Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Heritage – Honouring New Zealand’s service in Malaya and Malaysia

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage

A national commemoration will be held at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington at 11am on Tuesday 16 September 2025, to honour the service and sacrifice of New Zealanders who served in military operations in Malaya and Malaysia between 1948 and 1966.
“At least 4,000 New Zealanders served in military operations in Malaya and Malaysia, spanning two major conflicts: The Malayan Emergency from 1948 to 1960 and the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation from 1963 to 1966,” says Brodie Stubbs, Manager Memorials and Commemorations at Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
“The Malayan Emergency, which arose out of an attempt by the Malayan Communist Party to overthrow British colonial rule, lasted for 12 long years.
“The Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation began three years after the end of the Emergency. The ‘Confrontation Campaign’ in Borneo saw New Zealand forces, alongside Commonwealth forces, support Malaysia against cross-border incursions by Indonesian troops.
“In 1966 a peace treaty was signed and the last New Zealand service personnel withdrew from Borneo in October of that year.
“The New Zealand Roll of Honour records the names of twenty personnel who lost their lives during these operations. Many more returned with experiences that would shape the rest of their lives.
“This commemoration is a moment to reflect on the courage and commitment of those who served in Malaya and Malaysia over almost two decades.
“Nau mai ki Pukeahu, please join us on 16 September to honour the legacy of those who served and deepen our understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand’s military history,” says Stubbs. 
About the event
People wishing to attend this year’s commemoration are asked to arrive at the Hall of Memories at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park by 10.45am for an 11.00am start.
Please note that the Carillon Tower is currently closed for seismic strengthening. The Hall of Memories was strengthened in 2015 and is safe to enter. 
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Arts – Four cash grants awarded to support local writers

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

The 2025 Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ) and New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa PEN NZ Inc (NZSA) Research Grants have been awarded to four writers in Aotearoa.

The $5,000 grants support local writers who wish to undertake research for a fiction or non-fiction writing project.

The judging panel, Siobhan Harvey, Vasanti Unka and Vaughan Rapatahana said, “Allowing authors funding and time to undertake research into the development of their creative writings is a true gift. We honour Copyright Licensing New Zealand and the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa PEN NZ Inc for the collective administration of these research grants and, therein and more broadly, the assistance provided to New Zealand writers and writing. It was an honour to judge each of the 46 applications for this year’s grants. We do encourage all New Zealand authors to submit to the CLNZ/NZSA grants in future.”

Join us in congratulating the CLNZ | NZSA Research Grants 2025 recipients!

Rosetta Allan with project ‘The Good Uncle’

Rosetta Allan is a novelist, essayist, and manuscript assessor based in Tāmaki Makaurau, with a strong interest in how family, addiction, and moral responsibility intersect.
The Good Uncle, my novel in development, explores the pull of generational loyalty through the story of a woman determined to save her brother from relapse—and from the grip of a charismatic uncle with a criminal past.

Set between the Kaipara Harbour and inner-city Auckland, the novel navigates buried secrets, personal agency, and the long shadow of familial harm. With support from the CLNZ | NZSA Research Grant, which I am very grateful for, I’ll be deepening my research into addiction recovery, family justice systems, and the emotional aftermath of intergenerational trauma.

The 2025 judging panel said – “this literary fiction project about whānau set in the Kaipara offers insight upon navigating bureaucracy and personal trauma. The applicant offered an extensive and cogent outline of grant use including Environmental Fieldwork at the Kaipara Harbour and Urban and Systemic Research in Auckland (CYF/Oranga Tamariki offices, Family Court etc). The resulting novel will undoubtedly be authentic and impactful.”

Taryn Dryfhout with project Ngā Tini Ara o te Tamariki: A Complete History of Adoption in Aotearoa New Zealand

Taryn Dryfhout is a Māori academic, teacher, and writer whose work explores the intersections of adoption, western frameworks, and Māori worldviews. She is currently completing a PhD that examines Māori worldviews and cultural adoption.
 
