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This World Water Day: Clean Water Is More Than Survival — It’s a Pathway to Women’s Empowerment – World Vision
Source: World Vision
- A quarter of the world’s population don’t have access to safe drinking water
- Women and girls are especially impacted, with some walking up to 15 kilometres for water
- World Vision aims to reach 30 million people with clean water by 2030.
This World Water Day, World Vision New Zealand is putting the spotlight on the global water crisis as a quarter of the world’s population still cannot access safe drinking water.
More than 2 billion people globally lack access to safe drinking water, with women and girls bearing the greatest burden. In some communities, women walk up to 15 kilometres a day to collect water — a task that can consume hours and limit their opportunities for education, work and participation in community life.
World Vision New Zealand International Partnerships Director Stephen Court says it is unacceptable that so many people are still denied access to such a basic human right.
“It’s unacceptable that in 2026 a quarter of the world’s population still doesn’t have access to safe drinking water. Clean water is a basic human right, yet millions of families are forced to live without it.
Without safe water, disease spreads, children miss school, and women are prevented from participating fully in work and community life. It traps families in a cycle of poverty that should no longer exist.”
New World Vision research in Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, finds that combining water access with behaviour change and economic empowerment activities can create lasting impact.
This family-centred approach integrates water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services with financial literacy training, savings groups, livelihood support, and engagement around social norms.
Court says when this approach is adopted women report higher personal income and household savings, greater participation in financial decisions, increased confidence, and stronger leadership within their communities.
He highlights the changes seen in Rumate, Kenya, where women once walked up to four hours a day to collect water, often returning with only a fraction of what their families needed.
After a borehole was installed in the community, women no longer had to spend hours collecting water and instead had time to pursue income-generating activities. Many formed savings groups, which enabled them to start small businesses and invest in their families.
“Access to safe water didn’t just meet a basic need — it unlocked opportunity,” says Court.
“When safe water is close to home, women gain something incredibly valuable: time. That time can be used to earn an income, participate in community life and invest in their families’ futures.”
The impact extends far beyond individual households.
“In many communities, the time women and girls spend collecting water goes unseen and undervalued. When safe water is accessible, women gain time, income opportunities and a stronger voice in their households and communities.
World Vision reaches one new person with clean water every 10 seconds, and we are aiming to reach 30 million people with clean water between 2023 and 2030.”
Court says this World Water Day, the message is clear: “Safe water is about far more than survival. It is the foundation for dignity, equality, and opportunity. When women gain access to clean water, they gain time, income, and influence — and entire communities thrive.”
New Zealanders who want to help ensure children have access to safe drinking water can support World Vision through its Gift Catalogue, which includes the option to provide clean water for a child: https://www.worldvision.org.nz/give-now/smiles-gift/#/product/smiles-clean-water-for-a-child
Notes
Key stats and findings can be found in the Beyond Access research.
Video from Rumate, Kenya:
How women transformed their village - here
About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.
Events – Record number of schools set to compete at 2026 National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships
Source: Waka Ama Aotearoa NZ
A record 142 secondary schools and 2,300 participants from across Aotearoa will gather at Lake Tikitapu next week for the 2026 Secondary School Waka Ama Championships, highlighting the continued growth of waka ama among rangatahi nationwide.
Hosted by Waka Ama Aotearoa NZ, the five-day national championship will take place from the 23–27 March. The event brings together thousands of student paddlers to compete in sprint racing across a range of divisions and distances.
The annual event, which started in 2002, has become one of the largest secondary school sporting competitions in the country during summer tournament week. The students representing their kura and schools compete in disciplines such as W1, W6 and W12 racing, including mixed, boys’ and girls’ divisions.
Waka Ama Aotearoa NZ CEO, Lara Collins, says that as the numbers for waka ama continue to scale up, its expected to see such a growth amongst rangatahi, based on the 2026 Waka Ama Sprint Nationals statistics.
