New Zealand

UPDATE: Our best April Fool's yet! In a stunning turn of events, whatsoninvers.nz can exclusively reveal that New Zealand may soon become the 51st state of the United States. Sources indicate that the groundwork for this historic partnership has been quietly but rapidly developing, culminating in a

* Government confirms two new Cook Strait ferries will enter service by Christmas 2029 * Ferries will carry cars, trucks and up to 40 rail wagons on each sailing * Project to reuse port infrastructure, reducing taxpayer cost compared to cancelled iReX plan Two new Interislander ferries with both rail and road capability

* Simeon Brown criticised Health NZ for engaging in advocacy unrelated to healthcare delivery. * Brown cited examples including fast food opposition, raffle bans, and transport policy. * The Health Minister urged Health NZ to focus on improving immunisation rates and care access. New Zealand’s Minister of Health, Simeon Brown, has criticised

* JB Hi-Fi’s net income rose 8% to $285.4 million, driven by strong sales growth. * New Zealand sales surged 20%, with online sales jumping 58.4% to NZ$32.4 million. * JB Hi-Fi Invercargill celebrates its first birthday on 20 February. JB Hi-Fi has reported a significant increase in

* The adult minimum wage will rise to $23.50 an hour from April 2025. * The increase supports workers while balancing economic recovery and business stability. * Starting-out and training wage rates remain at 80 per cent of the adult rate. The adult minimum wage in New Zealand will increase by 1.

* The Government is increasing medical school placements to train more New Zealand doctors. * Funding will support graduate doctors and nurses in primary care settings across the country. * A new 24/7 digital healthcare service will improve access to medical consultations. The Government has announced a major package aimed at tackling

The Government has agreed to introduce legislation that will enable a four-year term of Parliament subject to a referendum, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As stipulated in the National-Act coalition agreement, the Bill is modelled on the ACT Party’s draft Constitution (Enabling a 4-Year Term) Amendment Bill. “This means

* Government aims to speed up approval of agricultural and horticultural products to boost productivity. * Review recommends halving approval times, potentially saving $272 million over 20 years. * Industry welcomes changes but urges swift action to rebuild confidence in the system. The Government has announced plans to cut red tape for agricultural