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Employment Issues – ACC workers to strike for fairer pay – PSA

Source: PSA

More than 1000 PSA members working at ACC are to strike in support of fairer pay.
Members voted overwhelmingly to take strike action in response to an unacceptable pay offer that would see more than 160 workers, often women, earning less than the living wage.
Strike action will start with a one-hour withdrawal of labour from 11am to noon on Wednesday 16 July. Further action is planned for Wednesday 6 August.
“The strike vote reflects a failure by ACC to bring a meaningful increase for poorly paid predominantly female workers to the table,” says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.
The Accident Compensation Corporation has 318 workers currently earning less than the living wage. The current offer will still leave 166 earning less than the living wage.
ACC is offering a pay increase of between zero and 2% for staff earning the midpoint of their pay band or above, regardless of how low the pay band is.
“This leaves many low paid workers stuck in a cycle where their wages are eroded by inflation and they keep falling below what is a fair wage for what they do,” Fitzsimons says.
“As a result, many ACC workers are earning less than they need to live with dignity and the ability to earn enough to cover more than just the absolute basics.”
“The broader context is that ACC does not pay many of its staff well, and this latest pay offer does not address this issue, or recognise the efforts of loyal, long-serving staff, who will be above the midpoint of their band.
“Making matters worse low paid ACC administrative staff had their pay equity claim extinguished when the Government amended the pay equity law in May,” Fitzsimons says.
The work of the striking ACC staff includes: Recovery, Coordinators, Recovery Partners, Administrators, Clinical Advisors, Cover Assessors and Customer Experience Representatives.
“The PSA and ACC will enter into mediation today (Monday 14 July)and we hope this will result in a better offer for these workers,” Fitzsimons says.
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, and community groups.
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Insurers stand with communities as weather recovery begins – Insurance Council

Source: Insurance Council of NZ

New Zealanders are once again facing the challenge of cleaning up and recovering after another round of severe weather, particularly across the upper North and South Islands.
“This is tough for communities that had just beginning to get back on their feet after recent major storms,” said Kris Faafoi, Chief Executive of the Insurance Council of New Zealand | Te Kāhui Inihui o Aotearoa (ICNZ).
“We encourage people to begin the recovery process safely and as soon as they're able. We understand that not everyone can lodge an insurance claim immediately.
“It’s important to note that any new damage from this latest weather event will require a separate insurance claim.”
To support affected residents, Nelson-Tasman Emergency Management has re-established a community information centre at the Motueka Rec Centre on Old Wharf Road. Insurance sector contacts will be available through the centre to provide assistance.
“While it’s important to contact your insurer as soon as you can, don’t delay necessary steps to prevent further damage if it’s safe to act,” Kris Faafoi said.
To help speed up recovery and keep people safe, ICNZ recomm

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Advocacy and Justice – New Zealand Urged to Join Global Coalition Taking Concrete Measures Against Israeli Atrocities – PFNZ

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

The Palestine Forum of New Zealand is calling on the New Zealand Government to urgently align itself with over twenty nations — including Spain, Ireland, Turkey, China, Qatar, South Africa, and Brazil — that are coordinating concrete international measures in response to Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza.

An emergency summit of The Hague Group will take place in Colombia next week, with participating states seeking to enforce the International Court of Justice’s binding orders and address grave breaches of international law in Gaza.

“More than 58,000 Palestinians — mostly women and children have been killed, and Gaza has been reduced to rubble. The international community is moving decisively, and it’s time for New Zealand to take a principled stand,” said Maher Nazzal, spokesperson for the Palestine Forum of New Zealand.

New Zealand has a proud legacy of supporting international law and human rights, from opposing apartheid to championing nuclear disarmament. It must now show moral clarity and leadership by joining the growing international coalition demanding an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of the blockade, and full accountability for crimes committed.

“We urge the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to publicly commit to joining this initiative and to represent New Zealand at the upcoming summit. Inaction in the face of atrocity is complicity,” Maher Nazzal added.

Maher Nazzal
Palestine Forum of New Zealand

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Support – ASB offers support for customers affected by severe weather

Source: ASB

With the effects of severe weather being felt across much of the country, ASB is offering a range of support options for customers impacted by weather this weekend.

Tailored support for personal, farming and business customers affected by weather will be offered on a case-by-case basis, with options including:

  • Deferring loan repayments for up to three months or interest only for three months.
  • Immediate consideration of requests for emergency credit card limit increases and overdraft facilities.
  • Tailored solutions for eligible ASB business and rural customers including access to working capital of up to $100,000.

