MIL Email Publisher (NZ)

Source: Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA)

Flicket, a provider of digital ticketing, booking and visitor management software, has won the ASB Bay of Plenty Exporter of the Year Award at a gala event this evening held at the Mercury Baypark Arena in Mount Maunganui.

Bay of Plenty software powering visitor experiences worldwide

Flicket has built a growing international presence by providing digital ticketing, booking and visitor management software for attractions, events and tourism operators around the world. The company has carved out a distinctive position in a highly competitive global industry through a technology platform backed by a strong customer partnership model and a disciplined approach to international expansion.

Judges praised Flicket's ability to identify specialised international market opportunities and successfully scale into overseas markets, particularly in the USA, Australia and the UK, while remaining focused on delivering value for customers and executing its long-term vision.

Innovation helping shape the future of global food production

Taura Natural Food Ingredients, a producer of high-quality fruit-based ingredients and inclusions for leading global food brands, won the Excellence in Innovation Award.

The company was recognised for embedding innovation into its business model and developing products that anticipate future consumer demand. Judges highlighted Taura's advanced technical capability, particularly its ability to preserve flavour and nutritional value through complex manufacturing processes, while responding to global demand for enhanced nutrition and protein-rich products.

Turning waste into valuable products for global markets

The Emerging Exporter Award was won by Cetogenix, a biotechnology company developing advanced bio-based materials and processing technologies for global industrial applications.

Cetogenix is developing technology that transforms organic waste streams into valuable products, including renewable natural gas, renewable chemicals and biomaterials. Judges recognised the company's ambition, innovation and potential to help create a more circular economy while addressing a major global challenge.

Recognising those who drive export success behind the scenes

There were two joint winners of the Unsung Export Hero – Outstanding Individual Contribution Award, which recognises individuals who have made a significant contribution to the export success of a business. The award was presented to Hadyn Natusch and Mark Swetman of Oasis Engineering.

Having started their careers together as apprentices, the pair have played a critical role in Oasis Engineering's growth, helping turn research and development concepts into commercially successful products through their technical expertise, problem-solving ability and longstanding commitment to the business.

Long-serving export advocate honoured

The Services to Exporting Award was presented to David Cotter, Customer Manager at NZTE, in recognition of his longstanding contribution to helping Bay of Plenty businesses succeed in international markets.

Through decades of experience across international markets, manufacturing, technology and export development, Cotter has become one of the region's most respected export advocates, supporting businesses of all sizes to pursue growth opportunities and navigate increasingly complex global trading conditions.

Celebrating the Bay of Plenty exporting community

The awards celebrate the exceptional achievements of Bay of Plenty businesses and individuals who export goods and services to markets around the world.

Organised by the local Bay of Plenty Export Advisory Board, EMA and ExportNZ, in partnership with NZTE, the awards are proudly backed by principal sponsor ASB, together with Port of Tauranga, Zespri, Page Macrae, Sharp Tudhope and Trimax.

According to EMA’s Head of Export & Membership, Simon Devoy, “Exporting is an integral part of the Bay of Plenty business community, so we’re delighted these awards showcase the inspiring businesses and individuals from the region who are succeeding in offshore markets. Well done to all the winners!

“The awards are more than just recognition – they’re a platform for sharing insights, fostering collaboration, and strengthening the network of export-focused companies that drive the region’s economic success.”

Chair of the ExportNZ BoP Executive Committee Warwick Downing says, “This year’s winners exemplify the innovation, resilience, and global ambition that define the Bay of Plenty’s export community.

“Their success is a testament to the region’s ability to compete, and thrive, on the world stage.”

Head of Trade Finance at ASB Bank Mike Atkins says, “We congratulate all the winners – they are true export champions of the Bay of Plenty region.

“At ASB we are passionate about enabling exporters to scale up, be it through working capital and debt capital funding or other advisory initiatives across productivity, sustainability, food and fibre. Our partnership with ExportNZ in celebrating these awards underscores that commitment.”

Executive Director of ExportNZ Josh Tan says, “ExportNZ is delighted to help showcase these incredible export stories. Behind every successful exporter are years of innovation, perseverance, and ambition.”

“These businesses are taking Bay of Plenty excellence to the rest of the world and helping to build New Zealand’s reputation for high-quality products, services, and technology. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and finalists on their outstanding achievements.”

