Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Education – Te Pūkenga 2024 Annual Report shows $122 million turnaround in two years

Source: Te Pukenga

Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST) has released its 2024 Annual Report, showing a $122 million turnaround within the two years it has existed as a single entity, and the first surplus for the organisation.
The report shows a surplus of $16.6 million at the end of 2024, a $54.5 million (144%) improvement on the 2023 deficit of $37.9 million, and a $121.7 million (116%) improvement on the 2022 deficit of $105 million.
Revenue has grown $68.4 million (5%) compared to 2023, and $188 million (15%) compared to 2022. Te Pūkenga Chief Executive Gus Gilmore acknowledged the hard work of staff (kaimahi) in achieving the results amid a tough economic climate as well as uncertainty for the institute.
“Against a background of immense change and uncertainty, Te Pūkenga had a strong year. With 226,645 learners, including 90,919 trainees and apprentices, outcomes continued to improve, with course completion, including 10,828 trainees and apprentices completing their programmes and 45,146 graduating. We also had strong domestic and international enrolments for our Institutes of Technology and Polytechnic (ITP) divisions and increased our net promoter score.
“The financial result, showing a 144% improvement on the previous year, is the outcome of focusing on addressing financial performance through an intensive cost savings exercise across all divisions, structural changes, vacancy management, lease reduction, property sales and programme rationalisation,” said Mr Gilmore.
Ākonga satisfaction increased to over 93% following a strong focus on improving learner support. For example, a partnership with Health New Zealand, with an investment of $4.1 million, saw more than 12,500 learners access mental health services – a 71% increase from 2023. Course completion rates across all priority groups – Māori, Pasifika and disabled learners – also showed an increase in 2024.
Te Pūkenga also developed major commercial partnerships with national employers and international partners. Amongst the highlights are a successful partnership with Apple, which included the development of the Hangarau Matihiko (digital technology) micro-credential, training for 50 teachers in 12 Te Tai Tokerau schools, and more than 2,200 ākonga supported in strengthening their digital skills.
A memorandum of arrangement was signed with the Centre for International People-to-People Exchange (CCIPE) from China to establish the New Zealand – China Vocational Cooperation and Development Alliance. It seeks to promote vocational education in both countries through talent cultivation, cross credits, student exchanges, and academic visits.
Te Pūkenga also achieved many successful work-based training initiatives including the Connexis-run Girls with Hi-Vis (GWHV), seeking more women apprentices which last year co-hosted 36 events with employers, attracting more than 650 students from 98 schools. It was also the second year that events were co-hosted with BCITO for industry experience days onsite with companies in the civil infrastructure, electrical supply, water industries, building and construction sectors, and at some of the country’s major infrastructure projects.
Plumbing, Gasfitting, and Drainlaying (PGD) programmes were updated by EarnLearn to better align with industry demands and improve outcomes for employers and learners. Meanwhile Primary ITO achieved a 96% completion rate in its programme to develop a skilled and qualified workforce for Whakatōhea Mussels new farm and processing facility in Ōpōtiki with many of the learners securing full-time jobs afterwards.
Research revenue exceeded expectations by 38% – $12.02 million compared to the target of $8.73 million, demonstrating the continued strength of rangahau and research within Te Pūkenga. The 2024 ITP Rangahau and Research Symposium, the largest and most diverse research event delivered by Te Pūkenga, attracted more than 275 submissions, representing the work of over 500 kairangahau (researchers) across diverse areas of rangahau and research, including Pacific research.
“Looking back on the year 2024, our kaimahi can be very proud of the outcomes achieved for our learners and employers, and a good financial result for the sector during a time of significant change. We thank kaimahi for their continued commitment and manaakitanga even as they have faced uncertainty about their own futures.”
Year-to-date 2025 results show good growth on domestic and international enrolments for ITP divisions, while work-based learning divisions have seen an expected softening because of current market conditions.
“There are still some hard decisions that need to be made this year to support the financial viability of individual divisions for their transition into new entities.
“As we prepare for disestablishment, our focus remains on ensuring learners, employers, and kaimahi are well supported while we continue to deliver quality vocational education and training,” says Mr Gilmore.
You can read the report here: 2024 Annual Report
In summary, in 2024 Te Pūkenga network had:
  • 226,645 learners including 90,919 trainees and apprentices
  • 45,146 graduates
  • 10,828 trainees and apprentices completed programmes
  • 24,136 employers provided vocational education in partnership with Te Pūkenga
  • 74.4% of Māori learners completed their courses and 82% of all courses were completed, up from 81% in 2023
  • 93% ākonga satisfaction rate, up from 90%
  • 6,875 international student EFTs, ahead of the 2024 target of 5,315
  • 8,908 kaimahi (staff) FTE
  • Employers Net promoter Score (NPS) of 33 in 2024 up from 28 in 2023.
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NZ SUPER FUND STAKEHOLDER UPDATE

