Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Politics – Seymour is rage-baiting on Paris Agreement – Luxon mustn’t bite – Greenpeace

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace agrees with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon that pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement would be the “fastest, quickest” way to “punish farmers” – and is warning him not to weaken New Zealand’s methane target for the very same reason.
“Luxon is right: backing down on climate commitments would hammer New Zealand’s international credibility, our trade relationships, and the future of our farming sector,” says Greenpeace campaigner Amanda Larsson.
“That’s also exactly what will happen if Luxon caves and reduces New Zealand’s methane target. Seymour is rage-baiting the extremist edge of the farming community to grab headlines – Luxon mustn’t bite.”
Luxon today signalled that a decision on the methane target is imminent. The announcement is hotly anticipated after it made global headlines earlier this year. Dozens of leading scientists published  an open letter on the front page of the Financial Times, urging him not to weaken the target but to strengthen it in line with advice from the independent Climate Change Commission.
Methane makes up nearly a third of global warming and is over 80 times more powerful than CO₂ in the short term. Slashing methane, particularly from livestock, is seen by scientists as the fastest way to slow warming in our lifetimes – a vital “emergency brake”.
Larsson added: “Luxon is right to call Seymour out – the majority of farmers, agribusiness leaders and companies know that ditching Paris is a disastrous idea. But Luxon needs to do more than just call out a cynical extremist. The same arguments he’s made in defence of Paris apply to the methane target.
“If the methane target is weakened, Fonterra will struggle to meet the climate commitments their biggest customers – like Nestlé – require. Our exports are already at risk as global markets demand food with lower climate and environmental footprints.”
Weakening methane action would also conflict with international climate law and trade agreements, and could carry legal consequences under the recent International Court of Justice advisory opinion and clauses in New Zealand’s trade deals with the EU and UK.
Greenpeace says a strong methane target is not only vital for climate action but also for driving the innovation needed to open New Zealand up to premium export markets.
Larsson says “Strong regulation must be paired with government support to help farmers transition to ecological practices that restore rivers, clean up drinking water and protect biodiversity – while meeting customer expectations.”
“David Seymour is playing a very cynical and self-serving game. True leadership requires the Government to be the torchbearer for a long-term vision for our primary sector – one that’s good for farmers, the economy, and future generations.”
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Science – NZ waters teeming with undiscovered seaweed species, scientist says

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand

Scientists believe they’re only seeing a snapshot of what could be living in our subantarctic islands and deep waters.
This comes after Earth Sciences New Zealand researcher, Dr Roberta D’Archino, discovered a dozen new native red seaweed in just one family of red algae, and described four new genera – the level above species.
“Aotearoa is extremely diverse, stretching from the subtropical waters of the Rangitāhua/Kermadec Islands to the colder waters of the subantarctic islands. Lots of these locations, particularly the subantarctic islands, are only rarely and opportunistically explored, meaning we don’t have many samples of the seaweed and invertebrates that live in the coastal water there,” said Dr D’Archino.
Seaweed provides essential habitat for fisheries and plays a vital role in carbon capture – assisting the oceans to produce about 50% of the Earth’s oxygen.
Dr D’Archino has been studying New Zealand seaweed for 20 years, collecting and identifying specimens to fill knowledge gaps and document the native flora.
So far, she has described 27 new species and 13 new genera.
“The process of describing new species of macroalgae takes significant work to ensure the specimen hasn’t already been named elsewhere. This includes comparing morphology with other known species, which relies on having fertile samples, extensive knowledge, and undertaking DNA analysis,” said Dr D’Archino.
This is made even more difficult when there are so few samples with reproductive structures needed to formally describe new genera.
One of the new seaweeds that Dr D’Archino described, came from just a single collection made by European explorers in the 19th century at the Auckland Islands and identified as Callophyllis ornata.
It puzzled her for years.
“A box full of specimens in the herbarium Te Papa included red foliose algae collected in the subantarctic islands tentatively identified as C. ornata, but were morphologically different one to another, suggesting it included more species unknown to science.
“There was a lot of detective work to link recent collections with the specimen collected in 1842; I had to borrow a little fragment of the holotype stored in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (France), and compare it to specimens collected recently. It took years, but I eventually I concluded that it belongs to an endemic new genus, Motumaha and I was able to describe other two genera, Alseida and Thetisia, from the mystery box,” said Dr D’Archino.
Dr D’Archino believes there could be still hundreds of species of native seaweed alone that are yet to be described, especially from remote places as the subantarctic islands and the mesophotic zone, a habitat still poorly known. Some of the taxa discovered were collected at about 100 m depth.
“The fact that we discover new species from a few opportunistic collections hints that we’ve only scratched the surface of finding out what’s living in our oceans. It would be amazing to do a targeted expedition to these places to find what else out there – there's still so much to be discovered.
“If we don’t know what there is, how do we know what to protect from environmental degradation, climate change, and biosecurity threats? And given how important these organisms are, it seems like these are knowledge gaps we should be filling,” said Dr D’Archino. 
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DCANZ welcomes streamlined export regulations

