Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

Round Three of the successful Mental Health and Addiction Innovation Fund has been announced with changes that aim to increase access to support across New Zealand, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced.

“The Government’s mental health plan is delivering faster access to support, more frontline workers, and a better crisis response. Grassroots community organisations play a big role in helping us achieve that,” Mr Doocey says.

“Already, the Fund has supported nineteen organisations around the country, increasing access for many Kiwis. Initiatives include helping young people stay safe online, supporting young mothers, Women’s Refuge services, a crisis café, and support for people in the construction industry.”

“I have been very clear from the start that I am open to making changes to the Fund. I have heard the sector loud and clear that further changes were needed to allow more organisations to access funding. This idea was born from talking to the sector, so it is only right they have a say in the changes.”

In response, the requirement for an independent Social Return on Investment (SROI) report as part of the application process has been revised. Instead, applicants will submit a proposal outlining the intended outcomes and how potential social return will be measured. A full external SROI report will then be completed towards the end of the project.  

“This change allows community organisations to use matched funding for half of the external SROI report, increasing access to the Fund while helping organisations clearly demonstrate the outcomes of their programmes,” Mr Doocey says.

“This approach opens the door for greater access to the Innovation Fund, while still maintaining robust evaluation and evidence. At the end of the day, we want grassroots organisations that know their communities best to bring forward new ideas that can be supported. I am proud that this Government is backing them.

“But the real winners are the thousands of people who benefit from the partnership, with more New Zealanders able to have timely access to support around the country.

“This is the second change to the fund. After the first round, we heard clearly from organisations that the $250,000 matched-funding requirement was a barrier. In response, that threshold was lowered to $100,000 in round two, further increasing access to the Fund.”

Notes to editor:
•    Contracts are expected to be in place from Quarter 1 2026/27.
•    With this change, $20 million has now been made available through the Fund.  This third round will continue the Fund for a further two years, with $5 million per annum available in 2026/27 and 2027/28. Providers may submit proposals covering both years. 
•    The full criteria includes:
•    Increases access to mental health and addiction support  
•    Protects public specialist mental health and addiction services by reducing demand 
•    Develops capacity in the mental health and addiction workforce Uses technology to drive productivity 
•    Delivers scalable solutions for unmet need 
•    Returns positive social return on investment (with evidence) 
•    Achieves positive outcomes for target population groups that have evidence of poorer mental health outcomes than other groups 
•    Will be co-funded on a dollar-for-dollar matched funding basis.
 

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand will release oil tickets to fulfil its commitment to the International Energy Agency’s collective action in response to the oil supply issues created by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

New Zealand’s contribution under the action, announced last week by the International Energy Agency (IEA), is 1.577 million barrels of crude oil or the equivalent. 

“New Zealand holds oil tickets, which are options to purchase different types of oil or refined fuel. We will release some of the tickets we hold to the global market,” Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says.

“Under the action, IEA members have agreed to release 400 million barrels of crude oil or equivalent to global markets. This is significantly greater in volume than the collective action taken in response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. 

“This will add much-needed supply globally, helping reduce pressure on global refineries which ordinarily access oil from the Middle East. The action should help to calm global markets,” Mr Jones says.

IEA members met at 1am (NZT) today to share their respective plans for responding to the collective action. 

“It’s important to note that the tickets we are releasing are for crude oil or fuel we cannot use in our own domestic system. While this is an important contribution to the global situation, the release has minimal impact on New Zealand’s domestic fuel security position,” Mr Jones says. 

Editors’ note

• Oil tickets are contracts that give the Government the option to purchase different types of fuel. New Zealand is not releasing physical supply to the market.
• The purchase options New Zealand will release are for crude oil and a form of fuel incompatible with New Zealand specifications.

For latest on New Zealand’s fuel security situation following the events in the Middle East, please visit the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment website: Middle East conflict and New Zealand’s fuel stocks | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Source: New Zealand Government

Education Minister Erica Stanford is heading to Australia with an education delegation of 15 principals and deputy principals to attend the Maths Fact Fluency Masterclass and Explicit Mathematics Conference.