Source: New Zealand Super Fund

Portfolio Update – The value of the NZ Super Fund has mirrored the performance of global risk assets over the past couple of months, dropping to $74 billion following US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcements on 2 April and subsequently recovering to pass $83 billion.

Periods of volatility are part and parcel of running a growth-focused portfolio, which we continue to believe is the investment strategy best suited to our mandate and to our purpose, Sustainable Investment Delivering Strong Returns to All New Zealanders.

As a long-term investor, we are able to ride out, and even take advantage of, short-term market volatility. For example, one of our most successful active strategies over the past few years is Strategic Tilting. This strategy is based on our belief that investments tend to return to fair value over time and that, given our long-term investment horizon, we can improve our risk-adjusted returns by reducing our exposure to assets we believe are over-priced assets in favour of holding assets we believe offer value.

As we have seen during the GFC and at the outset of the Covid pandemic, this strategy can generate losses over the short to medium term: our operational independence and our clearly defined governance model are essential to the success of this strategy.

Market Conditions

Financial markets remain closely attuned to developments in U.S. trade policy and ongoing tariff negotiations under the Trump Administration. These policy uncertainties, combined with concerns over the recently released federal budget – which is projected to significantly widen the U.S. fiscal deficit – have heightened investor caution.

As a result, long-term U.S. Treasury yields have risen, driven in part by increased investor demand for alternative sovereign debt instruments. Notably, Japanese Government Bonds (JGBs) have seen a pickup in yields, offering a relatively attractive option for investors seeking safety and yield diversification. This shift in sentiment has also contributed to a modest depreciation of the U.S. dollar against major currencies.

Global economic activity expanded at a moderate pace in Q1, but recent indicators suggest a softening in momentum across several economies. Inflation remains broadly in line with central bank targets, helped by subdued energy prices. In response to the cooling outlook, central banks in New Zealand, Australia, and the Eurozone have eased monetary policy, while the U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates steady.

Adding to global uncertainty, escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have driven a sharp increase in commodity prices, particularly in oil markets. These developments are likely to be a key source of market volatility in the near term.

The NZ Super Fund in the Budget

The amount of money the government is required to contribute to the Super Fund is determined by a formula set out in Section 43 of our Act (the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001).

It is a complicated-looking calculation, but the most important inputs are the expected nominal GDP and net cost of superannuation over the following 40 years and the size of the Super Fund.

If nominal GDP or the size of the Super Fund is higher than expected (or if the net cost of superannuation is lower), the Government is required to contribute a lower amount.

These forecasts are updated by Treasury every six months at the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) and the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU).

At the last HYEFU, Treasury forecast that the government would be able to make its first withdrawal from the Super Fund in 2031 ($96 million).

Last month’s updated numbers, published alongside Finance Minister Nicola Willis’s 2025 Budget, forecast that the first withdrawal would come in 2028 ($32 million). 2036 remains the year where withdrawals are forecast to pass $1 billion for the first time.

Reductions in forecast government contribution have been a trend for the past few years, driven by higher-than-expected returns from the Super Fund and lower-than-previously-expected future net superannuation costs.    

The Elevate Fund

The Budget also contained the news that the Government would divert this year’s capital contribution of $61 million to the Elevate Fund, along with a further $39 million from the government's capital allowance.

This $100 million commitment provides some welcome certainty for NZGCP, whom the Guardians appointed to manage Elevate in line with the legislation that established the fund in 2019 (the Venture Capital Fund Act), and matches the approach taken by the previous government when it first set up Elevate.

We look forward to continuing to work with NZGCP to maintain Elevate’s contribution to increasing the venture capital available to New Zealand entities and developing New Zealand’s venture capital markets to function more effectively. 

Minister of Finance’s Letter of Expectations

We have now published our response to the Letter of Expectations 2025/26 that we received earlier this year from Finance Minister Nicola Willis.

