Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Posted on

HortPlus announces key appointments to senior leadership team

Source: HortPlus

New Zealand agritech company HortPlus has today announced key appointments to its senior leadership team as it positions itself for growth and international expansion.

Director Mike Barley has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, Cody Ellingham has been named Chief Strategy Officer and Bailey Jewell has taken up the position of Chief Technology Officer.

The three bring decades of experience in the technology and horticulture industries and have a deep understanding of HortPlus, its customers and the global agri-tech landscape.

“I’m delighted with the expertise we’ve assembled, not just across our leadership team, but across the entire business,” Barley says.

“The coming year holds significant opportunities for international growth, expansion of our weather station network and groundbreaking new integrations between our flagship MetWatch weather and disease portal and other leading technologies and services.”

Last year HortPlus expanded its services to Fresh Berry Company by enhancing the well-known New Zealand berry producer’s industry-leading ‘Berry Harvest Planning Tool’, developed by HortPlus to make harvest planning and forecasting easier.

This follows recent collaborations with other major corporates, including Constellation Brands which harnesses HortPlus data to support crop protection decisions that improve sustainability, reduce crop losses and boost profitability.

“It’s a buzz to be providing services to household names that are growing the crops that so many people in New Zealand, and internationally, know well.

“As the twin waves of AI and data-driven technology continue to converge and more people embrace the value of data for sound horticultural and business decision making, I’m confident the tools we provide will only get more popular, and more powerful.”

Established in Hawke’s Bay more than 25 years ago, HortPlus now has offices in Hawke’s Bay and Wellington, with customers in horticulture regions globally as far away as Italy.

It manages a network of more than 1,000 weather stations across Australia and New Zealand and offers a wide array of consultancy and environmental data services. That includes its well-known online platform, MetWatch, used by thousands of growers in a wide variety of different horticultural sectors, as well as researchers and science bodies such as Bioeconomy Science Institute and Foundation for Arable Research, among others.

Posted on

Fire Safety – Fire permits suspended ahead of hot weekend in Queenstown Lakes District

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Hot and windy weather has raised the fire risk in the Queenstown Lakes District to extreme, prompting Fire and Emergency New Zealand to suspend all fire permits in its Lakes Zone for the next three days.
District Commander Craig Gold says that any outdoor fire would cause an unacceptable risk to the community, firefighters and the environment.
“We have reached a critical point in the fire season, and safety is our top priority. With risk levels now exceeding safe operating limits for land management or recreational fires, we are suspending all active permits to protect our communities and our environment.”
The Lakes zone is already in a Restricted Fire Season, so the suspension of existing fire permits means that no outdoor fires can be lit from 8am tomorrow (Friday 6 March) until 9pm on Sunday (9 March).
People carrying out activities that can generate sparks, such as grinding or welding, should take extra care to do this well away from vegetation. Mowing, harvesting and similar activities should be done in the early morning or evening.
Posted on

Local News – Full steam ahead for Porirua streamside planting programme

Source: Porirua City Council

More than 100,000 plants will go in the ground in Porirua this year as the city’s streamside planting programme to restore Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour shows no sign of slowing down.
The streamside planting programme, which launched in 2022, is a transformational project to create thriving habitats and improve the water quality of Porirua’s waterways and, ultimately, the harbour. Council is working in partnership with Ngāti Toa and collaborating with the regional council, Mountains to Sea, community groups, and supporting thousands of students across schools to take up the cause.
In 2026, there is $900,000 in funding – half from Ministry for the Environment and half from Porirua City Council – to restore habitat along our waterways, including putting 108,000 plants in the ground between May and October. This funding also ensures the continued maintenance and health of our previous years' plantings to guarantee long-term project success.
Planting will take place in Horokiwi, Pāuatahanui, Taupō swamp, eastern Porirua and Rangituhi.
Council’s Manager Urban Ecology, Daniela Baggio, says working with the community to care for nature and carry out planting is extremely satisfying.
“It’s going to be a busy winter for our Parks team and we are always looking to build on the previous years’ engagement,” she says.
“Schools and communities are really committed and engaged in the programme and I’m certain we will get willing volunteers out there, often on wet days, getting their hands in the ground as we look to improve the health of the harbour, which is one of our key priorities as a Council.”
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says planting around Porirua’s streams and waterways was a huge boost for the harbour.
“We know what planting is needed and we’re making a huge effort each winter to make this happen. Our ongoing commitment to catchment restoration is part of the Porirua Harbour Accord, which was signed just over a year ago, uniting key partners to restore the ecological, cultural and environmental integrity of this precious taonga for Porirua.”
Other key focus areas of the Accord include improving water quality, restoring biodiversity, integrating sustainable water management with urban development, and addressing climate change impacts. Signed on 6 February, 2025, it is an agreement between Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Porirua City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council and Wellington Water Ltd and other partners passionate about the harbour’s future.
Planting days and opportunities for the public to participate will be advertised on Council’s website and social media as they’re confirmed closer to May.
Streamside planting stats from 2025:
170,200 plants in the ground
1377 volunteer hours at three community days in Cannons Creek, Papakōwhai and Bothamley Park
53 schools (1564 students) attend 10 planting days
32.9 hectares of riparian and erosion prone land planted
Posted on