“Raising student achievement and closing the equity gap are at the heart of our education reforms, and teaching maths brilliantly is absolutely central to that,” Ms Stanford says.

“Our engagements in New South Wales are set to provide valuable opportunities to learn from what Australia is doing well so that we can provide an even stronger maths offering for our children.

“Like New Zealand, the majority of schools in New South Wales are working to implement explicit mathematics instruction. During the visit, our delegation will hear from Australian experts and practitioners who have been leading that work. Topics include:

• Understanding the Australian journey toward structured/explicit mathematics instruction
• Exploring impacts from both school and system perspectives
• Gaining insight into effective implementation across system, school and classroom levels
• Learning from the real-world effects of significant shifts in mathematics instruction
• Understanding how staff, families and wider communities have been engaged
• Learning about the challenges encountered and lessons learned
• Receiving practical guidance for those at the beginning of the journey

“We will also be sharing our Government’s plan to lift achievement and close the equity gap in New Zealand. I look forward to sharing experiences and ideas,” Ms Stanford says.

“When we began our education reforms, we promised to follow the research and evidence on how children learn best, so that we could give them the world-leading education they deserve. 

“I look forward to hearing from overseas professionals as we strengthen education ties and continue our job to provide the best education for Kiwis.”

Minister Stanford travels to New South Wales on Wednesday 18 March and returns to New Zealand on Saturday 21 March. 

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand’s Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Ireland’s Minister of State Noel Grealish have signed a joint ministerial statement for advancing their partnership on agricultural climate research in Wellington today.

“New Zealand and Ireland will continue to advance vital research to support the development of tools to give farmers options to tackle agricultural greenhouse gas emissions without reducing production,” Minister McClay says.

It follows a successful Joint Research Initiative (JRI) pilot launched in 2022 with $34.5 million jointly invested to boost climate change research and science capability.

Minister of State Noel Grealish visited several of the 11 projects underway during his time in New Zealand and says they have helped accelerate understanding of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

“Agriculture is at the heart of the Irish and New Zealand economies, and we share the common goal of lowering emissions in pasture-based farming, while supporting farmers to produce more.

“During my visit to New Zealand, I was delighted to meet with Minister Todd McClay and agree to the second phase of the JRI that will drive meaningful reductions in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.”

New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will now identify further projects to progress.

Separately, Ministers also launched the new 2026-2030 Strategic Plan for the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA).

It has four priorities: advance scientific research, strengthen capacity and knowledge sharing, build effective collaboration and partnerships, and leverage financial and other resources.  

Note to editors:

The GRA aims to deepen and broaden research efforts in cropping, livestock, and paddy rice. It brings together researchers from around the globe to collaborate on science and breakthrough solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
 

Source: New Zealand Government

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay travels to Cameroon this weekend for the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), where he will again serve as a Vice Chair of the negotiations.

“As a small, export driven economy, New Zealand depends on predictable and rules based global trade. The WTO is an important part of this system,” Mr McClay says.

“Faced with growing global economic and geo-political disruption, rising protectionism, and concerns about global supply chain resilience, there’s recognition among WTO members of the need for a modern, effective organisation that’s geared to support trade in today’s world.”

As Vice Chair of the conference, Mr McClay has a key role in facilitating those discussions.

Mr McClay will be joined by Labour Party Trade and Export Growth spokesperson Damien O’Connor as part of New Zealand’s delegation.

“New Zealand will push for outcomes that maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the WTO which continues to have a critical oversight role for the vast majority of global trade,” Mr McClay says.

Trade ministers and representatives from the 166 WTO member economies attend the Ministerial Conference, the WTO’s highest decision-making body, which meets every two years.

They will also address e-commerce, agriculture reform, and harmful fisheries subsidies during the conference which runs from 26-29 March.

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Constable Craig Colyer, Southern District Field Intelligence Officer:

Southern District Police investigating multiple cases of copper thefts are asking the public for information to track down those responsible.

