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Sudan: Sharp rise in attacks on healthcare after two years of conflict with 1,000 people killed this year – Save the Children

Source: Save the Children

PORT SUDAN , 03 July 2025 – Nearly 1,000 people have been killed so far this year in Sudan while seeking health care or visiting loved ones in hospital, with attacks on hospitals nearly tripling after two years of conflict [1] and exacerbating a cholera outbreak, Save the Children said.
Save the Children analysis of attacks on healthcare as reported by the World Health Organization found that at least 933 people, including children, were killed in over 38 incidents in the first six months of 2025. This is nearly 60 times the number of deaths reported over the same period a year ago [2].
Over 148 people were injured in healthcare attacks in the first half of 2025, which is nearly triple the number of people injured over the same period last year.
The deadly attacks targeted clinics, health facilities, major hospitals, ambulances, and medical convoys while looting of warehouses housing drugs and medical supplies has put more people at risk in a country where half the population – 30.4 million people – are in need of humanitarian aid.
Save the Children said the number of attacks on healthcare has been high since conflict broke out in April 2023 but the spike in casualty numbers this year was alarming, with nearly four times more people killed than in 2023 and 2024 combined.
The latest attack on healthcare took place last week at Al-Mujlad Hospital in West Kordofan state and left over 40 people dead, including six children and five health workers, the WHO's office in Sudan said. Dozens were also injured in the attack.
In January this year, at least one girl and three boys were reportedly killed and three boys injured in an attack on the Saudi Hospital in El Fasher, in Sudan’s North Darfur. The children were among patients receiving care in the hospital’s emergency ward, being treated for injuries resulting from previous bombings in the area.
The attacks on healthcare facilities and workers have increased as the country is reeling from a spiralling cholera outbreak, with 80,000 confirmed cases including more than 1,000 children under five and more than 2,000 deaths nationwide since the outbreak was declared two months ago [3].
On top of direct attacks on hospitals, looting of medical supplies is further compounding the suffering for millions in Sudan. This has included the theft of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) – a crucial treatment for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition – from UNICEF’s supplies at Al Bashair Hospital in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, in March and Save the Children facilities.
Save the Children is urgently working to increase life-saving supplies, especially ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), a micronutrient-rich paste used to treat severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children-especially into Darfur. But RUTF stocks are already dangerously low, and Sudan is among the countries projected to face critical global supply chain gaps in the coming months due to aid cuts.
“Healthcare workers should never have to worry about their safety while providing health services and patients should never have to look over their shoulders while seeking care in hospitals.
“The number of people killed and injured in direct attacks on healthcare this year is alarmingly too high and yet the biggest danger posed by these attacks is families and children opting not to seek services from hospitals when in need and turning to unsafe traditional means.
“We are concerned that in most cases, the hospitals that have come under fire also happen to be the only remaining hospitals in those areas, putting healthcare out of reach for millions including displaced people. With at least 80% of hospitals in Sudan decimated by the conflict, all efforts need to be taken to protect the few standing health facilities still providing services.”
Save the Children is urgently calling on the international community to redouble efforts to demand a ceasefire to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and a drastic scale-up of humanitarian assistance. This includes securing safe passage for food, medical aid, commercial supplies, and critical nutrition interventions for children suffering from wasting especially in the Darfur region.
Save the Children has worked in Sudan since 1983 and is currently supporting children and their families across Sudan providing health, nutrition, education, child protection and food security and livelihoods support. Save the Children is also supporting refugees from Sudan in Egypt and South Sudan.
Notes:
[1] In the first half of 2025 at least 38 attacks on healthcare were reported compared to 13 attacks over the same period in 2024. At least 933 people were killed between 1 January and 30 June 2025 in attacks on healthcare recorded by the World Health Organisation’s Surveillance System for Attacks on Healthcare. This is compared to 16 people killed in 13 attacks on healthcare over a similar period last year. (Database accessed on 01 July 2025). Table below shows the number of attacks, deaths and injuries as retrieved from WHO’s surveillance system for attacks on health care (ssa) on 01 July 2025.
Period Number of attacks Reported deaths Injuries January – June 2024 13 16 55 January – June 2025 38 933 148 2023 – 2024 (since start of conflict) 136 238 214
[2] Important note that the WHO surveillance system came into full effect in November 2024 and there is a possibility of underreporting for previous years/ period.
[3] According to data from Sudan’s ministry of health.
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Road Safety – STREET SMART DRIVER TRAINING IN FULL SWING AS OVER 200 YOUNG KIWIS TAKE THE WHEEL AT HAMPTON DOWNS

