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This email was sent by Stats NZ, 8 Willis Street, Wellington, CBD 6011, New Zealand to nz@enz.mil-osi.com
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Banking – ASB trims interest rates
Source: ASB
ASB is reducing interest rates across its variable home lending products in response to RBNZ's OCR announcement.
ASB’s Executive General Manager Personal Banking Adam Boyd says “We know that every little bit helps as we head into the holiday period, and the reductions we’ve made to our variable home loan rates should be welcome news to customers.
“We have carefully considered the impact interest rate reductions have for both borrowers and savers. We understand the importance of getting this balance right, particularly when household budgets are under pressure.
“We encourage our customers to talk to us about their savings as there are a range of options, including term deposits and bonus saver accounts, which may help them to save more in this environment, depending on their circumstances.
“It’s important that our lending customers receive the benefit of interest rate decreases as quickly as possible. As rates have dropped, we have significantly improved the time between OCR decisions and when new rates take effect. In the past year, we’ve delivered variable home lending changes within 5 business days on average, twice as fast when compared to the 2021 – 2023 period of OCR changes.”
|
Home Loan |
Current Rates |
New Rates |
Rate Change |
||||
|
Housing Variable |
5.99% |
5.79% |
-0.20 bps |
||||
|
Orbit Variable |
6.09% |
5.89% |
-0.20 bps |
||||
|
Back My Build |
3.54% |
3.34% |
-0.20 bps |
||||
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|
|
|
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ASB’s new variable home loan rates are effective within four business days of the November OCR announcement; for new customers on Friday 28th November 2025, and existing customers on Tuesday 2nd December 2025.
|
Savings |
Band |
Current Rates |
New Rates |
Rate Change |
|||||
|
Savings On Call & ASB Cash Fund* |
All Balances |
0.10% |
No change |
No change |
|||||
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Savings Plus** |
1.80% |
1.60% |
– 0.20 bps |
||||||
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Headstart* |
All Balances |
2.00% |
1.80% |
– 0.20 bps |
*These changes are effective from Tuesday 2nd December 2025.
**This change is effective from Monday 1st December 2025.
ASB has practical information for customers on the current interest rate environment available on its website as well support to help customers take control of their financial wellbeing and achieve their goals at its Financial Wellbeing Hub: https://www.asb.co.nz/banking-with-asb/financial-wellbeing.html
Economy Analysis – Time to sit back and watch – Cotality
Source: Cotality, Commentary by Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson
The Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee delivered the widely expected 0.25% cut to the official cash rate (OCR) today, taking it down to 2.25%.
An initial read of the commentary and the detailed forecasts suggests a likelihood this will be the final cut in the cycle, with time now for everyone to sit back and watch how the effects play out.
To provide some context around that, the RBNZ expects GDP to have risen by more than 1% over the final six months of this year, with calendar year growth accelerating to around 3% in 2026. Employment is thought to have troughed already, with the unemployment rate set to ease down to 5% over the course of next year. Headline inflation should also drop from here.
The forward track for the OCR itself bottoms out at a quarterly average of 2.20% in Q2 2026, which implies the possibility of a further OCR cut at some stage. But if the ‘green shoots’ strengthen and the economy performs as expected, the chances of that cut seem small. At this stage, the RBNZ doesn’t think there’s much scope for the OCR to rise again until 2027.
In the housing market, today’s rate cut may not make too much difference. After all, many banks had already been lowering fixed mortgage rates in previous weeks(especially for the one-year term) and of course fighting very hard on the recent 1.5% cashback offers.
More generally, given lower financing costs and the prospect of a stronger economy in 2026, there’s a solid case for thinking that property sales activity will continue to rise next year, which is also likely to lead to a degree of growth in house prices too. The RBNZ itself predicts a rise of about 4% in 2026, and there’s no major reason to disagree. It would be a modest lift by past standards, but consistent with the fact we now have debt to income ratio caps.
Education – Hieke Nelson Principals’ Association Opposes Removal of the Requirement for School Boards to Give Effect to Te Tiriti from Education Legislation
Source: NZ Principals Federation
The Hieke Nelson Principals' Association is strongly opposed to the Government’s decision to remove the requirement for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi within the Education and Training Act 2020.
