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Employment Action – Fire and Emergency received calls to 18 incidents during today’s strike

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand received calls for 18 incidents between 12pm – 1pm today, Friday 17 October, the time of the strike action by members of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU).
Of these,10 incidents were in areas impacted by the strike.
Three of these incidents were motor vehicle crashes. The remaining incidents related to building alarms, which Fire and Emergency was alerted to through building alarm systems or 111 calls. None of these were confirmed fires.
Our volunteers responded as normal to incidents within their brigade areas.
Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler thanked New Zealanders for their extra care during the strike hour.
“Thank you to our more than 11,000 volunteers across the country, and their employers for supporting them to respond over today’s strike hour.
“I would also like to thank our Operational Commanders and Communication Centre Managers, who contributed to the response.
“We are disappointed that the NZPFU has issued a further strike notice for another one-hour strike at 12pm on 31 October.
“I urge the NZPFU to withdraw this latest strike notice and not issue any more, so we can get back around the bargaining table while we wait for our application for facilitation to be considered.
“This is in the best interests of our people, and New Zealand’s communities.
“Fire and Emergency 's goal is, and has always been, to reach a fair, sustainable, and reasonable settlement with the NZPFU. We are bargaining in good faith and doing everything we can to achieve an agreement without disrupting the services communities rely on.”
Notes
1. Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union have been negotiating a collective employment agreement for career firefighters since 16 July 2024.
2. Fire and Emergency has offered a 5.1 percent pay increase over the next three years, as well as increases to some allowances.
3. Fire and Emergency considers the offer is sustainable, balances cost of living pressures being faced by individuals alongside fiscal pressures faced by Fire and Emergency and is consistent with the Government Workforce Policy Statement.
4. The previous 2022 collective employment agreement settlement provided a cumulative wage increase of up to 24 percent over a three-year period for career firefighters.
5. Fire and Emergency has also been investing in replacing our fleet, with 317 trucks replaced since 2017 and another 78 on order. We are currently spending over $20 million per year on replacement trucks. There are also a significant programme of station upgrades underway, as well as investment in training.
6. For the 2025/26 financial year Fire and Emergency’s operating budget is $857.9 million. Of that operating budget, 59 percent will be spent directly on the frontline, while another 32 percent is spent on frontline enablers. This means that over 90 percent of Fire and Emergency’s budget is spent on the frontline and the people directly supporting the frontline. 
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Employment Action – Historic strikes to save our essential public services – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

Aotearoa New Zealand will witness historic events next Thursday when more than 100,000 essential workers take part in strikes around the country to call on the Coalition Government to properly fund their vital public services.
Essential public service workers including teachers, doctors, principals, nurses, allied health workers, home support workers, school support staff, policy, knowledge, advisory and specialist workers, Ministry of Education field staff and support workers will hold strikes on 23 October in the largest actions in decades. Meanwhile, firefighters are striking for one hour today.
The strikes by each workforce follow recent breakdowns in bargaining over their respective collective agreements. Events at more than 40 locations from Kaitaia to Invercargill have now been finalised.
NZEI Te Riu Roa teacher and negotiation team leader Liam Rutherford says everyone wants an education system that works for all tamariki and for the people who teach and support them.
“To have teachers, principals, support staff, as well as Ministry of Education support workers and field staff all striking, tells you how widespread the feeling is that change is needed in education,” he says.
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) spokesperson and Starship Hospital respiratory paediatric physician Dr Julian Vyas says the Government needs to realise how strongly public sector workers – from healthcare and other sectors – feel about the damage being done to services due to underfunding and lack of staffing.
“I think the New Zealand public will understand this strike action is about finding funding to provide the services that we all depend on and need to live healthy lives,” he says.
NZNO enrolled nurse and bargaining team member Debbie Handisides says nurses, midwives and health care assistants are being asked to care for more and more patients who are increasingly unwell with fewer and fewer staff.
“Staffing shortages put the safety of our patients at risk. When there aren’t enough nurses, care is delayed and lives are put in danger. This is not a standard of care we trained for or that New Zealanders deserve,” she says.
Public Service Assocation (PSA) president and digital service worker for Health NZ Virgil Iraia says he and his colleagues are striking for safe staffing and a fair pay offer which isn’t an effective pay cut.
“Overworked and undervalued health workers cannot keep delivering the care patients need and deserve,” he says.
PPTA Te Wehengarua president and teacher Chris Abercrombie says when public education is properly valued and resourced, it can welcome all learners, and provide them with a responsive, safe school environment.
“The Government must properly resource public education to ensure there are trained and qualified teachers in every classroom, and students have the support they need to thrive,” he says.
Firefighter and Tauranga Local Branch secretary for the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union Mike Swanson says firefighters are striking for safe staffing levels so fire stations, trucks and call centres can remain fully staffed.
“We also need the protection of safe systems of work to ensure that equipment, uniforms and vehicles are appropriate for the risks we face. And when the worst happens, and our job gives us cancer, we want our management to support us in our push for ACC,” he says.
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Awards – Electrify Queenstown 2025 event shortlisted for awards

