Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Alternative Dental Policy – New report highlights overseas oral health models, showing alternatives for New Zealand

Source: Dental for All

A new report published today by Dental For All explores eight overseas approaches to oral healthcare and shows another way is possible for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Adult dental care currently sits outside of the public health system, leaving nearly half of the population unable to afford it.[1] The report, titled ‘There Are Alternatives: Analysis of Overseas Models of Expanding Access to Oral Healthcare within Public Health Systems’, is the third released by Dental for All, a group calling for free, universal, Te Tiriti o Waitangi-consistent oral healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand.

“This research draws together examples of how other countries provide oral healthcare and shows how we can transform our approach to ensure everyone has access to the care they need,” says Dental for All campaigner and report coordinator, Kayli Taylor.

The countries included in the report (Niue, Japan, Colombia, Canada, Cuba, Finland, the United Kingdom, and Brazil) all take a more comprehensive approach to oral healthcare and provide publicly-funded care to a wider population. The report explores the benefits of each example and lessons for Aotearoa New Zealand. Research work was done by a researcher and a dentist with the support of the Dental for All team. It included desk research and conversations with oral health professionals working in these countries, or familiar with their contexts.

“In Aotearoa, children can access funded oral healthcare until their 18th birthday, however adult oral healthcare is fully privatised, making it inaccessible to many. This report shows that there are alternatives; a better approach to oral healthcare is possible,” says oral health researcher and co-author Anne Campbell.

“Rather than being the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, the approaches researched for this report show that investing in good, regular oral healthcare provides long-term benefits for individuals, communities and the country as a whole,” continues Campbell.

In 2024, Dental for All released a report by FrankAdvice which found that the social, economic and fiscal costs of people not being able to afford dental care exceed the cost of funding free dental care for everyone.[2] Following this, a 2025 report focused on lived experience and shared ten stories from people who have struggled to access necessary dental care – highlighting the stress, shame and stigma that results from our current approach to oral healthcare.

“There is a strong public mandate to change how we approach oral health in Aotearoa, and we have the economic case and human stories to back this up,” says Dental for All campaigner Hana Pilkinton-Ching.

“People often ask the question, ‘What do other countries do?’. This research provides an answer. We can learn from these overseas examples, as well as local case studies and Māori leadership in the oral health space, to move towards a system which provides everyone the care that they need and upholds Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” says Pilkinton-Ching.

Dental for All will release a fourth report in the coming months which outlines a policy model for free, universal and Te Tiriti o Waitangi-consistent oral healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand, and aims to secure policy commitments from political parties ahead of the 2026 General Election.

The report is publicly viewable here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G29aZ-OFKbYiDDxSFFeX0e6jAt0rLYx2/view?usp=drive_link
and linked on the Dental for All website: https://www.dentalforall.nz/research

[1] In the latest NZ Health Survey, 43% of adults reported unmet need for dental care due to cost, with higher rates of unmet need for Māori, Pacific and disabled communities.

[2] This research finds more than $6 billion in social costs, $5 billion in economic costs, and further fiscal costs (including impacts on the health system) as a result of unmet dental need in NZ adults. The cost of funding free, universal dental care is estimated to be less than $2 billion per year (based on costings published by ASMS, Stuff and the Green Party).

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Increasing household income offset by higher housing costs in year to June 2025 – Household income and housing-cost statistics: Year ended June 2025 – Stats NZ news story and information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Increasing household income offset by higher housing costs in year to June 2025 – news story
26 February 2026

Household income increased at a slightly higher rate than housing costs in the year ended June 2025, according to data released by Stats NZ today.

Average weekly household disposable income increased from $1,977.70 to $2,077.70 in the 12 months to June 2025, up 5.1 percent from the previous year (not adjusting for inflation).

Housing costs also increased between June 2024 and June 2025, for households with housing expenditure, the average weekly cost for housing increasing from $457.90 in 2024 to $478.00 in 2025, up 4.4 percent.

