|
|
|
|
Business price indexes: March 2026 quarter – Stats NZ information release
Indonesia: Military silences dissent with disinformation campaigns branding activists and journalists ‘foreign agents’ – Amnesty International
Source: Amnesty International
- Military-connected social media accounts target activists with disinformation
- Online slurs precede intimidation and violent attacks against dissidents
- Meta, TikTok, X and YouTube allow harmful content to spread rapidly.
Coordinated disinformation campaigns portraying government critics as “foreign agents” are silencing dissent and fueling intimidation and violence under Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Amnesty International said in a new report published today.
‘Building up Imaginary Enemies’ reveals a growing pattern in which Indonesian authorities – including the military – deploy online disinformation to target journalists, activists, academics and protesters in retaliation for their legitimate activism and expression. Meanwhile, tech giants Meta, TikTok, X and YouTube have allowed harmful disinformation to remain online.
“Authoritarian practices have accelerated in Indonesia under President Prabowo Subianto’s government. Amnesty’s research shows that in the 18 months since Prabowo took power, online disinformation has emerged as a key tactic to systematically discredit government critics, shut down public debate and justify repression – all while social media companies sit back and let it happen,” Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said.
“This disinformation is a political weapon, deployed to consolidate the government’s power when public criticism intensifies, while demonizing and weakening those who dare to speak out. By branding protesters, journalists and human rights defenders as ‘foreign agents’, Indonesia’s authorities and their supporters are deliberately shifting attention away from people’s legitimate grievances.”
Intent to deceive
Since President Prabowo took office in October 2024, there have been multiple waves of demonstrations in Indonesia, including against corruption, budget cuts, environmental degradation and expanded powers handed to the military. Prabowo and senior officials have responded by repeatedly and publicly accusing critics of being paid, manipulated and controlled by foreign interests, and framing dissent as orchestrated rather than legitimate.
This has been followed by a proliferation of “foreign agent” slurs against civil society actors online, often based on unsubstantiated claims that they want to “undermine” or “divide” Indonesia due to the fact they receive foreign funding or other support from overseas actors.
Under international law, civil society organizations and media outlets have the right to access international funding, which is often essential for exercising the right to freedom of association.
Amnesty International’s research found that campaigns disseminating false “foreign agent” allegations against civil society have in most instances involved hundreds of accounts acting in sync to post identical videos, graphics or messages in quick succession. This false information is then amplified across Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. Amnesty was able to infer from the coordinated nature of the campaigns that these accounts were spreading falsehoods with the intention to deceive, a key element of disinformation.
The implications for those branded as “foreign agents” are severe, with victims telling Amnesty it undermined their work and credibility, increased their risk of criminalization and exposed them to physical harm.
‘Your head will fall to the ground’
Digital disinformation campaigns have frequently spilled over into physical violence. In March 2026, Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), was the victim of an acid attack in Jakarta, suffering severe chemical burns.
He had been targeted for months by coordinated online campaigns portraying him as a “foreign agent” after he helped lead peaceful protests against revisions to Indonesia’s Military Law. Dozens of accounts presenting themselves as part of the Indonesian military, together with hundreds of anonymous accounts, took part in these campaigns across different social media platforms.
State investigations later led to the arrest of four military officers. Yet even after the acid attack and arrests, disinformation continued. Coordinated videos accused Yunus of staging the assault to attract foreign funding.
Independent media outlets have also been heavily targeted. Tempo, one of Indonesia’s most respected news organizations, faced sustained disinformation campaigns, including by Instagram accounts presenting themselves as military units, accusing it of being controlled by foreign donors after it reported critically on government policy.
Online smear campaigns were accompanied by chilling acts of intimidation, including a severed pig’s head delivered to Tempo’s newsroom and follow-up packages containing decapitated rats. Online disinformation then sought to portray the threats as staged stunts to garner foreign support.
Greenpeace Indonesia activist Iqbal Damanik was targeted after he led a peaceful protest against the government’s mining activities in Raja Ampat, West Papua.
