Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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PSA members in vital health roles ratify new collective

Source: PSA

A new collective agreement covering more than 2,500 Te Whatu Ora Health NZ staff who are PSA members working in Policy, Advisory, Knowledge and Services (PAKS) roles has been ratified after an overwhelming positive vote.
The PAKS agreement covers those working in digital services, infrastructure, operations, communications, finance, people and capability, procurement, service design and planning, analytics and research, and policy.
“These workers perform vital roles that enable the public health system to keep delivering at a time when it is under significant strain from a lack of government funding, said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
The ratification was the result of 11 months of bargaining, including mediation and industrial action.
“As with the other health collectives ratified this year, the result for the PAKS workers is a testament to their resolve and resilience in the face of an unnecessarily protracted bargaining process and unrealistic initial offers,” Fitzsimons said.
“To break the impasse these workers went on strike, many for the first time, 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.”
Health workers covered by the collective will receive a pay increase of 2.5% effective 1 December 2025 with a further 2% from 7 December 2026. There is also an on-call allowance for IT-related employees and penal rates for workers required to work from Midnight on Friday to Midnight on Sunday.
Workers will each receive a $500 lump sum payment prorated for full time equivalent hours worked.
“While this ratification result is a step forward, major problems remain in our health system caused by the Government imposing job cuts on Health New Zealand and failing to fund our health system properly,” Fitzsimons said.
“The cutting of 940 roles from the Health NZ Digital Services team between November 2024 and April 2025, has created clinical and operational risks that impact patient care because of the critical role IT plays in all aspects of health care from operating theatres to referrals, clinical test results and payroll.
The PAKS settlement, like the other health collective settlements, is an improvement on what was initially offered but doesn’t contain everything we wanted,” said Fitzsimons.
“There is still a lot more work to do to improve working conditions in the public health system. The PSA will not stop fighting for the strong public healthcare system that both healthcare workers and everyday New Zealanders deserve.
“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.
The other significant health collectives ratified in February covered:
  • More than 12,000 members working
  • More than 3,500 members working
The PSA represents more than 27,000 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, health boards and community groups.
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Electronic card transactions: February 2026 – Stats NZ information release

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Conflict – Children cling to pets, favourite toys, as they flee homes in Lebanon – Save the Children

Source: Save the Children

Children are clutching beloved pets and toys as they flee their homes in Lebanon due to the escalating conflict with the violence also cutting access to vital medical care, including for children and pregnant women, Save the Children said.
Over 831,000 people, including over 290,000 children, have been forcibly displaced in Lebanon in just two weeks, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Social Affairs – the equivalent to over 2,000 people every hour since the escalation started.[1]
Save the Children staff have reported that families have fled with only basic necessities, often without time to pack vital documents, clothing or medication. But some children are refusing to leave behind their most treasured items including their pets and favourite toys.
At the same time, access to critical healthcare has been disrupted. Save the Children staff said many people are now unable to reach regular dialysis treatment or ongoing cancer care. In one case, a woman was forced to give birth in her car as heavy traffic gridlocked the streets of Beirut during the rush to safety.
More than 130,000 people are now sheltering in overcrowded schools repurposed as collective shelters and sports stadiums in Beirut in difficult conditions, with over 50 people reported to be sharing one toilet, minimal access to cooking facilities and shelters lacking carpets, heaters and blankets in the cold weather. Families describe sleeping on floors with little privacy.
Approximately 118,590 people have entered Syria from Lebanon since March 2nd, with Save the Children staff reporting parents being forced to leave behind their families alongside people being stuck between checkpoints at the Syrian and Lebanese border. [2]
According to the UN up to 3.2 million people have been displaced across Iran and about 1,700 Afghans are returning from Iran into Afghanistan every day since the start of hostilities.[3]
Save the Children is distributing essential items in Lebanon and on the border with Syria such as blankets, mattresses, pillows, baby supplies, hygiene kits, water and psychological first aid.
Many people in Lebanon are now experiencing displacement for the second or third time in their lives, including families returning to the same shelters they fled to in 2024. About 20 Save the Children staff are among those who have fled their homes and others now have homes crowded with displaced relatives and friends.
Nora Ingdal, Country Director, Save the Children Lebanon, said:
“Many families were forced to flee in the middle of the night with nothing, and children miss their homes, their villages, their friends and their schools. I met a child who told me, ‘I'm not able to play here and I just want to go back to my village as soon as possible.’ One child I met clutched his blue toy car, as it was the only thing he had managed to bring from home.
“Others have brought their pets with them, unable to be parted. One family I met had their pet bird with them in its cage, knowing their 7-year-old son was very distressed without his bird and won’t sleep without him. Another family fled with their cat which keeps their son calm.
“I met one father in a shelter who bought his daughter a second-hand scooter just so she could have a distraction from the horror that is unfolding outside. To see a child playing is rare in these shelters as they attempt to grapple with their lives being flipped upside down.
“Another young man told me he did not have time to pack his university documents so now fears for his entire future.
“Each person has their own story to share, one of anxiety and heartbreak. Children feel trapped in collective shelters with limited access to basic toilet facilities, education or the space to play. Hostilities must end and children must be protected at all costs. We know children are always the most impacted in any conflict, and the psychological impacts last long after any conflict ends.” Sara, 30-, a mother who has been displaced to Syria due to the escalations in Lebanon, was forced to leave her daughter with her husband in Lebanon as she had to return to Syria to care for her sick mother. She said: “My daughter is still in Lebanon, and I could not get her a passport because the cost is far beyond what I can afford.”
Save the Children is urgently calling for a cessation of hostilities and for all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law to protect children from further harm. So far 850 people have been killed in Lebanon including 103 children, according to the Ministry of Health.
Save the Children is responding across the region, with programmes in Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In oPt, we are maintaining emergency cash assistance where markets allow and keeping mother-baby areas open to support infant and maternal nutrition. In Syria, we are scaling-up delivery of food, cash assistance, child protection, mental health support, education, water and sanitation programmes and health/nutrition services for people arriving from Lebanon.
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PSA – Help us now – 23,000 home support workers hit by petrol price hikes urge Govt. to act

