Source: Save the Children
PSA – Help us now – 23,000 home support workers hit by petrol price hikes urge Govt. to act
Source: PSA
Northland Tsunami Siren Testing Set for end of Daylight Saving
Source: Northland Regional Council
Outdoor Activities – Map reveals hundreds of DOC public access easements
Source: Herenga ā Nuku – the Outdoor Access Commission
Energy – Major solar array to power Toyota NZ’s logistics hub
• Surplus energy will support local power needs
• Panels set to last up to 30 years
• Payback expected in just over five years
Toyota New Zealand has installed one of the largest rooftop solar systems in New Zealand on top of its 35,000m2 warehouse and National Customer Centre in Palmerston North.
At almost 700-kilowatt capacity, the solar array is expected to generate the equivalent of 60 percent of the centre’s power usage and, during peak periods, will inject renewable energy back into the local network to power up to 35 local homes.
Following its own auto production principles of Quality, Durability and Reliability, Toyota NZ selected Singaporean-manufactured solar panels that have one of the lowest points of degradation; they are expected to still be producing at 90% or more of total capacity (698.88kW) after 30 years of operation.
Toyota NZ Chief Risk and Value Chain Officer Mark Young said sustainability is a core feature of the purpose-built warehouse and National Distribution Centre (NDC), which was enlarged to the size of five rugby fields in 2018.
“We’re committed to making a positive impact on the environment from our NCC operations and renewable energy is a strong focus. We’re incredibly proud of the solar array going atop the building and the benchmark this will set for future Toyota developments in New Zealand. Already 11 of 63 Toyota Stores have installed solar power on their roofs,” he says.
Solar power production capacity from the NDC is expected to generate enough energy to power 132 houses per year and avoid approximately 93 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year – equivalent to a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid driving the length of New Zealand 481 times.
Forecast solar performance is 921 MWh per annum. Based on historical energy consumption data of the building, the system has an expected payback period of approximately five and a quarter years.
The scale of the array means Toyota will be generating more electricity from its roof during peak sunshine hours than it needs. On a typical summer’s day, the panels will generate more electricity than the building consumes from 6am to 6pm. Excess power of around 350MWh will be injected into the local lines network, providing more renewable energy for up to 35 Palmerston North households over the course of a year. In winter, the peak period reduces to 9am to 4pm.
Mark Young says installing solar panels in a large scale on the NCC roof made strong commercial sense.
“While we have made a substantial upfront capital investment, the panels will reduce the average monthly electricity bill by around 50%. We expect to have a total return on investment of more than 600% over the life of the panels,” Mark says.
Universities – Video helps parents of fussy eaters – UoA
Parents are better equipped to teach picky eaters how to eat healthily, thanks to a video developed by University of Auckland researchers.
A short evidence-based video helps parents of fussy eaters steer their kids towards healthy eating, new research shows.
The video, which includes a story, the acronym HEART and an analogy, was developed by Dr Sam Marsh, a senior research fellow in the Department of General Practice and Primary Care at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. See the video:
The video uses a story that helps parents put themselves in their child’s shoes at mealtimes, as well as an analogy and a mnemonic.
“We got parents to imagine coming home from a hard day at work, sitting down at the table, and then somebody throwing all these questions at them about what foods they want, and then dumping a massive plate of food in front of them, foods they are not familiar with, and demanding they eat it.
“Then we painted another picture where you come home, your partner takes care of everything. They put a nice plate, with not too much food, in front of you, and you have a pleasant conversation during the meal. How much more relaxed will you feel?”
The acronym, HEART, reminds parents of the strategies they can use.
– H is for ‘helping’, getting children to help prepare food: they are much more likely to eat food if they are engaged in putting it together.
– E is for ‘environment’, for example, eating as a family at the table with no screens or other distractions.
– A is for leading with your ‘ace’ by starting with healthy foods, creatively prepared.
– R is for ‘rules’, such as at least 90 minutes between a snack and a meal. Rules for parents include never using food as a reward or punishment. “If you do not eat your broccoli, you won't get dessert,” reinforces the value of dessert and that there's something wrong with broccoli.
– T is for ‘trust’: “We know children need to feel emotionally safe and relaxed to eat and try new foods. So, connecting with your child before dinner, even in a small way can be very helpful.”
The analogy was teaching a teenager to drive a car, making the point that children need to learn how to eat and it is a process.
“They are in control of driving the car, just like children are in control of what they eat,” says Marsh.