He told Amnesty: “I received so many direct messages from anonymous users. I assume they are the ones who believe the disinformation out there about me. Some threatened to kill me. One of them said, ‘Your head will fall to the ground.”
Climate of intimidation
The pervasive use of disinformation has created a climate of fear far beyond those directly targeted, discouraging people from participating in protests, collaborating with civil society organizations or expressing critical views online.
As one journalist told Amnesty: “This is dangerous for all of us. If we all become afraid of being labelled ‘foreign agents’ and stop reporting news or any stories critical of the government, then we are back to the authoritarian atmosphere of the past.”
Amnesty’s report found that Indonesia’s domestic laws fail to protect those targeted with disinformation and are more likely to be used to prosecute and criminalize critics. A new proposed law on ‘Countering Disinformation and Foreign Propaganda’ risks deepening Indonesia’s authoritarian trajectory by being used to further restrict the right to freedom of expression.
“Instead of upholding fundamental rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, Indonesian authorities have failed at every level: state actors participate in the attacks, victims are denied protection and a climate of intimidation is allowed to take hold,” Agnès Callamard said.
“The Indonesian government must protect journalists, activists and protesters rather than enabling and disseminating toxic disinformation against them.”
Social media companies’ responsibilities
The report also finds that Meta, TikTok, X and YouTube’s inadequate content moderation, engagement-driven algorithms and failure to address Indonesia’s heightened human rights risks allowed disinformation to spread rapidly. Most of the posts documented remained online for months – some for more than a year – and many went viral.
“Big Tech’s failures have contributed to the human rights harms documented in this report, with falsehoods spreading faster than facts. Their platforms have played a significant role in enabling an environment in which disinformation, censorship and violence can thrive,” Agnès Callamard said.
Amnesty International wrote to Meta, TikTok, X and YouTube twice: first to seek information during the research phase, and later to share its findings before publication. Only TikTok responded to Amnesty International’s letters detailing our findings, pledging to “set up additional monitoring for this specific issue”.
“Despite the increasingly hostile climate for human rights work and failures of the government and social media companies to counter disinformation, many of the activists we interviewed remain resilient. They continue to adapt, support one another and resist. However, the burden must not rest on them alone,” Agnès Callamard said.
“Amid the heightened risks under President Prabowo’s administration, Meta, TikTok, X and YouTube must stop disinformation, strengthen content moderation, conduct Indonesia-specific human rights due diligence and provide remedy to those harmed due to their failures.”
Government must recognise the real cost of family care for disabled people – IHC
Source: IHC New Zealand
IHC welcomes the Government’s move to clarify the role of Disability Support Services (DSS), which will provide certainty for families and disabled people. However, any reform must also recognise the enormous financial and emotional burden carried by families supporting intellectually disabled family members.
The Government this week introduced legislation clarifying that the Crown is not the employer of family carers, following last year’s Supreme Court decision that found two parents caring fulltime for their disabled children were government employees.
IHC says the key issue is not what mechanism government uses to recognise carers, but whether families receive meaningful support.
“Families and whānau have always carried the bulk of care and support for intellectually disabled people,” says IHC Director of Advocacy Tania Thomas.
“Disabled people and their families are already acutely aware that they are expected to step in first. The real issue is whether the state adequately recognises the economic and social cost of that care.”
IHC said many parents leave paid work entirely or reduce their hours significantly to care for disabled children, often for decades, pushing families into long-term hardship and poverty.
“It is incredibly common for a parent to leave full-time employment to provide care for a child with an intellectual disability. That loss of income can last 20 years or more.”
“Our research shows people with intellectual disability and their families are among the poorest groups in New Zealand, and that is not random. It reflects a system that relies heavily on unpaid family care while providing inadequate support.”
IHC research from 2025 shows:
- People with intellectual disability are twice as likely to experience hardship up to age 39, and almost three times more likely between ages 40 and 64.
- Nearly half of people with intellectual disability would be unable to pay an unavoidable bill within a month without borrowing.
- People with intellectual disability are more than twice as likely to go without heating because of cost.
- Children with intellectual disability are over six times more likely to miss out on school events because of cost.
