NZ Engine

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will visit Australia, Sri Lanka, Nepal and India from later this week.

Mr Peters is travelling first to Adelaide to undertake six-monthly Australia-New Zealand Foreign Ministers’ Consultations with his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong.

“New Zealand’s partnership with Australia is our closest and most important,” Mr Peters says. 

“We consider it vital to get across the Tasman as soon as possible after Australia’s general election to make plans for the period ahead. Our cooperation with Australia has never been more important as we navigate an ever more challenging, uncertain and disordered regional and global landscape.”

Mr Peters then travels to South Asia, with programmes in Sri Lanka, Nepal and India.

“We are committed to bringing greater focus and energy to New Zealand’s relationships with South Asia. 

“New Zealand must work alongside partners to contribute to a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.

In Colombo, Mr Peters will undertake the first visit by a New Zealand Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka since 2013, meeting President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

“New Zealand and Sri Lanka have invested considerably in boosting our bilateral relationship over the past five years, including by opening High Commissions in Colombo and Wellington. This visit will provide political momentum and leadership to that process.”  

In Kathmandu, Mr Peters will undertake the first ever visit to Nepal by a New Zealand Foreign Minister, meeting President Ramchandra Paudel, Prime Minister KP Sharma and Foreign Minister Rana Deuba.

“This visit will reflect on the special relationship between New Zealand and Nepal, coinciding with the anniversary of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary’s ascent of Mount Everest. It also reciprocates a visit to Wellington by Nepal’s Foreign Minister last year.”

Mr Peters will then travel to New Delhi to meet External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

“Over the past 18 months, New Zealand and India have worked hard to build a stronger, broader-based relationship for mutual benefit. This visit will take stock of our progress.”

Mr Peters departs New Zealand on 23 May and returns on 31 May.

Source: Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment MBIE (2)

The visits will identify any breaches of the Act and prompt action by landlords who are found to be not complying with their legal obligations.

Acting TCIT National Manager, Clare Lyons-Montgomery, says landlords must provide rental homes that are warm, safe and dry.

“Young people are a priority population for our team, as they can be vulnerable and unaware of their rights because they are new to renting.

“Landlords have obligations and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act and must provide a rental home that complies with all building, health and safety requirements in additional to tenancy law,” Clare Lyons-Montgomery said.

Landlords have responsibilities throughout the life of each rental, including at the commencement. This includes attending to maintenance and repairs in a timely manner.

All rental properties must also comply with the healthy homes standards by 1 July 2025. Landlords are responsible for ensuring their properties meet the healthy homes standards and continue to do so over time. All new tenancies from 1 July must comply with the standards immediately.

“This visit is an opportunity to change the perception that living in a run-down student flat is a ‘rite of passage’ and just part of university life. We want to make it clear to landlords what their responsibilities are and what the consequences of non-compliance are,” Clare Lyons-Montgomery said.

“MBIE regularly engages with student associations, including those at the University of Otago. This visit is another opportunity to encourage them to speak with their landlords about issues in their rental homes and then if they cannot resolve issues between themselves they can speak with us.”

Otago University Students Association (OUSA) President Liam White say many Otago students are forced to live in cold, old, and mouldy flats and their landlords must be held to account.

“We’re proud to support MBIE’s flat inspections and hope to send a clear message: if you rent a flat, you must meet legal standards or face the consequences,” Liam White said.

“Students often tell us they hesitate to raise issues with landlords or property managers out of fear — fear of jeopardising future references or creating more problems for themselves. Even when they do speak up, many face radio silence or endless delays.

“Otago students deserve better. Warm, healthy homes aren’t optional — they’re the legal minimum. We back every move to ensure these standards are enforced, and through OUSA Student Support, we continue to empower students with advice, advocacy, and education across the academic year,” Liam White said.

If a tenant thinks the property they are renting is not up to standard they should speak to their landlord. If they are still not satisfied they should put their concerns in writing to the landlord giving them a reasonable time to fix any problems, or issue a 14-day notice to their landlord.

If the landlord still doesn’t fix the issue or satisfy the tenants’ concerns they can make a complaint on the Tenancy Services website or apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to make a decision on the dispute.

MBIE’s Tenancy Services website provides information and tools to assist tenants and landlords understand their rights and responsibilities at every stage of their tenancy.

Tenancy Services(external link)

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Regulatory Standards Bill will be read in the House. 

“New Zealand’s low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation. To raise productivity, we must allow people to spend more time on productive activities and less time on compliance,” says Mr Seymour.  

“To lift productivity and wages, the ACT-National Coalition Agreement includes a commitment to pass a Regulatory Standards Act. Today is another significant step towards that as Cabinet has given approval to introduce the Bill to the house, with the target being enactment by the start of next year. 

The Regulatory Standards Bill:

• provides a benchmark for good legislation through a set of principles of responsible regulation
• enables transparent assessment of the consistency of proposed and existing legislation with the principles
• establishes a Regulatory Standards Board to independently consider the consistency of proposed and existing legislation, and
• strengthens regulatory quality by supporting the Ministry for Regulation in its regulatory oversight role.

