Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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PSA – Take inspiration from Australian Govt: encourage public servants to work from home to save fuel and ease costs

Source: PSA

The Government needs to take a leaf out of the Australian Government’s book and step up and direct public service agencies to encourage working from home to conserve fuel and reduce the crippling cost of commuting for many workers.
The Australian Government has today launched a $20 million advertising campaign urging people to drive less, use public transport and conserve fuel. Australia has also halved its fuel excise.
“With the threat of fuel shortages remaining high, the Government should be doing everything it can to reduce unnecessary travel. Instead, it’s still clinging to its failed back-to-the-office agenda,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Every public servant who can work from home and who does so instead of driving, is one fewer car on the road burning fuel we can’t afford to waste. This is about conserving a scarce resource as well as easing the financial pain on workers whose commuting costs have surged by $40 to $50 a week.
“Even the Australian Government gets it. Meanwhile, our government refuses to cut fuel excise, or lower public transport fares and is still pushing public servants back into the office. It makes no sense.
“We welcome the temporary 30 percent increase in mileage rates for home and community support workers, a move the PSA campaigned hard for. And it should be made permanent. But it highlights the gap in the Government’s thinking. It recognises fuel costs are punishing many frontline care workers who have no choice but to drive, yet it won’t take the obvious step of reducing unnecessary commuting for thousands of public servants who can do their jobs from home.
“We are in a fuel crisis. A temporary, sensible increase in working from home would ease pressure on our fuel supply, take pressure off household budgets, all while keeping the public service running.
“It’s ironic that this government dragged public servants back to the office with no evidence it improved productivity and has already been forced to back down at MBIE when its rigid policy was found to breach the collective agreement. Now workers are paying through the nose for a commute the Government insisted on.
“The $50 a week tax credit increase for some working families is welcome but does not go far enough. The Government needs to use every tool available to lower costs for workers and letting people work from home where they can is one of the simplest and most effective things it can do.
“The Government needs to look across the Tasman and do all it can right now, as this crisis shows no sign of easing soon.”
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
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Storm News – Cyclone Vaianu Response Update #2

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is continuing to respond to 111 calls for assistance in areas affected by Cyclone Vaianu.
Most of the calls have come from the east coast of the North Island, reflecting the path of the storm and the high winds and rainfall.
Since 5am today, fire crews have responded to more than 100 calls, relating to wind damage and surface flooding.
Fire and Emergency is maintaining full readiness to respond to incidents in all areas already affected by the cyclone and in places where the full force is still to come.
Assistant National Commander Ken Cooper says specialist resources including teams with enhanced rescue and water response capability are in position ready to assist local brigades.
“In addition, resources will be moved from Rotorua to the Bay of Plenty to assist in areas most impacted by weather.
“We want to acknowledge and thank our communities for adhering to the safety advice and keeping off the roads and out of flood waters.
“We urge people to remain vigilant and to keep informed through your local Civil Defence and for weather updates MetService.”
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Storm News – Cyclone Vaianu Response Update #1 5am Update

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

5am Update
Fire and Emergency New Zealand has been responding to a small number of 111 calls for assistance as a result of the weather across parts of the North Island.
Director of Operations Brendan Nally says that, as at 5am, crews have responded to twelve incidents related to Cyclone Vaianu, none of them life-threatening. Most of the incidents are related to the winds, with fallen trees affecting property and roofs lifting. In addition, Fire and Emergency assisted Civil Defence and Police with precautionary evacuations from coastal areas in Northland and Bay of Plenty during the day yesterday.
Enhanced rescue teams remain pre-positioned in Whangarei, Auckland, Rotorua, Tairawhiti, and Coromandel to support local fire brigades.
Fire and Emergency’s National Coordination Centre is activated, along with its Region Coordination Centres in Auckland and Tauranga.
The next update will be around 7am, unless there is a significant change. The updates will also be on the news page of our website www.fireandemergency.nz.
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Storm News – Northland overnight update on Cyclone Vaianu

