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National Erebus Memorial moves forward with release of concept design

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage has today released the concept design for the National Erebus Memorial, marking an important milestone in the project’s development.
Deputy Secretary Delivery and Investment, Glenis Philip-Barbara, says the design reflects not only the significance of the Memorial, but also the enduring place families have in the project.
“Erebus families and members of Operation Overdue have been central in every step of this kaupapa,” she says. “Their insights shaped the original design brief, and their voices continue to guide how we honour their loved ones in this new setting.”
The concept has been developed by Studio Pacific Architecture and is based on the updated design brief and detailed site analysis for Cracroft Reserve, Christchurch – the preferred location. The concept reinterprets key elements from the original design to respond to the topography and outlooks of Cracroft Reserve.
“This design honours the memory of those lost, while deeply respecting the whenua and the people already connected to this place. Studio Pacific Architecture has created an incredible concept design that we are very proud of,” Philip-Barbara says.
The design emphasises the original design principles – a sense of adventure, a strong connection to the horizon and sky, and a journey that leads visitors toward moments of pause and reflection.
Elements of the concept design include the Roll of Names, a view of the horizon, the walkway, snowflakes, space to gather, sit and reflect, narrative and dedication components, and a whakataukī inscription.
Positioned on an elevated area of Cracroft Reserve, the concept offers expansive views across Christchurch and toward the coastline and Port Hills, creating a place for connection, reflection, and quiet remembrance.
Three official concept images – an aerial view, a sketch visualisation, and elevation drawings – have been released today and are available for media use. Feedback being sought about the concept design from Erebus families and members, Christchurch City Council, mana whenua, stakeholders, technical partners, and the Ministry. This will be considered by the designers as the project moves to developed and detailed design.
“Families remain at the heart of this work. Their perspectives, along with the expertise of our partners, will guide the next stage of refinement,” says Philip-Barbara. 
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Legislation – PSA calls on MPs to sign pledge to stop cuts to holidays and pay for thousands of workers

Source: PSA

The PSA is calling on all MPs to sign a pledge promising to oppose a law change that will slash the pay and leave entitlements of tens of thousands of working people being debated in Parliament today.
The first reading of the Employment Leave bill, which seeks to replace the Holidays Act, is today.
Under the bill employees who regularly work overtime or pick up extra hours will have less leave than they do under the current law. Any work outside of ‘contracted hours’ will not accrue sick or annual leave.
“We are asking all MPs from each party in Parliament to sign a pledge that they will not support any changes that will leave workers worse off,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Most MPs from across the political spectrum like to think they come to Wellington to make the lives of New Zealanders better, not worse, so we are hopeful our pledge will get wide support.”
“Anybody who works irregular hours or gets irregular pay will suffer if these changes are passed. No MP should support these changes, and this pledge is a chance for them, as individual decision-makers representing communities all over New Zealand, to show the public whether they stand for working people.”
The PSA represents many of the people who would be worse off, including those working in hospitals, those caring for mental health patients, corrections officers, staff keeping our borders secure, care and support workers looking after our most vulnerable, and library workers running the beating hearts of our communities.
“These people all undertake vital work supporting communities up and down New Zealand and keeping us safe. How is cutting leave entitlements fair in a cost-of-living crisis when household budgets are under more pressure than ever?” said Fitzsimons.
“Part time workers are particularly badly affected, many of whom are women. This is the latest war on women from a Minister and Government that cancelled pay equity settlements in the dead of night with no prior notice.”
The bill will cut the amount many workers are paid while on leave. Leave pay won’t account for commissions, bonuses, or occasional allowances, and if you take leave for a shift where you’d paid more than one rate, you’ll get the lowest rate for the entire period of leave.
The Government is also proposing cutting leave for people who’ve been on ACC compensation, and no longer providing a full day in lieu for people working shorter shifts on public holidays.
“This so-called attempt to simplify leave entitlements is simply giving a leg up to exploitation – employers will take more from workers while giving less in return,” said Fitzsimons. “This is just more from a government prioritising the profits of its business mates over the pay of workers.
“Let’s not forget that on top of cancelling pay equity, workers are suffering after the Government has suppressed minimum wage rises, stripped away their job security, and is also trying to undermine their health and safety.
“Working people deserve holidays, and they deserve to be paid properly for them. The PSA will campaign against this attack on leave entitlements and make sure everyone knows how this bill would leave so many people worse off.
“We are also reaching out to New Zealand First and its leader Winston Peters, who has repeatedly claimed to support the interests of working people. He had a chance to block the Fire at Will Bill and didn’t help working people then. We hope now he can work constructively with unions to stop this latest anti-worker bill.”
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.
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US-Israel Conflict – At least 52 million children facing disrupted education due to Middle East and wider region conflict – Save the Children

Source: Save the Children

At least 52 million school age children have been forced to stop school, moved to online learning or had their education disrupted as violence in the Middle East and wider region entered its second week, Save the Children said.
Data calculated by Save the Children using UN population data and percentages of school aged children (aged 5 – 17) for countries and areas [1] affected by the conflict showed the extent to which education for children from all backgrounds has been impacted with schools damaged, closed or repurposed as shelters.
In Lebanon, where over 770,000 people, including at least 300,000 children, have been forcibly displaced , about 900 public schools have been allocated to serve as collective shelters, representing 73% of all public schools, with 328 public schools currently being used as shelters.
This is the seventh year of significant disruptions to education for children in Lebanon, who have been hit by multiple complex crises for decades.
Across the region that is home to at least 100 million children, schools have also been destroyed or damaged, including 65 schools in Iran that were destroyed by airstrikes, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. [2]
In the West Bank most schools have been closed since the start of the recent escalations on 28 February, due to safety risks of falling debris and the closure of Israeli military checkpoints which is blocking students and teachers from reaching school.
As of early March, schools and universities in several Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain, have also shifted to distance learning due to security concerns.
In Israel schools will remain closed until at least the end of the week.[3]
Concerns over disruptions to global oil supplies have forced schools further afield to shut.
Across Pakistan, schools have been asked to shut for the next two weeks as part of measures to help conserve fuel, but exams will continue as scheduled, the country's Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training said this week.
Ahmad Alhendawi, Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa and Eastern Europe at Save the Children, said:
“In every conflict, classrooms are usually the first to close and some of the last places to reopen. Every missed lesson deepens the scars of war. Not every child can escape the violence or afford to move their learning online – we know that for the most vulnerable children, once they leave school many will never return.
Schools are protected sites and attacks on them could amount to grave breaches of international humanitarian law. The laws of war must be respected.”
Marian Hodgkin, Global Head of Education at Save the Children, said:
“We’ve seen schools destroyed due to air strikes, and being used as shelters as people run from their homes and seek shelter in schools. The loss of regular schooling means we now must provide safe spaces for children who are directly impacted by this conflict so that they can be supported by a trusted adult and learn lifesaving messages like how not to get injured in rubble or avoid unexploded ordinances.
This conflict directly impacts not only students’ academic performance but their protection and ability to cope with increasing risks and instability.”
Save the Children is preparing for and is already responding across the region to keep children safe and learning even when formal schools are closed.
The child rights organisation’s plans include the delivery of Education in Emergencies (EiE) activities to help keep children protected and connected and to support their wellbeing.
Save the Children is the world’s largest independent child rights organisation, reaching tens of millions of children annually in about 110 countries through its work to save and improve children’s lives.
Notes
Methodology: Save the Children looked at the population data using UN data for countries currently affected by the hostilities in the Middle East and wider region and determined the number of school aged children (ages 5-17) as a percentage of the population. Countries/regions were analysed based on confirmed and ongoing disruptions to children’s education including missed school days or transitions to online or alternative learning and announcements about closures by education ministries.
References:
[1] This includes Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, State of Palestine, and the United Arab Emirates.
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Energy Sector – Study points to scale of opportunity for domestic natural gas to fill the gap

Source: Energy Resources Aotearoa

A new study on New Zealand's gas market shows massive electrification or alternative fuels will be required to meet residential and industrial demand over the next decade, even if LNG imports begin in 2028.
But Energy Resources Aotearoa says the findings raise an important question – what could more domestic natural gas deliver to help New Zealand avoid this outcome?
The 2026 Gas Supply and Demand Study, commissioned by the Gas Industry Company and prepared by PwC, looks at two futures.
In scenario one, New Zealand relies only on its existing gas fields. Gas production halves by 2035, demand must fall by 61 PJ – roughly the annual energy use of 1.8 million homes – with constrained gas-fired electricity generation and food producers and manufacturers facing forced switching.
This scenario confirms that in a future without LNG, natural gas remains the primary backstop for electricity generation.
With natural gas supply already tightening, choices have to be made. Without new sources of domestic gas coming online, business use of gas could be cut back in dry years to keep electricity flowing.
“The transition to electricity for food production, manufacturing, and petrochemicals – industries that employ thousands of Kiwis – cannot occur overnight.” Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie says. 
In the second scenario, LNG arrives from 2028. Relative to scenario one, this keeps prices lower and more stable, supports manufacturing, food production, and investment in new renewables by moderating price spikes.
“LNG changes the trajectory meaningfully, and we support getting it here,” Carnegie says.
“With modelled LNG, we would still need to see significant electrification or alternative fuels – as soon as 2027. More LNG supply than modelled could play a role in providing energy for industrials if economic.”
The study flags the 2030s as a critical period, with major gas fields nearing end of life and domestic supply projected to fall to around 23 PJ by 2050. Even small delays to new gas supply from any source, LNG or domestic natural gas, increase near-term risk.
“This tells us gas is essential for energy security for the foreseeable future. But it also tells us supply is continuing to decline – this is the alarm bell our organisation has been ringing for some time.” Carnegie says.
“This study is valuable because it shows what we're up against. LNG is part of the answer, and we support it.
But it also points to a gap that more domestic natural gas could potentially fill, with less complexity and exposure to global markets. That case hasn't been fully tested yet, and it deserves to be.” 
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South Sudan evacuation order removes humanitarian support for over 200,000 people and deepens catastrophic conditions – Oxfam

