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Ki Tua O Matariki Warns Government That "Move-On" Powers Targeting Homeless Whānau will have negative consequences

Source: Ki tua o Matariki

Ki Tua O Matariki Warns Government That “Move-On” Powers Targeting Homeless Whānau will have negative consequences
Ki Tua o Matariki strongly encourages the Government to reconsider the expansion of “Move-on Orders” under amendments to the Summary Offences Act, which would allow Police to direct people to leave public spaces nationwide and impose penalties for non-compliance.
Under the proposed changes, individuals who breach a move-on order could face fines of up to $2,000 or up to three months’ imprisonment. These powers are expected to apply across town centres and may impact rangatahi as young as 14.
Ki Tua o Matariki does not want to see the Government make decisions it may later regret. The long-term consequences of punishing whānau in need risk creating mistrust, causing whānau to withdraw from visibility and support, and allowing their needs to deepen. We remain committed to supporting the Government to make decisions that uplift and protect our whānau and communities, and to ensure policies do not unintentionally cause further harm.
“From our experience, punishing people who cannot afford necessities such as housing, food, or transport does not reduce homelessness- it deepens fear and mistrust,” says Zoe Witika-Hawke, Chief Executive of Ki Tua o Matariki. “For whānau to engage in support, trust must come first. Pushing people further into the criminal justice system moves them away from the very support that enables long-term wellbeing. Evidence shows that prison does not resolve homelessness, addiction, or mental health challenges. We welcome the opportunity to work alongside Government and communities to implement solutions that strengthen whānau and create the Aotearoa we all want.”
Māori are disproportionately affected by homelessness in Aotearoa. Severe Housing Deprivation estimates from the 2023 Census show tens of thousands of people experiencing homelessness or unstable housing conditions, with Māori significantly over-represented in rough sleeping, overcrowding, and insecure housing. Māori women are particularly impacted, with sector research indicating four out of five homeless women in Aotearoa are Māori.
This amendments of the Summary Offences Act, reflects a concerning assumption that people sleeping rough have somewhere else to go,” says Hineraukura, founding member of the Māori maternal mental health advisory group Hine Ki Te Wheiao. “It prioritises public comfort over addressing the structural drivers of homelessness, including inflation, rising living costs, and housing insecurity. Treating homelessness as a behavioural issue rather than a systemic one risks ignoring the economic realities many whānau are facing. We believe the focus must shift toward practical, compassionate solutions that respond to the real pressures impacting our communities”
Any policy that increases enforcement without increasing housing supply and wraparound support risks disproportionately impacting whānau and deepening inequities already present in our system. At Ki Tua o Matariki, we see firsthand that homelessness is rarely about choice. It is connected to poverty, intergenerational trauma, mental health challenges, addiction, and systemic inequity. Our communities – Māori and non-Māori – deserve better.
Ki Tua o Matariki provides tailored tautoko for mātua taiohi, hapū māmā, their pēpi, and wider whānau. Alongside safe housing, we provide:
– Mental health support
– Transport assistance
– Counselling access
– Education and employment pathways
– Nursing and midwifery care
– Kaupapa Māori wānanga
– Weekly wraparound support
We know what works: stability, trusted relationships, cultural grounding, and consistent support.
Ki Tua o Matariki remains committed to supporting the Government to make decisions that strengthen whānau wellbeing and community safety, while ensuring policies do not unintentionally cause further harm. “Move-on” powers are not solutions to homelessness. Solutions lie in investing in housing, prevention, and culturally grounded wraparound support. We encourage the Government to prioritise policies that care for whānau, rather than moving them out of sight – these are the kinds of policies that Government will not regret.
Our communities deserve public policy grounded in manaakitanga, not punishment.
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Legislation – Four bottom lines for a workable farm plan system – Federated Farmers

