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Marriages continue downward trend – Marriages, civil unions, and divorces: Year ended December 2025 – Stats NZ news story and information release
Tech – Liverton Security Launches SGE Plus on the NZ Government (NZGovt) Marketplace
Source: Liverton Security
A new framework designed to strengthen email security for government and commercial organisations.
Liverton Security, a New Zealand-based cybersecurity product development and consultancy specialising in email security and data protection, has launched SGE Plus, a Secure Government Email framework now available on the NZ Government (NZGovt) Marketplace, providing New Zealand government agencies and regulated commercial organisations (including those in finance, healthcare, infrastructure, and government supply chains) with a practical pathway to strengthen the security of their email systems.
Email remains one of the most targeted and exploited channels for cyber threats, from phishing attacks to sophisticated impersonation attempts. SGE Plus helps government agencies and organisations reduce these risks by implementing a framework aligned to recognised government security standards and best practices, improving authentication, governance, and visibility across email environments.
Developed by Liverton's security specialists based in New Zealand, SGE Plus supports the implementation of key email authentication protocols including Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC), Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM), and Sender Policy Framework (SPF).
The framework supports organisations at different stages of maturity, enabling them to move from basic protection toward a more resilient and trusted email ecosystem.
It also helps organisations who need to meet their obligations under the New Zealand Information Security Manual (NZISM) and the Protective Security Requirements (PSR), which set out expectations for managing information security risks, protecting sensitive data, and ensuring appropriate governance and oversight, while lifting overall cyber resilience and security practices.
Key features of the SGE Plus package includes LiveDMARC Reporting, giving organisations real-time visibility into email delivery issues; and automatic dynamic updates to mail connectors that ensure Exchange configuration adapts to changes to SGE member agencies.
“Email continues to be one of the most common entry points for cyber incidents,” says Murray Wills, General Manager Sales and Consulting, at Liverton Security.
“SGE Plus represents a significant step forward in how organisations can implement and maintain modern email security controls. It provides a structured approach to strengthening defences, while helping ensure systems align with current government and industry expectations.”
Unlike point solutions that focus on a single layer of protection, SGE Plus combines advisory expertise, implementation support, and ongoing optimisation. This ensures organisations not only deploy the right controls but also maintain them as threats evolve and requirements change.
SGE Plus also includes the latest release of Liverton Security's proven data loss prevention tool, MailAdviser.
Integrated directly with Microsoft Outlook, MailAdviser provides an intuitive pop-up interface that analyses emails and attachments in real time, alerting users before sending to help prevent accidental data loss and support compliance with organisational policies.
SGE Plus is already supporting agencies preparing to transition from the Government Secure Email service, SEEMail.
For further information about SGE Plus or Liverton Security's cybersecurity solutions, visit www.livertonsecurity.com.
Tax Reform – Migrant surcharge discriminatory, says tax reform campaign
Source: Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign
ACT's new immigration policy, which would require a $6 per day surcharge on temporary visa holders, is discriminatory says the Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign.
“This policy singles out one of the most vulnerable groups in Aotearoa New Zealand for an extra charge that many will struggle to pay,” says Glenn Barclay, spokesperson for the Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign. “These workers are often poorly paid, and to single them out is discriminatory.”
“Sectors such as horticulture and viticulture rely heavily on temporary visa holders and this tax will not only impact on these vulnerable workers, but also on businesses operating in those sectors,” says Barclay.
ACT's stated intention behind the surcharge is addressing the country's infrastructure needs, but the Better Taxes campaign says this is just a smokescreen to avoid addressing the real cause of inadequate funding for infrastructure, and the $80m revenue it would generate would be a tiny fraction of our $200b infrastructure deficit.
“The main reason for our infrastructure problems in this country is lack of investment over many years. We have failed to ensure the wealthy and big corporates, who rely heavily on our public infrastructure to generate wealth and run their businesses, are paying their fair share of tax to maintain it. This is the problem we need to address to fund infrastructure,” says Barclay.
“Workers already pay the vast majority through income tax and GST, and Treasury released a report earlier this year demonstrating that foreign born New Zealanders comprised 32% of the workforce, yet their share of tax paid was 38%. We shouldn't be putting more of the load on the shoulders of some of the most vulnerable workers in Aotearoa New Zealand.”
“Political parties scapegoating migrants to shield the super rich and corporate giants from scrutiny over how little tax they pay and their role in declining living standards is one of the oldest tricks in the book,” say Barclay. “But in the context of the current fuel and cost of living crises, it's increasingly clear to ordinary people in Aotearoa New Zealand that the push for ever greater profits by corporations, their ultra wealthy executives and shareholders is to blame for the pressure we're experiencing, not hardworking migrants.”
