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Local News – Porirua to light up for Matariki

Source: Porirua City Council

Porirua is set to shine as we celebrate Matariki for 2025.
The night sky will twinkle once more inside Te Rauparaha Arena, with delicious hāngi, performances and interactive displays, while our harbourside has a beautiful light display planned.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says the long weekend and city activities are a perfect chance to connect with whānau and take part in what makes Matariki special – acknowledging our past, relishing our present, and looking forward to a positive future.
“This long weekend has fast become an important time on our city calendar and I love how we gear up to celebrate life, give thanks and recognise our wonderful cultural diversity,” Mayor Baker says.
“I can’t wait to see residents out, enjoying the night walk or heading along to what’s happening at the Arena or Pātaka. Each year it gets better.”
From 19-21 June, between 6 and 9pm, a light display on Porirua’s harbourside is a must visit. Dress warm and walk around the water’s edge on Wi Neera Dr to experience something magical under the stars. There will be fireside stories, buskers and yummy kai as well.
On the first night (19 June), people are encouraged to join the Ka kā te Rama light walk at 5.30pm and add to the sparkle with their own fairy lights, lanterns or torches.
Indoors, the wonderful Matariki under the stars experience is back (20-22 June and on 28 June), along with Elvis Under the Stars (21 June), Fitness Under the Stars (23 June) and a hearty hāngi (26 June).
At Pātaka Art + Museum, the gallery is honouring the central star Matariki, the mother of the Matariki constellation, who fosters wellbeing and health. From yoga to artist talks and live music, Pātaka is somewhere for creativity and connection.
At the City Centre Library, enjoy a free storyworld and craft session on 18 June from 11am-12pm with children’s book illustrator Joy Te Aho-White.
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Federated Farmers launches KiwiSaver petition

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers has launched a nationwide petition calling on the Government to urgently change the KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers get their foot on the ladder.
“Accessing your KiwiSaver to buy your first farm, flock, herd or home has been an incredibly hot topic for farmers,” Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre says.
“On the campaign trail of the 2023 election, Todd McClay stood up in front of young farmers in Morrinsville and made a promise that he would make it happen.
“I’m sure he had the best of intentions, but unfortunately farmers have been bitterly disappointed by the lack of action from the Government on the issue to date.
“That’s why Federated Farmers has launched this petition: to hold the Government accountable and send a clear message that it’s time to follow through on their promise.”
The petition’s launch has been timed to coincide with the National Fieldays, where thousands of farmers, industry leaders and politicians will gather at Mystery Creek.
“Politicians are always out in force at Fieldays, rubbing shoulders with farmers, and we really wanted to make sure KiwiSaver issues were a topic of conversation,” McIntyre says.
“Allowing young farmers to access their KiwiSaver to buy their first herd, home, farm or flock is the number one thing the Government could do to help our next generation of farmers.
“It would shave years of hard work and saving off their progression through the industry, and really turbocharge their farming careers.
“Why is the Government okay with that money being managed by stockbrokers and invested in Fortune 500 companies, but not by a farmer buying a herd to go sharemilking?”
McIntyre says he can’t see any reason the Government wouldn’t throw their full support behind making this policy change happen.
“A lot of young urban people enter KiwiSaver because it’s a good way to build a deposit for their first house. They’re saving for a home early on – not for their retirement.
“We’re asking for young farmers to have the same opportunity – a one-off withdrawal early in their careers to help them get ahead by purchasing their first home, farm, herd, or flock.”
New Zealanders are encouraged to sign the petition online at www.kiwisaverforkiwifarmers.nz or at Federated Farmers’ Fieldays site D70.  
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Energy Sector Unites to Future-Proof Tomorrow’s Workforce