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers has made it clear to the Government that it could support a national farm plan system, but only if it meets four firm bottom lines.
The Government is currently seeking feedback on its draft legislation to replace the Resource Management Act.
This includes a proposal to introduce nationally consistent farm plans under the new Natural Environment Bill.
“We’ve been looking closely at the wording and it’s fair to say we have some serious concerns,” Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst says.
“Farm plans should be a positive, practical and enabling tool that help farmers improve environmental outcomes in a way that makes sense on their own farms.
“We don’t want to see farm plans adding unnecessary complexity, duplication, or another layer of expensive regulation for farmers to grapple with.
“Unfortunately, we don’t think the regulations as they’re currently drafted will deliver what farmers are expecting or what’s been sold to them by politicians.
“That’s why Federated Farmers is stepping up, drawing a line in the sand, and making it clear we have four clear bottom lines when it comes to farm plans.”
Federated Farmers’ first and most important non-negotiable is that farm plans must replace regulation, not add to it.
“Farm plans need to be the primary compliance tool for farmers. That’s what will make a real difference for farming families,” Hurst says.
“That means a farm plan should be able to replace all of the overlapping rules, duplicated requirements and expensive resource consents from the current system.”
Under the proposed legislation, all commercial dairy farms and all other farms over 50 hectares would be required to have a farm plan covering the whole farm.
However, those same farms could still be required to get a resource consent in addition to their farm plan.
“That framework doesn’t simplify anything. In fact, it’s actually adding more complexity and duplication for farmers,” Hurst says.
“It’ll create a system that’s even more onerous than what farmers face now, where they either operate within permitted standards or apply for a resource consent.”
Federated Farmers wants to see changes so that a farm plan is enough to demonstrate compliance.
“A certified farm plan should be the equivalent of holding a resource permit or consent,” Hurst says.
The second bottom line is that farm plans must be proportionate, practical and scaled to risk.
“Farms that are low-impact and low-risk should be able to complete a simple, quick and easy plan themselves,” Hurst says.
“We agree that higher-risk farms may need more detailed plans, but there’s absolutely no point putting low-impact farms through the wringer.”
The third bottom line is that, while farm plans should be auditable, not every plan should be audited.
“Many farming activities are currently low-risk and don’t require consents or ongoing oversight,” Hurst says.
“Requiring those activities to have a farm plan, and then auditing that plan, will put in place expensive red tape for absolutely no environmental gain.
“It will waste time and money that could be put to far better use improving the environment rather than just ticking boxes and shuffling paper.”
Hurst says certification may make sense for higher-risk activities if it replaces the need for a consent, but routine auditing of every farm sends the wrong message.
“Audit-everyone systems don’t create a high-trust environment. They simply create a box-ticking culture and get farmers offside, rather than driving better outcomes.”
Federated Farmers is instead advocating for a model similar to the tax system.
“That means everyone is expected to do the right thing, but only some are audited, either randomly or where non-compliance is suspected.
“That’s a fair, practical approach that farmers can understand.”
The fourth bottom line is that existing farm plans must be recognised.
“Many farmers already have plans in place through industry programmes or local catchment groups,” Hurst says.
“Farmers have put real time, thought and money into these plans because they care about water quality.
“They shouldn’t be punished for being proactive or early adopters.”
Federated Farmers wants existing plans that meet minimum standards to be recognised as equivalent.
“Forcing farmers to start again from scratch would be a completely unjustifiable waste of time and money,” Hurst says.
While the detailed regulations are still to come, Hurst says expectations are clear.
“Farm plans must be tailored to risk and, for higher-risk farms, should become a genuine one-stop shop that replaces permits and consents.
“That’s how farm plans can actually work.”
Federated Farmers has put these four non-negotiables to the Government in its submission on the RMA reform, which you can read in full here: https://fedfarm.org.nz/Web/Policy/Submission/2026/February/Submission-on-the-NEB-Bill-and-Planning-Bill.aspx
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Defence News – New Zealand’s Navy, Army and Air Force combine for successful South-West Pacific operation

Source: New Zealand Defence Force

The Governor-General of New Zealand’s visit to Tokelau, the upgrade of critical tsunami and volcano monitoring equipment on Raoul Island, and a search and rescue operation near Tonga were among the achievements of the New Zealand Defence Force’s first extensive operation to the South-West Pacific this year.