Source: PSA

The PSA is urging Finance Minister Nicola Willis to walk the talk and deliver support for a key group of hard working New Zealanders struggling with rising fuel costs from the Iran war – 23,000 home support workers.
The Finance Minister today said the Government was considering targeted, timely and temporary options for low income New Zealanders facing increased fuel costs triggered by the Iran war.
“There are 23,000 home support workers on low wages who look after our most vulnerable people – the elderly, disabled and injured – every single day who need help urgently, right now. They deserve better than being left to foot the bill,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
Workers like Pam McLaren from Blenheim are feeling the squeeze on her budget as petrol prices rise. “I’ve done the calculations, it’s going to cost me $75.66 more per week to run my vehicle. I don’t know where that money’s meant to come from. It’s ending up costing a lot to go to work, and it’s not like I can ride a bike between clients, the distance is too far.”
Fleur Fitzsimons: “If the Government is serious about relieving cost of living pressures in a targeted way, then it must follow through on today’s promise and make it a priority to compensate them for rising fuel bills. It’s the right thing to do.”
Home support workers drive their own cars between clients, caring for the elderly, disabled and injured every day, but are being reimbursed at just 63.5 cents per kilometre, well below the IRD rate, and less than half of the travel costs they face.
“These workers were already being undercompensated before the fuel crisis. They are also disadvantaged by the Government’s scrapping of a pay equity pay rise last year. They cannot afford to subsidise the cost of delivering essential government-funded services.”
Travel costs for home support workers are governed by the In Between Travel Settlement Act, introduced under a National-led Government in 2015. There have been only two increases to the mileage rate in a decade, the last one was four years ago.
“It’s well past time for an urgent review,” said Fleur Fitzsimons.
“Funding for home support already flows through MSD and the Ministry of Health. An increase to the mileage rate can be delivered quickly and efficiently through existing channels. There is no excuse for delay.”
The PSA will be raising this issue urgently with the Government.
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.
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Northland Tsunami Siren Testing Set for end of Daylight Saving