Source: Northland Regional Council

Severe winds were recorded across parts of Northland overnight. Wind gusts of up to 120km/h were observed at Cape Reinga and Tutukākā Harbour, while Hokianga Harbour recorded gusts of up to 110km/h.
In relation to rainfall, the southeastern areas of Northland have seen the highest totals, with Whangārei recording approximately 90 millimetres during the warning period as of 6am.
As the system continues to move south, winds across Northland are beginning to shift to the south-west. Gale south-westerlies are expected to continue affecting parts of the region throughout today.
Both the Strong Wind Warning and Heavy Rain Warning for Northland remain in place until later this morning, with conditions scheduled to be reviewed by MetService around 10am. People are encouraged to continue monitoring official forecasts and warnings at: https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home#upper-north
At this stage, the majority of rivers across the region are receding, although some river levels remain elevated and may still be rising.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency closed State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge from 7pm yesterday due to safety concerns. Crews are currently assessing conditions, and a decision on whether the gorge can safely reopen will be made later this morning. The most current information on the state highway network is available via NZTA’s Journey Planner: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-planner
Northland Civil Defence continues to advise people to delay any unnecessary travel. Those who do need to be on the roads are urged to drive to the conditions and take extra care.
At this time, no additional road closures have been confirmed. However, inspections are ongoing and further issues may be identified. Roading crews will respond as quickly as possible, and motorists should allow extra time for travel.
Yesterday afternoon, six households in Kerikeri were proactively evacuated due to the potential risk posed by nearby trees. Most residents, along with their pets, were able to stay with friends and family.
Overnight, Top Energy reported two power outages:
  • One affecting 786 customers in the Omapere-Opononi-Whirinaki area
  • One affecting 373 customers in the Waikare through to Rawhiti area
Both outages are currently expected to be resolved around the middle of the day today. At this time, Northpower is reporting no outages, with crews remaining on standby.
Members of the public who encounter storm-related damage or roading issues on public property are encouraged to report them directly to their local council:
Northland Civil Defence continues to work closely with local councils, emergency services, and partner agencies and will provide further updates as conditions change.
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Storm News – State of Emergency declared in Northland as precautionary step

