Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Govt Regulations Cuts – Relaxing machine guarding standards will cost lives and limbs – NZISM

Source: NZ Institute of Safety Management

The New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM), the professional association for health and safety experts, is concerned by the prospect of more lax machine guarding requirements signalled by the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety today.
“Machines that are badly guarded are a major source of workplace harm. Nearly 200 hard-working NeNw Zealanders are killed, hurt and maimed every year (according to the latest full year WorkSafe data) by improperly guarded machines. Simplifying machine guarding requirements in a way that lowers standards will lead to more deaths and injuries,” said NZISM spokesperson Mike Cosman.
“We agree with the Minister that guidance needs to be updated, made more specific to particular sectors and easier to understand and we’re happy to help with this. Proper guarding is not a simple one-size-fits all given the massive range of equipment and situations in which it is used across the country.
“There is a strong role for health and safety experts (like NZISM members in giving that advice). You wouldn't ask a Police Officer to design the brakes on your truck and you can't expect WorkSafe to act as your consultant. If you use machinery you need to take steps to satisfy yourself that it will keep your workers safe.”
Background – NZ Institute of Safety Management 
NZISM is New Zealand’s leading professional association for health and safety practitioners. We are a 2,800-strong community, operating nationwide through a network of 14 branches, whose members represent the entire spectrum of New Zealand business.2800 health and safety professionals. Our purpose is to influence better health and safety outcomes at work. We achieve this by representing the interests of our members at industry and Government levels, and by supporting the growth and development of members.
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Banking – Government approves next phase of capital raise process to support Kiwibank’s growth – Kiwibank

Source: Kiwibank

 

30 July 2025 – In December 2024, the Government announced it was exploring a private placement of capital to continue to accelerate Kiwibank’s growth. Since then, Kiwibank’s parent company, Kiwi Group Capital (KGC) and the Treasury have been assessing investor interest in such an initiative.  

 

Following this process, Cabinet has approved for KGC to proceed to the next phase of a potential capital raise of up to $500 million with timing and amount to be determined by KGC, and subject to final approval of terms and conditions by shareholding Ministers. The transaction is expected to occur prior to 30 June 2026. 

 

David McLean, KGC Chairman, said: “The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Kiwibank as a competitive, New Zealand-owned alternative to the larger banks, ensuring better outcomes for all New Zealanders. 

 

“The capital raise process aims to provide Kiwibank with capital to continue its above market growth and enhance its competitive position while ensuring all funds raised are invested into New Zealand’s future. There will be no return of capital to the Crown, and no changes for Kiwibank customers.” 

 

Steve Jurkovich, Kiwibank’s Chief Executive, said, “Kiwibank exists to challenge the status quo and to disrupt the banking sector for the good of Kiwi. We are working to create a future where banking is stronger and fairer than ever before.  

 

“Delivering on our Purpose of Kiwi making Kiwi better off is what differentiates Kiwibank and drives our performance, and that is what we continue to be focused on. Any capital raise would be structured to ensure Kiwibank’s continued role to improve services and pricing for consumers.” 

 

The capital raising process is targeting New Zealand-based KiwiSaver funds, investment institutions, and professional investment groups. Kiwibank will remain 100% New Zealand-owned following the completion of any private placement. 

 

Kiwibank half year 2025 highlights 

  • Kiwibank announced a net profit after tax of $92 million for the six months to 31 December 2024. 
  • Kiwibank achieved net lending growth of $2 billion growing its lending book by 6% to $34.4 billion. 
  • Home lending grew 2.1 times faster than the market and business lending more than 6 times faster than the market. 
  • Deposits increased $1.8 billion growing the Kiwibank deposit book by 6% to $30 billion (1.6 times faster than market growth). 

 

About Kiwibank 

Kiwibank is a Purpose-led organisation that has modern, Kiwi values at heart and keeps Kiwi money where it belongs – right here in New Zealand. As a Kiwi bank, with more than a million customers, our trusted experts are focused on supporting Kiwi with their home ownership aspirations and backing local business ambitions, so together we can thrive here in Aotearoa and on the world stage. Kiwibank is the #1 bank in Kantar’s 2025 Corporate Reputation Index and the only bank in the top 15. To find out more about Kiwibank visit www.kiwibank.co.nz. 

