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Storm News – Wellington weather event update
Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews have been busy responding to weather related callouts across Wellington today.
Since 3am, Fire and Emergency has received around 200 calls relating to the weather in the Wellington region. This is for incidents including flooding, flooding in properties and landslides.
Te Upoko Region Manager Bruce Stubbs says Fire and Emergency has been supporting Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) in its response.
“With further heavy rain forecast we have pre-positioned specialist resources including teams with enhanced rescue and water response capability in the Wairarapa and Hutt Valley.
“They are in position and ready to assist with local brigades.”
Bruce Stubbs urges people to be extra careful and says the public should follow the advice of WREMO and the Wellington City Council.
‘When life or safety is threatened, people should call 111 immediately.
“Avoid all non-essential travel and stay out of floodwaters. Do not drive through floodwaters, as there can be hidden obstacles.
“If flooding has entered your home, switch off and unplug appliances.
“I would like to thank our career and volunteer staff for their response and support since early this morning.
“Many of our crews are responding to emergencies in their communities while also dealing with the impact to their own homes, property, and family.”
Aviation Appointments – CAA appoints new Chief Digital Officer
Source: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
After a thorough recruitment process, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Aaron Toatelegese as Chief Digital Officer to its Executive Leadership Team.
Aaron will lead the Digital Transformation & Technology group.
Aaron is an experienced senior technology and operations leader with over 30 years’ experience spanning financial services and central government, with deep expertise in large-scale transformation, operating model redesign and crisis leadership. He has built his career working through complexity.
Aaron currently works at MBIE as Chief Technology & Security Officer. While there he was the ICT lead for the MIQ response and played a key leadership role in establishing and executing MBIE’s Digital Blueprint.
Prior to that, Aaron worked at the Bank of New Zealand where he was the Chief Technology Officer and for a time acting Chief Information Officer. Aaron led significant technology and operational transformation during periods of regulatory pressure, platform modernisation and a cultural reset.
CAA Chief Executive and Director of Civil Aviation Kane Patena says Aaron brings a wealth of experience in digital and business transformation in a way that lifts culture, performance, productivity and value.
“Aaron brings a nice balance of private sector and public sector experience from his time in financial services to working in a core government agency across the public service,” says Mr Patena.
“His experience and approach will support CAA as we continue to deliver on our role as a modern, effective regulator.”
Aaron will join CAA on 25 May.
Health and Legislation – Mental Health Bill debate stalled
Source: Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission
It is one year since the Mental Health Bill was returned to Parliament for its second reading, and Te Hiringa Mahara is calling on the Government to ensure this is passed into law this year.
On 17 April 2025, the Health Select Committee handed the Bill back to Parliament to be finalised. Since then, we have not seen movement in this critical area.
“Behind this Bill are 5000 voices who shared their experiences during the government’s Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction back in 2018,” says Te Hiringa Mahara Director of Mental Health and Addiction Sector Leadership, Sonya Russell.
“The message was received loud and clear; the current Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 is outdated and in need of a review. Repealing and replacing the law is one of 40 recommendations made in the Inquiry report.
“While some changes don’t need to wait for the law to pass, the updated law will set a new standard for care. Delays are putting the intended commencement date, currently set for July 2027, at risk.
“Still, too many people experience compulsory community treatment and seclusion in our mental health services, and there is wide variation between districts with persistent inequities for Māori and Pacific peoples that must be addressed.
“We need to see a shift in the system to ensure human rights are upheld in practice. A new Mental Health Act is needed to support the reduction and ultimately the end of seclusion and enable clear pathways for safe and rights-based alternatives.
“Te Hiringa Mahara is urging all parties to come together, take on board the voices of the public that will improve things for people receiving support and their whānau, and move this Bill forward,” says Ms Russell.
Storm News – Fire and Emergency responds to flooding across Wellington
Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Fire and Emergency New Zealand has been alerted to more than 150 weather-related events in Wellington this morning.
The callouts relate to flooding, flooding into properties and landslides across Vogeltown, Mornington, Newtown, Berhampore, Kingston, Island Bay and surrounding areas.
Fire and Emergency’s Regional Coordination Centre has also been stood up in response to the weather.
Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says Fire and Emergency is assisting Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) in its response.
