MIL Email Publisher (NZ)

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

The National Party’s decision to rule out a bed tax over the weekend is an empty act of political theatre – and worse, bad economic policy, the PSA says.

“A bed tax would give councils much-needed revenue to fund the essential services that New Zealanders rely on in their local communities,” Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi national secretary, Duane Leo, says.

“Between this decision and the incoming rates caps, local government organisations will be forced to reduce their services, cut staff and introduce measures like user pays and privatisation.”

Leo points to a Standard & Poors Agency report from earlier this year that said New Zealand councils spend 90 per cent of their revenue on core services like roading, water, and other infrastructure.

“Local government has become a convenient scapegoat for people critical of so-called excessive public spending. But the reality is that there’s no more fat to cut in local government.

“Te Waihanga The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission already puts our national infrastructure deficit at $200 billion. If we don’t enable councils to invest in our infrastructure, we’ll see more and more catastrophic failures like Moa Point this last summer.

“At the end of the day, councils can’t magic money out of thin air.

“The PSA is urging all political parties and the future government to commit to a sustainable funding system so that councils can get on with running local communities and fixing critical infrastructure.”

The PSA represents 13,000 workers in local government organisations around the country.

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.

Source: Morningstar DBRS

August 23, 2026

DBRS, Inc. (Morningstar DBRS) confirmed New Zealand's Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency – Issuer Ratings at AAA. At the same time, Morningstar DBRS confirmed New Zealand's Short-Term Foreign and Local Currency – Issuer Ratings at R-1 (high). The trend on all credit ratings is Stable.

KEY CREDIT RATING CONSIDERATIONS

New Zealand's AAA credit ratings are underpinned by the country's fundamental strengths, including its effective policy frameworks, strong central bank credibility, and robust governing institutions. Although the public debt-to-GDP ratio has risen in recent years amid successive shocks, the debt burden remains moderate relative to other advanced economies. The government is pursuing a gradual fiscal consolidation strategy, and New Zealand benefits from a longstanding cross-party commitment to prudent fiscal management, thereby limiting election-related uncertainty around the consolidation path. New Zealand's small and open economy is vulnerable to external shocks, but the country's structural strengths, including a flexible exchange rate, provide substantial buffers.

The Stable trend reflects Morningstar DBRS' expectation that New Zealand's fundamental strengths will support an economic recovery over the next few years and that the government will make progress with its fiscal consolidation plan. The economy began to recover last year, supported by strong export commodity prices and accommodative monetary policy. The U.S.-Iran war temporarily dampened growth momentum early this year, as higher energy prices renewed inflationary pressures and weighed on domestic demand. In addition, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's (RBNZ) started to withdraw monetary stimulus, raising the OCR by 25 bps to 2.50% in July. Morningstar DBRS anticipates further hikes to bring inflation back to target, while spare capacity should also help contain underlying price pressures. The IMF expects the recovery to pick up in the second half of this year, with growth of 2.0% in 2026 and 2.7% in 2027, supported by strong primary exports and a recovery in domestic demand as the energy shock fades.

CREDIT RATING DRIVERS The credit ratings could be downgraded due to one or a combination of the following factors: (1) absence of fiscal consolidation over the medium term, or (2) a severe financial or external shock, leading to a prolonged deterioration in growth prospects.

CREDIT RATING RATIONALE

Gradual Fiscal Consolidation Underway, But Further Delays Remain a Risk

New Zealand's fiscal deficit remains elevated following the pandemic and a period of subdued growth, but the government is pursuing a gradual, expenditure-led fiscal consolidation as the economy recovers. The government's preferred fiscal measure OBEGALx (the operating balance before gains and losses excluding Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) revenue and expenses) is estimated to have widened to a 2.6% of GDP deficit in FY25-26, from 2.1% in FY24-25. This higher deficit reflects weak cyclical tax revenue, increased benefits and pension payments, and higher debt servicing costs. In general government terms, the IMF projects a fiscal deficit of 3.9% in 2026. Successive economic shocks have delayed the consolidation, but the government is also phasing the adjustment to avoid constraining the economic recovery. The government projects the deficit will modestly narrow to 2.4% in FY26-27, before declining more quickly and shifting to a small surplus in FY28-29. Expenditure restraint is expected to lead the fiscal improvement, with stronger growth and bracket creep also supporting revenues. Nevertheless, the backloaded nature of the adjustment leaves the consolidation path vulnerable to downside risks. Softer near-term growth, rising social spending, and higher borrowing costs could slow fiscal repair, while growing defence and demographic spending pressures may make sustained expenditure restraint increasingly difficult.

Amid higher fiscal deficits, government debt has increased. New Zealand's general government gross debt-to-GDP ratio rose from 32% in 2019 to 55% in 2025. The IMF projects the debt ratio will peak at 58% in 2027 and 2028 and then marginally decline, reaching 55% in 2030. New Zealand's debt ratio remains moderate compared to other advanced economies, and the projected downward trajectory would help strengthen the credit profile. Sustaining sufficient fiscal buffers will be important to preserve the government's capacity to respond to future shocks without materially weakening debt dynamics or fiscal sustainability. The debt profile is also supported by New Zealand's sizeable Crown assets in the form of state-owned enterprises, the Superannuation Fund, and the ACC's investment fund. According to the IMF, New Zealand's net debt ratio stood at 26% of GDP in 2025, one of the lowest among advanced economies. The interest cost-to-GDP ratio also remains low relative to peers, supported by New Zealand's moderate debt burden and substantial public sector financial assets.

RBNZ Begins Withdrawing Monetary Stimulus Amid Renewed Inflation; Housing Market Remains Subdued

The RBNZ has started to withdraw monetary accommodation in response to renewed inflation pressures. Prior to the U.S.-Iran war, headline inflation was slightly above target, reflecting persistent administered and other non-tradables price pressures. However, higher petrol and diesel prices lifted annual headline inflation to 4.1% in the second quarter, compared with 2.9% excluding fuel. Headline inflation has likely peaked and should ease as the energy shock fades and the pass-through to other prices remains limited. In July, the RBNZ raised the OCR by 25 bps to 2.50% to limit second-round effects. The increase represents a withdrawal of stimulus, rather than a shift to restrictive policy. The RBNZ expects inflation to ease towards the 2% midpoint in mid-2027, with subdued demand and a soft labour market supporting disinflation.

New Zealand's housing market remains subdued following the sharp post-pandemic correction. House prices surged during the pandemic due to strong demand, fiscal stimulus, and low interest rates, before tighter financing conditions sparked a sizeable correction in 2022 and 2023. House prices have since broadly stabilized and remain about 13% below the 2021 peak (to the fourth quarter of 2025). However, more recently, renewed softness has emerged as the prospect of higher borrowing costs, economic uncertainty, and weaker growth weigh on demand. Increased listings relative to subdued buyer demand are limiting upward price pressure, even as New Zealand continues to face a longer-term housing supply shortage.

Financial stability risks related to the housing market appear contained. Non-performing loans and mortgage arrears have declined from their recent peaks. While mortgage holders have recently refixed at lower rates, the RBNZ expects this trend to reverse, with borrowing refixing at higher rates on average by March 2027 as financial conditions tighten. Relatively short fixed-rate mortgages are prevalent in New Zealand, which accelerate the transmission of interest rate changes to households. Most mortgage borrowers appear well-positioned to manage higher mortgage payments. Even if loan losses were to rise, the banking sector has strong buffers to absorb increases. Banks are well-capitalized, profitable, and liquid, while macroprudential measures help contain riskier mortgage lending. Even under more adverse conditions, New Zealand's financial system should remain sound, and banks' robust balance sheets and profitability should continue to support lending to the private sector.

Solid Medium-Term Growth Prospects Despite External Vulnerabilities

New Zealand has a strong record of economic growth, with real GDP expanding by an average pace of 2.8% per year between 1990 and 2019. Structural reforms implemented in the 1980s and early 1990s transformed the Kiwi economy from a highly regulated and protected system into a more open and competitive economy. Rapid growth in China also supported the expansion through strong demand for New Zealand's commodity exports and services, particularly tourism. Although growth is likely to moderate from the pace recorded over the past 30 years, medium-term growth prospects remain comparatively solid. The IMF estimates potential growth at 2.2%, above most advanced-economy peers. Comparatively weak labour productivity levels, however, continue to constrain the outlook. Additionally, New Zealand's small, open economy remains vulnerable to external and environmental shocks, including commodity price volatility, tourism downturns, and natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.