Source:  DESTINATION QUEENSTOWN & LAKE WĀNAKA TOURISM

Queenstown, New Zealand (17 October 2025) Electrify Queenstown has been shortlisted as a finalist in two categories of the inaugural Bizzies – Aotearoa Business Events Awards 2025.

Created and curated by Destination Queenstown, with support from Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce and principal sponsor Aurora Energy, the Electrify Queenstown summit aims to innovate and inspire change in Queenstown Lakes and New Zealand.

It will return for its third year from 17-19 May 2026, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, politicians and policymakers to share practical, cost-effective ways for businesses and households to electrify.

Electrify Queenstown is a finalist in the Business Event Award for Legacy Impact (Organisation / Group) category and Excellence in Environmental Sustainability Award (Organisation / Group) category at the first Bizzies. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner in Auckland on Wednesday 26 November 2025.

Mat Woods, Chief Executive of Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism, says he's delighted the event has received early recognition.

“Electrify Queenstown has real momentum now – 2025 was our most energised event so far with hundreds of attendees, packed sessions and genuine interest from locals and visitors looking to make the switch and electrify their household or business.

“I'm proud of the team behind the event, who organised a truly inspiring three days and an ensemble of visionary speakers, who can provide a catalyst for change to lowering cost, low-emissions and resilient future. And the plan for 2026 is to go even bigger.”

Electrify Queenstown 2026 will take place at the Queenstown Events Centre, Sunday 17 May – Tuesday 19 May 2026.

The event supports Queenstown Lakes' destination management plan and the broader goal of regenerative tourism and a carbon-zero visitor economy by 2030.

www.electrifyqueenstown.co.nz

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Appointments – New appointment to Guardians Board

Source: Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation

Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation Chair John Williamson has welcomed the appointment of Andrew Wilson to the Guardians board, saying his global career in asset management and his leadership credentials would be a great asset to the Guardians, manager of the $85 billion New Zealand Superannuation Fund.

A graduate of Canterbury University, Andrew worked at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Bank of England and Rothschild Asset Management, before spending more than 25 years with Goldman Sachs Asset Management in the United Kingdom, where he was both Head of Fixed Income, Currency & Money Markets and CEO, Goldman Sachs Asset Management International.

“Andrew’s investment career and in particular his international leadership roles with Goldman Sachs Asset Management means he has had hands-on experience both in managing large portfolios across different markets and in oversight and governance of complex investment operations,” Mr Williamson said.

“That combination makes Andrew a very valuable addition to our Board.”

