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Health and Employment – NZNO members vote to accept Te Whatu Ora offer
Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation
NZNO nurses, midwives and health care assistants working for Te Whatu Ora have voted to accept the latest Collective Agreement offer following a close secret ballot which closed this afternoon.
More than 38,000 Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO members were eligible to vote in the ballot.
NZNO Auckland delegate and bargaining team member Dawn Barrett says NZNO and Te Whatu Ora will now begin work to implement the agreement.
“This includes launching a time bound work programme with NZNO to research nurse-to-patient ratios, including applying a cultural lens supporting our Te Tiriti commitments. Te Whatu Ora has also agreed to strengthen its Care Capacity Demand Management staffing tool, by reviewing ways to make it more transparent, enforceable and accountable,” she says.
Dawn Barrett says the bargaining team thanks all NZNO members who participated in the extended 20 months of bargaining.
“We could not have made any progress without their willingness to stand up for what was right for patients and nursing staff.
“We recognise that many members who voted to reject this offer were willing to carry on the fight.
“We celebrate you and know there is more to be done as we continue to battle to ensure all New Zealanders get the care they need and our nurses, midwives and health care assistants are properly recognised and valued,” Dawn Barrett says.
Advocacy – Palestine Forum condemns NZDF participation in military exercises alongside Israel
Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand
The Palestine Forum of New Zealand expresses deep concern regarding reports that the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will participate in the upcoming Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercises alongside Israel and the United States.
At a time when the world is witnessing the ongoing devastation in Gaza and growing international condemnation of Israel’s actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, New Zealand must not be seen aligning itself militarily with a state facing serious allegations of war crimes and genocide before international legal institutions.
New Zealand has long claimed to uphold international law, human rights, and an independent foreign policy. Participating in joint military exercises alongside Israel fundamentally contradicts those values and risks damaging New Zealand’s international reputation.
There should be no military cooperation with states engaged in ongoing conflicts and facing credible allegations of violations of international humanitarian law.
The Palestine Forum of New Zealand calls on the Government of New Zealand to immediately review New Zealand’s participation in these exercises and ensure the country does not become complicit directly or indirectly in legitimising violence, occupation, or collective punishment.
New Zealanders expect their country to stand on the side of justice, peace, and international accountability, not military cooperation with governments accused of grave human rights abuses.
Palestine Forum of New Zealand
Porirua News – War Graves Week highlights those that served
Source: Porirua City Council
Some of those interred in Porirua Cemetery represent a connection to our city’s past, which can be explored as part of War Graves Week.
Corporal John (Jack) Richard Hoare, Private Thomas Gladstone Hook, Private Thomas Bruce Wallace, Private William Pentney and Trooper David Lister are all buried in Porirua Cemetery. With the embers of Anzac Day still burning, it is a chance to highlight these men, and many more servicemen, interred in Porirua.
Hoare, Gladstone and Wallace are officially listed as having Commonwealth War Graves.
Porirua historian Allan Dodson has faithfully compiled many accounts of war service from this region on his Porirua War Stories website. He says it’s never a bad time to learn about the servicemen and servicewomen from this area, but War Graves Week (16-24 May) could be the spur for our community to discover more about those that passed in service of their country.
“What many of us are trying to do by recording the personal stories of those that died in the world wars is maintain their memory as best we can. The service and sacrifice should be preserved and never forgotten.
“What War Graves Week can do is highlight the fantastic work the Commonwealth War Graves Commission does in safeguarding these gravesites for the future, along with the meticulous efforts of the New Zealand Remembrance Army around the country.
“War graves are not just in faraway lands and battlefields but in local cemeteries for us to explore, focusing on local men who died in service. It’s interesting and poignant to hear those stories.”
To that end, Allan will be leading a free tour of Porirua Cemetery on Saturday 23 May, from 10am. He knows the cemetery well and the stories of the men buried there, so be prepared to take in plenty of knowledge.
No need to register, just meet at the entrance to the cemetery off Kenepuru Drive.
Notes:
Porirua Cemetery is a small, historic cemetery that contains 3546 internments, a combination of local residents and Porirua Mental Hospital patients.
There are 165 veterans known to be interred or commemorated in the cemetery. They served in conflicts from the New Zealand Wars to Korea.
There are four men, two from WWI and two from WWII, memorialised on family graves but buried overseas.
