Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Consumer NZ – 25,000-strong petition for supermarkets to price it right adds weight to Minister Willis’ warning

Source: Consumer NZ

Today, Consumer NZ will present its Price It Right petition to Minister for Economic Growth, Nicola Willis, who said she was considering stronger penalties for supermarkets who get their pricing wrong.

Consumer NZ chief executive, Jon Duffy, says handing over this petition is a significant milestone in the advocacy organisation’s fight for accurate supermarket pricing.  

“Supermarkets have had plenty of opportunity to sort this out themselves. It’s time for the government to step in and make supermarkets price it right, and tens of thousands of New Zealanders agree. People want clear pricing rules, automatic compensation and stronger penalties when supermarkets get it wrong,” said Duffy.

In 2024, the Commerce Commission estimated pricing errors were likely to be costing shoppers tens of millions of dollars every year. Recent research by Consumer (April 2025) found 62% of New Zealanders noticed a pricing inaccuracy at the supermarket.

“If supermarkets can’t get their pricing right, they – rather than shoppers – should face the consequences,” said Duffy.

The petition will be presented on the steps of Parliament at 9am, Tuesday 19 August.  

About the Price It Right petition

Consumer’s petition asks the government to introduce a mandatory supermarket pricing accuracy code with:

  • clear pricing rules requirements for supermarkets to automatically compensate consumers when pricing errors occur (for example, by requiring products to be provided free of charge if the shelf price is cheaper than the scanned price, there is a special that doesn’t offer a genuine saving or there is incorrect unit pricing)
  • the requirement for shoppers’ rights to be clearly disclosed both in store and online 
  • infringement notice powers and much higher penalties (similar to those in Australia) for misleading pricing and promotions.   

“We know that all the problems in the supermarket sector won’t be fixed overnight, but new rules like those in our proposed code will help put money back in the pockets of New Zealanders.

“This petition, which has the support of more than 25,000 New Zealanders, s

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Business – Entries are open for Bill Toft Award

Source: Bill Toft Awards

The Bill Toft Award is open to broadcasters working in online or broadcasting media in New Zealand.
The Bill Toft Memorial Fund in 2025 will consider applications for a grant of $5,000 for broadcasters working in online or broadcasting media in New Zealand.
The Award is to be used for advancing the skills, experience, or other contribution to professional development as a broadcaster.
Bill Toft was an eminent broadcaster who epitomised clear and consistent broadcast communication and set high standards of professionalism within the industry.
The Bill Toft Memorial Fund was set up to encourage excellence in content and delivery in broadcast and online communication.
Information and application form are on: www.billtoftawards.org.
Closing date: 31 October 2025
Winner notified: 30 November 2025.
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Construction Sector – Beleaguered construction sector has turned the corner, says new report

Source: Chinese Building Industry Association

Tentative signs of recovery celebrated at Parliament event marking 10th anniversary of New Zealand Chinese Building Industry Association.

New Zealand’s construction sector generated $94 billion in revenue in 2025, from $99 billion the year prior, reflecting the broader economic slowdown that has affected construction workers, business owners, and suppliers.

Despite this fall, the 2025 Construction Sector Report from the New Zealand Chinese Building Industry Association (NZCBIA) sees signs of improvement.  Residential consents have levelled off, government infrastructure projects are restarting, and falling interest rates are supporting a cautious lift in mortgage activity.

“This year, the sector has continued to face real challenges,” says Frank Xu, President of the NZCBIA. “Activity has slowed, some businesses have stepped back, and uncertainty has tested our resilience. Yet these cycles are not new to us, they are part of the rhythm of construction.

“Behind the numbers, there are real signs of momentum returning,” he says. “After some very difficult years, we are seeing the green shoots of much-needed recovery.”

“We need to invest in people now, before the next wave of activity begins,” says Xu. “Training isn’t just a cost – it’s a competitive advantage. The smartest firms are planning ahead.”

The 2025 NZCBIA Annual Construction Sector Report was launched at Parliament on 19 August.

