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Health and Care – Royal Commission highlights critical role of aged care in protecting New Zealand’s health system

Source: Aged Care Association

The Aged Care Association says the findings of the COVID-19 Royal Commission reinforce what the sector has been saying for years: aged residential care is an essential part of New Zealand’s health system and must be treated as core health infrastructure.
Chief Executive Tracey Martin said the report’s lessons for future pandemic planning highlight the critical role that aged residential care facilities play in protecting some of the country’s most vulnerable people.
“Residential aged care facilities provide complex clinical care to tens of thousands of older New Zealanders every day,” Martin said.
“During COVID-19, providers worked tirelessly to protect residents from the virus while continuing to deliver around-the-clock care under extremely difficult circumstances.”
The Royal Commission notes that older people living in residential care are among the most vulnerable populations during infectious disease outbreaks and that stronger national preparedness planning will be required for future pandemics.
Martin said the report reinforces an important point that is often overlooked in health policy discussions.
“ Aged care is health care, and the Royal Commission makes that impossible to ignore.”
“Long-term care facilities cannot be treated as peripheral services in the health system. They are a critical part of our national health infrastructure.”
Approximately 40,000 New Zealanders currently live in aged residential care facilities, receiving nursing care, medication management, dementia care, rehabilitation support and end-of-life care.
“At any given time, aged residential care providers are effectively operating thousands of hospital-level care beds within the community,” Martin said.
“Without aged residential care, hospitals would be under even greater pressure. Recognising residential care as part of the country’s core health infrastructure is essential not only for future pandemic preparedness, but also for the day-to-day functioning of our health system.”
Martin said the Royal Commission’s findings align closely with the sector’s long-standing message that “aged care is health care.”
“For too long aged residential care has been discussed as if it were primarily accommodation for older people,” she said.
“In reality it is a critical part of the healthcare continuum, providing complex clinical care to people who can no longer safely remain at home.”
The Association said the report also highlights the importance of ensuring aged residential care is fully integrated into national health planning for future public health emergencies.
“If we accept that residential care is critical health infrastructure, then we also need to have an honest conversation about whether the way we fund and plan for the sector today is sustainable for the future,” Martin said.
The sector is already seeing increasing demand for care as the population ages, while many providers are operating ageing facilities and facing workforce shortages.
“In many regional communities aged residential care providers are a vital part of the local health system,” Martin said.
“When beds are lost in smaller towns it can mean older people are forced to move away from their families and communities to receive the care they need.”
Martin said planning for the future of aged residential care must be a priority as New Zealand prepares for both future pandemics and the rapid growth of the older population.
“The lessons from COVID-19 should prompt us to ensure the systems supporting older New Zealanders are strong, sustainable and fully integrated into the wider health system.”
The Aged Care Association said it looks forward to working with Government and health agencies to ensure the lessons identified in the Royal Commission report are reflected in future health system planning.
About the Aged Care Association:
The Aged Care Association represents the vast majority of aged residential care providers in New Zealand, supporting more than 670 facilities that provide care to approximately 40,000 older New Zealanders.
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Environment Groups: Statement – Community Demands Answers Over Glyphosate Spraying in Te Henga Wetlands – NMGNZ

Source: No More Glyphosate NZ – NMGNZ

Community Demands Answers Over Glyphosate Spraying in Te Henga Wetlands
Auckland, New Zealand – 05 March 2026 – No More Glyphosate NZ is calling for urgent transparency and an immediate pause on the aerial spraying of glyphosate-based herbicides in the Te Henga wetlands, following reports that spraying has proceeded despite legal action and significant community concern.
 
The controversial operation, reportedly carried out by the environmental group Matuku Link, involves the aerial application of glyphosate formulations to kill willow trees within a sensitive wetland ecosystem in West Auckland.
 
The wetlands of Te Henga are recognised habitat for critically endangered species, including bats and nationally significant bird populations such as the Australasian bittern. Wetlands also represent some of the most ecologically sensitive environments in New Zealand, making the use of agrichemicals in such areas particularly contentious.
 
