Posts

Posted on

Fire and Emergency New Zealand reminds public to be extra careful when strike action takes place

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is warning the public that the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) will be undertaking a strike today, Wednesday 27 May, between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.
The NZPFU has indicated its intention to continue twice-weekly strikes.
“I want to reassure the public that all 111 calls will be received and responded to during the strike periods,” Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says.
“However, our response times will be delayed in impacted areas as volunteer crews will be responding from the next closest location. So, we are asking the public to remain extra careful.
“Our advice remains the same. If there is a fire, evacuate early, get out, stay out, then call 111.”
During the one-hour strikes, Fire and Emergency will prioritise emergencies and may not attend less serious incidents, such as private fire alarms where there is no sign of fire, small rubbish fires, traffic-management assistance, and animal rescues.
In addition, Fire and Emergency has established a process with Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance for responding to medical events in impacted areas.
“We remain focused on achieving a fair and sustainable settlement with the NZPFU so we can continue working to keep communities safe,” Megan Stiffler says.
Posted on

Government Cuts – Privacy Commissioner’s findings on Manage My Health breach another wake-up call to resource health IT properly after 1000 jobs go

Source: PSA

The Privacy Commissioner’s finding that Health NZ and Manage My Health had deficient security safeguards confirms what the PSA warned about in January: the health sector’s IT systems are under-resourced and vulnerable.
“This finding should be a wake-up call. Nearly 100,000 New Zealanders, many of them in Northland, had their most sensitive personal information stolen because security was not up to scratch,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Tomorrow’s Budget will make scandals like this a feature of public services in New Zealand as the Government moves to dismiss thousands of public servants. We know services are already being damaged, members tell us of the mounting toll cuts have inflicted.” See PSA March member survey here, released today.
“In January, the PSA called on the Privacy Commissioner to investigate the impact of cuts to Health NZ’s digital workforce. He declined. Since then, we have seen the Waikato payroll failure affecting 4,000 health workers, and OIA documents showing Health NZ’s own internal reports warned that cutting IT staff would increase risks to patient care and hospital resilience.
“The pattern is clear. Health NZ’s digital workforce has been cut by nearly 1,000 roles. The systems these workers maintained and protected are ageing and vulnerable. IT problems are taking longer to resolve. The people who understood those old systems and their weaknesses are gone.
“The Government needs to stop treating health IT as a cost to be cut and start treating it as the critical infrastructure it is. Properly resourcing digital services in the health system is not optional – it is essential to protecting patient safety and privacy.
“New Zealanders whose personal health information was stolen deserve better than this.
“We hope tomorrow’s Budget marks a turning point in health funding, and not more of the same – patient care must be a priority,” said Fitzsimons.
Previous PSA statements on health IT:
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.
Posted on

Budget 2026 – College of GPs: The future and sustainability of general practice – Why this must be a Budget and election priority

Source: Royal NZ College of General Practitioners

The College will be releasing a series of advocacy White Papers that set out our priorities for strengthening Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system through a sustainable general practice workforce. 
These papers will be released in the lead up to the Budget and November’s general election and outline the evidence, value and investment required to ensure the specialism of general practice can continue to deliver accessible, equitable care for all New Zealanders.
Posted on

Business Sector – Insolvency data reveals New Zealand business stress has peaked, but risks persist

Source: BWA Insolvency

New Zealand insolvency activity has eased in the first quarter of 2026 after peaking late last year, according to new data from BWA Insolvency.

BWA Insolvency’s Quarterly Market Report shows 772 insolvencies were recorded in Q1 2026, down 17 per cent from 936 cases in Q4 2025. While the quarterly decline suggests business stress may have peaked late last year, insolvencies remain 13.9 per cent higher than the same quarter in 2025, reinforcing that many firms are still operating under sustained pressure.

As attention turns to this week’s budget announcement, BWA Insolvency principal Bryan Williams says the data offers a timely snapshot of the financial resilience of New Zealand businesses.

