Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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First Responders – Care urged after spate of fatal house fires

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is asking everyone to put fire safety at the front of their minds following a spike in the number of fatal house fires.
Risk Reduction and Investigations Manager Peter Gallagher says that in the last 12 months there have been 17 people who have died in avoidable residential house fires.
“This is our worst year in 10 years. With the cooler weather, we see more house fires. It is so important that people take some simple steps to ensure whanau and fri

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Pacific scholars applaud international ruling on climate change

Source: Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa – Centre for Pacific and Global Health

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling welcomed by Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa – Centre for Pacific and Global Health.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that countries can be held legally accountable for greenhouse gas emissions has been welcomed by Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa – Centre for Pacific and Global Health.

Co-Director Li’amanaia Dr Roannie Ng Shiu commended Pacific youth and Pacific communities for their leadership and perseverance over six years of advocacy. She says their leadership demonstrated the power of young Pacific voices to shape international systems and call the world to account.

“We extend our congratulations to the Pacific youth, student leaders and our Pacific communities in the region whose courageous advocacy and strategic vision led to this moment.”
“Their tireless efforts – supported by a coalition of Pacific governments, civil society, and legal experts – have resulted in a global legal affirmation that states have clear obligations to act on climate change.”

The legal campaign, led by Vanuatu, was initiated by the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC). Its president, Cynthia Houniuhi, visited the University of Auckland’s Fale Pasifika two years ago as a guest panelist for Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa’s Pacific Transnational Leadership Panel, where she joined regional leaders in discussing the future of Pacific cooperation.

Dr Ng Shiu praised the leadership of Houniuhi and the cultural integrity of the campaign.

“This opinion stems from a journey led by Pacific students and communities, speaking from lived experience – rising sea levels, disrupted ecosystems, and the health and social impacts already affecting their families.”

That journey has now yielded a decision that will influence global climate action for years to come, says Ng Shiu.

“As a young Pacific female and student, she epitomizes what it means to make the impossible possible and to redefine leadership. She’s quiet and humble, but when she speaks, it’s deeply impactful. In a world that often celebrates loud and assertive voices, Cynthia’s thoughtful approach stands out.

“Her leadership, and the way the ICJ campaign was conducted, reflects not just climate justice but also cultural ethics. The integration of storytelling and community engagement ensures that people hear, understand, and embrace the message. This is promising for Indigenous and Pacific peoples – our ways of knowing and being are being valued by institutions like the ICJ.

“This ruling is not just about empowerment, but also accountability. It s

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Health – PM must act to end tobacco industry interference in his Government – Health Coalition

Source: Health Coalition Aotearoa

Health Coalition Aotearoa is calling on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to show leadership and strip NZ First of the tobacco and vaping portfolio, following damning revelations of collusion between NZ First and tobacco giant Philip Morris.

A detailed RNZ investigation uncovered documents showing Philip Morris provided NZ First with a draft piece of regulation which the Deputy Prime Minister at the time Winston Peters supported.
Winston Peters was described by JUUL representatives as “industry friendly and highly geared towards commercial interests.” NZ First reportedly assured Philip Morris they would “put that draft into the policy mix.”

The World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which New Zealand signed in 2005, explicitly warns of the “irreconcilable conflict” between the goals of public health and the interests of the tobacco industry. Under this treaty, governments must protect health policy from tobacco industry interference.

“By allowing tobacco industry influence, this Government is breaching its obligations under the World Health Organization convention, says Professor Chris Bullen, Health Coalition Aotearoa tobacco spokesperson and University of Auckland professor.

“These documents confirm what many have long feared: tobacco companies are influencing health policy in Aotearoa. The Prime Minister must demonstrate he expects the highest standards of integrity from his Ministers and reallocate the tobacco and vaping portfolio,” says Professor Bullen.

Tobacco companies’ intensive and covert lobbying comes as no surprise. However, evidence NZ First MPs have been complicit in these arrangements will shock the public, who expect higher standards from politicians.

