Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

The coalition government has slipped several changes into the Local Government (Systems Improvement) Bill that will significantly weaken mana whenua representation at a local government level, the PSA says.

One significant change is removing voting rights from council-appointed members of council committees, so decisions can be made without them.

“Make no mistake, this change – made quietly and quickly without consultation as parliament wraps up for the term – is squarely targeted at tokenising mana whenua representation in local government,” Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Kaihautū Māori, Jack McDonald, says.

“These changes are not about enhancing democracy. They are about scaremongering and pandering to the outdated racist views of people who are threatened by iwi Māori having a say on what goes on in their rohe.”

Official advice on the bill changes warns that removing voting rights from appointed committee members would likely make councils less functional overall.

“The Regulatory Impact Statement on the bill questions whether the problem the Government is looking to solve really exists.

“Without the advice of mana whenua and other appointed members of committees, councils will not effectively integrate their expertise and be the poorer for it.

“The RIS also states that most councils will need to undertake governance restructuring when the bill passes – just another thing that councils will need to reform, on top of amalgamating, RMA reform, and new water entities.

“The PSA strongly opposes removing voting rights from appointed local government committee members. Like so much of the legislation brought through parliament by the coalition this term, these changes are being snuck through without proper consultation and is aimed at weakening Te Tiriti and Māori representation in local governance.”

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.

Source: BusinessNZ

BusinessNZ is alarmed at National’s proposal to pursue the separation of supermarket chain Foodstuffs.

“New Zealand has long benefited from a reputation for regulatory stability, respect for property rights and predictable policy settings. Measures of this nature risk undermining that reputation at a time when New Zealand needs investment, productivity growth and economic confidence,” said BusinessNZ Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard.

“This is a very concerning move by the National Party and sends a chilling signal to businesses across New Zealand that the Government can break up businesses. It also sends the wrong signal to foreign investors looking to invest in New Zealand.

“We consider this to be in the same league as Labour’s ban on oil and gas exploration and New Zealand First’s promise to split up the gentailers.

Ms Beard said any proposal to structurally separate Foodstuffs would require rigorous scrutiny of its unintended consequences.

“Increasing competition in New Zealand’s grocery sector is a worthwhile goal, but structural intervention of this scale raises significant questions about whether it would actually deliver lower prices for consumers.

“BusinessNZ is strongly pro-competition and supports measures that genuinely improve choice and put downward pressure on prices. But we remain unconvinced that structural separation is the best way to achieve those goals.

“Supermarkets have faced intense scrutiny due to the political narrative that the cost-of-living crisis stems from a lack of competition arising from the dominance of two major supermarket chains.

“But when we compare a basket of goods from New Zealand supermarkets with international prices, the Commerce Commission itself acknowledges that such comparisons do not take into account the fact that all food purchased in New Zealand has 15% GST applied, whereas comparator countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Ireland do not apply GST or VAT to many food items.

“Breaking businesses apart does not automatically create more competition, and it certainly does not guarantee cheaper groceries.

“Supermarkets rely heavily on scale across purchasing, distribution, logistics, technology and other infrastructure. If structural separation reduces those efficiencies or duplicates costs, there is a risk that some of those costs ultimately find their way to consumers.

“Competition is not determined solely by market structure. New Zealand’s small population and dispersed geography present challenges that larger countries do not face. Where there is greater scale, such as in Auckland, competition is already stronger because a larger customer base can support more competitors.

“The grocery sector has already been subject to extensive regulatory intervention, including the Commerce Commission market study, the establishment of the Grocery Commissioner, a regulated wholesale regime and the Grocery Supply Code.

“The Commerce Commission’s own reporting shows a more complicated picture than the suggestion that nothing has changed.

“It identified some movement in margins and market share, while Woolworths New Zealand’s profitability has fallen substantially in recent years. The Commission’s latest annual report also says regulatory changes are beginning to bed in and that the environment is becoming more conducive to new grocery retailers entering and expanding.”

The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

Source: Save the Children New Zealand

Young people from across Aotearoa will come together in Auckland this Saturday, 19 September, for Aotearoa Youth COP 2026, a day of workshops, guest speakers, activities, and discussion focused on climate action and the issues young people want decision-makers to hear.

Hosted by Save the Children New Zealand as part of its Generation Hope youth programme, the event will bring together rangatahi aged 14 to 20 to learn more about climate change, connect with other young people, and explore how they can help shape the decisions affecting their future.

This year’s event will feature multiple workshops covering different areas of climate action, guest speakers sharing their experiences and expertise, and a range of stalls where participants can learn more about organisations, initiatives, and opportunities to get involved.