Prepared by noted economist Shamubeel Eaqub, the report gives key insights into the economic drivers, the structural state, and the future direction of the construction sector, including:

  • Despite lingering headwinds, economic forecasts from the RBNZ, Treasury, and range of economists are optimistic that the worst of the recession is over and household spending and tourism will improve over the course of the next three years, with strong growth in 2026 and 2027. 
  • With 9,800 consented homes in Auckland alone awaiting development, a backlog of delayed or postponed projects is likely to drive renewed activity when market conditions improve.
  • The Government is focused on encouraging investment in infrastructure and housing.  For example, the National Infrastructure Pipeline shows planned future projects totalling $207 billion across central government, local government and the private sector.
  • The sector is stabilising, with the number of active construction enterprises declining only slightly this year, from 82,000 to 81,000, despite rising credit defaults and company liquidations.
  •  It remains a major employer, with 281,000 people directly employed and a further 247,000 supported through supplier networks, together accounting for 18 percent of jobs in New Zealand.
  • Nearly 70 percent of construction sector revenue goes to suppliers, illustrating the sector’s deep reliance on a broad range of industries – from building materials to professional services. Many of these businesses are local and heavily impacted by fluctuations in construction activity. 

A Focus on People, Productivity and Training

This year’s report places a special focus on the workforce behind the sector’s future, drawing attention to changing demographics and the need to invest in people to service an expected uplift in construction activity.

The workforce is younger and increasingly diverse, particularly in Auckland where Chinese workers make up 12 percent of the construction sector. While still male-dominated, the share of women has edged up slightly in recent years.

Retention remains a significant issue. Nearly 95 percent of hiring is to replace departing staff, with only 6 percent of workers remaining in the same job after five years. Thirty-seven percent of workers in the construction sector have been in their job for less than a year, and this has been the case over a long period of time. High turnover increases recruitment and training costs and undermines productivity gains, as well as creating high accident rates.

Meanwhile, only a third of new hires enter the sector with prior qualifications or experience. This underscores the need for deliberate training strategies, especially as the sector prepares for an eventual upswing. Workers who receive training are significantly more likely to achieve wage growth and contribute to improved business outcomes.

BCITO welcomes report

The Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation welcomed the report, saying it  increases understanding on how economic conditions affect construction. BCITO, the leading provider of work-based apprentice training for the construction sector, partnered with NZCBIA to support the report.

“The ability of our employers and industries to respond to growth opportunities relies heavily on sufficient levels of skilled professionals across all levels of construction.  Industry and Government investment in training now is critical to ensure we have the right numbers of people, with the right skills, in the right trades, at the right time,” says BCITO Director Greg Durkin. “BCITO is committed to working with industry to support economic recovery through effective staff training and development,” he says.
 
NZCBIA Marks 10 Years

The 2025 report marks an important anniversary for NZCBIA. Over the past decade, the Association has grown to be a respected national voice for New Zealand’s Chinese building community and a trusted contributor to the broader construction sector.

From trade and investment ties with China to safety standards, training, and research, NZCBIA continues to advocate for a strong, future-focused sector. “As we look to the future, construction will be shaped by innovation, diversity, and sustainability,” said Xu. “With the commitment and drive of our members, I’m confident we’re ready to build that future together.”

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UPDATED – Gaza is the deadliest conflict for aid workers, says ChildFund