Click here to read the Minister’s letter, and here to read our response. 

Guardians staffer elected to ILPA board

Del Hart, our Head of External Investments and Partnerships, was recently elected to the Board of the Institutional Limited Partners Association. With 618 institutional members drawn from 50 countries, the ILPA is an important industry advocate and thought leader.

Private markets are growing and changing rapidly. Del’s perspective will be of great value as we continue to refine our thinking about investing in this asset class.

Industry recognises Leadership Team member's career and contribution

Paula Steed, recently appointed as Guardians GM Technology (and previously GM Strategy and Shared Services), has been inducted as a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Association of Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ). Fellowships are given for outstanding career achievements or contributions to the profession, as decided by CAANZ members.  

NZ Super Fund Scholarship winner

Avondale College alumna Chana Malungahu is the latest recipient of the NZ Super Fund AUT Business Scholarship – Pacific. Chana, who enrolled at AUT in the second semester last year, is currently studying business strategy, international business management, and entrepreneurship and innovation, and working towards a Bachelor of Business degree. 

AUT Business School announced the award of this scholarship via their LinkedIn page.

Annual Report voted best in Australasia

For the fourth time in five years the Guardians' annual report has been named Report of the Year at this year's ARA awards. Judges described the report as “designed to engage readers and effectively communicate the organisation’s messages … customer centric and easy to understand.”

Read our Annual Report for FY24 here.

The Judges’ comments and a full list of award winners can be found on the ARA website.

In the news

Guardians Board member (and former Senior Investment Strategist at the NZ Super Fund) Sue Brake and CalPERS Chief Investment Officer (and former Chief Investment Officer at the NZ Super Fund) Stephen Gilmore talk about the Total Portfolio Approach to investing with Thinking Ahead Institute Associate Director Isabella Martin – the latest in Isabella’s Investing for the Future series of podcasts.

The Guardians is gearing up to combine a multitude of investment data models across the organisation into a central model-of-models, which should lead to better investment decisions and cost savings. Maaike van Tol, our Director of Portfolio Design, recently sat down with the Investment Innovation Institute's Director of Content, Wouter Klijn, to talk about how a comprehensive data analytics function can lead to more meaningful conversations, better investment decisions, and lower costs. Read Wouter’s report here.   

Sustainable Investment Analyst Laumanu Mafi recently featured on RadioNZ's Pacific Waves programme, where she and host Susana Suisuiki discussed some of the difficulties Pacific women face in accessing the retirement benefits they need. An economist by training, Laumanu spent three years on the investment team at Tonga’s Retirement Fund Board before joining the Guardians two years ago. Go to RNZ Pacific to listen to their conversation.

Congratulations to former Guardians Board member Mark Tume, winner of the Invest New Zealand – Te Tohu Kahukura Māori Leadership in Finance Award at the recent INFINZ awards. A full list of award winners can be found here.

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Weather News – A wet and windy run up to the school holidays – MetService

Source: MetService

Covering period of Thursday 26th – Sunday 29th June – Severe weather will affect much of the country in the coming days.

  • Orange Heavy Rain Warnings have been issued for parts of Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, the Buller District and Taranaki Maunga ending by Friday evening. 
  • Orange Strong Winds Warnings are in place for the Marlborough sounds and Wellington today (Thursday). 
  • Heavy Rain Watches also cover the Bay of Plenty, Taupō, Taihape, northern Whanganui, Dunedin and North Otago from Friday afternoon. 
  • A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Northland for Friday morning for possible downpours. 
  • A Heavy Snow Watch is in place for Central Otago and Canterbury High Country south of the Rangitata River overnight from Friday into Saturday.  

Today (Thursday) severe weather affects northern parts of the South Island.

  • Rainfall rates as high as 25mm/h have been recorded in the Tasman District. The heavy rain is expected to persist into Friday. 
  • Wind gusts more than 120km/h have been recorded in Wellington. 
  • Heavy rain affected the west coast of the South Island earlier this morning, meanwhile Christchurch woke to a balmy 17.4°C due to the foehn effect, which also melted the Alexandra ice rink. 

MetService Meteorologist Michael Pawley says, “The Nelson and Tasman Region has had significant rain recently, and we’re expecting a lot more to fall by Friday evening.” Before the end of Friday, northern parts of the South Island will likely see more than a month’s worth of rain. Expect the rivers to be running high and surface flooding present.