Throughout the day, young people will be encouraged to share their own experiences, priorities, and ideas, building their knowledge and developing skills in leadership, communication, collaboration, and advocacy.

A key focus of the event will be the development of an Aotearoa Youth Climate Statement, bring together the views and recommendations of young people taking part.

The statement will reflect the climate issues rangatahi want leaders to prioritise and will be formally handed over to the New Zealand Government ahead of COP31 in Türkiye, helping ensure young people’s perspectives are part of wider climate discussions.

Generation Hope Ambassador Betty, 18, says Youth COP gives young people an important opportunity to connect with others who care about climate action and have their views taken seriously.

“Having lived in weather event-prone areas all my life, climate change is something our generation is going to live with for the rest of our lives. We are the “now” that needs to be part of the conversations and decisions surrounding this issue.

“Youth COP is a platform to turn our concerns about climate issues into practical action along with other young people.”

Generation Hope Ambassador Brayden, 16, says the event will give rangatahi the chance to hear from a range of people working on climate issues while developing their own ideas about what needs to change.

“There are so many different parts to climate action, and it can sometimes be hard to know where you fit into it or how you can make a difference.

“Youth COP is a chance for young people to come together, hear different perspectives, ask questions and have our own voices heard. For me, it’s about becoming a more informed citizen and making sure those who make decisions on behalf of young people understand what matters most to our generation – because we are the ones who will have to live with the decisions being made today.”

Save the Children New Zealand Programme and Advocacy Director, Jacqui Southey, says meaningful youth participation is an important part of climate action, particularly because children and young people are already experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis.

“The climate crisis is already affecting children around the world, including their health, education, homes, food security, and safety, while many of the decisions being made today will shape the world young people inherit.

“Youth COP gives rangatahi a chance to deepen their understanding of climate issues, test their ideas, and work together on the issues that matter to them. Young people have a right to be heard on decisions that affect their lives, and they bring valuable perspectives and solutions to the table.”

About Save the Children NZ:

Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.

Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.

Source: Greenpeace Aotearoa

National, ACT and NZ First have taken over $1 million in political donations from agribusiness-linked donors since 2022, new Greenpeace analysis reveals.

The finding is part of Greenpeace’s 2026 election scorecard, which exposes a stark divide between the parties over the future of New Zealand’s rivers, oceans, climate and conservation land.

Greenpeace says the figures should “set alarm bells ringing”, following revelations about Fonterra’s secret lobbying of the Government over the Smith climate case, and recent reports that major agriculture lobby groups privately lobbied Ministers for changes to new environmental laws – many of which were subsequently adopted.

Greenpeace campaigner Gen Toop says: “Our scorecard shows voters have fundamentally different choices for nature this election. Some parties are promising to restore environmental protections and tackle pollution, while others want more mining, fossil fuels and ocean exploitation.”

National, ACT and New Zealand First received the lowest possible grade each scoring an F, while Labour scored a C, The Opportunities Party a B, and the Greens and Te Pāti Māori received an A.

The scorecard looks at some of the biggest environmental decisions facing the next Government. It also puts political donations from major industries alongside the parties’ policy positions.

“We included donations data because people deserve to know which companies and wealthy individuals are funding the political parties vying for power this November”, says Toop.

“If you follow the money, a disturbing pattern emerges. The parties taking money from agribusiness, fishing, mining and fossil fuel interests are the parties promising policies that benefit those industries at the expense of our environment.”

The analysis shows since 2022, National, ACT and NZ First have collectively received $1,143,659 from agribusiness interests, $345,980 from mining interests and $314,261 from oil and gas companies. National and NZ First collectively received $172,812 from commercial fishing interests.

ACT alone received $771,761 from agribusiness-linked donors. ACT MP Simon Court is also the Ministerial Under-Secretary overseeing RMA reforms that environmental groups warn will gut protections against agricultural pollution, while ex-president of Federated Farmers, ACT MP Andrew Hoggard, is Associate Minister of Agriculture.

“Big industries may have deep pockets to pour into political donations, but ultimately voters decide who gets to govern”, says Toop.

“This election, voters have the power to choose whether our rivers, oceans, climate and wild places are protected, or whether the industries profiting from their destruction continue to get their way.”

Notes to editor

Full details on the scoring methodology and breakdown of political parties' responses can be viewed here. Political donations analysis can be seen here.

Political parties were sent questions about their environmental policies and positions broken down by category – conservation land, oceans, freshwater, climate, and environmental law and democracy.