Recent documentation reviewed by No More Glyphosate NZ raises serious questions about whether adequate environmental safeguards and community consultation have taken place.
 
Chemical risks in wetland environments
Technical analysis of the operation indicates that the herbicide Polaris 450, a glyphosate-based product, was reportedly used alongside Aquakynde, an additional surfactant designed to increase herbicide penetration.
 
According to product safety data sheets and regulatory classifications:

  • Polaris 450 is classified as harmful if inhaled, causing serious eye irritation, and toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
  • Aquakynde surfactants are associated with serious eye damage and aquatic toxicity, with documented impacts on aquatic organisms at very low concentrations.

Importantly, the safety documentation for Polaris 450 explicitly warns users not to allow the product to enter waterways.
 
Yet wetlands, by their very nature, consist of interconnected pools, saturated soils, and slow-moving water systems that can facilitate chemical movement and persistence.
 
When glyphosate formulations are combined with additional surfactants, studies show the aquatic toxicity of the mixture can increase significantly, particularly affecting amphibians, aquatic invertebrates, and early life stages of wildlife.
 
Compliance questions remain unanswered
Independent technical review has highlighted that spraying herbicides in or near standing water in wetlands creates high-risk exposure pathways through spray drift, wash-off, and sediment binding.
 
Under New Zealand's hazardous substances framework, agrichemicals with aquatic toxicity classifications are normally prohibited from being applied directly into water unless stringent additional controls are met.
 
Regional planning rules, including the Auckland Unitary Plan (Chapter E34 – Agrichemicals), require agrichemical spraying to avoid spray drift into “sensitive areas” such as water bodies and wetlands, requiring strict management of spray drift, operator competence, and environmental safeguards.
 
In complex wetland systems like Te Henga, experts note that preventing herbicide movement beyond the spray site can be extremely difficult.
 
No More Glyphosate NZ believes the public deserves clear answers to several critical questions:

  • What independent monitoring has been undertaken to assess environmental impacts?
  • Has baseline and post-spray water or sediment testing been conducted for glyphosate and its breakdown product AMPA?
  • What monitoring has been undertaken to protect endangered wildlife species in the spray area?
  • What safeguards were implemented to prevent spray drift affecting nearby residents, wildlife, and waterways?
  • Were local residents adequately informed prior to spraying?
  • How were concerns from community members and environmental groups addressed?

Community trust at stake
Reports indicate that members of the local community have raised concerns with Auckland Council and environmental organisations for over a year, including meetings with council officials and submissions providing scientific data on wildlife impacts.
 
Despite this, the recent spraying reportedly proceeded while legal action was being pursued to halt the operation.
 
For many residents, the issue goes beyond the control of invasive willow trees.
 
It raises deeper concerns about public accountability, environmental stewardship, and the use of toxic herbicides in sensitive ecosystems.
 
A call for precaution and transparency
No More Glyphosate NZ is calling for:

  • An immediate pause on herbicide spraying in the Te Henga wetlands
  • An independent compliance and environmental review of the spraying operations
  • Full disclosure of monitoring data, environmental assessments, and operational plans
  • Genuine community consultation and transparency before any further spraying is considered.

“Wetlands are among the most fragile ecosystems we have,” said a spokesperson for No More Glyphosate NZ.
 
“When chemicals classified as toxic to aquatic life are sprayed in these environments, the burden of proof must be extremely high that no harm will occur.”
 
“Right now, the public simply doesn't have enough information to be confident that this standard has been met.”
 
Until those questions are answered, the organisation believes the precautionary principle should apply.
 
“This is not an emergency situation. Taking the time to ensure environmental safeguards and community concerns are properly addressed should be the responsible course of action.”
 
About No More Glyphosate NZ
No More Glyphosate NZ is an independent public-interest initiative advocating for greater transparency, safer weed management practices, and reduced reliance on glyphosate-based herbicides in New Zealand.
 
The organisation works with communities, researchers, and environmental advocates to promote evidence-based decision making and protect public and ecological health.