Toitū launches national campaign: Climate Action = Smart Business

Source: Toitū Envirocare

Toitū Envirocare has launched a new national campaign built on a clear and commercial premise: Climate Action = Smart Business.

Aimed squarely at CEOs, directors and senior decision-makers, the campaign makes a direct case to New Zealand organisations that credible climate action is a driver of resilience, efficiency, market access and long-term value.

With more than 900 certified clients across Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally, Toitū is using the campaign to showcase organisations that have embedded emissions measurement and reduction into core strategy and are seeing measurable business outcomes as a result.

Featured organisations in the campaign include:

WM New Zealand: “Our partnership with Toitū Envirocare has helped us translate sustainability commitments into measurable business outcomes. Being featured in this campaign celebrates that journey,” says Sustainability and Communications Manager, Andrea Svendsen

Toyota New Zealand: “Sustainability is central to how we operate and innovate. As a valued partner of ours, Toitū Envirocare helps us verify our emission reduction targets to ensure we stay on track to creating a more sustainable future for New Zealand,” says Susanne Hardy, Assistant Vice President Marketing, Sustainability and Technology.

Silver Fern Farms: “We intentionally chose to position climate innovation as a core pillar of our Sustainability Action Plan, and this investment is paying off – delivering what our customers need and unlocking real operational efficiencies. Our partnership with Toitū Envirocare since 2018 has been fundamental in building the transparency, trust and rigour to turn ambition into action, and we are proud to share that in this new campaign.” says Chief Sustainability and Risk Officer, Kate Beddoe.

Each represents a different sector of the economy, but the same underlying principle: disciplined climate action strengthens commercial performance.

“Climate leadership is no longer optional for businesses that want to compete in domestic and export markets,” said Aisha Daji Punga, CEO of Toitū Envirocare. “Our clients are demonstrating that when emissions management is embedded properly, it drives operational discipline, risk reduction and stronger stakeholder confidence. That’s smart business.”

The campaign positions Toitū not as a marketing badge, but as a strategic partner helping organisations:

  • Measure and verify emissions with credibility
  • Set science-aligned reduction targets
  • Strengthen procurement and supply chain positioning
  • Meet growing investor, regulator and customer expectations
  • Turn climate commitments into measurable business impact.

The multi-city rollout across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch is supported by digital and targeted media designed to reach senior leaders where strategic decisions are made. However, the primary objective is engagement rather than visibility.

“Our focus is high-quality B2B conversations,” said Marnie Pitcher, General Manager of Marketing and Impact at Toitū. “Boards and executive teams are asking sharper questions about risk, resilience and competitiveness. This campaign answers that directly: credible climate action strengthens your business.”

As regulatory scrutiny, investor expectations and supply chain requirements continue to tighten globally, Toitū’s message is straightforward: organisations that act early and systematically will be better positioned than those that treat climate as a compliance afterthought.

For organisations evaluating their climate strategy in 2026, the question is no longer whether to act but how to act in a way that delivers measurable commercial return.

About Toitū Envirocare

Toitū Envirocare works with more than 900 organisations across New Zealand and internationally to measure, manage and reduce climate and environmental impact through internationally recognised certification programmes. As a government-owned, independent, ISO- and JAS-ANZ-accredited, science-led authority, Toitū provide services that translate climate ambition into measurable impact.

Note:

The Silver Fern Farms element of the campaign will roll out later in March. First up will be Toyota and Waste Management.

Posted on

Millions of people across Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia facing drought crisis, as cost of water increases by 2000% in worst hit areas – Oxfam

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

  • Failed October-December rains have pushed nearly 26 million people into extreme hunger in East Africa.
  • 58 million people do not have access to clean drinking water.
  • Millions of livestock are at risk as drought devastates grazing lands and water sources, threatening pastoralist livelihoods
Failure of the last rainy season across Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia is triggering a food and water emergency for millions of people still trying to recover from the longest and most severe recorded drought spanning from 2020 to 2023 during which five rainy seasons in a row failed. Dry wells, soaring water prices, crop losses and livestock deaths are pushing communities to the brink, warns Oxfam.
Across the three countries, nearly 26 million people are facing extreme hunger as drought conditions worsen, decimating crops before harvest and leaving livestock to die from lack of water and pasture. Deepening water scarcity is also driving displacement with more than 58 million people lacking access to clean water. As rivers and shallow wells dry up, families – most often women and girls – are forced to walk up to 15 kilometers for a single 20-liter jerrycan while soaring prices put water trucking beyond reach for many families.
In parts of Somalia, Oxfam staff and partners report that the cost of water has increased by more than 2000 percent. Families are now paying between $1 and $1.50 for a single jerrycan of water, compared to $0.06 a year ago. For families who have already lost their crops, livestock and sources of income, water is now unaffordable. In Hobyo town, north of the country’s capital, communities are relying on water trucked from Gawaan village, located 30 kilometers away. High transportation costs are driving up prices even further.
Fati N'Zi-Hassane, Oxfam in Africa Director, said: “Water trucking is becoming the last line of defence, but for many families who can’t afford even one meal a day for their children, paying for water is simply impossible. For women and girls, the crisis is particularly severe as they now have to walk longer distances, often in unsafe conditions, to secure what should be a basic human right.”
In Somalia, a new Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) alert revealed that the number of people facing hunger has nearly doubled since early 2025, rising to 6.5 million people. One in three people in the country are expected to be in crisis level hunger between February and March 2026. Levels of acute malnutrition have more than doubled, with communities struggling to survive as the climate crisis deepens.
In Kenya’s arid and semi-arid areas, communities are reporting reduced harvests while in Ethiopia, some areas are reporting crop losses due to the failure of the last two rainy seasons, leaving households empty-handed. FEWSNET estimated that some regions had suffered production losses of 34 to 54 percent due to a severe rainfall deficit.
Livestock, the backbone of pastoralist communities, are dying in large numbers as water and grazing lands completely dry up. In Somalia alone, an estimated 1.4 million livestock died in 2025, with another 2.5 million at risk. In Kenya’s northern counties, animal deaths from starvation and disease are rising while milk production has dropped by more than half, stripping families of their main source of food and income while in Ethiopia, poor rains have weakened livestock.
The deepening crisis is unfolding amid severe humanitarian funding gaps. While needs have surged across East Africa, funding has declined sharply leaving millions of families to fend for themselves. In 2021, Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia required $2.65 billion in humanitarian aid, with just under 61 percent funded. In 2025, less than one-third of overall humanitarian requirements were met. In Somalia, the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan received only 29 percent of the required funding while the 2026 has secured barely 13.4 percent so far.
“The upcoming dry season will not just be difficult – it could be the final blow pushing communities beyond the point of recovery. Urgent funding is needed now to save lives across the region. Communities here have contributed almost nothing to global climate crisis, yet they are paying the highest price. Families are fighting every day to survive its consequences. We can’t fail them,” said N’Zi-Hassane.
Across Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia, Oxfam is working with local partners to deliver life-saving water, hygiene kits, cash assistance and protection support in hard-to-reach and most severely affected communities.
Notes
According to the WHO/UNICEF JMP 2025 report, access to drinking water varies significantly across the Horn of Africa.
  • Somalia: 22 percent (4.2 million people) rely on unsafe water.
  • Kenya: 8 percent (4.5 million) rely on unimproved water.
  • Ethiopia: 37 percent of the population rely on unimproved water.
The total figure of people requiring food assistance by mid-2026 in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia is between 24.5 to 25.9 million people. Calculations from data below:
  • According to the IPC, a staggering 6.5 million people in Somalia are estimated to be facing high levels of acute food insecurity-nearly double the number recorded in August 2025.
  • FEWS NET estimates 3.0 to 3.49 million people in Kenya will require humanitarian food assistance between October 2025 and May 2026, driven by poor short rains.
  • FEWS NET: food insecurity in Ethiopia remains severe, with up to 15-15.9 million people expected to need urgent food assistance by July 2026 amid Crisis and Emergency conditions, driven in part by significant drought-related production losses of 54% in East Hararghe and 34% in West Hararghe due to rainfall deficits.
  • The loss of 1.4 million livestock in Somalia was reported by WFP and the estimate of the 2.5 million being at risk is from OCHA.
In 2021, Kenya’s drought flash appeal received $29.5 million of the $69.7 million required (42 percent), Somalia’s Humanitarian Coordinated Plan received $862.3 million of the $1.092 billion required (79 percent) and Ethiopia’s Humanitarian Coordinated Plan received $719.1 million of the $1.488 billion required (48.3 percent).
Somalia Humanitarian Coordinated Plans Funding for 2025 saw $412 million of the required $1.42 billion (29 percent) and for 2026 to date $119.2 million has been raised of the $825 million required (13.4 percent).
Posted on

Natural Phenomenon – Five years on, triple-tsunami anniversary highlights New Zealand’s ongoing risk

Source: National Emergency Management Agency – NEMA

Five years after three tsunamis struck New Zealand shores in one day, the National Emergency Management Agency is urging the public to get tsunami ready.

In the early hours of 5 March 2021, three powerful offshore earthquakes — a Magnitude 7.3 near East Cape followed by Magnitude 7.4 and 8.1 quakes in the Kermadecs — triggered three overlapping tsunami recorded around New Zealand.

NEMA’s Director for Civil Defence Emergency Management, John Price says, “Today is a reminder that all of New Zealand’s coastline is at risk of tsunami, and they can strike at any time. It’s essential we all understand our risks and have a plan – so you know the actions you need to take to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

“In a local source tsunami – like one caused by an earthquake on the Hikurangi fault along the North Island’s East Coast – immediate self-evacuation is key to survival. Our mindset needs to change – all coastal communities and households need to get tsunami ready.

“Take action today – make a plan, practice your tsunami evacuation route, and remember, if an earthquake near the coast is long or strong, get gone.”

NEMA’s Chief Science Advisor, Prof Tom Wilson says that intensification of coastal development over the last few decades, a large tsunami today is likely to be very damaging, with the potential for widespread loss of life. The greatest danger comes from tsunami that can reach our shores within just one to two hours. A large tsunami is not like a normal ocean wave; instead, it is more like a large mass of water that surges inlane past the shoreline. These waves travel quickly – in the open ocean they can be as fast as a jet plane travelling at 800km/h. Large tsunami are highly destructive for coastal communities and can cause widespread loss of life.

Prof Wilson says research into the 5 March 2021 tsunami sequence shows that people often wait for an official warning before evacuating, when they should leave straight away upon experiencing a long or strong earthquake near the coast.

“Awareness of tsunami threat is high, but the science tells us that people aren’t always doing the right thing in the heat of the moment.  The more we plan and practice now, the easier it will be when we have a real tsunami event.

