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GDP increases 0.8 percent in the March 2025 quarter – Stats NZ media and information release: Gross domestic product: March 2025 quarter

GDP increases 0.8 percent in the March 2025 quarter – media release

19 June 2025

New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.8 percent in the March 2025 quarter, following a 0.5 percent increase in the December 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

Activity increased in the March 2025 quarter across all three high-level industry groups: primary industries, goods-producing industries, and services industries.

“At a more detailed industry level, nine of the 16 industries increased, with the largest rises in business services and manufacturing,” economic growth spokesperson Katrina Dewbery said.

The rise in manufacturing was led by an increase in the production of machinery and equipment. This was reflected in increases for components of both investment and exports associated with this type of manufacturing output.

Visit our website to read this news story and information release and to download CSV files:

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Economy – RBNZ Bulletin: Reflections on 35 Years of Flexible Inflation Targeting – Lessons from the RBNZ Research Conference

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua

19 June 2025 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua hosted a research conference on 6-7 March 2025 commemorating “35 Years of Flexible Inflation Targeting – Challenges and Opportunities”.

This Bulletin summarises the key themes and insights that emerged during the conference.

The conference marked a significant historical milestone. Reflecting on the decades leading to inflation targeting, Governor Christian Hawkesby described how New Zealand experienced high and volatile inflation when monetary policy was set under the direction of the Government, not an independent central bank.

Reforms undertaken from 1988 set out, in the words of the then Minister of Finance, Roger Douglas, to “ensure that future politicians don't interfere with the primary objective of the Reserve Bank”.

In March 1990, when the Minister of Finance and the Reserve Bank Governor signed the first Policy Targets Agreement (PTA), the Reserve Bank of New Zealand became the first central bank to have a numerical target for inflation specified in its monetary policy mandate. (ref. https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=f7a74960f1&e=f3c68946f8 )

Against this backdrop, 35 years after the first PTA, the research conference aimed to understand the inflation targeting experience across central banks, the challenges, and the opportunities to refine monetary policy frameworks and strategies in the post-pandemic world.
 
Read the Bulletin: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=78cd896bea&e=f3c68946f8

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Health – Integration of Māori healing and mainstream healthcare delivers social impact

Source: Rata Foundation

Te Arateatea Trust is successfully bridging traditional Māori healing practices with mainstream healthcare, offering an inclusive, holistic health service, particularly for expectant and new mothers.
The organisation operates Te Ara Teatea, a Whare Hauora (health clinic) established in response to community needs, with an additional focus on training practitioners in rongoā Māori, the traditional Māori system of healing. Rongoā Māori is a holistic approach that interconnects physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing, along with rongoā rākau (herbal remedies), mirimiri and romiromi (physical therapies), and spiritual healing practices.
Trust Founder Ruatau Perez [Ngāi Tuhoe, Ngāpuhi] says this integration offers a more complete approach to wellbeing, addressing the whole person rather than just physical symptoms. “It's quite empowering seeing how the two modalities are slowly coming together – the traditional and the mainstream way of health. When you support the spiritual health, the mental and the psychological health as well as the physical, and understand the interconnected relationship between people and the natural environment, it’s really empowering.”
Based in Woolston, Ōtautahi, the organisation provides services ranging from injury rehabilitation to Corrections work, and support for fertility and pregnancy, including vulnerable young women who might not otherwise engage in ante- and post-natal care. A key component is their Oriori mentoring programme, which supports young mothers and their pēpi while training community members and staff in traditional practices.
Danielle O'Halloran-Thyne, who received mentoring through the Oriori programme to specialise as a hapūtanga (pregnancy) practitioner in rongoā Māori, says the programme creates a safe learning environment for practitioners. “Our services aim to provide one of the alternatives that complements other forms of healthcare that can really uplift the mana of the wahine and allow them to feel that it is a time of empowerment for them, not just a hard time. The resurgence of rongoā Māori and the acknowledgement that yes it does assist, that's a game changer for access to rongoā Māori, so that people can feel it's normal. What Te Arateatea is holding for us as practitioners is a really safe space to learn and grow and be part of that resurgence.”
Juliette, who has been with the hapūtanga (pregnancy) programme for three years, says the clinic offers a warm, welcoming healing environment. “They helped me through the pregnancy side of things – the joys that come up through pregnancy but also the emotional side. It has helped a lot of us accept what happened because it is out of your control and sometimes it's hard to acknowledge those things. It has helped me to see the journey in a positive light. It’s such a good, calm space. I recommend it to everyone.”
This integration of traditional practices with modern healthcare addresses various needs identified in the Waitangi Tribunal Hauora report, including isolation, lack of family support, and poverty. With funding from Rātā and other partners, these services are available at no cost to mothers who may not be able to access support during pregnancy and after birth, removing financial barriers.
“The funding from Rātā has really been incredible in helping us to really get it out into the community so that people can access these services that they may not otherwise have been able to access,” says Ruatau. “It's great to see the benefits of these two approaches working together to provide better care for our whānau.”
Te Arateatea Trust is supported through Rātā Foundation’s Strategic Health Pou (funding priority), which aims to remove barriers to mental health support and enable access to diverse support options, including rongoā and innovative locally based solutions.
Rātā Chief Executive Leighton Evans says the key focus of this funding area is to ensure people in need get the right support when they need it. “We want individuals, families and whānau to thrive so they can participate positively in the community. A key part of this is being able to access support and services in a way that is comfortable and familiar, and aligned with community, culture and identity.
“Providing support to organisations such as Te Arateatea Trust enables them to focus on their effectiveness and extend the impact they have in communities of need. Their focus on training the next generation of healers, and preserving traditional healing knowledge, also aligns with our focus on helping organisations to grow their capacity for intergenerational benefit.”
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Sustainable Business – 17th Climate Change & Business Conference: Where Ambition Meets Action

Source: Sustainable Business Council

Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier Climate Change and Business Conference returns in 2025, bringing together global and local leaders to accelerate climate action and business innovation.
The conference is taking place on 8-9 September at the Viaduct Events Centre in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. This year’s theme Ambition. Accountability. Action. promises to inspire and challenge business to take meaningful steps toward addressing the impacts of climate change.
Chief Executive of the Sustainable Business Council (SBC), Mike Burrell, says this year’s conference theme is timely and critical, given the increasingly complex geopolitical environment businesses are navigating.
“Forward thinking businesses recognise the focus on climate action must remain. The science has never been more urgent or clear – we must continue to pursue better business for a better world, and this year’s conference reflects the need for that ambition to now meet action.”
The two day-event will offer a unique opportunity to learn from global and domestic leaders and changemakers across business, government, iwi, media and civil society, who are turning climate strategies into solutions and real-world impact.
The 2025 international speaking line-up includes:
– Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, MP: Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Energy, Environment, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards and Disaster Management.
– Prof. Elizabeth Robinson: Acting Dean of the London School of Economics’ Global School of Sustainability.
– Lord Adair Turner: Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission (a global coalition of companies, NGOs and experts working to achieve a net zero economy by 2040).
Environmental Defence Society (EDS) Chief Executive Gary Taylor says, “The conference brings together visionaries and leaders in the climate space at a time when serious engagement is needed more urgently than ever, given the profound changes taking place globally.”
“This event is about having challenging conversations, tackling the gnarliest of climate issues facing our country, and driving real and meaningful change.”
Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in more than 30 different plenary, workshops and breakout sessions, all designed to equip business leaders with the tools and insights needed to lead out on climate.
Genesis CEO and Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) Steering Group Convenor Malcolm Johns says, “As business leaders we are facing a variety of pressures and shifting geopolitical dynamics, but it is imperative that we stay the course, remain focused and maintain our momentum on climate action.”
“This conference underscores the continuing role business has to play in this journey, and provides a critical platform for leaders to connect, innovate and lead the charge toward securing a resilient net-zero economy.”
Delivered in partnership between the Environmental Defence Society (EDS), the Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC), the Climate Change and Business Conference is Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading and longest running climate and business event.
More than 650 people attended the 2024 event in person and online.
The 2025 event is supported by Foundation Sponsors Westpac NZ and Beca.
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Advocacy – The Israeli Assault Against Iran… Playing with Fire

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

The Israeli assault launched against Iran shortly before dawn on Friday, 13/6/2025, targeted three levels:

First: The military command-and-control system, including senior army and Revolutionary Guard leadership;

Second: The core infrastructure of Iran’s nuclear program—particularly nuclear stations and reactors, as well as missile and drone launch bases;

Third: The qualitative level, represented by senior nuclear scientists involved in Iran’s nuclear project. This multi-phase assault—carried out in five waves at the time of writing—sought to deliver a severe preemptive strike against the nuclear program, disrupt command and control systems, and disable key elements of Iran’s deterrent capability. With the confirmed assassination of Iran’s Chief of Staff, the head of the Revolutionary Guard, several top-tier military and Guard commanders, along with a number of nuclear scientists, and with direct damage inflicted on the targeted nuclear reactors, Israel began celebrating its achievement, even as anticipation mounted over Iran’s potential response. This article, written just hours after the attack, offers only a preliminary reading of the assault.

Netanyahu, who named this assault Operation Rising Lion, described it as a pivotal moment in Israel’s conflict history and a necessary measure to confront the “existential” threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program and to secure Israel’s safety. He obtained unanimous approval from the security cabinet for the attack. Israeli sources justified the offensive by stating that intelligence had recently detected an acceleration in Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons capabilities, claiming Iran was nearing the “point of no return.” Reports by international inspectors also indicated that Iran possesses enough material to produce 9 nuclear bombs, an assertion Netanyahu emphasized in his speech.

The Israeli aggression aligns with Netanyahu’s long-term security vision, which ext

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Polls – Betrayal of women over pay equity laid bare in Budget poll – time to reverse decision – PSA

Source: PSA

A Budget poll lays bare how deeply unpopular the Government’s decision to scrap pay equity rules under urgency has become.
The Post/Freshwater Strategy Poll today shows many New Zealanders oppose the Government axing pay equity claims and making it harder to push for new claims – nearly four out of ten opposed the decision and just over four out of ten said the move damaged their confidence in the Government’s commitment to gender equality.
“The Government decided to scrap pay equity for women to pay for tax cuts for business in this year’s budget – New Zealanders are seeing that plain and simple and they don’t like it,” said Fleur Fitzsimons National Secretary Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“This was wage theft and no amount of spin by the Government has convinced many New Zealanders who see the move done under urgency for what is – a betrayal that impacts wives, mothers, daughters and their families.
“It was morally wrong to cancel women’s claims for pay equity without telling New Zealanders during the election or even in government, and without a democratic select committee process, but it’s not too late for the Government to do the right thing by women.
“This outrageous decision will keep damaging the Government – the PSA calls on the Government to settle the 33 claims it scrapped and restore the pay equity process.
“That will help over 150,000 women get the wage increase they need and deserve and many New Zealanders clearly agree.
“Pay equity is also critical to help many deal with the cost of living which still worries New Zealanders. The poll shows a majority don’t think the Budget will help reduce pressures on the household budget from rising prices.
“What’s more nearly two thirds worry the Government’s spending cuts will damage the public services they rely on. This is what the PSA warned all along.
“The poll should be a wake-up call. New Zealanders are clearly telling the Government it is taking the country in the wrong direction, and is failing women and households. Restoring pay equity and public services would be a start.”
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
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Property Market – Sales activity lifts but listings keep property prices in check – Cotality

Source: Cotality (Formerly CoreLogic)

Property sales activity in New Zealand continued to strengthen in May, with volumes holding above average levels for a third consecutive month, according to Cotality’s June Housing Chart Pack.
Sales volumes in May, measured across both private deals and real estate agents, were 16% higher than in the same month last year. This is the 24th rise in the past 25 months.

The total number of sales at 8,218, was also about 5% above the 10-year May average, marking the third month in a row where activity has exceeded ‘normal’ levels.

Cotality Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said the ongoing lift in sale volumes points to improving confidence in the market.

“Property sales have been gradually trending upwards for around two years now, and activity is back at normal levels, or even slightly above. It’s not a boom, but it’s clear that confidence is slowly returning, undoubtedly supported by falling mortgage rates.”

However, for-sale listings remain high, with the number of new listings coming forward in recent weeks still ticking over at a solid pace.

“New listings have generally tracked in line with typical seasonal patterns this year, though April’s extended holiday break did cause a temporary dip. As the market now enters the traditional winter lull, listing activity is likely to remain muted until it picks up again in Spring,” he said.

Mr Davidson noted that stronger sales volumes have started to slightly reduce total stock levels in recent weeks.

“While it has started to come down, the total number of properties listed on the market is still 20% above the five-year average, and that’s putting a lot of the negotiating power in buyers’ hands.”

“Most areas are now showing a decline in total properties listed for sale compared to the same time in 2024, although Canterbury and Otago haven’t quite joined the club just yet,” he said.

Total listings, change from equivalent period last year

“While we’re starting to see listings come down, they’re still well above average in many markets. That means price growth is likely to remain contained in the short term,” he concluded.
Highlights from the June 2025 Housing Chart Pack include:

New Zealand’s residential real estate market is worth a combined $1.64 trillion.

The CoreLogic Home Value Index shows property values across New Zealand edged down -0.1% in May. Over the three months to May, there was also a -0.1% dip in median property values across NZ.
The total sales count over the 12 months to May is 85,395.

Total listings on the market were 29,443 in May. The total number of properties listed on the market remains elevated, although the seasonal fall for new listings flows means that agreed sales have just started to eat into stock levels a little in the past few weeks.

The pace of rental growth remains subdued, with net migration having fallen a long way from its peak, and the stock of available rental listings on the market still elevated.

Gross rental yields now stand at 3.8%, which is the highest level since 2015-16.

Inflation is back in the 1–3% target range, and after May’s 0.25% cut, the OCR is now down to 3.25%.

The Chart of the Month shows Reserve Bank figures, with the average rate being paid on the existing stock of fixed loans currently about 5.9%, but prevailing rates are now about 1%-point lower than that figure.

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

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Templeton Group Celebrates Four Wins at 2025 Property Industry Awards

Source: Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards

Big night for Templeton Group as projects recognised across multiple categories

Auckland, Tuesday 17 June 2025 — Friday 13 June proved auspicious for Templeton Group, as the company took home four major accolades at the 2025 Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards, the country’s most prestigious property awards programme.

The wins spanned 3 projects, across 2 categories and reflected the strength of Templeton's diverse portfolio, which includes residential, mixed-use, and tourism properties. Templeton’s developments in Long Bay and Upper Queen Street won three awards in the Hawkins Multi Unit Residential Property category:  

  • ABSTRACT (Auckland CBD)     Excellence Award 
  • Kahu (Long Bay)                                Merit Award 
  • Light Box (Long Bay)                         Merit Award

Templeton was also recognised in the Holmes Group Tourism and Leisure Property Award category, taking home a Merit Award for ABSTRACT, which uniquely bl

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Animal Welfare – WORLD’S BIGGEST INVESTIGATION INTO EGG FACTORY FARMING. NEW ZEALAND CAGES SCRUTINISED

Source: Animals Aotearoa

In the largest global investigation ever, The Open Wing Alliance reveals never-before-seen footage of systemic animal abuse and public health risks in cage egg factory farming. Alongside footage from 36 other countries, the exposé includes footage from a colony cage factory farm in New Zealand.

New Zealand – June 17 2025 –  “The sound of thousands of trapped chickens, the industrial fans cranking and the stench of waste is beyond words”, says a volunteer investigator from Grassroots Campaigns NZ. “It's hell inside.”

This is the description animal welfare investigators gave about what they captured at an Auckland colony cage factory farm. Their footage was given to the Open Wing Alliance, a global coalition of nearly 100 organisations established by The Humane League, in collaboration with We Animals and Reporters for Animals International. Together with Animals Aotearoa, the united group has just released the largest ever investigation into industrialised egg farms in 37 countries. In never-before-seen footage, including from New Zealand, supported by an open letter backed by 100 celebrities.

“The shocking footage exposes widespread abuse of egg-laying hens trapped in filthy, overcrowded cages, with evidence of injured birds, rotting carcasses, disease-ridden conditions, and more. This investigation comes as bird flu sweeps across every continent, jumping from farmed birds to wild animals and even humans”, says Jennifer Dutton, Corporate Relations Specialist at Animals Aotearoa.

Footage from 37 countries, including:

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

Key findings from the global exposé include:

Hens confined in battery and enriched/colony cages, giving each chicken only the space of an iPad, or less, to live their entire life;

Automated systems leave dead bird carcasses trapped in cages with living hens;

Live hens abandoned in manure and waste pits, and eggs found in manure before sent to shelves;

Birds unable to stand upright or spread their wings;

Unsanitary conditions that promote disease spread, like avian influenza.

This massive coordinated worldwide campaign is focused on spotlighting multinational brands dragging their heels on fulfilling corporate policy to transition away from cage eggs in their supply chains. The vast majority of food corporations around the world publicly committed, a decade ago, to remove cages from their egg supply chains, with global companies like The Hershey Company, Hormel Foods, Famous Brands, and Barilla already fully cage-free. However, food companies like Walmart, Zensho Holdings and Inspire Brands (parent company of Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins) continue to profit from sourcing eggs from hens raised in outdated, cruel cages. In New Zealand, hospitality giant Best Western Hotel chain was recently targeted by protestors highlighting the multinational's lack of transparent reporting on its global cage-free progress, supported by a petition.

Since 2023, when battery cages were outlawed in Aotearoa, there has been a disinformation campaign by the factory farm lobby to mislead caring New Zealanders about the continued domestic production of cage eggs. While battery cages are no longer in use, colony cages are. Eggs sold at retail level from these colony cage systems don't contain the word 'cage' anywhere on the packaging. Following a number of complaints, the Commerce Commission is currently conducting a compliance project to assess whether colony eggs are a breach of the Fair Trading Act.

In addition to cage eggs being sold under misleading labelling, the import of liquid eggs from battery cages is a significant problem. Over 80% of New Zealand's liquid eggs, used largely in food manufacture, are imported from China and Australia where egg-laying hens are kept in battery cages. Produced using methods illegal here, they are added into Kiwi foods and quietly sold to the caring public who are unaware.

Consumers around the world are increasingly demanding transparency and ethical treatment of animals in food production, and they won't stand for further risks to our global public health. Over 100 celebrity figures signed an open letter urging food corporations to end the use of cages in their global supply chains. This investigation s