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ERA releases recommendations to settle Te Roopu Taurima dispute due to public interest

Source: PSA

The PSA welcomes the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) making public its recommendations for settling a Collective Agreement with workers employed by disability support provider Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau.
The recommendations, made after four days of hearings with an independent ERA Facilitator involving Te Roopu Taurima and the PSA representing 38 workers, had been confidential.
However, the ERA has now released them as they are a matter of public interest, said Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.
The trust was seeking to unduly restrict secondary employment that many of the underpaid workers rely on, and to impose a 90-day trial period for new workers into the Collective Agreement.
The ERA recommendations include reference to the current salary for kaitaataki (leaders in the houses providing residential disability support) not having increased for two years. It recomm

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Advocacy – PSNA appalled at deportation of Palestinian New Zealander from Egypt

Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

 

PSNA has conveyed to the Egyptian government its shock and anger at the deportation of a Palestinian New Zealander from Egypt yesterday (Thurs eds).

PSNA says Rana Hamida was deported because she planned to take part in the Global March to Gaza. Others deported include Spanish, Swedish, Finnish, Moroccan, Greek and US citizens.

 

The Global March to Gaza is due to start today in Egypt with thousands of people from throughout the world taking part.

 

“PSNA Co-Chair John Minto says the march is to express humanity’s outrage at the ongoing Gaza-wide bombing and starving of the Palestinian population by Israel in Occupied Gaza.

 

“Egypt’s action in deporting activists can only be seen as assisting Israel’s attacks against the Palestinian population.”

 

“Unfortunately, Egypt has a long history of collaboration with the US and Israel to stifle the Palestine liberation struggle. This is in sharp contrast to the Egyptian people who are as appalled and angry as the rest of humanity at Israel’s horrendous war crimes.”

 

“We received this message from Rana as she makes her way home:

 

“They Egyptian authorities along with other governments think that blocking humanity from this act of solidarity will stop because of them blocking people from being there and doing the job that they continue failing to do !!! 

They are so mistaken – the more complicit and enabling they get in their inactions and in this case their active participation, the more we will rise, and roar. 

We are escalating as you awaken the dragons within us. 

We will sing louder and we will walk longer — with our hiking shoes in the Sinai desert, or barefoot towards your embassies. We will disrupt your meetings, we will crowd your phone with calls and emails, and we will be the light that blinds your robotic heart and melts it alongside the lies you stand for. 

This is not about us, it is about HUMANITY within us that is dying and being oppressed in various forms, it is about the humans enduring hell in Gaza, West Bank and Falastine as a whole. 

Muslims, Jews and Christians together.

It is about NEVER AGAIN !!!

Boycott, divest — We will not stop we will not rest.

 

John Minto

Co-Chair

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

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PSNA Statement: ‘Expel the Israeli ambassador now!’

Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

 

PSNA is calling on the government to immediately expel the Israeli ambassador from New Zealand.

 

PSNA Co-Chair, John Minto says Israel’s strikes on Iran are “unprovoked, unilateral and a massive threat to humanity everywhere.”  

 

“This is such a dangerous action, that diplomatic weasel words about Israel are not acceptable.  Israel is an out-of-control rogue state playing with the future of humanity.  We must send it the strongest possible message.”

 

“Israel’s using its often repeated lies and misinformation to attempt to justify it’s unconscionable violence and aggression.”

Minto points to Iran’s right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.

 

“Even US intelligence officials have made it clear very recently that Iran is NOT on the way to produce a nuclear weapon.”

 

“And neither is Iran committed to the “annihilation” of Israel. Iran does not support Israel as a racist, apartheid state and wants to see liberation for Palestine. In this, Iran has, along with the overwhelming majority of countries in the world, called for an end to Israel’s military occupation of Palestine, the end of its apartheid policies directed against Palestinians and the return of Palestinian refugees.”

 

New Zealand has the same policies.

 

Minto says our government must shoulder some of the blame for Israel feeling it can safely launch attacks on Iran.

 

“Appeasement of this apartheid state, as our government and other western countries have done over 20 months, has led Israel to believe it can get away within mass murder forced expulsions and managed starvation in Gaza, so that whatever it does it will be never be held to account”

 

“Only sanctions count – and just the first one must be the expulsion of the Israel ambassador with only giving him enough time to pack his bags.

 

John Minto

Co-Chair

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

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Arts – $25,000 CLNZ | NZSA Writers’ Award OPENS

Source: NZSA

The CLNZ | NZSA Writers' Award of $25,000 is one of the highest value non-fiction prizes in New Zealand literature and it is now open for applications.
 
He $25,000 te nui o te Karāti Kaituhi o te CLNZ me te NZSA, te karāti mātua mo ngā pakimaero-pono o ngā momo-tuhinga o Aotearoa. Ka taea e ngā Kaituhi te tuku tono mō tēnei karāti.

Awards $25,000 cash grant to a New Zealand writer
Assists with research and associated costs
Is one of the highest value prizes awarded for non-fiction in New Zealand
Is open now for entries

The award was established to provide financial support for writers wishing to devote time to a specific project, and to cover reasonable research expenses relating to it. Writers with work in a broad range of non-fiction genres, including educational works, can apply.
 
The Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ) and the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (NZSA) Writers' Award has supported the creation of Rebecca Macfie's book Helen Kelly: Her Life (Awa Press), a biography of one of New Zealand’s political leg

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Govt cuts will undermine access to New Zealand’s history – PSA

Source: PSA

The ability of New Zealanders to access and better understand New Zealand’s history will be undermined by proposed cuts to the workforce at Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
The agency is proposing a net loss of 24 roles or 16% of the workforce. This follows Budget cuts which slashed funding by $8 million over the next four years. The proposed job losses follow last year’s cuts which saw the workforce fall from 182 to 155.
The cuts, if carried out, will decimate the agency’s workforce of historians, with six of the ten historians proposed to be shown the door.
“How can the Ministry continue to do its important work of preserving our history and ensuring New Zealanders can continue to access to it? said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“This is yet another decision that exposes the short-sighted thinking behind the Government’s funding cuts.
“The proposal to cut historians threatens the existence of Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand, which is a vital online resource for New Zealanders and a window to the rest of the world to learn about our rich history.
“For 20 years Te Ara has been the first port of call for information about New Zealand history. Millions of people visit Te Ara every year, including teachers, students, researchers, and New Zealanders with an interest in our history.”
Manatū Taonga is also proposing disestablishing the team that supports the website.
Other casualties include those responsible for the education programme that supports Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, a resource schools depend on. A project to enhance understanding of the dawn raids following the official apology is also at risk.
Manatū Taonga is proposing to disestablish the roles that enabled it to produce websites honouring the 28th Māori Battalion and recording the history of New Zealand’s participation in the Vietnam war.
“All these projects are vital for people to share their own experiences and for all of us to remember and understand our past and how it shapes us today.
“The Ministry’s purpose is to do work that ‘enriches the lives of New Zealanders’ – but the Government is clearly ignorant about how history and heritage contributes to that – it’s appalling.”
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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Health and Business – Ora Pharm targets growing Europe market for medicinal cannabis in trade mission

Source: Ora Pharm

Launches collective solution to meet needs of European customers
Leading medicinal cannabis company Ora Pharm heads to Europe this week as part of a unique trade mission to promote New Zealand pharmaceutical products based on cannabis in the fast-growing European market.
“European Cannabis Week is a huge opportunity to showcase New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industry and promote what we do well,” said Ora Pharm Chief Executive and founder Zoe Reece.
The NZTE trade mission to European Cannabis Week takes Ora Pharm and other companies to the world’s largest cannabis expo in Berlin and to the Cannabis Europa Conference in London.
“We want to show the European market that Ora Pharm is uniquely placed to solve the issues it faces from fragmented supply, inconsistent quality and problems reliably meeting demand. What Ora Pharm does is unite our growers under a single export-focused platform, which allows us to coordinate supply and produce high quality pharmaceutical products consistently.”
Ora Pharm currently contracts about two thirds of the licensed New Zealand cannabis cultivators.
“Ora Pharm can be a one-stop shop for European customers – we aim to give them confidence that we can provide the quality products they need, tailored to the preferences of their patients, and at scale given our partnership with growers.
“Complying with regulations is critically important and New Zealand’s regulatory framework is modelled on EU-GMP – the regulatory framework that ensures medicines are safe, effective, and of high quality so that should also help build confidence in our products.”
Germany is the leading market for medicinal cannabis with forecast growth of over 26% (compound annual growth). In the first nine months of 2024 Germany imported nearly 40 tonnes of medicinal cannabis, and New Zealand made up just 0.6% of that. Demand is also growing strongly in the UK, Switzerland and Poland.
“Right now, European producers can’t keep up with demand. New Zealand with its enviable reputation for high quality agricultural and horticultural products is well placed to take advantage of that and build a long-term trading relationship.”
Zoe Reece will be delivering a keynote address at the BvCW Expert Conference in Berlin.
“This trade mission will position the industry well for future growth. I can’t wait to tell our great medicinal cannabis story.”
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Greenpeace – Shane Jones indicates NZ’s entire EEZ now open for oil and gas free-for-all

Source: Greenpeace

In a speech to the energy industry in Singapore this week, Shane Jones signalled a major change to New Zealand’s oil and gas exploration rules.
It appears the Government plans to remove restrictions that previously limited oil and gas exploration to defined block offer areas and instead allow oil and gas companies to apply for exploration permits across all of New Zealand’s territory.
Greenpeace has condemned the move, warning it risks turning Aotearoa into a free-for-all for the oil and gas industry, threatening the climate, marine life and the coastline.
“Ending the oil and gas exploration ban was bad enough – but this entirely new free-for-all approach could see multinational oil corporations carrying out risky deep sea drilling anywhere in New Zealand’s oceans,” says Greenpeace spokesperson Gen Toop.
“This is a giant leap backwards for the climate. Opening up all of New Zealand’s ocean and land to oil and gas exploration is reckless – it flies in the face of what the science says is needed to avoid climate catastrophe.”
“The climate science is clear. We cannot afford to burn known fossil fuel reserves, let alone search for more. This latest move by Shane Jones is climate denial in action.”
“Luxon’s Government cannot continue to claim that they take climate change remotely seriously while opening up the entire ocean in New Zealand to fossil fuel extraction,” says Toop.
In his speech, Minister Jones stated: “… we are giving the oil and gas exploration market a new Open Market Application process, meaning all acreage is open for application, and you’re not restricted to block offers.”
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Defence News – Regional interoperability front of mind as Anzac Army chiefs strengthen special ties with Fijian Forces

Source: New Zealand Defence Force

Australia’s Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart and his New Zealand Army counterpart Major General Rose King have met with senior Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) leaders in Suva this week to kick-start a week-long tour of the Pacific.

On Tuesday and Wednesday the joint Australia-New Zealand delegation held a series of engagements, including with Commander Land Forces Brigadier General Onisivoro Covinisaqa and Commander RFMF Major General Jone Kalouniwai Logavatu.

The talks reinforced the shared commitment to the region’s security and stability, acknowledged a deepening of strategic dialogue between the three nations and cast an eye to future engagements and opportunities.

“We had great, insightful and honest discussions about our current landscape and what direction we’re all heading in. We were also able to discuss some of our common challenges and shared some lessons learned, which has been really valuable,” Lieutenant General Stuart said.  

“We only have the ability to have such conversations because of the incredibly strong relationship we’ve built over an extended period of time between our three nations. You cannot build trust and relationships overnight when you need them – our commitments to each other, our comradeship and fri

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Fire Safety – Older people are more likely to die in a house fire this winter – check they are fire safe today

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

More than half of the fatalities in house fires in the last five years were people over 60, Fire and Emergency New Zealand says.
Acting Deputy Chief Executive Nick Pyatt says the harm happening to older people from housefires is far too high, and all New Zealanders could do much more to protect them.
“Fifty-five per cent of house fire deaths in the last five years were people over 60,” he says.
“Every one of these tragedies was preventable.
“We’re asking people to ensure whānau, fri

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Agriculture – Feds back launch of new fertiliser spreading standard

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers says the launch of a new fertiliser spreading standard is a key step in efforts to improve nutrient management across New Zealand farms.
“Fertiliser is a significantly large spend for farmers,” Federated farmers board member Colin Hurst says.
“Having confidence that it’s being applied accurately and responsibly is essential – for productivity, profitability and for meeting environmental expectations.
“The launch of a modernised Spreadmark Assurance Programme at Fieldays is a milestone moment and we fully support it.”
Spreadmark, founded by Groundspread NZ and now managed by the Fertiliser Quality Council, is the national fertiliser spreading assurance programme.
The new Spreadmark Code introduces updated standards that will help farmers and contractors lift the bar even further when it comes to nutrient precision and environmental care.
Hurst says Federated Farmers was proud to host the official launch at its Rural Advocacy Hub at Fieldays.
“We’ve had a long-standing connection with the Fertiliser Quality Council, which was formed by Federated Farmers in 1992.
“It’s a partnership rooted in practical, farmer-driven solutions – so it’s fitting that we helped launch this next chapter at the heart of New Zealand’s farming community.
“It was also great to have National Party MP Barbara Kuriger there to launch the Code.”
Hurst says assurance programmes like Spreadmark will play an important role as new regulatory requirements come into effect.
“As farm planning and environmental standards become more embedded across the sector, programmes like Spreadmark will be essential.
“They’re not just tools for compliance-they’re tools for good farming.”
“We see this modernised Spreadmark Programme as a strong example of how the sector can lead from the front – delivering better outcomes for farmers, the environment, and the communities they support.
“We’re proud to be part of its continued evolution and success.”