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Transport groups unite in call for driver licensing support

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

A coalition of transport groups is calling for increased access to driver education and training to help address the growing number of New Zealanders without a full driver’s license.
The group, consisting of Transporting New Zealand, Driving Change Network, Bus and Coach Association, MITO, Heavy Haulage Association, National Road Carriers, and Groundspread NZ wrote to Ministers last week requesting more support for the growing pool of unlicensed Kiwis, which totals over one million.
The group wrote that the recent changes to the Graduated Driver Licensing System would reduce the financial burden on learners, but more needed to be done.
“We remain concerned that this alone won’t be enough to help young people attain licenses at the scale required for them to live full, independent lives and potentially to be able work in commercial transport,” the letter said.
Transporting New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Dom Kalasih says at least 70% of job listings require a driver’s licence.
“For the road freight sector, that figure will obviously be a lot higher. Ministry of Transport estimates the freight task will grow more than 20 per cent over the next 20 years – an additional 60 million tonnes of freight moved per year. With that growth we need a sustainable supply of qualified drivers. A full Class 1 licence is the first step in that pipeline.”
The letter said that stable investment across the transport, education and social development portfolios to improve access to driver training and testing will save the Government and taxpayers money by reducing the amount of young people entering the justice system and improving their employability.
The seven organisations said driver education and testing should be integrated into secondary schools and supported by Government funding.
“Driver education in schools should be a normal part of the transition from school into work,” said Kalasih.
“Without it, too many young people who can’t access support at home or pay for private lessons are left behind.”
The group is also calling for boosted funding for low-income learners to access free programmes, and for the growth of community-based training and testing services, particularly in rural and high-deprivation areas.
“Investing in driver licensing is a cost-effective way of getting people employed, keeping them out of trouble with the law, and supporting self-sufficiency. We hope that all political parties will commit to improving access to driver education and testing.” said Kalasih.
The group is awaiting a response from the Ministers for Education, Transport, Vocational Education, and Social Development.
Three steps to improve licence uptake and workforce participation
Increase targeted financial support for low-income applicants by doubling annual government funding from $20 million to $40 million, with training and testing services delivered through community providers and MSD.
Integrate driver training into all New Zealand secondary schools by 2030, offering theory preparation, practical lessons, and on-site testing, supported by stable central and local government funding and promoted as a pathway to employment and independence.
Increase funding for mobile and community-based licensing services, particularly in rural and high-deprivation areas, from $4.05 million per year to $20 million per year.
About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country.
Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4,700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion. 
About The Driving Change Network
The Driving Change Network was launched in 2019, and is committed to ensuring New Zealand’s driver licensing system helps, rather than hinders, people’s access to life opportunities. The network is made up of a diverse group of over 900 stakeholders representing community providers, instructors, NGOs, Iwi, and businesses that support driver education, training, and licensing. These stakeholders recognise that fixing the issue is not about making driver’s licence tests easier or cheaper. Rather, they aim to address structural inequalities in the driver’s licensing system that make it ineffective and difficult for many users to engage with.
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Culture Art Environment – HĪKOI O TE TAOKA | MARCH OF THE TREASURE

Source: Otago Shore and Land Trust

Location: Ōtepoti Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand

PREVENT | PRESERVE | PROTECT — ART IN ACTION

Hīkoi o te Taoka | March of the Treasure is a powerful travelling public art protest across Te Waipounamu (the South Island), uniting communities and visitors through large-scale art to protect one of the world’s rarest penguins: the beloved hoiho (yellow-eyed penguin).

From Dunedin to Queenstown, larger-than-life hoiho statues will appear in prominent public spaces, transforming everyday locations into a moving call for environmental action. The exhibition blends art, storytelling, and awareness to shine a spotlight on the urgent plight of this taonga species.

Hīkoi o te Taoka, meaning March of the Treasure, reflects the deep cultural and environmental value of the hoiho to Aotearoa. Reimagining activism as a living gallery of hope, the campaign invites people to stop, reflect, and take responsibility for the future of a species on the brink of extinction.