Source: Northland Regional Council

Northland’s six-monthly outdoor tsunami siren test will take place at 10 am on Sunday, 5 April, marking the end of daylight saving.
The network of more than 90 outdoor sirens in coastal communities across Northland 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 up to two minutes, emitting the familiar siren tone followed by a voice message:
“Test only, test only. This is a test of the Northland tsunami siren network; no action is required.”
While the indoor siren network will not be activated during this test, residents with indoor sirens are encouraged to manually check their devices by pressing the test button, similar to testing a smoke alarm.
Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Chair Colin (Toss) Kitchen says community feedback remains a vital part of the testing process.
“Community feedback is one of the most important parts of these tests. It helps us confirm the sirens are working properly, that people can actually hear them, and that everyone becomes more familiar with what they sound like and what to do when they activate.”
Residents can provide feedback on the day via forms available on the Northland Regional Council website and the Civil Defence Northland Facebook page.
“Could you hear it? Was the message clear? Let us know.”
Kitchen also reminds Northlanders of the importance of recognising natural tsunami warning signs, especially in coastal areas where local-source tsunamis may arrive before any official alert.
“If you feel a strong earthquake that’s hard to stand in, one that lasts longer than a minute, or notice unusual sea behaviour, such as a sudden rise or fall or strange noises, don’t wait for an official warning, move inland or to higher ground immediately.”
To check if you live, work, or play in a tsunami evacuation zone, and to plan your safest route, visit: www.nrc.govt.nz/evacuationzones 
Northland’s outdoor tsunami sirens are funded and owned by the region’s four councils (Far North District, Whangarei District, Kaipara District, and Northland Regional Council).
To hear what the sirens sound like, visit: www.nrc.govt.nz/tsunamisirens 
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Outdoor Activities – Map reveals hundreds of DOC public access easements

Source: Herenga ā Nuku – the Outdoor Access Commission

Hundreds of public access easements held in the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) internal property records are now visible to the public for the first time, marking a significant step forward for public access transparency.
The milestone follows an ongoing collaboration, working together to translate historic legal records into mapped digital data that can be viewed by the public.
The Outdoor Access Commission has published 858 land parcels -representing 175 confirmed DOC public access easements – on its mapping system (WAMS). Until now, these easements have been recorded in DOC’s National Property and Land Information System (NaPALIS). Many existed in legal documentation rather than mapped spatial layers, meaning they had not previously appeared on any public-facing map.
Outdoor Access Commission geospatial manager Matt Grose says DOC converting the information into accurate mapping data gives a free, accessible and public way to view the data.
“Many of these easements were contained in legal instruments rather than digital map files,” Matt says. “We have turned that historic property information into accurate spatial data that can be confidently shared with the public.”
Many of the newly displayed easements show legal public access links between the ends of formed roads and public conservation land. In many cases, access has existed in law for years, but people have not been able to easily see those routes when planning trips.
DOC’s spokesperson, Manu King, Geospatial Services Manager, says the release reflects both teamwork between agencies and the increasing value of public data.
It demonstrates what can be achieved when technical teams work together with a common purpose. By combining property expertise, GIS capability and the commission’s mapping platforms, we’ve been able to unlock information that benefits all New Zealanders.”
The commission is displaying the easements on WAMS and its Pocket Maps app, making the information readily accessible to people naturing; walkers, hunters, trampers and others who recreate on public conservation land.
“Map users will now be able to see how public access actually reaches DOC land,” Matt says. “Instead of an isolated block of conservation land, people can see the legal access that connects them to it.”
The initial release will soon be followed by a second tranche of around 300 additional easements currently undergoing verification. Many of these are older records that require manual review and confirmation before they can be confidently mapped and published.
Outdoor Access Commission chief executive Dan Wildy says the publication of public access easements is another step to deliver transparent and accessible information related to public access.
“Through our GIS team, helped by our partners at DOC, we are delivering greater public access information than at any other time in our country’s history.”
Together, this mahi reflects a shared commitment to making public access clearer, more visible and easier to understand – now and into the future.
Three examples of these easements
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Energy – Major solar array to power Toyota NZ’s logistics hub

Source: Toyota

• Surplus energy will support local power needs
• Panels set to last up to 30 years
• Payback expected in just over five years

Toyota New Zealand has installed one of the largest rooftop solar systems in New Zealand on top of its 35,000m2 warehouse and National Customer Centre in Palmerston North.

At almost 700-kilowatt capacity, the solar array is expected to generate the equivalent of 60 percent of the centre’s power usage and, during peak periods, will inject renewable energy back into the local network to power up to 35 local homes.

Following its own auto production principles of Quality, Durability and Reliability, Toyota NZ selected Singaporean-manufactured solar panels that have one of the lowest points of degradation; they are expected to still be producing at 90% or more of total capacity (698.88kW) after 30 years of operation.

Toyota NZ Chief Risk and Value Chain Officer Mark Young said sustainability is a core feature of the purpose-built warehouse and National Distribution Centre (NDC), which was enlarged to the size of five rugby fields in 2018.

“We’re committed to making a positive impact on the environment from our NCC operations and renewable energy is a strong focus. We’re incredibly proud of the solar array going atop the building and the benchmark this will set for future Toyota developments in New Zealand. Already 11 of 63 Toyota Stores have installed solar power on their roofs,” he says.