- Families with an intellectually disabled family member are significantly more likely to live in damp, crowded, or insecure housing and to rely on social housing and hardship grants.
IHC says the hardship experienced by families is compounded by the complexity of the disability support system.
“Getting support often becomes a full-time job in itself,” Tania says.
“Families repeatedly told us they faced exhausting application processes, delays in accessing support, and constant pressure to prove what their child cannot do.”
One parent interviewed as part of last year’s research said balancing full-time employment alongside caring responsibilities as “like running a small business just for his care”.
IHC says: while clearer legislation may help explain the purpose of DSS, it should not be used to minimise the state’s responsibility to ensure disabled people and their families can live ordinary lives.
“When adequate support is unavailable, the cost does not disappear – it is simply transferred onto families, particularly mothers, who often sacrifice employment, income, health, and financial security to provide care.”
“The question should not just be about who employs carers. It should also be whether New Zealand is willing to properly support the families who hold the disability support system together.”
Greenpeace – 26,000 strong petition urges no minerals deal
Source: Greenpeace
Greenpeace today delivered a petition signed by over 26,000 people urging Prime Minister Chris Luxon to not sign a minerals deal with the USA.
Greenpeace illustrated the public opposition to the deal with a depiction of Luxon and Trump riding a US branded missile.
“We’re here today to highlight the concerns of more than 26,000 people that Luxon intends to prioritise foreign interests over the environment of Aotearoa,” says Greenpeace Aotearoa campaigner Juressa Lee.
Prime Minister Luxon is expected to sign a deal soon to provide the USA priority access to minerals they regard as ‘critical’. Many of the minerals listed by the USA as critical have military applications, including vanadium, which is found off the coast of Taranaki.
“The people of Aotearoa don’t want mining companies to destroy our precious ecosystems, locking us into the US military supply chain,” says Lee. “The response to the petition has been huge and shows us the issue has really touched a nerve.”
Greenpeace launched its petition in February when it was revealed the Government was in secretive talks with the USA.
“People are understandably very concerned that the Government is negotiating a deal that will bind us to the US industrial-military complex,” says Lee. “We don’t want Aotearoa to supply Trump’s war minerals. Most people would like Luxon to show the integrity and courage required to stand up against a deal that compromises our values.”
Yet the Government is pushing ahead with its pro-mining and pro-USA agenda. Last week its controversial bill opening up conservation areas to commercial interests passed its first reading in Parliament. And on Thursday, the Government hosted a high-level delegation from the USA alongside New Zealand mining industry executives and lobbyists in his Beehive office.
“We need to move away from extractive industries that destroy the whenua and moana,” says Lee. “Our future generations depend on us to build a sustainable, circular economy that values people and Papatūānuku.”
Lee adds that the rush for minerals undermines the very possibility of a just and green energy transition.
“Opening new mines for a green energy transition is a false solution,” says Lee. “Research shows minerals can be administered for a clean renewable energy transformation in a way that protects ecosystems from terrestrial or deep sea mining of so-called ‘critical’ minerals. Governments need to prioritise mineral use for essential energy transition purposes.”
“Our movement stopped seabed mining in its tracks – we can stop this deal too,” says Lee.
Greenpeace invited the Prime Minister to accept the petition but he declined. Labour Party spokesperson for Energy and Resources Megan Woods accepted the petition to present to Parliament. MPs from the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori were also present.
The petition: Tell Luxon: No minerals deal with Trump
Notes
- Beyond Extraction: Pathways for a 1.5°C-aligned Energy Transition with Less Minerals was commissioned by Greenpeace International, and authored by academics at the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) in Australia.
- In March Greenpeace made headlines by redecorating the Prime Minister’s electorate office with US branding and a sign saying ‘TRUMP WAR MINERALS HQ’.
Government Cuts – Public services will be decimated by reckless plan to fire nearly 9,000 workers – PSA
Source: PSA
– Saving $2.4 billion means services will have to be cut
– Impacts to be felt nationwide – 55% work outside Wellington
– One in seven jobs could be gone by 2029
The Finance Minister’s irresponsible plan to sack around 9,000 public service workers within the next three years will decimate services New Zealanders rely on around the country.