To read more on the five Allan will highlight:
Asia NZ Foundation – Experts to gather in Wellington for symposium exploring developments shaping the Asia region
Source: Asia New Zealand Foundation
Policymakers, academics, and business leaders from across New Zealand and Asia will gather in Wellington on 20 May to discuss the geostrategic shifts shaping our region.
The Asia Symposium: Asia in Transition – The Middle Power Moment, hosted by the Asia New Zealand Foundation in partnership with The Asia Foundation, will examine the forces shaping Asia and the growing role of small and middle powers in the region.
The symposium reflects growing interest in how middle powers can help shape regional stability, strengthen economic resilience, and sustain cooperation amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.
The full-day event will feature keynote addresses, expert panels, and facilitated discussions, connecting New Zealand decision-makers with regional experts and practitioners.
Asia New Zealand Foundation chief executive Suzannah Jessep says the symposium comes at a critical time for New Zealand's relationship with Asia.
“The Asia region is central to New Zealand's future, economically, strategically, and diplomatically. The symposium creates an important opportunity for New Zealand decision-makers to engage directly with experts from across Asia, helping to build the relationships and understanding needed to navigate a complex regional environment.”
She adds that partnering with The Asia Foundation brings deep regional insight and expands the networks and perspectives available to New Zealand audiences.
The Asia Foundation’s vice president for strategic partnerships Thomas Parks says:
“Partnering on this symposium reflects our commitment to connecting on-the-ground knowledge with decision-makers who need it most. From supply chain resilience to regional security and geopolitics, these are issues our country offices and teams across more than 20 countries work on every day.”
We see this symposium as part of a longer-term effort to strengthen dialogue, relationships, and regional understanding between New Zealand and Asia,” he added.
Dr Julia Macdonald, the Foundation's research and engagement programme manager, says the symposium reflects the Foundation's commitment to timely, relevant engagement with Asia.
“The Asia region is changing fast, and New Zealand needs access to timely, policy-relevant insights to respond effectively.
“This symposium ensures those insights are tested, challenged, and translated into practical conversations that can inform New Zealand's engagement with Asia.”
New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt Hon Winston Peters will deliver the symposium’s keynote address alongside senior policymakers, business leaders, regional practitioners, and researchers from across Asia and New Zealand, including:
- Ryan Black, director, government affairs, Microsoft ANZ
- Heather Campbell, chief executive officer, Save the Children New Zealand
- Professor David Capie, director, Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, and Trustee, Asia New Zealand Foundation
- Dr Deborah Elms, head of trade policy, Hinrich Foundation
- Anna Fifield, journalist and author
- Dr Akiko Fukushima, senior fellow, Tokyo Foundation
- Sir Peter Gluckman, president, International Science Council
- Professor Natasha Hamilton-Hart, Department of Management, University of Auckland Business School, NZ
- Suzannah Jessep, chief executive, the Asia New Zealand Foundation
- Peter Kell, Foundation senior fellow 2026 and chief operating officer, Obayashi Corporation
- Kuik Cheng-Chwee, professor of International Relations, National University of Malaysia
- Anthea Mulakala, senior director, The Asia Foundation
- Quyen Nguyen, director of CEL
- Professor Pavida Pananond, professor of International Business at Thammasat Business School, University of Reading
- Thomas Parks, vice president for strategic partnerships, The Asia Foundation
- Dr Sinderpal Singh, assistant director, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University
- Professor Bec Strating, director of the La Trobe Centre for Global Security and a Professor of international relations, La Trobe University
- Kat Tolosa, director for governance and resilience, The Asia Foundation, Philippines
- Todd Wassel, country representative in Thailand, The Asia Foundation
- Simon Watt, commercial barrister, public law and climate change specialist, Clifton Chambers
- Dr Zulfikar Yurnaidi, head of energy modelling, policy and planning department, the ASEAN Centre for Energy
About the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono
Established in 1994, the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono is one of New Zealand’s leading authorities on Asia. Its mission is to equip New Zealanders to thrive in Asia, by providing experiences and resources to build knowledge, skills and confidence. The Foundation’s activities cover more than 20 countries in Asia and are delivered through eight core programmes: arts, business, entrepreneurship, leadership, media, research, Track II diplomacy and sports.
Asia NZ Foundation – Top Southeast Asian tech entrepreneurs visiting New Zealand this month
Source: Asia New Zealand Foundation
Nine tech entrepreneurs from Southeast Asia will visit New Zealand from 17 to 23 May for a week of collaboration and exchange with their New Zealand counterparts.
