Source: Royal New Zealand RSA

A taste of home is on its way to every member of the New Zealand Defence Force deployed overseas this Christmas, thanks to the Royal New Zealand RSA.

For 85 years, the RNZRSA has sent Christmas parcels to deployed personnel, and while the content has changed over the years – the sentiment at the heart of them remains the same.

This year 150 parcels have been sent to deployments around the world including the Republic of Korea, South Sudan, Egypt, the Middle East and Antarctica.

The parcels were packed near Trentham Military Camp yesterday by a busy production line of `elves’ including the Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Tony Davies, RNZRSA National President Sir Wayne Shelford, staff from the RNZRSA’s National Office and volunteers from the New Zealand Defence Force.  

Christmas boxes were filled with treats and Kiwi classics donated by the wonderful team from Pams. Each box also contained a poppy and cards handmade by students from Mt Cook and Silverstream Primary Schools in Wellington, to let those serving overseas know the country's thoughts are with them. 

RNZRSA National President, Sir Wayne Shelford said the parcels are designed to let New Zealand’s service men and women know they are not alone at Christmas time.

“It’s hard for anyone to be away from family at Christmas, but for our deployed service men and women they’re also facing uncertain circumstances and may have limited communication.

For 85 years the RSA has sent these Christmas parcels to show our defence personnel how grateful we are for their sacrifice, and to let them know how much we value them.”

Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Tony Davies said that these small packages make a big difference to those away from home at Christmas.

“Deployments come with many challenges, not least of which is being separated from family and loved ones. These packages really do help our people feel connected at Christmas time – and we’re grateful to the RSA for their continued support.”

Background

The RSA is incredibly grateful for the generosity of Pams New Zealand and Packaging Products. Pams donate the majority of goodies inside the parcels, and this year included items such as packets of lollies, roasted and salted deluxe nut mix, scorched almonds, packets of biscuits and much more. Packaging Products print and donate the boxes the goodies are packed into.

Source: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi

The National Iwi Chairs Forum and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi are today announcing that on the 28^th of October there will be a national day of solidarity, Rā Whakamana, to reaffirm the tino rangatiratanga of Tangata Whenua and protect the rights and wellbeing of all workers.

The 28^th of October carries deep meaning – it marks the signing of He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni and the first Labour Day demonstrations in 1890 that helped secure the eight-hour working day.

Iwi, unions, and activist groups are calling for mass mobilisations across the country at 12pm on 28 October to send a powerful message that we will not back down in the face of the Government’s ongoing attacks on our people.

“Rā Whakamana is a tikanga-led stand for cultural wellbeing, dignity, workers’ rights, mana wāhine, rangatahi, and tino rangatiratanga – guided by iwi leadership in partnership with the union movement,” said iwi spokesperson Dr Kenneth Kennedy.

“Despite the defeat of the Treaty Principles Bill, this Government continues its anti-Tiriti and anti-worker agenda. They are undermining Te Tiriti o Waitangi, removing Treaty clauses from law, pushing the Regulatory Standards Bill, blocking pay equity for wāhine, and eroding workers’ rights and protections while costs keep rising,” said iwi spokesperson Na Raihania.

“Rā Whakamana is about keeping the pressure on. We will continue to mobilise and disrupt until this Government stops attacking Māori, dividing communities, and damaging the cultural health and safety of Māori workers,” said union spokesperson Laures Park.

“Together as iwi, as unions, as Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti, we are not just resisting, we are creating a future where tino rangatiratanga is real for everyone and Te Tiriti o Waitangi unites all communities,” said union spokesperson Grant Williams.

Rā Whakamana is the first time that iwi and unions have collaborated on a national scale. Events will be held across the country.

Tax Justice Aotearoa (TJA) and the Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign is calling on the Labour Party to go for the best, most comprehensive version of a tax on the income from capital gains (CGT), as an essential part of a better tax system.

“Tax Justice Aotearoa (TJA), along with numerous public opinion polls and expert commentators  support a CGT because it has the promise to deliver real benefits for New Zealand”, says Glenn Barclay, Tax Justice Aotearoa spokesperson. ” We will support Labour and any political party that commits to a CGT that will deliver on that promise”.

A CGT has the potential to generate significant revenue to fund our hospitals, schools and transport networks. It would make our tax system fairer.  It could also help rebalance our economy to encourage productive investments, and discourage property speculation that drives up housing prices. But TJA warns that a CGT will only deliver for New Zealand if it is as comprehensive as possible.

“A majority of New Zealanders support some form of capital gains tax because they realise our current tax system is broken, it is not generating the revenue we need to maintain our health system and critical infrastructure, it provides a giant loophole for the wealthy to avoid paying their fair share of taxes, and it is not supporting a productive economy”, says Glenn Barclay.

“But they don't support a CGT for the sake of it. They support a CGT that will address these issues and deliver long-term benefits to New Zealanders. So it is important that we get the CGT settings right, and that it is accompanied by other tax changes.”

“Thomas Coughlan's recent article in the NZ Herald suggests the Labour Party will opt for a CGT, but that it will not be comprehensive and there might be exemptions that would dramatically lower the revenue the new tax would gather,” says Glenn Barclay.

“The article suggests it would raise barely 39% of a broad CGT's revenue. This would be wholly inadequate to meet the challenges we face in healthcare, education, climate change and infrastructure, and would barely move the dial on wealth inequality and the housing market.”

While it is not clear if this accurately represents Labour's current thinking, TJA is taking this opportunity to set out the settings required for a CGT that has that can deliver for New Zealanders:

The CGT needs to be as comprehensive as possible, covering all forms of significant assets,  but with an exemption for the principal family home.
It should apply to individuals, companies and trusts that own assets.
It should be payable when the asset is sold or transferred.
Income from capital gains should be taxed like any other source of income to mitigate the risk of tax avoidance which will happen if lower tax rates apply, because wealthier people are more likely to own assets which make taxable capital gains.

“We acknowledge that committing to a proper CGT requires political determination, but this is what this moment calls for: a time when New Zealanders are increasingly uncertain about their futures and those of their children”, says Glenn Barclay.

“We hope that Labour will step up and show the necessary leadership to put a proper CGT before voters in the 2026 Election. Polling indicates that the majority of New Zealanders would get behind them and vote for a CGT that will deliver real benefits.”

The Better Taxes for a Better Future campaign is calling for a tax system that grows revenue and ensures that those who can afford it contribute more to our collective good. A comprehensive CGT is an essential part of a better tax system and would bring us into line with the vast majority of other countries who already have a CGT.

18 September 2025 – A new member of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's (RBNZ) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Hayley Gourley has been appointed by the Minister of Finance Nicola Willis on the recommendation of the RBNZ Board.

The MPC is responsible for the monetary policy decisions needed to support price stability.

Agribusiness executive Hayley Gourley starts a four-year term on 1 October, replacing Professor Bob Buckle who retires from the MPC at the end of September 2025. Hayley Gourley will take part in the October Monetary Policy Review.

“We are delighted to welcome Hayley to the MPC. She is a highly qualified candidate with the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience from an extensive career in corporate, rural and financial services sectors to join the MPC and assist in its decision-making,” RBNZ Board Deputy Chair Rodger Finlay says.

“Her business experience at both board and executive management positions in some of New Zealand's leading agribusinesses will add a fresh perspective to Committee discussions.”

Hayley also has a Master of Science (M.Sc) in Agricultural Economics from the University of London/ Imperial College and attended the London Business School under the Rabobank senior leadership programme. She has a Bachelor of Applied Economics, Agricultural Economics, from Massey University.

“We look forward to working with Hayley soon,” Governor and MPC Chair Christian Hawkesby says.

“The MPC remains laser-focussed on its job to control inflation and Hayley will play an important part in our discussions.”

“I'd also like to thank Professor Buckle for his significant service on the Monetary Policy Committee for many years, at an especially turbulent time during Covid-19,” Mr Hawkesby says.

“Bob is the sole remaining inaugural external member of the MPC, starting in 2019, when the Committee was first formed.”

Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Australia (PSNA)

PSNA is renewing demands that New Zealand end its military support for Israel in response to today’s findings by an independent UN commission that Israel is conducting genocide in Gaza.

As well as demanding Israel cease its mass killing and mass starvation in Gaza, the commission is also appealing to governments to “employ all means reasonably available to them” to “cease the transfer of arms and other equipment or items” which could be used by Israel to continue the genocide.

“The government says it has no direct evidence and goes out of its way to avoid finding any” says PSNA Co-Chair Maher Nazzal. “Such ducking and diving fools no one. It’s an embarrassment”

For decades, Rakon has supplied crystal oscillators to the US for guided munitions, which end up killing civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure in Gaza.

“Why is it so hard for the government to suspend these exports while it conducts an investigation?”

Rocket Lab is launching satellites from its Mahia base for Black Sky Technology, which provides quality images to the Israeli Defence Force in its bombing of occupied Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

“Why is our Minister of Defence refusing to even ask Rocket Lab or Black Sky about this aid to genocide?”

“Why are these launches not suspended while the government investigates?”

“Meanwhile, every day our GCSB spies are passing over surveillance information to the US, which shares this with Israel. Why is there no investigation into this by the government?”

It seems currying favour with the US and its genocidal sidekick Israel trumps our loyalty to international law and our responsibilities under the genocide convention.

“Our government is part of the western disease – complicity with genocide”

This UN confirmation of genocide should be the wake-up call the government needs to support international law without fear or favour.

Maher Nazzal

Co-Chair PSNA

• Appendix: Part of the recommendations of the UN independent Commission includes:
• The Commission recommends that all Member States:
• (a) Employ all means reasonably available to them to prevent the commission of genocide in the Gaza Strip;
• (b) Cease the transfer of arms and other equipment or items, including jet fuel, to the State of Israel or third States where there is reason to suspect their use in military operations that have involved or could involve the commission of genocide;
• (c) Ensure individuals and corporations in their territories and within their jurisdiction are not involved in the commission of genocide, aiding and assisting the commission of genocide or incitement to commit genocide and investigate and prosecute those who may be implicated in these crimes under international law;
• (d) Facilitate the investigations and domestic proceedings and take action (including imposing sanctions) against the State of Israel and against individuals or corporations that are involved in or facilitating the commission of genocide or incitement to commit genocide;
• (e) Cooperate with the investigation of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.