Complete list of winners and full judges’ citations

ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards

1. Exporter of the Year – in partnership with Sharp Tudhope

Winner: Flicket – a provider of digital ticketing, booking, and visitor management software for attractions, events, and tourism operators worldwide.

Highly Commended: Pure Mama

– This award recognises the outstanding success of a business that is established in its international growth journey, with more than five years of international operations and total annual revenue above $5 million.

Judges’ citation: The judges were highly impressed by Flicket’s vision, commitment and execution in building a disruptive export business in a highly competitive global industry.

Rather than replicating existing ticketing models, Flicket has developed a distinctive approach that combines technology with a strong customer partnership model. The judges noted the company’s ability to identify targeted international niches and build momentum in highly specialised but significant markets.

Flicket has shown particular strength in the United States, where it has secured opportunities in sports and event categories that are major overseas markets. The judges were also impressed by the company’s disciplined approach of proving its offering locally before expanding internationally.

What stood out most was Flicket’s focus – its understanding of where it can compete, the value it can deliver for customers, and the talent required to achieve its vision. For the judges, Flicket is a standout example of a New Zealand business using innovation, strategy and execution to succeed on the world stage.

2. Excellence in Innovation – in partnership with Port of Tauranga

Winner: Taura Natural Food Ingredients – a producer of high-quality fruit-based ingredients and inclusions for leading global food brands.

Highly Commended: Flicket

– This Award recognises success in the commercialisation of innovation in international markets, incorporating intellectual property, strategy, processes and monitoring

Judges’ citation: The judges were impressed by the way Taura Natural Food Ingredients has made innovation a core part of its business model.

Its approach is disciplined, long-term and commercially focused, with the company investing in product development that anticipates future consumer needs.

The judges noted its strong technical capability, particularly in maintaining flavour and nutritional profiles through complex production processes, and its focus on global demand for enhanced nutrition and protein-rich products.

Taura Natural Food Ingredients stood out as a business using innovation with purpose, precision and clear international relevance.

3. Emerging Exporter – in partnership with Trimax

Winner: Cetogenix – a biotechnology company developing advanced bio-based materials and processing technologies for global industrial applications.

– This Award recognises a successful business in the early stage of its international growth journey, with up to 5 years of international operations and total annual revenue under $5 million.

Judges’ citation: The judges selected Cetogenix for the scale of its ambition and the potential global impact of its technology.

The company is developing ways to transform organic waste streams into valuable outputs such as renewable natural gas, renewable chemicals and biomaterials. In doing so, it is helping create a more circular system that reduces waste and captures value.

The judges saw Cetogenix as an emerging exporter with significant international potential – a purposeful, innovative business working to solve a major global challenge.

4. Unsung Export Hero – Outstanding Individual Contribution – in partnership with Zespri

Joint Winners: Hadyn Natusch & Mark Swetman of Oasis Engineering.

– This award recognises an individual or individuals who have made a substantial material contribution to the export success of a business.

Judges’ citations: The judges selected Hadyn Natusch and Mark Swetman in recognition of their longstanding contribution to the growth and success of Oasis Engineering and the important role they have played behind the scenes in the company’s export journey.

Having started their careers together as apprentices, Hadyn and Mark have become instrumental members of the Oasis Engineering team.

The judges were impressed by their commitment, technical expertise and ability to solve complex problems, while helping transform research and development concepts into products that work in real-world applications.

Often working behind the scenes, they have consistently supported customers, overcome technical challenges and contributed to the development of innovative solutions that have helped fuel the company’s growth. The judges described them as two halves of a whole – a partnership built on trust, skill and a shared commitment to excellence.

For their dedication, ingenuity and sustained contribution to the export success of Oasis Engineering, the judges are proud to recognise Hadyn Natusch and Mark Swetman as the recipients of the Unsung Export Hero Award.

5. Services to Exporting – in partnership with Page Macrae

Winner: David Cotter, Customer Manager, NZTE

– This Award recognises an individual or business, who may or may not be directly involved with exporting, but has made a significant contribution to exporting success in the Bay of Plenty.

Judges’ citation: The recipient of the 2026 Services to Exporting Award has spent decades helping New Zealand businesses succeed on the world stage.

Through a career spanning international markets, manufacturing, technology and export development, David Cotter has become one of the Bay of Plenty’s most trusted and respected champions of exporting.

Since joining New Zealand Trade and Enterprise in 2013 and relocating to the Bay of Plenty, David has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support exporters across the region. He has been a particularly strong advocate for businesses in the manufacturing, engineering, timber and wood sectors, helping companies of all sizes navigate international opportunities, overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth in global markets.

David has played an important role in strengthening the wider Bay of Plenty export ecosystem, including Rotorua’s innovation and manufacturing communities, and has been actively involved with ExportNZ Bay of Plenty and numerous initiatives supporting exporters.

What sets David apart is his unwavering commitment to the businesses he serves. He has supported businesses through international growth opportunities, market disruption, capability challenges and increasingly complex global trading conditions, always bringing a calm, pragmatic and solutions-focused mindset.

Whether working with established manufacturers, emerging exporters or deep-tech innovators, David brings commercial insight, international experience and a genuine desire to help New Zealand businesses succeed.

Quietly, consistently and without seeking recognition, David has helped countless companies achieve their export ambitions, exemplifying the spirit of this award through his enduring contribution to exporting success in the region.

The judges are delighted to present the 2026 Services to Exporting Award to David Cotter.

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand received calls for 18 incidents between 12 pm and 1pm today, Friday 7 August, the fifty-second time the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has taken strike action.

Of the 18 incidents, 12 were in areas impacted by the strike.

Four were medical events that were attended to by Hato Hone St John & Wellington Free Ambulance, as per contingency planning. Four were minor incidents. Three were false alarms. One was for a small outdoor rubbish fire.

One was for a structure fire at Lookout Point in Dunedin that Fire and Emergency was alerted to at 12.40. An Assistant District Commander arrived at 12.50 to find the house well involved in fire. Volunteer fire crews were deployed from Ravensbourne, Outram, Port Chalmers and Brighton due to paid firefighters being on strike.

Lookout Point paid station is approximately one minute’s drive away from the house fire.

The first volunteer crew took eight minutes to get to the house fire.

At the conclusion of NZPFU industrial action, paid crews from Lookout Point and Roslyn Stations left Dunedin Fire Station and took five minutes to arrive.

There were no other callouts in Dunedin at this time and our network approach means other volunteer crews were available to provide cover if needed.

“Thankfully there were no people in the dwelling, however we recognise the significant impact this will have on the residents, Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says.

“We have repeatedly warned about the risk the NZPFU is placing the public in every time it goes on strike.

“We acknowledge and appreciate the dedication of the volunteers and Operational Commanders who responded to this incident and the Communication Centre Managers who coordinated the response. We also recognise the volunteers and staff across the country who have managed the 52 strike responses to date.

“We continue to call on the NZPFU to call off these reckless strikes and have asked it to urgently return to independent facilitation so we can make progress toward a fair and sustainable settlement.

“Fire and Emergency remains committed to achieving a fair and sustainable settlement so we can continue working to keep communities safe,

“As we have unfortunately seen today, emergency responses will be delayed when strike action takes place,” Megan Stiffler says.

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

7 August 2026

Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) Governor Dr Anna Breman, Board Member Jeremy Banks, External Monetary Policy Committee Member Carl Hansen, and Director of Stakeholder Engagement Naomi Mitchell have travelled to Nelson-Tasman to engage with local businesses, industries, and communities as part of the RBNZ's regional leadership engagement programme.

So far in 2026, the RBNZ's leadership team have visited six centres across the regions as part of the programme outside of Wellington and Auckland, including Canterbury, Waikato, Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty (Rotorua and Tauranga), and Nelson-Tasman.

Across these visits, the RBNZ leaders met with more than 50 organisations, including councils, community and advocacy groups, farmers and agribusinesses, hospitality and tourism operators, iwi, exporters, and other regional stakeholders. In total, they have connected directly with around 600 local business operators and community members.

During their visit to Nelson-Tasman, RBNZ leaders met with local iwi, the regional economic development agency, aquaculture representatives, retirement providers, and transport companies to better understand current economic and financial conditions, opportunities, and the challenges facing the region.

“Hearing directly from people living and working in communities across New Zealand is an important part of our work,” Dr Breman says.

“I acknowledge that economic conditions remain challenging for many New Zealanders, and the recent increase in the unemployment rate reflects that. However, if we look a bit deeper, we can now see more people in employment and more people participating in the labour market.”

“Conversations on these topics like these help us understand how nationwide economic developments are affecting different regions, industries, businesses, communities, and households, and how experiences can vary across the country.”

“They also provide an opportunity for us to explain the work we do,” Dr Breman says.

Alongside its work on financial stability and cash and payments, the RBNZ seeks to keep inflation low and stable. The Monetary Policy Committee’s remit is to keep annual inflation between 1 and 3% over the medium term, with a focus on 2%, while avoiding unnecessary volatility in the economy.

The RBNZ undertakes a wide range of engagement and outreach activities to understand perspectives and sentiment from across New Zealand and to communicate the work it does. These include regional business visits led by different teams across the RBNZ, quarterly surveys of 500 to 700 businesses and around 1,000 households, public consultations, speaking engagements, and bilateral meetings with stakeholders.

The regional leadership engagement programme, alongside the RBNZ's ongoing engagement activities, helps inform the Bank's understanding of economic conditions across New Zealand and complements the economic and financial data it monitors.

Source: Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation

7 August 2026

The Guardians of NZ Superannuation, manager of the $94 billion NZ Super Fund, has appointed long-serving investment leader Alex Bacchus Head of Asset Allocation.

Mr Bacchus will take up the role early next month.

Guardians co-Chief Investment Officer Brad Dunstan says the Guardians is fortunate to have someone with Mr Bacchus’s broad investment knowledge and deep understanding of the NZ Super Fund to step into what is a pivotal role.

“Asset allocation is one of the most important decisions we make as an investor. Alex’s experience across risk, portfolio construction and strategic tilting will be invaluable as we continue to refine and improve the way we invest the Fund.”

During a 17-year career with the Guardians, Mr Bacchus has held various roles in the Risk and Asset Allocation teams. Since 2014, he has led the Super Fund’s strategic tilting programme, a mean-reversion investment strategy that has made a significant contribution to returns.

Prior to joining the Guardians, Mr Bacchus worked for Goldman Sachs JBWere (NZ) Ltd as Director of Derivatives and as a Vice President at Merrill Lynch in London, with a focus on structured credit derivatives. He has a MSc from the City University of London and a BE (Hons) from the University of Canterbury.

Mr Bacchus will replace Dr Charles Hyde, who is leaving the Guardians to take up a role abroad.

Mr Dunstan said: “Charles has expertly guided the evolution of the Super Fund’s globally-influential total portfolio approach, and recently finalised a series of important investment governance reviews, including the five-yearly review of the Fund’s Reference Portfolio. He leaves the Guardians with our best wishes and our thanks for the excellent contribution he has made over more than a decade.”

Source: New Zealand Defence Force

7 August 2026

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has formally assumed the hosting and leadership of the Pacific Response Group (PRG) from the Australian Defence Force (ADF), as the regional crisis response capability heads into its third year.

A handover ceremony was held at Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand in Trentham, Upper Hutt this week.

The PRG, established in 2024 under the South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting, is a multinational capability designed to deliver coordinated military support to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) and crisis response operations across the Pacific.

The PRG brings together defence personnel from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, France, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, with Chile participating in a supporting role.

Each member nation contributes specialist planners and staff across key functions including operations, logistics, intelligence, health and communications.

Leadership of the PRG has transitioned from the ADF to the NZDF, reflecting the shared commitment of partner nations to collective security and resilience in the Pacific.

Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Major General Rob Krushka said the PRG was a practical demonstration of Pacific nations working together to support one another in times of need.

“Natural disasters in our region are increasing in frequency. The PRG ensures we can respond smarter, together.

“This is about supporting our Pacific neighbours, respecting sovereignty, and working alongside civilian agencies to deliver the right assistance at the right time.”

Designed as a short-notice, deployable headquarters element, the PRG supports civilian-led responses to disasters, helping coordinate military contributions and assessing requirements on the ground.

It can deploy planning teams to affected areas to determine what assistance is required, while coordinating the delivery of critical capabilities with a national disaster management agency or from contributing nations.

The PRG builds on decades of Pacific militaries working together during natural disasters and severe weather events, formalising and strengthening a cooperative approach to HADR across the region.

It also enables Pacific countries without standing militaries to request military support when disasters strike.

Since becoming operational in late 2024, the PRG has participated in multinational exercises such as Exercise Croix du Sud in New Caledonia, where it tested its ability to coordinate complex, large-scale disaster responses.

Under NZDF leadership, the PRG will continue to enhance preparedness, interoperability and readiness across member nations, ensuring the region is better equipped to respond to future crises.

Major General Krushka said the handover signalled continuity as well as progress.

“The transition of leadership reflects the shared ownership of the PRG. Together, we are strengthening a capability that is by the Pacific, for the Pacific.

“New Zealand is proud to assume leadership of this important initiative, building on the strong foundations established by Australia and our regional partners.”

The team will be based alongside the NZDF’s operational headquarters at Trentham until mid-2028, when the leadership role will be handed over to another host nation.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

Photo 1: The Pacific Response Group is made up of personnel from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, France, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, with Chile participating in a supporting role
Photo 2: Warrant Officer One Brent Pene blows the conch to begin the pōwhiri
Photo 3: Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Tony Davies addresses the audience

Source: New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc)

Applications are OPEN

An award supporting writers of new fiction – $5,000

The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) announce the 2026 opening of this award, which supports the completion and/or publication of new fiction by a mid-career fiction writer from New Zealand.

The NZSA Shaw Writer's Award was established by novelist Tina Shaw to encourage the development of great novels by mid-career fiction writers who are working on a new project. All applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.

Want to Apply?

This award is open to mid-career New Zealand fiction writers, meaning any writer with a growing body of published word who has published at least two standalone works. While a broad range of fiction and publication models will be considered, please check the guidelines carefully before applying.

First: Read the Terms and Conditions for the NZSA Shaw Writer's Award.

Then: Fill in the NZSA Shaw Writer’s Award application form.

An award for a New Zealand writer of fiction – $5,000

The NZSA Shaw Writer's Award opens for applications 7 August 2026, and will close at midnight 18 September 2026.

Submissions must be made online. Unsuccessful applicants will be advised before recipients are announced. Successful recipients will be contacted directly, and we will also publish the announcement on the NZSA websites and social media platforms.

2025 Winner

The 2025 winner of the NZSA Shaw Writer's Award was Cristina Sanders who said:

“Thank you Tina Shaw! The timing of this award is perfect; I’m off to wander Te Rohe Pōtae next week, whispering up ghosts and stories, tracing our colonial history in the geography of hills and rivers. I’m am so grateful to the judges for considering my story, with all its peculiarities, worth telling.”

About the Award

Tina Shaw says of her award, “It’s true that our New Zealand writers frequently express the feeling that their mid-career progress is slower than that of new writers, who can more readily garner media interest for their publications,” says Shaw.

As a result, the award is intended not only to offer the recipient the freedom that money brings but also to increase the chances of a mid-career writer being recognised as a “good business” prospect to be welcomed by publishers.

Applicants will be shortlisted by a judging panel, with the final winner selected by Tina Shaw in consultation with and advised by the shortlist judging panel.

The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa administers the prize. Entries for the NZSA Shaw Writer's Award must be made via the New Zealand Society of Author’s website (authors.org.nz) by the advertised deadline, with the winner announced after judging has been completed.

Notes

The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa PEN NZ Inc is the principal organisation representing writers in Aotearoa. Founded in 1934, it advocates for the right to fair reward and creative rights, administers prizes and awards, works across the literary sector to make Aotearoa New Zealand writers and books more visible, and runs professional development programmes for writers.

New Zealand Society of Authors

Source: Love Queenstown

Queenstown Lakes, New Zealand (7 August 2026) – Queenstown tourism operator Ziptrek Ecotours has become a Love Queenstown Impact Partner, strengthening its support for local climate, conservation and biodiversity projects.

Ziptrek has been involved with the community fund since its launch in 2023, contributing to fundraising events, industry planting days and other environmental initiatives. The new partnership will provide sustained financial backing for grassroots projects across the Whakatipu.

Founder Trent Yeo says the partnership is a natural fit for Ziptrek and reflects the company's belief in businesses working together.

“We love working with Love Queenstown, and this step makes our support more direct and ongoing,” he says. “No one can do it individually. Collectively is much better.”

Love Queenstown Community Fund Coordinator Ash Bickley says Ziptrek has long demonstrated responsible tourism in practice.

“Trent and the team have been an inspiration in this space, showing what's possible when a business puts people and place at the heart of everything it does,” she says.

Since opening above Queenstown in 2009, Ziptrek has planted more than 6,000 native trees and contributed well over $250,000 to community and environmental organisations.

Its support has included Mana Tāhuna, Kiwi Birdlife Park and Sustainable Queenstown, alongside Locals' Days, staff volunteering, environmental restoration, and education.

Ziptrek was also Queenstown's first tourism operator to achieve Net Zero Carbon Business Operations certification, which it has maintained for six consecutive years.

Trent says Love Queenstown gives businesses and visitors a trusted, practical way to contribute to the place they live in or visit.

“Queenstown is developing as a place where people can formally, functionally and loudly contribute,” he says. “And our community wants to see that.”

After almost two decades in tourism, he says sustainability should become a normal part of doing business.

“You have to be simultaneously patient and impatient about these things,” he says.

“The whole idea of sustainable tourism should disappear and just become normal. I am hopeful. I'm also still impatient.”

He says Love Queenstown enables businesses to support credible local organisations without having to identify, assess and administer individual projects themselves.

“Love Queenstown is sitting there waiting to be fed,” he says. “It's a very solid way to ethically give out money without every business having to work out who receives it and whether they're the right organisation. Love Queenstown manages that.”

Love Queenstown Impact Partners commit either 1% of net proceeds or $10,000 or more annually. Contributions are pooled, with 80% supporting immediate environmental action through annual Impact Grants and 20% invested in an endowment fund for future generations.

About Love Queenstown and Love Wānaka

The Love Queenstown and Love Wānaka Community Funds support grassroots environmental efforts, providing an opportunity for visitors and businesses to give back and help care for the environment at the heart of our region.

Launched in 2023, Love Queenstown and Love Wānaka were the first initiatives to come to life from the region's Destination Management Plan: Travel to a Thriving Future. They are delivered in partnership with Destination Queenstown, Lake Wānaka Tourism and the 45South Community Foundation.

Grants are available on an annual, contestable basis for charitable organisations undertaking local climate, conservation and biodiversity work.

About Ziptrek Ecotours

Ziptrek Ecotours has operated zipline experiences in the forest above Queenstown since 2009. Environmental stewardship and education are integrated throughout its operations, visitor experiences and community partnerships.

Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown are initiatives of Lake Wānaka Tourism and Destination Queenstown and are delivered in partnership with 45 South Community Foundation. (CC55258).

Source: Workers First Union

Juken NZ has confirmed the Northland Mill will close permanently today – Friday, 7 August – two weeks earlier than the previously planned closure date of 21 August. Workers First Union organiser Marcus Coverdale says the earlier date came as a surprise to workers and delegates.

“Holy heka, it's a bit of a shock as this wasn't expected to happen for another couple of weeks,” said Mr Coverdale.

Despite the accelerated timeline, workers will be paid out to the end of the originally planned term. The collective agreement's terms and conditions will roll over, with workers also receiving a wage increase and back pay reflected in their final pay calculations.

Some Northland Mill workers have taken voluntary redundancy, while others have transferred to shifts at the nearby Triboard Mill, which remains open. No updates have been provided yet on the Triboard Mill’s future and potential buyer.

“Some of the older Triboard workers were happy to take redundancy now and open up opportunities for younger workers from the Northalnd Mill, which they were really grateful for,” said Mr Coverdale.

“Some of these workers have another 20 years of work left in them while others are coming towards retirement.”

Bargaining for a new collective agreement had been underway with Juken NZ before events escalated rapidly this week.

There remains hope that a buyer could still be found for the Northland Mill site or facilities. A new one-year agreement is in place that could be transferred to a new employer, should a buyer come forward.

“The hope is that an investor could still purchase this mill and hire the experienced local workers with an agreement already in place,” said Mr Coverdale.

Juken NZ is planning to hold an employment transition event with local agencies and employers to support affected workers. Workers First Union acknowledges the work local agencies, training providers, and government agencies have done to support workers through the transition.

“The flow-on effects of the mill's closure will be felt in the Northland community long after the gates close for the last time,” said Mr Coverdale.

Source: Office of the Ombudsman

Compliance with the Official Information Act by Government Ministers and agencies is set to come under closer scrutiny by the Ombudsman as New Zealand’s General Election approaches.

Chief Ombudsman John Allen says it will become more important over the next three months for people requesting official information to get it as quickly as possible and for that information to be accurate and reliable.

“We are now into what’s generally known as the “pre-election period,” which is the three months prior to a general election. During this time, voters will be seeking information that will help them make decisions on who will best represent their interests and who should be making the laws and policies that will affect their lives in the future.

“Ministers and agencies must apply the OIA correctly and work quickly to minimise the risk of information becoming irrelevant.”

Mr Allen says his office is rolling out a suite of initiatives to ensure government ministers and agencies pay extra close attention to their obligations under the Official Information Act over the next few months.

“We are contacting the Prime Minister and the Public Service Commissioner directly to urge them to plan ahead for this period and to get it right the first time for requesters. We will also be asking ministers and agencies to push information out proactively if they see a pattern of requests about an issue, so the information is available to everyone.

“This also has the positive effect for ministerial offices and agencies of minimising the administrative demand on their staff from having to respond to individual requests.”

Mr Allen says requesters also have a part to play in ensuring the Official Information Act functions well and as it is supposed to.

“The public must exercise their rights under the law responsibly. This includes making sure their requests are reasonable and that they refrain from slowing down the process by engaging in things like ‘fishing expeditions.’ This isn’t helpful to anyone. We want them to be willing to engage with Ministers and agencies quickly when clarity is needed about what they are seeking.”

Mr Allen says the role his office will play over the pre-election period will be more critical than ever with people’s growing reliance on social media as a source of news.

“While there are obvious benefits to getting information through social media, there is a risk that people may not be getting the big picture, or a contestable view. This can cause harm and shape public perception in ways that may be deceptive or misleading.

“We will demonstrate what we are doing to make sure New Zealanders have access to reliable, accurate information that they need to decide their vote. As the country’s independent overseer, we can quickly review and confirm what is true and not so the voter can rely on our report for accurate information.”

The Ombudsman’s office will also produce regular, targeted guidance for Ministers, agencies and the public on how to approach requests over the next few months as well as advice on dealing with issues that were problematic during past pre-election periods.

There will also be guidance on the prudent use of AI for agencies, requesters and complainants during this time.

Additionally, the office will publish the number of complaints it has received about Ministers’ handling of OIA requests on a weekly basis, what they’re about and how they’re being dealt with.

“We will be reminding the public that they can seek our advice and can complain to us if they are unhappy about the way their requests have been handled. We are geared up to deal with any such complaints urgently.”

The OIA and you: Election 2026

Source: Greenpeace Aotearoa

The flood of secret money flowing into political parties shows the urgent need to clean up the electoral finance rules if we are to avoid a US-style system of one-dollar-one-vote, says Greenpeace Aotearoa.

“This flood of secret money into political parties is a systemic threat to our democracy. We need to clean up the electoral finance rules as a matter of urgency,” says Dr Russel Norman, Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director.

There has been a surge of ‘anonymous’ donations into political parties, nearly $500,000 so far this year. While the identity of the donors is kept secret from the public, there is no way of knowing if in fact the parties receiving the money know the identities.

“We need to close the loophole that allows these anonymous donations, just as we need to ban corporate donations and put a low cap on individual donations,” says Norman.

“These secret donations could be coming from polluting industries such as agribusiness, the oil industry, the fishing industry seeking to influence the political parties to protect their profits.

“We know already that there has been millions going into the political parties connected to fast track applications.

“The process for reforming campaign finance needs to be led by citizens, not political parties. The last independent review of electoral finance rules recommended removing these anonymous donations but the political parties did not progress these changes.

“We call on all political parties to commit to a citizens assembly led process to review the electoral finance laws and to commit to implementing the recommendations of the citizens assembly.

“As a society we need to make significant changes if we are to address the climate and biodiversity crises, but vested interests are donating to political parties in an effort to protect the status quo. We need to free our political system of the corrupting influence of secret money.”