Source: Northland Regional Council

A State of Emergency has been declared for Northland as at 5pm Friday 10 April, for an initial period of seven days, as part of the regional response to Cyclone Vaianu.
The emergency declaration was made after consultation with local councils and emergency services, and was requested by Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group Controller Damian Rio and signed by CDEM Group Chair Colin Kitchen.
Mr Rio says region-wide emergency declarations are relatively rare in Northland and the move has been taken as a precaution given the potentially significant impacts that may be seen across Taitokerau from Cyclone Vaianu.
“Declaring an emergency is a step under our legislation which allows the Civil Defence Controller and/or those to whom they delegate authority, access to emergency powers, granting authority to protect life and property in extraordinary emergency events under the Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Act 2002.”
The most commonly-used emergency powers include evacuating premises and places, entering premises, closing roads and public places, removing aircraft, vessels, vehicles etc and requisitioning property, equipment, material or supplies. Of these, enabling evacuations is often the key reason for an emergency declaration.
Mr Rio says the MetService today (10 April) issued a suite of weather warnings and watches across the whole of the North Island.
For Northland, an orange strong wind warning is in place for the whole region from 11pm Saturday 11 April until 2pm Sunday 12 April. An orange heavy rain warning for Northland about and south of Bay of Islands to Hokianga Harbour runs from 9pm Saturday 11 April until 9am Sunday 12 April. A heavy rain watch is also in place for Northland north of Bay of Islands to Hokianga Harbour from 7pm Saturday 11 April until 7am Sunday 12 April.
Cyclone Vaianu is expected to bring periods of severe winds and heavy rain across Northland, with eastern areas likely to be most affected. Severe gale winds, shifting from southeast to southwest, could damage trees, powerlines and unsecured structures. Surface flooding, rapidly rising rivers, slips, and hazardous driving condition may also occur.
Mr Rio says at this stage it is unclear whether emergency powers will need to be used, but the declaration ensures the region is prepared should conditions worsen.
“This declaration means we can act quickly if required. It gives us the tools to respond effectively and keep our communities safe if the situation escalates.”
Mr Kitchen acknowledges the challenging timing of the event, with the region still recovering from recent severe weather.
“We know this is a difficult time for many communities who are already dealing with the impacts of previous weather events, but Northlanders have consistently shown their strength and resilience,” Mr Kitchen says.
“I want to acknowledge the efforts people are making now to get prepared, look out for their neighbours, and follow official advice. Those actions make a real difference.”
Mr Kitchen says Northlanders should continue to stay up-to-date with weather forecasts and official information, have a plan in case they need to evacuate, check on neighbours, avoid non-essential travel during the weather warning periods and take extreme care if it was necessary to be on the roads.
Local councils, emergency services and Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management continue to meet regularly and are coordinating closely for this event.
Key updates will continue to be posted on the Civil Defence Northland Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/civildefencenorthland and the Civil Defence section of Northland Regional Council’s website www.nrc.govt.nz
Other useful link for Northlanders:
Your local district council is the best place to both report issues with and get updates on, local infrastructure, such as local roads.
Northland Civil Defence works across the councils to provide local welfare support. If centres or marae are open to provide support, they will be published on the district council websites below:
Whangarei District Council | Phone: 0800 932 463 | Website: www.wdc.govt.nz
Far North District Council| Phone: 0800 920 029 | Website: www.fndc.govt.nz
Kaipara District Council | Phone: 0800 727 059 | Website: www.kaipara.govt.nz
Power outages:
Whangārei & Kaipara Districts (Northpower): https://northpower.nz/outages/
You can contact the Northpower faults line: 0800 104 040
Far North District (Top Energy) https://outages.topenergy.co.nz/
You can phone Top Energy: 0800 867 363
To check if your property may be in a flood prone area or exposed to potential hazards check:
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Price index methods – updates for the March 2026 quarter – Stats NZ methods paper

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Economy – Cash consultation continues, update on further supporting information – Reserve Bank of NZ

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand Te Pūtea Matua (RBNZ)

10 April 2026 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand Te Pūtea Matua (RBNZ) Assistant Governor Money Karen Silk encourages the public to have their say about local access to withdraw cash, deposit cash and swap cash for low-denomination banknotes and coins.

There has been strong interest in the “Keeping Cash Local” consultation with more than 4000 responses so far. The deadline was extended to 31 July 2026 to allow more time for people and industry to respond, and for RBNZ to share further materials.

“As part of the consultation, we have received questions about the legal basis for the proposal we are consulting on, and we will release more information about this within two weeks. This may assist people in shaping their feedback on the consultation. We will also provide some Official Information Act responses that will be completed within that timeframe,” says Karen Silk.

RBNZ is responsible for ensuring that cash meets needs of the public.

“No decisions have been made yet on the proposals outlined in the consultation, and we want to hear a wide range of views about what the minimum services should be locally to withdraw cash, deposit cash, and swap cash free-of-charge, in every district of New Zealand. The public's views are important and will help inform our approach,” says Karen Silk.

“Our preferred approach is to work with banks to explore how the public's access to cash services could be improved on a voluntary basis and we welcome responses from the cash industry,” says Karen Silk.

Additionally, alternate formats of the consultation document – in NZSL, braille, easy read, audio and large print – will be made available in May to allow disabled people and their communities to have their say.
 

