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Northland News – Oxygen weed officially eradicated from Lake Ngatu

Source: Northland Regional Council


Lagarosiphon or South African oxygen weed has officially been declared eradicated from the Far North’s Lake Ngatu five years after the entire lake was treated with herbicide to control it.
Northland Regional Council CEO Jonathan Gibbard says the weed – introduced to New Zealand as an aquarium plant – moved into the wild in about 1950 and has subsequently become a problem in water bodies throughout the country. It was first found in 56-hectare Lake Ngatu, north-west of Awanui, in 1988.
“Attempts were made to control the weed using a suction method and hand picking, but this didn’t work.”
He says if left unchecked, lagarosiphon could have filled up the lake water column and had a detrimental effect on not only the lake ecology and water quality, but on the recreational values of the lake, which is very popular for swimming and waka ama.
In 2019 the council had started working with project partners NgāiTakoto, Bushlands Trust and the Department of Conservation, as part of the Freshwater Improvement Fund Dune Lake Project, co-funded by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) to find a new solution.
After a public meeting with lake users, it was agreed to try the herbicide Aquathol K, a specific herbicide that is safe once in the water and very effective against lagarosiphon.
“A successful application to the Environmental Protection Agency, which manages the rules for use of herbicides, was made to undertake a full lake treatment rather than the quarter lake treatments normally required, bypassing the need for multiple and very costly treatments.”
In September 2020, the herbicide was applied to the whole lake using an airboat, the $270,000 cost jointly covered by MfE and the council.
Mr Gibbard says within weeks the lagarosiphon beds had died down and were being replaced by healthy native plants.
The council had surveyed the lake every year since 2020 to search for lagarosiphon to ensure all plants were killed by the herbicide in 2020.
“No lagarosiphon has been seen since 2020 and NRC is now able to declare with confidence that lagarosiphon has been eradicated from Lake Ngatu.”
NgāiTakoto spokesperson Kaio Hooper says the lagarosiphon-free outcome is a testament to the past mahi and partnerships formed towards the enhancement and preservation of the taonga that is Lake Ngatu.
“It has been a long journey for our whānau to reinstate our obligations as kaitiaki of this lake.”
“Over the years, significant mahi has been carried out, such as removing and controlling wilding pines, restricting power boats, undertaking pest plant control, upgrading lake drainage, installing physical barriers and signage, and planting thousands of locally sourced native trees.”
Mr Hooper says at the time the programme was introduced, NgāiTakoto understood that it was a new control method “and many of our whānau had questions and reservations”.
However, through working alongside NRC throughout this process; including testing, collaborating with experts, sharing knowledge, and being part of both the planning and implementation, we gained confidence in this approach and strengthened our team’s capacity as a result.”
He says NgāiTakoto are grateful and energised by the lagarosiphon-free outcome. “It sets a precedent for the importance and significance of these lakes and reinforces the continued mahi that is still required, especially as we face future challenges from developments, subdivisions, land use practices, and climate change.”
Meanwhile, Mr Gibbard says despite the weed’s eradication, lake users must remain vigilant, as pest plants, fish and now invasive freshwater clams, could all reach Lake Ngatu, or any lake, if gear being used at other waterbodies is not checked, cleaned and dried between each waterway.
“Pests like these would ruin a treasured lake like Ngatu if introduced and not controlled.”
He says in the case of the pest freshwater clam, it has never been eradicated from a lake it has infested, so anyone visiting the Waikato must be certain they do not bring it back to Northland.
More information about lagarosiphon/oxygen weed and how to control it is available at: www.nrc.govt.nz/pestcontrolhub
More information about gold clam is also available at: www.nrc.govt.nz/pestcontrolhub
You can learn more about the council’s lakes projects at: www.nrc.govt.nz/environment/water/lakes/dune-lakes-project
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Activist Protest – "Police Arresting and Using Violence Against Aerospace Blockaders at Te Pae Convention Centre" – Peace Action Ōtautahi

Source: Peace Action Ōtautahi

Police in Ōtautahi/Christchurch have arrested dozens of peace activists taking part in a large-scale blockade of the National Aerospace Conference at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre. The protest, organised by Peace Action Ōtautahi, began early this morning as they positioned themselves at every entrance to Te Pae to disrupt access to the conference.

Police have been using violence and force to remove activists, with reports of one peaceful activist being dragged away by the neck and another punched in the back of the head by a police officer. 

One of the activists stated, “I moved in towards the convention centre to try and block an entrance, but an officer grabbed me and he started kicking me repeatedly to push me back. He also knocked my glasses off.” 

They added that the situation quickly escalated: “I was then thrown backwards by a cop over a barrier between the convention centre into a garden where I saw another person lying face down while a cop had one of their arms pinned behind them and kneeling on them. Another peaceful activist was grabbed by their keffiyeh which was wrapped around their neck, and was slammed into the ground by an officer.” 
A police drone has also been deployed to monitor the protest from above.

Peace Action Ōtautahi spokesperson Joseph Bray stated: “This violent response from the police mirrors the very violence inherent in the aerospace industry itself. The aerospace industry is an industry built on militarisation, harm, and destruction.” 

Another member of Peace Action Ōtautahi, Maya Gray, stated: “The same companies represented at this conference profit from the manufacture of weapons and surveillance technologies used in military operations around the world including in Palestine, where these tools of war are contributing to the ongoing genocide.”

Despite the arrests, morale among the activists remains high. 100+ activists continue to chant and sing, maintaining a peaceful presence. This action continues to draw attention to the growing militarisation of Aotearoa New Zealand’s aerospace industry.

Who: 100+ activists are blockading. Organised by Peace Action Ōtautahi

When: Now

Where: Te Pae Convention Centre, ChCh.

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Property Values – New rating valuations for Upper Hutt City

Source: Quotable Value

8 October 2025 – Upper Hutt City property owners will soon receive a Notice of Rating Valuation in the post with an updated rating value for their property.
The new rating valuations have been prepared for 18,474 properties on behalf of Upper Hutt City Council by Quotable Value (QV). They show the total rateable value for the district is now $16,677,365,250 with the land value of those properties now valued at $8,484,337,050 .
Rating valuations are usually carried out on all New Zealand properties every three years to help local councils set rates for the following three-year period. They reflect the likely selling price of a property (not including chattels) at the effective revaluation date, which was 1 June 2025.
On average, the value of residential housing in Upper Hutt city has decreased 9.3% since the previous revaluation effective revaluation date of 1 July 2022. The average home value is now $776,000, while the corresponding average land value has decreased 18.2% to $438,000.
QV Senior Consultant and Registered Valuer Jack Whiteman said rating valuations are like a snapshot of the market at a point in time. “When the previous rating valuations were set in July 2022, the local property market was coming off a period of exceptional post-pandemic growth.”
“In response to that rapid escalation and rising inflation, the Reserve Bank substantially lifted the official cash rate (OCR) to rein in spending and bring inflation under control. The resulting spike in interest rates sharply reduced borrowing power and dampened buyer demand,” he said.
“Since then, the higher prices and tighter lending conditions made it more difficult for first-home buyers to enter the market, while decreasing values and reduced yields curbed investor activity. The Wellington market – Upper Hutt included – experienced some of the strongest value growth in the country during the boom and has since undergone one of the sharpest corrections.”
“Fast forward to June 2025, the market in Upper Hutt has been relatively subdued. While the OCR has recently seen a few cuts and interest rates are trending down again, other significant economic headwinds continue to deter growth. Job insecurity, cost-of-living pressures, and widespread public-sector cuts have led to rising unemployment and an outflow of people from the region, weighing heavily on household confidence. Combined with ongoing global uncertainty and weaker buyer sentiment, what was a sellers’ market in early 2022 has clearly shifted to a buyers’ market in 2025.”
He said housing that was newer or of higher quality had retained its value slightly better – though all suburbs saw the average capital value (CV) drop between 6.8% and 18.5% over the past three years.
“Upper Hutt has experienced a fairly homogenous decrease in value across all suburbs compared to where things sat three years ago. Since our last revaluation in 2022, there has been a notable increase in supply particularly of older or entry level stock. Similar to other areas of the Wellington region, newer or modernised stock tends to be holding up well compared to older housing stock,” Mr Whiteman added.
Meanwhile, many of the same economic factors such as cost of living and public sector job cuts have also impacted the commercial sector.
QV Wellington manager and Registered Valuer Hoa Quan said, “Commercial property values have decreased by 4.5%, and while property values in the industrial sector have increased by 9.7% since the city’s last rating valuation in 2022.”
“The industrial sector is benefiting from low vacancy level within the Wellington region. Commercial land values have decreased by 13%. While industrial land values have increased by 13.5%.
Mr Quan said the industrial market has compared relatively better to commercial on a national scale for some time now – a trend that has continued in Upper Hutt City.
Since 2022, the average capital value of a lifestyle property has decreased by 16.5% to $1,185,000, while the corresponding land value for a lifestyle property decreased by 20.1% to $600,000.
“Lifestyle property makes up a modest part of the Upper Hutt City market, with 1219 lifestyle properties. This sector of the market has followed a similar trend as the residential with prices easing back from the peak of 2021/2022 market. The sales numbers in 2025 have reduced significantly since 2023/2024”
Mr Quan said there were limited true rural properties in the city with less than 70 properties in total. Of these, forestry properties had performed relativity better overall, down only 16% in three years.
The effective rating revaluation date of 1 June 2025 has now passed and any changes in the market since then will not be included in the new rating valuations. In many cases, this means a sale price achieved in the market today may be different to the new rating valuation set as at 1 June 2025.
The updated rating valuations are independently audited by the Office of the Valuer General and need to meet rigorous quality standards before the new rating valuations are certified. They are not designed to be used as market valuations for raising finance with banks or as insurance valuations.
New rating values will be posted to property owners after 15 October 2025. If owners do not agree with their rating valuation, they have a right to object through the objection process by 21 November 2025. If you’d like more information on rating valuations head to www.qv.co.nz/about/about-rating-valuations/# or about how to object to your new rating valuation go to www.qv.co.nz/services/rating-valuations/object-rating/.
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Animal Welfare – Government pushes cruel pig-caging Bill through its first reading – defying public will – SAFE