“In fact, as so many New Zealanders are seeking opportunities overseas and our population ages, our economy stands to benefit from welcoming migrants who come to work, live and pay tax here. If only the super rich and big corporates were willing to make the same contribution,” says Barclay.
Performances – Teens reinvent Shakespeare for today’s world – Vic
Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Young thespians are proving that Shakespeare still has the power to resonate with youth culture, because the first world problems of love, jealousy, and identity didn’t disappear with corsets and quills—they just changed platforms.
This King’s Birthday Weekend, a new generation of rangatahi will take to the stage at the National Shakespeare Festival in Wellington, hosted by Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand (SGCNZ) with support and sponsorship from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
From Romeo’s crush on Juliet and his attempts to slide into her DMs through her nurse; to Richard III’s sleepless nights thinking of those he cancelled—or the guy who gets caught in a custody battle between Titania and Oberon—the actors will give attendees a taste of how tuned-in Shakespeare was to the concerns of young people.
Dawn Sanders, founder and CEO of SGCNZ, says the kaupapa of the festival runs deep.
“This festival is about giving young people the tools to think critically, collaborate, take risks, and speak with confidence. Shakespeare holds something new for every generation, so he’s a great vehicle for these life lessons. In this, our thirty-fifth year of festivals, we are delighted to see the gifts of Shakespeare continue to be given to our teens,” says Dawn.
“Tragedy, comedy, protest, satire and joy collide across the festival programme, which showcases teams selected from 23 regional festivals held across the country. Around 4,000 students have taken part nationwide this year—making the festival one of Aotearoa’s largest youth-led cultural events!
“For the national festival, students from schools, homeschool clusters, and community youth drama groups will perform bold, contemporary takes on Shakespeare’s work, filtered through today’s language, politics, humour, and social realities.”
Professor Sarah Ross from Te Herenga Waka, one of Aotearoa’s leading Shakespeare scholars, is currently researching the role that the Bard played in Māori and Pākehā education in the late 1800s—connecting his global legacy to our local histories.
“Four centuries on, Shakespeare isn’t being preserved behind glass. He’s being remixed, re‑spoken, and re‑owned—by teenagers who recognise themselves in his characters and aren’t afraid to make the stories their own,” she says.
Two alumni of the programme and current students at Vic, Hune Edwards and Jimmy Muir, will return to emcee performances at the St James Theatre from 30 May—31 May, underscoring the festival’s long‑term impact. Many SGCNZ alumni go on to study at Te Herenga Waka.
The festival is a launchpad for young actors, Dawn says.
“Talent is actively scouted throughout the programme, with 46 students from the National and Regional Festivals selected to attend the SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production intensive course later in the year. Students from this group—plus a winner from the Costume Design and Music Composition Competitions—are then selected to travel to London for further artistic development at the Globe Theatre, placing Aotearoa’s next generation of storytellers on one of the world’s most iconic stages.”
Festival details:
9.30 am – 5.30 pm, Saturday 30 May, 9.00 am – 5 pm, Sunday 31 May
Prizegiving, 7 pm – 9.30 pm, Sunday 31 May
St James Theatre, Courtenay Place, Wellington
Tickets are now available here: https://www.universe.com/events/sgcnz-victoria-university-of-wellington-national-shakespeare-festival-tickets-24RDNP?ref=universe-discover
And the National Festival performance schedule can be found here: https://www.sgcnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/35NPerfsPublicAll-1.pdf
Maritime NZ – KiwiRail sentenced over 2024 grounding of Aratere
Source: Maritime NZ
The KiwiRail ferry, Aratere, ran aground on the evening of 21 June 2024 while undertaking a freight sailing between Picton and Wellington. At the time, there were 39 crew members and eight passengers on board. The vessel grounded at Titoki Bay in Picton Harbour.
The ferry was refloated the following evening. There were no oil spills and no breaches to the vessel’s hull because of the grounding.
The event followed changes to a safety‑critical steering system on Aratere.
In June 2025 Maritime NZ prosecuted KiwiRail for breaches under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. KiwiRail pled guilty to charges under sections 48 and 36. KiwiRail was sentenced on 4 May in the Wellington District Court.
Maritime NZ’s investigation found failures in KiwiRail’s change‑management processes and organisational controls, including training and familiarisation, documentation, control of critical steering functions, and bridge resource management.
“Steering systems are safety-critical. The crew must have a clear understanding of how the systems work and how to override any automatic commands,” Maritime NZ Director, Kirstie Hewlett, says.
“In this case, there was a clear knowledge gap about how the newly installed steering console worked, including in an emergency.
“This event sends a clear message to operators to ensure Masters and crews are properly trained and provided sufficient time and opportunity to familiarise themselves when introducing safety critical equipment, so that they can correctly undertake all safety critical actions on the vessel.”
