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Education – Schools Face Another Curriculum Crisis – Principals’ Federation

Source: NZ Principals Federation

The President of The New Zealand Principals' Federation (NZPF), Leanne Otene, is calling for urgent changes to the implementation timeline for the New Zealand English/Mathematics and Statistics Curriculum Years 0-10, released late Sunday evening, by the Ministry of Education.
Otene says schools have wasted hours of work this past year, preparing for changes to the English and Maths curricula and at the last minute, the whole curriculum framework and delivery mode has been altered without explanation or consultation.
“With just seven weeks of the most demanding term of the school year remaining, the Minister now expects schools to undertake significant PLD and preparation for substantial changes to curriculum content and reframe the way it is delivered – all of which she expects to be implemented in February. This is an unprofessional and unachievable expectation,” she said.
“Schools have already invested heavily in time to acquire professional development based on the February 2025 mandated Mathematics/ Statistics and English Curriculum. We were told to get on with it. With the current radical and unexpected changes to both Mathematics/ Statistics and English, Principals are now losing trust in the Minister and the system,”
Principals report that they are expected to rewrite different planning formats, make different resource selections and completely revise teaching sequences and phases of learning. Principals say they are shocked at the extent of the changes.
“What the Minister wants now, is a simple age-based year by year sequence of learning, irrespective of whether a child is well ahead of the curriculum year level or well below it,” said Otene. The reality is that our classrooms have never delivered a one year level curriculum since the 1950s.
“We have repeatedly told the Minister for the last two years that learning must occur in a framework of broader phases of learning – not year levels – so that we can accommodate learners who, for many different reasons, are either well ahead or struggling to keep up,” she said.” “It was our understanding that the Minister supported children learning at the level they were at, rather than at an arbitrary year level,” said Otene.
NZPF is calling on the Minister to rethink the latest ‘learning by year-level’ approach; to provide further PLD funding and dedicated teacher only days for the relearning required to meet the latest curriculum framework and expectations; to scrap the February 2026 implementation date and to impose a moratorium on further curriculum  releases until the new English and maths curricula are fully and successfully embedded.
“Our students deserve better than a curriculum implemented on the run,” said Otene.
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Defence News – Hercules lights up Cook Islands Blue Light course

Source: New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF)

For the first time in its more than 10-year history, the Cook Islands Blue Light programme has given its teenage participants a hands-on experience with a multi-million-dollar Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130J Hercules aircraft.

The 27 young Cook Islanders were given a tour of the RNZAF’s newest aircraft last week when it overnighted at Rarotonga Airport as part of its work for Exercise Tropic Twilight on Ma’uke.

“This is the first we’ve been able to take the Cook Islands Blue Light group through a Hercules. It has taken a lot of planning but it’s been worth it,” said Sergeant Ryan Merwood.

“The kids loved the aircraft. They were raving about it all day. They wanted to get through the cockpit and take all the photos, basically to get an experience of the Air Force.”

It was a taste of one end of military life during the five-day course which relies a lot on the basics of military training normally given to new recruits.

It is run by Cook Island Police, Blue Light NZ, and with help from three instructors from the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) Youth Development Unit.

Tuakeu Paerau, 18, who is in his last year at school and thinking of joining the police, said he loved the course.

“My favourite part is listening to the staff and doing what we are told. We get more rewards out of that.

“I also enjoy the marching and drills. We are proud of ourselves when we march. We march like we are actually in the military, thanks to the training.”

Tiare Williams, 17, is now thinking about joining the Army after her parents got her involved with Blue Light.

Already active and into sports, she said she enjoyed the marching, waking up early and runs.

She also appreciated what she had learned around teamwork, communication and discipline.

“The NZ Army soldiers are pretty cool. They are straight to the point and don’t muck around.”

The course covered a range of skills, from basic cooking, tying knots, rules around driving, cyber safety and setting goals to the fun of games and even a lagoon cruise – a tourist trip many might not normally experience.

