Posts

Posted on

Business Canterbury – Our moment is now: Private sector leads development of ambition for Canterbury

Source: Business Canterbury

Business Canterbury formally launched the Canterbury Ambition last night at its annual Back to Business event, a sold-out gathering held at the region’s brand-new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre.

Business Canterbury’s Chief Executive Leeann Watson says, “Canterbury is ready to lead, and we’re not waiting for government to tell us what our future should look like. The Ambition is a shared vision – led by the private sector and supported by local government – which seeks to lock in the confidence and momentum we’re seeing across our region right now.”

“Through conversations with both local government and business leaders, we quickly reached a consensus that the connection between our environment, innovative spirit, and affordable housing and lifestyle is what sets us apart and should underpin our growth story moving forward.”

“Announcing this piece of work in a room full of bold thinkers and doers felt incredibly fitting. The energy in the room spoke to the ambition and optimism building across Canterbury. We are delighted to have this work now live, and we’re looking forward to progressing it alongside the businesses and leaders who helped shape it.”

Where we are today is just the starting point for significant work ahead — creating a tangible roadmap and shared work across both the public and private sectors.

A summary document, a launch video and further information on the Canterbury Ambition is available at: https://www.businesscanterbury.co.nz/canterbury-ambition

Business Canterbury, formerly Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, is the second largest Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand and the largest business support organisation in the South Island. It advocates on behalf of its members for an environment more favourable to innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.

Posted on

Household Economic Survey population rebase: Year ended June 2019 to 2024 – Stats NZ methods paper

Posted on

About the transition from the Household Economic Survey to the Household Income and Living Survey – Stats NZ methods paper

Posted on

EMA backs broad direction of new Health and Safety Bill – but warns key gaps must be fixed

Source: EMA

The Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) says the government’s new Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill takes a constructive step towards a modern, risk-based system – but warns several significant issues must be addressed through the submission and select committee process.
EMA Manager of Employment Relations and Safety Paul Jarvie says a risk-focused framework is the right direction. However, there are flaws and inconsistencies that could undermine its intent.
“A modern, risk-based approach is different to what we currently have, but the current approach isn’t working. So it’s worth trying this – a framework successfully used in other jurisdictions around the world.
“We do have concerns about the proposed exemptions for smaller businesses (fewer than 20 employees), as size has no bearing on risk, and some of the proposed exemptions could create new problems rather than solving old ones.”
The proposed bill limits these businesses’ requirements to identify and manage critical risks. Businesses with more than 20 workers, however, would continue to be responsible for managing all risks, not just critical ones.
However, the greatest cause of workplace injuries across all sectors is strains, sprains, and back injuries. These would not meet the critical-risk criteria and therefore would not be required to be identified or managed.
Jarvie says this creates a problematic disconnect.
“It’s vital that businesses collect all this data – for example, incident and near-miss reports – to understand what is potentially going to happen next. Low-level injuries can often help identify a more significant issue. Workplace violence, fatigue, and stress are other examples of issues employers need to identify and manage but which would not meet the critical-risk criteria,” he says.
“Creating a distinction between a small business and a large business doesn’t make any sense when both could have the same risks and injury profiles.”
Another challenge is allowing other legislation to override health and safety requirements if those duties are already covered elsewhere.
Jarvie says this creates uncertainty and could lead to unintended consequences.
“We already see conflicting requirements between agencies – for example, between land transport rules and health and safety guidance. Without clearer definitions, the bill risks widening those gaps.”
The EMA strongly supports the bill’s proposed industry-led Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) and its clearer distinction between governance and operational duties.
However, Jarvie says the absence of draft regulations could add confusion.
“We urgently need regulations to support the current Health and Safety at Work Act. It’s critical that we see them and that they align with and direct the bill’s intent.”
Jarvie says the success of the reforms will rely on a well-resourced, modern regulator that works collaboratively with business, similar to the Swedish system.
“Employers need confidence that they’ll receive consistent, practical advice. Without that, the risk-based model won’t deliver the improvements we all want.”
“Overall, we support the Bill’s intent,” Jarvie says. “But several significant issues need to be addressed to avoid unintended consequences. If we get this right, it will help New Zealand finally shift its stubborn health and safety performance.”
The EMA will continue reviewing the legislation in detail and will provide further guidance to its members in the coming weeks.
Posted on

Banking Ombudsman puts property partnerships under the spotlight this Valentine’s Day

Source: Banking Ombudsman Scheme

12 February 2026 – Partnering with friends or family members can be a great way to get on the property ladder, but it can come with risks, warns the Banking Ombudsman.
Nicola Sladden said a recent dispute investigated by the scheme was a timely reminder for people buying property with others to have a firm understanding of their rights in a partnership.
“Shared financial arrangements can work well when everyone is in agreement about goals and timeframes. But problems can arise when circumstances unexpectedly change,” said Ms Sladden.
“When relationships end, joint accounts, loans and partnerships can become tricky. It’s crucial to understand how your accounts are set up, and what your rights and obligations are. This knowledge can prevent a difficult situation from becoming even more stressful.”
In 2008, Sonia helped her son Nicholas and his wife Laura buy a home. The three formed a partnership to buy the property and jointly borrowed $320,000 from the bank.
When Nicholas and Laura separated in 2023, Sonia and Laura wanted to sell the property, but Nicholas told the bank they were in disagreement about what to do. The bank then refused to act on any instructions from the borrowers until the dispute was resolved. It also refused Sonia’s offer to repay the loan in full so the mortgage could be discharged.
The Banking Ombudsman scheme considered the bank had acted wrongly in refusing to discharge the mortgage. The loan terms allowed any of the three borrowers to repay the loan. Under section 97 of the Property Law Act 2007, a mortgagor has the right to repay a mortgage in full and “redeem” the property. The disagreement between the borrowers did not affect the partnership’s ability to give instructions to the bank because Sonia was able to pass resolutions without the others’ agreement and therefore instruct the bank on the partnership’s behalf.
The bank offered Sonia $10,000 to resolve her complaint, an offer she accepted.
Ms Sladden said the scheme’s guide on relationship breakdowns and banking recommends banking customers:
Posted on

Privatisation – Te Whatu Ora’s embarrassing U-turn over proposed car park plan – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

Te Whatu Ora needs to go back to the drawing board and prioritise worker safety after reversing plans to charge hospital workers market rates for car parks, NZNO says.
Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO delegate and Christchurch health care assistant Al Dietschin says NZNO members were angered they weren’t consulted on the draft policy.
“Last year there were several shocking attacks on hospital health workers forced to walk to their cars because they can’t park at or near their workplaces. This includes a Palmerston North nurse being carjacked and a Christchurch nurse being left with a concussion.
“Our members provided robust feedback that charging health workers market rates for car parks was not the answer and would leave those unable to pay up to $100 a week even less safe.
“This is an embarrassing U-turn for Te Whatu Ora, but it is heartening they have listened to our members. Te Whatu Ora now has a chance to get this right and consult on and draft a policy that makes car parking for health workers safe, reliable and affordable,” Al Dietschin says. 
Posted on

Privatisation – Govt plan to privatise hospital parking needs to be scrapped entirely – PSA

Source: PSA

The PSA welcomes Te Whatu Ora Health NZ abandoning its plan to privatise parking services across all hospitals for now, but must rule out ever returning to the flawed plan in the future.
“This was a mean-spirited plan, putting profits over patients and health workers and the blame sits squarely on the shoulders of Health Minister Simeon Brown,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The Government needs to properly fund our public health system, instead Health NZ is being forced to find scarce revenue everywhere. This is not how a public health system that puts the needs of patients and health workers first should operate.
“We are pleased Health NZ has seen sense and acknowledged the financial impact this poorly thought through proposal would have had on patients and health workers when household budgets are already under pressure.
“We call on Health NZ to firmly state that privatising parking services is off the agenda permanently.”
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.
Posted on

The Decade That Matters: New Research Shows Which Decade Men Must Prioritise Heart Health (it’s their 30s!)

Source: Exercise NZ

“We now know the decade when men should and need to start prioritising heart health as preventative measures, and that decade is their 30s… The actions men take, or don't take, during this period can determine their cardiovascular health for the rest of their lives.”

“The good news is that even if you missed your 30s, starting now still delivers powerful benefits, right up till your 80s”

“Exercise isn't just about fitness or appearance, it's one of the most powerful forms of preventative medicine available… The earlier men prioritise movement, the greater the protective effect. The message is simple: don't wait for symptoms. Prevention starts now.”

New international research has identified a clear turning point in men's heart health, and it's earlier than most expect.

A long-term study from Northwestern University has found that men's risk of heart disease begins accelerating significantly from around age 35, establishing the mid-30s as a critical decade for prevention.

“We now know the decade when men should and need to start prioritising heart health as preventative measures, and that decade is their 30s,” says Exercise New Zealand Chief Executive Richard Beddie.

“The actions men take, or don't take, during this period can determine their cardiovascular health for the rest of their lives.”

The study tracked cardiovascular risk across adulthood and found men reach clinically significant risk levels earlier than women, even when traditional risk factors are accounted for. This reinforces the importance of early lifestyle-based prevention, particularly regular physical activity.

International evidence consistently shows exercise improves blood pressure, cholesterol levels, insulin sensitivity, and body composition, while increasing cardiorespiratory fitness, one of the strongest predictors of longevity and reduced heart disease risk.

However, many men reduce their activity levels during their 30s due to work demands, parenting, and time pressures, precisely when prevention is most effective. Importantly, Exercise New Zealand emphasises that while the 30s represent an optimal window for prevention, it is never too late to benefit from exercise.

This ground-breaking research is particularly concerning given current participation levels in Aotearoa. According to the latest Ministry of Health survey, less than half of all adults meet the recommended physical activity guidelines. Additionally, only around half of all men achieve the minimum level of exercise needed to protect their heart health and reduce their risk of chronic disease.

“The good news is that even if you missed your 30s, starting now still delivers powerful benefits,” says Beddie. Research highlighted in ScienceDaily consistently shows that improving fitness at any age, even into your 70s and 80s, can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and extend quality of life. While the 30s are an ideal time to begin prioritising heart health, the most important thing is simply starting, wherever you are now. The human body responds positively to movement at any age.

What Men Should Be Doing: Before, During, and After Their 30s

Exercise New Zealand is encouraging men to view their 30s as a pivotal opportunity to protect their future health, with clear guidance across life stages:

Before your 30s: Build the habit
Establish regular physical activity as part of your identity and lifestyle. Consistency is more important than intensity.

During your 30s: Protect your future
Prioritise structured exercise, grow muscle mass, and support cardiovascular fitness. This is the decade where prevention has the greatest long-term impact.

After your 30s: Maintain and strengthen
Continue regular exercise to slow age-related decline, protect heart function, prioritise growing/maintaining muscle mass to maintain independence and quality of life.

“Exercise isn't just about fitness or appearance, it's one of the most powerful forms of preventative medicine available,” says Beddie. “The earlier men prioritise movement, the greater the protective effect. The message is simple: don't wait for symptoms. Prevention starts now.”

Posted on

Federated Farmers – Government must urgently rule out controversial water tax

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to immediately and categorically rule out any form of ‘water tax’ in its proposed RMA replacement bill.
“There’s absolutely no way we’re going to support any laws that open the door to taxing water,” Federated Farmers RMA reform spokesperson Mark Hooper says.
“A water tax would be a nightmare for farmers and growers, undermining confidence in our productive sectors and pulling a handbrake on economic growth.
“The Government needs to move quickly and strike out any wording that would allow water rights to be auctioned, tendered, levied or taxed.”
In December, the Government released two major pieces of legislation, the Planning and the Natural Environment Bills, to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA).
Federated Farmers policy staff spent the summer break trawling through 744 pages of complex legislation and have serious concerns about what they’ve uncovered.
“It’s incredibly alarming to find clauses that give Ministers sweeping powers to tax water as a tool for managing demand,” Hooper says.
“Based on every conversation we’ve had with the coalition Government, we don’t believe it was ever their intent to impose a water tax on farmers.
“Unfortunately, it seems bureaucrats have snuck this one past Ministers, because that’s exactly what these provisions enable – it’s all there in black and white.”
Previous National Party Prime Ministers, including John Key and Bill English, explicitly ruled out water taxes in their day.
Federated Farmers is now calling on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to urgently do the same – because rural New Zealand needs to clearly understand his position.
“Federated Farmers strongly supports the objectives of the Government’s RMA reforms: growing productivity and making it easier to get things done,” Hooper says.
“We are in total alignment that there needs to be a stronger focus on property rights, a tighter scope, fewer resource consents, and far less expensive litigation.
“The Government’s messaging has been bang-on but, unfortunately, we don’t think the legislation as currently drafted matches the political rhetoric.”
Hooper says this may be a case of ‘officials gone rogue’, but serious questions remain about how such dangerous provisions have progressed this far.
“The Prime Minister needs to step in now, make a captain’s call, and categorically rule out any possibility of water taxes to give farmers and growers certainty.” 
Posted on

Appointments – CAA appoints new Deputy Chief Executive – Gayle Holmes

Source: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) 

After a thorough recruitment process, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Gayle Holmes as our new Deputy Chief Executive, Regulatory Enablement and Response, to the Executive Leadership Team.

Gayle is currently a member of the executive team as General Manager, Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), where she’s been since 2020.

During her time at the EPA, Gayle led several significant regulatory and organisational initiatives. These included leading the Hazardous Substances Modernisation Programme, which aligned New Zealand’s hazardous substances classification regime with the UN Globally Harmonised System (GHS) and replacing legacy data systems with a new chemical management database.

She also led the establishment and maturation of the EPA’s Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement function, bringing together previously separate compliance teams across a range of legislation into a single, integrated group. She led the establishment of the EPAs intelligence function, introduction of a new compliance case management system, and the first prosecutions under both HSNO and the Climate Change Response Act.

Gayle is recognised for her strong, values based leadership, particularly through periods of organisational change and heightened regulatory complexity. She has a strong track record in building capable, multidisciplinary teams, fostering a culture of professionalism, collaboration and continuous improvement. Gayle has also made significant contributions to enterprise wide strategy, programme governance, and health and safety leadership.

We’re looking forward to her joining the team and getting to know the people and the business. Gayle starts in the role on 7 April 2026.