Taryn will be working on the first comprehensive account of the history of adoption in Aotearoa New Zealand.

From the earliest examples of informal care arrangements in early colonial history, to the introduction of formal adoption laws, and the enduring Māori practice of whāngai dating back to before the arrival of the British, this book will trace how New Zealanders have cared for and raised children across generations. It will explore the legal, cultural, and personal dimensions of adoption, including stories of love, loss, identity, and belonging, while capturing the social forces that have shaped these practices over time. The book will offer a rich and inclusive account of how New Zealanders have formed, nurtured, and redefined family over time.

Taryn’s work aims to bridge scholarly research and accessible storytelling, contributing to meaningful conversations about care, identity, and indigenous knowledge systems in Aotearoa.

The 2025 judging panel said – “this is a project of national significance, aiming to be the first book the first book to offer a full, accessible account of the history of adoption in this country. A complex project, the grant will help enable travel and accommodation for fieldwork and archival access across the motu, as well as conducting face-to-face interviews with people, including Māori participants. We look forward to seeing the resulting publication”

Jacquie Mcrae with project  Wākainga, a historical novel set in Aotearoa, in 1863

Jacquie Mcrae (Tainui and Ngāti Koata) is an award-winning fiction writer, published by Huia. She has a master’s in creative writing and mentors for the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ) and Māori Literature Trust on Te Papa Tupu. She is on the Michael King Writers Centre board.

History happened but how we view it depends on who is telling the story.

This historical novel is Ika’s story, a young boy who leaves his home, on Rangitoto ki te Tonga (D’urville island) in 1863 to go to war in the Waikato. Ika’s view of the world was based in mātauranga māori (traditional māori knowledge.) He looked to his ancestors and te taiao (the natural world) to guide him. At the battle of Rangiriri he saw many of his whanau die, including his mother and father. Some managed to swim the river to safety but 180 others were taken prisoner, marched to Auckland and held captive on a ship, anchored in the Waitematā harbour. They were never charged with anything but held onboard for eight months before the ship was taken to Kawau island and from here they escaped. This novel looks at the loss of life, land, and freedom and the impact this had.

The 2025 judging panel said – “this project will be the author’s third book. Publisher support is provided for an intriguing book about Ika, a thirteen-year-old boy who leaves his home, on Rangitoto ki te Tonga (D’urville island) to go to war in the Waikato. This grant will allow the author to extend initial personal whakapapa research through access to the Auckland Library’s Governor Grey’s collection and archival footage and voice recordings housed in both Ngāti Koata head office in Whakatū and the National Library of NZ. We can’t wait to read this novel.”

Pauline (Vaeluaga) Smith with project – My New Zealand Story: The Dawn Raid Apology (Working Title)

Pauline (Vaeluaga) Smith is an author and educationalist of Samoan, Tuvaluan, Scottish and Irish descent based in the seaside town of Aparima/Riverton.
Her first book My New Zealand Story: Dawn Raid, was a finalist at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young People in the Esther Glen, Junior Fiction and Best First Book categories. It was the winner of the Best First Book for 2018 and gained a Storylines Notable Book award.

The project My New Zealand Story – The Dawn Raid Apology is a companion text to her first book. This new work will combine the journey of her first-hand experience along with her Polynesian Panther colleagues to advocate for and secure a full, formal, public apology for the Dawn Raids. The grant will be critical to supporting interviews, research and development of this manuscript to bring the history and importance of the apology to life.

The 2025 judging panel said – “this is an exciting and commendable YA fiction follow up to the author’s My New Zealand Story Dawn Raid. In addition to composing the proposed work from firsthand experience, the author will use the grant to provide time and resources to meet with and interview several key people who worked towards getting The Dawn Raid’s apology.

CLNZ and NZSA are delighted to assist New Zealand authors in their research efforts. Research Grants are funded through the CLNZ Cultural Fund, which derives its revenue from a 2% share of domestic licensing income and from overseas revenue.

CLNZ and NZSA would like to thank the 2025 Judging Panel – Siobhan Harvey, Vaughan Rapatahana and Vasanti Unka.

The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa is proud to be administering the awards in 2025.
Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ) plays a key role in making creative rights valuable assets for all New Zealanders, be they rightsholders like writers, publishers and artists, or users of creative works such as educators, students and businesses. CLNZ manages the Cultural Fund, which derives its revenue from licensing income.
 
New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (NZSA) is the principal organisation representing over 1800 writers in Aotearoa New Zealand. Founded in 1934, we administer prizes and awards, provide professional development opportunities, offer mentorship and assessment programmes, and have a national network of branches. NZSA collaborates across the book sector to make NZ writing and NZ writers more visible. We advocate for writers' rights and champion fair reward. NZSA is a not-for-profit incorporated society and a registered charitable entity – CC61705 www.authors.org.nz

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Aviation – Unlicensed helicopter flights lead to conviction – CAA

Source: New Zealand Civil Aviation

12 September 2025 – A helicopter pilot has been convicted for flying without a license or certificate and obstruction.

The defendant had, since early 2020, advertised and undertaken paid scenic flights around the Alexandra and Clyde area of the South Island without an Air Operator’s Certificate and without the correct pilot licence.

In 2021, the defendant failed to appear in court to answer charges and was found guilty on all counts in his absence. After protracted legal proceedings the defendant was sentenced at the Dunedin High Court.

“CAA prosecutions are uncommon but, when necessary, they are pursued to protect the integrity of New Zealand’s aviation system and the public who rely on it,” said CAA Deputy Chief Executive, Dean Winter.

“This individual repeatedly disregarded the rules that exist to keep aviation safe for everyone. The vast majority of our aviation community operates responsibly and professionally, so when someone deliberately tries to game the system, we will hold them to account.”

The CAA’s intervention prevented further unsafe flights, including instances where members of the public were at risk. 

“In aviation tourism, passengers rightly expect that all operators are meeting the safety standards the law requires when they step onto an aircraft.” said Winter.

“This case is a reminder that aviation safety rules exist to protect everyone, and ignoring those rules has consequences.”

The CAA will continue to investigate and take appropriate action against serious breaches of aviation law where safety is compromised.

Details of charges

The defendant was sentenced in the Dunedin High Court with the following charges:

  • operating an aircraft without an Air Operator’s Certificate (Civil Aviation Act, section 46);
  • obstruction (Civil Aviation Act, section 50);
  • failing to produce or surrender documents (Civil Aviation Act, section 50A); and
  • flying an Australian-registered aircraft in New Zealand without the requisite pilot licence (Civil Aviation Rule 61.5(c)).
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Electronic card transactions: August 2025 – Stats NZ information release

Electronic card transactions: August 2025 – information release

12 September 2025

The electronic card transactions (ECT) series cover debit, credit, and charge card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants. The series can be used to indicate changes in consumer spending and economic activity.

Key facts 
All figures are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified.

Values are at the national level and are not adjusted for price changes.

August 2025 month 
Changes in the value of electronic card transactions for the August 2025 month (compared with July 2025) were:

  • spending in the retail industries increased 0.7 percent ($45 million)
  • spending in the core retail industries increased 0.9 percent ($55 million).

