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Patients deserve better than a pen and paper health system – more outages will happen due to Government cuts – PSA

Source: PSA

The latest IT outage at hospitals across the Waikato district is yet more damning evidence that the Government’s reckless cuts to the Health NZ IT workforce have consequences for patient care.
The outage over many hours impacted Waikato Hospital and other hospitals at Thames, Te Kūiti, Tokoroa and Taumarunui.
“Patients deserve better than a pen and paper public health system. Clinicians need to rely on modern, 24/7 IT systems to do their job – this is 2026 not 1966,” said Fleur Fitzsimons National Secretary Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“We have warned all along that when you cut more than 1000 jobs in IT, there will be consequences and patient care will suffer. Make no mistake, without adequate funding, these outages will keep happening, impacting the ability of clinicians to provide the timely care patients need.”
The PSA is the union representing Health NZ’s Digital Services workforce.
“This is just more chickens coming home to roost – when you give away billions of dollars in tax cuts to landlords for no good reason and starve the health system of the funding it needs, the Government shouldn’t be surprised.
“Health NZ today again said the problems are a result of years of underfunding and a hot potch of legacy IT systems that need fixing and integrating into national systems.
“Why then did the Government show the door to more than 1000 skilled IT professionals over the last two years?
“Come the election in November, we will be reminding voters that they have a choice to change the Government for a new one that makes public health a priority, and not tax cuts for landlords.”
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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Universities – What happens after a river becomes a legal person? – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

A Yale PhD candidate moved to Whanganui to investigate what nearly a decade of legal personhood has meant for Te Awa o Whanganui and its people.
As it winds through bush-clad valleys and farmland towards the ocean, picking up kayakers, silt and stories along the way, Aotearoa’s longest navigable river, Te Awa o Whanganui, slows as it prepares to flow through the city of Whanganui before connecting with the sea.

On its northern bank, just off State Highway four near the eastern edge of the city, sits Te Ao Hou marae, a place of connection and learning. Its main hapū is Ngāti Tupoho of the iwi Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi.

It’s here on the banks of the river that Yale School of the Environment PhD candidate Raffaele Sindoni spent much of his time, learning from kaumātua, kaiārahi and rangatahi, playing guitar and absorbing stories and knowledge about the region, particularly Te Awa o Whanganui.

Raffaele, who is also a writer and folk musician, spent five months living in Whanganui, never far from the Whanganui River, the first in the world to be recognised as a legal person in 2017.

The groundbreaking legislation, honouring te ao Māori, inspired communities around the world to explore legal protections for rivers and mountains. It also drew Raffaele to Aotearoa.

His research, in collaboration with Native American tribes and prior scholarship in the United States, led him to investigate the impact of the Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act nearly a decade after the river was granted legal personhood.

“I’m most curious about where the Act generates promising advancements, where it meets resistance, what it’s used for, and where it reaches its limits as both an expression of Indigenous relational worldviews and as an Act of Parliament operating within the structures of the New Zealand state.”

On paper, says Raffaele, granting legal personhood to a river appears to profoundly challenge colonial-capitalist understandings of land as property, water as resource, and humans and nature as separate. But, he points out, there’s a caveat.

“Rights of nature frameworks still operate within and engage with the very Western legal systems they seek to challenge. This poses an important question: how are Indigenous worldviews being translated into forms that the state recognises, and how does such a translation affect centuries of embedded legal and political Western colonial power structures?

“My research sits at this fault line. The Te Awa Tupua Act is an important entry point into scholarly and political inquiries across the world concerned with the expropriation of land, the objectification of water, climate change, and, of course, decolonisation and Indigenous sovereignty.

“These debates about legal personhood are essential for the next generation of students, activists, and lawyers as we grapple with changing relationships between people and nature. More importantly, though, they matter for all communities working to challenge the ways Western law has long shaped land, belonging, and political power.”
 
