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Health and Taxes – Cutting tobacco excise tax wrongfooted, say researchers

Source: Health Coalition Aotearoa

Tinkering with excise tax is foolhardy and would jeopardise public health, say leading tobacco researchers, concerned at Associate Health Minister Casey Costello’s move to review the levy.
Costello told Newstalk ZB she has put forward a paper to Cabinet proposing a review of tobacco excise tax, raising concerns she will push to reduce that tariff.
“Research tells us that, for people quitting smoking, price remains a key reason why they want to become smokefree,” says Professor Chris Bullen, tobacco researcher at the University of Auckland and co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa’s Smokefree Expert Advisory Group.
“For young people, the high cost of smoking is a strong deterrent to experimentation and helps us maintain low smoking prevalence among adolescents.”
Costello told Newstalk ZB that the problem with illegal tobacco trade in Australia was to do with reduced access to legal tobacco.
“They [Australia] taxed well higher than we are [sic], and anything that was less harmful, they made prescription only,” Costello said.
“So we end up with a double-whammy, which is why they have seen the massive loss in excise [tax] that they had, and the criminal market that they've got.”
Against industry pressure, the Australian Government proceeded with annual tobacco excise increases of five percent between 2023 and 2025, arguing that maintaining high tobacco prices remained an important public health measure. See aph.gov.au.
Reducing tobacco tax in New Zealand would play into the hands of the tobacco industry, say the HCA researchers, plus it is a battle no government can win.
Illegal tobacco products are cheap to produce and extremely profitable, says Professor Janet Hoek, co-director of the ASPIRE Aotearoa Research Centre at the University of Otago, Wellington, and spokesperson for Health Coalition Aotearoa’s Smokefree Expert Advisory Group.
“Illicit traders can easily outmatch any excise tax reductions and ensure illicit tobacco remains cheaper than legally sold tobacco,” Hoek says.
“Does the Government really want to preside over an unholy bidding war that could place millions of dollars in excise tax revenue at risk?” Hoek asks.
Cutting tobacco tax just plays into the hands of the tobacco industry, she says.
“Instead, we need better resourcing for Customs, Police and the Ministry of Health taskforce to undertake more sophisticated border surveillance and better detect and penalise illegal sales.
“A comprehensive retailer licensing system, along with strong enforcement and significant penalties, should be urgent priorities for any government concerned about controlling the illicit tobacco trade,” says Hoek.
“But, more fundamentally, if the number of people who smoke can be dramatically reduced through evidence-based support to quit, reducing the number of retail outlets, and regulating the addictiveness of tobacco, then demand for illicit tobacco will also decline.”
Australia ‘completely different’
The situation in Australia is completely different, says tobacco researcher and head of public health at Flinders University Dr Richard Edwards.
“Australia has a major illicit tobacco problem because of a combination of factors including the involvement of organised criminals and the existence of numerous local tobacconist shops that have been willing or coerced into selling illicit tobacco,” Edwards says.
“Most of all, the growth of the illicit market has been due to the failure of governments to take robust enforcement action in a timely fashion.
“New Zealand has the opportunity to do that now.”
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First baby born by C-section at new Save the Children hospital in world’s largest refugee camp

Source: Save the Children

The first baby born by caesarean section (C-section) was safely delivered at a new Save the Children hospital in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, at a time when global aid cuts are putting essential services at risk in the world’s largest refugee settlement.
The new Maternal and Child Hospital opened earlier this year and is the first facility to specialise in maternal and neonatal health in the Rohingya camps, where an overall reduction in donor funding has led to the closure of some health centres and learning facilities.
Health workers at the hospital realised the need for the C-section and safely delivered the baby last month after the baby’s mother, Shirin-, who has three other children, experienced prolonged labour with reduced amniotic fluid causing an irregular heartbeat for her baby and rising blood pressure.
Golam Mostofa, Cox’s Bazar Area Director, Save the Children International, said:
“Every birth is a moment for celebration but this birth in particular deserves a moment because our teams were able to support the mother throughout a delivery that came with complications.
“We opened this hospital to bring specialised care closer to those who need it the most and to ensure mothers feel safe and supported. Hopefully this will be the first of many successful deliveries that reinforce our commitment to strengthen healthcare for mothers and babies in Cox’s Bazar.”
The hospital, which has 59 beds, offers services including emergency newborn care and stabilization, antenatal care, nutrition support and services for gender-based violence survivors.
It is designed to care for both Rohingya refugee and women from host communities in Cox’s Bazar, where access to specialized healthcare is limited and maternal and newborn mortality rates remain high.
Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh is home to the world's largest refugee camp and hosts over one million Rohingya refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar, with more than half being children.
Some Rohingya women experience high-risk pregnancies in the camps because of poor nutrition, limited pre-natal healthcare access, and underlying health conditions as well as other factors including the distance to and the cost involved in getting to a health facility.
Shirin-, the mother, said:
“The doctors and nurses took such great care of me that I felt safe throughout the procedure. The doctors also spoke to my family so they would understand why the surgery was necessary. The hospital is so clean, and they maintain hygiene well.”
Save the Children has been working in Cox’s Bazar since 2012 and significantly increased its activities following the 2017 exodus of refugees to Bangladesh, with programmes in education, health and nutrition, food, water, shelter, and child protection services. 
The New Zealand Government has been supporting Save the Children health facilities inside the camps through the New Zealand Disaster Response Partnership since 2018, while a generous legacy gift from a New Zealander is also supporting the new hospital's specialist treatment services.
-Name changed to protect anonymity.
About Save the Children NZ:
Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.
Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.
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Health Sector – GenPro says patient fees still likely to rise despite Government funding package

