Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Posted on

Reserve Bank – ASB Bank ordered to pay $6.731 million in largest AML/CFT penalty to date

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua

10 June 2026 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua welcomes the High Court's decision to impose a civil pecuniary penalty of $6.731 million on ASB Bank Limited for seven breaches of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act 2009.

This is the highest AML/CFT penalty ever imposed by the Court in New Zealand. ASB is one of New Zealand's largest banks and this penalty reflects the seriousness and prolonged nature of ASB's non-compliance.

Banks are exposed to a high risk of money laundering and terrorism financing, and transaction monitoring plays a critical role in banks' AML/CFT programmes. In this case, ASB's transaction monitoring system and AML/CFT programme were inadequate for approximately six years, which is unacceptable.  

“Transaction monitoring is a key pillar to detect money laundering and terrorism financing. It is incumbent on banks to ensure their systems and processes are robust and sufficiently recognise and mitigate these risks,” Acting Assistant Governor Financial Stability Angus McGregor says.

“The AML/CFT Act plays an important part in maintaining and enhancing New Zealand's international reputation and contributing to public confidence in our financial system. Non-compliance with transaction monitoring and reporting requirements denies New Zealand intelligence agencies crucial time-sensitive information that is needed to detect and deter money laundering and terrorism financing from impacting New Zealand communities,” Mr McGregor says.

Following an investigation, the Reserve Bank commenced proceedings against ASB in December 2025. ASB cooperated with the investigation and admitted to all seven breaches of the AML/CFT Act including failures to:

establish, implement, or maintain an AML/CFT programme relating to customer due diligence requirements;
establish, implement, or maintain an AML/CFT programme relating to requirements to manage and mitigate the risks of money laundering and terrorism financing;
establish, implement, or maintain an AML/CFT programme relating to monitoring and managing compliance with ASB's procedures, policies, and controls;
adequately conduct ongoing customer due diligence on foreign trust customers;
report suspicious activities within the time required;
conduct enhanced customer due diligence; and
terminate business relationships when required.

This is an important reminder of the essential role of banks in maintaining the integrity and reputation of New Zealand's financial system. In this case, ASB failed to meet this expectation.

In determining its enforcement response, the Reserve Bank applied its Enforcement Framework which is available on the Reserve Bank's website.

More information

Posted on

Government Cuts – A third of family violence workforce facing axe as Govt undermines its own mission – PSA

Source: PSA

The body responsible for New Zealand’s whole-of-government response to family and sexual violence faces losing a third of its workforce, as evidence mounts that the Government is no longer taking the issue as seriously as it once did.
The Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention, hosted by the Ministry of Justice, has today begun consulting staff on a proposal to cut 26 of 78 roles, a reduction of 33 percent. National Trainers who deliver best-practice prevention in communities, advisors, managers, and administrative staff are all in the firing line.
“New Zealand has a shameful record on family and sexual violence. This is exactly the wrong moment to be cutting the people working to change that,” said Duane Leo, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
The Centre is helping drive the National Strategy and Action Plan on family and sexual violence launched only in 2021.
“It’s hard to understand how a sharply reduced workforce is expected to deliver coordinated national leadership on this issue. How can the plan be effective now when the Centre responsible for it is going to be gutted?”
The Centre was created because no single government agency could tackle family and sexual violence alone. That coordination role is now being watered down for no apparent reason, with the Centre retreating to a much narrower function without the levers to resolve the issues the country faces.
At the same time, the cuts strip away support for the community organisations on the frontline of prevention. The Enabling Communities team, which worked alongside providers and whānau to build local capability, is being dismantled. Three National Trainer positions, specialists in family violence and sexual violence who work with communities to deliver training are proposed to go.
The timing could not be worse. Work done by the Centre is being devolved to organisations that are also experiencing government cuts.
RespectEd, one of the country’s few specialist sexual violence prevention organisations, is facing closure in August after losing government funding from multiple directions. More organisations are also facing funding cuts and could close as well.
“Community organisations like RespectEd are getting results. They need more support, not less.
“Cutting the Centre’s community-facing work at exactly the moment providers are losing funding from every direction is not a coincidence. It’s a pattern. This Government is systematically withdrawing from the work of preventing family and sexual violence.
“Family and sexual violence is an intergenerational challenge. Building the capability to respond effectively takes years. Cutting a third of the national coordination workforce does not just set back progress, it shows that this vital work is no longer a priority.
“It’s appalling when you consider the Government prioritised giving billions in tax cuts to landlords and big tobacco, instead of properly funding the public and community services we depend on.
“New Zealanders deserve better,” said Duane Leo.
The PSA represents workers at the Centre and will be making a formal submission opposing these poorly thought through cuts during the consultation period, which closes 1 July 2026.
Previous statement on RespectEd
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.
Posted on

