MIL Email Publisher (NZ)

Paris, 4 July 2025— Mass atrocities are underway in Sudan's North Darfur region, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warned in a report today, urging the warring parties to halt indiscriminate and ethnically targeted violence and facilitate an immediate large-scale humanitarian response. MSF is extremely concerned about the threats of a full-blown assault on the hundreds of thousands of people in the state capital of El Fasher, which would lead to further bloodshed.

As the conflict has intensified in the area since May 2024, civilians have continued to be the main victims. The report Besieged, Attacked, Starved, outlines a desperate situation for civilians in and around El Fasher that requires immediate attention and response. “People are not only caught in indiscriminate heavy fighting between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their respective allies – but also actively targeted by the RSF and its allies, notably on the basis of their ethnicity,” says Michel Olivier Lacharité, MSF head of emergencies.

Based on MSF data, direct observations and over 80 interviews conducted between May 2024 and May 2025 with patients and people who were displaced from El Fasher and nearby Zamzam camp, the report exposes systematic patterns of violence that include looting, mass killings, sexual violence, abductions, starvation and attacks against markets, health facilities and other civilian infrastructures.  

“As patients and communities tell their stories to our teams and asked us to speak out, while their suffering is hardly on the international agenda, we felt compelled to document these patterns of relentless violence that have been crushing countless lives in general indifference and inaction over the past year,” says Mathilde Simon, MSF's humanitarian affairs advisor.

Besieged, Attacked, Starved also details how the Rapid Support Forces and their allies conducted a large-scale ground offensive in April on Zamzam displacement camp, outside of El Fasher, causing an estimated 400,000 people to flee in less than three weeks in appalling conditions. A large portion of the camp population fled to El Fasher, where they remained trapped, out of reach of humanitarian aid and exposed to attacks and further mass violence. Tens of thousands more escaped to Tawila, about 60 kilometers away, and to camps across the Chadian border, where hundreds of survivors of violence received care from MSF teams.

“In light of the ethnically motivated mass atrocities committed on the Masalit in West Darfur back in June 2023, and of the massacres perpetrated in Zamzam camp in North Darfur, we fear such a scenario will be repeated in El Fasher. This onslaught of violence must stop,” says Simon.

Several witnesses report that RSF soldiers spoke of plans to 'clean El Fasher' of its non-Arab community. Since May 2024, the RSF and their allies have besieged El Fasher, Zamzam camp and other surrounding localities, cutting communities from food, water, and medical care. This has contributed to the spread of famine and debilitated the humanitarian response.

Repeated attacks on healthcare facilities forced MSF to end our medical activities in El Fasher in August 2024 and in Zamzam camp in February 2025. In May 2024 alone, health facilities supported by MSF in El Fasher endured at least seven incidents of shelling, bombing or shooting by all warring parties. Indiscriminate airstrikes conducted by the SAF had devastating consequences, as a 50-year-old woman highlights: “The SAF bombed our neighborhood by mistake, then came to apologise. SAF planes sometimes bombed civilian areas without any RSF [presence], I saw it in different places”.

The harrowing level of violence on the roads out of El Fasher and Zamzam means that many people are trapped or take life-threatening risk when fleeing. Men and boys are at high risk of killing and abduction, while women and girls are subjected to widespread sexual violence. Most witnesses also report increased risks for Zaghawa communities. “Nobody could get out [of El Fasher] if they said they were Zaghawa,” says a displaced woman. Another man tells us that RSF and its allies were “asking people if they belonged to the Zaghawa, and if they did, they would kill them.”

“They would only let mothers with small children under the age of five through,” recalls a woman about her journey fleeing to eastern Chad. “Other children and adult men didn't go through. Men over fifteen can hardly cross the border [into Chad]. They take them, they push them aside and then we only hear a noise, gunshots, indicating that they are dead, that they have been killed […] Fifty families came along with me. Not even one boy of 15 years old or above was among us.”  

The catastrophic nutritional situation continued deteriorating as the siege tightened: “[Three months ago] in Zamzam, we sometimes had 3 days a week without eating,” one man tells our teams. “Children died from malnutrition. We were eating ambaz [residue of peanuts ground for oil], like everyone, although usually it's used for animals,” says displaced woman. “Zamzam was completely blocked,” another displaced person tells us. “Water wells depend on fuel and there was no access to fuel, so all of them stopped working. Water was very limited and very expensive.”

MSF urges the warring parties to spare civilians and respect their obligations under International Humanitarian Law. The RSF and their allies must immediately stop ethnic violence perpetrated against non-Arab communities, lift the siege of El Fasher and guarantee safe routes for civilians fleeing violence. Safe unrestricted access to El Fasher and its surroundings must be granted for humanitarian agencies to provide critically needed assistance.  International actors, including UN institutions and member states, and States who provide support to the warring parties must urgently mobilise and exert pressure to prevent further mass violence and allow emergency aid delivery. The recent unilateral announcements of a possible local ceasefire have not yet been translated into concrete change on the ground, and time is running out.

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

Property values in Aotearoa New Zealand ticked up by +0.2% in June, reversing two minor monthly falls of -0.1% apiece in April and May, according to Cotality NZ’s latest hedonic Value Index (HVI).

At $815,389 in June, property values remain -16.1% down from the January 2022 peak, however they have managed to edge up by a total of +1.1% since September last year and by +0.6% in 2025 so far.

Values around the main centres were either flat in June or up slightly. Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington were stable, but there was a +0.2% rise in Ōtepoti Dunedin, +0.3% in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, and +0.6% each in Tauranga and Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Cotality NZ (formerly CoreLogic) Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said the result emphasised the current variability of the market.