Visit our website to read this information release and to download CSV files:

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Infrastructure Commission – Building New Zealand’s future – 150 years of infrastructure investment

Source: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission

Kiwis are spending more than ever on our infrastructure, according to a new report by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga.
“We estimate that 50 years ago, the average New Zealander was spending about $3,000 per year on infrastructure – our roads, hospitals, schools, water networks and more. Today, that figure is closer to $5,000 and is rising rapidly,” Peter Nunns, General Manager – Strategy, says.
“But we also have more to show for it. The value of our infrastructure networks has grown substantially in inflation-adjusted terms. For instance, in 1950, we had around $20,000 worth of infrastructure assets per person. As of 2022, it was just under $70,000.”
“Building infrastructure networks can take decades, but like most other countries, New Zealand hasn’t had a clear understanding of what we’ve spent on infrastructure over a long period of time. A short-term view on infrastructure investment doesn’t give us an accurate picture of how much is being spent and on what,” Nunns says.
“Our newest report – Nation Building: A Century and a Half of Infrastructure Investment in New Zealand – sets out to address this knowledge gap by collating 150 years’ worth of infrastructure data and tracking how our networks were built and shaped over time.
“We find that while the dollar value of investment has grown over time, the ‘share of our wallet’ we’ve spent has been relatively stable over the long-term. Despite wars, earthquakes, depressions, recessions and population changes, our infrastructure investment has averaged about 5.6% of GDP over the last 150 years,” Nunns says.
“Things like population and income growth do appear to change our investment patterns a bit up or down. But the big booms in investment usually follow transformative technological innovations that require building new networks from scratch – from electric motors to indoor plumbing to broadband internet.
“In the National Infrastructure Plan that we’re currently developing, our 30-year forecast suggests we’ll need to invest about 5.8% of GDP per year on average to meet our infrastructure needs, which is slightly higher than the 150-year average but still well within the band of what we’ve previously spent on infrastructure.
“The future is always uncertain. But most challenges facing infrastructure networks, such as demographic change, economic growth, technology change, and political and policy change, have historical precedents. Understanding how we’ve responded to past challenges can help guide our thinking about the future,” Nunns says.
A few findings
  • Overall infrastructure investment has averaged 5.6% of GDP over the last 150 years. When averaged over 30-year periods, investment levels have never been higher than 7.3% (1949-1978 average) nor lower than 5.0% (1978-2007 average).
  • Infrastructure investment over the last two decades has consistently been close to the long-run average at 5.8%.
  • We identified four periods where infrastructure investment as a share of GDP was sustained at a considerably higher level than the long-run average. We define these periods as infrastructure investment ‘booms’.
  • The Vogel boom, from around 1870 to 1887, includes Premier Julius Vogel’s public works schemes for network infrastructure (road, rail, telegraphs).
  • The pre-war boom, from around 1904 to 1914, was a period of higher investment following recovery from the Long Depression. This was a time when the economy was being reshaped by refrigeration.
  • The inter-war boom, from around 1927 to 1940, was a period of higher investment following the recovery from the First World War and continuing through the Great Depression public works programmes.
  • The post-war boom, from around 1949 to 1979, is the longest period of consistently above-trend investment that we observe. It coincides with the period of population and economic growth after the Second World War.
  • We have identified 14 sector-level booms over the last 150 years. Some sectors experience multiple booms like land transport, while others have a single large boom (hospitals, education, social housing). We estimate that the telecommunications, tertiary education, and water sectors are currently in a boom cycle. 
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Online Security – New Campaign Urges Action on Online Harm in Aotearoa – Amnesty International

