Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Wellington, New Zealand – New modelling released today in Re-Energise 26 shows New Zealand should grow its energy workforce, and grow it quickly, to deliver electrification and build a secure, resilient energy system.

Produced jointly by Energy Resources Aotearoa and the Electricity Engineers’ Association (EEA), Re-Energise 26 is the first report to map workforce needs across the full energy sector. The comprehensive data set was built using top-down and bottom-up inputs from government and energy sector sources and covers a workforce of over 13,800 full-time equivalent energy sector employees and more than 4,000 contractors and consultants.

The modelling identifies pressure points in critical roles, with major bottlenecks in supervision, mentoring and assessment. It shows that without more skilled people, New Zealand will struggle to electrify, cut emissions and maintain a secure, resilient energy system.

It calls for coordinated action across the sector to lift career visibility, strengthen training pathways and build a more diverse and highly skilled workforce.

“Technology alone will not deliver New Zealand’s energy future,” says Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie.

“Timing is critical for regions experiencing declining industries, where skilled workers are being displaced and risk being lost before new energy projects and opportunities come online.

It will take skilled people with the capacity to design, run and improve the system. If we want a more secure, lower-emissions energy future, our country needs to invest in the workforce that will make it happen.”

EEA Chief Executive Nicki Sutherland says energy security and reliability depend on experienced people and a strong pipeline of new talent.

“We need to think about investment in people as seriously as we do infrastructure to create the depth needed on our bench to achieve New Zealand’s secure energy future. And we need to be equipping our workforce with the right skills for a world that will be fundamentally different.”

Re-Energise 26 sets out an Industry Skills Action Plan built around four priorities: Attract, Develop, Collaborate and Retain.

To drive delivery, a Workforce Summit will be convened in May 2026, bringing energy sector organisations together to set priorities and assign delivery leads.

• The full report is available for download here: https://eea.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=33cb88bcfeae511526b8f88fb&id=b66ff1abcf&e=07a32e9901
• The summary report is available here: https://eea.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=33cb88bcfeae511526b8f88fb&id=de361924b1&e=07a32e9901
• and the Industry Skills Action Plan is available here: https://eea.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=33cb88bcfeae511526b8f88fb&id=7757d25767&e=07a32e9901

GenPro Chair Angus Chambers is calling for a more balanced and constructive conversation around the establishment of the new primary health organisation (PHO), amid what he describes as widespread negativity and misinformation within the sector.

“There has been quite a lot of catastrophising around the impact of a new PHO,” Chambers said. “The response from parts of the sector has been negative, instead of focusing on the opportunity to deliver greater national consistency, coherence, and support for general practice.”

Recent criticism claimed the new PHO will be highly disruptive which will “distract and destabilise” patient care, lead to job losses among clinicians, and reduce patient access to services. Chambers says those claims are overstated and not supported by the evidence.

“The new PHO has undertaken detailed mapping of services and contracts across the system. The reality is that very little will change in the next 12 to 18 months,” he said.

“Many providers are already operating under contracts outside of the PHO Services Agreement that extend for one, two, or even three years. These arrangements are not being torn up. The current contracts already provide stability, and contrary to the misinformation there is no immediate threat to services.”

Dr Chambers emphasised that maintaining continuity of care is a core priority.

“We do not want to break anything on the way through—because that is not helpful to patients. The ideal scenario is that patients notice very little change, other than their general practice becoming more viable and more robust over time.”

He also expressed concern about fear mongering directed at general practices.

“There has been messaging encouraging practices to be fearful about what they are signing up for, rather than supporting them to undertake clear and informed due diligence. That is not helpful to the sector or to patients.”

Dr Chambers pointed out that the recent establishment of new PHOs, which will work alongside 30 other, already established, PHOs, is not unprecedented.
   
“We’ve seen two PHOs established in the past year. Change is not new to this sector, and it can be managed in a way that strengthens primary care.”

He concluded by urging stakeholders to shift the tone of the conversation.

“This is an opportunity to build a stronger, more sustainable general practice system. We need to move away from worst-case scenarios and focus on what will actually deliver better outcomes for patients.”

Wellington, New Zealand – Access Matters Aotearoa (AMA) has released a major national report, highlighting entrenched accessibility barriers across Aotearoa, with calls for coordinated, system-wide reform.

Kōrero for Change: Insights and Actions brings together findings from ten national forums held across 2024 and 2025, drawing on the experiences of people living with a disability, alongside input from government, business, and community leaders.

