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Breaking ground on one of New Zealand's most important transport infrastructure projects – Warkworth to Te Hana – marks a significant step towards greater economic growth for Auckland, Northland and the upper North Island, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. Mr Bishop joined project partners, mana whenua and stakeholders today to turn the first sod on the Warkworth to Te Hana section of the Northland Expressway, kicking off construction on the first Road of National Significance in the wider Northland Corridor. "The Warkworth to Te Hana motorway will create a safer, more resilient and more reliable connection between Auckland and Northland, improving freight efficiency and making journeys easier for the thousands of people who use this corridor every day. "The motorway is expected to prevent 145 deaths and serious injuries over its lifetime, save motorists between seven and ten minutes per journey, and take around 1,000 heavy vehicles a day off the existing SH1 route through Wellsford and Te Hana." The motorway will connect directly to the 18-kilometre Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway, which opened in 2023, via a free-flow interchange at Woodcocks Road, providing an alternative to the existing State Highway 1 (SH1) route through the Dome Valley. The new route will begin west of Warkworth, pass east of Wellsford and Te Hana, and reconnect with SH1 near Waimanu Road. It will feature 15 bridges, two underpasses, numerous large culverts, 12 wetland stormwater treatment basins and twin tunnels through Kraack Hill above Dome Valley. "Northland's economic success depends on reliable transport links. This investment will help unlock growth opportunities, improve productivity and give businesses greater confidence that people and goods can move efficiently between Northland and Auckland," Mr Bishop says. "The project is expected to cost $3.65 billion in Net Present Value terms, covering NZTA management costs, design and construction, financing, maintenance and operations. It has a positive Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.6, including wider economic benefits, meaning the economic benefits are expected to outweigh the costs." Delivered through a Public Private Partnership, the project will be designed, built, financed, operated and maintained by the Northway consortium, alongside New Zealand partners including Downer New Zealand and AECOM. "The construction of this motorway will also provide a significant boost to the local economy, with around 60 per cent of physical works expenditure expected to flow through local supply chains. "The project will support around 400 site-based roles, growing to approximately 1,000 people during main construction. "Northway has also committed to supporting workforce development through internships, apprenticeships, graduate roles and school-to-work pathways, with a particular focus on opportunities for local communities, Māori and Pasifika." Initial work will focus on detailed design, site preparation and enabling works before major construction activity ramps up next year. The motorway is expected to open to traffic in 2033. "This project delivers on the Government's commitment to build the infrastructure New Zealand needs. Today's sod turning demonstrates progress on a motorway that will provide lasting benefits for generations to come," Mr Bishop says. Notes for editors: The Northway consortium comprises Acciona Concesiones SL, Aberdeen Investments, Global Sustainable Infrastructure GP IV Ltd and Acciona Construction New Zealand Ltd. The Project Agreement between the Crown and the Northway consortium was signed in July 2026.

Gisborne City and 10,000ha of some of the region’s most productive land are now better protected from flooding, following the completion of the Waipaoa Flood Control Scheme, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. “The people of Tairāwhiti can feel proud of what has been achieved here. Since 2019, approximately 64km of stopbanks along both sides of Waipaoa River have been widened and raised, providing a higher level of protection designed to withstand a one-in-100-year flood event,” Mr Jones says. “In key locations, stopbanks have been widened to up to 4m and raised by as much as 2m to protect communities and valuable food-producing land. “Cyclone Gabrielle demonstrated the importance of this work and the need to finish the job. Even before the project was fully completed, upgraded sections of the scheme provided greater protection for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land,” Mr Jones says. Mr Jones attended an event at Waipaoa River today to officially mark the completion of the scheme. Crown support for the scheme included a $7.5 million grant through the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund in 2020 and a further $18.4m through the Cyclone Recovery Programme in 2023. “These investments accelerated Gisborne District Council’s work, bringing the scheme’s completion forward by four years. The completed scheme will strengthen the region's resilience for decades to come, helping safeguard homes, transport links, public infrastructure, and the horticultural, viticultural and farming land that underpins the Tairāwhiti economy.” The total cost of the project was $35.1m and included $9.2m in co-funding from Gisborne District Council.