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

The evacuation order for the northern border town of Akobo East in South Sudan, which forced tens of thousands of people – including all aid agency staff – to leave at the weekend, has closed critical humanitarian programmes for over 200,000 people and deepened catastrophic conditions, Oxfam said today.
Evacuated Oxfam staff are reporting that even before the latest escalation, the humanitarian situation was already dire. Communities were under immense pressure, with many families surviving on wild fruits and leaves from the bushes. Akobo East hosts more than 188,000 residents and had been sheltering an additional 82,000 people displaced by conflict from other parts of Jonglei State.
With the evacuation order now forcing many to flee again, thousands of families are facing secondary displacement, leaving them with even fewer resources and support. More than half of those displaced people are women and children. The escalating violence and repeated displacement is increasing the threat of sexual violence and abduction, and also the risk of child marriage.
Shabnam Baloch, Oxfam’s South Sudan Country Director said: “This evacuation order has forced the closure of all humanitarian support, it is outrageous. Living conditions were already extremely bad and now exhausted people, many of whom were already displaced, have been forced to move yet again because of the spiralling conflict.”
On Friday 6 March the order was given by the South Sudan People's Defence Forces for everyone – including hundreds of UN and aid agency staff – to evacuate within four days. Alfred Chandonga, a local Oxfam Project Manager who himself was forced to flee, described the situation: “I was struck by the crushing sight of families being forced into the wilderness yet again. These were the same people who had arrived from Walgak only weeks ago, weary but hopeful that they could finally set down their heavy bundles and rest. Instead, safety vanished in an instant. There was no time to grieve the lives they left behind.
“Watching them walk into the haze of uncertainty was heartbreaking; I saw women, the true face of this crisis, balancing their entire lives in their hands. With infants on their backs and toddlers clutching their dresses, they moved toward a horizon where neither the next meal nor the safety of the path is guaranteed. They only know they must keep walking. The world cannot afford to look away.”
Most of the displaced population have fled to Tergol, a key border crossing point for South Sudanese refugees while 37,000 people have already crossed into the Gambella region of Ethiopia, on top of around 78,000 people who already arrived there in January according to UNOCHA in South Sudan. This additional population movement is placing even more strain on Gambella which hosts over 450,000 South Sudanese refugees.
Support to new asylum seekers from South Sudan has become increasingly difficult in Ethiopia due to immense pressure and reduced funding cuts as several organizations have had to reduce essential services due to lack of funding. Oxfam, which leads on providing clean water and sanitation services, has been forced to scale down its operations reaching even fewer people at a time when needs are increasing.
Ethiopia is facing its own overlapping crises from conflict to drought with some areas reporting crop losses due to the failure of the last two rainy seasons, leaving households empty-handed.
The South Sudan 2026 humanitarian response plan projects that over 10 million people – two-thirds of the population – will require some humanitarian assistance including 7.5 million people who are at risk of starvation.
Oxfam is calling on all parties in South Sudan to de-escalate the conflict and prioritise the protection of civilians and guarantee safety of humanitarian access to populations in need in Akobo county, including at the border with Ethiopia.
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Statement – Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia Continue Legal Battle

Source: Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia Incorporated Society

STATEMENT – Auckland, New Zealand – The Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia Incorporated Society (DLMC) has confirmed the continuation of its legal challenge against Auckland Council following the Puketāpapa Local Board’s decision not to pursue a community-led resolution regarding the future of the park’s off-leash dog area.

The matter was heard in the High Court on 24 and 25 February, where DLMC sought a judicial review of the Puketāpapa Local Board’s decision relating to the removal of the long-standing off-leash area at Monte Cecilia Park.

During the hearing, Justice Becroft repeatedly encouraged both parties to explore a negotiated resolution, noting that litigation was not the optimal use of resources and that a mutually agreeable outcome should be possible.

Following the hearing, DLMC acted quickly to pursue that path.

Within 48 hours, the society convened a meeting and formally submitted a proposal to the Puketāpapa Local Board and Auckland Council titled “A Roadmap to Peace.”

