Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Fabrik

Wednesday 2nd September, 2026

Stan Walker (Tūhoe, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pūkenga, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whakaue and Ngāi Tahu) is inviting kura from across Aotearoa to bring his new waiata, ‘Family Tree’ to life – with two schools set to win the ultimate opportunity to perform live alongside one of the country’s biggest stars.

Kura have been challenged to create their own rendition of the track ‘Family Tree’ from Disney’s Moana: Voices Across the Ocean and upload their performance to social media for the chance to win. One kura from the North Island and one from the South Island will be selected to take to the stage at his upcoming Symphonic Experience shows at Trusts Arena in Auckland, and Wolfbank Arena in Christchurch, an opportunity Stan says will be “pretty spectacular”.

“I’m really excited to hear how each kura makes its special mark on the waiata. You never know what you’re going to get when it comes to tamariki and rangatahi, and we are so lucky to have so much talent here in Aotearoa.”

A heartfelt celebration of whakapapa, whānau and identity, the single acknowledges the enduring connections we have with our tīpuna, while looking towards the future generations who carry their stories and legacy forward.

“Family Tree is really about knowing where you come from, knowing your whakapapa, and understanding the people and stories that shape who you are.”

From kapa haka and school choirs, to guitar, piano and a capella-styled performances, Stan is encouraging students to get creative, think outside of the box and bring their own energy to the challenge.

“There’s no right or wrong way when it comes to music. I just want to see you all have fun with it, get your kura behind you and just really go for it. Karawhiua!”

The Family Tree challenge will run from the start of the competition until September 25th, with the two winning kura to be announced shortly following.

How to Enter:

Ready to bring Family Tree to life? To enter:

• Create and film your own rendition of Family Tree
• Upload your performance to social media, including Instagram, Facebook and TikTok OR email your performance to info@fabriknz.com
• Tag Stan Walker and use the #FamilyTree and #StanWalkerSymphonicExperience
• Upload your entry before September 25th

Full terms and conditions are available at https://www.fabriknz.co.nz/family-tree-stan-walker-tcs

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

Oxfam has launched an emergency response in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, the districts worst affected by last Wednesday's flash flood, as roads and bridges swept away by the surge have left entire communities almost impossible to reach.

Oxfam Aotearoa Executive Director, Jason Myers, said “New Zealand and Nepal share a special bond, built through generations of friendship, travel and the many Nepali families who have made Aotearoa their home. So, when disaster strikes Nepal, it resonates deeply with people here in New Zealand.”

On Wednesday 26 August, a landslide and glacial event around 20km north of the Rasuwagadhi checkpoint blocked the Lhende Khola, triggering a major flash flood. At least 1,000 people have been killed and thousands more are missing across Nepal and Tibet. The surge then swept into the Trishuli River via Timure, Syaprubesi and Bhairabkunda, leaving families along the riverbanks of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan, in peril.

“Entire neighbourhoods are under mud and rescue teams are still digging. The water rose nine metres in half an hour. What we are seeing so far is only what we can reach,” said Santosh Pandey, Oxfam Humanitarian Lead in Nepal.

The collapse of roads, bridges, and communications has severely hampered relief efforts. The Government of Nepal's has asked for 30 temporary bridges of 50 to 70 metres each, alongside food, shelter and water purification supplies. For now, reaching the hardest-hit communities depends almost entirely on-air access.

“The rivers are full of debris and sewage, and there is no piped supply left to fall back on. Getting clean water and safe sanitation to most affected people into these valleys is the priority now,” added Pandey.

Immediate humanitarian priorities remain concentrated around search and rescue, emergency shelter, food, clean water, and hygiene items, particularly in the heavily affected and hard-to-reach areas of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading. The Government of Nepal estimates that 8,692 households – nearly 40,000 people – require emergency hygiene support and water purification, in addition to 3,130 dignity kits and nearly 4,000 baby kits for children under five.

As well as responding to the current humanitarian crisis, Oxfam is working with communities in Nepal to improve early warning systems that will save lives in future flooding events. Oxfam Aotearoa’s Advocacy and Policy Lead, Nick Henry, said “Climate change is increasing the risk of similar disasters as glaciers become more unstable and prone to collapse. Experts warn the danger of glacier collapse in the Himalayas could triple by the end of this century at the current rate of climate pollution.”