The evidence in the media today gives an explicit example of how officials are exposed to communications, meetings and relationships with a powerful industry on policy that is supposed to be protecting public health. And yet another example of this Government favouring commercial interests over people’s lives and health.

Winston Peters told reporters yesterday “I’ve always been industry friendly”. Matching rhetoric of NZ First Minister Shane Jones last year confirmed Philip Morris External Relations Manager Api Dawson was involved in ‘soundings’ about the party's tobacco policy.

Professor Bullen says the revelations offer Luxon a clear opportunity to put New Zealanders’ health ahead of dirty politics.

“This is a test of leadership. He must reassign the tobacco and vaping portfolio to someone with no ties to the industry. New Zealanders expect transparency and a Government that acts with integrity.

“The Government has already damaged Aotearoa New Zealand’s international standing by repealing popular, widely acclaimed smokefree measures – a move that has seen a stall in the decline of smoking prevalence, while inequities persist.

“The RNZ revelations show serious lack of judgement by this Government. It must end now. We are spending billions treating preventable diseases caused by smoking, while politicians allow the industry to keep selling the products that cause these harms. It’s reckless and it’s wrong,” says Professor Bullen.

Health Coalition Aotearoa is calling for:

  • Immediate reassignment of the tobacco and vaping portfolio from NZ First to a politician free of any ties to the industry, and who will prioritise New Zealanders’ health over corporate profits.
  • The Ministry of Health to exclude the nicotine industry from policy processes, interact only when necessary, and document all interactions in alignment with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to which Aotearoa is a Party.
  • Stronger rules on lobbying and conflicts of interest across government. Health Coalition Aotearoa is running a campaign to mitigate the harmful impact of industry involvement in public health policy.
  • The Government to prioritise the advice and expertise of those working to reduce tobacco and nicotine harm when changing tobacco policies.

“All the current Government’s coalition parties have links to the tobacco industry. That must end,” said Professor Bullen. “The Prime Minister has a choice: run a government based on integrity or stoop to a new level of dirty politics. He must act now.”
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Health – ProCare welcomes announcement from Minister to strengthen primary care funding and access

Source: ProCare

Leading healthcare provider, ProCare, has today welcomed the announcement from Health Minister Simeon Brown which outlines a number of initiatives aimed at improving access to primary care, particularly in rural and high-needs communities.

The proposed update to the capitation funding model—set to take effect from 1 July 2026—is particularly encouraging.

Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare says: “The current model has been long overdue for reform. By factoring in multimorbidity, rurality, and socioeconomic deprivation, the new approach promises to better reflect the realities faced by general practices and the whānau and communities they serve.

“This is a positive step forward for the health system and for patients across Aotearoa, and we’re pleased to see the Government recognising the critical role primary care plays in delivering timely, equitable, and community-based healthcare,” continues Norwell.

“Additionally, the Minister stated that some practices would not see a benefit from re-weighting capitation, and whilst this might be so, we will be advocating hard to make sure additional money is invested in the new formula to avoid any practices going backwards through this change. It would be a shame to lose ground after such a successful PSAAP round only a month ago”

ProCare also supports the introduction of a new national health target to ensure more than 80 percent of people can access a GP within one week.

“As we’ve said time and time again, primary care is the fence at the top of the cliff, rather than the ambulance at the bottom. Timely access to care is essential for preventing more serious health issues and reducing pressure on hospitals. We look forward to working with the Government to help shape this target in a way that is both ambitious and achievable, and that works for both patients and practices,” says Norwell.

“We also remain committed to recognising and mitigating unintended consequences of targets on the health system. We are well aware of issues when similar targets have been introduced in hospitals in NZ, and overseas in general practice, and will work on our members’ behalf to mitigate these”.

The additional investment in general practice training is another welcome move.

“Funding the full pathway for GPEP trainees is an absolute game-changer. We know how difficult financially it is for GPEPs, and anything that can be done to ease the financial burden and cover costs will be welcomed by those trainees.

