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World Vision – COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP FOR REFUGEES SHOULD NOT BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE REFUGEE QUOTA

Source: World Vision

World Vision New Zealand welcomes today’s announcement to make the Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship programme permanent.
The Associate Minister for Immigration, Hon. Casey Costello, today announced that the programme which enables community groups to sponsor and support the resettlement of refugees, will be reinstated from July 1, 2026.
The programme will enable the resettlement of 200 refugees and this number will be included as part of New Zealand’s overall Refugee Quota Programme of 1,500 places.
World Vision New Zealand’s Head of Advocacy and Justice, Rebekah Armstrong, says embedding community-led settlement support for refugees is a positive step, but should be over-and-above New Zealand’s refugee quota.
“Community sponsorship recognises the important role communities can play in refugee protection and resettlement. It can help families rebuild their lives within a strong local framework, and it gives New Zealanders a meaningful way to stand alongside children and families seeking safety.
“However, it’s very disappointing that the programme will not add to New Zealand’s overall refugee intake. Community sponsorship should be additional to the Refugee Quota. At a time when global refugee protection needs are at a record high and humanitarian funding is under increasing pressure, New Zealand should be looking for ways to expand protection, rather than simply redistributing existing places,” Armstrong says.
World Vision says New Zealand along with other countries should be looking to provide additional protection mechanisms for children and families who have been displaced, including where those needs align with grounds under the Refugee Convention.
The organisation, together with the University of Auckland’s Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies, recently called for the establishment of an Emergency Protection Framework to ensure New Zealand better supports and protects people displaced due to disaster, conflict, and humanitarian emergencies.
Armstrong says an Emergency Protection Framework could be adopted as part of an amendment to the current Immigration Act 2009 and should include: pre-determined criteria for an emergency protection response, defined visa pathways, community sponsorship, and coordinated settlement systems.
She says this should be over-and-above New Zealand’s refugee quota and the community sponsorship programme.
“Protection needs are changing and increasing as more and more children and families are displaced around the world and New Zealand’s policy settings need to keep pace.
“We need a more ambitious, practical and future-focused approach that keeps the refugee quota strong, makes community sponsorship additional, and creates new emergency protection pathways for people who have experienced serious harm and need safety.”
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Culture and Heritage – Long-awaited National Erebus Memorial begins construction

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Construction has started on the National Erebus Memorial, marking a significant step forward in honouring the 257 people who lost their lives in the Mt Erebus disaster on 28 November 1979.
The start of construction was marked on Monday with a site blessing and ceremonial sod turning, attended by Erebus families, members of the recovery effort Operation Overdue, Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Christchurch City Council, project partners and government officials.
Secretary for Culture and Heritage Leanauae Laulu Mac Leauanae said the milestone reflects many years of commitment to creating a place of national remembrance.
“Today marks a significant occasion – the blessing of the site and turning of the sod for the National Erebus Memorial,” Leauanae said.
David Nicholson, who lost his sister Christine in the disaster, put the first spade in the ground on Monday.
“257 people who were killed on 28 November 1979. 20 of the people onboard Flight TE901 were flight or cabin crew. 237 were passengers, including 60 people from overseas. They were of all ages, from different places, countries and backgrounds,” said Leauanae.
“They were on Flight TE901 for many reasons – for work, for sightseeing, to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, and to see the icy continent.”
At the heart of the National Erebus Memorial are the families of those who lost their lives, alongside the people who took part in the recovery effort following the disaster.
“I acknowledge that not everyone wanted to see the memorial built in Ōtautahi Christchurch, and that Auckland was the original preference as a memorial location.
“Given the strong connections to Antarctica and the Erebus story, and the warmth of welcome the memorial and families have received from Christchurch, I believe the city is the rightful home for the National Erebus Memorial.
“Most importantly, I want to extend my deepest appreciation to Erebus families and members of Operation Overdue. This memorial is long overdue.”
Further content:
Watch a video with David Nicholson on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/rq2mpyK9kqM?si=pc_W0_6y2BtyfTTu
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Northland News – Annual Plan 2026/27 adopted

Source: Northland Regional Council

Northland Regional Council has adopted its latest Annual Plan which includes a nil increase in its total rates take for the next 12 months.
Council Chair Pita Tipene says times are tough for the people and communities of Taitokerau and council members recognise that affordability remains a critical issue.
“At the same time there remains hugely significant work to be done to care for te taiao (our environment) and to continue to help build climate resilient communities in a region that has suffered more than its share of impacts in recent adverse weather events.”
Chair Tipene says the Annual Plan represents council’s best efforts to walk the fine line between considering necessity and affordability and does not contain any significant changes from what is set out in its Long Term Plan.
“In an era of rising costs and inflation, holding the line on rates is our tangible way of standing with our people and easing pressure where it’s needed.”
However, he says it’s important to bear in mind that no rates increase does not mean no investment – “it's about smarter, leaner spending and prioritising what’s critical”.
He says that none of this work can be considered outside of the lens of local government reform, announced by central government late last year.
“Our council has operated under current arrangements for around 30 years, and we agree it is both timely and appropriate to review the system to ensure it is fit-for-purpose in 2026 and beyond.”
Chair Tipene says while meaningful change may still be several years away the NRC is keen to work together with the other Northland councils to proactively consider what might best serve the region and its diverse communities through a strong ‘By Northland, for Northland’ approach.
“Likewise, we are working diligently alongside our district council partners to ensure Northland is in the best possible position to implement central government’s planned reform of the Resource Management Act.”
He says as NRC heads into the new financial year, it is focused on delivering meaningful outcomes on the ground, maintaining strong community relationships and operating with increased clarity around its functions and resourcing.
The plan can be found at: www.nrc.govt.nz/annualplan2026
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Defence News – NZDF supports successful operation to remove WWII-era explosives in Papua New Guinea

Source: New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF)

Six New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel have this month been part of a multinational effort in Papua New Guinea to destroy about 2200 explosive remnants left over from the Second World War.

Delivered under Australian Defence Force (ADF) leadership, Operation Render Safe brought together military personnel from Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States to locate and safely dispose of about 7550kg of the explosives.

The operation focused on explosive remnants of war – or ERW – identified during previous missions in the Gazelle, Kokopo and Rabaul districts of East New Britain province. They have continued to pose a serious risk to local communities for more than 80 years.

The munitions were moved to pits that had been dug so charges could be placed on them to destroy them.

The smaller and more stable bombs were moved via vehicle and the larger ones carried by several people with slings.

New Zealand Army Captain ‘C’*, Senior National Officer of the Kiwi contingent, said the six-person NZDF Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was embedded within the ADF-led task force, working alongside Papua New Guinea Defence Force and international counterparts.

“It’s a challenging task, in a hot and humid jungle environment and with seriously degraded munitions that have spent 80 years exposed to the weather and sea salt,” Captain C said.

“But it’s an important task to ensure the safety of communities in these areas.”

The NZDF maintains a highly capable EOD service, drawing personnel from the Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force.

EOD teams provide regular domestic support to New Zealand Police, including the assessment and disposal of improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance.

NZDF personnel are also very experienced in ERW clearance operations across the Pacific, having undertaken similar work in Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Nauru in recent years.

The Force Integration Training conducted in Australia prior to deployment ensured the multinational team could operate effectively together in the challenging Papua New Guinea conditions.

“The training ensured we were not only a strong, cohesive team, but also allowed us to build enduring relationships that will support future operations,” Captain ‘C’ said.

“Every time we work with the ADF and our partner nations, it’s a valuable opportunity to understand each other’s procedures—ensuring we remain interoperable and ready to deploy together when needed.”

Render Safe is a long-standing multinational initiative, running for more than 20 years, aimed at reducing the threat posed by ERW across the Pacific and strengthening regional security through cooperation.

The NZDF contribution reflects New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to regional security and its close defence relationships with Papua New Guinea, Australia and other international partners.

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EMA – ExportNZ’s flagship summit Global X returns – helping exporters navigate a changing world

Source: EMA

ExportNZ and the EMA are bringing together some of New Zealand’s leading exporters and trade experts at the Global X Summit in Auckland on 15 September, as businesses face an increasingly complex global trading environment.
The one-day summit will provide practical insights, expert perspectives and real-world experiences to help New Zealand exporters understand emerging opportunities and adapt to rapid changes in global markets.
EMA Head of Export, Simon Devoy, says the event comes at a critical time for New Zealand businesses looking to grow internationally.
“New Zealand is a small country, a long way from global markets. If we want a prosperous future, export success is absolutely essential,” Devoy says.
“Exporting is no longer just about our traditional strengths in primary industries like dairy, meat and horticulture. We are increasingly exporting technology, services and expertise around the world, and that is a big opportunity for New Zealand businesses.”
Keynote speakers: Dr Alan Bollard & Stephen Jacobi
The Global X Summit will feature a diverse range of speakers from across the export ecosystem, including major exporters, industry leaders and policy experts.
The keynote speakers include Dr Alan Bollard, the former Secretary to the Treasury and Governor of the Reserve Bank, who will share his insights on the forces reshaping global trade, including trade policies and geopolitical tensions.
Stephen Jacobi, a former Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF), will provide a practical “on-the-ground” view of how shifting trade dynamics are playing out in key markets, with a focus on how New Zealand exporters can stay competitive.
Practical lessons from successful New Zealand exporters,
Attendees will also hear directly from successful New Zealand exporters, including Rachael Armstrong ( Antipodes Water), David Sweas ( The Dodson Group), Fee Cortis ( BLUNT Umbrellas) and Sarah Kennedy ( Calocurb), who will share what it takes to build brands, win customers and scale on the global stage.
Understanding how to navigate changes in trade policies
Executive Director of ExportNZ, Josh Tan, says exporters must remain agile as global trade conditions continue to shift.
“The international trade environment is changing quickly. The rules-based system is under pressure, and exporters need to stay informed, stay connected and be ready to adapt,” he says.
“Globalisation hasn’t gone away, but it has changed. Understanding how to navigate that change is critical for any business looking to grow offshore.”
Bilateral business councils representing key markets
Global X will play an important role in bringing together the full breadth of New Zealand’s export networks.
“What makes Global X different is that it brings together the bilateral business councils, including the US, China, ASEAN and the EU, alongside exporters, government and industry leaders in one place,” Tan says.
“That connection matters. It helps businesses better understand different markets, build relationships faster, and tap into shared knowledge across the export community.”
Collaboration and practical learning.
Designed to bring the export community together, Global X will provide a platform for connection, collaboration and practical learning.
“This is about hearing from experts, learning from others who have done it before, and taking time out of the business to think strategically about growth,” Devoy says.
“With so much change happening globally, there has never been a more important time for exporters to come together and share ideas.”
To register for Global X, please go to: Global X Summit – Hear from Major New Zealand Exporters
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Conflict – Five children killed by explosive weapon in Yemen while engaged in child labour in deadliest incident this year – Save the Children

Source: Save the Children

At least five children have been killed and seven more children injured by an unexploded ordnance (UXO) that detonated next to them in southern Yemen in the deadliest incident for children so far this year, Save the Children said.
The children, aged between 7 and 13, came across the UXO while collecting scrap metal to sell, and, thinking it was a toy, started playing with it.
Save the Children, which is supporting some of the injured children with medical treatment, said they sustained multiple shrapnel injuries to their chests, abdomens and limbs.
Previous Save the Children analysis found that in the past four years since a UN truce in April 2022, at least 511 of 1,200 conflict-related child casualties were due to landmines and explosive remnants of war.
The same analysis found that children were over three times more likely than adults to be killed or injured by explosive remnants of war in Yemen, partly due to a lack of mine risk awareness.
Child labour is rife in Yemen due to the worsening economic situation and global funding cuts, exposing children to risk while tending livestock and gathering firewood, as well as working in construction and scrap metal collection. According to UNICEF, 12.5% of children aged 5-14 are engaged in child labour, a figure that rises sharply to 15.4% in rural areas.
A survey by Save the Children in south Yemen last year found that 90% of 615 households relied on the income children received for their work to eat, with displaced children worst affected.
Rishana Haniffa, Country Director for Save the Children in Yemen, said:
“It is an outrage that after a decade of conflict, children in Yemen are still paying the price with their lives due to a double threat from explosive remnants of war and child labour. Injuries from explosives can leave children permanently disabled, sometimes leading to the amputation of limbs or the loss of sight or hearing.
“All parties to the conflict must de-escalate the crisis, stop the use of explosive weapons and uphold international humanitarian law to prevent further harm to civilians.
“At the same time, Yemen requires sustained and increased humanitarian funding for the clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXOs), victim assistance and risk education initiatives that have been scaled back due to aid cuts. Families also need more support for sustainable livelihoods so that children are not forced into work, putting them at risk. These life-saving efforts are critical to protect vulnerable communities, especially children, from the deadly impact of explosive weapons.”
Save the Children has been working in Yemen since 1963, implementing programmes in education, child protection, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, and emergency response across most of the country.
Child protection remains at the heart of our programmes, including specialized care and assistance for children injured by explosive weapons and mine risk education.
About Save the Children NZ:
Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.
Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.
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Statistical area 2 and 3 population projections: 2023(base)–2053 – fifth instalment – Stats NZ information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Statistical area 2 and 3 population projections: 2023(base)–2053 – fifth instalment – information release

24 June 2026

Statistical area 2 (SA2) and statistical area 3 (SA3) population projections released in Aotearoa Data Explorer (ADE) provide an indication of future changes in the size and age-sex structure of the population usually living in each area.

About this release
This is the fifth instalment of the statistical area 2 (SA2) and statistical area 3 (SA3) population projections. This release includes SA2 and SA3 areas for the following territorial authority areas:

  • Far North district
  • Matamata-Piako district
  • Ōpotiki district
  • Upper Hutt city
  • Masterton district
  • Ashburton district
  • Clutha district.

These projections are by five-year age group and sex. Projections for additional territorial authority areas will be released progressively during 2026, as they become available.

Visit our website to read the full information release:

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Employment – Northland Mill proposed to close without a buyer found

Source: Workers First Union

There has been disappointment and shock from Workers First Union members in Northland this morning following the announcement that one of two of Northland’s Juken New Zealand mills has failed to find a buyer and is proposed for closure.
Marcus Coverdale, Workers First Organiser, said staff from the JNL-owned Northland Mill were called to a 6:30 AM meeting this morning and told that no buyer had been found during the sale window, and a proposal to close would open for consultation from 8 July.
“We’re disappointed that no buyer has been found for Northland Mill but there is still a window for central Government to step up and push for a solution,” said Mr Coverdale.
“Now is the time for a localised solution to save our manufacturing industry and our skilled woodworkers.”
Meanwhile, JNL’s second mill – the Triboard Mill – appears to have found a buyer, or at least, was not proposed for closure following this morning’s meeting, Mr Coverdale said.
“In terms of sustainability, between the two mills, the full log is used,” said Mr Coverdale. “The top of a log is refined for the tri-board product, and the middle for veneers and mulch.”
“Without a buyer found for the Northland Mill, we’ll be taking the top of the log for tri-board and sending the other raw two-thirds overseas without any value added.”
The Northland Mill employs around 60 people, with 40 Workers First members who have redundancy provisions and may be able to access redeployment or other options, Mr Coverdale said.
The proposal window and consultation would begin on 8 July and a final decision is expected by 16 July. In the meantime, the mill’s Collective Agreement has expired, and it was unlikely that bargaining for a new one-month term prior to a closure would commence.
“I think union members have been frustrated as the company continues to talk about ‘good faith’ without guaranteeing their future or making any gesture of that nature,” said Mr Coverdale.
“But not all hope is lost, and it’s now time to wait to see if this Government will offer the mill workers a lifeline or if we’re set to lose yet another important wood manufacturing facility.”
The potential closure of Northland Mill would be the seventh major wood processing site lost under the current National-NZ First-ACT Government.
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Events – Three new exhibitions open Adam Art Gallery’s winter season

Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Te Pātaka Toi Adam Art Gallery at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington will open its winter season with three new exhibitions. Two solo projects, The Choice by George Watson and ‘Ua Tafa Mai Ata: Matāli’i ki Wainuiātea by Elisapeta Hinemoa Heta, are accompanied by a group show, Not a solitary feeling. While developed as distinct projects, each exhibition contends with inherited histories in different ways, and proposes a critical framework attuned to the challenges of the present. Thresholds, gates, the eye of the storm—these works collectively offer moments of reflection, and the recognition of larger forces at play.

In the gallery foyer, artist and architect Elisapeta Hinemoa Heta presents the sculptural installation ‘Ua Tafa Mai Ata: Matāli’i ki Wainuiātea. The title connects to the artist’s Sāmoan gafa (whakapapa) and alludes to the ata or morning light that cuts through the darkness, similar to the capacity of art to reveal that which may be less visible or material. The work takes the form of an ātea—a public forum, most commonly referring to the open area in front of the wharenui where visitors are welcomed and issues are debated. The installation includes low seats made from charred timber, a gauze-like textile canopy, a foundation of bricks formerly used in Wellington’s Te Ngākau Civic Square. The work becomes a platform from which one might, metaphorically or in more tangible ways, connect or reconnect with the expansiveness of Moana-nui-a-Kiwa. Heta’s project—this third version of which is presented for Adam Art Gallery by guest curator Israel Randell—is a built structure designed for hosting people, and foregrounds the role of talanoa or dialogue in the navigation of our multiple and pressing relationships to the ocean that surrounds us.

George Watson’s artwork The Choice is her most physically substantial project to date, constructed primarily with found and prefabricated materials. Working with metal, textiles, artificial dust, text, and processes of sculptural subtraction, Watson’s installation brings together seemingly divergent references—to the farm, the villa, and the 19th-century novel—within a larger narrative about colonial inheritances, and the ways that such histories haunt us in the present. The work comprises large, galvanised steel farm gates, the removal of gallery wall panels to reveal the internal structure, and the addition of ornate Victorian era fretwork. The title references Robyn Kahukiwa’s 1974 painting, The Choice, a work that Watson has returned to frequently in her own thinking on urban migration of Māori in the 1970s, and its legacies in the present.

Not a solitary feeling is a group exhibition of works that disrupt our image of the past and open possibilities for altering how we might think about, anticipate, and imagine the future. Featuring a selection of works from Ngā Puhipuhi o Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Art Collection alongside loaned works, the exhibition explores how artworks may open perceived boundaries between human and more-than-human, planet and atmosphere. Including sculpture, painting, video and photography, the exhibition pays attention to the atmosphere as a commons, considering bodies which we might not see but can sense and feel, such as wind, weather, water, and the air in-between, and what it means to be a community of which this planet is a part. Not a solitary feelingcompletes a three-part series of exhibitions which unpack the possibilities for an environmentally-considered art history of Aotearoa, co-curated by Professor of Art History and Environmental Humanities, Susan Ballard, and former Kaiwhakarākei Curator Collections at Adam Art Gallery, Sophie Thorn.  

Details of the exhibitions

‘Ua Tafa Mai Ata: Matāli’i ki Wainuiātea
Elisapeta Hinemoa Heta
Curated by Israel Randell

The Choice
George Watson
Curated by Abby Cunnane and Keani Rewha

Not a solitary feeling
Fiona Connor, Colin McCahon, Ross Hemera, Brett Graham, Mark Harvey, Ayesha Green, Yuki Kihara, Kate Newby, Layla Rudneva-Mackay, Christine Hellyar, Tanya Ashken, Melissa Macleod.
Curated by Susan Ballard and Sophie Thorn

4 July–11 October 2026
Te Pātaka Toi Adam Art Gallery
Opening hours
Te Pātaka Toi Adam Art Gallery
11am–5pm Tuesday–Sunday
FREE ENTRY
adamartgallery.nz

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Health – New roadmap calls for faster action on mental health, addiction and wellbeing

Source: Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission

Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission- has today launched a new roadmap at Parliament calling for faster, more focused action to improve mental health, addiction and wellbeing outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The call comes as psychological distress continues to rise across Aotearoa, while the mental health and addiction system struggles to keep pace with people’s needs.
“While progress has been made in recent years, change is not happening fast enough, especially for young people and Māori,” says Te Hiringa Mahara Chief Executive Karen Orsborn.
“This roadmap is designed to help decision-makers focus effort and investment where it can make the greatest difference, so people and whānau can get support earlier, closer to home, and in ways that work for them.
“The mental health system cannot solve these issues on its own, but it must play its part well.
“The roadmap draws on five years of monitoring and advocacy. It highlights key priorities for action, including earlier and easier access to support for young people, a better coordinated crisis response system, stronger investment in Kaupapa Māori and culturally appropriate services, and growth in the mental health and addiction workforce.”
“Today we were proud to launch the roadmap alongside MPs from across the political spectrum and to focus on the action needed now.
“Te Hiringa Mahara is urging decision-makers to look closely at the roadmap to improve support for people and whānau, and help ensure the system is fit for purpose,” says Ms Orsborn.
Find the roadmap in full, here: www.mhwc.govt.nz/roadmap