“While household income increased in the year ended June 2025, increasing housing costs meant households were spending a similar proportion of their income on housing as the previous year,” household financial statistics spokesperson Victoria Treliving said.

Follow the links for full information release and to download CSV files:

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No annual change in child poverty rates for year ended June 2025 – Child poverty statistics: Year ended June 2025 – Stats NZ news story and information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand

No annual change in child poverty rates for year ended June 2025 – news story
26 February 2026

No statistically significant movements occurred in child poverty rates in the year ended June 2025, compared with the year ended June 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

“While child poverty rates haven’t changed compared to the previous year, there have been decreases in two of the primary measures of child poverty since the year ended June 2018,” social and environment spokesperson Abby Johnston said.

There is no single official measure of child poverty in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Child Poverty Reduction Act 2018 (the Act) sets out a multi-level, multi-measure approach, consisting of four primary and six supplementary measures.

Follow the links for full information:

Information release and to download CSV files:

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Alcohol available for consumption: Year ended December 2025 – Stats NZ information release

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Land transport rule tinkering won’t deliver meaningful productivity growth

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Road freight association Transporting New Zealand says the Government’s latest heavy vehicle reforms will see small productivity improvements, but says the Minister of Transport and transport officials must be more ambitious if they want to see meaningful savings for businesses and consumers.
The proposals announced today include allowing drivers on a Class 1 license to operate heavier electric trucks and buses, remove permitting requirements for vehicle rental service providers moving empty trucks, and simplifying the conversion of overseas heavy vehicle licenses.
Transporting New Zealand’s Chief Executive Dom Kalasih says that the proposals are a step in the right direction, but that tinkering with the regulations wouldn’t deliver the productivity improvements the country needs.
“To put things in perspective, the current proposals would remove the need for about 79 heavy vehicle permits a year, affect around 30 battery electric heavy vehicles annually, and remove a $100 fee and a paper form from international driver license conversions.”
The changes are Phase 2 of the Government’s Heavy Vehicle Productivity reform programme.
Consultation on Phase 1 concluded in December last year, and included consultation on the removal of 50MAX permits and H Plate requirements.
Kalasih says that the modest proposals don’t match with the Government’s ambitious growth agenda and increasing national freight task.
“There are some really exciting technological developments in higher productivity and lower emission trucks that are being blocked by the current land transport regulations.”
“Our submission on Phase 1 of the productivity reforms contained six specific recommendations, including changes to permitted axle configurations and spacing limits. Officials are currently considering this feedback, and we want to see those changes adopted.”
“Similarly, with these Phase 2 proposals, particularly around increased weight limits for heavy electric vehicles, we’ll be pushing for more meaningful changes that accommodate larger battery electric, hydrogen and hybrid truck and trailer combinations.”
Submissions on the proposed changes close on 25 March.  
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First Responders – Springvale fire update #2

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Firefighters supported by four helicopters have contained and largely suppressed a large grass fire in the Springvale area near Clyde.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Incident Controller Nic McQuillan says residents of most of the properties evacuated this afternoon have been allowed to return home. A small number of properties to the west of McArthur Road are not yet able to go home.
Nic McQuillan said 21 fire trucks and support vehicles had responded and crews had worked hard to save homes from the fast-moving fire. One shed has been destroyed and flames have scorched the exterior of one house. About 20 hectares has been burned on both sides of Springvale Road, which remains closed.
As of 8pm the helicopters had been stood down and some of the fire crews were being released. Multiple crews will be working until dark with one crew staying on the fireground overnight, patrolling in case of flare-ups.
Additional crews will return tomorrow to extinguish some deep-seated areas of fire, Nic McQuillan says.
A specialist tree assessor is at work identifying and felling several dangerous trees which have been damaged by the fire. That work will ensure the safety of firefighters and residents.
This will be the last update for this evening.
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First Responders – Springvale fire