Source: Insurance Council of New Zealand | Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa

The Insurance Council of New Zealand | Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ) is calling on the Government to replace the Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) levy on insurance policies, saying the current system is outdated, not fit-for-purpose, and unnecessarily adds to the cost of insurance for households and businesses.

In a submission to the Government’s review of FENZ funding, ICNZ states emergency services should no longer be funded primarily through levies collected on insurance policies.

ICNZ Chief Executive Kris Faafoi says ICNZ strongly supports a well-funded FENZ and the work its people do every day but believes it is time to modernise how the service is funded.

“The current funding system reflects a time when fire services were closely linked to fire insurance, but that’s no longer the reality.

“FENZ today responds to a wide range of emergencies including vehicle accidents, medical events and civil defence emergencies. Everyone benefits from having a strong and effective emergency service.

“The key issue is whether the current funding model remains the best way to ensure FENZ is sustainably and fairly funded.

“Insured households and businesses bear most of the cost through the levy, despite the benefits of FENZ being shared across the community. That is becoming increasingly difficult to justify.”

ICNZ says government taxes and levies account for around 40% of a typical home insurance premium, with the FENZ levy making up about 5%. Across all insurance products subject to the levy, it accounts for approximately 9% of premiums.

“The collection and administration of the levy imposes significant compliance costs on insurers, which are ultimately passed on to consumers,” says Kris Faafoi.

ICNZ has recommended FENZ be funded through a broader and more equitable approach, such as general taxation or property and vehicle-based levies, reflecting the public good nature of the services it provides.

“The current approach is inequitable because people with similar assets can pay very different levy amounts depending on the insurance cover they choose, while those who are uninsured contribute nothing towards funding the service.”

The submission notes most Australian states and many comparable overseas jurisdictions have moved away from insurance-based fire service levies, instead funding emergency services through general taxation, local government funding or property-based levies.

“For many years there have been calls for a fairer and simpler approach to funding FENZ. The current review presents an excellent opportunity to create a funding model that better reflects the services FENZ provides today and delivers a more sustainable funding framework into the future,” says Kris Faafoi.

“We believe the time has come to move beyond an insurance-based levy and adopt a funding model that shares the cost of emergency services more fairly across the community.”

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua

16 September 2026

Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua Assistant Governor Money Karen Silk will leave the Bank in December, after more than four years with the organisation.

Karen Silk joined the Reserve Bank in 2022 after a long and successful career in financial services in New Zealand and Australia. Reflecting on her time as Assistant Governor and a member of New Zealand's Monetary Policy Committee, she said: “It has been a real privilege to serve in these roles and to work alongside people who care deeply about the wellbeing and prosperity of New Zealanders. I am proud of what we have achieved together.”

“After a long and varied career in banking and public service, this feels like the right time to begin a new chapter. I am looking forward to spending more time with family and pursuing personal interests, while continuing to contribute to New Zealand's business and investment community.”

Governor Anna Breman thanked Karen for her significant contribution as ELT leader and member of the Monetary Policy Committee.

“Karen has brought deep financial-sector experience and strong leadership to the Reserve Bank. She has made an important contribution across monetary policy, financial markets, cash and payments, including work to support a modern and resilient financial system. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Karen, and the RBNZ wishes her the very best with her next steps,” Dr Breman said.

Karen Silk will remain in her role until mid-December and will participate in the December monetary policy decision, supporting continuity through the transition.

The Governor has used the forthcoming vacancy to review the shape of the Executive Leadership Team. Two Assistant Governor roles, Assistant Governor Monetary Policy and Assistant Governor Payments and Cash will be established to strengthen leadership capacity, clarify accountabilities and support closer coordination across the RBNZ core responsibilities.

“These changes maintain clear leadership of our core functions while positioning the Bank well for the future. Karen will continue to lead her portfolio through December, and we have plans in place to ensure an orderly handover and continuity of decision-making,” Dr Breman said.

Recruitment for both Assistant Governor roles will begin shortly, supported by an executive search firm. Further details on the roles and recruitment process will be published in the coming weeks.

A few other non-ELT role adjustments consulted on with leaders will also proceed, including the establishment of a Chief of Staff role. These changes, and the additional Assistant Governor role will be funded out of operational budget allowed for in the current Five-Year Funding Agreement (FYFA) 2025-2030.

Editor's notes

Members of the Monetary Policy Committee are appointed by the Minister of Finance on the recommendation of the Reserve Bank Board. The Board is expected to recommend the appointee to the new Assistant Governor Monetary Policy role for appointment to the Committee.