Source: General Practice Owners Association (GenPro)

The General Practice Owners Association (GenPro) is warning that some general practices are still likely to increase patient fees this year, despite Government claims that fees have effectively been frozen.

GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers said the suggestion that practices would not be increasing fees did not reflect the financial reality facing many providers.

“The story is that no one will put their fees up this year. Well, they might.”

Dr Chambers said Health New Zealand entered this year's funding negotiations with the clear objective of avoiding increases in standard consultation fees, and the additional investment in general practice was both significant and welcome.

“It has certainly eased financial pressure for many practices, but it has not removed it.”

The greatest pressure to increase standard consultation fees would come from practices that had lost funding under the Government's revised capitation formula.

“Many of those practices are receiving transitional funding over the next four years to soften the impact of the new funding model. That funding helps, but for some practices it’s simply not enough to allow them to keep fees unchanged.

“Those practices have a legitimate case for increasing patient fees because they have not been fully compensated for the reduction in funding. At GenPro, we’re aware of a significant number of practices intending to apply for approval to increase their fees.”

Dr Chambers said another group of practices had not qualified for transitional funding but remained financially worse off under the new funding arrangements.

“These practices are also disadvantaged. If they can demonstrate that maintaining current fees would threaten the long-term sustainability of their services, they have legitimate grounds for a fee increase.”

He said there would not be a one-size-fits-all outcome. “Some practices will be able to hold their fees, while others simply cannot. It depends on their patient population, staffing costs, the range of services they provide, and their overall financial position.”

Greater pressure next year
Dr Chambers said the design of the transitional funding package meant fee pressure was likely to intensify next year.
 
“Some practices may defer fee increases this year because transitional funding provides temporary support, but that assistance reduces over time. Unless funding arrangements change next year, there is every prospect of larger fee increases in 2027.”

ACC and urgent care also under pressure
Dr Chambers said ACC consultations and urgent care services also remained under significant financial pressure because they were not part of the recent funding boost.

“ACC consultations account for about 10 percent of appointments in a typical general practice, but ACC has not increased its contribution to reflect the rising cost of providing those services.
ractices will need to consider whether current ACC fees remain sustainable.”

He said providers of contracted urgent care services faced similar challenges.

“The increases in funding for contracted urgent care services over recent years have been well below the increase in the cost of providing care during evenings, weekends and public holidays. It is likely some providers will need to increase urgent care charges.”

Dr Chambers said any fee increases reflected the genuine cost of delivering healthcare rather than an attempt to increase profits.

“General practices are doing everything they can to keep healthcare affordable and accessible. Where fees do increase, it will be because practices have little alternative if they are to continue providing high-quality care for their communities.”

GenPro members own and operate general practices and urgent care centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information visit www.genpro.org.nz

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First Responders – Driver rescued from floodwaters

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s Specialist Water Rescue Teams have rescued a person from a vehicle trapped in floodwaters near Mt Lyford this morning, supported by members of the Waiau Volunteer Fire Brigade.
The incident was reported shortly after 3am and the occupant of the vehicle was rescued about 7am.
The Specialist Water Rescue Team members are now responding to an incident on the Inland Kaikoura Road, where two vehicles were reported to have crashed about 6.40am.
The two specialist teams are firefighters from Canterbury who are trained in water response. They were pre-deployed to Kaikoura yesterday afternoon in anticipation of the forecast heavy rainfall. They will be working in support of the volunteer firefighters from Kaikoura and surrounding brigades.
Fire and Emergency asks people to prioritise their safety and stay off roads that are affected by flooding or slips. Driving through flood waters is dangerous and puts lives at risk – not just for the driver and passengers, but for the first responders who are called to rescue them.
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ASB backs Kiwi sport through new NZOC and Athletics New Zealand partnerships

Source: ASB
 
ASB is teaming up with the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and Athletics New Zealand to help more Kiwi participate in sport, supporting their progress and performance from grassroots programmes to the world stage.
 
