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Advocacy – On World Heart Day: Stand with the Beating Heart of Palestine – Palestine Forum of New Zealand

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

On this World Heart Day, we are reminded that the heart is not only a symbol of life but also of resilience, compassion, and justice. The Palestine Forum of New Zealand calls on the global community to recognise the suffering of the Palestinian people, whose hearts continue to beat under unimaginable hardship.

This year’s World Heart Day theme is about caring for every heart. Yet, in Palestine, thousands of hearts are being broken daily, through the loss of loved ones, through the trauma of displacement, and through the denial of basic human rights, including access to healthcare.

Hospitals in Gaza and across occupied Palestine face acute shortages of medicines, medical equipment, and even electricity to power life-saving machines. For Palestinians with heart disease, treatment delays can mean the difference between life and death. The blockade, occupation, and ongoing attacks make even the simplest care a struggle.

“On World Heart Day, while the world promotes healthy living and access to treatment, Palestinians are being deprived of their right to health,” said [Name], spokesperson for the Palestine Forum of New Zealand. “We cannot talk about protecting hearts while allowing Palestinian hearts to be broken by injustice.”

The Forum calls on New Zealand’s leaders, health professionals, and civil society to:

  • Demand an immediate end to the blockade and restrictions on medical access in Palestine.
  • Support international calls for accountability to protect Palestinian lives and health.
  • Stand in solidarity with Palestine, the heart of the Arab world, whose endurance inspires millions.

On this World Heart Day, let us remember that every heart matters—including the hearts beating under occupation and siege. Justice and freedom are the true foundations of healthy lives.

Palestine Forum of New Zealand

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Economy – Strong progress made on post-COVID-19 recommendations for monetary policy – Reserve Bank of New Zealand

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

29 September 2025 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua has published an update on its progress in responding to recommendations from its review of monetary policy over the 2017 to 2022 period. This is being released alongside an interim review of the recent monetary policy tightening cycle.

The 2022 Review and Assessment of the Formulation and Implementation of Monetary Policy (RAFIMP) proposed nine recommendations aimed at improving the Monetary Policy Committee's (MPC's) ability to achieve its objectives in an environment of heightened uncertainty and more complex economic shocks.
Chief Economist Paul Conway says the work published today reflects strong progress in responding to the 2022 review and strengthening our monetary policy framework.

“The MPC has gained valuable insights into how economic activity, price setting by businesses, and inflation expectations evolve during periods of high inflation and economic volatility.

“We now have a deeper understanding of supply shocks and structural drivers of inflation and have expanded our use of high-frequency data for more timely and granular monitoring. We have developed new tools to estimate neutral interest rates and run scenario analysis. These improvements ensure the MPC is well equipped to navigate future shocks while maintaining price stability.”

The 2022 review prompted a coordinated programme of research and policy development, Mr Conway says.

“We've made strong progress on all recommendations, enhancing our ability to respond to future inflationary pressure and economic volatility.”

First steps towards the next monetary policy review

The Reserve Bank has also released new work reviewing the MPC's response to above-target inflation from 2021 to 2024. This work is part of the Reserve Bank's continuous evaluation and improvement of monetary policy and will be an input into the next full RAFIMP review in 2027. The 2027 RAFIMP will provide a formal set of lessons learned and areas for improvement. The papers released today offer some interim reflections.

The MPC's strategy helped reduce inflation from its peak in 2022 and return it to within the 1 to 3 percent target band by September 2024. This strategy kept longer-term inflation expectations near the target midpoint, which is key to medium-term price stability.  

In hindsight, an earlier or more aggressive tightening might have reduced inflation sooner, Mr Conway says.

“But this would have been difficult given the data available at the time and could have conflicted with the MPC's mandate back then, which included maintaining maximum sustainable employment.”

Despite significant data uncertainty, the MPC relied on the best available information to guide its decisions. The accuracy of the Reserve Bank's economic forecasts has significantly improved, as economic disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic have subsided.

Communication of the MPC's strategy was generally clear, though with room for improvement, particularly in how the forward OCR track is conveyed. Overall, the MPC navigated a highly uncertain environment and inflation returned to the 1 to 3 percent inflation target as forecast.

 “We are consistently assessing our performance in maintaining low and stable inflation, which is the best contribution we can make to improving New Zealand's long-run economic performance. The work released today provides a useful interim update ahead of our next full review scheduled for 2027,” Mr Conway says.
 

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Advocacy – Palestine Forum of New Zealand Condemns Government’s Refusal to Recognize Palestinian Statehood

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

The Palestine Forum of New Zealand strongly condemns Foreign Minister Winston Peters' announcement at the UN General Assembly that New Zealand will not recognize Palestinian statehood “at this time.”

This decision represents a moral failure at a critical moment when Palestinians face genocide in Gaza; New Zealand chooses diplomatic comfort over justice.

Recognition is a Right, Not a Reward

By refusing to act, New Zealand undermines its own claim to an independent foreign policy rooted in justice and international law. Instead, it sends a message that Palestinian rights remain negotiable, while Israeli violations continue with impunity.