Solar power production capacity from the NDC is expected to generate enough energy to power 132 houses per year and avoid approximately 93 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year – equivalent to a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid driving the length of New Zealand 481 times.

Forecast solar performance is 921 MWh per annum. Based on historical energy consumption data of the building, the system has an expected payback period of approximately five and a quarter years.

The scale of the array means Toyota will be generating more electricity from its roof during peak sunshine hours than it needs. On a typical summer’s day, the panels will generate more electricity than the building consumes from 6am to 6pm. Excess power of around 350MWh will be injected into the local lines network, providing more renewable energy for up to 35 Palmerston North households over the course of a year. In winter, the peak period reduces to 9am to 4pm.

Mark Young says installing solar panels in a large scale on the NCC roof made strong commercial sense.

“While we have made a substantial upfront capital investment, the panels will reduce the average monthly electricity bill by around 50%. We expect to have a total return on investment of more than 600% over the life of the panels,” Mark says.

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Universities – Video helps parents of fussy eaters – UoA

Source: University of Auckland – UoA

Parents are better equipped to teach picky eaters how to eat healthily, thanks to a video developed by University of Auckland researchers.

A short evidence-based video helps parents of fussy eaters steer their kids towards healthy eating, new research shows.

The video, which includes a story, the acronym HEART and an analogy, was developed by Dr Sam Marsh, a senior research fellow in the Department of General Practice and Primary Care at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. See the video:

“We tried to align with parents’ value of wanting to raise healthy children and offer some simple tools,” Marsh says. “We know it’s hard having young children, so we didn’t want to make parents feel guilty.”

The video uses a story that helps parents put themselves in their child’s shoes at mealtimes, as well as an analogy and a mnemonic.

“We got parents to imagine coming home from a hard day at work, sitting down at the table, and then somebody throwing all these questions at them about what foods they want, and then dumping a massive plate of food in front of them, foods they are not familiar with, and demanding they eat it.

“Then we painted another picture where you come home, your partner takes care of everything. They put a nice plate, with not too much food, in front of you, and you have a pleasant conversation during the meal. How much more relaxed will you feel?”

The acronym, HEART, reminds parents of the strategies they can use.

– H is for ‘helping’, getting children to help prepare food: they are much more likely to eat food if they are engaged in putting it together.

– E is for ‘environment’, for example, eating as a family at the table with no screens or other distractions.

– A is for leading with your ‘ace’ by starting with healthy foods, creatively prepared.

– R is for ‘rules’, such as at least 90 minutes between a snack and a meal. Rules for parents include never using food as a reward or punishment. “If you do not eat your broccoli, you won't get dessert,” reinforces the value of dessert and that there's something wrong with broccoli.

– T is for ‘trust’: “We know children need to feel emotionally safe and relaxed to eat and try new foods. So, connecting with your child before dinner, even in a small way can be very helpful.”

The analogy was teaching a teenager to drive a car, making the point that children need to learn how to eat and it is a process.

“They are in control of driving the car, just like children are in control of what they eat,” says Marsh.

“You can't force a child to chew their food and swallow, but the things we can control are when they eat, where they eat, and what they eat. That is our job as parents.”

In written feedback, parents were overwhelmingly positive about the video resource.

Comments included, ‘Practical tips, handled a sensitive topic well, wasn’t judgmental.’

Results from the pilot trial, involving almost 100 parents and their children aged three to six years, show those who used the video made positive changes and enjoyed the process. See Appetite (March 2026).

“Research shows that positive parental feeding behaviours are associated with better appetite self-regulation in kids,” says Marsh.

“A child who knows when they are hungry and stops eating when they are full will tend to have a healthier bodyweight and a better relationship with food when they get older.”

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World Vision – This World Water Day: Clean Water Is More Than Survival – It’s a Pathway to Women’s Empowerment