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand firefighters are working to contain a large grass fire at Springvale, near Clyde in Central Otago this evening which is threatening properties.
Thirteen crews from around the area are responding supported by four helicopters. Another five crews are on their way.
Fire and Emergency is also working alongside Police to support evacuations of impacted properties.
The fire is emitting a lot of smoke which is drifting towards Alexandra. If you are in the vicinity of the smoke, please stay inside and keep windows closed.
The public is also being warned to take extra care while undertaking any hot works in the area, for example welding, grinding and lawn mowing, as a large number of resources are responding to the fire at Springvale.
Fire and Emergency also asks the public to please stay away from the area so firefighters can do their job to contain the fire.
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Health and Tech – Burnett Foundation Aotearoa calls on AI Innovators to build the future of HIV prevention

Source: Burnett Foundation Aotearoa

Burnett Foundation Aotearoa is launching a national Innovation Challenge to explore how artificial intelligence can responsibly accelerate progress toward zero locally acquired HIV transmissions, and support people living with HIV.
The Innovation Challenge will fund two seed-stage concepts at approximately $30,000 each, inviting technologists, designers and digital health innovators to use AI enabled tools to support prevention, access to trusted information, and dignity in high-trust environments.
“AI is here. People are already asking it questions about HIV. Some of the answers are helpful. Some are not. Some quietly amplify stigma. We believe the question is not whether AI will shape the future of HIV prevention, but how.” says Chief Executive, Liz Gibbs.
“We are working at the intersection of complex forces, sexuality, culture, migration, technology, misinformation and stigma. AI can either amplify harm in that space or help dismantle it. We are choosing to shape what AI does.”
The Innovation Challenge is supported by funding from Perpetual Guardian. Their backing reflects a shared belief that responsible innovation can strengthen community wellbeing and accelerate progress toward zero HIV transmission.
To guide this work, Burnett Foundation Aotearoa has established an independent Innovation Advisory Group comprising of leaders across technology, law, data ethics, public health, Māori leadership, Pacific communities, and lived experience. They provide expert and community-informed advice on Challenge design, selection criteria, ethical guardrails, cultural safety, and data governance. It exists to ensure the Innovation Challenge reflects best practice and advances the Foundations mission responsibly.
“This is not about chasing technology for its own sake,” Gibbs says. “We have deliberately established strong advisory oversight to ensure every step is grounded in ethics, cultural safety, and the lived realities of our communities.”
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa’s Innovation Challenge is grounded in privacy-by-design, with meaningful involvement of people living with HIV, and respect for Māori and Pacific data sovereignty.
In its first year, Burnett is deliberately weighting technical credibility and trust more heavily than conceptual novelty, reflecting the high-stakes environment in which these solutions will operate. The Innovation Challenge is not funding research-based initiatives, which are supported through other Burnett initiatives.
Aotearoa has long been regarded as a global leader in HIV prevention and community-led response. Burnett Foundation Aotearoa believes the country has an opportunity to lead again. “New Zealand could be one of the first countries in the world to achieve zero transmission. Responsible technology could help accelerate that to as soon as 2030. We are not waiting to see what happens, we are stepping forward into the innovation space.”
Solutions successfully developed through this Challenge will not only have national impact, but the potential to scale internationally across the global HIV response and adjacent high-stigma health environments.
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa is calling on AI developers, digital health startups, product designers and technologists to attend an upcoming online briefing to learn more about the Innovation Challenge.
More details are available through our website – Burnett Foundation Aotearoa: Innovation Challenge 
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa Innovation Advisory Group
Burnett has established an Innovation Advisory Group of internal leaders and external experts across technology, law, data ethics, public health, and Māori and Pacific leadership. Together, they ensure the Innovation Challenge is culturally grounded, ethical, and practically informed.
Tom Barraclough Advisor, consultant and co-founder of the Brainbox Institute and Syncopate Lab, working at the intersection of technology, law, and public policy. Tom strengthens the Challenge’s approach to ethical AI, digital regulation, and human rights-informed system design.
Sandra Kailahi Award-winning journalist, producer and founder of Kingston Productions and board member of The Cause Collective. Sandra brings deep expertise in Pacific storytelling, digital media, and community-centred innovation.
Emma MacDonald Senior leader in data ethics and innovation at StatsNZ and member of the AI Forum of New Zealand Executive Council. Emma brings national leadership in responsible, inclusive data governance and emerging technology oversight.
Rodrigo Olin-GermanHIV advocate, health promoter, peer educator and facilitator. His academic and professional background is in economics and public health; he has worked in the HIV sector for almost 20 years. He has tirelessly dedicated himself to promote and uphold the rights of people living with HIV and debunk HIV stigma and discrimination. Rodrigo has been living with HIV since 2003. He currently serves as Chair of the Board at the Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+), and as Senior Services and Community Outreach Manager at Burnett Foundation Aotearoa.
Reremoana Ormsby Lam Sheung Pou Māori at Burnett Foundation Aotearoa. Reremoana provides cultural leadership and strategic guidance to ensure Burnett’s work is grounded in kaupapa Māori values, Te Tiriti commitments, and community accountability. An experienced executive leader, her practice is shaped by years of holding wānanga and navigating complexity alongside whānau and communities. She strengthens the Challenge’s approach to cultural safety, Māori data sovereignty, and meaningful partnership with tangata whenua and takatāpui Māori. 
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Events – Jim Beam Homegrown 2026 Kicks Off Massive Hamilton Kirikiriroa Build