Source: Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ)

The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) says the New Zealand economy will benefit from today’s announced streamlining of regulatory approaches for dairy exports.
The Government announced the removal of a requirement that dairy exporters must obtain gazetted exemptions for their products from domestic compositional standards when selling to countries with different standards.
It is estimated that exporters could have missed out on millions of dollars in export earnings over recent years because of the requirement.
Chairman Guy Roper says the change will make it easier for companies to export new, high-value, and innovative dairy products.
“This is great news for the New Zealand economy at a time when every export dollar from every market matters.
“DCANZ is not aware of any other country requiring its dairy exporters to obtain gazetted exemptions from domestic compositional standards when they are not appropriate for the export market. These applications have often taken months to process, slowing the time to market for new products.
“The requirement to apply for compositional exemptions has put our exporters at a disadvantage to their overseas competitors when responding to international customer requirements.
“The changes will remove a long-standing and self-inflicted barrier to growing the value of New Zealand’s dairy exports at a time when our economy needs every export dollar it can get”
Every country’s food regulators determine the appropriate product standards for food sold in their market and they do that by taking into account the needs of their domestic populations and factors such as geographically differing nutrient availability across all food sources.
“A good example of this is that Europe has set higher ranges for vitamin D in formulated foods than New Zealand does, reflecting that our northern hemisphere counterparts receive less vitamin D from other sources, such as sunlight.
“Meanwhile, New Zealand’s requirements for selenium levels in formulated foods are higher than other countries, reflecting the low levels we have in our soils and therefore in our other food sources.”
The requirement for compositional exemptions has been in place since 2005 despite there being a legal requirement under the Animal Products Act (1999) for dairy exporters to ensure their products are safe and conform to the requirements of their intended market.
“Dairy exporters have been seeking this change for some years. In 2020 we identified it as a regulatory change that would support export value growth, and the need for the requirement has been consistently questioned since its introduction.
“We are pleased the Government has removed this unnecessary and costly second-guessing of other countries' regulatory competence,” Mr Roper says.
Having a streamlined and less duplicative regulatory approach around this is exactly the type of red-tape reduction needed to support export growth.”
Dairy exports account for one in every four dollars New Zealand earns from all goods and services trade.
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Longstanding partnership drives strategic transformation at NZ’s second-oldest charity

