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Government Cuts – New Zealand’s ability to monitor geohazards weakened by science job cuts – PSA

Source: PSA

The centre providing 24/7 monitoring of geohazards will have to close at times as Government cuts force the centre workforce to be cut to the bone.
The National GeoHazard Monitoring Centre, operated by GNS Science, provides round the clock monitoring of potential tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides, and was set up after the Kaikoura Earthquake in 2016.
Last year GNS Science announced plans to cut a quarter of the 20 strong team of Geohazard Analysts by attrition following funding cuts. Yesterday, with 18 of the team left, it called for voluntary redundancies and indicated that forced redundancies could follow if sufficient voluntary redundancies are not agreed.
“Cutting the team to the bone means there is a high chance the centre will close at times when a team member falls sick or is unavailable for whatever reason – how is this keeping New Zealanders safe?” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
Analysts work in teams of four, that is falling to three, but there must be at least two on each monitoring shift raising the risk of the centre closing due to staff absences.
“The Government needs to explain to New Zealanders why it views that this service is not as important as it was two years ago, before its funding cuts.
“Geohazard Analysts play a critical role in reviewing earthquake measurements to determine things like the magnitude and location of earthquakes and provide science advice to our emergency management services.
“The Government’s decisions mean that this critical information may not be available to emergency management in times of need when lives are at risk. This is reckless for a country so vulnerable to geohazard risks like earthquakes and eruptions.
“This government does not value the role of science as we have seen with more than 400 jobs cuts throughout the sector, and a restructure announced this year with no new funding.
“The undermining of the National GeoHazard Monitoring Centre is yet another sad example of the Government’s short-sighted cuts that we have seen across the public sector with little regard to the impacts on New Zealanders.”
Background
In September last year GNS Science announced plans to axe 59 roles, 10% of its workforce following Government funding cuts. The cuts shocked the international science community – 85 scientists from seven countries wrote an open letter to the Government stating that the cuts risk ‘compromising essential geoscientific expertise and partnerships needed to address geohazards risks, which is critical for a country whose economy and community safety is so vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanoes, and climate change’.
See PSA statement:
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.
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Advocacy – Wellington hīkoi to parliament tomorrow against prison expansion

Source: People Against Prisons Aotearoa (PAPA)

On Friday, June 13, People Against Prisons Aotearoa (PAPA) is inviting concerned members of the community to a rally outside the Department of Corrections National Office in Pōneke (Wellington), to protest the Coalition Government's expansion of Waikeria and Christchurch Men’s Prisons. After speeches, there will be a hīkoi to the lawn outside parliament.

PAPA Wellington branch member Mallory Stevenson said “Adding more capacity to prisons will not address the injustices of our so-called justice system. We already know that the police and the courts lock up Māori extremely disproportionately. Expanding these systems just breaks apart more whānau, pushes Māori further into poverty. We need to meet people’s real needs, rather than just dumping billions of dollars into locking up the poor.”

“The prison population is only growing because of totally reversible decisions this government has made. Despite evidence that longer sentences make it harder for people to reintegrate into society, they are choosing to lock more people up for longer.”

An 810-bed expansion planned for Waikeria was announced in May of last year, and a 596-bed facility opened just a week ago. This year’s budget also announced a 292-bed expansion to Christchurch Men’s Prison. Paul Goldsmith’s recently passed Sentencing (Reform) Amendment Bill effectively provides a blanket increase to minimum sentences, interfering with the courts’ ability to make appropriate decisions.

“If there’s an issue with prison overcrowding, it is an issue this government has created. We could be granting bail to the thousands of people on remand who haven’t been convicted of any crime and pursuing community-based solutions wherever possible. This government has taken every opportunity to defund services that actually help people and reduce crime. This government has defunded society so it can funnel cash to its billionaire supporters, and the prison crisis is the result. We deserve better.”

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Agriculture – Wool carpet decision a ‘parachute’ for farmers – Federated Farmers

Source: Federated Farmers

Kāinga Ora’s decision to use wool carpet in its social housing is a massive win for wool growers but won’t be enough to save the industry on its own, Federated Farmers says.
“Our wool industry is in major freefall, and this move from Kāinga Ora is the parachute we desperately need,” Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams says.
“This will slow our drop a bit but, in reality, what we really need now is an updraft to lift wool back up into being the number-one fibre globally.
“It’s certainly a massive step in the right direction, though, and we’re very pleased with the announcement yesterday.”
Williams says Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s largest landlord, so its contract has the capability to soak up large volumes of wool, which in turn will help drive up prices.
As well as transitioning to using wool carpet in its new social housing, Kāinga Ora will also use wool carpet in existing homes if the whole house needs recarpeting, such as when renovating older properties.
The decision comes after a recent Request for Proposal (RFP) inviting both wool and nylon carpet providers to tender for the supply of carpet and underlay in its properties.
“Last year Federated Farmers slammed Kāinga Ora for initially deciding to categorically rule out using woollen carpets in its social housing,” Williams says.
“Our homegrown wool is an incredible product and it beggared belief that Kāinga Ora weren’t even giving wool the chance to compete against nylon products.
“That was a total slap in the face for struggling Kiwi sheep farmers and rural communities, and we made it very clear it was a ridiculous, short-sighted decision.
“It’s great they saw sense and allowed wool to have a crack – and even better that a wool provider has won the contract.
“It just goes to show that when wool is given a fair chance, it comes out on top as a natural, sustainable and renewable alternative to cheap and nasty plastic alternatives.”
Williams says the decision is the result of a massive collaborative effort across the entire wool industry.
“Federated Farmers and other groups have been working really hard for years to get the Government engaged with, and listening to, wool growers.
“We recently launched our SOS: Save Our Sheep campaign to hammer home the message that we need urgent action if we’re to keep our sheep and wool industry from collapsing entirely.
“Farmers are sick of woolly ideas – they want solid actions like this.
“It just shows that strong leadership from the Government can be a factor in restoring confidence to our embattled wool industry.”
Williams says the housing agency’s decision is also a big step forward for environmental sustainability.
“Using cheap, nasty plastic carpets might save a few bucks, but at what cost to the environment?
“If Kāinga Ora had picked a fossil fuel-derived synthetic carpet over a sustainable New Zealand-grown woollen product, just because it’s cheaper, it would have been a disaster.”
Williams says he’s also really pleased that high-quality, sustainable Kiwi wool will be in the homes of some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable tenants.
Kāinga Ora will transition to using wool carpet in its new homes from 1 July 2025, when the supply arrangements come into effect. 
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Stats NZ information release: Electronic card transactions: May 2025

Electronic card transactions: May 2025 – information release

12 June 2025

The electronic card transactions (ECT) series cover debit, credit, and charge card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants. The series can be used to indicate changes in consumer spending and economic activity.

Key facts
All figures are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified.

Values are at the national level and are not adjusted for price changes.

May 2025 month

Changes in the value of electronic card transactions for the May 2025 month (compared with April 2025) were:

  • spending in the retail industries decreased 0.2 percent ($9.9 million)
  • spending in the core retail industries decreased 0.2 percent ($11 million).

Visit our website to read this information release and to download CSV files:

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Property Market – House values on the rise across growing number of suburbs – Cotality

Source: Cotality

Fresh insights from Cotality NZ’s Mapping the Market report reveal earlier signs of a pick-up for standalone houses than townhouses, as the national housing market shows fresh signs of stabilisation.

Despite the general slowdown of recent years, standalone houses are beginning to regain ground in many suburbs – particularly in more affordable areas – while growth across townhouses and flats has remained more subdued and uneven.
Kelvin Davidson, Chief Property Economist at Cotality NZ, said the latest suburb-level breakdown offers a valuable view of emerging tr

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Advocacy – “Look busy – the people are angry” in the face of genocide – Government brings shame on us all! – PSNA

Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

The government’s decision to sanction Israeli cabinet ministers is a cynical diversionary gesture, according to the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa.

New Zealand has joined the UK, Australia, Canada, and Norway in banning the entry of Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

PSNA Co-Chair, Maher Nazzal, says the just announced move is simply to placate New Zealanders angry at the government’s complicity with the mass killing of Palestinians and deliberate starvation of Occupied Gaza.

“The New Zealand government statement was quite explicit that the sanctions were ‘not designed to sanction the wider Israeli government’ of which Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are ministers.”

“The New Zealand government's official statement is laying the blame for Israeli barbarity on just two ministers.  Our government is pretending that they alone are responsible for the military violence in the Gaza Strip, and Israel's annexation of Palestinian land, expanding settlements, and forced displacement.”

“All these war crimes are supported and stated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.  These measures are all being carried out by the Israeli government.  These two ministers are quite rabid, but they are not just freelancers or ‘bad apples’.”

“Netanyahu himself is wanted for trial on war crimes charges, so why does he escape the travel ban?”

 Nazzal says Ben-Gvir and Smotrich would never plan to come to New Zealand anyway.

“The last time such an individual visited in 2006 the Auckland District Court issued a warrant for his arrest to face war crime charges.” (That was Israeli General Moshe Ya’alon – the ‘Butcher of Qana’.  The warrant was quashed by the then Attorney-General Michael Cullen)

 “Even if the government sanctioned the entire Israeli cabinet, it would be meaningless.”

“Israel has made Gaza hell on earth for Palestinians, and is making it worse by the hour.  We should be cutting trade ties – including military technology, which might be finding its way to Israel, or sending up satellites from Mahia used by Israel to spy on Gaza.

“New Zealand has bilateral agreements with Israel over science and movie-making.  They should stop.”

“The government needs to ban Israeli soldiers coming here for genocide holidays, instead of Winston Peters going out of his way to welcome them.”

“And it goes without saying that the Israeli ambassador should be booted out.”

Nazzal says the forced starvation in Gaza has reached a crisis point.

“The choice for the international community is stark.  Let tens of thousands starve to death in the next few weeks, or impose a no-fly zone over Gaza and provide military protection for UNRWA aid convoys.”

“In that context, by limiting the travel options for two Israeli politicians our government feels like it’s conveying a message of  “Look busy – New Zealanders are angry, we must be seen to be doing something, but really,  we don’t care.”

 

Maher Nazzal

Co-Chair PSNA

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Property Market – NZ’s Rental Homes Are Ageing – And the Clock Is Ticking

Source: Property Brokers

With less than a month until the 1 July 2025 Healthy Homes Standards deadline, the latest Regional Rental Report from Property Brokers reveals a pressing reality: New Zealand’s rental housing stock is ageing – and fast.
According to the report, the average rental property managed by Property Brokers was built in 1968. In some regions, homes dating back to the 1940s are still actively rented. David Faulkner, General Manager of Property Management for Property Brokers, says this presents both a challenge and an opportunity for landlords.
“We manage a significant proportion of older homes, and retrofitting them to meet compliance is now more urgent than ever,” says Faulkner. “But compliance isn’t just a box to tick – it’s a chance to add long-term value. A warm, dry, well-ventilated home is more attractive to tenants, encourages longer stays, and can command better returns.”
The Regional Rental Report – co-authored by Professor Graham Squires of The Property Knowledge – draws on a sample of over 8,000 active rental properties across regional New Zealand. It highlights the mismatch between modern compliance standards and an ageing housing stock.
“It’s often assumed that renters live in older homes, and this data confirms that assumption,” says Professor Squires. “However, there’s a wider conversation to be had about housing supply, regional development, and the economic viability of upgrading versus rebuilding. Older homes still dominate much of the rental market, particularly outside the major metros.”
Key insights from the report include:
– Papamoa leads with the highest average rent at $697 per week, with stock averaging from 1997.
– Rolleston and the Selwyn District have the youngest rental stock, due to Christchurch’s post-earthquake rebuild.
– Dunedin and Oamaru feature the oldest active rentals, averaging from the mid-20th century.
– Newer homes like those in Rolleston have shorter average tenancy lengths (16 months), while older homes in places like
Carterton show longer tenancies, despite the age of the stock.
Faulkner says the Healthy Homes deadline has brought long-overdue attention to housing quality.
“The cost of non-compliance – from fines to lost income – is far greater than the cost of doing it right. We’re actively working with landlords to meet the standard and future-proof their investments,” he says.
Squires adds that evolving tenancy tr

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Legal Issues – Unions take pay equity fight to the ILO – CTU

Source: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges has taken the pay equity fight to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference in Geneva, Switzerland. The ILO is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards.

“I spoke about the recent pay equity changes at the ILO to highlight that Christopher Luxon’s Government has abandoned what was world-leading pay equity legislation,” said Ansell-Bridges.

“It was important to inform the 187 member states that despite not being signalled in the last election, reforms to severely undermine the legislation were passed under urgency without any consultation with workers or their unions.

“Overnight this world-leading system was gutted and what remained in its place is a series of roadblocks, impossible thresholds and obstacle courses masquerading as pay equity.

“180,000 workers, mostly women, many of whom are some of the most vulnerable and lowest paid workers in New Zealand, had their claims cancelled and years of work thrown away.

“Our response to massive undervaluation of pay in female-dominated industries must be how do we fix this, not how do we shirk these costs, having benefited so long from underpaying women.

“We could once be proud on the world stage for making progress towards correcting this blatant sexism – it is shameful that we now have a government that has such low regard for the right to be free from gender discrimination.

“I assured the conference that the union movement in Aotearoa New Zealand will continue to push for a genuine pay equity system and will not rest until women’s work is properly valued and workers everywhere are paid equitably regardless of their gender,” said Ansell-Bridges.

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World Vision – Aotearoa gearing up for the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge Weekend (13-15 June)

Source: World Vision

    

Rangatahi across New Zealand are gearing up to tackle a range of unique tasks for the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge this weekend (13-15 June). 

 

The nation’s largest youth fundraising event kicks off this weekend and is encouraging participants to go offline for 40 hours to raise funds for hungry children in Solomon Islands. 
  

A rite of passage for young New Zealanders, the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, gives rangatahi a platform to champion important causes and raise funds for those in need, while putting themselves to the test with a unique or difficult challenge. 

There is no shortage of creativity in the challenges that will be undertaken for 40 hours this weekend, including:  

  • Living in a cramped dinghy  
  • Speaking only Shakespearian English  
  • Making 400 paper cranes 
  • Cooking 500 meals 
  • Running 100 kilometres  
  • Kayaking 40kms 
  • Going fully off-grid tramping 
  • Completing 40 acts of kindness 
  • Planting thousands of trees 

 

This year ’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is calling on youth to give up technology and go “offline for 40 Hours” to unplug, disconnect, and get together with their fri