“On one hand, mortgage rates have come down a long way, and that benefits borrowers whether they’re in Whangārei or Winton. But the normal upwards influence this would tend to have on sales volumes and property values is currently being dampened by other forces.”

“In particular, the abundance of listings on the market means most buyers aren’t in a rush and can be quite tough when it comes to price negotiations.”

“The subdued labour market remains an important factor, too. After all, it’s not only the direct job losses that are problematic, but a reduction in security for those who have kept their jobs will also be weighing on the property market.”

“Of course, problems for some are opportunities for others, and a soft market is providing plenty of scope for first home buyers.”

“Mortgaged multiple property owners also remain on the comeback trail, particularly at the smaller end – those buying their first rental investment, or perhaps their second.”

National and Main Centres

Region	Change in dwelling values
	Month	Quarter	Annual	From peak	Median value
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland	0.0%	-0.4%	-1.0%	-20.9%	$1,079,747
Kirikiriroa Hamilton	0.3%	0.5%	2.0%	-10.0%	$752,125
Tauranga	0.6%	0.1%	-1.1%	-16.5%	$915,657
Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington*	0.0%	-1.0%	-5.0%	-24.6%	$797,457
Ōtautahi Christchurch	0.6%	0.8%	2.5%	-4.5%	$678,364
Ōtepoti Dunedin	0.2%	0.2%	-0.4%	-10.7%	$614,656
Aotearoa New Zealand	0.2%	-0.1%	-0.7%	-16.1%	$815,389

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
June was another variable month for the sub-markets across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, with Papakura down by -0.7%, and North Shore, Rodney, Waitakere, and Manukau also recording modest falls. By contrast, Auckland City recorded a +0.3% rise and Franklin was up by +0.5%.
Most of these areas remain lower than three months ago as well, although Auckland City has edged higher by +0.2% since March.

Mr Davidson said: “There have been hints in the past few months that the stock of listings available on the market in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland has started to drop slightly. But listings remain high, and, as with many other parts of the country, this means buyers still have the upper hand.”

“In this environment, it’s not surprising to see continued patchiness in values around the super-city.”

Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Generally speaking, June was also another subdued month for property values in the wider Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington area.

Indeed, Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt edged down by -0.2%, Wellington City and Kāpiti Coast were flat, while Porirua and Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta Upper Hutt managed modest increases of +0.1-0.2%. Only Kāpiti Coast has shown a (small) rise since March.

“Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington’s previous sharp downturn in property values seems to have come to an end, no doubt reflecting the influence of lower mortgage rates. But values are yet to show any clear upwards trend, and alongside high levels of listings, the uncertainty around public sector employment is likely to remain a restraining factor in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington too,” said Mr Davidson.

Regional results
Outside the main centres, property values were a mixed bag in June.

For example, Rotorua was down by -0.7%, with Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Gisborne, Whanganui, and Heretaunga Hastings all dropping modestly. But Whangārei, Te Papaioea Palmerston North, Waihōpai Invercargill, and Tāhuna Queenstown saw rises in June of least +0.4%.

“It’s always difficult to cast a wide net over every region and conclude that any one factor is driving provincial housing markets. At present, for example, lower mortgage rates are obviously a common factor, while some will be faring better than others off the back of a strong dairy sector.”

“Ultimately, the wider economic uncertainty we’re currently seeing and a subdued labour market still seem to be causing property market variability from month to month in a number of regions,” added Mr Davidson.

Property market outlook
Looking ahead, Mr Davidson suggested that ‘caution’ remains a key word.

“In this environment where buyers have the upper hand and economic sentiment remains subdued, it’s hard to see these ‘flat’ housing market conditions suddenly turning around within a month or two.”

“The Reserve Bank’s upcoming official cash rate decisions, including a probable hold next week on Wednesday 9th, aren’t likely to sway the housing market too much.”

“One factor that has been getting attention lately is the potential boost to the economy and property market that might be provided as existing mortgage-holders reprice from a current average rate of around 5.9% down towards prevailing interest rates of 5% or less. But some might save that extra cash or even keep their repayments the same and reduce the term of the loan.”

“In other words, for every upwards influence on the housing market at present, you can probably find a downwards factor. All in all, given that values have only risen by less than 1% over the first half of 2025, a modest calendar year gain in the range of 2-3% now seems on the cards, rather than anything stronger,” Mr Davidson concluded.

For more property news and insights, visit www.corelogic.co.nz/news-research.

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

The detailed ‘frequently asked questions’ and methodological information can be found at:https://www.corelogic.co.nz/our-data/hedonic-index

Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa is supporting “End Rocket Lab Genocide Complicity” in a protest outside Rocket Lab’s New Zealand head office in Mt Wellington tomorrow.

Earlier today PSNA revealed it has referred Rocket Lab CEO, Sir Peter Beck, to the International Criminal Court as one of four ministers and two business leaders for complicity with Israel’s genocide in Gaza

“Rocket Lab has recently launched geospatial intelligence satellites for BlackSky Technology. These satellites provide high resolution images to Israel which are very likely used to assist with striking civilians in Gaza. Sir Peter has proceeded with these launches in full knowledge of these circumstances”

When governments and business leaders can’t even condemn a genocide then civil society groups must act. We will tomorrow.

Speakers at the Auckland protest will include

• Teanau Tuiono – Green Party spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
• Dr Arama Rata – researcher and lecturer from Victoria University
• Sam Vincent – legal team leader for the ICC referral
• John Minto – Co-Chair PSNA.