Source: Kia Manawanui Trust | The Heart of Aotearoa New Zealand
A damning new report has exposed deep flaws in New Zealand’s heart healthcare system, where access to life-saving treatment often dep
People’s Select Committee: Thousands of care and support workers cannot wait for justice – unions
Source: PSA
Representatives from three unions will make a joint submission to the People’s Select Committee today on behalf of 65,000 care and support workers whose long-standing pay equity claim was scrapped in May.
The PSA, E tū and New Zealand Nurses Organisation, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) will speak on key recommendations for the sector, including reversing the Government’s recent amendments, sustainable settlement funding, and broader sector reform to properly reflect the value of care and support work.
Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Assistant Secretary, Melissa Woolley, says care and support workers were shocked and aggrieved when the Government rushed through changes to pay equity overnight.
“They were further insulted when it came to light in the past few weeks that ministers had worked to deliberately conceal the changes they were making and this was a deliberate attempt to stop the care and support workers claim because of the cost. It was also revealed that the contingency from the funded sector was gone,” Woolley says.
“We are incredibly thankful that Marilyn Waring and everyone else behind the scenes at the People’s Select Committee have provided this opportunity for us to formally consult on pay equity for care and support workers.
“Care and support have been waiting far too long for pay equity, and to be recognised as highly skilled workers who provide real value to their communities,” says Woolley who is a former care and support worker herself and joint unions pay equity negotiator.
“The Government’s changes to pay equity were a kick in the guts for these workers who are now largely on the minimum wage or close to it. They should not, and cannot, bear the brunt of bad political decisions,” Woolley says.
NZNO President Anne Daniels says NZNO was one of the unions who have worked on Care and Support workers’ pay equity for many years, including the 2017 Support Workers Settlement.
“We continue to work with our sister unions to see pay justice done for our 6,500 Care and Support members.
“These workers are the backbone of a caring society. Our members worked tirelessly for decades to have their mahi recognised and their skills, knowledge and responsibilities properly valued through the pay equity process.
“Care and Support workers and their whānau shouldn’t have to make do with less because of this Government’s shameful attack on women. They deserve fair pay for their hard mahi,” Daniels says.
The 65,000 care and support workers in New Zealand have been waiting for their pay equity claim to be renewed since 2022. Their original settlement, won in 2017 by worker and E tū delegate Kristin Bartlett, expired after five years in place and has since been eroded by inflation.
E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh says care and support workers are some of the lowest-paid workers in the health system, doing some of our most important work.
“The Government’s refusal to deliver pay equity is a political decision to save money at the expense of women, migrants, and our most vulnerable.
“This legislation was meant to finally address very well-known discrimination based on gender. It followed the Supreme Court decision in favour of Kristine Bartlett which was a watershed moment for pay equity. Ripping this away from workers is a clear signal that they do not value women, nor any workers in women-dominated industries.
“Workers, their unions, and the wider community are completely fired up about this, and we will not sit down and quietly accept this discrimination. We’ll keep fighting for pay equity – and we will win it,” Mackintosh says.
The combined PSA, NZNO and E tū submission details the timeline of the care and support worker pay equity claim, which involved thousands of hours of work between workers, unions, and employers.
“Thanks to the Government’s retrospective legislation, all the work that went into the pay equity claim is now in the bin, and care and support workers cannot raise a new claim until 2027,” Woolley says.
“This arbitrary and cruel delay is just one reason why we’re recommending to the People’s Select Committee that the amendments to the Equal Pay Act should go.
“Our other recommendations are focused on the other changes to the Act: the much higher bar to prove the merit of the pay equity claim, the restrictions on finding comparators, and the fact that employers can opt out of the process without giving a reason.
“Our view is that these changes are designed to make the care and support pay equity impossible to achieve,” Woolley says.
Notes
The three unions will be submitting at the in-person People’s Select Committee hearing at the National Library in Wellington from 11.30am-11.50am on Monday 11 August. A link to a live stream of the hearing can be found at: Hearings
Legislation – Experts to present at first pay equity oral hearing
Source: NZCTU
The People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity will hold its first oral hearing tomorrow, Monday 11 August, from 9am-12pm at the National Library (Te Wehenga and Malaga Pasifika rooms) in Wellington.
More than 1500 submissions have been received by the select committee. The first hearing will feature submissions from a wide range of experts including Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright, EEO Commissioner Gail Pacheco, Traci Houpapa. Tracey Martin, and union leaders. The hearing will be chaired by Nanaia Mahuta.
The hearing will be livestreamed on the Committee’s website.
Insurance Sector – Insurance accessibility key as Government reviews natural hazards levy
Source: Insurance Council of NZ
Keeping insurance accessible is a key consideration as the Government reviews the Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) levy amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures for Kiwis.
A survey commissioned by the Insurance Council of New Zealand | Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ) found New Zealanders are torn on paying more to ensure the NHC is properly funded to provide basic cover for natural disasters like earthquakes, landslides and flooding.
The survey shows 50% percent of respondents are not prepared to pay $200 more a year to better fund the NHC. Some 30% are willing to pay more, while 21% are unsure.
“We know it’s a difficult time for families, with the cost-of-living foremost in Kiwis’ minds as they manage their budgets,” ICNZ Chief Executive Kris Faafoi said.
“The Government should make a decision to keep insurance accessible. Taxes and levies already account for around 40% of a home premium.
“Balancing affordability with the sustainability of the NHC Scheme is a shared challenge. The Government, NHC and insurers all have a role to play in keeping premiums manageable.
The survey also found 59% of respondents are aware that part of their insurance premium is a levy that supports the NHC.
“New Zealanders appear to have a good understanding of the NHC and its role in helping fund the recovery when disaster strikes,” Kris Faafoi said.
“Everyone knows that it’s better to act before disaster strikes to protect communities, rather than pick up the pieces afterwards.
“New Zealand is highly vulnerable to extreme weather. Climate change is making these events more severe on those affected and the areas they live in.
“Kiwi’s value the protection insurance provides for their homes and families. However, managing the rising risks from climate change requires a coordinated, nationwide response. Government leadership is essential to invest in resilience measures like avoiding building in high-risk areas and strengthening infrastructure like flood protection schemes.
“Reducing risk through clearer rules, smart investment and strong planning helps protect lives, homes, and businesses and keeps insurance accessible for future generations,” Kris Faafoi said.
Employment – BusinessNZ welcomes new seasonal and global workforce visas
Source: BusinessNZ
BusinessNZ has welcomed today’s announcement by Immigration Minister Erica Stanford introducing two new seasonal visa pathways – the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and the Peak Seasonal Visa – as a pragmatic step to better match immigration settings with business needs.
BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich says the new visa categories are a smart evolution in immigration policy that recognises the operational realities of New Zealand’s seasonal industries.
“Many sectors – from winemaking and meat processing to snow sports and shearing – rely on highly experienced workers for specific windows of time each year. These new visa pathways make it easier for businesses to bring back skilled seasonal staff when they’re needed most, without having to start from scratch every year.”
The Global Workforce Seasonal Visa allows skilled workers to return over multiple years, while the Peak Seasonal Visa provides a more tailored short-term solution for high-demand roles during seasonal peaks.
“This is a significant improvement on previous settings, which often created unnecessary red tape and uncertainty. Reducing the need for repeat visa applications not only lowers compliance costs but also improves planning and workforce continuity,” Mrs Rich said.
BusinessNZ says the changes are also important for productivity and regional growth.
“Seasonal industries make an outsized contribution to New Zealand’s economy. These changes mean more certainty for employers, less disruption to operations, and better outcomes for customers and export markets.”
BusinessNZ also welcomed the Government’s broader focus on rebalancing immigration to meet genuine workforce needs, while maintaining a strong commitment to jobs for New Zealanders.
“We support efforts to ensure New Zealanders are given every opportunity first, but where there are genuine shortages, immigration settings must be practical and responsive.
“This announcement s
Advocacy – New Zealand urged to follow German lead and end military support for Israel – PSNZ
Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)
PSNA is urging the government to follow Germany’s lead and suspend New Zealand military support for Israel to continue its mass killing and mass starvation of Palestinians in Gaza.
Germany and New Zealand were two of the countries to sign a letter yesterday condemning Israel’s plans to extend its war to Gaza City, displacing another million Palestinians.
The letter states:
“The plans that the government of Israel has announced risk violating international humanitarian law. Any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law.”
“It will aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians.”
PSNA Co-Chair John Minto says Israel has a long history of ignoring outside opinion because they never include accountabilities.
“However, Germany has followed its condemnation with action. New Zealand needs to do the same.”
Minto says New Zealand should:
- End approval for Rakon to export crystal oscillators to the US which are used in guided bombs sent to Israel for bombing Gaza.
- Ban all Rocket Lab launches from Mahia which are used for Israel reconnaissance in Gaza
- Launch an investigation by the Inspector-General of Security and Intelligence into the sharing of intelligence with the US and Israel which can be used for targeting Palestinians
“New Zealanders expect our government to end its empty condemnations of Israel and act to sanction this rogue, genocidal state.”
John Minto
Co-Chair
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa
Police Association: Canterbury restructure "robbing Peter to pay Paul"
Source: NZ Police Association
The New Zealand Police Association acknowledges the Police proposal for significant strategic realignment of policing resources across the Canterbury district but believes it has not met the test of balancing the demands of increasing populations in some areas with the needs of communities which will lose officers and vital Police support staff.
Association President Chris Cahill accepts that community needs and priorities change over time, but the current proposal for delivery of rural policing the North Canterbury, Selwyn and Aoraki districts is robbing Peter to pay Paul.
“We recognise the increased demand for a 24-7 response model in Selwyn and Rangiora, but this should not be at the expense of the highly valued contribution rural response officers make to their local communities,” Mr Cahill says.
“The benefit of rural staff to their communities is not always visible in Police statistics; rather consideration should be given to the ethos of the father of modern policing, Sir Robert Peel, that “the test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder and not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with them.”
Mr Cahill notes the proposal demonstrates the need for more officers in some of the country’s fastest growing communities at the very time Police is struggling to meet the government’s target of 500 extra police.
“Canterbury district should take advantage of its ability to recruit officers in its area, thereby contributing to the 500-recruitment target while, simultaneously, avoiding the removal of officers from its rural areas,” Mr Cahill says.
He says without such an initiative this proposal will see the closure of police stations in Arthur’s Pass, Culverden, Rakaia, Pleasant Point and Saint Andrews. In other cases, officers will be replaced by rural liaison officers with an overall reduction in numbers.
“Rural liaison officers were a positive initiative of New Zealand First’s Winston Peters, but they were always intended to be additional, not instead of dedicated community-based officers. I’d be surprised if Mr Peters, a champion of increasing police numbers, would support a reduced police presence in these rural communities,” Mr Cahill says.
“The association asks PNHQ to prioritise the resourcing of its extra staffing needs with new staff, not at the expense of rural communities.”
Police Association highly critical of coronial findings in death of Shargin Stephens
Source: NZ Police Association
The New Zealand Police Association rejects most of the coroner’s findings into the 2016 death of Shargin Stephens in Rotorua.
The entire process has been shambolic, with multiple coroners involved over more than nine years, Police Association president Chris Cahill says.
“The ruling of Coroner Michael Robb, released this morning, shows a complete lack of understanding of how both the human mind and memory work in volatile situations, and the level of risk an offender such as Mr Stephens presents,” Mr Cahill says.
“It is well established that if you have multiple witnesses to an event, there will be multiple differing accounts of that event. The prolonged nature of this coronial process has only amplified the existence of differing accounts.”
Mr Cahill says the coroner’s criticism of Officer L05’s recall of events fails to acknowledge that in critical, dangerous situations people under threat see only the direct threat posed, not what is around or behind them.
“It is common for witnesses in such situations to later attempt to account for the facts brought to their attention despite not being aware of them at the time. We are concerned today’s report has not taken this into consideration,” he says.
“Given the veracity of research into dealing with scenarios such as that in Rotorua in July 2016, it would seem vital that coroners were skilled in the science when they preside over such critical reviews.”
Mr Cahill also questions the inference that junior officers should not have access to M4 rifles.
“This shows an absolute lack of understanding of the risks regularly presented to the public – risks that officers are required to respond to in protection of their communities.”
Mr Stephens presented a very real and imminent threat to officers and members of the public, Mr Cahill says, and less-lethal options had failed to remove that threat.
“The association believes Officer L05 was justified in taking the actions he did. Looking through a distorted lens nine years later cannot change that fact.”
Advocates – Wellington rally to oppose genocide and protect protest
Source: Justice for Palestine and Peace Action Wellington
Justice for Palestine and Peace Action Wellington are hosting a joint rally and march on Friday 8 August at 12:30 starting at the UK High Commission on Hill Street going to Police National HQ to oppose the ongoing genocide in Gaza and to uphold our rights to protest.
“At the UK High Commission, we are gathering in solidarity with UK-based Palestine Action. The UK government has labelled the peaceful protest group Palestine Action as “terrorists” and are arresting anyone who says that they support them. They are determined to shut down opposition to Israel’s genocide using extreme repression. Police have already arrested over 100 ordinary people including elderly clergy, teachers and parents for doing nothing more than carrying a sign or holding a banner,” said Nadia Abu-Shanab, member of Justice for Palestine
At least 500 demonstrators are preparing to sit in London for 60 minutes or “until arrest” on August 9 while holding signs which state: “I oppose Genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
“Here in Aotearoa NZ the Ministry of Justice is engaged in a behind-the-scenes consultation of the Terrorism Suppression Act to significantly expand the law and to follow the UK approach. Their so-called ‘consultation’ closes on 8 August,” said Valerie Morse, member of Peace Action Wellington.
“On top of that, just last week, the government announced the US FBI will be opening an office here. FBI director Kash Patel indicated anti-terrorism is an area of key collaboration between the US and NZ. Taken together, these are both terrifying developments for freedom of speech and peaceful protest. Both the UK and US government have recently shown their willingness to use extreme repression to shut down dissenting opinions on Israel.”
“We will not sit by while preparations for attacks on our rights to freedom of expression and peaceful protest are made. We are taking our message to Police HQ as they administer the Terrorism Suppression Act and are the most likely domestic partner for the FBI.”
Our actions will not cease until the people of Palestine are free.
Notes:
- The Terrorism Suppression Act consultation document can be found here
- The London Sit in is being organised by Defend Our Juries – see information here: https://defendourjuries.org/lift-the-ban/
Animal Welfare – First dog dies just days into final greyhound racing season – SAFE
Source: SAFE For Animals
A three-year-old dog named Hilton Hype has died after breaking his leg during a race at Addington Raceway on 2 August, just two days into the start of greyhound racing’s final season.
Despite plans for surgery, he couldn’t be stabilised in time and died shortly after.
SAFE Campaign Manager Emma Brodie says the death is a heartbreaking reminder that dogs will continue to suffer while the industry winds down.
“This was meant to be the beginning of the end – a final season before this cruel industry is shut down for good,” says Brodie.
“But Hilton Hype’s death shows that as long as races are still being run, dogs are in danger. The industry must not race them to death on the way out.”
This latest death follows a devastating 2024/25 season, which saw 17 dogs die – the deadliest year since 2021. The industry has faced years of criticism and multiple government reviews, ultimately leading to the Government’s decision to ban greyhound racing.
“The decision has been made. Greyhound racing is ending; there is nothing to be gained by dragging these dogs through another season of risk and injury,” says Brodie.
“No dog should lose their life for this industry’s final curtain call. The only finish line that matters now is a safe home for every greyhound.”
SAFE is calling on Greyhound Racing New Zealand to immediately begin the wind-down of all race meets and rehome the remaining dogs as swiftly and safely as possible.
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