The cost to ‘trade up’ to a larger home remains significant across the country, but recent market movements suggest now may be a more favourable time for aspiring upgraders.
Economy – Snapshot highlights banks’ efforts to reduce unnecessary barriers for Māori
26 June 2025 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua has published a primarily qualitative snapshot that offers a comparison of how banks are working to remove unnecessary barriers to Māori Access to Capital (MA2K).
The Māori contribution to the New Zealand economy has grown to $32 billion (production GDP) in 2023. However, Māori businesses are more likely to face capital access challenges due to common factors like being younger, smaller, or more rural, as well as specific issues such as lending on whenua Māori and lower trust or awareness with the banking system.
Acting Assistant Governor Financial Stability, Angus McGregor says that the snapshot will improve data and understanding across the Aotearoa banking system.
“The measures in the snapshot show the steps some banks are taking to remove unnecessary barriers for Māori, helping to lift the entire sector in supporting MA2K and financial inclusion more broadly,” says Mr McGregor.
Findings from the snapshot show that participating banks who volunteered to collaborate on this project, have introduced Māori-focused roles and strategies, supported by organisation-wide training to strengthen understanding of te reo, tikanga, and the Māori economy. The snapshot findings also suggests that banks recognise the value of Māori leadership and customer understanding and have products to support lending on whenua Māori.
Some banks have initiatives specifically supporting Māori businesses and offer financial literacy programmes that incorporate te reo and/or tikanga. Māori employee representation varies between banks, with an average of 8% across all banks.
However, there remains plenty of work to be done to continue to reduce any unnecessary barriers for Māori and we encourage banks to improve their data relating to Māori access to capital and enhance their practices around Māori business identification.
Improved data on MA2K is an important step in tracking progress of the banking sector and builds on the momentum developed by the sector's actions.
“This work is in line with the 2025 Letter of Expectations from the Minister of Finance for the Reserve Bank to continue its collaboration with industry stakeholders to pursue competition-enhancing initiatives, including reducing barriers to lending for housing on Māori freehold land,” says Governor Christian Hawkesby.
This snapshot was developed in collaboration with Tāwhia the Māori Bankers Rōpū and continues the 2022 MA2K work programme as part of our broader te ao Māori and financial inclusion workstreams. Impact requires a whole of sector approach, so we furthermore welcome the opportunity to work with other organisations to support this ongoing work programme.
More information
Māori access to capital (MA2K) snapshot – Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua – https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=409ead4c8f&e=f3c68946f8
Letter of expectations 2025 – Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua – https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=642bea8827&e=f3c68946f8
Tech – Avast Makes AI-Driven Scam Defense Available for Free Worldwide
Avast debuts Avast Scam Guardian and Scam Guardian Pro as data breaches and scams soar.
Auckland, 26 June 2025 – Driven by a commitment to make cutting-edge scam protection available to everyone, Avast, a leader in digital security and privacy and part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), has unveiled Avast Scam Guardian, a new AI-powered offering integrated into its award-winning* Avast Free Antivirus.
Cybercriminals continue to abuse AI to craft increasingly convincing scam attacks at an alarming rate. Available at no cost, the new service marks a significant step forward in democratising AI scam protection. A premium version, Avast Scam Guardian Pro, has also been added to Avast Premium Security, giving customers an enhanced layer of AI protection against email scams.
“Today’s scams aren’t crude or obvious – they’re tailored, targeted, and AI-enhanced, making it harder than ever to tell the difference between truth and deception,” said Leena Elias, Chief Product Officer at Gen. “As scammers take advantage of rising data breaches and leaked personal information, anyone anywhere can become a victim of scams. That’s why it’s never been more important to make powerful AI-powered scam protection available to everyone, everywhere. We’re levelling the playing field with world class scam defense that helps people strengthen their digital and financial safety.”
According to the recent Q1/2025 Gen Threat Report, breached records of individuals surged by more than 186% between January and March 2025, revealing sensitive information such as passwords, emails, and credit card details. Over the same timeframe, reports of phishing scams rose by 466% compared to the previous quarter, making up almost a third of all scam submissions observed by Gen.
