Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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

Source: Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand

Theme of Belonging Matters announced for 12-18 October

AOTEAROA, NEW ZEALAND – The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand (MHF) has announced the details for Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, running nationwide from 12 – 18 October. This year's theme, Belonging Matters, invites schools, workplaces, and communities across Aotearoa to focus on small, everyday moments of connection that foster a genuine sense of inclusion and boost mental wellbeing.

Grounded in the whakataukī Ko au ko koe, ko koe ko au – I am you, and you are me, the 2026 theme comes at a crucial time. Recent research highlights a growing challenge across Aotearoa of rising loneliness¹, declining trust² and only 53% of New Zealanders feeling that their neighbourhood has a strong sense of community³. This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week champions a simple truth: nurturing a sense of belonging is one of the most powerful protective factors for our mental health.

“Humans are social beings and being able to spend time with one another, connect and feel that we belong, is vital for our mental and emotional health. Connection works at many levels, whānau, friends, workplaces, schools, community, country. It is a two-way street, we need to reach out and we need to invite people in. This all builds connectedness, belonging, trust and wellbeing,” says Shaun Robinson, Chief Executive of the MHF.

Whether at school, work, or in local neighbourhoods, finding small ways to connect can make a world of difference. Belonging Matters because feeling connected to others reduces loneliness, strengthens self-confidence, and can provide valuable social support during hard times. From checking in on a mate and making time for a kōrero to reaching out to someone new, every action helps build stronger, more resilient communities.

Free downloadable resources and ideas for Mental Health Awareness Week are available now at mhaw.nz.

The details:

• What: Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 – Belonging Matters
• When: 12-18 October 2026
• Where: Everywhere across Aotearoa
• Action: Reach out, kōrero, connect, host an event for your school, workplace, or community
• More info, how to get involved and free resources: Visit mhaw.nz

NOTES:

About Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week has been run annually by the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand since 1993. It is a dedicated week for individuals, schools, workplaces, and communities to celebrate and focus on mental health and wellbeing. The campaign reaches hundreds of thousands of people across Aotearoa each year, encouraging positive mental health practices and fostering supportive environments.

Research & insights about belonging in Aotearoa

• Community cohesion: Only 53% of New Zealanders agree that their neighbourhood has a strong sense of community.³
• Foundational to wellbeing: A strong sense of belonging in schools, workplaces, and communities is directly linked to better mental wellbeing, including higher confidence, resilience, and life satisfaction.
• Protective factor: Social connection and community trust are recognised as some of the strongest protective factors against mental distress and loneliness.
• Impact of exclusion: Experiences of exclusion have a direct negative impact on wellbeing, particularly among rangatahi/young people, recent migrants, sole parents, and rainbow communities.
• Everyday connection: International research shows that performing small, weekly acts of connection and kindness in local neighbourhoods significantly reduces feelings of loneliness and strengthens community bonds.
• Collective responsibility: Belonging and hope grow through safe, inclusive shared experiences, trusted places, and collective action.

References:

1. Stats NZ. (2023). Wellbeing statistics: 2023.
2. Edelman. (2026). Edelman Trust Barometer Global Report.
3. Helen Clark Foundation. (2026). Social cohesion in New Zealand 2026.

About the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand

Established in 1977, the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand is a charity that works towards creating a society free from discrimination, where all people enjoy positive mental health and wellbeing. The Foundation delivers a wide range of evidence-based mental health and wellbeing programmes, campaigns, and resources for schools, workplaces, and communities across Aotearoa.

Source: ProCare

1 September 2026

ProCare has welcomed the decision to fund influenza vaccinations for children aged under five from today, saying it reflects the importance of making immunisation accessible for all families.

As winter illness continues to place pressure on the health system, protecting young children is a priority. Vaccination helps protect the people around them, including older adults, newborns and immunocompromised whānau, and remains one of the most effective tools available to general practice.

Recent results from a partnership between ProCare, The Fono and ProCare's Ara Hauora outreach team show the impact of taking immunisation services out into the community. Between 1 December 2025 and 30 June 2026, the partnership delivered 670 immunisations through proactive outreach, recalls and home visits.

Gabrielle Lord, Nursing Director at ProCare, says increasing immunisation rates requires more than simply making vaccines available.

“Our data shows it takes an average of three meaningful engagements to reconnect with a whānau once a child has fallen behind on their immunisation schedule.”

“This highlights the value of dedicated outreach and trusted relationships. Families are often juggling many competing priorities and when we take the time to connect and make access easier, they are much more likely to engage.”

Lord says the newly funded flu vaccine creates another opportunity for general practice teams to have conversations with families about protecting their health.

“Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness in our communities. It not only protects the individual receiving the vaccine but also helps protect vulnerable whānau members who are at greater risk of serious illness.”

Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare, says funding the flu vaccine for under-fives is a positive step towards strengthening preventative healthcare for New Zealand families.

“Prevention is one of the most powerful investments we can make in supporting health and wellbeing. By removing cost barriers for families with young children, this funding will help more tamariki access protection against influenza before they become seriously unwell.”

“General practice plays a vital role in keeping people well, and initiatives like this support earlier intervention, reduce pressure on the wider health system, and help ensure every child has the best possible start in life,” concludes Norwell.

ProCare encourages parents and caregivers to contact their general practice to learn more about the funded flu vaccine and make sure their tamariki are up to date with their routine immunisations.

About ProCare

ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi.

As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to more than 640,000 patients across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Asian, and second largest Pacific populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz

Source: Workers First Union

Woolworths, one half of New Zealand’s supermarket duopoly, looks set to send around 130 New Zealanders’ jobs to Australia after announcing consultation today on a plan to close its Customer Care Centre, Workers First said today.

Over 130 workers who provide customer support to New Zealanders were called to a meeting at 1pm today and told that consultation is beginning on the offshoring of their jobs to Australia in a “cost-saving” proposal that the company believes will net them an extra $4.1 million by the 2029 financial year. Consultation on the proposal begins today and the deadline for feedback from affected workers is September 15.

Rudd Hughes, Workers First Deputy Secretary, said the proposal was another form of “corporate greed”, and called on New Zealanders to send their feedback to the company at: Workplace.Relations@Woolworths.co.nz.

“This is yet another example of New Zealanders losing out to Australia because companies like Woolworths see them as expendable,” said Mr Hughes.

“They’re happy to earn big profits in our country and make Kiwis reliant on their supermarkets, but they are planning to throw away more than a hundred of our jobs to save a very small amount of money over the next three years.”

“There should be a reasonable expectation that a large company like Woolworths should reinvest into the society where its customer base is generating those profits – but Woolworths seem to care only about their bottom lines.”

Woolworths recently announced their improving financial performance; returning $163 million in earnings before interest and tax in the year to June 2026 – up 8.8% from the previous year – which Consumer NZ said would “feel wrong” to New Zealanders given its $400 million plus spend on its store refreshes.

Mr Hughes said union organisers reported that at today’s 20-minute meeting, Woolworths representatives said that workers’ views are ‘very important’ but refused to answer questions and closed the meeting after reading from their script. Organisers said that some staff returned to work afterwards in tears and were wondering if their feedback would be considered at all.

“These are the same workers who were locked out by Woolworths at Christmas because they wouldn’t accept worse terms and conditions, and this proposal is a further slap in the face,” said Mr Hughes.

“Woolworths wasted over $400 million to re-rebrand themselves and are now axing over a hundred New Zealand jobs just to claw back around one percent of that cost.”

“Many of the Customer Care team are sole parents who work remotely and will not find redeployment or comparable employment in their regions – this proposal will be crushing to hear about today.”

Mr Hughes said that Workers First had provided feedback on the proposal to the company and would continue to advocate for union members during the consultation period.

“New Zealanders should take note that this could also mean worse service for Woolworths customers,” said Mr Hughes. “Someone calling from Paekākāriki to inquire about a product return, for example, may find it much more difficult to deal with an Australian who lacks local knowledge and local experience.”

“This kind of proposal is also an indictment of the weak Coalition Government, which has set the scene for businesses to flee NZ in search of more profit and failed abjectly to protect local jobs.”

“With a runaway unemployment rate at 5.6%, now is not the time to be putting New Zealanders out of work.”

The proposed closure of the New Zealand Customer Care Centre follows Woolworths’ recent restructuring of South Island store butchers, in which around 40 jobs have been lost.

Mr Hughes encouraged New Zealanders to write to Woolworths to express their concerns by emailing Workplace.Relations@Woolworths.co.nz.

