MIL Email Publisher (NZ)

Source: Save the Children

Nine school children have been reunited with their families after being stranded at school for two days by the devastating flash floods in Northern Nepal, as rescue efforts continue to reach other students, Save the Children said.

The children arrived at an aid distribution point where Save the Children is working after walking from their school. Many children in the area travel long distances to their schools and were cut off in the aftermath of the massive surge of floodwater. With support from Save the Children, they were able to find their families.

At least 69 schools in flood-devastated districts in Northern Nepal have been destroyed or damaged, putting education at risk for nearly 19,000 children, Save the Children said [1].

The figures are based on an initial assessment and are likely to rise as rescue and response teams reach more areas and more information is available from affected communities [1]. Save the Children staff in Nuwakot said children in the devastated communities are holding onto the few belongings they have or searching for what they lost, including schoolbooks and uniforms.

Fears of further flooding are also causing new terror with families moving to higher ground. For many children, this is the first disaster of this scale they have experienced, and they are frightened, distressed and worried about their futures.

More than 500 people have died in Nepal in the disaster, and hundreds are still missing. Some families are camping in tents in front of their damaged homes as efforts continue to find survivors, while others are living with relatives or in community centres.

Tara Chettry, Country Director, Save the Children in Nepal said:

“Reuniting children with their families in the aftermath of a catastrophe is an urgent and immediate priority, so when disaster strikes, getting children back to school may not seem like the most urgent need. Education is vital. For children who have lost their homes, their belongings and their sense of security, a safe place to learn can be a lifeline.

“School gives children something that is desperately important after a disaster: safety, routine, stability. It can help children cope with what they have experienced, while connecting them with the support they need.

“Education cannot wait until the emergency is over – it needs to be part of the response from day one.”

Save the Children in Nepal’s emergency response team is working in the affected areas and delivering essential items, including household and cooking kits, mosquito nets and blankets to 1,000 households in the first phase of assistance.

The humanitarian and child rights organisation is coordinating with national and local authorities to establish the immediate and long-term needs of children and families and is ready to scale up its response.

Save the Children has worked in Nepal since 1976. The organisation runs programmes spanning child protection, child rights governance, education, climate change, gender equality, health and nutrition and child poverty.

Save the Children New Zealand has already committed $150,000 to the response in Nepal. New Zealanders wanting to donate to Save the Children's response in Nepal can do so through the Children's Emergency Fund.

Notes:

[1] Figures from the Education Cluster – a joint group of NGOs, UN and the Government of Nepal. The group is co-chaired by Save the Children. The 69 schools have 18,918 students enrolled (9,350 girls and 9,568 boys).

Source: Plan International

Students cut off from their families and entire communities remain isolated two days after a glacial landslide triggered devastating flash floods that hit parts of northern Nepal and the Chinese border linking Tibet, says Plan International.

More than 450 people have been confirmed dead and around 1,000 remain missing, although the full extent of the disaster is still emerging as assessments continue and search operations reach previously inaccessible areas.

More than 500 people have been rescued, but many communities remain stranded after roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure were destroyed, severely hampering rescue efforts.

Rajendra Paudel, from DEPROSC Nepal, a Plan International partner described the scene he is witnessing in Devighat Bazaar, one of the areas in Nuwakot district that has suffered extensive damage.

“There has been extensive human and physical damage across these areas. Just moments ago, a body was recovered from here and taken away. We still do not know how many people are missing. There are many people who have been affected. I have also been in contact with several affected families. They are particularly worried about students who left for school yesterday morning and those who are stranded across the Trishuli River,” he said.

Rajendra described the helicopters currently working to rescue people and cut off communities but says it has not yet been possible to reach everyone: with all concrete bridges washed away or damaged, there is no way to cross between the two sides of the Trishuli River, leaving many families and children stranded and staying in schools since the flood hit.

“The scale of destruction here is enormous…. What we are witnessing here is extremely painful. My relatives were unable to take anything out of their homes and have had to climb up the hillside on the other side to find safety. There is a deep sense of despair among everyone. People are worried about how they will rebuild their lives after this,” he said.

There are fears that a lake formed at the site where the floods occurred is rapidly rising and at risk of bursting.

“We are very concerned about the possibility of more flooding, along with the stress and trauma this disaster will have on children in particular. Our top priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of children and communities affected by this disaster,” said Plan International Nepal Acting Country Director Srijana Gurung.

“We are witnessing in real time the catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis. Climate events are becoming more intense and more frequent, and it is always the most vulnerable people who are disproportionately impacted; the people least responsible for causing climate change,” she added.

Plan International Nepal is working to support the Government’s emergency response and send urgently needed supplies to the impacted area’s including distribution of 300 shelter kits, 1,000 hygiene kits and 100 menstrual health management kits for girls and women who have lost their homes. Initial support is planned for around 1,000 affected households whilst the needs are fully assessed. Plan International Nepal is deploying two emergency response team members to support the joint assessment led by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, coordinated through the field hub established by the Catholic Relief Service.