“The hoiho is quietly disappearing from our coastline,” says Jerad Haldan, Trustee of the Otago Shore & Land Trust.
“This hīkoi is about giving the hoiho a voice, through art that stops people in their tracks and reminds us that there is still time to act, if we choose to.”

Art with a Purpose

Each life-sized statue is a vivid artistic expression, designed to spark conversation and connection. Together, they tell the story of the hoiho’s struggle and resilience, reminding us that the survival of this delicate species lies in human hands.

Today, fewer than 400 hoiho remain. Habitat loss, disease, warming seas, and overfishing continue to threaten their survival.

The hoiho is more than an endangered species. It is a treasured New Zealand icon, featured on the $5 note, and a drawcard for visitors from around the world who travel to Otago hoping to glimpse this rare and shy penguin in the wild.

A Call to Action for Media and Community

Hīkoi o te Taoka invites local, national, and international media to follow the hīkoi and share the stories of the statue sponsors (wildlife guardians), artists, conservationists, and communities working to protect this precious species before it is lost forever.

Media outlets, photographers, influencers, and content creators are encouraged to visit the installations, capture the artworks, and amplify the campaign’s message.

Opportunities include visual storytelling, artist and conservation interviews, and coverage of how art-led activism can inspire environmental change.

Installation Locations

Dunedin: Tūhura Reserve, Dunedin Railway Platform, Larnach Castle, plus a roving hoiho appearing at pop-up locations
Oamaru: Cycle Journeys, Victorian Precinct
Wānaka: Outside Puzzling World
Arrowtown: Outside Lakes District Museum
Queenstown: Queenstown Airport terminal, Steamer Wharf, LyLo Hotel.

Hīkoi o te Taoka — March of the Treasure Together

The 10 hoiho statues will then make their way back to Dunedin, where they will be displayed together. The final journey — the march of the hoiho back home — will take place on the following dates at these locations:

The Octagon: 5–10 April 2026
Wild Dunedin’s NatureDome event at Forsyth Barr Stadium: 12 April 2026
Tūhura Otago Museum Exhibition: 14 April – 14 May 2026
Tūhura Otago Museum Live Auction: 8 May 2026

Website: www.otagoshoreandland.org/the-hikoi-project

Follow the journey on social media: #HīkoioteTaoka #ArtForHoiho #MarchTheTreasure

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Rural News – Profitability at all-time high, but farmers cautious – Federated Farmers

Source: Federated Farmers

Strong returns and lower debt-servicing costs mean more farmers than ever are making a profit, according to the latest Federated Farmers Confidence Survey.
Of nearly 650 farmers who responded to the survey in late January and early February, 70% said their farm was currently profitable.
“That’s the highest level since we started our twice-yearly Farm Confidence Survey back in 2009,” Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says.
“It’s great to see farmers doing well after several tough years of rising costs and uncertainty. When farmers are profitable, that’s good news for the rest of New Zealand.
“That money flows into rural communities and the wider economy, supporting local businesses, creating jobs and strengthening regional New Zealand.”
The mid-season survey shows farmers are feeling the most confident about current economic conditions since 2017, with a net 37% positive score.
“That’s a big turnaround from 2023/24, when farmer confidence was stuck at rock bottom and looked like it was just going to keep falling,” Langford says.
“Improved commodity prices are the key driver, as well as lower lending interest rates.
“At the same time, Federated Farmers has been working incredibly hard to cut some of the red tape that was holding our sector back, and we’ve had a Government that’s listened to our concerns.
“That easing of regulation has really helped breathe new life back into rural New Zealand again.”
The recovery from 2023/24 is now firmly established across most sectors, with the number of profitable dairy farms stable at 81%, and meat and wool farms improving substantially.
“Arable farm profitability continues to lag at 41%, but that’s a small improvement from our July 2025 survey.
“It’s been an incredibly challenge year and harvest for our arable farmers across the country” Langford says.
Despite favourable current conditions for farmers, the survey shows many are feeling apprehensive about the future, with concerns about cost pressures and market volatility.
When asked about their expectations for after-tax profit over the next 12 months, farmers’ optimism has dropped sharply, with more now predicting a fall in profits than an increase.
This marks the first negative profitability outlook since early 2024.
“Dairy farmers were particularly pessimistic,” Langford says.
“With forecast payouts hovering around $8.50-$9.50 per kilogram of milk solids, but rising input costs pushing the break-even margin to $8.50, there’s quite a bit of nervousness there.
“Farmers might be receiving strong milk cheques, but it’s the margin that matters. If costs keep rising, that will quickly eat away at profitability.”
Forward sentiment on economic conditions slipped to a net positive 4%, down from 6% six months ago.
A particularly worrying result is the finding that more farmers are having difficulty recruiting skilled and motivated staff.
Langford says it’s incredibly frustrating for farmers because, even as nationwide unemployment rises, they struggle to find good staff.
“It’s a message we keep sending to successive governments,” he says.
“The primary industries are the engine room of the economy, but it’s hard to attract willing workers to more remote provincial areas.
“Farmers play a role in training and looking after their staff, but many challenges are beyond their control.
“When rural communications, roads, bridges, and school bus services are under-invested in, younger workers and families stay in the cities – sometimes even if that means relying on a benefit,” Langford says.
When asked in the survey about their greatest concerns, farmers said regulation and compliance costs are still the main worry, but input costs have risen back to second place.
“While inflation has eased across the broader economy, on-farm expenses for essentials such as electricity and feed remain high.
“That’s continuing to put pressure on farmers’ cashflow and profitability.
“Worries about farmgate and commodity prices jumped sharply to third place.”
Asked what the priorities should be for the Government in election year, fiscal policy was number one on farmers’ lists.
“Clearly, farmers are concerned about government spending, taxation and debt levels,” Langford says.
“They also want the Government to prioritise the economy and business environment.”
Local government reform was fourth on the priority list, up from eighth just a year ago.
“There’s continued dissatisfaction with rates hikes, spending priorities and service delivery in rural areas,” Langford says.
“Hopefully the Government’s proposals for a rates cap, and for reducing the number of councils to eliminate duplication and improve efficiency, will see these concerns diminish in future.
Langford says the best move the Government could make to turbocharge confidence and investment in agriculture would be to pick up Federated Farmers’ ideas for improvements to the new legislation that will replace the Resource Management Act.
“That bloated Act, and the costly and time-consuming resource consents and hearings it entails, has been a thorn in the side of our productive sector for far too many years.” 
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Proposed changes to Household Labour Force Survey income data

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International trade: December 2025 quarter – Stats NZ information release

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Amnesty International Update – Urgent call to protect civilians and respect international law amid escalating regional conflict following US and Israeli attacks on Iran