Over the past month, the value of scrap copper has increased, and so have the reports of copper theft.

These have included copper cylinders being targeted, copper wire being burnt off and stripped, and copper being taken from buildings and power companies.

Police are asking anyone with information about copper crimes, or of scrap copper that may come from suspicious origins, to contact Police immediately.

Police remind you that it is a crime to receive stolen goods.

You can provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police are also asking residents to be vigilant around their properties and to secure any items that may include copper.

If you are the victim of a burglary, please report the matter to Police.

You may not be the only victim in your area and every little bit of information you have may assist in the arrests of those responsible.

To report burglaries and thefts, contact Police. If it’s happening now, call 111, for any non-urgent incidents, call 105 or make a report online by clicking ‘Make a report’.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

Minister of Social Development and Employment Louise Upston is marking 10 years of the Ara Jobs and Skills Hub, which trains and connects people to jobs across the Auckland Airport precinct.

In the past decade:

• Over 1,440 people have been supported into jobs
• More than 1,700 young people supported through training pathways
• 3,600 learners gained skills and training opportunities

The Ministry of Social Development has partnered with Ara Jobs Skills Hub for the whole 10 years, helping co-ordinate recruitment and training needs for the 800 businesses employing 25,000 people within the Auckland Airport precinct.
Louise Upston says it is a worthy milestone to celebrate. 

“The Ara Jobs and Skills Hub facilitates workforce planning, recruitment, and training for this nationally-significant group of businesses spanning aviation, construction, logistics and other service sectors like tourism, retail, accommodation and hospitality. 

“The scale of these workforce needs demand a unique platform for long-term planning and coordination.

“It makes sense that the Ministry of Social Development is a key partner given it has the biggest talent pool of people to draw from and MSD’s longstanding relationship with Ara has provided a seamless pathway for job seekers into airport-based jobs.”

Louise Upston says it’s great to see positive signals for renewed infrastructure developments at the Auckland Airport precinct and MSD will continue to support training and recruiting for workforce needs.

“Getting people into jobs is a key focus of our government’s plan to fix the basics and build the future. Work will always be the best way for New Zealanders to support their families and get ahead in life. That is why I am committed to reaching our target of 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support by 2030.” 

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has introduced a Bill to amend the Policing Act 2008, reaffirming Police’s ability to record images and sounds in public places, and some private places, as well as expanding temporary area closure powers.

Following the decision of the Supreme Court in the Tamiefuna case, Police’s ability to record images and sounds in public places, and collect personal information for lawful purposes, including intelligence was constrained.

“This created uncertainty and made the collection of evidence, and therefore the prosecution of criminals, much harder” says Police Minister Mark Mitchell.

“The government has introduced a bill to reaffirm the prior common law position, making it clear that Police can collect and use images in public places, and some private places, for lawful policing purposes. This includes intelligence gathering, crime prevention, and other policing functions.

“These changes will enable that and strengthen Police’s ability to detect and prevent crime, and hold offenders accountable for their offending. Ultimately it will help Police keep Kiwis safe.”  

The Government is also expanding Police’s existing temporary road closure powers to cover a broader range of areas, such as parks, reserves, beaches, and carparks.

The changes will give Police new tools to manage non-compliance with temporary closures, including the ability to direct people to leave a closed area, stop vehicles, obtain identifying particulars for the purpose of issuing infringements, and arrest without warrant those who fail to comply.

The new powers will also leverage existing powers that are being progressed through the Antisocial Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill, led by Minister Chris Bishop.

“These new powers will provide clarity and consistency for frontline Police, ensuring they have the necessary tools to support the Governments Law and Order agenda,” Mr Mitchell says. “They will be useful tools to help Police respond to incidents like street racing and dirt bike riding in public parks.”

Source: New Zealand Government

A structural steel manufacturing plant that will help build the future of New Zealand’s infrastructure has been approved through Fast-track.

National Green Steel Limited lodged its application in July 2025 to build a structural steel manufacturing plant in Hampton Downs in Waikato.