Source: SAFE For Animals

SAFE says the Government is dismantling decades of animal-welfare progress by changing the law to continue the use of intensive cages for pigs indefinitely.
The Animal Welfare (Regulations for Management of Pigs) Amendment Bill, passed through its first reading yesterday, would amend the Animal Welfare Act 1999 to explicitly permit the ongoing use of farrowing crates and mating stalls – despite a High Court ruling in 2020 that found these systems unlawful. The Primary Production Committee is expected to report back to the House on 9 February 2026.
Farrowing crates and mating stalls are metal cages that severely restrict movement. The High Court found these systems unlawful because they deny pigs the opportunity to express normal behaviours as required under the Animal Welfare Act.
“This Bill is an assault on both compassion and democracy,” says SAFE CEO Debra Ashton.
“Every mother pig deserves the simple dignity of turning to see her piglets, to build a nest, and to rest in comfort. This Bill denies them even that – cementing cruelty into law with no end in sight.”
Animal Welfare Minister Andrew Hoggard has defended the Bill as “science-based policy” that “strengthens animal welfare” and reflects “compassion and practicality.”
SAFE says those claims betray the responsibility of a Minister tasked with overseeing animal welfare. The organisation also notes that the Bill was developed without genuine consultation and appears designed to bypass judicial scrutiny by rewriting the Act itself – a move that undermines the rule of law and the integrity of legislative processes.
“When governments change the law to make cruelty legal, every safeguard for animals is at risk,” says Ashton.
“This Bill tells farmers that the law will bend to protect industry, not animals – and that’s a dangerous precedent.”
Polling released by SAFE this week shows that three quarters of New Zealanders oppose farrowing crates.
The nationally representative research, conducted by Verian in September 2025, also found that 90 percent of people believe the Government has a duty to ensure welfare rules comply with the Animal Welfare Act.
“The public has spoken with overwhelming clarity,” says Ashton.
“Andrew Hoggard is parroting industry talking points and has no public mandate for these changes.”
SAFE has joined SPCA, the New Zealand Animal Law Association and other major animal organisations in signing an open letter published in The Post this week. The letter calls on Parliament to restore New Zealand’s 2015 commitment to phasing out farming systems that breach the Animal Welfare Act, rather than entrenching them through legislation.
“It’s not too late to change course,” says Ashton.
“For mother pigs, this Bill means a lifetime of confinement and misery. They deserve better, and so does every New Zealander who believes in fairness and compassion.” 
SAFE is Aotearoa’s leading animal rights organisation.
We're creating a future that ensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core work empowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves, animals and our planet.
Notes:
  • A nationally representative survey conducted by Verian in September 2025 is attached. Results are post-weighted to be representative of the New Zealand population by region, age-by-gender, and ethnicity.
  • Farrowing crates and mating stalls are metal enclosures that prevent mother pigs from turning around, nesting, or caring for their piglets, depriving them of the ability to display normal behaviours required under the Animal Welfare Act.
  • In 2020, the High Court ruled in favour of NZALA and SAFE, declaring that the minimum standards and regulations permitting farrowing crates and mating stalls were invalid and unlawful. The Labour-led government at the time initiated a five-year phase out, due to end in December 2025.
  • In 2022, MPI and the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee consulted on two options: (1) ending the use of farrowing crates or (2) significantly restricting their use.
  • The 2025 amendments would instead permit seven days of confinement in farrowing crates (three days before birth and four days after), continuing use of mating stalls (up to three hours at a time, up to three times per oestrus cycle), increasing space for grower pigs (reported at 13.3 percent), and embedding these practices into the Animal Welfare Act such that they are deemed always valid, limiting judicial challenge.
  • An open letter published in The Post on 7 October 2025 was jointly signed by SAFE, SPCA, HUHA, World Animal Protection, New Zealand Animal Law Association, Compassion in World Farming, Euro Group for Animals, VAWA, Animals Aotearoa, and Australian Alliance for Animals. The letter warns that this Bill will entrench outdated and unlawful practices, undermine judicial oversight, and erode New Zealand’s reputation for animal welfare leadership.
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Transport – Investment Boost not enticing enough for truckies