The visit is part of the ASEAN Young Business Leaders Initiative (YBLI), delivered by the Asia New Zealand Foundation in partnership with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The delegation showcases Southeast Asia’s fast-moving tech scene. Participants span sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, health-tech, sustainability, and weather prediction systems.
Paula Da Costa Xavier, CEO of Similie, joins as the first participant from Timor-Leste, after the country’s accession to ASEAN last year. She says:
“The programme is a valuable chance to collaborate with New Zealand innovators and founders, share Similie’s work in climate, water, and disaster risk reduction, and return home with new ideas that can strengthen our impact.”
Nguyen Quang Vinh, CTO of Vietnamese AI robotics company VinDynamics, adds:
“Being part of the Young Business Leaders Initiative provides a unique opportunity to see how emerging technologies are being applied in different markets. I’m particularly interested in learning how New Zealand companies are approaching innovation in areas like AI and robotics.”
Throughout the week, delegates will take part in a programme of workshops, meetings, site visits, as well as discussions with New Zealand companies, investors, and startup communities. The programme will conclude with the New Zealand Tech Week Awards on Friday, 22 May.
The visit is designed to give participants a clearer understanding of New Zealand’s emerging tech sector, opportunities to collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs, and practical insights into growing their businesses beyond their home markets.
Chief Executive of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, Suzannah Jessep, said the visit highlights the value of connecting New Zealand’s tech sector with fast-moving markets in the ASEAN region.
“There is a huge amount of digital innovation happening in Southeast Asia. Creating opportunities for founders from the region to connect directly with New Zealand’s tech community helps keep New Zealand engaged with that momentum, while building the understanding needed to operate across borders and grow in international markets.”
Four of the entrepreneurs will speak at an Asia After Five event in Auckland on 18 May to share their insights on setting up and operating tech businesses in their respective countries.
Since launching in 2011, the ASEAN Young Business Leaders Initiative has supported more than 130 Southeast Asian entrepreneurs to visit New Zealand, while enabling over 80 New Zealand entrepreneurs to explore opportunities throughout the ASEAN region. The YBLI network now includes more than 270 entrepreneurs.
Meet the 2026 ASEAN YBLI Tech delegation.
- Kanlaya, Phommasak, Co-founder & COO, Lailaolab ICT Solutions Co., Ltd.
- Vinh, Nguyen, CTO, VinDynamics
- Aimi, Ramlee, Co-founder/Director of Digital Innovation & Growth, Tyne Solutions
- Matilda, Narulita, CEO & Co-founder, Nexmedis
- Yik Wai, Chee, Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer, Grafilab
- Ana Paula, Da Costa Xavier, CEO, Simile
- Tanakrit, Sermsuksan, Founder, SEA Bridge
- Rothsethamony, Seng, CEO and Co-Founder, Bamnang Academy
- Shenny, Tang, Sdn Bhd & Head of Growth, Innov8 Labs.
About half of children under 5 in Somalia battling malnutrition as risk of famine announced for the first time in four years – Save the Children
Source: Save the Children
About half of children under 5 in Somalia are facing acute malnutrition as poor rains and rising costs drive up hunger levels, with risk of famine announced for the first time in four years, Save the Children said.
New data from the global hunger monitor, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), showed that over 1.88 million children aged 6-59 months are suffering from acute malnutrition, including 493,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM), a 2% increase since data in February.
In addition, over 6 million people, or one in three people, are now experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity with over 1.9 million people facing emergency levels of food insecurity, signalling urgent action is needed to save lives and livelihoods.
Burhakaba district in the Bay region of southwest Somalia has been classified to be facing the risk of famine through June 2026 – the first time such a classification has been announced in Somalia since the devastating drought of 2022.
This classification means that at least one out of three children are expected to be acutely malnourished, with many more children expected to die from preventable diseases due to complications without urgent intervention.
Failed rains, a sharp spike in food price due to the conflict in the Middle East, depreciation of the Somali Shilling in the south, and conflict-related displacement have combined to push more people into hunger since the previous forecast in February.
Suad-, 45, a mother of five, is living with three of her children in a makeshift tent at a camp for displaced people fleeing drought and conflict in the outskirts of Kismayo city, Somalia. This is the second time she has sought refuge in this camp, having been displaced four years ago at the peak of Somalia’s worst drought in recent memory.
She told Save the Children: “The situation is very dire. We have nothing to eat. We have nothing to sleep on and cover ourselves at night. You see my small child has even burned himself on the hands while trying to look for something to eat in other houses in the camps.”
