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Govt Cuts – Transport regulation jobs at risk as Govt funding cuts bite – PSA

Source: PSA

More than 250 workers at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi face an uncertain future as the Government’s relentless squeeze on spending forces yet another major restructure.
Staff in Waka Kotahi’s Regulatory Group were this week briefed on a proposed restructure impacting around 250 positions or around 10% of the total workforce. The plan proposes a net loss of around 36 roles with staff having to reapply for 214 new positions. This comes less than a year after the first phase of restructuring, meaning staff have barely had time to settle before being thrown into upheaval again.
“This is what happens when the Government tells agencies to live within reduced baselines – real people pay the price,” said Duane Leo, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“These are dedicated public servants who regulate our transport system – processing driver licences, certifying vehicles, monitoring commercial transport operators, overseeing rail safety compliance. They didn’t create the Government’s budget problems, but they’re the ones losing their jobs because the Government prioritised tax cuts over public services.
“Many of these workers are based in regional New Zealand – in Whangārei, Palmerston North, Hamilton, Napier, Nelson – where alternative employment is not easy to find. The human cost of these cuts extends well beyond the workplace.”
Around 50 roles in Wellington are impacted, and 60 in Palmerston North.
Roles targeted include compliance and licensing leadership, certification and technical officers, regulatory policy and standards specialists, rail safety positions, programme management, and many technical administration and support staff across the country.
“This is the second restructure in under a year. Staff are exhausted. Constant reorganisation is corrosive – it destroys morale, drives away experienced people, and disrupts the services the public depends on.
“When experienced staff leave or are unsuccessful in redeployment, decades of institutional knowledge walk out the door. That’s knowledge about how the transport regulatory system works – it can’t be replaced by renaming positions and reshuffling org charts.
“Drivers, transport operators and members of the public who rely on these services should expect delays. Processing times for licences, permits, vehicle certifications and border entry assessments are all likely to blow out during and after this transition.
“We are seeing the same pattern across agency after agency – the Government cuts funding, forces restructures, strips out capability, and then wonders why services deteriorate. It’s short-sighted, and it’s working people and the communities they serve who bear the consequences.
“The PSA opposes this and is calling on NZTA to genuinely listen to staff during this consultation. These workers know the transport regulatory system inside out – their expertise should be valued, not discarded.
“Any job losses should be minimised and only genuine redeployment to permanent roles be offered,” Duane Leo said.
Background
NZTA’s Regulatory Group is responsible for regulating driver licensing, vehicle safety, commercial transport operations, and rail safety across New Zealand. The phase two restructure proposal significantly impacts 253 current positions, with 214 newly created positions in the proposed structure – a net reduction of approximately 36 roles. This follows a phase one restructure completed in late 2025. Feedback on the proposal closes on 5 May with final decisions announced 28 May.
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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NZ Chinese Language Week – Celebrating UN Chinese language day in NZCLW buildup

Source: New Zealand Chinese Language Week Trust

Today’s celebration of Chinese Language Day is a good time to remind people that New Zealand Chinese Language Week is early this year. New Zealand Chinese Language Week will run from June 29 to July 5 2026.

NZCLW Trust chair Jo Coughlan says the last week of the second school term is a less crowded environment than the last week of the third school term. Holding the week earlier will avoid some clashes with school activities.
 
“NZCLW has become a fixture in the calendar now, and there are a lot of activities planned around the country to celebrate and encourage the learning of Chinese language.”
 
Information about New Zealand Chinese Language Week can be found at: www.nzclw.com
 
United Nations Chinese Language Day is observed annually on April 20 to celebrate the cultural and historical impact of the Chinese language, one of the six official UN languages.
 
The date was chosen to honor Cangjie, an ancient historian who created Chinese characters, with the date coinciding with the “Grain Rain” (Guyu) solar term.
Language Days at the United Nations seek to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization. Under the initiative, UN duty stations around the world celebrate six separate days, each dedicated to one of the Organization's six official languages.