Source: Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand

The launch of a new campaign called #NoHarmware was announced today, calling on the Government to regulate online platforms and hold tech companies accountable for harmful digital environments. The campaign is run jointly by Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand and Inclusive Aotearoa Collective Tāhono.
From bullying and racism to deepfakes, scams, and livestreamed violence, harmful online content is spreading unchecked. Organisers say this is the result of a design flaw: platforms are built to maximise engagement, even when that means amplifying harmful material.
“Presentations to the Education and Workforce Select Committee this week showed the chilling depth of harm occurring”, says Jacqui Dillon, Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand. “The nature of this harm requires solutions that go to the heart of the problem – where platforms are being designed to promote high engagement content regardless of the harm.”
“It’s time to hold online platforms responsible for the harm they knowingly cause through the design of their platforms, and in the way content is promoted or censored”, says Anjum Rahman, Inclusive Aotearoa Collective Tāhono. “They are monetising our content, and we need to ensure that the burden of dealing with these issues doesn’t fall on communities. They need to be transparent about the impact of algorithms, machine learning and use of AI.”
This campaign urges the Government to introduce a legal framework for online safety, including transparency and accountability, a duty of care, independent oversight, and penalties for non-compliance.
Organisers also emphasise that regulation must be developed in partnership with Māori, in line with Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and warn that Aotearoa New Zealand is falling behind countries such as Australia, the UK, and the EU that already have online safety laws.
A website and resources to support campaigning launched on Thursday 11 September. People are encouraged to take action by contacting MPs, writing to Minister Erica Stanford, and raising awareness in their communities.
More details can be found at noharmware.nz 
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BusinessNZ – New school subjects fit for changing world of work

Source: BusinessNZ

The inclusion of future-focused subject areas in NCEA reform is a positive step towards preparing young New Zealanders for a rapidly changing world of work, BusinessNZ says.
Chief Executive Katherine Rich says digital technologies are quickly adopted by businesses, and that building the necessary skills into the school curriculum will better equip our future workforce.
“The way businesses work, produce, and compete globally is shifting quickly and will continue to do so alongside the transformation of our educational system. By introducing advanced science and technology into our senior secondary qualifications, students get the introduction and tools they need to confidently pursue a career in this field.”
Rich says digital technologies including AI are disrupting traditional skillsets across all sectors, and that our education system needs to be aligned to the opportunities these changes provide.
“Educational reforms need to be practical and transparent so that all stakeholders understand the knowledge and skills students will gain. 
“The next step is to ensure the design and implementation of the new subjects and curriculum is consistent, well-resourced, and co-designed with industry to meet the real needs of the economy, both now and down the line.”
The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.
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Energy and Environment – Damning MBIE report: Coal imports skyrocket, power prices remain high

Source: Greenpeace

MBIE’s latest quarterly energy report, released today, shows electricity prices remain stubbornly high. The report comes amidst a string of manufacturing and mill closures where high energy costs were cited as a key factor for the closures.
The report also shows coal imports increased 650%, from 71.5 kilotonnes in the June 2024 quarter to 539 kilotonnes in the June 2025 quarter as shipments of coal arrived in the country to increase the stockpile for electricity generation.
Greenpeace is accusing the Luxon Government of “completely fumbling the ball on the energy crisis,” pointing to decisions they say have worsened the situation:
Greenpeace campaigner Gen Toop says: “This Government has fumbled the ball on the energy crisis, and now New Zealanders, and the climate, are paying the price.
“This Government’s approach is locking in higher costs and more climate pollution. Importing more dirty coal for energy generation is the opposite of what is needed to bring down power prices and climate emissions.
“Solar and wind are the cheapest forms of new electricity. The Government needs to invest in renewables, particularly rooftop solar, to bring costs down and tackle the climate crisis at the same time,” Toop said
Transpower figures show only 986MW of new generation has been committed and financed – far short of the 1,500 GWh they say is needed every year until 2031. Meanwhile, the four gentailers paid out a record $1.37 billion to their shareholders this year while investing less than that in new generation.
“Gentailers make more money when Huntly is burning coal so they have squatted on renewable consents for years without building on them, in order to keep expensive fossil fuels in the system,” said Toop.
“This Government seems more interested in supporting profiteering power companies and outdated extractive industries, than they do in backing cheap renewables which would bring down power prices, ” adds Toop.
“Their Fast Track Act has made the whole situation worse. Seabed mining, currently in the fast track process, has chased offshore wind developers away.
“This Government is hamstrung by its own broken neoliberal ideology. Deregulation and privatisation of the energy sector has skyrocketed power prices, yet they’re still clinging on to their failed free-market experiment.”
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Weather News – A burst of spring showers – MetService

Source: MetService

Covering period of Thursday 11th – Monday 15th September – The mixed bag of changeable spring weather continues for the next few days.