Read Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop's announcement of Andrew's appointment on the Beehive website: https://nzsuperfund.cmail20.com/t/d-l-gyhlluk-hujkdust-n/

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Child Poverty – End Benefit Sanctions To Give Families a Fair Chance

Source: Child Poverty Action Group

As the world turns its focus to social and institutional maltreatment, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is joining with other community groups to demand an end to the harmful practice of benefit sanctions.
October 17 marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, which this year highlights the need to end social and institutional maltreatment and ensure families living in poverty receive respect and effective support.
Right now, thousands of people in Aotearoa New Zealand are being sanctioned by the Ministry of Social Development. These sanctions reduce already inadequate incomes and punish families who are struggling to survive.
CPAG’s recent Below the Income Floor research shows that more and more households relying on income support are in deficit. That means their income is falling below the bare minimum needed to cover essentials, let alone to participate fully in society.
While the Government insists sanctions are about “compliance”, the facts tell a different story. Sanctions rose sharply in both the March and June 2025 quarters, even before the Social Security Amendment Act 2025 came into effect in May.
In reality, there are many reasons why someone might miss an MSD appointment, ranging from childcare, to health or transport issues, all made worse by the prolonged cost of living crisis. A Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) client had their benefit halved after they missed their Work and Income meeting due to their child being unwell.
Instead of recognising these barriers, the Government continues to punish families who are already doing it tough, despite the Government restating its commitment in May to the legislated 2028 goal of halving child poverty.
Right now, government agencies are developing proposals for the 2026 Budget. We call on them to take bold, principled action by putting people at the centre of their advice.
The Government has pinned its hopes on economic growth lifting people out of poverty. But the latest Stats NZ data shows the economy is contracting, unemployment is rising, and poverty indicators are worsening. Their approach is failing.
Not only is the Government off-track to meet its 2028 target, its decisions are enabling worsening food insecurity among children, more avoidable hospitalisations, and higher rates of material hardship than when child poverty indicators were first introduced in 2019.
Two years on from the last election, New Zealanders should be seeing results. Instead, we are seeing increased hardship. It is time for the Government to change course, and a good start would be to end sanctions and treat families receiving support with dignity.
Notes: The Fairer Future collaboration has consistently called for the elimination of benefit sanctions since May 2022. It has campaigned for a fairer welfare system, including updated liveable income benchmarks based on the Welfare Expert Advisory Group’s 2019 recommendations.
Fairer Future groups supporting this release:
Auckland Action Against Poverty (AAAP)
ActionStation
Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)
Citizens Advice Bureau NZ
Disabled Persons Assembly
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
Methodist Alliance
New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS)
United Community Action Network (UCAN).
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Selected price indexes: September 2025 − Correction to annual and monthly percentage movements for food price index (FPI)


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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Annual food prices increase 4.1 percent – Selected price indexes: September 2025 – Stats NZ news story and information release


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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Tax Reform – Report confirms NZ international outlier without CGT, advocacy group calls on all parties to embrace this common sense tax change

Source: Tax Justice Aotearoa

Tax Justice Aotearoa today released a report Capital Gains Taxation in OECD and Comparable Nations, which shows that Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) is an international outlier in not having a comprehensive capital gains tax (CGT).

“The lack of a comprehensive CGT,  which exempts the family home, raises questions about NZ's ability to keep pace with the rest of the world in revenue sustainability, the fairness of our tax system, and in incentivising economic behaviour that will help nurture a more productive economy. The minimalist CGT that Labour is reportedly considering won't adequately address these challenges.” says Glenn Barclay, Tax Justice Aotearoa spokesperson.

Out of 38 OECD members 31 (81.5%) have explicit, comprehensive CGT regimes. This includes countries NZ traditionally compares itself to: Australia, Canada, the UK and Ireland. The Netherlands employs a system that can neither be categorised as being with/without a comprehensive CGT. Amongst the remaining six countries that do not have a comprehensive CGT, NZ currently has the most limited regime for taxing capital gains, primarily through the narrow two-year “bright-line” test for residential property.

“What this report shows is that NZ is really out of step in not having a comprehensive capital gains tax. Bringing in this common sense measure would close a loophole in our current system and ensure we treat income from wages and income from wealth or assets equally,” says Glenn Barclay..

“IRD research from 2023 demonstrated that the wealthiest pay proportionately less tax than middle New Zealand, mainly because we don't tax capital gains. We believe most New Zealanders would think that is unfair. A comprehensive CGT would be an important step towards fixing this.”