“Every year this sport gets bigger, and a positive indication that it continues to grow are the numbers of rangatahi participation. This year alone there was an increase of 22% in paddlers from ages 5 to 23 from the 2026 Waka Ama Sprint Nationals” says Collins.
This year’s interest from schools reflects the rapid growth of waka ama throughout Aotearoa. More rangatahi and schools are embracing the sport for its combination of high-performance competition, cultural connection and fun.
For TIPENE, this will be their inaugural year competing at the event. Waka ama team manager and parent, Ramari Matairangi, says it's a great opportunity for their school to reach a significant milestone.
“With our rangatahi competing at the Waka Ama Secondary School Nationals for the first time, it reflects the rapid growth of the TIPENE Waka Ama Programme and the commitment of our students, coaches, kura, and partners who have worked together to establish a strong foundation in a short period of time,” says Matairangi.
As a first-year programme for the school, it has set the pathway for future growth and sustained involvement in waka ama at TIPENE and beyond according to Matairangi.
Over five days of racing, the lake will be home to school teams, supporters and whānau as the country’s top young school paddlers compete for waka ama national titles.
Greenpeace – Thousands call on Christopher Luxon to condemn the illegal attacks on Iran by Trump and Israel
Source: Greenpeace
Thousands of people have signed a petition demanding Christopher Luxon stand up and condemn the illegal attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. Greenpeace delivered the petition to opposition leader Chris Hipkins in Wellington today.
Standing on the steps of parliament, Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director Dr Russel Norman said, “This war is plainly illegal – it is not an act of self-defence nor is it sanctioned by the UN Security Council.
“While we have come to expect that the US Government approach to international law is more honoured in the breach than the observance, nonetheless international law is critical for the security of everyone on the planet but especially for a small nation like New Zealand.
“We expect Christopher Luxon to advocate in favour of international law and hence condemn this reckless illegal war.
“Silence in the face of injustice is complicity, and thousands of New Zealanders agree that Luxon should be standing up to bullies like Trump, who is attempting to destroy any possibility of a rules-based international order.”
Greenpeace delivered the petition to the Parliament Opposition who have been open about their condemnation of Trump’s illegal war.
Greenpeace also made the link from this illegal war to the escalating price of fossil fuels.
“This illegal war has disrupted oil, gas and fertiliser supplies, exposing Luxon's Trump-like obsession with outdated fossil fuels, leaving New Zealanders paying the price,” continued Dr Norman.
“Luxon has collapsed the EV market by killing the clean car discount, making it cheaper to import gas guzzling cars. He's ended public transport subsidies for young people, blocked funding for cycleways, but wants to spend billions of dollars to build new roads.
“Now Luxon wants to expose us even further to the volatile global fossil fuel market by charging New Zealanders a gas tax to build a LNG import terminal.
“The Luxon government should be investing in renewable energy and the electrification of transport to insulate New Zealanders from energy supply shocks and rising energy prices, as well as cutting climate pollution,” says Dr Norman.
Justice Issues – A positive direction for abuse survivors, but nowhere near where it should be
Source: Ihorangi Reweti Peters – a State care survivor and advocate.
The Lead Coordination Minister to the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions, Erica Stanford, announced this morning that the government is taking action to provide redress to survivors of State-run mental health facilities.
Previously, survivors could only seek redress for claims of abuse up to 30 June 2023, the announcement now means that survivors can make a redress claim up until 1 July 2022.
Ihorangi Reweti Peters, a State care survivor and advocate, said, “Whilst this announcement is positive and will provide survivors of abuse in care with redress, we’re still waiting for the government to implement all of the recommendations from the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry.”
“To date, the government has only accepted 7 of the 207 recommendations made by the inquiry and they’ve only implemented 3 recommendations. The Inquiry was the largest and most complex, it examined abuse in both State and Faith-based institutions, and the recommendations from the Inquiry were developed with survivors,” said Mr Reweti Peters.
“This change does not go far enough. He Purapura Ora, he Māra Tipu from Redress to Puretumu Torowhanui, the Redress report from the Inquiry, made 95 holistic recommendations to the government on redress for survivors of abuse in care. Survivors redress needs to reflect the recommendations from both the redress report and the final report of the Inquiry,” said Mr Reweti Peters.