With New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel aboard, military sealift vessel HMNZS Canterbury under the name Operation Calypso covered 4580 nautical miles without the ship needing to take on additional food or fuel over 23 days.  

Commanding Officer, Commander Wayne Andrew, said the mission was a busy one for everyone and was one of the best examples of Service interoperability he had seen.

“With two NH90 helicopters and crew, and supporting personnel from the NZ Army’s 5 Movements Company, this was a tri-service operation covering a range of tasks supporting New Zealand Government agencies in our Pacific neighbourhood.”

MetService personnel were aboard to assess available meteorological observing resources on the three atolls, and a New Zealand Police officer met the Tokelau Chief of Police and took part in community engagements.

Commander Andrew said the NZDF’s strong Pacific connections were an important part of the mission.

“Not only was the ship there for the centenary of New Zealand’s administration of Tokelau, but two Tokelauan members of the Navy were able to reunite with their families there.”

The ship’s company also had two Tongan speakers who were able to translate when Canterbury was last week called on to rescue two men drifting 105 nautical miles south of Tonga.

“Seeing the reaction when our two Tokelauan personnel were welcomed home was incredibly emotional for everyone who witnessed this, and having two Tongan speakers within our ship’s company meant we could reassure the rescued sailors that we would be delivering them home,” Commander Andrew said.

The ship’s final stop at Raoul Island allowed crew working parties to clear overgrowth from the Homestead and Green Lake areas, while NH90 helicopters and 5 Movements Company personnel secured and flew MetService and Earth Sciences NZ (ESNZ) personnel and equipment to remote parts of the island.

Critical tsunami and volcano monitoring equipment on Raoul Island, which provide an early warning system for New Zealand and the region, were upgraded.

As Canterbury returned to Devonport Naval Base this week, Commander Andrew reflected on what the mission had achieved.

“All the people who joined the ship from Her Excellency the Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro through to the MetService and ESNZ scientists and technicians, NZ Police, Army and Air Force personnel, fully immersed themselves in the ship’s culture and added to it.

“Canterbury’s motto is Kotahitanga (Unity) and this was certainly on display throughout.”

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Legislation – Bill limiting protest outside of residences chilling – Amnesty International

Source: Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand

Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply concerned following the Justice Committee’s report recommending by majority the progression of the Summary Offences (Demonstrations Near Residential Premises) Amendment Bill.
Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand’s Kaiwhakahaere Executive Director Jacqui Dillon said, “We recognise the important privacy rights this Bill is aimed at, however we’re concerned that this Bill will have a chilling effect on protest, silencing legitimate political expression.”
Throughout history, protests have been the driving force behind some of the most powerful social movements, exposing injustice and abuse, demanding accountability, and inspiring people to keep hoping for a better future.
There are laws already in place to respond to issues such as threatening behaviour. 
“We’re concerned what will be captured is protest activity that in a healthy, thriving society should not be criminalised. 
“While changes have been put forward by the Justice Committee, our concern remains that the Bill is too vague. The Bill uses terms such as “near”, but what is considered “near” isn't clear. This lack of clarity risks creating uncertainty and as a result, people may feel too uncertain about what is allowed or not, and therefore don’t protest so as not to risk the significant penalties this Bill proposes.
“Globally we are seeing authoritarian practices and serious human rights regression. Aotearoa is not immune from these trends. We are seeing policies chipping away at our foundations and a number of policies with serious human rights concerns. We worry about the precedent this Bill sets and how this framework could be abused or set us on a path towards even more restrictions.
“We recognise that there is urgent work to be done to better protect Members of Parliament (MPs) and activists. This should be carried out by engaging with people who are especially impacted to develop solutions that are effective and that uphold human rights and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This Bill is not the solution. We call on all MPs to vote against this Bill.” said Dillon.
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Child poverty statistics show that children are being let down by flawed economic model