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Aviation – Airways publishes 2025-2028 air traffic management service prices

Source: Airways NZ

Airways New Zealand has today confirmed new prices for its air traffic management services for the next three-year pricing cycle.
Every three years, Airways consults with its customers and stakeholders on proposed operating and capital expenditure, target revenue and service prices for the provision of air traffic control services. Consultation commenced in April and closed in July.
Throughout the consultation process, Airways has acknowledged the ongoing challenges facing the New Zealand aviation industry as it grapples to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In setting prices, Airways has balanced cost management in the current industry context with our obligations to provide a safe, efficient and reliable service now and into the future.
Airways has today confirmed an average price increase of 17.7% across three years for commercial airlines, which translates to an increase of 7.8% in year one, 6.5% in year two and 2.5% in year three.
New pricing will come into effect from 1 September and Airways will not look to recover the cost increase from 1 July to 31 August 2025. This means the effective price increase for year one is 6.5%.
In terms of how this translates to individual passengers, Airways calculates an indicative price per seat increase over the three-year period of $1.20 for a Sydney to Auckland flight, $1.44 for Auckland to Christchurch, $3.62 for a flight from Auckland to Napier and 36 cents for a flight from Wellington to Nelson.i
For GA customers operating aircraft less than five tonnes, Airways will apply an inflationary price increase of 11% over the FY26-28 period, which comprises a 6.8% increase in year one, 2.3% increase in year two and 1.9% increase in year three.
“We are operating in the same environment as our customers and are acutely aware of the challenges to deliver services in an increasingly more expensive operating context. Our pricing is based on the number of flights scheduled in and out of each airport. For Airways, we have the challenge of being required to maintain the agreed levels of service at a time when domestic flight volumes are at 90% of levels seen in 2019.” Says James Young, Airways Chief Executive.
The final prices and Airways’ response to customer feedback are outlined in the consultation response and decision document. This document, as well as all customer submissions are published on the Airways website. Airways thanks all submitters for their constructive feedback on the proposals.
In addition to feedback on the pricing proposal, feedback was also received on the Pricing and Service Frameworks, which define the parameters for Airways’ delivery of services. Airways int

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Business Canterbury welcomes manufacturing regulation consultation

Source: Business Canterbury

Business Canterbury welcomes Government consultation with the manufacturing sector on simplified workplace safety regulations, particularly for machine guarding rules and exposure standards that have long been a source of frustration for Canterbury manufacturers.
Business Canterbury Chief Executive, Leeann Watson says, “The announcement by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister, Hon Brooke van Velden aligns with Business Canterbury's longstanding advocacy for practical, consistent, and clear health and safety regulations, and follows feedback the Minister received directly from Business Canterbury members during her roadshow last year.”
“Similar to the Minister, we have also heard from Canterbury businesses receiving conflicting advice from WorkSafe inspectors on identical machinery in different locations, or between similar businesses, creating unnecessary confusion and compliance costs. This review is a positive step toward addressing these inconsistencies.”
“The current approach to workplace safety regulations in these areas has been described by our members as inconsistent and therefore unclear. Some have invested tens of thousands of dollars in equipment and controls but still struggle to comply with standards that don't align with international benchmarks or practical realities.
“This confusion is often exacerbated by WorkSafe, which currently takes an enforcement-first approach and refuses to provide advice, rather than a view to helping businesses implement standards which actually generate better health and safety outcomes.
“The Minister’s recent letter of expectations to WorkSafe to change the enforcement-first culture has been welcomed, and businesses are waiting to see changes on the ground.
“When our local businesses can focus on managing genuine risks rather than navigating complex and sometimes contradictory regulations, they can operate more efficiently, continue to keep their people safe, and contribute more effectively to our regional economy.”
Business Canterbury will be actively engaging with the consultation process and encourages members to participate and share their experiences and suggestions.
About Business Canterbury
Business Canterbury, formerly Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, is the largest business support agency in the South Island and advocates on behalf of its members for an environment more favourable to innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.
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Health – ProCare practices perform at an outstanding level in managing cardiovascular and diabetes care for patients

Source: ProCare

Practices within ProCare’s Network have shown they are putting in an outstanding effort in managing cardiovascular and diabetes care for their communities. A recent review of health indicator data in the northern region has shown where ProCare practices have demonstrated exceptional results.

The data, collated by the Northern Region Clinical Governance Forum, highlights the high standard of care provided by the network.  

Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare says: “Our practices excelled in managing patient care for microalbuminuria, CVD secondary and primary prevention for diabetes, and overall CVD secondary and primary prevention. Congratulations on all your hard mahi, as these metrics are crucial for monitoring and improving patient outcomes.”

ProCare had the highest performance for these indicators compared to other primary health organisations in the northern region.

“This achievement underscores the effectiveness of the health care strategies and the importance of taking a population health approach to supporting patients. It’s also testimony to the high calibre mahi health care professionals in our Network undertake every day,” says Norwell.

Mihi Blair, Kaiwhakahaere Hauora Māori, Mana Taurite (General Manager of Māori Health and Equity), at ProCare says: “This is an important improvement for Māori and Pacific people receiving care from practices within the Network. The results of this mahi are significant for reducing the equity gap in our communities.”

“ProCare has the largest number of Pacific patients across Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa than any other primary health organisation. These practices know the importance of supporting our most vulnerable communities in using a targeted approach. Our focus is to continue to support practices to focus on championing positive health outcomes for all our communities in need,” concludes Blair.

Additional support from clinicians as part of the Comprehensive Primary Care Teams has also played a significant role in monitoring patient care and providing additional clinical resource.

Norwell concludes: “Achieving these results highlights the great work being done by ProCare practices and positions us as a leader in the healthcare sector. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication to providing the highest standard of care for our communities.”

About ProCare

ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to more than 830,000 people across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz
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Property and Finance – Mortgage switching hits a record high as loan terms shorten – Cotality

Source: Cotality

Analysis from Kelvin Davidson, Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist

A record number of existing mortgage holders changed lenders in June, likely reflecting the short-term structure of many loans and the current ability to switch with minimal or no break fees. The cashbacks being offered are the incentive to take advantage of these conditions.

While other lending tr

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Health and Employment – Fed-up hospital nurses striking today over chronic short-staffing – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

Thousands of nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora employed by Te Whatu Ora will down tools from 9am today until 9am tomorrow after Health NZ failed to address their safe staffing concerns.
Strikes take place at more than 30 locations across the motu from Kaitaia in the north down to Invercargill in the south.
NZNO Chief Executive Paul Goulter says concerns about chronic and ongoing staff shortages have been raised continually throughout the collective agreement bargaining process which began last September and has finally led to today's national strike.
“Short-staffing not only puts patients at risk it impacts on the number of procedures and assessments hospitals can carry out, adding to wait times.
“Today's strike marks only the beginning of action if Te Whatu Ora doesn't realise the risks its staff and patients are under.”
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Health and Employment – Nurses strike for safe staffing benefits all New Zealanders – CTU

Source: NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi 

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is today supporting NZNO members across the country who are striking to push the Government to ensure safe staffing in the healthcare system.

“The NZCTU and wider union movement stand in solidarity with nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants who are standing up and fighting for safe staffing and quality care,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“Workers never make the decision to strike lightly. It is only when they have exhausted all other options. In this case, NZNO members are taking action on behalf of all New Zealanders to ensure safe staffing in the health system.

“Understaffing at Te Whatu Ora affects all of us – it increases hospital wait times, undermines quality safe healthcare and puts people at risk.

“The Government is prioritising tax cuts for the wealthy over essential public services such as our hospitals. That’s why this action is so important – we need to force the Government to guarantee safety in healthcare system.

“Everyone should be grateful to the nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants who are taking strike action this week,” said Wagstaff.

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Gaza: Acute malnutrition in children under five at Save the Children clinics surges 10-fold in over four months of total siege

