Posts

Posted on

Employment – Uber drivers to rally at Supreme Court as appeal heard – Workers First Union

Source: Workers First Union

WHAT: Workers First Union Uber drivers will be rallying outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday morning as Uber’s appeal begins in Wellington over a 2022 Employment Court case that found four drivers had been misclassified as contractors rather than employees of the company.
WHEN: Tuesday 8 July, 09:00-09:30
WHERE: Outside the Supreme Court, 85 Lambton Quay, between Ballance & Whitmore Street, Wellington 6011
WHY:
Dennis Maga, Workers First Union General Secretary, said that the Uber case, which had first been won by drivers in 2022, was the most significant employment case in recent New Zealand history and would have major ramifications for contractors and the ‘gig economy’.
“The Employment Court and the Court of Appeal have already ruled that Uber drivers should be entitled to real employment protections like a minimum wage, sick leave, and the right to bargain collectively with Uber over wages and conditions as they already have to do in many overseas jurisdictions,” said Mr Maga.
“Uber’s entire strategy is to misclassify themselves as a ‘tech company’ rather than a transport provider, to misclassify drivers as independent contractors, and to mislead politicians with bad faith arguments about “flexibility” to limit their responsibility to our country and economy.”
“Uber drivers deserve real employment protections, and we sincerely hope that the Supreme Court will scrutinise the company’s arguments carefully and reaffirm the standard set in the Employment Court’s original verdict.”
Mr Maga said hundreds of Uber drivers have joined Workers First since the Employment Court's 2022 verdict and the union has lodged backpay claims for underpaid wages and leave on their behalf.
Background information
  • A new report released this week by the Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (CICTAR) and commissioned by Workers First Union, argues that Uber appears to be shifting hundreds of millions in misclassified profits out of New Zealand, costing the country millions in tax revenue.
  • For a timeline of the judicial process following the original Employment Court verdict on the case of the four Uber drivers, please see the union’s past media release on the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of Uber’s appeal.
Posted on

Health Education – Nursing students ready to walk – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

Concerning interim findings of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) 2025 Student Survey has found most students will go overseas if they can’t get jobs in New Zealand.
This comes as Te Whatu Ora refused to address NZNO claims around its obligation to employ new graduates in collective agreement negotiations.
The survey was completed by 1246 nursing students, and NZNO National Student Unit Co-chair Bianca Grimmer said the results were crystal clear – “hire us or we will leave”.
“The survey shows 61.86% of students were considering seeking a nursing job overseas if they were unable to get a new graduate job in Aotearoa New Zealand. This increased to 73% of Māori respondents.
“This is a significant potential loss of our domestic nursing workforce.”
Finances remained a significant issue for all students and was linked to high levels of stress by 80.39% of respondents, Bianca Grimmer said.
“An increased fear of not getting work is exacerbated by most students’ money concerns issues, many of whom depend on funding from student loans for their survival.
“We have a health system in crisis. At a time when we desperately need more homegrown nurses, the Government and nursing schools really need to do more to encourage students to stay in their studies and come out well and ready to nurse.”
At least 35.61% of respondents said they did not work in paid employment and 61.58% of respondents had to significantly reduce their paid work hours during placement, she said.
“Paying all students the minimum or living wage while on clinical placements would make a massive difference to graduate numbers. Nursing students need assistance while they study.”
NZNO Te Rūnanga Tauira chair Davis Ferguson said Māori and Pacific students are essential, and better cultural support in nurse training would result in a health system that better meets the needs of Māori and Pacific peoples.
“The lack of appropriate cultural support in nursing studies is an issue the Government and training providers need to urgently address.”
The full findings of the survey will be made available on the NZNO website later this year.
Posted on

Mild Start to Winter, Wetter Than Usual for Many Regions – Earth Sciences New Zealand’s (formerly NIWA) latest monthly climate summary for June 2025

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand

Winter began on a mild and soggy note across much of New Zealand, according to Earth Sciences New Zealand's (formerly NIWA) latest monthly climate summary for June 2025.
Temperatures were above or well above average for most of the country, especially across the North Island, Tasman, Otago, eastern Southland, and Fiordland, says Earth Sciences New Zealand climate scientist Gregor Macara. “The nationwide average temperature of 9.4°C was 0.7°C above the June normal, making it the 16th-warmest June on record since 1909.”
Rainfall was well above normal in many regions including Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington, and much of the South Island. In contrast, dry conditions persisted in northern Northland, eastern Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, and Wairarapa.
Soil moisture levels reflected the rainfall pattern, says Macara. “Drier-than-normal soils remained in Hawke’s Bay, while soils were wetter than normal across much of eastern South Island, from Marlborough to Dunedin.”
The highest temperature in June was 23.2°C at Whakatu in the Hawke's Bay, while Aoraki Mt Cook Airport recorded the lowest temperature of -12.9°C. Milford Sound took the title for the highest one-day rainfall in June with 151 mm on 25 June (that's more than halfway up a Redband gumboot), while another regular in climate summaries, east coast headland Cape Turnagain, between Hawke's Bay and Cook Strait, recorded the strongest wind gust at 191 km/h on the 1st of June.
Among the main centres, Auckland was the warmest, Tauranga the wettest and sunniest, Christchurch the coolest and driest, and Dunedin the least sunny.
The sunniest four locations in 2025 so far are Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Auckland, and wider Nelson.
On 1 July, GNS and NIWA merged to become Earth Sciences New Zealand. 
More detailed information for regions, cities and monitoring stations is available at https://niwa.co.nz/climate-and-weather/monthly/climate-summary-june-2025
Posted on

Health – Te Whatu Ora refuses to address patient safety concerns – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

Te Whatu Ora is refusing to address calls to prioritise patient safety by adequately resourcing safe staffing levels, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōputanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says.
A new offer from Te Whatu Ora to NZNO members has failed to include measures to address staffing concerns despite it being raised continually throughout the bargaining process.
NZNO Chief Executive Paul Goulter says an earlier offer from Te Whatu Ora committed to acting on safe staffing research the two organisations had agreed to do together.
“Te Whatu Ora has removed that from their latest offer without explanation. This demonstrates their focus is on cost cutting, not patient safety.
“A survey of our members shows nurses have grave concerns that continued understaffing is putting their patients at risk. Overworked staff are unable to give patients the care they need and leads to staff burnout,” Paul Goulter says.
Despite claiming there is no nursing shortage, Te Whatu Ora continues to understaff shifts. NZNO has received staffing figures under the Official Information Act for 631 wards using the safe staffing Care Capacity Demand Management programme (CCDM).
“These figures show from January to October last year almost half (or 47.1%) of all wards were understaffed 20% of the time. That means nurses and health care assistants are working in understaffed wards at least one shift a week,” Paul Goulter says.
“We are also continuing to see acute levels of understaffing in emergency departments, mental health, women's health and children's wards.”
Paul Goulter says Te Whatu Ora Acting Chief Executive Robyn Shearer claimed this morning that clinical need “isn’t an easy thing” to resolve through collective bargaining.
“It is concerning that Robyn Shearer isn’t aware CCDM has been in the Te Whatu Ora/NZNO collective agreement since 2010,” he says.
Posted on

Sudan: Ongoing mass atrocities against civilians in and around El Fasher, North Darfur, documented in latest MSF report

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Paris, 4 July 2025— Mass atrocities are underway in Sudan's North Darfur region, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warned in a report today, urging the warring parties to halt indiscriminate and ethnically targeted violence and facilitate an immediate large-scale humanitarian response. MSF is extremely concerned about the threats of a full-blown assault on the hundreds of thousands of people in the state capital of El Fasher, which would lead to further bloodshed.

As the conflict has intensified in the area since May 2024, civilians have continued to be the main victims. The report Besieged, Attacked, Starved, outlines a desperate situation for civilians in and around El Fasher that requires immediate attention and response. “People are not only caught in indiscriminate heavy fighting between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their respective allies – but also actively targeted by the RSF and its allies, notably on the basis of their ethnicity,” says Michel Olivier Lacharité, MSF head of emergencies.