“The Economic Cost of Abuse in Care report by the Inquiry estimated in 2019 that the average lifetime cost for an individual abused in care is $857,000. The redress from all State-run facilities need to reflect the sum from the Economic Cost of Abuse report,” said Mr Reweti Peters.
Notes:
Economic Cost of Abuse in Care Report – https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/25158/martinjenkins-economic-cost-of-abuse-in-care-2020.pdf
Universities – Traffic silently killing Aucklanders – UoA
Source: University of Auckland – UoA
Pollution from cars in Auckland is killing around 700 people a year and hospitalising 4,000 more, with health researchers calling for policy changes.
More than 700 Aucklanders die every year from air pollution from traffic, similar to the number who die from smoking cigarettes, with almost 4,000 more ending up in hospital, according to a new report.
Almost all Aucklanders, 90 percent, are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution higher than international standards.
Nationally, 2,000 people die per year from traffic pollution.
“Because the particles are so small, they are not easy to see, so we often don’t even think about them being there,” says Dr Jamie Hosking, a public health researcher at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.
“Sometimes, when we’re close to traffic, we can smell the exhaust, and that’s when we really notice it. But even when we can’t smell it, it’s still there, putting our health at great risk.”
Petrol and diesel burn to produce noxious gases, chiefly nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and minute particles of soot, smoke, dust and chemicals (PM2.5).
“Because they’re so small, these particles can get right into our lungs and then cross into the bloodstream. They cause health effects through their impact on the lungs, but also on our cardiovascular system – the heart – and can contribute to strokes,” Hosking says.
A report, Our Air, has just been published on Auckland’s air pollution by Healthy Auckland Together a collective of public health researchers and agencies working in the area. (ref. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/687d6be85b66bd72af52a027/t/69b9b755bab9e5730d58c9b8/1773778792896/Healthy+Auckland+Together+-+Our+Air.pdf )
Hosking and fellow public health researcher at the University of Auckland Professor Alistair Woodward will present the report to Auckland Council’s Transport Committee and call for urgent action on Auckland’s air pollution.
Auckland’s air pollution comes partly from household heating but pollution from traffic is by far the biggest cause of illness.
It is estimated traffic pollution causes 6,100 cases and 424 hospitalisations for childhood asthma every year in Auckland.
People in cheaper housing near motorways and busy roads are at extra risk, so there are equity issues.
“It's often people on lower incomes who end up being more exposed to this dirty air and then having the health impacts as a result,” Hosking says.
| What Auckland Council needs to do
The report outlines solutions. The 20 agencies comprising Healthy Auckland Together would like to see Auckland Council:
What central government needs to do
Air pollution in Auckland results in a significant number of deaths and serious illnesses with unacceptable healthcare and social costs – urgent action is needed. |
Activist Sector – Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting must condemn illegal war
From: Peace Action Wellington
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins will land in Canberra for the third iteration of the Australia and New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ANZMIN) this week.
“Winston Peters and Judith Collins along with Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles must take the opportunity to condemn the US and Israeli for the illegal war on Iran that was launched two weeks ago,” said Valerie Morse of Peace Action Wellington.
“These Ministers must issue clear statements that neither will provide any assistance to the US and Israeli war. There should be sanctions imposed, while military deployments and training alongside the US should be cancelled. Anything less than that is a capitulation to two genocidal criminals.”
“So far, both the NZ government and Australian government appear to be singing from the same song sheet of talking points, claiming that it is up to the US and Israel to make their case. That is completely cowardice and complicity. These Ministers need to start being honest about what this war is about: an aggressive war for power and regional supremacy
waged by two nuclear weapons states against a non-nuclear power during ongoing negotiations. The mask has well and truly been ripped off US and Israeli claims of any moral legitimacy whatsoever. These are rogue states and should be treated like the pariah that they are.”