Oxfam, working with its partners and in close coordination with local authorities, is immediately supplying emergency hygiene kits, incorporating water purification solutions, for 200 households in the hardest-hit Rasuwa district. But Oxfam urgently needs $2 million NZD to scale up its response and reach 10,000 people with temporary shelter, clean water, and sanitation and hygiene kits.

Oxfam Aotearoa has launched an emergency appeal for funding to contribute to this humanitarian response. Myers said, “Oxfam is working with community partners in Nepal to provide families with clean water, hygiene supplies and other essential support following the devastating flash floods. We’re asking New Zealanders to stand with our friends in Nepal and give what they can to help families through this emergency.”

Notes

• Oxfam has worked in Nepal since the 1980s, alongside communities and local partners to tackle inequality and deliver humanitarian and development programmes. Oxfam in Nepal works across three connected areas: climate and water, gender justice, and humanitarian response and disaster risk management.
• Oxfam is working closely with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the Social Welfare Council and District Administration Offices to deliver relief materials to affected communities.

Source: Landmark Homes

Landmark Homes has built its April Fools “architecturally designed dog house” for real. It's on display at the Auckland Home Show, raffle tickets are $5, and every dollar goes to the SPCA.

On 1 April this year, Landmark Homes announced it was expanding its Ready to Build collection with a range of architecturally designed dog houses. Premium finishes, clever layouts and seamless indoor-outdoor flow, “for maximum zoomies, of course.”

It was a joke. Then the messages started arriving.

“People genuinely loved it,” says Landmark Homes Central and West owner Warwick Aldridge. “We had people messaging to say the house looked amazing and asking when they could order one. So we thought, why not build it?”

So they did. The finished dog house, built by the Landmark Homes Auckland team, will be on the Landmark Homes stand [number] at the Auckland Home Show, Auckland Showgrounds, and one visitor will take it home. Raffle tickets are $5, with every dollar raised going to the SPCA.

“Nobody needs a designer dog house, but everyone wants one, and this one goes to a very good cause,” says Warwick.

Landmark Homes became an official SPCA Business Supporter earlier this year, and the dog house is the Auckland team's way of getting behind the partnership. “Landmark Homes is a family company, and for most Kiwi families that family includes a dog or a cat,” says Warwick. “The SPCA is Landmark's charity of choice nationally, and we wanted to do something local, fun and a bit different to support them.”

The first tenant to test it was Derek, who moved straight into the master suite and gave it the wag of approval. The team took the joke seriously. The dog house stays true to the April Fools design, in a new colour, and took around ten hours to build. “We took the April Fools render as the brief and built it, the way we would for any client,” says Warwick.

“Good proportions, a proper roof, indoor-outdoor flow, and materials that will last.”

Materials were donated by ITM, Carpet Court and Vue Master Windows and Doors, and the finished home comes fully furnished with a dog bed and accessories.

Raffle tickets are $5 and available on the Landmark Homes stand throughout the show. The winner will be drawn at the end of the show and the dog house delivered to its new owner.

Source: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga

A new research report from the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, shows that the growing costs of building infrastructure do not need to be inevitable.

“New Zealand invests heavily in infrastructure but doesn’t always get the best results. Compared with other high-income countries, we spend more but achieve less,” says Geoff Cooper, Chief Executive, New Zealand Infrastructure Commission.

The report brings together evidence on the factors that shape the cost and affordability of infrastructure. It highlights where there is opportunity to influence costs to help us make better choices and get more from our infrastructure investment.

“Our findings challenge the idea that infrastructure will always get more expensive over time. At some points over the last 150 years, we have evidence that infrastructure prices actually fell,” says Cooper.

“Some types of infrastructure have gotten significantly cheaper over time. Between 1980 and 2012, the price of solar panels dropped over 90%. Wind turbine costs fell over 30% between 2005 and 2017 even after adjusting for inflation.

By contrast, for more complex projects like motorways, costs per lane kilometre more than tripled in real terms over the past two decades.

“To understand why, we examined three key drivers of infrastructure costs: input costs such as materials and labour, construction productivity, and project scope and design.

“Construction material prices can move quickly and are largely a function of global prices. Labour costs tend to be closely linked to overall labour market dynamics. Productivity is more controllable, but it can take several years or decades for sustained improvements to be realised.