“The easing in quarterly results should not be mistaken for a full recovery, as the current geopolitical situation continues to affect the market,” says Williams.

“However, this is an external shock, not a home-grown economic failure. When offshore conditions stabilise, the relief here will be felt quickly, although a full return to normality will take time as prices and supply rebalance.”

Williams says the international situation is responsible for business uncertainty: “Elevated input costs, heightened supply-side risk, and persistent caution around spending continue to cause consumer confidence to fall and demand to drop off.”

Liquidations continued to dominate insolvency activity, with 727 in Q1, down 18.6 per cent on the previous quarter but still 13.6 per cent higher year-on-year. Receiverships rose sharply to 37 cases, up 42 per cent on Q4, while voluntary administrations fell to eight cases, indicating fewer distressed businesses are attempting formal restructuring.

Regionally, insolvency activity remains concentrated in the main centres. Auckland recorded 465 insolvencies in Q1, accounting for about 60 per cent of the national total, followed by Canterbury with 132 cases and Wellington with 63.

Several consumer-facing sectors recorded significant quarter-on-quarter declines. Food and beverage insolvencies fell 36 per cent compared with Q4 2025, but remain 31 per cent higher than Q1 last year, indicating the sector is still under pressure. Recent high-profile liquidations, including Karangahape Road venue Verona, and Commercial Bay eateries Gemmi and Gochu, owned by Namu Group, highlight the ongoing challenges facing hospitality operators. Retail trade insolvencies dropped 57 per cent, while property and real estate declined 29 per cent compared with the previous quarter.
 
However, construction again recorded the highest number of insolvencies by volume, with 215 cases in Q1, slightly up on the previous quarter, underscoring ongoing structural challenges in the sector.

Williams says consumer‑dependent businesses remain vulnerable in the months ahead.

“Consumer-facing sectors will find the next few months difficult. The onset of winter will amplify the consequences that flow from troubled countries. The hardest hit will be those that rely on discretionary spending for incidentals, with that demand likely to drop significantly,” he adds.

While the quarterly decline may be welcomed in the context of the upcoming budget, underlying balance‑sheet stress remains widespread, Williams says.

“There are still many companies with lean balance sheets as a result of COVID and the post-COVID era,” he says. “Many of those companies have accumulated an obligation to Inland Revenue and it is only a matter of time before a demand gets satisfied or liquidation will result.”

At the same time, Williams says the data also points to resilience within the business community.

“Behind this current disturbance exists New Zealanders who have had enough of the nagging malaise associated with having insufficient resources to meet their everyday needs,” he says. “There is evidence of spirited potential among a wave of innovative, tech-driven and AI-focused businesses that are shaping the future economy.”

Williams says New Zealand remains well-positioned once global conditions stabilise.

The full Quarterly Market Report is available here: https://bwainsolvency.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/BWA_Insolvency-Market-Report_Q1-2026_FINAL.pdf

About BWA Insolvency
BWA Insolvency is a leading insolvency firm that supports New Zealand businesses through liquidations, receiverships and voluntary administrations (VA), specialising in VA in particular.  Founder Bryan Williams has 30 years' experience in the industry and has recently become just the second person in New Zealand and one of 200 people worldwide to be named a Fellow of global insolvency organisation Insol International.

About the BWA Insolvency Quarterly Market Report
BWA Insolvency has been tracking data on liquidations, receiverships and voluntary administrations since 2012. The Registrar of Companies Office records the filings of companies that have gone into a formal state of insolvency. BWA Insolvency then does a deeper investigation to show industry trends and provide a detailed snapshot of what's happening in the market for the Quarterly Market Report.

Posted on

Housing and Finance – More existing borrowers are about to see higher mortgage costs – Cotality

Source: Cotality

Growing numbers of NZ mortgage holders are set to face higher financing costs over the next six to 12 months, after a previous period where they got used to lower rates at each fixed loan roll-over.

New analysis from Cotality NZ shows borrowers who benefited from falling mortgage rates and short-term fixing strategies over the past two years or so are entering a more difficult financing environment as market interest rates rise.
Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said the change marked a significant turning point for mortgage borrowers after an extended period of falling rates.
“Over the past two years, many borrowers were rewarded for staying on short-term fixed rates because they could repeatedly reprice onto lower rates,” he said.
“That strategy has become much less effective as market mortgage rates rise ahead of any medium term OCR increases.”
Although the OCR has not changed (yet) so far this year, wholesale funding costs, inflation expectations and geopolitical uncertainty have all pushed market mortgage rates higher in recent months.
Mr Davidson said the increase in market rates was already influencing borrower behaviour.
Reserve Bank lending data shows floating and short-term fixed lending has become less popular over the past six months, while the two-year fixed rate has become the single most popular lending term, accounting for 29% of new lending in March.
“Borrowers are increasingly prioritising repayment certainty again as refinancing conditions become more uncertain,” Mr Davidson said.
“Many households that previously focused on staying flexible are now weighing up whether rates could move higher over the next one to two years.”
The analysis also found borrowers who fixed on very short durations more recently are already beginning to face higher refinancing costs.
Homeowners who fixed for six months in October at around 4.8% would now face a two-year rate (if they chose that term) roughly 30 basis points higher at 5.1%.
Mr Davidson said many borrowers had already missed the trough in mortgage rates.
“Current market pricing suggests more borrowers refinancing later this year are likely to move from older, lower fixed rates onto higher prevailing market rates,” he said.
The Reserve Bank’s stats shows that around 43% of existing debt is floating or fixed and set to reprice within the next six months, exposing a large cohort of borrowers to changing conditions.
Mr Davidson said the loan repricing cycle could increasingly have an impact on the country’s broader economic activity.
“Higher mortgage costs reduce disposable income and place additional pressure on household spending at a time when economic conditions are already fragile,” he said.
“That creates a more complicated environment for the Reserve Bank as it weighs inflation pressures against weaker growth and softer consumer demand.”
Posted on

Government Cuts – Underfunded, understaffed, and struggling – PSA survey confirms grim impact of cuts

Source: PSA

– 77% say Government is not funding services well enough
– Only 5% believe restructuring has helped agencies deliver better services
– Big Budget head count cuts will make service delivery worse
On the eve of a Budget that will lock in the sacking of 8,700 public servants and further decimate public services, a damning survey of the workers who deliver services reveals the mounting toll of damage already done.
The survey, conducted in March, found that three out of four public service workers say the Government is not providing sufficient funding to enable public and community services to do a good job, and a similar number say two years of restructuring has not helped them deliver better services to New Zealanders.
“These results are devastating but they will not surprise New Zealanders who are already seeing the quality of services deteriorate as workers are stretched to breaking point by the Government’s relentless cuts,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Over half of workers say their agency’s ability to deliver has got worse in the last year. Corners are being cut. Institutional knowledge is walking out the door. Only the bare minimum is being done. And the Government’s response? Ignore all that and take a wrecking ball to the public service by axing one in seven workers in the Budget.
“Nicola Willis last week called public servants ‘smart cookies’ who would welcome these changes. Well, these smart cookies have a message for her: just 5% think your restructuring has made things better. If the Minister listened to the people who deliver public services instead of patronising them, she would know her cuts are decimating the services New Zealanders depend on.
“Workers describe teams running on fumes, morale plummeting, and sickness increasing from burnout. One worker said their agency had abandoned quality in favour of quantity and was operating ‘more like a fast-food restaurant than a government department.’
“Another despaired at the loss of support staff, saying ‘having managers and leaders coordinate meeting rooms, travel bookings and other admin tasks is not effective or efficient.’
“The Government claims AI and department mergers will fill the gap. Not one AI expert in the past week said AI could replace thousands of workers. It’s fantasy.
“The Government’s priorities are clear. Give tax breaks to landlords and big tobacco, while the workers who keep this country running are sacked, overworked and undervalued. They are paying the price of poor choices, but all New Zealanders will foot the bill.
“We say to the Government: New Zealanders deserve the truth. Tell them which services they’re going to lose. Tell them before the election, not after. And stop treating the people who serve this country with such little respect,” said Fleur Fitzsimons.
Key survey findings:
The survey of 3,320 Public Service workers was conducted in March 2026 as part of the PSA’s annual all-member survey.
– 77% disagree that restructuring has helped agencies deliver better for New Zealanders
– 77% disagree that the Government is funding services well enough
– 58% say their agency is not adequately staffed to do a good job
– 56% say their agency does not have enough staff for safe and reasonable workloads
– 54% say their organisation is not well-funded to deliver for New Zealanders
– 52% say their agency’s ability to deliver has got worse over the last year.
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.
Posted on

Local authority financial statistics: Year ended June 2025 – Stats NZ information release

Posted on

New Zealanders value mining, survey shows

Source: New Zealand Minerals Council

A new survey shows considerable support for mining, says New Zealand Minerals Council Chief Executive Josie Vidal, and people are even more supportive when they learn the value of mining to the economy and the environmental measures taken by miners. (ref. https://mineralscouncil.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Mining-issues-survey-results-2026.pdf )
“Our sense was that as discussions about New Zealand’s future cover questions around energy generation, technology development, the cost of living and creating jobs, more people understand the value of mining,” Vidal says.
“But we wanted to test that. Curia Market Research ran a survey for us covering the general voting age population, as well as focusing on additional surveying in Waihi and the West Coast of the South Island.”
The survey showed:
– 72% of New Zealanders think mining is very or somewhat important to New Zealand’s economy. In Waihi it is 81% and on the West Coast, 89%.
– 43% view mining favourably and 22% negatively, for a net favourability of +21%. 32% were neutral. In Waihi 72% viewed favourably and 13% negatively. On the West Coast 83% viewed favourably and 5% negatively.
– When asked if wine exports were greater than mining, 20% more respondents incorrectly thought wine had greater export earnings that mining.
– When asked if they would prefer New Zealand to mine its own minerals or import them, the baseline of 58% would prefer New Zealand to mine and 14% to import them. When given more information about the environmental and employment standards in New Zealand mines, 71% said they would prefer New Zealand to mine its own minerals and 12% said they would prefer to import them.
– 65% had heard of the fast-track approvals law, with a baseline of net +24% support in New Zealand, in Waihi it is net +42% and on the West Coast net +66%. After explanation of the intent of the law net support rose to +35%.
– 60% say they trust mining companies to comply with environmental conditions as part of their resource consent and 30% have not very much or any trust. In Waihi it is 81% and 19% and the West Coast 76% and 22% respectively.
“We wanted to find out where the public have concerns,” Vidal says. “Perception is reality in mining and we need to know what we should be talking about and where we can improve trust or just have conversations that need to be had.
“The survey found the greatest concerns were profits going overseas, impact on biodiversity, and destruction of conservation land.
“The proportions saying something would somewhat or greatly influence their support of mining included seeing local economic benefits (70%), more local employment (69%), renewable energy transition (69%) and transparent site rehabilitation (68%).
“This is valuable information for us. Some profits going overseas is the norm in industries where companies have shareholders all over the world, as well as in New Zealand. Mining is not unusual and considerable economic benefits are provided to local communities in the payment of wages and local spending. We can see from the survey figures that where there is mining – in Waihi and the West Coast – people see the value that is going into their communities.
“Miners pay significant rates and mining companies contribute more than $3 million per year in voluntary community sponsorship for the likes of healthcare, schools, charities, community assets, sports, community groups, marae, and conservation projects.
“Mining in New Zealand has very strong guard rails with strict environmental standards. We need to show more about how mines keep to those standards and the rehabilitation work that is done, but often the sites are quite remote, so people don’t get to see that every day.
“Overall, it is good to see an understanding of the value of mining in New Zealand and support for it to continue,” Vidal says.
Posted on

Culture and History – Ngā Kōrero Tuku Iho, New Zealand Oral History Grants open for applications

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage

“I am pleased to announce that Ngā Kōrero Tuku Iho, New Zealand Oral History Grants will open for applications on 2 June 2026,” says Deputy Secretary Delivery & Investment, Glenis Philip-Barbara.
The grants support community-based oral history projects that reflect the diverse identities and perspectives of our nation. Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage administers this funding.
Applications for the 2026 funding round open on 2 June and close on 31 July 2026. The grants will now be offered every two years.
The grants provide financial assistance for oral history projects relating to the history of Aotearoa New Zealand and its close relationship with the Pacific.
This funding round will distribute up to $150,000 to successful applicants, with most grants ranging between $5,000 and $10,000. Projects of exceptional significance could potentially receive funding of up to $20,000.
“Oral histories are vital in capturing the voices, experiences, and memories of our communities. These stories deepen our understanding of who we are as a nation and help preserve important histories for future generations.
“Ngā Kōrero Tuku Iho has a proud legacy of supporting community-led projects for more than three decades, with an inspiring breadth of stories coming forward – from local histories to voices that have traditionally been underrepresented,” says Philip-Barbara.
Grants are available to individuals and groups undertaking community-led projects, with preference given to those with experience in oral history or a commitment to training.
Funding contributes to the cost of recording interviews and may cover expenses such as training, travel, equipment, and koha for participants.
“I encourage anyone with a project that captures the lived experiences of their community to consider applying.”
For more information, visit the Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage website: https://www.mch.govt.nz/our-work/apply-funding/nga-korero-tuku-iho-new-zealand-oral-history-grants
Posted on

Fire and Emergency NZ – New First Response Unit to better serve St Arnaud community

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

The St Arnaud community will get a swifter response to medical emergencies now that the Lake Rotoiti Volunteer Fire Brigade has become a First Response Unit.
St Arnaud, a small alpine village 90 kilometres south of Nelson, is home to the fire brigade.
Chief Fire Officer Graeme Andrews says the brigade has been working towards becoming medical first responders for some time, with the main driver being how isolated the town is.
“The closest ambulance is stationed in Murchison and can take more than an hour to arrive to medical emergencies. This is critical time that some patients don’t have,” he says.
“The population also swells over summer. When visitors begin arriving in St Arnaud this summer, they can be assured that there are more skilled medical first responders serving the community.”
Lake Rotoiti now joins over 60 Fire and Emergency New Zealand First Response Units across Aotearoa New Zealand as part of a Memorandum of Understanding with Hato Hone St John to respond to life-threatening medical emergencies.
Nelson Marlborough District Commander, Grant Haywood says ten of the brigade’s 15 members have completed the training delivered by Hato Hone St John and will receive further training every six months to refresh and build on their skills.
“The training equips our people with essential patient assessment and treatment skills. They will now carry a first response kit, including an automated external defibrillator (AED), to provide immediate care while emergency ambulance resources are enroute.”
Hato Hone St John Area Operations Manager, Nelson Marlborough, Henry Dickey, says the new Fire First Response Unit is a positive addition to the network of emergency vehicles serving the area.
“The team will provide early local care before an ambulance arrives from Murchison, Marlborough or Nelson, which will improve the safety of the community and lead to better patient outcomes. It’s the right thing for the community and a meaningful step to achieving rural health equity.”
The brigade also encourages people living in or around St Arnaud to consider joining as a medical first responder.
“If you have ever wanted to volunteer with us but aren’t keen on putting out fires, here is your opportunity to better serve our community,” Graeme Andrews says.
Contact Graeme on 021 085 94088 if you are interested in volunteering with the brigade.