“In a nutshell: If red tape is holding us back, because politicians find regulating politically rewarding, then we need to make regulating less rewarding for politicians with more sunlight on their activities. That is how the Regulatory Standards Bill will help New Zealand get its mojo back. It will finally ensure regulatory decisions are based on principles of good law-making and economic efficiency,” Mr Seymour says. 

“Ultimately, this Bill will help the Government achieve its goal of improving New Zealand’s productivity by ensuring that regulated parties are regulated by a system which is transparent, has a mechanism for recourse, and holds regulators accountable to the people.

“The law doesn’t stop politicians or their officials making bad laws, but it makes it transparent that they’re doing it. It makes it easier for voters to identify those responsible for making bad rules. Over time, it will improve the quality of rules we all have to live under by changing how politicians behave.

“In a high-cost economy, regulation isn’t neutral – it’s a tax on growth. This Government is committed to clearing the path of needless regulations by improving how laws are made.”

Notes to editors: The Regulatory Standards Bill can be found here: Regulatory Standards Bill 155-1 (2025), Government Bill Contents – New Zealand Legislation

Particular acknowledgements go to Dr Bryce Wilkinson, whose book “Constraining Government Regulation” laid important groundwork for this Bill. Special thanks also go to Dr Graham Scott, Jack Hodder KC, and other members of the Regulatory Responsibility Taskforce, who refined the Bill in 2009

Source: New Zealand Police

An additional charge has been laid over a man’s death following an alleged assault at a Papatoetoe bus stop last month.

On 27 April, 61-year-old Peter Te Kira was located with injuries at a bus stop on Great South Road.

He remained in intensive care at Auckland City Hospital before succumbing to his injuries on 30 April.

A 34-year-old man appeared in the Manukau District Court on 1 May, charged with assault.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Hayward, of Counties Manukau CIB, says a homicide investigation has continued into Mr Te Kira’s death.

“Police have now charged this man with manslaughter,” he says.

“He will be reappearing in the Manukau District Court on 22 May to face this charge.”

Police are unable to comment further while matters remain before the Court.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: UNICEF

Monday 19 May 2025. It’s now been over two months since any humanitarian aid has been allowed into the Gaza Strip — the longest stretch without relief since the conflict escalation began on 7 October 2023. Combined with more than 18 months of conflict, the ongoing blockade is pushing Gaza’s children to the brink. 

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

The Government is removing tax roadblocks to investment, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.

“Budget 2025 sets aside $75 million over the next four years to encourage foreign investment in New Zealand infrastructure and make it easier for startups to attract and retain high quality staff.

“These changes demonstrate the Government’s commitment to driving the economic growth needed to create jobs, lift incomes and fund public services New Zealanders rely on.

“Low capital intensity and low rates of foreign direct investment are key contributors to New Zealand’s relatively low rates of productivity.

“To generate growth, New Zealand needs more foreign investment and the international know-how it brings with it. It also needs rules that make it easier for enterprising new businesses to get established.

“Presently, New Zealand’s thin capitalisation rules limit the amount of tax-deductible debt that foreign investors can put into New Zealand investments. The purpose of these rules is to prevent income being shifted offshore and to protect New Zealand’s tax base. 

“However, there is a risk that the rules may be deterring investment, particularly in capital-intensive infrastructure projects that are typically funded by large amounts of debt. We need to strike a balance.

“Therefore, the Budget sets aside $65 million for a change to the rules, pending the outcome of consultation on the details. 

“The Budget sets aside another $10 million to defer tax liability of some employee share schemes to help startups and unlisted companies.

“Currently, problems arise if tax bills for share income arrive when employees are unable to realise the value of their shares. The changes we are making will allow tax to be deferred until a liquidity event, such as the sale of the shares, occurs. 

“These changes come on top of work under way to modernise and reduce compliance costs associated with fringe benefit tax rules and further adjustments to the foreign investment fund residence and other rules to make New Zealand a more attractive destination for migrants and digital nomads.

“To shift onto a faster growth track, New Zealand needs to make it easier for businesses to access capital and talent.”  

Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

Auckland Emergency Management’s ability to deliver urgent response operations has been further enhanced, with eight new vehicles and three catering trailers ready to hit the road.

Each highly specialised vehicle in the new emergency response fleet is purpose-built and equipped with tools and provisions that allow teams to go off-road and safely undertake a wide range of activities.

The upgraded fleet supplements existing equipment and resources and is a big step forward in strengthening AEM’s local coordination capabilities and ability to help Aucklanders in emergencies like flooding, particularly in remote and rural areas. 

“The new fleet gives us the tools to get where we need to go, stay there as long as we’re needed, and support the communities who need us most,” says John Cranfield, Head of Operations, Auckland Emergency Management. “It’s about being ready for anything—today and into the future.”

One of the new class 2 trucks equipped with a wide range of specialist tools and gear to support response activities.

