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The Economic Development, Science, and Innovation subcommittee has released its report on the Commerce Act (Promoting Competition and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. As it goes back to the House for its second reading, Fired Up Stilettos (FUS) is very happy to see one of its key policy platforms, and several other recommendations, will likely soon become law. (ref. https://selectcommittees.parliament.nz/v/6/40e720f9-32c7-452b-64a2-08dec1e20b6a?lang=en )

Since its founding in 2023, Fired Up Stilettos has fought for the right to collectively bargain while maintaining sex workers' independent contracting status. They have always expressed a preference to be treated as independent contractors, but they say the asymmetric power dynamics between venues and workers mean they are often highly surveilled, controlled, and punished far beyond what could ever be appropriate for an employee–nevermind a supposedly independent contractor. They wanted to collectively demand better treatment from clubs, but doing so risked prosecution. The Commerce Act 1986 prohibited collective bargaining among contractors in almost all circumstances, as it was legally considered cartel-like behaviour. Independent contractors were allowed to apply for authorisation to collectively bargain through the Commerce Commission, but the application fee alone was $36,800, so it was materially impossible for them.

As the Commerce Act (Promoting Competition and Other Matters) Amendment Bill waits for its second reading, Fired Up Stilettos is very pleased to see the Committee integrated several of the suggestions presented by its Chair, Bianca Beebe (begins at 00:19:17). If this Bill becomes law, independent contractors who do not pose a threat of cartel behaviour will be able to pay a relatively low fee (individually or by a third-party entity representing the collective) to simply notify the Commission of their intent to collectively bargain, and then begin doing so if there are no objections. Sex workers have fought for years to get this change over the line, and FUS is proud of how far they've come.  

However, Fired Up Stilettos maintains the criticism that was voiced by Beebe in the EDSI oral submission, and also reflected in opposition Parties' viewpoint: declining to include independent contractors in protections against retaliatory behaviour has the potential to create a situation where they have a right in theory but not in practice. FUS says if contractors have the right to notify the Commission to collectively bargain, but lack protection from immediately being fired for doing so, they do not materially have that right. But they also note they understand the concern that contractors having protection from retaliation for bargaining could create unusual distortions in the labour market in other fields. FUS has suggested to MPs from each Party in EDSI that a reasonable compromise might be extending these protections to dependent contractors (like sex workers or courier drivers). This more limited, targeted protection would preserve the intent of the law without risking ramifications to competition. FUS hopes Members of EDSI will take this suggestion back to their caucuses, and they see this change in the second reading.

Quote from Bianca Beebe, Chair of Fired Up Stilettos: “We are very happy the Government saw the blanket prohibition on contractors collectively bargaining was enabling anti-competitive behaviour and eroding freedom of contract. Most independent contractors–regardless of profession–gaining collective bargaining rights under a particularly conservative Government speaks to the power of persistence in political organising, and the importance of finding common ground. We appreciate the Government's sincere engagement, and the direction of this Bill. We encourage Parliament to support the Commerce Act Amendment Bill through its final reading, though we remain hopeful an amendment will be added to provide a narrow protection against retaliation for contractors who notify the Commission.”  

Disclosure: Bianca Beebe is currently a candidate for Opportunity Party, but Fired Up Stilettos is a non-partisan organisation.

More than 60 years after key parts of her wartime story were lost from view, one of New Zealand’s pioneering military nurses is set to be honoured again, this time with the full recognition she earned.

On Saturday, a restored headstone for Sister Ethel Maude Thomas (nee Dement) was unveiled at Levin’s Old Cemetery. It has been corrected to include her honours that were previously omitted.

The work has been led by the New Zealand Remembrance Army, alongside the Levin Returned Services Association and Horowhenua College – a fitting partnership given Dement’s deep ties to the school’s community in later years.

“The addition corrects decades of omission and brings her First World War service back into the light,” says New Zealand Remembrance Army volunteer Linda Fletcher.

“Sister Ethel Dement was among the small group of New Zealand nurses who chose to serve when war broke out in 1914 before we even had an official Army Nursing Service.”

“In 1915, she travelled via Australia to Egypt, where she worked at the vast Heliopolis Palace Hospital in Cairo, treating the wounded from Gallipoli,” Linda said.

Among them was her own brother, injured during the brutal fighting at Chunuk Bair.

She later served on the Western Front in France, where her work earned her a Mention in Despatches and the Associate Royal Red Cross – one of the highest honours awarded to military nurses.

But despite those achievements, neither honour appeared on her headstone.