“We echo WREMO’s advice. In the event of flooding, head for higher ground and stay away from floodwater.
“Floods and flash floods can happen quickly. If you see rising water, do not wait for official warnings
“Do not try to walk, play, swim, or drive in floodwater.
“Do not drive through floodwater. You are putting yourself at risk, and risking the lives of those who come to your rescue.
“Don’t wait for emergency mobile alerts or other official warnings: if you see flood waters trust your sense and act immediately.”
Megan Stiffler advises the public to delay all non-essential travel and follow the advice of WREMO and Wellington City Council.
“I would also like to thank the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) for calling off its planned strike action this morning at short notice.
“It is great to work together to ensure we are able to assist our communities in their time of need.”
PSA – Legal action over Te Puni Kōkiri’s failure to consult on restructure
Source: PSA
The PSA will file legal action today with the Employment Relations Authority alleging Te Puni Kōkiri breached its collective agreement by excluding the union from the latest restructuring decisions.
The plan could cost a further 27 roles at the already gutted Māori development agency. The PSA is seeking a compliance order from the Authority to stop Te Puni Kōkiri from proceeding with the restructure until it properly consults in good faith with the union.
“There has been a clear breach of Te Puni Kōkiri’s obligation to consult the union before dumping restructure plans on workers – another disappointing example of a trend that is becoming all too common across the public service,” said Jack McDonald, Te Kaihautū Māori for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Last week we asked Te Puni Kōkiri to withdraw the restructure, but it refused – leaving us with no choice. Proper process is not optional – it’s the law and we expect all agencies to adhere to their legal obligations and operate in good faith.”
Te Puni Kōkiri sent the PSA a vague email on 9 February flagging a restructure, then immediately instructed recipients to keep it confidential. It then went completely silent for more than a month.
On 19 March, the PSA was handed a 46-page restructure document that had been worked up entirely without union involvement. The union was told not to share it with members. The very next day, on a Friday afternoon, Te Puni Kōkiri released it directly to staff and gave them just seven working days to respond.
“That is not consultation – it’s a fait accompli. The collective agreement requires the union to have an adequate opportunity to be genuinely involved in restructuring decisions, not to be handed a done deal and told to like it.
“Te Puni Kōkiri has tried to portray the union as acquiescing to the process. That is wrong. The PSA did not acquiesce and at no time had an adequate opportunity to be involved in a manner that complies with the collective agreement.
“This is the same playbook we saw at Fire and Emergency NZ, where the PSA and the Professional Firefighters Union had to take legal action to stop a restructure rammed through without proper consultation. The Authority found FENZ had breached its obligations.
“The Government is standing by while agencies ride roughshod over their legal obligations in a relentless drive to slash costs and jobs. It should not take legal action to force agencies to follow the law. But until the Government stops pressuring them to cut at all costs, unions will have no choice but to hold them to account.
“These proposed cuts would bring total job losses at Te Puni Kōkiri to more than 100 – about a fifth of the workforce. The Crown’s ability to meet its Te Tiriti obligations and deliver for Māori is being dismantled in a systematic and deliberate way.
“The PSA will do everything in our power to stop this latest attempt to downgrade this agency and further undermine the important work to reduce Māori social and economic disparities.”
Previous statement
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.
Employment Disputes – Fire and Emergency reminds public to be extra careful while strike action takes place
Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Fire and Emergency New Zealand is warning the public that the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) will be undertaking a strike tomorrow, Monday 20 April, between 7.30am and 8.30am.
The NZPFU has indicated its intention to continue twice-weekly strike.
“I want to reassure the public that all 111 calls will be received and responded to during the strike periods,” Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says.
“However, our response times will be delayed in impacted areas as volunteer crews will be responding from the next closest location. So, we are asking the public to remain extra careful.
“Our advice remains the same. If there is a fire, evacuate early, get out, stay out, then call 111.”
During the one-hour strikes, Fire and Emergency will prioritise emergencies and may not attend less serious incidents, such as private fire alarms where there is no sign of fire, small rubbish fires, traffic-management assistance, and animal rescues.
In addition, Fire and Emergency has established a process with Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance for responding to medical events in impacted areas.