Source: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Australia is producing enough doctors. The challenge is making sure they can progress through training into the specialist workforce communities need, says the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).

New Commonwealth modelling highlights a growing mismatch between the doctors coming through the system, specialist training capacity and the workforce communities need.

The Australian Government’s Whole of Medical Workforce Supply and Demand Study, released in June, projects that by 2048 Australia will have 10,783 FTE more hospital prevocational doctors than modelled demand, while facing shortages of 3,885 FTE registrars and 12,812 FTE specialists.

The Commonwealth says increasing numbers of medical graduates will create further growth in the number of prevocational doctors awaiting training positions, creating bottlenecks, prolonging training and increasing job uncertainty for junior doctors.

RACS president Dr Phil Morreau says the report, as well as RACS’ own specialty-specific modelling, shows the challenge was not simply the number of doctors entering the system.

“The paradox is that we can have more doctors coming through the early stages of the system while simultaneously facing a shortage further down the pipeline. That tells us the problem is not simply how many doctors we have, it is whether we have the right training pathways and capacity to develop the specialist workforce Australia needs.”

For doctors seeking surgical careers, the mismatch can mean spending years working outside accredited specialist training while building experience and competing for training positions.

“These doctors are not simply waiting to train,” Dr Morreau says.

“They are already contributing to our hospitals and patients. We need to recognise that contribution and give doctors greater clarity about pathways into specialist training.”

Commonwealth data shows hospital prevocational doctors worked an average of 46.8 hours a week in 2023, with 94 per cent of their FTE in the public sector. The Commonwealth also identifies increased reliance on service registrars to manage service delivery as one of the workforce issues arising from current imbalances.

RACS recognises that it has a responsibility to improve the parts of the surgical training pathway within its control, that is, selection, accreditation and surgical training

Its Surgical Pathways Strategy is focused on making pathways more transparent, fairer and more efficient, including recognising relevant capabilities acquired before formal specialist training where appropriate and better aligning training with workforce need.

“We recognise that we can do better,” Dr Morreau says.

“That means clearer selection processes, more flexible pathways and training that reflects the surgical workforce Australia needs now and, in the future, including in regional and rural communities.”

But RACS cannot create funded training positions or the clinical capacity required to train surgeons.

RACS accredits training programs and settings, selects candidates and oversees surgical education and training. Governments and health services play a critical role in providing the funded positions, clinical environments, operating capacity and supervision required for specialist training.

“We cannot create more training positions on our own,” says Dr Morreau.

“A training position needs a funded job, appropriate supervision and sufficient clinical exposure to develop a competent surgeon. We need governments, health services and colleges working together to increase that capacity where it is needed.”

The Commonwealth report emphasises that no single organisation can solve the medical workforce pipeline and calls for collective action across governments and the health sector. It also says the modelling is intended to inform decisions about medical student numbers, specialist training places and the distribution of international medical graduates.

RACS supports increasing high-quality accredited surgical training capacity, planned against specialty and geographic workforce need rather than simply increasing training numbers indiscriminately.

This includes opportunities through public hospitals, regional and rural services, appropriate private-sector settings and a more stable and strategic Specialist Training Program.

“The answer is not to lower surgical standards,” Dr Morreau said.

“We should solve a specialist workforce shortage by building a better pathway to train the doctors Australia already has, and by making sure those training opportunities are available where communities need surgeons.”

About the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

RACS is the leading advocate for surgical standards, professionalism and surgical education in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The College is a not-for-profit organisation that represents more than 8000 surgeons and 1300 surgical Trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates. RACS also supports healthcare and surgical education in the Asia-Pacific region and is a substantial funder of surgical research. There are nine surgical specialties in Australasia being: Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Urology and Vascular Surgery. www.surgeons.org

Source: The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) welcomes the decision to expand funded influenza vaccination to all children aged six months up until their fifth birthday.

The College has been advocating directly to Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora and the Ministry of Health for broader influenza vaccine eligibility, including through a recent letter highlighting the need to better protect young children, and other priority groups, from serious illness.

College President Dr Luke Bradford says, “This decision is great news for New Zealand families. Young children experience some of the highest rates of influenza-related illness and hospitalisation, and we know Māori and Pacific children are disproportionately impacted.”