Government Cuts – Frontline job losses proposed from hospitals in Taranaki, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti – PSA

Source: PSA

  •   96 roles across the four districts are proposed to be disestablished.
  • Under the proposal, there would be a net loss of 17 roles 
  • A further 30 vacant roles proposed to be disestablished.
Nearly 100 health workers across Taranaki, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Tairāwhiti are facing an uncertain future under a significant restructure proposal announced by Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand (HNZ) today.
Staff were told today that 96 roles are proposed to be cut with thirty vacant roles also axed. In their place, 108 new roles will be created, resulting in a net loss of 17 roles. Staff must re-apply for the new roles with no guarantee of success and risk being placed in new roles at lower pay.
“At a time of crisis in our underfunded health system, it beggars’ belief that a major restructure of so many frontline health roles is a priority.
“All this will do is force more work onto fewer people and destabilise local health teams. It ultimately impacts care patients receive,” Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, said.
“This is another huge change dressed up as efficiency, but what they are doing is cutting roles and wages because the Government is refusing to provide hospitals with the funding they desperately need.”
The restructure states that it aims to centralise clinical leadership and administration functions across the region. Affected health workers include psychologists and counsellors, physiotherapists, administrators, social workers, and those in cancer support services.
The PSA is seeking legal advice on the proposal and is not ruling out litigation to stop dismissals of these essential health workers.
“These are frontline workers being cut, essential workers who care for people at some of the hardest times in their lives.
“Health workers are already at their limit after three years of cuts disguised as restructures – all this will do is push people out of the profession or onto a plane across the ditch.
“Ultimately, these cuts are the result of chronic and deliberate underfunding by the Government which has so far cut 2,800 jobs across the public health system including 1000 data and digital experts.
“It makes a mockery of the Government claims of a record investment in health that only a couple of weeks after the Budget, our under-stress health system has had to make cuts to specialist services in such a big region of the North Island.
“The reality is that the health system has only been funded just enough to keep the lights on. It’s currently being held together by the good will and dedication of workers to their patients.
“This all comes down to choices. The Government has prioritised tax cuts for landlords and big tobacco over New Zealanders who want a functioning health system.
“We’ll continue to see the consequences of those choices come through the health system, and all our public services, which is why we’re calling for a change of government this November.”
The union formally objected to the four-week consultation period as being insufficient for such a major upheaval. The union has written to HNZ to request more detailed information and an extended consultation period.
Notes:
Affected hospitals in Te Manawa Taki include:
  • Tauranga Hospital
  • Whakatāne Hospital
  • Gisborne Hospital
  • Hāwera Hospital
  • Taranaki Base Hospital
  • Rhoda Read Continuing Care
  • Taumaranui Hospital
  • Te Kuiti Hospital
  • Thames Hospital
  • Tokoroa Hospital
  • Waikato Hospital
Previous statements
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.
Posted on

Extra funding for rural adverse event preparedness ‘well-deserved’ – Federated Farmers

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers is welcoming the Government’s investment in strengthening resilience and preparedness in rural communities.
“This is a well-deserved acknowledgement of the hundreds of people who give thousands of volunteer hours supporting rural communities during adverse events,” Federated Farmers adverse events spokesperson Sandra Faulkner says.
“It’s also recognition of the strong collaboration between those organisations within the Rural Advisory Groups, whose members regularly step up to support farming families when they need it most.
“This funding will help strengthen these networks and ensure they’re better equipped to be part of emergency management planning and response in their regions,” Faulkner says.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson today announced funding totalling $160,000 for the country's 16 Rural Advisory Groups, Taskforce Kiwi and to develop capacity and skills of rural leaders to plan for resilient futures in their regions.
Posted on

Federated Farmers support ACT’s split-gas approach

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers is welcoming ACT’s announcement that it will campaign on New Zealand adopting a split-gas approach to both its international Paris Agreement targets and its domestic emissions budgets, says Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford.
“Federated Farmers has been calling for a split-gas approach for our Paris target and our carbon budgets for a long time,” says Langford, who is also the organisation’s climate change spokesperson.
“The current Paris Agreement target is for a 50% reduction, across all gases, by 2030.
“This goes way beyond what the science says is required to achieve no further warming from methane emissions.
“Such a target creates a huge financial cost for New Zealand and unrealistic expectations for farmers.”
Posted on

