Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Health – GenPro launches confidential buy-and-sell service for general practice

Source: GenPro

GenPro has launched a new confidential matching service, Hononga, to support and sustain independent ownership of general practices across New Zealand.

GenPro’s Deputy Chair, Dr Stephanie Taylor, says the service is designed to help GPs buy into or grow their ownership.

“It also supports existing owners to exit or reduce their involvement without having to sell to large corporate groups or primary health organisations,” she says.

“Independent ownership helps to keep doctors embedded in their communities over the long term and supports continuity of care,” says Dr Taylor.

“Hononga will help ensure community-based practices remain locally owned and sustainable into the future.”

Hononga—te reo Māori for ‘connection’ or ‘link’—comes at a time when increasing numbers of practices are being sold to large privately-owned or publicly-listed corporate entities. Dr Taylor estimates that around one in five general practices are now corporately owned, a significant rise in recent years.

“Practice owners considering selling can feel their only option is a corporate buyer,” she says. “Hononga creates a pathway to connect with like-minded GPs who want to invest in an independent practice in a local community.”
Dr Taylor says the service offers a confidential alternative to traditional sales methods such as advertising in industry publications.

“Advertising a sale can be challenging, particularly in smaller communities where owners may wish to avoid uncertainty for patients and staff. Hononga allows for discreet, structured engagement.”

Hononga has already generated strong interest. Eight sellers—primarily planning retirement or reduced working hours—and five buyers, including those seeking to expand, have registered already.

“While no transactions have yet been completed, the service is already providing valuable insights into market demand and the needs of both buyers and sellers,” says Dr Taylor.
GenPro members are owners and providers of general practices and urgent care centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

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May Day: Union warns against fuel crisis opportunism by employers

Source: Workers First Union

Workers First Union members, who are attending May Day events around the country today, are warning that employers and Government are seeking to exploit the fuel crisis caused by the US-Israeli attacks on Iran to promote austerity and attacks on workers’ rights.
Dennis Maga, Workers First General Secretary, said Aotearoa New Zealand would suffer in the long term if employers and Government used the cost of living crisis to “get rid” of workers and push for lower wages and worse employment conditions during collective bargaining.
“What we’re seeing in workplaces is that employers have been emboldened by the right-wing coalition and are bargaining with austerity and wage depression in mind,” said Mr Maga.
“Workers are dealing with the existing cost of living crisis while struggling to pay their fuel bills just to get to their jobs, and employers are milking the geopolitical issues for all they’re worth.”
“The solution to the crisis and the growing exodus of workers to Australia is higher wages and better working conditions, not austerity and more Government attacks on our rights at work.”
Elizabeth Hadfield, a senior operator at an Auckland distribution centre, will be speaking at the South Auckland May Day event today. She said workers needed more than the “bare minimum” that companies offered based on the Government’s guidelines.
“If a company gives the minimum to workers, they should expect the minimum in return,” said Ms Hadfield. “A good employer listens to workers, understands when they’re struggling, and helps them.”
“We work to live, not live to work. We don’t want to grind our lives away and still struggle to feed our families with the twenty dollars that’s left over after paying your bills.”
“I’ve been in jobs where I cried and cried, tried to work harder, expecting the minimum and just about coping with it. But it’s not right, and not everyone can do that. Companies need you as much as you need them – there is no company without their workers.”
“I go to May Day because it’s about time that workers understood their worth and felt encouraged to know they aren’t the only ones in this situation. Community matters, and we are powerful together – we can be heard.”
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Property Market – The mini-upturn may not last long – Cotality

Source: Cotality

Property values across Aotearoa New Zealand edged up by 0.1% in April, the third monthly rise in a row, despite a soft start to the year for sales volumes and the breakout of the Iran conflict.

Cotality NZ’s latest Home Value Index (HVI) shows the national median value in April of $809,101 was 0.6% higher than three months ago in January, albeit still 16.8% below the peak from January 2022 ($972,643).

Across the main centres, Ōtepoti Dunedin rose by 0.8% in April, with Ōtautahi Christchurch and Tauranga both seeing a 0.4% increase, while Kirikiriroa Hamilton’s figure was 0.3%. Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland both remained more sluggish, with minor -0.1% falls.

Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist, Kelvin Davidson said that April’s small lift in national property values comes as a slight surprise, but also that it’s very modest in the context of the weakness over the past four years or so.

“We’ve now seen property values edge higher for three months in a row, despite the sluggish start in 2026 for sales volumes, listings still elevated, the Iran conflict emerging, mortgage rates gradually rising, and economic indicators worsening.”

“Given all of that, it’s quite surprising property values have crept up on average.  Although that being said, it’s not universal in every area, with key centres such as Auckland and Wellington still looking pretty soft.”

“In addition, we’ve been here before, with small upturns at the start of both 2024 and 2025 eventually going into reverse.”

“With Iran-related uncertainty currently very high, it would hardly be a surprise to see that pattern repeat in the next 3-6 months either.”

“The bottom line is that the housing market broadly remains in a holding pattern, with buyers enjoying current conditions – or at least those that are secure in their jobs.”

“We all have to wait and see how the Iran situation evolves and make the best decisions as we go. But in an environment where an OCR rise seems likely sooner rather than later, although the economy is also turning, it’s difficult to envisage anything other than another sluggish year for the housing market in 2026.”

Index results for April 2026
Change in dwelling values
Month
Quarter
Annual
From peak
Median value
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
-0.1%
0.2%
-3.0%
-22.9%
$1,049,650
Kirikiriroa Hamilton
0.3%
1.1%
-1.5%
-12.0%
$740,213
Tauranga
0.4%
0.7%
2.0%
-14.5%
$932,335
Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington*
-0.1%
0.0%
-1.1%
-25.0%
$780,504
Ōtautahi Christchurch
0.4%
1.7%
3.0%
-1.6%
$706,245
Ōtepoti Dunedin
0.8%
2.2%
3.1%
-8.8%
$633,632
Aotearoa New Zealand
0.1%
0.6%
-0.8%
-16.8%
$809,101

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

Once again Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s broadly flat result overall in April reflected variability beneath the surface. Papakura and North Shore both edged up by 0.1%, while Rodney and Manukau were flat. But Franklin dipped by -0.1%, Auckland City by -0.2%, and Waitakere by -0.4%.

Waitakere and Franklin have also been weaker over the three-month period since January (down by -0.9% and -0.8% respectively), while Rodney has been stable, and each of the other sub-markets have risen by 0.4% to 0.6%.

Mr Davidson said, “there have been hints that property values in some parts of Auckland may have started to turn a corner in the first few months of 2026.”

“But the data remains patchy, and the bigger picture is that values across the board are still lower than a year ago, with only North Shore’s decline from the peak currently sitting at less than 20%.”

“The improvement in Auckland’s housing affordability may set the scene for a pick-up in value growth in the medium-term. But for now, it remains a purchaser’s market, and first home buyers alongside smaller investors continue to enjoy conditions.”

Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Variability in property values was also on show in the wider Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington area in April, with Kāpiti Coast edging up by 0.1% and Porirua holding steady. But Wellington City dipped slightly, as did Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt (-0.2%) and Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta Upper Hutt (-0.3%).

Mirroring the trend in Auckland, Wellington has shown some hints of growth to start the year, but values remain lower than 12 months ago and significantly below the peak.

Mr Davidson noted, “Wellington is still among the weakest areas of the country in terms of property value falls in the past four to five years, which is benefitting purchasers right now. In particular, first home buyers are running at market shares greater than 35%.”

“This apparent window of opportunity may not be there forever, but with economic and election uncertainty looking likely to linger for a while yet, Wellington’s property values may not move much this year at least.”


 
Change in dwelling values
Month
Quarter
Annual
From peak
Median value
Kāpiti Coast
0.1%
1.3%
-2.3%
-22.0%
$788,483
Porirua
0.0%
1.0%
-2.0%
-23.6%
$777,311
Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta Upper Hutt
-0.3%
-0.3%
-1.1%
-24.6%
$717,832
Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt
-0.2%
-0.6%
-2.8%
-26.8%
$659,051
Wellington City
-0.1%
0.0%
-0.2%
-24.6%
$876,178
Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington
-0.1%
0.0%
-1.1%
-25.0%
$780,504

Regional results

April’s data showed a soft result for Heretaunga Hastings (down by -1.0%), while Ngāmotu New Plymouth had a subtle -0.1% fall. Meanwhile, the remaining main urban areas saw values rise in April, ranging between 0.2% to 0.6%, while Whangārei was a little stronger again at 0.9%.

Most of these key areas outside the main centres have also seen values rise from a year ago, although Heretaunga Hastings and Ngāmotu New Plymouth have remained a little more sluggish – and all apart from Invercargill are still below past peaks (albeit by less than 2% in Tāhuna Queenstown).