Source: Rata Foundation

Home & Family, New Zealand's second-oldest charity, has been using evidence and data to transform how it delivers services to vulnerable children and their whānau across Canterbury.
The organisation, established in 1898 as the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, provides early intervention and wrap-around support to pēpi, tamariki, rangatahi and their parents/caregivers and whānau, and operates across multiple sectors including family violence prevention, parenting support, youth mentoring, therapy services and work with the New Zealand Family Courts.
Chief Executive Val Carter says that taking a deep dive into their data has been pivotal in gaining insights and strengthening the organisation’s impact within the community. “The Good Measure reports allow you to really look at your data and understand where you best add impact. It was a great opportunity for us to evaluate what we did, how we did it and what benefit and impact it made within the community.”
The organisation's initial Good Measure report in 2022 focused on their parenting services at the time. “The social return on investment that came out of our first Good Measure report showed that for every dollar invested in Home & Family's programmes, the community benefited by $2.40. This was a really positive outcome, but it also gave us the opportunity to think about what we were delivering and how we delivered it. This resulted in significant changes to the way that we deliver services, particularly parenting services, to our community.”
In 2023, the organisation implemented SafeCare, a structured early intervention parenting programme originating in the United States. Home & Family is currently the only provider of this programme in New Zealand.
Programme Manager Hamish Mepham says the initiative represents a shift from a generic social work approach to targeted, evidence-based interventions. “The development of SafeCare was informed by how the Good Measure report demonstrated our impact with the community. We wanted something to be effective but have some really good research evidence behind it to say why it was effective.”
SafeCare uses a skill-based curriculum that builds on the knowledge, experience and existing strengths of a parent/caregiver. Through initial baseline assessments, a parent’s initial skill set is identified, with this information used to inform how to deliver the training in remaining sessions. SafeCare participant Josh says: “The SafeCare programme's taught me a lot. I think I've come a long way from what I did know to now. Without Hamish being in the picture when he came in, I don't think I would be where I am now. I don’t think I would probably still have my boys.”
A follow-up Good Measure assessment conducted in 2024 revealed the programme's significant long-term benefits, particularly for children. Ms Carter says: “For us, the most interesting and motivating figure was that the social value for children who participated in our SafeCare programme was over $17,000 over their lifetime. This represents the long-term benefits that targeted, evidence-based early intervention can provide – not just immediate support, but lasting positive outcomes that follow children into adulthood.
“We work with about 900 to 1,000 people impacted by family violence, and when we talk about one person, it's also all of the extended whānau that sit behind that one referral.”
The transformation has been supported through a long-standing partnership with Rātā Foundation, spanning over 20 years, with the Good Measure reports undertaken through the Strengthening the Sector Programme. “Rātā invited us initially to undergo the Good Measure report so we could review what we were doing, if it was working and what could be done to improve our support. Rātā has been a core catalyst into us being able to be more effective with what we do. It is that real trusting relationship that we've been able to build and maintain over the years that has been so vital for our organisation.”
Rātā Foundation Head of Community Investment Kate Sclater says: “At Rātā, we value our relationship with Home & Family who have a solid foundation of social impact in the Canterbury region. This partnership is based on the strong alignment of a shared vision to empower families and whānau to thrive, and a shared commitment to continually strive to learn and evolve, to improve outcomes for future generations. For us success is when organisations take learning and use it to improve programmes and services for the people they support.”
Recently Home & Family moved into a new facility in Opawa, bringing all operations under one roof for the first time, including the team of 20 to 25 permanent staff and volunteers. The building includes Kōmanawa, meaning ‘Oasis’, a dedicated client space designed specifically for children and their whānau. “Kōmanawa is our client space and it's going to be set up really to be child friendly. The majority of the clients who will be using the space will be children and their whānau, so we've wanted to make it as welcoming as possible.
“Next for Home & Family is really settling into our new space and building on the opportunities that we've been able to enjoy through our partnership with Rātā to really strive to provide the best possible service for our community.”
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Statistics NZ proposes axing Māori Learning Capability team in latest cull – PSA

Source: PSA

Statistics New Zealand has proposed today to disestablish its Tangata Tiriti Learning Capability Team alongside further reductions to its People and Culture team.
PSA Kaihautū Māori Marcia Puru strongly opposes the move, saying it's a blatant attack on Māori – Māori kaimahi, te Reo Māori, and Tiriti development at Stats NZ, but it also removes sector-leading professional development opportunities for all staff.
“This proposal is yet another example of the austerity-driven, anti-diversity political environment this Government has pushed so hard for. It doesn’t need to give directives – it's very clear to agencies that any public services that focus on Māori are not welcome.”
Puru says that Stats NZ will be failing on its legislative functions such as quarterly reporting on the Te Ture Mo te reo Māori (Māori Language Act).
“My main concern is how Stats NZ will continue to meet its obligations as a Tiriti partner. To keep up with these legislative functions, Stats NZ will need to hire external evaluators – which will no doubt cost them more in the long run. In short, these cuts are regressive and short-sighted.”
The Tangata Tiriti team will lose six roles, with three staff merging with the larger People & Culture team. The People & Culture team itself will be reduced by two roles.
These cuts to the team come despite Stats NZ running a $2M budget surplus last year.
“A recent internal review of the Tangata Tiriti Learning and Capability team said it has delivered outstanding outcomes. Stats NZ says in its own proposal document that the Tangata Tiriti team have delivered important work. There's a lot in there insinuating their work is expensive, but no cost analysis was actually completed for the review, or for the document.
“Why not keep these highly valuable workers right where they are, so that they can continue to help upskill their coworkers in te ao Māori?
“The answer, as usual, is a falsely restrained balance sheet. The Government would have the money to pay public service workers if they hadn’t given their landlord mates billions.”
The Tangata Tiriti team drive internal programmes to improve Stats NZ’s knowledge and capability to work within te ao Māori.
“Instead of having a team of in-house experts who have built up relationships within the organisation, Stats NZ is planning on reducing its focus on te ao Māori within growing the workforce and will be scaling back teaching te reo, using a combination of inhouse and outsourced expertise.
“This is a retrograde step that will hinder Stats NZ’s ability to engage effectively with Māori, the exact opposite of what the agency needs after they failed to engage with tangata whenua for the 2018 Census.”
This restructure is the sixth Stats NZ has undergone since the National-led Government came into power in 2023, cutting staff in December 2023, September 2024, twice in October 2024, December 2024, and now September 2025.
Other PSA statements on Stats NZ:
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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Green Light Economy: Chamber Unveils Vision for Wellington’s Future – Chamber of Commerce