“We provide the good leadership-style activities, as well as drill and marching, waking up early and making themselves clean and presentable,” Sergeant Merwood said.

The teens generally picked up marching and drill quickly.

“At first, it’s a bit foreign to them. They struggle with the idea of drill with uniformed personnel barking orders. Come Day 2 it’s completely normal, big smiles, they want to show off and be the best.

“Just in two days I was telling them they should be extremely proud. They could march, left and right turn, about turn and do drill movements that a lot of our soldiers might take a little while to get the hang of.”

Putting smiles on the teens’ faces was why many YDU staff did the job, Sergeant Merwood said.

“And when you end up seeing them in uniform, it is a very fulfilling moment.

“We are incredibly proud to be here working with amazing kids, and growing the partnerships we have with Cook Islands Police and Blue Light NZ. It’s extremely rewarding.”

Senior Sergeant Epii Poila said Blue Light started in the Cook Islands in 2014 as a response to problems around truancy.

Those issues with at-risk youth had since declined, and now the programme was good for building confidence, offering structure and career pathways, he said.

The NZDF component helped bring structure and discipline to the students and previous participants had since become police officers or joined the NZDF, he said.

“Our youth here love anything to do with the Defence Force. It focuses their attention and it’s so different for them.”

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Ombudsman – Another record year for Office of the Ombudsman

Source: Office of the Ombudsman

The Ombudsman’s office completed more complaints than it received with a record 104 percent clearance rate over the past year.
“We completed a total of 8,163 official information and Ombudsmen Act complaints in 2024/25, which is 30 percent more than last year,” says the Chief Ombudsman John Allen.
Mr Allen today published the office’s 2024/25 annual report which also shows that the number of complaints it received reached record heights.
“Ombudsmen Act complaints totalled 5,269 which is 19 percent more than last year and the highest number of Ombudsmen Act complaints we have ever received in a single year.
“Unsurprisingly, official information complaints continued to increase as well. We received 2,554 of these which is 15 percent up on last year.
“We also managed a significant increase in the volume and complexity of protected disclosures and enquiries, in an environment where a growing number of New Zealanders are becoming more aware of the whistle-blower law. Our dedicated team completed 278 protected disclosures and enquiries which is 26 percent more than last year.”
Mr Allen says the office continued to contribute to initiatives designed to improve public sector capability, providing advice to agencies on 359 occasions, and commenting on 45 legislative, policy or administrative proposals.
“We also maintained our work with detention facilities to identify and address long term challenges that are common across many of the places we inspect. We visited 121 facilities, reported on an examination of the Prisoners of Extreme Risk Unit and published a thematic report on aged care monitoring.”
Mr Allen says his focus over the next year will be on managing the increasing demands on the office, especially in the complaints area.
“A key focus will be on resolving complaints faster. When people have to wait a long time for information, it may no longer be relevant when it is eventually released. That is of no use to anyone.
“To that end, we are already beginning to explore new ways of operating and introducing new technologies to drive efficiencies. We are also trialling new ways of approaching complaints to streamline some processes. I am very pleased with the results so far.
“Finally, I would like to acknowledge and thank the former Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier who was at the helm for most of the last reporting year. This annual report is a testament to Peter’s hard work and the significant legacy he leaves behind. Thank you, Peter, for your service.”
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Fire and Emergency warns to delay outdoor fires this week