“People across the globe are already utterly revolted by Israel's relentless assault on the people of Gaza in its two plus year long genocide. Now, Israel's leader Binyamin Netanyahu has convinced US President Trump to wage war on Iran – that has resulted in countries across the region being bombed and mass death. It has set us on a path to world war three as there is no end in sight.”
Peace Action Wellington will host a peace vigil on Thursday, 19 March at 5:30pm at the Cenotaph in Wellington.
GlobalData reveals most-exposed countries and key damage channels as recession risk rises from Hormuz disruption
Source: GlobalData
The US–Israel–Iran war is severely disrupting global energy and logistics markets, heightening recession and inflation risks. With the Strait of Hormuz heavily constrained and commercial shipping facing elevated threats, markets are extremely sensitive to supply losses, delays, and shifting geopolitical risk premiums.
Oil and refined product prices remain volatile, while LNG, freight rates, and war-risk insurance are rising across major trade routes. These pressures increase the likelihood of renewed inflation and weaker growth in the Middle East and beyond, according to GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
The conflict's operational scope is expanding beyond military targets, increasingly disrupting commercial infrastructure and trade. Ongoing threats to tankers and ports, plus periodic Gulf airspace restrictions, are altering shipping and aviation routes. These disruptions are constraining energy and container flows, lengthening delivery times, and increasing input costs across supply chains.
Ramnivas Mundada, Director of Economic Research and Companies at GlobalData, comments: “The first-order macro shock remains supply-led: energy availability, shipping capacity, and risk premia. Even if oil prices stabilize, the persistence of higher freight costs, longer shipping routes, and insurance costs can keep delivered prices elevated for fuel and intermediate goods. That combination increases the likelihood that inflation proves stickier than expected, complicating monetary policy while weakening real incomes and consumption.”
Conflict-driven cost shocks hit advanced and emerging economies
War-risk insurance premiums for vessels and cargo—as well as aviation insurance and reinsurance—remain elevated, raising the delivered cost of energy and container trade. Higher premiums can render some voyages uneconomic, reduce effective shipping capacity, and accelerate rerouting, further tightening logistics. GlobalData also highlights that financial-market volatility can tighten credit availability, particularly for emerging markets with large external financing needs and high fuel import dependence.
In advanced economies, the key risk is that an energy-and-shipping-driven inflation impulse delays disinflation and complicates the pace of monetary easing. In emerging markets, especially energy importers, the combination of higher import bills and weaker currencies can generate a second-round inflation shock through imported goods and food distribution, while increasing fiscal strain where subsidies absorb part of the shock.
Highly impacted countries: growth and inflation overlays (next 12 months)
Exposure differs sharply by energy balance, supply-chain integration, and sensitivity to shipping and tourism. Hydrocarbon exporters in the Gulf can see partial offsets through higher hydrocarbon receipts, but remain vulnerable to security costs, disruption to trade and aviation, and softer regional tourism. Energy importers in the Middle East and Asia face more direct deterioration in trade balances and higher pass-through inflation.
Where the risk is acute
Iran and Israel remain at the epicenter of downside growth risk. Iran faces the most severe contraction risk under sustained disruption and infrastructure stress, with heightened exposure across energy logistics, insurance and financing channels. Israel continues to face a confidence-led slowdown via weaker investment and tourism, alongside higher defense-related spending that can crowd out private activity.
Energy importers face the sharpest inflation pass-through. Egypt stands out for imported inflation and FX pressures, with fiscal strain likely to rise where subsidies buffer fuel and food costs. In Asia, India, Japan, and South Korea are exposed via higher energy bills and persistent pass-through into transport-heavy components of inflation, raising the risk that headline relief proves temporary.
The Gulf's offsets are real, but non-oil fragilities are rising. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain can see partial macro offsets from hydrocarbon receipts. However, hub economies, especially the UAE, are more exposed to aviation restrictions, shipping/insurance costs and sentiment-driven effects on tourism, trade and services.
