NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Government

A new national intellectual property (IP) policy will give New Zealand researchers more control over their inventions and greater opportunities to turn world-class ideas into commercial success, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Dr Shane Reti announced today.

“New rules for managing intellectual property will ensure our brightest minds are incentivised and supported to turn ideas into impact,” says Dr Reti. 

“This approach will foster and drive more innovation so Kiwi-made discoveries reach New Zealanders and the world faster, improving lives, creating jobs and driving economic growth.”

Under the policy:

• University researchers will have the first right to commercialise their inventions.
• Researchers can commercialise independently or work with their university for support.
• Where universities help, their equity stake in any spin-out company in exchange for a standard level of support will be capped at around five to ten per cent, ensuring inventors retain the majority of benefits.
• Public research organisations will continue to have the first right to take discoveries to market, but if they choose not to, they must give the inventors the opportunity to take the lead themselves.

“Whether it’s developing new medicines, climate solutions or high-tech industries, this policy puts our world-class scientists in the driver’s seat,” Dr Reti says. 

“By giving researchers more control and clearer rewards, we’re turning great ideas into jobs, industries, and solutions for global challenges.”

Currently, each university and research organisation manages IP differently, and institutions often claim ownership of discoveries made by their researchers. This can limit inventors’ ability to commercialise their work and drive growth.

Dr Reti says the national policy will replace this patchwork system with clear, fair rules that reward inventors directly and encourage more commercialisation.

“We’re removing the handbrake on innovation. This policy creates the right incentives for researchers to take their ideas to market with the confidence that they’ll share directly in the benefits.”

From 1 July 2026, the new national IP management policy will apply to most research projects funded through the Science, Innovation and Technology portfolio.

“Our goal is simple. To make it easier for great Kiwi research to become great Kiwi products. This new IP policy is about making smart choices for a better tomorrow – unlocking the full potential of our research talent to deliver jobs, growth, and solutions for the challenges ahead,” Dr Reti says.

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  13 November 2025

Further good news from the fire ground: no new fire activity was identified yesterday by ground crews and drone surveys.

With more precise mapping we now have updated figures revealing fire has affected 2,935 ha of Tongariro National Park. This is over varied terrain including, sub-alpine scrub, alpine scrub, wetlands, frost flats and pockets of kaikawaka forest.

Following the smooth transition of fire management from Fire and Emergency New Zealand to the Department of Conservation, the situation will continue to be managed by the local DOC office, with out-of-town DOC firefighter crews heading home. The local office will continue to ensure appropriate fire containment and safety assessments occur as they start to look towards recovery and restoration of the impacted area.

Contact

Source: New Zealand Police

Culverden Road/State Highway 7, Culverden, Hurunui, is blocked due to a serious crash this afternoon.

Police were called to the single-vehicle crash, between Long Plantation Road and School Road, around 12pm.

Initial indicators are that there are critical injuries.

The Serious Crash Unit has been advised, and the road is expected to remain blocked for some time while emergency services work at the scene.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area where possible and expect delays.

ENDS

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has introduced the Land Transport (Revenue) Amendment Bill to Parliament, taking the next step towards a fairer, simpler, and more modern transport funding system.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop says the Bill makes important changes across both the road user charges and tolling frameworks, ensuring New Zealand is ready for the next generation of road building.

“A core principle of our transport funding system is fairness: that all road users should contribute in proportion to their use of the roads,” Mr Bishop says.

A stronger, more flexible tolling system to deliver new roads

Mr Bishop says the Bill makes important improvements to tolling – a key tool for delivering the Government’s Roads of National Significance programme.

“Tolling helps us bring forward investment and build the roads New Zealand needs sooner. The Bill provides the flexibility required to support major projects, including our new Roads of National Significance.

“Key changes include enabling ‘corridor tolling’, which allows tolling on parts of an existing road where users receive clear, demonstrable benefits from a new project in the same corridor.

“The Bill also introduces new tools to manage diversion from toll roads, including the ability to restrict heavy vehicles from using unsuitable alternative routes, and allowing toll revenue to help fund maintenance of alternative roads when councils are unable to do so.

“To make tolling fairer and more predictable for users, the Bill mandates annual CPI adjustments instead of ad-hoc increases. And to improve collection efficiency, liability for paying a toll will shift from the driver to the registered person.

“These changes will give us a more consistent, more flexible tolling framework so that we can deliver big road upgrades faster and support regional economic growth.”

A modernised RUC system

“The Bill also provides improvements to the outdated RUC system. It was designed in the 1970s and still relies on manual paperwork and paper licences,” Mr Bishop says.

“Right now, drivers paying RUC have to track their odometer readings and stick paper labels to their windscreen. 

“This Bill enables new payment models like subscriptions or post-payment, and allows private companies to offer easy, set-and-forget billing options – similar to how many of us already pay for power or streaming services.

“It also future-proofs the system by allowing accurate in-vehicle technology to record distance, and separates NZTA’s regulatory role from its retail role so third-party providers compete on a level playing field.

“These changes are the first step towards replacing petrol tax with RUC for light petrol vehicles. We’ll assess the improved system in 2027 before deciding on next steps for transitioning the remaining 3.5 million vehicles.”

Next steps

Following its first reading, the Bill will be considered by the Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee. The legislation is expected to pass in 2026.

Notes to editor: 

A Request for Information (RFI) will be released on the GETS website later in November to test options with potential market providers on the design of new third-party RUC payment services.

The RUC system currently applies to all diesel vehicles, heavy vehicles (over 3.5 tonnes), and light electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrids. These changes will improve the system for existing users and prepare it for the eventual transition of 3.5 million light petrol vehicles.

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has accepted or partially accepted all the recommendations made by the Finance and Expenditure Committee’s inquiry into banking competition.  

The inquiry examined the state of banking competition with a focus on business and rural banking, as well as lending to Māori entities. 

Nicola Willis says the select committee’s findings echo many of the findings of the Commerce Commission’s report on personal banking services last year. 

“The inquiry’s findings highlighted concerns about the high levels of banking profitability and market concentration, barriers to entry for other players, and regulatory settings.

“The Government has been progressing all the recommendations in the Commerce Commission’s report. They include giving Kiwibank’s parent company the go-ahead to raise additional capital and requiring the Reserve Bank to place greater emphasis on banking competition across a range of policies and actions.” 

Scott Simpson says that in response to the select committee inquiry, he will be writing to banks encouraging them to:

standardise financial information and use digital technologies to help customers compare products and loan options across banks; and
disclose profitability on transaction, on-call and savings accounts.

“I will also be writing to the Financial Markets Authority asking it to consider broadening its regulatory sandbox trail which allows firms to test innovative products and services in a controlled environment. 

“Work is also underway on a single licensing model to cut red tape for innovative financial services. 

“This Government is committed to driving competition in the banking sector, encouraging innovation and delivering a better deal for consumers.

“Monitoring and reporting on the committee’s recommendations will be coordinated by the Treasury.”