Source: WEAll Aotearoa New Zealand

The latest child poverty statistics released today show our country is backsliding on any of the progress made since the Child Poverty Reduction Act was passed.
While Statistics NZ reports no statistically significant change in headline child poverty rates in the year ended June 2025 compared with June 2024, the longer-term trend shows that hardship has increased.
The percentage of children living in households experiencing material hardship was 13.3 percent in the year ended June 2018. That figure steadily declined to 10.6 percent by 2022, but has since risen again to 14.3 percent in the year ended June 2025, now higher than the 2018 baseline.
Rates are significantly higher for some groups. In the year ended June 2025:
  • 25.1 percent of tamariki Māori are living in material hardship
  • 31 percent of Pacific children, and 
  • 26.9 percent of disabled children.
WEAll Aotearoa Director Gareth Hughes says material hardship is an important measure: “At its heart, it measures whether a family can afford the basics for a life of dignity. Things like being able to keep the house warm, wearing shoes in good condition, having fresh fruit and vegetables, and kids being able to have a birthday or Christmas present.”
Previously, the Minister of Finance has said “The most fundamental thing that will help those targets is if we have a faster-growing economy with lower unemployment, better wage growth”.
Yet, Professor Paul Dalziel, Research Economist for WEAll says the data shows economic growth does not reduce child poverty.
“New Zealand’s GDP per person grew by around 75 per cent between 1984 and 2024. Yet children living in low income households increased from 14% to 21%,” Dalziel said.
“For 40 years, we’ve tested the theory that growth will lift children out of poverty. The evidence shows it does not.”
Hughes says we need to shift gears. “Instead of assuming trickle-down economics or more ambulances at the bottom of the cliff will solve the problem, we need a deliberate redesign of our economic system to tackle inequality”.
One practical alternative is the economic development approach of Community Wealth Building. This approach focuses on keeping wealth circulating locally: strengthening employment, supporting local enterprises, and building resilient regional economies.
“We need new jobs that pay living wages. We need to unlock community wealth building so prosperity stays in local communities instead of being siphoned out of them,” he said.
“That means using public investment, local procurement, and anchor institutions to build strong regional economies where families have the resources they need.”
“Scotland just passed a law making this mandatory for central and local government and we should follow their lead.”
Hughes says, “the persistence of child and whanau poverty in a wealthy country reflects a flawed economic system, and these numbers show New Zealand’s economic model is failing future generations”.
“An economy that works for future generations must put people at the centre,” Hughes says. “Right now, we’re measuring success in GDP while thousands of children grow up without what they need to thrive.”
“A wellbeing economy recognises that children’s wellbeing today shapes the country’s social and economic future. Their wellbeing should be treated as a core economic indicator”.
Hughes said the country faces a clear choice: “We can continue chasing growth and hope it trickles down (although we know it won’t). Or we can build an economy designed from the start to ensure every child has enough to thrive.”
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Universities – Vice-Chancellor Professor Nic Smith stands down from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Professor Nic Smith is standing down as Vice-Chancellor at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, to take up the role of Vice-Chancellor at the University of Auckland. Professor Smith's final day at Te Herenga Waka will be Friday 12 June.

Professor Smith has expressed his gratitude to both the staff and student community at Te Herenga Waka for their support.

“Serving Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington has been one of the great privileges of my career. I have deeply valued the relationships, conversations and shared purpose within this community, and I will miss working with you.”

“A healthy university is one where diverse perspectives are welcomed, ideas are tested rigorously, and debate is conducted with respect. That capacity to disagree thoughtfully, while listening to each other and remaining connected to a shared purpose, is one of the most important contributions universities make to society,” says Professor Smith.

Professor Smith said that enrolments have stabilised in the domestic market and particularly the international market, which is very important for our long-term sustainability.

“Our academics also continue to excel in teaching and research. Our recent rankings for the Law Faculty and AI are but two examples which are testament to this. There are many more.”  