Europe's risk is margin compression and delayed easing. Higher import costs and shipping-linked delivered inflation squeeze industrial profitability, particularly in energy-intensive sectors, increasing the probability that monetary easing is delayed if inflation re-accelerates.
Stagflation risk rises if disruption persists
GlobalData's base case remains that the longer the disruption persists, the more likely the shock will propagate from headline inflation into broader pricing and activity. If elevated shipping and energy constraints continue beyond a few months, the probability of a global growth downshift increases—particularly for economies already operating with tight real incomes and fragile demand. Under that scenario, the balance of risks shifts toward stagflation-like outcomes: weaker growth alongside inflation that falls more slowly than expected.
Mundada concludes: “While energy and logistics constraints persist, the balance of risks remain titled to the downside. Under sustained disruption and infrastructure stress, Iran's near-term output risk remains extreme. In Israel, the growth outlook continues to face downside pressure as investment and tourism absorb the confidence shock. For major energy importers, including India, Japan, and South Korea, the risk is a prolonged deterioration in trade balances alongside stickier inflation, especially beyond a few months.”
About GlobalData
GlobalData Plc (LSE:DATA) operates an intelligence platform that empowers leaders to act decisively in a world of complexity and change. By uniting proprietary data, human expertise, and purpose-built AI into a single, connected platform, we help organizations see what is coming, move faster, and lead with confidence. Our solutions are used by over 5,000 organizations across the world's largest industries, providing tailored intelligence that supports strategic planning, innovation, risk management, and sustainable growth.
Employment Trends and Research – Benefits in use: popular vs untapped
Source: Robert Half
Benefits with the highest usage, according to New Zealand hiring managers: Working from home/hybrid options (41%), flexible work arrangements (32%), and (un)paid sabbaticals/leave of absence (26%).
Benefits with the lowest usage: Mental health resources/employee assistance (38%), working from home/hybrid working options (30%), and (un)paid sabbaticals/leave of absence (26%).
Benefits that are not offered by employers: Childcare allowances (91%), in-house/onsite childcare (87%), and remote working option (beyond working from home) (69%).
Auckland, 18 March 2026 – New Zealand workplaces are operating in a two-speed benefits economy, where the same benefits can be widely embraced in some organisations but remain underused or out of reach in others.
The newly released 2026 Robert Half Salary Guide shows lifestyle benefits such as working from home/hybrid options, flexible work arrangements and leaves of absence appear on both the highest-usage and lowest-usage lists, highlighting a growing divide between employees who can readily access these benefits and those who cannot use them in practice.
At the same time, many employers have limited offerings of “non-traditional” yet increasingly valued benefits, such as childcare support, life insurance, and remote working.
Which benefits employees prioritise most
When it comes to the perks and benefits employees use, there's a strong preference for ones that support flexibility and lifestyle, reflecting shifting workplace priorities shaped by post-pandemic expectations and evolving employee needs.
Top 8 benefits used the most by staff include:
Working from home/hybrid options (41%)
Flexible work arrangements (32%)
(Un)paid sabbaticals/leave of absence (26%)
Flexible benefits program (23%)
Extended parental leave (22%)
Fundraising days (20%)
Travel allowance (20%)
(Paid) internal or external training (19%).
The well-intended but rarely used perks
Hybrid working and flexible arrangements may be the most utilised benefits among Kiwi workers; however, around a quarter (30% and 24% respectively) of employees aren't accessing these options. The same goes for (un)paid sabbaticals/leave of absence, which is on the highest usage list (26%) and the lowest (26%).
This split suggests that while some employers have successfully embedded flexible benefits into day-to-day working life, others may offer them only to certain roles, apply tighter eligibility rules, or see lower uptake because employees do not feel able to use them.
The perks and benefits that are used the least by staff include:
Mental health resources/Employee assistance (38%)
Working from home/hybrid options (30%)
(Un)paid sabbaticals/Leave of absence (26%)
Fundraising days (26%)
Flexible work arrangements (24%)
In-office physical activities (24%)
Flexible benefits program (22%)
Travel allowance (22%).