Source: Jim Beam Homegrown

It’s New Zealand’s fastest growing city but Hamilton’s population is about to swell with another 30,000 people expected to descend on ‘The Tron’ for Jim Beam Homegrown next month.

One of Aotearoa’s biggest music events, Jim Beam Homegrown has officially marked ground at Claudelands Oval for its return to Kirikiriroa after 18-years in the capital. Crews are now on site – the equivalent of 205 rugby fields in size – marking out the footprint for the 7 stages, 220 truckloads of equipment, 146 tonnes of scaffolding, and 654 toilets needed for the signature Homegrown experience.

Hundreds of crew members, specialists and suppliers, will be on site to complete the full festival build and turn Claudelands Oval into a full-scale Kiwi music playground. The construction will take three weeks and be ready for the one-day event on Saturday 14 March.

Andrew Tuck, Jim Beam Homegrown chief executive, managing director, and proud Waikato local, is working with a space three times the size of the Festival’s former location in Wellington.

“It’s now all go here in Hamilton and we’re excited to get the stages set,” says Tuck. “We’ve been looking forward to coming home to the Mighty Waikato and the energy is building every single day. Claudelands Oval gives us the space to dream bigger and deliver the most ambitious Homegrown we’ve ever produced. The setting, the scale, the energy building across the city, it’s all coming together for a Festival that will raise the bar yet again. This isn’t just another year on the Homegrown calendar; it’s a defining moment – Jim Bean Homegrown has come home. Bring on the 14th of March!”

Jim Beam Homegrown by the numbers:

  • Number of expected attendees – 30,000
  • 7 stages
  • 220 truckloads of equipment
  • 146 tonnes scaffolding 
  • 4,200m2 of scaffolding VIP areas and grandstand,  
  • 984m2 of staging, 
  • 9.1km cable, 
  • 654 x toilets, 
  • 5.2km fencing, 
  • 750 stage lights
  • 322 speakers
  • 951 hotel room nights
  • 205 rugby fields of space used
  • 40,230 man hours on the ground
  • 2,300 people working on the day
  • 18 x 20 foot refrigerated containers 
  • 1170 staff meals for the week with 3767 meals served on the day by the chefs onsite.