Source: Street Smart

The sounds of cars and focused concentration are filling Hampton Downs Motorsport Park over the next two weeks, as more than 200 young drivers and their caregivers take part in the highly anticipated Street Smart driven by Tony Quinn Foundation Road Safety programme – now in full swing at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park across five dates in July.

Taking place on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 13th, the training days represent the largest-ever delivery in one school holiday period of the Street Smart programme at a single venue, reflecting surging demand from teens and families eager to boost road safety and real-world driving skills.

Street Smart Programme Director Hayden Dickason says the response has been overwhelming.

“It’s been incredible to see so many young people and parents embracing this opportunity. From day one, the engagement has been high, and the impact even higher – it’s clear that this hands-on practical approach is making a difference.”

Participants are guided through seven interactive activities covering everything from hazard awareness and safe following distances to distraction management, braking control and emergency reactions — all delivered in a controlled environment with expert instruction.

With several days already complete and more sessions still to come, feedback from attendees has been enthusiastic.

Hampton Downs attendee, Zach said he found the peripheral vision activity the most challenging,

“I was so focussed on completing the task I completely missed the things sitting out to the side”, says Zach. He recomm

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Environment – "A Dirty Deal for Dirty Water" – Government’s $56m irrigation subsidy blasted by Greenpeace

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace strongly condemns the announcement today of a $56 million government subsidy for additional irrigation infrastructure in rural Canterbury, saying that this will result in increased water pollution and the destruction of fragile freshwater ecosystems.
The Government has announced a $56 million dollar subsidy through the Regional Investment Fund for three water storage projects in the Canterbury region – the Opuha Dam and Irrigation Scheme, the Balmoral Water Storage Facility (Amuri), and the Waimakariri Irrigation Scheme.
Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says, “It is deeply irresponsible to use public money to fund the expansion of these irrigation schemes, which will lead to more intensive dairy, more cows, and more pollution. This is a dirty deal for dirty water.”
“Shane Jones needs to go down and front up to rural communities in Canterbury whose drinking water is already so contaminated with nitrates they can’t safely drink it and explain why he is funding irrigation for dirty dairying that will contaminate their water more.
“Everyone should be able to safely drink the water coming out of their kitchen tap, but right now, some rural communities are facing the reality that they cannot do so, because their drinking water is contaminated with unsafe levels of nitrate.”
“The source of nitrate contamination in drinking water is effluent runoff and nitrate leaching from the intensive dairy industry,” says Appelbe.
“Subsidising new irrigation infrastructure, which will lead to more intensive dairying and therefore more contamination of groundwater and drinking water, shows that this Government has a total disregard for the health of rural communities who cannot drink the water coming out of their kitchen tap.”
Appelbe says this comes off the back of the announcement of a wave of regulation changes that Greenpeace has labelled the Government’s ‘Freshwater Pollution Plan’.
“This Government is seeking to strip back freshwater protections across the board – despite the fact that New Zealanders across the entire political spectrum want to see more protection for freshwater, not less.”
“The Government must end all subsidies for irrigation infrastructure immediately, and ensure freshwater pollution from the intensive dairy industry is stopped at the source.”
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Legislation: Law Experts Issue Open letter to Govt calls for halt to the undemocratic Regulatory Standards Bill

Source: Professor Emeritus Jane Kelsey


As some of the country’s senior lawyers and researchers in a range of disciplines (law, economics, Tiriti o Waitangi, public policy, environment), including a former Prime Minister and two New Zealanders of the Year, we cannot stand by as the Regulatory Standards Bill is rushed through a parliamentary select committee next week.


