MIL Email Publisher (NZ)

Source: Energy Resources Aotearoa

Energy Resources Aotearoa welcomes the first loans from the Government’s $200 million Gas Security Fund, showing New Zealand has gas projects ready to go and companies prepared to invest.

Chief Executive John Carnegie says the decision to provide Todd Energy with up to $23.5 million in time-limited loans for two Taranaki projects is a long-awaited boost to bring forward projects after several years of difficult investment conditions. Experienced operator Todd Energy will contribute around $10.1 million of its own capital.

“A new well at McKee and accessing deeper gas at McKee-Tariki could unlock up to 19.9 petajoules of additional gas reserves over five to nine years, with gas expected to be flowing by the end of 2027 if the projects are successful.

“These are practical opportunities using existing fields to get more gas into the market quickly. They also show what can happen when public funding helps unlock private investment.”

Carnegie says production from existing fields can help address the near-term supply challenge, while further exploration and investment in storage will be important for rebuilding reserves and supporting the energy system over the longer term.

“We need to keep bringing more domestic gas to market, and we need the ability to store it so it is available when demand is high.

There are investment opportunities – with 17 proposals so far – across that whole chain, from producing more from existing fields through to exploration and storage.”

He says the Gas Security Fund also strengthens the case for further work on the wider investment environment facing petroleum projects.

“Petroleum projects require large amounts of capital committed over many years. Investors will look at the quality of the opportunities in the ground and the durability of the rules they are investing under.

“Progress on regulatory and sovereign risk would strengthen it further and help attract the private capital needed to develop more of these opportunities

“We’ve spent a long time talking about how to get more gas into the system. We now have projects being backed and a strong pipeline of further proposals. Let’s get on with it.”

Source: Tiriti Action Group

Date: Monday, 7 September 2026

Tiriti Action Group is thrilled to announce the launch of Te Wero Pōti – The Great Vote Challenge to motivate enrolment and voting in the upcoming general election.

Te Wero Pōti is a free digital app developed in both English and Te Reo Māori to make it easy and fun for people to talk to their networks about the election.

The free app and printed star chart provides easy-to-share, editable messages of encouragement and ideas to help support people on the journey to the voting booth.

“More than a million of eligible people didn't vote in 2023, predominantly young Māori and Pasifika. We know that these people need to get election messages from trusted places, so we're really pushing people to reach out to their people – particularly their tamariki, mokopuna and their friends – who aren't engaged and connect what matters to them with voting,” says Jessie Moss, spokesperson for Tiriti Action Group.

“In the last election, many people impacted by government decisions didn't vote. We want to ensure all voices are heard this year by supporting people in kotahitanga to enrol and vote.”

Tiriti Action Group is a non-partisan, mana whenua-led community organisation committed to advancing rangatiratanga and justice, and strengthening collective action to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

“We encourage people to learn about Te Tiriti, its benefits and take actions in support of Te Tiriti. In 2026 this means voting for Te Tiriti.”

Te Wero Pōti is available at teweropoti.nz

Source: Quotable Value (QV)

New Zealand’s housing market remains firmly on buyers’ terms, with property values continuing to soften through August.

Our latest QV House Price Index shows residential property values reduced by 1.9% nationally over the three months to the end of August – the housing market’s largest quarterly decline in two years.

The average Kiwi home is now worth $894,977, down 1.7% since the start of the year and 1.3% less than the same time last year.

QV national spokesperson Simon Petersen said the latest figures showed buyers remained firmly in control as we head into spring.

“Buyers have plenty of choice, they’re taking their sweet time, they’re negotiating hard, and they’re prepared to walk away if the numbers don’t stack up. That’s putting downward pressure on property values.

“But we’d still characterise it more as a slow deterioration rather than a sudden correction. The market has been flat to gently falling for some time, and those smaller movements are now starting to add up in some parts of the country.”

That weakness is especially evident in our largest cities. Auckland’s average home value reduced by 2.7% this quarter – its largest quarterly decline since August 2024 – while Wellington recorded a 3.5% reduction, its largest quarterly decline since March 2023.

“The overall direction is clear, but the pace of change still varies considerably from place to place. Some of the more resilient markets have also lost momentum throughout the winter months,” Mr Petersen said.

Even Christchurch, one of the country’s more resilient housing markets this year, slipped 0.5% – its first negative quarterly result in 11 months.

Across the main urban areas, home values fell furthest this winter in Gisborne, down 5% over the three months to the end of August. Greymouth (-3.7%) and Hastings (-2.9%) also recorded larger-than-average declines.

However, there were still a handful of pockets of growth in the lower South Island. Queenstown led the main centres with a 1% quarterly increase, while home values inched 0.1% higher on average in both Timaru and Invercargill.

With spring just around the corner, Mr Petersen said the next few months would test whether the market had any real appetite to break out of its holding pattern.

“Spring usually brings more listings and more activity, but not necessarily more competition. If buyer confidence stays where it is, vendors may simply find themselves competing harder for the same pool of cautious purchasers.

“Last week’s OCR increase is another factor for buyers to weigh up, alongside the wider economic outlook. Household budgets are still under pressure, the election is getting closer, and buyers know they don’t need to rush.

“Unless something changes that equation, we could be in for a busier spring market without much upward pressure on prices,” he concluded.

Download a high resolution version of the latest QV value map here (https://mcusercontent.com/7ea78a69a1f7991bf60632008/images/6df4144a-5bdb-d835-0eef-e499ac583986.png).

Northland

The housing market remains a mixed bag in Ranfurly Shield country.

The Far North has recorded the largest decline this year, with its average home value down 2% to $688,147. That figure is also 1.3% lower annually.

Whangārei’s average home value has reduced by 1.8% since the start of the year to $727,224, although it remains 0.3% higher than the same time last year.

Kaipara continues to stand apart, with its average home value rising 2.8% so far this year to $844,636. Annually, it is virtually unchanged, down just 0.1%.