As data breaches rise, so do the opportunities for attackers to exploit leaked information to launch targeted, hyper-personalised scam campaigns that are harder than ever to spot. Like a seasoned scam investigator, Avast Scam Guardian uses proprietary AI trained on scam data from Gen Threat Labs to go beyond just detecting malicious URLs – it also analyses context and language to more effectively identify signs of deceptive or harmful intent. Avast Scam Guardian also helps to pull back the curtain on hidden threats in website code and neutralises them to keep people safer as they browse and shop online.
Key features available in Avast Scam Guardian for Avast Free Antivirus, include:
Avast Assistant: Provides 24/7 AI-powered scam protection guidance on suspicious websites, SMS messages, emails, links, offers, and more. Allows people to engage in open dialogue when they’re unsure about a potential scam and uses natural language to better understand queries and deliver clear advice on what to do next. Available on Windows and Mac.
Web Guard: Uses the collective power of Gen Threat Labs telemetry and AI trained on millions of frequently visited websites to continuously analyse and detect hidden scams in content and code** – offering unique visibility into dangerous URLs. Available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS**.
Avast Scam Guardian Pro includes everything in Avast Scam Guardian, plus:
Email Guard: Uses AI to understand the context of emails and the meaning of words to detect scams. Scans and flags safe and suspicious emails before you open them, helping to protect your email wherever you check it, no matter what device you use to log in. Available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS***.
Avast Scam Guardian and Scam Guardian Pro are available to download now as part of Avast Free Antivirus and Avast Premium Security. Later this year, additional AI-powered tools will be added to Avast Scam Guardian Pro for greater protection against sophisticated scams targeting other communication channels, including SMS and phone calls.
For more information, please visit www.avast.com.
*AV-Comparatives, “Top-Rated Product 2024 Award” & AV-Comparatives, “Real-World Protection 2024 Award” – Jan-Dec 2024.
**Content and code scanning is only available on Windows and Mac.
**Email Guard is included, but mobile platforms do not have the Scam Guardian user interface.
About Avast
Avast is a leader in digital security and privacy, and part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom with a family of trusted consumer brands. Avast protects hundreds of millions of users from online threats, for Mobile, PC or Mac, and is top-ranked and certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE Labs and others. Avast is a member of the Coalition Against Stalkerware, No More Ransom and Internet Watch Foundation. Learn more at Avast.com.
Sustainability sees rising strategic importance amid increasing strain on professionals
Source: Sustainable Business Council
- 60% of professionals have been in their current role for two years or less, suggesting high turnover and limited career pathways.
- Only 12% believe current training adequately prepares them for the demands of their roles.
- Climate anxiety and emotional exhaustion are rising, particularly among younger professionals.
- A growing sense of professional competency, with more than 88% of respondents feeling confident in their ability to manage sustainability responsibilities.
- Increasing integration of sustainability into strategy and finance functions, signalling a shift from compliance to core business value.
- A growing appetite for business-relevant skills such as financial sustainability, business case development, and influencing.
Employment Issues – Another day, another attack on workers’ rights – employers can dock pay of workers who take partial strike action – PSA
Source: PSA
GLOBAL: Countries must act fast to save the Sustainable Development Goals – Amnesty International
Source: Amnesty International
With countries in danger of failing to meet their Sustainable Development Goals targets – and their human rights obligations – leaders attending the Financing for Development Conference must act fast to avert climate catastrophe and guarantee the human rights of billions of people currently being denied socio-economic justice, said Amnesty International.
The 4th International Conference for Financing for Development will take place from 30 June to 3 July in Seville, Spain. It provides a unique opportunity to reform development financing at all levels and address financing challenges preventing the urgently needed investment push to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The SDGs were put in place 10 years ago to guarantee peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and in the future.
“Years of underinvestment by all states mean the majority of the Sustainable Development Goals are way off track from their 2030 target. This conference must confront the immediate crisis linked to the cutting of international assistance by major donors, whilst committing to structural reforms that could provide sustainable sources of financing for the longer term – from advancing international tax cooperation and addressing the debt crisis, to reforming international financial institutions and promoting more inclusive systems of financing and development,” said Riva Jalipa, Amnesty International’s Financing for Rights Lead Adviser.
