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Advocacy – Public Response from Palestine Forum of New Zealand – Regarding the Statement by Mataara Mai on the Planned Meeting at Te Kuirau Marae

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Palestine Forum of New Zealand stands alongside Mataara Mai and all those who have raised deep concern about the planned gathering at Te Kuirau Marae involving representatives of the Israeli Embassy Board and the so-called Indigenous Coalition for Israel.

Te Kuirau Marae has a proud history of standing with oppressed peoples, including the Palestinian community. It was a place where solidarity was expressed openly and with dignity:
• during the Rotorua for Palestine hīkoi in November 2023, opened by the late Koro Bom Gillies,
• and again during the Mataara Mai gathering in January 2024.

These moments were grounded in aroha, justice, and shared struggle against colonisation.

Welcoming representatives who openly support and justify violence, displacement, and ongoing atrocities against the Indigenous people of Palestine stands in direct contradiction to the values that marae uphold: aroha, manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga, justice, and Indigenous sovereignty.

Such a decision risks:
• diminishing the mana of the marae,
• undermining community wellbeing,
• damaging relationships between Indigenous peoples globally,
• and affecting how future generations will understand the moral choices made today.

Any engagement of this nature must be transparent, accountable, and grounded in truth. It cannot proceed without open kōrero with the communities who will be most affected.

Palestine Forum of New Zealand affirms its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and with all Indigenous peoples resisting colonisation. We acknowledge those who have spoken up with courage and clarity in defence of justice.

Let truth, aroha, and the shared struggle for liberation guide us forward.

Palestine Forum of New Zealand

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Indigenous land cover continues to decline – Stats NZ news story


This email was sent by Stats NZ, 8 Willis Street, Wellington, CBD 6011, New Zealand to nz@enz.mil-osi.com


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Work Sites – RBNZ Wellington building to reopen following isolated asbestos disturbance

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

20 November 2025 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's Wellington building will reopen on Friday 21 November following the successful remediation of an isolated asbestos disturbance.

The remediation work has been fully assessed by a specialist asbestos consultant following removal works undertaken by a Class A licensed asbestos removal contractor. As part of this process, WorkSafe New Zealand reviewed all documentation and has confirmed that the area is safe for building re-entry.

The building closure has not impacted RBNZ operations.

Despite the reopening of the Reserve Bank's Wellington building, plans to host the November Monetary Policy Statement media conference from the RBNZ's Auckland premises on Wednesday 26 November will proceed as planned.

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Greenpeace – Gore nitrate testing results still reaching reproductive risk levels

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace Aotearoa is sounding the alarm over the nitrate level in Gore’s town supply following the organisation’s drinking water testing event held in the township today.
The organisation found the town supply was at approximately 4.8 mg/L nitrate contamination – approaching the level associated with an increased risk of preterm birth.
Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says, “Here in Gore, the town drinking water supply is contaminated with unacceptably high levels of nitrate, and it could be putting pregnant people at risk. Everyone, no matter where they live, should be able to safely drink the water out of their kitchen tap, but pregnant residents of Gore can’t do that because of an increased risk of preterm birth.”
“The intensive dairy industry, led by Fonterra, is responsible for worsening drinking water contamination in Aotearoa. In Canterbury, the regional council has already declared a nitrate emergency. Other areas of intensive dairying are likely to follow – especially Southland.”
“We have a clear instance of drinking water disparity here in Aotearoa. Rural New Zealanders have less access to safe, clean drinking water than those living in big cities – and that is absolutely unacceptable. People who have done nothing to contribute to the contamination are forced to clean up the water pollution caused by Fonterra’s intensive dairying practices.”
“Ultimately, we need to stop nitrate pollution at the source. The Government must lower the cap on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, and reduce the number of dairy cows allowed on the land. Ultimately, we need to transition away from intensive dairying, towards more ecological farming practices that protect people's access to safe drinking water.”
Greenpeace will be in Waimate and Darfield this weekend providing free drinking water testing. Details for these events are below.
Waimate: Saturday 22nd November, Waimate Event Centre, 10am-4pm
Darfield: Sunday 23rd November, Darfield Recreation Centre, 11am-4pm
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Health and Politics – Puberty blocker ban will hurt young people: Child and Youth nurses – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