Source: ChildFund New Zealand

The number of aid workers killed in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels-making this one of the deadliest crises in recent history for those dedicated to saving lives.
“Today is World Humanitarian Day, and ChildFund New Zealand is honouring its local partners working on the ground in Gaza.
These are people bringing lifesaving water and food to children in the strip and trying to maintain some sort of normality by continuing education and making safe play areas for children,” says Josie Pagani CEO of ChildFund.
The occupied Palestinian territory is the deadliest setting for aid workers worldwide, with Palestinian staff accounting for 98% of aid worker fatalities: 509 out of 517 killings that took place between 2023-2025, according to the Aid Worker Security Database.
ChildFund has joined more than 100 organisations in a joint global letter calling on Israel to stop the “weaponisation of aid” into Gaza, as “starvation deepens”.
Under the new guidelines, registration can be rejected if Israeli authorities deem that a group denies the democratic character of Israel or “promotes delegitimization campaigns” against the country.
“ChildFund and its partners are not at all involved in the politics of the region. Its focus is entirely on saving lives.”
Aid agencies have been unable to deliver enough aid which has left hospitals without basic supplies and children, people with disabilities, and older people dying from hunger and preventable illnesses.
“The UN says 600 trucks of supplies a day are needed in Gaza. To date only a few are getting through,” says Josie Pagani.
“It’s not just the horror of starvation and lack of water. Gaza’s education system has collapsed and is no longer operating, schools are used as emergency shelters and are often bombed.
More than 50,000 children have been killed or injured, and 658,000 school-aged children are left without access to formal learning spaces.
Through its partners, ChildFund has supported over 500,000 individuals with emergency access to water, sanitation, food and shelter.
“Over the coming months, our partners in Gaza will bring water and food in and set up temporary schools to keep children learning the basics – reading and maths – so they have some hope of a future if they survive this horror.”
Honour the principle of World Humanitarian Day:
The New Zealand government must:
1. Press Israel government to end the weaponisation of aid, including through bureaucratic obstruction, such as the INGO registration procedures.
2. Call for the immediate enforcement of international humanitarian law to ensure the protection of aid workers.
3. Demand safe humanitarian access to deliver life-saving aid in Gaza.
ChildFund’s Emergency Response Fund  ensures that children get life-saving aid in an emergency. 
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Energy Sector – Electricity Authority moves to level the power playing field