“In the short to medium term, our research highlights that the scope of projects and how we design them are particularly important levers for improving affordability,” says Cooper.

“The research points to making greater use of standardised and repeatable approaches, improving how projects are planned and sequenced, and taking a disciplined approach to scope and design to keep costs down.

“That said, infrastructure projects are complex and cost growth is rarely attributable to a single factor. That means improving and sustaining affordability over time will need to come from a combination of actions across the infrastructure system.

“New Zealand faces significant future infrastructure demands. Without improvements in productivity and the way we plan and deliver infrastructure, meeting those needs could require an increasing share of our resources, placing greater strain on the wallets of New Zealanders. This research improves our understanding of the actions we can take to get better bang for buck,” says Cooper.

The findings in this report will support the Commission’s approach to examine the drivers of cost growth in the land transport sector that the Government recently directed the Commission to undertake.

Notes

'Making every dollar count: A review of the drivers of infrastructure costs in New Zealand' will be available at www.tewaihanga.govt.nz.The cost of infrastructure delivery has been an ongoing area of focus for the Commission.The Commission has previously published research looking at how infrastructure delivery costs stack up compared to other countries and how factors like the cost of materials, cost of consenting, and productivity growth can impact New Zealand’s construction costs, and undertaken reviews of several major projects.This report builds on our previous research and each section summarises key findings from the previous research, provides updated data where possible, and describes relevant developments that have occurred since 2022/23.

Source: Gumboot Friday

In July 2026, Gumboot Friday delivered 3,500 free counselling sessions nationwide, supporting 2,205 young people aged 5–25.

Sessions are free, no referral is required, and young people choose who they want to talk to from Gumboot Friday’s network of registered counsellors.

Breakdown by age group:

• 594 young people aged 5–11 (27%)
• 655 young people aged 12–17 (30%)
• 956 young people aged 18–25 (43%)

July’s figures show Gumboot Friday continuing to do what it was built to do: connect young people with someone safe to talk to, without cost or referral getting in the way.

Since 2019, Gumboot Friday has funded 164,835 free counselling sessions for young New Zealanders as at 20 July 2026.

“July is another month where thousands of conversations happened because this service exists. That’s the bit people need to remember. Behind every session is a young person who got to sit down with someone before things got too big or overwhelming,” says I Am Hope founder Mike King.

“Gumboot Friday works because it gets help in front of kids without making them jump through hoops first. No referral, no cost, and they choose the counsellor they want to talk to. It removes all the barriers to reaching out when a young person is ready to ask for help.”

King says the July figures are another reminder of the good being done, and why New Zealanders’ support remains so important.

“From July last year to June this year, 37,630 counselling sessions were delivered. Since 2019, more than 164,000 free sessions have been funded for our ranagatahi. That is a lot of young people being heard, and we couldn’t do it without businesses and the community who keep backing us,” King says.

Government support helps pay for counselling sessions, but running Gumboot Friday takes more than session funding alone. Donations help support the platform young people use to book counsellors, the team who keeps it running, counsellor support, compliance, awareness, school

programmes, community outreach, and the prevention work that helps young people know support is there before things reach crisis point.

Every donation, fundraiser, shared post and gumboot sold helps keep Gumboot Friday moving and helps young people connect with free counselling when they need it.

If you or someone you know is 25 or under and needs someone to talk to, visit www.gumbootfriday.com to book a free counsellor today — no referral needed.

To donate, fundraise, or get involved with I Am Hope, head to www.iamhope.org.nz or text HOPE to 469 for a $3 donation.

Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

1 September 2026

PSNA points to a hint of future economic sanctions against Israel, in a statement of concern issued jointly by New Zealand, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway and Canada just over a week ago.

New Zealand did not put its name to another second and stronger statement of condemnation, against Israel constructing the highly strategic E1 settlement on the Occupied West Bank.

The second statement was issued at the same time, and had been signed by 22 western countries.

All the countries who signed the second letter, except New Zealand and Germany, also signed the first one.

PSNA spokesperson, Rinad Tamimi, says ether New Zealand was deliberately identifying and aligning with Germany, which is Israel's third largest arms supplier.

“Or, more likely, it's National outsourcing its foreign policy to New Zealand First, whose leader is blatantly pro-Israel. That haphazard arrangement results in mixed and ambiguous messages for the world and for New Zealanders.”

But Tamimi says there is a suggestion of economic sanctions in the second statement which did have New Zealand's signature.