The new equipment also enhances AEM’s ability to support wider civil defence needs across the country. Whether delivering supplies, supporting civil defence centres, or managing field operations in remote areas, the enhanced fleet will help our responders deploy to impacted areas and remain self-sufficient whilst there, so as not to place further strain on local resources.

The fleet includes two new 4×4 class 2 trucks with a raised chassis, which enables operations in and around floodwaters when it’s safe to do so. These trucks are equipped with hydraulic ladder systems, winches, and specialised search-and-rescue lights. They will be used by response teams in the North and West to undertake response activities as needed, says John.

Three new 4×4 command vans will provide invaluable situational awareness to coordinate response efforts from out in the field. Each specialised van is equipped with computers, Low Earth Orbit satellite internet capability and radio repeaters, enabling the vans to function as a small mobile office. The vans are fully self-sufficient, with a generator and fridge, making them particularly useful in isolated areas.

Three Ford Ranger Wildtrak utes have also joined the AEM fleet, providing further capacity to navigate floodwaters and off-road terrain. With searchlights, winches, and specialised tools and equipment onboard, the utes will be used in rescue activities and everyday operations.

To help deliver hot meals and drinks to New Zealand response teams and community members in need, three new catering trailers have been acquired to boost AEM’s capability at Civil Defence Centres and in remote or isolated areas.

“We are ready to respond wherever these new vehicles are needed. The additional capability means we have more opportunity to assist when there are multiple events occurring across the region at the same time,” says John.

The new fleet has been blessed at a ceremony, led by local iwi Ngāti Tamaoho and attended by councillors, emergency services personnel, New Zealand response teams, and other key partners.

Funding for the vehicles came through Auckland Council’s storm recovery fund and AEM’s capital expenditure budget and is a critical part of the region’s ongoing commitment to build resilience to manage severe weather events.

Source: Green Party

The Green Party is urging the Prime Minister to get rid of the Regulatory Standards Bill after the Waitangi Tribunal found that the Bill breaches the Crown’s Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.

“The Regulatory Standards Bill is another thinly veiled attack on te Tiriti o Waitangi. The Prime Minister failed to show leadership on the Treaty Principles Bill, he can begin to make amends by abandoning this Bill,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.

“Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the promise of protection, for people and planet. We have seen hundreds of thousands of people show up in support of te Tiriti o Waitangi, we know our communities will not stand for this.

“The Bill is the same tired politics we have seen time and time again from the Government, attacking Te Tiriti o Waitangi to make it easier for wealthy companies to exploit our whānau and our taiao for profit.

“For a Bill that claims to attempt to embed ‘good law-making’, the Bill has already breached te Tiriti o Waitangi in its policy development and has completely ignored the significant opposition and feedback provided in over 22,000 submissions.  

“The last time the Prime Minister showed up to Waitangi, he said that te Tiriti o Waitangi was our past, present, and future. As Prime Minister, it would be wrong for him to again ignore the findings of the Waitangi Tribunal and allow this Bill to proceed without real engagement with Māori on such constitutionally significant legislation.

“Governments come and go. Politicians come and go. Te Tiriti o Waitangi is foundational and enduring. Honouring te Tiriti o Waitangi is the constitutional obligation of every Prime Minister – something Christopher Luxon must take personal responsibility for by scrapping the Regulatory Standards Bill.

“Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua. Whatungarongaro te Kāwanatanga, toitū te Tiriti o Waitangi. People disappear, while the land remains. Governments come and go, while te Tiriti o Waitangi is forever,” says Marama Davidson.

Source: Argument for Lifting NZ Super Age

Traffic will be back using the Holland Road/Marshmeadow Road intersection on Wednesday 21 May, following final surfacing work for the safety upgrade of the State Highway 1B Telephone Road railway crossing.

While the road will reopen, the rail crossing on Telephone Road itself must remain closed for another couple of months until KiwiRail has completed their signalling work, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

“The signalling work is a vital part of the upgrade to safely allow vehicles to start using the Telephone Road rail crossing once again,” explains NZTA’s Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations, Roger Brady.

“We appreciate this has been a disruptive period and ask the Puketaha community to bear with us for just a couple more months until the crossing can fully reopen.”  

To prevent vehicles using the rail crossing, shipping containers will be installed across the road tomorrow and remain in place until KiwiRail have completed their work, which is expected to be in late July.

“Unfortunately pedestrian access across the rail crossing will also no longer be possible, including the Puketaha School students who have been able to walk across twice a day,” Mr Brady says.

Both Puketaha School and the Ministry of Education, who manage the school bus routes, have been notified.   

Alongside lowering the risk of vehicles damaging the rail tracks, NZTA has also added escape lanes to ensure vehicles do not get stuck on the crossing at busy times.

“As we hit the home stretch for the roading component of this project, we’d like to once more thank the community for your patience while SH1B Telephone Road remains closed at the rail crossing.”

Temporary traffic management will be in place until July showing the SH1B detour around Holland Road, Waverley Road and Seddon Road. This is the same detour that was in place from when the crossing first closed in 2022 until the start of the upgrade project in February this year.

KiwiRail media queries contact: Sue Allen Sue.Allen@kiwirail.co.nz