Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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World Vision – More than 200 schools across Aotearoa to go offline for World Vision 40 Hour Challenge

Source: World Vision

More than 200 schools across Aotearoa will be going offline to participate in the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, which kicks off on Friday, 19 June.
Thousands of young people will take on the country's largest youth fundraising event, raising funds to support hungry children in Solomon Islands.
This year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is encouraging participants to go offline for 40 hours by giving up phones, gaming, social media, streaming services and even electricity to raise funds.
Across the country, young people will be taking on all manner of challenges including walking 3,500km (the distance between New Zealand and Solomon Islands), cooking 400 meals in 40 hours; completing 40 challenges in 40 hours; planting trees; undertaking community service projects; hosting school lock-ins and survivor challenges; participating in walkathons; and facing their personal fears.
World Vision National Director TJ Grant says he is continually inspired by the creativity and commitment shown by young people.
“It's inspiring to see so many young people embracing creative challenges and giving up screentime for a short time to support hungry children in Solomon Islands, where nearly half of children suffer from chronic malnutrition and climate change is making it increasingly difficult for families to put food on the table.”
More than 60 landmarks across New Zealand will light up orange in support of the campaign, including the Sky Tower, Eden Park, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Forsyth Barr Stadium, the Royal Whanganui Opera House, and a range of unique landmarks such as the Big Fruit in Cromwell, the Gore Brown Trout, and the Wellington Cable Cars tunnel.
“The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is part of New Zealand's cultural heritage and it's an honour to see so many schools, communities, and landmarks getting behind New Zealand young people and the children we are raising funds to help,” says Grant.
Funds raised in this year’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge will help provide families in Solomon Islands with seeds, tools, and training to grow more resilient, predictable crops so children have the nutritious food they need to grow healthy and strong.
Young people can still sign up online, with friends, through their school or church at 40hour.org.nz.
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Ministerial Appointments – Surgeons respond to Minister’s decision not to reappoint MCNZ councillors

Source: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons notes that four senior leaders of the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) have not been reappointed to further terms including the Chair, ENT surgeon Dr Rachelle Love.

MCNZ plays a critical role in safeguarding patient safety and maintaining public trust through the impartial regulation of the medical profession.

The Minister of Health holds the statutory authority to make appointments to MCNZ.

Dr Ros Pochin, Chair of the RACS Aotearoa New Zealand National Committee, says the exercise of this power must be carefully balanced against the fundamental principle of professional independence.

“The Medical Council’s effectiveness relies on its perceived and actual independence.”

RACS acknowledges Dr Love’s strong leadership during her time as MCNZ Chair. Her guidance during the response to the Royal Inquiry into Abuse and the work with Lake Alice survivors was a particular standout.

Dr Pochin describes her as a “strong and inspirational leader who has garnered huge respect amongst her profession and the support of the full Medical Council.

“She has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to patient safety and the surgical community.”

Improving all patient outcomes and supporting the growth of the medical workforce are at the heart of both RACS and the Medical Council ‘s core business. The promotion of cultural safety and competence improves the health of all New Zealanders. It is fundamental to an equitable model of care and accepted as  a key competency for all RACS Fellows and members of all other medical colleges.

“Cultural safety and its impact on improved health outcomes for all New Zealanders is supported by evidence and data,” says Dr John Mutu-Grigg, Chair of the RACS Māori Health Advisory Group.

“This fact is accepted nationally, internationally, and is recognised in law and is fundamental to an equitable model of care.”

Dr Pochin adds: “We need independent institutions that provide evidence-based leadership and make decisions in the best interests of patients and the profession. The Medical Council is key in this respect.”

RACS welcomes Dr Ken Clark as the new Chair of MCNZ and remains committed to working constructively with the New Zealand Government and all relevant stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of medical professionalism, governance, and patient care.

About the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

RACS is the leading advocate for surgical standards, professionalism and surgical education in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The College is a not-for-profit and supports the ongoing development, maintenance of expertise and lifelong learning that accompanies the surgical practice of more than 8500 Fellows, 1300 surgical Trainees, and Specialist International Medical Graduates. RACS also supports healthcare and surgical education in the Asia-Pacific region and is a substantial funder of surgical research. www.surgeons.org

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Universities – Tourism firms face complex path to sustainability – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Tourism businesses across Aotearoa New Zealand are working to become more sustainable, but a new study shows the process is complex and rarely straightforward.

The research, based on in-depth interviews, data analysis and site visits with established tourism operators across the country, examines how businesses move from good intentions to more sustainable ways of working.

Lead author Claire Beach says although all the firms in her study were working to progress their sustainability goals, many encountered similar barriers, including decision paralysis, supplier resistance and complex recycling standards.

One quote in the paper captures the confusion some operators face: 'They want the whole area to be carbon-zero by 2030 – tell us what the hell that means.'

“Even in a small country like New Zealand, there are many sustainability definitions, organisations and certifications. As confusing as it is for consumers, it’s just as confusing for firms,” says Beach.

Her journal article, Mapping sustainable transitions in tourism, shows that businesses tend to move through three stages: considering and implementing sustainability initiatives, embedding them into everyday operations, and eventually collaborating with others to drive wider industry change.

But they don’t always follow a linear path. Businesses often move forward, stall, and sometimes regress before making further progress.

Beach, who was inspired by a lifelong love of travel and a stint working in hospitality, set out to understand sustainability from inside the tourism industry.

“I could never quite figure out what it is to be a sustainable tourist, and after working in a hotel, I was really curious about how tourism firms become more sustainable.”

She analysed companies spanning adventure tourism, mountain sports, wildlife spotting, holiday parks and lodge operators. Across these businesses, she interviewed owners, CEOs, COOs, directors, sustainability leads and managers.

Beach would like to see clearer, more consistent language and practical, bite-sized resources to help tourism operators move more smoothly from considering a green initiative to fully integrating it.

But she says defining sustainability remains difficult.

“There’s no end state. We thought carbon neutral was it, then carbon zero, then regenerative, and now nature positive. There’s probably already something out there for what comes next.”

The findings also highlight equity issues, with some valuable sustainability training and tools sitting behind membership paywalls, creating barriers for smaller, less-resourced firms.

Beach says many firms are doing sustainability well, but some lack formalisation.

“If they lose a key staff member who’s been sorting the company's sustainability initiatives, it sets them back. Formalising policy, putting responsibilities into job positions and sustainability training to future-proof efforts all help.”

Meanwhile, sustainability certifications, such as B Corp, can be resource-intensive and difficult for smaller companies to navigate.

Some organisations regretted not implementing sustainability initiatives sooner. They wanted to get started but often “got stuck” in cycles of consideration, stalling due to uncertainty and risk aversion, says Beach.

Her paper emphasises the value of establishing baseline measurements for energy use, water and waste to pinpoint starting points, build business cases, reduce decision paralysis and clarify next steps.

Digitalisation was one of the most adopted sustainability initiatives and often served as an “easy win,” according to the study.

Businesses reduced costs by eliminating printed records and receipts through online booking, check-in and ticketing processes. In several cases, these shifts were described as low-barrier changes that required minimal staff retraining and quickly generated efficiency gains.

Recycling was often seen as “low-hanging fruit” requiring little effort, yet nearly half the firms said it remained one of their biggest ongoing challenges.

Keeping up with local recycling standards, managing seasonal fluctuations in waste volumes and monitoring consumer sorting made recycling more complex and resource-intensive than expected.

In contrast, firms that pursued supply-side initiatives, such as switching to refillable soap dispensers or reducing single-use plastics, reported faster progress.

In one example of collaborating with others to drive wider industry change, Beach points to a company that partnered with direct competitors to pressure shared suppliers into providing compostable packaging.

This, she says, shows how collaboration between firms can shift market expectations and industry norms.

“Sustainability can't be achieved in isolation.”
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Advocacy – Police pay $10,000 in compensation to PSNA Campaign Co-ordinator John Minto

Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

 

17 June 2026 – The non-confidential payout received this week follows negotiations after last year’s IPCA (Independent Police Conduct Authority) report finding that police use of pepper spray against Mr Minto at a protest on 6 February 2024 was “excessive use of force and therefore unjustified”.  

 

The Authority also found that Minto’s “arrest for obstruction was unlawful” and “that the force used against you and your arrest were both unlawful”.

 

“I’m pleased this issue is now resolved but disturbed that even after the IPCA report the police have not accepted responsibility for what in this instance was thuggish behaviour,” says Minto.

 

“The police say they don’t accept the IPCA report findings and conceded only that they didn’t provide “aftercare” following their gratuitous use of pepper spray on several people in the protest.”

 

“I’m writing to the Police Minister to ask for legislative change so IPCA findings become legally binding on police.”

 

The $10,000 will be donated to PSNA to advocate for a one-state solution to Israel’s hundred-years of land theft, dispossession and colonial violence against the Palestinian people.

Under a one-state solution everyone living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea would have equal rights under a democratic constitution where ethnic and religious rights are protected. (Note: Israel has made a two-state solution impossible by building hundreds of illegal Israeli settlements housing more than 700,000 Israelis across the occupied Palestinian Territories.)

 

John Minto

National Campaign Co-ordinator

Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

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Petrol and diesel prices down in May month – Selected price indexes: May 2026 – Stats NZ news story and information release

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Infrastructure Commission welcomes Government response to National Infrastructure Plan

Source: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission

The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, says the Government’s formal response to the National Infrastructure Plan marks a new phase for New Zealand’s infrastructure system.
“In launching the Plan earlier this year, we said New Zealand needed to do things differently to deliver the infrastructure we need to thrive over the next 30 years,” says Geoff Cooper, Chief Executive of Te Waihanga.
“The Government’s response today, accepting the case for change and confirming the direction of reform, is a step in the right direction in improving performance and getting better value for money from our infrastructure.
Today’s response formally addresses each of the 16 recommendations and 10 priority areas in the Plan. Thirteen of the 16 recommendations are fully supported and the remaining three supported in principle. Action on some of the recommendations is already underway.
“Work with the Treasury is well underway to build a new assurance process for central government infrastructure investment. This will be in place on 1 November,” says Cooper.
As well as the new investor assurance process for central government infrastructure projects, Te Waihanga will be working with Treasury to deliver a new assurance process for asset management in central government.
“The National Infrastructure Plan focuses on lifting New Zealand’s performance in asset management. Much of the infrastructure we will need over the next 30 years already exists,” says Cooper.
“While high-quality asset management doesn’t always hit the headlines, it matters because visibility of asset performance and future investment needs means better decisions.”
Te Waihanga is also supporting work to lift project leadership capability, grow the coverage of the National Infrastructure Pipeline for greater coordination across the sector, and leverage its Forward Guidance as a tool for investment planning.
“We’re encouraged that many organisations have programmes underway to progress the recommendations and priority actions. These include work to reform the resource management system and set up integrated spatial planning and national standards, network infrastructure providers applying new user-based pricing models like volumetric water charging for water and time of use charging on busy roads, and Auckland Council’s decisions to support upzoning and opportunities for housing development around major passenger transport routes.
“These steps will help shape a clearer, more practical and affordable infrastructure system. They come at a time when the need for change is clear, helping us adapt to the needs of our changing population, the growing risks posed by natural hazards, the drive to decarbonise our economy and the opportunities created by new technologies,” says Cooper.
“The approach set out in the National Infrastructure Plan will help to safeguard the infrastructure services that we rely on every day, so they continue to work for future generations.”
Notes:
– Te Waihanga presented the National Infrastructure Plan to the Government in December 2025 and publicly released it in February 2026.
– The Government is required to publish a formal response within 180 days of receiving the National Infrastructure Plan, being June 2026. 
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Scale of Ebola virus outbreak likely under-estimated – Oxfam

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

Humanitarian response lags behind a month into the largest Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak on record.
Only one in five health facilities in Ituri, one of the epicenters of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has access to enough clean water, according to new Oxfam field data. The findings raise urgent concerns about the spread of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus – access to clean water remains the first line of defense against transmission – raising fears that the true scale of the outbreak is underestimated.
Oxfam’s field data shows that in Mongbwalo, a town of nearly 140,000 people and one of the outbreak’s epicenters in Ituri province, only 20 percent of people have access to clean water while just 25 percent have access to functional sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. Many families are forced to use water contaminated by chemical runoff from mining operations.
These findings highlight a wider crisis across Ituri province: contaminated water sources, collapsed handwashing infrastructure and healthcare centers struggling to safely dispose of infectious waste, while many frontline workers still lack basic protective equipment. These conditions are hampering efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
Oxfam’s Field Response Coordinator in Ituri Province, Manel Rebordosa, who is based in the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC, said:
“Water -the absolute first line of defense in any public health emergency- is simply not available. Miners working in the surrounding areas have no toilets and handwashing stations, then they return home to communities already battling the virus. Clean water costs two dollars for 20 liters. For most families here, that is far beyond what they can afford.”
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that this is now the largest Bundibugyo outbreak on record. The DRC Ministry of Health has reported 782 confirmed cases and 181 deaths across 25 health zones, but Oxfam warns the real toll is likely far higher. Unlike the 2018 outbreak, there is no licensed vaccine or approved therapeutic for the Bundibugyo strain, making clean water and sanitation a critical component of the fight against this virus.
Contact tracing, the backbone of any Ebola response, has fallen to just 43 percent coverage. This sits far below the 79 percent recorded one month into the 2018-2020 outbreak in the same region.
“One month into the 2018 outbreak, health care workers achieved contact tracing rates where nearly eight in ten known contacts were successfully monitored. Today, following the withdrawal of US funding for disease surveillance and severe funding shortfalls, contact tracing is reaching fewer than half of the contacts. That gap is not just a statistic, it is a painful reality that allows the virus to spread undetected through communities,” said Rebordosa.
With only 0.2 doctors per 1000 people and more than 70 health facilities destroyed by conflict, the DRC’s health authorities are struggling to identify new infections fast enough to interrupt transmission. In North Kivu, deaths are being reported in communities before patients are ever identified as Ebola cases. More families are caring for sick relatives at home, unknowingly exposing others to the virus.
Global humanitarian funding for the DRC has been slashed by 46 percent -from $2.58 billion in 2024 to $1.4 billion in 2026- the lowest coverage rate in a decade, forcing aid agencies to drastically scale back. Local organizations, often the primary responders during outbreaks, have received less than 6 percent of recent humanitarian funding according to the DRC NGO forum.
The aid cuts have forced organizations to reduce outreach community teams stripping away a critical pillar of the response. Furthermore, the severe shortage of personal protective equipment, sanitation facilities and clean water infrastructure continue to constrain response operations, making it increasingly difficult to combat both misinformation and the spread of the virus.
“When trusted community outreach teams disappear, rumors spread faster than the virus. People now fear healthcare facilities, which they see as deathtraps. Families are turning to traditional remedies, which risks delaying treatment and allowing the virus to spread further. Every day without funding, the virus takes more lives,” said Rebordosa.
Tibakanya Mireille, a mother of five in Ituri, said: “I brought my child to the hospital when I noticed she had a fever and she is now being tested. We are very worried. Here, two houses have been quarantined, and one family lost several relatives after caring for a sick relative, which caused others to be sick. The disease has already killed several people in our community of Shari, in Bunia.”
Oxfam is working with partners and has scaled up its response to the Ebola outbreak, mounting an initial $11.6 million six-month intervention to provide clean water and hygiene kits to 200,000 people in Ituri province and to support community-led awareness.
However, this falls far short of what is needed.
Notes
According to WHO and DRC’s Ministry of Public Health the contact tracing rate was at 43,2% on 8th June, 2026 whereby it was at 79% one month into the 2018 Ebola outbreak in DRC (in French).
According to DRC’s Ministry of Health as of 13 June, there are 782 confirmed cases and 181 confirmed deaths.
The outbreak is caused by a rare Bundibugyo version of the Ebola virus, which has no approved vaccine or therapeutics. The current Bundibugyo outbreak is the largest of its kind and the third largest Ebola outbreak on record according to the CDC, only behind the 2018-20 Kivu Ebola epidemic in the DRC and the 2014-16 West African epidemic.
Humanitarian funding requirements for the DRC fell from $2.58 billion in 2024 to $1.4 billion in 2026, (nearly 46 per cent).
According to the Conseil National des Fora des ONG humanitaires et de Développement in DRC (CONAFOHD DRC), less than 6 percent of resources for the Ebola response has been allocated to local organizations in DRC.
According to World Bank Data, DRC has approximately 0.2 physicians per 1,000 people
Uganda has now recorded 19 confirmed Ebola cases, including eight newly confirmed infections and two deaths. Oxfam is providing protective equipment and supporting with infection prevention and community engagement efforts
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Aviation Sector – Minister visits CAA staff to recognise progress improving aviation services and safety oversight

Source: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

Acting Minister of Transport with responsibility for Aviation, Hon James Meager, has visited Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) staff to recognise the work of the Aviation Safety Oversight Group and the progress made over the past year to strengthen aviation safety and improve services for the sector.

The visit acknowledged the significant contribution the Group makes to maintaining a safe aviation system while supporting innovation, growth and the day-to-day needs of aviation participants across New Zealand.

Over the past year the Group has delivered improvements across certification, medical certification and regulatory oversight, helping reduce delays and improve the experience of aviation participants interacting with the CAA.

One of the most significant achievements has been the completion of CAA’s certification backlog through the “Get to Green” programme. The programme has improved timeliness and responsiveness, cleared longstanding certification work ahead of schedule and introduced new processes to help prevent future backlogs.

For aviation operators, this means greater certainty, improved turnaround times and more timely regulatory decisions when seeking certifications, approvals and other regulatory services.

CAA Deputy Chief Executive Aviation Safety Oversight Catherine MacGowan said the progress reflected the dedication of staff and a strong focus on improving outcomes for both safety and the sector.

“Our people work every day to support a safe, efficient and resilient aviation system. The improvements we’ve made are helping aviation participants get the services they need more quickly while maintaining the robust safety oversight New Zealanders expect. We will keep working hard to improve our regulatory performance, but it's great to stop and acknowledge progress towards our goals.”

The Group has also made improvements to aviation medical certification processes, increasing efficiency and supporting better alignment with international best practice. This includes mutual recognition arrangements with Australia that help support workforce mobility and retention across the aviation sector.

The Aviation Safety Oversight Group has also continued to support the safe introduction of new technologies, including autonomous aircraft, advanced uncrewed aircraft operations and emerging electric aircraft programmes.

During the visit, Hon Meager acknowledged the role CAA plays in supporting both safety and economic growth.

“The Aviation Safety Oversight Group at the CAA plays a critical role in keeping New Zealand’s aviation system safe, resilient and fit for the future,” Hon Meager said.

“The team have worked constructively with industry, improved regulatory delivery and helped create an environment where innovation can occur safely.”

He said the achievements reflected the commitment of staff across CAA.

“These results demonstrate the value of a modern, capable regulator that works alongside industry while maintaining strong safety standards. The progress made is benefiting aviation participants and helping position New Zealand’s aviation system for the future.”

CAA Chief Executive Kane Patena said the Minister’s visit was an opportunity to recognise the professionalism and commitment of staff.

“This work is ultimately about supporting a safer and more effective aviation system for everyone who relies on it. I’m proud of what our people have achieved and grateful for the Minister taking the time to acknowledge their contribution.”

Although significant progress has been made, CAA’s Board Chair and Chief Executive both acknowledged that improvements are not yet complete, with a sustained focus over the next 18-24 months to modernise CAA’s regulatory certification and decision-making processes. This will be complemented by the Rules Update Programme (an ambitious two-year plan to modernise aviation’s out-of-date rule set) and a new Business Transformation Programme which will make targeted investments across technology, capability and systems to drive CAA’s performance.

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Lifestyle – Exercise Improves the Long-Term Benefits of GLP-1 Drugs, New Multinational Study Finds

Source: ExerciseNZ

“GLP-1 medications are providing new opportunities for people living with obesity, but medication alone is not the complete solution,”

“Exercise plays a critical role in helping people maintain muscle mass, improve strength and mobility, support mental wellbeing, and achieve sustainable long-term health outcomes. Qualified exercise professionals should be part of the treatment pathway from the outset.”

“New Zealand faces many of the same challenges as other developed nations, including rising rates of obesity, physical inactivity, and chronic disease,”

“This research reinforces what exercise professionals see every day. Sustainable health improvements come not just from weight loss, but from building strength, improving movement, increasing confidence, and supporting people to develop lifelong healthy habits.”

ExerciseNZ is calling for exercise professionals to be integrated into obesity treatment pathways. New international research has found that combining structured exercise with GLP-1 weight-loss medications significantly improves long-term health outcomes, reduces healthcare costs, and delivers substantial economic benefits compared with medication alone.

________________________________

The white paper, From Weight Loss to Lasting Value: Structured Exercise and the Economics of GLP-1 Therapy, arrives as countries around the world consider how best to manage the growing use of GLP-1 medications for obesity treatment.

Developed by FTI Consulting's Center for Healthcare Economics and Policy, the research examined the health and economic impact of GLP-1 therapy when used alone compared with GLP-1 therapy combined with structured exercise. The analysis was conducted across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The findings were consistent across all five countries, demonstrating that combining regular exercise with GLP-1 treatment leads to better long-term health outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and positive returns on investment.

________________________________

As the use of obesity medications continues to increase, ExerciseNZ is encouraging policymakers, healthcare providers, and funders to ensure exercise is recognised as a core component of obesity care.

“GLP-1 medications are providing new opportunities for people living with obesity, but medication alone is not the complete solution,” says Richard Beddie, Chief Executive of ExerciseNZ.

“Exercise plays a critical role in helping people maintain muscle mass, improve strength and mobility, support mental wellbeing, and achieve sustainable long-term health outcomes. Qualified exercise professionals should be part of the treatment pathway from the outset.”

The research highlights several important benefits of combining exercise with GLP-1 therapy, including:

Preserving muscle mass during weight loss
Maintaining strength, mobility, and bone health
Supporting long-term weight management
Reducing weight regain following cessation of medication
Lowering the risk of costly chronic health events

________________________________

ExerciseNZ is joining international industry organisations including the Health & Fitness Association, the HFA Foundation, AUSactive, Fitness Industry Council of Canada, and ukactive in calling on policymakers, payers, and healthcare systems to integrate structured exercise into GLP-1 treatment pathways. Specifically, to:

Recognition of structured exercise, including resistance training, as an essential component of obesity treatment
Integration of exercise support into GLP-1 care models
Stronger referral pathways between healthcare providers and qualified exercise professionals
Improved access to exercise services and facilities
Measurement of outcomes beyond weight loss, including physical function, quality of life, and long-term health outcomes

“New Zealand faces many of the same challenges as other developed nations, including rising rates of obesity, physical inactivity, and chronic disease,” says Beddie.

“This research reinforces what exercise professionals see every day. Sustainable health improvements come not just from weight loss, but from building strength, improving movement, increasing confidence, and supporting people to develop lifelong healthy habits.”

ExerciseNZ encourages individuals using GLP-1 medications to seek guidance from appropriately qualified exercise professionals to help maximise health outcomes and maintain long-term success.

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Tax Reform – 40 years of wealth accumulation by super rich highlights need for tax changes

Source: Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign

40 years of the Rich List reveals just how much of our wealth in Aotearoa New Zealand is increasingly accumulating at the very top, while ordinary people see their living standards and opportunities decline – the Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign says this inequality highlights the pressing need for tax changes.

“NBR released its 40th anniversary Rich List today, touting that in that time the collective wealth of the richest people in New Zealand has increased 23-times over, from $5.3bn to $129bn. But this massive accumulation of wealth by a few at the very top has occurred while child poverty rates have tripled,” said Kate Stone, spokesperson for the Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign.

“In the early 1980s the average child poverty rate in New Zealand was about 8%, by 2025 that rate had risen to 21.5%*. That is 248,500 children living in poverty. And for every child living in poverty, their parents, their whānau are living in poverty too.”

“Not only does this represent significant deprivation for many whānau in Aotearoa, but it also represents a significant cost to our society and economy – estimates from the Institute for Democratic and Economic Analysis (IDEA) indicate the cost of child poverty is equivalent to 3.4% of our GDP or $14bn a year,” said Stone.

“So while members of the Rich List might claim they're creating wider economic benefits, it is clear that rapidly increasing wealth inequality in Aotearoa New Zealand has significant costs. As IDEA points out, the costs manifest in weaker educational results, poor physical and mental health, higher social welfare and justice system costs.”

“Wealth in and of itself is not the problem, the starkly unequal distribution of our wealth as a country is a really serious problem. But there are practical steps we can take to address this issue,” said Stone.

“Right now ordinary people are contributing through taxes on their wages and salaries to funding the things that support people to stay out of poverty and succeed in life – education, healthcare, housing and so on. But those who make money from their accumulated wealth, are not paying their fair share because in New Zealand we tax wealth very lightly, if at all. As a result we are not gathering enough revenue to fund these essential services.”

“If we look around the world we can see that there are sensible tax changes we could make to bring us in line with countries we like to compare ourselves to and gather the revenue we need to give our people the best chance in life. These changes include a comprehensive capital gains tax, a wealth transfer tax on large gifts and inheritances, taxing the accumulated wealth of the super rich and sizable trusts,” Stone points out.

“Rebalancing our tax system so we're taxing wealth fairly, and not just work, is critical to generating the revenue we need to fund the things that matter. And it is critical to tackling inequality and the concentration of our wealth in the hands of a few, undermining our living standards, social cohesion and democracy.”

Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign Manager

*Note: That is taking the more conservative measure of children in households below the 50% median income after household costs – the numbers are even more stark if expanded to include those below 60% median income, see: Boston (2013); StatsNZ (2026).

The Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign is a coalition of over 20 organisations led by Tax Justice Aotearoa.