“It seems fairly clear that good growth lately in export industries, including agriculture and tourism, has been a factor behind higher levels of economic confidence and property market resilience in many regional areas.”

“But higher fuel and fertiliser prices are nevertheless squeezing profit margins and could start to take the shine off those regional economies as the next few months unfold. Given that, a re-emergence of some patchier property value figures could also be seen.”



 Region
Change in dwelling values
Month
Quarter
Annual
From peak
Median value
Heretaunga Hastings
-1.0%
-0.8%
-1.4%
-19.6%
$710,458
Ahuriri Napier
0.2%
-0.1%
-0.3%
-18.4%
$703,442
Te Papaioea Palmerston North
0.2%
-0.5%
1.3%
-18.2%
$605,835
Whangārei
0.9%
2.7%
0.4%
-17.5%
$731,430
Tairāwhiti Gisborne
0.6%
1.9%
4.0%
-13.4%
$606,102
Whakatū Nelson
0.2%
0.7%
-0.4%
-13.3%
$737,586
Rotorua
0.3%
0.0%
-0.2%
-12.1%
$640,221
Whanganui
0.2%
-0.3%
1.1%
-10.7%
$507,039
Ngāmotu New Plymouth
-0.1%
-0.1%
-1.4%
-6.4%
$696,367
Tāhuna Queenstown
0.4%
1.5%
3.3%
-1.9%
$1,577,842
Waihōpai Invercargill
0.5%
1.3%
5.8%
At peak
$521,702

Property market outlook

Looking ahead, Mr Davidson noted that the incoming inflation data and how the Reserve Bank perceives those figures will be all-important. Of course, the economy itself matters a lot, but the RBNZ’s sole target is keeping inflation low and stable.

“As the Bank has reiterated many times, they aren’t able to do much about the first-round inflation effects of higher fuel prices, while there are also limits to their control over subsequent higher transport charges through the supply chain.”

“But they’re watching closely for any signs of second-round price effects from the Iran conflict such as higher wage demands or raised inflation expectations. There’s even now a growing view that they may want to get ahead of the curve with an OCR rise as soon as July.”

“Either way, it would not be a surprise to see mortgage rates slowly heading upwards, and recent, modest house price increases flattening off or even going into reverse.”

“That won’t be good news for some, but first home buyers would be pleased. Investors looking to expand a portfolio may be looking at buying opportunities, but there are also some would-be rental purchasers sitting on the sidelines as they wait to see the result of November’s election and how property taxes might look thereafter.”

“All in all, the housing market has lifted a little to start the year, but winter could easily see a sideways or downwards trajectory for prices,” Mr Davidson concluded.

For more property news and insights, visit www.cotality.com/nz/insights

Notes:
The Cotality Hedonic Home Value Index (HVI) is calculated using a hedonic regression methodology that addresses the issue of compositional bias associated with median price and other measures. In simple terms, the index is calculated using recent sales data combined with information about the attributes of individual properties such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, land area and geographical context of the dwelling. By separating each property into its various formational and locational attributes, observed sales values for each property can be distinguished between those attributed to the property’s attributes and those resulting from changes in the underlying residential property market. Additionally, by understanding the value associated with each attribute of a given property, this methodology can be used to estimate the value of dwellings with known characteristics for which there is no recent sales price by observing the characteristics and sales prices of other dwellings which have recently transacted. It then follows that changes in the market value of the entire residential property stock can be accurately tracked through time.

The detailed ‘frequently asked questions’ and methodological information can be found at: https://www.cotality.com/nz/our-data/indices

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Master Plumbers welcomes new lead-free tapware rules for the public health benefits