In pre-Budget speech Nicola Willis has unveiled a radical plan to savage the public service by merging departments, using more AI and setting a target to reduce the public service headcount to about 55,000 – about one in seven roles could go.
“This is an act of wilful destruction of the public service, and all New Zealanders will pay a price for this reckless plan in fewer services they rely on,” said Duane Leo National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The Government claims savings of $2.4 billion – that’s money gone from services simple as that. Less, means less. Lower quality, slower and fewer services.
“Will there be fewer biosecurity officers keeping pests and diseases out of the country? Fewer people stopping online harm, child exploitation and scams? Fewer inspectors keeping workplaces safe? Fewer people answering your calls? Fewer people catching tax cheats? Which conservation projects will stop? Which communities will lose access to the services they depend on?
“This is not just about jobs in Wellington, 55% of public service workers support communities around New Zealand – 21% in Auckland, 10% in Canterbury. These cuts will be cruel and deep and felt across the nation.”
See 2026 Public Service Fact sheet attached.
“This is all about choices. This Government has chosen to give tax breaks to landlords and big tobacco and pay for that through cutting public services. How can this be smart economics when our population is growing, when recent storms show climate change is with us, and when our infrastructure challenges have never been bigger?
“Willis talks about using digitisation and AI as a justification for sacking thousands of workers. AI will not fill the gap. Just ask the experts. We need an AI strategy that maximises the benefits and prevents negative impacts for workers and the public. Linking AI to an arbitrary headcount target does exactly the opposite – it turns technology into a threat rather than a tool.
“Department mergers are a recipe for more chaos. Every restructure costs money, drives experienced people out the door, and grinds critical work to a halt for years.
“New Zealanders deserve to know before the election, not after – which services will be cut? Which communities will be worse off? If the Government is so confident this is the right path, it should tell voters exactly what it means for them. Show us the evidence,” said Duane Leo.
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.
Arts – Ngā Kaituhi Māori NZSA emerging-writer programme recipients 2026
Source: Ngā Kaituhi Māori and The NZ Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa
Ngā Kaituhi Māori and The NZ Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa have announced the recipients of the NZSA Ngā Kaituhi Māori Mentorship & Kupu Kaitiaki Programmes for 2026.
We are pleased to congratulate the four emerging writers who have each been selected for the Mentorship Programme, with a six-month opportunity to work closely with an acclaimed Māori writer as their mentor to hone their tuhituhi ability and, in the process, evolve and refine a work toward a publishable manuscript. We also congratulate the two emerging writers selected for the Assessment programme.
One of the judges, Cassie Hart said ‘This year we had a wonderful pool of applications spanning a range of genres. It was really hard to make the selection due to this – there is so much passion, creativity, and innovation here, so keep on writing! I love that our writers are thinking carefully about their goals and what they hope to achieve both within the context of these programmes, and afterwards. It makes me feel really excited about the future of Māori writing.’
Chair of Kaituhi Māori, matua Witi Ihimaera, says Ka tuhia e au tōku iwi, ka tuhia hoki ahau e tōku iwi. All the recipients this year are wāhine kaituhituhi and all represent kaupapa that are important to us. Every one emphasises who and what they are writing for. “I write for them, my mokopuna and whānau.” “Rangatiratanga over our stories rest with us.” “She is hoping to encourage readers to reconnect to their heritage as she has been.” “For every voice that never felt brave enough to cry out.” “Thank you, Tuupuna.” Our warmest thanks and welcome to them all and the mentors who will be supporting them so unselfishly, all women too!
NZSA Kaituhi Māori Mentorship Programme Recipients:
Marni Adlam
Marni Adlam (Muriwhenua/Ngāpuhi/Te Whakatōhea) was raised off the grid in the gumfields of Te Hiku o te Ika-a-Maui. Her debut coming-of-age novel Children of Myth and Men is a YA fantasy rooted in Māori mythology. It follows two teens who lose everything and must find their way and themselves in a mythical world. For everyone who has ever felt between worlds. For every young person still waiting to be found. For every voice that never felt brave enough to cry out.