Palestine Forum of New Zealand

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Activist Sector – AOTEAROA FOR PALESTINE CONDEMNS FOREIGN MINISTER WINSTON PETERS’ UN ADDRESS, ANNOUNCES AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE PROTEST TO DEMAND SANCTIONS

Source: Aotearoa for Palestine

27 September 2025 – Aotearoa for Palestine condemns Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ address to the UN General Assembly in New York this morning, in which Peters failed to announce any measures to prevent or punish Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

“This government is an embarrassment to the people of New Zealand who have demanded for two years that Israel be sanctioned for their war crimes. This government has failed to take action to end the genocide, so we will take action. We will lead the biggest protest for Palestine in NZ history across the Auckland Harbour Bridge to demand sanctions on Israel. The date has been agreed and will be released soon,” stated group spokesperson Heba Mortaja.

In the lead up to Peters’ address, there had been much speculation over whether New Zealand would announce recognition of the ‘state’ of Palestine. Other states such as the UK and Australia have been criticised for symbolically recognising Palestinian statehood while continuing their arms trade with Israel.

“By failing to take symbolic or material action, this New Zealand government has continued its complicity in genocide, and has betrayed the New Zealand people who overwhelmingly support sanctions on Israel,” said Mortaja.

About Aotearoa for Palestine: Aotearoa for Palestine is a Palestinian- and Māori-led group, committed to the Palestinian people’s struggle for freedom, justice, and dignity in their own land.

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Advocacy – Peters rewards Israel for Genocide – PSNA

Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

PSNA says Foreign Minister Winston Peters has issued what it calls a gold-plated reward to appease Israel for its genocide against the Palestinian people, with the decision not to announce sanctions, or even to recognise a state of Palestine, at the United Nations today.

PSNA Co-chair Maher Nazzal, says that the rest of the world recoils in horror at Israel’s cruel and depraved war crimes against the Palestinian people, but Winston Peters has washed his hands and walked away.

“Peters says the lesson he has learned over the past week, as other countries have joined together to recognise Palestine, was that this just provokes Israel to more violence.”

“That is not the way aggression should be rewarded.  That attitude in the 1930s by Britain led to WW2.”

“Peters told UN delegates their governments were failing to provide leadership to solve vital world issues.  He then revealed his own greatest failure of New Zealand leadership in decades.”

“He had nothing to say about Israel breaching multiple international laws.  The word ‘occupation’ never passed his lips.  He ascribed Palestinian resistance to Israel as due to ‘hate’, but no hint of concern came from him of the decades of Israel breaking peace agreements, and of dispossession and mass expulsion of Palestinians.”

“Palestinians have a right of return to their homes, which the UN has reiterated every year since 1948.  He said nothing about that.  Just nonsense about recognising Palestine after the issues are all solved.”

“He must know that unless the world takes real action, those issues will never be solved and Israel will make sure there is nothing of a Palestinian state, or people, to recognise.”

“He just ticked off a list of talking points published this week from the New Zealand Israel Institute.”

“New Zealand has been appeasing Israel for 77 years, and Winston Peters continues New Zealand on the same well-worn path, based on anti-Palestinian racism and mis-identified New Zealand self-interest,” Nazzal says. 

“He has stood on the wrong side of history all his political career and today decided to close the gap between New Zealand and the US and the racist apartheid state of Israel.”

“A deeply shameful day for New Zealand.  I’m sure war criminal Netanyahu has already sent him a message of gratitude,” Nazzal says.

“The way forward is for sanctions against Israel to end the genocide – Peters isn’t even at the start line.”

Maher Nazzal
Co-Chair PSNA

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Advocacy – On World Tourism Day: Palestine’s Beauty, Culture, and Right to be Free – PFNZ

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

Today, on World Tourism Day, the Palestine Forum of New Zealand joins the global community in celebrating the values of travel, cultural exchange, and the right of all peoples to share their heritage with the world.

Palestine is home to some of the world’s most cherished cultural treasures and countless historic villages and holy places. For generations, people of all faiths and nations visited Palestine to walk its ancient streets, taste its cuisine, and meet its warm and resilient people.

Yet, for millions of Palestinians, tourism is not possible. The ongoing military occupation, the siege of Gaza, the annexation of land, and the denial of the Right of Return to Palestinian refugees mean that the simple act of welcoming visitors or travelling freely is denied. Instead of open skies and pathways of exchange, Palestinians face walls, checkpoints, and borders closed by force.

World Tourism Day affirms that tourism should foster peace, dignity, and solidarity among peoples. The Palestinian story reminds us that true tourism is not only about landscapes and monuments, but about justice, freedom, and human connection.

On this day, we call on the international community to recognise and support the Palestinian people’s right to live in freedom, to welcome the world as hosts in their own land, and to share their history, culture, and future with all.

Palestine is more than a destination – it is a people, a heritage, and a homeland that must be free.