Source: Master Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers

New Zealanders can now have greater confidence that the tapware they buy is ‘lead-free’.
From the end of today ( 1 May 2026), all new tapware installed in Kiwi homes must contain no more than 0.25% lead-legally defined as ‘lead-free’. The previous limit was 4.5%.
Master Plumbers Chief Executive Greg Wallace says the new lead-free rules bring New Zealand in line with the US and align with tightening regulations in Europe. Australia is also transitioning to lead-free plumbing products from the 2 May deadline.
“This is a significant public health benefit and comes after eight years of lobbying for change.
“In 2018, we commissioned independent testing of five taps sold in New Zealand, which found one product purchased online from an overseas retailer to have lead levels 70 percent higher than the acceptable limit,” says Mr Wallace.
A subsequent 2020 Massey University study also found a tap bought online to have lead concentrations 7.5 times higher than the limit.
He says Consumer NZ raised similar concerns in its 2025 test of budget tapware, which showed one kitchen tap from an online retailer to be well over acceptable lead levels.
“There is no safe level of exposure to lead, and babies and toddlers are at most risk from permanent harm, particularly to the brain and nervous system,” says Mr Wallace.
“Until now, the only safety prevention measure has been a recommendation on your water rates bill to flush a cup of water from your tap each morning to remove any metals that might have dissolved in the plumbing fittings overnight. That simply isn’t enough.
“New Zealand took lead out of paint in the 1980s and petrol in the 1990s-and Master Plumbers is extremely pleased to see it finally being taken out of plumbing products.”
Plumbers carry the liability for making sure that the tapware they install is lead-free.
Consumers are being advised to make sure any plumbing fixtures they purchase, including tapware, carry lead-free marking on the product or packaging.
“Master Plumbers has developed a lead-free mark under its Master Plumbers Recommended product scheme for reputable suppliers,” says Mr Wallace.
“Consumers can also look for manufacturers’ own labelling or the WaterMark Lead Free mark.”
He says Master Plumbers is now calling for a third-party verification scheme in New Zealand, similar to the mandatory Australian WaterMark programme.
“This would ensure all tapware sold in New Zealand is independently tested and certified.”
Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers NZ Inc (Master Plumbers) is the national membership organisation for plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying businesses, with 19 Branches across New Zealand. Companies go through a Quality Assurance programme in order to become a member. We provide members with a wide range of resources and training opportunities to support them in staying up with the latest technologies, products and compliance requirements. We advocate on behalf of our members and our industry.
About Masterlink:
Masterlink, a group training scheme owned by Master Plumbers, provides managed mentored apprenticeships across New Zealand, with Regional Managers supporting the apprentices and the businesses who host them during their training.
About NZ Plumber:
NZ Plumber is the award-winning, bi-monthly magazine for New Zealand's plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers. It is owned by Master Plumbers.
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Appointments – Asia NZ Foundation welcomes four new trustees to its board

Source: Asia New Zealand Foundation

The Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono welcomes the appointment of four new trustees to its Board.
Established by the New Zealand Government in 1994, the Asia New Zealand Foundation is the country’s leading authority on Asia. The Foundation provides experiences and insights that help New Zealanders to build their knowledge, skills, and confidence to engage effectively in the region.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has appointed Brahma Sharma, Frances Valintine CNZM, Kenneth Leong, and Tracey Epps to the Foundation’s Board. Their three-year terms commence on 1 May 2026.
The new trustees join Hone McGregor, who has been elevated to Chair, Professor David Capie, John Boswell ONZM DSD, and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bede Corry (ex officio member), completing the eight-member Board.
The Foundation acknowledges the significant contribution of outgoing trustees Dame Fran Wilde DNZM QSO, Carol Cheng, Tina Porou MNZM, and Mitchell Pham ONZM, and thanks them for their service.
Outgoing Foundation Chair, Dame Fran Wilde, says the new trustees bring a valuable mix of expertise, experience, and networks that will strengthen the Foundation’s work and support New Zealand’s engagement with Asia.
“The Foundation is essential in supporting New Zealand’s growing relationships with Asian countries. It plays a role that official agencies just can’t do and has helped many hundreds of people from all sectors to experience Asia for themselves and form enduring relationships. It has been a great privilege to chair this critical organisation,” she said.
The Asia New Zealand Foundation’s work spans more than 20 countries across Asia and is delivered through a range of core programmes, including arts, business, entrepreneurship, leadership, media, research, Track II diplomacy, and sports. The Foundation is guided by its Board of Trustees and supported by a network of Honorary Advisers in New Zealand and across Asia.
More about the Foundation: www.asianz.org.nz
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Heritage NZ – Listening Sessions at Old St Paul’s set to shake up lunchtime