“The funding for GPEPs also s

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Health – Hip hip hooray – government finally updates antiquated funding formula – Genaro

Source:  General Practice Owners Association (GenPro)

25 July 2025 – General practice owners are delighted that the Government is modernising the way it funds community doctors to better reflect the needs of patients.

Cabinet has broadened the range of factors which influence funding from just age and sex, to include deprivation, multi-morbidity, and rurality.

“The capitation system, which determines how general practices are funded, hasn't been meaningfully updated since it was established in 2002,” says Dr Angus Chambers, Chair of the General Practice Owners Association (GenPro).

“Despite numerous reviews and the widely supported recommendations of the 2022 Sapere report, little progress had been made. This lack of action by successive governments perpetuates inequities and undermines the sustainability of primary care.”

“GenPro has been calling for a funding review for years, so hats off to Health Minister Simeon Brown for finally getting it done and implemented from July next year.

“In particular we support the addition of funding criteria such as deprivation – a marker of high health needs – and rurality, as rural areas have less access to health services under the current formula. GenPro also supports regular updates of capitation every five years, starting in 2028.

“GenPro also welcomes Minister Brown's announcement of increased funding to support general practitioners in training, and putting more structure around feedback from the sector. We invite him to work with GenPro to design a health target so we can see patients as soon as we can.

“GenPro is also pleased with the announcement of a group to advise the minister on primary care. We believe that decisions made by successive ministers have suffered from poor advice from the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand leading to the current workforce and funding crisis affecting General Practice. Better advice will be essential to a high performing system in the future.

“These are all positive signs and, along with recent funding increases announced in the Budget, indicate improvements that will make a real difference for patients.”

GenPro members are owners and providers of general practices and urgent care centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information visit  www.genpro.org.nz

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Rangatahi to lead negotiations in international climate meeting simulation – Save the Children

Source: Save the Children

Kiwi young people will tomorrow come together to negotiate climate policy, find solutions and create a statement for climate action during Aotearoa Youth COP, New Zealand’s youth-led national simulation event of the UN’s international climate meeting.
Held at Auckland University, around 200 young people aged between 14 and 30 (more than half under 18) have registered to attend the simulation of the UN’s annual climate meeting, to be held later this year in Belém, Brazil.
The event – supported by Save the Children, Youth Climate Collective and Ngā Ara Whetū (Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society) – builds on last year’s first-ever COP simulation event, with interactive workshops, climate policy negotiations and debates on some of the most pressing issues facing youth today. The event will also include a panel discussion and talk from British High Commission’s Lead Climate Change Advisor Rick Zwaan.
Participants will take on roles representing different groups, from journalists to policy makers, indigenous communities to NGOs. Working in teams, they will create, debate and negotiate agreements, like real global leaders, with each session designed to build leadership, negotiation, systems thinking and collaboration skills in a supportive and action-focused environment.
At the end of the day, the insights and policies developed will be collated into an Aotearoa Youth Climate Statement , which will be delivered to the New Zealand Government and presented at COP30 in Brazil by a delegation of young leaders.
Save the Children Generation Hope youth ambassador Lily, 15, says she is most looking forward to seeing how rangatahi reflect on climate change and the impact they can have on it.
“Events like this give rangatahi like me a voice, an opportunity to discuss how we believe we can solve a collective problem without judgement or difficulty. I think, as rangatahi, we have the right to be at the forefront of discussions on climate change.
“We may not be the past, but we are the present and future, and the outcome of what we do now will impact us and future generations to come.”
Save the Children New Zealand CEO Heather Campbell says this week’s landmark ICJ advisory opinion, which acknowledges the impacts of climate change on children and young people, gives voice to the millions of children at the forefront of the climate crisis – and offers hope for greater climate action.
“The climate crisis is a children’s rights crisis. Children, particularly those affected by inequality and discrimination, bear the brunt of climate change impacts, despite being least responsible.
“It was Pacific youth leaders who began this fight for climate justice and took it to the highest court in the world, which shows the power of young people to implement their ideas for a better future. Children want and deserve to be heard. Their voices matter.”
About Save the Children NZ:
Save the Children works in 110 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.
Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.
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Government Cuts – Over half of mid-year nursing graduates miss out on jobs – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