“A comprehensive CGT would have other benefits too. It would help keep house prices in check by disincentivising property speculation, making housing more affordable for our whānau, and encourage more productive investment,” says Barclay.

“Such a measure also has the capacity to generate much needed revenue to fund our hospitals and schools, to invest in infrastructure and responses to climate change and poverty, now and into the future.”

“But we know that capital gains taxes take some time to generate all their potential revenue. That's why it is important that all parties embrace this measure, so that it has time to bed in and deliver on that potential. And that's why a CGT needs to be accompanied by other tax changes that will generate more revenue from those who can most afford it,” says Barclay.

“This report shows that a comprehensive CGT is a routine measure in most OECD countries, and it's about time New Zealand caught up with the rest of the world.”

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Consumer NZ – Consumer groups urge Government: make the Fair Trading Act fairer

Source: Consumer NZ

A cohort of the country’s consumer advocacy groups have issued an open letter to finance and economic growth minister Nicola Willis and commerce and consumer affairs minister Scott Simpson, urging them not to bow to pressure from big business lobby groups and shy away from proposed fair trading reforms.

Consumer NZ, FinCap (the charitable trust supporting financial mentoring services), Community Law Centres Aotearoa (the free legal help service for vulnerable consumers) and Citizens Advice Bureau (the nationwide community organisation offering free advice) have joined forces out of concern that proposed amendments to the Fair Trading Act (FTA) could be watered down, following lobbying from business groups.

“We don’t want to see New Zealanders left on the back foot with weaker consumer protections than the rest of the world has just because big business is throwing its toys out the cot,” says Jon Duffy, Consumer NZ chief executive.

“Our current laws make it easy for businesses to breach the rules without real consequence. It’s consumers that pay the price.”

Industry associations representing powerful sectors, including electricity, telecommunications, retail and retirement villages recently sent a letter to Minister Willis criticising the proposed FTA reforms and the consultation process.

As a result, several key proposals – including expanding the infringement offence regime and stronger unfair contract term provisions to enable consumers to enforce their rights – are reportedly now off the table.

“Changes to the unfair contracts regime would be a game-changer for consumer rights, so it’s deeply disappointing to see these changes wound back at the behest of vested interests,” says Duffy.

“We hear from consumers every day about the one-sided deals they’re stuck with – from people unable to cancel their gym contracts to elderly retirement village residents having to fork out for repairs and maintenance on a property they don’t own or wanting to move but unable to get their money out in a timely fashion.

“There’s very little you can do, apart from lodge a complaint with the Commerce Commission, which lacks the resources to act on most complaints. Enabling people to take complaints to the Disputes Tribunal would give the law teeth,” says Duffy.

The importance of penalties

“Penalties for breaches of the FTA are comically light in New Zealand compared with in other jurisdictions, so we’re pleased the Government hasn’t backed away from improving these,” says Duffy.

“Right now, penalties are often treated by businesses as a simple cost of doing business. We need a real paradigm shift, where large companies invest in better systems to ensure compliance and are genuinely held to account when they don’t. Introducing higher penalties would encourage changes to poor business practices.”

Advocacy groups are also concerned that penalties for businesses that harass or coerce consumers need to be introduced; an issue that particularly impacts vulnerable consumers.

“Currently, a debt collector wouldn’t be penalised for harassing or coercing someone who is unable to meet unreasonable payment demands. Conduct like this can mean it’s game over for someone who is trying to keep food on the table without a KiwiSaver hardship withdrawal or insolvency procedure,” says Fleur Howard, FinCap chief executive.

Community Law Centres Aotearoa echoes the sentiment.

“Attaching penalties to harassment or coercion is one way to strengthen regulation of debt collection activities and incentivise better behaviour,” says Sue Moroney, Community Law Centres Aotearoa chief executive.  

Consumer has also called for the Government to reconsider the infringement offence regime, to ensure businesses comply with their FTA obligations.

“We believe the Commerce Commission needs greater powers to issue infringement notices with meaningful fines for clear-cut breaches of the act. Otherwise, businesses will continue to flout the law, to the detriment of consumers, knowing they’re unlikely to face consequences,” says Duffy.