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is urging people to delay any outdoor fires they have planned from this week through until the end of Labour Day.
MetService issued strong wind warnings for much of the country on Tuesday, with further warnings expected on Thursday and strong winds likely to continue through to Monday. These conditions will keep fire danger elevated across many parts of New Zealand through the Labour Day long weekend.
These winds combined with warm temperatures and low humidity will increase fire danger, particularly along the east coast of both islands, which Fire and Emergency Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says presents heightened fire risk right through to the end of the long weekend.
“While vegetation may appear green, this can be deceptive – dead fuels, such as grass and leaves, remain present and can ignite easily,” she says.
“A fire in these conditions would spread very quickly and be difficult for our crews to be able to control. These crews may already be stretched responding to weather-related callouts.
“The high winds may also make it difficult for air operations to take place, further hampering our ability to control any fires that break out.”
Megan Stiffler says 98% of wildfires in New Zealand are started by people.
“What we need the public to do is delay lighting any new fires, particularly over the next few days.
“Even though there will be more benign conditions on Wednesday, any fires lit then would have a high chance of reigniting when the wind picks up again on Thursday.
“People need to check their previous outdoor fires to prevent reignition, and to keep checking them over the coming days.
“They should dig right down into the site or rake it to open it up and then put some water on it to make sure it is absolutely out.”
Areas of most concern include Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Canterbury and Southland.
“While some rain is forecast, it is unlikely to fall in the regions that need it most,” Megan Stiffler says.
“Although the greatest concern is in specific regions, fires could still occur elsewhere. We urge everyone across New Zealand to remain vigilant by not starting any new fires and checking their previous burns are completely out.”
The public can stay up to date with current fire risk conditions by visiting www.checkitsalright.nz
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Environment – EPA welcomes High Court ruling on glyphosate decision

Source: Environmental Protection Authority

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) welcomes the High Court’s ruling last week that it acted lawfully when deciding not to reassess glyphosate, a commonly used weedkiller.
The Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) filed a claim in judicial review challenging the EPA’s 2024 decision that there was no significant new information about glyphosate that would warrant a reassessment of the weedkiller.
The judgment released on 17 October 2025 recognised the EPA’s role as New Zealand’s authority on hazardous substances and confirmed it has wide discretion when deciding whether to reassess a chemical.
The Court accepted the EPA as the expert body on the subject and found no error in the way the EPA’s experts approached the decision. In particular, when ELI presented the EPA with studies and literature reviews on glyphosate, the EPA was entitled to scrutinise that material for reliability and to weigh it against other recent reviews by international regulators. 
The Court also considered claims made by ELI that the EPA failed to apply the legislation properly, did not follow proper procedures, and was inconsistent in its decisions. After reviewing the case, the Court rejected all of ELI’s arguments and found that the EPA acted lawfully and appropriately throughout the process.
Recently, regulators from jurisdictions including the European Union, Australia, and the United States have extensively reviewed glyphosate. They concluded it should not be classified as a carcinogen and that any potential risks from using the substance have not changed.
“We will continue to monitor international developments and review any new research relevant to the New Zealand context,” says Dr Shaun Presow, Manager Hazardous Substances Reassessments.
“This case sets an important precedent for how the EPA applies the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. It also reinforces the value of our expert scientists and our commitment to transparency and science-based decision-making.”