Marni will be mentored by Steph Makutu.
Renee Karena
He tuhanga ahau nō Te Whare Tapu o Ngāpuhi, Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapoto anō hoki. Tēnei te mihi ki te NZSA me te kāhui Kaituhi Māori. Nōku te māngari ki te noho i raro i ngā parirau o tētahi tuakana hei wānanga māua. I’m a Barrister working in the District Courts and Youth Courts in Tāmaki Makaurau. I’ve written a handful of articles for the online magazine E-Tangata. I write non-fiction in both English and Māori. I also write poetry with a focus on contemporary issues and in both languages. I’ve been researching and writing my grandmother’s biography for around nine years. My grandmother lived a fascinating life. I believe it is important for Māori to write about our tūpuna. There is richness in their stories. It is for Māori to tell the stories of our forebears – rangatiratanga over our stories rests with us.
Renee will be mentored by Atakohu Middleton.
Kitty Moran
Kitty Moran (Waikato-Tainui) is a māmā who lives with her husband and two young tama in Waitaha Canterbury. She has been writing for as long as she can remember, often just little scraps of a story here and there, and comes from a whānau of creatives. Growing up in a predominantly pākehā environment, she has been embracing te ao māori in her life. Her writing leans on her sensitivity to the stories of life and touches on themes of mental health, grief, Māori-Pākehā identity, relationships, and motherhood. Although she is as of yet unpublished, she is hoping to bring her stories to the world and encourage readers to reconnect to their Māori heritage as she has been.
Kitty will be mentored by Shelley Burne-Field.
Rosemary Putaranui
Tena Koutou Katoa my name is Rosemary Putaranui I am of Maaori descent. My tribal affiliations belong to Waikato, Kahungunu and Nga Puhi. I was raised in a small rural community on the West coast of the North island in a small community called ‘Tahaaroa’ within the Waikato Tribe. Access is defined by one road in and one road out allowing for a rich environment which fostered my deep understanding of Te Ao Maori and crystalised ethics of the Kingitanga. Thank you, Tuupuna. I currently reside in Raglan with my husband. I am a Daughter, Mother, Nanny, Sister and Aunty and consider this to be an important part of who I am and vital to the stories that I write about. This may sound simple in its onset. These identities fuel my writing with passion, laughter, tears and great respect for my Upbringing. Short Fiction captures the essence! Naaku Noa Rose.
Rosemary will be mentored by Emma Hislop.
Kupu Kaitiaki manuscript assessment programme recipients:
Therese Cargo
Ko Thérèse Cargo tōku ingoa (Kai Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Pākehā). With over thirty years of experience spanning mainstream and specialist education, I bring a deep understanding of learning to my writing practice. My passion for writing was ignited during the 2010/2011 National Writing Project, where I focused on developing authentic writing skills in both myself and my students. Following the announcement of the New Zealand Histories Curriculum in 2019, I conceived the idea for this young adult historical fiction novel. I am thrilled to finally bring it to life with the support of the NZSA Kupu Kaitiaki Programme.
Kerry Lee Marsden
Kerry Lee Marsden (Ngāti Kāhu, Te Rarawa, Ngāi Takoto) a proud clan tribal woman. I am delighted to be a programme recipient and considered a new and emerging writer. My grandmother was published and owned a black Imperial typewriter. She and my mother read profusely, it was our job as kids, to carry their bag-of-books to and from the library every week. We are McIvor’s. Southland Scots, clan people, strong, gritty and aware. Far from my dad’s Māori roots in Northland. Those roots grew as him, a powerful tree that sheltered and protected us back then, as we worked, laughed, loved and played. I write for them, my mokopuna and whānau. My introductory attempt at storytelling is Wild Beautiful Things, the first part of a novella trilogy in children/young adult fantasy sci fi genre. I hope this exciting opportunity develops the manuscript for publication and my writing as a Māori voice.