Source: Wellington Chamber of Commerce

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce has today released its report, Green Light Economy: The Path to a More Resilient Wellington Through Private Sector Growth , setting out a bold vision to address Wellington’s major challenges and supercharge its commercial future.
“We are proud to present this report for Wellington as we head into the mayoralty race for 2025” said Greg Pollock, Chair of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.
“Wellington has all the right ingredients to thrive, from world-class science and technology to a vibrant creative sector. But we’re not yet capitalizing on that potential. This blueprint sets out a bold vision to reduce pressure on businesses, align our strengths, and supercharge the capital’s economy.”
The Chamber is calling for a review on commercial rates, regulatory simplification, and targeted investment in innovation and housing. The report also proposes the re-establishment of a revised Business Advisory Council to ensure private sector input into economic development decisions.
The Chamber has been consulting widely with business leaders and members on the recommendations, which are backed by expert research from Infometrics and Allen + Clarke. These are aimed at helping to grow a city where startups, small businesses and communities flourish, supported by strong collaboration between local and central Government and the private sector.
The report identifies four key pillars to drive transformation:
  • Reform for Growth – The business community is ready to collaborate to make Wellington a more business-friendly city.
  • Innovation Capital – Investing in innovation hubs and infrastructure to grow Wellington’s business innovation ecosystem.
  • Creative Launchpad – Supporting Wellington’s world-class creative industries with space, career pathways, and international branding.
  • Liveable City – Wellington is a vibrant, sustainable city, which needs to attract and retain talent.
“This report reflects the voices of over 1,000 members across the Wellington region,” said Amanda Wood, Acting CEO of the Wellington Chamber.
“Despite their resilience, many businesses feel undervalued and underrepresented. We believe a stronger partnership between Council, central Government, and business is essential to unlock Wellington’s full potential.
“The opportunity for growth is enormous, and the next Council term must set a better course for Wellington.
“We hope that with a new term, a revised focus on the future in partnership with the private sector can take hold to truly capitalise on everything Wellington has to offer.”
The Chamber invites stakeholders, policymakers, and the public to engage with the report and join the conversation about Wellington’s next chapter.
Notes
The Wellington Chamber of Commerce represents 1000 members across the Wellington region providing advice, training, support, and advocates for policies that reflect the interests of the business community.
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Stats NZ information release: International trade: June 2025 quarter


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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AFGHANISTAN EARTHQUAKE: Rescue teams racing to the site of a devastating earthquake with hundreds dead and thousands of children potentially impacted

