The Government will remove a key barrier to creating underground gas storage by ending the requirement for developers to pay royalties on gas that is unlikely to be extracted or sold, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “Across the world, underground gas storage is a proven way of improving flexibility and resilience in energy systems. There are already proposals being explored that could significantly expand New Zealand’s storage capacity, and we want to ensure unnecessary regulatory barriers are not standing in the way of those investments,” Mr Jones says. “Gas production is relatively st…

Investor migrants in the Active Investor Plus Growth category will soon be able to invest in approved managed funds supporting Build to Rent developments. In December 2026, Growth category applicants will be able to include Build to Rent as part of their overall investment in New Zealand. “Active Investor Plus is designed to attract experienced investors who can make a meaningful contribution to New Zealand’s economy,” Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says. “The Growth category is particularly focused on investment that supports business growth, innovation and productivity. Adding Build …

Results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 indicate achievement is stabilising after years of decline but more needs to be done to lift performance, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. New Zealand students remain above the OECD average across all three subjects, ranking ninth in reading, tenth in science, and 16th in mathematics. These results are broadly similar to PISA 2022. Positively, New Zealand students were amongst the highest performers in computational problem-solving, which was part of the 2025 PISA focus area, Learning in the Digital World. Ne…

Wills Month highlights how Kiwis can leave a charitable legacy for the next generation, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “Between now and 2050, New Zealand is expected to experience the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in its history. Inheritances are estimated to total $1.6 trillion. “As wealth passes between generations over the coming decades, there is an opportunity to create a legacy to benefit communities for years to come,” Louise Upston says. It comes as new research commissioned by Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ found givers view their g…

The Government has renewed the deployment of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel in support of Ukraine’s self-defence, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Paul Goldsmith say. “New Zealand’s condemnation of Russia’s aggression and of the atrocities committed in Ukraine remains undiminished. We are fully committed to supporting the people of Ukraine,” Mr Peters says. “The brave Ukrainian men and women who have been fighting for years deserve our support for their courage and fortitude. We will continue to play our part alongside other likeminded partners in the internat…

Staff and students at ten schools with significant roll growth pressure will benefit from 34 additional classrooms and a new gym, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. The $32.8 million investment has been made possible through savings in the school property portfolio. Since July 2024, more efficient planning, prioritisation and delivery has generated over $330 million in savings to be reinvested into school property. “Every dollar we save through more efficient delivery is put into the classrooms and facilities schools need,” Ms Stanford says. “We are focused on getting better value from…

An independent review into mental health and addiction telehealth services has been released today, alongside new initiatives that respond directly to its findings, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey has announced. “We are acting swiftly to implement the findings of the review, accepting all recommendations. Today I am announcing further immediate actions we are taking to respond to the report, building on the recently announced telehealth package,” Mr Doocey says. “The review provides reassurance that core safety systems are in place, including triage, risk assessment, escalation processes,…

With the growing impacts of disasters globally, it is critical that countries work together to reduce risk, strengthen preparedness, and support more resilient communities. This Memorandum of Cooperation reflects our shared commitment to learning from one another and improving how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from future events,” Minister Mitchell says. “New Zealand and Japan share a deep understanding of the impacts disasters can have on communities. As we mark 15 years since both the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami and the Christchurch earthquake tragedies, we remember ho…

Thousands of food business staff have benefitted from the Government’s new online food safety courses so far, with the third free module in the series going live today, says Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard. “The Food Safety Basics training modules launched just four months ago have been well received by food businesses,” says Mr Hoggard. “More than 7,000 people have accessed the first module introducing food safety and over 3,000 the most recently launched one on hygiene. “Food businesses are a critical part of our economy, and the Government is committed to finding and removing obstacl…

The world's top squash players will compete in the 2028 PSA Squash World Championships in Auckland, supported by a $1 million investment from the Government's Major Events Fund, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston announced today. “The World Championships are one of the most prestigious events in world squash. I’m proud for New Zealand to host players and crowds from around the world at the New Zealand International Convention Centre in February 2028,” Louise Upston says. "Securing the PSA Squash World Championships is a fantastic win for New Zealand, for Auckland and for the futu…

Transport Minister Chris Bishop says a $740 million state highway renewal programme for the upcoming summer construction season, funded through the National Land Transport Fund, will help deliver smoother, safer and more reliable journeys for New Zealanders. The investment forms part of the record $2.15 billion allocated to state highway maintenance and renewals through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme, supporting the Government’s focus on maintaining existing infrastructure and getting better value from public assets. "Looking after roads before they deteriorate delivers better…

An industry-led initiative to help Taranaki firms pursue large-scale procurement opportunities has been accelerated by a Regional Infrastructure Fund grant of $3 million, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The Taranaki Alliance aims to help local companies secure more than $100m in contracts over its first three years, supporting the retention or redeployment of hundreds of skilled roles in the oil and gas sector. “Taranaki has a huge amount of expertise and experience in engineering, logistics and manufacturing due to decades of oil and gas sector work. These firms are now look…