Each of us has written extensively and spoken out against this Bill from our respective areas of expertise. Many of us have done so for the three previous iterations of this Bill when it was promoted unsuccessfully by the Act Party and the Business Round Roundtable (later, the New Zealand Institute).


On each of those occasions Parliament has rejected the Bill as philosophically and legally unsound, profoundly undemocratic,  and contrary to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.


This time the Act Party has sought to bypass rigorous parliamentary scrutiny by securing commitments from the National and New Zealand First parties to legislate the Bill into law. There was an opportunity for public submissions on the proposal late last year, where it secured the support of only 0.33% of the over 23,000 New Zealanders who expressed their views on the consultation document.  It is evident that the advice in virtually all the submissions was ignored by the government.


The Bill could have profound constitutional consequences. It establishes a set of principles as a benchmark for good legislation/regulation, many of which are highly questionable and designed to establish a presumption in favour of a libertarian view of the role of the state – one that ceased to have any currency globally more than a century ago. Te Tiriti o Waitangi has been excluded altogether.  The power vested in the Minister for Regulation and a ministerial-appointed board is not subject to the normal accountabilities of Crown entities,  conferring significant yet largely unaccountable authority on the executive.


Dr Jim Salinger, 2024 New Zealander of the Year, further notes the chilling effect the Bill will have on any future policy on climate change and adaptation following the almost $4 billion cost of the 2023 Auckland Anniversary weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, the highest in our history.


While there is a select committee review of the Bill, it is truncated and circumscribed.


 The Coalition government has decided to submit the Bill to the Finance and Expenditure Committee rather than the Justice Committee, limiting the time to hear many tens of thousands of oral submissions to just 30 hours – at most 360 submissions –  with 5 minutes per submitter, and truncating the period for those hearings and the committee’s report, further exposes the hypocrisy that this Bill is about good governance, better laws, improved regulation, greater transparency and enhanced governmental accountability. We are gravely concerned that the National Party and New Zealand First appear to be complicit in this undemocratic process.


We have each thought long and hard about whether to say we want to challenge this Bill before the select committee, lest it give some credibility to a process that is devoid of legitimacy. Some of us, such as Professor Dame Anne Salmond, 2013 New Zealander of the Year, and Professor Andrew Geddis, made written submissions, but feel there is no point in participating such a harmful process.


Professor Emeritus Jonathan Boston, Dr Geoffrey Bertram, Dr Bill Rosenberg and Dr Max Harris have indicated they want to address the committee to reinforce their submissions.  In Professor Boston’s view:  “The current Bill is destined to have a very short and ignominious life as an Act of Parliament: it enjoys virtually no public support; it lacks cross-party backing; it is opposed by the very Ministry that will be responsible for its implementation; and it endorses principles that have been found wanting by multiple generations of people throughout the world”.


In similar vein, long-standing academic critic of the Bill Professor Emeritus Jane Kelsey feels a responsibility “to speak truth to power” – in this case the abuse of proper process and the Act Party’s ongoing contempt for Te Tiriti o Waitangi.


For a time it appeared the Sir Geoffrey Palmer, former Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Professor of Law at Te Herenga Waka/ Victoria University of Wellington, author of numerous books on parliamentary constitutinalism, and staunch critic of the Bill, was originally not invited to address the select committee, despite saying but he wanted to be heard. He was subsequently offered an opportunity.


All of us appeal to the National and New Zealand First parties to find their democratic voice and prevent this Bill from proceeding past the select committee.