Source: Save the Children

Rescue teams are racing to Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan where a devastating earthquake has killed at least 600 people and injured more than 3,000 including many children with the number of casualties continuing to rise, Save the Children said [1]. 
Save the Children works in the affected provinces and is sending health teams immediately to the most heavily impacted districts in Kunar province as aftershocks continue and rescue operations are hampered by blocked roads.
The extent of the devastation will take time to become clear with areas of the mountainous province cut off and communications challenging – but the de facto authorities say at least 600 people have been killed and more than 3,000 injured in Kunar, Nangarhar and Laghman provinces following the magnitude 6.0 earthquake that hit in the middle of the night.
Azam-, 52, is a doctor who lives in Kunar province and was at home when the earthquake hit. He said:
“It was around midnight when we felt the earthquake, and it was extremely intense. The tremors were so strong that we couldn’t even open the door but the shaking broke part of the wall, which allowed me to jump out [of the house].
“Fortunately, the children were not at home. If they had been inside with us, I am not sure we would have been able to save them. All our rooms are damaged – our belongings are under the rubble.
“We are still feeling [shaking from] the earthquake all around us.”
Families in Kunar have also been affected by flash floods triggered by torrential rain in recent days, with homes and roads damaged, according to the UN [2].
Samira Sayed Rahman, Advocacy Director, Save the Children Afghanistan, said:
“The earthquake came without warning in the middle of the night. Children and their families were fast asleep in their homes – homes that are not built to withstand tremors of this magnitude. Aftershocks are continuing, causing terror for children and heightening the risk of further damage and casualties.
“Roads have been blocked by rocks, cutting off villages and hampering rescue operations. Children and their families need urgent support – with the likely destruction of so many homes, they will need food, clean water, shelter and essential household items.
“The true scale of the devastation is still emerging, but we know that children are always the most vulnerable in the aftermath of a disaster.
“We urgently call on the international community to step up with immediate funding and coordinated support to ensure life-saving assistance reaches children and families without delay.”
Save the Children has been supporting communities and protecting children's rights across Afghanistan since 1976, including during periods of conflict and natural disasters. We have programmes in 10 provinces and work with partners in an additional 11 provinces. Since August 2021, we've scaled up our response to support the increasing number of children in need. We deliver services spanning health, nutrition, education, child protection, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene and livelihoods.
References:
– Denotes name changed to protect identity
[1] Data from Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority.
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Afghanistan Earthquake – Women and Children in Urgent Need

Source: ChildFund New Zealand

Current reports reveal over 2,800 people have been injured, with a further 800 people killed.
“These numbers will probably rise as assessments continue,” says Josie Pagani, CEO of ChildFund NZ.
“Assessment teams need to walk four hours or more to reach devastated communities, so it may be a while until the full scope of the tragedy is clear.”
Afghanistan was struck by a powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake that impacted the southeastern region at 11.47pm last night (local time), affecting the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman.
The quake, with an estimated depth of just 8 to 10 kilometers, was centered near the Pakistan border.
Key roads are blocked, isolating affected communities. In a country where women and girls already face systemic barriers to healthcare, education and safety, there is an urgency to respond and reach these vulnerable communities.
ChildFund New Zealand has local partners responding on the ground, with teams who have been working in country since 2002, so they are well positioned to act as quickly as possible.
“Women and girls in Afghanistan already struggle to reach healthcare and safe shelter, so the response to last night’s earthquake must prioritise those most vulnerable”, says Josie Pagani.
This disaster comes on the heels of dramatic cuts in international aid from the United States in particular. The United Nations recently reported that the Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan received $144 million less in 2025 than during the same period in 2024.
ChildFund has an Emergency Response Fund and is urging Kiwis to donate what they can. “Your donation could help provide safety and care to a mother and her children in Afghanistan today,” says Josie Pagani.
ChildFund partner WeWorld has been operating in Afghanistan for 23 years, working particularly with women and children.
Donate to ChildFund’s Humanitarian Crisis Fund here: Emergency Response Fund
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BusinessNZ – Uni strategy: Renewed focus gets an ‘A’

Source: BusinessNZ

Moves announced by the Government today to modernise New Zealand’s universities will ensure graduates leave with the skills to better innovate and boost our economy, BusinessNZ says.
Education, Skills and Immigration Director Rachel Simpson says BusinessNZ supports the introduction of a new tertiary education strategy that places economic growth at the centre of higher education policy.
“For students entering higher education as a step toward a career in their chosen field, the reforms should provide greater confidence in their investment, and that the skills they are developing are relevant for a modern workforce.”
“By prioritising skills, innovation and growth, the Government is signalling that universities are key enablers of New Zealand’s prosperity. Businesses will welcome a sharper focus on how research and teaching can drive productivity, competitiveness, and high-value jobs too.
“The announced tertiary education strategy makes clear that universities must evolve to meet these challenges while working more closely with industry and government to lift our national performance.”
Simpson says there is greater need for coherence across our tertiary and vocational systems.
“We look forward to engaging with government and universities as this strategy is implemented, to make sure business and industry continue to have a strong voice in shaping the future of New Zealand’s tertiary education system.”
The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.