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LADY TUREITI MOXON REJOINS URBAN MĀORI TRUST BOARD

Source: Tapuwae Road

Tapuwae Roa has announced today the appointment of Lady Tureiti Moxon to its Board of Directors, a move set to strengthen the Trust’s commitment and service to urban Māori communities.
Lady Moxon (Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāi Tahu) served as Director of the Trust (then Te Pūtea Whakatupu) for six months in 2017. Her re-appointment recognises Lady Moxon’s long-standing history with the Trust and its mandated Representative Māori Organisations.
Awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Waikato in 2024, for her services to Māori health, welfare, and justice, Lady Moxon has long advocated for equity and resourcing to meet the needs of whānau Māori living in cities. Since 2012, she has chaired the National Urban Māori Authority (NUMA), representing affiliated urban Māori organisations across Aotearoa.
Alongside her governance roles, Lady Moxon is also the managing director of Te Kōhao Health, a marae-based health and community centre, where she has championed kaupapa Māori approaches to hauora and whānau ora since 2002.
“Tapuwae Roa plays an important role in empowering urban rangatahi, whānau and community groups to create solutions for themselves,” says Lady Moxon.
“I look forward to working together with Tapuwae Roa and Te Ohu Kaimoana boards to bring about sustainable gains for our whānau.”
Lady Moxon will succeed Kate Cherrington, who has served the Tapuwae Roa board since 2017, and is welcomed by remaining directors Maria Ngawati (Chair) and Awerangi Tamihere, and alternate directors Tatiana Greening, Bernie O’Donnell, and Naomi Manu.
“Lady Moxon brings so much experience across the health and legal sectors, but more than that, she brings the lived understanding of how best to reach our underserved whānau,” says Maria Ngawati, Chair of Tapuwae Roa.
“The current political and fiscal environment is such that we need to work in close partnership with others to maximise our collective impact.
“Lady Moxon’s track record of achieving this speaks for itself – nō mātou te maringanui.”
To read more about Tapuwae Roa’s board of directors, visit: https://www.tapuwaeroa.org/about/our-board/
ABOUT TAPUWAE ROA
Tapuwae Roa (formally, Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust) was established under the Māori Fisheries Act 2004 as part of the settlement of Māori fishing rights claims. As an independent charitable trust, its role is to provide strategic leadership in education, training, and workforce development for Māori, and to manage the Trust’s fund made available for these purposes. Tapuwae Roa has a particular obligation to ensure benefits are made available to all Māori and give regard to Māori who do not associate with their iwi and/or do not receive benefits from a Mandated Iwi Organisation.
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Education – Whitireia and WelTec celebrate 30 years of nursing specialty practice: mental health and addiction

Source: Whitireia and WelTec

Graduates, tutors, sector leaders and government representatives came together at Whitireia and WelTec recently to celebrate 30 years of the New Entry to Specialist Practice (NESP) mental health and addiction nursing programme.
Held during Mental Health Awareness Week, the event honoured three decades of preparing nurses to step into vital roles across Aotearoa New Zealand’s mental health and addiction services.
The celebration hosted by Whitireia and WelTec’s Head of School for Health Carmel Haggerty, supported by the Dean Te Wānanga Māori Jeanette Grace (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Ngāti Koata), bought together representatives from government, including Minister for Mental Health Hon. Matt Doocey, alongside senior nursing leaders from Te Whatu Ora, Te Pou, and the wider sector.
The NESP programme was first piloted in 1995 to support graduate nurses entering mental health, addiction, and disability services. Since then, more than 1,400 nurses have completed the post graduate qualification; with many progressing into leadership positions and specialist roles across the motu.
Minister for Mental Health, Hon. Matt Doocey, acknowledged the importance of specialist training in supporting the country’s mental health workforce. “I’ve been clear that one of the biggest barriers to timely mental health support is our workforce vacancy rates, so it was particularly pleasing to join the celebrations recognising both 30 years of the NESP programme and the exceptional role Whitireia and WelTec continue to play in preparing registered nurses for entering a fulfilling career in specialist mental health and addiction practice,” said Minister Doocey.
“Nurses help form the backbone of mental health and addiction services around the country, and they help ensure vulnerable Kiwis get the right support, in the right place, when they need it. I want to personally thank organisations like Whitireia and WelTec and others for their efforts in continuing to grow our mental health workforce and helping deliver faster access to support for Kiwis. I’ve made growing our frontline workforce a priority – including through New Zealand’s first Mental Health and Addiction Plan, which provides 110 additional NESP training places,” said Minister Doocey.
Speakers also highlighted the way NESP has embedded a holistic approach to practice, drawing on Te Whare Tapa Whā and close collaboration with service user organisations. Carmel Haggerty, one of the programme’s earliest leaders, explained “collaboration with our clinical partners has enabled us to integrate lived experience and specialist knowledge into our programme, which not only ensures graduates are technically ready to engage in mental health, addiction, and intellectual disability care, they have a deeper understanding of the needs and experiences of people who use these services.”
The event was both a celebration of the past and a moment to look forward. “The strong connections we have built with clinical partners truly equips our graduates with the essential skills, professional networks, empathy and resilience to work with service users and their whānau,” said Jeanette Grace. “This approach and continued sector collaboration ensures our graduates are not only clinically skilled but also resilient, culturally responsive, and able to meet the evolving needs of individuals, whānau and communities.”
As Mental Health Awareness Week shined a spotlight on the importance of wellbeing and support, the milestone also reinforced the critical role of education in building a skilled, compassionate workforce for the future.
Discover nursing at Whitireia and WelTec . Programmes are open for enrolment, including the Postgraduate Certificate in Mental Health, Addiction, or Intellectual Disability services. Enrol now: https://www.whitireiaweltec.ac.nz/study-programmes/health/nursing
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Universities – Discovery of new marine sponges a ‘huge surprise’ – VIC

Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
A research team exploring marine sponges in Fiordland has found half of the 82 sponge specimens collected during a recent trip are new to science.  

The discovery of so many new species was “a huge surprise” and exceeded all expectations, said Professor James Bell, a marine biologist at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and leader of the research team.  

“We set out expecting we might find a few new species—if we were lucky. We had no idea of how many different sponges the fiords hold. It seems crazy because we dive so much there, but we have just been swimming past all these beautiful, undescribed sponges,” said Professor Bell.  

Sponges play a vital role in the marine environment, recycling nutrients and forming “sponge gardens” that provide habitat for fish and other species.  

Dr Michelle Kelly, a sponge taxonomist specialist at Earth Sciences New Zealand, confirmed 41 of the sponge species collected in Fiordland were undescribed and have yet to be named. They add to the approximately 1,700 sponge species already known to live in waters around Aotearoa New Zealand.  

The sponges were collected during a research trip in April to investigate the distribution of these animals in Fiordland and how it differs between the inner and outer parts of the fiords. Back in the lab, the sponge specimens were compared with samples of known species held in a collection at Earth Sciences New Zealand.  

Dr Kelly described the study of taxonomy—identifying, naming, and describing species—as “like a good Agatha Christie novel, putting all the clues together to get an answer”. Finding new and undescribed species was “very exciting, although not unexpected give the sheer abundance of sponges on the vertical walls of the fiords and the lack of previous formal research on Fiordland sponges,” she said.  

Sponge identification starts by creating “spicule preparations”, where sponge tissues are dissolved to reveal the calcium carbonate and silica spicules—tiny parts of the sponge skeleton. These spicules are used along with other characteristics—including shape, colour, texture, mucus production, and even smell—to classify different species.  

Dr Francesca Strano, a post-doctoral research fellow at Te Herenga Waka who worked with Dr Kelly, said identifying and describing the new species was crucial for effectively managing and conserving Fiordland’s marine ecosystems, and tracking changes in the environment.  

“Species identification takes a lot of time but is really important for managing our oceans, particularly when there is still so much biodiversity we have yet to discover, often just under our noses,” said Dr Strano.  

The study is one of the projects of the Southern Fiordland Initiative, a research collaboration aiming to find out more about the marine environment in the fiords and how it is changing. The George Mason Charitable Trust and Te Herenga Waka provided funding for the research.

Video footage from the research trip can be found on the university’s YouTube page at:
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Property and Construction – Construction costs have surged almost twice as fast as inflation over the past decade

Source: Quality Valuation (QV)

New Zealand’s residential construction costs have risen around 61% since 2015, compared with a 33% rise in the Consumers Price Index (CPI) — highlighting how building costs have surged ahead of everyday prices.

The data, drawn from QV CostBuilder, New Zealand’s largest subscription-based construction-cost platform, shows that building-cost inflation has run at roughly 1.8 times the pace of general inflation over the past ten years.

“Over the past decade, our data shows the cost of building a standard 175m² home rose 61%, compared with a 33% rise in general consumer prices,” said QV CostBuilder Quantity Surveyor Martin Bisset. “That’s a 28-percentage-point gap — building-cost inflation has been running well over one and a half times the pace of overall inflation.”

Since its launch in 2015, QV CostBuilder has provided those working in the construction industry including builders, quantity surveyors, valuers, architects, students and councils, with trusted data to help price and plan projects. The platform now tracks more than 61,000 rates and 18,000+ material and installer prices nationwide, updated monthly.

