The fight to eradicate the yellow-legged hornet in Auckland is entering a critical phase as warmer weather increases the risk of any surviving queens emerging from winter, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says.
The response has already destroyed 77 queens and 132 nests, with no hornets seen since April.
“That’s encouraging, but we are not out of the woods yet.
“If any mated queens survived winter, they may start emerging in the coming weeks to build new nests.
“That is why we need Aucklan…
Patients at Hawke's Bay Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Hospital are getting home faster, with better planning freeing up more than 1,500 bed nights over the past year, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
"When a patient is well enough to leave, every extra night they spend on a ward is a night away from their family and their own routine. It also means that bed is not available for someone else who needs it," Mr Brown says.
A bed night is a single night in a single hospital bed, so each one freed up…
New Zealand tourism numbers are continuing to strengthen, with international visitor arrivals for July exceeding 2019 levels, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
Figures released today by Statistics New Zealand show 256,600 overseas visitor arrivals in July 2026, up 8.5 percent on July 2025 and surpassing July 2019 numbers.
“As we work to grow our second-largest export, today’s data shows that international tourism is continuing to build momentum. More visitors are choosing Ne…
The Government is confirming its clear and ambitious course for the future of te reo Māori with the refresh of the Maihi Karauna strategy, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says.
“Te reo Māori is a taonga and a defining part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s identity. This refreshed strategy is about ensuring the language is visible, valued and voiced.”
The Maihi Karauna is the Crown’s strategy for Māori language revitalisation across government and wider society, working alongside the Maihi …
Up to $580,000 in one-off Government funding will help New Plymouth’s Roderique Hope Trust and the YMCA Taranaki to support people experiencing homelessness into stable housing across the Taranaki region, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.
The funding will enable Roderique Hope Trust to lead the Taranaki Housing Pathways Initiative across New Plymouth and South Taranaki, with YMCA Taranaki delivering targeted outreach in New Plymouth.
“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Our…
Investment of $1 million is set to enhance Northland's Pou Herenga Tai Twin Coast Cycle Trail, improving the visitor experience, upgrading visitor facilities, and creating new cultural and tourism experiences, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
“This investment will help the trail attract more domestic and international visitors to the region while supporting local businesses and jobs,” Louise Upston says.
“Funding will enable improved trail infrastructure, better connections…
Waitlists for scans, colonoscopies, and heart tests have fallen sharply over the past year, with Health New Zealand exceeding the Government's delivery target for additional procedures to address long wait lists, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
Last year, the Government confirmed that it would deliver an additional 75,000 procedures across radiology, colonoscopy, cardiac, and colposcopy services. The results for that period are:
"This is what happens when we set clear targets and accountabi…
The Government will help improve the visitors’ experience to Kaikōura and support future tourism growth through an investment funded by the International Visitor Levy.
The $835,000 investment will improve facilities and arrival experiences for cruise visitors, enhance public spaces used by both visitors and locals, and create a more welcoming gateway into the township, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
“Kaikōura is one of New Zealand’s most distinctive visitor destinations, …
Regulation Minister David Seymour and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee have today announced the next steps in the implementation of the Ministry for Regulation’s Hospitality Sector Review.
“If we are going to unlock New Zealand’s potential, we need to let Kiwi businesses get on with business,” Mr Seymour says.
“The average lifespan of a café or restaurant is less than two years. The Review went straight to the source to find out why. The review received 247 written submissions, met dire…
Whangārei Hospital's new Child Health Centre was officially opened today, giving children, young people, and their families across Northland a purpose-built home for outpatient and community child health services, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
"Children and young people in Northland deserve to receive care in facilities that are built for them," Mr Brown says.
"This $35 million centre replaces an ageing children's clinic with a modern, welcoming space designed around the needs of children…
Work is officially underway on the Whangārei Hospital redevelopment, with the sod turned today on the site of the new acute services building and 158-bed ward tower, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
"Today marks a major milestone for Northland, as the Government continues to invest in the infrastructure Northlanders need to access timely, quality healthcare now and into the future," Mr Brown says.
"Much of Whangārei Hospital dates back to the 1950s and is no longer equipped to meet the needs…
Thousands of tonnes of waste will be diverted from landfill with a $4.7 million upgrade to waste recovery facilities in Taupō, Minister for the Environment Nicola Grigg announced today.
“A $2.3 million investment from the Waste Minimisation Fund, combined with equal funding from the Taupō District Council, will boost recovery and processing at the Broadlands Road Resource Recovery Centre.
“The current facility’s limited waste diversion capabilities mean skip and bin trucks go straight to landf…
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, Ministers, Councillors and iwi have officially opened Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) today, marking a turning point in the way New Zealand’s biggest city moves and grows.
After a decade of construction, commuters will be able to travel through the heart of the city by train from Sunday 13 September, when CRL stations open and a new rail timetable begins.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop says the opening is a historic moment for Auck…
The Government is strengthening support for New Zealand’s treasured backcountry hut and track network through the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Conservation (DOC) and the Backcountry Trust, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has announced.
“For nearly ten years, the Backcountry Trust has partnered with DOC to restore and maintain hundreds of huts and thousands of kilometres of tracks across the country — demonstrating what can be achieved when gover…
New Zealand's manufacturing sector has now expanded for 14 months in a row, with new data showing growth spreading across more of the industry, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Cameron Brewer says.
The BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) came in at 53.1 for August, above the survey's long-term average of 52.5. A reading above 50.0 shows the sector is expanding.
While the index eased from 54.3 in July, BNZ Senior Economist Doug Steel said the three-month average c…
Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown have confirmed appointments to the newly established Auckland Regional Transport Committee (ARTC), an important step in strengthening Auckland’s transport governance.
“The ARTC will play a critical role in aligning central and local government priorities and ensuring Auckland has a transport system that meets the needs of a growing city,” says Mr Bishop.
“For too long, Auckland’s transport system has suffered from fragmented decisi…
[11 September 2026, Te Waihorotiu Station, City Rail Link Official Opening]
Welcome to the tunnel, and in the words of Johnny Cash:
Thank you for the invitation to join you underground today in the brand-new City Rail Link. A special welcome to the new French Ambassador Francois Decoster, who presented his credentials on Wednesday.
Now, we are here as Minister for Rail – the word “for” is deliberate. We are for rail.
Our record is proof of that. Since 2019, the taxpayer has invested $2.4 bil…
Thank you all for joining us here today.
Can I acknowledge the Prime Minister, the Minister for Rail, the Mayor of Auckland, my Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and Councillors – and those of you who have held those roles in the past.
I want to especially recognise today the thousandsof tunnellers, engineers, electricians, specialists and planners, without who this project would not have been possible.
The apprentices who came onto this project as school leavers and will walk of…
The Government’s plan to ensure secure, affordable electricity for New Zealanders is working, with data today showing new records for renewable generation and a significant drop in wholesale electricity prices, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.
Data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment for the three months ended 30 June this year shows:
“These are significant wholesale price decreases, reflecting a number of factors including the Government’s decision to procure an LNG impor…
Revenue Minister Simon Watts says a Bill introduced into the House today will help grow the economy by reducing compliance costs, simplifying rules and removing unnecessary obligations.
“My aim is for a world-leading tax system, and these sensible changes bring us a step closer to that. For fringe benefit tax, we’re proposing a much simpler ‘close enough is good enough’ approach to employer-provided vehicles.” Mr Watts says.
“Rather than requiring detailed records and logbooks, employers would…