Ofam: Somalia IPC Reaction
Source: Oxfam Aotearoa
Reacting to the UN’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) published today for Somalia which shows that over 6 million people are experiencing hunger (IPC Phase 3 or above), including nearly 1.9 million in emergency levels (IPC Phase 4), Oxfam’s Somalia Humanitarian lead, Sameer Kariya said:
“Somalia is once again sliding dangerously close to catastrophe. More than 6 million people – nearly one in every three people is struggling to find food.
“Three poor rainy seasons have pushed communities in the country at risk of famine particularly in Burhakaba district of Bay region where worsening acute malnutrition and the projected failure of the Gu rains (April-June rainy season) threaten to deepen the crisis.
“Water sources have dried up while crops and livestock continue to be wiped out and families are forced to abandon their homes in search of water and pasture. For communities and particularly women, it’s no longer about rebuilding but surviving to find at least one meal a day to keep their children alive.”
“The conflict in the Middle East is further driving up the cost of living with food prices rising by 30% and fuel costs increasing by 50% putting basic necessities out of reach for millions of people. Disruption to supply routes are also making it significantly harder and more expensive to deliver lifesaving aid to those most in need, with no foreseeable end to the blockage, Oxfam fears prices of the basic commodities will continue to exacerbate further.
“Somalia has also suffered heavy funding cuts which continue to undermine its response and are forcing aid agencies to make the impossible choices as to who gets support and who doesn’t.
“The world must not wait for famine to be declared before acting – by then, countless lives will have been lost. Urgent support must be delivered immediately.”
Notes
- Poor rains and rising costs drive urgent food and nutrition needs with risk of famine in one area according to the latest IPC findings: https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-150/en/
- The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan estimates that 4.8 million people require humanitarian assistance, with 2.4 million targeted under the response. Funding levels remain critically low, limiting response capacity at a time of increasing needs
Universities – New undergraduate health programmes to prepare future health workforce – UoA
Source: University of Auckland (UoA)
A major overhaul of the University of Auckland’s health programmes expands study options, creates flexibility and prepares graduates for the future health workforce.
Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland has announced a major redesign of its undergraduate health programmes, creating clearer and more flexible pathways into a wide range of health careers and strengthening the foundations required for clinical health careers.
The changes, the most significant overhaul of the University’s undergraduate health offerings in decades, will take effect from 2027 and are designed to broaden student choice, improve equity and well-being, and ensure graduates are well prepared for the evolving needs of Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system.
Strengthened undergraduate programmes
|
Key programme changes include:
Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Professor Warwick Bagg, says the redesign delivers strong, standalone qualifications that build future‑focused skills and gives students robust career options beyond clinical work.
“Our health system is facing increasingly complex challenges, and health careers are evolving,” Bagg says.
“As an education provider, we have a responsibility to prepare students not just for today’s workforce, but for what lies ahead.
“These redesigned programmes open up new possibilities for students and support the development of modern skills and new ways of thinking needed across the health sector.”
Bagg says the changes strengthen pathways into non‑clinical health careers, reducing the pressure of an all‑or‑nothing race into clinical programmes and recognising the need to view health in a broader context beyond traditional clinical roles.
“Impactful careers in health take many forms, and many students benefit from the chance to explore where their interests and strengths best fit. The ability to combine complementary majors will also increase graduates’ employability and long-term career resilience.
“Not every capable student ends up in a clinical programme. These degrees give students a strong option for meaningful, impactful careers across science, policy, data, innovation and community health.”
He says a case in point is the new Bachelor of Biomedical Science.
“Students will be in a cohort and can now study health conditions, such as diabetes or cancer, from multiple perspectives, in an integrated way, as they progress through the degree, which better prepares graduates for laboratory science, research, biotechnology and postgraduate study.”
Updated selection into clinical programmes
Alongside the programme redesign, the University is modernising how students are selected into its medical programmes, and there are also updates to the Pharmacy, Optometry and Medical Imaging admissions processes.
From 2027, applicants to the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) will still need to achieve a minimum GPA of 6.0 (B+). Final selection will then be based on performance in a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) and a situational judgement test (CASPer), replacing the current UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test).