Source: Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand

Amid rapid expansion of regional hostilities across the Middle East following the ongoing joint United States-Israel attacks on Iran and the subsequent wave of Iranian retaliatory attacks across the region, Amnesty International is issuing an urgent call on all parties to protect civilians, adhere to international humanitarian law, in particular by ending unlawful attacks, such as deliberate, indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks on civilians and civilians infrastructures.
Military operations have spread across the region and now involve more than 10 countries. They have already resulted in significant loss of civilian life and destruction of civilian infrastructure. Israel has escalated its attacks on Lebanon in the past 24 hours in response to Hezbollah’s attacks. The US has said that “the hardest hits are yet to come”. Iran has warned of further intensification and insecurity across the whole region following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader and commander-in-chief Ali Khamenei.
“Civilians should not pay the price for the unlawful and reckless acts by parties to the conflict, ravaging the principles of humanity and distinction at the heart of international humanitarian law and threatening the very foundations of international peace and security. The stakes could not be higher. Across the region, civilians have already endured successive cycles of conflict and mass violations and crimes under international law. Their protection should now be the top priority. Instead, they are facing more senseless killings and repression,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
“Parties to the conflict must immediately refrain from and cease unlawful attacks, whether direct attacks on civilians, indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, or the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in densely populated areas. They must take all feasible precautions to prevent civilian harm.
“As the threat of a protracted international conflict grows, compliance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law is more urgent than ever. Any failure to uphold these obligations will intensify an already devastating human toll and push the region even further towards another humanitarian and human rights catastrophe.”
Attacks on Iran and Iran’s response
On 3 March the Iranian Red Crescent Society, reported that 787 people have been killed in Iran since the attacks began. On 28 February 2026, according to the Iranian authorities around 150 school children were among 165 people killed when a school in the southern city of Minab, Hormozgan province, was struck. The UN has described the bombing of this school as a ‘ grave violation of humanitarian law’, with UNESCO warning that attacks on educational institutions endanger students and teachers and undermine the protections guaranteed under international humanitarian law. The UN Human Rights Office has called for a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the “horrific” incident.
Amnesty International verified six videos from the aftermath of the strike that impacted the school, which show black smoke rising from the partially collapsed building and rescuers and excavators searching through the rubble for victims. Footage filmed from the school entrance shows walls marking the parameter of the school yard and building, with smoke visible in the background from the direction of a nearby Iranian Revolutionary Guards Compound.
According to the head of the Medical Council of Iran, 10 medical centres have been damaged by the Israeli and US attacks. Hospitals in Iran have already been subjected to militarized raids by Iran’s security forces who committed widespread human rights violations against injured protesters and medical workers during and in the aftermath of the protest massacres in January 2026.
The Iranian authorities shut down access to the internet again on 28 February, preventing millions of people from accessing essential information about armed hostilities and communicating with loved ones inside and outside the country, and suppressing the flow of information about violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
The armed conflict has intensified concerns about the fate and safety of prisoners across Iran, including the thousands of protesters and dissidents arrested in connection with the January 2026 uprising. These concerns stem from reports by human rights defenders of explosions near prisons and other facilities where prisoners are held as well as Israel’s previous attack on Tehran’s Evin prison during the 12-day war.
Human rights defenders are also expressing fears that the Iranian authorities have often used armed conflict as pretext to subject dissidents to intensified patterns of torture and other ill-treatment as well as summary, arbitrary or extrajudicial executions. Amnesty International calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately release all those arbitrarily detained and take effective measures to secure the safety of all other prisoners, including through temporary release on humanitarian grounds. Concerns for the rights of people in Iran are compounded by the Iranian authorities’ well-documented record to repeated crimes under international law and other serious human rights violations, including during successive lethal crackdowns to eradicate dissent. On 8-9 January, Iranian authorities carried out unprecedented massacres of thousands of protesters and bystanders during anti-establishment protests calling for an end to the Islamic Republic.
Iranian authorities responded to US and Israeli attacks with missile and unmanned aerial vehicle attack in Israel and across the Gulf region, including in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Media reports and official government statements indicate that some of the attacks, including as a result of falling debris from intercepted missiles or drones, led to some deaths, injuries or damage to civilian infrastructure. According to the authorities in Abu Dhabi, an Iranian drone targeting Zayed International Airport (AUH) was intercepted, leading to “falling debris” killing one person and injuring seven. On 2 March, both the Qatari and Saudi authorities claimed their oil facilities were targeted by the Iranians, and a Gulf Cooperation Council statement condemned “indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks.”