Professor Smith was also grateful to the University Council and Te Hiwa and the wider group of leaders at the University.  

University Council Chancellor Alan Judge expressed his gratitude to Professor Smith: “Since taking on the role of Vice-Chancellor in January 2023, Professor Smith has worked closely with us on achieving financial sustainability while also overseeing the University to see that it has maintained its heart and special character.  

“Professor Smith has done an outstanding job of driving our ambitious strategy, engaging with the city and taking the University community forward. We are grateful for his service and wish him all the best in his role at the University of Auckland.”

A recruitment process for a new Vice-Chancellor will begin immediately.  

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Economy – RBNZ opens consultation on second tranche of DTA Standards exposure drafts

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

26 February 2026 – Jess Rowe, Director Prudential Policy, says the opening of this second tranche of consultation marks another milestone as we work towards implementing the DTA.

“Technical feedback on the standards will help us to implement the DTA as intended to modernise and integrate our prudential framework,” Ms Rowe says. “We will continue to engage with industry and the public to ensure a proportionate approach that supports a competitive financial system.”

Consultation on exposure drafts of the DTA Standards is taking place in three tranches. The first tranche was published on 30 October 2025.

The second tranche of consultation, published today and open until 15 May, includes exposure drafts and guidance of the following five standards:

  • Governance Standard
  • Risk Management Standard
  • Disclosure Statements Standard
  • Business Transfers, Holding Entity, and Restricted Activities Standard
  • Reporting Standard.

DTA Standards exposure drafts (tranche 2) – Citizen Space: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=6dbaea3dbf&e=f3c68946f8

Consultation on tranche three will open in June 2026 and all DTA Standards will come into effect on 1 December 2028.

Consultation also opens on Due Diligence Guidance

As part of tranche two, we are also consulting on the Due Diligence Guidance. This paper provides guidance on how directors can exercise due diligence to ensure that the deposit taker complies with its prudential obligations.

Due Diligence Guidance – Citizen Space: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=ddff356eb2&e=f3c68946f8

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Save the Children: Child poverty figures demand Government action to address stagnation

Source: Save the Children

Thursday 26 February 2026 – Save the Children: Child poverty figures demand Government action to address stagnation.

Save the Children is calling on the Government to strengthen its response to child poverty following the release of the latest Child Poverty Statistics today.
Statistics for the year ending June 2025 released by Stats NZ show no annual change in child poverty rates. The figures show that the number of children experiencing hardship in their everyday lives has largely remained the same, with specific groups of children – including mokopuna Māori, Pasifika and disabled children and those living in sole parent households – particularly impacted by poverty.
The data shows that despite the aims of the Child Poverty Reduction Act to achieve a significant and sustained reduction in child poverty, rates have largely remained the same for the past five years.
Save the Children New Zealand’s Advocacy and Research Director Jacqui Southey says while public reporting is important for transparency and accountability, the figures represent real children experiencing hardship every day.
“Behind every statistic is a child growing up in a household trying to survive on too little,” says Ms Southey. “Too little income, too little food security, and too little stability. Living on too little limits children’s wellbeing now and their opportunities in the future.”
New Zealand has legislated targets to reduce child poverty, yet recent years have shown progress stalling and, in some measures, reversing since 2021. Gains made between 2018 and 2021 have been eroded.
In 2025, one in seven children were living in material hardship, rising to one in four for tamariki Māori and disabled children, and jumping to one in three for Pacific children. Nearly 80 percent of households on the lowest incomes were sole parent households, living on an average disposable income of less than $46,000.
“An income at that level is simply not enough to provide a decent standard of living for children and families in Aotearoa,” Ms Southey says.
Save the Children is concerned that continued high living costs, low wage growth and rising unemployment are placing additional pressure on families, with more households relying on welfare and hardship assistance. Rising food insecurity, increasing preventable hospital admissions and higher rates of violence against children are all indicators closely linked to deprivation.
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has repeatedly urged New Zealand to prioritise child poverty reduction because of its immediate and long-term impacts on children’s development and wellbeing.
Ms Southey says addressing child poverty requires sustained investment in lifting incomes for families on the lowest incomes and strengthening the welfare and income support system.
“Paid work alone will not solve child poverty. Some families are locked out of the labour market due to illness, disability or caring responsibilities. Others are working but earning too little to keep pace with the cost of living.”
“If we are serious about eliminating child poverty, we must invest in income support, housing security and food security so children can thrive, not just survive.”
About Save the Children NZ:
Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.
Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.
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Child material hardship climbs to 10-year high – CPAG

