Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Research – Study of ancient sea creature’s DNA links New Zealand to oceans around the world

Source: New Zealand Institute for Earth Science Limited (Earth Sciences New Zealand)

A world-first study of marine life, including sea creatures found in New Zealand's dark, cold, pressurised ocean depths, has revealed that deep-sea life is surprisingly more connected than previously thought. The research, led by Australia's Museums Victoria Research Institute and just published in Nature, found that while marine life in shallow waters is regionally unique, deeper ocean life shows more global connectivity, with some deep-sea species found across vast distances, even on opposite sides of the world.
A previous lack of global data meant that the connections of deep-sea species weren't fully known, but the researchers from 19 different institutions, including Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA), were able to discover how marine life is connected across the sea floor. The landmark study mapped the global distribution and evolutionary relationships of brittle stars (Ophiuroidea), an ancient, spiny animal found from shallow coastal waters to the deepest abyssal plains, and from the equator to the poles.

In the most comprehensive study of its kind, brittle star DNA from four dozen collections, including from Earth Sciences New Zealand's invertebrate collection in Wellington, was examined. By analysing over 2,500 DNA samples collected from over 300 research voyages in all oceans and at various depths, the researchers were able to uncover how the deep-sea invertebrates have evolved and migrated across the oceans over the past 100 million years, linking ecosystems from Iceland to Tasmania.

'You might think of the deep sea as remote and isolated, but for many animals on the seafloor, it's actually a connected superhighway,' said study lead Dr Tim O'Hara, Senior Curator of Marine Invertebrates at Museums Victoria Research Institute. 'Over long timescales, deep-sea species have expanded their ranges by thousands of kilometres. This connectivity is a global phenomenon that's gone unnoticed, until now.'

The brittle star was chosen because the animals, which have lived on Earth for over 480 million years, are found on all ocean floors, including at depths of more than 3,500 metres, says Dr O'Hara. “These animals don't have fins or wings, but they've still managed to span entire oceans. The secret lies in their biology; their larvae can survive for a long time in cold water, hitching a ride on slow-moving deep-sea currents.”

With the yolk-rich larvae able to drift on deep ocean currents for extended periods, the brittle stars have been able to colonise far-flung regions. Unlike marine life in shallow waters, which is restricted by temperature boundaries, deep-sea environments are more stable and allow species to disperse over vast distances, the study found. “The research shows that deep-sea communities, particularly at temperate latitudes, are more closely related across regions than their shallow-water counterparts. This may be due to historic ocean currents and temperature patterns that allowed species to spread over time. For example, marine animals found off southern Australia share close evolutionary links with those in the North Atlantic, on the other side of the planet.”

However, the deep sea is not uniform, and while species can spread widely, factors such as extinction events, environmental change, and geography have created a patchwork of biodiversity across the seafloor.

Deep-sea ecosystems are more connected than first thought, says study co-author Sadie Mills, invertebrate collection manager at Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA). “Understanding how species are related and their connections in the ocean at different depths and different latitudes is key to protecting marine biodiversity across the entire planet. These global links should be taken into account in planning.”

As threats from deep-sea mining and climate change increase, this new appreciation of how life is distributed and moves through this vast environment is essential if we want to protect it, says Dr O'Hara. “It's a paradox. The deep sea is highly connected, but also incredibly fragile.”

(Ref. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09307-1 )

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Law Business and Media – MinterEllisonRuddWatts advises Warner Bros. Discovery on sale of Discovery NZ to Sky