More information

About the consultation Access to cash – Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=411ba5af3b&e=f3c68946f8
Respond to our survey, make a submission or download consultation materials on CitizenSpace: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=e68c1f2e9b&e=f3c68946f8

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Tech Research – 5G network coverage expansion to drive India’s mobile services market over 2025-2030, says GlobalData

Source” Global Data

India’s mobile services market is expected to witness a steady growth through 2030, driven by the 5G expansion and surging data consumption. While traditional voice revenues continue to decline, telcos are increasingly leveraging high-ARPU premium 5G plans and new monetization levers for high-speed data services to drive revenue growth, reveals GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

GlobalData’s India Mobile Broadband Forecast (Q4-2025) reveals that the total mobile services revenue in the country is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6% from $33.3 billion in 2025 to $43.7 billion in 2030, driven by the growth in mobile data service revenue.

Mobile voice service revenues will decline at a CAGR of 2.4% over the forecast period, in line with a continued drop in the mobile voice service ARPU levels, as operators offer free voice minutes with their bundled plans and users increasingly shift towards OTT-based voice communication platforms. Mobile data service revenue, on the other hand, will increase at a CAGR of 8.9% between 2025 and 2030, thanks to the continued rise in data subscriptions and projected increase in the adoption of relatively high ARPU yielding 5G services.

Neha Mishra, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The average monthly data usage over mobile networks is forecast to increase from 25.7 GB in 2025 to 58.9 GB in 2030, in line with the continued surge in consumption of high-bandwidth online video and social media content over mobile networks, given the widespread availability of 4G networks, 5G network expansions and operators’ data-centric plans.”

4G remained the leading mobile technology in terms of subscriptions in 2025 but its share of total mobile subscriptions is expected to drop over the forecast period as users increasingly migrate to higher speed 5G services.

5G will overtake 4G by 2027, by subscriber base and maintain its lead through 2030, supported by the ongoing 5G network expansion and investment initiatives by major MNOs. While Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio already offer widespread nationwide 5G coverage, Vodafone Idea (Vi), a later entrant in March 2025, has started accelerating its expansion to strengthen its market position. Also, telcos offering unlimited 5G data plans will further support the growth of 5G adoption across both metro and non-metro areas.

Reliance Jio led the mobile services market in India in terms of mobile subscriptions in 2025, followed by Airtel India. Reliance Jio, with currently over 200 million 5G users, will retain its leadership through to 2030, supported by its rapid 5G rollouts. Airtel India is the second largest mobile service provider. It has aggressively scaled up its 5G deployment, added about 25,000 new 5G sites in 2025, growing its 5G user base to more than 135 million.

Mishra concludes: “India’s mobile market will continue to evolve by scaling 5G adoption while balancing affordability and monetization. As data usage continues to surge, operators will prioritize wider network rollouts, capacity enhancements, and tiered pricing strategies to convert traffic growth into revenue. At the same time, digital services, content bundling, and ecosystem partnerships will play a key role in driving customer engagement and long-term value creation in an intensely competitive landscape.”

Notes:

Quotes provided by Neha Mishra, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData
Information based on GlobalData’s India Mobile Broadband Forecast (Q4-2025)

About GlobalData

GlobalData Plc (LSE:DATA) operates an intelligence platform that empowers leaders to act decisively in a world of complexity and change. By uniting proprietary data, human expertise, and purpose-built AI into a single, connected platform, we help organizations see what is coming, move faster, and lead with confidence. Our solutions are used by over 5,000 organizations across the world’s largest industries, providing tailored intelligence that supports strategic planning, innovation, risk management, and sustainable growth.

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Education – Strong outcomes and workforce readiness across Whitireia and WelTec nursing programmes