The statement states 'businesses should not consider bidding for construction tenders. They should be aware of legal and reputational consequences, including the risk of involving themselves in various breaches of international law'.

Tamimi says this warning to presumably local companies in each country, is a notice that the governments of the signatory countries, could bring legal proceedings or amend legislation to thwart these companies.

“If governments follow this through, this is hugely important for investment funds in New Zealand which operate under Acts of Parliament, such as the Super Fund, ACC and KiwiSavers.

“The Super Fund lost a court case earlier this year, due to its attempts to keep investing in companies profiting from Israeli West Bank settlements. The writing is on the wall for other investors in Israel.”

“Investment in genocide and apartheid Israel is neither a prudent nor moral choice for anyone.”

Source: deVere Group

September 1 2026

Millions of investors are sitting on portfolios built for a world that seemingly no longer exists, warns the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organisations.

Nigel Green of deVere Group's comments come as a broad gauge of global government bonds surges to 3.72%, its highest since mid-2008, with yields erupting in Japan, Australia and the US after Fed chairman Kevin Warsh's hawkish Jackson Hole speech collided with a fresh spike in oil prices driven by escalating geopolitical tensions.

He says: “This is a two-decade high, and it's moving fast enough to blow through mortgage rates, corporate loans and pension valuations before most people have even noticed it happened.”

Japan's 10-year yield smashed through levels unseen since 1996, while Australian debt spiked to heights last touched in 2011, and Nigel Green says the sheer breadth of the move is what should worry investors most.

“When Tokyo, Canberra and Washington are all repricing debt at the same time, that's a huge shift in what it costs governments and businesses to borrow anywhere in the world, not a coincidence.

“Anyone still treating long-dated bonds as the safe, boring corner of their portfolio needs a serious rethink.”

Gold tearing toward fresh record highs is telling its own story, he adds, though he warns against a stampede.

“Money doesn't flood into gold like this unless investors are genuinely rattled,” says Nigel Green.

“But piling in after the surge has already happened is how people lock in the worst possible entry price. The moment to prepare was before the panic, not during it.”

The deVere CEO is wary of reading the selloff as proof the Fed is about to hike in September, arguing bond markets have a habit of sprinting ahead of the central banks they're supposedly forecasting.

“Yields have already done the Fed's job for it without a single vote being cast,” he notes.

“Markets love to overreact to one speech, and investors who tear up their entire strategy chasing that reaction can end up wrong on the call and wrong on the timing, which is the expensive way to be wrong twice.”

For investors, he argues duration risk is the danger hiding in plain sight, and it's brutal for anyone who ignores it.

“Every extra year of maturity on a bond right now is an extra year of exposure to a market that's clearly still finding its floor.

“Shorter maturities, a wider geographic spread, and genuine diversification aren't optional extras anymore, they're the difference between weathering this and getting flattened by it.”

Rising borrowing costs in Japan, the UK and the US, driven as much by government spending worries as by inflation, add fuel to an already volatile fire, he notes.

“When bond markets start demanding a premium to lend a country money for the long haul, that's a verdict on fiscal discipline as much as interest rates,” says Nigel Green.

“Portfolios tied to those markets can't afford to sit on autopilot through a move this size.”

Asked what he'd say to investors rattled by the swings, Nigel Green doesn't soften it.

“Many savvy investors will be getting positioned for higher yields for longer, because this market isn't going to wait for certainty from the Fed.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients. It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

The views expressed in this media release are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cision.

Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Te Tātai Hauora o Hine—National Centre for Women’s Health Research Aotearoa at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington says tonight’s announcement by the Government that it will make cervical cancer screening freely available to all women aged between 25 and 69 is a “big win.”

“Thank you to everybody who worked so hard to achieve this, both within the communities and within Government,” says Professor Bev Lawton (Ngāti Porou), director of the Centre, who was also named 2025 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year for her work including championing of the HPV self-test.

“People have been telling us for a long time that financial cost is a major barrier to cervical screening. Up until this point, this has been the only national screening programme not funded by the government.”

Professor Lawton and Francesca Storey wrote this piece for The Conversation in January 2025, about how to achieve elimination of cervical cancer in Aotearoa in our lifetime.

