Diplomatic Incident
OPINION: Your old mate hears an international incident is threatening to blow up the long-standing Anzac alliance as Kiwis and Aussies argue over who wants new Australian resident and former NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
The government has announced a $300 million dollar capital investment in health, with $26 million going to regional and rural service projects.
The remaining of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme investment will be dispersed into three other areas: $83 million towards child and maternal health, $96 million for mental health and addiction, and $75 million towards upgrading hospital facilities.
The government has also added a contingency of $20 million.
“This Government has made real progress rebuilding and strengthening our hospitals and public health services,” says health minister David Clark.
“In fact, we’ve invested more into upgrading our hospitals in our first two budgets ($2.45 billion) than the previous government managed in nine years. That’s a reflection both of the scale of the challenges we inherited, and the importance this Government places on health and wellbeing.
“Today we’re announcing further investment of $300 million into areas we know will make a real difference to people’s lives.
“That’s particularly true in child and maternal health, which will receive an $83 million capital boost.
“The Prime Minister’s ambition is to make New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child. To support that, we’re investing in expanded neonatal intensive care to help our most vulnerable new-borns, and in maternity care for expectant mothers.”
Farm workers living in accommodation provided by their employers are now set to be able to access their KiwiSaver funds to buy their first home thanks to a pending change in the rules governing KiwiSaver.
Treat agricultural emissions differently. That’s the message from the chair of the prestigious Riddet Institute, Sir Lockwood Smith.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc and Pacific Toyota have pulled the covers off the season's most unique performance vehicle - The Lamb Cruiser.
The 2026 New Zealand Horticulture Conference is set to see more than 900 growers, employers, service providers and industry stakeholders gather in Wellington in July.
New Zealand's longest running television programme, the iconic Country Calendar, celebrated its 60th birthday in style in Wellington last week.
State farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) has announced Dave Nuku is its new Associate Director, joining the board as an observer from 1 March 2026.