Source: Whitireia and WelTec

Whitireia and WelTec is celebrating a strong five-year performance across its three Bachelor of Nursing programmes, with graduates consistently demonstrating exceptional clinical capability, cultural competency and academic excellence.
Across the Bachelor of Nursing Māori, Bachelor of Nursing, and Bachelor of Nursing Pacific, graduates are entering the workforce as confident, compassionate, work ready nurses.
Between 2021 and 2025, ākonga (learners) achieved impressive course completion rates of 90-93%, supported by high-quality, innovative teaching and robust academic guidance. State Final Examination outcomes underscore this readiness, with a 100% pass rate for the Bachelor of Nursing Māori in 2024 and a 100% for the Bachelor of Nursing in 2025.
“Our nursing programmes continue to demonstrate the strength of Whitireia and WelTec,” says Dr Tania Mullane, Programme Manager, Bachelor of Nursing Pacific. “These results reflect dedicated kaiako (tutors), highly engaged ākonga, and a shared commitment to preparing nurses who serve their communities with confidence and compassion.”
The Graduate Diploma in Nursing Pacific has performed strongly, with 25 Pacific-trained nurses graduating last year. Supported by Health New Zealand-funded scholarships covering fees, travel, and equipment, the programme has strengthened learners’ ability to become registered nurses in Aotearoa.
Whitireia and WelTec’s postgraduate pathway continues to grow, with just over a thousand ākonga completing applied postgraduate programmes in nursing and paramedicine over the past five years. Postgraduate offerings – including the long-standing Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing (Mental Health and Addiction), now in its 31st year – support areas such as Tamariki Ora (Well Child Health), Extended Care Paramedicine, and Forensic Leadership.
“What sets our programmes apart is the way we integrate academic excellence with strong pastoral care and culturally responsive teaching,” says Miriam White, Bachelor of Nursing Programme Manager. “Our ākonga demonstrate resilience, skill, and a genuine commitment to making a difference.”
Whitireia and WelTec’s state-of-the-art simulation suite provides realistic, high quality learning environments for all nursing ākonga, supported by expert kaiako (tutors). “We have exceptional expertise in simulation education, enabling ākonga to safely develop, refine, and apply their nursing knowledge, skills, and practice. Simulation enables structured debriefing, supporting clinical judgement and critical thinking that are transferable to their clinical practice,” says White.
Health providers and graduates consistently recognise the programmes for their strong equity focus and culturally responsive, Kaupapa-based practice. Bachelor of Nursing Māori Programme Manager Shayola Koperu says, “With research and teaching anchored in real-world nursing needs and national priorities, the programmes stay current, credible, and genuinely impactful.”
“Whitireia and WelTec has a strong nursing legacy and a clear focus on the future,” she adds. “These results speak to the strength of the programmes and the trust our communities place in us as educators of the next generation of nurses.” 
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Storm News – "Take action early, it could save your life": NEMA advice

Source: National Emergency Management Agency

Cyclone Vaianu is a dangerous event, and people in affected regions need to take every warning seriously, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says.
Cyclone Vaianu is expected to move across the North Island on Sunday 12 April and NEMA Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management John Price is urging people in the affected regions to take action early – it could save your life.
“Before the storm hits, prepare your home and your family. Make a plan for power cuts or evacuation, have supplies ready, tie down loose items and clear your gutters.
“When the weather worsens, people need to act quickly to stay safe.
“Strong winds and heavy rain can injure or kill, and taking action early can save your life.”
John Price says you should trust your own “danger sense” and take action – don’t wait for Emergency Mobile Alerts or official warnings.
If you are in an affected area:
  • Leave immediately if floodwaters are rising
  • Take extreme care if you must travel. Watch for flooding, debris and closed roads
  • Landslides are very likely and are extremely dangerous. Leave immediately if you notice small rockfalls or muddy water, buildings or trees moving, or creaking or rumbling noises
  • Stay out of floodwater – it contains debris and contamination, and is extremely dangerous
  • Do not drive, walk or swim through it
  • Do not let children play in it
“Stay informed and stay safe ,” John Price says.
“Listen to the radio. Check MetService warnings for your area and follow your local Civil Defence group on social media.
“We understand people may be tired of hearing warnings, but severe weather causes real harm to people, whanau, families, communities and the country.
“We have been through events like this before. We will get through this one too if we prepare, stay alert, and act when something doesn’t feel right.”
More information on severe weather, flooding and landslides is available at https://www.getready.govt.nz.