The proposal outlined practical steps to address council concerns while preserving the park’s well-known off-leash “bowl” area, including:

  • Stronger community enforcement of existing dog laws
  • Collaboration with council animal management teams
  • Clearer signage marking the off-leash area
  • The creation of a working group between council representatives and park users

The society also formally condemned any inappropriate comments directed at Local Board members and issued an apology in the interest of constructive dialogue.

Despite the proposal being submitted in good faith, DLMC was advised on 6 March that Auckland Council wanted the matter referred back to the Court rather than entering into negotiations.

Jonathan Sweeney, Chair of the Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia Society, said the group remains committed to finding a balanced outcome for the community.

“Monte Cecilia Park serves many purposes, but at its heart it’s about community. For years this space has supported positive dog socialisation, responsible ownership, and meaningful connection between people. Our proposal was a genuine attempt to find common ground.”

The society says the case represents more than simply access to an off-leash area.

“This judicial review is also about confidence in decision-making — ensuring that community voices are heard and that decisions affecting shared spaces are based on thorough consultation and practical solutions.”

DLMC is conscious of the fact that its legal challenge continues amidst a concerning increase of reports of dog attacks throughout New Zealand.  

“At its core, these attacks are examples of what happens when dogs are not properly trained, cared for and kept under their owner’s control at all times.  These aren’t just “good dog owner” requirements: they are legal requirements on all dog owners under the Dog Control Act”.  

DLMC welcomes calls to reform the Dog Control Act to better empower (and fund) Councils to address irresponsible dog ownership issues while enabling responsible dog owners (and their dogs) to play a vibrant role in the community.  

DLMC continues its legal challenge because of the importance that off-leash spaces play in socialising dogs and helping them (and their owners) to be positive members of society.  

“The advice that the Puketāpapa Local Board received from Council staff was that off-leash areas, like the “bowl” at Monte Cecilia Park, benefit dogs by providing a space that enables them to socialise with other dogs and humans, curbing unwanted (and dangerous) behaviours in the long run.  The Local Board was also told by Council staff that “communities that invest in off-leash areas foster a sense of shared responsibility, encouraging dog owners to be mindful of their pets’ behaviour and respectful of others”. This advice was never made available to the public until the Local Board made its decision to get rid of the off-leash area at Monte Cecilia Park.  

Monte Cecilia Park is widely used by local residents for recreation, social gatherings and dog walking and playing. Many regular users say the park plays an important role in supporting wellbeing and community connection.

DLMC says it will continue its work as a volunteer-led organisation advocating for responsible dog ownership and fair access to public spaces.

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Building New Zealand: Focus on the construction industry – Stats NZ news story

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Business financial data: December 2025 quarter – Stats NZ information release

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Business employment data: December 2025 quarter – Stats NZ information release

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Government Cuts – Latest proposed health cuts will leave public health system worse off – PSA

Source: PSA

The PSA is deeply concerned about the long-term consequences of the proposed restructure of the Ministry of Health’s Corporate Services function, which will see 46 roles disestablished and workers forced to reapply for fewer jobs.
The proposed cuts would, if finalised, see a net loss of 25 roles.
“This is the direct result of the Government’s relentless spending cuts,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Those who could lose their jobs are skilled and committed public servants who do important work – they have more to give our health system.”
The proposed restructure would see design services outsourced, financial advisory roles cut from five to two, and information management and digital workplace roles reduced with some IT training reduced to self-service online models. The Ministry itself acknowledges that ‘some service levels within information and knowledge services will need to reduce’.
“These are the people managing finances, information systems, business analysis, and digital infrastructure. When you gut this function, the impacts are real, the work just gets pushed onto other staff who are already stretched. And right now, the last thing the health system needs to lose are IT specialists.
“The Ministry has been told it must ‘live within a reduced baseline’ over the next three years, but what that really means is fewer people doing vital work that keeps the public health system running.
“This is just more hollowing out of our health system, part of the pattern we have seen right across the public sector for more than two years now. The Government keeps cutting, agencies keep shrinking, and the services New Zealanders rely on keep getting worse.”
The cuts follow several other restructures at the Ministry, alongside massive job cuts at Health NZ Te Whatu Ora where 2,800 roles have been axed over the past two years. The PSA will be strongly opposing the cuts in its submission to the Ministry on the proposal.
“The Government's priorities are all wrong when you consider it's giving away $20 billion in tax cuts to business, landlords and big tobacco and not funding the health system properly,” said Fitzsimons.
“New Zealanders deserve a public health system that can meet the challenges of an ageing population, growing demand, and increasing complexity. These cuts take us further from that goal, not closer to it.
“Make no mistake, come the election, we will be reminding New Zealanders of the damage the Government is doing to the public health system we all rely on.”
Recent statement
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.