Source: MinterEllisonRuddWatts

MinterEllisonRuddWatts is pleased to have advised Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. on the sale of its New Zealand subsidiary, Discovery NZ Limited, to Sky Network Television Limited (Sky).
The transaction, announced this week, involves the sale of 100% of the shares in Discovery NZ to Sky, with completion expected on 1 August 2025.
Discovery NZ operates the broadcast-video-on-demand (BVOD) platform ThreeNow, free-to-air channel Three, and a suite of FAST channels in New Zealand.
As part of the deal, Warner Bros. Discovery and Sky have entered into a significant and ongoing content supply agreement, ensuring continued access to premium content for New Zealand audiences.
Michael Brooks, Managing Director Australia and New Zealand for Warner Bros. Discovery commented: “This is a fantastic outcome for both Warner Bros. Discovery and Sky. While Discovery NZ is no longer commercially viable as a standalone asset in our New Zealand portfolio, we see the value Three and ThreeNow can bring to Sky’s offering. The transaction includes a content supply agreement that benefits both parties.”
MinterEllisonRuddWatts advised Warner Bros. Discovery on all legal aspects of the transaction, including deal structuring, negotiation of the share sale agreement, transitional services arrangements, employment aspects, content supply arrangements and regulatory engagement.
Corporate Partner Mark Forman who led the deal, says: “We are proud to have supported Warner Bros. Discovery in this strategic divestment. The transaction reflects our firm’s expertise in cross-border M&A and media sector transactions, and we are pleased to have helped deliver a successful outcome that creates a unique opportunity for Sky.”
The law firm’s deal team included Mark Forman, Tayla Johnston, James Marriner, Nick Stewart, Caitlin Reid, Jennifer Hambleton, Gillian Service, Joshua Kimpton, Simon Akozu, Andrew Ryan, Chris Young, Briar Richardson, David Gilbert, Tom Maasland, Sean Gollin, and Kate Lane.
MinterEllisonRuddWatts is a top tier New Zealand law firm known for providing clients with technically excellent legal solutions and innovative advice. We are trusted advisors and work alongside our clients to ensure success. We are proud to be a New Zealand law firm offering a global outlook. Our offices in Auckland and Wellington can access an international network through our firm’s strategic alliance with MinterEllison, a leading firm in the Asia-Pacific. The firm supports numerous charitable endeavours and organisations through its pro bono and fundraising initiatives.
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Consumer NZ reveals the best and worst laundry detergents

Source: Consumer NZ

Three laundry detergents have scored no better than water in Consumer NZ’s laundry detergent test.

We put 46 detergents through the wringer. Two detergents ended up with an overall score of 27 out of 100 – the same score given to a wash with only water. Those two products were Shotz Laundry Liquid and EcoLiving Laundry Detergent Sheets with lavender scent.

Another laundry sheet product – Re-Stor Laundry Detergent Sheets fresh linen scent – scored even lower. These sheets were rated ‘poor’ at removing everyday grime and most of the stains we use in our detergent tests, including grass and mud, olive oil and tomato.  

Our head of testing James le Page said he wasn’t surprised laundry sheets once more took out two of the bottom spots in the test.

“They only weigh a couple of grams, so when you put them in your machine, they’re just not going to do a good job compared with a capful of laundry liquid or scoop of powder, both of which have the potential to contain more active ingredients,” James said.  

However, James wouldn’t be surprised if laundry sheets one day climbed up the test results.

“They’re early in their developmental journey as a product. They’re years behind the other options, so they’re playing catch-up.”

Persil products took out the top three spots in the test results, with Persil Ultimate powder proving to be New Zealand’s most effective laundry detergent.

Persil Active Clean powder wasn’t far behind, followed by Persil 3 in 1 Ultimate capsules.  

Ten detergents were given ‘Consumer Recommended’ status, including some New Zealand-made Laundromate and Ecostore products.  

The cheapest Recommended detergent was Ecostore Ultrapower Citrus Fresh – it costs just 8c per wash. It was particularly good at removing everyday grime as well as grass and tomato stains.  

See here the laundry detergent test results available for anyone to view: https://consumernz.cmail20.com/t/i-l-fultrid-ijjdkdttjk-y/

“We encourage people to have a look at the results and see how the detergent they’re using now scores. You might find something that will do a better job for a better price,” James said.  

Best powder detergent – Persil Ultimate  
Best liquid detergent – Ariel Original  
Best capsule detergent – Persil 3 in 1 Ultimate  

 

Notes

Consumer NZ test results are usually exclusively available to our members. However, this time, we have made the laundry detergent test results available for all New Zealanders. You can view them at www.consumer.org.nz/products/laundry-detergents/review.