“A series of robust measures must be put in place if the SDGs are to become a reality. The US and other governments must reverse cuts to aid budgets. Wealthy states must support the UN tax treaty process whilst providing debt relief for countries in or at risk of debt distress including cancellation where appropriate. Fossil fuels subsidies must be redirected towards investment in clean energy and leaders must commit to a full, fast, fair and funded fossil fuel phase out across all sectors and invest adequately in a just and equitable transition. Adopting these measures will go a long way to rescuing the SDGs and ensure social, economic and climate justice for millions across the world.”
Amnesty International will also be co-hosting a Virtual Side Event at the Financing for Development Conference, Seville: Reparative Justice in Financing for Development. The session will focus on development financing and reparative justice as a means through which a human rights-based economy which redresses both existing and historical injustices can not only be conceptualized but also practically actioned. Register to attend via Zoom.
Background
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were put in place 10 years ago to guarantee peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and in the future. The 17 goals aimed to address global challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice – to ensure no one was left behind. However, years of underinvestment by all states mean over 80% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’ targets are off track due to underinvestment by all states.
Gaza’s Taps Running Dry: Fuel Crisis Deepens Daily Struggle for Families – UNICEF
UNICEF Spokesperson James Elder at press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva
AMMAN/GENEVA, June 2025 – “In a war already defined by its brutality, Gaza now teeters at its deadliest edge. Currently just 40 per cent of drinking water production facilities remain functional in Gaza (87 out of 217). Without fuel, every one of these will stop operating within weeks.
“Since all the electricity to Gaza was cut after the horrific attacks of 7 Oct 2023, fuel became essential to produce, treat and distribute water to more than two million Palestinians.
“If the current more than 100-day blockade on fuel coming into Gaza does not end, children will begin to die of thirst. Diseases are already advancing, and chaos is tightening its grip.
“Whilst alarm bells rightly ring on the nutrition situation in Gaza – just [last week] UNICEF reported a 50 per cent increase in children (6months to 5yrs) admitted for treatment of acute malnutrition from April to May – water cannot be sidelined.
“And so in the most relatable terms: Gaza is facing what would amount to a man-made drought. Water systems are collapsing.
“However, because this is man-made, it can be stopped. None of these problems are logistical or technical. They are political. Denial has become policy. If there is political will, the water crisis will be eased overnight – fuel would mean that water flows from hundreds of groundwater wells and restores supply within a day. But time is running out.
“To help paint the picture: without fuel, desalination plants that already operate on reduced capacity will cease completely, and critical membranes in the machinery will close, doing immense damage. Without fuel, trucking the millions of litres of water to people will stop. At major production points, large numbers of donkeys are starting to replace trucks. This is the last gasp of a collapsing system. A donkey cart can barely carry 500 litres. A truck, 15,000. And even the donkeys are slowing – there’s barely enough food to keep them moving.
“Fuel is also the thread holding Gaza’s devastated healthcare system together. Without it, hospital generators stop, oxygen production stops, and life-support machines fail. Ambulances can’t move. Incubators go dark. Denying fuel doesn’t just cut off supply – it cuts off survival.
“Or sanitation: The sewerage systems are broken. Sewage now flows into makeshift shelters and tents. There are already suspected cases of HepA and HepE, which are highly infectious.
“Or nutrition: Just as the water crisis is manmade, so too is the malnutrition it drives. In Gaza, these two crises feed off each other, creating a deadly cycle. On average, more than 110 children (6months to 5yrs) have been admitted for treatment for malnutrition every day since the beginning of 2025.
“At the start of this month a friend in Gaza said to me: ‘we have learnt to live without so much. Without our homes; without safety; without loved ones…but we cannot live without food'.
“This week he clarified that: ‘we have learnt to live without so much. Without our homes; without safety; without loved ones…we have even learnt we can live without food for a week, or more…but we cannot survive days without water’.
