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Our Government continues to be fully focused on our response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
We know that families across the country are feeling the pressure of rising fuel costs on household budgets.
Education remains a top priority for National. In challenging times, we remain absolutely committed to raising student achievement, lifting attendance, and building the skills and capability our economy needs for the long term.
A $37 million investment will see the accelerated replacement of diesel boilers in up to 70 schools nationwide. This will provide warmer classrooms, lower long-term running costs, and reduced reliance on diesel – saving an estimated 600,000 litres every year.
For rural, isolated, and small communities, these pressures are even greater. That’s why our Government has announced immediate, targeted support for these school communities, as part of its wider response to the fuel crisis.
Following direct consultation with every school, the Ministry of Education has rolled out practical support where it’s needed most. Small, rural, and isolated schools often have fewer options to absorb rising transport and heating costs, and these measures recognise that reality.
To support staffing in rural areas, relief teacher transport milage rates will be temporarily increased. Car reimbursement will more than double, and motorbike rates will also rise, helping schools attract relief teachers without passing costs onto staff.
Small schools with fewer than 100 students will receive a one-off $2,500 grant to help manage higher milage costs. In addition, the conveyance allowance will temporarily increase by 30%, reducing transport costs for rural families and benefiting around 5,000 additional students.
These measures follow the Government’s approach to the fuel crisis: temporary, timely, and targeted support for those who need it most.
We are also making changes to the remit for pharmacists that will help support Kiwis with the cost of living.
I know that getting a GP appointment can be difficult – especially for busy parents needing timely care for their children. While wait times can be frustrating, there’s good news on the horizon. Our Government’s changes to expand the role of community pharmacists is a practical and welcome step towards making healthcare more accessible.
From June, parents will be able to get faster, more affordable treatment for common childhood conditions at their local pharmacy. Participating pharmacists will be able to assess symptoms, provide consultations, and supply publicly funded medicines for issues like pain and fever, oral rehydration, head lice, scabies, and conjunctivitis, helping more families get access to quality and timely healthcare, when and where they need it.
At the moment, families often face a frustrating choice – pay full over the counter prices or try to secure a GP appointment just to access subsidised treatment. These changes offer a third option, one that recognises pharmacists as the highly trained health professionals they are and makes better use of healthcare services that already exist in our communities.
Pharmacies are among the most accessible health services in many neighbourhoods. By expanding their role, we can improve local availability of funded treatment, reduce pressure on GP clinics, and make it easier for families to get timely care when appointments aren’t immediately available.
To support the delivery of these services nationwide, Health New Zealand has established a $5 million per year Extended Pharmacy Services Fund, and Pharmac will update the Pharmaceutical Schedule to support direct provision of funded medicines under existing pharmacy agreements.
This is a practical approach focused on access, affordability, and convenience. Our Government’s approach is to ensure Kiwis can get the right care, at the right time, close to home, making the health system work better for families who rely on it every day. -Hon. Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand