The University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka and a Fijian Government agency have signed a landmark agreement opening the door to sponsored opportunities for Fijian students to study in Aotearoa New Zealand in field’s critical to Fiji’s development.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed between the University and Fiji’s Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Services (TSLS) in Dunedin recently, new pathways will be established for Fijians to pursue academic programmes at Otago that directly align with Fiji’s national human capital priorities.

These programmes include Exercise, Sport & Nutrition Science; Aquaculture and Fisheries; Biotechnology; Microbiology; Geographic Information Systems; Software Engineering; Forensic Analytical Science; Rehabilitation and Medical Technology.

The formal signing of the MOU represents the first time Otago has entered an agreement with a Fijian government agency to directly support students to study in Dunedin.

Dean of Te Tumu – the University’s School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies Professor Patrick Vakaoti says the partnership is a milestone in Pacific regional education cooperation.

“The agreement reflects the value the Fijian Government places on educational qualifications offered at Otago,” he says.

“It also demonstrates their trust in us, that Fijian students will be adequately supported with their pastoral and wellbeing needs via the Pacific Islands Centre and other related Student Support Services at Otago.”

TSLS plays a crucial role in administering Fiji Government scholarships and is central to supporting the country’s vision of developing a knowledge-based economy.

A TSLS delegation visited Otago’s Dunedin campus for the MOU signing, led by Executive Chair Ro Teimumu Kepa, signalling a new chapter in regional collaboration between Fiji and Otago, and strengthening academic and cultural ties across the Pacific.

For Honourable Ro Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa the partnership is about creating opportunities that align with national development goals while nurturing global citizens who will return home ready to lead.

The TSLS delegation to Dunedin also included Selveen Deo (Head of Finance and Corporate Services), Marica Vereakula (Manager Legal), and Shivon Singh (Coordinator Scholarships, Higher Education).

They were welcomed with a mihi, an occasion that acknowledged shared indigenous values and the deepening relationship between Otago and its Pacific partners.

Following the ceremony, the delegation met with University leaders to discuss alignment between Otago’s academic programmes and Fiji’s national human capital priorities.

Otago Director International Jason Cushen says the agreement represents a deepening of Pacific partnerships that go beyond student numbers.

“Fiji has always been an important and valued partner for Otago, one in which student and staff mobility and research collaboration has resulted in positive benefits for all parties.

“Given this historical context we look forward to working closely with Fiji’s Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service to provide life changing opportunities for a new group of young Fijians.”

The visit also provided opportunities to explore Otago’s postgraduate programmes, including Masters and PhD pathways, and to discuss ways to strengthen Pacific-led research and innovation.

As Otago continues to implement its Pacific Strategic Framework, this partnership with TSLS reinforces the University’s commitment to Pacific success in higher education. The Framework serves to ensure that Pacific values and priorities are embedded in all areas of university life and this MOU reflects a tangible step in realising that vision, deepening Otago’s role as a university of choice for Pacific learners and communities.

Both parties are confident this collaboration will pave the way for a stronger Pacific presence at Otago – one that honours academic excellence, cultural connection, and shared aspirations.

The MOU will remain in effect until September 2030, with an option to renew for a further five years.

General practices are struggling to recruit enough doctors and nine out of 10 are increasing patient fees to stay afloat, according to a survey by the General Practice Owners Association (GenPro).

However the survey also suggests the veil of gloom over general practice has partially lifted, with fewer making a loss and more maintaining their service levels than in previous years.
“General practice is out of intensive care but is still in the recovery room,” says Dr Angus Chambers, chair of GenPro.

The GenPro Annual Pulse Survey 2025 was carried out in August and had 226 respondents, about a quarter of all general practices in New Zealand.

Chambers said the results show general practice is feeling slightly better after some horrendous years when many closed down, merged or reduced services to their patients.
“We are finally seeing some improvement,” Chambers says.

“The key reason is that the government has acknowledged the crisis in general practice – it allocated more funding in Budget 2025 and improved the way that funding is allocated.”
The survey showed that:

One out of five general practices made a loss last year, fewer than in previous years;
One out of four general practices said their financial position had worsened, a significant improvement from the four out of five figure of two years ago;
Two out of three practices were charging patients for what used to be free, similar to previous years;
Four out of five general practices were taking new patients, a slight improvement.

“While the results are more positive than in previous years, we expected to see an improvement from what had been a desperate situation.”

Some 85 percent of respondents had recently increased, or were about to increase, their fees, and 23 percent were in a worse financial position than a year ago.

“With almost a quarter of practices in a worse financial position, there is a risk of communities losing their general practices unless more is done to improve their financial viability.

“While there were improving trends in the survey, the situation for patients is still sub-optimal. More than half of practices have doctor vacancies, and nearly one in four are still looking for nurses.”

“One bright spot is that only 29 percent of general practices had reduced their services, a sharp reduction from 54 percent two years ago. This shows the situation for general practice is stabilising, and it would improve even further if we could do better at recruiting medical professionals,” Chambers said.

While the results were encouraging, much more improvement was needed.

“We appreciate that government has increased its support of primary healthcare and is overhauling the current out-of-date funding model, but neither step has increased the supply of medical professionals into primary healthcare, meaning family doctors remain overworked and too many patients still cannot easily access a GP.”

Dr Angus Chambers 027 658 5143

GenPro members are owners and providers of general practices and urgent care centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information visit  www.genpro.org.nz

The latest QV House Price Index shows average home values across Aotearoa New Zealand fell 1.1% over the quarter to the end of September, with the national average now $900,521. That figure is 0.2% lower than at the same time last year and 14.0% below the nationwide market peak of January 2022.

All the main centres showed declines, with Auckland recording the steepest fall over the past three months, with average values dropping 2.5%. Wellington City also dipped 0.8%, while Christchurch eased back 0.4%. Hamilton fell 1.6% over the same period, and Dunedin was down 0.2%.

Elsewhere, Napier values fell 1.3%, Nelson 1.7%, Whangārei 1.9%, and Palmerston North 0.1%. In contrast, Hastings rose 1.0% and New Plymouth edged up 0.2%, while Tauranga values were flat. The strongest regional centre gains were in Queenstown, up 1.8% and Invercargill, up 1.6%, underlining their resilience compared with the rest of the country.

QV National Spokesperson Andrea Rush said, “Auckland and Wellington continue to see the strongest value drops since the previous nationwide peak as the market correction from post-Covid boom extends.”

“The Reserve Bank’s recent cut to the Official Cash Rate will gradually provide relief to borrowers and could help lift confidence in the housing market over spring and summer.”

“Decreasing home values and lower mortgage rates continue to improve affordability in many areas across the country making it a little easier for Kiwis to get on or move up the property ladder.”

“Lower mortgage rates may encourage a modest rise in activity, but any rebound in prices is likely to remain constrained by the broader economic recession, cost-of-living pressures, rising unemployment, and ongoing global uncertainty.”

“For now, it remains a buyers’ market, however, deposit requirements and the ability to service mortgages remain barriers for many first-home buyers, and interest rates are still well above COVID-19 levels.”

“Demand is strongest for modern, well-maintained homes that are ready to move into.”

“While listings for new multi-unit townhouses and apartments remain plentiful, those developments lacking key features such as parking, storage, privacy, or good indoor–outdoor flow –  are taking longer to sell, with asking prices often being reduced, as developers become more motivated.”