“The FTA needs modernising so there are serious penalties for causing serious harm to consumers. Collectively, we urge the Government not to miss this much-needed opportunity to make our FTA fairer.”

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Rural News – Farmer trust washed away by lagoon ruling

Source: Federated Farmers

Environment Southland has lost all credibility with Waituna farmers and the wider community over a ruling on when the lagoon can be opened to the sea, Jason Herrick says.
“The independent hearing panel’s consent ruling this week is an absolutely farcical piece of ideological wording,” the Federated Farmers Southland president says.
“Common sense and landowners’ rights have been trampled.”
This week a hearings panel of independent commissioners granted a new 20-year consent for periodic opening of the lagoon, as sought by the Department of Conservation (DOC), local iwi Te Rūnanga o Awarua, and Environment Southland.
It means a channel can now only be cut when lagoon levels are higher than those that have previously triggered openings.
“This puts the surrounding farmland at serious risk of flooding, it saturates the highly erodible stream banks, and it compromises catchment drainage systems,” Herrick says.
“Managing flooding and drainage and preventing soil erosion are core responsibilities of Environment Southland.
“The council should have fought harder for those factors to be considered by the panel – or simply pulled their involvement altogether.
“Waituna farmers are fuming about it and they feel like they’ve been completely ignored.”
Herrick says if Environment Southland fails to get a better outcome under whatever mechanisms are open to them, the council will struggle to get future co-operation from farmers and the community catchment group.
“Waituna farmers and the catchment group have worked hard on environmental improvements to the lagoon.
“Right now, they’ve completely lost trust in Environment Southland, and it’ll take the council a lot of work to earn it back.”
For more than a century, at times of high rainfall and flooding, a channel has been cut in the bank of the lagoon to allow water to escape into the Pacific Ocean.
Consents held by the community-driven Lake Waituna Control Association since 1969 have in recent years seen openings made when the lagoon reached 2.2m in depth.
But those existing permits expired in early 2022 and landowners had to abandon a bid to have them renewed after legal bills topped $140,000.
This week, the hearings panel granted a DOC/iwi/Environment Southland alternative application.
For the first 10 years, an opening can be cut when the lagoon reaches up 2.3m in depth in winter months, and 2.4 in summer months. The trigger level increases progressively until from years 15-20 it’s 2.5m. But it’s at the discretion of DOC and fellow consent holders whether an opening is made, even at those trigger points.
Local farmer and Lake Waituna Control Association member Maarten Van Rossum says there will be significant flooding of farmland when the lagoon depth passes 2.4m depth.
Herrick says Environment Southland chair Nicol Horrell’s stance on the consent ruling seems to be totally at odds with that of the council’s staff and with wording on the council website welcoming the hearing panel’s decision.
Horrell says he’s “bitterly disappointed” with the outcome.
Council staff several times tried to get DOC and Te Rūnanga o Awarua to adopt a more flexible stance, he says.
“But they dug in and weren’t prepared to concede.
“Natural justice would have said if you’re going to make some of those farms un-farmable, the owners either have to be compensated or the farms purchased.
“But I don’t see anyone coming up with $30-$40 million, and anyway, you’d get better bang for buck making strategic purchases of land further up the catchment where we’re losing the nitrogen.”
Horrell says he’s seen no scientific evidence that shows the lagoon and internationally significant Ramsar wetlands surrounding it is any better off at a 2.5m lagoon depth versus 2.3m.
At the very least, he wants a review of scientific evidence of any impacts – good or bad – after 10 years.
With the old consent expired, Horrell says it’s positive there’s now a consent over a long period that allows lagoon openings – the argument is over at what depth.
Submitters and applicants can appeal the consent, and Horrell says Environment Southland staff are seeking legal advice on how they can achieve changes.
There is also a community meeting next week at which farmers and local residents will discuss next steps, Herrick says.
Nature may provide an earlier test of the new consent – and DOC’s attitude.
The lagoon is already very high, and Herrick says he’s seen a prediction that water levels could reach 2.8m next week unless an opening is cut.