Based on MSF data, direct observations and over 80 interviews conducted between May 2024 and May 2025 with patients and people who were displaced from El Fasher and nearby Zamzam camp, the report exposes systematic patterns of violence that include looting, mass killings, sexual violence, abductions, starvation and attacks against markets, health facilities and other civilian infrastructures.  

“As patients and communities tell their stories to our teams and asked us to speak out, while their suffering is hardly on the international agenda, we felt compelled to document these patterns of relentless violence that have been crushing countless lives in general indifference and inaction over the past year,” says Mathilde Simon, MSF's humanitarian affairs advisor.

Besieged, Attacked, Starved also details how the Rapid Support Forces and their allies conducted a large-scale ground offensive in April on Zamzam displacement camp, outside of El Fasher, causing an estimated 400,000 people to flee in less than three weeks in appalling conditions. A large portion of the camp population fled to El Fasher, where they remained trapped, out of reach of humanitarian aid and exposed to attacks and further mass violence. Tens of thousands more escaped to Tawila, about 60 kilometers away, and to camps across the Chadian border, where hundreds of survivors of violence received care from MSF teams.

“In light of the ethnically motivated mass atrocities committed on the Masalit in West Darfur back in June 2023, and of the massacres perpetrated in Zamzam camp in North Darfur, we fear such a scenario will be repeated in El Fasher. This onslaught of violence must stop,” says Simon.

Several witnesses report that RSF soldiers spoke of plans to 'clean El Fasher' of its non-Arab community. Since May 2024, the RSF and their allies have besieged El Fasher, Zamzam camp and other surrounding localities, cutting communities from food, water, and medical care. This has contributed to the spread of famine and debilitated the humanitarian response.

Repeated attacks on healthcare facilities forced MSF to end our medical activities in El Fasher in August 2024 and in Zamzam camp in February 2025. In May 2024 alone, health facilities supported by MSF in El Fasher endured at least seven incidents of shelling, bombing or shooting by all warring parties. Indiscriminate airstrikes conducted by the SAF had devastating consequences, as a 50-year-old woman highlights: “The SAF bombed our neighborhood by mistake, then came to apologise. SAF planes sometimes bombed civilian areas without any RSF [presence], I saw it in different places”.

The harrowing level of violence on the roads out of El Fasher and Zamzam means that many people are trapped or take life-threatening risk when fleeing. Men and boys are at high risk of killing and abduction, while women and girls are subjected to widespread sexual violence. Most witnesses also report increased risks for Zaghawa communities. “Nobody could get out [of El Fasher] if they said they were Zaghawa,” says a displaced woman. Another man tells us that RSF and its allies were “asking people if they belonged to the Zaghawa, and if they did, they would kill them.”

“They would only let mothers with small children under the age of five through,” recalls a woman about her journey fleeing to eastern Chad. “Other children and adult men didn't go through. Men over fifteen can hardly cross the border [into Chad]. They take them, they push them aside and then we only hear a noise, gunshots, indicating that they are dead, that they have been killed […] Fifty families came along with me. Not even one boy of 15 years old or above was among us.”  

The catastrophic nutritional situation continued deteriorating as the siege tightened: “[Three months ago] in Zamzam, we sometimes had 3 days a week without eating,” one man tells our teams. “Children died from malnutrition. We were eating ambaz [residue of peanuts ground for oil], like everyone, although usually it's used for animals,” says displaced woman. “Zamzam was completely blocked,” another displaced person tells us. “Water wells depend on fuel and there was no access to fuel, so all of them stopped working. Water was very limited and very expensive.”

MSF urges the warring parties to spare civilians and respect their obligations under International Humanitarian Law. The RSF and their allies must immediately stop ethnic violence perpetrated against non-Arab communities, lift the siege of El Fasher and guarantee safe routes for civilians fleeing violence. Safe unrestricted access to El Fasher and its surroundings must be granted for humanitarian agencies to provide critically needed assistance.  International actors, including UN institutions and member states, and States who provide support to the warring parties must urgently mobilise and exert pressure to prevent further mass violence and allow emergency aid delivery. The recent unilateral announcements of a possible local ceasefire have not yet been translated into concrete change on the ground, and time is running out.

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

Posted on

Property Market – Modest value growth in NZ property re-emerges in June – Cotality NZ

Source: Cotality NZ

Property values in Aotearoa New Zealand ticked up by +0.2% in June, reversing two minor monthly falls of -0.1% apiece in April and May, according to Cotality NZ’s latest hedonic Value Index (HVI).

At $815,389 in June, property values remain -16.1% down from the January 2022 peak, however they have managed to edge up by a total of +1.1% since September last year and by +0.6% in 2025 so far.

Values around the main centres were either flat in June or up slightly. Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington were stable, but there was a +0.2% rise in Ōtepoti Dunedin, +0.3% in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, and +0.6% each in Tauranga and Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Cotality NZ (formerly CoreLogic) Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said the result emphasised the current variability of the market.

“On one hand, mortgage rates have come down a long way, and that benefits borrowers whether they’re in Whangārei or Winton. But the normal upwards influence this would tend to have on sales volumes and property values is currently being dampened by other forces.”

“In particular, the abundance of listings on the market means most buyers aren’t in a rush and can be quite tough when it comes to price negotiations.”

“The subdued labour market remains an important factor, too. After all, it’s not only the direct job losses that are problematic, but a reduction in security for those who have kept their jobs will also be weighing on the property market.”

“Of course, problems for some are opportunities for others, and a soft market is providing plenty of scope for first home buyers.”

“Mortgaged multiple property owners also remain on the comeback trail, particularly at the smaller end – those buying their first rental investment, or perhaps their second.”

National and Main Centres
Region
Change in dwelling values
Month
Quarter
Annual
From peak
Median value
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
0.0%
-0.4%
-1.0%
-20.9%
$1,079,747
Kirikiriroa Hamilton
0.3%
0.5%
2.0%
-10.0%
$752,125
Tauranga
0.6%
0.1%
-1.1%
-16.5%
$915,657
Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington*
0.0%
-1.0%
-5.0%
-24.6%
$797,457
Ōtautahi Christchurch
0.6%
0.8%
2.5%
-4.5%
$678,364
Ōtepoti Dunedin
0.2%
0.2%
-0.4%
-10.7%
$614,656
Aotearoa New Zealand
0.2%
-0.1%
-0.7%
-16.1%
$815,389

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
June was another variable month for the sub-markets across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, with Papakura down by -0.7%, and North Shore, Rodney, Waitakere, and Manukau also recording modest falls. By contrast, Auckland City recorded a +0.3% rise and Franklin was up by +0.5%.
Most of these areas remain lower than three months ago as well, although Auckland City has edged higher by +0.2% since March.

Mr Davidson said: “There have been hints in the past few months that the stock of listings available on the market in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland has started to drop slightly. But listings remain high, and, as with many other parts of the country, this means buyers still have the upper hand.”

“In this environment, it’s not surprising to see continued patchiness in values around the super-city.”

Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Generally speaking, June was also another subdued month for property values in the wider Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington area.

Indeed, Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt edged down by -0.2%, Wellington City and Kāpiti Coast were flat, while Porirua and Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta Upper Hutt managed modest increases of +0.1-0.2%. Only Kāpiti Coast has shown a (small) rise since March.

“Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington’s previous sharp downturn in property values seems to have come to an end, no doubt reflecting the influence of lower mortgage rates. But values are yet to show any clear upwards trend, and alongside high levels of listings, the uncertainty around public sector employment is likely to remain a restraining factor in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington too,” said Mr Davidson.

Regional results
Outside the main centres, property values were a mixed bag in June.

For example, Rotorua was down by -0.7%, with Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Gisborne, Whanganui, and Heretaunga Hastings all dropping modestly. But Whangārei, Te Papaioea Palmerston North, Waihōpai Invercargill, and Tāhuna Queenstown saw rises in June of least +0.4%.

“It’s always difficult to cast a wide net over every region and conclude that any one factor is driving provincial housing markets. At present, for example, lower mortgage rates are obviously a common factor, while some will be faring better than others off the back of a strong dairy sector.”

“Ultimately, the wider economic uncertainty we’re currently seeing and a subdued labour market still seem to be causing property market variability from month to month in a number of regions,” added Mr Davidson.

Property market outlook
Looking ahead, Mr Davidson suggested that ‘caution’ remains a key word.

“In this environment where buyers have the upper hand and economic sentiment remains subdued, it’s hard to see these ‘flat’ housing market conditions suddenly turning around within a month or two.”

“The Reserve Bank’s upcoming official cash rate decisions, including a probable hold next week on Wednesday 9th, aren’t likely to sway the housing market too much.”

“One factor that has been getting attention lately is the potential boost to the economy and property market that might be provided as existing mortgage-holders reprice from a current average rate of around 5.9% down towards prevailing interest rates of 5% or less. But some might save that extra cash or even keep their repayments the same and reduce the term of the loan.”

“In other words, for every upwards influence on the housing market at present, you can probably find a downwards factor. All in all, given that values have only risen by less than 1% over the first half of 2025, a modest calendar year gain in the range of 2-3% now seems on the cards, rather than anything stronger,” Mr Davidson concluded.

For more property news and insights, visit www.corelogic.co.nz/news-research.

Notes:
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. By separating each property into its various formational and locational attributes, observed sales values for each property can be distinguished between those attributed to the property’s attributes and those resulting from changes in the underlying residential property market. Additionally, by understanding the value associated with each attribute of a given property, this methodology can be used to estimate the value of dwellings with known characteristics for which there is no recent sales price by observing the characteristics and sales prices of other dwellings which have recently transacted. It then follows that changes in the market value of the entire residential property stock can be accurately tracked through time.

The detailed ‘frequently asked questions’ and methodological information can be found at:https://www.corelogic.co.nz/our-data/hedonic-index

Posted on

Advocacy – Day of Rocket Lab protests to follow the company’s CEO being referred to the International Criminal Court for complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza – PSNA

Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

 

The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa is supporting “End Rocket Lab Genocide Complicity” in a protest outside Rocket Lab’s New Zealand head office in Mt Wellington tomorrow.

 

Earlier today PSNA revealed it has referred Rocket Lab CEO, Sir Peter Beck, to the International Criminal Court as one of four ministers and two business leaders for complicity with Israel’s genocide in Gaza

 

“Rocket Lab has recently launched geospatial intelligence satellites for BlackSky Technology. These satellites provide high resolution images to Israel which are very likely used to assist with striking civilians in Gaza. Sir Peter has proceeded with these launches in full knowledge of these circumstances”

 

When governments and business leaders can’t even condemn a genocide then civil society groups must act. We will tomorrow.

 

Speakers at the Auckland protest will include

 

  • Teanau Tuiono – Green Party spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
  • Dr Arama Rata – researcher and lecturer from Victoria University
  • Sam Vincent – legal team leader for the ICC referral
  • John Minto – Co-Chair PSNA.
Posted on

Legal Issues – PSNA refers Aotearoa government ministers and business leaders to the International Criminal Court – PSNA

Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

 

The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa has today filed a referral to the International Criminal Court in the Hague.  It accuses four New Zealand government ministers and two business leaders of criminal complicity in war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by assisting Israel’s mass killing and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza. 

 

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa Co-Chairs, John Minto and Maher Nazzal say the referral carefully outlines a case that these six individuals should be investigated by the Office of the Prosecutor at the ICC for the contributions they have knowingly made to Israel’s crimes in Gaza.

 

“The 103-page referral document was prepared by a legal team which has been working on the case for many months. It is legally robust and will provide the Prosecutor of the ICC more than sufficient documentation to begin their investigation.”

 

“This is a grave step which we have not taken lightly” Minto and Nazzal says. “But the government’s ongoing and meaningful support for Israel, despite its horrendous war crimes, is not only egregious to most New Zealanders, but is also criminal conduct under international law.”

