NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Police

Police pulled out all the stops after a man was allegedly carjacked on the North Shore early this morning.

Two offenders face serious charges after being arrested in Manukau.

At around 1.22am, Police were called to Waratah Street in Birkenhead.

“A man was parked outside an address, when a stolen vehicle carrying a group of offenders arrived,” Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie, of Waitematā Crime Squad, says.

“The victim was assaulted and pulled from his vehicle, before it was stolen by these offenders.”

The vehicle was soon picked up on cameras on the North-Western motorway, heading west.

Detective Senior Sergeant Goldie says the Police Eagle helicopter also deployed and monitored the vehicle’s movements.

“It carried onto the South-Western motorway, stopping briefly on Dominion Road where two passengers exited and carried on southbound,” she says.

Spikes were successfully deployed on the Lambie Drive off-ramp.

“Our staff took both remaining occupants into custody quickly and without incident,” Detective Senior Sergeant Goldie says.

“Those arrested were the 16-year-old driver and 17-year-old passenger.

“Both vehicles involved in the offending this morning have been seized and will be examined.”

In the vehicle dumped in Birkenhead, Police have located a range of items stolen from other car break-ins across the Albany area.

Both males arrested this morning will face the North Shore Youth Court, charged with aggravated robbery.

The driver will also face a charge of dangerous driving.

Police will oppose both teenagers’ bail when they appear in court.

“There is no tolerance for the blatant violence that occurred, and I want to acknowledge the raft of Police staff that responded this morning,” Detective Senior Sergeant Goldie says.

“The victim in this case did not suffer serious physical injuries, and enquiries are ongoing into the two passengers that exited near Dominion Road.”

ENDS. 

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

Vaping law changes that take effect today ban disposable vapes and will make a noticeable difference to shop fronts and the marketing of vaping products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello says.
“This coalition Government committed to tackling youth vaping, and we’ve made practical changes to reduce the appeal of vaping to young people and to target retailers who sell vapes and tobacco products to our youth,” Ms Costello says.
“Today’s changes implement the final parts of legislation passed in December.
“Disposable vapes, which have been the most popular products among young people, are now off the market.”
Penalties for breaching the ban are up to $400,000 for a manufacturer, importer or large retailer, and $50,000 for any other person.  
“Visibility restrictions also take effect today, which will change the way specialist vape stores look and mean that retailers like dairies, supermarkets and petrol stations need to have vape products out of sight,” Ms Costello says.
“Similarly, online stores will no longer be able to include images of vape products and New Zealand-based online stores are prevented from linking to overseas sites that have images of vaping products.”
The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2) that was passed in December had four main components:

banning the manufacture, sale, supply, and distribution of disposable vapes
increasing penalties for unlawful sales of vapes, cigarettes and other regulated products to minors
imposing retail visibility restrictions for vaping products
adding further proximity restrictions for specialist vape retailers.

The increased penalties for selling vapes to minors, and restrictions on where specialist vape stores can open took effect at the time.
The commencement of the disposable vape ban and the retail visibility restrictions were delayed six months to allow time for businesses to prepare for the changes.
“This also allowed for the recruitment and training of more dedicated smokefree enforcement officers – there are now 18 – so that the new rules and tougher penalties are supported by greater enforcement capability,” Ms Costello says.
“For too long, New Zealand didn’t have vaping regulations in place. 
“Vaping has played a key role in helping people quit smoking, and we want vapes available to adults as a cessation tool, but vaping isn’t for children and young people and that’s why the Government has taken action.”  

Source: New Zealand Government

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says amendments to the Employment Relations Act will improve labour market flexibility and help businesses to grow, innovate, and employ with confidence and certainty.
“Today I’m announcing the introduction of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill to Parliament, marking a key milestone in this Government’s efforts to help New Zealand businesses employ or contract with confidence and create more and better opportunities for workers,” says Ms van Velden. 
The changes give effect to several ACT–National Coalition Agreement commitments, including to provide greater certainty for contracting parties.
“Workers and businesses should have more certainty about the type of work being done from the moment they agree to a contracting arrangement.
“The new gateway test introduced in this Bill will provide greater clarity for businesses and workers around the distinction between employment and contracting arrangements. This will provide greater certainty for all parties and will allow more innovative business models,” says Ms van Velden. 
The Bill will also make changes to simplify the personal grievances process including two significant changes. 
“The amendment to personal grievances will reduce rewards for bad behaviour and reduce costs for businesses in the process. Under current law, if a personal grievance is established the Employment Relations Authority or Employment Court may award remedies including reinstatement into a role, and compensation for hurt and humiliation. The changes make clear an employee whose behaviour amounts to serious misconduct will be ineligible for remedies. 
“This change will ensure that hardworking New Zealanders don’t see bad behaviour rewarded,” says Ms van Velden. 
The Bill also introduces an income threshold of $180,000 above which a personal grievance for unjustified dismissal cannot be pursued. 
High-income employees often have a major impact on organisational performance, getting the right fit is crucial. This change will provide greater labour market flexibility, enabling businesses to ensure they have the best fit of skills and abilities for their organisation. It allows employers to give workers a go in high impact positions, without having to risk a costly and disruptive dismissal process if things don’t work out, benefitting those seeking to move up the career ladder.” 
Another change will cut compliance at the beginning of employment. By removing the ‘30-day rule’ employers and employees will now be free to negotiate mutually beneficial terms and conditions from the start of employment. 
“I am committed to building business confidence, ensuring a strong economy that will lift wages, create opportunities, and help Kiwi workers get ahead,” says Ms van Velden.
The public and interested groups will have a chance to submit on the Bill when it is at Select Committee. 