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Greenpeace – World court’s climate ruling a legal warning shot for Luxon

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace Aotearoa says the world's highest court has just delivered a wake-up call for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
In a historic climate ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has confirmed that governments have legal obligations to protect people – both now and in the future – from the worsening impacts of the climate crisis. That includes regulating big polluters like fossil fuel companies and intensive livestock operations.
“This is a warning shot to Luxon that his Government’s war on nature and the climate comes with consequences,” says Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson.
“The Court has made it clear: states must take action to prevent climate harm, no matter where it occurs. They must uphold people’s fundamental right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment – for today’s communities and future generations.”
The ICJ ruling goes beyond the Paris Agreement, reinforcing that governments have a duty to regulate climate pollution, cooperate internationally, and prevent environmental harm. It strengthens the legal grounds for climate-impacted communities to hold governments accountable.
Since taking office, the Luxon Government has scrapped or weakened numerous key climate policies. It has:
  • Overturned the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration
  • Pledged to fast-track coal mining
  • Shelved agricultural emissions pricing
  • Exempted the country’s worst climate polluter – intensive dairying – from meaningful accountability
“Luxon is elevating the profits of polluters above people’s fundamental human rights,” says Larsson. “This ruling puts him – and governments like his – on notice.”
The dairy industry, led by Fonterra, is New Zealand’s largest climate polluter. Yet under pressure from lobby groups, the Government has rolled back environmental safeguards and is now considering weakening methane targets – despite clear advice from the Climate Change Commission that action on methane must be strengthened.
Earlier this year, Luxon received a letter authored by dozens of international climate scientists accusing him of ignoring scientific evidence on methane and urging him to follow the Climate Commission’s advice to strengthen New Zealand’s methane target. The letter was featured on the front page of the Financial Times.
“New Zealand is the world’s largest dairy exporter and a major player in the global livestock industry,” says Larsson.
“How New Zealand addresses livestock emissions sets an important precedent for the rest of the world. If Luxon guts the methane target, New Zealand risks breaching the Paris Agreement and, by extension, its trade agreements with partners like the UK and EU.”
The historic ICJ ruling is a result of action taken in 2019 by 27 law students from The University of the South Pacific. As the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, they campaigned for the ICJ to issue an Advisory Opinion on the responsibilities of States in respect to climate change. The resolution, put forward by Vanuatu alongside a global alliance of States, passed the United Nations General Assembly unanimously in March 2023, co-sponsored by over 130 countries.
“As this ruling shows, the courts are becoming an increasingly important venue for climate justice – because governments like ours are failing to protect people and the planet. And when that happens, people will step up to defend their future.”
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University Research – It’s time to rethink scare tactics in health ads – study

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Gruesome smoking warnings and frightening obesity statistics use fear to drive behaviour change. But a University of Auckland researcher says it might be time to try a different approach.

Marketing lecturer Dr Saira Raza Khan, whose work focuses on consumer well-being and meaningful consumption, says gratitude can be more effective than fear when it comes to promoting healthier choices.

“I don’t think fear in advertising is beneficial for people’s mental health and well-being,” says Khan. “We’re already going through negative emotions in relation to other elements of our lives – the news, work stress, etc. Why not use emotions in health advertising that promote well-being?”

Her article, published in the Journal of Advertising Research, examines how different emotional appeals (fear and gratitude) influence people’s responses to diet-related messages.

“Fear t

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International Court of Justice climate ruling a powerful tool for holding countries to account – Oxfam