In Israel, according to media and rescue agencies, at least 10 people have been killed and tens injured as a result of Iranian attacks. This includes nine people killed and more than 20 injured in Beit Shemesh after an Iranian ballistic missile strike, as well as the death of a woman in the Tel Aviv area from falling shrapnel. Iranian strikes also damaged at least 40 buildings in Tel Aviv, according to local authorities.
Israel has escalated severe restrictions on movement across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), effectively blocking movement between villages and towns in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem. The authorities have also closed all external crossings into and out of the OPT including Kerem Shalom/ Karem Abu Salem and Rafah crossings blocking lifesaving aid and effectively placing the entire Gaza Strip under siege. Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem was reopened on 3 March.
These arbitrary measures are gravely exacerbating the suffering of Palestinians living under Israel’s unlawful occupation and apartheid and are further compounding the multi-layered humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Palestinians are still living through Israel’s ongoing genocide.
In Iraq, a faction [Saraya Awliya Al-Dam] of the Iran-aligned militia groups, calling itself the Islamic Resistance, has claimed responsibility for multiple drone attacks on Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and later in the capital Baghdad, primarily targeting US military facilities. According to Kurdish Iranian opposition groups, drone strikes have targeted their positions in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq following warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Escalation between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon
Following Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel, which the group said was retaliation for Khamenei’s killing, the Israeli military significantly escalated its attacks on Lebanon, including the suburbs of Beirut, overnight on 2 March. Israeli air strikes in Lebanon had killed at least 40 people and injured 246, according to the Lebanese authorities, by 3 March. Before the recent escalation and since the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, Israel had been carrying out near daily attacks in the south of Lebanon, killing more than 380 people, including 127 civilians.
A new, mass “evacuation” warning, issued by the Israeli authorities after midnight on 2 March, has again displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians across Lebanon. The vague and broad warning covered more than 50 villages across the country’s south and east, and led to panic, clogged roads and another round of displacement for many. Additional broad mass evacuation warnings were issued early on 3 March ordering people in dozens of additional villages in southern Lebanon to leave their homes and expanding the area under threat.
On 2 March, the Israeli military said it would strike Hezbollah-affiliated financial institutions in multiple locations across Lebanon, then did. Israel previously targeted branches of the Hezbollah-affiliated financial institution in October 2024, which Amnesty International described as a likely violation of international humanitarian law, calling for such attacks to be investigated as a war crime.
International humanitarian law strictly prohibits direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate strikes that fail to distinguish between civilians and civilian object and combatants and military objectives, and disproportionate attacks. Aerial attacks impacting schools, medical facilities or residential buildings, as well as the firing of ballistic missiles and other explosive weapons with wide area effects into densely populated areas, raise grave concerns of possible violations of international humanitarian law.
Amnesty International is closely monitoring the situation and call on all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law. In instances of civilian death, injury and infrastructure harm, parties should initiate immediate investigations and hold anyone responsible for violations of international law to account.
“The escalating crisis in the Middle East poses a grave threat to multilateralism and to the integrity of the international legal order. Unlawful acts by parties to the conflict, particularly those committed by influential states, not only endanger civilians across multiple countries, but also accelerate the erosion of the global norms that are essential for the protection of human rights and global peace and security,” said Agnès Callamard.
“It is imperative that all parties take urgent measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including airports, hospitals, residential buildings, schools and prisons. They must also ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all affected areas and enable independent international monitoring.
“We call on the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to prevent further military escalation to avert additional civilian harm, and halt any further crimes under international law against populations who have already endured decades of repression. In line with international law, states must exercise the utmost restraint, refrain from any conduct that could fuel further violations, and remember that they have clear obligations not to aid or assist internationally wrongful acts, as well as a duty to cooperate to bring such breaches to an end.”
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Lifestyle – ExerciseNZ CEO Slams Removal of Physical Activity Benefit by Southern Cross!