“For more than 60 years since her death, an important part of one New Zealand nurse’s wartime story has been missing. This restoration ensures Sister Ethel Dement is finally recognised for the extraordinary care she gave to wounded soldiers and the service she gave to her country.”

“While thousands of New Zealand soldiers are remembered for their service, the contributions of military nurses have at times been overlooked. This project is a small but meaningful step in addressing that gap,” says Linda.

For Horowhenua College, the project is more than an act of remembrance, it’s a reconnection with its own history.

After returning from the war, Ethel married William Thomas, a wounded soldier who would go on to become the Horowhenua College’s first principal when it opened in 1940. Together, they became well-known and respected figures in Levin.

The college’s Principal, Grant Congdon said the restoration has struck a chord with students and staff alike.

“It’s powerful to see our students engaging with local history through an act of remembrance, bringing these stories back to life for a new generation.”

“This project also adds a meaningful new chapter to Horowhenua College’s history, reaffirming our long-standing connection to those who shaped it from its very beginning.”

“Sister Ethel Dement’s story is deeply connected to William Thomas, our first principal, who is an important part of our college’s identity. Horowhenua College’s crest and motto Essayez (“to strive” or “to try”) were designed by William Thomas, inspired by a symbol he saw in a ruined French church during World War I, reflecting his enduring belief in courage, effort, and resilience.”

“Many generations have since passed through our school and community, learning the story of our crest and embodying its motto,” says Grant.

Linda said that “after more than 60 years, it’s right that Sister Ethel’s and William Thomas’s service is recognised. We’re proud to support this act of remembrance.

For the New Zealand Remembrance Army, projects like this are about closing that gap one headstone, one story at a time.

On Saturday afternoon, as the new inscription was revealed, Sister Ethel Maude Dement’s story will once again be told in full, not just as a name on a grave, but as a life of service that reached from Wellington to Cairo, from Gallipoli to the Western Front, and back again to a small but enduring community in Levin.

Lest we forget.

First-home buyers have become an increasingly dominant force in New Zealand's housing market, boosting purchase volumes and their market share as overall sales activity remains subdued amid economic uncertainty.
 
Cotality’s NZ Monthly Housing Chart Pack shows property sales volumes fell for a fifth consecutive month in May, down -8.3% compared to the same month last year. Across the first five months of 2026, sales activity was down -4.7%, representing 1,775 fewer transactions nationally.
 
Yet despite the broader slowdown in housing activity, first home buyers were the only major buyer group to increase their number of purchases in 2026, up 2.4% compared to the same period last year.

Completing 10,025 transactions so far this year, first home buyers have lifted their share of purchases from 25.8% to 27.7%, compared to the same period in 2025, cementing their position as New Zealand's most active buyer group.
 
Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said first home buyers were taking advantage of market conditions that remain challenging for many other purchasers.
 
“Sales activity remains fairly subdued, but first home buyers continue to buck that trend,” he said.
 
“With lower property values than a few years ago, plenty of property to choose from, access to KiwiSaver and the availability of low-deposit lending have all combined to help keep first home buyers active and give them confidence to get into the market.”
 
The trend is strongest in the main centres, where first-home buyers account for almost 31% of purchases in Auckland and almost 39% in Wellington.
 

Values remain flat despite softer activity
 
Nationally, property values continue to reflect the subdued market conditions, with the Cotality Home Value Index essentially flat in May. National median values were down -0.1% over the past quarter and -0.6% over the year.
 
Although values remain -17% below their peak nationally, performance varies significantly across the country. Christchurch remains one of the stronger markets, with positive annual growth of 3.2%, while Auckland values remain -2.6% lower than a year ago.
 
Mr Davidson said elevated listing levels were limiting any significant uplift in prices.
 
“Even though the flow of new listings has hit a seasonal low and eased recently, buyers still have plenty of choice and that is helping keep a lid on property values,” he said.
 
“Most vendors are not under pressure to sell, so there’s no rush to discount and we're not seeing widespread price falls, but nor is there any evidence of upward momentum. The market is in a neutral or holding pattern.”

Movers and investors pull back
 
While first home buyers have expanded their share of purchases, movers and investors have become more cautious.
 
Purchases by movers have fallen by around -11.1% compared to the same period last year, while multiple property owners with mortgages have declined by -5.7%.
 
Mr Davidson said economic uncertainty, the upcoming election and questions around future tax settings were likely contributing to the softer investor activity.
 
“Some investors will be looking at a rental market where rent growth has flattened out, while others will be acting with caution as they consider the potential policy changes that could emerge after the election,” he said.
 
“At the same time, movers tend to be more sensitive to confidence and labour market conditions, and that caution is still pretty evident.”

