MIL Email Publisher (NZ)

The South Island is stepping forward with confidence this election year, bringing together business and political leaders for what is shaping up to be the largest pre-election gathering of its kind in the region.

Business Canterbury, alongside Chambers of Commerce and industry associations, have this week announced they are holding an inaugural South Island Election Conference. This major pre-election event is designed to showcase the region’s momentum and help shape its future.

Business Canterbury Chief Executive, Leeann Watson says, “With senior political leaders taking the stage, and a strong cross-section of business covering the South Island in attendance, the conference will send a clear signal that the South Island is ready to play an even bigger role in New Zealand’s economic growth story as we move forward.”

“The timing for this conference is deliberate. Right now, the South Island has strong economic growth and is full of opportunity, and we’re seeing real momentum across a range of sectors.

“This is about setting the South Island up for the future by ensuring the opportunities are well known across political parties and that we continue to see investment ahead of demand in our growing South Island economy, amplifying it and making sure it’s front and centre as political parties set their priorities for the election campaign and future Governments.

From food and fibre exports to renewable energy, tourism and advanced manufacturing, the South Island is entering a period of real economic strength. Its geography and scale, long seen as challenges, are increasingly being recognised as competitive advantages that position the region to drive growth and continue to increase the economic contribution to New Zealand.

Watson says the conference is about exploring the levers to unlock that potential.

“We know the South Island already makes a significant contribution to the national economy, but we also know there’s headroom to do more. With the right policy settings, investment and focus, this is a region that can help lift New Zealand’s overall economic performance.

Designed to provide business across the South Island a platform to have these conversations, the conference will create a direct line between those driving the region’s economy and those seeking to shape it. Political leaders from across the spectrum will take part, including addresses from both the National and Labour Party leaders, alongside focused conversations on the issues that matter most to the regions of the South Island.

Those discussions will span the economic agenda including productivity, innovation and tax settings as well as workforce challenges such as immigration, education, health and safety, and industrial relations. A dedicated South Island infrastructure debate will also bring into focus one of the most important enablers of growth.

Watson says the emphasis is on constructive, forward-looking engagement.

“This is about having practical, grounded conversations about how we continue to support the growth across the South Island. We want to hear directly from political leaders about how they see the South Island’s role in the economy, and how they intend to support the opportunities that exist here.

An important feature of the conference is the level of alignment behind it, with Chambers of Commerce and industry associations from across the South Island working together in a coordinated effort to elevate the region’s voice.

Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive, Sharon Fifield says, “The collaboration reflects growing confidence across the South Island.

“Across the South Island, we’re seeing businesses that are ambitious, outward-looking and ready to grow.

“This conference is an opportunity to bring that collective energy together and ensure decision-makers understand both the scale of opportunity and what’s needed to unlock it.”

Business South Chief Executive, Mike Collins says, “It is a chance to highlight the strengths that set the region apart. The South Island’s economy is diverse, resilient and deeply connected to local and global markets.

“By coming together in this way, we’re sending a strong, positive signal about the role this region can play in driving New Zealand’s future prosperity.”

As the election campaign gathers pace, Business Canterbury says the conference is about ensuring the South Island’s opportunity story is both heard clearly and enabled through future investment and policy that will drive innovation, productivity and growth.

“This isn’t about competing with other regions, we simply want to be able to contribute more. The South Island has a huge amount to offer, and this is our moment to bring that into focus and help shape what comes next.”

Note: The Chambers and organisations supporting the South Island Election Conference are:

• Business South
• Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce
• Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce
• South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce
• Southland Chamber of Commerce
• Wanaka Business Chamber
• Marlborough Chamber of Commerce
• Family Business Association
• Hospitality NZ
• Infrastructure NZ.

Business Canterbury is proudly partnering with the Christchurch International Airport, Scenic Hotel Group, Wynn Williams and the New Zealand Herald to deliver this event.

Business Canterbury, formerly Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, is the second largest Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand and the largest business support organisation in the South Island. It advocates on behalf of its members for an environment more favourable to innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.

VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai says a new report highlighting the ongoing overrepresentation of tamariki and rangatahi Māori throughout the Oranga Tamariki system should be a catalyst for urgent action rather than further discussion.

The report, Outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau in the Oranga Tamariki system 2024/25, released today by Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children's Monitor, found tamariki and rangatahi Māori remain disproportionately represented at every stage of the system and are more likely to experience poorer outcomes than both non-Māori and Māori who have never been involved with Oranga Tamariki.

VOYCE Chief Executive Tracie Shipton says the findings are deeply concerning but not surprising.

“The reality is that tamariki Māori are disproportionately represented across the entire Oranga Tamariki system, and the disparity becomes even more pronounced the deeper into the system they go.”

“What this report shows is that too many tamariki Māori are not receiving the right support at the earliest opportunity. When concerns are identified, the response needs to be swift, effective and centred on the needs of the child and their whānau. Right now, that is not consistently happening.”

The report found many tamariki and rangatahi Māori experience multiple reports of concern before receiving the support they need, with one quarter having 10 or more previous reports of concern.

Shipton says the findings reinforce what young people with care experience have been saying for years.

“We know what works. Young people, whānau, iwi and community organisations have been telling us for a long time that earlier intervention, stronger relationships and culturally grounded support make a difference.”

“It is heartening to see the report highlight successful iwi-led initiatives and local prototypes that are achieving positive outcomes. There are great things happening in pockets across the country.”

Shipton says the challenge now is ensuring these approaches aren’t treated as exceptions.

“They need to be systematically supported, resourced and replicated so that all tamariki and rangatahi can benefit, regardless of where they live.”

Care experienced rangatahi Kat Wright is shocked but not surprised by the statistics out of the report.

“Imagine my daughter crying for me 10 times and no one listening. I don’t want kids in care to feel like a statistic – they are extremely important. How much better could the statistics be if Māori got the support they need.”

As a young Māori wahine she says it’s incredibly powerful to be raised in Māori spaces.

“The most connected I felt was at a group home because the caregiver was Māori and I didn't feel alone. She was the only caregiver that had higher expectations of me as a Māori. When Oranga Tamariki asked me what I wanted, I said I wanted to stay where I felt most connected. They didn’t listen and moved me anyway.”

Moving forward, Shipton says there is no shortage of evidence about the changes required.

“The solutions are known. What young people need now is urgency of action.”

“Tamariki are growing up in this system today. They do not have the luxury of waiting for the wheels of bureaucracy to catch up. Every year that passes without meaningful change is another year where children miss out on the support, stability and opportunities they deserve.”

VOYCE is now calling on decision-makers to accelerate the extra investment from this year’s budget into Oranga Tamariki, strengthen iwi and community-led responses, and ensure the voices of tamariki and rangatahi remain at the centre of reforms.

“When young people tell us what they need, we need to listen and act. The cost of delay is being paid by children right now.”

ABOUT VOYCE:

We are VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai, which stands for Voices of the Young and Care Experienced – Listen to me. Established in 2017, we are an independent charity organisation that helps to advocate for the approximately 6000 children with care experience (children in foster or whanau care) in New Zealand.

We exist to amplify the voices of these children and ensure that they are heard – so as to positively influence their individual care and to collectively affect change in the wider care system. VOYCE was co-designed by children with care experience for children with care experience.

Source: Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor

A report released by Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor today found tamariki and rangatahi Māori (Māori children and young people) continue to have unmet care and protection needs which contribute to their overrepresentation in the oranga tamariki system.

Outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau in the oranga tamariki system 2024/25 is the second annual report on the performance of the oranga tamariki system. While most Māori have no involvement with Oranga Tamariki, data in this report shows that despite being only one quarter (27 percent) of the youth population, tamariki and rangatahi Māori are over-represented in every part of the oranga tamariki system.

• 57 percent of reports of concern were for tamariki and rangatahi Māori.
• 68 percent of tamariki and rangatahi in care are Māori.
• 59 percent of police proceedings against those aged 10–18 were for tamariki and rangatahi Māori.

·         80 percent of tamariki and rangatahi in youth justice custody are Māori.

Most tamariki and rangatahi Māori who had a report of concern made about their safety or wellbeing in the last year had a previous report of concern made – one quarter had 10 or more. Critical and very urgent reports of concern for tamariki and rangatahi Māori also have less timely responses from Oranga Tamariki.

“If the front door to the child protection system was working as needed, the right support would be provided at the earliest opportunity. There would be a reduction in renotifications, and tamariki Māori would not unnecessarily escalate through the care and youth justice system because of unmet need,” Aroturuki Tamariki Chief Executive Arran Jones said.

“The consequence of unmet care and protection needs is evident in the data about rangatahi Māori in youth justice. We found:

• 95 percent of rangatahi Māori involved in youth justice had a report of concern made about their safety or wellbeing when they were younger
• half had more than 10 reports of concern made about their safety or wellbeing
• more than half had never even had a care and protection family group conference – fundamental to putting a plan in place to address the safety or wellbeing concerns.

“A lot of resource – and attention – goes into dealing with the offending behaviour. A greater focus on addressing care and protection needs earlier may reduce the need for youth justice responses in the future,” says Mr Jones.

If in care, tamariki and rangatahi Māori are more likely to be in care longer than non-Māori and less likely to be visited regularly by their social worker.

The outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori known to Oranga Tamariki are worse on almost every measure than Māori not known to Oranga Tamariki – and worse than non-Māori who are. The report looks across school attendance, health, employment, holding a driver licence and using emergency housing. Māori who have never been involved with Oranga Tamariki hold a driver licence at about the same rate as non-Māori, yet inside the oranga tamariki system they do not.

“The solutions to closing these gaps have been talked about for decades. These include an investment approach, commissioning models that allow for greater flexibility, and iwi, Māori and community-led solutions where government takes a supporting rather than leading role.

“Our report profiles iwi-led initiatives that are showing success. These local partnerships with Oranga Tamariki show the way forward. However, faster change is needed if we are to see a reduction in disparities and in intergenerational involvement in the oranga tamariki system for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau,” Mr Jones said.

Read the report online at aroturuki.govt.nz/reports/outcomes-24-25

Notes:

Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor monitors compliance with the Oranga Tamariki Act and the associated regulations, including the National Care Standards. It also looks at how the wider system is supporting tamariki and rangatahi under the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act. Aroturuki Tamariki works closely with its partners in the oversight system, Mana Mokopuna – Children’s Commissioner, and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Consumer NZ is calling on 100,000 New Zealanders to sign its petition demanding government action on soaring power prices.

“In just two years, electricity prices have surged 20%, and many households across New Zealand are feeling the strain,” says Jon Duffy, Consumer chief executive.

Consumer research found one in four households struggled to pay their power bills in the past year, and over half of New Zealanders are concerned about the cost of their household’s energy.

“In a country powered mostly by cheap renewable electricity, more than a million households should not be worrying about the cost of energy. But that’s the reality,” says Duffy.

Earlier this year, the major electricity companies reported combined half-year profits of more than half a billion dollars.

“While the big power companies rake in hundreds of millions in profits, more and more people can’t afford to heat their homes properly. Last year alone, more than 30,000 households were disconnected because they couldn’t pay their power bills,” says Duffy.

Consumer's four-point plan to lower power bills

Consumer’s four-point plan sets out the changes needed to bring power bills down.

End the dominance of the big four power companies – ensure separation of generation (making power) and retail (selling power) so smaller power companies can compete, which should lead to lower prices and more choice for consumers.

Make power prices reflect real costs – sort out the market so consumers stop paying high fossil fuel prices for cheaper renewable energy.

Invest in more homegrown energy – so we have enough power for years with less rainfall and reduce our reliance on expensive coal and gas.

Set a long-term plan together – develop a cross-party energy strategy to put affordable power ahead of politics and vested interests.  

“You can’t untie this knot with one pull,” says Duffy. “Fixing the electricity sector will take action on multiple fronts. Right now, the market is delivering for power companies, not people – and that must change.”  

Lower prices and competition that were heralded in the Bradford reforms of the late nineties have not been delivered as promised.

“We have given the current system a fair crack, and more than 25 years later, we can confidently say the market is not delivering for consumers.  

“We need a long-term strategy, with cross- party buy-in, that puts affordable power ahead of politics. It is not feasible to continue down the path we are on.

“New Zealanders support change. More than half the nation say energy issues will affect how they vote. Our petition is a way people can directly send a message that’s impossible for politicians to ignore – it’s time to act, and power bills must come down,” says Duffy.

The petition will be open until mid-August and is available on Consumer’s website https://campaigns.consumer.org.nz/end-high-power-prices-now