Source: New Zealand Government

Health Minister Simeon Brown has today announced the appointment of a Crown manager to oversee the delivery of the New Dunedin Hospital Inpatient Building, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to ensuring the project is delivered successfully.

“In late January, I confirmed the Government’s commitment to building the New Dunedin Hospital on the former Cadbury site – providing certainty to the people of Dunedin and the wider Otago and Southland regions,” Mr Brown says.

“As part of that commitment, we are putting strong leadership in place to drive the next stage of this project. I’m pleased to announce the appointment of Evan Davies as Crown manager for the inpatient building project.”

Mr Davies will lead the delivery of the inpatient facility, including confirming the procurement approach and finalising the construction contract. He will work closely with Health New Zealand to ensure alignment with the broader New Dunedin Hospital programme. It will also enable Health New Zealand to focus on the many other infrastructure work programmes currently underway.

“Mr Davies brings over 30 years of senior leadership experience and a proven track record in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects, particularly in the health sector.

“His appointment reflects the importance of this project to the Government. I’m confident he will bring the capability, oversight, and momentum needed to see it through.

“This Government has committed a record $1.88 billion to the New Dunedin Hospital, making it the largest health infrastructure investment in New Zealand’s history.

“That level of investment reflects our commitment to providing a modern, fit-for-purpose hospital that meets the needs of future generations.

“This step will help ensure the project remains on track, and that we deliver a world-class facility providing timely, high-quality care in Dunedin,” Mr Brown says.

Source: Tertiary Education Commission

Last updated 8 March 2024
Last updated 8 March 2024

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This page sets out learner eligibility criteria for programmes funded through the Youth Guarantee (YG) Fund.
This page sets out learner eligibility criteria for programmes funded through the Youth Guarantee (YG) Fund.

For the full learner eligibility requirements, see the Youth Guarantee funding conditions for the relevant year. Learners must not be simultaneously enrolled in school and a YG funded programme.
Learners must not be enrolled in a YG funded programme and another TEC-funded programme at the same time, eg, Intensive Literacy and Numeracy (ILN), Delivery at Levels 1 and 2 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (DQ1-2), New Zealand Apprenticeship or Gateway.
A learner who is eligible for ILN-funded programmes is not considered to have the necessary literacy and numeracy skills to be successful in a YG programme.
Limit on prior qualification achievement
The prior qualification achievement limit is to ensure that government funding is targeted to learners with no or low prior qualification achievement, and to enable learners to progress to higher-level qualifications.
In practice this means:

a new enrolment is the first time that learner has been enrolled in YG at that tertiary education organisation (TEO), and
the TEO must verify individual learners’ prior achievement before accepting them into the programme.

Level 1 and 2 programmes
TEOs must ensure that learners who already hold a qualification at Level 1 or 2 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) comprise no more than 10% of new enrolments in a YG programme leading to award of a qualification at that level.

Learner holds a qualification at …

And enrols in a qualification at …

Learner will be included in the 10% prior achievement calculation in each year of delivery

Level 1

Level 1

Yes

Level 2

Level 2

Yes

Level 1

Level 2

No

A learner enrolment in a subsequent YG qualification at the same TEO at any level is not considered a “new enrolment”.
Level 3 programmes
To meet the learner eligibility requirements the TEO must:

not enrol a learner in a YG programme if the learner has already achieved a qualification at Level 3 or above on the NZQCF, and
prioritise enrolments in YG programmes that lead to award of a Level 3 qualification on the NZQCF for:

learners who enrolled in YG with low prior achievement (no qualification or a Level 1 qualification), and
learners who have completed a Level 1 or 2 qualification funded through YG.