The decision to ban new prescriptions for puberty blockers will hurt young people, the NZNO College of Child and Youth Nurses (CCYN) Tapuhitia Ngā Mokopuna Mō Apōpō says.
Minister of Health Simeon Brown yesterday announced a halt to new prescription of GnRH analogues for young transgender people.
CCYN spokesperson Michael Brenndorfer, a Nurse Practitioner with nearly a decade of experience providing gender affirming healthcare to young people, says the College is deeply disappointed and concerned about the decision.
“This will have a negative impact on the mental health of our young people.
“Puberty blockers have been used safely and cautiously internationally for decades to support transgender young people navigate gender dysphoria,” he says.
“This sudden political decision to undermine clinical decisions made in consultation with young people and their whānau is deeply concerning. This decision has been made on purely political grounds.
“It is an imported culture war founded on politics from overseas and has nothing to do with health care best practice for children and young people,” Michael Brenndorfer says.
Earlier this year the CCYN backed an open letter signed with 13 other health professional bodies in Aotearoa New Zealand, supporting the continued use of puberty blockers for transgender youth.
Michael Brenndorfer says the timing of this decision, the day before the International Transgender Day of Remembrance which remembers the death of transgender people to transphobic acts of violence, “is an additionally cruel aspect to this announcement”.
“We call on the Minister of Health to reverse this decision immediately, and to urgently increase mental health support to respond to the unnecessary distress this announcement will have caused to young people and their families,” he says. 
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Advocacy – Statement by the Palestine Forum of New Zealand on World Children’s Day – 20 November

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

World Children’s Day is observed every year on 20 November, marking two foundational moments in international human rights: the United Nations’ adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959, and thirty years later, the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. These landmark commitments affirm the world’s collective obligation to safeguard every child’s right to life, protection, education, dignity, and a future filled with promise.

As we commemorate these global achievements, the Palestine Forum of New Zealand draws urgent attention to the children of Palestine, especially the children of Gaza, who continue to be denied the very rights this day was created to uphold.

For decades, Palestinian children have endured conditions no child anywhere should ever face. In Gaza, successive assaults, years of blockade, and the collapse of essential services have left children traumatised, displaced, orphaned, and struggling for survival. Their schools have been destroyed, their homes reduced to rubble, and their futures placed under constant threat. They are children who should be playing, learning, and dreaming—yet instead, they live with fear, loss, and uncertainty.

On this World Children’s Day, we honour their courage and resilience, and we reaffirm that Palestinian children deserve the same rights and protections afforded to children everywhere else. The international community cannot celebrate this day with integrity while Gazan children continue to suffer violations of the most basic human rights.

The Palestine Forum of New Zealand calls upon global leaders, humanitarian agencies, and all people of conscience to uphold the commitments made on 20 November 1959 and 1989. Protecting Palestinian children is not a political stance, it is a fundamental moral and human obligation.

Every child matters.
Every Palestinian child matters.

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Earth Sciences – It’s breeding season for invasive clam