About Plan International

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion, and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters, and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood, and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national, and global levels using our reach, experience, and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

26 August 2026

Two researchers from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and several from Cape Breton University (CBU) in Canada are co-leading a new global research network focused on Indigenous pathways for research.

The new five-year-long, funded project, is called ‘Our research futures: Indigenous pathways for research in higher education,’ and was recently awarded $499,993 CAD ($613,488 NZD) by Canada’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council through the Insight Grant programme.

The project will explore how university systems internationally are adapting to fully support Indigenous ways of knowing. The global team of ‘Our research futures’ will work to create concrete frameworks to support the success, wellbeing, and sustainability of Indigenous scholars and researchers within academic environments, and across disciplines.

Over the next five years, with multilingual work in te reo Māori, Mi’kmaw, and Nahuatl, alongside English and French, the research will support international gatherings and multimedia productions and translations, youth and digital learning resources, mentorship, and new publications.

Dr Mike Ross from Te Kawa a Māui and Associate Professor Brian Diettrich from New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī will lead the project on behalf of Te Herenga Waka.

“I’m excited about learning from and working with other Indigenous peoples to build stronger and more resilient pathways for Māori researchers. Kāpuia te kākaho—our unity is our strength,” says Dr Mike Ross.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori and Kaitiakitanga) Professor Rawinia Higgins from Te Herenga Waka is proud to celebrate this collaboration between Indigenous researchers. “It is wonderful to see this joint research project emerge, the fruit of connection over the past few years. We look forward to working together to create a pipeline encouraging new Indigenous voices to join us and add to Indigenous-led research.”

The partnership connects researchers across Canada, Mexico, and Aotearoa, guided by a team of Indigenous leaders and allies. As well as Dr Ross and Associate Professor Diettrich, the Wellington team includes Canada’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, His excellency Keith Smith, who brings expertise in international diplomacy and Indigenous rights frameworks.

The Canadian team based in CBU is led by Professor Marcia Ostashweski, Director of the Centre for Sound Communities and Professor of Ethnomusicology, Laurianne Sylvester, Dean of Unama’ki College, and Starr Paul, Assistant Professor of Mi’kmaq Studies. Each of these academics has spent time at Te Herenga Waka and in Wellington over the past few years.

This partnership builds on the 2025 memorandum of understanding between Te Herenga Waka and CBU.

Associate Professor Brian Diettrich says, “This project centres responsibility to researchers, their stories and experiences, as key to reshaping the academic sector for the the future.

“This Canadian partnership offers a new pathway for funding for New Zealand scholars, including in the humanities and social sciences.”

Professor Sally McArthur, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) of Te Herenga Waka congratulates the team, and says, “I look forward very much to see the fruits of this collaboration. It is fantastic to see countries working together on getting funding and creating such valuable resources together.”

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

More than 1200 home support workers are being left to worry about their jobs and their futures after Health New Zealand's decision to cut contracts held by Visionwest, Lifewise and Presbyterian Support Northern in Auckland.

The PSA is calling on Health New Zealand to transfer their jobs to the new providers on the same terms and conditions.

“Health New Zealand must guarantee that every one of these workers, both frontline carers and the nurses and coordinators who support them, transfers to whoever takes over these contracts, on the same pay, terms and conditions,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, PSA National Secretary. “We will not hesitate to take legal action to ensure that this occurs.

“Right now these workers are extremely worried about their futures and Health New Zealand owes them an explanation and reassurance.”

The group which lost the contracts is made up of not-for-profit providers Visionwest, Lifewise and Presbyterian Support Northern. They recently made a collective bid for Health New Zealand contracts to continue providing home and community support services across Auckland, Counties Manukau and Waitematā.

The organisations have each been providing home-based services to people who live alone, and currently support about 4500 older and disabled people in the region to live in their own homes.

“These workers have built special, trusted relationships with the older and disabled people they support, often over many years. Taking that away puts continuity of care, and the wellbeing of thousands of vulnerable New Zealanders, directly at risk.

“Health NZ says continuity of care is its priority. If that's true, protecting the workforce that provides it is critical. The PSA calls on Health NZ to do the right thing by workers and the people they care for and comply with the clear provisions of Part 6A of the Employment Relations Act. We will not shy away from taking legal action to protect the interests of workers.”

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.

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand Te Pūtea Matua

28 August 2026

Please find details below of upcoming Reserve Bank of New Zealand speaking engagements.

KangaNews New Zealand Debt Capital Market Summit 2026

9 September 2026

Assistant Governor Money Karen Silk will deliver a keynote address at the KangaNews New Zealand Debt Capital Market Summit in Auckland. The speech will explore the growing role of the repo market in supporting liquidity, monetary policy implementation, and resilient capital markets.

The speech will be published on our website at 11.40am on 9 September 2026.

