Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Greenpeace Aotearoa

Greenpeace says Fonterra’s reported $3.4 billion in profit should be spent on supporting rural communities in Canterbury to clean up their water from Fonterra’s nitrate pollution.

Greenpeace Aotearoa Programme Director Niamh O’Flynn says, “Today, Fonterra is patting itself on the back for making 3.4 billion dollars in profit – profit made through poisoning rural people’s drinking water.”

“For Fonterra to announce this obscene profit, as nitrate pollution increases, is a kick in the teeth for people on the ground who can’t safely drink the water from their kitchen taps. Many of these same people were told just yesterday by ECAN that they are personally responsible for footing the bill to make their poisoned drinking water safe.”

“The first step is to stop the pollution. Then, Fonterra’s profits should go towards ensuring that Cantabrians have access to clean, safe drinking water, instead of lining the pockets of their shareholders and executives.”

Just yesterday, Environment Canterbury “resolved” the nitrate emergency it declared last year, and voted against investigating options to make dairy industry polluters pay to clean up nitrate contamination in rural drinking water.

“The intensive dairy industry has poisoned rural drinking water with nitrate, putting communities’ health at risk. And those same communities have just been hung out to dry by regional councillors, who have opted to put the burden of dealing with that poisoned water back on the individuals,” says O’Flynn.

Greenpeace says Environment Canterbury’s nitrate emergency declaration was an opportunity for the regional council to hold corporations like Fonterra accountable for their pollution – and that yesterday, it failed to do that.

“Yesterday, nine councillors voted to let agribusiness off the hook for their pollution and push the costs of dealing with nitrate contamination back onto rural families. They should be ashamed that they’ve thrown rural Cantabrians under the tractor and given the intensive dairy industry a free pass to continue polluting.”

“In the last year, ECan has approved the addition of tens of thousands of cows to the Canterbury herd. They’ve voted against the provision of free water testing for people on private bores, and they’ve allowed the Government to prevent them from advocating for their communities’ access to safe drinking water.”

“Environment Canterbury has a bare minimum responsibility to continue advocating for its constituents, and to ensure that nitrate contamination is stopped at the source. Right now, it’s doing neither.”

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

The PSA welcomes the pause on the Government’s disruptive, poorly planned and expensive local government amalgamation process

Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Assistant Secretary Tom Buckley said the Government’s chaotic approach created totally unrealistic time frames.

“The risk of the Government’s mad rush was that New Zealanders would be saddled with poorly thought through amalgamations that would take decades to unpick. That’s why the PSA had advocated for pausing the process,” Buckley said.

The amalgamation process was happening on top of a number of other significant local government reforms, include water, planning, regional council disestablishment and rates capping.

“The Government had unleashed a whole series of changes with no clear plan as to how it would all fit together,” Buckley said.

The PSA, which represents 13,000 local government workers across 78 councils, is calling for engagement with workers and union in the amalgamation process.

“The workers are the people who will need to implement these reforms and have the frontline experience to know how they can be made to work,” Buckley said.

“Local communities, who are currently cut of the process, need to be also given a voice,” Buckley said.

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.

Source: New Zealand Principals’ Federation

Research undertaken by the New Zealand Council for Education Research (NZCER) reveals that the Māori Achievement Collaborative (MAC), delivered by facilitators employed by Te Arahou o AotearoaTrust, show strong, positive results for ākonga Māori succeeding at school.

NZCER researchers, Jackson Rowe-Williams and Nicola Bright used evidence from multiple sources, including both quantitative and qualitative data, to give MAC a top rating for contributing to the positive outcomes that are sustained and embedded in everyday practice across the MAC schools.

The summary of evidence is compelling:

• 88% of principals report MAC had an impact on their knowledge and understanding of leadership for Māori success.
• 96% report MAC had an impact on normalising te reo me ōna tikanga Māori in their schools.
• 98% of principals report satisfaction with MAC facilitation.
• 79% agree ākonga Māori are enjoying and achieving educational success as Māori, and a similar share report ākonga experiencing the learning gains needed to achieve across the curriculum.
• Attendance in MAC schools has risen from 54.95% to 65.2% (2024-25) of ākonga Māori attending more than 90% of the time – consistently outperforming the national Māori average of 47.2% to 51.3%.
• Progress in reading, writing and mathematics for ākonga Māori reported as meeting or exceeding expectations and there was a lift in progress across every subject between 2024 and 2025.

These are consistent, triangulated findings drawn from interviews, wānanga, facilitators, principal surveys, and school-reported data across 500-plus schools and more than 156,000 ākonga nationwide.

The MAC contribution to change in the wider school communities, structures and systems was also noted with the kaupapa now spreading well beyond MAC schools into new schools, organisations, national and international conversations.

Critically, the evaluation confirms that MAC benefits are not confined to ākonga Māori. The research describes a genuine “ripple effect”. As principals grow in cultural confidence, this influences leadership teams, teachers, classrooms and whānau. Engagement is lifted for all students as relationships strengthen between schools, hapū, iwi and mana whenua.

“Recognising its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Crown funded MAC for over a decade,” said Leanne Otene, Tumu Whakarae (National Director) of MAC. “Funding ceased at the conclusion of 2025, but it is clear from the success of MAC that this is a kaupapa that cannot be ignored.”

“Principals across the motu recognise the transformative power of the MAC Kaupapa and the success it is bringing to all ākonga and their wider communities. There continues to be strong demand from school leaders for this professional learning,” she said.

“The Crown owes it to school principals, whānau and ākonga to take note of the research evidence and renew their support for the Māori Achievement Collaborative so that schools and students awaiting access are not excluded,” said Otene.

The full NZCER Evaluation Report can be found here: https://www.mac.ac.nz/nzcer-mac-evaluation-report-2026

Source: Natural Health Products New Zealand

Exporters of dietary supplements have strongly welcomed a government proposal to overhaul restrictive export rules, calling it a critical step towards unlocking massive growth in one of New Zealand's most innovative value-added sectors.

Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard has announced proposed regulatory changes that will allow New Zealand exporters to make therapeutic claims in line with importing country requirements. Crucially, the reforms will exempt export-only products from domestic compositional requirements, including rules around food additives and maximum daily doses for vitamins and minerals.

See Minister’s announcement here: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/improvements-proposed-level-playing-field-dietary-supplements-exporters

Natural Health Products New Zealand (NHPNZ) described the move as a massive milestone for an industry already worth NZ$2.3 billion annually. By removing duplicated compliance, the reforms are projected to unlock up to NZ$500 million a year in additional export opportunities.

Capitalising on a NZ$300 Billion Global Market

The global dietary supplements market is currently estimated at NZ$300 billion. Driven by consumer shifts toward proactive health management, the sector is structurally outpacing conventional packaged foods.”

“This will be a game changer for our industry,” said NHPNZ Government Affairs Director Samantha Gray. “Without a doubt, this will free up exporters from decades of red tape, saving time and money. It means New Zealand businesses-ranging from innovative start-ups and SMEs to large enterprises-can better tap into fast-growing markets across Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Europe.”

For decades, outdated regulations forced manufacturers to meet both New Zealand’s strict domestic food rules and those of the destination country, even if the product was never intended for local sale. The new framework allows businesses to manufacture export-only products tailored strictly to international regulations and market-driven demands.

Protecting IP and Supporting High-Value Jobs

The reforms will strengthen New Zealand's position as a trusted, world-class manufacturing and research hub for dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, functional foods, and specialized ingredients. By enabling companies to commercialise locally developed research and build unique ingredients, the changes will protect valuable intellectual property (IP).

Furthermore, the growth will support highly skilled kiwi jobs across the entire value chain, from high-tech manufacturing and R&D to export services and new product development. The reform directly supports the Government’s strategic target to double New Zealand's exports by value over the next decade.

Urgent Call for Implementation and Future Reform

While some technical amendments will also be rolled out to modernise domestic regulations, NHPNZ cautions that this is a first step, not the finish line.

“Our priority now is getting the regulations right and putting them into effect without further delay,” said Ms Gray. “Exporters urgently need a clear, workable pathway across the full range of dietary supplements. NHPNZ is committed to working closely with the Government and agencies to nail down the details so the benefits start flowing immediately.”

“A lack of regulatory reform over many years has left us lagging behind international trading partners. The fact that our sector has grown to its current scale is a credit to the people backing it. We will continue pushing the government for further, fast-paced reform to accelerate growth for this rising star of New Zealand’s value-added economy.”

About the Natural Health Products Industry

New Zealand is an internationally recognised source of high-quality natural health products, leveraging its natural environment, agricultural history, and unique biological resources. From harnessing the antibacterial properties of mānuka honey to isolating bioactive properties in locally grown fruit, the sector has a long track record of premium innovation. Key exports include marine oils, plant, fruit and marine extracts, value-added honey products, deer velvet, collagen and extracts from wool, probiotics, antioxidants, botanical and dairy bioactive products-all backed by stringent manufacturing standards and world-leading animal health status.

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua

Updates on Deposit Takers Act implementation, the Depositor Compensation Scheme and more

Issue 12 September 2026

A periodic newsletter to keep deposit takers updated on bringing the Deposit Takers Act 2023 into effect, the Depositor Compensation Scheme, and other relevant updates from across the Reserve Bank – Te Pūtea Matua.

Deposit Takers Act

Near-final tranche 1 standards and relicensing questions

On Monday, 14 September we published:

• near-final DTA standards for Liquidity, the Depositor Compensation Scheme, Lending, and Incorporation outside New Zealand, with accompanying near-final guidance
• the near-final questions that existing banks and non-bank deposit takers will need to answer if they are applying for a DTA licence, along with initial guidance.

Review the publications on our website

Register for an October webinar and submit questions now

In October we will host the next webinars in our transition planning series for existing banks and non-bank deposit takers.

Agenda

We will start with quick updates on standards and guidance , the upcoming capital risk weight changes consultation , and DTA transition supervision activities in the coming months.

Then we’ll move to the main topic, licensing. Our Licensing and Authorisations team will provide an overview of the relicensing questions and guidance released on 14 September and answer your questions. Your input will help us identify areas where expanding the guidance could be helpful.

As the regulator, we will avoid answering questions about specific entities or circumstances and aim to provide information that’s useful to anyone completing a relicensing application.

Submit questions until 2 October

Submitting your questions before the webinar will help our experts have the right information at hand and make the event more useful.

Email questions to DTA@rbnz.govt.nz until Friday, 2 October . Questions may be themed and we will not identify the submitters.

Check that you're attending the right webinar

Each webinar is tailored to a different deposit taker group. Some entities have registered for a webinar that’s not targeted at their group, and there are a few registrations where the connection to an existing registered bank or licensed non-bank deposit taker is unclear.

Please check that you’ve registered for the right webinar. If you’re not an existing deposit taker regulated by the Reserve Bank, please email DTA@rbnz.govt.nz to let us know which regulated deposit taker you represent. If we are unclear, we will contact you to confirm this detail, as the webinars are for existing deposit takers and advisors they’ve identified.

Go to our DTA events page to find out more and register

Regulatory perimeter to remain unchanged under the DTA

In late 2025, we consulted on proposed regulations for the DTA regulatory perimeter and other matters to support the smooth implementation of the DTA. The regulatory perimeter defines which entities need to be licensed and supervised under the DTA. We proposed keeping the current regulatory perimeter when the DTA takes effect.

Feedback on the proposed regulations was largely supportive, so we recommended them to the Minister of Finance without changes. Cabinet has approved the proposals, which have now moved to legislative drafting.

On 23 September we published the consultation submissions and our response on the Citizen Space consultation page.

Go to the Citizen Space consultation page

Read the Cabinet Paper and Regulatory Impact Statement

New DTA landing page and information on our website

Thank you to those who completed our website survey. On 14 September we launched a new DTA landing page and other changes, including:

• A latest updates section at the top of the page, so you can see what’s new.
• A visual timeline for the coming year . You’ll recognise this from the August transition events for deposit takers.
• A new DTA standards and guidance page . Find near-final standards and guidance, the full list of standards under development, standards applicable to each deposit taker group, and information on our standards consultation process.
• A new DTA licensing page . Find licensing information and the near-final relicensing questions and guidance for existing deposit takers.
• An updated events page to make it easier to register for upcoming events and find materials from past events.
• An NBDT transition page where we’ll add updates and resources for non-bank deposit takers transitioning to the DTA.

Explore the new landing page and content

DTA consultations now closed

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the following DTA consultations, which closed on 11 September. We received almost 40 submissions, which our policy teams are reviewing.

• DTA standards exposure drafts (tranche 3)
• DTA crisis preparedness package

Depositor Compensation Scheme

DCS levy payments due 18 October 2026

We issued DCS levy invoices on Thursday, 3 September through our secure file transfer service, BOX. Payment is due on 18 October. Please email DCS@rbnz.govt.nz with any questions.

Capital Review implementation and consultation on further risk weight changes

The implementation of some key changes from last year’s Capital Review is now complete. You will have seen the updated Banking Prudential Requirements (BPR), and banks have received updated conditions of registration. We have also written to non-bank deposit takers and updated their conditions of licence.

Go to the BPR documents

Updated Disclosure Statements Order in Council and reporting templates

We have updated our website with a working copy of the Registered Bank Disclosure Statements Order 2026, which was recently amended to make the disclosures consistent with the BPR changes to standardised risk weights. The new format in the latest working copy should be used for disclosures relating to periods after 1 October 2026.

Disclosure requirements for registered banks are set by Orders in Council (OICs) made under Section 81 of the Banking (Prudential Supervision) Act 1989. OICs are secondary legislation used to implement government decisions.

The Capital Satellite and NBDT reporting templates are also being updated to reflect new risk weights. We’ll send these templates to existing deposit takers in the next few weeks, to help you prepare, and publish them on our website towards the end of this year. Changes will also be reflected on the Bank Financial Strength Dashboard from March 2027.

Read about disclosure requirements and the updated OIC

Go to the Bank Financial Strength Dashboard

Capital risk weight changes consultation

We also plan to consult later this year on the following topics relating to standardised credit risk weights:

• commercial property
• credit conversion factors
• infrastructure
• personal lending
• reverse residential mortgages
• securitisation.

We’ll provide an update on this at the October webinars.

Other RBNZ consultations

• Prudential levy consultation (closing 16 October)
• Modernising New Zealand’s retail payment system (closing 27 October)

Official source: https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/publications/deposit-takers-news/2026/issue-12-september-2026

Source: Global Sumud Flotilla

As Tunisian authorities refuse to disclose Naouar’s condition, prominent international artists, public figures and human rights advocates unite to demand the immediate release of the ‘Sumud 4’ and an end to the criminalization of Palestine solidarity.

Sept 23, 2026

TUNIS / INTERNATIONAL – The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) has issued an emergency alert following the critical hospitalization of steering committee member Wael Naouar, who has been on an open-ended hunger strike for nearly 40 days in Mornaguia Prison.

Tunisian authorities are now maintaining a complete information blackout, refusing to provide any update regarding Naouar’s medical state or the circumstances surrounding his emergency transfer. The alarming silence comes as dozens of high-profile artists, legal scholars, and political leaders— including climate activist Greta Thunberg, anti-apartheid leader Chief Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, actor Liam Cunningham, and legal commentator Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu —launched an open letter urging the Tunisian government to immediately free Naouar and his three co-defendants.

“Wael Naouar’s life and health are the direct responsibility of the authorities holding him in custody,” stated the Global Sumud Flotilla. “This worrying silence and the total refusal to provide information to his family or legal team raise serious concerns for his safety. We hold the President of the Republic, the General Directorate of Prisons and Rehabilitation, and the Ministry of Justice fully responsible for his life and for any harm that may befall him.”

Naouar launched his hunger strike on August 16 to protest his prolonged detention without trial. On September 10, fellow GSF organizers Nabil Channoufi, Ghassan El Henchiri, and Ghassan El Boughdiri joined the open-ended hunger strike just before the a Tunisian court extended their pretrial detention by four months despite a complete absence of credible evidence. All four men have been held for more than six months for helping coordinate a non-violent civilian aid mission to Gaza.

In their open letter, titled “FREE THE SUMUD 4,” the signatories declare:

“A man has been on hunger strike for more than a month in a Tunisian prison because he refuses to accept that solidarity with Palestine is a crime. His heart could stop at any moment… Tunisia has long stood with the Palestinian people and resisted colonialism. We ask its government to remember that history, and to act before another prisoner pays with his life.”

Prominent Signatories Leading the Global Demand:

• Greta Thunberg , Climate activist and international civil disobedience leader.
• Nkosi Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela , Chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council, anti-apartheid advocate, and grandson of Nelson Mandela.
• Kneecap , Acclaimed Irish hip-hop trio and cultural activists.
• Liam Cunningham , International actor ( Game of Thrones ) and human rights advocate.
• Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu , Prominent lawyer, author, and political commentator.
• Tiz Zaqyah Razak , Award-winning Malaysian actress and public figure.

“We know the power of a voice, a name, a stage, an audience,” the signatories state in the collective declaration. “A man has been on hunger strike for more than a month in a Tunisian prison because he refuses to accept that solidarity with Palestine is a crime. His heart could stop at any moment… From Palestine to Tunisia, from the prison cell to the street, people should not be prosecuted for refusing to accept injustice.”

The open letter outlines four non-negotiable demands:

• The immediate and unconditional release of the Sumud 4.
• Immediate urgent medical care for Wael Naouar and all hunger-striking organizers.
• The dismissal of all charges against all GSF organizers.
• The removal of arbitrary restrictions imposed on previously released GSF organizers.

The Global Sumud Flotilla reiterates that civil society movements, human rights defenders, and cultural leaders worldwide will not sit idly by while civilian organizers face political imprisonment for coordinating peaceful efforts to challenge israel’s illegal siege on Gaza.

Source: Cotality

New Zealand's housing market remains stuck in a haze, with property sales falling for an eighth consecutive month in August as rising borrowing costs and ongoing economic uncertainty continue to dampen confidence.

Cotality's Chart of the Month in the September Housing Chart Pack highlights a growing divide between buyer groups, with first home buyers increasing their market share while existing owners remain subdued.

That contrast is becoming a defining feature of the current market. While affordability has improved significantly over recent years, many existing homeowners remain cautious about moving, contributing to weak sales activity despite improved conditions for some buyers.

Cotality Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said recent increases in borrowing costs have created a fresh challenge for a market already struggling to gain momentum.

“First home buyers remain a key presence in the property market, accounting for a combined 29.1% of purchases across July and August, hovering at record highs,” he said

“At the same time, movers remain relatively subdued, which is one reason why sales activity remains weak even though affordability has improved.”

Elevated listing levels continue to give buyers significant leverage across much of the market.

“This high level of choice is giving buyers a lot of the pricing power,” Mr Davidson said.

However, he noted the current slowdown differs from some previous downturns because most vendors are not facing significant financial pressure.

“Most vendors won't be in a forced-selling position, so prices aren't collapsing,” he said.

That balance of power continues to keep property values subdued without triggering a sharp fall.

“In this buyer-friendly market, property values remain subdued,” Mr Davidson said.

“The Cotality Home Value Index dipped by another -0.4% in August, with Auckland and Wellington still sluggish, but Christchurch more resilient.”

Looking ahead, Mr Davidson said the labour market could prove critical to determining when activity recovers.

“All in all, the housing market remains subdued and it's difficult to see what changes this holding pattern in the near term,” he said.

“The labour market may hold the key. Rising employment and better job security may be required before we could expect any kind of growth in property values – although some investors will be buoyed by Labour’s announcement that they’ll keep interest deductibility.”

“Of course, this weak patch has seen affordability improve significantly, so there are always two sides to the coin.”

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

On 9 March 2022, Parliament passed the Russia Sanctions Bill through all its stages in a single day. The Bill was introduced the previous day, received its first, second and third readings and completed its committee stage on 9 March, before receiving Royal Assent on 10 March.

The legislation created a dedicated framework allowing New Zealand to impose and enforce sanctions in response to Russia's military actions and those assisting Russia.

The speed matters.

New Zealand had debated autonomous sanctions for years. But when Russia invaded Ukraine, the Government moved urgently and Parliament acted.

Now Labour has made its Israel policy explicit.

In its foreign-policy speech on 23 September, Labour committed to recognising the State of Palestine, placing economic sanctions on Israel, and requiring the NZ Super Fund and ACC to divest from companies on the UN list operating in the occupied territories. Labour also committed to intervening in South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice concerning the Genocide Convention.

That is a significant step beyond Labour's earlier position.

In March 2025, Labour supported Chlöe Swarbrick's bill that would enable sanctions against Israel over its occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Then, in September 2025, Labour called for “meaningful sanctions” including cutting trade and economic ties, freezing assets and travel bans on named individuals, explicitly referring to the approach New Zealand had taken towards Russia.

So the political commitment is now clear.

The mechanics are not.

The Russia Sanctions Act was specifically designed around Russia's military actions. Its purpose is expressly tied to Russia and those assisting it.

If Labour wants to impose sanctions on Israel under a different legal basis, New Zealand needs to know what legislation Labour would use or introduce.

That is where the questions begin. When?

The Russia sanctions legislation went from introduction to all parliamentary stages in one day.

What is Labour's deadline for legislation or other legal authority to implement its promised economic sanctions on Israel? How?

Will Labour support and pass Chlöe Swarbrick's sanctions legislation, amend it, or introduce its own Government bill?

And if new legislation is required, how quickly would it be introduced? What sanctions?

Labour's current speech says only that it will “place economic sanctions on Israel.”

But Labour has previously identified much more specific measures: cutting economic and trade ties, freezing assets and imposing travel bans on named individuals.

Will those measures form part of the policy?

Would Labour also consider restrictions on settlement-linked trade, procurement restrictions, financial measures, and sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for violations of international law? What comes first?

Labour has now committed to three significant measures: recognition of Palestine, sanctions on Israel, and intervention in South Africa's ICJ case.

Will these happen simultaneously?

Or will there be a sequence and, if so, what is it?

These are not minor details.

A sanctions policy is a legal instrument, not simply a political statement. It needs legislation or legal authority, definitions, targets, enforcement mechanisms, exemptions, timelines and accountability.

Labour has said the right things about the need for consequences when international law is breached.

It has also demonstrated, through the Russia sanctions legislation, that New Zealand can act with extraordinary speed when Parliament decides that circumstances demand it.

So the question now is simple:

If Labour believes Israel should face economic sanctions, show New Zealand the plan.

Put the legislation on the table.

Put the timeline on the table.

Put the sanctions on the table.

And explain clearly how the promised action will move from a 23 September election commitment to an enforceable New Zealand sanctions regime.

The commitment has been made. Now the mechanics must follow.