Our name, Hieke, grounds us in the symbolism of the hieke; the traditional rain cape that offers protection and strength in all conditions. A hieke shields its wearer when the weather turns, providing warmth, safety, and reassurance in the face of uncertainty. Its resilience comes not from a single strand, but from many fibres woven together with care and intention.
In the same way, our collective strength as principals comes from unity; from many cultures, communities, and kura standing together with shared purpose. As a principals’ association, we remain steadfast in our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. In the current climate we stand firm, knowing that Te Tiriti upholds equity, mana, and opportunity for all tamariki.
Together, we form a protective cloak around our learners, our staff, and our communities; unwavering, united, and grounded in our responsibility to do what is right.
Principals across Nelson, Tasman and Golden Bay are united in our commitment to continuing to give effect to Te Tiriti in our schools. Te Tiriti is not an optional extra, it is the founding document of our nation and its place should not be left to chance, preference or political cycles. Voluntary board commitments cannot guarantee equity.
Hieke principals agree that removing the requirement from education legislation is a significant backwards step. Our local schools are committed to our partnership with the eight iwi of Te Tau Ihu and will continue to work with them to give effect to Ngā Kawatau me ngā Tūmanakotanga o Te Tauihu, the collective aspirations and expectations of our iwi for education. We urge the government to reverse their decision on the place of Te Tiriti in Education legislation.
Many School Boards have already written to the Minister to express their concern and make public statements to their communities to reassure them that, regardless of this proposal, they would continue to honour Te Tiriti.
Local News – Final Derek Wootton Memorial Trust funds donated – Porirua City
Source: Porirua City Council
The Derek Wootton Memorial Trust is donating its remaining funds in the most fitting fashion.
The trust was set up following the death of Porirua police officer Derek Wootton, killed in the line of duty on 11 July, 2008. In its first decade alone, the trust raised nearly $120,000 to go towards helping young people achieve their goals, such as course fees at Whitireia.
The trust has generously supported Te Pahi, the Porirua City Community Bus, since Te Pahi was established by Porirua City Council in 2016. The bus has transported school-aged young people to varied places and events across the region, including cross-country meets, Kaitoke Outdoor Education, Zealandia and Parliament, among many others.
The decision has been made to dissolve the Derek Wootton Memorial Trust, however, with its parting gift being the donation of its remaining funds, about $8000, to Te Pahi.
Porirua City Council wishes to thank the trust for its wonderful support of Te Pahi since 2016, allowing tamariki and rangatahi to attend educational and sporting activities within Porirua and across the wider region.
Economy – The Co-operative Bank leads market with 4.99% floating home loan rate
Source: The Co-operative Bank
The Co-operative Bank has responded to today’s 0.25% Official Cash Rate (OCR) cut by dropping its floating home loan interest rate to 4.99% – a 0.31% cut that continues to put The Co-operative Bank at the lowest widely available floating bank rate in the market.
Chief Executive Mark Wilkshire said “The 4.99% home loan floating bank rate is best in market and affirms our commitment to competitive interest rates for our customer-owners.”
The Co-operative has been offering the lowest home loan floating rate that is widely available to all customers in the market for the last 12 months.
Over the last four years, on both the last OCR rates upcycle and downcycle, The Co-operative Bank has passed on to its floating home loan customers the largest cut to rates on the way down and the smallest increase on the way up.
We are encouraging New Zealanders to select a bank that delivers the service that people should expect from a bank.
About the Co-operative Bank
We are a New Zealand Co-operative 100% owned by our customers. We are the only bank that shares its profits directly with customers in the form of rebates when we make sufficient profit. Since 2013, we’ve shared over $24 million with customers.
We are also proud members of the B Corp movement which recognises businesses that meet better standards of social and environmental performance.
Economy – OCR lowered to 2.25% – Reserve Bank of NZ
Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand
Here is the Monetary Policy Statement and the MPC’s Record of Meeting, which summarises the committee's discussions, leading to the decision.