New listings soften but buyers retain the advantage
 
The number of properties coming to market has eased slightly in recent weeks in response to the traditional winter slowdown, but there’s still a high level of stock available on the market.
 
Mr Davidson said the recent modest fall in stock levels hasn’t been significant enough to materially change the balance of power in the market.
 
“Although stock levels have eased a little as we head into winter, there’s still enough choice in the market for buyers to retain the upper hand when it comes to price negotiations,” he said.
 
“Market conditions remain much more balanced than they were during the boom years.”

Outlook improves as inflation concerns ease
 
Mr Davidson said the biggest economic change over the past month had been the outlook following the recent US-Iran peace agreement.
 
While inflation remained above the Reserve Bank's target band at 3.1% in the March quarter, the prospect of lower energy costs and reduced geopolitical uncertainty had improved the outlook for both inflation and economic growth.
 
“The possibility of an OCR increase in July appears less likely than it did a few weeks ago,” he said.
 
“There is still plenty of uncertainty ahead, but if the peace agreement holds it should reduce some of the inflation concerns that have been weighing on confidence.”
 
Mr Davidson said lower inflation risks and a more stable interest rate outlook could help lift confidence and support a modest improvement in market activity during the second half of the year.
 
“Sales volumes have been weaker than expected through the first five months of 2026, but the outlook for interest rates appears a little more settled than it did a few weeks ago,” he said.
 
“Any recovery is likely to be gradual rather than dramatic, but the outlook appears somewhat more positive than it did a month ago – provided the peace deal holds.”

Surgeons’ music choices can shape how teams feel and work, new research from the University of Auckland shows.

The study, published in Scientific Reports, reveals that different sounds can bring teams together or create tension, boost confidence or distract, and even signal how a procedure is progressing.
 
Lead researcher Dr Anantha Narayanan, a trainee vascular surgeon and PhD candidate in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, was inspired to explore the topic as a medical student after noticing music being used to create a calming atmosphere in the theatre. A saxophonist, he combined his enthusiasm for music with his dedication to research.
 
“It started with a simple question,” he says, “does music actually have an effect in the operating theatre, or do people just enjoy it?”

That question grew into his PhD, culminating in the final Background Auditory Conditions in Healthcare (BACH) study, a qualitative exploration
of music’s role in surgery.

The study shows music is neither simply good nor bad. When chosen collaboratively, it can improve teamwork, lift mood and help patients feel at ease. But when imposed, it can create discomfort, heighten tension and reinforce hierarchy.
 
“A key finding is that how music is chosen matters as much as what music is chosen,” Narayanan says. “Operating theatre teams should make shared decisions, because not everyone experiences it in the same way.”

When staff are included, music can foster a relaxed and positive environment, but exclusion can highlight tensions.

Many of the stories shared in the study underline how personal musical taste can be.

One participant recalled a moment of strong team cohesion when music lifted the mood during a break. “There was a point in the afternoon where three circulating nurses were all having a little dance in the back, everyone was on board, things were on track, and it was a nice time.”

But not every experience was as harmonious.
 
In one case, a surgeon’s affinity for opera clashed with colleagues’ preferences, while other accounts described music causing frustration or conflict. And country music from a surgeon was “quite painful when it was on for about 15 hours,” one participant said.

Music could also create awkward moments. One surgeon operated on a teenage boy who had requested rap music during a minor procedure. “It was quite appalling in terms of the language that was going on, and I was quite shocked while he was going off to sleep,” the surgeon says.

Sometimes, music underscored unforgettable moments. The Lion King’s iconic 'Circle of Life' played as a baby was lifted from the womb during a caesarean section, at the mother’s request.

Music can act as an environmental cue, the study finds. “Observers or participants in the theatre environment may use it as information to check if things are going well or not,” Narayanan says. A soundtrack may help teams relax and focus but is often turned off during critical moments to allow full focus.

Researchers conducted structured interviews with seven surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses about their experiences with music in theatre. The data was analysed qualitatively, he says, revealing five key themes: “reflection of team cohesion, contributing to a therapeutic space, not a panacea for all, a mirror to power or hierarchy and a useful environmental cue.”

Narayanan says the takeaway is simple.
 
“It’s not about choosing the perfect song,” he says. “It’s about making sure everyone feels included.”
 
He says music can be a powerful tool in the operating theatre when used thoughtfully, enhancing teamwork, communication, and the overall surgical experience.
 
The study, A qualitative exploration of the perceptions of music use by healthcare professionals in the operating theatre (the BACH study), was supervised by Associate Professor Anna Serlachius, with co-authors Sian Ellett, Associate Professor Manar Khashram and Professor James Fisher from the University’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.