Source: Energy Resources Aotearoa

The Electricity Engineers’ Association (EEA) and Energy Resources Aotearoa have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding to develop a comprehensive 2025 national energy workforce report and action plan.
This collaborative initiative brings together two of New Zealand’s leading energy industry bodies to develop an evidence-based, sector-wide workforce strategy that encompasses electricity supply, energy resources, large energy users, and the service sector.
The report will identify critical workforce gaps, training needs, and future skills necessary to support the evolving energy sector landscape. It will also map the current schooling, vocational, and tertiary pathways while proposing actionable solutions for attracting, developing, and retaining the workforce required to power New Zealand’s future.
John Carnegie, Chief Executive of Energy Resources Aotearoa, says this partnership marks a turning point for workforce development in the energy sector.
“By aligning analysis across all forms of energy, we can provide a clearer picture of workforce needs and better coordinate investment in talent development.
It's about building a resilient, skilled workforce that’s ready to lead the future for our energy sector.”
Nicki Sutherland, Chief Executive of Electricity Engineers’ Association, says the new partnership is a significant step forward for the sector’s workforce planning.
“Through this initiative, EEA and Energy Resources Aotearoa aim to foster a more unified energy sector by strengthening cross-industry collaboration and aligning efforts around shared workforce priorities as we journey towards a lower emissions future.
By breaking down traditional silos, the partnership seeks to ensure that workforce planning reflects the full complexity of the sector’s challenges and opportunities enabling smarter, more coordinated action to meet the demands of a low-emissions future.”
The final report will be published in December 2025 and launched at a national event that will engage government, iwi, educators, industry leaders, and community stakeholders.
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Stats NZ information release: Business employment data: March 2025 quarter

Business employment data: March 2025 quarter – information release

9 June 2025

Total actual filled jobs in the March 2025 quarter were 2.26 million.

In the March 2025 quarter (compared with December 2024 quarter):

  • total seasonally adjusted filled jobs were down 0.1 percent (2,499 jobs). 

For the year ended March 2025 compared with the year ended March 2024:

  • total gross earnings were up 2.3 percent ($4.0 billion).

An annual comparison is used for earnings to account for payroll timing differences between quarters.

Visit our website to read this information release and to download CSV files:

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Stats NZ information release: Business financial data: March 2025 quarter

Business financial data: March 2025 quarter – information release

9 June 2025

For all business financial data (BFD) industries, in the March 2025 quarter compared with the March 2024 quarter:

  • sales were $190 billion, up $6.1 billion (3.3 percent)
  • purchases were $133 billion, up $4.6 billion (3.6 percent)
  • salaries and wages were $31 billion, down $363 million (1.2 percent)
  • operating profit was $26 billion, up $1.9 billion (8.0 percent).

When adjusting for seasonal effects, in the March 2025 quarter compared with the December 2024 quarter:

  • sales increased in 13 of the 14 New Zealand Standard Industrial Output Classification (NZSIOC) level 1 industries
  • manufacturing (up $1.7 billion); electricity, gas, water, and waste services (up $1.3 billion); and wholesale trade (up $1.2 billion) industries had the largest movements in sales.

The business financial data release covers most market industries in the New Zealand economy, using survey and tax data.

Visit our website to read this information release and to download CSV files:

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Education – QPEC condemns Minister Seymour’s campaign to fine parents whose children do not attend school to a particular standard

Source: QPEC

“David Seymour warns of prosecutions this year in school truancy crackdown”

Understanding School Absence – QPEC condemns Minister Seymour's campaign to fine parents whose children do not attend school to a particular standard.  

The Minister is launched on an expensive and fruitless game to blame and shame parents.   This feeds his law-&-order base.   It also feeds his own diet of rigid neo-liberal control of society.   His frame of reference is coercive and wrong-headed, offering no long-term solutions.  

