Source: Government House
GAZA: Over 40% of pregnant and breastfeeding women in Save the Children clinics malnourished
Source: Save the Children
Universities – Celebrating the Kiwis shaping a better world – Vic
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University’s Distinguished Alumni Award winners for 2025 showcase how their study at the creative, scientific, and political centre of New Zealand continues to help them shape a better world.
Every two years, Te Herenga Waka awards the brightest and boldest innovators, visionaries, and community connectors from within its 140,000 alumni with Distinguished Alumni Awards.
For 2025, five exceptional alumni have been named as winners:
- Dai Henwood ONZM—comedian, author, and beloved entertainer.
- Tanea Heke MNZM—actor and Director of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, nurturing the next generation of performing arts talent.
- Dr Ratu Mataira—physicist and CEO of OpenStar Technologies, leading groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
- Dr Vincent O’Malley—acclaimed author and historian, illuminating forgotten parts of our shared history.
- Dr David Harland—respected diplomat, brokering peace between nations.
The five winners are trailblazers and leaders whose diverse work—from inspiring performing arts students to fostering peace, from pioneering science to uniting us through laughter—exemplifies the University's core values of kaitiakitanga, manaatikanga, whanaungatanga, akoranga, and whai mātauranga.
Chancellor Alan Judge says, “Our distinguished alumni award winners reflect the high calibre of graduates we produce at Te Herenga Waka. They share a profound commitment to excellence and our mission to mobilise understanding and action for a better world.
“We are proud to call them alumni and are excited to celebrate their achievements next month,” he said.
The Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented at an event in Wellington on Thursday 18 September.
Biographies
Dr David Harland is a diplomat and the executive director of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), a Geneva-based foundation that specialises in the mediation of armed conflict.
David serves on the UN Secretary-General’s high-level advisory board on mediation. He has degrees from Harvard University, Tufts University, Beijing University and Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Tanea Heke, BA 1995
Tanea Heke MNZM is an actor, director and producer of theatre, and has been Tumuaki/Director of Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School since 2019.
She is an artist Trustee on The Arts Foundation—Te Tumu Toi and was the 2020 recipient of the Creative New Zealand Ngā Tohu Hautūtanga Auaha Toi Making a Difference Award. She was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours List 2022.
Dai Henwood, BA 1999
Dai Henwood ONZM has been performing comedy for over 25 years, beginning in Wellington at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, where he studied theatre and film.
Well-recognised for his appearances on 7 Days, Dai has also hosted the NZ Music Awards, Family Feud, Dancing with the Stars, and Lego Masters New Zealand. He has won numerous awards for comedy, including Best Male Comedian at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards nine times.
In 2024, he published the bestselling book Life of Dai, as well as the documentary Live and Let Dai, both of which share his journey with stage four cancer. He was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours.
Ratu Mataira, BSc (Hons) 2017, PhD 2022
Physicist Dr Ratu Mataira is on a mission to harness the power of the sun, right here in Te Whanganui-a-tara Wellington.
Ratu completed his PhD in Applied Superconductivity at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. By the end of his PhD, he had set the bar as the most prodigious student to graduate from the Robinson Research Institute, the world leader in such technologies.
The 33-year-old leads OpenStar Technologies, a Wellington-based start-up building a 'levitated dipole' fusion reactor prototype. Multi-national groups have been trying to achieve this same goal for decades, with massive teams and enormous budgets.
Vincent O’Malley, PhD 2004
Dr Vincent O’Malley FRHistS FRSNZ is an award-winning Wellington writer and historian who has authored many bestselling and acclaimed works on Aotearoa New Zealand history, including The Great War for New Zealand: Waikato 1800-2000 (2016) and The New Zealand Wars/Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa (2019).
His book Voices from the New Zealand Wars/He Reo nō ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa won the general non-fiction prize at the 2022 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. In the same year, he received the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Non-Fiction.
In 2023, he was awarded the Humanities Aronui Medal by the Royal Society Te Apārangi and was a semi-finalist for Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.
Health Plan ignores New Zealanders with the worst health outcomes – IHC
IHC is calling on the Government to stop leaving intellectually disabled people behind in health reforms.
Last week’s tabling of Te Pae Tata – The New Zealand Health Plan 2024–2027, signals a major investment in rebuilding the country’s health system.
But IHC says the plan fails the very group with the worst and most costly health outcomes in New Zealand – people with an intellectual disability.
“Despite the rhetoric of a patient-focused system, this plan does not target the population most in need,” says IHC Senior Advocate Shara Turner.
“Life expectancy for people with an intellectual disability is up to 18 years shorter than the general population. Māori with an intellectual disability die even younger. These are some of the worst inequities in our health system and they are being ignored.”
The new plan, developed by Health New Zealand under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, focuses on faster wait times and hospital efficiency. It makes sweeping promises to deliver “real results” for patients and improve “access for all New Zealanders” but offers only a vague and uncosted list of actions for disabled people.
The section on disability is largely aspirational, lacking the kind of targeted action, investment and accountability that the rest of the plan demands.
A silent crisis in health care
People with an intellectual disability face multiple, intersecting barriers when trying to access basic healthcare:
They are 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalised for something preventable
They are almost 3 times more likely to use emergency services
Secondary healthcare costs for this group are nearly five times higher than for others – driven by avoidable crisis care
These statistics are even worse for Māori with an intellectual disability. Māori men with intellectual disabilities die on average 12 years earlier than Māori men without, and face higher rates of diabetes, dementia and mental illness than any other population in Aotearoa.
“This is a group that needs preventative, accessible, human rights-based care,” says Shara. “Instead, they are being treated as an afterthought.”
IHC’s call to action
IHC is calling on Health Minister Simeon Brown to urgently revise the health plan and commit to a focused, measurable response for people with an intellectual disability. IHC proposes:
Comprehensive annual health checks for all people with an intellectual disability – fully funded, as seen in the UK and Australia.
Targeted screening programmes and mental health support.
Specialist intellectual disability healthcare roles to build clinical knowledge and leadership.
Mandatory training on ableism, communication, and human rights for all healthcare professionals.
Plain language and Easy Read health information, as well as improved health literacy and advocacy tools.
A national strategy to address overmedication and poor care transitions across the lifespan.
Disability data collection – including a health marker in the National Health Index and a national mortality review for this population.
“We’ve got the research. We’ve got the roadmap,” says Shara. “This isn’t just a disability issue, it’s a public health failure.”
About IHC New Zealand
IHC New Zealand advocates for the rights, inclusion and welfare of all people with intellectual disabilities and supports them to live satisfying lives in the community. IHC provides advocacy, volunteering, events, membership associations and fundraising. It is part of the IHC Group, which also includes IDEA Services, Choices NZ and Accessible Properties.
Health Minister opens super-sized Boulcott Hospital, expanding health care in Hutt Valley
The transformation of Lower Hutt’s only private hospital including the addition of two new state-of-the-art operating theatres will greatly enhance surgical services in the Wellington region.
Health Minister Simeon Brown cut the ribbon today on a refurbished and expanded Boulcott Hospital, completed after a $25 million investment that included two new operating theatres.
“The hospital is a win for the community in delivering better patient care,” says Boulcott Hospital Chair Sue Suckling.
“One of the government’s five key priorities for the health sector is to clear the elective surgery backlog by partnering with the private sector to deliver more planned care. An expanded Boulcott Hospital will help deliver on this goal,” says Suckling.
“From starting out in 1984 with one surgical theatre and a small but dedicated team, we’re proud to be opening our fourth and fifth theatres, growing our post anaesthetic unit, and now have a team of 115 in our professional health care and support team,” she says.
“The expansion was made possible by strong support from Vital Healthcare Property Trust and the Hutt community – it was designed and built by local companies and includes art from the Hutt Art Society creating a vibrant and comforting atmosphere for patients,” says Suckling.
She said it was fitting that some of the founding surgeons who realised a vision in 1984 to build a health facility within walking distance of Hutt Hospital will be in attendance, alongside a new group of surgeons who now own the hospital in partnership with New Zealand investment company Rangatira.
The hospital opened in a former Argentine embassy house after a great idea from a small group of doctors with a tiny budget. She acknowledged the original founders – doctors John Ainsworth, Chris Bossley, Howard Clentworth, Gary Duncan, Ray Fong, Richard Grenfell, Jeremy Hornibrook, Tony Marks and Andrew Simmonds.
One of the founding doctors, Chris Bossley, said: “I’m thrilled to be at the opening of a significant addition to our once small hospital, as it will mean improved access to healthcare for patients in the Wellington region and the Hutt Valley in particular. Not all the founders could be here today, but I know they are here in spirit, proud to see what their once tiny hospital has become – a significant health care provider and asset to the Hutt Valley community.”
From its beginnings in the converted embassy, Boulcott has expanded in size over the last 41 years and the current buildings along with the neighbouring Hutt Valley Health Hub are now owned by Vital Healthcare Property Trust.
“In partnership with Boulcott Hospital and Rangatira Investment, Vital has invested approximately $25m into this regionally significant surgical capacity expansion and redevelopment,” said Vital’s Vice President Development (New Zealand), Kirsty Bowyer.
“With our expertise in healthcare property development, Vital Healthcare Property Trust helped to deliver the Boulcott Hospital expansion as part of our broader billion-dollar investment in healthcare infrastructure across the country,” Bowyer says.
Weather News – Cool, dry days to start the week – MetService
Covering period of Monday 4th – Friday 8th August
– Dry days to start the week, then rain spreading north from later Wednesday through Friday.
– Cold daytime temperatures and frosty nights, warming up on Thursday, but back to winter with a cold southerly change on Friday.
– Strong easterly winds for Northland, Auckland, and Coromandel.
It’s a dry start to the week for most, with typically wintry temperatures and frosty nights sticking around, and just a few showers dampening things down about northern and eastern parts of the North Island. A change is on the way, though, with rain making an appearance in Fiordland later on Wednesday, then spreading over the rest of the country during Thursday and Friday.
Temperatures are close to their August average for most places, with daytime highs in the low double digits, and frosts turning up overnight from Waikato southwards. Things start to warm up on Thursday, though, with warmer air dragged down from the north pushing overnight minima into the double digits for much of the North Island.
MetService meteorologist Silvia Martino notes, “Many places in the South Island are forecast to experience night-time temperatures up to four degrees warmer than their August average, even if that still means less than 10°C!”
Those warmer temperatures won’t last for long, though, with a cold southerly change sweeping up the country during Friday and dropping us solidly back into winter.
Fiordland leads the charge with rain arriving on Wednesday, joined by the rest of the South Island during Thursday, and the North Island on Friday. The cold air moving in on Friday brings the possibility of snow to higher parts of the South Island.
“If you’re planning to travel on higher roads in the South Island later in the week, keep an eye out for possible Road Snowfall Warnings, as well as any updates from NZTA Waka Kotahi,” advises Martino.
The upper North Island is feeling breezy, with gusts up to 75km/h already being recorded at exposed stations on the east coast of Northland and Auckland. While winds aren’t expected to reach warning levels, areas like Northland, Auckland, and Coromandel will see strong easterlies for the next couple of days, until things start to ease off during Wednesday.
Martino explains: “While forecast temperatures for the upper North Island are still hovering in the mid-teens, strong winds will make it feel considerably chillier, so you’ll want a windproof layer when heading out for a morning jog, afternoon dog walk, or evening commute home.”
Employment – Skills Group Welcomes Government’s Focus on Vocational Pathways in NCEA Overhaul
Skills Group, New Zealand's largest private vocational training provider, welcomes the Government's renewed focus on strengthening vocational pathways as part of the proposed NCEA reform.
Today's announcement of a major overhaul of NCEA aims to create more robust and coherent vocational pathway options, ensuring that young people can pursue valued industry-related learning and develop the real-world skills demanded by industry.
Skills Group Chief Executive Rosanne Graham says this direction is timely and necessary.
“We strongly support the Government's intention to rebalance the focus of the secondary qualifications system and to work with industry to develop better vocational pathways. For far too long, vocational options have been viewed as a lesser option. It's time to recognise and elevate the value of vocational careers and better prepare all our young people for successful careers in essential industries,” says Rosanne.
A Skills Group nationwide learner outlook survey also revealed that school leavers are significantly less certain about their next steps in terms of career progression.
“This is an indicator that the youngest of our learners need more support than others to enter post-secondary education.”
Skills Group delivers hands-on, industry-led training to over 23,000 learners each year – from school leavers to apprentices, to career professionals. With 15 vocational locations across New Zealand the organisation offers a wide range of programmes, focussed on industries with strong employment prospects that support New Zealand's economic growth and success.
Rosanne says the plans for industry involvement in the development of standards and programmes will help create smooth transitions for young people and instil core employability skills.
“We know that structured, purposeful learning – especially when delivered through partnerships with industry – sets people up for long-term success. Students are more engaged because their learning is relevant, and they are more employable through gaining real workplace knowledge and experience.
The reforms are also a step forward in addressing the long-standing gap in clear pathways for students who are not headed to university – only 30 percent of school leavers go on to study for a degree.1
Research shows that approximately 11% of students are becoming NEET (not in employment, education, or training) while 6% are going into apprenticeships straight from school.2 This highlights the pressing need for more structured vocational pathways to support a broader range of learners.
“For many young people, academic study isn't the immediate destination or goal but that doesn't mean they should leave school uncertain about their next step,” says Rosanne.
“All young people deserve clear and well supported pathways into meaningful careers, whether that's in the trades or service industries. Vocational education must be visible, valued, and seamlessly integrated as part of the senior secondary school journey.”
Skills Group is committed to working with government, secondary schools, and industries to ensure the new secondary qualification system strengthens the connection between secondary education and employment opportunities.
“This is a critical opportunity to reframe what success looks like in education. Our goal is to ensure that every learner experiences a clear, supported pathway to their working future.”