Mr Bisset said that while the last decade included dramatic spikes — particularly through 2021–2022 when global supply chains were disrupted and material costs soared — more recent years have brought greater stability. “We’ve seen the cost of construction flatten out since 2023, with annual increases back down around 1% in 2025,” he said.

Some materials have risen far faster than the average. Cedar weatherboards recorded the greatest increase tracked by QV CostBuilder, rising from $17 per metre in 2015 to a high of $64 in 2022, before easing back to $53 today. Shadowclad exterior plywood is up 110%, windows 72%, and steel sheet roofing 76%. Radiata pine clear flooring climbed 122%, carpet 41%, ready-mix concrete 43%, and Radiata pine framing 45%. Plywood saw one of the lowest rises, up just 12%. Construction labour costs increased slightly higher than CPI, up about 35%.

Non-residential buildings (excluding educational) rose 42% over the decade — quite a bit less than residential increases.

“There’s no doubt the past decade has been one of the most extraordinary periods for New Zealand’s construction industry,” said Mr Bisset. “QV CostBuilder’s consistent data has helped professionals benchmark costs and plan with greater confidence through some very challenging years.”

Many salaries in New Zealand have also failed to keep pace with inflation, rising much less than 33% over the past decade, making the affordability challenge even more pronounced for those wanting to build homes.

Over the past ten years, 439,000 individual costs have been updated within QV CostBuilder, helping subscribers save thousands of hours of research time. The platform delivers reliable, data-driven insights, providing ten years of support and 0% guesswork for construction professionals who rely on it to cost and plan projects with precision.

Since its launch, QV CostBuilder has continued to evolve — with new tools like Pick Lists for customised rate downloads, and close supplier engagement to keep data current and credible. As the construction sector looks to the next decade, QV CostBuilder continues to expand— providing the trusted foundation professionals need to plan, price, and build smarter.

QV CostBuilder is powered by state-owned enterprise Quotable Value (QV) and remains New Zealand’s most comprehensive subscription-based building-cost platform, covering everything from square-metre rates for homes, schools, and offices to material and labour pricing.

Mr Bisset added that to celebrate 10 years of QV CostBuilder, the company is offering $50* off new subscriptions for those who sign up by 14 November 2025 using the promo code COUNT-ME-IN. Go to costbuilder.qv.co.nz for more details.
*T&Cs apply

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Employment – More than 1200 ACC workers join other health workers in striking Thursday

Source: PSA

PSA members at ACC have voted overwhelmingly to strike this Thursday, joining more than 100,000 other workers protesting the Government’s under funding of public sector services.
More than 1200 workers from across ACC will strike from 6am to 8pm after the failure of the Government to provide a meaningful offer and ongoing concerns over workplace culture. They join around 17,000 other PSA members who work directly in the health system – members of the Allied Health collective, mental health nurse, mental health assistants, IT specialists and many others.
“ACC staff are being disrespected, their voices are not being listened to, compounded by a pay offer that does not reflect cost of living pressures – they have had enough,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Morale at ACC is at rock bottom – its leaders have not taken on board the damning findings in its culture review which showed that staff concerns were not being treated with respect.
“The latest decision to impose a new working from home rule of a minimum of three days in the office, without consultation or considering existing legal contracts smacks of the dysfunction at this critical organisation.
“These workers have the public right behind them as New Zealanders up and down the country know they are standing up for services they rely on.
“ACC workers play a vital role in the public health system -in their work on prevention, helping rehabilitate the injured and support thousands of New Zealanders every day to resume their normal lives, but like so many in the health system, this government does not value their critical work.
“ACC needs to do better – and that means agreeing meaningful pay rises for poorly paid predominantly female workers and urgently fix the deep-seated culture problems.
“Like many others, by taking this action, our ACC members are telling the Government loud and clear that its priorities are all wrong. New Zealanders expect a well-funded health system that meets their needs today and tomorrow and one that values health workers.”
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.