Equally importantly, they are calling on Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee, as the Chair of the forthcoming review of Standing Orders, to conduct a first principles review of the select committee processes to find an appropriate balance for democratic participation in the digital era, and an effective  way to reinstate some degree of integrity and rigorous review to law-making in Aotearoa New Zealand.


Signatures include:


Dame Anne Salmond

Sir Geoffrey Palmer

Professor Emeritus Jonathan Boston

Professor Andrew Geddis

Dr Jim Salinger

Dr Geoff Bertram

Dr Bill Rosenberg

Dr Max Harris

Professor Emeritus Jane Kelsey.

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Weather News – Filled to the Brim with Heavy Rain – MetService

Source: MetService

Covering period of Thursday 3rd – Tuesday 8th July – We’re in the thick of it again today (Thursday), with a slew of Heavy Rain Warnings and Watches, Severe Thunderstorm Watches, Strong Wind Watches, and a Heavy Snow Watch. The hits just keep coming with these quick moving systems, it’s giving us weather whiplash.  

In amongst the widespread rain, the top half of the North Island is on the lookout for downpours with Severe Thunderstorm Watches from this afternoon.  Commute time in Auckland is looking busiest, so it’s a good idea to head home earlier if you can.  

MetService Meteorologist Katie Hillyer advises, “The localised downpours are the real risk we are highlighting with the Severe Thunderstorm Watches; people shouldn’t be fooled by the lack of thunder and lightning. It’s a good time for people to turn on notifications in the app for any Severe Thunderstorm Warnings that may be issued for their area”.  

Damaging winds are also possible for Northland and Auckland, with a background of strong winds as per the Strong Wind Watches, combined with the potential of gusts between 90-110km/hr in any Severe Thunderstorms. As the heavy rain band moves off, these areas are not completely out of the woods, with heavy showers and possible thunderstorms and hail on Friday and Saturday. It will take until Sunday and into Monday for these areas to get some settled weather, even if it’s not for as long as we’re hoping.  

Heavy Rain Watches have also been issued for the Wellington and Kapiti regions for this afternoon and evening.

Rain is setting in the Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough regions as they are under their Heavy Rain Warnings until 7pm today. “While accumulations are not as high as last week, the saturated starting conditions will play a huge part in the impacts we will see, so it is important to not get caught comparing numbers to last week”, says Hillyer. “We advise on the weather, but local emergency management services and councils know their areas best, so people are encouraged to also pay close attention to their messaging and advice”, she continues. After this rainband moves off today, showers, some possibly heavy, continue into Friday and early Saturday before settled weather pushes in.

A different flavour in the south of the country, with a Heavy Snow Watch for Southern Canterbury High Country, Queenstown Lakes District, and Central Otago where down to 600 metres, snow may approach Warning criteria, but those down to 400 metres may get a fresh dusting today. Many road passes have the risk of snow settling, so travellers should keep up with messages from NZTA Waka Kotahi. Dunedin and North Otago are also under a Heavy Rain Watch from 3pm-3am, before gradually settling into the weekend.

Please keep up to date with the most current information from MetService at MetService – Te Ratonga Tirorangi: https://metservice.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=63982abb40666393e6a63259d&id=52c6509eec&e=852c839bf9
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Real Estate – Oops, I bought a house! Survey reveals nearly 1 in 4 Kiwis purchase homes by happy accident

Source: Brainchild for Realestate.co.nz

3 July 2025 – A surprising trend has been uncovered in a recent survey of New Zealand's real estate landscape: a significant slice of Kiwis are making spontaneous home purchases.

According to a realestate.co.nz study, 24% of participants have found themselves as property owners at some stage, having made the leap without the initial intention to buy. Within this group, 8% ‘accidentally purchased’ in the past year.

Vanessa Williams, spokesperson for realestate.co.nz, said while it may sound unusual for someone to 'accidentally buy a house,' the data suggests it's more common than many would believe:

“Kiwis have a real affinity with property; browsing listings is almost a national pastime. Attending an open home or an auction can quickly turn from casual interest to serious investment when the right property catches your eye and the price feels within reach.”