Source: World Vision

This World Water Day, World Vision New Zealand is putting the spotlight on the global water crisis as a quarter of the world’s population still cannot access safe drinking water.
More than 2 billion people globally lack access to safe drinking water, with women and girls bearing the greatest burden. In some communities, women walk up to 15 kilometres a day to collect water – a task that can consume hours and limit their opportunities for education, work and participation in community life.
World Vision New Zealand International Partnerships Director Stephen Court says it is unacceptable that so many people are still denied access to such a basic human right.
“It’s unacceptable that in 2026 a quarter of the world’s population still doesn’t have access to safe drinking water. Clean water is a basic human right, yet millions of families are forced to live without it.
Without safe water, disease spreads, children miss school, and women are prevented from participating fully in work and community life. It traps families in a cycle of poverty that should no longer exist.”
New World Vision research in Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, finds that combining water access with behaviour change and economic empowerment activities can create lasting impact.
This family-centred approach integrates water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services with financial literacy training, savings groups, livelihood support, and engagement around social norms.
Court says when this approach is adopted women report higher personal income and household savings, greater participation in financial decisions, increased confidence, and stronger leadership within their communities.
He highlights the changes seen in Rumate, Kenya, where women once walked up to four hours a day to collect water, often returning with only a fraction of what their families needed.
After a borehole was installed in the community, women no longer had to spend hours collecting water and instead had time to pursue income-generating activities. Many formed savings groups, which enabled them to start small businesses and invest in their families.
“Access to safe water didn’t just meet a basic need – it unlocked opportunity,” says Court.
“When safe water is close to home, women gain something incredibly valuable: time. That time can be used to earn an income, participate in community life and invest in their families’ futures.”
The impact extends far beyond individual households.
“In many communities, the time women and girls spend collecting water goes unseen and undervalued. When safe water is accessible, women gain time, income opportunities and a stronger voice in their households and communities.
World Vision reaches one new person with clean water every 10 seconds, and we are aiming to reach 30 million people with clean water between 2023 and 2030.”
Court says this World Water Day, the message is clear:
“Safe water is about far more than survival. It is the foundation for dignity, equality, and opportunity. When women gain access to clean water, they gain time, income, and influence – and entire communities thrive.”
New Zealanders who want to help ensure children have access to safe drinking water can support World Vision through its Gift Catalogue, which includes the option to provide clean water for a child: https://www.worldvision.org.nz/give-now/smiles-gift/#/product/smiles-clean-water-for-a-child
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Economy – Tariff ripples: Modelling the effects of US trade policy on the New Zealand economy

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

16 March 2026 – The RBNZ has published an Analytical Note exploring the implications of changes in US tariff policy for the New Zealand economy.

What this paper is about
On 2 April 2025, the US government announced its intention to significantly increase tariffs on imported goods.

In this Note, we study the potential impact of these events on the New Zealand economy. We find that in the short-run, trade diversions and the appreciation of the New Zealand exchange rate create deflationary pressures. Lower inflation induces lower interest rates which boosts domestic output. Over time, however, there may be inflationary pressure as global supply chains become less efficient. The analysis in this Note supplements our other related studies on the impact of changes in US tariff policy, such as on the impact of uncertainty shocks.

Key findings

  • This Analytical Note explores the implications of changes in US tariff policy for the New Zealand economy, using the G-Cubed model to undertake scenario analysis. Our baseline scenario captures tariff announcements as of 31 July 2025. 
  • To capture the depreciation of the US Dollar following the tariff announcement, we further consider shifts in bond and exchange rate markets that are associated with an increased perception of risk in investing in US assets.
  • The shock is disinflationary in the short run as it leads to trade diversions and appreciation of the New Zealand currency which lower import prices. The disinflationary pressure induces lower interest rates supporting the domestic economy. Overall, despite the weaker export sector, the effect on domestic real GDP is relatively modest.
  • Over time however, global supply chains become more inefficient contributing towards higher import prices, creating some inflationary pressure by around 2030.

Why we did this research

On 2 April 2025, the US government announced its intention to significantly increase tariffs on imported goods. Estimates suggest that the breadth and magnitude of tariff increases would have seen the effective tariff rate on imported goods into the Unites States rise to the highest level in over a century. Since then, there have been changes to the specifics of the US tariff policy as well as to the reciprocal tariffs set by US trading partners, heightening uncertainty around the global trade policy environment for New Zealand.

The resulting disruptions to the global trade may affect the New Zealand macroeconomy through export demand, import prices, supply chains, and global financial conditions. In this Note, we study the impact of the changes to the US tariff policy through the lens of the G-cubed model. The model is a global trade model that features disaggregated country- and sectoral-level details. Alternative scenarios are examined to capture the evolving situations around the global tariff environment.  

What data have we used?
The calibration and estimation of the parameters in the G-cubed model are done by the external model developers. The data used originate from various sources, such as the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model, IMF, World Bank, OECD, United Nations, the US Energy Information Administration, and the University of Groningen Growth and Development Centre.

More information:

Effects of US Trade Policy on the New Zealand Economy: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=5fb6033bf4&e=f3c68946f8