The report finds the 17 per cent of New Zealanders who live with a disability face barriers in nearly every part of daily life, from accessing healthcare and education to finding work and suitable housing.

AMA Co-Chair Amy Hogan says accessibility remains inconsistent and often left to chance.

“Too often, whether someone can fully participate in everyday life depends on circumstance. This shouldn’t be the system we aspire to in New Zealand.”

The report identifies accessibility as a system-wide issue, with barriers arising from policy settings, funding decisions, and design choices that haven’t  prioritised inclusion.

It highlights stark disparities, including employment rates for people with a disability sitting at around 38 per cent compared with 78 per cent for non-disabled people, alongside significantly higher unmet health needs and ongoing shortages of accessible housing.

AMA Co-Chair Dr Rebekah Graham says these outcomes are the result of long-standing structural gaps.

“Inaccessibility is predictable and preventable. When accessibility is treated as an afterthought, exclusion becomes embedded across systems.”

The report sets out practical actions across ten sectors, including introducing enforceable accessibility standards, embedding accessibility in policy and design from the outset, and strengthening accountability across government and industry.

It also points to the economic cost of inaction, with modelling showing closing the employment gap could add hundreds of millions of dollars to the economy.

Hogan says the findings reinforce the need to treat accessibility as essential infrastructure.

“This is all about participation, productivity, and fairness. When systems are designed to support people with disabilities, they end up benefiting all Kiwis.”

Dr Graham says the report is intended to drive sustained action.

“This is about working towards an Aotearoa where people with a disability can participate fully in everyday life. This requires deliberate action, consistent standards, and leadership across every sector.”

About Access Matters Aotearoa

Access Matters Aotearoa is a solutions-driven, non-partisan advocacy trust working to secure strong accessibility legislation so everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand can participate fully.

“The Australian guidelines are simple, clear, and pick up on all the key points we know matter. Move more, sit less, and build activity into everyday life.  We are used to rivalry on the sporting field, now Australia is beating us with clear simple guidelines for wellness.”

“Importantly, they recognise that physical activity is not just about how much you do, but also the type, and part of overall wellbeing, something our sector has long championed.  It also gives the right focus to strength and balance activities – something that is often omitted or given little thought.”

“Ironically, the day these were released I was meeting with the CEO of our sister body in Australia, AusActive, at a global meeting in San Diego discussing greater global collaboration.” says Beddie “We don't need to reinvent the wheel on these guidelines.”

“New Zealand has an opportunity right now to take what Australia has done and go even further, incorporating our unique context, communities, and cultures.”  

“We strongly encourage the New Zealand Government to review and update our national physical activity guidelines so they are fit for today, not the past.”

“This is about more than guidelines; it's about helping all New Zealanders live healthier, more active lives in ways that work for them,”

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Exercise New Zealand welcomes the Australian Government's release of its updated national physical activity and wellness guidelines, calling them a clear, practical step forward, and urging Aotearoa New Zealand to follow suit.

The newly released Australian guidelines simplify how people understand movement, health, and wellbeing, placing a stronger emphasis on everyday activity, reducing sedentary behaviour, and supporting long-term healthy habits.

ExerciseNZ Chief Executive Richard Beddie says the updated approach reflects what the industry has been advocating for.

“The Australian guidelines are simple, clear, and pick up on all the key points we know matter. Move more, sit less, and build activity into everyday life.” says Beddie. “We are used to rivalry on the sporting field, now Australia are beating us with clear simple guidelines for wellness.”

“Importantly, they recognise that physical activity is not just about how much you do, but also the type, and part of overall wellbeing, something our sector has long championed. It also gives the right focus to strength and balance activities – something that is often omitted or given little thought.”

“Ironically, the day these were released I was meeting with the CEO of our sister body in Australia, AusActive, at a global meeting in San Diego discussing greater global collaboration.” says Beddie “We don't need to reinvent the wheel on these guidelines.”

Beddie says the updated framework aligns closely with global trends, including a stronger focus on:

• Every day movement rather than just formal exercise
• Reducing sedentary time
• Supporting mental well-being alongside physical health
• Including sleep and recovery as a part of the guidelines 
• Including clear guidelines for strength and balance activities as part of the main message.

ExerciseNZ believes New Zealand is now at risk of falling behind if it does not modernise its own national guidance.

