Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Oxfam reacts to NZ government’s decision not to recognise Palestinian statehood

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

At the United Nations over the weekend, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters announced that New Zealand will not recognise Palestinian statehood. 
Oxfam Aotearoa Executive Director Jason Myers said, “We are disappointed at our government’s inaction on this issue. Recognition of statehood is more than a symbolic gesture, it affirms the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, which is a fundamental human right.”
Oxfam insists that concrete steps must be taken toward an immediate and permanent ceasefire so that aid can freely flow into Gaza and to ensure the release of the hostages and illegally detained Palestinian prisoners.
Myers continued, “We call on the leaders of our country to push harder to broker a lasting and just peace that ensures security and prosperity for both Palestinians and Israelis.”
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Health – Call for Pharmac to fund life-saving heart drugs out of reach for many Kiwi families

Source: Kia Manawanui Trust | The Heart of Aotearoa New Zealand

Thousands of Kiwi heart patients are missing out on a proven, life-saving heart medication because it is not publicly funded.
Kia Manawanui Trust – The Heart of Aotearoa is calling on Pharmac to fund a class of medicines called PCSK9 inhibitors that reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol.
This medicine could transform the lives of an estimated 1 in 250 New Zealanders living with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) – a genetic condition that causes dangerously high ‘bad’ cholesterol, putting them at risk of heart attack or stroke at an early age.
“I’m still young – I want to minimise deterioration as much as I can, because I want to be around for my son for a long time,” the 50-year-old says.
“I’ve got a lot more life to live and a lot more to give.”
Heart disease has already claimed his grandfather and uncle at a young age – and Matt worries he may be next.
“I just want to survive – and be there for my wife and our three young children as they grow up.”
PCSK9 medicines can dramatically lower levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol, offering patients like Korie and Matt a real chance at longer, healthier lives.
But in New Zealand, these treatments aren’t funded.
Patients must either pay thousands of dollars themselves or go without, leaving their cholesterol dangerously high.
Currently funded cholesterol medications aren’t enough to reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol to a safe level for patients living with FH.
Trust Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says the situation reflects a wider national failure.
“Unfortunately, their stories are not unique – it is the reality for thousands of New Zealand families living with FH, an inherited heart disease.
“They are living with a constant ticking time bomb inside their chest, while the treatments that could save their lives are sitting on the shelf, out of reach.”
The lack of funded treatment options for heart disease, in general, is appalling, Ms Harding says.
“We are decades behind other countries, including Australia, where these medications are already funded and changing lives.”
Pharmac needs to ring-fence a dedicated fund for cardiac drugs, she says.
“Heart disease is the number one killer in New Zealand, so it makes sense to do this.
“Every day we delay funding vital heart medications means more heart attacks and deaths that could be prevented.”
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Health – Aged Care Association backs Wairoa Mayor: Government must act on aged care crisis

Source: Aged Care Association

The Aged Care Association (ACA) backs Wairoa Mayor Craig Little in his criticism of government inaction that has left the town without a single aged care bed more than two years after Cyclone Gabrielle.
Mayor Little has called the lack of residential care in Wairoa an “emergency” that has been ignored by everyone “from the Prime Minister down.”
“Our association raised this issue more than a year ago, urging ministers to act, and offering to work with government to resolve this crisis. At the time, we were told it was under control, and no help was needed. Yet over a year on, Wairoa families are still left to provide hospital-level care at home, without equipment, medication, or specialist support,” says ACA Chief Executive, Hon. Tracey Martin, “and care partners are breaking due to the inability to receive respite support at appropriate levels.”
The Association is once again calling on the government to work with our sector to deliver care for Wairoa immediately.
“We have members ready and willing to step up for Wairoa. We just need a serious commitment from government and its agencies to make this happen.” 
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Health – Up to 700 GP trainees to benefit from funding boost this year – College of GPs