ASB has signed partnerships with the NZOC and Athletics New Zealand for seven and five years respectively, with funding to cover direct support for the New Zealand Team to pinnacle events and a school education programme for NZOC, and two major youth development programmes for Athletics New Zealand.
 
ASB Executive General Manager Business Banking Ben Speedy says sport has a powerful way of bringing New Zealanders together, whether cheering on tamariki from the sidelines or watching our best athletes take on the world.  
 
“ASB’s NZOC partnership will support our top athletes as they compete internationally and inspire the next generation, while the Athletics NZ partnership will help grow nationwide programmes for kids across all ages that build movement skills and confidence. We look forward to bringing these partnerships to life and encouraging more Kiwi to get active.”
 
With the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games only weeks away, Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Olympic Committee Nicki Nicol said she is proud to welcome ASB to the NZOC’s Premium Partner whānau. The long-term commitment from ASB will see this support for the New Zealand Team athletes extend beyond the LA28 Olympic Summer Games through to the ‘home Games’ in Brisbane 2032.
 
“The New Zealand Team has a unique ability to bring New Zealanders together through moments of pride, ambition and achievement. Working alongside ASB creates opportunities to extend that impact beyond the field of play and into communities across the country,” said Nicol. A key focus of the partnership will be ASB’s support of the NZOC Olympic Education Programme and give students the opportunity to hear directly from New Zealand Team athletes about goal setting, preparation and perseverance.
 
Cam Mitchell, Chief Executive of Athletics New Zealand, says ASB’s support comes at a pivotal time for the sport and will help Athletics NZ reach more tamariki and rangatahi across the country.
 
“There’s huge momentum behind our sport, and ASB’s support of our ASB Get Set Go, and ASB Run Jump Throw programmes will help get even more Kiwi kids involved with athletics. We’re supporting them to develop fundamental movement skills for life. It’s about turning their energy into opportunity, building confidence and giving more Kiwi the chance to give sport a go.”
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University Research – AI drives experts from online community – UoA study

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

The rise of generative AI is causing some expert contributors to leave the online communities they helped build, according to University of Auckland research.

When AI can instantly generate expert-looking answers, people who have spent years developing specialist knowledge may feel their contributions are no longer valued or recognised, says Business School researcher Dr Kenny Ching.

Analysing activity on Stack Overflow, the world's largest online community for software developers, Ching found respected, high-reputation users started withdrawing from the platform at accelerated rates in 2022, when generative AI tools became more widely available.

“As AI-generated content becomes more common, people might feel their expertise and effort no longer stand out or are valued. Some stop contributing altogether.”

Worryingly, says Ching, the people most likely to withdraw are often knowledgeable and capable contributors.

“They aren't leaving because they can't compete with the technology; they’re leaving because their hard-earned expertise is no longer distinct from a chatbot’s answer.”

Ching says although his research focuses on Stack Overflow, similar scenarios are likely playing out in other areas.

“This isn't just about coding platforms. I argue this exact same dynamic is discouraging genuine effort in classrooms, corporate workplaces, and scientific communities. The long-term risk is that by crushing the incentive to show genuine effort, AI might actually truncate the formation of future human expertise.”

Created in 2008, Stack Overflow is a question-and-answer site mainly for computer programmers. People can vote questions and answers up or down, similar to Reddit.

Users of the website, which has around 23 million registered accounts, can earn reputation points for well-informed answers and valued contributions.

For example, a person with 10,000 reputation points has provided answers that the developer community repeatedly judged to be accurate, helpful, and well-explained.

Ching analysed 24,304 contributors over 17 months.

He found that following 2022, which saw the widespread availability of generative AI tools, including the launch of ChatGPT, the rate at which higher-reputation users left the platform sped up over time – steadily closing the gap with less established contributors, who tended to leave first, but whose departures didn’t speed up in the same way.

AI, says Ching, can make expert and non-expert contributions look increasingly similar, reducing the visibility and value of genuine expertise.

He calls this ‘signal compression’.

“On Stack Overflow, the withdrawal of genuine contributors is real, measurable, and accelerating, and the most affected are often those whose authentic expertise is most valuable and hardest to replace.