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Save the Children – More than 2.7 million children aged under five in Pakistan face acute malnutrition

Source: Save the Children

Over 2.7 million children aged under five in Pakistan are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition before September, as areas of the country still struggle to recover from devastating floods in 2025, Save the Children said. [1]
The new analysis from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the world’s leading authority on hunger monitoring, further found that about 706,000 children out of the 2.7 million in 45 rural districts assessed in three provinces are predicted to suffer from severe acute malnutrition before September this year.
Severe acute malnutrition – the most dangerous and deadly form of hunger – is a life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical attention and specialised treatment.
Additionally, 232,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women will need treatment for acute malnutrition before September this year, putting the mother’s own health at risk and increasing the risk of poor growth and development of her baby. [1]
The analysis shows that children aren’t becoming dangerously malnourished only because families are struggling to afford enough food. Many children are also getting sick more often, missing out on optimal feeding practices in early childhood, and not receiving the nutrition services they need – all of which are making the crisis even more severe.
This is creating conditions where life-threatening malnutrition becomes a very real and urgent danger. In nearly two-thirds of the districts analysed, levels of acute malnutrition among children are critical.Some of these districts were impacted by deadly floods last year. More than 1,000 people were killed by the floods, including 283 children, with the highest death toll in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where over 500 people lost their lives between June and October 2025.[2]
Khuram Gondal, Country Director, Save the Children in Pakistan, said:
“In many parts of the flood-ravaged provinces of Pakistan, children’s lives are under threat from a lack of nutritious food, an absence of income for their caregivers and outbreaks of disease. Children are bearing the brunt of shock after shock.
“Malnutrition is entirely preventable. No child should suffer illness or lose their life simply because they did not have enough to eat.
“Children are always the most vulnerable in food crises and, without enough to eat and the right nutritional balance, they are at high risk of becoming acutely malnourished. Malnutrition impedes mental and physical development and increases the risk of contracting deadly diseases.
“Children in Pakistan urgently need more funding from international donors to be able to survive past and future climate shocks.”
Save the Children’s response to the 2025 floods in Pakistan reached about 75,000 people, including more than 30,000 children, with essential items and services for relief and early recovery. The response included provision of items such as food, tents, and hygiene kits, and services ranging from health and nutrition to temporary learning centres for out-of-school children and child-friendly spaces. 
Save the Children has been working in Pakistan since 1979 and has reached at least 14 million beneficiaries, including children, through programmes in health and nutrition, education, child protection, livelihoods, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and through our humanitarian response programmes.
References:
[1] Pakistan: Acute Malnutrition Situation October 2025 – March 2026 and Projection for April – September 2026 in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. The IPC analysis assesses 45 rural districts in these three provinces. https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1161574/?iso3=PAK
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Tax Reform – IRD recognises the problems but is short on solutions – Tax Justice Aotearoa

Source: Tax Justice Aotearoa

20 April 2026 – Inland Revenue's Long Term Insights Briefing on the future of New Zealand's tax system has been welcomed as recognising the need for more government revenue, but it is short on meaningful solutions to solve the problem, says tax reform group Tax Justice Aotearoa (TJA).

“IRD draws attention to the fiscal challenges arising from an ageing population, but does not really come to grip with the many other factors that are going to require government intervention and expenditure in the coming years, such as climate change mitigation and response, our growing inequality and declining infrastructure and public services,” says Glenn Barclay, spokesperson for TJA.

“It is good that they recognise there is a real problem and that we need to grow government revenue, but we are concerned that the solutions they offer are limited and potentially regressive,” says Glenn Barclay.

“IRD appears to be arguing that existing tax bases (mainly GST and income tax) are not enough, but they also seem to be saying that adding a new base, such as a capital gains tax, is too difficult. We already rely too heavily on GST, which asks too much of ordinary working people, yet IRD seriously floats an increase in this tax as a way forward.”

While IRD says there are ways of making GST less regressive, through the use of rebates, TJA thinks there are better ways of doing this. TJA's own Tax Policy Statement, which was released last week sets out a more thorough, equitable and progressive set of measures to address our fiscal challenges.

“Our Tax Policy Statement shows that a tax system that works for everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand is possible,” says Glenn Barclay. “We need to move away from our reliance on taxes that impact most on ordinary working people and ensure that the wealthy and big corporates are paying their fair share. While we welcome IRD's contribution to the tax debate, they are not offering any real solutions for people in Aotearoa already struggling with the cost of living.”