Source: Heritage New Zealand

Lunchtime in central Wellington is about to get a shake-up courtesy of Old St Paul’s and NZ Music Month Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa.
Throughout May, Old St Paul’s will celebrate NZ Music Month with a series of lunchtime listening sessions featuring selected 2026 Aotearoa Music Award-nominated albums played in full.
The series ties in with the theme of this year’s NZ Music Month – Our Sounds, Our Spaces – which is aimed at highlighting unique, local and historic venues across Aotearoa. The nationwide theme is designed to celebrate local music and the spaces that sustain it, including heritage sites, community halls, and live music venues.
“What better way to experience some of New Zealand’s finest contemporary music than in this beautiful historic setting, cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga,” says Old St Paul’s Event Coordinator, Jane Nye.
“Audiences can enjoy the ambience of this very special Gothic Revival building as well as its near-perfect acoustics.”
The listening series will be held twice weekly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from midday, with entry by koha.
“These albums deserve to be experienced as complete works, heard from start to finish in the unique surroundings of Old St Paul’s,” says Jane.
Visitors are welcome to drop in for part or all of each session. For upcoming albums, follow Old St Paul’s social media channels for the latest schedule. 
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Defence News – NZDF assists Bougainville in destruction of WWII-era bombs

Source: New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF)

Two large unexploded Second World War-era bombs in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, have been made safe by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) after the Autonomous Bougainville Government asked for New Zealand’s help to dispose of them.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel deployed to Bougainville to dispose of a 1000lb (454kg) bomb discovered at Aropa Airfield and a 500lb bomb found at Kieta Primary School.

The six-person EOD team, equipment and aid packages were flown to Bougainville on a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules and then on to Aropa Airfield via an NH90 helicopter from No.3 Squadron.

The helicopter and crew were already in PNG delivering aid to areas hit by Tropical Cyclone Maila.

An earlier reconnaissance trip found the bombs were too dangerous to move and had to be destroyed in-place. Sandbags were placed around the sites and large cordons set up before the disposal.

Special Operations Component Commander, Colonel Grant Scobie, said that the EOD squadron was highly trained for these tasks.

“Disposal of explosive remnants of war is something we do regularly.  Our personnel have completed recent disposal operations in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Nauru.

“We would like to acknowledge the leadership of the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the support and assistance of communities in Kieta and Aropa, which enabled us to successfully carry out the operation.”

Members of the EOD team will also be speaking at a community education event about how to safely mark and report unexploded ordnance when they are found.

This task rounds out a two-week mission in Papua New Guinea, as the NZDF worked with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF), Australian Defence Force, International Organisation for Migration and Mission Aviation Fellowship under the guidance of the Papua New Guinea National Disaster Centre to distribute aid to areas hit by Tropical Cyclone Maila.

Two NH90 helicopters had arrived with HMNZS Canterbury into Port Moresby on 15 April to carry out training with the PNGDF, but following a request from the PNG Government pivoted to aid delivery missions.

A C-130J was also subsequently deployed with aid supplies from New Zealand.

The training programme will resume this week.

The deployment to Bougainville has built on more than 25 years of New Zealand support to its peace, security and development, including through the Kirapim Stongpela Bougainville Polis Service, delivered by New Zealand Police, which provides capacity-building to the Bougainville Police Service, and helped to develop the Bougainville Auxiliary Police.

The NZDF’s Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Andy Scott, said No. 3 Squadron especially had a long-standing relationship with Bougainville.

In 1990, the squadron deployed UH-1H Iroquois helicopters to transport PNG and Bougainville delegations negotiating the Endeavour Accord, and again the squadron deployed with the NZDF-led international Truce Monitoring Group in 1997-1998.

“We value our long-standing friendship with Bougainville and so it was great for the 3 Squadron team to be able to head back to provide this support and further enhance our relationship,” Air Commodore Scott said.

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Local News – New mural brightens Porirua’s city centre

Source: Porirua City Council

During a Council planning process several years ago, a group of rainbow rangatahi from Aotea College requested a mural for the city celebrating their community, and Porirua City Council agreed to make it happen.
Last year a group of students from Rainbow Aotea sat down with council officers to work out the process and design brief. Through an expressions of interest process, artists were able to submit their ideas based on the students’ brief. The students decided on two concepts and later selected the final mural image.
Plimmerton’s Heneriata Te Whata was the artist selected to complete the mural. The finished work was recently installed in Ferry Place where it was blessed today by Ngāti Toa Kaumātua Dr Te Taku Parai.
Heneriata said she included the hihi, or stitchbird, for the symbolism of the sun catching the light on its golden wings, lighting a path forward, which is what she feels our diverse communities do for us all.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker said it was nice to see a specific request from young Porirua residents, made during the Long-term Plan process, coming to fruition.
“This has been a great collaboration between the council and rangatahi and we’re proud to have the mural now complete and adding rainbow colours to our city.”
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Local News – Licence plate recognition technology hits Porirua streets