Annual consumers price inflation increased to 3 percent in the September quarter. However, with spare capacity in the economy, inflation is expected to fall to around 2 percent by mid-2026.
Economic activity was weak over mid-2025 but is picking up. Lower interest rates are encouraging household spending, and the labour market is stabilising. The exchange rate has fallen, supporting exporters’ incomes.
Global economic growth has benefited from strong AI-related investment but is expected to slow in 2026 as trade barriers weigh on activity.
Risks to the inflation outlook are balanced. Greater caution on the part of households and businesses could slow the pace of New Zealand’s economic recovery. Alternatively, the recovery could be faster and stronger than expected if domestic demand proves more responsive to lower interest rates.
The Committee voted to reduce the OCR by 25 basis points to 2.25 percent. Future moves in the OCR will depend on how the outlook for medium-term inflation and the economy evolve.
Monetary Policy Statement November 2025
PDF | 5MBDownload PDF
Monetary Policy Statement November 2025 data
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Monetary Policy Statement November 2025 briefing
PDF | 3MBDownload PDF
Summary record of meeting – November 2025
Annual consumers price inflation increased to 3 percent in the September quarter, the top of the Monetary Policy Committee’s 1 to 3 percent target band. Significant spare capacity remains in the economy and inflation is expected to fall to around 2 percent by mid-2026. The significant reduction in the OCR since August 2024 is expected to support a recovery in economic activity.
Annual inflation is at the top of the target band but expected to moderate
The Committee noted that both core and non-tradables inflation have continued to decline. Annual tradables inflation increased in September due to petrol prices and high food inflation but is expected to decline over the medium term. Annual headline CPI inflation increased due to higher tradables inflation along with high inflation in household energy costs and local council rates. As these dissipate, this will support headline CPI inflation returning to near the 2 percent mid-point of the target range in mid-2026.
Household inflation expectations have fallen but remain high relative to recent history. The inflation expectations of professional forecasters and business leaders have remained stable at slightly above the 2 percent target midpoint.
The economic recovery stalled in the June quarter
Committee members considered how US tariff policy announcements and broader geoeconomic uncertainty disrupted New Zealand’s nascent economic recovery. Greater uncertainty likely led to increased precautionary behaviour by households and businesses, dampening consumption and investment.
However, while measured GDP declined by 0.9 percent in the June quarter, this likely overstates the weakness in the economy through this period. The Committee noted that an unusually large seasonal balancing item contributed to the weakness in the headline figure. This is expected to be reversed over the next few data releases.
Some industry-specific factors may also have constrained supply. For example, high milk prices and unfavourable weather conditions likely contributed to higher livestock retention and lower meat production in the first half of 2025. Limited access to domestic energy sources and higher energy prices are likely to have weighed on manufacturing more generally.
Significant spare capacity remains
The Committee discussed the balance between supply capacity and demand. In addition to short-run factors, the economy’s medium-term supply capacity has been reduced by weak growth in productivity and the working age population. Estimates suggest that annual potential output growth is currently around 1.5 percent.
Weak economic activity has resulted in significant spare capacity opening in the economy since mid-2024. Unemployment and measures of labour underutilisation have increased, and firms are reporting that it is now relatively easy to find workers. While job losses are not high compared to past economic downturns, job vacancies and job transitions have been low, so it has been relatively difficult for unemployed people to transition back to work.
Economic conditions have been variable across different sectors and regions of the economy. High prices for New Zealand’s commodity exports have lifted incomes in the rural economy. This has supported economic activity in rural areas, although debt reduction by farmers has meant measures of on-farm investment have not yet increased to the extent seen in previous commodity price cycles. The level of economic activity remains low in industries reliant on domestic demand.
Financial conditions have eased and the financial system remains stable
The Committee discussed the easing in domestic financial conditions that has occurred. Wholesale interest rates have declined and the New Zealand dollar Trade Weighted Index has depreciated since August. Cuts to the OCR have reduced borrowing costs and mortgage rates. The average yield on mortgages has fallen to 5.4 percent. With close to 40 percent of fixed rate mortgages due to reprice over the December and March quarters, the average mortgage yield is expected to fall further to 4.7 percent by September 2026 based on current market pricing.