ASB Executive General Manager for Personal Banking Adam Boyd says ASB wants to hear from any customers needing financial assistance or support.

“It’s concerning to see Nelson Tasman being challenged again, with locals already dealing with the fallout from recent weather events. We understand this is a very tough time for the region. We encourage any personal, business or farming customers who are worried about money as a result of this weekend’s storms to please get in touch. Our teams have practical options available and we’re here to help.”

Personal customers needing support should call ASB’s contact centre on 0800 803 804. Alternatively, customers can email hardship@asb.co.nz.  Affected ASB business and rural customers should speak to their relationship manager or call 0800 272 287.

Further detail on available support is available at Extreme support l ASB. More information and full terms, fees and charges can be found on ASB’s website.

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Health – ProCare welcomes Pharmac’s move to improve access to asthma inhalers and long-acting contraceptives

Source: ProCare

ProCare welcomes Pharmac’s announcement to improve access to some asthma inhalers and long-acting contraceptives from 1 August. The changes represent a significant step forward in supporting equitable, patient-centred primary care across Aotearoa.

The changes will impact funded treatments, including:

  • combination inhalers branded as Symbicort Turbuhaler, DuoResp Spiromax, and Vannair
  • long-acting contraceptives branded as Mirena, Jaydess, and Jadelle.

From next month, patients will be able to receive a three-month supply of the inhalers at once, and these, along with the long-acting contraceptives will be stocked in general practices for the first time.

This change will reduce the need for people to visit their pharmacy to pick up their prescription and mean people can learn how to use their inhalers and collect them at the same time, rather than returning for a follow-up.

Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare sees the decision as a win for increasing accessibility to treatment and for efficiency of work in primary care.

“Reducing barriers to get timely access to treatment, especially for people managing chronic conditions like asthma means our health care professionals can help them get better health outcomes sooner.

“However, we do want to sound a warning to members of the public around the IUD insertions. As per Medical Council requirements, GPs are required to ensure that patients are informed and have time to ask questions before giving their consent to any procedure. Patients may need to book a double or triple appointment depending on the treatment chosen.

Mihi Blair, Kaiwhakahaere Hauora Māori (General Manager – Māori Health and Equity) at ProCare believes these changes will mean the support provided to patients can be done more equitably.

“For Māori, Pacific peoples, and those living in rural areas, easier access to essential treatments can make a real difference to their health. It’s encouraging to see Pharmac responding to the needs of our communities.”

ProCare supports aligning medicine access with clinical guidelines and responding to how we can improve patient experience. The changes will help streamline care delivery, reduce administrative burden, and empower clinicians to provide timely, effective treatment.

“We look forward to working with our practices to implement these changes smoothly and ensure patients are informed and supported,” says Norwell.

About ProCare

ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to more than 830,000 people across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz

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Health Employment – Hospital nurses to take nationwide strike action – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

More than 36,000 Te Whatu Ora nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora have voted to strike for 24-hours after Health NZ failed to address their safe staffing concerns.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) Chief Executive Paul Goulter says there was strong support from members to take strike action after a new offer from Te Whatu Ora last week was worse than a previous one in May.
“This latest offer from Te Whatu Ora fails to address concerns about safe staffing despite them being raised continually throughout the collective agreement bargaining process.
“Patients are at risk because of short staffing. Nurses, midwives and health care assistants are stretched too thin and can’t give patients the care they need. This is heartbreaking for our exhausted members who became health care workers because they want to help people.
“Te Whatu Ora data obtained by NZNO under the Official Information Act shows between January and November last year, 50% of all days shifts were understaffed across hospital wards in 16 health districts,” Paul Goulter says. (see table in editor’s notes)
To “add insult to injury” members have again been offered a wage increase which doesn’t meet cost of living increases and will see them and their whānau go backwards financially, he says.
“There were 30,000 New Zealanders who moved to Australia in the past year. We know some of them are burnt out nurses moving for better conditions and wages.
“Te Whatu Ora needs to do more to retain our nursing workforce, employ graduate nurses and ensure patients get the care they need. This is about the health and wellbeing of real people and their whānau, not the need to meet some arbitrary budget set by the Government.
“It looks like this Government has lost control of health,” Paul Goulter says.
Notes:
-The nationwide strike will be held from 9am on Wednesday 30 July until 9am on Thursday 31 July.
-The strike will be a complete withdrawal of labour at every place in New Zealand where Te Whatu Ora provides health care or hospital care services.
-Life preserving services will continue to be provided.
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Arts – Applications open for NZSA Peter & Dianne Beatson Fellowship 2025 – A $10,000 Opportunity for Writers

Source: New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa PEN NZ Inc

Calling for applications from writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama with a literary track record, who are currently working on a new project.