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand

View the  Silent Super Spreaders video
Earth Science NZ researchers are seeing signs that breeding season for the invasive freshwater gold clam ( Corbicula fluminea) has begun.
Earth Sciences NZ Principal Technician Karen Thompson says gold clams are breeding machines.
“It’s breeding time in the Waikato River, but this is no cause for celebration. Tiny clams have recently been seen in both adult clam and water column samples collected from Lake Karāpiro, meaning we are in a period of heightened risk of spread. Our team have found the next generation is already maturing in adult clam brood pouches getting ready for release,” says Karen.
Invasive gold clams are hermaphroditic, so they possess both male and female reproductive organs and self-fertilise, a significant advantage for their rapid population growth.
Adult clams have a lifespan of one to five years and are known to spawn multiple times per breeding season, depending on environmental conditions. They have high reproductive rates, with an average individual producing around 70,000 larvae per season.
Karen says that the juvenile phase presents a distinct biosecurity challenge.
Each clam releases larvae by the thousands into the water column that are easily dispersed by water currents and human activities. During this stage, the clams are fully formed, allowing them to spread rapidly within waterbodies and establish in new areas.
“At roughly 0.2 mm, which is smaller than a grain of sand, these juveniles are not visible to the naked eye, meaning they can easily go undetected on clothing, equipment, craft or in water removed from infested areas,” she says.
Invasive gold clams were first confirmed in Aotearoa-New Zealand in May 2023 at Lake Karāpiro, and by the end of that year had been visually identified throughout much of the Waikato River downstream of Lake Maraetai. They were recently detected in Lake Rotomanu, Taranaki.
An Earth Sciences NZ-led five-year research programme aims to stop the invasive clam from spreading further and protect our important native species.
Programme lead and Principal Scientist – Freshwater Ecology Dr Deborah Hofstra says they are working to find effective, culturally attuned ways to manage this invader.
“We all have a role to play by following ‘Check Clean Dry’ procedures any time we are in our lakes and rivers. This is particularly important during the heightened risk of the clams breeding season,” says Deborah.
Invasive gold clams have been given the legal status of an Unwanted Organism under the Biosecurity Act. This means that people must not knowingly move them or water that may contain them. They are also not safe to eat.
People can still use the Waikato River for recreation, including boating and fishing, or gathering of kai if they follow the requirements of the controlled area notices ‘Check Clean Dry’ procedures before moving their equipment or craft.
When using or moving between waterways you must follow ‘Check Clean Dry’ procedures.
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Tech – Free grassroots AI training is changing nonprofits in regional NZ

Source: Rata Foundation

A grassroots community-led AI education programme specifically designed for not-for-profits is helping organisations save thousands of dollars while building confidence in emerging technology.
The Not-For-Profit AI Capacity Building Programme, developed by Nelson AI Sandbox (NAIS), is a free education initiative aiming to bridge the digital divide by equipping non-profits and community groups with practical AI knowledge, tools, and governance frameworks.
Founder Richard Brudvik-Lindner says: “The Nelson AI Sandbox appears to be the first and only grassroots, community-supported AI capacity-building organisation of its kind anywhere in the world. Our goal is to provide an unintimidating space for people to learn about AI tools and software, with the long-term aim of increasing productivity and opportunity in the region. The workshops are a way for us to do this, while also trying to create intergenerational cohesion and a place for everybody at the digital table.”
Phase one of the programme was delivered between February and March this year to around 120 participants from over 60 organisations in Nelson. Phase two extended the programme to include Marlborough and Motueka, to include around 300 participants from 150 organisations.
The programme includes in-person workshops, online tutorials, a champions network, and a train-the-trainer programme. It also addresses concerns about AI technology through training on safety and ethics, including data bias, privacy, security, data sovereignty and environmental impact. In addition, the second phase will include the creation of online resources.
NAIS is co-located in Nelson’s main public library and the Nelson-Marlborough Institute of Technology’s Mahitahi Colab and operates with approximately 20 active volunteers who bring diverse expertise from coding to business and marketing backgrounds.
Mr Brudvik-Lindner brings 25 years of experience from Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sega to the community initiative, establishing the Sandbox in 2023 just months after the launch of ChatGPT. “Within a couple of months of ChatGPT's release, a few of us were talking about this being a total game changer and asking how we could best prepare our community to leverage this tool. If a community wants to become prosperous and have an equitable economy, then everybody's going to need to know how to use AI.”
Sloane Bayley, who leads the workshop delivery, says the focus is on ensuring the technology is available and accessible to everyone. “We realised there might be businesses and organisations that get training rolled out, but not-for-profits don't have access to that – it's either costly or time prohibitive. By providing the training for free, we're hopefully taking away the main barrier.
“The great thing about AI is you don't need to be a coder or technical expert. We're giving them tips on how to prompt and very quickly showing them how to do things like write grant funding proposals and meeting minutes and also coming up with AI policies for the safe use of this technology – the key things we'd heard organisations were struggling with, especially around the board table.”
Funding for the education programme is through Rātā Foundation’s Strengthening the Sector funding, aimed at supporting organisations to build capability and capacity. Head of Community Investment Kate Sclater says high demand for additional sessions and the significant benefits reported by course attendees are clear indicators of the programme’s success.
“To enable long-term sustainability and create conditions for community organisations to thrive, Rātā invests in opportunities to strengthen the community sector. AI has the potential to transform the not-for-profit sector by enhancing data analysis, improving decision-making, and automating routine tasks, yet many organisations don’t know where to even start, with the real risk that they could be left behind with this new technology.
“This programme provides practical tools and skills for organisations to integrate AI into their day-to-day operations, regardless of limited resources or financial constraints, and we are already seeing the tangible benefits for many of the organisations who attended the programme. Increasing AI literacy is a key way we can support and empower organisations to build their capability, enhance their resilience, and innovate in response to the changing environment.”
Mr Brudvik-Lindner says the response to the pilot programme has been “incredibly positive”, with the new round of funding enabling them to build on that success.
“This additional funding lets us build on what we've achieved and reach more organisations to make sure not-for-profits can use AI effectively and ethically, while also ensuring they don’t miss out on all the benefits of AI integration. We believe this programme could be a model of AI capacity-building for all of New Zealand, if not the world.”
After completing phase one of the course, attendees reported that the benefits of AI integration included cost and time savings, increased productivity and an increase in staff confidence. Whenua Iti Outdoors Systems Improvement Lead Geraldine Stones estimates AI will help to save the organisation around $20,000 a year, through improved troubleshooting and reduced reliance on external support. “The knowledge I have gained from attending AI Sandbox workshops and subsequently using ChatGPT has been transformational for my role. Tasks that once took hours now take minutes. I've saved around $150 an hour on coding and process solutions that I previously would've needed to outsource to external contractors.”
Y-Nelson implemented AI tools including ChatGPT and Fireflies.ai after attending the workshops, using them for report compilation, lesson planning, social media communications, and meeting recordings. Executive Director Sean Trengrove says they have seen firsthand the positive impact the training has had on staff and their wider community. “AI isn’t replacing our people – it’s strengthening them. It’s giving our team the confidence and tools to be more creative, efficient, and mission-focused. That’s a win for us and for the community we serve.”
Nelson Environment Centre Funding and Data Coordinator Kelli Campbell says the use of AI has enabled the organisation to reduce time spent on tasks, such as planning events and writing government submissions. “The NAIS workshop helped me start using AI. Before the course, I was cautious and didn't understand the power of AI. I now use it daily and it helps me to do so many parts of my job. It is a powerful tool that can help not-for-profits to grow. It frees up time for those in the not-for-profit space to actually focus on the important work that they do.”
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Employment Disputes – Fire and Emergency urges firefighters to call off their strike on Friday