In its place, we propose a supportive school engagement model, with two basic principles to guide the issue of absenteeism in school:  

1. a serious, well-intentioned, continuing investigation to address the complex reasons why some young people are not regularly at school
These include mixtures of poverty; dislocation; instability in life; low socio-economic status; Covid fallout; unemployment; bullying; mental, cognitive and physical health obstacles; problems with transport; bad, uncertain and unavailable housing;  disillusionment with state structures like education.  
2. a community-based programme focusing on school engagement to work alongside families, to help them address school attendance  
NZ used to have local community stewards for school attendance, who knew their neighbourhoods intimately and supported them throughout the year.   But a previous government centralised the programme, thereby undermining the process.  

Awkward questions  

An obvious question levelled at this issue demands to know what to do with parents and families who choose deliberately to keep students out of school.  

QPEC holds that the country should extend the community-based programme above to work as closely and positively as possible with families for long-term effects.  

In particular, the programme needs:

(1) to emphasise the lifetime benefits of well-supported, critical education for individuals, families and communities, and

(2) to listen carefully to families' commentaries on school education.  

The emphasis should be on including people rather than scapegoating them as Seymour proposes.  

Such a programme could be supported by using the $140 million that Seymour has acquired for  his law and order programme.  

There is a disconcerting reality to face.   Some households may have very legitimate reasons for children to avoid school, based on previous bad experiences.   Nationwide, we need to recognise this possibility and develop mature responses as a result.    

We should be ready to address discriminatory processes, for instance, and if necessary to provide alternative education models that are consistent with human rights and sound education practice.  

Above all, our priority needs to be the best interests of young people and families.  

David Cooke, National Chair, QPEC

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Environment – Paddle-outs in seven locations show strength of opposition to seabed mining

Source: Kiwis Against Seabed Mining

On World Oceans Day, kiwis across the North Island’s west coast gathered today to paddle out in opposition to seabed mining, in seven different locations.

The day started in Patea, South Taranaki at 0730 am, with a small but determined crew paddling out in freezing temperatures, including Debbie Ngawera Packer. 

Many of the Patea team then drove to Ngāmotu New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Beach where hundreds were on the beach, of which 130 paddled out. 

At Whaingaroa/Raglan, a 120-strong crew from te whare Ururoa introduced the day with an Arahi,  before around 50 surfers from the 300-strong crowd took to the water at Manu Bay Manu Bay.

In Pōneke Wellington the Island Bay paddle-out was thwarted by the huge swell that saw ferries cancelled, so the team gathered on the beach. 

In Wautakia Bay near Muriwai, a small gathering of surfers took to the water amid big swells.

Port Waikato spelt out “no” on the beach, and did the paddle-out, followed by a beach cleanup.

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Employment Issues – Suspension of Te Roopu Taurima workers unacceptable – CTU

Source: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi stands in solidarity with the 38 workers and PSA members who have been suspended without pay by disability residential care provider Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau Trust.

“We condemn the actions of Te Roopu Taurima in the strongest possible terms and call on them to lift the suspensions on their workers and get back around the negotiating table,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“Responding to low-level strike action by suspending workers without pay for six weeks is an extraordinarily cruel action that has no place in employment relations in this country.

“The right to strike must be defended and upheld. Bullying and intimidation of workers is totally unacceptable.

“These suspensions come after protracted mistreatment of workers by Te Roopu Taurima, including a partial lockout put in place right before Christmas.

“This standoff has occurred because Te Roopu Taurima are trying to bring in 90-day trials, restrictions on secondary employment, while keeping wages low. They have rejected an independent recommended settlement by the Employment Relations Authority because they don’t want to resolve this issue fairly.

“The NZCTU stands in solidarity with these workers and the PSA in their fight for decent pay and conditions at work,” said Wagstaff.