The Reserve Bank is also working through arrangements for a short-term appointment of a new internal member of the MPC.

Source: Whitireia and WelTec

Whitireia and WelTec cookery ākonga recently found themselves at the heart of an unforgettable culinary experience, working alongside some of the industry's most celebrated chefs as part of Wellington On a Plate's Kai Meets Shoku.

Hosted by Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa at Pipitea Marae, the event brought together renowned Māori chef Joe McLeod (Ngāi Tūhoe) and Michelin-starred Japanese chef Keiko Kuwakino. Through seasonal ingredients and shared food traditions, Kai Meets Shoku celebrated the connection between Māori and Japanese cultures, highlighting the power of kai to bring people together.

For ākonga, it was an opportunity to contribute to a unique dining event. In the days leading up to the dinner, 12 Whitireia and WelTec New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4) ākonga worked alongside industry professionals in the institute's training kitchens at Te Awakairangi Campus (Petone), before joining the team at Pipitea Marae to help deliver the five-course menu.

Olly Malcolm was among those selected, helping prepare hundreds of pāua ravioli and supporting service throughout the evening. “Kai Meets Shoku was an incredible experience,” says Olly. “Being able to learn from chefs Joe McLeod and Keiko Kuwakino was both exciting and challenging. I was nervous at first, but their creativity and knowledge made me want to ask a thousand questions.” One of Olly's highlights was seeing Māori and Japanese culinary traditions come together. “Even though the ingredients and techniques were different, they complemented each other and created something completely new. It showed me how food can connect cultures and people.”

Fellow cookery ākonga Lily Campbell also assisted with kai preparation, plating, and service throughout the evening. The experience gave her a rare glimpse into the precision, teamwork and creativity required to deliver a world-class dining event. “Having the chance to learn from chefs of this calibre was incredible. One of the most memorable moments was stepping back and seeing everything come together. So much time, care and planning went into the event, and watching a team of talented chefs collaborate to make it happen was inspiring.”

Whitireia and WelTec Cookery and Hospitality kaiako Scott Campbell says the experience provided lessons that extended well beyond the kitchen. “Ākonga gained far more than technical skills from this event. They saw first-hand how food can tell stories, honour culture, and create meaningful connections.”

Working alongside internationally recognised chefs gave ākonga a truly valuable opportunity to learn what it takes to succeed in the culinary world, from teamwork and creativity through to professionalism in a fast-paced environment. “The experience not only helped build their skills and confidence”, Scott acknowledges, “but also gave them a real sense of what a career in the industry can look like”.

Captions:

Kai Meets Shoku Mihi Whakatau.jpg – Chefs Joe McLeod (Ngāi Tūhoe) and Keiko Kuwakino (centre front row) are welcomed to Whitireia and WelTec before the teams begin on-campus preparation for Kai Meets Shoku.

Kai Meets Shoku Lily Olly Izzy Ray.jpg – L-R Whitireia and WelTec kaiako Ray Morrell and ākonga Lily, Olly and Izzy plate kai for service at the Kai Meets Shoku event

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand

Westport communities and emergency responders will be better placed to respond to future floods, with West Coast Regional Council (WCRC) and Earth Sciences New Zealand delivering the country’s first operational flood inundation forecasting system.

Developed for Westport, the new system brings together weather forecasts, river flow modelling, coastal conditions and rapid inundation mapping. It shows not only when flooding may occur, but also where floodwaters are likely to go and how deep they could be. The project is a major step forward in how flood risk is forecast, communicated and managed.

The system builds on and extends previous Earth Sciences NZ work to develop national-scale river-flow forecasting capability.

Hydrological Forecasting Scientist Dr Céline Cattoën-Gilbert says the West Coast project represents a significant scientific and operational achievement. “This system moves us from forecasting river levels to forecasting potential flood impacts,” she says.

“That is a fundamental shift for emergency management, because it gives decision makers more practical information about what flooding could mean for people, homes, roads and critical infrastructure.”

The work, commissioned by WCRC, was developed by Earth Sciences NZ in partnership with WCRC staff, West Coast Emergency Management, emergency services and Buller District Council. It was shaped by lessons from major floods, including the July 2021 and February 2022 events, during which decision makers relied primarily on weather and river forecasts without real-time inundation information.

WCRC Hydrology Manager Samwell Warren says the project demonstrates the value of sustained collaboration between scientists, councils and emergency management partners.

“Developing the model alongside West Coast Emergency Management, plus our growing focus on impact-based flood intelligence, has helped ensure it meets real operational needs.