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is urging the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) to call off its scheduled one-hour strike at midday this Friday 21 November.
“A full strike will impact public safety,” Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says.
“Striking is unwarranted given we have our next meeting to discuss our application for facilitation with the Employment Relations Authority on 25 November, and we continue to engage with the NZPFU in good faith.
“We will answer 111 calls during the hour and respond to fires in strike affected areas, but our responses will be delayed because our callouts will have to be covered by volunteers.
Our dispatch system will respond volunteers from their own stations in their own trucks to help as they regularly do when there are multiple emergencies at one time, and it will take them longer.”
“We’re asking people and businesses in cities and towns primarily served by paid firefighters to remain extra careful.”
Businesses should take care with any work practices that could result in fire, and make sure their tenants understand their evacuation schemes and procedures,” she says.
“We are advising everyone that, should there be a fire, to evacuate early and, once out, stay out. Then call 111.
“People should also check their smoke alarms and their escape plans.”
“Community safety is of the utmost importance to us,” Megan Stiffler says.
As we did during the last one-hour strike on Friday 17 October, Fire and Emergency will prioritise emergencies and as a result may not respond to less serious incidents in cities and towns during the one-hour strike.
“For example, private fire alarms where there is no evidence of a fire, small rubbish fires, assisting traffic management, and animal rescues. This will ensure our resources are focused where they are needed most,” Megan Stiffler says.
“We have notified Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance that, for the one-hour strike, our volunteer crews won’t be able to respond to medical calls outside their patch.”
“I want to reassure people that this strike action will not affect most of the country. The vast majority of communities are served by our more than 11,000 volunteers in nearly 600 stations across New Zealand who will respond as usual.”
Bargaining with the NZPFU:
Megan Stiffler says that on 3 November 2025, Fire and Emergency tabled a revised offer that included an increased pay offer, as well as several additional provisions focused on addressing some of the key elements of the NZPFU’s settlement proposal tabled earlier in September. The NZPFU rejected the offer outright.
“We again met with the NZPFU on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 November 2025 to discuss the costings of our different proposals.
“The NZPFU presented an alternative proposal which was three times the cost of Fire and Emergency's 3 November 2025 offer, and well outside Fire and Emergency's bargaining parameters,” she says.
Both parties acknowledged that they are still far apart, and bargaining concluded with the NZPFU confirming they will strike this Friday.
“We are deeply disappointed that the NZPFU has chosen to compromise public safety and go ahead with a one-hour strike on Friday, followed by another complete withdrawal of labour next week on Friday 28 November, all the while opposing the application for facilitation and the support that the Employment Relations Authority would provide to bargaining,” Megan Stiffler says.
“Any settlement must be sustainable, balance cost of living pressures being faced by individuals alongside fiscal pressures faced by Fire and Emergency and be consistent with the Government Workforce Policy Statement.”
“Regardless, we continue to work on ensuring we have sufficient staff. In addition, we anticipate delivering 78 new firefighting trucks by the end of this financial year.”
“Fire and Emergency's goal is, and has always been, to reach a fair, sustainable, and reasonable settlement with the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union. We are bargaining in good faith and doing everything we can to achieve an agreement without disrupting the services communities rely on.”
Our application for facilitation will be heard by the Employment Relations Authority on 25 November 2025.
Notes
  • 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.
  • Fire and Emergency has improved its original offer of a 5.1 percent pay increase over the next three years, as well as increases to some allowances.
  • Fire and Emergency considers the offer is sustainable; 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.
  • The previous 2022 collective employment agreement settlement provided a cumulative wage increase of up to 24 percent over a three-year period for career firefighters.
  • Fire and Emergency has also been investing in replacing our fleet, with 317 trucks replaced since 2017 and another 78 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.
  • For the 2025/26 financial year Fire and Emergency’s operating budget is $857.9 million. Of that operating budget, 59 percent will be spent directly on the frontline, while another 32 percent is spent on frontline enablers. This means that over 90 percent of Fire and Emergency’s budget is spent on the frontline and the people directly supporting the frontline.  
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History and Heritage – Interim Radiocarbon Dating Results Shed New Light on Waka Discovery

