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Defence News – The latest update on the HMNZS Manawanui response

Source: New Zealand Defence Force

We’ve reached an important stage in the Manawanui response, with the salvors’ barge returning to New Zealand from Samoa and commencing demobilisation, NZDF Senior National Representative for Operation Resolution, Commodore Andrew Brown said. 

“On board was the equipment and debris from in and around HMNZS Manawanui that could not be repurposed, along with tanktainers containing the unusable diesel fuel, oil, seawater mix. These will be processed for safe disposal.”

Commodore Brown said, “In the final days during the recovery work, the salvors carefully lifted the azipod that detached from the ship in the grounding, and the 3.3 tonne anchors with their chains, onto the barge for transport back to New Zealand.”

“It was a delicate operation to ensure the least impact was made on the surrounding environment, and removed any potential risk during a significant weather event. The 
NZDF will take custody of these from the salvors.”  

Commodore Brown said, “We’ve also taken the opportunity to officially acknowledge the salvors, Pacific 7 Limited & Bay Underwater Services NZ Limited, in a small ceremony. Their highly skilled and expert capability ensured the success of what has been some extremely technical diving and salvage work.”

“With the focus clearly on the next steps for Manawanui, we await the draft independent wreck assessment for New Zealand agencies review. Expert studies of the reef and environment in the vicinity of Manawanui, will inform and sit alongside this assessment. These studies will provide valuable advice to inform government decisions, and it’s important the experts take the time to be careful and thorough.”

Commodore Brown said, “Until a decision is reached on next steps for the ship, and the work required for that begins, every effort has been taken to leave the Manawanui as safe and secure as possible. For safety reasons the Government of Samoa’s Prohibited Area of 2kms around Manawanui, remains in place.”

“Directed by the Marine Pollution Advisory Committee working group chair to carry on regular monitoring to provide a level of assurance to the community, the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa reports have continued to show the seawater in the area clear and uncontaminated from elevated hydrocarbons.”

Commodore Brown said, “As we bid farewell to salvors Pacific 7 and Bay Underwater Services, we say thank you for the professional way you have carried out the work to remove the diesel fuel and other pollutants.”
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Port of Auckland fee increases cause concern for industry – Transporting NZ

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

National road freight association Transporting New Zealand is voicing strong concerns over the Port of Auckland's (POAL) announced increases to Vehicle Booking System (VBS) fees, warning these price hikes at the country’s largest import port will have major repercussions for businesses and consumers.
Trucks have been charged $130 per visit in access fees to the container terminal during peak hours since January 2025. This will increase to $180 in January 2026, $230 by July 2026 and $350 by January 2027. These fees are levied each time a truck accesses the terminal to deliver or collect a container.
Billy Clemens, Head of Policy & Advocacy at Transporting New Zealand, is questioning the justification for these large increases, noting that POAL’s productivity improvements have been minimal.
“Our road freight members and their customers haven’t seen an associated increase in Port productivity,” he says.
“In fact, from financial year 2023 to 2024 POAL’s average truck turnaround time improved by only 1.5 per cent, or 17 seconds. I don’t know of any road freight companies who could hike their prices by 170 per cent over two years following that level of performance.”
Clemens also challenges POAL's rationale that higher peak-time fees will incentivise off-peak deliveries.
“ Traffic data confirms that our members already do their best to avoid peak traffic because it’s a nightmare in Auckland as it is. If they could, they would.”
“A survey by one of our major North Island members revealed that only 12 per cent of their customers could accept night-time deliveries of containers.”
Transporting New Zealand is warning that these increased costs will inevitably be passed on to consumers and exporters, making New Zealand goods less competitive on the international stage. All at a time when the Port is already comfortably surpassing its profit targets.
Productive alternatives 
Clemens urges POAL and its owner, Auckland Council, to focus on enhancing productivity and performance rather than imposing higher fees on industry stakeholders.
“One practical option we’ve previously raised with POAL is to lower VBS charges for dual bookings, where a freighter both drops off and picks up containers on the same trip.”
“If POAL wants to improve productivity, it should also look to its 2024 Annual Report. POAL was comfortably meeting its peak vs off-peak truck target, but failing on crane rate, ship rate, and import dwell time, amongst others.”
Cargo owners share concern at price increases
Mike Knowles, chair of the New Zealand Cargo Owners Council, says the time-of-use approach is too simplistic to achieve significant behaviour change as the port is just one part of a complex supply chain.
The Cargo Owners Council believes it is time for benchmarking of NZ port productivity against their charge structures.
“We think the time is long overdue for a closer look at arbitrary fee increases that do not result in measurable service or infrastructure improvement – as things stand the ultimate loser here is NZ Inc.”
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 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.
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Northland News – Finalists for Whakamānawa ā Taiao – Environmental Awards

