Voting will begin shortly (subs: Tues 26 Jan) for the Whangārei Urban seat left vacant by the resignation of former Northland Regional Councillor John Bain late last year.

Jobs for Nature funding is being made available to conservation groups and landowners to employ staff and contractors in a move aimed at boosting local biodiversity-focused projects, Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allan has announced.

The Government has approved an exception class for 1000 international tertiary students, degree level and above, who began their study in New Zealand but were caught offshore when border restrictions began.

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Rotorua Lakes District Council to urgently release the engineering report on the public safety and structural integrity of the visible foundation-misalignment and lean of the City’s Hemo Gorge monument to government waste.

The National Iwi Chairs Forum [NICF] Pandemic Response Group has today issued six priority recommendations to the Government.

Today’s deal between Meridian and Rio Tinto for the Tiwai smelter to remain open another four years provides time for a managed transition for Southland.

"The Government’s inability to provide clarity on when the Covid-19 vaccines it has purchased will arrive is alarming and deserves a much better explanation," says ACT Leader David Seymour.

The Government’s prudent fiscal management and strong policy programme in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic have been acknowledged by the credit rating agency Fitch.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appointed Anna Curzon to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

The leader of each APEC economy appoints three private sector representatives to ABAC. ABAC provides advice to leaders annually on business priorities.

The Government needs to change the way arrivals from the United Kingdom and other high risk destinations are being treated and adopt stricter rules in MIQ for high risk arrivals, National’s Covid-19 Response spokesperson Chris Bishop says.