Source: Child Poverty Action Group

The number of children living in material hardship has reached a 10-year high, with 14.3% of children, nearly 170,000 children, living in material hardship.
Figures released by Stats NZ this morning show the number of children living in material hardship hasn’t been this high since 2015, and marks the third consecutive annual rise in child material hardship.
“Today’s figures are worrying but not surprising,” says Child Poverty Action Group Executive Officer Lyn Amos.
“Child poverty rises when incomes at the bottom fall behind the cost of living. We know what works: lift incomes, index supports to wages, and properly fund services. New Zealand has reduced child poverty before and can do so again.”
Analysis:
14.3% of children, around 169,300, are living in material hardship, which from this year is measured using the MH18 index rather than the DEP17 index.
This year’s material hardship rate is the highest number Stats NZ has on record since 2015, and has seen a significant increase since 2022, when the rate was 10.6%, or around 121,800.
It remains higher than the baseline year of June 2018, when the rate was 13.3%, or around 150,900.
The BHC50 figure, which measures the number of children growing up in households that earn less than half of a normal family income, is around 12.6%, or 148,700 chuldren.
This has remained roughly similar for the last three years, but is lower than the baseline year of 2017/18, when the rate was 16.5%, or around 183,400 children.
The AHC50 (fixed) figure, which measures the number of children growing up in households that don’t have enough money left to live on once rent is paid (compared to what counted as a basic living standard in 2017/18), is 17.8%, around 210,600 children. This is down from the baseline year of 22.8%, around 253,800 children.
The organisation’s research and programme officer, Dr Yu Shi, says inflation’s silent cuts to incomes are making families’ experience of material hardship tougher.
“Indexing income support to general inflation rather than wage growth means families are being punished by the costs of housing, utilities and food, which are all rising faster than average inflation,” says Dr Shi.
Even if the Government isn’t actively cutting income support, rising rents have meant the real value of accommodation supplements are falling, and with thresholds for Best Start and Family Tax Credits remaining largely frozen since 2018 [CR1] , inflation is effectively performing cuts to families’ incomes.
“The Government’s Budget Policy Statement leaves practically no fiscal headroom for the wealth transfers needed to reduce child poverty this year. As a result, its statutory child poverty targets are mathematically impossible to achieve under these settings.”
The Child Poverty Reduction Act 2018 introduced a target to reduce material hardship rates among children to 6% by 2028.
Despite reaching a recorded low of 10.6% in 2022, today’s announcement by Stats NZ, showing material hardship rates to the year ended June 2025 are at 14.3%, all but confirms the Government will not reach this target.
It also set targets to lower the percentage of children growing up in families that earn less than half of a normal family income, not counting housing costs (BHC50) to 5%, and reduce the rate of children in families that don’t have enough money left to live on once rent is paid, compared to what counted as a basic living standard in 2017/18 (AHC50) to 10%.
It is worth noting that the scale of poverty continues to rise for two years. The number of children living in a family with little money left after paying rent is over 353,000, comparable with the former peak in 2008, the Global Financial Crisis.
Today’s figures show the weight of poverty is being predominantly carried by tamariki Māori, Pasifika children and children in households with disabilities, whose experience of poverty is consistently higher than the average New Zealand population.
“A quarter of tamariki Māori are living in material hardship. Nearly a third of Pasifika children are, too. Where is the urgent action needed from the Government?”, asks Child Poverty Action Group’s Isaac Gunson.
“How many more generations of tāngata whenua, tagata moana, and tāngata whaikaha must bear the deeply unjust weight of poverty before the Government steps up and gives them a fair shot at life?”
“Young people with disabilities face higher, lifelong costs due to healthcare needs, and are being penalised in their formative years by poverty. There is no decision being made in by children experiencing poverty that prolongs their hardship more than the decisions made for them in Wellington,” Gunson says.
“The solutions are clear because they’ve worked: in the initial years after the Child Poverty Reduction Act came into law, we saw significant reductions in child poverty rates.”
“All we need now is for that action to be sustained, and the same political will to meet the moment and ensure our youngest generations can flourish free from poverty.”
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Tech – Fujitsu automates entire software development lifecycle with new AI-Driven Software Development Platform