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

The International Court of Justice has ruled that governments must phase out fossil fuels, rapidly reduce emissions, provide remedy to those facing climate damages, and provide climate finance to developing countries.
Oxfam climate change policy lead Nafkote Dabi said:
“Oxfam is proud to have supported young climate defenders from the Pacific and elsewhere who bravely took their fight for justice from a classroom in Vanuatu to the world’s highest court. They won the world a tremendous victory today.
This ruling elevates national climate commitments everywhere by confirming that countries must reduce emissions enough to protect the universal rights to life, food, health and a clean environment. All countries, particularly rich ones, now have to cut their emissions faster and phase out fossil fuels. Rich countries have to increase their financing to Global South countries to help them reduce emissions and protect their people from past and future harm. This is not a wish-list – it is international law.
We now have a powerful tool for holding countries to account for their obligations, especially in protecting the world’s most marginalised people and future generations of humanity. The ICJ rejected arguments by the likes of the US and UK that governments are bound only by climate treaties such as the Paris Agreement and did not have stronger obligations under international law. This ruling will inject new impetus into negotiations at the COP30 Summit in Brazil this November.”
Oxfam Aotearoa climate justice lead Nick Henry said:
“Today’s ruling is a stunning rebuke to the rich countries, including New Zealand, who are failing to stop harm to our climate. It is a victory for a people-powered campaign started by Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change, gaining support from Pacific leaders and allies around the world.
The New Zealand government provided early support to the campaign and co-sponsored the UN resolution that referred the case to the ICJ. But in its submissions to the court, New Zealand argued that human rights law is not relevant to climate change and that governments don’t have climate obligations beyond the existing Paris Agreement.
The world’s highest court has rejected the New Zealand government’s arguments and ruled that the international treaties on human rights and the environment create binding obligations to prevent harm to the climate.
This means that New Zealand must do more to reduce emissions and increase funding for climate action in the Pacific.”
Notes:
Oxfam has been supporting the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change’s lawsuit since 2022, joining in advocacy for the UN General Assembly to refer the case to the Court. Oxfam provided a written statement to the ICJ in March 2024 on human rights obligations beyond borders and what this means for climate action. Oxfam also contributed to an expert legal opinion that was referenced in several State submissions, the Maastricht Principles on the Human Rights of Future Generations.
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Climate change: ICJ ruling is a landmark win for children – Save the Children