Te Whatu Ora has again failed nursing graduates – and Aotearoa New Zealand’s future nursing workforce – by employing just 45% of the 2025 mid-year cohort, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) says.
The mid-year graduation cohort sat their state final exams last week. Figures released by Te Whatu Ora to nursing magazine Kaitiaki on its job-matching programme ACE show just 323 of 722 applicants were matched to supported-entry roles in hospitals.
NZNO National Student Unit President Bianca Grimmer says it is a “huge blow” to nursing graduates.
“Hospital jobs are highly sought after and often the reason students want to get into nursing.
“Te Whatu Ora used to hire 80-90% of all graduates. We were blindsided this time last year when only three in every five mid-year graduates were hired.
“This year is even worse and will make some students reassess whether they continue with their studies,” Bianca Grimmer says.
A recent survey of 1246 nursing students found 62% would consider seeking a nursing job overseas if they were unable to get a new graduate job in Aotearoa New Zealand. This increased to 73% for Māori students.
About 36,000 of NZNO’s Te Whatu Ora members are preparing for a 24-hour national strike next Wednesday 30 July after Collective Agreement negotiations stalled with a refusal by Health NZ to commit to its obligation to employ new graduates one of the sticking points.
Bianca Grimmer says nursing students recently attended a jobs expo where an Australian stand was luring graduates with better wages and conditions.
“We have a health system in crisis and desperately need more homegrown nurses. With 30,000 Kiwis leaving for Australia in the past year, this shortsighted decision by Te Whatu Ora will see more graduate nurses packing their bags.”
Bianca Grimmer says a recent media release from Te Whatu Ora urging nursing graduates to look outside the hospital system seemed to be an attempt to “soften the blow” to the mid-year cohort.
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Arts – Susanna Elliffe is winner of the 2025 NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize!

Source: New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc)

The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) congratulates Susanna Elliffe on winning the 2025 NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize with her manuscript Relic Party.

The prize was created by the NZSA and the Solomon family to fulfil the wishes of Laura Solomon, a novelist, poet and playwright who was a longstanding member of the NZSA and a beloved member of the Solomon family. It awards new writing of 'unique and original vision' with a cash prize of $2,000 and a publishing contract with The Cuba Press. Publication will be in 2026.

The winning manuscript, Relic Party, is a short story collection that studies loss, both intimate and global, human and nonhuman, ranging through ugly ghosts, false relics, and desperate pilgrimages, to a dysfunctional 80's farmhouse and the speculative worlds of climate affected futures.

We also congratulate Belinda O'Keefe who is the runner-up, winning a cash prize of $1,000 with her manuscript Trespassers Will Be Baked, Scrambled, Fried and Eaten.
Susanna Elliffe's manuscript was selected by a final judging panel of Mary McCallum (The Cuba Press), Nicky Solomon (Solomon Family) and panel convenor and award-winning writer Cassie Hart.

Cassie Hart, convenor of the judges, says: “The quality of entries this year was amazing – choosing the finalists was not an easy task, and then selecting just one winner? A huge challenge. I so appreciate the writers of New Zealand for not making this easy!

“The final four were all so different from each other, spanning from a very lyrical collection of short stories to a humorous contemporary novel, a middle grade adventure, through to a memoiresque non-fiction book exploring the experience of immigrants! There is almost no way to compare the four, as they are each such a success in their own right. The winner, Relic Party, stood out as being the most unique and original of the three though, and I know that readers will fall in love with Susannah Elliffe's prose and storytelling just like we did.”

