Wednesday, April 1, 2026

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Simeon Brown




Health NZ shifts powers to regions and hospitals – Brown

Health New Zealand will shift more operational decision-making to regional and district levels from 1 July, under changes announced by Simeon Brown aimed at...

Covid Inquiry exposes Labour failures on lockdowns, mandates and delayed decisions

The second phase of New Zealand’s Covid-19 Royal Commission has found that while the country’s pandemic response achieved its main public health goals, the...

New $10.5m neonatal unit for Hutt Hospital

Construction on a new neonatal unit at Hutt Hospital will begin in April 2026, in a $10.5 million project aimed at expanding specialist care...

New appointments to Nursing Council announced

Health Minister Simeon Brown has today announced four appointments to the Nursing Council of New Zealand. The newly appointed members are: Alex Gordon – Lay...

Brown orders review into ManageMyHealth cyber breach

Health Minister Simeon Brown has ordered a government review into the response to a cyber security breach involving the privately operated patient portal Manage...

New Crown directors appointed to Airways and Kiwi Group Capital boards

State Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown has announced the appointment of two new Crown directors to the boards of Airways and Kiwi Group Capital,...

New imaging scanner at Wellington Hospital to ‘improve diagnosis and patient care’, says Brown

Wellington Regional Hospital has installed a new SPECT-CT scanner featuring the latest imaging technology, promising faster scans, improved image quality and reduced radiation exposure...

Health workers on nationwide strike over pay dispute

Around 17,000 health workers across New Zealand are striking today for the second time in a month after mediation between the Public Service Association...

Brown pushes digital health overhaul

The Government is pitching its new 10-year "digital health roadmap" as a cure-all for delays and paperwork, but many of the promises hinge on...

New safeguards on puberty blockers introduced

The Government has signed off on new restrictions governing the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues — commonly known as puberty blockers — while ensuring...

Massive petition delivered to parliament urging urgent fix to ‘broken’ health system

A massive petition demanding urgent government action to repair New Zealand’s “broken” health system was delivered to Parliament, stretching an estimated 276 metres across...

Pharmac to fund five new treatments from December

Pharmac will fund access to five new or improved treatments from December 2025, including medicines for breast and lung cancer, multiple sclerosis, and serious...

Te Kūiti Hospital marks 100 years

Te Kūiti Hospital has celebrated its 100-year anniversary, marking a century of service at the heart of the King Country community. Health Minister Simeon Brown...

‘AI Scribe Tool’ to be rolled out to 1,000 emergency doctors

An artificial intelligence scribe tool will soon be deployed to 1,000 doctors and frontline staff in emergency departments nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown has...

Medical device procurement overhauled

Medical device procurement in New Zealand is set for a major shake-up, with the Government announcing a new two-agency system aimed at "improving efficiency,...

Clergy chain themselves at Willis’ office demanding action on Israel

Nine clergy members have chained themselves together outside Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ electorate office in Johnsonville, Wellington, pledging to fast and remain overnight in...

Landcorp launches new ‘Livestock Equity Partnerships’

State-owned farming company Landcorp has unveiled a new livestock equity partnership scheme aimed at helping farm operators build equity and strengthen the future of...

Government programme draws interest from foreign doctors

A new Government-funded training programme to boost New Zealand’s strained primary care workforce has received 184 expressions of interest from overseas-trained doctors, surpassing the...

Calls for accountability after autistic 11-year-old mistakenly detained in Mental Health Unit

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has expressed deep distress over the wrongful detention of an autistic, non-verbal 11-year-old girl who was mistaken for a 20-year-old...

New High Dependency Unit will expand critical care services in Wellington – Brown

Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened Wellington Regional Hospital’s first High Dependency Unit (HDU). “This unit will boost critical care services in the...

Brown outlines 5 key health priorities

Health Minister Simeon Brown has today released his five key priorities for Health New Zealand in a speech to the BusinessNZ Health Forum in...

Luxon reshuffles cabinet

Summary of changes made to cabinet announced by PM Christopher Luxon today. Shane Reti: Lost the Health portfolio to Simeon Brown. Gained the new role...

Luxon’s reshuffle to focus on health and economy, Reti expected to lose key portfolio – reports

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s first major reshuffle since forming the government in December 2023 is set to shift focus to health and economic challenges,...

Funding increase for critical maritime rescue communication upgrades

The Government has announced a funding package to upgrade the communication networks for Maritime New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand, aiming to enhance search...

‘Demoracy restored’ to Auckland Transport – Brown

The Government is restoring democratic accountability to transport decision-making in Auckland, ensuring voters can hold their elected representatives responsible for the city's transport policies,...

Local government expert appointed as Crown Observer for Wellington

Wellington City Council will welcome experienced local government practitioner Lindsay McKenzie as a Crown Observer to help address ongoing financial and governance issues, Local...

Extended train closures in Auckland for City Rail Link upgrades set to last until 2026

Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced that Auckland's train system will face up to 96 days of full closures until January 2026 to allow for...

Crown Observer to be appointed for Wellington City Council over financial concerns

The government is set to appoint a Crown Observer to Wellington City Council, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown announced today. This move follows months of...

New policy aims to ensure affordable and secure electricity – Brown

The government has outlined its commitment to delivering affordable and secure electricity through the release of its Government Policy Statement (GPS) on electricity, Energy...

Northland transmission tower collapse report released

The Electricity Authority’s report into the collapse of a Northland transmission tower on 20 June 2024 that left 88,000 people without power has been...

Drunk and drugged drivers targeted by new road policing programme

Drunk drivers and drugged drivers will be heavily targeted to improve safety on NZ roads by the new $1.3 billion Road Policing Investment Programme...

Former Hastings Mayor appointed as Crown Manager

Lawrence Yule has been appointed Crown Manager to Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced. “I am pleased...

Government aims to deliver ’24 hour pothole repairs’

95 per cent of potholes on High Volume, National, and Arterial state highways to be repaired within 24 hours of identification. 85 per cent of...

Fuel efficiency standards eased for imported cars

The New Zealand government has relaxed standards for improving fuel efficiency in new cars, aligning with Australia's less stringent regulations. Transport Minister Simeon Brown stated...

Union defends Auckland bus driver following criticism over racial attack incident

In response to Transport Minister Simeon Brown's criticisms, First Union has defended an Auckland bus driver who did not intervene during a racially motivated...

Aratere grounding: Government criticises KiwiRail

Transport Minister Simeon Brown told media the government was disappointed in KiwiRail's asset management following the grounding of the Interislander ferry Aratere near Picton. The...

Interislander ferry Aratere runs aground near Picton due to steering failure

The Interislander ferry Aratere ran aground just outside Picton following a steering failure on Friday night. The vessel, carrying 47 people, including eight commercial vehicle...

Government welcomes smelter agreement

The signing of individual 20-year bilateral long-term contracts between the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS), Meridian Energy, Contact Energy, and Mercury NZ will provide...

Government progresses Māori wards legislation – Simeon Brown

The coalition Government’s legislation to restore the rights of communities to determine whether to introduce Māori wards has passed its first reading in Parliament,...

‘Driving ahead with Roads of Regional Significance’ – Simeon Brown

The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority...

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