New Zealand has run current account deficits for decades, largely due to a negative income and transfer balance. The current account deficit peaked at 9.0% of GDP in 2022 as strong import demand, weak tourism, and deteriorating terms of trade widened the trade deficit. Since then, the current account deficit narrowed, reaching 3.7% of GDP in the first quarter of 2026 (on a rolling 4 quarter basis). The improvement reflects stronger external demand, improved terms of trade, and weak import demand, all of which have helped to bring the trade deficit close to balance. Morningstar DBRS expects the current account deficit to slightly widen this year due to higher energy-related import costs, before narrowing gradually over the medium term. New Zealand's small and open economy in tandem with its persistent current account deficit makes it vulnerable to external shocks. However, exchange rate flexibility continues to help the Kiwi economy adjust to evolving global conditions. While New Zealand's net international liability position remains elevated at 43% of GDP (at the end of the first quarter of 2026), it has improved in recent years, and balance sheet risks from currency volatility appear limited. These mitigating factors, together with substantial net errors and omissions in New Zealand's balance of payments statistics, support Morningstar DBRS' one-category adjustment to the 'Balance of Payments' building block assessment.

Strong Governing Institutions Underpin New Zealand's AAA Credit Ratings

New Zealand's robust institutions and stable political environment are fundamental strengths of the sovereign credit profile. New Zealand is a stable, parliamentary democracy with effective governing institutions. The political environment is characterized by strong rule of law, low levels of corruption, and high regulatory quality. For over 80 years, governments have formed around either the Labour or National Party, reflecting the stability of New Zealand's party system. New Zealand's proportional voting system commonly results in coalition governments, requiring cooperation among coalition partners to pass legislation.

General elections will be held in early November, with the incumbent centre-right National-led government seeking a second term. The National Party governs in coalition with ACT New Zealand and New Zealand First, holding a combined total of 67 out of 122 seats. Polling for the upcoming election remains tight between the two major parties, leaving support of smaller parties likely pivotal for the next government's formation. Economic conditions, cost-of-living pressures, and fiscal management remain the key issues shaping the current political landscape.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONS

There were no Environmental, Social, or Governance factors that had a significant or relevant effect on the credit analysis.

A description of how Morningstar DBRS considers ESG factors within the Morningstar DBRS analytical framework can be found in the Morningstar DBRS Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors in Credit Ratings (July 20, 2026) https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/485522 [1].

For more information on the Rating Committee decision, please see the Scorecard Indicators and Building Block Assessments at https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/487780 [2].

Notes: All figures are in New Zealand dollars unless otherwise noted. Public finance statistics reported on a general government basis unless specified.

Source: Federated Farmers

A new survey shows New Zealand’s pest problem has reached crisis point, with farmers spending more money and effort controlling pests – but still going backwards.

The findings come from Federated Farmers’ second National Pests Survey, which shows pest numbers are increasing faster than they were two years ago, and farmers are calling for a coordinated response across public and private land.

Federated Farmers pest management spokesperson Richard Dawkins says farmers are already doing plenty, but individual efforts can only go so far when pests keep reinvading from neighbouring land.

“We’ve spent years trying to tackle this species by species and property by property. The numbers tell us that approach isn’t working.

“We can’t keep asking farmers to win a landscape-scale battle one boundary fence at a time.

“New Zealand needs a properly funded national pest management strategy that sets clear responsibilities for farmers, forestry, councils and the Crown,” Dawkins says.

The survey estimates pests are costing farmers around $466 million a year through direct control costs and lost production.

Two-thirds of farmers now report pest numbers have increased over the past five years, up from around half in 2024.

Farmers are spending an average $6.18 per hectare each year on pest control, up around 13% in two years.

Recreational hunting is already deeply embedded in pest control on New Zealand farms.

Farmers, their families and staff undertake control on more than nine in ten farms, with other recreational hunters also assisting on around half.

“Those numbers should put this issue in perspective,” Dawkins says.

“There’s already a huge amount of hunting happening across rural New Zealand, and pest populations are still increasing.

“We are not going to shoot our way out of this problem one weekend at a time.”

Despite that extra effort, nearly one in three farmers are having to reduce their stocking rates because pests are consuming so much pasture, compared to only one in nine in 2024.

Dawkins says the costs extend well beyond lost pasture.

“There’s also a financial hit from crop damage and reduced yield, damage to fences and gates, as well as losses from diseases spread by pests.”

One farmer reported losing around $100,000 after a leptospirosis outbreak caused widespread abortions in ewes and heifers, which they believed was linked to wild pigs coming from neighbouring properties.

The survey found farmers consistently identified neighbouring forestry and Crown land as the main sources of pest reinvasion, rather than other farms.

“If farmers are expected to control pests, then so should lifestyle block owners, forestry owners and those managing Crown and conservation land, with regional councils monitoring and enforcing compliance,” Dawkins says.

“Pest control in mature forests can be difficult, but that doesn’t remove responsibility.

“Farmers should not be left carrying the cost when deer and pigs spill across the boundary.”

The survey also found the number of deer culled per hectare has more than doubled since 2024, while the proportion of farmers actively managing deer has risen by 13%.

Deer now ranks third nationally for overall impact but is named the single worst pest by more farmers than any species except possums.

Dawkins says any national strategy needs clear, independently set population targets based on the damage pests are causing.

“We also need to be clear about whose interests these targets are supposed to serve.

“Eighty-three percent of pest managers in our survey said the pest species on their farm had no economic value to them.

“This means deer numbers need to be managed around the damage they are doing to farms, forests and native vegetation, not around how many animals somebody would like left in the hills.

“We don’t need any one interest group setting the target and then marking its own homework.”

Deer are not the only species heading the wrong way, with wild pigs, Canada geese and wallabies also increasing.

Possums are another looming concern. For years, TB control programmes helped suppress possum numbers across large parts of rural New Zealand.

As those programmes are wound back, farmers are seeing possums build up again.

“We can’t spend decades knocking possum numbers down, declare victory over TB, then simply walk away and let them come roaring back,” Dawkins says.

He says coordinated programmes have shown pest numbers can be brought down, and the results reinforce the need for a national approach.

“We’ve been calling for a national pest strategy for some time. These results show why it can’t sit on the to-do list any longer.

“We’ve diagnosed the problem to death. It’s time to actually treat it.”

Source: Rātā Foundation

The South Island's most significant community investment fund, Rātā Foundation has reported a solid financial result for the year ending 31 March 2026, with its investment portfolio valued at $717 million and a return of 8%.

This enabled the organisation to provide over $24 million to communities across its funding regions of Canterbury, Nelson/Tasman, Marlborough and the Chatham Islands.

Rātā supports communities by funding initiatives that help people connect, learn, participate, access support, and care for the environment. Through local partnerships, Rātā backs work that strengthens wellbeing, reduces barriers to opportunity, and helps communities across its regions thrive. Since its inception in 1988, Rātā has invested over $631 million through community investment programmes and grown the trust fund by $352 million.

Board Chair Josiah Tualamali’i says the year’s community investment highlights the importance of walking alongside local communities and directing resources where they can make the biggest impact. “Communities are adapting to increasingly complex challenges, and our role is to back the organisations closest to that change. By responding to needs now, strengthening the community sector, and investing strategically for long-term change, we can create lasting, equitable and sustainable outcomes. On behalf of Rātā Foundation, thank you to all the people, communities and organisations we have partnered with this last year who serve our communities.”

The financial result came despite a challenging global environment, with geopolitical tensions and market turbulence creating headwinds for investors. The organisation’s 10-year return remained close to benchmark, at 7.4% against 7.1%.

Chief Executive Leighton Evans says the results reflect the organisation’s commitment to providing long-term stability for the communities it serves. “An 8% return in a volatile year is a strong result and shows the value of a long-term disciplined investment approach. Our responsibility is to grow and protect the pūtea so Rātā can continue to fund at scale, through changing market conditions and for generations to come.”

In recent years, Rātā has also shifted more capital into direct investments in New Zealand, outside the volatility of listed exchanges. This year the organisation invested with Direct Capital into Beca and continued to invest in financial services with its shareholding in SPH Wealth growing, to enable the acquisition/merger of Salt Asset Management. This is part of a wider investment partnership approach alongside major institutional investors to help advance nationally significant opportunities that align with its responsibilities.

Watch the Rātā Foundation Year in Review Video here.

The Consolidated Financial Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2026is available on the Rātā Foundation website.

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

NZNO members working in the emergency department (ED) at North Shore Hospital have declared a state of emergency due to unsafe staffing levels resulting in ongoing overcrowding.

In a letter sent to Te Whatu Ora chief executive Dr Dale Bramley last Wednesday (attached), signed by dozens of the hospital’s ED nurses, health care assistants and other staff, workers say they can no longer remain silent while unsafe staffing puts patients, health workers and the community at risk every day.

North Shore NZNO delegate and ED nurse Jean Moor says: “Overcrowding in emergency departments put patients in harm’s way and inevitably will lead to more serious situations such as fatalities.

“We have worked at more than 200% or 300% capacity on certain days, and I cannot recall any recent day when the ED was not running at over 100% capacity.

“Having to treat our mothers, fathers, aunties and uncles in the hospital corridor is unacceptable, and just should not be happening.”

Jean Moor says the biggest culprit in creating this unbearable situation was the hiring freeze introduced by Te Whatu Ora in 2024.

The 2025 FTE calculations identified that North Shore ED requires an additional 25 nursing FTE to meet patient demand and provide safe care, but no funding has been made available by Te Whatu Ora.

“Our employer says it has neither the authority nor the budget to recruit the additional FTE our department requires. This tells us the problem stems from higher up,” Jean Moor says.

“We have literally submitted hundreds of incident reports documenting the risks and consequences of unsafe staffing without anything being done.”

In response to the letter, Dale Bramley’s office makes an offer that’s less than half of what is needed in North Shore ED and does not even specify it is for the hospital.

“If we have to be honest this solution is akin to reshuffling deck chairs on the Titanic and we all know how that ended,” Jean Moor says.

Source: deVere Group

August 21 2026

Bitcoin's bulls are firmly back in control, and this rally has real fuel behind it rather than empty hope, says the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organisations amid an impressive bounce.

Nigel Green of deVere Group's comments come as Bitcoin surged around 18% in 48 hours to trade above $77,600, its first push back above the $70,000 mark since late May.

The move followed the US Treasury's decision to double the size of its long-term bond buybacks to $4 billion per session, targeting the 10-year, 20-year and 30-year sectors after benchmark yields hit their highest levels in 20 years on persistent inflation and war-driven energy pressures.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week he has a “big toolkit” available to keep leaning on yields. Sentiment was lifted further by a White House meeting between President Trump and senior figures from the crypto industry where Trump called for a “fair version” of the Clarity Act and said the US intends to remain the leading nation in Bitcoin and digital assets.

Nigel Green comments: “Bitcoin just proved, again, that it trades on liquidity before almost anything else.

“The moment Treasury signalled it was stepping up its own bond buying, Bitcoin moved. I call it pattern recognition rather than hype.

“Digital assets have consistently rewarded expectations of looser financial conditions, and doubling a buyback programme to $4 billion a session is exactly that kind of signal.

“This year's quiet patch in crypto never reflected a loss of belief in the asset class. It reflected liquidity being pulled elsewhere, into an overheated AI and semiconductor trade and away from anything perceived as risk during a tense stretch following conflict in the Middle East.

“Every one of those pressures is now easing at the same time, and Bitcoin is repricing accordingly.

“Scott Bessent talking about a big toolkit matters more than markets are giving it credit for. Investors should read that as a signal of intent, not just a comment.

“A US Treasury willing to keep intervening at this scale is a Treasury that's going to keep injecting the kind of liquidity that digital assets have historically loved.

“The regulatory story is just as important as the monetary one. Getting the sitting president and leaders of the crypto industry in the same room, publicly pushing for a fair version of the Clarity Act, is a meaningfully different environment from where this industry stood even a year ago.”

Whether or not the Act passes in the coming weeks, the direction of travel now appears unmistakable.

If it clears Congress, that removes years of regulatory uncertainty in one move. If it stalls, expect regulators to move anyway, with faster rulemaking around round-the-clock derivatives, tokenized equities and a genuine push to keep the US positioned as the dominant market for these assets.

“Bitcoin above $77,000 reads, to me at least, as confirmation that the bottom is behind us, rather than the top of this move.

“The asset had not traded above $70,000 since late May, and it's now cleared that level with real conviction behind it rather than a thin, low-volume bounce.

“Liquidity appears to be coming back into the system, Washington is engaging with this industry rather than sitting on the sidelines, and Bitcoin is doing what it has always done best when both of those things happen at once.”

He concludes: “None of this means every level gets defended in a straight line, and short-term volatility should be expected along the way.

“But it does appear for now that the macro and policy backdrop behind this rally is real, and investors who spent this year waiting for a cleaner entry point could be watching one unfold in front of them right now.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients. It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

Analysis shows pay equity settlements over four years would have:

• Created 13,000 jobs
• Grown GDP by $13.5 billion or 0.6%
• Increased tax revenue by $5 billion

Fresh analysis by the PSA of Treasury’s own modelling shows the Government’s decision to cancel pay equity claims under urgency in May 2025 was an economic own goal, one that has cost the country billions of dollars in lost growth, lost jobs and lost tax revenue.

The analysis, based on Treasury’s own MATAI macro-economic model, shows that reinstating pay equity would grow the economy by $13.5 billion over four years and create around 13,000 jobs. It would also generate an extra $5 billion in tax revenue, reducing the net fiscal cost of pay equity to $6 billion over four years, or $1.5 billion a year.

“Low paid women workers have paid the price for a decision that was all about making the Budget numbers work, without a considered assessment of the economic upside from the significant income boost that would flow from pay equity settlements,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

“Our analysis shows the Government had a genuine opportunity to grow the economy, create jobs and boost tax revenue by continuing with pay equity settlements, and it walked away from it.

“This was short sighted economic management, plain and simple, depriving over 150,000 women of the pay rise they need and deserved.”

Treasury’s own figures show pay equity delivers a return of $2.25 for every dollar of net government spending, a stronger return than other major Budget initiatives.

The 0.6% increase in GDP from pay equity outperforms other less effective Government growth policies. By comparison, Treasury modelling shows the Government’s Investment Boost policy generates just $6.4 billion in GDP growth (0.3%) from a $4 billion net spend; a return of just $1.6 for every dollar spent.

“Pay equity isn’t just the right thing to do for women who have been underpaid for years, it’s also better value for the taxpayer than some of the Government’s own flagship policies,” Fitzsimons said.

“The actions of the Government in cancelling pay equity claims and gutting the Equal Pay Act 1972 were an act of constitutional vandalism and wage theft which must be overcome. We will leave no stone unturned until New Zealand women receive pay equity starting with care and support workers many of whom are now back on the minimum wage.

“We need to see clear commitments from opposition parties to pay equity which means and properly accounting for it in their fiscal plans and fixing the Equal Pay Act 1972.

“Low- and middle-income workers spend the money they earn in their local communities. That spending supports local businesses and creates local jobs. This Government keeps choosing policies that don’t deliver anywhere near the same bang for buck, simply because it prioritised tax cuts for landlords over our nation’s working women.”

With unemployment rising to a decade high and the economy struggling, the analysis is a reminder of the cost of the Government’s decision.

“The Government says growing the economy is its top priority, but it turned down a $2.25 return on every dollar. That’s not economic management; it’s an own goal.”

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.

Source: Amnesty International

21 August 2026

Responding to the convictions of activists who organized Tiananmen vigils in Hong Kong, Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas spokesperson Fernando Cheung said:

“This dismaying verdict underlines how Hong Kong’s National Security Law is being used to punish people for peacefully remembering one of the darkest chapters in recent Chinese history.

“For decades, Hong Kong was the only place on Chinese soil where large-scale public remembrance of the Tiananmen crackdown could take place. Today’s decision marks another grim milestone in the government’s deliberate campaign to erase that legacy and silence those who seek truth, justice and accountability.

Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks said:

“Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan have not committed any recognizable crime; they have been convicted solely for their role in organizing peaceful commemorations of the people killed by the Chinese authorities on 4 June 1989.

“The Hong Kong authorities should quash these convictions and end the ongoing persecution of people seeking to keep the memory of Tiananmen alive.

“Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan are prisoners of conscience who should never have been prosecuted in the first place. They must be released immediately and unconditionally.”

Background

Hong Kong’s High Court today convicted Tiananmen activists Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan of “inciting subversion of state power” under the city’s National Security Law. Chow and Lee, along with Albert Ho Chun-yan, who previously pleaded guilty to the same charge, will be sentenced at a later date and face up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Chow and Lee were among seven members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (Hong Kong Alliance) charged with different offences under the Beijing-imposed law in September 2021. Both have been held in pre-trial detention ever since, having been repeatedly denied bail. They have been designated prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International.

Amnesty International has repeatedly raised concerns that the National Security Law, enacted in June 2020, is being used to target civil society groups, journalists, political activists and academics for actions that are fully protected under international human rights law.

The Tiananmen vigils commemorated the events of 4 June 1989, when Chinese troops opened fire on students and workers who had been peacefully protesting for political reforms in and around Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. Hundreds – possibly thousands – of people were killed. Tens of thousands more were arrested across China in the suppression that followed.

In the 37 years since the crackdown, all discussion of the incident has been heavily censored in China, and authorities have effectively erased it from their version of history.

From the beginning, commemorating the Tiananmen crackdown was forbidden in mainland China. But in Hong Kong, crowds reaching hundreds of thousands of people would gather annually in centrally located Victoria Park to peacefully remember those killed. The vigil participants regularly called on the Chinese authorities to reveal the truth about what happened and accept accountability for the atrocity; for thirty years, local government did not, in practice, interfere or object.

The last major vigil organized by the Hong Kong Alliance was held in 2019. The Hong Kong vigil was banned in 2020 and 2021, ostensibly on COVID-19 grounds. Since then, the National Security Law has effectively criminalized peaceful protest in the city – including Tiananmen commemorations.

Source: FreshChoice

21 August 2026

The magic is far from over at FreshChoice. To keep the excitement going and help Kiwis finish their collections, FreshChoice is excited to share that our stores still have Disney OOSHIES™ in stock.

To help collectors of all ages track down those final elusive characters and complete their 40-figure sets, selected FreshChoice stores are running a Double OOSHIES™ giveaway from today, Friday, 21 August to Sunday, 23 August.

Since launching on 13 July, the 10th anniversary Disney OOSHIES™ featuring beloved characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, has swept across Aotearoa, bringing excitement to millions of people nationwide.

To mark the final stretch of the campaign, there is also one last surprise for Kiwi collectors. From 24 to 30 August, 100 rare Platinum Buzz Lightyear OOSHIES™ will be up for grabs at FreshChoice. Everyday Rewards members who Boost the offer in the app and spend $30 or more in an eligible transaction at FreshChoice will automatically enter the draw to win one of these limited-edition figures.

Tim Cartwright, Executive General Manager FreshChoice, says the response to the Disney OOSHIES™ programme has been outstanding.

“The enthusiasm from our customers has been incredible. As our second collectible campaign since joining Everyday Rewards last year, it’s been fantastic to see the excitement it brings to families shopping at their local FreshChoice store,” says Cartwright.

“The OOSHIES™ magic continues in full force at FreshChoice. Having stock still available in our stores and hosting a double giveaway weekend at select locations is a fun way to bring local communities together and help collectors complete their 40-figure sets.”

About the Campaign

FreshChoice customers receive one Disney OOSHIE™ for every $30 spent in-store or online, while stocks last.

Stock is currently available at FreshChoice stores nationwide (except FreshChoice Queenstown). The Double OOSHIES™ offer (2 x OOSHIES™ for every $30 spent in-store or online) is available at the following participating stores, while stock lasts: Hauraki Corner, Greerton, Geraldine, Barrington, Roslyn, Oxford, Otautau, Mandeville, Leeston, Merivale, Lake Hawea, Sumner, Renwick, Prebbleton, Leamington, Te Awamutu, Otahuhu, and Waiuku.

The 2026 lineup celebrates 10 years of OOSHIES™ with 40 unique characters, including fan favorites from Disney’s Moana, Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Made from 97% recycled materials, we encourage customers to drop off any unwanted OOSHIES™ into dedicated in-store recycling bins.

For more information, including store locations and terms and conditions, visit FreshChoice Disney OOSHIES.

About FreshChoice

FreshChoice is a leading supermarket brand in New Zealand, dedicated to providing fresh, high-quality products tailored to the needs of local communities, and actively supporting those in the community. Focusing on supporting local suppliers and employing local residents, FreshChoice is committed to enhancing the shopping experience for customers. FreshChoice is currently undertaking a brand expansion with SuperValue stores being converted to FreshChoice.