Each year, approximately 175 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer in Aotearoa and 55 die from this preventable cancer. “We hope the funding from government will also consider better resourcing for colposcopy clinics, where follow-up diagnostic tests are undertaken, and where there is real need right now,” says Professor Lawton.

To achieve elimination of cervical cancer requires effective prevention (the HPV vaccination), high screening rates, and prompt diagnosis and treatment. “While this announcement of free screening is fantastic, the elimination still requires resourcing, transparency and accountability. This is the only way to prevent our population suffering preventable harm and death,” says Professor Lawton.

An equitable cervical cancer elimination strategy and action plan in Aotearoa with community-led governance, ownership, and funding is essential. “Only then can we achieve the ultimate goal—elimination of cervical cancer. Let’s do it!”

Te Herenga Waka Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Sally McArthur, says that this announcement reflects the value of research on policy planning. “Without researchers like Bev and her team, governments don't have the evidence to be able to create effective policy.

“Great research continually impacts policy development and implementation, and I am delighted for all kiwis that we have such impactful research coming from our University.”

Source: Fabrik

Musical legends of Aotearoa and the Pacific will unite at Kingston Calling, a vibrant new two-day music and culture festival transforming Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on 19 and 20 February 2027.

Presented by Fabrik and Mai FM, Kingston Calling sets a new benchmark for live music in Aotearoa, bringing together world-class production and a marquee lineup of international artists including Maoli, Soja, Rebel Souljahz and Arrested Development alongside the very best of Aotearoa – Six60, Stan Walker, Fat Freddy's Drop and more.

Founder of Fabrik and renowned festival director, Toby Burrows (Ngāti Hauā), says the festival takes its name and its spirit from an old way of gathering.

“In times of old, people gathered around a call. Kingston Calling is built on that same idea, a call that has now been answered. We have the best international, Aotearoa and Pacific lineup uniting at the festival, it’s going to be one of the premier destination music festivals in Aotearoa,” says Burrows.

Matiu Walters (Ngāpuhi), lead singer and guitarist of headliner Six60, says Kingston Calling is the stage the band has been waiting for to take their live show to the next level.

“All of the boys are excited about playing with such a great lineup and what a great place to do it. It has been a while since we have been in the Mount, so Kingston Calling will be a special one for us. There is an amazing wairua in the Oval, with the view of Mauao and a sea of fans there to sing, dance and party as one, it’s going to be one to remember for sure,” says Walters.

14 artists across two days have answered the call to Kingston Calling alongside Six60:

Friday 19 Feb
Maoli, Stan Walker, SOJA, Arrested Development, Katchafire, Hori Shaw, A.R.T.

Saturday 20 Feb
Six60, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Rebel Souljahz, Te Wehi, Aaradhna, Marley NZ All Stars, Myshaan

Kingston Calling is proudly supported by the New Zealand Government's one-off Events Attraction Package. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says the festival is expected to attract visitors to Tauranga from all over the country, providing a welcome boost for local hospitality, accommodation and tourism businesses.

“Kingston Calling is the kind of event that showcases the best of our summer events calendar. It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate music and culture, and experience everything the Bay of Plenty has to offer during the summer season,” says Upston.

Through initiatives such as Ask for Angela / Andrew and the Kingston Calling Safe Space Policy, Burrows says Fabrik is ensuring that Kingston Calling is a safe, welcoming festival.

“Within the Fabrik whānau, we are creating a space of manaakitanga, the same warmth extended from start to finish. Nau mai, haere mai, we can’t wait to celebrate the very best of music and culture with everyone in February,” adds Burrows.

Presale opens Wednesday 9 September, with general tickets on sale from Thursday 10 September. Full lineup and ticketing information is available at www.kingstoncalling.co.nz

About Fabrik

Fabrik is a leader in the event music space in New Zealand. The team at Fabrik have been behind some of the largest music festivals and events in New Zealand. Their mission is to deliver PREMIUM LIVE MUSIC experiences to passionate audiences.

Event details:

What: Kingston Calling
When: 19 and 20 February 2027
Where: Bay Oval Arena Tauranga

Ticketing:

Tickets: https://fabrik.flicket.co.nz/events/ad231c1e-5c68-45c3-bbfb-4272d80f0bab
Presale sign up: https://arep.co/p/kingstoncallingpresale-27
Presale: Wednesday 9 September, 7:00pm NZT
General on sale: Thursday 10 September, 7:00pm NZT