolitan Centre – Consolidated Stages 1 and 2 [Housing]
• Rangitoopuni [Housing]

Expert panels have been appointed for: 

• Sunfield Masterplanned Community
• Waihi North
• Kings Quarry Expansion – Stage 2
• Drury Quarry Expansion – Sutton Block
• Taranaki VTM Project
• Ryans Road Industrial Development
• Homestead Bay
• Stella Passage Development 
• Pound Road Industrial Development
• Green Steel
• Arataki project
• Ashbourne 
• Takitimu North Link – Stage 2 
• Waitaha Hydro
• Ayrburn Screen Hub
• Southland Wind Farm Project
• Waitākere District Court – New Courthouse Project

24 projects have now been referred into the Fast-track process by the Minister for Infrastructure.