Source: Northland Regional Council

Finalists have been named for the sixth Northland Regional Council Whakamānawa ā Taiao – Environmental Awards which recognise individuals, groups and organisations helping to protect and improve Northland’s environment.
Council Chair Geoff Crawford says the 2025 awards are the first since the transition to a biennial event. (The previous awards were in 2023.)
Chair Crawford says entering the Environmental Awards helps tell the story of the environmental work happening in Northland and shows that collectively we are making a difference.
Finalists (in alphabetical order) are:
  • Bay of Islands International Academy
  • Bream Head Conservation Trust Reserve Revegetation
  • Earth Buddies
  • Hokianga Harbor Care Incorporated Society
  • Hurupaki School
  • India Clarke
  • Jill Mortensen
  • Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust
  • Ngā Kaitiaki O Ngā Wai Māori
  • Ngā Kaitiaki o te Ahi
  • Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust – Te Pou Taiao
  • Piroa Conservation Trust
  • Project Island Song
  • Roman Makara
  • Te Kura O Hato Hohepa Te Kamura
  • Te Runanga Nui O Te Aupouri- Oranga Whenua Oranga Tangata Taiao Team
  • The Love Bittern Project
  • Tū Mai Rā Energy Northland
  • Weed Action Native Habitat Restoration Trust
  • Whangārei Girls' High School
Award categories include:
  • Environmental action in the community
  • Environmental action to protect native life
  • Environmental action in water quality improvement
  • Environmental action in education
  • Environmental leadership
  • Youth environmental leader
  • Kaitiakitanga
  • Environmental action in business
  • Environmental action to address climate change
Chair Crawford says winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at Waitangi on Thursday 26 June.
People interested in learning more about the awards – including previous winners – can visit: awards.nrc.govt.nz
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Local News – Hutt City Council considers non-binding referendum question on exploring council amalgamation

Source: Hutt City Council

Hutt City Council is considering adding a non-binding referendum question to this year’s local election ballot, asking whether the community supports exploring regional amalgamation.
If approved at a full council meeting next month, the following question will be included in voting papers:
“Should Hutt City Council work with councils in Wellington, Upper Hutt, Porirua and the Wellington Regional Council to explore the possibility of creating one single council, that combines relevant services and functions regionally, while keeping appropriate local services and decision making local?”
Mayor Campbell Barry said debate about reorganisation has existed for some time.
“This question simply asks our residents and ratepayers if they want us to explore things further.
“I will be putting this forward for council’s consideration in June, and encourage other councils in the Wellington region to do the same.”
The move comes after Porirua City Council agreed yesterday to include in voting papers the question of whether to explore council amalgamation.
The referendum is non-binding and it will be up to the future Council to consider the results after the election.
Voting in the upcoming local elections opens on 9 September and closes at midday on Saturday, 11 October 2025. 
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Employment Issues – Community Corrections staff gearing up for industrial action – PSA