TJA's Tax Policy Statement sets out practical changes we can make to our tax system to catch-up with other developed countries' investment in public goods, services and infrastructure, to tackle inequality and to support a more productive and resilient economy. The proposed changes would close the gaps in tax on big corporates and ensure the wealthiest are paying their fair share, and include:

Tax surcharge on big corporates, for example a levy on major banks (as in the UK and Australia), a surcharge on sectors managing vital infrastructure or where there is a lack of competition, like supermarkets and gentailers.
Excess/windfall profits taxes, for example, on big corporates to discourage price gouging and excessive profits arising from the current fossil fuel crisis.
Taxing Big Tech and other multinationals by enforcing existing tax obligations and changing the law to require these corporate giants to be more transparent about the profits they're making, like the Public Country-by-Country Reporting adopted in Australia.
Close the shareholder loans tax loophole, to prevent tax avoidance and reduce financial risk to small and medium size businesses (e.g. using the UK model).
Tax wealth more, not work, through a comprehensive capital gains tax (as in most OECD countries), high-wealth tax, trusts tax, and wealth transfer tax (as in Ireland).
Adjust income tax settings to better reflect ability to pay, by introducing a tax free band, making tax bands more progressive and raising the tax rate on the highest income earners. Most workers would pay less or the same tax under this proposal.
Addressing the impact of GST on the least well off, by reducing the rate of GST or introducing rebate system for people on low incomes (like in Canada).

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Total exports rise in March – Overseas merchandise trade: March 2026 – Stats NZ news story and information release

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Storm News – Wellington weather event update

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews have been busy responding to weather related callouts across Wellington today.
Since 3am, Fire and Emergency has received around 200 calls relating to the weather in the Wellington region. This is for incidents including flooding, flooding in properties and landslides.
Te Upoko Region Manager Bruce Stubbs says Fire and Emergency has been supporting Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) in its response.
“With further heavy rain forecast we have pre-positioned specialist resources including teams with enhanced rescue and water response capability in the Wairarapa and Hutt Valley.
“They are in position and ready to assist with local brigades.”
Bruce Stubbs urges people to be extra careful and says the public should follow the advice of WREMO and the Wellington City Council.
‘When life or safety is threatened, people should call 111 immediately.
“Avoid all non-essential travel and stay out of floodwaters. Do not drive through floodwaters, as there can be hidden obstacles.
“If flooding has entered your home, switch off and unplug appliances.
“I would like to thank our career and volunteer staff for their response and support since early this morning.
“Many of our crews are responding to emergencies in their communities while also dealing with the impact to their own homes, property, and family.”
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Aviation Appointments – CAA appoints new Chief Digital Officer

Source: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

After a thorough recruitment process, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Aaron Toatelegese as Chief Digital Officer to its Executive Leadership Team.

Aaron will lead the Digital Transformation & Technology group.

Aaron is an experienced senior technology and operations leader with over 30 years’ experience spanning financial services and central government, with deep expertise in large-scale transformation, operating model redesign and crisis leadership. He has built his career working through complexity. 

Aaron currently works at MBIE as Chief Technology & Security Officer. While there he was the ICT lead for the MIQ response and played a key leadership role in establishing and executing MBIE’s Digital Blueprint.
Prior to that, Aaron worked at the Bank of New Zealand where he was the Chief Technology Officer and for a time acting Chief Information Officer. Aaron led significant technology and operational transformation during periods of regulatory pressure, platform modernisation and a cultural reset.

CAA Chief Executive and Director of Civil Aviation Kane Patena says Aaron brings a wealth of experience in digital and business transformation in a way that lifts culture, performance, productivity and value.

“Aaron brings a nice balance of private sector and public sector experience from his time in financial services to working in a core government agency across the public service,” says Mr Patena.

“His experience and approach will support CAA as we continue to deliver on our role as a modern, effective regulator.”

Aaron will join CAA on 25 May.

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Health and Legislation – Mental Health Bill debate stalled