Source: Exercise NZ

“Regular physical activity is one of the most powerful things a person can do to improve their long-term health and wellbeing. In terms of increasing life expectancy, it sits second only to not smoking.”

“There are many examples globally where insurers contribute towards the cost of people being active because healthier members ultimately mean lower long-term healthcare costs. It's a genuine win-win.”

“If we are serious about preventative health in New Zealand, supporting more people to be physically active needs to be part of the solution.”

Exercise New Zealand has criticised the decision by Southern Cross Health Society to remove its physical activity reimbursement from member policies, saying the move removes one of the few incentives within private health insurance that encourages people to invest in their own health preventatively.

Exercise New Zealand CEO Richard Beddie says while the benefit itself was relatively small, its removal sends the wrong signal at a time when improving physical activity levels should be a national priority.

“Regular physical activity is one of the most powerful things a person can do to improve their long-term health and wellbeing. In terms of increasing life expectancy, it sits second only to not smoking.”

The World Health Organization reports that people who are insufficiently active have a 20–30% higher risk of death compared with those who meet recommended activity levels. Recent research published in The Lancet also estimates that 7–9% of deaths globally are attributable to physical inactivity, making it one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide.

Exercise New Zealand notes that many insurers internationally actively support physical activity among their members, often contributing towards gym memberships, exercise programmes, or other activity incentives, because healthier populations reduce long-term healthcare costs.

Beddie says the organisation would welcome the opportunity to work with Southern Cross to explore how insurers can better support preventative health through physical activity.

“There are many examples globally where insurers contribute towards the cost of people being active because healthier members ultimately mean lower long-term healthcare costs. It's a genuine win-win.”

Exercise New Zealand says stronger collaboration between insurers and the exercise sector could play an important role in improving physical activity levels across Aotearoa and strengthening preventative health outcomes.

“If we are serious about preventative health in New Zealand, supporting more people to be physically active needs to be part of the solution.”

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Environment – Drone Spraying of Glyphosate Over Endangered Species Habitat at Te Henga Goes Ahead Despite Environment Court Appeal

Source: Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa

Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa is expressing deep alarm following confirmation that aerial drone spraying of glyphosate based herbicides (GBHs) has proceeded over the nationally significant wetlands of Te Henga — despite a last-minute application to the Environment Court of New Zealand seeking to halt the operation.

The spraying, which is aimed at targeting willow, has taken place in habitat known to support critically endangered long-tailed bats and matuku (Australasian bittern), within one of West Auckland’s most ecologically sensitive wetland systems.

This is reportedly the second year of a three-year aerial campaign to control the willow trees in the wetland, and is being carried out by the private environmental group Matuku Link in the public conservation area. The local community has twice prevented aerial spraying in this area due to major ecological and health concerns – including a successfully high court injunction in 2010 against Auckland Regional Council.

“This is shocking,” said Asha Andersen, spokesperson for Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa. “We are talking about the aerial application of glyphosate — a highly controversial agrichemical — by drone, directly over waterways and wetlands of national significance, and within the habitat of some of Aotearoa’s most endangered species.”

According to information confirmed by the Weed Management Advisory, an application for an interim enforcement order was lodged with the Environment Court last week to immediately stop the spraying. Despite this, and many other questions around its legitimacy the operation went ahead.

Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa says this raises serious questions about transparency, due process, social license and ecological risk.

“Conservation organisations should not be putting endangered species at risk,” Ms. Andersen said. “Their mandate is to protect biodiversity, not expose critically threatened wildlife to aerial pesticide applications in sensitive wetland habitats. When conservation work begins to mirror the very practices communities are concerned about, trust is eroded.”

Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa understands that Auckland Council had previously suspended aspects of the consent process for this year’s spraying on advice from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. Yet aerial spraying with glyphosate has now reportedly resumed with more to come on Friday 6th March.

Glyphosate, widely known under the trade name Roundup, remains a subject of international debate regarding environmental and health impacts. Its aerial application over wetlands raises additional concerns about spray drift, contamination of waterways, and impacts on non-target species including people and properties.

Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa is calling for:

An immediate halt to all aerial pesticide spraying in the Te Henga wetlands while legal proceedings are underway.
Full public disclosure of the consent status and decision-making process.
An independent ecological review of impacts on endangered bats, bittern, and wetland ecosystems.
Genuine community consultation before any further willow treatment is undertaken.

“Public conservation land must be managed with the highest level of care and accountability,” Flora and Fauna’s Ms. Andersen said. “People deserve to know what is happening in their wetlands — and endangered wildlife deserve better than to be caught in the fallout of controversial chemical operations.”

The people of West Auckland have a long history of standing up for their environment. They deserve answers.