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Household net worth increases, wealth distribution remains unchanged – Household net worth statistics: Year ended June 2024 – Stats NZ news story and information release


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


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Greenpeace Statement: Activists convicted and discharged over seabed mining action

Source: Greenpeace

Four ocean advocates have been sentenced in court in Wellington today, after locking down the Wellington headquarters of the mining industry lobbying firm Straterra (since renamed the New Zealand Minerals Council) in September 2024.
They were found guilty of trespass, convicted and discharged.
Greenpeace Aotearoa programme director Niamh O’Flynn, who was one of the activists, says:
“I’m proud to wear this conviction. We never take such action lightly but if standing up for the oceans is a crime then that’s what we have to do. If business as usual isn’t going to stop the people who most want to profit from the destruction of our environment, then this is the kind of action that we have to take.
“The NZ Minerals Council lobbied the Luxon government behind the scenes on behalf of Australian-owned wannabe seabed mining company Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR), and we wanted to disrupt that influence,” O’Flynn continued.
“The Luxon government’s Fast Track process opened up the South Taranaki Bight for seabed mining by enabling TTR and its Australian owners, Manuka Resources, to revive its zombie seabed mining plans. This was after being turned down repeatedly , even by the Supreme Court, because they were unable to alleviate concerns that seabed mining would cause harm to marine life.”
“TTR pulled out of the Environmental Protection Authority hearings last year and is banking on the Luxon government’s Fast Track Process. But even here TTR is failing to convince the Fast Track Panel of their credibility. A new report to the panel describes TTR’s application as containing “outdated information, internal inconsistencies and unproven technology”.
Activist Kate Paris, of Pātea says: “Taranaki communities – including iwi, environmentalists, fisher people, boaties and surfers are united in our opposition to seabed mining. We will continue to take action until we know Tangaroa is protected.”
Trans-Tasman Resources is planning to extract 50 million tonnes of iron sand from the South Taranaki Bight every year for decades and dump 45 million tonnes a year back into the ocean.
Seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight would damage rich ecosystems and threaten precious marine life such as the pygmy blue whale, Māui and Hector’s dolphins and kororā.
“The opposition to seabed mining is immense and people will continue to stand up and fight against Trans-Tasman Resources’ seabed mining project. Just as thousands of New Zealanders united to fend off international oil companies through unrelenting peaceful protest and iwi-led opposition, we will make sure seabed mining never starts in Aotearoa,” said O’Flynn.
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Health – We’re making it easier to get same-day appointments at Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa

Source: Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa

At Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa, we’re always looking for more ways to improve equity, access, and choice for our clients. Open access scheduling is our next step to make it easier for clients to get the appointments they need, when they need them.
Earlier this year, we launched our online booking system. This was a game-changer, as it let our clients book, reschedule, and cancel appointments from the Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa website at their convenience.
Now, we’re rolling out open access scheduling across all our clinics. This means a portion of all our clinicians’ schedules are left open for same-day appointments. This includes doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners.
Open access scheduling is designed to reduce the time it takes for clients to get an appointment, improve same-day appointment availability, and minimise appointment backlogs. This will be especially helpful for clients who need urgent services such as symptomatic STI testing.
Before rolling out open access scheduling nationwide, we ran trials in our Gisborne, Manukau, Henderson, and Lower Hutt clinics. We saw a significant reduction in the time it took for clients to get all appointment types, with the vast majority able to get same-day appointments or book for a time and date that suited them.
For clients who need regular appointments or prefer to book ahead, this option is still available. Open access scheduling sits alongside our regular booking service, allowing clients to more easily access appointments when they need them most.
This also means we’re moving away from drop-in times at most of our clinics. Instead of dropping into a clinic and waiting around for an appointment, clients can now use our online booking system or call our contact centre in the morning to get a same-day appointment, freeing up more of their time for the rest of their day. To see if your clinic still offers drop-in appointments, please check the clinic page on our website. 
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Local News – Wellington Region in Strong Shape for Summer Water Supply

Source: Hutt City Council

Wellington residents are heading into summer with greater water security as investment in leak repairs and treatment upgrades begin to pay off.
Two summers ago there was a 33 percent chance of Level 4 restrictions being triggered. This summer, that risk is now below one percent under normal conditions.
Lower Hutt Mayor and Wellington Water Committee Chair Campbell Barry says the shift is thanks to a concerted effort over the past two years.
“We’ve made real progress. Thanks to major investment from Councils, Wellington Water has exceeded its annual savings target, cutting losses by 11 million litres a day. That’s a big win for the region,” Mayor Barry said.
Open leaks are down 30 percent from this time last year, and 79 percent lower than they were at the height of summer in January 2024. The fully upgraded Te Mārua Water Treatment Plant is now adding 20 million litres a day of treatment capacity to help meet peak demand.
From 28 September, Level 1 restrictions will return across the region. These are light-touch rules like limiting sprinkler use to certain times of the day.
“Our water use is still high – about 25 percent more than in Auckland. But small changes at home still make a difference. We all have a part to play in protecting our water supply,” Mayor Barry said.
Wellington Water’s long-term work continues, with a goal to cut water loss by another two million litres a day each year through to 2035.