Sentencing notes:
The judge ordered KiwiRail to pay a fine of $375,000 and $25,000 costs. It was sentenced under sections 48 and 36 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Events – Excitement builds ahead of Electrify Queenstown 2026
Source: DESTINATION QUEENSTOWN & LAKE WĀNAKA TOURISM
Queenstown, New Zealand (4 May 2026) – Tickets are nearly sold out for the third Electrify Queenstown (17-19 May), with a major political debate and a packed three-day programme set to spark fresh thinking on New Zealand's energy future.
The award-winning event will bring together government decision-makers and party leaders, international innovators, renewable energy experts, local businesses and residents to explore how electrification can cut costs, lift productivity and build a more resilient energy system.
A centrepiece of this year's programme will be The Future of New Zealand's Energy System: A Leaders' Debate on Monday 18 May at the Queenstown Events Centre, moderated by journalist Paddy Gower.
Confirmed speakers include Hon David Seymour, Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, Leader of the Labour Party, Hon Simeon Brown, Minister for Energy, Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick, Hon Shane Jones, Associate Minister for Energy, and The Opportunities Party Leader Qiulae Wong.
The debate comes at a timely moment, with conflict in Iran disrupting global oil supply and adding pressure to fuel prices, household budgets and business costs. Electrify Queenstown will put energy affordability, security and sovereignty at the centre of the conversation, asking what it will take for New Zealand to move faster, smarter and more confidently toward an electric future.
All four hundred tickets for the debate day have now sold out, but a limited number remain for days one and three.
Backed by Aurora Energy as principal sponsor, Electrify Queenstown's three day programme will cover practical steps for homes and businesses, green finance and funding pathways, electric transport, local energy projects, and the latest renewable technologies.
Speakers include New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year Mike Casey, CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, who will speak on the competitive advantages of electrification, and leading international energy innovator Dr Saul Griffith, who will share insights on the global direction of electrification.
On Sunday 17 May, the event also features hands-on experiences, including tours of high-performance homes, off-grid hospitality at Kinloch, electric boats and bikes, and the free community How-To Hub, where attendees can get practical advice across solar and batteries, EVs, heating and hot water, and finance.
Electrify Queenstown 2026 is designed for people who want to understand not just why electrification matters, but how to make it happen.
More information and full programme: www.electrifyqueenstown.co.nz
Event details
What: Electrify Queenstown
When: Sunday 17 May – Tuesday 19 May
Where: Queenstown Events Centre and locations across the district
Feature session: The Future of New Zealand's Energy System: A Leaders' Debate, Monday 18 May, 2pm-4.30pm
Update – Rethink of Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill urged
Source: New Zealand Institute of Safety Management
A coalition of New Zealand's peak workplace health and safety organisations – representing employers, workers, and health and safety professionals – has written jointly to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon Brooke van Velden, and members of the Education and Workforce Committee, calling for refinements to the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill currently before Select Committee.
The letter has been written by representatives of employers, workers and health and safety experts and endorsed by nearly all the key players in the health and safety system.
“We support the intent of the Bill; to reduce unnecessary compliance burden and to continue to support reduction in workplace harm,” said Mike Cosman, spokesperson for the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management.
“However, there are four areas of the Bill that we believe could unintentionally undermine those goals if not fixed.”
The four areas of concern are:
-The definition of “critical risk” – the current definition of critical risk is ambiguous and may miss the biggest sources of workplace harm (musculoskeletal and psychosocial risks). This is likely to result in greater harm to workers and significant flow on costs to employers and ACC.
-The carve-out for small PCBUs – limiting small businesses' duties to critical risks only would remove protections for more than 90% of businesses and 25% of the workforce. Small businesses are generally less safe than their larger counterparts: We propose that they are helped more to keep their workers safe, not excused from doing so.
-The relationship between other laws and health and safety – allowing compliance with other laws to trump obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act may weaken protections in many sectors (including transport, healthcare, and education).
-Greater legal weight for Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) – provisions which lock in Approved Codes of Practice as ‘safe harbours’ risk locking in outdated standards and discouraging innovation.
“Now is a critical time to get the Bill right. We have offered to engage further with the Minister and the Select Committee to help develop workable, enduring solutions.”
The joint letter is signed by the Business Leaders Health & Safety Forum, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM), and the Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ).
The letter is endorsed by the majority of the key players in the New Zealand health and safety; the EMA, the GM Safety Forum, Te Rōpū Marutau o Aotearoa, Women in Safety and Health Excellence NZ, Hazardous Substances Professionals NZ, the Institute of Organisational Psychologists, the NZ Occupational Hygienists Society, the NZ Occupational Health Nurses Association, Physiotherapy NZ, the NZ Society for Engineering Safety, Minex, Construction Health and NZ, ShopCare Charitable Trust, and the Forest Industry Safety Council.
