Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Tech – New Zealanders online as much as ever – but not loving it

Source: InternetNZ

New Zealanders are still spending hours of their personal time online each day, despite a steady decline in positive sentiment about the Internet, new research shows.
The latest Internet Insights, annual research commissioned by InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa, reveals that nearly half (47 percent) of New Zealanders spend four or more hours a day on the Internet.
Less than three-quarters (72 percent) of Internet users feel the positives of the Internet outweigh its negatives. This figure has been in steady decline since 2019, when 90 percent felt there were more positives than negatives.
Fewer people think the Internet has a positive impact on cultural beliefs and values now too – 32 percent think it has a positive impact, down five percentage points in two years.
InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa chief executive Vivien Maidaborn says the research shows the increasingly complex relationship people have with the Internet.
“Love it or hate it, we’re all using the Internet a great deal in our work and personal lives. It’s become so integral to our day-to-day, I think most of us would struggle to get by without it. But that doesn’t mean it’s something we enjoy engaging with, and this complexity is increasing year on year.”
New Zealanders are concerned about a broad range of Internet issues, the research shows.
Seventy-one percent are extremely or very concerned about young children being able to access inappropriate content, 65 percent are concerned about the security of their personal data, and 64 percent are concerned about misinformation.
“This is the first time we have seen misinformation in the top three concerns,” says Maidaborn. “It shows increasing awareness of the critical eye and media literacy needed as an Internet user, which is a good thing, but it likely also reflects the increasing amount of misinformation online, including this new wave of unidentifiable AI-generated misinformation.”
Key Internet Insights 2025 findings:
  • 47 percent of respondents spend four or more hours of their personal time a day on the Internet.
  • Internet users primarily spend this time on social media, emails and streaming TV & music.
  • Key concerns for Internet users are:
    • 71 percent are concerned about young children being able to access inappropriate content.
    • 65 percent are concerned about the security of their personal data.
    • 64 percent are concerned about misinformation.
  • Some groups are more concerned about specific aspects of the Internet:
    • 70% of Maori are extremely or very concerned about identity theft
    • 87% of Pacific peoples are extremely or very concerned about young children accessing inappropriate content online.
    • Māori (64%) and Pacific peoples (80%) are extremely or very concerned about the Internet being used to share dangerous or discriminatory messaging.
    • 48% of people aged 30-49 are extremely or very concerned about the Internet being distracting or a waste of time.
    • 76% of people aged 70+ are extremely or very concerned about the security of personal data.
  • Less than a third of respondents say they know where to report concerning, harmful or dangerous content.
About the research
Internet Insights is an annual research report commissioned by InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa. The 2025 research was carried out by Verian, with interviews conducted between November 25 and December 8, 2025.
The sample size was 1003 and consisted of New Zealanders over the age of 18 sourced using online consumer panels. Results have a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.
The research covers a range of topics, including Internet use, social media use, and Internet-related concerns.
Previous research reports can be found on the InternetNZ website.
About InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa
InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa is the home and guardian of the .nz domain. We're not government-funded – we're an independent, not-for-profit organisation that operates .nz for the benefit of all New Zealanders, reinvesting domain revenue back into the community. We provide grants, help to fund other organisations, and advocate for an accessible and safe Internet that benefits everyone in Aotearoa.
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Mental Health Nurses & Assistants, and Public Health Nurses ratify new collective agreement – PSA