Source: Porirua City Council

Porirua City Council is introducing licence plate recognition technology to efficiently enforce parking around the city and to keep parking officers safe.
Licence plate recognition (LPR) was introduced in Wellington and Hutt City in 2024 and 2025, respectively, and is also in use in Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga.
In Porirua, from 4 May, the technology will be attached to one of the Council’s cars and, for the first month, be used to monitor parking around the city’s schools – checking if cars are parking on broken yellow lines, across driveways, or on footpaths – to make sure children are able to walk safely in and out of school.
The camera records information about vehicles and visible parking signage as it drives around and then, on its return, can register whether a car should have moved or whether it has paid for the parking. The information is sent back to Council and a staff member reviews it before issuing a ticket.
The technology allows our parking staff to stay in the vehicle. Down the track, LPR can be used for checking warrants of fitness and registrations and whether a car is stolen, along with data collection of parking and road use around Porirua, informing future decisions and city development by our transport team.
Council’s Manager of Policy, Planning & Regulatory Services, Nic Etheridge, says the camera operates within the requirements of the Privacy Act and people’s faces will be blurred in any images. Council will use images only for evidence gathering and enforcement – LPR information will be stored on the same system our current infringement information is stored.
“We’re embracing up-to-date technology which allows us to do a job safely, fairly and efficiently,” Nic says.
“This is the next step we’re taking in terms of enforcing parking, but our message will always be that if you park correctly, you have nothing to worry about.
“We’re rolling this out around schools in the first instance, because we know that unsafe parking around school neighbourhoods creates a very real danger for tamariki, limiting visibility and making them hard to see.”
Budget for the technology was approved in Council’s 2024 Long-term Plan.
There are FAQs on the Council’s parking webpage, answering the most likely queries the public will have. Go to https://poriruacity.govt.nz/services/parking-transport/find-carpark/
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Economy – Senior Trans-Tasman leaders convene to address fuel disruption and strengthen economic resilience – BusinessNZ

Source: BusinessNZ

The Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF) held a high-level industry roundtable on Friday 24 April to address ongoing fuel supply challenges. The session took place alongside the official bilateral meeting between the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer of Australia, and the Hon Nicola Willis, Minister of Finance of New Zealand.
The discussion convened business leaders from the energy, aviation, agriculture, transport, retail, technology, cybersecurity and banking sectors. These industries, central to supply chain operations, shared insights on managing rising costs and maintaining the delivery of essential services despite current fuel availability pressures. The high-powered chief executives of Ampol, Z Energy, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Federated Farmers, National Farmers Federation, HW Richardson, Team Global Express, Woolworths, CyberCX, ASB and the Australian Banking Association all participated in the dialogue with the Australian Treasurer and New Zealand Minister of Finance
The roundtable identified a strong alignment between the two nations, noting that businesses in both Australia and New Zealand are facing consistent challenges. Participants emphasised that this shared experience presents a clear opportunity for closer trans-Tasman coordination to strengthen long-term energy resilience and prepare for future economic shocks.
John Paitaridis, ANZLF Co-Chair (Australia), said:
“This was a unique and timely meeting, bringing together the Australian Treasurer, New Zealand Finance Minister and business leaders from both countries across the sectors most directly affected by the current fuel crisis. It created an important platform to explore practical opportunities for deeper cooperation and coordinated action.”
Greg Lowe, ANZLF Co-Chair (New Zealand), added:
“This dialogue underscored the value of close trans-Tasman collaboration. By aligning our efforts and sharing expertise, we can strengthen resilience across our economies and respond more effectively to the challenges posed by the fuel crisis.”
The Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Australian Treasurer, commented:
“Australia and New Zealand are working closely together to strengthen fuel security and supply chains across the Tasman, because it’s in the interest of both our countries. By coordinating our efforts and staying closely connected to industry, we can better understand the challenges they’re facing and respond in a way that supports resilience across our region.”
The Hon Nicola Willis, New Zealand Minister of Finance, stated: “New Zealand and Australia have one of the closest economic relationships in the world. Stronger integration means greater resilience during global shocks, more trade, more investment, and more opportunities for businesses and workers in both countries.”
The ANZLF will continue to facilitate this government-to-business dialogue to support economic integration and ensure both nations remain resilient against global supply chain disruptions.
About the Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF)
The ANZLF is a business-led initiative that brings together senior leaders from the private and public sectors to help steer the trans-Tasman economic relationship and promote deeper integration between Australia and New Zealand.