Nicky Solomon says: “It is so wonderful to see interest in the prize continue to grow, as we mark its fifth year. We are extremely grateful to the NZSA and The Cuba Press for taking Laura’s idea and turning it into a true legacy. She would be absolutely delighted by the calibre of the work and I know that she would echo me in congratulating all of the finalists, and in fact all of the entrants. The judges are continually challenged, in a good way, by such high quality writing in such a diverse range of genres, and our family ext

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Health – General Practice training programme to be fully funded is a win for the future of the general practice workforce

Source: Royal NZ College of General Practitioners

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners welcomes the Minister of Health’s announcement today at GP25: Conference for General Practice of significant additional funding for registrars across the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP).
This announcement will go a long way to strengthen the training and grow the next generation of the specialist GP workforce, and includes:
  • In 2025, training fees for doctors in their second, third, and post-third year of GPEP to encourage completion of their training.
  • Fellowship assessment costs for around 200 GPEP trainees to enable them to complete their training and become Fellows.
  • From 2026, full ongoing training and education costs for an estimated 400 GPEP year 2 and 3 trainees each year.
Currently, GP registrars only have their first year of GPEP funded with the second and third years having to be self-funded. This funding approach is different to all the other medical training programmes (in New Zealand and Australasian medical colleges) that are fully funded for their entirety.
College President Dr Samantha Murton says, “This funding will be a gamechanger for current and future trainees. This is a significant acknowledgement for the specialism of the general practice workforce and the vital role we play in healthcare being as important as those of our peers in secondary hospital settings.
“Not only will this funding offer the necessary financial support our GP registrars need throughout their training, but we are optimistic that the news will encourage medical graduates who have an interest in general practice but have been put off by the financial barriers to make the step to train as a specialist GP. To them, I say welcome and you won’t regret your decision.
The College has been a strong and vocal advocate for the current and future general practice workforce and is enthusiastic that the funding for primary care is heading in the right direction to ensure that it is sustainable.
College Chief Executive Toby Beaglehole says, “We are focused on building a sustainable workforce for the future, which starts with training and the equitability of our program costs to other specialist medical training.
“This funding s

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Politics – What the heck Winston? Greenpeace queries NZ First support for Seymour’s Overseas Investment Bill

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace is asking NZ First leader Winston Peters what the heck his party is doing supporting an amendment Bill which could lead to greater corporate control of Aotearoa.
NZ First has supported ACT leader David Seymour’s amendment Bill to the Overseas Investment Act, through its first reading. Submissions on the Bill closed this week.
Greenpeace spokesperson Gen Toop says: “ACT is trying to change the Overseas Investment law to make it easier for multinational corporations to buy up and exploit conservation land, lakebeds, coastal zones, wāhi tapu sites and other sensitive land across Aotearoa.”
“Shockingly, ACT is even trying to remove the mandatory requirement that the Government check whether a corporation has been involved in serious criminal activity before giving them access to New Zealand’s sensitive land and natural resources.”
The Act currently mandates that the Government apply the Benefit to New Zealand test and Investor Test before giving consent to the sale of land that is classified as “sensitive” and allows them to decline consent if either of these tests are failed.
Sensitive land is outlined in the Act and includes conservation areas, lake beds, marine and coastal zones, offshore islands, wāhi tapu and other culturally significant sites, as well as land adjoining these areas.
The Bill proposes that instead of applying a public benefit and investor test, the Government applies a narrower “national interest” test which Greenpeace says completely fails to guarantee any meaningful consideration of environmental, cultural, or public interest values.
“NZ First currently supports a Bill that would make it easier for multinational corporations to loot and destroy Aotearoa and funnel the profits to offshore shareholders leaving New Zealanders to deal with the mess – polluted rivers, drained aquifers and degraded ecosystems,” Toop says.
The Bill also scraps the requirement that water quality and sustainability be assessed before allowing overseas interests to extract, bottle and sell New Zealand's freshwater.
“NZ First claims to put New Zealand first. But this ACT party Bill firmly puts offshore corporations first and New Zealanders last. Winston Peters should withdraw his party's support for the Bill before it’s too late.”