Source: PSA

More than 3,500 Mental Health Nurses, Public Health Nurses and Mental Health Assistants who are members of the PSA have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new collective agreement with Te Whatu Ora Health NZ.
The agreement was reached after eighteen months of bargaining involving 32 days of bargaining and mediation, said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The new collective is a testament to the resolve and resilience of members in the face of an unnecessarily protracted bargaining process and unrealistic initial offers,” Fitzsimons said.
“To break the impasse these workers went on strike during the Mega Strike on 23 October 2025 as well as a further strike in November. This settlement is a result of these workers standing together to take collective action.”
Workers will receive a pay increase of 2.5 per cent in year one from December 2025 and a further 2 per cent from December 2026. The agreement also includes an $800 lump sum payment for staff, in recognition of the length of time it took to conclude bargaining.
The new collective started to address workers’ concerns about safe staffing levels, staff shortages and slow recruitment for vacancies.
Mental Health Nurses, Public Health Nurses, and Mental Health Assistants deliver essential care to New Zealanders every day, working in highly stressful environments. This settlement recognises the value of their work and the role they play keeping a health system, which is under significant strain, functioning as well as it does.”
“This ratification result is a step forward but major problems remain in our health system caused by the Government imposing job losses on Health New Zealand and failing to fund our health system properly,” Fitzsimons said.
“All political parties must commit to a properly funded public health system that ensures safe staffing levels, and delivers quality care for all New Zealanders, as well as pay equity for under-valued health workers,” Fitzsimons said.
This is the second significant health collective agreement that was settled last week, after the Allied, Public Health, Scientific and Technical covering over 12,000 allied health workers was ratified on Tuesday (Feb 24).
Voting is shortly to be held on a third health Collective for policy, advisory, knowledge and specialist workers.
The PSA represents more than 26,000 workers employed by Health 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, public health and community groups.
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Tech – Social media still has an Internet stronghold, new research finds

Source: InternetNZ

New Zealanders are spending slightly less time on social media, but still a considerable amount of time each day, new research from InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa shows.
The 2025 data for Internet Insights, an annual survey commissioned by InternetNZ released today, shows we spend an average of three hours of our personal time each day on the Internet.
For close to half of people (46 percent), social media is one of their top three uses of their time. This is closely followed by emails (45 percent) and streaming (41 percent). The number of people who cited social media as one of their top three uses has dropped slightly, down two percentage points since 2023.
Under-30s were the most likely to list social media in their top uses (60 percent of 18-29 year olds, compared to 46 percent across all demographics).
While TikTok is a daily habit for fewer compared to other social media platforms – only 15 percent use it once a day or more – its users are more likely to be younger and to spend considerable time on it each day. TikTok’s New Zealand users spend an average of one hour and 42 minutes a day on the platform, amounting to more than one working day per week.
Facebook is similarly time-consuming – its New Zealand users spend an average of one hour and 24 minutes a day on it. Additionally, 58 percent of Facebook users say they use it daily.
Meta’s Messenger also tops in messaging apps: it’s used at least once daily by nearly half of New Zealanders (47 percent). Whatsapp is used daily by a quarter of New Zealanders.
Despite these statistics, four in 10 New Zealanders (42 percent) are extremely or very concerned that the Internet is distracting and a waste of time. Pacific peoples are most likely to agree with this statement, at 64 percent compared to the average of 42 percent. People aged 30-49 are the next most likely to think so, at 48 percent.
InternetNZ chief executive Vivien Maidaborn says this year’s data reflects what most of us intuitively know.
“We’re spending a lot of time on the Internet, and on social media in particular, I don't think that’s a surprise to anyone.
“But I think it does qualify what we’ve said for a long time, that it’s important that we’re all participating in conversations about how it’s shaped and how it should, and shouldn’t, shape our lives.
“This is particularly important when considering the power held by global social media platforms. New Zealand needs to consider, as a society, what our expectations on platforms operating in our jurisdiction should be, given the massive role they play in our lives.”
Key Internet Insights 2025 findings:
  • New Zealanders say most of their personal time online is spent on social media – 46 percent say this is one of their top three uses, though this is down by two percentage points from 2023.
  • Facebook remains the most frequently used social media channels, 58 percent of respondents use Facebook daily; and Messenger the most frequently used messaging app, 47 percent use Messenger daily.
  • TikTok and Facebook are the most time-consuming platforms. Facebook’s users spend an average of 1 hour 24m a day on the platform, and TikTok’s users spend an average of 1 hour 42m.
  • Percentage of people who are on this social media platform once a day or more: Facebook: 58% say once a day or more often; Instagram: 31%; TikTok: 15%; Reddit: 7%; LinkedIn: 6%; X (formerly Twitter): 6%; Wechat, Discord, Threads, Telegram, Bluesky & Mastodon all had percentages of 5% or less. 
    • Percentage of people who say they use this messaging platform once a day or more: Messenger: 47% say once a day or more often; WhatsApp: 25%; Snapchat: 12%. 
    • Younger people, Māori and Asian peoples are more likely to use TikTok – 42% of 18-29 year olds use it once a day or more compared to the average of 15%; and 21% of Māori and 20% or Asian peoples compared to the average of 15%.
  • Young people (18-29) are the highest users of Instagram too, at 56% compared to the average of 31%. Instagram users are also more likely to be women.
  • Asian peoples are the highest users of Whatsapp (55% compared to the average of 25%).
About the research
Internet Insights is an annual research report commissioned by InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa. The 2025 research was carried out by Verian, with interviews conducted between November 25 and December 8, 2025.
The sample size was 1003 and consisted of New Zealanders over the age of 18 sourced using online consumer panels. Results have a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.
The research covers a range of topics, including Internet use, social media use, and Internet-related concerns. 
Previous research reports can be found on the InternetNZ website.
About InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa
InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa is the home and guardian of the .nz domain. We're not government-funded – we're an independent, not-for-profit organisation that operates .nz for the benefit of all New Zealanders, reinvesting domain revenue back into the community. We provide grants, help to fund other organisations, and advocate for an accessible and safe Internet that benefits everyone in Aotearoa.
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Property Market – Strongest February in over a decade signals property market momentum

Source: Brainchild for RealEstate.co.nz

  • Nationally, listings rose 7.8% year-on-year while total stock grew just 1.8%, indicating homes are selling through rather than accumulating
  • Over 12,200 new listings hit the market in February 2026, more than in any other month of February since 2013
  • Southland records all-time average asking price high of $584,768

The property market is showing signs of turning, according to new data from realestate.co.nz.

New listings surged 7.8% year-on-year in February to 12,252, the highest level for February since 2013, while total housing stock rose by just 1.8%. The slower growth in overall stock compared to new listings suggests properties are being sold through rather than accumulating.

Month to date, the number residential property seekers on realestate.co.nz are also up year-on-year, pointing to increased buyer confidence. Sales data from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) also supports a moving market, with the strongest sales to start to a year since the 2022 market peak*.

Sarah Wood, CEO of realestate.co.nz, says February’s figures show sellers aren’t sitting on the sidelines anymore.

“When new listings rise faster than total stock, it tells us homes are being sold through rather than sitting on the market. That’s an early sign that activity is lifting and sellers are feeling more confident about listing. It’s early days, the OCR didn’t change last week, and we need to remember it’s an election year, but we are seeing momentum, which is what we had hoped to see in 2026.”

Contributing to the surge in new listings were four regions which recorded year-on-year growth of more than 20%:

  • Central North Island recorded a 25.0% year-on-year increase to 160 new listings
  • Taranaki experienced a 22.3% year-on-year increase to 280 new listings
  • Marlborough recorded a 21.1% year-on-year increase to 15 new listings
  • Manawatu/Whanganui reported a 20.9% year-on-year increase to 549 new listings.

Southland was the only region to record a double-digit year-on-year decline in February, down 13.9% to 217 new listings.

What’s happening to average asking prices in the regions?
The national average asking price remained steady in February, up just 1.4% year-on-year to $861,180. However, more movement was felt in the regions.

Southland recorded a new all-time average asking price high of $584,768, a 10.6% increase on February 2025. It was one of four regions to record a February high: Central North Island saw the biggest year-on-year increase, up 15.3% to $868,057; Central Otago/Lakes District was up 12.1% year-on-year to $1,613,298, and Canterbury, despite only increasing its average asking price by 3% year-on-year, recorded a February high of $738,385.

Northland’s average asking price dropped out of the $800k bracket for the first time since June 2025, to $799,879. While Waikato tipped back into the $800,000 bracket for the first time in a year, increasing a marginal 0.8% year-on-year.

Wood says price stability at a national level provides reassurance, but the regional variation shows signs of renewed confidence around the country.

“Areas like Southland and Central North Island, which have recorded all time February and overall highs, contrast with Northland, which has declined. Movement like this reinforces the notion that property is a local market.

Do current stock levels point to market activity?
National stock levels rose a modest 1.8% year-on-year to 36,357 in February 2026. However, stock is not increasing at the same pace as new listings, suggesting properties are being sold through rather than accumulating, and signalling strengthening market activity. Although not an all-time high, the last time total stock was over 36,000 in the month of February was in 2015.

Of our 19 regions, 13 saw single-digit growth, with Northland recording the largest year-on-year increase of 9.1%. No region recorded double-digit stock level growth.

However, three regions recorded double-digit, year-on-year stock declines in February:

Southland’s stock levels fell 21.4% to 522 (compared to 664 in February 2025). It is the region with the largest year-on-year drop for the eighth consecutive month.
Central Otago/Lakes District recorded a 15.6% year-on-year decline with 862 properties compared to the 1022 listed in February 2025.
Otago’s stock levels also fell 11.5% to 1041, down from 1176 in February 2026.

Wood says February’s data points to a market beginning to shift.

“If this continues, we could see conditions become more competitive.  Confidence is rebuilding gradually, and while external factors like interest rates and the election will influence sentiment, we can expect to see more activity in the market throughout the year.”

About realestate.co.nz | New Zealand’s Best Small Workplace (2025)

We’ve been helping people buy, sell, or rent property since 1996. Established before Google, realestate.co.nz is New Zealand’s longest-standing property website and the official website of the real estate industry. In 2025, realestate.co.nz was crowned Best Small/Micro Workplace in New Zealand by Great Place to Work.

Dedicated only to property, our mission is to empower people with a property search tool they can use to find the life they want to live. With residential, lifestyle, rural and commercial property listings, realestate.co.nz is the place to start for those looking to buy or sell property.

Want more property insights?

Market insights: Search by suburb to see median sale prices, popular property types and trends over time.
Sold properties: Switch your search to sold to see the last 12 months of sales and prices.
Valuations: Get a gauge on property prices by browsing sold residential properties, with the latest sale prices and an estimated value in the current market.

Glossary of terms:

Average asking price (AAP) is neither a valuation nor the sale price. It is an indication of current market sentiment. Statistically, asking prices tend to correlate closely with the sales prices recorded in future months when those properties are sold. As it looks at different data, average asking prices may differ from recorded sales data released simultaneously.

New listings are a record of all the new residential dwellings listed for sale on realestate.co.nz for the relevant calendar month. The site reflects 97% of all properties listed through licensed real estate agents and major developers in New Zealand. This description gives a representative view of the New Zealand property market.

Stock is the total number of residential dwellings that are for sale on realestate.co.nz on the penultimate day of the month.

Rate of sale is a measure of how long it would take, theoretically, to sell the current stock at current average rates of sale if no new properties were to be listed for sale. It provides a measure of the rate of turnover in the market.

Seasonal adjustment is a method realestate.co.nz uses to represent better the core underlying trend of the property market in New Zealand. This is done using methodology from the New Zealand Institute of

Economic Research.

Truncated mean is the method realestate.co.nz uses to supply statistically relevant asking prices. The top and bottom 10% of listings in each area are removed before the average is calculated to prevent exceptional listings from providing false impressions.

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Advocacy – Peace Vigil – No NZ support for US/Israeli war on Iran

Source: Peace Action Wellington

Date: Sunday 1 March 2026 – Peace Action Wellington is calling a peace vigil on Monday, 2 March at 5:30pm meeting at the Cenotaph on the corner of Lambton Quay and Bowen Street. All people who oppose war are welcome.

Peace Action Wellington condemns the illegal war launched by the US and Israel. There is no justification for so-called “pre-emptive” war. This is an aggressive war: there was no threat to the US or Israel. There is no material difference between this and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The crimes of the Iranian government against its own people are enormous, including the slaughter of thousands of its young people, but that provides no basis for war. Moreover, this is not even the justification the US and Israel have given for their war and will simply result in the killing of more ordinary Iranian people.

That the US and Israel started the war when discussions and negotiations were ongoing shows there is no good faith on their part – just a determination to install a regime that is friendly to their interests.

It is imperative that the New Zealand government is clear that it does not support this war. No NZDF or intelligence assistance should be given to the US or Israel. It is likely that the NZ Navy frigate Te Kaha is in the region, along with troops deployed to missions around the Middle East. All of these forces should be withdrawn, along with all GCSB intelligence analysts based with US forces.

Already hundreds of people have been murdered from US bombs inside Iran including a school full of children. Regime change by the US will cause untold suffering to the Iranian people and has every likelihood of escalating to a world war, pulling in the Russians and Chinese on the side of the Iranian government.

Peace Action Wellington strongly supports the right of the people inside Iran to free themselves from their own government. We do not support foreign interference in the politics of Iran or any state. The US and UK have a long history of intervention in Iran – and this war must be viewed within the context of that existing history.

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KiwiSaver breakthrough for young farmers – Federated Farmers

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers is celebrating a major win for young farmers, with the Government finally allowing them to use their KiwiSaver funds to buy their first home or farm.
“Young Kiwi farmers have been incredibly frustrated that they haven’t been able to access their KiwiSaver to help get a foot on the property ladder,” Federated Farmers dairy chair Karl Dean says.
“This change announced by the Government today – removing those barriers – is a huge step forward for the next generation of farmers.
“We’re immensely proud to have led the charge on this issue, advocating for a change to the KiwiSaver rules for three long years.”
Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson announced today that they will be making a technical change to the KiwiSaver Act.
It means farm staff in service tenancies (living on farm) will soon be able to use KiwiSaver to purchase a house without immediately moving in.
“Until now, you could only use your KiwiSaver to purchase a house you’ll live in,” Dean says.
“That’s unfair because farm staff, along with the likes of rural teachers and rural police, haven’t been able to get on the property ladder, all because they live remotely and in employer-provided accommodation.
“They’ve been denied the same opportunity as their urban counterparts.
“This change means young rural workers can finally access their savings to secure financial security and begin building equity, even if they keep living in accommodation provided by their employer.
“It’s a massive result and I know there’ll be many young farmers out there celebrating right now.”
The Government’s changes will also allow first-time farm buyers to use their KiwiSaver balances when buying through a commercial entity they majority own, provided it will be their principal place of residence.
Dean says the impact of this can’t be overstated, highlighting the challenges young farmers face in buying a farm.
“So many young farmers have worked hard to save a decent deposit but just aren’t able to get the bank’s backing to invest in their first farm.
“Letting those farmers use their KiwiSaver will be an enormous help in pulling together a larger deposit.
“It will put them in a stronger financial position with their initial equity, but they’ll also have less debt – which means they’d be paying less interest too.
“All of that gives our next generation of farmers a better chance of building wealth and putting themselves in a good position come retirement.”
Getting the KiwiSaver rules amended has been a key priority for Federated Farmers, forming part of its 12-point policy agenda for the incoming Government back in 2023.
The National Party committed to making the change, announcing so on the eve of the 2023 election.
“It’s taken them a long time to deliver on that promise, and we’ve made sure to keep reminding them about it,” Dean says.
“We’re grateful the Government has finally come through for farmers.”
One young farmer celebrating the news is Waikato sharemilker Danielle Hovmand, who has challenged the Government several times to deliver on its 2023 campaign commitment.
“Talking with young farmers across the country, their most-asked question is: ‘When are we going to be able to use our KiwiSaver to better ourselves now, rather than having to wait until we retire – just because we’re farmers’.
“I’m very pleased to hear the Government are finally changing the rules to make that possible.
“Many young people’s goal is to buy their first home and get on the property ladder, so it’s refreshing to see farmers will be able achieve this too.”
Hovmand says this will open doors for young farmers to use their hard-earned savings towards something that can have a huge impact on their financial position.
“Hopefully, in years to come we’ll see the flow-on effects of more young people being able to purchase their own herds and then achieving farm ownership earlier.
“I think this will have a huge impact on farmers across the country and will continue to help strengthen the agriculture industry for many years to come.”
Legislation giving effect to the changes will be introduced to Parliament in the middle of the year. 
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Environment and Law – Greenpeace organisations to appeal US$ 345 million North Dakota court judgment in Energy Transfer’s intimidation lawsuit

Source: Greenpeace

Mandan, North Dakota – Greenpeace International and Greenpeace organisations in the US announce they will seek a new trial and, if necessary, appeal the decision with the North Dakota Supreme Court following a North Dakota District Court judgment today awarding Energy Transfer (ET) $US 345 million.
Energy Transfer’s SLAPP (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) suit remains a blatant attempt to silence free speech, erase Indigenous leadership of the Standing Rock movement, and punish solidarity with peaceful resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Greenpeace International will also continue to seek damages for ET’s bullying lawsuits under EU anti-SLAPP legislation in the Netherlands.
Mads Christensen, Greenpeace International Executive Director said: “Energy Transfer’s attempts to silence us are failing. Greenpeace International will continue to resist intimidation tactics. We will not be silenced. We will only get louder, joining our voices to those of our allies all around the world against the corporate polluters and billionaire oligarchs who prioritise profits over people and the planet.
“With hard-won freedoms under threat and the climate crisis accelerating, the stakes of this legal fight couldn’t be higher. Through appeals in the US and Greenpeace International’s groundbreaking anti-SLAPP case in the Netherlands, we are exploring every option to hold Energy Transfer accountable for multiple abusive lawsuits and show all power-hungry bullies that their attacks will only result in a stronger people-powered movement.”
The Court’s final judgment today rejects some of the jury verdict delivered in March 2025, but still awards hundreds of millions of dollars to ET without a sound basis in law. The Greenpeace defendants will continue to press their arguments that the US Constitution does not allow liability here, that ET did not present evidence to support its claims, that the Court admitted inflammatory and irrelevant evidence at trial and excluded other evidence supporting the defense, and that the jury pool in Mandan could not be impartial.[1][2]
ET’s lawsuits against Greenpeace International and the US organisations Greenpeace USA (Greenpeace Inc.) and Greenpeace Fund are clear examples of SLAPPS, and ultimately attempt to silence dissent.
Marco Simons, Interim General Counsel at Greenpeace USA and Greenpeace Fund said: “Speaking out against corporations that cause environmental harm should never be deemed unlawful. It is guaranteed by the US Constitution, and is essential to the protection of communities and the health of democracy. This is a setback, but the movement to defend people and the planet has always faced setbacks and resistance, and Energy Transfer will fail in its goal of silencing its critics.
“The absurdity of this judgment can easily be illustrated. These Greenpeace organisations have been held responsible for supposedly delaying a pipeline that to this day does not have legal authority to operate, and which was actually delayed by the decisions of the US Army Corps of Engineers. The judgment includes tens of millions of dollars for signing a letter also signed by 500 other organisations, which echoed statements made in United Nations reports. If the courts still believe in justice, this result will not stand.”
Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director Russel Norman says, “This fight isn’t over. For more than 50 years, Greenpeace has fought to defend Earth’s ability to sustain life, in the face of polluting industries, and this judgement is a reminder of how important that fight is.”
“People all over the world are standing up to resist oil and gas, because there is simply no future for it. Here in Aotearoa, we drove the oil and gas industry away through peaceful protest, and we’re committed to resisting any of their attempts to return.”
“Greenpeace will not be silenced, and we will continue to hold the worst climate polluters – from the oil and gas industry, to the intensive livestock industry – accountable for the destruction they’re causing.”
Energy Transfer’s SLAPPs are part of a wave of abusive lawsuits filed by Big Oil companies like Shell, Total, and ENI against Greenpeace entities in recent years.[3] A couple of these cases have been successfully stopped in their tracks. This includes Greenpeace France successfully defeating TotalEnergies’ SLAPP on 28 March 2024, and Greenpeace UK and Greenpeace International forcing Shell to back down from its SLAPP on 10 December 2024.
Notes:
[1] The judgment entered by North Dakota District Court Judge Gion follows a jury verdict finding Greenpeace entities liable for more than US$660 million on March 19, 2025. Judge Gion subsequently threw out several items from the jury’s verdict, reducing the total damages to approximately US$345 million.
[3] Energy Transfer’s first lawsuit was filed in federal court in 2017 under the RICO Act – the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a US federal statute designed to prosecute mob activity. The case was dismissed in 2019, with the judge stating the evidence fell “far short” of what was needed to establish a RICO enterprise. The federal court did not decide on Energy Transfer’s claims based on state law, so Energy Transfer promptly filed a new case in a North Dakota state court with these and other state law claims.
[4] Greenpeace International sent a Notice of Liability to Energy Transfer on 23 July 2024, informing the pipeline giant of Greenpeace International’s intention to bring an anti-SLAPP lawsuit against the company in a Dutch Court. After Energy Transfer declined to accept liability on multiple occasions ( September 2024, December 2024), Greenpeace International initiated the first test of the European Union’s anti-SLAPP Directive on 11 February 2025 by filing a lawsuit in Dutch court against Energy Transfer. The case was officially registered in the docket of the Court of Amsterdam on 2 July, 2025. Greenpeace International seeks to recover all damages and costs it has suffered as a result of Energy Transfers’s back-to-back, abusive lawsuits demanding hundreds of millions of dollars from Greenpeace International and the Greenpeace organisations in the US. The next hearing in the Court of Amsterdam is scheduled for 16 April, 2026.
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Transport – Ferry update answers road freight sector’s burning questions

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Road freight association Transporting New Zealand says ensuring reliable Cook Strait capacity through to 2029 is a strong industry priority, following a major industry update in Blenheim yesterday.
The update, organised by Transporting New Zealand and supported by the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, outlined how the new ferries and associated landside infrastructure will be delivered in 2029.
Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih said ensuring a safe and reliable Cook Strait ferry service was vital to the national supply chain.
“With approximately $30 billion worth of freight and thousands of people crossing the Strait every year, the ferry connection is an essential extension of State Highway 1.
“When ferries are out of service during wet and dry dock periods, the fleet can be reduced to two or three vessels for months at a time. This is a concern for the road freight industry,” Kalasih said.
“We’re pleased that KiwiRail proactively published its maintenance schedule to help our members manage demand. Bluebridge has stated it does not intend to dry dock either of its ferries this year.”
Kalasih said that with the retirement of the Aratere and signs of economic recovery, businesses are already reporting pressure on freight capacity during peak periods.
“Ferry providers, the road freight industry and government will all have to work together to ensure adequate capacity across the Strait until 2029. This update was a step in the right direction.”
Kalasih said he was also pleased to hear how Ferry Holdings, KiwiRail, StraitNZ and Port Marlborough were all well aligned on the importance of delivering the landside infrastructure on time and working collaboratively together to do that.
“The last thing New Zealand needs is a Spirit of Tasmania scenario, where new ships arrive before the ports are ready to receive them.”
“Ensuring the ferry connection is safe, reliable and resilient remains a top priority for Transporting New Zealand. That has always been the focus of our advocacy to government, ferry providers and other key freight partners. We’re proud to be the group amplifying the voice of freight providers and their customers.”
The ferry update was followed by a facilities tour run by Port Marlborough, demonstrating that early works for the Waitohi Ferry Redevelopment Project in Picton are well underway. 
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Employment Disputes – Fire and Emergency received calls for 17 incidents during today’s NZPFU strike

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand received calls for 17 incidents between 12pm and 1pm today, Friday 27 February, the fourteenth time the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has taken strike action.
Of the 17 incidents, 11 were in areas impacted by the strike.
Nine of these were fire alarms which did not result in a fire.
One was a medical incident which we did not attend. Hato Hone St John responded as per our contingency plans.
The remaining incident was a small fire, which was extinguished by building occupants prior to our arrival.
Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler thanked Fire and Emergency’s 11,800 volunteers across the country, particularly those volunteers who were called to attend events in areas impacted by the strike.
“I would also like to thank our Operational Commanders and Communication Centre Managers, who contributed to the response.”
Megan Stiffler also thanked New Zealanders for their extra care during the strike hour.
“Continued strikes by the NZPFU including an escalation to twice weekly strikes, continues to unnecessarily put the public at risk while we remain in facilitated bargaining,” Megan Stiffler says.
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Advocacy – Huge influx of aid urgently needed amid catastrophic conditions in Gaza – MSF

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

Despite the 1 March 2026 deadline for 37 NGOs to leave the Occupied Palestinian Territory, MSF is committed to remaining to provide assistance.

27th February 2026: The international medical humanitarian organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF), is calling for a massive scale-up of lifesaving assistance and unhindered humanitarian access amid the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza, where lives continue to be lost due to sustained violence and persistent aid restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities. Despite these policies, MSF is committed to remaining to provide assistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) for as long as possible, working under its registration with the Palestinian Authority.

Under international humanitarian law, as the occupying power, the Israeli authorities are obliged to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance. Yet restrictive new rules, which require 37 NGOs to leave the OPT by 1 March 2026, threaten to drastically reduce already insufficient aid.  Governments worldwide must ensure that the International Court of Justice decisions are respected, including facilitating the provision of humanitarian assistance.

“MSF is working to preserve services for patients in an increasingly constrained environment,” says Christopher Lockyear, MSF Secretary General. “The needs are immense and drastic restrictions have deadly consequences. Hundreds of thousands of patients need medical and mental health care, and tens of thousands require long-term medical, surgical and psychological follow-up.”

Despite the US-led peace plan, the Israeli authorities continue to heavily restrict and even deny water, shelter and medical care. Living conditions are maintained at undignified levels, and violence continues to kill and injure Palestinians on a daily basis. In recent weeks, humanitarian aid reaching Gaza has significantly decreased. In the West Bank, medical and humanitarian needs continue to escalate amidst alarming increases in violence, forced displacements, armed settler attacks, home demolitions, settlement expansion and obstruction to healthcare.

The withdrawal of MSF’s registration with the Israeli authorities is already impacting patient care, as deregistration compounds the strain on a health system devastated over the past two years and constrained by persistent restrictions on essential medical equipment and supplies. Since the beginning of January, MSF has been prevented by the Israeli authorities from bringing international staff and additional supplies into the OPT, and by March 1 2026 all MSF’s international staff will be forced to leave the territory.

MSF’s medical programmes are already facing shortages, and our medical teams are particularly concerned for their ability to continue to provide emergency trauma care and rehabilitation services to patients, as well as pediatric care, sexual and reproductive health services, care for non-communicable diseases and psychiatric conditions. In the longer term, MSF’s activities will be uncertain and potentially impossible to maintain under such restrictive conditions.

“MSF’s programmes are critical lifelines. Medical care and humanitarian assistance on this scale cannot easily be replaced,” says Christopher Lockyear. “Amid ongoing humanitarian catastrophe, MSF will stay in the OPT for as long as possible, doing as much as we can. We call on the Israeli authorities to enable humanitarian aid at scale and on the international community to ensure Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank are not abandoned to their fate.”

MSF has been working in the OPT since 1988, providing medical and mental health care, as well as large-scale water and sanitation services more recently. In 2025, MSF supported one in five hospital beds in Gaza, assisted one in three deliveries, carried out 913,284 outpatient consultations, and distributed more than 700 million litres of water. In January 2026, MSF provided 83,579 outpatient consultations, treated 40,646 emergency cases, and treated 5,981 patients for trauma-related conditions. In response to overwhelming needs, MSF had planned to expand its programmes in 2026 with a budget of €130 million. That support is now shrouded in uncertainty.

The restrictive new registration requirements, used as a pretext to obstruct assistance, coincides with a coordinated global campaign of online attacks targeting MSF, promoted by the government of Israel.“A delegitimisation campaign, grounded in false and unsubstantiated allegations, is designed to discredit MSF, silence the organisation’s voice, and obstruct the provision of healthcare,” says Christopher Lockyear. “In a context where international journalists are barred and Palestinian journalists are regularly killed, further reducing NGO access risks removing yet another layer of witnesses to the ongoing violence and its enduring impacts on people.”

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation.  MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières  working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au