Measures of domestic financial stress have eased as lower interest rates reduce debt servicing pressures. Early arrears, which provide an early indicator of impaired lending, have declined. Non-performing housing loans have also declined, and banks expect further reductions in housing and commercial property impairments over 2026. Non-performing loans in the business sector remain elevated, although at lower levels than in previous downturns.
Economic activity is recovering
Committee members discussed an improvement in near-term indicators of economic activity from their lows in the June quarter, suggesting a return to modest GDP growth in the September quarter. Feedback from recent business visits also suggest that, while activity remains weak, demand has stabilised.
The Committee noted that there are also some early signs of stabilisation in labour demand, with job vacancies and total hours worked increasing in the September quarter. This is expected to broaden into a wider improvement in labour market conditions over coming quarters, which will support household confidence and spending.
Relative weakness in the labour market over the past two years has contributed to higher outward migration from New Zealand, particularly to Australia. Regional disparities in housing and labour markets have also likely encouraged higher internal migration. Outward migration is expected to reduce as the New Zealand economy and labour market recovers, with net migration expected to increase towards long-run trends.
Future growth in house prices is expected to be moderate
Members discussed that house prices, in aggregate, have remained stable to date despite lower mortgage interest rates and a modest pick-up in housing market activity. Stable house prices could reflect weak population growth and elevated long-term interest rates. Supply side reforms in the housing market, such as less restrictive zoning laws, may also be moderating the extent to which increases in housing demand contribute to house price inflation.
The Committee assessed that upcoming reductions in mortgage loan-to-value ratio requirements are unlikely to have a material effect on house prices, especially with debt-to-income restrictions now in place. House price growth is expected to be moderate over the projection period, broadly in line with growth in nominal incomes.
Global growth has been resilient but is expected to slow
Members noted that tariffs have had less impact on the global economy than initially expected, reflecting the imposition of lower tariff rates than originally envisaged, inventory management, and adjustments in global supply chains. Global growth has also been supported by higher investment in artificial intelligence technology, particularly in the US, which has boosted exports from Asia. Higher demand for exports has supported economic growth in China, despite weakness in domestic demand.
Global growth is expected to slow modestly in 2026. This reflects an anticipated weakening in global export demand as the pace of AI investment slows. The Committee still expects trade barriers to weigh on global economic activity and to have a modest disinflationary effect on New Zealand.
Risks to the outlook for inflation are balanced
The Committee discussed the risk that price setting behaviour by businesses may become more sensitive to upside inflation surprises, given recent high inflation and inflation expectations remaining above the target mid-point. Spare capacity in the economy has reduced business profit margins and some restoration in margins is expected as demand improves. This restoration in margins could occur more rapidly than anticipated, which would pose an upside inflation risk.
Members noted there are risks around the speed of the recovery. Some members highlighted the risk that continued caution on the part of households and businesses could further slow the recovery in domestic demand, which could see inflation fall below the target midpoint. Conversely, other members highlighted the possibility of a faster recovery if house prices and household spending increase more quickly than assumed given lower mortgage rates, leading to more persistence in medium-term inflation pressures. Members also discussed the possibility of a stronger increase in on-farm investment stemming from high export commodity prices and the expected return of capital to dairy farmers in 2026 from the sale of Fonterra’s consumer brands business.
The Committee discussed risks to the global outlook. Investment in AI technologies has been a significant driver of global growth and equity returns over the past year. Uncertainty remains around the returns from AI adoption. There is a risk of a more significant correction in equity markets and reduced investment if heightened investor expectations are not met.
Inflation remains high in several advanced economies. Global policy uncertainty also remains high. The Committee noted downside risks to growth in China, as policy makers attempt to maintain growth in the face of weak domestic demand and an increasingly fragmented global trading environment. The Committee also noted uncertainty about US economic policy, and the associated risk of higher US inflation.
The Committee discussed the risk that unsustainable fiscal dynamics and increased politicisation of central banks globally could create the conditions for higher and more persistent inflation.