“It gives us more than a forecast river level by helping us understand what the forecast could mean for communities, roads and infrastructure. This supports making better-informed earlier decisions.”

The forecasting chain combines ensemble river forecasts, which predict a range of river levels depending on rainfall probabilities, with sea-level information and a pre-computed library of flood scenarios. Together, this means inundation maps can be generated within minutes. The use of ensemble river flow forecasts means the system accounts for uncertainty, enabling emergency managers to consider a range of possible flood outcomes and likelihoods, rather than relying on a single forecast.

West Coast Emergency Management Regional Manager Claire Brown agrees that the work has been important in giving response teams more confidence when making decisions such as when and who should be evacuated.

“These are critical decisions made only after considering multiple factors. Inundation forecasting is a vital part of that decision making. Understanding more about where and when areas will flood give more lead in time to give 12 or more hours' notice of an evacuation.”

The completion of the project was marked by a two-day workshop in Greymouth and Westport recently. This workshop brought together around 30 participants to review the system, share lessons and discuss future preparedness. Many of these people first met in very different circumstances during the 2021 and 2022 flood responses, when Earth Sciences staff provided weather and river forecasts to support the council and emergency responders and inform emergency responses.

Dr Cattoën-Gilbert says the partnership has delivered more than just a technical system.

“This project has strengthened relationships between researchers, local government and the emergency management sector. It has built shared understanding and created capability that can support communities before and during future flood events.

“We’re extremely grateful to everyone who gave their time to help us develop and refine the outputs and hope that the new inundation forecasts will help improve outcomes next time heavy rains come,” she says.

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

New report from PSA calls on next Govt. to settle claim within first 100 days

The PSA is demanding whoever forms the next Government make settling the care and support workers’ pay equity claim an immediate priority and repeal the outrageous changes to pay equity law.

The call comes in a new report – Voices of Pay Equity Lost – authored by Professor Katherine Ravenswood and Emma Hitchcock from AUT.

The report launched at Parliament today tells the personal stories of eight care and support workers whose pay equity claim – along with 32 other pay equity claims – was cancelled when the Government gutted the Equal Pay Act under urgency last year, in less than a day, with no consultation and no warning.

“This was constitutional vandalism, depriving 65,000 care and support workers and so many others of the pay rise they need all because the Government chose landlords over care and support workers,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, PSA National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

“Every day their claim sits unsettled costs them real money – for petrol, for heating, for a deposit on a house. It’s the difference between scraping by and building a future. Care and support workers deserved better than to have years of hard-won progress wiped out in an afternoon.”

With the election just weeks away, the PSA is calling on the next Government to:

1. Fund and deliver the pay equity settlement for care and support workers, based on established undervaluation, within its first 100 days.
2. Repeal the 2025 changes to the Equal Pay Act, reinstating legislation that gives New Zealand women genuine access to pay equity and restore the cancelled claims and reviews.
3. End pay gaps based on ethnicity, disability, sexuality and gender identity.

The report includes support worker Christie Cox, from Christchurch, who said the cancelled settlement had cost her family nearly $30,000 so far in lost income. “That’s a deposit on a house, that’s financial security, some stability for me to be able to actually start my family,” she said.

“This Government chose to sacrifice low-paid women like Christie to make its numbers work – the next one must choose to undo that,” Fitzsimons said.

“And there are good economic reasons to do so. Our analysis based on Treasury’s own economic model shows that reinstating pay equity would grow the economy by $13.5 billion over four years and create around 13,000 jobs.”

The PSA and other unions challenged the Government’s decision at the High Court on the basis it breached the Bill of Rights Act. They are now awaiting a decision after the case concluded last month.

“Win or lose that case, we need concrete political steps to overturn this appalling decision,” said Fitzsimons.

“On 7 November, we urge New Zealanders to choose a new government which commits to delivering pay equity, without delay or excuse.”

Voices of Pay Equity Lost launch details

• Parliament, Legislative Council Chamber
• Wednesday 16 September 2026
• 11am – 12pm
• The event features a panel discussion chaired by Fleur Fitzsimons with care and support workers Christie Cox, Kate Halsall, Camella Ross and Dev Deep Singh.
• The report was written by Professor Katherine Ravenswood and Emma Hitchcock of the AUT Social Transformation Research Institute.

PSA analysis on fiscal and economic benefits of pay equity

9 September Restoring pay equity would boost income of 91,000 families by $300/week – PSA analysis

23 August Govt’s axing of pay equity cost jobs & GDP growth – PSA analysis

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.