For more information about the event, see: 2026 New Zealand Debt Capital Market Summit

International Operational Risk Working Group (IORWG) Conference

17 September 2026

Chief Risk Officer Greg Nesbitt will speak on a panel about strategic risk and operational risk interdependency at the 20th Annual International Operational Risk Working Group (IORWG) Conference.

The panel will discuss how strategic risk is defined within their central banks and how it is integrated into their frameworks, how operational risks can become strategic threats, how risk functions can support better strategic decisions with strong governance, and how strategic decisions need to consider operational risk implications.

No speaking notes will be published.

For more information about IORWG, see: International Operational Risk Working Group

Institute of Financial Professionals New Zealand – The Future of Banking

17 September 2026

Angus McGregor, Assistant Governor Financial Stability, will deliver an evening speech on insights and observations from the Future of Banking study carried out by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

This will include trends and forces shaping the future of banking, and a range of plausible scenarios for how the sector could develop and what it might look like over the coming decade. The speech will explore the opportunities, challenges and risks these changes may create for the sector, consumers, policymakers, and the wider financial system.

The full study and a summary will be published on our website at 12pm on 17 September 2026. The speech will be published on our website at 8am on 18 September 2026.

For more details about the event, see: All Our Events | Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand Inc (INFINZ)

Speaking engagements recap

• A list of RBNZ speaking engagements undertaken in August 2026 is available through the Reserve Bank's speaking and engagement programme.

More information

• This list of speaking engagements may be updated. For an up-to-date list, please refer to: Reserve Bank speaking and engagement programme
• A list of September 2026 post-MPS media and speaking engagements will be published separately on our website on 31 August 2026.

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Moana’s volunteer firefighters and supporters will be in celebration mode when their upgraded fire station is officially opened tomorrow (29 August).

The upgrades provide the brigade with improved facilities in a seismically sound building that also accommodates both their fire truck and tanker for the first time.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has invested approximately $1.8m in the upgrade and associated work.

The station required seismic strengthening and it was too small to house both fire truck and tanker, so the tanker was in a temporary tent- type covered area beside the station.

Assistant District Commander Atila de Oliveira says it is important for the brigade to have a resilient and fit-for-purpose facility to operate from.

“This is a beautiful part of the country that also reckons with multiple natural hazards because of our geography and climate,” Atila de Oliveira says.

“The Moana brigade is better equipped to serve the Lake Brunner community as a result of the station upgrade.”

Key components of the upgrade include:

• Rebuilt appliance bays that will house both the fire truck and tanker
• Improved facilities including upgraded personal protection equipment (PPE) storage, and ablutions
• Electrical, data and fire alarm upgrades
• Structural strengthening to improve resilience
• Fallback emergency generator

The 20 members of the brigade respond to an average of 54 incidents a year, including fires, road traffic incidents, medical emergencies and weather events. They are a Medical Co-Response brigade, supporting Hato Hone St John.

The station was built shortly after the brigade was established in 1974, with a small extension added in 2007.

The Moana township has a permanent population of around 100 residents, but swells to an estimated 3000 people during the summer.

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2026

Retail crime costs New Zealand retailers billions of dollars a year, but one homegrown company has become a worldwide force in fighting it.

More than a decade ago, Auror was an early-stage venture competing in the University of Auckland’s entrepreneurship contest, the Velocity $100K Challenge. Its second-place finish gave co-founders Phil Thomson, James Corbett and Tom Batterbury money to keep building their idea and, Thomson says, the confidence to pursue it.

Now Thomson is donating $30,000 to the University’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), with $10,000 gifted each year for the next three years, to help emerging entrepreneurs take their ideas further.

“Fifteen years ago, we won second place in Velocity, and that prize money is what let us keep building for another year, and it's genuinely part of why Auror exists today,” says Thomson.

“Beyond the money, it gave us the confidence to quit our jobs and go all in on the idea. That kind of early belief is rare, and it's easy to forget how much it matters once you're years down the track.

“This donation isn't really about looking back, though. It's about the founders coming up right now who are exactly where we were: full of conviction, short on proof points, and needing someone to bet on them anyway.

“CIE has spent two decades doing exactly that for Kiwi companies, and donating $30,000 is a way of giving back and keeping that door open for the next generation of founders who will continue to build the future of New Zealand.”

CIE supports University of Auckland alumni, students and staff to develop entrepreneurial skills, test ideas and turn promising concepts into ventures with real-world impact.

Thomson’s contribution will help give more emerging entrepreneurs access to that early-stage support. CIE director Darsel Keane says, “Supporting founders at this stage matters because it helps turn good ideas into real ventures.”

Since its early days at CIE, Auror grown into a major retail crime intelligence company, using technology to connect reports of retail crime and identify patterns, repeat offenders and organised crime, while helping retailers collaborate with law enforcement. Its customers have included Walmart, Woolworths and Coles.