Source: Royal NZ College of General Practitioners

Up to 700 GP trainees to benefit from funding boost this year
At GP25: Conference for General Practice in July, Health Minister Hon Simeon Brown announced significant additional funding for registrars across the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP). This was an important acknowledgement of the value of general practice as a medical specialism and the need to grow and retain the GP workforce.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) has been working alongside Minister Brown and Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora to confirm how this funding, the ” Training Boost,” will be used to benefit registrars. The package includes:
  • Funding for up to 337 of our GPEP year 3 and 3+ trainees to complete their training and undergo their Fellowship Assessment. These trainees may not have been able to complete Fellowship previously due to financial and other constraints
  • Registrar-incurred learning and membership fees will be paid by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora for currently enrolled GP registrars in years 2, 3 and 3+ of GPEP for the 2025 academic year.
Funding support will be sustained beyond 2026 to ensure GP registrars are supported to complete their training and become vocationally registered general practitioners in New Zealand, as previously announced by the Minister.
This further funding will help support ongoing training and education costs for approximately 400 GPEP year 2 and 3 trainees annually.
College CE Toby Beaglehole says, “The Training Boost significantly reduces the financial constraints that have long been associated with becoming a specialist GP. As a College, we can now focus more tightly on the growth and retention of the GP workforce and training our registrars to be innovative and adaptable GP leaders tending to the complex and evolving needs of patients and communities.
“This funding means that up to 700 GP registrars who are currently in years 2,3 and 3+ of GPEP will have their incurred learning and membership fees paid (or refunded) to support them to complete their training and become specialist GPs.
“I’d also like to acknowledge the huge amount of work and cross-organisation collaboration that has been undertaken to get us to this point. Working together with Health New Zealand to deliver on a future-proofed, sustainable general practice workforce will have a significantly positive impact on health outcomes and is a massive win for patients.”
Minister for Health, Hon Simeon Brown says “The Government is focused on building a stronger, more sustainable GP workforce so that more New Zealanders can access the care they need, when they need it.
“This investment is a critical step in future-proofing the GP workforce and building a stronger pipeline of locally trained doctors. By supporting doctors to complete their training and stay in general practice, we are investing not only in their careers, but in the health and wellbeing of communities across the country for years to come.”
Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora National Chief Medical Officer says, “Supporting GP registrars through sustained funding will strengthen the pipeline of future general practitioners to the benefit of communities right across Aotearoa.
General practice is the backbone of our health system. GPs are often the first point of contact for patients and play a critical role in prevention, diagnosis, and long-term care. We need far more of them, and we need to support them better.
This new investment helps remove financial barriers that have historically limited access to specialist GP training, and it is a meaningful step toward a more equitable and resilient health system.”
College CE Toby Beaglehole is available for comment. Please contact communications@rnzcgp.org.nz or call 021 027 81909 to arrange an interview.
Notes:
  • Previously, GP registrars only have their first year of GPEP training funded with the second and third years having to be self-funded. This approach was different to other medical training programmes across New Zealand and Australasian medical colleges which are fully funded for their entirety.
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Defence News – Whakatāne soldier builds around the Pacific

Source: New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF)

The New Zealand Army’s Sergeant Shaun Taylor jumped at the chance to return to the Cook Islands as he grows his resume of building work from the heat of the tropics to the sub-zero temperatures of Antarctica.

The Troop Sergeant is again taking part in Exercise Tropic Twilight, which this year is carrying out work on the small island of Ma’uke.

Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, this year’s exercise involves more than 30 personnel from the NZ Army’s 25 Engineer Support Squadron, 2 Engineer Regiment supported by a medical team and troops from Australia, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.

The team is carrying out maintenance and improvements on the island’s solar farm, water infrastructure, school and halls during the exercise.

Sergeant Taylor, who grew up in Whakatāne but has whakapapa back to Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Toarangatira, was part of the 2015 Tropic Twilight, on the island of Penrhyn in the northern Cook Islands.

“I had no idea I’d come back. When I heard that we could potentially be deploying here I was pretty keen. I’m always keen to get out and do what we do.”