“We remain focused on achieving a fair and sustainable settlement with the NZPFU so we can continue working to keep our communities safe,” Megan Stiffler says.
Economy – Fragile and exposed: new report says NZ economy needs a new blueprint, not more band-aids
Source: WEAll Aotearoa New Zealand
Aotearoa New Zealand's economy is fragile, and we’re all feeling it. Our standard of living is being buffeted by global forces we don't control and home ownership is slipping out of reach for everyday New Zealanders. Fewer than one in five New Zealanders (17%) believe the next generation will be better off than today. Taken together, decades of short-term thinking have left us dangerously exposed.
Today, the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa is releasing Blueprint for Prosperity: 10 missions for a wealthier, more resilient Aotearoa at the Kia Tika, Kia Pono–For a Just Society Conference. A bold, practical roadmap to chart a way to a more resilient future. The Blueprint is clear: our interrelated crises, like the cost of living, housing, inequality, and climate change, share a common root cause. Which is an economic system that was designed in 1984 and hasn't been fundamentally rethought since. Neoliberalism reshaped who our economy serves and it's time we redesign it again, with everyday people and the living world at the centre.
Ambitious, yet credible, the Blueprint outlines 10 missions and 33 practical policies to chart the way to a more resilient future. One where Aotearoa is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, not just financially but in true wellbeing and resilience.
Among the 33 practical policies, the Blueprint calls for rebuilding public ownership of the energy sector for greater energy independence and resilience, lifting investment in research and development to make New Zealand one of the world’s smartest economies, putting everyday people back at the heart of local economies through Community Wealth Building, and ensuring the ultra-rich pay their fair share. Recent polling commissioned by WEAll Aotearoa shows two thirds of New Zealanders want the super-rich to contribute more to fund public goods like healthcare, housing, and climate action.
The Blueprint is part of an ongoing conversation about the kind of economy New Zealanders want and need. The next phase will involve interviews with academics, iwi, and community organisations, building towards a comprehensive briefing to the incoming government in 2027, complete with scenarios and pathways to give decision-makers the evidence they need to act with confidence.
Quotes
Gareth Hughes, Director of WEAll Aotearoa, says:
“Right now, our economy is fragile and not fit for the challenges of the 21st century. When global shocks hit, and they will keep coming, we need an economy that can absorb them and protect all of us.”
“Decades of siloed, short-term, bottom of the cliff thinking by politicians has left most of us worse off and our parties now need to think systemically and deliver big change.”
“Our economy is a product of design, which means it can be redesigned. We've done it before. The question is whether our politicians have the courage to do it again, and to do it right this time.”
“Our current economic system is myopically focused on GDP growth as the only answer, without thinking smarter about what kind of growth, for whom, and at what cost. In New Zealand, economic growth has been accompanied by rising child poverty and inequality. We grow GDP while eroding the very foundations of long-term prosperity – shifting costs onto future generations, degrading nature, and underinvesting in the capabilities that people and businesses need to thrive. We should instead judge success by the outcomes we actually achieve: lower child poverty, better health and education, affordable homes, a lighter environmental footprint, and an economy that creates good jobs with rising incomes.”
“This is fundamentally about taking a smarter, more common sense approach to the economy. We look around and see that our economy is not working as it should, and we need to have the courage to say when the emperor has got no clothes. Too often, governments have responded to crises with costly band-aids that don't address the root cause, essentially paying to fix what we continue to break. Our global Failure Demand research found that governments are caught in a cycle of spending money to respond to harms created by an unjust and unsustainable economic system. Those costs are avoidable. Preventing social and environmental damage from happening in the first place should be at the forefront of our approach.”
“There’s a real sense in the community that the track we're on leads somewhere we don't want to go. If we keep heading in the current direction, we risk becoming an economy like America where ordinary people are charged ‘user-pays prices’ for everything, like hospital care. That's not who we are as New Zealanders, and it's not who we want to become.”
“This is an election year. We are telling our politicians to stop tinkering at the edges, and that big problems need big answers. New Zealanders want to put down roots here, raise families here, grow old here with dignity, so we are demanding our leaders think boldly about the future.”
“The Blueprint for Prosperity gives them the tools to do exactly that. We already know what works. We can build a richer, more resilient economy, we just need the political will to choose it.”