These modern tools assess communication, decision-making and professional judgement, qualities Bagg says are vital to ensure safe and effective clinical practice.
“Excellence in healthcare relies on more than academic results alone, but this does not mean standards are being lowered,” Bagg says.
He says selection is rigorous and robust and a strong academic standard remains in place.
“What’s changing is how we define excellence once that standard is achieved. Evidence shows that once the academic threshold is met, there is little value in ranking applicants on very small GPA differences, and that MMI performance is a stronger indicator of how someone will perform when assessing clinical competence.”
He says the University is combining selection tools used internationally. “It helps us select well-rounded candidates, not just strong test-takers.”
The changes are also expected to improve the experience of first-year students across all health programmes, supporting a more diverse intake into health studies.
“The current model has fostered an overly competitive environment, even for students not aiming for clinical pathways,” Bagg says. “We want to foster collaboration and a sense that there are multiple valid pathways into meaningful health careers.
“Right now, success in admission is too closely linked to socio-economic advantage. We want to ensure more capable students see medicine as a realistic option so that our future health workforce is reflective of our society.”
Applicants to Pharmacy, Optometry and Medical Imaging will continue to be ranked using a combination of GPA and MMI performance. From 2026, the MMIs for all four clinical programmes will be delivered in an asynchronous format, with applicants recording timed responses to standardised pre-recorded questions rather than attending live interviews.
Bagg says this format allows all applicants to respond to the same questions in a structured format, improving consistency in assessment.
The University will also introduce a standardised Guaranteed Entry Score of 200 for school-leavers across all undergraduate health programmes, replacing existing variations between degrees.
Current first-year students applying for entry into clinical programmes starting in 2027 are not affected, with existing criteria remaining in place for those cohorts.
The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, established in 1968, is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading faculties for health education and research. Its programmes are developed in partnership with health professionals and combine strong academic foundations with real‑world clinical experience.
|
Government Cuts – Nicola Willis sets out reckless plan to savage public services and sack 10,000 public servants – PSA
Source: PSA
The Finance Minister today is laying out a plan to devastate the public service and sack thousands of dedicated workers, further damaging the services New Zealanders rely on.
In pre-Budget speech Nicola Willis today will set out a radical plan to savage the public service by merging departments, using more AI and setting a target to reduce the public service headcount to about 1% of the population by 2029.
Based on Stats NZ population projections of 5.5 million, that would mean a workforce of roughly 55,000 – meaning up to 10,000 public servants will lose their jobs.
“This is an act of wilful destruction. It will devastate the services New Zealanders rely on every single day. This is irresponsible and reckless and make no mistake the price will be high,” said Duane Leo National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The Government needs to tell New Zealanders now which services they’re going to lose. Vague talk of mergers and headcount targets is not good enough.
“Will there be fewer biosecurity officers keeping pests and diseases out of the country? Fewer social workers protecting vulnerable children? Fewer people stopping online harm, child exploitation and scams? Which conservation projects will stop? Which communities will lose access to the services they depend on?
“This can only mean less with less, and all New Zealanders will be worse off.
“This is all about choices. This Government has chosen to give tax breaks to landlords and big tobacco. How can this be smart economics when our population is growing, when climate change is with us, and when our infrastructure challenges have never been bigger?
“An arbitrary headcount target is not a plan. You don’t plan a workforce by picking a number that sounds good in a pre-Budget speech.
“Willis talks about using digitisation and AI as a justification for sacking thousands of workers. The PSA has called for an approach to AI that maximises the benefits and prevents negative impacts for workers and the public. Linking AI to an arbitrary headcount target does exactly the opposite – it turns technology into a threat rather than a tool.
“Department mergers are a recipe for more chaos. Every restructure costs money, drives experienced people out the door, and grinds critical work to a halt for years.
“These cuts will further devastate Wellington’s economy, which has already been hammered by two years of public service job losses.
“New Zealanders deserve to know before the election, not after – which services will be cut? Which communities will be worse off? If the Government is so confident this is the right path, it should tell voters exactly what it means for them. Show us the evidence,” said Duane Leo.
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.