Source: PSA

Community Corrections staff – who manage the 26,000 people the Department of Corrections is responsible for outside of prisons – are gearing up to take industrial action.
Community Corrections staff – including Probation Officers and Electronic Monitoring staff – are frustrated with low pay and ballooning workloads further fuelled by anger over the Government’s rushed changes to the Pay Equity Act, says Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“We will be looking to take industrial action if we do not get an improved offer from Corrections, and the mediation, set down for Wednesday 4 June, fails,” Fitzsimons says.
Community Corrections staff are 68% female, which falls just agonisingly short of the Government’s new threshold requiring a workforce to be made up of 70% women to take a pay equity claim.
“Up until the recent reversal, Probation Officers were subject to a five-year long pay equity claim, they were found to be significantly undervalued and their claim was before the Employment Relations Authority to be settled, Fitzsimons says.
“With the ability to raise a pay equity claim cynically extinguished by the Government, underpaid Community Corrections workers will be expecting to see a significantly improved offer from Corrections,” Fitzsimons says.
Community Corrections workers include probation officers, programme facilitators, electronic monitoring staff, community work supervisors, bail support officers, administration staff, and many others.
On any given day, Community Corrections staff work with 70% of the people Correction is responsible for, about 26,000 people living in the community. These people include those: who have been released from prison; who are serving Community-based sentences; who are electronically monitored; and who are on electronic bail.
PSA union Community Corrections members have been negotiating with Corrections since December and have been offered increases of around 1%, further embedding their low pay, Fitzsimons says.
The PSA is balloting members on taking three escalating actions – a complete withdrawal of labour for two, then four then eight hours. An indicative poll of Delegates showed unanimous support for industrial action.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
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NZCTU release detailed Budget 2025 analysis

Source: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has today released a report with detailed analysis of Budget 2025. It covers the major decisions made at this Budget, and how they might affect workers. (ref. https://link.nzctu.org.nz/click/wWXcwi7vG0lR.GT2kQAaAmo6I.JcBgxg8B8bs/awil64su/3s/union.org.nz/a-workers-analysis-of-budget-2025/ )

“This Budget is funded above all by the gutting of the pay equity system, the halving of the government’s contribution to people’s Kiwisaver accounts, and other cuts that will disproportionality impact women, welfare recipients, and working households,” said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney.

“None of the choices the government has made were inevitable. The government could have funded its spending initiatives by raising new taxes on the wealthiest New Zealanders. It could have not decided to give billions away to those who already have much, while cutting services for those with real and pressing needs.

“Budget 2025 also leaves New Zealand’s most significant structural challenges unaddressed. There is no meaningful movement on closing the infrastructure deficit; no solution to our health workforce shortage; no willingness to reduce child poverty or to address the housing crisis; and absolutely zero investment made in decarbonisation and climate adaptation.

“The coalition government continues to kick the can down the road on the most pressing challenges we face, all while making life steadily more difficult for New Zealanders who have the least,” said Renney.

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Stats NZ information release: Greenhouse gas emissions (industry and household): Year ended 2023

Greenhouse gas emissions (industry and household): Year ended 2023 – information release

30 May 2025

Greenhouse gas emissions statistics include the emissions by gas type for both industries and households, the emissions intensity (emissions in relation to GDP/economic output) for industries, and tourism-related emissions.

Industry and household emissions estimates use the latest New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Inventory data from the Ministry for the Environment and show updated production-based gross emissions for the years ended December 2007 through to 2023, on a System of Environmental-Economic Accounts (SEEA) basis.

Key facts

Year ended December 2023

  • Gross greenhouse gas emissions from New Zealand’s industries and households were 78,778 kilotonnes (kt) of carbon dioxide equivalent. This is a fall of 0.8 percent (612 kt) from 2022.
  • The fall was driven by a 1.0 percent decrease (720 kt) in industry-related emissions.
  • Household emissions increased 1.3 percent (107 kt) due to an increase in household transport emissions.