 

Minto and Nazzal say the referral follows a ‘letter of demand’ issued to the government in 2024 outlining the actions that a reasonable government would take to prevent and punish the crime of genocide, and the actions the government should take to avoid criminal complicity with Israel.

 

“For 20 months these political and business leaders have supported Israel to commit crimes which have shocked the human conscience.”

 

“This has brought shame on the whole country.”

 

“Even today, Palestinians – mostly women and children, are being killed, and the key individuals who have helped to make this nightmare possible must themselves be held to account.”

 

“We believe this is the first time New Zealand political and business leaders have been referred to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. We hope it is the last.”

 

Two points of explanation:

Genocide: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, top international genocide scholars and the United Nations Special Committee to investigate Israel’s practices have all condemned Israel’s actions as genocide.

 

Individual criminal responsibility: Under the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court these six people are individually criminally responsible for their actions and inactions irrespective of their positions as elected politicians or appointed business leaders.

 

The documents related to the ICC referral are here: 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/frtdmzep32cvvxc11n25b/ALozDvYROgF54DduZMMLxO8?rlkey=bk67icxfjr8cv6o74vseeqm9n&st=iy4ba786&dl=0

 

The six people we have referred to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court are:

 

New Zealand Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon: 

Over the course of Israel’s war on Gaza Mr Luxon has repeatedly justified or downplayed Israel’s criminal conduct, including by describing its violence as self-defence, and only supporting a desperately needed ceasefire on Israel’s terms. He has allowed likely exports from New Zealand of missile componentry for use by Israel in striking civilians, and overseen New Zealand’s participation in air strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, supporting Israel to maintain its criminal blockade on food and medicine from entering Gaza.

 

New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt Hon Winston Peters:

While Israel has flagrantly breached orders by the International Court of Justice meant to prevent genocide in Gaza, Mr Peters has projected to the world New Zealand’s warm and friendly relations with Israel without any censure or criticism for its actions. He has consistently disregarded or downplayed Israel’s criminal conduct. Alongside Mr Luxon, Mr Peters is also responsible for allowing likely exports from New Zealand of missile componentry for use by Israel in striking civilians, and he has overseen New Zealand’s participation in air strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, supporting Israel to maintain its criminal blockade on food and medicine from entering Gaza.

 

New Zealand Minister for Space and Minister of Defence Hon Judith Collins KC: 

Ms Collins has approved recent Rocket Lab launches of geospatial intelligence satellites for US company BlackSky Technologies.  The satellites provide high resolution images to Israel which are very likely used to assist with striking civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza. Ms Collins allowed these launches in full knowledge of these circumstances. As Minister of Defence, she is also responsible for New Zealand’s participation in air strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, supporting Israel to maintain its criminal blockade on food and medicine.  

 

New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Hon David Seymour:

Mr Seymour, as leader of one of the three coalition partners in the New Zealand government, has firmly supported Israel’s violence against the people of Gaza under the pretext of self-defence, and unequivocally denied Israel’s breaches of international law and its commission of genocide.

 

Rocket Lab Chief Executive Officer Sir Peter Beck:

Rocket Lab has recently launched geospatial intelligence satellites for BlackSky Technology. These satellites provide high resolution images to Israel which are very likely used to assist with striking civilians in Gaza. Sir Peter has proceeded with these launches in full knowledge of these circumstances. 

 

Rakon Limited Chief Executive Officer Dr Sinan Altug:

Despite vast weapons transfers from the United States to Israel since the beginning of its war on Gaza, Rakon has continued with its longstanding supply of crystal oscillators to US arms manufacturers for use in guided missiles which are then available to Israel for the bombing of Gaza, as well as Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran with consequential massive loss of life. Rakon’s claims that it has no responsibility over how these ‘dual-use’ technologies are used are not credible.

Posted on

Aviation – New Zealand welcomes aviation system safety audit – CAA

Source: Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA)

The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA) welcomes auditors from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) who will undertake a full safety audit of New Zealand’s aviation system from 9 – 22 July 2025.

ICAO auditors will conduct an on-site audit of New Zealand’s aviation system and overall capability for safety oversight. This will be carried out via validation of information provided during the earlier preparation phase, and through a series of detailed interviews with CAA, the Ministry of Transport, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, and other organisations operating in New Zealand’s aviation system.

New Zealand is an active participant in the international aviation community and a member of the ICAO.

CAA Deputy Chief Executive, System, Strategy and Policy, John Kay said New Zealand is committed to global aviation safety standards.

“As active stewards of the civil aviation regulatory system, we welcome the audit as an opportunity to continuously evolve the safety and security standards and internationally recommended practices that keep New Zealand skies safe and secure.

“The transparency and accountability built into this process further help us maintain public confidence and international trust in New Zealand’s aviation system.”

The results of the audit will be available by early 2026, and any findings that require action will be addressed through a corrective action plan led by CAA.

While the full audit report will remain confidential, ICAO will publicly release the Effective Implementation score, which reflects the degree to which the state complies with ICAO’s international aviation safety oversight requirements.

CAA maintains formal engagement relationships with ICAO, as well as with other state aviation regulatory authorities worldwide. A range of diplomatic and technical relationships help ensure that international standards and agreements reflect the regulatory outcomes desired by New Zealand.

Read more about the ICAO on the CAA website: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): https://govt.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f87e4df3e4e99e9d7eb7b4c7e&id=55c32552c5&e=f0dc75bbf6

Posted on

China: Authorities must end interference in Tibetan religious practices as Dalai Lama announces succession plan

Source: Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL QUOTE
Responding to the Dalai Lama outlining the process for his spiritual succession ahead of his 90th birthday, amid longstanding efforts by Chinese authorities to control the reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist leaders, Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks said:
“The Chinese authorities’ ongoing efforts to control the selection of the next Dalai Lama are a direct assault on the right to freedom of religion or belief. Tibetan Buddhists, like all faith communities, must be able to choose their spiritual leaders without coercion or interference by the authorities.
“The Chinese authorities have a long history of systematically suppressing religious freedom and tightening control over Tibetan Buddhism. For example, in 1995 the authorities forcibly disappeared Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the boy recognized by the Dalai Lama as the Panchen Lama; Beijing has yet to properly explain his fate and whereabouts.
“This climate of secrecy, coupled with the imposition of numerous state-appointed religious figures within Tibetan Buddhism, highlights a concerning pattern of state control over religion in China.
“The Chinese authorities must immediately end political interference in Tibetan religious practices and cease using religious succession as a tool for control and coercion. Authorities must uphold the right of everyone to freedom of religion or belief. They must also immediately allow independent access to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and take steps to end 30 years of impunity for his disappearance.”
Background
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, announced on Wednesday (2 July) in Dharamshala, India that he will have a successor after his death. He said only the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which he founded, had the authority to recognize his future reincarnation.
Chinese government policy asserts that all reincarnations of Tibetan Buddhist “Living Buddhas” must be approved by state authorities. This position is detailed in legal instruments such as the 2007 Measures on the Management of Reincarnation of Living Buddhas, which require official vetting and approval by multiple levels of government depending on the religious figure’s influence.
In its March 2025 white paper, “Human Rights in Xizang in the New Era,” the Chinese government reaffirmed this position, stating that the reincarnation system operates “under the guidance of Buddhist associations and the administration of the government.” The paper boasts that 93 reincarnated Living Buddhas had been confirmed following government approval by the end of 2024, highlighting state control as a key achievement.
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was six years old when he was recognized by the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama in May 1995. Three days later, he and his family were forcibly disappeared by Chinese authorities. He has not been seen in public since. The Chinese government has since made vague claims that he is “living a normal life”.
Under international human rights law, including Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), all individuals and communities have the right to adopt and manifest a religion or belief of their choice without coercion. Although China has signed but not ratified the ICCPR, it remains obliged not to defeat the treaty’s object and purpose. Enforced disappearance is a continuous violation under international law until the fate of the individual is clarified.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances have repeatedly requested information on the whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief has emphasized that religious communities must be free to determine their leadership without state interference.