Auckland

Residential property values have gone overwhelmingly in one direction.

Values across the Auckland region reduced by an average of 2.7% over the three months to the end of August. That compares with declines of 0.7% and 2.2% in the three months to the end of June and July respectively.

Of the Super City’s seven former local council areas, values fell furthest in Auckland City, down 3.6% to an average of $1,332,229. That figure is now 3% lower than at the start of this year and 4.5% lower than at the same time last year.

The region’s southern fringes have proven somewhat more resilient, with Franklin (-0.8%), Papakura (-1%), and Manukau (-1.8%) recording smaller quarterly declines.

QV registered valuer Hugh Robson said prices had continued to fall in most suburbs.

“Auckland’s housing market remains subdued. Stock levels are high, giving buyers plenty of choice, while there is also a large number of new-build townhouses on the market and a high volume of building consents being processed.

“That suggests elevated stock levels are likely to persist for some time yet, which should continue to keep prices low or relatively stable.”

“First-home buyers remain the largest segment of the market, while the North Shore and Rodney are among the more resilient parts of the region. Inner-city suburbs have also been relatively stable.”

Bay of Plenty

Home values are down across the Bay of Plenty this quarter – but only just in Tauranga.

Our latest QV House Price Index shows the city’s average home value reduced by 0.3% to $1,049,067. That figure is still 1.5% higher than at the start of this calendar year and 2.3% higher than the same time last year.

Rotorua is the only other centre in the region where home values remain slightly higher than they were one year ago. Its average home value reduced by 1.9% this quarter to $672,961.

“House values continue to ebb and flow across the region from month to month,” said local QV registered valuer Damian Hall.

“Activity at the entry level remains strong, particularly among first-home buyers looking at properties up to $800,000. At the other end of the market, properties over $1.1m are generally taking a little longer to sell.

“The Bay of Plenty, and Tauranga in particular, appears to be holding up relatively well compared with many other parts of the North Island.”

Mr Hall said Papamoa remained particularly active.

“Properties in Papamoa are getting snapped up pretty quickly, with modern housing stock proving particularly appealing to buyers.

“The proposed toll road and on/off ramp is also creating quite a stir locally, with some concern about what it could mean for the new retail area at The Sands. It is looking likely to proceed towards the end of this year or early next year despite a number of local petitions opposing it.”

Waikato

Residential property values continue to decline at a slow but steady rate across the Waikato.

Values reduced by 1.6% over the three months to the end of August, matching the rate of decline recorded in July. The region’s average property value is now 2.1% lower than at the start of this calendar year and 0.6% lower annually.

Hamilton is bang on the regional average. Its average home value also reduced by 1.6% this quarter to $777,752, leaving it 2.2% lower than at the start of the year and 0.6% below the same time last year.

QV registered valuer Marshall Wu said sales volumes had eased and pricing momentum remained limited.

“The property market across Hamilton and surrounding townships remains relatively stable but subdued, with conditions continuing to favour buyers due to elevated listing levels and greater choice.

“First-home buyers remain active and are benefiting from improved affordability, increased stock levels, and stronger negotiating power.

“Investor activity has become more cautious amid uncertainty around interest rates, potential property tax changes, and the upcoming general election.”

He said limited price growth was expected in the near term, with affordability constraints, cautious lending conditions, persistent inflation, global economic uncertainty, and election-related sentiment continuing to weigh on activity.

Meanwhile, across the wider region, Waikato District (3.5%), South Waikato (1.7%), Waipā (1.2%), and Matamata-Piako (0.3%) remain in the black this calendar year.

“There are some early signs of improving market conditions in Waikato, Matamata-Piako, and Waipā, where average sale prices are now above the same time last year. This may indicate the early stages of a market recovery heading into spring,” Mr Wu concluded.

Hawke's Bay

Residential property values have weakened at a slightly faster rate in Napier and Hastings this quarter.

Our latest QV House Price Index shows Napier’s average home value decreased by 1% to $743,856 over the three months to the end of August, compared with a 0.4% decline in the three months to the end of July.

In Hastings, the average home value decreased by 2.9% to $743,579, slightly faster than the 2.3% decline reported in our previous index.

Napier has also held up better annually, with its average home value just 0.3% lower than the same time last year, compared with a 4.8% annual decline in Hastings.

Taranaki

Residential property values have decreased again in New Plymouth.

The city’s average home is now worth $707,444, down 1.7% this quarter, and 1.6% lower than at the start of 2026.

Its neighbouring districts have held up better so far this year, with average home values still sitting 3% higher in Stratford and 1.2% higher in South Taranaki.

Manawatu

Property values remain relatively flat in Palmerston North, with a slight downward drift.

The city’s average home value reduced by 0.7% over the three months to the end of August, the same slow rate of decline as in the three months to the end of July. At $626,348, it is now 1.6% lower than at the start of 2026.

Across the wider Manawatū, only Rangitīkei (1.5%) and Manawatū District (0.1%) remain in the black this calendar year.

The average home value in Whanganui decreased by 1.3% to $510,599 this quarter. That figure is now 3.9% lower than at the start of this year.

Wairarapa

Carterton is a rare green arrow in this month’s QV House Price Index.

Its average home value increased by 0.8% this quarter to $589,979 and is the only district in the wider Wairarapa region where values are a fraction higher than at the same time last year.

Masterton’s average home value reduced by 2.2% this quarter to $564,165. That figure is now 2.8% lower annually.

In South Wairarapa, the average home value is now $723,041, down 2.6% for the quarter and 3.4% annually.

Wellington

The Wellington region has recorded its weakest quarterly result in almost two years.

Residential property values reduced by 3.2% on average across the greater region over the three months to the end of August, matching the quarterly decline recorded back in September 2024.

Home values fell furthest this winter in Porirua, down 4% over the three months to the end of August.

Kāpiti Coast recorded the smallest quarterly decline, with average home values down 2.1%.

Local QV registered valuer David Cornford said market activity had been relatively soft through August.

“The market remains weak, with buyers showing more caution since the start of the Middle East conflict amid greater uncertainty and higher interest rates.

“Stock levels also remain high as we head into spring, giving buyers plenty of choice and bargaining power.”

He said first-home buyers continued to be active, while movers were less prominent and investor activity remained limited.

“The investors who are active are very yield-focused. We’re also still seeing some flipping at the lower end of the market, where poorer-quality properties are being bought cheaply, renovated to a modest standard, and then on-sold relatively quickly, generally to first-home buyers.”

Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough

Market conditions remain subdued across the top of the South Island, with buyers continuing to hold the upper hand.

Home values have fallen furthest this winter in Marlborough, down 2.2% over the three months to the end of August.

In Nelson, the average home value reduced by 1.1% to $769,114, a slightly larger decline than in our previous index. That figure is now 2.6% lower than at the start of 2026 and 1% lower than at the end of winter last year.

The average home value in Tasman reduced by 1.3% to $814,342.

QV Nelson/Marlborough manager Craig Russell said most sales activity was still occurring below the $800,000 mark, with first-home buyers remaining the most active group in the market.

“Investors are largely holding back at the moment, with many waiting to see the outcome of the election before making any big decisions.

“The lifestyle market is also sluggish, with more properties available than there is demand for them.”

He noted that vendor enquiry had started to pick up heading into spring.

West Coast

Home values have reduced once more across the West Coast.

Our latest QV House Price Index shows average home values decreased by 5.4% across the wider region over the three months to the end of August. That compares with a 4.7% decrease over the three months to the end of July.

Of the three districts that make up the region, Westland recorded the largest quarterly decline at 6.8%, taking its average home value to $489,014. Despite that, values remain 1.7% higher than at the same time last year.

Grey District recorded a 3.7% quarterly decrease, taking its average home value to $452,888. That compares with a 5% decrease in our previous index, while values are now 1.3% lower annually.

Buller recorded a 6.7% decrease over the three months to the end of August, taking its average home value to $377,381. That compares with a 4% quarterly decline in our previous index, while values are now 1.1% lower annually.

Local QV registered valuer Rod Thornton said the West Coast market had been softer since around the middle of the year.

“The statistics show the West Coast market is subdued overall, which is in contrast to 2025 and early 2026 when there were consistent value lifts and the Coast was outperforming many other districts in this regard.

“While there is a wide mix of housing types, locations, price points and value drivers across the Coast, the statistics overall are reflecting what we’re seeing on the ground.”

Canterbury

Christchurch has slipped back into negative territory for the first time in 11 months, despite remaining one of the country’s more active housing markets.

The Garden City’s average home value reduced by 0.5% this quarter to $804,850 – its first quarterly decline since September last year. Values remain 1.7% higher than at the start of this calendar year and 4.4% higher than the same time last year.

It wasn’t the only decline across the wider Canterbury region, with average home values also reducing in Selwyn (-0.4%), Ashburton (-0.8%), and Mackenzie (-1.7%).

Hurunui recorded no movement this quarter, while Waimakariri bucked the regional trend with a modest 0.4% increase.

QV South Island professional services manager Michael Tohill said homes in Christchurch were selling at a quicker rate than the national average.

“First-home buyers remain the main force in the city, with many using KiwiSaver withdrawals to help purchase their properties. Investor demand, meanwhile, continues its slow structural decline, with fewer landlords buying new residential properties.

“The overall shift is increasingly toward a buyer’s market, giving purchasers more room to choose.”

He said Canterbury’s rental market was slightly more buoyant than the relatively flat national market and looked well poised for an active spring.

“Median rents remain steady at $580 per week, still 3% higher than last year, while properties are taking an average of 19 days to rent compared with 22 days nationally, according to Trade Me listing data.

“Student-targeted rentals for the 2027 academic year have likely been driving a good share of recent activity, with searches and listings in popular university-adjacent suburbs such as Ilam, Riccarton, Avonhead and Burnside spiking by up to 50%.”

Mr Tohill said market conditions in Selwyn and Waimakariri were broadly similar.

“Selwyn building consents are holding steady, with new major stages being released and house builders reporting good forward workloads.”

Otago

Residential property values continue to slowly zig and zag across the Otago region.

On the plus side of the ledger, average home values increased by 1% in Queenstown and 3.3% in Clutha.

Moving in the opposite direction were Waitaki (-2.3%), Central Otago (-1.6%), and Dunedin (-0.8%). The latter’s average home value is now $653,120, which is still 2.7% higher than at the start of 2026.

Southland

Gore was the pick of Southland’s districts this winter.

Its average home value increased by 1.1% to $474,696 in the three months to the end of August 2026.

Invercargill was largely flat, with its average home value inching just 0.1% higher this quarter to $547,087. That’s 3% higher than at the start of this year and 7.5% more than the same time last year.

Southland District moved in the opposite direction, recording a 2% average reduction this quarter.

You can check value changes over time in your region with QV’s interactive map on www.qv.co.nz/price-index/

The QV HPI uses a rolling three month collection of sales data, based on sales agreement date. This has always been the case and ensures a large sample of sales data is used to measure value change over time. Having agent and non-agent sales included in the index provides a comprehensive measure of property value change over the longer term.

Source: Sustainable Business Council

New Zealand should remain committed to tackling climate change and focus on the economic opportunities of transitioning to a low-emissions economy, Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) CEO Mike Burrell said today as he opened the 18th Climate Change & Business Conference in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.

Addressing delegates at Aotearoa New Zealand's premier climate and business event, Mr Burrell said that while the international climate system is imperfect, it has changed the global trajectory and maintaining New Zealand's commitments and credibility on the world stage is more important than ever.

“In 2015, the world was heading towards 3 to 3.5 degrees of warming this century – a potentially catastrophic path. Thanks to the commitments Paris inspired, today we are on a trajectory of around 2.2 to 2.8 degrees.

That is still far too high. But it represents a reduction of almost one degree on where we thought we would end up.”

Mr Burrell said trust and credibility were critical assets for a small, trade-dependent nation navigating an increasingly complex and uncertain world.

“When we make international commitments, whether on trade, security or climate change, other countries need to know that our word means something.”

“Because if we expect others to honour the commitments that matter to us, we have to honour the commitments we make to them.”

Mr Burrell said climate change remains one of the defining long-term challenges facing New Zealand and the world. While businesses and governments are navigating economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and rapid technological change, he said the need to reduce emissions and strengthen resilience has not diminished.

“If we want a say in the global future being created, we have to help shape it. That means credible action at home. And it means using our influence internationally to turn difficult conversations into practical progress.”

Held under the theme Building Momentum. Driving Change., the two-day conference has brought together around 500 business, government, iwi and community leaders in Auckland, with a further 50 participants attending via a satellite hub in Christchurch and additional delegates joining online.

The conference is jointly delivered by the Sustainable Business Council, Climate Leaders Coalition and the Environmental Defence Society.

Mr Burrell said responding to climate change is not only about managing risk, but also about positioning New Zealand to succeed in a rapidly changing global economy.

Alongside discussions on adaptation, resilience, energy, innovation and the global climate outlook, SBC and CLC will also lead a plenary session later today examining the economic opportunities available to New Zealand through the transition to a low-emissions economy.

The session will draw on the organisations’ Driving Sustainable Growth report which quantifies the economic opportunity in transitioning to an innovation and productivity-led economy, underpinned by affordable and plentiful renewable energy, and 2026 Election Policy Priorities, which calls for durable policy settings that support long-term investment, productivity growth and emissions reduction.

About SBC 

The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) is a CEO-led membership organisation with around 120 businesses from all sectors, ambitious for a sustainable New Zealand. Members represent $170 billion of collective turnover, 38% of GDP, and nearly 255,000 full-time jobs. Our network gives members unparalleled influence and the ability to take large-scale collective action. SBC is part of the BusinessNZ network and is the New Zealand Global Network partner to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. www.sbc.org.nz

About CLC

The Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) was launched in July 2018 with a mission of having business CEOs leading the response to climate change through collective, transparent, and meaningful action on mitigation and adaptation. Coalition signatories collectively represent around 28% of GDP, employ around 8% of NZ’s full-time employees, and have a collective turnover of $126 billion. To be a signatory, organisations are held to account for delivering on commitments outlined by a ‘Statement of Ambition’. www.climateleaderscoalition.org.nz

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage

As a mark of mourning and respect, and in accordance with protocol, the New Zealand Flag will be flown at half-mast on all government and public buildings on Wednesday 9 September 2026 to mark the funeral of King Harald V of Norway.

King Harald died on 28 August 2026, aged 89.

This instruction applies to all government departments, public buildings and naval vessels that have flagpoles and normally fly the New Zealand Flag. The Flag should be returned to full mast at the close of business on Wednesday 9 September.

When half-masting the Flag, it should first be raised to the top of the mast and then lowered slowly to a recognisable half-mast position.

At the end of the day, it should be raised again to the top of the mast before being fully lowered.

See Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage website for more information: Display rules for the New Zealand Flag: Half-masting

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

Around 250 Nurse Maude support workers will strike again tomorrow and a week later 14 September, after their employer failed to come back with any new proposals following strike action in August.

“Nurse Maude workers are disappointed that their employer still has not put forward a reasonable offer on pay and are cutting two of their sick leave days,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association, Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

“Nurse Maude is out of step with other publicly funded employers who recognise the importance of sick leave to these workers and provide extra sick leave days.”

Workers first went on strike on 31 July and again on 10 August.

“Nurse Maude needs to bring a fair pay offer and withdraw threats to sick leave. Until then, Nurse Maude workers will continue with strike action.”

The PSA wants to see a resolution to this dispute and has filed for facilitation in the Employment Relations Authority.

Picket information for Monday 7 September

• Nelson 8am – Outside Nurse Maude’s offices (Nayland side of building) 4 Kidson Place, Stoke, Nelson
• Christchurch 8.30am – Corner Papanui Road and Mansfield Ave Merivale (close to Nurse Maude’s Mansfield Ave Premises)
• Hutt Valley 8:30am – Corner of High Street and Daysh Street, Avalon, Lower Hutt
• Mana, Porirua 8:30am – 4 Mana Esplanade, down from the bridge. Near the Little Green Olive Coffee Shop in the container.
• Kapiti 8:30am – Corner of Te Roto Drive and Kapiti Road (neat Bin Inn)

Previous statements

• 9 August Nurse Maude workers strike again over low pay offer and removal of sick leave
• 31 July Nurse Maude support workers to strike over irresponsible sick leave cuts

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

Source: Liggins Institute, University of Auckland (UoA)

The Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland has launched a $25 million fundraising campaign to accelerate a new generation of health breakthroughs, building on 25 years of research that has transformed the lives of millions of babies and families worldwide.

‘In our hands: A healthy start for a healthy life’ will support six ambitious ‘moonshots’: ensuring healthy beginnings for every family; delivering personalised nutrition for babies born too soon; giving every child a path to treatment; developing new “living medicines”; nurturing tomorrow’s clinician‑scientists; and building the digital future of healthcare.

The campaign launches with $12 million already committed by philanthropic supporters.

Liggins Institute director Professor Justin O’Sullivan says the campaign builds on a legacy of scientists, clinicians, patients, families, communities and donors working together.

Research pioneered by Professor Sir Graham ('Mont') Liggins and by researchers at the Institute has saved millions of babies. Landmark achievements include research that led to steroids being given to women at risk of preterm birth, boosting lung development in their babies, and the ‘sugar babies’ study, which showed that oral dextrose gel can reduce the risk of brain damage in newborns with dangerously low blood sugar.

“These and other developments have revolutionised pregnancy and neonatal care,” says O’Sullivan. “But this campaign is about taking discoveries further – from the laboratory to families and into clinical practice. The treatments we develop matter because they can change the course of a person’s life.”

One of the goals focuses on giving every family the best possible start. Each year, one in 13 babies in New Zealand is born prematurely, affecting around 4,500 whānau. The Liggins‑hosted Carosika Collaborative is working with clinicians nationwide to translate scientific discoveries into world‑leading care and reduce preterm birth rates.

For babies born too soon, the Institute aims to deliver personalised nutrition rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all approach. Researchers are developing non‑invasive biomarkers that could allow clinicians to understand in real time how an individual baby is growing and responding to nutrition. They are also pioneering breast‑milk‑derived cell therapies and investigating whether donor milk retains protective effects after pasteurisation.

Another moonshot aims to give children with genetic and rare diseases a path from diagnosis to treatment. The Institute’s rapid genetic diagnosis programme has achieved success rates of around 70 percent in critically ill children. In one case, identifying a rare mutation directly informed treatment and led to a successful bone‑marrow transplant that cured a child. The ambition now is to move from precision diagnosis to precision treatment, using genomic medicine, artificial intelligence and advanced laboratory science to identify the right therapy as quickly as possible.

The Institute is also developing a new generation of ‘living medicines’ that work with the body’s own biology. Research into the gut microbiome has identified bacteria associated with reduced metabolic syndrome, with researchers now working to develop these strains as probiotic treatments.

Another priority is investing in the people who will deliver future breakthroughs. The Clinical Research Internship Programme introduces medical students to research early in their training, creating a pipeline of clinician‑scientists who can identify important clinical questions and turn them into research.

The final goal looks further ahead, using artificial intelligence and advanced data science to transform healthcare. Researchers are developing AI‑powered digital twins that could allow clinicians to test “what if” scenarios before making real‑world decisions. The first platform will create a digital twin of Starship Children’s Hospital, allowing emergency teams to simulate crises such as earthquakes, pandemics and mass‑casualty events. Researchers are also exploring digital twins of children that combine physiological monitoring, AI and computational modelling to predict illness and guide personalised treatment.

O’Sullivan says the goals are deliberately ambitious.

“We have the opportunity to do something remarkable – to change what is possible for a premature baby, for a child waiting for a diagnosis or treatment, for a family wondering what the future holds, and ultimately, for generations of New Zealanders yet to be born.”

Philanthropic support will help researchers pursue high‑risk, high‑reward ideas, respond rapidly to emerging health challenges, generate evidence needed to secure major funding and translate discoveries into better care, he says.

For further information visit: Liggins Institute

RESEARCH GOALS IN A NUTSHELL

The campaign will drive six major ‘moonshots’ over the next quarter‑century:

• Healthy beginnings: reducing New Zealand’s preterm birth rate through nationwide clinical collaboration and research into climate‑related pregnancy risks.
• Personalised nutrition: developing real‑time biomarkers and breast milk‑derived therapies for babies born too soon.
• Pathways to treatment: expanding rapid genetic diagnosis and moving toward precision therapies for children with rare and complex diseases.
• Living medicines: advancing microbiome‑based treatments targeting metabolic disease.
• Clinician‑scientists: growing a pipeline of medical students trained to turn clinical problems into research breakthroughs.
• Digital healthcare: building AI‑powered digital twins of hospitals and children to simulate crises, predict illness and guide personalised care.

Source: TradingPlatforms.io

By Martin Tunchev | Updated: 3 September 2026

The launch of the Nissan Leaf in 2010 and the Tesla Model S in 2012 marked the beginning of the mass-market shift towards electric vehicles, a transformation that has since reshaped the global automotive industry. As EV adoption accelerates, however, the expansion of charging infrastructure has become increasingly important to supporting drivers and ensuring the EV transition continues smoothly. This, however, raises an important question: which countries have built the most extensive public charging networks, and where is charging infrastructure struggling to keep pace with EV adoption?

To answer these questions, the team at TradingPlatforms analysed the latest data on electric vehicle stocks and public charging points from the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global EV Outlook 2026. We compared EV numbers with public charging infrastructure across countries to identify where charging networks are keeping pace with growing EV fleets and where the gap between the two is widening.

Where Is EV Charging Infrastructure Under the Most Pressure?

The pressure of the growing fleets of electric vehicles is most severely felt in several small EV markets, where electrification and green projects have only recently begun to accelerate. South America’s Uruguay has the highest number of electric vehicles per public charging point among the 46 countries analysed, with around 162 EVs for every public charger in 2025. This is a direct result of the 2022 tax decree that eliminated import duties and excise tax on EVs, helping the country’s EV fleet to more than double from 11,250 in 2024 to 25,900 in 2025. At the same time, the public charging network increased by just 14.3%, from 140 to 160 charging points over the span of a year.

The United Arab Emirates has the second-highest imbalance, with around 153 EVs per public charging point in 2025. Much of this comes down to regulation. Independent operators were only permitted to build public charging stations from 2024, after years in which expansion ran almost entirely through state utilities. The network is now growing rapidly, but it is going to take time before it can catch up to the country’s 213,000-strong electric vehicle fleet.

Then there is the Philippines. The country’s 2022 Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act was intended to support the development of the EV industry, but the country’s fleet has grown much faster than its public charging network. EV numbers surged from just 4,830 in 2024 to 35,035 in 2025, marking a more than sevenfold increase. The charging network, meanwhile, didn’t move. The result was a jump from around 18 EVs per charger to 128 in just one year.

New Zealand also faces considerable pressure in providing adequate infrastructure for its growing EV fleet, with approximately 88 EVs per public charger. The country’s government pledged NZ$257 million to fund 10,000 public chargers by 2030, but as of early 2026 the rollout had reportedly stalled without a single contract signed, leaving the public network short of the pace required to keep up with the rising number of electric vehicles across the country.

The USA and Canada are also experiencing EV-to-charger pressure. In the US, there are 33 EVs for every public charging point. The $5 billion NEVI programme, a federal initiative to build a nationwide network of fast EV chargers along major highways, was frozen for most of 2025, and fewer than 400 federally funded chargers were actually built. Canada fares slightly better at 29 EVs per public charging point, but its problem is geography rather than simply the number of chargers: 88% of its charging points are concentrated in just three provinces, leaving rural and northern drivers more reliant on home charging, which many do not have.

Where Does Charging Capacity Keep Up With EV Demand?

At the other end of the ranking, South Korea leads the world in charging infrastructure, with just two electric vehicles for every public charging point. Its EV fleet grew by almost 30% between 2024 and 2025, rising from 767,000 to 994,000 vehicles over the year, while the number of charging points increased by around 74,000 to more than 491,000. Why are Koreans far ahead of everyone else? South Korea’s public charging network was built out ahead of demand, driven by a legal mandate requiring apartment complexes to install EV chargers in 5% of newly built parking spaces and in 2% of existing ones. Because most Korean citizens live in multi-family housing with limited or no off-street parking for home charging, public infrastructure has had to step up, giving Korea one of the highest levels of public charging availability relative to the size of its EV fleet.

India is another notable example, with roughly five EVs per public charging point in 2025, despite its EV fleet expanding by more than 70% to 433,000 vehicles. This has been largely driven by the PM E-DRIVE scheme, launched in 2024 with roughly $240 million earmarked specifically for public charging stations, following on from the earlier FAME II programme.

China has also managed to keep infrastructure growth ahead of electric vehicle adoption despite operating at a vastly larger scale than any other country. The country’s EV fleet increased by more than 12 million vehicles, reaching a total of 44.4 million as of 2025, while the number of public charging points expanded by 42% to 4.68 million. As a result, China improved its ratio from nearly 10 EVs per charging point in 2024 to around nine in 2025. Viet Nam achieved a similar balance during a period of exceptionally rapid growth, with both its EV fleet and charging network expanding by more than 150%.

Several European countries also maintain relatively strong public charging availability. The Netherlands has around 6 EVs per public charging point, followed by Greece with 7 and Belgium with 8. Austria and France each have approximately 10 and 12 EVs per charger respectively, while Spain and Turkey both have around 12. Denmark, Sweden and Germany also improved their charging availability as charging infrastructure expanded faster than their EV fleets, demonstrating that European markets are continuing to build charging capacity ahead of demand.

South Africa and Chile also stand out among emerging markets, maintaining around 11 and 10 EVs per charging point, respectively, after significantly expanding their charging networks. These countries demonstrate that rapid EV adoption does not necessarily result in mounting pressure on public infrastructure when investment in charging capacity keeps pace with demand.

Where Do EV Drivers Have Access to the Most Charging Power?

Looking beyond the number of public charging points, the amount of charging capacity available relative to each country’s EV fleet provides another measure of infrastructure readiness. This metric – kilowatts (kW) of capacity per car – accounts for the power that charging networks can theoretically deliver, revealing differences that are not visible when comparing charger numbers alone. South Korea leads the countries analysed with an average of 9.2 kW of public charging capacity per EV, followed by India with 6.2 kW and China with 5.9 kW.

China’s position is particularly impressive given the sheer scale of its EV market. With more than 44 million electric vehicles on its roads as of 2025, the country still maintains one of the highest levels of charging capacity relative to fleet size. India achieves an even higher ratio despite its considerably smaller EV market, highlighting the significant investment both countries have made in public charging infrastructure.

Several European countries rank strongly for public charging capacity relative to their EV fleets. Austria emerges in a leading position with 4 kW of public charging capacity per EV, followed by Spain with 3.7 kW and Greece with 3.6 kW. Sweden provides 3.4 kW per EV, while France and the Netherlands each stand at 3.1 kW. Turkey, which spans both Europe and Asia, ranks even higher at 4.3 kW per EV. Europe’s relatively strong performance may partly reflect its denser populations, shorter distances between major cities, and sustained public investment in charging infrastructure, making it easier to build extensive networks that support both everyday driving and longer journeys.

The United States and Canada rank considerably lower, with just 1.6 kW and 1.2 kW of public charging capacity per EV, respectively. Australia’s ratio is similarly low at 1.1 kW per vehicle. While these figures suggest comparatively limited public charging capacity relative to the size of nationwide EV fleets, they do not necessarily reflect the charging experience of EV drivers. All three countries have large, geographically dispersed populations and substantial reliance on private home charging, which reduces the dependence on public infrastructure compared with more densely populated markets. However, their vast distances and lower population density also make building comprehensive public charging networks more challenging, particularly along long-distance travel routes.

At the other end of the ranking, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay have the lowest levels of public charging capacity relative to their EV fleets, at just 0.096 kW and 0.092 kW per vehicle, respectively. The Philippines also ranks among the lowest with 0.21 kW per EV, followed by Colombia with 0.47 kW. The contrast between these countries and the leaders illustrates why charger counts alone can provide an incomplete picture of infrastructure readiness: a large network of lower-capacity chargers may offer considerably less charging power than a smaller network equipped with faster, higher-capacity infrastructure.

The Global EV and Charging Infrastructure Race

Southeast Asia is emerging as the world’s fastest EV-adopting region, led by the Philippines, where the total EV fleet expanded by 625.36% in a single year. Lao PDR followed at 184.68%, while Viet Nam grew 154.37% and Indonesia 136.57%. Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand also recorded strong growth of 134.50%, 91.41% and 61.78%, respectively.

Increasing EV fleets are also widespread across Europe, although generally at a more measured pace. Poland recorded a 66.33% annual increase in the number of EVs on Polish roads, followed by Portugal at 37.73%, Spain at 39.10%, and Denmark at 45.86%. Belgium’s EV fleet expanded 32.52% and Sweden’s 19.89%, while the UK’s fleet increased 23.49% to more than 2.5 million vehicles in 2025. Among Europe’s largest markets, France saw its EV stock grow 17.33% annually to 2.35 million units and Germany – 16.47% to 3.22 million, while the Netherlands reached 1.25 million EVs on the road after growing 23.34% between 2024 and 2025.

Outside Europe and Asia, adoption is also accelerating across several major markets. Brazil’s EV fleet grew 81.68%, Colombia’s 71.93%, and Chile’s 76.99%, while India increased by 70.82% to 433,000 vehicles. Australia recorded 42.76% growth and Canada 19.26%. The United States, already home to one of the world’s largest EV fleets, grew 23.78% from 6.33 million to 7.84 million vehicles. China, however, remained by far the largest market, adding more than 12 million EVs in 2024 alone to reach 44.38 million electric cars and vans on the road – despite a seemingly smaller growth of 37.66%.

The Countries That Expanded Their Charging Infrastructure The Most in One Year

Public charging infrastructure expanded rapidly across several countries between 2024 and 2025, with Turkey recording the fastest growth among those analysed. The country’s network more than tripled from 11,900 public charging points in 2024 to 36,100 in 2025, an increase of 203%. Viet Nam and South Africa also saw exceptional growth, expanding their networks by 158% and 144% respectively, while the United Arab Emirates more than doubled its number of charging points.

Several Asian markets also recorded strong infrastructure growth as EV adoption accelerated. Malaysia expanded its charging network by nearly 73%, while Indonesia increased its number of public charging points by 44%. China, meanwhile, added more charging points than any other country by a considerable margin, expanding its already vast network by 1.38 million chargers to reach 4.68 million in 2025. Its charging infrastructure grew faster than its EV fleet, allowing China to slightly improve charger availability despite adding more than 12 million electric vehicles.

Europe also continued to significantly expand its public charging infrastructure, with Denmark leading the region after increasing its network by 54% to 51,600 charging points. Sweden, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Spain all recorded growth of more than 30%, while Germany added 42,000 charging points and France added 38,000. This continued expansion suggests that several of Europe’s largest EV markets are increasingly investing in infrastructure to keep pace with the growing number of electric vehicles on their roads.

Which Countries Have the Fastest Charging Networks?

The number of public charging points alone does not tell the full story about the quality of a country’s EV infrastructure. Charging speed is equally important, particularly for drivers who cannot charge at home or need to recharge quickly during longer journeys. A country may have an extensive network of public chargers, but if most are slow, drivers can still face long waiting times and inconsistent charging. By contrast, a smaller network with a high proportion of fast and ultra-fast chargers can provide greater flexibility and allow more vehicles to be served throughout the day.

New Zealand has the fastest charging network among the countries analysed, with fast and ultra-fast chargers accounting for more than 80% of its public charging points in 2025, up from 76% a year earlier. Thailand follows with 57% of its network consisting of fast or ultra-fast chargers, while Australia, China and Norway each have more than 45% of their public charging infrastructure in these higher-speed categories. Several countries also made significant progress in shifting their networks towards faster charging, including the Philippines, where the share of fast and ultra-fast chargers more than doubled from 16% in 2024 to 34% in 2025.

At the other end of the ranking, public charging networks in several countries remain overwhelmingly dominated by slower chargers. The Netherlands had just 3.5% of its public charging network made up of fast or ultra-fast chargers in 2025, followed by Belgium with 7.6% and Colombia with 9.8%. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay’s network consisted entirely of slow chargers, highlighting how a large number of charging points does not necessarily translate into a fast or convenient charging experience for EV drivers.

The Global EV Charging Race Is Becoming a Race Against Time

As more drivers switch from petrol and diesel vehicles to electric cars, the focus is increasingly shifting from convincing drivers to ditch their polluting diesel and gasoline cars to providing adequate public charging to sustain a growing EV fleet. Countries such as Korea, India, and China show what happens when charging capacity grows alongside EV growth, while Uruguay, the UAE, and the Philippines illustrate the strain that can emerge when infrastructure falls behind. In the Philippines alone, the EV fleet surged more than sixfold in a year while its public charging network barely changed.

The next phase of the EV transition will therefore depend not just on how many electric vehicles countries put on their roads, but on how quickly they can build the infrastructure needed to support them. The countries best positioned for continued EV growth will be those that can expand charging availability, capacity and speed alongside, or ahead of, their growing electric vehicle fleets.

Methodology

To analyse global EV charging infrastructure, the team at TradingPlatforms used data from the International Energy Agency’s Global EV Outlook 2026, covering electric vehicle stock and public charging infrastructure in 2024 and 2025.

Electric vehicle stock includes battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) were excluded, as they rely on hydrogen refuelling rather than public charging infrastructure. Vehicle stock includes passenger cars and, where reported by the IEA, light-duty commercial vans. As van-level data was unavailable for some markets, totals for these countries reflect passenger cars only.

We calculated the number of EVs per public charging point in each country for 2025 to assess relative pressure on charging networks and compared these figures with 2024 data to measure year-on-year changes in EV stock and charging infrastructure. Countries without available 2025 charging point data were excluded from these calculations, including Cambodia, Lao PDR and Uzbekistan.

To assess charging infrastructure beyond the number of available points, we also used the IEA’s breakdown of public chargers by speed tier (Slow, Fast and Ultra-Fast) to calculate the share of Fast and Ultra-Fast chargers, and average public charging capacity in kilowatts per EV.

In total, 46 countries with available data were analysed. Unless otherwise stated, all figures reflect the most recently reported year in the IEA Global EV Outlook 2026 dataset: 2025.

Source link: https://www.tradingplatforms.io/reports/ev-charging-deserts/

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

MSF condemns Russia's strikes on civilian infrastructure and residential areas.

4 September, 2026 – For more than a week, the Russian military has conducted intense missile and drone strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine, and its immediate surroundings, around the clock. Whether targeted or indiscriminate, many attacks have struck residential buildings, medical facilities, and warehouses for pharmaceuticals, food, and other consumer goods — in clear violation of international humanitarian law.

Between 27 August and 3 September, at least 51 people have been killed and nearly 100 injured in the Kyiv region, according to the most recent reports by city and regional authorities.

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) condemns the Russian armed forces' strikes on civilian infrastructure and residential areas. An MSF physiotherapy team is providing care at one of Kyiv's largest hospitals, including for a wounded survivor of a recent attack.

Patients need urgent stabilisation

“I saw the ground shaking, I saw my own blood flowing, and I started crawling toward a shelter,” said an MSF patient who was wounded during a recent drone attack on a food warehouse, where he was working, in the village of Pohreby in the Kyiv region.

“I was on my way to a shelter and talking on the phone. I didn't make it: I looked back and saw something flying toward me, and then I fell,” the patient added. “The tourniquet was applied in time, and I was taken to the hospital. I was worried not for myself, but for my colleagues who were still inside the building.”

The patient sustained a bone fracture in his right leg and a torn tendon in his left, with lacerations from shrapnel across his body. The patient is currently learning to walk with the aid of a walking frame and is also seeing MSF psychologists.

“It is very important to start rehabilitation as soon as possible and get the patient into an upright position,” said Maksym Riabokon, MSF physiotherapy supervisor, “because if a person lies down, they are at risk of muscle atrophy and congestive pneumonia, and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted. Our main task is to make the patient self-sufficient and independent, to give them the tools and help them as soon as they have stabilized and undergone surgery.”

The mental health toll of near-constant attacks

The air raid alerts and explosions, which have become almost constant in Kyiv and the region, are also affecting the psychological condition of patients.

“It's very draining,” said Lesia Martseniuk, MSF mental health supervisor. “People are trying to carry on with their work, but this sense of exhaustion is very noticeable, and people are getting more and more tired. Especially given that it is currently impossible to get around Kyiv normally: Bridges are being closed, and some metro stations are out of service.

“Patients tell us that their families are experiencing significant levels of stress. School and kindergarten activities are disrupted during alerts, while parents worry about their children and their safety.”

The sleepless nights are punctuated by the sounds of massive explosions, and the non-stop anxiety deeply affects MSF staff and their families in Kyiv. The whole of Kyiv's society is suffering.

Notes

In July, MSF released the report, No Safe Place to Heal, documenting relentless attacks on healthcare and medical personnel in Ukraine. The findings show these attacks constitute a deliberate strategy to destroy the medical system and collectively punish people — rather than being an incidental product of Russia's invasion.

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au.

Source: I Am Hope

4 September 2026

90 seconds. 630 reasons. A community getting behind our kids.

Aucklanders are being invited to start their Friday with a splash as Spring Plunge 2026 returns to Eastern Beach on Friday, 11 September.

Now in its second year, the Spring Plunge is set to become an annual community event, bringing people together for a 90-second plunge into the cold waters of Eastern Beach to remember the 630 Kiwis lost and stand alongside those who may be silently struggling today.

Among those taking the plunge this year are Simeon Brown, MP for Pakuranga and Minister of Health and Transport, Howick Ward Councillor Bo Burns, and Detective Shaun Winstanley, who will also speak at the event.

Winstanley, 39, has been a police officer for 15 years. In 2023, he was shot in the face at close range by an active shooter in Auckland CBD, in an incident that claimed two lives and seriously injured eight people. He spent four days in a coma and months in intensive care and hospital, followed by years of surgeries, rehabilitation and recovery.

Today, he is a passionate advocate for mental wellbeing and resilience.

“I’ve learnt to be grateful for every minute you get, because it’s not promised. We forget that. The ‘what ifs’ can consume you, but they don’t change what’s happened. You’ve got to focus on what you’ve got in front of you and make the most of it,” Winstanley says.

“People see the amazing job that medical staff have done to repair my face after the shooting, but what they don’t see is what still lies beneath. There are still approximately 30 pellets, metal and scar tissue. To use it as a metaphor, we all have our own pellets in our face. You never really know what someone else is carrying underneath it all.

“That’s why we need to be kind to each other. Check in on people. And be grateful for every minute we get, because none of us are promised the next one.”

I Am Hope crew will be taking part and going into the water alongside the community.

I Am Hope Partnership Manager Richie Barnett says having so many people from across the community involved makes the event particularly powerful.

“It’s incredible to see how many people are getting behind this and willing to get out of bed early, get into freezing water and stand together for something so important,” Barnett says.

“Having community leaders like Shaun, Simeon and Bo there makes it even more special. Everyone is showing up in their own way, but the message is the same — look after each other, start the conversations and don’t be afraid to ask how someone is really doing.”

The event comes as Gumboot Friday, the annual iconic event prepares to return on 6 November to raise awareness and fundraise for free counselling without barriers for all young Kiwis aged 5 to 25.

Spring Plunge organisers are encouraging people to bring their mates, workmates, teams and whānau and take on the challenge together.

Spring Plunge 2026

Date: Friday, 11 September 2026

Location: Eastern Beach, Auckland

Time: Arrive 6:15am | Plunge 6:45am

Activity: 90-second Ocean Plunge

Register for Spring Plunge 2026

Walker Homes is the sponsor of Spring Plunge 2026.

Video and imagery: Spring Plunge video and imagery

GUMBOOT FRIDAY IS NOVEMBER 6

Gumboot Friday gives any young New Zealander aged between 5 & 25 free counselling. If they need help, they can get it. When they need it, before it’s too late. With more than 170,000 counselling sessions since 2019, the good is getting done.

Government support helps pay for the counselling. Community support helps keep Gumboot Friday running, so more kids know where to go when they need help.

On Friday 6 November 2026, we’re giving Gumboot Friday a shot in the arm in the hope it will become New Zealand’s Mental Health Day, when Kiwis will gumboot Up and raise funds for young people to access help when they need it.

For more info visit www.gumbootfriday.com

If you or someone you know is 25 or under and needs someone to talk to, visit www.gumbootfriday.com to book a free counsellor today — no referral needed.