On Friday the heavy rain will affect most of the North Island. Before dawn, squally thunderstorms are expected to arrive in Northland. These bring the risk of heavy downpours and strong wind gusts. As the front moves across the island, the risk of thunderstorms spreads to other regions of the North Island and top of the South.  

Overnight into Saturday the winds will shift southerly, directing heavy rain at Dunedin and Otago with the possibility of heavy snow above 600 meters inland. This could affect alpine roads.

Michael adds “Sunday looks like the better day to travel if you’re going away for the school holidays because the severe weather is expected to ease. If you’re going skiing, I’d recommend staying cozy and dry while the fresh snow falls.”
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Federated Farmers win on not-for-profit tax change

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers is welcoming confirmation that controversial tax proposals impacting the not-for-profit sector won’t proceed without political oversight and legislative change.
“This is a significant win for Federated Farmers, which earlier this week called on the Revenue Minister to act quickly on these proposals,” national board member Richard McIntyre says.
“We’ve strongly opposed the change – calling it a fundamental shift in tax policy disguised as legal interpretation – and urged Simon Watts to rule it out.
“It’s a huge concern for the thousands of not-for-profits across New Zealand who rely on membership subscriptions to fund their work.”
An Inland Revenue draft interpretation of tax law would see not-for-profits taxed on their membership income for the first time.
But Revenue Minister Simon Watts yesterday told Federated Farmers he has taken the issue out of IRD’s hands and into the political realm, stating:
“I have heard concerns about how this would impact many not-for-profit organisations.
“When Inland Revenue revises its interpretation of tax law, the Government will consider the impacts and respond with a law change before any new interpretation comes into force.
“I have asked for advice on how the primary legislation could be amended to ensure there is a fair and practical outcome in this area.”
This follows weeks of sustained pressure from Federated Farmers.
“We were among the first to sound the alarm that the draft interpretation would overturn 20 years of settled tax treatment for mutual associations,” McIntyre says.
The proposal would have seen Federated Farmers – and around 9000 other not-for-profits, including unions, community groups, and political parties – taxed on membership fees.
“The Minister’s move to consider legislative change before any new interpretation takes effect provides clarity that changes won't be forced on the sector without public scrutiny,” McIntyre says.
Federated Farmers also acknowledges the support of other not-for-profits who helped push this issue up the political agenda.
“This is a textbook example of effective advocacy – early political pressure and commonsense reasoning ensured the Government took control before serious harm was done.” 
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NZCTU statement on Takutai Tarsh Kemp

Source: NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi

The union movement is sending its love and condolences to the whānau of MP for Tāmaki Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, following the shocking news of her passing.

“We are heartbroken for Takutai’s whānau, hapū and iwi, for the people of Tāmaki Makaurau, and for Te Pāti Māori at this sad time,” said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff.

“We deeply appreciate Takutai’s tireless dedication and service on behalf of her people, including as a staunch advocate for rangatahi and for some of the most marginalised whānau in Aotearoa.

“We acknowledge that as Te Pāti Māori’s spokesperson for Workers’ Rights, Takutai fought to ensure the rights of working people were upheld.  

“Takutai was a leader who had so much more to give, and will be missed dearly,” said Wagstaff.

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Disabilities and Poverty – New research shows poverty hitting intellectually disabled New Zealanders the hardest – IHC

Source: IHC

A new IHC report reveals that New Zealanders with an intellectual disability are twice as likely to live in hardship or severe hardship compared to the rest of the population.

IHC Advocate Shara Turner says the report, The Cost of Exclusion: Hardship and People with Intellectual Disability in New Zealand, shows this is a deep, systemic issue.

“The cost of disability is real and it’s falling entirely on individuals and families who are often excluded from work, transport and even food.

“It is not acceptable that people with intellectual disabilities can’t afford a healthy diet.

“It’s also unacceptable that this is not part of national conversations on poverty.

“We need to include intellectual disability in all poverty tracking and public reporting. We need to adjust income support to reflect the true cost of disability and to build joined-up systems that recognise the long-term, cross-sector disadvantage disabled people experience.”