Types of workers on site: builders, plumbers, electricians, forklift drivers, truck drivers, marquee builders, scaffolders, toilets cleaners, sound engineers, production staff, event managers, health and safety officers, security, police, medical, engineers, building inspectors, Radio DJ’s, musicians, recycling staff, administration staff, ticketing staff, Red Frogs (welfare people) bar staff, commercial hire staff, and Party Hire staff.

Brainchild on behalf of homegrown.net.nz

About Jim Beam Homegrown

Jim Beam Homegrown is New Zealand's largest Kiwi-only music festival, celebrating the best of Aotearoa's musical talent. Established in 2008 in Hamilton, initially as X*Air, an extreme sports festival, Jim Beam Homegrown showcases a wide range of genres, including rock, funk, pop, reggae, hip-hop, and electronic music.    

Tickets to the inaugural Hamilton event can be found at www.homegrown.net.nz

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Lifestyle and Security – Coward Punch Hall of Shame to be Exposed on 24-Hour Charity Walk

Source: Walk Without Fear Trust

The Walk Without Fear Trust will unveil the justice system’s roster of coward punch shame this weekend at the 24-hour “Walk in Solidarity” in Hamilton.

The 24-hour, 100 km continuous walk, in support of the Walk Without Fear Trust’s mission to eliminate the coward punch will run from 3:00 PM on February 28th to 3:00 PM on March 1 around Innes Common, Hamilton Lake.

Trust board member, Mike Angove, who is also a teammate of coward punch victim, Fau Vake, will wear a different shirt every hour to honour the 15 manslaughter victims of the coward punch since 2012 and highlight the unjust sentencing for each victim.

“The Trust is fresh off making a submission on the Crimes Amendment Bill, where we call for a minimum non-parole period of eight years imprisonment for a coward punch death and for changes to the Sentencing Act 2002 around discounts applied to sentencing.

“The average custodial sentence for death from a coward punch since 2011 was less than three years four months. This excludes four sentences where home detention was granted for coward punch killers. The average eligibility for parole for those imprisoned was less than 14 months. This should sit prominently and uncomfortably in the justice system’s hall of shame.

“Every shirt change will remind people of the woefully unjust sentencing for these killers,” said Angove.

The Hamilton based, Kaitiaki Collective who are staging the event, are hoping the 100 km continuous walk will test not only the endurance of its participants but also to ignite meaningful conversations around violence prevention and community responsibility.

Collective is a group of Hamilton-based professionals who also train in martial arts and understand the tremendous damage coward punches cause in the community.

A Commitment to Change  

“Our actions today influence tomorrow and the days to come,” said organiser Armin Schmidt. “If we want safer communities for our children and the next generation, it begins with the example we choose to live by.

“This 24-hour walk is our way of raising awareness and standing together for respect, care, and looking out for one another. Every step reflects our commitment to accountability, kindness, and community safety. It’s an open invitation to connect, spark meaningful conversations, and be part of positive change as we come together to create a safer Aotearoa for us all.”

Walk Without Fear Trust Chairman, Eugene Bareman, who will attend the event, believes it’s essential for the Trust to get behind community initiatives which raise awareness of the damage the coward punch and street violence in our communities.

“What we have seen in the past, is a groundswell of support centred around a localised coward punch tragedy. And sadly, after a brief media flurry when someone is killed, then post sentencing outrage, there is nothing until the next tragedy hits the news.

“Our objective is to make change using our platform, and we can only achieve this by supporting groups like the Kaitiaki Collective, in Hamilton and the Coward Punch Movement in New Plymouth. In doing this we weave our common threads together to become a strong enough rope to fly our flag in the communities and pull the government and judiciary up to speed with what the public want.”

Join the Walk  

The Kaitiaki Collective invites everyone to join us in this impactful journey. By participating in the Walk Without Fear 100 km challenge, we collectively demonstrate that responsibility and community safety start with us.

Book a time to join the team and complete a lap: https://bit.ly/3MED8aN