1 Indicator-School-leaver-destinations-2023-v2.pdf
2NZ Initiative research
Economy – Consultation on regulating the High Value Clearing System opens – Reserve Bank of NZ
4 August 2025 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua is proposing that the Minister of Finance designates the High Value Clearing System (HVCS), allowing it to be regulated and supervised by RBNZ.
The HVCS is a pure payment system and is operated by Payments NZ. It plays an important role in New Zealand's financial system by making sure that large payments, such as house settlements, are cleared and able to be settled.
The HVCS cannot be easily substituted by another system and disruption to its activities could damage New Zealand's financial system, Director of Specialist Supervision Scott McKinnon says.
“Every month more than $420bn of transactions are cleared using HVCS, which is more than New Zealand's GDP – representing a significant value of payments in New Zealand.”
The proposal is made under the Financial Market Infrastructure Act 2021. If designated, HVCS will be required to comply with the FMI Act and Standards. It will also receive greater legal protections.
“Designating HVCS will allow us to make sure that HVCS is operating soundly and efficiently. It would also allow us to look closely at the governance, access and crisis management of HVCS, while giving us powers that can help avoid significant damage to the financial system if there were problems with HVCS.”
Designating HVCS would also promote confident, informed, fair, efficient and transparent financial markets.
“We really want to hear from all of the HVCS's participants on our proposal. This includes indirect participants and stakeholders.”
This proposal is open for consultation until 30 September.
Key information
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Putea Matua is proposing to recommend that the Minister of Finance designates the HVCS
The HVCS is a pure payment system operated by Payments NZ, and has not been regulated before.
This proposal is made under the FMI Act that came into force in 2021.
The Reserve Bank will decide whether to continue with its proposal to the Minister after it has considered submissions on the proposal. The Minister ultimately decides whether or not to designate HVCS.
Visit our consultation page for more information: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=b10454c964&e=f3c68946f8
Economy – RBNZ Launches 2025 Cash Use in New Zealand Survey
04 August 2025 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua (RBNZ) is again surveying New Zealanders to understand how people are using and thinking about cash and payments.
The RBNZ Cash Use in New Zealand survey is open from now until 10 October 2025 and is being undertaken by an independent research company, Rangahau Aotearoa Research New Zealand, through a postal survey.
Director of Money and Cash, Ian Woolford says that cash is important to New Zealanders.
“As the steward of money and cash for New Zealand, we need to ensure that New Zealanders can access, use, and bank cash. This survey enables the RBNZ to effectively monitor the cash system,” Mr Woolford says.
The survey asks: How people prefer to pay for things, how often people use cash and why, how often they withdraw cash, how easy or difficult it is to withdraw or deposit cash and if they keep or store cash and why.
Things are changing in the cash system, so we are also asking new questions this year, such as whether people may be experiencing any challenges in using cash.
The survey is based on a representative sample of New Zealanders randomly selected from the Electoral Rolls. People will be able to voluntarily respond by post (postage-paid return envelope) or online.
If people receive a letter to voluntarily participate in this survey, they can check it is legitimate by visiting our website, emailing us cashusesurvey@rbnz.govt.nz, or phoning the RBNZ main phone number on +64 4 472 2029.
The RBNZ has undertaken this survey every second year since 2017 and use the results to make sure New Zealand has a reliable and efficient cash system that supports inclusion.
“We are redesigning the cash system and need more up to date information about how people are using and accessing cash so from 2025 we will survey annually,” Mr Woolford says.
The results from the Cash Use in New Zealand survey will inform our work to redesign the cash system and ensure we continue to meet New Zealanders needs for banknotes and coins.
The RBNZ expects results from the survey to be available to the public in the first quarter of 2026.
More information
Future of money news and resources – Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=a134a91812&e=f3c68946f8
Our data collections – Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=fd80923ac4&e=f3c68946f8
Tech – Fujitsu starts official development of plus-10,000 qubit superconducting quantum computer targeting completion in 2030
The new superconducting quantum computer will operate with 250 logical qubits and will use Fujitsu's innovative “STAR architecture,” an early-stage fault-tolerant quantum computing (early-FTQC) architecture also developed by the company.
High-throughput, high-precision qubit manufacturing technology: Improvement of the manufacturing precision of Josephson Junctions, critical components of superconducting qubits which minimise frequency variations.
Background
“Research and Development Project of the Enhanced Infrastructures for Post-5G Information and Communication Systems”: Research and Development Project of the Enhanced Infrastructures for Post-5G Information and Communication Systems
Only 60,000 qubits: In simulations using 60,000 qubits, the STAR architecture can execute material energy estimation calculations which would take 5 years on conventional computers in about 10 hours.
About Fujitsu