NEMA Emergency Mobile Alert test "not just a meme" despite accidental 6-7 reference

Source: National Emergency Management Agency

The National Emergency Management Agency has expressed dismay that its annual Emergency Mobile Alert (EMA) test – which will take place on 14 June from 6-7pm – has inadvertently reawakened a meme which many hoped was waning in popularity.
“NEMA shared information about the day and time of this year’s test on social media – only to receive a host of messages just saying ‘6-7’,” NEMA’s Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management John Price said.
“We’re pleased that young people are showing an interest in NEMA’s content and our annual EMA test – although we understand some parents may be less delighted by their children’s renewed enthusiasm for the 6-7 meme.”
The EMA system provides critical information to people in New Zealand when emergencies in their area pose a threat to life, health or property.
In an emergency, it can be used by NEMA, Civil Defence and emergency services to send geotargeted alerts to all cellular handsets in a selected area.
“This is a valuable life safety tool to keep our communities safe,” John Price says.
This year marks the ninth year of NEMA’s annual tests, which consistently show around 90 per cent of people in New Zealand either receive the test message, or are with someone else who receives it.
In the past 12 months, the system has sent 66 EMAs – meaning Sunday’s test may well be the 67 th.
While it is an important channel for NEMA, John Price says it’s only one of many ways to alert people.
“In an emergency, we need people to listen to the radio and trust their ‘danger sense’ – and take immediate action if they feel unsafe. This is our greatest tool to keep safe.
“This weekend, there’s no need to take action if you get the alert, but it’ll help you remember what to do when a message appears on your device.
“Our top tip: press the volume button to mute the sound when one comes in. This leaves the message on screen for you to read in peace.
“So be ready for the alert between 6 and 7 this Sunday – and remind your whānau this isn’t just a meme, but a good reminder to get prepared.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
NEMA’s annual EMA test will take place on 14 June 2026 between 6 and 7 pm. More information about the EMA system and why we test it can be found here: Nationwide test of Emergency Mobile Alert – Get Ready (NZ Civil Defence) – Emergency preparedness in New Zealand
The “6-7” meme became popular in 2025 and more detail about it can be found here: 6-7 – Wikipedia.
Posted on

New Zealanders place growing importance on Asia ties amid global uncertainty – Asia NZ Foundation

Source: Asia New Zealand Foundation 

New Zealanders place growing importance on Asia ties amid global uncertainty.
The latest Perceptions of Asia 2026 survey shows New Zealanders feel more connected to Asia than ever. Amid a more challenging geopolitical environment, New Zealanders are looking increasingly to countries in Asia to build deeper political, economic, and social ties.
The Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono’s 29th annual Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples survey shows New Zealanders continue to see Asia as crucial to New Zealand’s future. Eighty-one percent of New Zealanders say developing ties with the peoples and countries of Asia is important, with 39 percent saying it is very important.
“New Zealanders continue to recognise that the Asia region matters deeply to New Zealand’s future,” says Suzannah Jessep, Chief Executive of the Asia New Zealand Foundation. “The findings show a public that understands the importance of building strong, informed and longstanding relationships in Asia, whether it’s for trade, investment, and economic growth, or navigating an increasingly interconnected and complex regional environment.”
The 2026 survey presents the views of 2,300 New Zealanders aged 15 years and over and was conducted between 21 January and 18 February 2026. The results provide insights into New Zealanders’ connections to and perceptions of Asia, helping inform public dialogue, policymaking, and the Foundation’s work to equip New Zealanders to excel in Asia.
While North Asia remains the sub-region most widely seen as critical to New Zealand’s future, attitudes are beginning to shift. New Zealanders are increasingly recognising the growing significance of South Asia, including India, with half now viewing it as important to the country’s long-term prospects. However, despite this rising awareness, self-reported knowledge of South Asia continues to lag well behind that of other Asian sub-regions.
This growing recognition of Asia's importance is accompanied by a more cautious assessment of the major powers shaping the region. Sentiment towards the United States has cooled significantly since the last survey, with friend perceptions (countries that New Zealanders trust and feel warmth towards) falling from 61 percent to 39 percent. For China, sentiment has warmed slightly, but from a fairly low base. In 2026, 43 percent of New Zealanders see China as friendly, up from 38 percent in the Foundation’s 2025 report.
Japan continues to be seen as New Zealand’s closest friend in Asia, closest defence and security partner, and most trusted power in Asia, surpassing New Zealanders' trust in the United Kingdom for the first time. Singapore is the next most trusted power in Asia and is seen as the Asian country most like-minded to New Zealand.
“We continue to see strong public warmth towards Japan and Singapore, alongside a more nuanced understanding of the different roles countries across Asia play in New Zealand’s future,” says Dr Julia Macdonald, Director Research and Engagement at the Foundation.
New Zealanders are optimistic about Asia's broader impact on New Zealand, particularly in technology, tourism, economic growth, and investment. More than 70 percent of New Zealanders expect each of these areas to have a positive impact on New Zealand in the coming decade.
The survey also shows how important travel, entertainment, and sports are to building deeper connections with Asia. In the year to January 2026, travel to Asia increased by 14 percent, while the enthusiasm for Asia-related entertainment, especially TV and film, is strong across genres. Overall, 60 percent of New Zealanders now say they feel connected to Asian cultures in their daily lives, an increase of four percent from last year.
“These findings show New Zealanders’ connections with Asia go beyond politics and economics. They are also cultural, personal, and part of everyday life,” says Jessep. “That depth of connection matters as New Zealand continues to navigate its place in a dynamic region.”
Full report is available on the Foundation’s website.
Posted on

Health and Police – 15-minute handovers of mental health patients unsafe – Medical Specialists

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists

Emergency specialists say proposed 15-minute police handovers for people in mental distress would be clinically unsafe.
“This change would represent a fundamental failure by police to perform their core task, which is keeping the community safe,” ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton says.
“EDs are hectic places, full of very sick, very vulnerable people. Adding unmanaged mental health patients into the mix will make them less safe.
“This reeks of disdain and abandonment for people in distress and people on the margins.”
ASMS ran a survey of specialists who work in ED and an overwhelming majority (88%) said it would not be clinically appropriate to have a 15-minute capped handover by police.
Of the small minority (12%) who thought it was clinically appropriate, 84% said their ED did not have the staff, systems or facilities to safely accept patients this way.
“We ran this survey because no one was asking the health professionals on the front line about this and considering their views,” Dalton says.
“ED specialists have made it really clear to us that they don’t believe this change would work.
“We urge police to reconsider this plan in the interests of public safety.”
Notes:
The proposed change to 15-minute capped handovers represents Phase Four of the Police Mental Health Response Change Programme.
The ASMS survey results were based on responses from 156 members. The survey ran over King’s Birthday weekend. Results were shared with Health New Zealand.
Posted on

Universities – Antarctic surface melt set to increase dramatically this century, new study finds

Source: Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington

 

New research shows surface melting across Antarctica is set to intensify and spread dramatically over the 21st century, with melt increasing by 10 times and the area affected growing by more than 10 percent by 2100 if global temperatures continue to rise. 

 

The study, led by researchers from the Antarctic Research Centre at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, highlights the rising risks for Antarctica’s ice shelves as the climate warms. 

 

“Our findings show Antarctic surface melting is not only increasing but spreading into new parts of the continent. This trend will continue if we keep doing business as usual. Just to stabilise melt at current levels, significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions will likely be needed,” said study co-author Professor Nicholas Golledge, a climate scientist at the university.

 

The study used climate models to predict how much surface ice would melt under different emissions scenarios. Results showed a stark difference between low- and high-emissions futures.

 

“Under a scenario in which global temperatures rise by approximately 3.5 to 4°C above pre-industrial levels, increased surface melting around the continent will leave ice shelves much more vulnerable to rapid collapse and sea-level rise. In an extreme scenario where warming rises above 4°C, the risk of rapid collapse becomes even more pronounced,” said Professor Golledge.

 

Modelling showed temperature rises of about 3.5 to 4°C would likely see future surface melt extend southward into regions that have historically been largely unaffected, with an additional 1.58 million km² estimated to experience melting by 2100. 

 

Under medium- and high-emissions scenarios, melt rates would continue to accelerate and remain well above current levels by the end of the century.

 

Results showed only a low-emissions pathway would be likely to stabilise future melt at present-day levels. Under this pathway, increases in global average temperatures would need to be well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. 

 

“These findings underscore the urgency of reducing emissions. Strong mitigation could stabilse melt, while weaker action leaves Antarctica exposed to rapidly escalating change. We know sea-level rise resulting from ice-sheet collapse would have major implications for coastal communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. Given our long coastline, we’re particularly vulnerable to rising seas,” said Professor Golledge.

 

Expanding surface melt would not only affect the stability of the Antarctic ice shelves but would also likely result in other ecosystem changes.

 

“Surface melting increases water availability in summer, which may alter surface conditions. One flow-on effect is the new opportunities this could create for colonisation by invasive species in parts of the continent,” he said.  

 

The study is published in the journal Nature Communications. The work was funded by a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship from the Royal Society of New Zealand—Te Apārangi. 

Posted on

Children surviving on leaves and water lilies as conflict drives parts of South Sudan to the brink of famine – Save the Children

Source: Save the Children

Families and children in South Sudan’s eastern Jonglei state are surviving on leaves and water lilies as hunger surges towards famine levels in parts of the country following three months of escalating violence, Save the Children said.
Many families in Jonglei state have been left without essential and life-saving services since an escalation in violence in March led to the suspension of aid operations in areas and government orders to aid agencies to evacuate, triggering mass displacement.
Save the Children suspended its humanitarian operations in Akobo East – a refuge for people fleeing violence across Jonglei – and relocated staff due to increased violence.
The withdrawal of services followed a similar suspension of operations in February in Walgak in Jonglei after armed gangs looted and vandalized a Save the Children office, destroyed a healthcare centre, and took three of the organisation's vehicles.
Save the Children staff working in neighbouring counties have reported hearing horrific stories of families going without humanitarian aid while flooding worsens.
In some parts of the state, families and children are surviving on leaves and water lilies collected from swamps and seeds reserved for planting, while mothers walk for hours through floodplains to find anything edible for their children.
Save the Children said thousands of children are no longer attending school, while others are being forced into labour or early marriage as families struggle to survive. In areas where schools remain accessible, some children have stopped attending because they are too weak from hunger.
The extreme coping mechanisms come as the latest analysis by the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) – the leading global authority on the severity of hunger crises – showed that four counties, including Nyirol and Akobo in Jonglei state, are at risk of famine.
According to the IPC, more than 7.8 million people – or six in 10 people in South Sudan – are facing acute food insecurity. About 2.2 million children under five require treatment for acute malnutrition-an increase of around 90,000 cases since the previous analysis. Nearly 700,000 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition – the deadliest form of hunger that requires urgent medical attention and specialised treatment.
Health workers have reported children arriving at nutrition centres severely malnourished after surviving for weeks on diluted porridge or a mix of salt and flour.
This deteriorating situation has become evident at a nutrition site at Bor Hospital in Jonglei state’s Bor County, where Save the Children operates three different programmes helping to screen and treat malnourished children and breastfeeding or pregnant mothers. Tabisa Ajer, 31, a health care worker at the hospital said:
“We have over 60 children who are severely malnourished right now. Usually, we have 60 later in the wet season when malnutrition tends to spike but the number is high for this early on. The numbers have spiked due to the season and the worsening hunger crisis, flooding and insecurity. A lot of children coming here have diarrhea and vomiting.
“We are just at the start of the rainy season now, and June to August the hunger situation usually worsens. This year is more dangerous than the other years. Insecurity is impacting food cultivation.”
Chris Nyamandi, Country Director for Save the Children in South Sudan, said:
“Solutions to extreme hunger are political. This situation can be prevented and mitigated, before more children suffer. Next month South Sudan will mark 15 years of independence and greater investment in inclusive peace and social protection is needed to prevent violence amidst an escalating, underfunded humanitarian crisis response.
“In an already hyper-prioritised humanitarian system, international aid cuts continue to disproportionately impact those most vulnerable in one of the world’s most fragile states.”
Save the Children calls on all parties to the conflict to prioritize the protection of civilians, respect international humanitarian law, and ensure safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access to already affected communities.
The aid agency is also calling for greater and more flexible resources needed to respond to the dire needs of the displaced populations in strained communities, with funding flows designed to reach local actors delivering principled aid.
Save the Children has worked in South Sudan since 1991, providing children with access to education, healthcare and nutrition services, and supporting families with food security and livelihoods assistance.
About Save the Children NZ:
Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.
Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.