The Committee voted to lower the OCR to 2.25 percent
The Committee discussed the options of holding the OCR at 2.5 percent and lowering the OCR to 2.25 percent, noting low tolerance for prolonging the return of inflation to the target mid-point.
The case for holding the OCR emphasised the considerable reduction in the OCR to date, which is still working its way through the economy. Economic indicators are recovering, and economic activity is expected to strengthen through 2026. Particular emphasis was placed on the upside risks to inflation and output. Leaving the OCR unchanged at this meeting would provide the optionality to lower the OCR in the future if required.
The case for a further reduction in the OCR emphasised significant excess capacity in the economy. This provides confidence that medium-term inflation will return to, and remain around, the target midpoint. The economic recovery is at an early stage, and the inflation outlook provides scope to place more emphasis on avoiding unnecessary volatility in output and employment. With this context, retention of the easing in overall monetary conditions delivered to date would support an enduring recovery in economic activity.
The Committee discussed how to balance the achievement of their inflation mandate with the need to avoid unnecessary instability in output, employment, interest rates and the exchange rate.
On Wednesday 26 November the Committee voted by 5 to 1 to reduce the OCR by 25 basis points to 2.25 percent. The Committee noted that a reduction in the OCR would help to underpin consumer and business confidence and lean against the risk that the economy recovers more slowly than needed to meet the inflation objective.
Future moves in the OCR will depend on how the outlook for medium-term inflation and the economy evolves.
Attendees:
MPC members: Christian Hawkesby (Chair), Carl Hansen, Hayley Gourley, Karen Silk, Paul Conway, Prasanna Gai
Treasury Observer: James Beard
MPC Secretary: Chris Bloor.
Union calls for workers to ‘Take the Power Back’ with radical employment rethink
Source: Workers First Union
Workers First Union is proud to launch its new policy ideas paper, 'Take the Power Back', today at the union’s Regional Delegates Conference in Auckland.
“'Take the Power Back' is an unashamed call for unions and workers to reclaim our role in creating fresh and brave policy that’s informed by the reality of life in New Zealand’s workplaces,” said Dennis Maga, Workers First Union General Secretary.
“We’re facing new challenges brought about by new technologies, new barriers to good faith bargaining, and a hostile Government that wants to attack the very foundation of the employment relationship in our country.”
Mr Maga said the ‘Take the Power Back’ paper aimed to respond to draconian efforts from the Government to weaken workers’ rights through the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, and sought to start a real conversation about what pro-worker policy could look like in 2025.
“This is not a check-box exercise for political parties to sign up for, and not a ‘ready to run’ set of policies for immediate action – it’s about big ideas, workplace justice, and kicking off a long-overdue conversation about our country’s slide to the economic far right over the last few decades,” said Mr Maga.
The paper’s contents are outlined below, section by section.
Strengthening good faith bargaining
Mr Maga said that New Zealand’s collective bargaining system makes it too easy for employers to negotiate in bad faith.
“Surface bargaining” is a tactic often used by employers in which they merely ‘go through the motions’ with no genuine intention of reaching an agreement with workers. The paper proposes a staged bargaining process that involves automatic mediated and facilitated bargaining after a period of fruitless and meaningless negotiations, and would allow either party to ask the Employment Relations Authority to ‘fix’ the terms and conditions of an agreement when bargaining has become unduly protracted, extensive efforts have been exhausted and the parties have failed to reach an agreement.
“No one should have to spend six months – let alone a year or more – sitting across the table from a boss that is taking the mickey and hoping to break workers’ solidarity by effectively landing them in poverty while costs continue to rise around them,” said Mr Maga.
“Free-riding” is a description of bargaining settings whereby employers typically pass on improvements won by union delegates during bargaining to non-union members, who have not contributed to the process.
“We’re calling for a more widespread adoption of ‘bargaining fees’, where non-union members in a workplace governed by a Collective Agreement contribute their fair share to the negotiating party,” said Mr Maga. This would entail automatic deduction of a ‘bargaining fee’, set at a proportion of the union membership cost.