The report shows that people with intellectual disability face significantly higher rates of hardship at every stage of life:

Hardship is twice as likely for people with an intellectual disability under 40 and almost three times as likely for those aged 40-64 compared to others
Severe hardship rates triple in middle age, even as they decline for the rest of the population
Nearly 50% of people with intellectual disability cannot pay an unavoidable bill within a month without borrowing (vs. 18% of others)
 They are over four times more likely to go without a meal with meat (or vegetarian protein equivalent) every second day
 They are almost three times more likely to cut back on fresh fruit and vegetables due to cost
Nearly 30% of children with intellectual disability can’t have fri

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Local News – Updated alcohol policy and keeping animals bylaw for Porirua

Source: Porirua City Council

Updated rules on keeping animals and the sale and supply of alcohol in Porirua will be coming into force.
The Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2025 and Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) 2025 have been recently officially ratified by Mayor Anita Baker and Porirua City councillors, following on from consultation (December 2024 to this March) and deliberations and hearings in May.
The updated LAP aims to reduce alcohol-related harm in our city, particularly in some of Porirua’s most vulnerable communities, while balancing growth in the city and the hospitality industry’s needs. After input from the public, health officials, licensing inspectors and police, the policy will manage where and when alcohol can be sold and promotes responsible drinking. New LAP rules include:
  • off-licence premises like bottle stores, grocery stores and supermarkets can only sell alcohol between 9am-9pm
  • no new off-licences are allowed in vulnerable areas without very good reason (Porirua East, Titahi Bay, Elsdon, Takapūwāhia, Kenepuru and the city’s CBD)
  • all licences within 100 metres of a sensitive site, such as schools and drug/alcohol treatment centres, will need to do an impact assessment for a new licence or an application to renew.
The LAP comes into effect on 18 July, except changes to the off-licence hours, which will take effect on 5 January, 2026.
The Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2025, meanwhile, has updated rules to help prevent mess, noise and nuisance by domestic animals in Porirua.
It includes new rules for cats (requiring owners to desex, microchip and register their feline), stock, and poultry, as well as new rules for beekeepers.
Dogs are already governed by the Dog Control Bylaw.
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Local News – Decisions confirmed on water model and Porirua City budget

Source: Porirua City Council

Porirua City Council today officially adopted the Te Puna Kōrero committee recommendations made earlier this month around the city’s budget and rates, and the preferred water services delivery model.
The Annual Plan for the 2025/26 year was agreed, with an average rates increase of 6.39 per cent, significantly lower than previously budgeted.
When preparing the draft Annual Plan, the starting point for this year’s rates increases had hit 15 per cent, due to cost pressures.
Council acknowledged this wasn’t sustainable for households and businesses, so took a hard look at internal operations to find cost savings. This brought the new starting point for the average rates increase down to 6.75 per cent.
After public consultation on five options to further lower the increase, Council agreed to discontinue the Chamber of Commerce grant and increase Council’s building consent hourly rate.
They voted against increasing the paid parking hourly rate, putting up Cannons Creek Pool entry fees, and discontinuing the Event Investment Programme.
With these changes, the average rates increase for residential properties will be 6.39 per cent. For most properties, this equates to around $6 or $7 extra per week.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker said while nobody wanted to see rates go up, she was confident that the Council had done everything possible to keep increases as low as possible.
“We know the community is struggling, which is we have done a deep dive internally and made significant cuts, that got us to a lower number than planned. We could have done further cuts, but we listened to your feedback and were guided by that.”
Water Services preferred delivery model
Council also agreed to the committee recommendation of 5 June to jointly establish and co-own a new water organisation with Upper Hutt City Council, Hutt City Council, Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Mayor Baker said this was another milestone decision for Porirua as we continue to progress towards implementing the Local Water Done Well Policy.
“Public consultation undertaken in March and April strongly supported a jointly owned water organisation, and this decision today enables Porirua to continue working with our neighbouring Council towards the stand up of the water company in 2026.”
Council also agreed today to delegate Mayor Baker and Councillor Ross Leggett, as her alternate, (as the Council’s representative on the Advisory Oversight Group) the power to make decisions on two establishment activities.
This delegation will enable the next phases of work to continue during the new company’s establishment phase. It will remain in place until later in the year when a new shareholders committee will be set up and will take over the governance level decision making. 
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New Stats NZ email platform – add to your ‘safe sender’ list

New Stats NZ email platform – add to your ‘safe sender’ list

26 June 2025

We are moving to a new email platform soon and future emails with your Stats NZ release notifications will come from publishing@communications.stats.govt.nz 
 
Please add this address to your ‘approved/safe sender’ list to avoid missing your release notifications.  
 