Williams notes that choosing a home is often choosing a lifestyle, and the emotional connection to a space or location can strongly influence decision-making.

realestate.co.nz has been tracking this data since 2020, which has revealed a cycle not too dissimilar to the property market.

“The 2025 data is a telling sign of growing optimism among property buyers,” says Williams.

“We haven’t seen this level of ‘accidental purchases’ since April 2022, which was coming off the back of a hot market.

The latest data indicates a correlation between these unexpected purchases and increased income. Individuals who bought a house without prior plans in the last 12 months reported a personal income of 54% above the average.

Accidental purchasers are also predominantly male (66% vs. 34% female), with an average age of 30.2 years.

Auckland remains the hot spot for these unplanned acquisitions, with those in the super city more likely to have made an impulse buy (51% compared to 31% of survey respondents overall). Williams says income is likely a factor here as well, but adds that a diverse market with ample choice, like Auckland, may also fuel spur-of-the-moment decisions.

“While it’s important to have a property investment plan that works for you and your personal circumstances, the property market can provide numerous opportunities for those with an open mind – something a fairly significant portion of the population seems to already know well,” says Williams.

The survey, conducted between 9 and 13 June 2025 reflects responses from 1,045 New Zealanders, with the results weighted on age, gender, personal income, ethnicity and region to match the New Zealand adult population. The survey has a maximum margin of error of ±3% overall.

About realestate.co.nz

We’ve been helping people buy, sell, or rent property since 1996.  

Established before Google, realestate.co.nz is New Zealand’s longest-standing property website and the official website of the real estate industry.

Dedicated only to property, our mission is to empower people with a property search tool they can use to find the life they want to live. With residential, lifestyle, rural and commercial property listings, realestate.co.nz is the place to start for those looking to buy or sell property.  

Whatever life you’re searching for, it all starts here.

Want more property insights?

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Legal Cases – Greenpeace International begins groundbreaking Anti-SLAPP case to protect freedom of speech

Source: Greenpeace

In a landmark test case of the European Union’s new legislation to protect freedom of expression and stop abusive lawsuits, Greenpeace International has overnight challenged the US oil pipeline company, Energy Transfer, in court in the Netherlands.[1]
The multi-billion-dollar company brought two back-to-back SLAPP suits against Greenpeace International and Greenpeace in the US, after Greenpeace showed solidarity with the 2016 peaceful Indigenous-led protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The first case was dismissed, but the Greenpeace organisations continue to defend against the second case, which is ongoing, after a North Dakota jury recently awarded over 660 million USD in damages to the pipeline giant.Activists from Greenpeace International and allies were present outside the courthouse in Amsterdam for the first hearing in the case with a banner reading “ ENERGY TRANSFER, WELCOME TO THE EU – WHERE FREE SPEECH IS STILL A THING“. Mads Christensen, Executive Director, Greenpeace International, says: “Energy Transfer’s attack on our right to protest is an attack on everyone’s free speech. Greenpeace has been the target of threats, arrests and even bombs over the last 50 years and persevered. We will continue to resist all forms of intimidation and explore every option to hold Energy Transfer accountable for this attempt at abusing the justice system. This groundbreaking anti-SLAPP case against Energy Transfer in the Netherlands is just the beginning of defeating this bullying tactic being wielded by billionaires and fossil fuel giants trying to silence critics all over the world. Something absolutely vital is at stake here: people’s ability to hold corporate polluters to account for the devastation they’re causing.”
Russel Norman, Executive Director, Greenpeace Aotearoa, says: “The timing of this case is particularly poignant given that we are about to mark the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior by agents of the French Government here in Auckland. The bombing was an act of desperation by the French Government in the face of our successful, people-powered campaign to end nuclear testing in the Pacific.
“Forty years ago, we showed that we could not be intimidated. Greenpeace only grew stronger, and together with the nuclear-free Pacific movement, we put a stop to nuclear testing. Now, as Greenpeace International goes to court in Amsterdam, Energy Transfer would also like us – and all climate activists – to be afraid and to shut up – but once again, we will show that we will not be silenced.”The lawsuit is an important test of the European Union’s Anti-SLAPP Directive, adopted in April 2024.[2] The Directive is designed to protect journalists, activists, civil society organisations, or anyone else speaking out about matters of public concern, from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) – unfounded intimidation lawsuits brought by powerful corporations or wealthy individuals seeking to suppress public debate.[3] Since Greenpeace International is a Netherlands-based foundation and the damage caused by Energy Transfers’s US SLAPP suit is occurring in the Netherlands, both Dutch and EU law apply.
Amy Jacobsen, Senior Legal Counsel, Greenpeace International, says, “This case paves the way for protections from bullying lawsuits being implemented throughout Europe and beyond. The lawsuits that Energy Transfer have brought against Greenpeace International are the perfect example of the kind of abusive legal proceedings that the anti-SLAPP Directive is designed to protect against. By calling upon the EU anti-SLAPP Directive’s protections, Greenpeace International refuses to allow the bullying tactics of wealthy fossil fuel corporations like Energy Transfer to compromise our fundamental free speech rights.”
Following a dawn ceremony on the 10 July 2025 in Auckland,  the Rainbow Warrior will be open to the public for tours and talks with the crew on the week

