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Animal Welfare – Outrage at government’s proposal to continue with cruel confinement of mother pigs

Source: SAFE For Animals

SAFE is appalled by the associate minister for Animal Welfare Andrew Hoggard’s announcement that the Government plans to continue to allow mother pigs to be confined in farrowing crates and mating stalls, arguing that no reduction of time spent in these cage systems justifies their use.
The Government proposes to limit the confinement of mother pigs in farrowing crates to a maximum of seven days, down from the current 33 days. It also proposes restricting the use of mating stalls to three hours at a time, followed by a three-hour break before a sow can be returned to the stall – a process that can be repeated as often as the farmer chooses, instead of allowing continuous confinement for seven days.
The announcement comes five years after SAFE and the New Zealand Animal Law Association took the Government to the High Court over the use of these systems.
In 2020, the Court held that the approach the Government had used to regulate the use of farrowing crates and mating stalls was unlawful. That decision led to substantive efforts by the then Labour-led Government to eventually phase out their use.
SAFE CEO Debra Ashton says this announcement is a betrayal of those positive changes and the mother pigs it was meant to protect.
“This was an opportunity to show that this government takes animal welfare seriously. Instead, of recognising that confining a mother pig in a cage for any amount of time is unjust, the Government has chosen to allow an inhumane and unlawful practice to continue.” says Ashton
“Allowing confinement for any number of days undermines the Court’s ruling and the intent of the Animal Welfare Act. This is a deeply disappointing result that shows Government remains captive to industry influence.”
NZALA President Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere said the decision was “a significant disappointment that undermines the real progress made on ending the use of farrowing crates and mating stalls proposed in 2023; progress that has since stalled for the last two years.”
SAFE says the announcement on how the government plan to deliver these changes is vague and will wait for more information before deciding on next steps. In the meantime, SAFE remains firm in its position that no cage system for any amount of time is acceptable, and will continue to advocate for the freedom of pigs in New Zealand.
“It is difficult to believe the Minister has chosen to allow the continued confinement of mother pigs in cruel cages. We know New Zealanders will not accept this and SAFE won’t let it go unchallenged.” says Ashton.  
SAFE is Aotearoa’s leading animal rights organisation.
We're creating a future that ensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core work empowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves, animals and our planet.
Notes:
  • High-res photos and video of mother pigs in farrowing crates
  • Farrowing crates are metal cages used to confine mother pigs during and after birth. In these crates, mother pigs cannot turn around or interact meaningfully with their piglets. In 2022, it was estimated that up to 60% of pig farmers use farrowing crates. The system has been widely condemned by animal welfare experts and is already banned or heavily restricted in several countries, including Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.
  • In 2020, the High Court ruled in favour of NZALA and SAFE, declaring that the minimum standards and regulations permitting farrowing crates and mating stalls were unlawful. The Court found they breached the Animal Welfare Act 1999, which requires animals to be able to express normal patterns of behaviour.
  • The ruling marked the first successful legal challenge to a Code of Welfare in New Zealand’s history.
  • SAFE submitted a petition in March 2018, which was signed by over 112,000 people calling for farrowing crates to be banned. 
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Education – New creative study comes to Lower Hutt as Whitireia and WelTec launch Animation, Digital Media and Design and Screen Production in Petone

Source: Whitireia and WelTec

Lower Hutt is set to become a hub for creative learning in 2026, with Whitireia and WelTec offering their Animation, Digital Media and Design and Screen Production (Film) programmes at the Petone campus.
From Trimester 1 2026, ākonga (students) will be able to undertake new creative study close to home, marking a significant expansion of creative education opportunities in the Lower Hutt community.
“We're excited to see Petone become a new hub for creative learning” says Brenda Saris, Kaiwhakahaere Hōtaka (Programme Manager) Digital Media and Design at Whitireia and WelTec.
“By offering Animation, Digital Media and Design and Screen Production (Film) in Petone, we’re making creative study more accessible for Hutt locals, while also opening the door to fresh collaborations with local industries, businesses, and community groups,” says Saris.
The move also creates opportunities for exciting new collaborations with other programmes based at the Petone campus, such as Animation or Digital Media and Design ākonga in working alongside Information Technology ākonga.
For current Digital Media and Design ākonga and Naenae local Brant, the shift to Petone feels like a natural fit.
“It’s really cool that the move to Petone gives locals more ways to get involved in creative study,” says Brant. “It’s a great chance to learn close to home, get hands-on experience, and be part of the creative scene here in the Hutt Valley.”
Mary-Claire Proctor, Head of School of Innovation, Design and Technology at Whitireia and WelTec, says having these programmes based in Petone is a great opportunity for businesses and organisations in the Hutt Valley to connect with upcoming talent.
“We’re excited to see the opportunities it will bring for our ākonga, for local industry, and for the Lower Hutt community as a whole,” says Mary-Claire. “It’s a great chance for ākonga and businesses to grow together in Hutt Valley’s creative scene.”
ENDS
More information about Animation and Digital Media and Design
Learn real skills to bring your concepts, characters, creatures or worlds to life. Come and learn from tutors who will teach you about animation, game, graphic and screen design (film and visual effects). Whether you’re creating captivating animations or imaginative illustrations, designing gameplay experiences, or shaping visual narratives, there’s a world of creativity waiting for you.
See Animation and Digital Media and Design programmes here:
More information about Screen Production (Film)
This hands-on programme introduces ākonga to industry-based practices and processes. Learn from industry practitioners and gain skills in off-set and on-set crew roles, including directing, camera, lighting, and production management. If you want to write and produce great stories and create engaging digital content for this evolving industry, this is the programme for you.
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Advocacy – Open letter to UniSaver Board members 2025 on Palestine

Source: University Workers for Palestine

Open letter to UniSaver Board members 2025 from University Workers for Palestine, dated Thursday, October 2, 2025, 10am.

Tēnā koutou katoa,

University Workers for Palestine has been trying for over a year to get UniSaver, the preferred superannuation provider for most universities, to divest from Israel and companies complicit in occupation and genocide, and develop a BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) policy. We've had no response from them. So we're drawing a line in the sand. This open letter makes clear that if they don't respond in an ethical, meaningful way, university communities will support a campaign to sever ties with them and take our, and our employers', contributions elsewhere.

If you work at a New Zealand university, please sign on, and share with other university workers (and we also invite others, including our students, alumni and former colleagues, to sign in solidarity). We will be sending this letter to UniSaver at the start of November.

In solidarity, University Workers for Palestine (Uni4pal)

*******

To the UniSaver Board,

We are writing to you to demand that you divest immediately from all holdings that are complicit in the genocide of Palestinians. In August of last year, you received an open letter with 400 signatures pointing out some of the worst investments (like Elbit Systems and Palantir Technologies) and asking you to develop a divestment policy. You never bothered to contact letter signatories and you have apparently done nothing to change UniSaver investments.

A year has passed, a year in which genocide has accelerated; many thousands of Palestinians, including our university colleagues, have been killed during this time, in what has been described as a scholasticide.

We are writing to you now to reiterate our call for you to divest and develop a divestment policy to prevent future investments in companies that are complicit in genocide and apartheid. To repeat from our letter a year ago (with the addition of point 4), we demand that UniSaver Limited:

  1. Take immediate steps to review its portfolios and to terminate its holdings in entities which make it, and us as members of UniSaver, complicit in the crimes of the Israeli state,
  2. Outline a clear plan for divestment where immediate termination is not possible, and
  3. Develop policy measures to ensure its financial and investment strategies are in keeping with the internationally recognised BDS framework.
  4. Update the Responsible Investment Policy to require the investment manager to divest from companies found to be complicit in the genocide of Palestinians.

If you don’t withdraw our funds from genocide, we, the undersigned, will support a campaign to get universities in Aotearoa New Zealand to sever ties with you. We will not accept our retirement funds fuelling the genocide of Palestinians.We expect to hear a response from the Unisaver board by the end of November.

About University Workers for Palestine

We are a collective of university workers from institutions across Aotearoa in active support of a Free Palestine. We are organising to oppose the occupation, apartheid, scholasticide, and genocide in Gaza, and to act in solidarity with Palestine. This has included a call for Unisaver, the university supported superannuation scheme, to divest from entities that are invested in and benefit from the illegal military occupation of Palestinian territories, as well as the genocidal war on Gaza. In July 2024 an open letter written by UW4P collected over 400 signatures.

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University Research – Survey seeks views on doctors’ financial ties – U0A

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Researchers are investigating how New Zealand patients feel about, and respond to, ‘self-referrals’ – when doctors refer patients to healthcare providers in which they have a financial stake.

Take the survey here: https://auckland.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0SxL35DrXpIbhfo

Principal investigator, Professor Jaime King (University of Auckland, Law School), says the issue of self-referral has been a growing concern in the medical profession as doctors increasingly have investments in the clinics, labs, and specialists to which they refer patients.
  
“This creates a conflict of interest,” says King, an expert in health law. “Patients trust their doctors to recommend the best care, but financial incentives could be influencing these referrals.”

Although the Medical Council of New Zealand requires doctors to disclose such conflicts of interest, research suggests disclosure alone may not be enough to protect patients.

International studies show that patients often feel uncomfortable questioning their doctor’s recommendation, even when they are advised of, or suspect that a financial motivation may be influencing the medical advice.

“Patients don’t want to seem like they’re implicitly accusing their doctor of bias or unethical conduct,” says co-investigator Professor Jo Manning. “Prior research shows they often go along with the referral anyway, even if it raises concerns for them about trust, bias and whether the medical advice is in their best interests.”

To better understand the experience of New Zealand patients and whether it reflects the international findings, King and Manning have launched a survey to gather patient perspectives on self-referral. They are particularly interested in the views of Māori patients, who may face additional barriers to questioning their healthcare providers.

“This survey seeks to understand people’s experiences of self-referral and to help us consider solutions that could improve trust and transparency and prevent patient harm in the healthcare system,” says Manning.
  
One potential solution the researchers are exploring is an enhanced disclosure model, which would include a public registry of doctors’ financial interests, which patients could consult before deciding on a provider. This, they say, could help address the 'insinuation anxiety' that often prevents patients from questioning their doctor’s referrals.
  
“Disclosure alone isn’t enough, we need systems that make it easier for patients to understand and act on conflicts of interest,” says King.

Instead of limiting disclosure to consultations, the researchers are interested in a publicly searchable register. This could list each doctor’s conflicts of interest, including its nature, value, and duration, with any new conflicts added as they arise.

This kind of register would allow patients to review information about a practitioner’s conflicts of interest before choosing to enrol with, or consult that practitioner, giving them the time and knowledge to make better-informed decisions.

King and Manning are also interested in the implications of self-referral for competition in the provision of medical services, for patients’ trust in medical practitioners and the medical profession, and for the sustainability of the public health system in New Zealand.
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Transporting New Zealand welcomes freight announcement but calls for a more ambitious approach

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Today’s announcement by Transport Minister Chris Bishop that the government is taking three steps to keep our freight system “trucking along” has been met with cautious optimism by national road freight association Transporting New Zealand.
Chief Executive Dom Kalasih said that while the announcement was positive news, the Government’s target to double the value of New Zealand’s exports in 10 years meant that ambitious freight reforms were essential.
“Transporting New Zealand is concerned about whether this announcement will deliver the transformative changes we need and how long they will take to implement.”
“If the Government wants to meet its export goals, we need larger, more productive trucks on the road, and heavy vehicle driver licensing reform that help address long standing skills shortages. This can be achieved through the Government’s ongoing land transport rule reform programme – we just need the timeframes moved up.”
Transporting New Zealand is also welcoming the refresh of the National Freight Demand Study. The freight association raised concerns with the Minister when the work was paused by Ministry of Transport earlier in the year.
Demand studies had previously included data on mode share between road, rail and coastal shipping, and inter-regional freight flows.
“The Government is currently relying on pre-COVID freight data (2017/2018) to inform transport investment, so an update is well overdue.” says Kalasih.
“Having up-to-date mode share data will also show whether the significant investment into rail over the past few years has resulted in yielded any results, or whether it shows that road has extended its competitive advantage.”
“Despite best efforts and significant financial support to increase rail freight activity, there’s been a steady decline in rail freight of about 20 percent over the last 5 years. KiwiRail’s FY2023 freight target was 4.36 billion net tonne kilometres, but its actual activity in FY2025 was only 3.37 billion net tonne kilometres.”
“In order to handle the forecast 55 per cent growth in freight over the next 20 years, the Government needs to be ensuring value for money from transport investment, across road, rail, and coastal shipping.”
“The Minister of Transport has a great opportunity to show some leadership and put rail on notice – all freight investment needs to produce results.”
Kalasih said that the establishment of the Freight Advisory Council could also be useful, particularly if it replaced some of the current transport stakeholder groups.
“Let’s keep the Council focussed on a few priority issues, and hold ourselves to account on the results.” 
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Property Market – NZ property values edge up in September, ending five-month slide – Cotality

Source: Cotality

Property values in Aotearoa New Zealand edged up by 0.1% in September, breaking a run of five consecutive monthly falls, according to Cotality NZ’s latest hedonic Home Value Index (HVI).

The national median value now sits at $810,141.

Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist, Kelvin Davidson, said that September’s slight rise is consistent with lower mortgage rates as well as early tentative signs of an economic turnaround and an upward trend in property sales volumes.

“That said, September’s rise in values was clearly marginal, and it’s far too early to conclude that this marks the start of a new, sustained lift.”

“After all, the stock of available listings – while falling – remains relatively high, and caution continues to pervade the market.”

He said September’s small rise needs to be viewed in the context of a cumulative -1.6% drop over the five months from April to August.

“On top of that, even though some economic measures – including filled jobs – are looking encouraging, others are less positive.”

“In short, we’re not on solid economic ground just yet.”

“Of course, there’s always two sides to the housing market coin, and it’s a good time to be a buyer, provided they can get the finance. In particular, first home buyers remain a strong presence in the market and mortgaged multiple property owners have returned in greater numbers too.”

Across the main centres, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington dipped by -0.4% in September, with Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland also down (-0.2%). Kirikiriroa Hamilton was flat in September, with Ōtepoti Dunedin rising by 0.3%, Ōtautahi Christchurch lifting by 0.6%, and Tauranga recording a more substantial 1.3% increase.

Index results for September 2025
Change in dwelling values
Month
Quarter
Annual
From peak
Median value
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
-0.2%
-1.6%
-1.4%
-22.6%
$1,053,397
Kirikiriroa Hamilton
0.0%
-0.8%
1.1%
-11.8%
$752,817
Tauranga
1.3%
1.2%
2.0%
-15.5%
$921,574
Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington*
-0.4%
-0.8%
-2.1%
-25.1%
$794,353
Ōtautahi Christchurch
0.6%
0.4%
3.2%
-4.3%
$693,680
Ōtepoti Dunedin
0.3%
0.0%
-0.3%
-11.5%
$597,767
Aotearoa New Zealand
0.1%
-0.7%
-0.2%
-17.3%
$810,141

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s various sub-markets were patchy in September, with Waitakere rising by 0.3%, Rodney by 0.2%, and Franklin sneaking up 0.1%. But Papakura edged down by -0.1%, as did Auckland City, while Manukau (-0.4%) and North Shore (-0.6%) recorded larger falls.

The -0.2% drop recorded in September across Tāmaki Makaurau as a whole reflected the fact that the largest sub-markets were the weakest – almost 70% of dwellings in the super-city are in Auckland City, Manukau, or North Shore.

Compared to the previous peak, the falls across Tāmaki Makaurau continue to range from -20% down to -24%.

“The stock of available listings across the super-city has been gradually declining this year, potentially lessening buyers’ pricing power to a degree. But several economic sentiment indicators or surveys for Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland remain subdued, and this cautious mood is clearly pervading the property market too,” Mr Davidson noted.

 Region
Change in dwelling values
Month
Quarter
Annual
From peak
Median value
Rodney
0.2%
-0.7%
-0.6%
-20.0%
$1,202,450
Te Raki Paewhenua North Shore
-0.6%
-1.6%
-1.5%
-20.0%
$1,234,665
Waitakere
0.3%
-0.9%
-0.3%
-24.2%
$924,512
Auckland City
-0.1%
-2.0%
-1.5%
-23.2%
$1,140,687
Manukau
-0.4%
-2.0%
-2.2%
-24.4%
$960,506
Papakura
-0.1%
-1.0%
-1.3%
-23.3%
$829,554
Franklin
0.1%
-1.4%
-0.1%
-21.9%
$960,579
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
-0.2%
-1.6%
-1.4%
-22.6%
$1,053,397

Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

The wider Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington area remained soft in September, with only Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta Upper Hutt managing to record a rise (0.5%) in property values.

The other main sub-markets all fell, with those declines ranging from -0.2% in Wellington City down to -0.9% in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt.

The falls from peak remain significant across the region too, ranging from around -23% in Kāpiti Coast and Porirua, to -26% in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt.

“Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington is another area where the stock of available listings has drifted lower this year. But the market still remains in favour of buyers, with plenty of choice out there. The subdued state of the Wellington economy and muted confidence both remain a factor in its sluggish housing market too.”

 Region
Change in dwelling values
Month
Quarter
Annual
From peak
Median value
Kāpiti Coast
-0.7%
-2.3%
-1.0%
-22.9%
$806,309
Porirua
-0.7%
-1.1%
0.4%
-22.6%
$740,315
Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta Upper Hutt
0.5%
-0.2%
-2.5%
-24.1%
$711,007
Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt
-0.9%
-1.7%
-1.2%
-26.0%
$688,110
Wellington City
-0.2%
-0.5%
-2.9%
-25.5%
$886,513
Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington
-0.4%
-0.8%
-2.1%
-25.1%
$794,353

Regional results

Moving away from the main centres, there’s a growing body of evidence that the two-speed economy – with provincial areas outperforming on the back of strong agricultural returns – might be starting to filter into the property market too.

Indeed, apart from a drop in values in Rotorua and small dip in Whangārei, many other provincial towns and cities rose in September – including Ngāmotu New Plymouth (0.7%), Waihōpai Invercargill (0.8%), and Tairāwhiti Gisborne (2.5%).

In both Ngāmotu New Plymouth and Waihōpai Invercargill, property values are at least 3% above this time last year too.

“We shouldn’t get carried away with any flow-on effects from the farming upturn into the provincial property markets, given there’s still a degree of uncertainty across the wider economy. But September nevertheless showed a pretty clear urban-rural property market divergence, which we’ll keep a close eye on.”

 Region
Change in dwelling values
Month
Quarter
Annual
From peak
Median value
Whangārei
-0.2%
-1.2%
1.9%
-19.1%
$714,790
Ahuriri Napier
0.1%
-1.1%
1.6%
-18.8%
$721,464
Te Papaioea Palmerston North
0.6%
0.1%
-0.5%
-18.7%
$610,365
Heretaunga Hastings
0.1%
-0.3%
2.5%
-17.5%
$720,952
Tairāwhiti Gisborne
2.5%
1.0%
0.0%
-16.4%
$607,863
Whanganui
0.6%
-1.6%
-0.9%
-13.9%
$481,819
Rotorua
-1.1%
-1.3%
0.6%
-13.3%
$640,417
Whakatū Nelson
0.5%
0.1%
-1.3%
-13.0%
$726,813
Tāhuna Queenstown
0.1%
0.0%
-0.8%
-6.1%
$1,712,545
Ngāmotu New Plymouth
0.7%
0.4%
3.0%
-5.3%
$707,965
Waihōpai Invercargill
0.8%
1.6%
5.0%
At peak
$520,639

Property market outlook

Looking ahead, Mr Davidson noted: “It now seems pretty likely the official cash rate will go below the previously-expected trough of 2.5%, as the Reserve Bank tries to shore up the economy and reduce spare capacity – hence lowering the chances that inflation undershoots the 1-3% target range sometime down the track.”

“This also suggests that mortgage rates could have a bit further to fall yet, especially for floating or short-term fixed loans. With around 45% of existing mortgages either floating or fixed and set to reprice within the next six months, those borrowers will be feeling a little happier.”

“For now, property values remain pretty subdued. But provincial areas seem to be turning a corner, and there does seem to be growing scope for values to start rising more consistently in 2026, albeit a fresh boom seems unlikely – especially with the economy and labour market only set to recover slowly.”

“The recent rise in the physical supply of property relative to population, as well as the lurking restraint of debt to income ratio limits for mortgage lending are other reasons for caution about house price growth over the medium term”, Davidson concluded.

For more property news and insights, visit www.cotality.com/nz/insights

Note to Editors:

The Cotality Hedonic Home Value Index (HVI) is calculated using a hedonic regression methodology that addresses the issue of compositional bias associated with median price and other measures. In simple terms, the index is calculated using recent sales data combined with information about the attributes of individual properties such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, land area and geographical context of the dwelling.

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Consumer NZ – Spark, 2degrees and One NZ stall on billing transparency

Source: Consumer NZ

A review of New Zealand’s biggest mobile phone service providers found it’s not as easy as it should be to make informed decisions about your phone plan and provider.

(ref. https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/it-s-getting-harder-to-tell-which-mobile-plan-you-should-be-on )

Each year, in partnership with the Commerce Commission, Consumer NZ reviews how well New Zealand’s biggest telecommunications providers (Spark, 2degrees and One NZ) empower their customers to choose the best phone plan for their needs.  

Nick Gelling, product test writer at Consumer, says this is the first time since the review began in 2022 that there’s been no improvements across the board.

“Usually, we see gradual positive progress in each review. But in 2025, Spark ended an initiative we were excited about last year, 2degrees moved to a new app that’s significantly less helpful than the old one and One NZ hasn’t made any changes at all.”  

“Your telecommunications provider knows how much data you use and how much you spend. You deserve to have easy and clear access to that information, too, so you can switch plans or providers to get the best deal for your specific needs.”

Telecommunications commissioner Tristan Gilbertson says, “it's disappointing that the historic leader, 2degrees, has fallen to the bottom of the pack, and Spark is planning to move away from its right-planning initiative, which we praised last year.

“This highlights the value of independent testing because it keeps an eye on the changes  providers are making and the impact this is having on Kiwi consumers. It helps let us know whether competition is working or whether we need to take steps to protect consumer interests.”

Data without direction

2degrees recently completed a migration to a new app to unify its mobile, broadband and electricity customers, but, says Gelling, the new app experience has taken a step back.

“Usage data is now only available in a daily view, instead of the monthly view that was previously offered. Spend data also used to be presented as a chart – now it’s just a list of transactions,” he says.

“These changes feel like a step in the wrong direction – knowing how much you’re spending or using over time is much more useful when choosing a plan than knowing what you’re spending on any given day.”  

Upgrades undone

Spark paused its annual summaries “for review” in February.

“We were impressed by Spark’s ‘Made For You Review’ last year,” says Gelling. “It included a personalised recommendation that advised customers to either stay on their current plan or switch to another one that better suited their usage patterns. It felt like the future had arrived.

“New summaries are expected to roll out this month, but without the ‘right-plan’ recommendation. Honestly, it’s a wasted opportunity. Right-planning should be the norm by now.  

“In another backward step, the new summaries don’t actually include historical information. Instead, they encourage customers to follow a link to find their details.”

Consumers on hold

Even though Consumer’s review found One NZ still has the most comprehensive annual summary email (which notably includes details of other plans), the app continues to only show its customers the latest 2-3 months of their history.

As Gelling explains, “One NZ customers are unfairly limited to viewing stats by the season. They have to assess their usage with blinkers on.  

“One NZ's excellent annual summary shows it's collecting really useful information. We’d like to see that communicated in the customer app, too.”

We want clearer signals

Consumer surveying has revealed that more New Zealanders than ever are finding annual summaries helpful in reviewing their mobile phone plans.  

 

“Despite seeing progress over the last few years of review, we're disappointed to see providers removing useful features and stalling on promising innovations like right planning,” says Gelling.  

“Telecommunication companies know exactly what their customers use and spend. They shouldn't make it difficult for consumers to access this information.”

Commissioner Gilbertson adds “We hope this is a one-off dip by providers, but we're concerned enough to think it’s time for us to issue guidelines to industry. We plan to do that in the coming weeks so that requirements in this area are clear.”

 

Notes

The Mobile Retail Service Provider Transparency Review is a partnership between Consumer NZ and the Commerce Commission.

 

About Consumer

Consumer NZ is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to championing and empowering consumers in Aotearoa. Consumer NZ has a reputation for being fair, impartial and providing comprehensive consumer information and advice.

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University Research – Digital safety gaps leave vulnerable at risk – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Online scams, weak passwords and cyberbullying hit vulnerable groups hardest, and New Zealand has almost no research to guide local solutions, according to the authors of a new study.

Digital Safety and Vulnerable Groups: A Systematic Review of Barriers, Enablers, and Multi-Level Interventions looks into who's most vulnerable online and why. It examines how factors such as age, gender and disability shape digital safety, explores current interventions and highlights gaps in support for vulnerable groups.

Lead author and University of Auckland Business School doctoral candidate Pacharee Phiayura, working with co-authors Dr Farkhondeh Hassandoust and Dr Angela Liew, peer-reviewed 72 studies published between 2015 and 2025.

Despite the global scope and breadth of research they examined, the review revealed an absence of any New Zealand-specific studies on digital safety and vulnerable groups. It also showed that existing research overlooks the structural inequalities that influence digital vulnerabilities.

“We know that older people, women, people with disabilities, Indigenous communities, migrants and refugees are more exposed to online harms,” says Phiayura. “But the interventions that exist are still very fragmented, often focused narrowly on individual training or support rather than addressing the wider social, organisational and policy settings that shape people's experiences online.”

The study identifies five main barriers to digital safety among vulnerable groups: limited access to technology and infrastructure, social and cultural challenges such as language barriers, low digital literacy, psychological or cognitive constraints, and limited cybersecurity awareness.

It also highlights what helps: strong peer and family support networks, targeted awareness and training programmes, supportive infrastructure and policies, and inclusive technology design that considers the needs of diverse users.

Phiayura, who completed her masters degree in cybersecurity before beginning her doctoral research, says her background influenced her interest in the human side of online safety.

“I grew up in Thailand where online scams are very prevalent, and I've seen how people in my parents' generation believe a lot of the information they see online, without knowing how to verify it. That made me want to focus my research on how vulnerable populations experience digital threats, and what can be done to protect them,” she says.

Phiayura says older adults are particularly vulnerable due to age-related cognitive decline and lower digital literacy, often leaving them reliant on family members for online security decisions.

Women, meanwhile, are disproportionately targeted by online harassment, sexual violence and scams. People with disabilities frequently encounter inaccessible technology, while migrants and refugees may lack resources in their own languages, leaving them at greater risk of fraud and exclusion.

Despite these risks, most existing interventions stop at the individual level – for example, teaching people how to avoid phishing emails.

The study calls for a multi-level approach, combining personal training with community initiatives, organisational support, and government policy.

“Imagine community libraries running workshops for migrant families, taught by mentors who speak their language,” says Phiayura. “That's the kind of multi-level intervention that makes a difference, connecting training with cultural and community support.”

The authors argue for participatory design in technology, ensuring vulnerable users are involved in shaping the tools and policies intended to protect them. They also emphasise a rights-based approach that frames digital safety as a fundamental entitlement, not just an individual responsibility.

“We need to move beyond siloed solutions and build coordinated, inclusive strategies,” says Phiayura.

The findings carry lessons for New Zealand, where little research has been done on the digital safety of groups such as Māori, Pacific communities, older people and low-income households.

“We don't have a clear picture of who our vulnerable groups are, and how they're affected,” she says. “That's a real concern because without local evidence, it's difficult to design interventions that will work in a local context.”

In future research, Phiayura plans to investigate the unique barriers faced by vulnerable populations in Aotearoa. She hopes the findings will help to pinpoint the issues here so that local solutions can be designed with community input.
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Health and Employment – 11,500 essential health workers vote to strike on 23 October – PSA

Source: PSA

More than 11,500 Allied Health workers will strike for 24 hours on Thursday 23 October in support of their claim for safe staffing levels and better pay and conditions.
“The workers, who are PSA members, voted overwhelmingly to take strike action following the failure of Health NZ Te Whatu Ora to table a fair offer after bargaining since June. The strike will run from midnight to midnight all over New Zealand,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
Allied health workers cover over 60 professions that help keep the public health service functioning including social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, scientists, anaesthetic technicians, Māori health specialists, clinical support workers and health assistants (see list of other roles below).
“These are critical health workers who see first-hand how the health system is failing New Zealanders every day – they want to see the Government fund health services properly.
“Health NZ needs to listen to the voice of workers and come back to the bargaining table with an offer that provides for safer staffing levels, ends delays in recruiting new staff, and a better pay offer that reflects their value to the health system.”
The pay offer was for a 2% rise then a 1.5% increase over a 30-month term. This is well below inflation and means workers would be taking an effective pay cut.
“There are simply not enough health workers to provide the level of care New Zealanders need, and recruitment is frustratingly slow. To make up numbers, staff often have to pull double shifts and work unsustainably long hours.
“They can’t give their best to patients when they’re so thinly stretched and burnt out. We can’t afford more workers to cross the Tasman and work in a health system there that better values what they do.”
PSA vice-president and occupational therapist Dianna Mancer says the industrial action is just as much about patients as it is workers.
“Allied Health staff are deeply concerned about the chronic underfunding of the sector. It puts a lot of pressure on workers, but we’re also worried about the effects of short-staffing and budget cuts on patients.
“This offer is not good enough – it doesn’t recognise all the work we do under increasingly difficult circumstances. We are standing up for a better healthcare system that properly cares for workers, so we can care for New Zealanders.”
PSA delegate and mental health social worker Andy Colwell says the work he and his colleagues does is only getting harder.
“In recent years we’ve seen an increase in the severity of need in our communities, but very little acknowledgement of the impact of this on staff from Health NZ.
“What we’re asking for is a pay offer that at the very least keeps up with the rate of inflation. Our work is challenging, and at the current pay rates, we’re losing people to private practice, early retirement, or overseas.
“We need a work environment that is safe in practice so we can provide the best possible service for our communities.”
Fleur Fitzsimons said: “By striking, our members are sending a strong message, that they and New Zealanders deserve better.”
Background – the various roles of Allied Health workers
Allied
Alcohol & Other Drug Clinicians, Audiologist, Dental/Oral Health Therapists, Dietitians, Dual Diagnosis Therapists, Early Intervention Teacher, Family Therapists, Needs Assessors/Service Co-ordinators(NASC), Occupational Therapists, Optometrists, Orthoptists, Paediatric Therapists, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Play Specialists, Podiatrists, Professional Advisors, Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Social Workers, Specialist Assessors, Speech Language Therapists, and Visiting Neurodevelopment Therapists.
Public Health
Drinking Water Assessors, Food Act Officers, Health Informatics Officers, Health Promotion Officers, Health Protection Officers, Policy Analysts, Sampling Officers, Smokefree Officers and Technical Officers
Scientific
Embryologists. Medical Laboratory Scientists, Scientific Officers, Scientists
Technical
Anaesthetic Technicians, Anaesthetic Technician Trainees, Audiology Technicians, Audiometrists, Biomedical Technicians, Clinical Engineers, Charge ECG Technicians, Clinicial Physiology Technicians, Dental Technicians, ECG Technicians, Electrical Technicians, Food Supervisors, ICU/PICU Technicians, Maxillofacial Technicians, Medical Illustrators/Photographers, Medical Laboratory Technicians, Mobility Technicians, Mortuary Technicians, Neurophysiology Technicians, Ophthalmic Technicians, Orthotic Technician, Orthotists, Pharmacy Technicians, Phlebotomists, Physiology Technicians, Renal Dialysis Technicians, Sonographers, Specimen Services Technicians, Sterile Sciences Technicians and Vision & Hearing Testers
Hauora Māori
Apiha Kaitohu, Cultural Advisors, Kaiawhina, Kai Manaaki, Kaiatawhai, Kaimahi Toiora Maori, Kaitakawaenga, Kaiwhiriwhiri, Kaumatua, Kuia, Māori Advisors,, Māori Community Health, Te Tauawhiri, Kaimahi Hauora, Kaitiaki, Te Pou Kokiri, Whai Manaaki, Whanau Support Worker, Whaea Matua, Kaioranga Hauora Māori and Pukenga Atawhai.
Clinical Support Workers
Activities Officers, Bone Density Scanners, Care Co-Ordinators, Care Managers, CFMH Support Workers, Child Birth Educators, Community Health Workers, Consumer Advisors, Counsellors, Creative Therapists, Cultural Advisors, Diversional Therapists, Family Advisors, Home Support Co-ordinators, Instructors, Lactation Consultation, Mental Health Professionals, Occupational Therapy Instructors, Recreation & Welfare Officers, Rehab Support Workers, and Rehab Therapists
Assistants
Allied Health Assistants, Biomedical Technician Assistants, Clinical Assistants, Dental Assistants, Dietitian Assistants, Diversional Therapists, Health Auxiliary, Hospital Dental Assistants, Hydrotherapy Assistants, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Pharmacy Assistants, Physiotherapy Assistants, Public Health Assistants, Radiography Assistants, Social Work Assistants and Therapy Assistants.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
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Annual and monthly home consents lift in August 2025 – Building consents issued: August 2025 – Stats NZ news story and information release


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