Contact us at publishing@stats.govt.nz with any questions.

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BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES NAMES 50 GLOBAL FINALISTS IN 2025 MAYORS CHALLENGE Including Lower Hutt

Source: Bloomberg Philanthropies

Finalists from 33 countries will receive $50,000 and support to test breakthrough ideas for improving life in cities – In January 2026, 25 winning cities will receive $1 million each to bring their idea to life.

New York, NY – (June 25, 2025) – Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced the 50 finalists of its latest Mayors Challenge, a competition to spur local government innovation that improves lives in cities around the world. The sixth Challenge elevates municipalities that have proposed the boldest ideas to bolster essential municipal services.

From Boise to Belfast, Ansan to Addis Ababa, Toronto to Taipei, the 50 finalists, selected from more than 630 applications, hail from 33 countries and represent over 80 million residents. Their ideas aim to increase public transit ridership, lower household energy costs, expand urban green space, speed service response, strengthen sanitation, improve youth safety, safeguard water supply, and more.

Each finalist city will receive $50,000 to prototype their idea. They will also participate in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Ideas Camp in July to hone and test their concepts with feedback from experts and fellow peers. In January 2026, the 25 city halls with the most promising ideas will each be awarded $1 million and operational assistance to bring their proposals to life.

“Local government is where people meet policy—and where government improves lives and builds trust,” said James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “That’s why municipal innovation isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about solving hard problems under pressure, often with imperfect tools and finite resources. These Mayors Challenge finalists stand out because they’re not just thinking creatively—they’re designing solutions that reckon with the complexity of implementation and the urgency of their residents’ needs. Their proposals reflect a new standard for public sector achievement: ambitious, yes, but also grounded, disciplined, and ripe for real impact.”

The 630 ideas submitted to the Mayors Challenge reflect some of the greatest public service challenges facing cities today—as well as the creativity that animates local governments across the globe. A third of U.S. and Canada applicants, for example, devised solutions addressing housing and shelter. Nearly half of the applicants from Africa proposed upgrades to waste collection and management. One out of five applicants from the Asia-Pacific region focused on cleaner water, air, and infrastructure, and 22 percent of European applicants sought ways to reduce poverty or enhance social inclusion.

The 50 finalist ideas were selected for their originality, potential for impact, and credible vision for delivery. Artificial intelligence was featured in the plans of a number of finalists, including South Bend, Indiana, which envisioned a cutting-edge 311 system that anticipates complaints for non-emergency issues, such as potholes, allowing officials to address problems before a resident report. More analog innovations also rose to the top: In Yonkers, New York, city officials proposed a powerful new hyper-local civic brigade to help older neighbors age happily and healthfully in place.

The 50 finalist cities are:

  • Abha, Saudi Arabia
  • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Ansan, South Korea
  • As-Salt, Jordan
  • Barcelona, Spain
  • Beaverton, U.S
  • Beira, Mozambique
  • Belfast, United Kingdom
  • Benin City, Nigeria
  • Boise, U.S.
  • Boston, U.S.
  • Budapest, Hungary
  • Cap-Haïtien, Haiti
  • Cape Town, South Africa
  • Cartagena, Colombia
  • Cauayan, Philippines
  • Choma, Zambia
  • Cuenca, Ecuador
  • Detroit, U.S.
  • Fez, Morocco
  • Fukuoka, Japan
  • Ghaziabad, India
  • Ghent, Belgium
  • Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, India
  • Helsinki, Finland
  • Honolulu, U.S.
  • Kanifing, Gambia
  • Kyiv, Ukraine
  • Lafayette, U.S.
  • Lower Hutt, New Zealand
  • Maceió, Brazil
  • Marseille, France
  • Medellín, Colombia
  • Mexico City, Mexico
  • Naga, Philippines
  • Ndola, Zambia
  • Netanya, Israel
  • Nouakchott, Mauritania
  • Pasig, Philippines
  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • San Francisco, U.S.
  • Seattle, U.S.
  • Seoul, South Korea
  • Sialkot, Pakistan
  • South Bend, U.S.
  • Surabaya, Indonesia
  • Taipei, Taiwan
  • Toronto, Canada
  • Turku, Finland
  • Yonkers, U.S.