Mohamed Mohamud Hassan, Country Director for Save the Children in Somalia, said:
“Somalia is in the grip of a deepening humanitarian catastrophe. Children are dying from preventable causes – malnutrition, disease, displacement – while funding falls far short of what is urgently needed.
“The window to prevent famine in Burhakaba and wider deterioration across Somalia is closing fast. We call on the international community to act now, scale up lifesaving assistance, and ensure that no child dies because the world looked away.”
Save the Children is calling on the international community to urgently increase humanitarian funding to meet the needs of over 6 million people requiring assistance, prioritise support for nutrition and health programmes to prevent child deaths, and invest in longer-term resilience programming.
Save the Children has been working in Somalia since 1951, delivering life-saving health, nutrition, education and protection services.
Notes:
[1] According to the latest IPC report, 1.88 million children are estimated to be suffering acute malnutrition, an increase of 42,000 more children who require treatment for acute malnutrition from previous forecast in February.
For Somalia, the total number of children under five years is 3,856,170
Therefore 1.88 million children estimated to suffer from acute malnutrition is 49% or nearly half of all children under five.
The New Zealand Government currently supports one of our programmes in Somalia through its Disaster Response Partnership.
Business – Demand grows for Māori-led startup accelerator entering third year
Source: Tapuwae Roa
Tapuwae Roa has again welcomed 10 Māori-founded startups into its Tupu Accelerator, marking the third consecutive year of the eight-week programme supporting high-growth enterprises with global ambitions.
The 2026 cohort was formally welcomed last week at a mihi whakatau hosted at the University of Auckland’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, attended by representatives from Aotearoa’s venture capital, investment, government, and innovation sectors.
Delivered in partnership with Sprout Agritech and co-funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Tupu was established to address the underrepresentation of Māori within Aotearoa’s startup ecosystem and support founders seeking to scale innovative ventures.
“We’ve seen increasing demand year-on-year from founders building ambitious ventures with global potential. At the same time, we’re seeing growing engagement from investors, industry leaders, and ecosystem partners who recognise the value and calibre of Māori innovation emerging through the programme,” says Tapuwae Roa Kaihautū, Te Pūoho Kātene.
Since launching in 2024, the accelerator has received applications from more than 200 Māori-founded startups across Aotearoa, onboarding 53 founders into the programme, with 75% identifying as Māori and a growing number of Pasifika co-founders also participating.
The programme has also continued to attract strong regional and demographic diversity, with participants representing 15 regions across Aotearoa and nearly half based outside of Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Wāhine founders have consistently made up a significant proportion of participants, including 55% of the 2026 cohort.
“Part of Tupu’s role is addressing structural gaps within Aotearoa’s innovation and investment ecosystem,” says Kātene.
“Founders based outside of major centres often face reduced access to accelerator programmes, capital networks, specialist support, and investment pathways. The same barriers continue to disproportionately affect minority founders.
“Tupu exists to help close those gaps by creating pathways into high-growth entrepreneurship, investment readiness, and innovation ecosystems for pakihi Māori across the motu.”
For Tīrama Vital founder Bernece Maude (Ngāti Maniapoto), the programme represents an opportunity to further scale her venture internationally.
“Being accepted into Tupu is a big step forward for me and for Tīrama Vital. It’s an opportunity to learn, build alongside other Māori founders, and take this to the next level, growing a global wellness business from Aotearoa that creates value for our whenua, our growers, and our people,” says Maude.
Hannah Dryland (Ngāpuhi), co-founder of Insyt, says Tupu will help strengthen the company’s strategic and commercial capability as it continues developing solutions for people living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
“We’re excited to be part of the Tupu Accelerator. We’re here to build something that genuinely improves how people live with IBS, and this gives us the environment and support to keep moving forward,” says Dryland.
The accelerator will run over the next eight weeks and culminate in the Tupu Accelerator Showcase, where participants will pitch their ventures to investors, partners, and industry leaders.