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Employment Issues – Sunday rally to protest outrageous suspension of 38 disability workers – PSA

Source: PSA

Disability workers will be making their concerns loud and clear at a rally at 2pm tomorrow to protest the suspension without pay of 38 workers at disability residential care provider Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau Trust.
Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau Trust is the country’s largest kaupapa Māori community disability provider. It operates residential whare in Te Tai Tokerau/Northland, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Waikato, Waitaha/Canterbury, and a residential mental health whare in Whangārei.
The trust CE Karen Smith late on Friday afternoon gave notice of suspension of 38 workers who support people living at Te Roopu Taurima houses without pay for six weeks in response to low level strike action taken in support of their collective agreement.
“This is an oppressive over-reaction designed to intimidate and bully these workers. It’s unheard of for New Zealand employers to adopt such a hostile tactic in these circumstances,” said Fleur Fitzsimons National Secretary Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The strike action only involved not doing some tasks in order to try and put pressure on the employer to listen to these workers.”
“The trust has a vision to ‘strive to place tāngata at the heart of our services’, this shows the trust is not living its own values.
“Many of these workers are Māori, Pasifika, and migrant workers who deserve fair wages and conditions.”
The action comes after Te Roopu Taurima tried to introduce harsh terms of employment including restrictions on secondary employment and 90 day trials as well as a pay increase that fails to meet the increased cost of living facing these workers and their whānau.
The PSA and Te Roopu Taurima attended independent and confidential facilitation run by an Employment Relations Authority member in Auckland over four days. The Authority member then provided recommendations to settle the collective agreement.
“The PSA did not get everything we wanted but nevertheless agreed that we would recommend the outcomes to our members. Te Roopu Taurima was still not satisfied though.
“This is an insight into the future of industrial relations in New Zealand under this government. It has emboldened employers to try to take away the small number of remaining employment rights that working people have and use every underhand tactic they can to get there.
“Workers and the community must stand up and fight back.”
What: Protest rally
When: 2pm Sunday 8 June
Where: Te Roopu Taurima Head Office, 650 Great South Road, Auckland.
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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Advocacy News – Auckland Business Chamber ‘tone deaf’ in seeking profit from genocidal Israel – PSNA

Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

 

An Evening for Exploring Israeli-Kiwi Synergies and Partnership

Calendar Icon Event hosted by New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub

June 25, 2025 – June 25, 2025 Auckland Central, Auckland, New Zealand

  

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa says it’s astounded that an Israeli-NZ collaboration event is planned in Auckland later this month, and has written to the Auckland Business Chamber, demanding the chamber cancel all its business collaboration with Israel while Israel is carrying out genocide.

 

The Auckland Business Chamber is lining up with the Israeli Embassy to host “An evening for Kiwi-Israeli partnership and collaboration” to be held on June 25 in central Auckland.

 

PSNA Co-Chair John Minto says PSNA supporters are shocked to see such a tone-deaf, blatant promotion of money-making with such a pariah state.

“This is, especially after the International Court of Justice last year told countries not to provide ‘aid or assistance’ which would allow Israel to continue its illegal occupation of Palestinian Territory.”

 

“Any collaboration with Israel assists its economy and provides precisely the ‘aid or assistance’ at the heart of the ICJ ruling,” Minto says.

 

“Even worse, it seems mass killings, engineered starvation and ethnic cleansing, are no obstacle to the promotion of such profit-first dealings”

 

“Auckland Business Chamber head, Charlotte Parkhill should be leading the call for sanctions on Israel. You should be reminding the business community that ethical behaviour and moral standards should have a central place in all business dealings.”

 

Minto says he expects the Chamber has approached the government to have a senior cabinet minister attend the event.

 

“The people who run these types of trade promotions usually expect a senior cabinet minister to turn up and gush about the particular country New Zealand is collaborating with.”

 

“However even a bottom ranked MP in attendance would anger the growing number of New Zealanders who are outraged at New Zealand’s inaction on escalating Israeli atrocities.”

 

“Blatant sucking up to Israel at this time, would not go unnoticed by other governments as well.”

 

“The world is moving to sanctions against Israel, not trying to squeeze more profits out of it.”

 

John Minto

Co-Chair PSNA