The Peter and Dianne Beatson Fellowship is awarded each year to a mid-career or senior writer to work on a project that shows a high level of literary merit and national significance and is donated by Peter Beatson. We thank Peter for his continuing and generous support of New Zealand writers.

In 2024, the fellowship was awarded to Dr Jacqueline Leckie, who used the funding to work on her biography with the working title Meg Campbell (1937–2007): Aroha and Resistance.

Dr Jacqueline Leckie told us she was honoured to be the recipient of the 2024 Peter and Dianne Beatson Fellowship and the Fellowship would enable her to research and write the first book length biography of one of Aotearoa’s most original and memorable poets, Meg Campbell (1937–2007), provisionally titled ‘Meg Campbell (1937–2007): Aroha and Resistance.’ Meg’s story has remained within the shadows of her renowned creative husband, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell.

Other previous recipients include: Laurence Fearnley, Tim Jones, Siobhan Harvey, Whiti Hereaka, Emma Neale, Michael Harlow, Tina Makereti, Jillian Sullivan, Sue Wootton, and Frankie McMillan.

Deadline for applications: Thursday 18 September 2025

To apply for the fellowship you need to be a member of the NZ Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc). Membership is open to all developing and established writers.
New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) was established in 1934 and is the principal organisation representing writers’ interests in NZ. A national office oversees 8 branches and hubs, administers prizes and awards, runs professional development programmes, advocates for the sector and to raise the visibility of NZ writers and NZ writing. It works in partnership with Ngā Kaituhi Māori and its developing Youth writer’s network.

To find out more and to access application forms: https://authors.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=905a5275ec5c023659502ec21&id=920fd027ce&e=466373ae7c

The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa PEN NZ Inc is the principal organisation representing writers in Aotearoa. Founded in 1934, it advocates for the right to fair reward and creative rights, administers prizes and awards, works closely with the literary sector and runs professional development programmes for writers among other activities.
authors.org.nz

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Advocacy – PSNA condemns the New Zealand government’s silence over US sanctions against United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese

Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

 The Palestine Solidarity Network has just demanded that the government speak out against the US sanctions imposed on United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese.

Albanese released a damning report identifying companies complicit in Israel’s mass killing and mass starvation of civilians in Gaza, provoking the US to sanction her.

 

PSNA Co-Chair Maher Nazzal says it is unacceptable for the US to bully the UN and for New Zealand to stay silent.

 

“Anyone who stands up for Palestinians is attacked and menaced by the US.  New Zealand claims to support the United Nations and the so-called ‘rules-based international order’ but we stay cowardly mute when the Trump administration does Israel's bidding and attacks United Nations representatives and UN agencies such as the United Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).”

“New Zealand’s silence is eerily reminiscent of western silence as the Nazi regime in 1930s Germany targeted Jews, socialists, communists, gays, and gypsies, and took over country by country through Europe.” 

“New Zealanders are calling on the government to sanction Israel, but our government remains cowardly complicit” says Nazzal. “Our silence represents the weakest and worst of human nature.”


“Silence is what empowers racism, genocide and imperial thuggery as personified in US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio’s attack on Albanese.

 

PSNA, last week, referred four New Zealand government ministers and two business leaders to the International Criminal Court for investigation over their criminal support for Israeli war crimes in Gaza.


Maher Nazzal

Co-Chair 

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

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Road Transport Workforce Report released