Source: Fujitzu

Platform will be used in modifications of all 67 software packages provided to medical and governmental industry customers by end of fiscal year 2026 
Fujitsu Limited. Sydney, Australia, 26 February 2026 – Fujitsu Limited today announced the development and launch of its AI-Driven Software Development Platform, a new initiative to bring software development into the AI age and contribute to the sustainable growth of its customers and society. 
This platform automates the entire software development process, from requirements definition and design to implementation and integration testing. 
By leveraging the Takane large language model (LLM) [1] and agentic AI technology for large-scale software development developed by Fujitsu Research, the AI-Driven Software Development Platform enables AI agents to understand complex, evolving large-scale systems owned by enterprises and public organisations. 
The platform has multiple AI agents collaboratively execute each stage of software development, achieving full automation of the entire process without human intervention. 
Fujitsu aims to use this AI-Driven Software Development Platform to carry out revisions to all 67 types of medical and government business software products provided by Fujitsu Japan Limited by the end of fiscal year 2026.
The revisions are necessary due to legal and regulatory changes. From January 2026, the platform has been used in Japan for software modifications made necessary by the 2026 medical fee revisions [2]. 
In a PoC that updated software as per the 2024 medical fee revisions, the platform demonstrated a significant reduction in development time for one of approximately 300 change requests. 
Using conventional software development methods [3], the modifications would have taken three person-months. With this technology that was dramatically shortened to four hours, achieving a 100-fold increase in productivity. 
By utilising this AI-driven development platform, Fujitsu will dramatically improve the speed of software modifications necessitated by legal amendments and system changes. 
This will significantly reduce the burden previously required for system verification during modifications, thereby freeing up time for the planning and development of measures and services that lead to improved patient, resident, and customer services, as well as enabling customers and partners to continuously adapt to ever-changing operations and societal needs. 
Furthermore, Fujitsu envisions that this technology will also help customers and partners to respond to expanding IT demand and alleviate the worsening shortage of IT professionals. In AI-driven development, Fujitsu positions AI-Ready Engineering—the process of preparing assets and knowledge to ensure AI correctly understands existing systems and achieves highly reliable automation – as crucial. 
With AI-Ready Engineering and the AI-Driven Software Development Platform working in tandem, Fujitsu will accelerate AI-driven software development. Fujitsu will promote a transformation in engineers' work styles, strengthening its Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) complement, and shifting the paradigm of software development from a conventional person-month-based approach to a customer value-based approach.

Moving forward, Fujitsu plans to expand the application of the AI-Driven Software Development Platform to a wide range of sectors, including finance, manufacturing, retail, and public services, by the end of fiscal year 2026. 
Fujitsu will also begin offering this service to customers and partner companies to enable them to rapidly and flexibly develop systems that adapt to changes in their business environments. 
Through these efforts, Fujitsu aims to transform the software development process into an AI-driven model as an industry standard. 
Notes

[1] Takane large language model (LLM): Jointly developed by Fujitsu and Cohere Inc.
[2] Medical fee revision: A national system that reviews public medical fees and adjusts cost allocation for medical procedures.
[3] Conventional software development methods: Development methods where quality is verified at each stage, from software requirements definition, design, and implementation to integration testing.