“Employees are placing greater value on benefits that give them more flexibility and better support their wellbeing,” says Megan Alexander, Managing Director at Robert Half. “The perks used most are those that provide practical, lasting support for work-life balance, reflecting a clear shift towards benefits many employees now see as essential rather than optional extras.”
“The fact that benefits like hybrid working and flexible arrangements appear on both the most-used and least-used lists shows there is a clear divide in how these benefits are experienced across workplaces. In some organisations, they are a normal part of working life, while in others, they are limited by role type, eligibility or workplace culture. As employers rethink their total rewards strategies, it is not just about offering benefits, but making sure employees can genuinely access and use them.”
The benefits still missing from most workplaces
Despite growing expectations for more holistic support in the workplace, many employers offer a relatively narrow range of “non-traditional” benefits, particularly those that support families.
Here are the perks and benefits not offered by employers:
Childcare allowances (91%)
In-house/onsite childcare (87%)
Remote working option (beyond working from home) (69%)
Life insurance (separate from superannuation) (56%)
Tuition assistance or reimbursement (55%)
Secondment (53%)
Extended parental leave (48%)
Home office equipment allowance (37%).
“Although childcare support is still not commonly offered, organisations that provide family-oriented benefits are in a good position to differentiate themselves, enhance their employer reputation, and foster a more inclusive environment for working parents. As workforce expectations shift, a comprehensive benefits package that also includes family-friendly and lifestyle offerings provides a unique competitive edge in attracting and retaining a diverse range of talent,” concludes Alexander.
Notes
About the research
The study is developed by Robert Half and was conducted online in October 2025 by an independent research company of 250 finance, accounting, and IT and technology hiring managers. Respondents are drawn from a sample of SMEs as well as large private, publicly-listed, and public sector organisations across New Zealand. This survey is part of the international workplace survey, a questionnaire about job trends, talent management, and trends in the workplace.
About Robert Half
Robert Half is the global, specialised talent solutions provider that helps employers find their next great hire and jobseekers uncover their next opportunity. Robert Half offers both contract and permanent placement services, and is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm. Robert Half New Zealand has an office in Auckland and the South Island. More information on roberthalf.com/nz.
FENZ pause on job cuts is responsible, but the Govt. must now step in and stop them
Source: PSA
Fire and Emergency New Zealand's decision to postpone its restructure pending a second Employment Relations Authority ruling is a responsible step, but the PSA is clear: these cuts should never go ahead.
FENZ has just announced the delay in making decisions on their proposed restructure because a determination from the ERA based on legal action brought by the PSA and the New Zealand Professional Fire Fighters Union (NZPFU) is due any day now.
“We welcome the decision to pause for now. It is the right thing to do while the ERA process plays out, but it should never have come to this. The restructure needs to be shelved once and for all,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“We are calling on the Government to intervene, ensure FENZ has the resources to do its job properly, and take the job cuts off the table entirely.”
FENZ plans to cut 97 non-fire fighting roles, and significantly change 66 other roles.
“Let's be honest about what is at stake here. The cuts will weaken our emergency response and put lives at risk. New Zealand cannot afford to lose these experienced, dedicated workers.”
FENZ had originally planned to announce final decisions before Christmas, then pushed the timeline to January, then to this week. The latest postponement follows legal action by the PSA and NZPFU over FENZ's consultation process.
This is the biggest restructure in FENZ's eight-year history.
“FENZ is making deadly choices on the allocation of funding,” said Wattie Watson, Secretary of the NZPFU. “FENZ is self-imposing cuts while it recklessly spends up to $100,000 a week on advertising firefighters’ strike action. This is a complete contradiction that FENZ is diverting its funding priorities to emergency response.”
Fleur Fitzsimons said: “The fact this restructure has been challenged, delayed and delayed again tells you that something is fundamentally wrong with it.
“New Zealand is facing more frequent and more severe weather events, more complex emergencies. Now is precisely the wrong time to be gutting the workforce that responds to them.”.
Previous statement
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.