Age limit for learners
Learners may be re-enrolled in YG, as long as they continue to meet the learner eligibility conditions, including enrolling in no more than 1.5 EFTS provision per calendar year.
Some learners may turn 25 years old during a programme they are enrolled in. These learners remain eligible for YG for the courses required to complete their programme.
YG funding is not available for learners who have already turned 25 to re-enrol in courses they did not successfully complete. Keep this in mind when you enrol a learner who is close to turning 25, as any re-enrolments in programmes or courses will need to be self-funded by the learner or from DQ1-2/Delivery at Levels 3-7 (non-degree) on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework and all industry training (DQ3-7) Funds funding. 

Source: New Zealand Government

In the first twelve months of the Government’s flagship Priority One policy, nearly 1000 families with more than 2,124 children have been moved from dank emergency housing motel rooms to secure, stable homes.

“The largescale use of emergency housing was one of the biggest public policy failures in New Zealand history. Under the previous government’s watch, thousands of children were consigned to grow up in cramped, dingy motel rooms at a cost to taxpayers of $1 million every day at its peak,” Housing Minister Chris Bishop says.

“The cost to taxpayers was a scandal, but the social cost for families trying to raise their kids from a motel room for months or even years on end was an absolute tragedy.

“We campaigned on introducing a Priority One category to help these kids and their families move into social homes, and getting it up and running was a key priority for us as an incoming Government.

“Priority One, which has now been in place for a year, bumps families with dependent children to the very top of the social housing waitlist if they have been in emergency housing for 12 weeks or more.

“Thanks to Priority One and the hard work of many frontline staff across multiple government agencies, thousands of children now live in a warm, dry social home instead of a crowded motel room.”

Minister Potaka said the Government had already achieved its target of reducing the number of households in Emergency Housing by 75 per cent by 2030 and now needed to maintain progress. Since November 2023 to April 2025, households in emergency housing have dropped from 3,342 to 516– that’s a drop of 84.5 percent.

“And importantly, there are now significantly fewer children in emergency housing. In April 2024, there were 3,339 children in emergency housing, and a year later we’re down to 519.

“The focus on supporting whānau with tamariki into better stable homes could mean a world of difference for their health, school attendance, and regular employment.

“One of the whānau we’re talking about today is a family of six whose eldest child has serious health concerns needing specialist care, but who had been struggling while stuck living in emergency accommodation for six months.

“Our Priority One focus helped get this whānau into a stable Kāinga Ora home and helped enable them to get the wider support they needed.

“We will continue to improve the housing system because there are thousands of deserving people out there just like this whānau, many of them on the social housing list just waiting to take proper care and enjoy a better home.

“MSD has also improved how it tracks emergency housing outcomes. We now know where around 85 percent of those leaving emergency housing go – be it social housing, transitional housing, or a private rental. 

“Of the households that exited emergency housing (excluding contracted emergency housing) during December 2024: 

• 37 percent left emergency housing to go into social housing (4 percent through CHPs, 33 percent through Kāinga Ora)
• 29 percent had moved into transitional housing
• 19 percent were receiving the accommodation supplement for a private rental
• 14 percent did not access any of this housing-related assistance.” 

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A combination of freezing temperatures, fog, hoar frosts and black ice means challenging conditions for travel on State Highways 8 and 80 over the next few days, with the biggest concern being drivers not adapting to the conditions.

“On SH8 in particular, there are many sheltered areas where build-up of ice is a major concern,” says NZTA System Manager Mark Pinner.  

“Bridge surfaces can cool quickly, and re-freezing can even occur in the late morning.”

“We‘ve already had reports of people driving too fast for the conditions and truck and trailer units fishtailing. We also know it’s going to get busier later in the week as we get closer to the long holiday weekend for Matariki. Reducing speed is the biggest thing drivers can do to keep themselves safe and to help keep the highways open.”

“One of the measures we are employing to slow traffic down are Temporary Speed Limits which can be employed on parts of the highway network that are most at risk.”

The Temporary Speed Limit of 50km/h has been put into effect on State Highway 8 at sites such as either side of Lake Tekapo township, and near the Tekapo Military Camp, the Tekapo Flyover (over the Tekapo Canal) and Simons Pass.

“This is not our usual approach, but the nature of the conditions forecast for this week means we need to use every tool we can to keep people safe on the roads,” Mr Pinner says.

“Our typical de-icing agents are at the extreme range of where they aren’t as effective, and whilst we are gritting the roads, driving to conditions is a key part of keeping road access safe also.”

“If the conditions warrant it, we will close the highway, most likely overnight and through the high-risk early morning period. People need to plan ahead if they are travelling in the area – keep an eye on our Journey Planner site.”

Journey Planner

Winter driving advice

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Education Minister David Seymour says this Government has prioritised student attendance and as a result we’ve seen every term since Term 1 2024 record higher attendance than the same term of the previous year.

In Term 1 of 2025 65.9 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 4.5 percentage points from 61.4 per cent in Term 1 of 2024 and 6.9 percentage points from 59.0 per cent in Term 1 of 2023. 

“Every region has recorded an increase in attendance. I would like to give a special shoutout to the Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast region for recording the biggest improvement, of 6.6 per centage points,” says Mr Seymour

“Chronic absence has declined from 7.3% of absences last year to 6.4% this year. Those are often children with complex needs and it’s great to see an impact.

“While there’s more work to be done, these numbers are another step in the right direction to achieving the Government’s goal of ensuring 80 per cent of students are present more than 90 per cent of the term by 2030. 

“I expect this momentum to continue as phases of our attendance action plan come into force. For example, it will be mandatory for schools to have their own attendance management plan, aligned with the Stepped Attendance Response (STAR) in place by Term 1 of 2026.

“Prosecution is also a reality for parents who refuse to send their children to school and ignore supports to ensure their children are in class and learning. The Ministry of Education is proactively contacting attendance service providers and schools to ensure parents in this category are referred to the Ministry.

Prosecution will only occur the most serious of cases, where all other options have been exhausted and parents / guardians are wilfully not engaging. Students and families’ personal circumstances will be taken into account when the prosecution decision is taken.

“At the start of next year frontline attendance services will be more accountable, better at effectively managing cases, and data driven in their responses. To achieve this, they will soon have access to a new case management system and better data monitoring, and their contracts will be more closely monitored,” Mr Seymour says.

Budget 2025 included a $140 million package to improve attendance over the next four years. 

“Attending school is the first step towards achieving positive educational outcomes. Positive educational outcomes lead to better health, higher incomes, better job stability and greater participation within communities. These are opportunities that every student deserves,” Mr Seymour says.

Attendance data can be found here Attendance | Education Counts

Source: New Zealand Government

A new, state-of-the-art CT scanner is now operational at Southland Hospital, delivering a significant step forward for diagnostic services in the region, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“This new CT scanner is a game-changer for Invercargill and surrounding areas. It will provide faster, more accurate diagnosis for a wide range of conditions, including cancer and heart disease – meaning patients can start treatment sooner and with greater confidence.

“The enhanced imaging technology offers clearer, more detailed information to support doctors in making timely, well-informed decisions. That means better care for patients, fewer delays, and improved health outcomes.”

The new scanner replaces equipment installed in 2012 and features advanced detector-based spectral technology, providing enhanced lesion detection and more detailed tumour assessments – particularly valuable in oncology care.

“This technology allows clinicians to detect abnormalities earlier and with greater precision, which is critical in cancer care. The sooner a diagnosis can be made, the sooner treatment can begin.

“Southland Hospital currently scans over 500 patients each month. This upgrade will increase the capacity for patients to receive advanced diagnostic services, reducing the anxiety that comes with waiting for answers and helping to ensure timely access to the right care.”

In a first for the region, the scanner will also provide cardiac imaging, enabling local assessment for signs of heart disease – a service not previously available at Southland Hospital.

“The addition of cardiac CT scanning means patients can get the care they need closer to home, without having to travel to other hospitals for these tests. The hospital’s diagnostic team will be undertaking specialised training so this new service can be up and running as soon as possible.

“Access to modern diagnostic tools like this CT scanner is essential to improving outcomes for patients. By detecting disease earlier and with greater precision, we can help ensure people receive the right treatment at the right time,” Mr Brown says.

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has signed a new halal cooperation arrangement in Jakarta over the weekend to strengthen trade access to Indonesia and create new opportunities for New Zealand’s red meat and dairy exporters, Agriculture and Trade Minister, Todd McClay announced today.

“Indonesia is an important growth market for dairy and meat products – worth over $1.1 billion in exports last year. With a population of 280 million and a large middle-class Indonesia is a focus market for the Government,” Mr McClay says.

The Halal Cooperation Arrangement (HCA) supports ongoing collaboration between New Zealand and Indonesia on halal standards, certification, and product assurance – helping exporters meet requirements and streamline trade.

“There’s huge potential for our premium products, and this agreement will give exporters confidence in maximising that opportunity.”

“Importantly, the HCA was developed with close input from our dairy and red meat sectors —delivering value for our world best producers,” Mr McClay says.

“This is another step in our plan to grow the economy by boosting exports and delivering stronger returns for Kiwi farmers and processors.”

“When rural New Zealand does well, all New Zealanders do well.”