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Transporting New Zealand says the government’s headline policy announcement in the May budget, Investment Boost, has seen a modest lift in heavy commercial vehicle sales, but that further incentives are required to get more productive and efficient trucks on the road.
Investment Boost is a tax incentive designed to encourage businesses to invest in productive assets like machinery, tools and equipment. It enables businesses to deduct 20 percent of a new asset’s value from that year’s taxable income, on top of normal depreciation, which reduces tax liability and so increases cashflow and in turn productivity.
A business survey conducted by Talbot Mills Research for Kiwibank in late June had 37 percent of businesses saying the Investment Boost will encourage new investment. A concurrent poll conducted by Dynata for MYOB of small and medium enterprises found that half intended to make an asset purchase in the next six months, with 31 percent planning to buy a light vehicle (car, ute or van).
But when it comes to heavy commercial vehicles, there’s only been a modest upswing in sales since the May announcement, with September sales of 402 units the second-highest for the year, but down on the same months in 2024 and 2023, while overall new truck sales are down 31% this year compared to the same period in 2024.
Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih says that while it is too early to fully assess the impact of Investment Boost, tough economic conditions for road freight companies may require additional investment incentives, including full capital expensing for high-productivity and low emission heavy vehicles.
“Given the high cost of new heavy vehicles, and the long lead times for delivery, bringing forward purchase decisions is not easy,” Kalasih says.
An Ipsos survey of heavy vehicle fleet operators in July 2024 identified that new truck purchase decisions are triggered by the need to replace a truck, and tend to be made 12-24 months before the anticipated replacement time.
“Crucially though, the current state of the economy and lower freight volumes means businesses don’t have the confidence to add or replace vehicles sooner. The 20 percent Investment Boost asset value deduction simply may not be enough of a sweetener to accelerate investment in new trucks, until the economy picks up.”
“Transporting New Zealand is calling for full capital expensing of high productivity and low emission heavy vehicles – rather than Investment Boost’s 20 percent of the new asset’s value.”
Full capital expensing would enable operators to deduct around $800,000 from their taxable income for the purchase of one zero-emissions large 3-axle truck, or around $400,000 in the case of a diesel-powered high-productivity model, compared to $160,000 or $80,000 under Investment Boost.
“This would see newer, more efficient trucks delivering goods more cheaply, in fewer trips, and reducing fuel use and emissions. This will deliver savings for all businesses and consumers, and help achieve the growth and productivity gains the economy needs,” Kalasih added.
About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country.
Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4,700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion. 
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Health – ProCare to Lead National Nurse Practitioner Training Programme

Source: ProCare

ProCare is proud to announce its appointment as the lead provider in a newly formed consortium of primary healthcare organisations delivering the Nurse Practitioner Training Support Scheme (NPTSS) across Aotearoa over the next three years.