Sergeant Taylor joined the NZ Army in 2011 and the following year started his carpentry apprenticeship. One of his first deployments was in a humanitarian assistance role, fixing infrastructure in the Solomon Islands. He has posted twice to Antarctica to help maintain McMurdo Station.

Besides construction work, he has taken part in Gallipoli commemorations and spent seven months with the multi-national force manning the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea.

Another highlight was spending two years at the NZ Army marae, Rongomaraeroa-o-ngā-hau-e-whā, working in cultural education.

Sergeant Taylor said his role on Ma’uke was to support the commander and managing the troop. 

“I’ve got a good feeling so far. I think we’ll achieve all our tasks. We've got some really good military tradespeople. I've got no doubt we’ll smash all the work out.”

The team hadn’t dealt a lot with solar installations, but they will install solar units to power the bore pumps that deliver water to the island’s 240 residents.

“Our guys are quite new to the whole solar thing. They're just delving a bit more into it. It's not part of the initial apprenticeship, so that's going to be a good learning experience for them,” Sergeant Taylor said.

“I don't think any of it's going to be too much of a challenge. Our guys are really capable of doing the work.”

Sergeant Taylor said he was also the unofficial cultural lead for the group.

“I speak te reo Māori and that's very similar to Cook Island Māori so I've been able to speak quite openly with the locals. Our reo is very similar. I'd say it's 90 percent the same. There are just little differences here and there.

“All the locals seem really happy to have us here too. So I think that's going to be a big part of the success here.

“We are simply here to be active in the neighbourhood of the Cook Islands and show that we value our partnership with them. This work is the way we can show that.”

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Employment – Pay rise for 800 Auckland Council library workers a step towards pay equity

Source: PSA

The PSA has welcomed Auckland Council agreeing to a significant pay rise for council library workers, despite the Government scrapping pay equity for them and many other workers.
Around 800 library workers – librarians, library assistants and those in specialist roles – will receive a pay rise backdated from 1 September. The increase amounts to thousands of dollars in extra pay a year on average for each worker.
“We welcome this increase as a positive step towards recognising the true value of the work of library workers in Auckland,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The Government cancelled this pay equity claim and made sweeping changes to the Equal Pay Act 1972, but we applaud the Council for doing the right thing regardless.
“This is a well-deserved pay rise for these mainly women doing it tough as the cost of living continues to put pressure on household budgets. Library workers are highly skilled professionals, working with ever changing technology and delivering critical services each day to the many members of the communities they serve.
“This is a women-dominated profession and undervalued as a result and while the pay increase is needed and welcome, it is not true pay equity.
“The PSA reserves the right to take a future pay equity claim on their behalf in the future when a fairer legal framework is enacted.”
Speaking on behalf of her colleagues, PSA Delegate Suzanne Moore said library workers felt hurt and devalued when their pay equity claim was axed.
“So, this recognition from Auckland Council of the valuable work done by library staff in their communities is very much appreciated. They have gone above and beyond when they didn’t have to, and we thank them for that.
“Our members are having a hard time just covering the basics of living. They struggle to save. I often talk to women working well past retirement age because they simply cannot afford to stop so this will make a real difference to their ability to support themselves and their families.”
“Auckland Council is doing what’s right in closing pay gaps, and we hope other councils that were covered by the pay equity claim follow suit,” said Fleur Fitzsimons.
The settlement follows a significant pay increase in June for library workers employed by Christchurch City Council.
ENDS
Background
The PSA lodged the library workers’ pay equity claim with Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin councils in 2019. Library workers were one of the 33 pay equity claims that was close to being settled before being cancelled by May’s amendments to the Pay Equity Act made under urgency without consultation with impacted workers and unions.
Previous statement
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
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Specialised leadership programme provides skills and connection for migrant women