Dr Bradford attended this morning's announcement with Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister David Seymour and says this will make it easier for families to access preventative health care and protect the youngest members of our communities.

“Removing cost as a barrier means more tamariki can access protection against influenza through their local general practice team, close to home and in the communities where they live.”

The College says the decision reflects the importance of listening to specialist GPs working on the frontline of community care who are seeing the impact of seasonal illnesses every day and understand where preventative actions can have the greatest effect.

“This is an example of what can be achieved when policy decisions are informed by clinical evidence, health equity considerations and the real-life experiences of patients accessing care,” says Dr Bradford.

This announcement also reinforces the value of general practice and primary care as the foundation of a sustainable health care system.

“Some of the most important health care happens before a patient ever needs to go to hospital. General practice is where preventative health care happens, and vaccinations are one of the best examples of how accessible, community-based care can prevent serious illness, reduce hospitalisations and keep people well.”

The College is encouraging practices to proactively reach out to eligible families, particularly Māori, Pacific and other communities at higher risk of severe influenza outcomes to ensure they are aware that the vaccination is now funded.

“General practice teams are trusted members of their communities, and we are uniquely placed to identify patients who would benefit most from vaccination.

“When we invest in prevention and make it easier to access care, we improve health outcomes not only for individual patients but across the wider health system,” says Dr Bradford.

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

The Government should focus its efforts on settling collective bargaining with 10,000 public servants rather than attacking the PSA over their fundamental right to strike.

Public Service Minister Paul Goldsmith told reporters today the strike by workers from MSD, MBIE, DIA and other agencies on 9 September was politically motivated, being part of the PSA's Change the Government election campaign. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said they “should be at work” instead, and that negotiations should continue without industrial action.

“Workers have a fundamental right to strike, and the Government should respect that and focus on settling this dispute,” said PSA National Secretary Duane Leo.

“All the public servants are doing is seeking a fair deal for themselves and their families at a time when they, like so many others, are facing huge pressures on their household budgets.

“We are not ruling out further strike action if offers do not improve.

“That's what the strikes are all about – a pay increase that allows them to deal with the cost-of-living crisis the Government promised to fix.

“If the Government wants them to stop the strikes, the solution is in their hands, and we encourage Minister Goldsmith to focus on that, rather than attacking the messenger.

“We are very open to meeting him over this if that helps him understand what is at stake here.

“These are the people who process benefit payments for families doing it tough, support small businesses and exporters through MBIE, and keep core services like citizenship, running through DIA. They deserve a fair wage for that work, not a government that treats their pay claim as a political attack.

“Instead, we have a government hell bent on squeezing their wages, cutting another 9,000 jobs, merging agencies and hoping AI fills the gaps.

“This is not a recipe for a productive relationship with public servants, and we urge the Government to stop the attacks, and make fair offers to workers,” said Leo.

Previous statement

31 August 10,000 public servants to strike on 9 September

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.

https://www.psa.org.nz/

Source: Quotable Value

Tuesday, 1 September 2026

Construction costs are on the rise again, with rebounding diesel prices putting pressure on some of the most fuel-intensive trades.

QV CostBuilder’s August figures show the average building cost per square metre for residential buildings increased by 1.1% this quarter, lifting annual residential building cost growth to 3.3%.

The rise follows two months of relative stability, with higher diesel costs once again feeding into trades such as excavation and demolition.

QV CostBuilder quantity surveyor Martin Bisset said diesel prices had rebounded in August after falling sharply in July.

“Fuel remains one of the most volatile inputs in construction. Lower diesel prices helped keep construction costs broadly stable in June and July. Diesel bounced back in August, and construction costs have moved higher as a result.

“The effect is most obvious in fuel-hungry trades such as excavation and demolition, where machinery and transport make up a much bigger part of the job.”

Most notably, excavation costs increased by 4.3% in August, driven largely by higher diesel rates. Demolition costs also increased by 3.7%, reflecting higher diesel and imported fill material rates.

“Excavation and demolition are particularly exposed to fuel movements, so when diesel jumps, those trades tend to feel it quickly,” Mr Bisset said.

“The broader picture is still one of modest growth. Construction cost inflation is not running away, but neither has it disappeared. Anyone budgeting for a build still needs to allow for movement, particularly in fuel-sensitive parts of the job.”