“The National Tsunami Evacuation Zone Map lets you look up the address of anywhere you live, work or play, and it will tell you straight away if you’re in a tsunami evacuation zone. Give it a go now and practice your route. It’s a nifty tool that could save your life.” (ref. https://getready.govt.nz/emergency/tsunami/tsunami-evacuation-zones )

Take these small steps today to get yourself tsunami ready:

  1. Know your zone
  2. Have a Prep Talk
  3. Learn the natural warning signs: Long or Strong, Get Gone!
  4. Work out what you need
  5. Practise your tsunami hīkoi
Posted on

Rural News – Search begins for the inaugural Rural Woman of the Year

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers, Rural Women New Zealand and Brightstar are proud to announce the launch of the Rural Woman of the Year award, sponsored by Farmers Weekly.
Nominations are open now, with the inaugural winner to be announced at the Primary Industries New Zealand (PINZ) awards at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland on 23 June.
“Launching this award is all about creating a platform to recognise our rural women and really celebrating their contribution,” says Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford.
“Our rural communities are absolutely overflowing with talented women doing amazing things across the industry in farming, advocacy, grassroots leadership, and within their community.
“We want to shine a bright light on the work they’re doing to lead, inspire, connect and strengthen New Zealand’s rural communities and the wider agricultural sector.”
The award’s launch has been timed to align with International Women’s Day on Sunday the 8 March and is expected to attract a high calibre of nominees.
Rural Women New Zealand board chair Nicole Oliver says she’s excited to be launching an award to recognise the incredible achievements of rural women across the country.
“It’s important that rural women are recognised on a national and sector-wide stage, this award is about celebrating the impact an exceptional rural woman has,” she says.
“This inaugural award is all the more special as we celebrate our Centennial Year, 100 years of proudly advocating for women and rural communities.
“We’re incredibly grateful to have the support of Cushla and Dean Williamson and the AgriHQ team with our new Farmers Weekly partnership, and now with their sponsorship of this award.”
Oliver says the award is not limited to members of Rural Women New Zealand. Any woman with a connection to our rural communities is encouraged to apply.
“There are more than 400,000 potential nominees out there and we want to make sure there are absolutely no barriers for a worthy recipient of this award stepping forward and entering.
“Whether you’re milking cows in Morrinsville, shearing sheep in Waipukurau, volunteering for a local club in Gore, or working for Fonterra in Auckland’s CBD – this is the award for you.
“If your work has made a difference for our rural communities, the primary sector or New Zealand’s wider success, we want to celebrate you.”
Brightstar CEO Paula Cleghorn says the addition of this new award category fits perfectly with the vision and strategy for the wider Primary Industries New Zealand Awards.
“These awards are about bringing the entire primary sector together under one roof to celebrate collective success, and recognising our best and brightest,” she says.
“Half of rural New Zealand’s population are female, so it’s great to be introducing this new award category that specifically recognises their contribution and achievements.
“The Rural Woman of the Year award isn’t sector specific: it’s open to those in dairy, sheep & beef, arable, supporting industries, or even those who just live in rural New Zealand.
“I have no doubt this will be one of the most prestigious and sought-after awards in New Zealand and I’m really looking forward to seeing who takes home the inaugural title.”
Nominations for the Rural Woman of the Year award are open now with nominations closing on April 1, 2026. You can make a nomination here: https://awards.judgify.me/PINZAwards2026
Notes:
This inaugural award recognises an exceptional woman who has made a significant contribution to agriculture, agribusiness or New Zealand’s rural communities.
The recipient has demonstrated clear and sustained excellence in leadership, advocacy or grassroots community involvement, and has made a meaningful impact.
Nominees will have clear evidence of how they have helped lead, inspire, connect, or strengthen New Zealand’s rural communities and the wider agricultural sector.
This category is only open to individual women based in New Zealand.
Nominations must address the following:
– Why was this woman nominated?
– What is her connection to New Zealand’s rural communities?
– How has she demonstrated excellence in leadership, advocacy, or grassroots community involvement?
– What has been the tangible impact of her work for rural New Zealand?
– How has she demonstrated a commitment to supporting or empowering rural communities or the wider agricultural industry?
Posted on

Appointments – GUARDIANS APPOINTS JONES TO HEAD REAL ASSETS

Source: Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation

The Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation, manager of the $90 billion NZ Super Fund, has appointed Brendon Jones to the role of Head of Real Assets.

Jones, who joined the Guardians in 2014 as an analyst in the New Zealand Direct Investment team, has been key to some of the Super Fund's most significant investments, including Kaingaroa Tipu, NZ Gourmet, Fidelity Life and Kiwibank. More recently, Jones has led the NZ Super Fund's involvement in the Taranaki Offshore Partnership's proposal to develop a 1GW wind farm in the South Taranaki Bight.