Source: Save the Children

“I pray that a truce happens, and they let in food before we die” – a girl supported through one of Save the Children’s child-friendly spaces
GAZA, 29 July 2025 – The number of children under-five with acute malnutrition seen at Save the Children’s Gaza clinics surged 10-fold in four months, the aid agency said, as child deaths due to starvation accelerate and the global humanitarian authority on hunger crises warned that famine is unfolding in Gaza. [1]
Of the 3,533 children Save the Children screened for malnutrition during the first half of July, 259 were admitted for treatment (7%) compared to 28 (1%) in March. The number of children admitted for treatment of malnutrition in the first two weeks of July is close to the total for the whole of June, a trend the aid agency’s staff working at its two primary healthcare centres described as dangerous and unprecedented. [2]
More than four in 10 pregnant and breastfeeding women – 43% – screened at Save the Children’s clinics so far in July were found to be malnourished, almost three times as many as in March when the Government of Israel’s imposed a total siege on Gaza. [3]
This data comes as the latest report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), found that “the worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip”, with more than 70,000 cases of children under five and 17,000 cases of pregnant and breastfeeding women facing acute malnutrition across the Gaza Strip. [1]
So far 147 people, including 88 children, have reportedly died is due to malnutrition and starvation since October 2023, according to the Ministry of Health. According to the UN, at least 25 children died from malnutrition in July alone.
Save the Children staff said children they are supporting in child-friendly spaces are going for as long as two days with no food and fainting from a lack of energy. Mothers at mother and baby areas, designed to support caregivers of young children, arrive exhausted and in dire need of support.
Families are resorting to scavenging food from garbage. A Save the Children staff member spoke of children we assist in our child-friendly spaces outlining their wishes, saying: “A girl said: “I pray that a truce happens, and they let in food before we die.”
Aid groups – including Save the Children – have sounded the alarm for an urgent end to the siege and for the restoration of the full flow of food, clean water, medical supplies, and other aid through existing principled humanitarian UN-led channels.
Ahmad Alhendawi, Save the Children’s Regional Director for the Middle East, Eastern Europe and North Africa, said:
“Children in Gaza are starving to death before our eyes. We are seeing record rates of malnutrition after nearly five months of the Israeli government’s total siege on the entry of assistance. This is starvation of children by design. It is unconscionable that children are collapsing from hunger, wasting away before our eyes and wishing to die while tons of life-saving food and nutritional supplies that could reverse an entirely manmade crisis, wait just across the border or even within Gaza. All available evidence indicates that the Government of Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war.
“These children will not die if we are allowed to do our jobs. We can treat malnutrition. But without the supplies and conditions, we are powerless to save children from a condition we are able to prevent. An entire generation of children stand on the precipice. Every day without access means more children will die, and more children face the risk of irreversible harm that fundamentally undermines their futures. “The recent announcement of a so-called “pause” to allow a trickle of aid into Gaza has the potential to help but it is far from what is needed to bring Gaza’s children and their families back from the brink of death.
“Our clinics are doing all they can to treat the children we see, but the only way we can put an end to this mass starvation is through a definitive ceasefire and re-establishment of the conditions for the humanitarian system to work at full scale and pace as it is ready to do.”
Children are always the most vulnerable to immediate and long-term impacts of food crises and, without enough to eat and the right nutritional balance, they are at high risk of becoming acutely malnourished. 
Malnutrition can cause stunting, impede mental and physical development, and increase the risk of contracting deadly diseases.
Save the Children has been working in Gaza for decades. We are running two primary healthcare centres in Gaza, providing essential services to children, mothers, and families, including screening and treatment for malnutrition. 
We are ready to scale-up lifesaving aid alongside our partners. Our teams deliver water, run child-friendly spaces and mother and baby areas where pregnant and breastfeeding women can receive support on nutrition and infant feeding and psychosocial care. We also set up temporary learning centres to help children continue their education.  
Notes:
[2] Save the Children screened 2,640 children for malnutrition at our health centres in March, admitting 28 (1%) who were malnourished to our treatment programme. In July, as of the 17th, the aid agency screened 3,533 children and admitted 259 (7%). In June 6,297 were screened with 300 (5%) admitted.
[3] Of 747 pregnant and breastfeeding women screened in June, 323 (43%) were found to be malnourished. In March, it was 152 of 947 women screened (16%).
Screening children for acute malnutrition – which is also known as wasting – involves assessing their nutritional status by taking their weight, height, and measuring their mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as well as looking for other indicators such as oedema or swelling. While a threat to the lives of young children, severe malnutrition can be treated, including by the use of fortified food. 
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Finance Sector – FinCap to launch report calling for controls on debt collectors

Source: FinCap

FinCap will launch its annual Voices report at Parliament on 31 July, at an event hosted by Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson.
The report will provide data on the circumstances of people seeking assistance from financial mentors to cope with debt and make recommendations, including controls on harassment and abuse by debt collectors.
What: Launch of the FinCap Voices report
Where: Beehive Theatrette, Parliament Buildings
When: 10am-11am, 31 July, 2025
The report will be available on our FinCap website following the launch.