“New Zealand has an opportunity right now to take what Australia has done and go even further, incorporating our unique context, communities, and cultures,” says Beddie.

“We strongly encourage the New Zealand Government to review and update our national physical activity guidelines so they are fit for today, not the past.”

ExerciseNZ emphasises that modern guidelines must reflect how people actually live, recognising diverse communities, including Māori, Pasifika, and broader whānau-based approaches to wellbeing.

“This is about more than guidelines, it's about helping all New Zealanders live healthier, more active lives in ways that work for them,” Beddie says.

With physical inactivity continuing to be a major contributor to long-term health challenges, ExerciseNZ says clear, relevant, and culturally responsive guidance is a critical foundation for improving outcomes across the country.

25 March 2026 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua has commenced recruitment for the role of Assistant Governor Financial Stability.  

This is one of the most senior and visible leadership roles within the RBNZ and involves matters central to New Zealand's financial system stability.

Financial stability leadership and RBNZ's financial stability functions continue without disruption while recruitment is underway. Angus McGregor will continue as Acting Assistant Governor Financial Stability and Stan Christian will continue as Acting Director Prudential Supervision.  

Interest in the role internally, domestically and internationally is expected. RBNZ has engaged executive search firm Hobson Leavy for the recruitment process and appointment.  

A further update will be released once the recruitment process is complete. An appointment is expected to be announced in June 2026.

Candidates for the role can apply here: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=b495904a68&e=f3c68946f8

25 March 2026 – Reserve Bank Chief Economist Paul Conway delivers a keynote speech at the National Financial Advisers Conference 2026 in Auckland, with this year's focus titled “Purchasing power and the real cost of living in New Zealand.”

In the speech, Mr Conway says New Zealand's cost-of-living challenge is ultimately about purchasing power – what people can buy with their incomes – not just how high prices are.

He said the inflation surge during and after the pandemic pushed prices sharply higher. While inflation has since eased from the highs of the pandemic, many people are still asking why things feel so expensive. Conflict in the Middle East has added a fresh layer of disruption and uncertainty for Kiwis.

“The cost of living isn't just about inflation or the price level – it's about purchasing power,” Mr Conway said. “Even though inflation has fallen from its highs, prices are now much higher than they were before the pandemic.”

Mr Conway said prices in New Zealand are high by international standards. Overall prices here are above the OECD average, and prices for some products – including construction and housing-related services – are among the most expensive in the OECD.

Since the start of the pandemic, overall prices have risen by around 26 percent, while wages have increased by around 32 percent, leaving real wages modestly above pre-COVID levels. People who changed jobs were more likely to get pay increases.

Mr Conway said New Zealanders' purchasing power – what incomes can buy – is, at best, average compared to the rest of the OECD and below average compared to the 30 higher-income OECD economies New Zealand often compares itself with.

Mr Conway highlighted the critical role monetary policy plays in improving purchasing power. High inflation creates uncertainty and distorts economic decisions. By delivering low and stable inflation over the medium term, monetary policy creates the conditions for sustained improvements in purchasing power.

“Low and stable inflation is critical, but it's not the whole story,” Mr Conway said. “Monetary policy can anchor prices, but it can't make New Zealand more affordable by itself. Lasting gains in purchasing power ultimately depend on productivity improvements, which allow wages to rise without pushing prices higher.”

“Productivity growth is the most powerful driver of higher real wages and improved living standards in the long run,” Mr Conway said. “Before the pandemic, purchasing power improved because of better terms of trade and a higher share of the population in work. But lasting improvements in the cost of living require stronger productivity growth.”

Mr Conway said that over recent decades, New Zealand's productivity performance has lagged that of other advanced economies. Structural policies that support competition, investment, innovation, and international connection are critical in lifting productivity and real incomes over time. Structural policy settings also shape how resilient the economy is to shocks.

He added that stronger productivity growth raises the economy's speed limit – allowing faster growth without inflation. A more resilient and adaptable economy would be less volatile and reduce the extent to which interest rates need to move to offset shocks and maintain price stability.

Mr Conway concluded that, while monetary policy plays a critical role by delivering low and stable inflation, lasting gains in living standards require structural changes that foster productivity growth. To sustain living standards, structural policy settings must continuously evolve to encourage competition, innovation, investment, technology adoption, and global engagement. That is the structural foundation for lowering the cost of living in New Zealand.

More information

Download the speech – Purchasing power and the real cost of living in New Zealand: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=673e8118f1&e=f3c68946f8