Guardians co-Chief Investment Officer Will Goodwin said Real Assets made up some 15 percent of the Fund's total value, and the sector presented significant opportunities for future growth.

“Domestic infrastructure, for example, is one area we see as providing the type of investment opportunity that suits our competitive advantages as a locally-based sovereign fund with a long investment horizon,” said Goodwin.

“We are very keen to build on the success we have had in infrastructure investing overseas through the likes of renewable energy companies Longroad and Galileo and apply that expertise and the partnerships we have built up in our home market.”

Jones said he enjoyed the diversity of the Real Assets portfolio.

“Real Assets covers everything from our agriculture and horticulture investments in New Zealand and Australia, through renewable energy projects in the US and Europe, to the various residential developments we are currently involved in around New Zealand.

“It's satisfying to work on projects that provide social and environmental benefits to the community, as well as financial returns to the Fund.”

Prior to joining the NZ Super Fund, Jones spent six years in investment banking in Sydney, including time with RBS and Moelis. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce with First-Class Honours in Finance from the University of Auckland.

Posted on

"Children living in fear": More than 100 million children impacted in Middle East regional conflict – Save the Children

Source: Save the Children

At least 100 million children in countries directly impacted by the escalating violence in the Middle East and wider region face deepening fear, distress and the risk of physical harm and displacement, Save the Children said. 
This is the most expansive conflict in the region in decades, impacting at least 15 countries with strikes destroying homes, schools and hospitals in some of the worst-affected countries. Children are at heightened risk of physical and mental harm, exploitation and abuse. 
Nearly 200 children have been killed in the first five days, according to official and media reports – the equivalent of more than six classrooms full of children. 
Many schools across the wider region have closed due to the conflict, children are being kept inside and not allowed out to play, families are struggling to access healthcare services, and children are struggling to sleep. 
Prices of certain food items have skyrocketed in some areas. Families living in the region have spoken of doing everything they can to protect their children, ranging from fleeing homes to seek safety in schools and other buildings to moving in with relatives and friends with basements and more secure areas. 
Save the Children staff said people are taping up windows to stop the glass shattering with explosions and playing white noise to help their children sleep. 
Ahmad Alhendawi, Save the Children's Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe Regional Director, said children were paying the highest price in the conflict: 
“Every war is a war on children, and as always, we are seeing children impacted the most. Children are living in fear, caught in the crossfire of this adult war. We have already seen nearly 200 children killed, and more innocent lives could be lost without immediate action. Children must never be considered as acceptable ‘collateral’. Wars have laws and children must be off limits in every conflict. 
“Children across the region are terrified of being pulled into a devastating regional war. For some, this is the first time they have faced blasts and explosions that shake their homes, and they don't understand what is happening. Others have faced too many years of conflict that have marred their childhoods. Some have been displaced multiple times and lost all sense of safety and security. 
“More than 100 million children are living in areas that have been impacted by the escalating hostilities. Every possible effort must be taken to end all hostilities, prevent further escalation, and safeguard children. Only diplomacy can prevent further civilian suffering and create the conditions for lasting security for children across the region. Any further escalation risks pushing an already fragile region into a wider conflagration, with children paying the highest price of a war that they played no part in creating.” 
Save the Children urgently calls on all parties involved to immediately de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by ensuring that civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, are spared from attack. 
The use of explosive weapons in populated areas risks severe harm to civilians, especially children, and should be avoided at all costs. 
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. 
Save the Children is currently raising funds in New Zealand to support the response in the Middle East through its Children's Emergency Fund.
Notes:
  • [1] In the first five days since the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East and the wider region, government statements and media reports indicate that at least 181 children under the age of 10 have been killed in Iran, eight in Lebanon according to the country’s ministry of health, three in Israel and one in Kuwait
  • More than 100 million children live in at least 15 countries that have been impacted by the escalation including Bahrain, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, occupied Palestinian territory, Syria, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates. At least 14 countries have experienced one or more missile or air strikes since 28 February, while Israel closed some of the border crossings into Gaza following this escalation. Child population data for 2026 is taken from UN World Population Prospects. 
Posted on

Economy – Interim Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the seven months ended 31 January 2026

Source: New Zealand Treasury

Thursday, 5 March 2026 – The Interim Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the seven months ended 31 January 2026 were released by the Treasury today. The January results are reported against forecasts based on the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2025 (HYEFU 2025), published on 16 December 2025, and the results for the same period for the previous year.