The NPTSS is a nationally consistent, regionally responsive initiative designed to support 180 registered nurses each year through the final practicum year of their Master of Nursing qualification, helping them transition into their new scope of practice as Nurse Practitioners (Mātanga Tapuhi).

ProCare is joined in the consortium by Mahitahi Hauora, Pegasus, Pinnacle, Tū Ora Compass Health, and WellSouth to leverage collective capability and scale across New Zealand.

Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare, says: “For primary care to be sustainable and successful in the future, New Zealand needs to take an innovative approach to how we care for patients going forward. One of the key enablers is workforce, and looking at transformative models of care, using a team-based approach that takes a whole-of-patient view.

“The significant increase in NPs in primary and community care will enhance the multi-disciplinary collaborative, team-based to approach primary care. We are excited about the potential this has to help relieve pressure on the healthcare workforce and improve access to care continues Norwell.

“We recognise and acknowledge the important and critical role our GPs and existing NPs play in mentoring these trainees. We also welcome the financial support available for those contributing to training and supervision of the NPs – it’s important that their time and mahi is recognised and compensated accordingly,” she continues.

“This is another demonstrable example of how we are developing workforce in primary care. We are passionate about this (and the long-term sustainability of healthcare), and we are privileged to have already led the enablement team for CPCT. Additionally, our other workforce programmes already in execution include our NZREX community placement programme, GPEP workforce support programme, TupuToa Intern programme, and our Psychology Intern Hub,” points out Norwell.

“It is wonderful that Health New Zealand has recognised the important role that NPs can play as part of a team of primary care professionals. By investing in their development, we’re expanding capacity, strengthening continuity, and ultimately improving health outcomes,” continues Norwell.

“The NPTSS programme is a significant step forward in building a stronger, more innovative and sustainable health system – one that supports nurses to grow into advanced clinical roles while improving access to care for communities – and ProCare is delighted to be leading this important initiative,” continues Norwell.

“I am very much looking forward to working together to deliver a programme that benefits nurses, practices, and the communities they serve,” concludes Norwell.

Applications are now open for eligible nurses. For more information or to apply, visit: www.npsupport.co.nz

About ProCare:

ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi.

As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to nearly 700,000 patients across Auckland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz

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Health and Education – Primary care consortium to lead national Nurse Practitioner training programme

Source: ProCare

A newly formed consortium of six leading primary health organisations is delighted to announce it will deliver the Nurse Practitioner Training Support Scheme (NPTSS) across Aotearoa for the next three years.

The consortium – made up of Mahitahi Hauora, Pegasus, Pinnacle, ProCare, Tū Ora Compass Health, and WellSouth – will lead the implementation and rollout of the programme designed to support registered nurses through the final practicum year of their Master of Nursing qualification and into their new scope of practice as Nurse Practitioners (NPs). ProCare is the lead provider for the consortium.

Each year, 180 registered nurses will be supported through the scheme, with 120 places allocated to primary and community care, and 60 to specialist areas such as mental health and emergency departments. The programme is open to eligible nurses working in any health setting across the motu, not just those affiliated with the consortium.

The NPTSS offers a comprehensive package of support including funding, mentoring, and clinical supervision for the NP trainees.

Anna Wright, Nursing Director for the consortium says: “Nurse Practitioners (Mātanga tapuhi) have been operating in the New Zealand health system since 2001. It is wonderful to see the introduction of this new support scheme, which is about building a stronger, more sustainable health workforce.

“Nurse Practitioners are a vital part of a collaborative, team-based approach to primary care and together, we can improve access to care and deliver better outcomes for our communities. We’re committed to ensuring that Nurse Practitioners are well-prepared, well-supported, and integrated into multi-disciplinary teams. This is about expanding capacity, not shifting roles – and ultimately, it’s about improving access to care for people across Aotearoa,” says Wright.

“We recognise the critical role clinicians play in training and mentoring Nurse Practitioners. That’s why this programme includes support for clinicians who are helping to grow the next generation of advanced practitioners,” points out Wright.

“This initiative is a testament to what can be achieved when primary care organisations work together. By combining our expertise and resources, we are able to deliver a programme that benefits nurses, practices, and most importantly, the people and communities we serve,” concludes Wright.

Applications are now open for eligible nurses. For more information, eligibility criteria, or to apply, visit the NPTSS website: www.npsupport.co.nz

 

Notes
We are a consortium of six primary care organisations that are in key, strategic regions across Aotearoa – from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island – to support the Nurse Practitioner Training Support Scheme (NPTSS).