Source: Save the Children

The historic climate change ruling at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) today is a landmark win for child campaigners, acknowledging the adverse impacts of climate change on child rights, and offering children renewed hope, Save the Children said. 
The Advisory Opinion delivered by the world’s highest court finds that states’ legal obligations to address climate change extend beyond existing climate agreements. It also found that “states must take their obligations under international human rights law into account when implementing their obligations under the climate change treaties and other relevant environmental treaties.” 
While not legally binding, leading environmental lawyers say the ruling “could become a guiding star for climate policies at all levels of governance”, including how States are held accountable under multiple areas of international law. 
The Advisory Opinion originated from an extensive campaign led by a group of law students from the Pacific Islands, with strong support from the Republic of Vanuatu [1]. 
In December last year, Vepaiamele, 16, a child campaigner with Save the Children Vanuatu, travelled to The Hague with the Government of Vanuatu – the only child to attend as part of a government delegation – to speak about the impacts of climate change on the Pacific island nation and call for action. 
Vepaiamele said today: “This Advisory Opinion is everything I hoped for and I am so happy with this outcome as I know it will pave the way for a safer future for youth like myself and future generations, too.”
Speaking from The Hague last year , Vepaiamele said: 
“As a young Ni-Vanuatu girl, I feel the effects of climate change every day of every year. I've experienced many cyclones. It can be kind of terrifying sometimes, especially the really strong ones. Every cyclone, our classrooms are destroyed, our homes are flattened to the ground, and hospitals and communication towers are ripped apart. And then there's also the mental health impacts, and we don't really talk about it that much, but it can really cause anxiety in children and young people.”
Human-induced climate change is driving up global temperatures, with the past 10 years the warmest on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Children, particularly those affected by inequality and discrimination, bear the brunt of climate change impacts that are already forcing them from their homes, putting food out of reach, damaging schools and increasing risks like child marriage as they are forced out of education and into poverty. 
Limiting warming temperatures through the rapid phase-out of the use and subsidy of fossil fuels is critical for children’s rights and lives, Save the Children said. 
Earlier this year, research released by the child rights organisation with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) found that the difference between global temperature rise of 1.5°C and 2.7°C could see 38 million more children from the 2020 birth cohort face unprecedented lifetime exposure to extreme heatwaves. [2] Save the Children also called for increased climate finance targeted at helping children and their families, child-centred and locally led adaptation and an increase in the participation of children in shaping climate action. 
Save the Children New Zealand CEO Heather Campbell says, “The ICJ’s opinion strengthens the argument that climate inaction is a form of intergenerational injustice, disproportionately borne by those least responsible and least equipped to adapt.
“At home in Aotearoa New Zealand, children and their families are experiencing the devastating impacts of extensive flooding and other climate-related emergencies, including Cyclone Gabrielle. Communities across the Nelson Tasman region are still reeling from floods that have destroyed homes and farmland, displaced families and closed schools. 
“On a recent visit to Solomon Islands, children told us about the impact rising sea levels were having on their communities, including monthly flooding in homes and schools, saline infiltration into fresh water supplies, and crops being destroyed. In other parts of the Pacific, communities are having to constantly rebuild after multiple cyclones in the last few years alone. These are not future scenarios – they are current realities.
“Save the Children welcomes the finding from the ICJ, and we also urge governments and development agencies to ensure that climate finance reaches those on the frontline of this crisis.
“Currently, only 2.4% of climate finance from multilateral funding sources is child centred. Even without the Court’s opinion, we know that states must do far more to protect children from the worst impacts of this crisis, including by significantly increasing climate finance to uphold children’s rights and access to health, education and protection.”
In light of the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion, Save the Children New Zealand is calling on the New Zealand Government to renew its commitment to provide climate finance to help communities recover from climate induced loss and damage as well as working to reduce the country’s carbon emissions.  
As the world’s leading independent child rights organisation, Save the Children works in about 110 countries, tackling climate change across everything we do. Save the Children supports children and their communities across the Pacific and globally in preventing, preparing for, adapting to, and recovering from both sudden climate disasters and slow onset climate change. We have set up floating schools, rebuilt destroyed homes and provided cash grants to families hit by disasters. 
We also work to influence governments and other key stakeholders in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world on climate policies, including at the UNFCCC COP summits, giving children a platform for their voices to be heard. 
Notes:
  • Multimedia can be found here including Vepaiamele with other young people on Tuesday 22 July, Vepaiamele at the Hague, and general vision of Vanuatu
[1] The Advisory Opinion is in response to a Pacific-led resolution (A/RES/77/276) to the UN General Assembly adopted by consensus on 29 March 2023. This was the result of an extensive campaign by a group of law students from the University of the South Pacific ( Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change ) with strong support from the Republic of Vanuatu. Save the Children has worked closely with the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change to ensure the voices of children and young people are incorporated into countries’ written and oral submissions to the Court. As part of her campaigning work, Vepaiamele and other activists met with embassies of high emitting countriesin Vanuatu ahead of the hearing to try and influence their submissions.
[2] The report found that, for children born in 2020, if global temperature rise is limited to 1.5°C rather than reaching 2.7°C above pre-industrial levels:
– About 38 million would be spared from facing unprecedented lifetime exposure to heatwaves; o About 8 million would avoid unprecedented lifetime exposure to crop failures; o About 5 million would be spared from unprecedented lifetime exposure to river floods; o About 5 million would avoid unprecedented lifetime exposure to tropical cyclones; o About 2 million would avoid unprecedented lifetime exposure to droughts; o About 1.5 million children would be spared unprecedented lifetime exposure to wildfires.  
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Fire and Emergency New Zealand offers firefighters a 5.1 percent pay increase