The key fiscal indicators for the seven months ended 31 January 2026 were overall favourable compared to the forecast. The Government’s main operating indicator, the operating balance before gains and losses excluding ACC (OBEGALx), showed a deficit of $6.0 billion. This deficit was $1.9 billion smaller than forecast. Net core Crown debt was lower than forecast by $1.1 billion at $184.3 billion, or 41.9% of GDP.

Core Crown tax revenue was $70.4 billion, broadly in line with forecast (0.1% below), with small offsetting variances across the major tax types.

Core Crown revenue was $77.3 billion, around $0.4 billion (0.6%) below forecast. Revenue from the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme was lower than expected due to the decline in the NZU price since the forecasts were prepared.

Core Crown expenses, at $83.1 billion, were $1.2 billion (1.5%) below forecast, reflecting lower spending across a range of functional classifications.

The OBEGALx deficit was $1.9 billion less than the forecast deficit. This reflects the core Crown variances mentioned above coupled with favourable results from Crown entities and State-Owned Enterprises.

The operating balance was a surplus of $4.0 billion, $4.5 billion stronger than forecast. The variance reflected a favourable OBEGAL result of $1.8 billion and stronger‑than‑forecast net gains on non‑financial instruments ($2.8 billion), partly offset by weaker-than-expected net gains on financial instruments ($0.3 billion).

The core Crown residual cash deficit of $1.9 billion was $0.8 billion smaller than forecast, reflecting lower operating outflows and higher capital cash inflows.

Net core Crown debt at $184.3 billion (41.9% of GDP) was $1.1 billion lower than forecast. This variance was largely driven by the smaller‑than‑forecast core Crown residual cash deficit mentioned above.

Gross debt at $220.6 billion (50.2% of GDP) was $3.6 billion lower than forecast. This reflected lower‑than‑forecast issuances of Euro Commercial Paper and Treasury bills of $1.8 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively.

Net worth attributable to the Crown at $183.5 billion (41.7% of GDP) was $4.6 billion higher than forecast. This favourable variance largely reflects the stronger operating balance result of $4.5 billion, discussed previously.

  

  Year to date Full Year
January
2026
Actual1
$m		 January
2026
HYEFU 2025
Forecast1
$m		 Variance2
HYEFU 2025
$m		 Variance
HYEFU 2025
%		 June
2026
HYEFU 2025
Forecast3
$m
Core Crown tax revenue 70,392 70,452 (60) (0.1) 124,198
Core Crown revenue 77,250 77,683 (433) (0.6) 136,919
Core Crown expenses 83,084 84,329 1,245 1.5 149,047
Core Crown residual cash (1,923) (2,753) 830 30.1 (14,802)
Net core Crown debt4 184,335 185,418 1,083 0.6 196,987
          as a percentage of GDP 41.9% 42.2%     43.3%
Gross debt 220,577 224,211 3,634 1.6 227,225
          as a percentage of GDP 50.2% 51.0%     50.0%
OBEGAL excluding ACC (OBEGALx) (6,002) (7,883) 1,881 23.9 (13,852)
OBEGAL (6,458) (8,236) 1,778 21.6 (16,934)
Operating balance (excluding minority interests) 4,022 (504) 4,526 – (6,547)
Net worth attributable to the Crown 183,485 178,844 4,641  2.6  172,693
          as a percentage of GDP 41.7% 40.7%     38.0%

Using the most recently published GDP (for the year ended 30 September 2025) of $439,709 million (Source: Stats NZ).
Favourable variances against forecast have a positive sign and unfavourable variances against forecast have a negative sign.
Using HYEFU 2025 forecast GDP for the year ending 30 June 2026 of $454,497 million (Source: The Treasury).
Net core Crown debt excludes the NZS Fund and core Crown advances. Net core Crown debt may fluctuate during the year largely reflecting the timing of tax receipts.