Supply of rental properties has surged in Dunedin City, Wellington City, Palmerston North City and Hamilton City
Dunedin City recorded a 12.2% year-on-year average rental price increase to $709/week
Despite an influx of rental properties in key university towns, students are potentially paying more to secure accommodation in some cities.
New rental data from realestate.co.nz shows that average rents in Dunedin City increased 12.2% year-on-year to $709/week despite 66.2% more rental properties listed compared to the same time last year. Hamilton City was another university town to record a surge in listings, with 17.9% more properties available than July last year.
Vanessa Williams, spokesperson for realestate.co.nz, says Dunedin City’s sharp rise in supply hasn’t slowed rent increases, suggesting sustained tenant demand.
“We’re seeing strong momentum in rental listings in some regions, and this appears to be impacting prices. Key student cities continue to feel pressure in the rental market and even with more properties available, affordability remains a challenge, particularly for those on a tight budget.”
Elsewhere, students could enjoy greater choice alongside cheaper rents. Year-on-year new listings increased while average asking prices decreased in Christchurch City, Palmerston North City, Wellington City, and Auckland City.
Christchurch City’s average rent of $650/week was down 3.2% on July last year, while Palmerston North City’s average rent fell 2.3% in the same period to $561/week, and Auckland City’s average rent dropped 2.8% to $687/week.
However, Wellington City reported the most significant decline in average rental prices, down 14.6% year-on-year to $602/week.
“There’s a noticeable shift happening in Wellington City’s rental market. The sharp rise in available rental properties has put some downward pressure on prices, which could suggest that landlords are adjusting expectations to remain competitive in a market with significantly more choice.”
National average rents hold steady at $638/week despite surge in listings
Nationally, the average weekly rent of $638 in July was down 1.7% year-on-year. However, rental supply rose sharply with 16.2% more new listings coming onto the site compared to July last year.
“Despite a noticeable lift in rental supply, national prices remained surprisingly stable during July.” says Williams. “This suggests rental demand is strong across much of the country, whether this continues will depend on how supply and demand play out over the coming months.”
We’ve been helping people buy, sell, or rent property since 1996. Established before Google, realestate.co.nz is New Zealand’s longest-standing property website and the official website of the real estate industry.
Dedicated only to property, our mission is to empower people with a property search tool they can use to find the life they want to live. With residential, lifestyle, rural and commercial property listings, realestate.co.nz is the place to start for those looking to buy or sell property.
Glossary of terms:
The average weekly rental rate is an indication of current market sentiment. It is calculated by taking the asking rental rate of every residential property listed during that month and dividing it by the total number of rental properties. The average is a truncated mean.
New listings are a record of all the new residential dwellings listed for rent on realestate.co.nz for the relevant calendar month. Listings on the site include rental properties listed by Property Managers and private landlords and provide a representative view of the New Zealand rental property market.
Stock is the total number of residential dwellings that are for rent on realestate.co.nz on the penultimate day of the month.
Greenpeace says moves to weaken ocean protection through dodgy fisheries “reforms” will be met with strong opposition, as Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announces he wants to proceed with a raft of proposed changes to fisheries laws. The controversial changes are some of the largest in decades, and would restrict public access to cameras on boats footage, remove the requirement for fishers to land all their catch, and stop legal challenges to catch limits that have been successful in protecting species in recent years.
The reforms will also give the Minister the ability to set catch limits for five years,
Greenpeace oceans campaigner Ellie Hooper says these proposals give the industry carte blanche on ocean destruction, weaken transparency and block the public from having input into fisheries decisions.
“These changes spell disaster for the already struggling ocean around us.
“Championed by the Minister for Oceans & Fisheries, the changes green light ocean destruction and remove the already minimal checks and balances designed to keep the fishing industry accountable”, she says. “It is yet another example of how this government is pandering to the fishing industry while ignoring the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders who want more ocean protection, not less. New Zealanders want a healthy, thriving ocean where fish are plentiful and ecosystems are thriving.
“These reforms will mean more destruction, more decline in fish populations, and will allow the industry to go back to operating in the dark – hiding the impact they have.”
One of the proposed reforms is to restrict access to footage from cameras on boats to industry and government only.”This is not how it should work,” says Hooper.
“There are far more people in this country than just the commercial fishing industry who have a right to know how the ocean is being impacted, and have a say on what happens about protecting it.”
Hooper also warns that setting catch limits for five years could spell disaster for fish numbers, noting the recent collapse of theChatham Rise Orange Roughy fishery, which has been so mismanaged it could now be at 8% of its original size. “Greenpeace, backed by thousands of New Zealanders, stands for defending nature and ocean health. We are calling for an urgent end to destructive bottom trawling on seamounts and other vulnerable features, and for all footage from cameras on boats to be made accessible via the OIA (The Offical Information Act).
Unemployment rate at 5.2 percent in the June 2025 quarter – media release
6 August 2025
New Zealand’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in the June 2025 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
This compares with 5.1 percent in the March 2025 quarter and 4.7 percent in the June 2024 quarter.
There were 158,000 unemployed people (seasonally adjusted) in the June 2025 quarter, compared with 156,000 in the March 2025 quarter. Annually, unemployment rose by 16,000 people (11.1 percent).
“Labour market conditions have changed considerably in the last few years. Since the June 2022 quarter, the unemployment rate has risen by 1.9 percentage points,” labour market spokesperson Jason Attewell said.
“The underutilisation rate has risen by 3.5 percentage points over the same period.”
Visit our website to read this news story and information release and to download CSV files:
Source: Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence
A timely report released by the Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (Food and Fibre CoVE) on the back of the Government announcing stronger vocational pathways, urges a shift away from outdated concepts of “transitions” between school and work, calling instead for a more integrated, flexible, and future-focused approach to education and employment pathways in New Zealand.
This is the third and final phase of Food and Fibre CoVE's Secondary School Pathways and Transitions to VET and Employment Project, and it presents a compelling case for reimagining the so-called “secondary-tertiary-employment transition” as a more holistic and responsive school-to-work interface. The report draws on case studies, expert interviews, and extensive policy review to showcase promising practices in the food and fibre sector and beyond.
“The idea of a 'transition' suggests a one-off handover from school to something else,” said education specialist Arthur Graves, who co-authored the report with Skills Group. “But young people aren't just moving between systems, they're on a journey that involves continuous progression. We need to stop treating education and employment as silos and start building connected pathways that reflect real life.”
The report proposes a system that spans Years 12–14, where dual enrolment becomes the norm and students have access to a wider range of curriculum and funding options that support more flexible, individualised learning journeys. It calls on government, industry, and education providers to adopt a coordinated, value-based approach that treats the school-to-work interface as both a skills pipeline and a value chain for the nation.
“If we want young people to thrive – and if we want a productive, future-ready workforce – we need to think beyond just getting them from school to tertiary education,” Arthur added. “The real journey is from school to work. That's where lives are shaped, and where industries like food and fibre find their future leaders.”
The case studies in the report highlight how schools, tertiary providers, and industry partners across Aotearoa New Zealand are reshaping the connection between education and employment. They showcase a range of innovative approaches – from school-led ecosystems and industry-driven models to regionally embedded partnerships and integrated curricula. Each example brings the report's key themes and recommendations to life, offering practical, real-world solutions already making a tangible impact on young people, their communities, and the industries they are preparing to enter. The case studies featured include:
Manurewa High School: A School-Led Ecosystem for Integrated Pathways Primary ITO Trades Academy: A National Industry-Led Model Feilding High School: A Pioneering Model for Food and Fibre Education Bay of Plenty Futures Academy: Community and Culture Delivers for Food and Fibre Pukekohe High School: Achieving True Integration in Pathway Education BUSY School Auckland: Revolutionising Education for Disengaged Youth
The report is particularly relevant for stakeholders in the food and fibre sector, but its recommendations have broader implications for workforce strategy and national education as it reforms towards a new curriculum.
Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (Food and Fibre CoVE) is dedicated to transforming vocational education and training for New Zealand's food and fibre sector. By prioritising research, innovation, and collaboration, Food and Fibre CoVE aims to ensure the sector thrives by attracting, retaining, and developing the skilled workforce needed to drive its future success. The CoVE understands that fostering innovation and investing in vocational education and training are essential for enabling meaningful change, and they are committed to uncovering opportunities to improve performance across the sector.
Success for Food and Fibre CoVE hinges on strong collaboration with the 14 key industry groups that represent the diverse food and fibre sector, including dairy, forestry, fruit, and seafood, among others. It also relies on partnerships with organisations such as Workforce Development Councils, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Te Pūkenga, and various training providers. Through these relationships, the CoVE ensures the sector's evolving needs are met and its challenges addressed, providing a hands-on approach to implementation that maximises the impact of research and delivers practical, effective solutions to industry and learners alike.
About the Report Authors
Josh Williams
Josh has been at the forefront of key developments in New Zealand's education system for over two decades. He brings fresh thinking and practical solutions to challenges in school-to-work transitions, curriculum design, qualifications, assessment, and quality assurance. A former Chief Executive of the Industry Training Federation, Josh also held a senior policy leadership role at the Ministry of Education, where he led foundational and vocational education policy and was one of the architects of New Zealand's Vocational Pathways. Now Head of Consulting at Skills Group, Josh is passionate about partnering with organisations globally to improve vocational outcomes and system performance.
Arthur Graves
Arthur Graves has had a long and distinguished career as a leader in both the secondary and tertiary education sectors. His previous roles include Principal of Greymouth High School, Deputy Chief Executive of Whitireia Polytechnic, Chief Executive of the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, and Chair of both the New Zealand Secondary Principals' Council and Careers New Zealand Board. Widely recognised as a systems thinker and strategist, Arthur played a pivotal role as Youth Guarantee Group Manager, leading the cross-agency implementation effort to operationalise initiatives at the secondary–tertiary interface. In his current work as a consultant, he collaborates extensively with industry and government, contributing to major national strategies such as the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) and the Vocational Education and Training Reforms.
ProCare is proud to mark the 20th anniversary of its scholarship programme supporting Māori and Pacific medical students at the University of Auckland. Since 2003, the ProCare Scholarship has recognised top-performing students in the General Practice part of the University’s Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) programme.
This year these scholarships are awarded to Maaike de Goede (Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Haua) and Zion Ioka (Pacific).
Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare says: “Twenty years ago, we set out to support Māori and Pacific students on their journey to becoming doctors in partnership with the University of Auckland. Supporting our future workforce, particularly our Māori and Pacific students, is a key priority for us. Having our workforce reflect the community we serve means patients have better healthcare experiences and ultimately live better, healthier lives.”
“Maaike and Zion are incredibly hard workers who are dedicated to their studies and to helping the community. We are thrilled to recognise and celebrate their inspiring efforts, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for them,” Norwell concludes.
Mihi Blair, Kaiwhakahaere Hauora Māori, Mana Taurite (GM of Māori Health and Equity), at ProCare says: “These awards both commend the success of our top Māori and Pacific students and aid them in their journey to become medical professionals, helping to ensure that Māori and Pacific are represented in the medical field.
Our Māori and Pacific tauira (students) succeed not just for themselves, but for their whānau and wider communities. We are proud to walk alongside them as they prepare to serve and uplift their communities,” concludes Blair.
Maaike and Zion have exciting goals for the future, which the scholarships will assist them with.
Māori Scholarship recipient, Maaike de Goede, says: “I plan to continue working in rural hospitals in the Bay of Plenty. My current potential specialisations are intensive care, anaesthetics, or paediatrics (or combining them!). However, I am still open-minded and enjoying where my career will take me.
“Having a workforce that reflects our society doesn't just mean we look the same. It also refers to our experiences. Understanding, relating to, and empathising with people only enhances whakawhanaungatanga. There is a whakatauki that I like to tell myself when things are tough, whether it be life in general, work or school – Kia mate ururoa, kei mate wheke – fight like a shark, don't give up like an octopus,” concludes de Goede.
Pacific Scholarship recipient, Zion Ioka, says: “This has to be the most full-circle moment throughout my time in the MBcHB, as I entered this degree with every intention of graduating and completing my specialty training as a GP. My dream is to open a GP clinic in West Auckland with the intention of serving the community that I was born and raised in.
“I would like to thank everyone involved for awarding me the ProCare Top Pacific GP placement award in 2024,” Ioka concluded.
This award was established in 2003 and is a significant academic accolade. The prize is intended to foster interest in General Practice medicine as a career path for Māori and Pacific students.
About ProCare
ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to nearly 700,000 patients across Auckland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz
Last month’sannouncementon the new Applied Technology Institute failed to reveal that science funds were being cut to finance it.
MBIE has now revealed to media that there is no new money for the institute, but the $231 million budget comes from cutting science funds and from other science pools.
This includes the Government chopping nearly $70 million from four key science research funds – Endeavour Fund, Marsden Fund, Health Research Fund and the Strategic Science Investment Fund, plus $21 million from National Science Challenges, a programme the Government abandoned last year (see MBIE media statement below)
“The Government says it wants to kick start our economy with investment in science – meanwhile chopping science off at the knees and hoping no one will notice,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“It’s robbing Peter to pay Paul, raiding science funds without providing the increased funding science needs to drive growth. The economy will be worse off, and we will keep losing scientists to other countries which value them.
“You can’t grow the economy by cutting science funding. Just ask Sir Peter Gluckman and the Science System Advisory Group which said in its report that greater investment in science was key to driving productivity.
“Scientists rely on these funds for ground-breaking work; they deserve ongoing support. These secret cuts on top of closing down Callaghan Innovation show that this Government has no commitment to science.
“It’s ironic that less than a year ago then Science Minister Judith Collins said the ‘Endeavour Fund round being funded is focused on economic growth and commercial outputs’.
“How does cutting $13.5m from the fund in 2025 make sense when this year was supposed to be all about going for growth?
“It just shows how mixed up the Government’s economic strategy is.”
See statement from Science Minister Judith Collins on 16 September 2024here.
“This is happening at the same time the Government is giving a $300 million tax break to big tobacco – this funding sleight of hand speaks volumes to the real priority the Government places on science.
“The Government should be open and transparent about these changes not making them in secret.”
The PSA has written to the Minister for Research, Science and Technology, Shane Reti, seeking an urgent meeting to discuss the impact of these cuts and the need to protect the science workforce and the science and research institutions that are now at risk.
Statement from MBIE released to media
The Government is investing over $231 million in the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology over four years. This new public research organisation will invest in science and technologies like AI, quantum computing, and synthetic biology – fields with the potential to transform industries, grow exports, and lift New Zealand’s global competitiveness.
Of the $231 million, $150.4 million is being reprioritised within the Science, Innovation and Technology portfolio. This reflects a shift in priorities within the Science, Innovation and Technology portfolio towards emerging technologies that can be commercialised.
The majority of this funding will continue to go into science – but into new areas of research that have significant potential, where New Zealand is developing greater capability.
Funding is reallocated from:
Endeavour Fund – $13.489m (from 2028/29)
Health Research Fund – $11.487m (from 2028/29)
Marsden Fund – $15.119m (in 2028/29)
New to R&D Grant – $18.084m across 2025-2028
Callaghan Innovation Operations – $24.336m across 2027-2029
Contract Management – $3m across 2026-2029
$37.537m has also been reprioritised from the Strategic Science Investment Fund (from 2025/26 to 2028/29) to the Institute for Advanced Technology from contracts which are coming to an end over the next three years and $21.603m has been reprioritised from unallocated National Science Challenge funding.
The remaining funding, of just over $80 million, will continue to support functions transferring to the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology from Callaghan Innovation. These are the HealthTech Activator, the New Zealand Product Accelerator and the Technology Incubator.
The relevant briefing will be released on the MBIE website in due course.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahiis 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.
New Zealand now has new privacy rules for the automated use of biometrics – rules that aim to protect New Zealander’s sensitive personal data, while allowing agencies to innovate.
Biometric processing is the use of technologies, like facial recognition technology, to collect and process people’s biometric information to identify them or learn more about them.
The Privacy Commissioner has issued a Biometric Processing Privacy Code that will create specific privacy rules for agencies (businesses and organisations) using biometrics and give New Zealanders confidence about the use of their sensitive personal information.
Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says “Biometrics are some of our most sensitive information. It is not just information about us, it is us. The very thing that makes biometrics risky, their uniqueness, also makes them useful. The aim of the new rules is to allow for beneficial uses of biometrics while minimising the risks for people’s privacy and society as a whole.”
The Code, which is now law made under the Privacy Act, will help make sure agencies implementing biometric technologies are doing it safely and in a way that is proportionate.
“It’s important that agencies can innovate while keeping New Zealanders safe from privacy risks; this Code will do that” says Commissioner Webster.
“The final Code has the force of law. It has the same legal status as the Information Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act – it just replaces them for when agencies use biometric information in automated processes.”
The Code comes into force on 3 November 2025, but agencies already using biometrics have until 3 August 2026, 12 months from today’s announcement, to align themselves with the new rules.
“We understand the Code may require some changes to agencies’ processes and policies for them to be compliant, like creating new notifications, training staff, or changing their technical systems, and we wanted to give them enough time to make these happen,” says Mr Webster.
In addition to the usual requirements from the Privacy Act, the Code strengthens and clarifies the requirements on agencies to:
– assess the effectiveness and proportionality of using biometrics – is it fit for the circumstances
– adopt safeguards to reduce privacy risk
– tell people a biometric system is in use, before or when their biometric information is collected.
The Code also limits some particularly intrusive uses of biometric technologies like using them to predict people’s emotions or infer information like ethnicity or sex, or other information protected under the Human Rights Act.
“Biometrics can have major benefits, including convenience, efficiency, and security.
However, it can also create significant privacy risks, including surveillance and profiling, lack of transparency and control, and accuracy, bias, and discrimination,” says Mr Webster.
Most comparable jurisdictions have additional protections for sensitive information like biometric information. In New Zealand, the Privacy Act regulates the use of personal information (and therefore biometric information), but the Code now provides clear privacy rules around using biometric technologies.
“Having biometric-specific guardrails will help agencies deploy these tools safely, using the right tool for the job and protecting people’s privacy rights as they do it,” says Mr Webster.
Guidance is also being issued to support the Code. The guidance is very detailed and explains how we see the Code working in practice. It also sets out examples so agencies planning to use biometrics can better understand their obligations.
“Our guidance is a starting point; agencies still need to do their own thinking and seek advice to understand their own situation and how they are using or plan to use biometrics.
“Biometrics should only be used if they are necessary, effective and proportionate; the key thing to make sure of is that the benefits outweigh the privacy risks,” says Mr Webster.
Property values in Aotearoa New Zealand edged down by -0.2% in July, according to Cotality NZ’s latest hedonic Home Value Index (HVI).
The result mirrors the annual change, which was also a –0.2% drop, bringing the median value nationally to $819,921. Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said the result was yet another reminder that market conditions remain subdued.
“At the end of 2024, our analysis suggested that 2025 was likely to be a ‘year of conflicting forces’ in the property market, with the upwards influence on house prices from lower mortgage rates counteracted to an extent by headwinds such as an abundance of listings and the weak labour market.”
“That broad theme has proven correct, with regions including Auckland and Wellington remaining soft. Even in more resilient areas such as Hamilton and Christchurch, the picture isn’t that much better.”
“The jobs market uncertainty is surely a key limiting factor at present.”
“That said, rising sales activity has now started to erode the stock of available listings a touch, probably augmented by some would-be vendors actively withdrawing their listed properties from the market.”
“This could lead to more competitive price pressure later in the year, especially as a greater number of existing borrowers roll off older, higher mortgage rates and down to current levels.”
Across New Zealand, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Ōtepoti Dunedin were the weakest of the main centres in July, dropping by -0.6% apiece – with the former also -1.4% down in the past quarter.
Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington dipped by -0.2% and Ōtautahi Christchurch saw a minor -0.1% decline, although values are still slightly higher (+0.4%) than three months ago.
Meanwhile, Kirikiriroa Hamilton saw a +0.4% lift in July, with Tauranga up at +0.9%. However, that’s not necessarily a clear new trend in Tauranga, with some previous softer months meaning it’s still only +0.8% higher over the past year.
National and Main Centres
Index results for July 2025
Change in dwelling values
Month
Quarter
Annual
From peak
Median value
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
-0.6%
-1.4%
-0.7%
-21.7%
$1,069,605
Kirikiriroa Hamilton
0.4%
0.5%
3.1%
-9.8%
$767,994
Tauranga
0.9%
1.1%
0.8%
-15.8%
$919,105
Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington*
-0.2%
-0.6%
-3.3%
-24.7%
$796,289
Ōtautahi Christchurch
-0.1%
0.4%
2.7%
-4.7%
$704,623
Ōtepoti Dunedin
-0.6%
-0.5%
-0.4%
-11.3%
$601,155
Aotearoa New Zealand
-0.2%
-0.6%
-0.2%
-16.6%
$819,921
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
Value patterns were variable in the wider Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington area in July, with Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt up by +0.3%, and Porirua also edging higher. By contrast, there were falls in other key sub-markets, such as Wellington City itself.
Over the past year, Porirua has managed to sneak up by +0.8%, while all other areas have dropped. Yet even Porirua is still substantially below its peak too (-21.6%).
“Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington’s previous sharp downturn in property values is likely to have come to an end, but that doesn’t mean an upturn has suddenly emerged. In fact, market confidence levels around the Capital seemingly remain low, and property value tr
Firefighters from around the country will be in Fielding at Chris Eamon Circuit, Manfeild Park on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 August for the United Fire Brigades’ Association (UFBA) National Drivers Challenge.
The United Fire Brigades’ Association Drivers Challenge brings together over 100 firefighters from all around the country to compete and upskill in a challenging driving competition using fire appliances (fire engines/trucks).
The competition comprises a pre-drive, theory test and 11 individual exercises, in which drivers are judged on overall ability, efficiency, aptitude and smoothness of operation of fire appliances.
The exercises are designed to test critical spatial awareness and judgment decisions that reflect the real-life challenges when driving on New Zealand roads. Challenges include bay and parallel parking, straight-line driving, lane changes, braking, estimating clearance, and negotiating serpentine and shrinking chicanes – all of which are crucial driving and parking skills needed to strategically and safely get the truck where it needs to be for any kind of emergency.
This event also helps with re-validation for brigade drivers completing Emergency Response Driver certificates. UFBA CEO Bill Butzbach says, ” Most of our competitors are volunteer firefighters, who make up 86% of Fire and Emergency’s frontline workforce, and this challenge provides them with an opportunity to practice and perfect their driving skills to ensure the safety of their crew on board and other road users, while responding to an emergency.
This event is a vital opportunity for sharing, upskilling, testing against compliance and simple camaraderie for firefighters to network in a competitive and safe environment.”
Spectators are welcome to come along and gain insight into the world of firefighters. Understand and appreciate the incredible skill it takes to control and maneuver a 12-ton fire truck with precision and patience.
About the UFBA– for over 140 years the United Fire Brigades’ Association has been the leading association representing firefighters in New Zealand. Today our services support c.14,000 firefighters throughout the fire and emergency services sector by providing advocacy, skills-based challenges, workshops, and service honours.
Zero Waste Aotearoa is more worried than ever about the waste-to-energy incinerator proposed for Te Awamutu. That’s because so many concerns have emerged about the track record of the company behind the proposal: scrap metal dealer Global Metal Solutions (GMS).
The Board of Inquiry decision on resource consent for the proposal is due next week.
“It has flouted environmental laws at all of its three sites, operated without consent and used lawyers to push back against local councils and the Court – at high cost to ratepayers. It would be exceedingly risky to allow such people to own or operate a highly complex, novel-to-New Zealand technology next to residential areas and five schools representing all ages of children. Waste-to-energy incinerators can create and release some of the world’s worst contaminants, and skilled and careful operation is vital,” said Sue Coutts, spokesperson for Zero Waste Aotearoa.
Auckland: Illegal operations, council and landlord want it gone
The company has operated at its Auckland site for five years without resource consent to release contaminants to air and water, which it routinely does as part of its operations. It dug up a large area of contaminated land without consent. Auckland Council let it operate under an abatement notice for the past three years, but told it to cease operations after a major fire at the site in March this year. In response, GMS’s lawyers wrote to the Council, blaming the Council for not providing the right advice about resource consents and hinting strongly that it could be liable for GMS’s financial losses if operations must cease. GMS’s landlord in Auckland has long sought to end its lease.
New Plymouth: Holds no resource consents
GMS also has a scrap metal site in New Plymouth, where it’s operated since 2018 – again without resource consent. Scrap metal yards are known to produce contaminated wastewater, and air pollution if they process/shred vehicles, and therefore require consents. Other scrap metal yards that previously operated in the vicinity held consents to discharge contaminants to land and water. GMS’s site is directly next to the Waitaha Stream, which Taranaki Regional Council is investigating for the source of high metal levels.
Zero Waste Aotearoa is awaiting further information from Taranaki Regional Council via a July 18th official information request on the resource consents GMS should have and on the stream’s water quality.
Hamilton: Indifferent to its Environment Court obligations
GMS’s third site is in Hamilton. It was taken to the Environment Court by Hamilton City Council for repeatedly breaking noise limit rules. The Court issued it with an enforcement order in 2020. In 2021, it was finally forced to move the noisy equipment, and the Judge wrote that: “We conclude the company is indifferent to its obligations under the Court order and the directions and seeks to continue its activity in breach of the plan for the pursuit of profit” (emphasis added). It had to pay costs of $134,900 and the Judge wrote that ‘We find that a higher-than-normal award of costs is appropriate …. GMS's arguments were advanced without substance.’
The Environment Court’s written decisions and GMS’s lawyer’s letter to Auckland Council reveal similarities: GMS claiming to misunderstand what rules applied, its attempts to fix the problems being exceedingly drawn-out, saying employee’s jobs are threatened, and blaming the Council.
It is not GMS that has applied for consent to build and operate a waste-to-energy incinerator at Te Awamutu, but Global Contracting Solutions, which is owned by the same people as GMS. Its plan is to incinerate 400 tonnes of waste or more each day, including plastic and tyres, and non-metal vehicle parts such as dashboards and upholstery shredded at the unconsented Auckland site.
“It is not simply that these people own an unrelated business that is not operating with appropriate consents. Rather, it is that this scrap metal business is intimately connected with the incinerator. It was the reason the owner wanted to build it in the first place, to get rid of the waste left over from the scrapping process.”
A decision on whether the incinerator will be granted resource consent is being considered by a Board of Inquiry following a hearing that concluded in July. The Zero Waste Network – recently rebranded as Zero Waste Aotearoa – teamed up with the Environmental Defense Society to oppose the incinerator at the hearing. The evidence and submissions at the hearing included information on the Hamilton and Auckland failings but not the absence of consents at the New Plymouth site.