“Bargaining fees are provided for in law, but notoriously difficult to enact because non-union members can just opt out. This policy is about them contributing a fair share when delegates sometimes spend weeks or months of their lives negotiating for the betterment of all workers in a business.”
Mr Maga said the paper’s “Ending the race to the bottom” section represents an improved form of sectoral bargaining that was easier and fairer than the previous Fair Pay Agreement system, which gave employers undue influence over the process.
“We’re proposing what is known internationally as an ‘extension mechanism’ to provide sectoral-level outcomes more efficiently,” said Mr Maga. “If there are collective agreements in a given industry, the relevant unions would elect an ‘industry standard’ agreement which the government must use to set a statutory floor for terms of employment in that sector.”
Two-thirds of OECD countries use extension mechanisms or their equivalents, which improve workers’ quality of life and spread best practices throughout a sector. Mr Maga gave the example of the supermarket duopoly, in which Foodstuffs stores (Pak ‘n Save, New World) lag behind the improved conditions of the nationwide Woolworths agreement. Under this policy, the Woolworths agreement would set the minimum standards of pay and conditions across the sector, and Foodstuffs would be required to meet them.
Building economic democracy
“Our political system is largely democratic, but our workplaces do not operate in the same way,” said Mr Maga. “We want workers to have more of a say in their workplace and their industry.”
The paper proposes ‘opt-out’ union enrolment as a default policy setting. In workplaces with an existing collective agreement, employees would be enrolled in their union by default after 30 days unless they actively chose not to join. This would make it harder for bad employers to intimidate their employees, and more workers would start their jobs with the protections of union membership.
“We’re also putting forward policies to establish worker representation on company boards like many other countries already do, and our brand-new idea of creating ‘worker assemblies',” said Mr Maga.
Union members across each sector or industry would have the right to elect delegates to meet regularly and discuss the issues in that sector. These assemblies would be publicly funded and have a particular focus on health and safety issues, would be resourced with research support and required to produce an annual report to government on the working conditions in that sector, ranging from wage levels to physical and psychosocial safety risks.
Government would then be required to consider and respond publicly to recommendations. Through tripartite negotiations with unions and businesses, a government would also be required to introduce appropriate safety regulations based on the assemblies’ recommendations.
Supporting strike action
“New Zealand’s workplace injury rate is 25% higher than Australia’s, and over 40% higher than Britain’s,” said Mr Maga. “73 Kiwis die at work every year; twice the rate of Australia. This is completely unacceptable.”
The union was proposing a broader right for workers to strike against Collective Agreement breaches, clarifying the right to strike on health and safety grounds, and introducing four hours of paid time per year for workers’ civic participation.
Improving supply chains
“Too many goods entering our market are tainted by forced labour, and New Zealand consumers are unwittingly financing exploitation,” said Mr Maga.
The union says New Zealand should follow the recent example of the EU in banning the sale, import and export of goods made using forced labour.
Mr Maga said that to maintain and deepen the improvement of supply chains in Aotearoa, large businesses and government bodies should annually disclose the modern slavery risks in their operations and supply chains, and what they are doing to mitigate these risks, with reports made available publicly.
“It’s totally unacceptable that in 2025, we are still financing forced labour overseas, and we need to live our values as country by being diligent about our supply chains and reporting publicly when there are risks.”
Addressing tech ‘disruption’
Mr Maga said the recent Supreme Court judgment on Uber drivers’ misclassification had provided unprecedented clarity on platform work in the gig economy.
“Platform workers have no employment rights in Aotearoa: no minimum wage, no sick leave, no annual leave and no right to join a union. They also have no right to recourse if their employer mistreats them. New forms of work via apps are bypassing employment protections and leaving workers in a semantic gap between ‘contractor’ and ‘employee’,” said Mr Maga.
“We have to resist efforts by our Government to enshrine this misclassification in law.”
The ‘Take the Power Back’ paper proposes that, as in the EU, employee status for gig workers must be the ‘default legal presumption’; and if companies wish to challenge a worker’s status, they can pursue a test to prove that a given worker is a contractor instead.