“UNICEF is very clear. This is Gaza’s most critical moment since this war on children began – a woeful bar to sink below. A virtual blockade is in place; humanitarian aid is being sidelined; the daily killing of girls and boys in Gaza does not register; and now a deliberate fuel crisis is severing Palestinians most essential element for survival: water.”
| About UNICEF UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential. |
NZ becomes first country to back out of Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance – Greenpeace
Source: Greenpeace
Child Fund – Children bear the brunt as risk of war increases
Source: ChildFund New Zealand
- 22,495 children were illegally recruited into armed groups, killed, maimed, raped or victims of other forms of sexual violence, and abduction in conflict zones
- 4,676 children were killed, and 7,291 maimed, affecting a staggering 11,967 children
- 41,370 were victims of grave violations, including attacks on schools and hospitals and denial of humanitarian access
- Grave violations against children increased by 545% in Lebanon, 525% in Mozambique and 490% in Haiti
- 3,018 children were jailed for association with parties to conflict.
Wellington Regional Council must stand up to short-sighted Coalition Government and continue with its plan to restore water quality for its people – CCW
Source: Choose Clean Water – Tom Kay
Greater Wellington Regional Council must stand up to the short-sighted Coalition Government in its vote tomorrow on whether to continue with its regional plan change to protect and restore water quality in the region, say freshwater campaign group Choose Clean Water.
Regional council papers show councillors will be considering three options for the region’s freshwater plan change at their meeting on Thursday 26 June: to pause the plan change until October, to pause the plan change until they can continue with ‘confidence’ about upcoming changes to national direction, or to withdraw the plan change entirely.
“Regional councils are being bullied by this short-sighted Coalition Government into stopping their years-long, vital work to save our waterways from further degradation and protect our drinking water sources. This Government is compromised by its close ties to polluting commercial interests and Wellington regional councillors must stand up to them for the health of their region’s environment and people,” says Choose Clean Water spokesperson Tom Kay
Kay says Wellington Regional Council’s uncertainty in moving ahead with their plan change is another sign of the Government trying to take power away from communities to make decisions about managing their rivers, streams, and harbours, and instead give it to polluting commercial interests.
“There is no reason to throw out this plan change. Councillors are risking starting this process all over again on the basis of yet-to-be-seen national policy and speculation about what may or may not eventuate. They should keep calm and carry on.”
The plan change forms part of a program to restore and protect fresh and coastal water health the Regional Council has been working on for the last 15 years, including with significant investment and support from communities and iwi. It would bring policies and rules for two major Wellington catchments into line with the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020, including the prioritisation of freshwater and community health in decision-making over commercial interests.
But with changes to weaken freshwater policy announced by the Government, councillors are now considering whether to continue or not, risking undermining years of progress and future potential for healthy water in the region, say campaigners.
“The council meeting papers say that if the plan change is withdrawn, water quality that is already degrading by some measures is likely to continue to degrade because the old plan provisions are less protective.”
“Communities have been waiting decades for these plan changes, particularly in places like Te Awarua-o-Porirua / Porirua harbour, which continues to suffer from issues like sediment buildup and pollution from heavy metals, pathogens, and nutrients, with impacts on fishing and food gathering, swimming, boating, and human health.”
“The plan also promotes planting of highly erosion-prone land, and adds provisions on stormwater and earthworks that would help reduce risks of flooding and erosion. We’ve seen what Cyclone Gabrielle did in regions that hadn’t prepared for the impacts of these natural hazards. Why would we delay these actions that will build resilience?”
“This Government came into power saying they were going to allow local communities to make decisions at a community level. But they lied. We saw it with Otago Regional Council being stopped when they tried to progress a freshwater plan change that was years in the making. Now we risk seeing it with Wellington.”
“Wellington Regional Council must push ahead as soon as possible.”
Wellington Regional Council will vote on whether to proceed with the plan tomorrow, 26 June.
The Government’s consultation document on freshwater policy is open for submissions until 27 July. The consultation document proposes to remove national bottom lines for pollution as well as to remove or rewrite Te Mana o te Wai, the decision making framework in current national policy that prioritises the public interest in healthy water bodies.
Note: Tom Kay participated in the Environment Court hearings process for the operative Natural Resources Plan and participated in the current Plan Change 1 process (including providing evidence) while in previous roles at Forest & Bird.