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union have been negotiating a collective employment agreement for career firefighters since 16 July 2024.
Deputy Chief Executive Service Delivery Operations/Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says Fire and Emergency has offered the Union a 5.1 percent pay increase over the next three years, as well as increases to some allowances.
“We consider the offer is fair, balances cost of living pressures being faced by individuals alongside fiscal pressures faced by Fire and Emergency and is consistent with the Government Workforce Policy Statement.”
Megan Stiffler says Fire and Emergency has invested significantly in its people and its resources for the safety of communities since it was established in 2017.
“The previous collective employment agreement settlement in 2022 provided a cumulative wage increase of up to 24 percent over a three-year period for our career firefighters.”
“Fire and Emergency has also been investing in replacing our fleet, with 317 trucks replaced since 2017 and another 70 on order. We are currently spending over $20 million per year on replacement trucks. There is also a significant programme of station upgrades underway, as well as investment in training,” she says.
“In 2023/24 most career firefighters earned over $100,000 per year, including overtime and allowances. The turnover rate for our career firefighters was just 3.6 percent last year, and the average length of service was 17 years. We work constantly with our people to ensure we are an employer of choice.”
“Our firefighters are highly trained and deeply committed to serving their communities and we are investing in our people and our resources, to support them. They do an incredible job keeping New Zealanders safe.”
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Health and Employment – Review highlights under-staffing at Nelson Hospital – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

A review of Nelson Hospital has confirmed concerns that staff shortages are increasing wait times and delaying people getting the care they need, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says.
The Nelson Marlborough Clinical Quality and Systems Review carried out by Te Whatu Ora was released this afternoon and has found serious issues with the management and development of the nursing workforce at Nelson Hospital.
NZNO delegate Marijke Cooper says the findings of this review go to the heart of concerns nurses are striking over next week.
“Te Whatu Ora is failing to resource safe staffing levels and are delaying hiring more staff because of issues with their recruitment process.
“This is having a real impact on patients because they are unable to get First Specialist Assessments. We saw in media last week concerns over ghost First Specialist Assessments at Nelson,” she says.
The review also found Nelson Hospital needs to do more to upskill their nurses.
“Requests from nursing staff to upskill are being frequently turned down. The hiring of high-calibre nursing staff is being limited because of an inflexible approach to part-time work.
“Nelson is also underinvesting in advanced nurse practice roles compared to other parts of New Zealand.
“Te Whatu Ora needs to commit to building a sustainable and high-skilled home-grown nursing workforce by upskilling nurses and hiring graduate nurses.”
Marijke Cooper says NZNO is concerned that despite the review raising concerns about poor communication practices at Nelson Hospital, none of our delegates are aware of any staff being consulted on it.
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Health – Nelson Hospital review fails to hold leadership to account – ASMS says

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists

The review of Nelson Hospital released by Health New Zealand today is little more than a ‘plan to make a plan’ the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says.
The review just restates well-established problems with leadership and severe understaffing at Nelson Hospital which are causing delayed care for hundreds of patients.
The Nelson Review was commissioned after Senior Medical Officers spoke to media in March about the poor working conditions. Doctors, fed up with inaction, described massive wait times for first specialist appointments, and repeated refusals from leadership to address staffing shortages across many departments.
This prompted Health New Zealand’s chief clinical officer Richard Sullivan to commission a review. He said, “I would hope we will have some answers within weeks.”
“Four months later and all we have is a a plan to make a plan,” ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton says.”
Doctors, nurses and patients want solutions to these ongoing problems, not a bland description of known issues leadership should have addressed years ago.
“The review lacks timeframes, holds no leaders to account for these failures. Just last month Nelson Hospital was again in the news for booking “ghost clinics” in what appears to be an attempt to game the system in regard to first specialists’ appointments numbers.
“There is a worrying trend of poor management and poor leadership at Nelson Hospital which the review fails to address.”ASMS is disappointed there has been little engagement with hospital staff – and no consultation as to the review’s findings and recommendations. 
“We understand regional deputy chief executive Martin Keogh and National Chief Clinical Officer Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard presented the report to just a handful of senior staff and gave other staff just 24 hours’ notice to a 30-minute briefing.
“This is a wasted opportunity to make positive change.”Dalton says the real finding from the review is that the issues at Nelson are present in other hospitals around the motu.
“The review uses comparative data that paints the dire picture of medical staffing gaps in similar sized hospitals across the country too. This aligns with our own findings. 
We simply need more doctors,” she says.
“Short staffing and increased acute patient demand, coupled with a lack of accountability from our health leaders that allow hospitals to be so poorly staffed has bred a culture of getting by instead of getting ahead.”