News

A new cyclone levy, to pay for the recovery of the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, has been ruled out by the Government in the upcoming Budget.

Due to strong demand and further need for support from cyclone-affected businesses, the Government has approved another $25 million boost in business support grants, to be distributed via local agencies on the ground, to help get businesses back up and running as quickly as possible. 

32 roles from the health sector have recently been added to the Straight-to-Residence pathway of the Green List to help prepare our health system for the coming winter.

From 13 April, employers can expect to gain access to thousands more working holiday-makers as the Government has announced an increase in the Spain Working Holiday Scheme annual quota (from 200 to 2,000 places).

Over 600 migrant workers have been successful in their applications for the new Recovery Visa, and are set to provide expertise in construction, engineering and heavy machine operation to aid domestic skilled workers in our cyclone and flooding recovery effort.

Moananui - Blue Economy Cluster is a new government project, in partnership with local businesses and regional leaders, that aims to accelerate growth and boost jobs in the Nelson Tasman region.

Businesses in cyclone-affected regions are receiving a further $25 million in grants from the Government to assist with their recovery. Additionally, the Rangitata vessel has been chartered for an emergency coastal route between Gisborne and Napier, with the potential for expansion.

Across New Zealand, around 50,000 school and kindergarten teachers are preparing for a strike this Thursday as part of their campaign to secure pay and working condition improvements.

As the cost of doing business increases across the board, including Healthcare, the Government announced that it will top up payments to non-contracted ACC providers to ensure treatment cost stays low for injured New Zealanders.

Also in today's Bulletin:

Immigration Minister, Hon Michael Wood, has just announced the new Recovery Visa created to attract specialist workers into the country to support our rebuild efforts in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle and the flooding event in Auckland.

As some of our regions recover from the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, the Government has announced support packages to aid the response to this disaster.