A new building at Mātai Medical Research Institute will expand medical research, specialist healthcare and education opportunities in Tairāwhiti, supported by a $20 million loan from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. “In its short history, Mātai has put Tairāwhiti on the map with what it has achieved in advanced medical imaging and neuroscience research. They are true pioneers in translating preventative and predictive healthcare research into real-world health solutions,” Mr Jones says. “This RIF investment will give Mātai the opportunity to bring more research, technology and health-related activity into Gisborne, and create opportunities for Tairāwhiti people to develop the skills needed to take part in that growth.” Mr Jones announced the funding from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) at a visit to Mātai today. The $28.4 million project involves the construction and fit-out of a new three-storey Mātai Innovation Centre adjacent to the Institute’s existing Mātai Imaging Research Centre building. It will include primary healthcare research facilities, specialist clinics, a day procedure unit, education spaces, and supporting infrastructure and parking. Once the new building is operational, it is expected Mātai will support more than 150 full- and part-time roles. It will also increase the Tairāwhiti region’s access to advanced medical research, diagnostic services and specialist healthcare services currently only available in larger centres. The ongoing development at Mātai continues to strengthen Tairāwhiti’s health science and innovation ecosystem, helping the region build a more diverse economy based on knowledge and innovation. Education and research placements at the centre are projected to double to more than 100 a year by 2035. “Mātai is creating pathways into education, research and high-skilled employment that would typically only be available in our big cities or overseas. It shows that cutting-edge research and innovation do not need to be concentrated in our biggest cities – our regions can and should be the drivers of innovation,” Mr Jones says. Construction of the new building will create approximately 70 jobs and is expected to be completed by April 2029, dependent on design milestones and consents being secured. Mātai is working closely with Trust Tairāwhiti and Gisborne Holdings Limited, the commercial arm of Gisborne District Council, as regional partners on the project.

Customs Minister Casey Costello is travelling to Tonga this evening to represent New Zealand at the official opening of the country’s second detector dog facility. “The new facility in Vava’u will help strengthen Tonga’s border and build local capability to combat organised crime and the drug trade,” Ms Costello says.  “Transnational, serious and organised crime (TSOC) is a growing challenge across the Pacific with criminal networks exploiting legitimate trade and travel to move illicit drugs, firearms and cash across borders. “New Zealand is committed to working with our Pacific neighbours to address this and the facility is a practical investment in Tonga’s security and that of the region.” New Zealand Customs and New Zealand Police worked alongside Tonga Police and Tonga’s Ministry of Revenue and Customs to deliver the project, with the facility being built locally. Vava’u has an international airport, and its port and regular yacht and small-craft traffic create an environment where strong border capability is important. The facility, located within the Tonga Police compound in Neiafu, will give Tonga’s detector dog teams a secure base on the island and will provide greater capability to screen passengers, baggage, cargo and maritime activity, and allow teams to deploy for longer periods in support of operations. The facility will be jointly owned by Tonga Police and Tonga Customs. “We want to work alongside Pacific partners in a way that supports their priorities and builds sustainable, locally led capability,” Ms Costello says. “The Pacific Detector Dog Programme is a great example of that approach, and the opening of this new facility represents another step in the partnership between our two nations.” In Tonga, three qualified detector dog teams are already operating out of Nuku’alofa, with two further teams - one Tonga Police team and one Tonga Customs team - currently training at the New Zealand Police Dog Training Centre in Trentham. These teams will provide the workforce required to support operations from the new Vava’u facility. The opening event is occurring Friday morning and will be attended by Tongan Deputy Prime Minister Dr Viliami Uasike Latu, the Minister of Revenue and Customs Hon Sevenitini Toumo’ua and the Governor of Vava’u, Lord Fakatulolo. Minister Costello will return to New Zealand tomorrow night. 