Workforce Safety – Rethink of Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill urged
Source: New Zealand Institute of Safety Management
A coalition of New Zealand's peak workplace health and safety organisations – representing employers, workers, and health and safety professionals – has written jointly to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon Brooke van Velden, and members of the Education and Workforce Committee, calling for refinements to the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill currently before Select Committee.
The letter has been written by representatives of employers, workers and health and safety experts and endorsed by nearly all the key players in the health and safety system.
“We support the intent of the Bill; to reduce unnecessary compliance burden and to continue to support reduction in workplace harm,” said Mike Cosman, spokesperson for the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management.
“However, there are four areas of the Bill that we believe could unintentionally undermine those goals if not fixed.”
The four areas of concern are:
-The definition of “critical risk” – the current definition of critical risk is ambiguous and may miss the biggest sources of workplace harm (musculoskeletal and psychosocial risks). This is likely to result in greater harm to workers and significant flow on costs to employers and ACC.
-The carve-out for small PCBUs – limiting small businesses' duties to critical risks only would remove protections for more than 90% of businesses and 25% of the workforce. Small businesses are generally less safe than their larger counterparts: We propose that they are helped more to keep their workers safe, not excused from doing so.
-The relationship between other laws and health and safety – allowing compliance with other laws to trump obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act may weaken protections in many sectors (including transport, healthcare, and education).
-Greater legal weight for Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) – provisions which lock in Approved Codes of Practice as ‘safe harbours’ risk locking in outdated standards and discouraging innovation.
“Now is a critical time to get the Bill right. We have offered to engage further with the Minister and the Select Committee to help develop workable, enduring solutions.”
The joint letter is signed by the Business Leaders Health & Safety Forum, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM), and the Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ).
The letter is endorsed by the majority of the key players in the New Zealand health and safety; the EMA, the GM Safety Forum, Te Rōpū Marutau o Aotearoa, Women in Safety and Health Excellence NZ, Hazardous Substances Professionals NZ, the Institute of Organisational Psychologists, the NZ Occupational Hygienists Society, the NZ Occupational Health Nurses Association, Physiotherapy NZ, the NZ Society for Engineering Safety, Minex, Construction Health and NZ, ShopCare Charitable Trust, and the Forest Industry Safety Council.
Health: Asthma and Respiratory Foundation – "Please don’t die today" a mother’s fight against asthma
Source: Asthma and Respiratory Foundation
“I love you, Mummy. Please don’t die today.”
That’s what Jade Stevens' five-year-old son whispered to her one morning before school.
For Jade, a mother-of-three from Wellington, those words captured the fear that comes with living – and parenting – while battling asthma.
This World Asthma Day (on Tuesday 5 May), Jade, 38, is sharing her story to raise awareness of those living with asthma.Jade was diagnosed in her late 20s with brittle asthma – a rare and severe form of the disease, more commonly referred to now as severe or difficult-to-control asthma.
At the time, she was being admitted to hospital nearly every month, with long stays in intensive care and repeated courses of oral steroids. All this while raising three young boys.
“I wanted to be the kind of mum who could be there for everything – every school pickup, every bedtime story – but instead, hospital beds replaced family dinners.
“I’ll never forget the moment I dropped my youngest off at school one day. He was just five. He kissed me goodbye, paused, and whispered, ‘I love you, Mummy. Please don’t die today.’
“I reassured him, but inside I was breaking. That fear – his and mine – was all too real.”
Today, thanks to a biological treatment, Jade's condition is under control and her symptoms are manageable.
“The treatment gave me my life back.
“The hospital visits have become rare, and I’ve finally been able to stop taking steroids.”
Her children are now teenagers and she’s able to be the mum she always wanted to be at the beginning, she says.
“I can go to my eldest son’s band Intercite gigs, school events, quad bike adventures, or just sit on the couch and watch a movie without them having to worry that Mum might be going to hospital again.”
Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says Jade’s story shows the reality of asthma that many New Zealanders are still unaware of.
“Jade’s experience is a reminder that asthma can affect people in very different ways, and for some, it’s far more serious than many realise.”
That’s why World Asthma Day is so important in raising awareness, Ms Harding says.
“We need to lift the stigma, increase awareness, and ensure everyone understands just how serious this condition can be.”
This year, the Foundation is marking World Asthma Day by hosting a Blue Shirt Day on Tuesday 5 May.
Blue Shirt Day calls on all Kiwis to wear blue, share stories like Jade’s, and support better research, education, and access to life-saving treatments.
In New Zealand, asthma affects 1 in 8 adults and children, kills an average of 96 people each year, and is responsible for the hospitalisations of thousands of children – many of whom will have had a potentially life-threatening asthma attack.