“You can't force a child to chew their food and swallow, but the things we can control are when they eat, where they eat, and what they eat. That is our job as parents.”
In written feedback, parents were overwhelmingly positive about the video resource.
Comments included, ‘Practical tips, handled a sensitive topic well, wasn’t judgmental.’
Results from the pilot trial, involving almost 100 parents and their children aged three to six years, show those who used the video made positive changes and enjoyed the process. See Appetite (March 2026).
“Research shows that positive parental feeding behaviours are associated with better appetite self-regulation in kids,” says Marsh.
“A child who knows when they are hungry and stops eating when they are full will tend to have a healthier bodyweight and a better relationship with food when they get older.”
World Vision – This World Water Day: Clean Water Is More Than Survival – It’s a Pathway to Women’s Empowerment
Source: World Vision
Economy – Tariff ripples: Modelling the effects of US trade policy on the New Zealand economy
16 March 2026 – The RBNZ has published an Analytical Note exploring the implications of changes in US tariff policy for the New Zealand economy.
What this paper is about
On 2 April 2025, the US government announced its intention to significantly increase tariffs on imported goods.
In this Note, we study the potential impact of these events on the New Zealand economy. We find that in the short-run, trade diversions and the appreciation of the New Zealand exchange rate create deflationary pressures. Lower inflation induces lower interest rates which boosts domestic output. Over time, however, there may be inflationary pressure as global supply chains become less efficient. The analysis in this Note supplements our other related studies on the impact of changes in US tariff policy, such as on the impact of uncertainty shocks.
Key findings
- This Analytical Note explores the implications of changes in US tariff policy for the New Zealand economy, using the G-Cubed model to undertake scenario analysis. Our baseline scenario captures tariff announcements as of 31 July 2025.
- To capture the depreciation of the US Dollar following the tariff announcement, we further consider shifts in bond and exchange rate markets that are associated with an increased perception of risk in investing in US assets.
- The shock is disinflationary in the short run as it leads to trade diversions and appreciation of the New Zealand currency which lower import prices. The disinflationary pressure induces lower interest rates supporting the domestic economy. Overall, despite the weaker export sector, the effect on domestic real GDP is relatively modest.
- Over time however, global supply chains become more inefficient contributing towards higher import prices, creating some inflationary pressure by around 2030.
Why we did this research
The resulting disruptions to the global trade may affect the New Zealand macroeconomy through export demand, import prices, supply chains, and global financial conditions. In this Note, we study the impact of the changes to the US tariff policy through the lens of the G-cubed model. The model is a global trade model that features disaggregated country- and sectoral-level details. Alternative scenarios are examined to capture the evolving situations around the global tariff environment.
What data have we used?
The calibration and estimation of the parameters in the G-cubed model are done by the external model developers. The data used originate from various sources, such as the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model, IMF, World Bank, OECD, United Nations, the US Energy Information Administration, and the University of Groningen Growth and Development Centre.
More information:
Effects of US Trade Policy on the New Zealand Economy: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=5fb6033bf4&e=f3c68946f8
Arts Grants – Do you have a completed draft of your manuscript that’s ready to take to the next level?
NZSA 2026 CompleteMS Programme – Do you have a completed draft of your manuscript that's ready to take to the next level? Poetry, fiction, short fiction, non-fiction…
Apply now for the NZSA Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa CompleteMS Manuscript Assessment Programme: https://authors.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=905a5275ec5c023659502ec21&id=ef6ef93ca8&e=466373ae7c
The NZSA CompleteMS assessment programme is open for applications
until 28 May 2026.
CompleteMS is for writers who have completed a manuscript through a number of drafts and now require the objective view of an experienced assessor to provide a constructive critique.
The thirteen successful applications will receive essential critical written feedback (followed by a Q+A session) from an NZSA Assessor on an advanced work, moving it closer to publication.
To apply for this professional development opportunity you need to be a current member of The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ) Inc. Membership of NZSA is $150 per annum, with a reduced rate for students – more about membership here: https://authors.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=905a5275ec5c023659502ec21&id=3b051fb2e8&e=466373ae7c
The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa seeks to reflect and expand the depth and breadth of Aotearoa New Zealand writing and welcomes applications from diverse writers working across a range of genres and writing disciplines. We tag three places on the programme each year for diverse writers.
Further information and application forms: https://authors.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=905a5275ec5c023659502ec21&id=e009bd3985&e=466373ae7c
From writer's who have received assessments through CompleteMS:
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From our NZSA Assessors:
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The annual CompleteMS Programme is made possible with support from Creative New Zealand.