Northland will soon have a Rural Training Hub to help grow the rural health workforce and improve access to healthcare for communities across the region, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey announced today. “One in five New Zealanders live in rural communities, and they should not be disadvantaged when it comes to accessing timely, quality healthcare,” Mr Doocey says. “The Government is focused on fixing the basics and building the future by training more health professionals closer to the communities they will serve. “Rural communities know that when you train people locally, they’re far more likely to stay local. That’s exactly what these hubs are designed to do.” The Northland hub is the fourth Rural Training Hub to be rolled out nationally, following South Taranaki, Wairoa and the West Coast, which was announced earlier this year. The hub will support education and training across primary, community and hospital services, helping to build a rural health workforce that reflects the needs of local communities. “It will support students into clinical placements, create stronger training pathways and provide pastoral support to help attract and retain frontline health workers across Northland. “We know communities understand what works best for them. That’s why the hub will better align workforce planning with communities’ needs. “It will also give more people exposure to rural health careers and strengthen the pathway between undergraduate and postgraduate rural training. “This is a practical step towards strengthening rural health services and ensuring communities across New Zealand can access the care they need, closer to home.”

Those in need of mental health or addiction support will have another place to go with a new Crisis Recovery Café officially opening today in Lower Hutt, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “The new Café, Te Kāhua Ora, will provide a safe, welcoming place where people can talk to someone who understands what they are going through and get the support they need,” Mr Doocey says. “We know a busy ED is not always the best environment for someone experiencing mental distress. The new café will give people another place to go, without needing a referral, where they can access support from people with their own lived experience, including advocacy and help connecting with other services if needed.” “That’s why we are rolling out Crisis Recovery Cafés across the country, giving people more options to get support closer to home. “There is real power in having someone in the room who has their own lived experience and understands what it is like, and the rollout of more peer-led support like this has proved to be a real gamechanger for people. “Each community is different, which is why I have always said some of the best solutions already exist within our grassroots organisations, they just need to be backed. “Te Paepae Ārahi Trust has more than 30 years’ experience supporting people across the Hutt Valley and wider Wellington region and will work alongside Kites Trust to deliver the new café. “Kites Trust already delivers the peer support service in Wellington Hospital’s emergency department, helping support people who do need to present to an ED. “Together, these organisations bring valuable lived experience and local knowledge to help ensure people in Lower Hutt can access the support that works for them.” The café will open on Friday 30 October and will initially operate from 3pm to 9pm, Wednesday to Saturday. Opening hours will get reviewed to ensure they are meeting community needs. “Peer support specialists will also be introduced in Hutt Hospital’s emergency department, with the service expected to be operating by early 2027. “We are continuing to build a better future by delivering faster access to support, more frontline workers and a better crisis response.”

Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that Vanguard Prep School will open on the North Shore, Auckland in Term 1 next year, offering a new option for students in Years 7 to 10.   “Every child deserves the chance to learn and grow in ways which are more specific to their needs. Vanguard Prep School will give more students that opportunity,” Mr Seymour says.   "The team behind Vanguard Military School has shown they can connect with young people and help them succeed. They ran a successful charter school under the previous charter school programme. Despite this, Labour shut the charter school programme down.  “This new school is about bringing those strengths to younger students at a stage when good habits and self-belief can make a real difference.  “With a focus on discipline, leadership and academic achievement, Vanguard Prep School aims to help young people succeed at school and build strong foundations for their future.  “Drawing on the military ethos that underpins Vanguard's approach, students, known as recruits, will begin their day with a morning parade before moving into small academic classes focused on literacy, numeracy and core subjects.  "Afternoons will include physical training, team challenges and activities designed to develop teamwork, leadership and self-discipline.  “Every student will belong to a small section of around 20 students led by a dedicated teacher who works closely with both students and parents.  “While the school has a connection to Vanguard Military School, students attending Vanguard Prep will be set up with the skills they need to succeed at any secondary school they move on to.  “There are more ideas in the communities of New Zealand than there are in the Government. That’s why we open ideas to the wider community and apply strict  performance standards to the best ones.  “The charter school equation is: the same funding as state schools, plus greater flexibility plus stricter accountability for results, equals student success.  "Vanguard Prep School will provide another path for students and families seeking an education built around structure, high expectations, and academic excellence, and I look forward to seeing it open its doors next year.”

The Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is resigning, Defence Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Air Marshal Tony Davies has informed me that he’ll be resigning from his position as Chief of Defence Force, effective immediately.  “The reasons regarding his decision relate to integrity matters, that he did not previously disclose. We both agree his position is no longer tenable.  “I will be recommending to the Governor-General that she accepts Mr Davies’ resignation.  “I acknowledge his 42 years of service and his contribution to the New Zealand Defence Force, but note the circumstances of his resignation will be a great disappointment to the men and women of the Defence Force. “The Chief of Army, Major General Rose King, will act as Chief of Defence Force until Sunday. Then Vice Chief of Defence Force, Rear Admiral Mat Williams, will act as Chief of Defence Force. “Since this matter has now been referred to the Inspector General of Defence, I have nothing further to add.”

Associate Health Minister David Seymour has today welcomed Pharmac’s decision to extend the 12-month transitional access funding limit for Pertuzumab with trastuzumab (Phesgo) for people receiving treatment for certain types of breast cancer in private clinics. “In the past, when Pharmac funded a new cancer treatment, people already paying for that treatment privately are forced to make a very difficult choice: spend their savings to continue private treatment undisrupted, or transfer to a public hospital. The latter can be detrimental to their recovery,” Mr Seymour says. Under the Government's transitional access policy, cancer medicines funded by Pharmac after 1 July 2025 can be administered in private clinics for up to 12 months. “In December last year pertuzumab with trastuzumab (Phesgo) became the first cancer medicine available in private clinics for patients with metastatic or locally recurrent unresectable breast cancer,” Mr Seymour says.  “Pharmac has received requests from multiple private treatment centres asking that the 12-month limit be extended for people receiving this medicine. Pharmac has listened. This medicine will continue to be publicly funded for these patients in private settings. This will come as a huge relief to around 15 patients expected to exceed the 12 month funding limit in the next 6-12 months.  “Unlike many cancer treatments, which are usually completed within 12 months, Pertuzumab with trastuzumab is commonly used for longer periods. Treatment is normally continued until the cancer gets worse. As a result, many people receiving treatment through private clinics are approaching the 12-month funding limit and will soon be affected by the cap. “Extending the duration of treatment would allow people eligible for funded access to this medicine to continue receiving treatment in their current care setting without interruption. “The 12 month time limit will remain in place for all other cancer medicines. In cases where the limit may not give effect to the intention of the policy, it can be revisited. Phesgo appears to be an outlier under the current policy settings because its treatment duration commonly extends beyond the 12-month funding limit.  “Access to medicines is important to Kiwis and their families. That’s why this Government has been focussed on giving more people access to the medicines they need, in a location that works for them.   “Patients are reaping the benefits. Since this Government took over we’ve allocated Pharmac its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, and a $604 million uplift Pharmac. Since 1 December 2023, Pharmac has funded 50 new medicines and widened access to a further 98, with around 1,658,000 New Zealanders benefitting from these decisions in the first year of funding.”