The showcase will be held at the Aotea Centre, Auckland, on 2 July 2026. Earlybird tickets are available now for $150 + GST and can be purchased from: https://tupu2026.lilregie.com/
TUPU ACCELERATOR 2026 COHORT:
To read more about the cohort and their pakihi please visit: https://tupu.org.nz/purapura/purapura-2026/
- Dairy Tech Solutions: Tawa Holyoake (Ngāti Whātua)
- Ako Insight: Ashleigh Heke (Ngāpuhi) & Pati Lafaialii
- Rauhī: Nicola Walker (Te Atiawa, Taranaki, Ngāti Ruanui) & Kelly Brown (Taranaki, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Te Ātiawa (Taranaki)
- The Long Game: Julia Steenson (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua, Waikato), Toni Lea & Cassie Roma
- Insyt: Hannah Dryland (Ngāpuhi) & Lachlan Arthur
- Tīrama Vital Limited: Bernece Maude (Ngāti Maniapoto)
- Hinu Ora: Kimberly Tait (Ngāi Takoto, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Ngāti Kurī, Ngāti Whakaue, Te Aupōuri) & Rowena Lloyd (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Tūhoe, Waikato)
- iSPARX.group Limited: Joffre Kopu (Te Ātiawa (Taranaki)), James Norling & Bram Holyoake (Te Atiawa (Taranaki))
- KAHU.CODE Limited: Xaviere Murray-Puhara (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Ngāti Porou) & Michael Puhara (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Ngāti Porou)
- PetUltra Limited: Sam Scott (Ngāti Wai) & Manu Weepu (Ngāi Tahu/Kāi Tahu).
BusinessNZ backs targeted changes to plant rights
Source: BusinessNZ
BusinessNZ says changes to plant variety rights (PVR) should ensure more of the value created by New Zealand science and ingenuity stays here, to drive innovation, lift export returns and support long-term economic growth.
Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard says at a time when our country must find new ways to grow export revenue, lift productivity, and fund public services in the decades ahead, strengthening the innovation foundations of our most successful export sectors is a must.
“Plant breeding is a long-term investment. In many cases it can take 15 to 25 years for new varieties to move from research through to final product. If New Zealand wants to remain competitive internationally and continue growing high-value exports, we need regulatory settings that give innovators confidence to invest here.
“In kiwifruit alone, PVR varieties account for more than 70 percent of fruit export value, supporting thousands of jobs across growing, packing, logistics and marketing.
“More than half of apple orchards grow PVR varieties, too.”
Beard says proposed amendments under consideration should better align New Zealand’s plant variety rights regime with international best practice, including key export markets such as the EU, UK and Japan.
“New Zealand’s horticulture sector already generates billions in export revenue and supports jobs right across the country. Stronger protections will help reduce the risk of intellectual property leaks during the testing and application process, while also supporting further investment into research and development.”
The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.
Investments – ASB Investor confidence survey: Investor confidence dips in March quarter as global tensions weigh on sentiment
Source: ASB
Investor confidence fell to 6% in the March quarter, down five percentage points from the previous quarter after stabilising late last year, ASB’s latest Investor Confidence survey shows.
ASB Senior Economist Chris Tennent-Brown says global events played a clear role in shaping sentiment during the quarter.
“The change in mood was especially clear in March, which aligns with the timing of recent global developments. These events tend to amplify uncertainty, even if the underlying economic fundamentals have not materially changed,” says Chris.
Younger investors stood out as a relative bright spot. Net confidence among those under 30 rose to 21%, up from 16% in the previous quarter, while confidence declined for all other age groups. Confidence in KiwiSaver among under-30s also lifted, increasing to 23% from 16%.
Chris says it is important to distinguish between confidence levels and actual market performance.
“While confidence has dipped, the world’s major sharemarkets have continued to perform well, albeit with bouts of volatility. KiwiSaver, managed funds and global share markets have recovered from earlier volatility, with US equities back trading around their highs,” he says.
”Markets are forward-looking and tend to move quickly, which is why making reactive changes based on short-term sentiment can be counterproductive.”
During the quarter, New Zealanders have stuck with familiar, long-term investment options. In terms of perception of best return, respondents rated their own home and KiwiSaver jointly as the investments most likely to provide the best returns, with both options selected by 16% of respondents, while rental property also rose over the quarter.
Overall, the survey reinforces the importance of maintaining a long-term focus, even when confidence softens.
“A key message for investors is to stay anchored to a well-planned, long-term investment strategy rather than reacting to short-term noise,” says Chris.
Notes:
ASB has tracked investor confidence in the NZ market since 1997. This analysis is based on 727 online interviews in Q1 2026 with adults aged 18 years and older throughout New Zealand. A sample of this size has a maximum margin of error of 3.6% at the 95% confidence level. Fieldwork occurred between 7th January and 1st April 2026.