Source: Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission

It is one year since the Mental Health Bill was returned to Parliament for its second reading, and Te Hiringa Mahara is calling on the Government to ensure this is passed into law this year.
On 17 April 2025, the Health Select Committee handed the Bill back to Parliament to be finalised. Since then, we have not seen movement in this critical area.
“Behind this Bill are 5000 voices who shared their experiences during the government’s Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction back in 2018,” says Te Hiringa Mahara Director of Mental Health and Addiction Sector Leadership, Sonya Russell.
“The message was received loud and clear; the current Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 is outdated and in need of a review. Repealing and replacing the law is one of 40 recommendations made in the Inquiry report.
“While some changes don’t need to wait for the law to pass, the updated law will set a new standard for care. Delays are putting the intended commencement date, currently set for July 2027, at risk.
“Still, too many people experience compulsory community treatment and seclusion in our mental health services, and there is wide variation between districts with persistent inequities for Māori and Pacific peoples that must be addressed.
“We need to see a shift in the system to ensure human rights are upheld in practice. A new Mental Health Act is needed to support the reduction and ultimately the end of seclusion and enable clear pathways for safe and rights-based alternatives.
“Te Hiringa Mahara is urging all parties to come together, take on board the voices of the public that will improve things for people receiving support and their whānau, and move this Bill forward,” says Ms Russell.
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Storm News – Fire and Emergency responds to flooding across Wellington

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has been alerted to more than 150 weather-related events in Wellington this morning.
The callouts relate to flooding, flooding into properties and landslides across Vogeltown, Mornington, Newtown, Berhampore, Kingston, Island Bay and surrounding areas.
Fire and Emergency’s Regional Coordination Centre has also been stood up in response to the weather.
Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says Fire and Emergency is assisting Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) in its response.
“We echo WREMO’s advice. In the event of flooding, head for higher ground and stay away from floodwater.
“Floods and flash floods can happen quickly. If you see rising water, do not wait for official warnings
“Do not try to walk, play, swim, or drive in floodwater.
“Do not drive through floodwater. You are putting yourself at risk, and risking the lives of those who come to your rescue.
“Don’t wait for emergency mobile alerts or other official warnings: if you see flood waters trust your sense and act immediately.”
Megan Stiffler advises the public to delay all non-essential travel and follow the advice of WREMO and Wellington City Council.
“I would also like to thank the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) for calling off its planned strike action this morning at short notice.
“It is great to work together to ensure we are able to assist our communities in their time of need.”
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PSA – Legal action over Te Puni Kōkiri’s failure to consult on restructure

Source: PSA

The PSA will file legal action today with the Employment Relations Authority alleging Te Puni Kōkiri breached its collective agreement by excluding the union from the latest restructuring decisions.
The plan could cost a further 27 roles at the already gutted Māori development agency. The PSA is seeking a compliance order from the Authority to stop Te Puni Kōkiri from proceeding with the restructure until it properly consults in good faith with the union.
“There has been a clear breach of Te Puni Kōkiri’s obligation to consult the union before dumping restructure plans on workers – another disappointing example of a trend that is becoming all too common across the public service,” said Jack McDonald, Te Kaihautū Māori for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Last week we asked Te Puni Kōkiri to withdraw the restructure, but it refused – leaving us with no choice. Proper process is not optional – it’s the law and we expect all agencies to adhere to their legal obligations and operate in good faith.”
Te Puni Kōkiri sent the PSA a vague email on 9 February flagging a restructure, then immediately instructed recipients to keep it confidential. It then went completely silent for more than a month.
On 19 March, the PSA was handed a 46-page restructure document that had been worked up entirely without union involvement. The union was told not to share it with members. The very next day, on a Friday afternoon, Te Puni Kōkiri released it directly to staff and gave them just seven working days to respond.
“That is not consultation – it’s a fait accompli. The collective agreement requires the union to have an adequate opportunity to be genuinely involved in restructuring decisions, not to be handed a done deal and told to like it.
“Te Puni Kōkiri has tried to portray the union as acquiescing to the process. That is wrong. The PSA did not acquiesce and at no time had an adequate opportunity to be involved in a manner that complies with the collective agreement.
“This is the same playbook we saw at Fire and Emergency NZ, where the PSA and the Professional Firefighters Union had to take legal action to stop a restructure rammed through without proper consultation. The Authority found FENZ had breached its obligations.
“The Government is standing by while agencies ride roughshod over their legal obligations in a relentless drive to slash costs and jobs. It should not take legal action to force agencies to follow the law. But until the Government stops pressuring them to cut at all costs, unions will have no choice but to hold them to account.
“These proposed cuts would bring total job losses at Te Puni Kōkiri to more than 100 – about a fifth of the workforce. The Crown’s ability to meet its Te Tiriti obligations and deliver for Māori is being dismantled in a systematic and deliberate way.
“The PSA will do everything in our power to stop this latest attempt to downgrade this agency and further undermine the important work to reduce Māori social and economic disparities.”
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.