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PSA welcomes settlement of Te Roopu Taurima industrial dispute

Source: PSA

PSA members at disability support provider Te Roopu Taurima have voted to ratify a new Collective Agreement.
The settlement follows an 8-month dispute. The employer banned Kaitaataki and Poutaaki (residential whare leaders) from working additional hours before Christmas and threatened a six-week suspension in response to low level strike action.
“These workers stuck together through what was a long and difficult industrial dispute and proudly emerged stronger,” says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzismons.
“The new agreement doesn’t include 90-day trials which was a key driver of the dispute.
“Our heartfelt appreciation goes to the members of Parliament and representatives of the disability community who stood with workers in this challenging moment.
“Kaitaataki and Poutaaki are pleased to be able to return to focusing on their important work supporting taangata and their whānau.”
The legal action against the lockout is still to be heard by the Employment Relations Authority.
Other media releases:
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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Universities and Security – Counterterrorism watchdog needed – legal expert – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

An independent watchdog would shine a light into the shadowy world of security and counterterrorism, says Associate Professor John Ip in a research paper.

Since the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, New Zealand has introduced several counterterrorism laws, significantly expanding state power. Now, a legal expert says it’s time to follow the UK, Australia and Ireland in appointing an independent watchdog to keep that power in check.

In his paper, ‘The case for an independent reviewer of counterterrorism legislation in New Zealand,’ University of Auckland Law Associate Professor, John Ip, says although necessary, counterterrorism legislation often lacks provision for ongoing oversight.

Counterterrorism legislation, says Ip, is characterised by a government’s need to react to an incident decisively and quickly, leaving little time for public input, legislative deliberation or scrutiny. Once on the books, counterterrorism legislation is rarely repealed and difficult to ratchet back.

“This makes scrutiny and oversight essential, especially given the potential impact on individual rights and freedoms.”

Since 2019, New Zealand has introduced counterterrorism legislation including the Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Act, the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Act, and the Counter-Terrorism Acts (Designations and Control Orders) Amendment Act. But Ip says this relative flurry of legislation hasn’t been matched by any permanent oversight mechanism.

“It’s important that any unintended consequences, gaps and shortcomings are brought to light and that the public have confidence that the powers conferred by counterterrorism legislation are being used appropriately.”

Ip argues that creating an independent review entity would enhance public understanding, facilitate evidence-based policymaking and augment existing legal and political avenues of scrutiny and oversight.