On Friday, a fast-moving rainband will cross the upper North Island, bringing a burst of heavy rain, with the risk of thunderstorms and strong winds gusting 80 km/h.

MetService has issued Heavy Rain Watches for Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula early Friday morning, and for Bay of Plenty ranges east of the Otara River until early evening.

A Strong Wind Watch has been issued for Northland.

MetService meteorologist Michael Pawley adds, “With the heavy rain before dawn, Auckland commuters should take it easy and look out for surface water on the roads. Even after the early morning rain, thunderstorms with strong winds are possible over the upper North Island from mid-morning into the afternoon, so take extra care.”

A line of showers will also push northwards up the South Island on Friday, with possible thunderstorms and hail for southern Canterbury Plains.  

It will be a blustery start to the weekend, as a brisk west to southwest wind sets in, especially for coastal parts of Southland and the Canterbury High Country.

Large waves are also expected this weekend generated by these strong winds, arriving first in the west but also affecting eastern coasts.

The next band of rain will move up the west coast of the South Island on Saturday morning, then onto the North Island in the afternoon.

There will be a local advantage in Wellington as the winds ramp up in time for the 7.05pm kick off when the All Blacks face South Africa.

“As a Wellington local, my advice is simple: wear a hat with a chinstrap, skip the umbrella, and don’t waste time blow-drying or styling your mullet,” recommends Michael.

From Sunday, the wind and showers begin to ease but a few could linger in Dunedin for the marathon, so supporters should pack a rain jacket.

The spring temperature pendulum also continues to swing. Hastings has a forecast maximum temperature of 11°C on Friday but this rises to 21°C early next week.

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Transport Sector – Promising future for low emission freight certificates

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

The peak body for road freight, Transporting New Zealand is welcoming progress on Low Emission Freight Certificates, a practical emissions reduction tool for trucking businesses and their customers.
Formerly known as Renewable Freight Certificates, the framework is a market-based incentive for freight customers to reduce their supply chain emissions.
Certificates would be granted to road freight companies operating low-emission vehicles, based on freight tonnage and distance moved. Road freight customers anywhere in the country could buy these certificates to reduce their supply chain (Scope 3) emissions, helping to fund cleaner freight options.
Updates given on the programme at the Sustainable Business Council’s Climate Change and Business Conference earlier this week showed there are many freight businesses and procurers of freight services ready to participate.
Chief Executive of Transporting New Zealand, Dom Kalasih says that the certificate system would enable freight companies and their customers to make meaningful strides towards decarbonisation without compromising productivity.
“Transporting New Zealand supports this initiative from the Sustainable Business Council and DETA. It recognises that freight customers have a key role to play in helping transport companies invest in lower emission technologies.”
“These low emission freight certificates allow freight customers to pay a premium for a lower emission product. This will allow further investment in lower emission technology by freight operators.”
Kalasih also highlighted practical energy efficiency measures that all road freight companies could investigate.
“While we’re excited about the progress on low emission freight certificates, we also want people to know that you don’t have to drive a battery electric or hydrogen vehicle to make a difference,” Kalasih said.
Transporting New Zealand acknowledges the many barriers to decarbonising road freight, not least high capital costs and availability of charging infrastructure.
“Upgrading New Zealand’s fleet to low and zero-emissions vehicles will be costly in the short-term, and most operators cannot make that upfront investment right now. But there are actions that all operators can take.
“Route optimisation, backloading, regular maintenance and utilising larger, higher capacity trucks are all proven methods to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.”
Kalasih said Transporting New Zealand are also planning to launch a heavy vehicle decarbonisation resource at the end of October and would release more details shortly.
About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country.
Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.