QV CostBuilder’s August update applied 11,400 current material prices to its construction cost catalogue, resulting in 26,500 data changes across six centres: Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

On average, trade rates increased by 0.5% from July to August, with other notable increases including roof coverings (1.7%), joinery (1.4%) and glazing (0.9%).

Meanwhile, the average building cost per square metre for non-residential buildings, excluding educational buildings, increased by 0.5% this quarter and by 2% annually.

QV CostBuilder is New Zealand’s most comprehensive online building cost platform covering six centres – Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

It encompasses everything from building costs per square metre for warehouses, schools and office buildings, to the supply and install cost of more than 10,000 items, labour rates, labour constants, and more.

Visit QV CostBuilder at https://costbuilder.qv.co.nz/.

Source: Save the Children

Children crammed into public shelters are facing an increased risk of illness as families struggle to get clean water for drinking and washing in the aftermath of the devastating flash floods, Save the Children said.

https://www.savethechildren.net/news/nepal-floods-i-cannot-stay-inside-it-too-stuffy-overcrowded-shelters-put-childrens-health-and

On the road from the capital Kathmandu to Trishuli Bazar, a once bustling market area and the commercial heart of Nuwakot district, body bags are piling up and starting to emit a strong smell of decomposition.

Decaying human and animal remains, unmanaged waste, and stagnant water are further heightening the risk of waterborne diseases including diarrhoea and skin infections, said the aid agency.

Save the Children staff have seen children visibly unwell, with some being treated for respiratory tract infections and fevers.

Yalmo-, 57, who came to a holding centre in Nuwakot with his family, said some of his grandchildren were coughing while other children in the centre had developed low fevers.

“There was a lot of dirt, and we felt like we were going to be sick,” said Yalmo-, recounting how his family walked to safety.

His wife, Amita-, 56, said the family were left with nothing after the water tore through their community, and now some of her grandchildren, who she clutches close to her, are sick.

“We were out in the open too long, so we have scratchy throats and fever,” she said.

Many of the water sources in the affected areas are contaminated by debris from the flash floods, leaving communities without access to clean drinking and bathing water. Rain is continuing, washing torrents of mud into areas where people have fled from their ruined homes.

Some children now living in community buildings on higher ground spent days out in the open after the floods tore through their villages leaving more than 900 people dead in Nepal and over 4,000 still missing.

https://ndrrma.gov.np/en/rasuwa/situation

As rain and the threat of further flash floods continue to affect communities across Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, some of the areas worst-affected by the floods, children are also vulnerable to vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, as stagnant water creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Tara Chettry, Country Director, Save the Children in Nepal said:

“The immediate danger from the devastating flash floods may have passed in some areas, but we fear a second crisis is unfolding.

“Crowded spaces, contaminated water, poor sanitation, and limited access to healthcare create the ideal conditions for disease outbreaks that can severely harm children.

“Children are also showing up to holding centres and temporary shelters with coughs and other illnesses and sometimes there is no medicine. In rural or entirely cut off areas the situation will be even worse.”

With needs continuing to grow, Save the Children is calling on governments, donors, and humanitarian partners to increase flexible funding for the Nepal floods emergency response to ensure children and their families receive the help that they need.

Save the Children in Nepal’s emergency response team is working in the affected areas and delivering essential items, including drinking water, tarpaulins, blankets, cooking kits, mosquito nets, baby kits and personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes in the first phase of the response.

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: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

• Public good test will force agencies to weigh impact on services, communities and Te Tiriti before cutting jobs
• 4 out of 5 public servants say job cuts have not helped deliver better for NZ

The PSA is calling for a mandatory public good test before government agencies and other publicly funded employers can embark on major restructures and cut jobs.

The recommendation is part of a new report – Reckless restructures; how to stop the damage caused by endless restructuring – to be launched today at the PSA 2026 Congress in Wellington (see Congress details below).

“Thousands of dedicated public servants have lost their jobs and the services New Zealanders rely on have been savaged, all in this blind rush to cut costs with no real plan for what would be lost,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

“That's why we need a public good test. Agencies should have to stop and properly weigh up the impact on services, on workers and on the communities who rely on them, before ploughing ahead with a restructure, not after the damage is done,” (see summary of criteria below).