Source: Electricity Authority

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (the Authority) is moving to level the playing field between the four large gentailers (Genesis, Contact, Meridian and Mercury) and independent participants in the electricity market.
The level playing field options were developed by the Authority, the Commerce Commission Te Komihana Tauhokohoko (Commerce Commission) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment under the Energy Competition Task Force.
The Authority has today confirmed three targeted interventions to boost competition, build confidence in the wholesale market, and ultimately give New Zealanders better access to affordable electricity.
“Confidence in the market underpins healthy retail competition and affordable power prices,” says Electricity Authority Chair Anna Kominik. “We are concerned that aspects of the wholesale market may be eroding the confidence required for independent players to compete, and we are acting to address these concerns.”
The Authority is progressing these pro-competition interventions at pace, so changes could be in place by mid-2026:
1. Options for requiring gentailers to trade minimum volumes of the new wholesale electricity hedge product introduced in January to help independent participants manage their risk. Regulation would only apply if voluntary trading volumes do not grow. The issues and options paper is now available for feedback.
2. Code changes necessary to introduce mandatory non-discrimination obligations for the four large gentailers, with draft Code amendments published for feedback in October. This will provide greater confidence that the gentailers’ wholesale businesses are not treating independent retailers differently to their own retail businesses.
3. A review of ‘market making’ in the electricity futures market to ensure it promotes healthy competition and transparency. This will be published for feedback in November.
The Authority is also ready to intervene with urgent regulation if there is a sudden material reduction in the supply of shaped hedges, to maintain the market while an enduring solution is considered. By fixing costs when energy demand is highest, shaped hedges help retailers manage risk and keep prices stable and affordable, even in tight market conditions.
“Targeted and timely interventions are needed to encourage new generators and independent retailers to enter, grow and compete in the market. These initiatives will promote healthy competition, retail innovation and investment in the sector – all of which are essential to deliver a reliable and affordable electricity supply,” Kominik said.
In February, the Authority sought feedback on options to level the playing field between the gentailers and independent generators and retailers, receiving over 40 written submissions and meeting with more than 20 submitters. The Authority is continuing to consider the broad range of views shared as it develops draft Code amendments for consultation and will respond to those views in the consultation paper.
“We know from the conversations we’re having that some feel that regulatory change is not happening fast or hard enough. The proposals being announced today target measures that can be rolled out in months, not years, driving timely progress while ensuring all parties can participate in and contribute to the process,” says Kominik.
“New Zealand’s electricity market is undergoing significant change, and the Authority has a clearly signposted programme of proposed reforms and adjustments underway that keep the focus on security of supply and affordability. The Authority is prioritising practical measures with clear benefits and time for input to ensure policy changes are robust and in New Zealand consumers’ long-term interests,” says Kominik.
Commerce Commission Chair and Task Force member Dr John Small says: “These initiatives are designed to work together to promote increased competition in the sector. Combined they increase transparency for market participants transacting with the gentailers and improve access to the wholesale electricity contracts they need. They would also give new players and investors confidence to enter the market and encourage the development of innovative new products and services. We don’t expect these proposed changes would materially increase gentailers’ costs but do expect they would lead to more choices and lower power prices over the long term.”
Notes
About our proposed approach to regulating the wholesale electricity (super-peak) product
The Authority is now seeking feedback on options for regulating the super-peak product, including market making on the over the counter (OTC) market as its preferred approach, should voluntary trading fail to deliver sufficient competition.
These ‘shaped’ hedge contracts enable retailers to offer stable prices to consumers while managing their exposure to volatile morning and evening peak wholesale prices. This increases competition in the market, brings more power into the system, provides more choice for consumers, and puts downward pressure on retail prices. This type of product is becoming increasingly important as the electricity system becomes more reliant on renewable generation and spot market pricing becomes more volatile.
Voluntary trading in the super-peak product began in January this year and while it has already improved availability and pricing, the market remains shallow, with limited seller diversity and low trading volumes. To address this, the Authority is proposing to set clear expectations for robust participation in voluntary trading by the gentailers, who own over 95% of flexible generation (which backs shaped hedge contracts), and signals that regulation may follow if trading does not improve. The Authority is also ready to intervene with urgent regulation if there is a sudden material reduction in the supply of shaped hedges. 
About our review of market making
Market making is a service where a participant will quote prices for two sides of a market (ie both buys/bids and sells/offers) in a particular derivative, with a specified amount of volume and a specified bid-ask price spread. This service provides liquidity by ensuring there is always volume available to be bought or sold.
In 2022, the Electricity Authority introduced mandatory market making in the electricity futures market, with the following objectives:
  • To support a robust and reliable forward price curve.
  • To increase the availability of risk management contracts for market participants.
This framework was implemented through a combination of four regulated market makers (the gentailers) and one commercial market maker, who are required to provide certain volume of buy and sell offers for specific electricity futures products.
The Authority is now undertaking a policy review of market making arrangements to ensure that current settings remain appropriate and aligned with our market making policy objective.
As part of this review, we will also explore potential changes to strengthen market making services and ensure they continue to support a resilient and efficient electricity market. The Authority will consult on these proposals in November 2025.
About the Energy Competition Task Force
The Energy Competition Task Force was established by the Commerce Commission Te Komihana Tauhokohoko and Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko, with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, in August 2024 to investigate ways to improve the performance of the electricity market.
The Task Force has been considering eight initiatives that will encourage more and faster investment in new electricity generation, boost competition, enable homes, businesses and industrials to better manage their own electricity use and costs, and put downward pressure on prices.
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Advocacy – Palestine Forum of New Zealand Marks World Humanitarian Day, Calls for Urgent Action in Gaza

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

On this World Humanitarian Day, the Palestine Forum of New Zealand solemnly recognizes the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where years of blockade, conflict, and systematic deprivation continue to devastate lives.

The situation in Gaza has reached critical levels. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians face food and water shortages, disrupted healthcare services, and a lack of necessities. Children, the elderly, and the most vulnerable communities are bearing the brunt of this prolonged crisis.

“The people of Gaza are living under conditions that most of us cannot even imagine,” said Maher Nazzal, “World Humanitarian Day is a reminder that the international community must act to alleviate suffering, protect civilians, and uphold the rights of Palestinians to live with dignity and security.”

We urges governments, humanitarian organizations, and civil society globally to:

  • Increase immediate humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
  • Advocate for an end to the blockade and restrictions that exacerbate suffering.
  • Support sustainable solutions that ensure long-term safety, healthcare, and education for Palestinian communities.

World Humanitarian Day is a time to honour the courage of humanitarian workers, recognize the resilience of affected communities, and reaffirm our commitment to justice and human rights for all. We call on New Zealanders to stand in solidarity with Gaza and amplify the voices of those living through the humanitarian catastrophe.

Ngā mihi nui,
Maher Nazzal
Palestine Forum of New Zealand

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Net migration gain of 13,700 – Stats NZ media and information release: International migration: June 2025