 

Collectively, we support more than 450 general practices and an enrolled population exceeding 2 million, offering unmatched scale, reach, local insight and sector expertise.

 

As a Collective, we will ensure the NPTSS is scalable, equitable, and meets the diverse needs of Nurse Practitioner trainees by leveraging our:

  • Strong nationwide relationships with hospitals, general practices, and community providers
  • Diverse networks, including high Māori, Pasifika, and rural communities
  • Extensive clinical and operational expertise for practical implementation
  • Robust coordination aligning national and regional priorities
  • Proven sector-wide collaboration and regional programme delivery
  • Established partnerships with tertiary education providers for placements and student support
  • Strong connections with hauora, Māori, and Pacific organisations for culturally responsive service delivery.

This collaborative model ensures that Nurse Practitioners will be supported not only through training but also through integration into clinical environments that understand and value their role.

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Politics – Poll shows pay equity attack will cost Government votes and possibly the Beehive – PSA

Source: PSA

A new poll has revealed strong public opposition to the Government’s cancelling of pay equity claims and gutting of the Equal Pay Act, with voters signalling they could punish the Coalition parties at the ballot box for rushing through laws that make it harder for women to get fair pay.
The Horizon Research poll, released by the PSA and NZCTU, shows a net 159,860 of the coalition parties’ 2023 voters would be likely to change their party vote to parties in opposition to the rushed scrapping of pay equity claims and the new framework that makes it harder to lodge new claims.
Based on the 2023 results, this would result in a hung parliament. A further net 50,750 voters, for parties not in parliament, are also likely to change their votes in opposition to the policy. If they all switched to current parliamentary opposition parties the government could change. Current opposition parties would have 61 seats, current governing parties’ 59 seats.
“The Government thought it could get away with cancelling pay equity claims for more than 180,000 women under the cover of darkness, but New Zealanders aren't buying it,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“This poll shows that New Zealanders see the Government actions for what they are: constitutional vandalism and wage theft, the Government has betrayed women.
“This isn't just about the left being upset – 28% of those opposed to the changes voted for Coalition parties in 2023. The Government has alienated its own supporters with this covert attack on women.”
The cancelling of claims sparked widespread protest, and outrage across the political spectrum, triggering the People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity with members being former MPs drawn from the left and right.
“Whatever way you look at it, the Government has badly miscalculated,” said Fitzsimons. “This is a sizeable voting bloc. Half of respondents agree the changes will make it harder for women to seek fair pay, and nearly half say it will disproportionately harm women in female-dominated jobs.”
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges said: “The poll shows people are fast waking up to the fact that women have paid the price for the Government making its Budget numbers add up and plug the hole left by reckless tax cuts for the wealthy.
“The majority of poll respondents – 69% – thought the public should have had the opportunity to submit on these changes. Forty percent strongly agreed. This Government has ridden roughshod over democratic process and voters' feelings, and now they're facing the consequences.
“The Government gambled that people care more about saving money for high income and landlord tax cuts than paying women what they are worth. This poll shows that gamble has backfired badly.
“Women workers deserve fair pay and to have historical pay discrimination corrected. The public knows it, the evidence shows it, and come 2026, this Government will learn that undermining women's rights comes at a political price,” said Ansell-Bridges.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
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Environment – Bottom trawling a triple threat to marine environments – new report – Greenpeace