Source: Rata Foundation

A leadership programme designed specifically for migrant women has supported 90 women from 19 countries, helping them build confidence and overcome social isolation through culturally responsive training.
The Ethnic Women's Leadership® Programme was developed by Lady Khadija Trust to address what founder Dr Hafsa Ahmed MNZM describes as a need to help migrant women become culturally confident. It also addresses social bankruptcy – the loss of networks, reputation, and connections when moving to a new country. “When women migrate, they have social bankruptcy because we don't have any of our social connections which we built over the years and often have to start our social networks from the beginning,” says Hafsa.
“Many women, particularly migrant women who are giving so much to the community through their different pieces of work, also haven't got the time to develop their own skills due to family and work commitments and face significant financial constraints and a lack of culturally relevant leadership development options. The leadership course creates a community of migrant women who can overcome all of this through connection and building confidence.”
The six-day programme is delivered over several months and covers five modules: journey of the self, leading self, leading others, leading change, and leading your future. It also incorporates te reo Māori principles, drawing connections between migrant cultures and Māori culture to help participants establish a connection to New Zealand. Sessions are held on weekends to accommodate working participants, and the leadership course is offered at no cost.
Now in its third year, a key part of the programme is welcoming previous attendees to return as guest speakers, creating connections across the group. Maria Buldain, a programme participant, says: “Connections are really important because it really helps you to feel it's not only you, the one that is experiencing some kind of isolation, that you don't belong or doubting yourself about the way that you do things. Meeting all these amazing women has been really good. We all have differences, but at the end of the day we also have a lot of things in common.”
For another participant, Dinda Veska, the programme helped restore her sense of identity in a new country. “During the flight from Indonesia to New Zealand, I left behind a lot of things and then this course actually helped me to gather everything back that I left behind. Now I keep carrying it as a compass. I feel empowered and like I'm back to be myself again.”
The programme has expanded significantly since its inception, now operating in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington.
Hafsa says the biggest impact reported by participants is increased confidence in their cultural identity. “The biggest thing that comes out is that the programme helped them develop their own sense of identity in terms of knowing who they are, so then they can ground themselves in that cultural identity and grow stronger.”
Established in 2016, Lady Khadija Trust operates on the principle of ‘empowering communities through compassion’. Hafsa says: “We don't do handouts, we do hand-ups, to help people up. Rather than saying 'here's some money for you', we want to use it as a way to help create capacity for the community.”
Lady Khadija Trust is supported through Rātā Foundation’s Connect programme, which aims to foster a sense of belonging, diversity, and cultural connection. Rātā Head of Community Investment Kate Sclater says: “We want people to feel connected to, supported by and involved in their community so that we can help reduce isolation and build resilient communities. This programme fills a critical gap in leadership development to build skills and capability, while also providing a vital sense of identity and empowerment for migrant women to participate positively in our wider community.”
The programme represents one of three projects funded by Rātā in the last few years, alongside the award-nominated Immigrant Journeys video documentary series and the Community of Strangers project.
“Rata Foundation's support helps us feel acknowledged for the work that we're doing,” says Hafsa. “It has allowed us to share with our communities, not just migrant communities, but with the wider community of New Zealand, that migrants do bring value to New Zealand communities.”
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Advocacy – On World Heart Day: Stand with the Beating Heart of Palestine – Palestine Forum of New Zealand

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

On this World Heart Day, we are reminded that the heart is not only a symbol of life but also of resilience, compassion, and justice. The Palestine Forum of New Zealand calls on the global community to recognise the suffering of the Palestinian people, whose hearts continue to beat under unimaginable hardship.

This year’s World Heart Day theme is about caring for every heart. Yet, in Palestine, thousands of hearts are being broken daily, through the loss of loved ones, through the trauma of displacement, and through the denial of basic human rights, including access to healthcare.

Hospitals in Gaza and across occupied Palestine face acute shortages of medicines, medical equipment, and even electricity to power life-saving machines. For Palestinians with heart disease, treatment delays can mean the difference between life and death. The blockade, occupation, and ongoing attacks make even the simplest care a struggle.

“On World Heart Day, while the world promotes healthy living and access to treatment, Palestinians are being deprived of their right to health,” said [Name], spokesperson for the Palestine Forum of New Zealand. “We cannot talk about protecting hearts while allowing Palestinian hearts to be broken by injustice.”