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

National road freight association Transporting New Zealand has released the landmark 2025 Road Transport Workforce Report, in collaboration with Teletrac Navman.
The report explores how the demographic makeup of New Zealand’s road freight industry evolved between 2013 and 2023, drawing from previously unreleased census data.
The detailed snapshot of New Zealand’s trucking workforce revealed key insights around age, gender, nationality and ethnicity.
Drivers aged over 65 made up more than 10 per cent of the workforce in 2023. This finding echoed that of the recent 2025 National Road Freight Survey, in which almost half of industry respondents (47 per cent) indicated that “up to 25 per cent” or more of their staff would retire or leave the industry in the next five years.
The workforce report also found that the number of female truck drivers increased by 240 per cent between 2013 and 2023. Female drivers made up six per cent of the truck driving workforce in 2023.
Migrant workers are also playing an increasingly important role with almost 25 per cent of drivers being born overseas as of 2023.
Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih says the report provides a valuable insight into the truck driving workforce.
“Truck drivers make up 1.2% of New Zealand’s total workforce, making it the 11th most common occupation in the country.”
“With nearly 93% of New Zealand’s total freight tonnage moved by road, the demand for road freight services will only increase as our population continues to grow. Ensuring that the sector is staffed with skilled, capable drivers is more important than ever.”
“As the workforce gets older, more truck drivers will reduce their hours or retire, leaving severe skill shortages. The road freight industry and the government must work together to ensure new entrants are supported through the driver development pipeline”.
“The report sets out how Transporting New Zealand has been responding to these challenges, and how the road freight industry can develop, recruit and retain a diverse and resilient workforce.”
“We’re very grateful to Teletrac Navman for supporting the Road Transport Workforce Report, as part of the multi-year Te ara ki tua Road to Success workforce development programme.”
About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country.
Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion. 
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Weather News – MetService issues Red Warning for the Tasman District

Source: MetService

Covering period of Friday 11 July – At 9:59am MetService escalated the severe weather warnings in the Tasman District to a Red Warning for Heavy Rain, in consultation with the Tasman District Council. MetService Red Warnings are reserved for the most extreme weather events where significant impact and disruption is expected.

The Red Rain Warning is valid until 11pm tonight (Friday) and covers the Tasman District about and southeast of Motueka and north of Lake Rotoroa, excluding Nelson City. The escalation to a Red Warning comes on the back of three weeks of heavy rain events that have led to very saturated conditions and high river levels, with further rainfall expected with the current weather system. The region has already seen more than 50 mm of rain so far today, with a further 80 to 120 mm expected.

MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane says, “Dangerous river conditions, flooding, slips, and dangerous road conditions are expected.”

“A Red Warning signifies that people need to act now as immediate action is required to protect people, animals and property from the impact of the weather. People should also be prepared to follow the advice of official authorities and emergency services.”

This is the second Red Warning MetService has issued this year, and it’s the 17th Red Warning weather event since the highest alert level was introduced back in May 2019.

A Watch for Strong Winds is also in place for the Tasman District for northerlies and northeasterlies approaching severe gale. The wet ground may act together with the strong winds to increase the chances of trees falling.

It’s not just the top of the South Island which is lined up for severe weather. Many parts of the North Island are under a blanket of Warnings and Watches for Heavy Rain and Strong Winds. Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, and Bay of Plenty may see a period of downpours as the weather system moves across this afternoon and evening.

Keep up to date with weather and warnings via metservice.com or our free MetService weather app.

MetService also now provides push notifications for Red Severe Weather Warnings via our app. More information can be found here about enabling them.

Understanding MetService Severe Weather Warning System

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings (Localised Red Warning) – take cover now:

This warning is a red warning for a localised area.
When extremely severe weather is occurring or will do within the hour.
Severe thunderstorms have the ability to have significant impacts for an area indicated in the warning.
In the event of a Severe Thunderstorm Red Warning: Act now!

Red Warnings are about taking immediate action:

When extremely severe weather is imminent or is occurring
Issued when an event is expected to be among the worst that we get – it will have significant impact and it is possible that a lot of people will be affected
In the event of a Red Warning: Act now!

Orange Warnings are about taking action:

When severe weather is imminent or is occurring
Typically issued 1 – 3 days in advance of potential severe weather
In the event of an Orange Warning: Take action.

Thunderstorm Watch means thunderstorms are possible, be alert and consider action

Show the area that thunderstorms are most likely to occur during the validity period.
Although thunderstorms are often localised, the whole area is on watch as it is difficult to know exactly where the severe thunderstorm will occur within the mapped area.
During a thunderstorm Watch: Stay alert and take action if necessary.

Watches are about being alert:

When severe weather is possible, but not sufficiently imminent or certain for a warning to be issued
Typically issued 1 – 3 days in advance of potential severe weather.
During a Watch: Stay alert

Outlooks are about looking ahead:

To provide advanced information on possible future Watches and/or Warnings
Issued routinely once or twice a day
Recommendation: Plan.