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage

“Interim radiocarbon dating results have been released ahead of the final archaeological report, offering significant insights into the waka discovered at Site CH744 on Rēkohu Wharekauri Chatham Island.” said Glenis Philip-Barbara, Pou Mataaho o Te Hua Deputy Secretary Delivery and Investment, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Lead Archaeologist Dr Justin Maxwell, Sunrise Archaeology says “recent archaeological research has suggested that the first arrival of people on Rēkohu occurred between 1450 and 1650 AD. Additional evidence from ancient peat samples shows that significant changes to the environment began after 1500 AD.”
“The newly obtained interim dating results include:
  • Short-lived materials: Most results show narrow ranges between 1440 and 1470 AD, indicating this as the likely growth period of these plant tissues.
  • Cordage sample: One piece of cordage predates 1415 AD.
  • Bottle gourd: A sample suggests cultivation around 1400 AD or earlier. This is the first known bottle gourd found in an archaeological site on Chatham Island.”
“Short-lived local plant materials tested are of similar age and suggest the cultural layer surrounding the waka was formed shortly after its arrival.”
“Testing short-lived plant materials is important to get accurate dates for a find such as this. We don’t want to date the timbers because trees can live for a long time. Radiocarbon dates obtained from wood can be much older than the event we are interested in – which is when this waka was in use.”
“Together, these findings point to the arrival of the waka on Rēkohu Wharekauri Chatham Island between 1440 and 1470 AD. It is important to note that nearly all dated samples from the waka were on short-lived materials, such as cordage that may have been replaced over time. Some materials were older, suggesting the main components of the waka itself could be considerably older than the dated items” Maxwell says.
“The final report released by February 2026 will provide finalised radiocarbon results with further analysis and context. These interim results mark a significant milestone in understanding the early settlement and cultural history of Rēkohu Wharekauri Chatham Island” Glenis Philip-Barbara concludes.