In this round of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, more funding will be distributed and more cities will be assisted than in the previous five Challenges which each selected between five to 15 winners. 

“Local government and mayors’ offices are the beating heart of innovation and change in our urban environments,” said Professor Lesley Lokko OBE, Founder and Chair of the African Futures Institute and 2025 Mayors Challenge advisory committee member. “It has been an honour to join Bloomberg Philanthropies' advisory committee for the organization’s sixth Mayors Challenge, an initiative dedicated to empowering and supporting city makers around the world. I look forward to working with these 50 finalists as they advance in this extraordinary competition—strengthening their ideas which each represent the inventiveness citizens everywhere should expect from their governments—and the future of what municipal delivery has the power and potential to be.”

“For more than a decade, Bloomberg Philanthropies has provided unprecedented support to drive local government innovation in cities across the country and around the world,” said Admiral Michael G. Mullen, President & CEO of MGM Consulting and 2025 Mayors Challenge advisory committee member. “The organization’s sixth Mayors Challenge will invest in the future of urban delivery from the ground floor of communities—and I am thrilled to join its advisory committee and work with these finalist cities on accelerating their ideas – from safeguarding water supply to carving out community spaces to integrating AI to improve student routes, and more.”

The new Mayors Challenge builds on more than 10 years of work led by Bloomberg Philanthropies to discover, nurture, and drive innovation in cities. The awards to date across five previous rounds of competition have provided 38 winning cities with funding and technical assistance to realize their ideas for addressing civic issues. By supporting the replication of the most successful winning ideas, Bloomberg Philanthropies has expanded the impact of the Mayors Challenge to 337 other cities globally, reaching over 100 million residents around the world.

“Bloomberg Philanthropies has provided invaluable support for cities to develop and implement innovative solutions that improve the lives of residents in ways they can feel,” said Mayor Mike Duggan of Detroit, Michigan. “Detroit is honored to be among the 50 municipalities selected from over 630 applications for the organization’s Mayors Challenge. As a finalist, we will work with renowned experts and peers to advance our proposal to create a powerful, single entry that connects currently scattered information – such as inspection dates, taxes, and utilities – on all 400,000 Detroit properties to revolutionize how owners can access this vital information, as well as how our city plans and provides its most essential services.”

“Seoul is honored to be selected as one of the 50 finalists for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge competition,” said Mayor Oh Se-hoon of Seoul, South Korea. “As a finalist, we will further our proposal to launch powerful educational campaigns and new support systems that will protect youth safety and prevent online child exploitation through the development of an AI-based mobile app that detects risks and alerts parents – while working alongside other cities to set a new standard for the future of urban policy.”

“City halls deliver the most fundamental public services—from reliable public transport to affordable housing, clean water, sustainable environments, emergency response, and more,” said Mayor Gergely Karácsony of Budapest, Hungary. “Recognizing their potential and reach, the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge rewards and equips those with the most inventive ideas to lead transformations of the essential programs their communities rely on. We are honored that Budapest is one of the 50 finalists selected to further our idea to build a city-run food processing plant that can turn surplus fruits and vegetables from local markets into nutritious meals for schools and senior homes.”

“It is an honor to be selected as a finalist for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge,” said Mayor Sunita Dayal of Ghaziabad, India. “As we pursue our idea to improve our environment alongside bolstering our workforce – converting organic waste into white rooftop paint and compost to cool homes, green parks, and lower emissions while providing new job opportunities – we have a unique opportunity to incubate innovation that will move our communities forward.” 

“Thank you to Bloomberg Philanthropies for seeing our vision to improve the quality of life for seniors across our city,” said Mayor Mike Spano of Yonkers, New York. “We are honored to be among 50 finalists selected for the prestigious global Mayors Challenge competition. As a finalist, we will look to create a fully sustainable model for community engagement – marshaling public and private partners as well as residents and students – coupled with innovative technology and tools to enable many more to age safely and gracefully in place.” 

With the expansion of the Bloomberg Cities Idea Exchange, future Mayors Challenge-winning ideas and other locally led solutions supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies will have new potential to scale—serving as models and catalysts for how governments solve problems across the globe. 

To learn more about the 50 finalist proposals, visit mayorschallenge.bloomberg.org

About Bloomberg Philanthropies:
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.7 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org,