“If everybody can create a good quality response or output using AI, some people may think, 'Why should I make an effort to share my expertise and participate?’”

His study argues that people with ‘high ability,’ who have typically invested most in their knowledge, face the sharpest devaluation of that investment as a result of AI, and they eventually stop participating and leave the platform.

Read Dr Kenny Ching’s working paper, When Effort Stops Signalling: AI, Signal Compression, and the Withdrawal of Authentic Performance.
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Politics – Greenpeace says Greens’ policy announcement a win for fresh water and oceans, but Labour must follow

Source: Greenpeace
Greenpeace Aotearoa is welcoming the announcement from the Green Party that, if elected, they will phase out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, reduce the size of the dairy herd and lower the legal limit for nitrate contamination.
However, Greenpeace Freshwater Campaigner Will Appelbe warns that this is not the end of the road for water protections.
“We welcome the announcement from the Greens that they will implement common-sense bottom lines for freshwater management and tackle the source of the pollution – the intensive dairy industry. But more needs to be done,” says Appelbe.
“Places like Canterbury and Southland are experiencing a nitrate crisis. Rural drinking water is being poisoned by fertiliser runoff and cow urine. And we need action now.
“The dairy boom in those regions occurred over a relatively short space of time. We know we can change land use practices quickly, which those communities dealing with nitrate contamination desperately need.”
Greenpeace is also welcoming commitments to protect more of the ocean surrounding Aotearoa, including phasing out destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling on seamounts.
Oceans campaigner Ellie Hooper says: “Protecting vulnerable habitats from bottom trawling is urgent,so it’s good to see it recognised in the Greens’ policy. We would like to see a timeline for this as it’s imperative bottom trawling is banned on seamounts by the end of 2027. Every year of delay is just furthering ocean depletion.”
Greenpeace is calling on the Labour Party to adopt the policies.
Appelbe says, “It’s time for Hipkins to copy the Greens’ homework, and take action to stop dairy pollution. There is no time to lose, and peoples’ lives depend on it.”
Nitrate contamination in drinking water has been linked to several health risks, including bowel cancer and preterm birth. A 2022 study revealed that up to 100 cases of bowel cancer and 40 deaths every year could be caused by exposure to nitrate contamination in drinking water.
Hooper says, “New Zealand has fallen far behind other parts of the world when it comes to looking after the diverse ocean that surrounds us. We are hopeful that strong policy to protect it from destructive fishing techniques will give the ocean we all love a real shot at recovery. “
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ChildFund and rugby – a global partnership targeting 500,000 children

Source: ChildFund New Zealand

ChildFund is proud to be the global social impact partner for World Rugby, via its partner, ChildFund Rugby. This gives ChildFund designated rights across Rugby World Cup 2027 and Rugby World Cup 2029.
“ChildFund donors across New Zealand, and our staff in New Zealand and the Pacific were thrilled to see the ChildFund brand at the All Blacks game on Saturday” says CEO of ChildFund New Zealand, Josie Pagani.
“This is a multi-year partnership that uses the values embedded in rugby to promote leadership and career pathways for children in some of the poorest communities across the globe,” says Josie Pagani.
ChildFund Rugby is led by ChildFund Australia on behalf of the ChildFund Alliance; a global network of ten organisations, including New Zealand, that reaches about 36 million children in more than 60 countries.
It works across major tournaments and through local Rugby Unions and clubs around the world, to translate rugby values into life-changing outcomes for children and young people in vulnerable communities.
This programme aims to reach and empower 500,000 young people worldwide by 2030.
“Values like integrity, passion, teamwork, discipline and respect define the game and are also the qualities of leadership in any area of life.
“Through rugby-based programmes, like Pass it Back, and Grassroots to Global, children and teenagers across the world and in our own region of the Pacific, learn essential life skills, like decision-making, and how to manage emotions. Their confidence grows, and they are supported to access education and employment,” says Josie Pagani.
Ambassadors from around the world support the initiative – from DJ Forbes, Rikki Swannell, and Mere Baker in New Zealand to USA superstar Ilona Maher.
“It’s not just about the game – it’s about confidence, courage, and trying new things”, said DJ Forbes.
“Evidence shows that this not only improves schoolwork but also sets these kids up for life in the workforce, even leadership roles in community or business.”
Grassroot to Global also expanded the number of young women in community coaching as part of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025’s goal of reducing the gender gap in rugby.
“This is just one of the ways ChildFund works across sectors, with businesses, sporting institutions and governments, to give children the best opportunities in life, no matter where they are born,” says Josie Pagani.
Find out more:
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Politics – Federated Farmers says Greens freshwater plan is bad policy and bad science