A major upgrade of State Highway 76 Brougham Street in Christchurch is set to move into its second stage of key roading improvements, as a new pedestrian and cycle bridge prepares to open, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Downer has been appointed to carry out work on Stage Two of the SH76 Brougham Street Upgrade,” Mr Bishop says. “SH76 Brougham Street is one of Christchurch’s busiest streets and serves as the main freight route to the South Island’s largest port at Lyttelton. Congestion and delays have long been an issue, and with several schools and a retirement home close by, there have also been community concerns about safety. “The new pedestrian and cycle bridge is now in place over SH76 Brougham Street, between Collins and Simeon Streets, and will provide safe access for people over this busy road, reducing interactions between motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, and stoppages on SH76 Brougham Street. “The bridge is the centrepiece of Stage One of the SH76 Brougham Street Upgrade and NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) expects to have it completed and open to the public in November this year. Some further landscaping and finishing work near the bridge will close out Stage One by early 2027. “With a contractor now appointed for Stage Two, planning for this phase is underway and work on the ground is expected to begin in the new year. This second and final stage of the SH76 Brougham Street Upgrade will feature various improvements to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and make the route safer and easier for all users, including freight. “It will include improved traffic signals and upgraded intersections, T2 lanes (for vehicles with two or more occupants only), new signalised crossings, and improved walking and cycling infrastructure such as a shared path along the south side of SH76 Brougham Street. “NZTA will be working closely with the Christchurch City Council, which needs to do maintenance work on its underground services beneath SH76 Brougham Street. The organisations will work together to sequence roadworks, avoid digging up the same part of the street unnecessarily, and to minimise the impacts on all road users. “The SH76 Brougham Street Upgrade project is expected to be complete by mid-2029.” Notes to Editor:Cabinet confirmed funding for the SH76 Brougham Street upgrades to be drawn down from a tagged contingency set aside in Budget 2024 to enable NZTA to bring forward priority projects that would otherwise be phased to begin from 2027 onwards. The SH76 Brougham Street Upgrade is designated as one of the Government’s Roads of Regional Significance. Further detail about the SH76 Brougham Street Upgrade can be viewed at: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/sh76-brougham-street-upgrade/

Attorney-General Hon Chris Bishop has announced the appointment of Vanessa Curac as a District Court Judge.   Ms Curac has been practising law for 25 years, having started out as a solicitor for Oranga Tamariki, before becoming a Barrister in 2004, working in the Youth, Family and Criminal Courts.   Her practice has focussed on representing young people in the Youth Court, children in the Family Court and young adults in the District Courts in South Auckland.  She was a panel lawyer for survivors in the Abuse in State Care Inquiry from 2020-2024 and was the secretary of the South Auckland Bar Association for 4 years.  Ms Curac is based in Friendship Chambers in Manukau. Judge Curac will be based at the Whangarei District Court and is due to be sworn in on 30 November 2026, in Manukau.

Grants from the Regional Infrastructure Fund will support two marae to strengthen their ability to serve as community hubs and offer refuge in times of emergency, Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka say. A $4 million grant will go to Mataura Marae in the Southland town of Mataura. A $150,000 grant will also be provided from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to Takitimu Marae in Wairoa. The grant for Mataura Marae will enable the complex to be completed, building on its longstanding service to whānau and the wider community, Mr Patterson says. “Completing the marae will enhance its role as a focal point for strengthening cultural identity and connection for whānau Māori, while serving and supporting the whole community and extending its contribution to the wider eastern Southland area.” The project will involve completion of the wharekai (dining hall) and ablution facilities, along with accessibility improvements, structural strengthening, drainage and parking upgrades. Once completed, it will provide a safe, fit-for-purpose facility that can support and expand its existing role in health services, social programmes, community events and local service delivery. It will also strengthen the resilience of the flood-prone area, acting as a key piece of infrastructure during an emergency. “This project helps realise the vision of the Mataura and Districts Marae Charitable Trust, with work on the marae project beginning in the 1980s,” Mr Potaka says. “The grant will bring 40 years of public, philanthropic and community investment and generations of whānau commitment and voluntary effort to fruition.” The $150,000 grant to the Takitimu Marae Trust in Wairoa will be used to remediate damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. Both the wharenui (meeting house) and wharekai at Takitimu Marae were flooded during the cyclone. “This grant will restore the long-term resilience of the wharenui, protecting significant cultural heritage and taonga tuku iho (treasured historic items), and support the safe, healthy use of the building by whānau and the wider community,” Mr Potaka says. The Takitimu Marae wharenui is a significant local cultural landmark, having been built as a memorial to Sir James Carroll, one of New Zealand's most influential Māori political leaders and a son of Wairoa. “I’m thrilled that the mana of this historic marae building will be restored and whānau can safely enjoy their ancestral houses again.”