“Countries around the world quickly react to acts of terrorism, and in this, we see expansion, or at the very least, some consolidation of the power of the state. We see the creation of a stronger national security state. And as this is happening, we should strengthen the oversight and control of those same institutions.”

However, the options for oversight currently available, says Ip, have limitations.
“As is typical of national security matters, secrecy shrouds the operation of counterterrorism law. Secrecy around national security creates a problem – those who might provide oversight often don’t have access to the whole picture.

“In the courts, legal challenges depend on individuals bringing cases, but secrecy can mean a wrong can’t be established because of a lack of publicly available evidence. When they do hear cases, without a comprehensive picture, judges are also likely to be more deferential.”

Temporary review bodies such as public inquiries also have limits, says Ip. For example, the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into the 15 March attacks meant that the Commission was not allowed to look into the police’s initial response.

“These kinds of inquiries and bodies also stop existing once they deliver their final report. If the government chooses not to act on the recommendations, there’s little option in following up or pushing for change later on.

“These limitations, including that more specialised review bodies tend to be either ad hoc or otherwise circumscribed in scope, suggest the need for something different.”

In his paper, Ip examines overseas models, including the UK’s Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation (IRTL). The IRTL is legally qualified, independent of government, and has access to the same classified information as ministers, enabling impartial, informed oversight.

Unlike courts, which look into specific cases, the IRTL has a broad mandate to review counterterrorism legislation as a whole.

While the UK model is interesting, Ip says New Zealand might more closely follow the formal statutory approach exemplified by Australia’s Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, and to a lesser extent Ireland’s Independent Examiner of Security Legislation (IESL). Both are created by legislation with clearly defined powers and responsibilities.

“A permanent independent office, with comprehensive access to information, could review the operation of counterterrorism legislation here and publish reports with findings and recommendations,” says Ip.

“Independent review bodies play a crucial role in shining a light into the shadowy corners of the world of security and counterterrorism.”

Read the paper: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5265484#:~:text=Drawing%20on%20models%20from%20the,with%20its%20findings%20and%20recommendations.

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Appointments – Anna Scott appointed CEO of Mercer New Zealand

Source: Mercer New Zealand

AUCKLAND, 3 July, 2025 — Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) and a global leader in helping clients realise their investment objectives, shape the future of work and enhance health and retirement outcomes for their people, today announced the appointment of Anna Scott as Mercer’s New Zealand CEO.

In her new role, Ms Scott will be responsible for leading Mercer’s operations across New Zealand, working closely with local and regional teams to further develop Mercer’s capabilities in superannuation, health and benefits, workforce solutions and investment services for the benefit of clients and members.

“Anna has the right breadth of experience to lead Mercer’s trajectory in New Zealand,” said Toni Ferrier, Marsh McLennan’s New Zealand CEO. “Through her deep understanding of our market, combined with her international experience, she will draw on the best of Mercer’s global expertise and capabilities to serve the needs of clients and members and deliver business growth. We look forward to welcoming her to the business.”

Ms Scott brings over 20 years of experience in the financial services and consulting sectors, both in New Zealand and internationally, to the role. She has demonstrated a capacity to identify business opportunities and align strategy with customer outcomes in her prior roles as Chief Executive Officer of New Zealand fund manager Smart and Chief Operating Officer for Hobson Wealth.

Ms Scott said, “I have long admired Mercer for its investment and consulting capabilities. I’m excited to work with Mercer’s local Board and leadership team, to continue to support clients’ and members’ investment and retirement needs and deliver strategic workforce solutions to New Zealand’s businesses.”

Ms Scott will be based in Auckland and will report to Ms Ferrier and is expected to start her new role on 1 October 2025.

About Mercer

Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), is a global leader in helping clients realize their investment objectives, shape the future of work and enhance health and retirement outcomes for their people. Marsh McLennan is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman.

With annual revenue of over $24 billion and more than 90,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit mercer.com