Source: Federated Farmers

The Green Party is putting politics ahead of practicality and science with its freshwater policy, Federated Farmers freshwater spokesperson Mark Hooper says.
“The Greens’ plan to phase out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser would significantly hike the cost of food for Kiwi families.
“It’s a completely mad idea.
“It’s estimated global food production would fall by about 50% without modern fertilisers. With over 60% of New Zealand's exports coming from agriculture, taking fertiliser off farmers would be economic suicide,” Hooper says.
Multiple surveys show the cost of living is the number one issue for New Zealanders, and if our farmers and growers can’t use synthetic fertilisers to grow grass for livestock, and vegetables for human consumption, higher food prices in supermarkets are inevitable.
“In a 2024 study, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research found that putting the squeeze on farmers’ use of nitrogen via proposed tougher regulation could send the price of broccoli as high as $9 a head.
“The Greens are putting ideology ahead of common sense with this kind of daft idea,” Hooper says.
Another plank of party’s policy announced today, based off its own interpretation of overseas research, is a call for lowering nitrate limits for drinking water.
“This is a steal from the Greenpeace playbook and is counter to advice from the Ministry of Health, Bowel Cancer NZ and the World Health Organisation.
“Federated Farmers has said time and again that when it comes to what chemicals are safe, what causes cancer, what medicines are safe, decisions need to be made through science-technical processes, not political announcements.
“If the Ministry of Health changes its advice on the link between nitrates and cancer, then of course we would welcome any change in drinking water standards,” Hooper says.
“The Green Party making such an announcement without that health advice risks simply creating confusion and panic in rural communities.”
Hooper says farmers are working hard to lift water quality and further lighten their environmental footprint. In the interests of Kiwi families any new freshwater policy needs to be based off sound scientific evidence or risks simply creating economic pain and pushing up the price of food for no good reason.
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Education – Iwi-led programme reshapes the future of nursing

Source: Whitireia and WelTec

A powerful story of aspiration, identity, and community is reshaping the future of nursing in Aotearoa. At its heart is an innovative programme that shows what’s possible when learning is grounded in kaupapa Māori and shaped by iwi, for iwi.
Led by Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa and delivered in partnership with Whitireia and WelTec, the Bachelor of Nursing Māori ‘Matariki’ programme is strengthening whānau, building community capability, and redefining what success in education can look like.
Grounded in culture, connection, and manaakitanga, the programme was developed to help address the underrepresentation of Māori in nursing and to support the growth of confident, capable practitioners who remain closely connected to their communities. As the first ‘Matariki’ cohort prepares to graduate, the impact is clear – seen in the journeys of ākonga like Horowai Moeahu (Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa).
For Horowai, nursing is about honouring her whakapapa, caring for her whānau, and serving her community. A mother of four, she is now in her final year of the Bachelor of Nursing Māori ‘Matariki’. “I wasn’t even sure I had the qualifications to become a nurse,” she says. “But here I am, almost a graduate.”
Horowai’s journey began through her work with Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa, starting as a kaiawhina at a COVID-19 vaccination centre. She later supported whānau at drive-through clinics at Te Whiti Park and worked as a kaiārahi in Tamariki Ora. “I loved helping and educating whānau Māori in their health journeys and protecting them against illness,” she says. “That’s what inspired me to take this opportunity.”
Guided by Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Tapuhi, the Bachelor of Nursing Māori ‘Matariki’ combines marae-based wānanga, whānau-centred learning, and strong connections to whenua and whakapapa. The wānanga learning in Waiwhetū has been especially meaningful for Horowai.
“I didn’t stay at high school long and struggled in a classroom,” she says. “But studying on my whenua puts me at ease. If I feel overwhelmed, I can look to my awa, walk, see my maunga, or go to the marae. That helps me reset.” Clinical placements – especially in a hospital ward – have further shaped her path. “That’s when it hit me, I won’t be a student much longer. I’ll be a registered Māori nurse caring for patients.”
With graduation approaching in September, Horowai has clear goals. In the short term, she plans to gain hospital experience while continuing to give back to Te Āti Awa communities, including through Tamariki Ora. Longer term, she hopes to become a nurse practitioner and return to Taranaki. “I’d love to open a nursing-led medical centre for our Māori people, staffed by Māori nurses and doctors.”
As Horowai prepares to enter the workforce, her journey shows what’s possible when education is delivered by, with, and for Māori – connected to identity, strengthened by whānau, and driven by purpose.