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace is calling for urgent action to restrict bottom trawling after a new government report highlights the compounding effects this destructive fishing method has on climate change, habitat degradation and biodiversity loss.
The Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ report, Tō Tātou Taiao Moana / Our Marine Environment 2025, released today, is a recognition of the multiple threats the ocean faces and a “scathing indictment of government failure to protect the marine environment” says Greenpeace.
The report explicitly names bottom trawling, overfishing, and bycatch as major human activities that add pressure to biodiversity and ecological resilience. [1]
While the main focus is on climate change and its increasing impacts, bottom trawling is singled out for the threefold effect it has on the ocean by destroying sponges and ancient coral ecosystems, its high levels of bycatch, and resuspending carbon stored in the seabed.
Greenpeace Aotearoa Ocean’s Campaigner Juan Parada says:
“The magnitude of the climate and biodiversity crisis is unfolding in front of us right now. Year after year, reports reveal that the ocean is struggling under the weight of multiple pressures, but the government still refuses to act.
“While the causes of climate change are complex and global, bottom trawling is a local threat that could be immediately mitigated. By allowing the fishing industry to continue bulldozing crucial habitats, the government is choosing to weaken the ocean’s natural ability to store carbon, replenish biodiversity, and withstand climate shocks.
“The science is undeniable: industrial bottom trawling is directly harming the ocean's resilience just when we all need it most. It's time to rein in the nets of this destructive industry before precious marine species and vital ecosystems are lost forever.”
Trawling is the most common fishing method in New Zealand. Bottom trawling is highly destructive with trawlers targeting vulnerable seamounts where fish gather to feed and breed, killing slow growing coral and other marine life from dolphins to seabirds as “bycatch”.
Greenpeace is also concerned with the collapse of the orange roughy fishery in the Eastern South Chatham Rise, mentioned in the report, as well as the depletion of some stocks of cardinalfish, oysters, scallops and tarakihi from overfishing.
The report also lists the devastating biodiversity cost of bottom trawling, most of which would be invisible without the rollout of onboard cameras: 15 Hector’s dolphins reported killed in a single fishing year, 6704 kilograms of protected coral reported as bycatch, and 477 fur seals and sea lions, as well as 2225 seabirds reported caught across all fisheries. [2]
“The government’s own report leaves no room for doubt, with their own departments sounding the alarm. The government must take urgent, meaningful measures to mitigate the degradation of the marine environment and the simplest, most immediate way of doing so is to stop bottom trawling on seamounts “, says Parada.
“New Zealanders want more ocean protection. We will not stand by and watch industrial bottom trawling wreck the ocean for profit. The fight to protect the deep sea is also the front line in the struggle against climate change, and we are mobilising to win.
“This report is a wake up call for the health of the ocean. We call on everyone who loves the moana to join us in demanding an immediate, permanent end to bottom trawling where it causes the most harm.”
Notes
[1] Our Marine Environment 2025 |Tō Tātou Taiao Moana. Page 6
[2] Our Marine Environment 2025 |Tō Tātou Taiao Moana. Page 25
Embargoed report here:
Embargoed: Stories behind the numbers
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Education – School boards welcome new attendance report

Source: Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa (NZSTA)

Te Whakarōpūtanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa – The New Zealand School Boards Association (NZSBA) is welcoming the findings of the Education Review Office’s (ERO) new report on school attendance, describing it as a positive reflection of the care and commitment schools across Aotearoa are showing their young people.
NZSBA President Meredith Kennett says it’s encouraging to see both attendance rates returning to pre-COVID levels and a clear positive shift in how students view being at school.
“Getting attendance back to where it was before COVID is no small achievement,” Ms Kennett said.
“Schools and boards have worked incredibly hard to rebuild routines, reconnect families, and remind students that being at school every day really does matter.”
Ms Kennett said it was particularly pleasing to see how strongly students now value attendance.
“What a fantastic result that eight out of ten students now believe going to school every day is important,” she said.
“Even more encouraging is that nearly 30 percent of students say they never want to miss school. I remember maybe one or two of my own classmates feeling that way – but definitely not 30 percent.”
Ms Kennett said the improvement is a direct reflection of the care that schools and boards show their students, in ways that go well beyond the classroom.
“In some schools, that care looks like providing practical support – helping with uniforms, food or transport,” she said.
“In others, it’s about setting clear expectations and goals that motivate students to attend. But across all schools, the biggest driver is the same: students feeling connected to their school and community.”
From 2026, every school board in New Zealand will be required to have an attendance plan in place. Ms Kennett said that for newly elected boards, reviewing ERO’s findings is an ideal place to begin.
“I’d encourage all boards to start by considering the specific barriers to attendance within their own communities,” she said.
“The strength of our school boards lies in their local knowledge. They know what’s going on for their students, and while many schools face similar challenges, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.”
Ms Kennett also urged boards and principals to engage in open conversations about the report’s recommendations.
“Boards will need to be able to clearly and confidently support the message that every day matters,” she said.
“If there are aspects of the recommendations you find challenging, talk them through together. Build a shared understanding and a message that your board is comfortable standing behind.”
NZSBA commends the continued focus on attendance and the collective effort across the education sector to ensure every student in Aotearoa New Zealand feels supported to attend and engage fully in school life.