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

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Home consents down in the month of April 2025 – Stats NZ media and information release: Building consents issued: April 2025

Home consents down in the month of April 2025 – media release

30 May 2025

There were 2,418 new homes consented in April 2025, down 17 percent compared with April 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

“The drop in number of new homes consented in April 2025 may have been impacted by the timing of Easter weekend and Anzac Day, with people potentially taking time off in between,” economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen said.

Of the 2,418 new homes consented, there were:

  • 1,148 stand-alone houses consented (down 15 percent compared with April 2024)
  • 1,270 multi-unit homes consented (down 19 percent).

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

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NIWA releases Seasonal Climate Outlook – June to August 2025

Source: NIWA

Air temperatures are expected to be above average across all New Zealand regions for this winter season, according to NIWA's Seasonal Climate Outlook for June – August 2025. While cold snaps and frost will occur, they are expected to be less frequent than usual, says NIWA Principal Scientist Chris Brandolino.
Rainfall totals during the three months ahead are expected to be above normal for the north of the North Island and near normal for the east of the South Island. For all remaining regions of the country, rainfall is forecast to be near normal or above normal.
Higher than normal atmospheric pressure is expected to the east of the country, leading to north-easterly flow anomalies that may shift to a more north-westerly direction towards the end of the three-month period. Low pressure systems forming north of the country are still expected to affect New Zealand and may lead to heightened risks for heavy rainfall events.
More – including what it means for where you are: 
Please see the attached Word or PDF for the full Seasonal Climate Outlook for June – August 2025, including background, summaries, graphs and regional outlooks . 
The SCO is also available via the NIWA website:  Seasonal Climate Outlook June – August 2025 | NIWA
Watch the video presentation of the Seasonal Climate Outlook with Principal Scientist – Forecasting and Media, Chris Brandolino for more detailed week-by-week rainfall tr

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Smokefree 2025: A promise gone up in smoke – Asthma Foundation

Source: Asthma and Respiratory Foundation

Smokefree 2025 was within reach. Now, it’s a milestone we’re set to miss.
As the globe marks World Smokefree Day this Saturday, 31 May, the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ is reminding Kiwis that this was the year New Zealand was meant to become smokefree.
“Instead, the Government rolled back the clock and stoked the fire, derailing years of public health progress,” Foundation Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says.
Ms Harding says there is little to celebrate and much to be concerned about.
“We were on track to lead the world in tobacco control, now we appear to be leading the world in vaping.
“Our previous Smokefree laws were bold, evidence-based, and targeted at protecting future generations, but the repeal of those measures blindsided everyone.”
The Foundation has been one of the strongest advocates for a smokefree Aotearoa for many years.
It backed policies that would have phased out tobacco sales for future generations, reduced nicotine levels, and supported drastically cutting the number of retailers.
Back in 2021, the Foundation celebrated the bold steps taken toward Smokefree 2025, calling it a “significant step forward” in reducing respiratory disease and health inequities, particularly for Māori and Pacific communities.
Fast forward to today, and the mood has shifted.
The Foundation has been vocal in its disappointment over the coalition Government’s decision to roll back key Smokefree laws, warning about the implications to the health of New Zealanders and a missed opportunity to lead the world in tobacco control.
At the same time, the Foundation is deeply concerned by the new approach to achieving Smokefree Aotearoa – simply shifting the problem to vapes.
“The Government’s strategy seems to be ‘let’s just add vapes to the mix’, which is just another product that has harmful health effects and ensures future generations are nicotine dependent,” said Ms Harding.
“As we have said previously, that rationale is like letting stoats in to eradicate rabbits – that’s not a solution.
“We’re not breaking the cycle of nicotine dependency – we’re just redirecting it,” she says.
“Let’s free Aotearoa from the shackles of big tobacco, who make money on the back of nicotine dependency.”
The goal shouldn’t just be a smokefree New Zealand – it should be vape-free too, Ms Harding says.
“Otherwise, we’re just chasing a new kind of addiction – and calling it progress.”