The Forum calls on New Zealand’s leaders, health professionals, and civil society to:

  • Demand an immediate end to the blockade and restrictions on medical access in Palestine.
  • Support international calls for accountability to protect Palestinian lives and health.
  • Stand in solidarity with Palestine, the heart of the Arab world, whose endurance inspires millions.

On this World Heart Day, let us remember that every heart matters—including the hearts beating under occupation and siege. Justice and freedom are the true foundations of healthy lives.

Palestine Forum of New Zealand

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Economy – Strong progress made on post-COVID-19 recommendations for monetary policy – Reserve Bank of New Zealand

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

29 September 2025 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua has published an update on its progress in responding to recommendations from its review of monetary policy over the 2017 to 2022 period. This is being released alongside an interim review of the recent monetary policy tightening cycle.

The 2022 Review and Assessment of the Formulation and Implementation of Monetary Policy (RAFIMP) proposed nine recommendations aimed at improving the Monetary Policy Committee's (MPC's) ability to achieve its objectives in an environment of heightened uncertainty and more complex economic shocks.
Chief Economist Paul Conway says the work published today reflects strong progress in responding to the 2022 review and strengthening our monetary policy framework.

“The MPC has gained valuable insights into how economic activity, price setting by businesses, and inflation expectations evolve during periods of high inflation and economic volatility.

“We now have a deeper understanding of supply shocks and structural drivers of inflation and have expanded our use of high-frequency data for more timely and granular monitoring. We have developed new tools to estimate neutral interest rates and run scenario analysis. These improvements ensure the MPC is well equipped to navigate future shocks while maintaining price stability.”

The 2022 review prompted a coordinated programme of research and policy development, Mr Conway says.

“We've made strong progress on all recommendations, enhancing our ability to respond to future inflationary pressure and economic volatility.”

First steps towards the next monetary policy review

The Reserve Bank has also released new work reviewing the MPC's response to above-target inflation from 2021 to 2024. This work is part of the Reserve Bank's continuous evaluation and improvement of monetary policy and will be an input into the next full RAFIMP review in 2027. The 2027 RAFIMP will provide a formal set of lessons learned and areas for improvement. The papers released today offer some interim reflections.

The MPC's strategy helped reduce inflation from its peak in 2022 and return it to within the 1 to 3 percent target band by September 2024. This strategy kept longer-term inflation expectations near the target midpoint, which is key to medium-term price stability.  

In hindsight, an earlier or more aggressive tightening might have reduced inflation sooner, Mr Conway says.

“But this would have been difficult given the data available at the time and could have conflicted with the MPC's mandate back then, which included maintaining maximum sustainable employment.”

Despite significant data uncertainty, the MPC relied on the best available information to guide its decisions. The accuracy of the Reserve Bank's economic forecasts has significantly improved, as economic disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic have subsided.

Communication of the MPC's strategy was generally clear, though with room for improvement, particularly in how the forward OCR track is conveyed. Overall, the MPC navigated a highly uncertain environment and inflation returned to the 1 to 3 percent inflation target as forecast.

 “We are consistently assessing our performance in maintaining low and stable inflation, which is the best contribution we can make to improving New Zealand's long-run economic performance. The work released today provides a useful interim update ahead of our next full review scheduled for 2027,” Mr Conway says.
 

More information


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Advocacy – Palestine Forum of New Zealand Condemns Government’s Refusal to Recognize Palestinian Statehood

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

The Palestine Forum of New Zealand strongly condemns Foreign Minister Winston Peters' announcement at the UN General Assembly that New Zealand will not recognize Palestinian statehood “at this time.”

This decision represents a moral failure at a critical moment when Palestinians face genocide in Gaza; New Zealand chooses diplomatic comfort over justice.

Recognition is a Right, Not a Reward

By refusing to act, New Zealand undermines its own claim to an independent foreign policy rooted in justice and international law. Instead, it sends a message that Palestinian rights remain negotiable, while Israeli violations continue with impunity.

Palestine Forum of New Zealand