“Approval has taken around five months following the commencement of the expert panel,” says Mr Bishop.

“New Zealand has a major infrastructure deficit. We need to deliver infrastructure faster, and we need the supply chains to back that up. A project like Green Steel can do both, building local manufacturing capacity and help provide material for a range of developments.

“The new plant will process about 200,000 tonnes of recycled steel annually. The project will reduce structural steel imports and reduce the amount of scrap steel being exported. Green Steel already has collections yards in Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Putāruru and Christchurch. These yards recover metal resources from end-of-life vehicles, sheet metal, and beams.”

“The project is expected to create about 200 skilled jobs in the region. New Zealand does not currently re-use steel – most of our scrap metal is exported. This new plant will mean we can recycle and manufacture structural steel right here in New Zealand, using material sourced from across the country,” Mr Jones says.

“The project will use electric arc furnace technology to produce high-quality structural steel with a lower carbon footprint compared to current steel production methods used in New Zealand,” Mr Watts says. 

“This proposal shows the sector are willing to make the investments needed to electrify. It’s a positive sign that industry is ready to move at pace to build the infrastructure we need.”

“This is the 13^th project to be approved under the Fast-track process, and the first infrastructure project to feature steel manufacturing,” says Mr Bishop. 

Notes to editors:

For more information about the project:  National Green Steel Ltd  

Fast-track by the numbers:

•    13 projects approved by expert panels. 
•    21 projects with expert panels appointed (on 12 March 2026).
•    149 projects are listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act, meaning they can apply for Fast-track approval.
•    49 projects currently progressing through the Fast-track process.
•    33 projects have been referred to Fast-track by the Minister for Infrastructure (on 12 March 2026).
•    On average, it has taken 129 working days for decisions on substantive applications from when officials determine an application is complete and in-scope. 

Fast-track projects approved by expert panels:

•    Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension [Infrastructure]
•    Maitahi Village [Housing/Land]
•    Milldale – Stages 4C and 10 to 13 [Housing/Land]
•    Tekapo Power Scheme – Applications for Replacement Resource Consents [Renewable energy]
•    Arataki [Housing/Land]
•    Drury Metropolitan Centre – Consolidated Stages 1 and 2 [Housing/Land]
•    Rangitoopuni [Housing/Land]
•    Drury Quarry Expansion – Sutton Block [Mining/Quarrying]
•    Kings Quarry Expansion – Stages 2 and 3 [Mining/Quarrying]
•    Waihi North [Mining/Quarrying]
•    Green Steel [Infrastructure]
•    Homestead Bay [Housing/Land]
•    Sunfield Masterplanned Community [Housing/Land]

Expert panels have been appointed for:

•    Ashbourne
•    Ayrburn Screen Hub
•    Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project
•    Delmore
•    Haldon Solar Farm
•    Hananui Aquaculture Project
•    Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme
•    Lake Pūkaki Hydro Storage and Dam Resilience Works
•    Mahinerangi Wind Farm
•    Pound Road Industrial Development
•    Ryans Road Industrial Development
•    Southland Wind Farm Project
•    State Highway 1 North Canterbury – Woodend Bypass Project (Belfast to Pegasus)
•    Stella Passage Development (Port of Tauranga)
•    Takitimu North Link – Stage 2
•    The Downtown Carpark Site Development
•    The Point Mission Bay
•    The Point Solar Farm
•    Waitaha Hydro 
•    Waitākere District Court – New Courthouse Project
•    Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall Renewal

Source: New Zealand Police

Police investigating an aggravated robbery in Aro Valley are asking the public for information to help identify the offenders.

The victim was walking on Ohiro Road around 5.40pm last night, when they were seriously assaulted by two unknown men.

The victim’s phone was stolen, and they sustained multiple injuries requiring hospital treatment.

Police are asking anyone that witnessed the incident, have CCTV in the area or saw two men on Ohiro Road between 5pm-6pm to get in touch with Police.

Please use reference file number 260317/0947.

Please call 105 or use the service online by clicking ‘Make a report’.

You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre