MIL Email Publisher (NZ)

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

ACT coming after requirements for the public service to be a good employer says everything about the party's real agenda, putting more power in the hands of employers and undermining public services.

The policy announced today aims to remove Section 73 of the Public Service Act, which requires the chief executives of Government departments to operate an employment policy that complies 'with the principle of being a good employer'. It also wants to remove all spiritual and cultural obligations, and put into law the requirement for public services to be delivered based on need, not race.

“ACT wants to make the public service worse, not better and continue its destructive campaign to further erode the rights of workers,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

“Remember ACT has been part of a government which has spent three years attacking workers, scrapping pay equity, bringing in fire-at-will, and making dangerous changes to health and safety. There's a pattern here, and it's not good for workers, let alone the delivery of public services.

“The policy behind the good employer provisions is that the Government should be an exemplar employer. It's supposed to show the country what good looks like, not race to the bottom.

“ACT wants to remove the requirement for fair and proper treatment from the public service, and they've made clear they don't agree with it for private employers either. This isn't really about quality public services or neutrality, it's about ACT's discomfort with employers having any obligation to treat their people fairly at all.”

The PSA says a public service that reflects the community it serves, including its diversity, is part of what makes it effective and legitimate, not a problem to be legislated away.

“A public service should look like New Zealand. That's not social engineering, that's just good sense if you want an organisation that understands and can respond to the people it's there to serve,” Fitzsimons said.

“And let’s be clear about how racist this reset really is. Removing the ability for public servants to observe cultural and spiritual practices, on top of pushing 'need not race' into law, is part of the continued attack on Māori in the public service and the policies to improve outcomes for Māori.

“We all know what this is all about. It’s part of a wider ACT agenda to run down public services, so they can be wound back and readied for privatisation. Weaken the workforce, weaken the service, then say it isn't working.

“Come 7 November, we will be urging voters to change the Government and stop this racist, divisive agenda. We need a new government that protects public services and ensure they deliver to the needs of New Zealanders.”

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: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Firefighters are working to extinguish a fire in an air-conditioning unit on the roof of a three-story building attached to the shopping mall at Botany Downs.

The fire was reported at 9.28am. Smoke was reported in the movie theatre in the building.

Multiple crews are at work inside and externally, with an aerial appliance also in use.

Traffic in the area may be affected by road closures and diversions.

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

An investigation is underway into the origin and cause of this morning’s building fire at Botany Downs.

The fire was extinguished shortly before midday. Three crews of firefighters are monitoring the site, and the rest have left the scene.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand was alerted to the fire at 9.28am.

Source: Whakarongorau Aotearoa

Free 24/7 advice from Healthline nurses and paramedics can help people get the right care, faster

As winter pressure builds across the health system, Healthline is reminding people they can call 0800 611 116 for health advice and information from experienced nurses and paramedics – anytime, day or night.

Healthline supports around 1,000 people every day, helping callers understand what to do next and where to get the right care.

They also have a callback option – if someone doesn’t need help or advice right away, they can ask the Healthline team to call them back. People can go to www.healthy.org.nz to do that.

Brian O’Connell, Chief Operating Officer at Whakarongorau Aotearoa / New Zealand Telehealth Services, who run Healthline said today “Healthline is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Not everyone knows that.

Healthline can also help eligible callers book a telehealth GP appointment, giving people another way to access care without leaving home. Not everyone knows that either.

Calling Healthline early can help avoid unnecessary trips to an emergency department, GP clinic or ambulance call-out. Or getting urgent care to someone who needs it.

For every five people who call Healthline, four are supported to stay safely at home or get care in their community, while only one needs emergency services.”

If you are unsure what to do next, call Healthline free anytime on 0800 611 116.

Source: Federated Farmers

National’s plan to introduce national standards for river gravel extraction and on-farm quarries will cut costs, delays and uncertainty for farmers, Federated Farmers says.

Colin Hurst, Federated Farmers president, says the National Party’s announcement today delivers on two of the 10 national permitted activity standards the organisation called for in its 2026 Election Platform.

“We asked for a set of nationwide rules for everyday farming activities to get rid of needless red tape and cost, and today’s announcement is a significant step in the right direction,” Hurst says.

“Gravel extraction and farm quarries are both practical issues that farmers deal with regularly, so having clear national rules would make a real difference.

“Farmers shouldn’t have to navigate an expensive and time-consuming resource consent process simply to access gravel they need for a farm track, or to remove gravel from a river where it has built up and increased flood risk.”

Under the proposed national standard for river gravel extraction, gravel removal would be a permitted activity where farmers meet a set of standard conditions.

Hurst says this is particularly important for rural communities that can be badly affected when rivers are not properly maintained.

“New Zealand has always had to manage its rivers. Gravel is constantly being washed down our catchments, and if it builds up unchecked, riverbeds rise and the risk of flooding increases.

“Recent flooding in North Canterbury and Wairarapa has shown just how serious the consequences can be for rural communities when rivers aren’t maintained effectively.

“Gravel extraction is one of the tools we have to manage that build-up, while also providing a valuable source of aggregate for construction and infrastructure.”

Hurst says a national standard does not mean imposing identical rules on every river.

“There should absolutely be strong environmental safeguards, and the rules need to recognise that rivers and catchments are different.

“A national standard can set different conditions for different types of rivers and catchments, and there can still be places where extraction is prohibited.

“The important thing is that if you meet the rules, you know you can get on with the work without being dragged through a costly, long-winded resource consent process.”

Federated Farmers has also long advocated for simpler rules around small-scale quarries on farms.

Hurst says many farmers have historically sourced gravel, sand or stone from their own properties for farm tracks and other essential infrastructure, but consenting requirements can make that uneconomic.

“Farmers need aggregate for their tracks, gateways, stock yards and to protect areas where livestock movement can damage the soil.

“Many farmers have perfectly good sources of aggregate on their own farms, but the cost and uncertainty of getting a resource consent can mean they’re forced to buy material from somewhere else, which makes absolutely no sense.

“If a farmer can safely extract a limited amount of aggregate from their own property while meeting clear environmental conditions, they should be able to do that without unnecessary consenting costs.”

The proposed national standard would set conditions such as maximum extraction areas and volumes, while retaining the ability to restrict or prohibit quarrying in sensitive locations.

Hurst says the two announcements – made today at the South Island Election Conference – show the value of moving towards national rules for routine farming activities.

“We’ve been saying for a long time that farmers need certainty and sensible rules, not a different consenting regime depending on which side of a council boundary they happen to be operating on.

“This is exactly the sort of practical reform we want to see more of.”

Hurst says Federated Farmers wants to see the same approach taken in eight other areas: farm plans, vegetable growing, on-farm water storage, drain maintenance, effluent management, fertiliser application, wetland restoration, and small- and medium-scale solar.

“The great news is that the National Party has also already committed to make small-scale solar projects a permitted activity if re-elected to Government in November.

“We want to see the same approach applied across the other areas now, because that’s how we can start taking real cost and complexity out of farming while maintaining strong environmental standards.”

Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

14 August 2026

PSNA is urging the government to 'even-up' its foreign policy going into the
November election.

PSNA is responding to Foreign Minister, Winston Peters', announcement of a
new round of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which is
the government's 36th sanction measure against Russia.

PSNA spokesperson Rinad Tamimi says the government's particular
justification for the new sanctions, were Russia's forced migration of
Ukrainians and the dissemination of propaganda to justify Russia's
occupation.

“Israel does the same thing and the government does nothing. It has a list
of 35 Israelis it won't allow to enter New Zealand. But this is a pathetic
list against the more than two-thousand long list against Russia.”

“Israel's ethnic cleansing in Gaza is vast, well documented, admitted and
ongoing. Our government won't mention it, let alone take Russia-level
action against it.”

“And Israel and its proxies, throughout the world, are disseminating what
Israel calls 'Hasbara', which is propaganda and bribes to influence news
media and politicians,” Tamimi says.

“Right here in this country, the Israeli embassy funds the New Zealand
Holocaust Centre. The Centre's been publicly, although fruitlessly,
advocating for compulsory and exclusive study of the Holocaust in schools.
They want to ignore and lessen the significance of other genocides in
comparison – in particular the Gaza genocide”

“All this is intended to stifle free speech and to legitimise Israel's
illegal wars.”

“The Israeli government doesn't like the poll results here and in most
western countries.”

In September 2025, a Reid Research poll for Radio New Zealand
<https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics/573204/rnz-poll-shows-more-than-40-perc
ent-of-people-want-new-zealand-to-recognise-palestine> found a ratio of
three to one respondents wanting the government to do more to support
Palestine, than those who wanted more support for Israel.”

“Among National voters, support for the government to do more for Israel was
only 11 percent, while 17 percent of National voters thought the government
should do more for Palestine.”

“The poll showed most National voters didn't care at that time, but of those
who were interested, most backed Palestine,” Tamimi says.

'The Prime Minister would do well to work for what his party members want
and stop NZ First running our foreign policy and ignoring international law.
Bizarrely, an even higher percentage of NZ First voters support Palestine
than the National voters do – nearly 25 percent for Palestine and just under
18 percent for Israel.”

Source: Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation

The Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation, manager of the $94 billion New Zealand Superannuation Fund, has published an updated set of Sustainable Investment policy documents, following the High Court’s decision in Nazzal v Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation. [https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/cases/nazzal-v-guardians-of-new-zealand-superannuation-]

General Manager Corporate Affairs Cristina Billett said a new standalone Sustainable Investment Policy and associated Procedures describe the policies, standards and procedures that underpin the Guardians’ sustainable investment activities.

The Guardians will review the companies named in the Nazzal proceedings using the updated policy framework and will provide a further update once that process is complete. Ms Billett said the assessment would require time for proper consideration.

“Our approach continues to place significant emphasis on integration of sustainable investment considerations into investment analysis and decision-making, monitoring, engagement and exclusions.”

“Human rights considerations remain integral to the Guardians' Sustainable Investment Policy. Our policy documents now explicitly record our long-standing position that human rights is a key ESG issue for us.”

The updated policy documents are now available on the Guardians' website [https://nzsuperfund.nz/publications/policies/].

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua

14 August 2026

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua's Financial Policy
Committee (FPC) has decided to maintain current LVR settings in its
annual review of macroprudential policy.

“We review settings annually to ensure they remain appropriate given
housing market conditions and financial stability risks. This forms part
of the macroprudential policy framework published earlier this year,”
explains Assistant Governor Financial Stability, Angus McGregor.

In reaching its decision, the FPC considered a range of information,
including house price developments, the risk profile of recent mortgage
lending, financial strain amongst existing borrowers, and the resilience
of the banking system.

“Housing risks are currently contained. Nationally, house prices have
remained broadly flat in recent years, while mortgage lending growth has
been modest and the share of higher-risk lending remains manageable,” Mr
McGregor said.

Accordingly, the FPC decided to maintain the current LVR restrictions
which have been in place since December last year:

* For owner occupiers, allowing up to 25% of new lending to have an
LVR above 80%.
* For investors, allowing up to 10% of new lending to have an LVR
above 70%.

“Debt-to-income (DTI) restrictions also remain in place. These
complement LVR restrictions and are an important guardrail against the
build-up of high-risk lending, particularly during periods of low
interest rates and strong housing demand,” said Mr McGregor.

We will continue to monitor developments in house prices, mortgage
lending, and broader financial stability risks. The next review of
macroprudential settings is intended to be in around 12 months, but this
can be brought forward if conditions warrant.