“This is urgent – if the National-led Government is re-elected, it wants to slash another 8700 roles from the public service and merge agencies. Labour is yet to commit to stopping job losses if elected, and we have a potential king maker in Opportunity talking about cutting jobs.

“When restructures are rushed through as this government has done without any real assessment of the impact, it's the public who ultimately pay the price.

“The evidence of this reckless approach is everywhere for New Zealanders to see. Emergency departments overwhelmed, nearly 3000 health jobs axed, community service organisations like RespectEd forced to close, 700 scientists and researchers cast out, over 300 DOC workers gone, the list goes on.

“Public servants know this – more than half tell us their ability to do their job has got worse, most say the cuts have not helped them deliver better for New Zealand (see survey results below).

“On top of this, there has been scant regard to the Government’s obligations to honour Te Tiriti. Time and again we are seeing the roles and teams that support better outcomes for Māori treated as expendable when agencies are told to cut costs.

“Enough is enough. We are losing our best and brightest and Australia is hiring many of them when they had more to give New Zealand. Cutting jobs and services to chase short-term savings targets, without any plan for how New Zealand deals with an ageing population, climate change, or our infrastructure deficit, is short-sighted and will cost us far more in the long run.”

At a minimum, a legislative public good test should be contained in the Public Service Act 2020 and apply to State services as defined in the Act; this would go beyond the core Public Service. In addition, it should be extended to cover local government, and to publicly funded services as a condition of public funding.

“If nothing changes, mark our words – there will be future Royal Commissions and other official inquiries that will set out the tragic impact of this dangerous approach to cutting jobs without an adequate assessment of the consequences.

“We can’t afford to keep making the same mistakes and failing to heed the lessons of the past.”

The PSA will pursue the public good test through bargaining with employers regardless of whether the next Government adopts it in legislation.

About Reckless restructures; how to stop the damage caused by endless restructuring

The report sets out what reckless restructuring by the Government has done to public and community services. It shows the human cost of treating cuts as an end in themselves, without understanding the work being done, the expertise being lost, or the consequences for our country. It also shows the net result is a public and community sector less able to protect people, uphold human rights, give effect to Te Tiri- o Waitangi and reduce Māori disparities, respond to crises, and deliver the support New Zealanders need.

Background: the proposed public good test

The PSA proposes a statutory requirement for public sector agencies and other publicly funded employers to assess any significant restructure against a public good test before proceeding. The assessment would need to cover a range of criteria including:

• Impact on the services the agency delivers to the public
• Compliance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the agency's ability to meet its obligations to Māori under Te Tiriti
• Impacts on workforce capability, both within the agency and across the public and community sectors
• Health and safety impacts, both physical safety and the impact of workload stress on remaining staff
• Long-term, intergenerational impacts, including impacts on New Zealand's ability to mitigate and adapt to climate change
• Impacts on population groups at risk of being disadvantaged in their access to public and community services, including women, Māori, Pasefika, migrants, rainbow communities and disabled people
• Consistency with undertakings made by the Government in response to a Royal Commission of Inquiry or Auditor-General recommendations

The PSA says the test should apply to core public service agencies under the Public Service Act 2020 and be extended to local government and publicly funded community services as a condition of public funding.

Member survey results (see report p22)

The PSA surveyed thousands of public servants working in government agencies. Of the 4300 who responded, most said restructures were not improving outcomes:

• 78% do not think the restructures that have occurred over this term of government have helped them to deliver better for New Zealanders. Only 5% agreed that restructurings had helped public sector organisations deliver better.
• 52% think that their agency’s ability to do its job has got worse over the year to March 2026

PSA biennial Congress details

The PSA is holding its biennial Congress over two days in the Capital on Tuesday and Wednesday. The event at Hnry Stadium will be attended by over 300 delegates from around the country under the theme Respect, Restore, Rebuild.

The following sessions are open to the media:

Tuesday

• 10.40am: Speech by PSA President Virgil Iraia
• 11am: Speeches by National Secretaries Fleur Fitzsimons and Duane Leo

Wednesday

• 8.40am: Jessica Hammond, Opportunity Party public services spokesperson
• 9.15am: Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Te Pāti Māori co-leader
• 11am: Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, Labour Party leader
• 11.45am: Hon Marama Davidson, Green Party co-leader

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.