Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Business Confidence – It’s not all doom and gloom according to Business Canterbury survey

Source: Business Canterbury

Business Canterbury has today released its August Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey, which shows a business community remaining positive despite the ongoing wait for the light at the end of the tunnel to get closer.
Despite ongoing economic pressures, 64% of Canterbury Businesses expect the economy to strengthen over the next year. More than half (55%) plan to hire, and nearly two-thirds (59%) intend to invest in property, plant or equipment over the next 12 months.
Survey Highlights:
  • 64% expect the Canterbury economy to strengthen over the next year
  • 55% plan to hire staff (vs. 61% long-term average)
  • 59% intend to invest in property, plant or equipment (vs. 63% long-term average)
  • 79% confident in their ability to manage disruption
  • Top issues (In order): Consumer confidence and demand, Productivity and growth, Inflation and interest rates, Compliance costs and Cashflow and account receivable/payable.
Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson says, “While still just below long-term averages for key business confidence metrics, overall positivity reflects how Canterbury operates – we don’t ride the booms and busts like other main centres, and right now that stability is our not-so-secret weapon.
“In Canterbury, businesses are being established at twice the national rate. Our regional GDP is slightly positive, while the rest of the country faces nearly 1% retraction. Right now, we are the most attractive place in New Zealand for people to live and work.
“But we know confidence alone won’t carry us forever, and it’s certainly still very tough out there for many.
“While intent to grow is strong, businesses can’t do it alone. We need growth-ready conditions shaped by both central and local government, and with local elections underway and a general election quickly approaching, now is the time to prioritise settings that enable investment, hiring and innovation.”
“Business Canterbury has recently sent a to-do list to council candidates, which clearly lays out how the business community see councils’ roles in championing business growth in our region.”
For a copy of the council candidate to-do list, please visit our website here: https://www.cecc.org.nz/latest-news-from-business-canterbury/local-government-elections-document-2025
About Business Canterbury
Business Canterbury, formerly Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, is the largest business support agency in the South Island and advocates on behalf of its members for an environment more favourable to innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.
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NZ Super Fund – NEW ZEALAND’S CLIMATE TRANSITION AN OPPORTUNITY WAITING TO BE SEIZED

Source: New Zealand Super Fund

New Zealand has the chance to attract significant global investment into its climate transition – but only if it can create investible opportunities at scale, says Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation co-Chief Investment Officer Will Goodwin.

In a speech to the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia's Conference Aotearoa NZ 2025, Goodwin said sustainable investment is now central to how the world’s largest asset owners manage risk and deliver returns – with climate change presenting both risks and opportunities.

“The question is how we position our portfolios – and our economy – to take advantage of these opportunities.”  

With global investors mobilising trillions of dollars into the transition, Goodwin said New Zealand has to act fast to secure its share.

“Capital is mobile. It moves quickly, across borders and markets, chasing scale, clarity, and certainty. If other countries create conditions that are more attractive to investors, that’s where the capital will go.”

Citing the NZ Super Fund's successful investments in renewable energy infrastructure in the US and Europe, Goodwin said the Fund has seen first-hand what works when the right conditions give investors the confidence to commit.

“Ultimately, New Zealand needs to be creating investible opportunities at sufficient scale, and making it all simple and easy – which includes making it straightforward for capital to come in and to exit,” Goodwin said.

“Despite the noise of shifting politics, the global tide is still moving in one direction. Long-term asset owners, global regulators, and markets recognise that climate change is a material risk. Investors don’t mistake surface changes for the deeper currents – the direction of travel is clear, and it isn’t reversing.”

Read Will Goodwin's speech in full here

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Advocacy – Understanding NZ’s role in space-based support for genocide – Peace Action Wellington

Source: Peace Action Wellington

Join Peace Action Wellington for an important webinar exploring how
Rocket Lab in NZ is contributing space-based assistance to the Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF). 

Speakers are:
  • Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa lawyer Sam Vincent,
  • Rocket Lab Monitor’s Sonya Smith and 
  • Peace Action Ōtautahi’s Aurora Garner-Randolph. 
This webinar is in preparation for action at the annual Aerospace Summit in Ōtautahi/Christchurch where Rocket Lab is a key sponsor.

The webinar is Tuesday 23 September at 7:30pm. Registration is here:
https://tinyurl.com/4tbbbz88

Government ministers have approved NZ military and intelligence support for Israeli war crimes.

Judith Collins approved recent Rocket Lab launches of geospatial intelligence satellites for BlackSky launched from Måhia.

The satellites provide high resolution images to the IOF used to strike civilians and infrastructure in Gaza.

Collins allowed these launches in full knowledge of these circumstances.

Now her actions, and those of her fellow Ministers Luxon, Seymour and Peters are all the subject of a complaint to the international Criminal Court for war crimes.

The full International Criminal Court referral documents can be found here: https://www.psna.nz/icc-referral

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Weather News – Can’t decide what to do this school break? Neither can the weather! – MetService

Source: MetService

Covering period of Monday 22nd – Thursday 25th September – It’s set to be a weather rollercoaster of a first week of the school holidays this spring. 

A number of fronts are lining up to the south and west of Aotearoa New Zealand this week, each taking their turn in delivering rain to southern, western and northern parts of both islands.

MetService meteorologist Dom Barry says, “This is not the greatest news for parents and caregivers who may be wanting their kids outside to burn energy. However, it is not all bad news – there will be gaps between periods of rain where the little bundles of energy can get outside.”

Eastern parts of both islands won’t get away unscathed but will see more fine spells than their western counterparts. Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua can expect rain to be the main theme until the end of Wednesday. 

Heavy rain is possible so keep an eye out for any potential watches or warnings there, going forwards. 
For the remainder of the west of the North Island, rain turns to showers through to tomorrow (Tuesday), with Heavy Rain Watches in place for Wellington and Warnings for Taranaki Maunga and the Tararua Range until Tuesday afternoon.

Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne may see some rain on Wednesday, but come Thursday, mainly fine weather dominates here. Showers dominate the west and north of the North Island.

As for the South Island, a series of rain bands move northwards bringing showers to the east and periods of rain to the south and west through to tomorrow evening. 

This weather feature weakens in the east by tomorrow evening, meaning mainly fine weather for north of Christchurch, until midday Thursday.

Yet another front begins to impact Fiordland and Southland on Wednesday morning, gradually spreading its rain northwards, into southern Westland and Otago. 

Meanwhile, the remains of the previous weather feature brings rain to northern Westland and Buller.

Barry continues, “Temperatures will be a bit warmer than average for the likes of Napier and Gisborne, hitting early twenties today and tomorrow. Tomorrow is the spring equinox so our days will noticeably start to get longer from now on, before we switch the clocks forwards for the start of Daylight Saving this Sunday.”

A bit of a mixed bag to start off the school holidays – but it’s classic springtime weather. Make the most of the gaps in the rain while you can!
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Kiwi families face ‘ticking time bomb’ without funded heart drugs

Source: Kia Manawanui Trust | The Heart of Aotearoa New Zealand

Thousands of Kiwi heart patients are missing out on a proven, life-saving heart medication because it is not publicly funded.
Kia Manawanui Trust – The Heart of Aotearoa is calling on Pharmac to fund a class of medicines called PCSK9 inhibitors that reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol.
This medicine could transform the lives of an estimated 1 in 250 New Zealanders living with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) – a genetic condition that causes dangerously high ‘bad’ cholesterol, putting them at risk of heart attack or stroke at an early age.
“I’m still young – I want to minimise deterioration as much as I can, because I want to be around for my son for a long time,” the 50-year-old says.
“I’ve got a lot more life to live and a lot more to give.”
Heart disease has already claimed his grandfather and uncle at a young age – and Matt worries he may be next.
“I just want to survive – and be there for my wife and our three young children as they grow up.”
PCSK9 medicines can dramatically lower levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol, offering patients like Korie and Matt a real chance at longer, healthier lives.
But in New Zealand, these treatments aren’t funded.
Patients must either pay thousands of dollars themselves or go without, leaving their cholesterol dangerously high.
Currently funded cholesterol medications aren’t enough to reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol to a safe level for patients living with FH.
Trust Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says the situation reflects a wider national failure.
“Unfortunately, their stories are not unique – it is the reality for thousands of New Zealand families living with FH, an inherited heart disease.
“They are living with a constant ticking time bomb inside their chest, while the treatments that could save their lives are sitting on the shelf, out of reach.”
The lack of funded treatment options for heart disease, in general, is appalling, Ms Harding says.
“We are decades behind other countries, including Australia, where these medications are already funded and changing lives.”
Pharmac needs to ring-fence a dedicated fund for cardiac drugs, she says.
“Heart disease is the number one killer in New Zealand, so it makes sense to do this.
“Every day we delay funding vital heart medications means more heart attacks and deaths that could be prevented.”
This World Heart Day (September 29), the Trust is encouraging Kiwis to 'Know Your Numbers' – a campaign aimed at understanding your cholesterol levels. An estimated 1 in 250 Kiwis have FH, but less than 2% are diagnosed.
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Defence News – NZ Army Colonel who spent childhood in Papua New Guinea oversees 50th anniversary celebration

Source: New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF)

Papua New Guinea (PNG) holds a special place in the heart of New Zealand Army Colonel Duncan George, who recently oversaw a successful Papua New Guinea Defence Force celebration of the country’s 50th anniversary of independence.

He was born in Christchurch and attended Riccarton High School, but for three formative years from the age of eight, Colonel George lived in PNG, learning the language and experiencing the nation’s rich culture.

His father, Squadron Leader (Rtd) Chris George was posted as one of the New Zealand Defence Force instructors to the local Defence Academy and the family lived in Igam Barracks in Lae.

In February this year, Colonel George was appointed the Joint Task Force Commander to plan and support the week-long anniversary celebrations.

This included a military tattoo attended by military bands from Australia, Fiji, France, India, Japan, New Zealand, Tonga, United Kingdom, United States and Vanuatu. There was also a fleet review of Navy vessels, an air show over Ela Beach and a static display of visiting and PNG aircraft.

The week also provided opportunities for visiting aircraft from Australia, France and New Zealand to deliver supplies such as medical equipment, books and mosquito netting, to remote areas around the country.

“I’m relieved that it went well, but also very proud of PNG, the PNG Defence Force and of course, the New Zealand and Australian Defence Forces that helped out,” Colonel George said.

“There were a whole bunch of countries that came over to help celebrate, which was fantastic and it was great the majority of them were from around the Pacific region.”

Colonel George has been embedded in the PNG Defence Force since December 2023 as the Deputy Chief of Staff, so has a unique insight into why this celebration was so significant for the country.

“PNG is the most populous nation in Oceania. From a strategic geographic point of view, it straddles Southeast Asia and the Pacific. It's a leading nation within the Pacific Islands Forum in terms of its size, geography and natural resources.”

It was important to reflect on the positive aspects of the country, because all too often governance, the economy and law and order were the focal point from international observers, he said.

“PNG is a proud nation with uninterrupted parliamentary democracy, a growing middle class, and it's a nation that has a big voice in the Pacific.”

Colonel George’s family ties to the area remain to this day. His father was known for his professional skills but also his ability to train, mentor and encourage young Papua New Guinean aviators. Last month Squadron Leader George was presented with a commendation by PNG Defence Force Deputy Chief Brigadier-General Lari Opa.

It was a proud moment for Colonel George, who reflected on their life there more than 30 years ago.

“The great memories I have of being in PNG during the 80s were so strong that I always wanted to come back, I just wasn’t sure when or how. Having three kids (two teenagers) meant that I was a little hesitant to do it so late in my career, but my wife told me that it was now or never, so we took the plunge.”

Colonel George is the sixth Deputy Chief of Staff to come from the NZDF since the appointment was created in 2009.

“PNG and the PNG Defence Force can be challenging places to live and work, but the people are the key to being here. They have different ways of doing things, but I’m lucky in the sense that I grew up here for a while, I’ve retained much of my Tok Pisin (Pidgin) and I feel comfortable and accepted here as one of the Defence Force’s own.

“My wife has taken to scuba diving and my children are having a great experience at their respective schools.”

Colonel George will finish his posting in December and said he sees PNG as becoming increasingly important for New Zealand in the coming years.

“I encourage anyone who is passionate about the Pacific and our place in it to consider a posting here. You need an adventurous spirit, but serving here will be a highlight in anyone’s career.”

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Northland Regional Council news briefs – 22 September 2025

Source: Northland Regional Council

TSUNAMI SIREN TESTING
Northland’s six-monthly outdoor tsunami siren test will take place at 10am on Sunday, 28 September, marking the start of daylight saving.
The recently upgraded network of more than 90 outdoor sirens is tested twice a year to ensure it remains ready to alert communities in the event of a tsunami. While it’s hoped such an emergency never occurs, regular testing helps ensure the system can respond effectively if needed and raises awareness of Northland’s tsunami risk.
During the test, sirens will sound for around two minutes, emitting the familiar siren tone followed by a voice message. Indoor sirens will not be tested, but should be checked manually.
Feedback on the test can be provided on the day using a feedback form available on the Northland Regional Council website.
To hear Northland’s new outdoor sirens online, visit: www.nrc.govt.nz/tsunamisirens
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Announcements – Retirement Commissioner stepping down in 2026

Source: New Zealand Retirement Commission

New Zealand’s Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson has advised the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs that she will conclude her second term in early 2026 and not seek reappointment. 

Jane Wrightson has led the Retirement Commission for nearly six years, overseeing research, policy advice on retirement incomes and villages, and public education to support New Zealanders' financial wellbeing. 
Throughout her time as Retirement Commissioner she has successfully advocated for key policy changes which will see more New Zealanders enjoy a better retirement as a result.  
Key achievements:

  • Prompted the first substantive review of the Retirement Villages Act 2003 with a decision expected on legislative changes by the end of 2025. 
  • Recommended employer and employee KiwiSaver contributions increase to 4% and for 16-17-year-olds to be included, confirmed in Budget 2025. 
  • Championed the compulsory inclusion of financial education in schools, announced in April 2025.  
  • Rallied a diverse financial services sector around supporting the National Strategy for Financial Capability with three-year action plans.  
  • Ensured that Sorted keeps growing as a popular and appealing upskilling resource for the more than two million New Zealanders who use it each year.  

Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Scott Simpson acknowledged the work of the Retirement Commissioner. 

“I would like to thank Jane Wrightson for her leadership and for the way she’s advocated for better financial capability and retirement outcomes for New Zealanders. I wish her all the very best for the future,” Mr Simpson says. 
“Recruitment for the next Retirement Commissioner will begin shortly.” 
Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson says she’s proud of what’s been achieved during her time in the role. 
“I can’t do anything without a great team, and while we might be small, over the years have achieved some big wins,” she says. 
“Our work on the National Strategy for Financial Capability actively encourages different parts of the sector, from the big end of town to NGOs, to pull together on projects that make a difference. 
“Our high-quality research and analysis provide evidence for considered policy change. We ensure it’s public so that people can rely on it to inform themselves and their ideas.  
“Years of championing for a stronger focus on financial education in schools has been heard, and it will be a game-changer for the next generation’s financial wellbeing.  

“It’s been a privilege to hold this position, and I’d like to thank my team, the Ministers I’ve worked with, and our sector partners and stakeholders that help us to improve the financial futures of New Zealanders so a better retirement can be enjoyed by all.”
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Transport Sector – Common-sense prevails on Brooklyn Road safety scheme

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand welcomes Wellington City Council’s decision to scrap all eight raised pedestrian crossings, the proposed speed bumps, and the in-lane bus stops from the Brooklyn Connections – Walk, Bike and Bus Improvements project.
Membership Manager Lindsay Calvi-Freeman attended a meeting in late August with Council officers alongside the Greater Brooklyn Residents Association. Following that meeting, Council announced that the vertical devices and in-lane bus stops would no longer proceed.
“This is great news,” says Lindsay Calvi-Freeman. “It is a pragmatic and common-sense decision that recognises both safety concerns and the vital role Brooklyn Road plays as the main route to the Southern Landfill.”
The original proposal included eight raised crossings, multiple speed bumps, and two in-lane bus stops, many of which were on the uphill side of Brooklyn Road. For heavy vehicles, particularly landfill trucks and large truck-and-trailer combinations, this would have caused repeated stop-start traffic, higher diesel burn, increased emissions, and unnecessary wear and tear. Buses and other road users would also have been delayed.
Transporting New Zealand says it is pleased that Wellington City Council has listened to industry, emergency services, and the community on this issue.
The Council’s new plan can be viewed here.
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Environment – Consent granted for SH1 expressway from Cambridge to Piarere – ERA

Source: Environmental Protection Authority

An independent panel has granted resource consent and confirmed notices of requirement, subject to conditions, for long-term improvements to State Highway 1 from Cambridge to Piarere, Waikato.
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi applied for resource consents and a notice of requirement under the Natural and Built Environment Act 2023 to construct an expressway from the southern end of the Cambridge section of the Waikato Expressway to the intersection of State Highways 1 and 29 at Piarere.
It will include an interchange at the intersection of State Highway 1 and Karāpiro Road and pedestrian and cyclist access to Karāpiro School.
The resource consent conditions are in the decision report on the page linked below.
The decision comes 140 working days after the application was lodged with the Environmental Protection Authority.
The Environmental Protection Authority is not involved in the decision-making. We provide procedural advice and administrative support to the panel.
Note that this application was made under the now repealed Natural and Built Environment Act 2023 and not the more recent fast-track legislation.