“We can refer to this as a ‘negative test’ for employment: companies using predatory labour arrangements must bear the burden of proof in demonstrating non-employment status, making workers’ rights the starting point rather than the exception,” said Mr Maga.
The paper also proposes establishing ‘Workplace AI protection agreements’ along the lines of recent NZ Council of Trade Unions advice for unions.
“We call for mandatory agreements that employers seeking to introduce AI technologies must pursue with their employees,” said Mr Maga. “These agreements would support data protection and privacy, job security, skills development, work quality requirements, and more.”
“Employers have already begun using AI tools to spy on workers, measure their productivity, and trigger disciplinary processes. While AI can be useful in various industries, it’s demonstrably harmful when used to control people.”
Education – NZPF responds to Government’s "groundbreaking" maths results
Source: NZ Principals Federation
The New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF) has welcomed the Education Minister’s announcement to expand expert mathematics intervention programmes to all year 7 and 8 students who are not achieving. However, NZPF President Leanne Otene questions the evidence provided by the Minister and whether this is the best use of the Government’s education budget.
“I do not deny that this mathematics intervention will have a positive impact – no teacher will argue with that,” says Otene.
“Extra tuition time, one-on-one attention and lower class ratios – we know that every child taught maths under those conditions will absolutely benefit.
“But at the end of the day, what the Government is funding is just an intervention. It won’t support maths teachers’ professional learning and development,” she says.
NZPF understands that trial participants were tested before the 12-week intervention and again on the exact same items immediately following it, which Otene argues doesn’t provide the real picture of the students’ education gains.
“Inevitably there will be a recall effect, where answers can be practised and remembered, even if long-term learning has not occurred,” Otene says.
“So it’s pretty clear to me that the trial was designed to present ‘ground-breaking’ results, not to reflect the true nature of the students’ learning.”
Otene is also clear about the use of the 2024 maths curriculum used in the trial.
“It really astounds me that the Minister is touting this trial as strong evidence while teachers are being told to roll out a new mathematics and statistics curriculum in 2026, the third in less than three years,” she says.
“Are we to ignore the fact that the trial used a specific selection of 2024 maths curriculum items taken from the e-asTTle assessment banks?
“The 2024 maths curriculum is what teachers are prepared to teach. It is what is clearly working for our young people. It is what the Government is now wanting to replace.
“We do not need any more curriculum changes.”
While NZPF is concerned that the results of this trial are magnified due to design factors, NZPF is supportive that the Government is doing something to uplift our young people’s maths achievement.
“The NZPF has been calling for a model to lift the maths performance of struggling students for years,” says Otene.
“It is our view that interventions are needed alongside specialist maths professional learning and development (PLD). This combination would equip teachers with accelerated practices to meet the specific needs of all students, not just in year 7 and 8,” she says.
Fire Safety – Pause plans for outdoor fires please!
Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Hot and windy conditions forecast for much of Canterbury, South Canterbury and Otago have prompted Fire and Emergency to warn people of an increased fire risk from today.
Mid-South Canterbury District Commander Rob Hands says people should not light outdoor fires because of the expected strong winds and hot temperatures, and they must go back and check the sites of previous fires to make sure they are completely extinguished.
MetService has issued an orange wind warning for severe gale northwesterlies of up to 120km for the Canterbury High Country and the plains near the foothills.
“Any fires will be very hard to control in these conditions, so we want people to delay all planned burns until the winds have dropped again and temperatures have cooled down,” Rob Hands says.
It’s barely a month since fires fanned by galeforce winds caused significant damage around Kaikoura and the Clarence River, Hurunui District and at the Rangitata Huts. Several of them took firefighters days to put out.
People who light fires are legally responsible for putting them out – something that is often overlooked, Rob Hands says.
“Don’t leave them to smoulder or assume that a fire is completely out just because you can’t see any flames or smoke. The whole area should be thoroughly wetted until it is completely cold, and checked again afterwards.”
www.checkitsalright.nz has detailed advice about outdoor fire safety. That includes whether it’s safe to burn and whether any fire restrictions are in place.