Over five months of fieldwork in Whanganui, he interviewed around 40 people with unique perspectives on the Act, including leaders of Whanganui hapū, farmers, members of entities that speak with or for the awa, heads of iwi settlement entities, Members of Parliament, district and regional councillors, environmental lawyers, and foresters.

Such a breadth of voices proved invaluable, says Raffaele, who’s now back in the US transcribing interviews and preparing a book based on his findings. Read more.
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Global Finance Founder Calls for Targeted Skilled Migration to Strengthen New Zealand’s Economic Future

Source: Global Financial Services

Global Finance Founder and Managing Director Ajay Kumar has called for a more targeted approach to skilled migration, saying New Zealand has a significant opportunity to strengthen economic growth by attracting professionals whose expertise matches the country's long-term workforce needs.
Speaking on the importance of the recently signed New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the growing economic relationship between the two countries, Ajay Kumar from Global Finance said skilled migration should focus on addressing critical shortages across sectors including healthcare, engineering, technology, construction, education and advanced manufacturing.
“New Zealand has always benefited from people who bring skills, innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset. When migration is aligned with genuine workforce needs, it creates opportunities not only for migrants but also for businesses, communities and the wider economy,” said Ajay Kumar.
Ajay Kumar believes New Zealand's future prosperity depends on combining carefully planned immigration with investment in local talent, education and productivity.
“Migration should complement New Zealand's workforce, helping businesses grow while supporting long-term economic development,” he said.
Having worked with thousands of individuals, families and business owners over more than 25 years through Global Finance, Ajay Kumar has witnessed the contribution migrants make to business creation, home ownership and investment throughout New Zealand.He said many skilled migrants establish businesses, create employment opportunities and contribute significantly to regional economic development.
“The New Zealand-India relationship continues to evolve beyond trade. It is increasingly built on investment, innovation, education, entrepreneurship and people-to-people connections. This creates enormous opportunities for both countries.”
Kumar also emphasised that attracting internationally qualified, experienced and competent professionals those who can mitigate NZ skill shortage must be supported by efficient qualification recognition and practical pathways that enable skilled workers to contribute quickly to New Zealand's economy.He believes targeted migration policies can help address workforce shortages while supporting sustainable economic growth and improving productivity.
“Businesses need certainty and access to the right skills. A balanced approach to skilled migration can help New Zealand remain competitive while creating long-term value for future generations.”
Global Finance has supported New Zealand families and businesses since 1999, providing mortgage, business, commercial, Construction lending and personal risk insurance such as life and Health advice across the country.Ajay Kumar said helping people achieve financial security is closely linked to building stronger communities and supporting New Zealand's broader economic success.
“As New Zealand looks toward the future, collaboration between government, business and communities will be essential. With thoughtful policy settings and strong international partnerships, New Zealand is well positioned to continue attracting talent that supports sustainable growth.” 
Ajay kumar also feels when big countries impose many restrictions including tariff etc, these bilateral agreements play a vital role in promoting fair trade and people to people connections which are essential for overall growth of the country.
About Global Finance
Established in 1999, licenced by FMA, Global Finance is one of New Zealand's leading mortgage and insurance advisory firms, helping thousands of families and businesses with home loans, commercial finance and personal risk insurance. Arranged over $19Bn in loans and personal risk insurance covers. With the ability to provide financial advice across New Zealand, Global Finance remains committed to delivering professional advice and helping clients achieve their financial goals in an area of their expertise.
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Banking and Finance – Kiwi are finding ways to save – the banking system needs to keep up

Source: Kiwibank

New findings from Kiwibank's 2026 State of Savings Index, now in its third year, show saving remains challenging and budgeting and saving habits are holding steady.  

Kiwibank Chief Executive Steve Jurkovich says: “Three years of research shows that despite ongoing financial pressures, Kiwi continue to budget, save and find ways to make progress, from cutting spending to trying new tools.

“One of the interesting insights this year is around the usage of AI and open banking, particularly for younger Kiwi. As awareness of open banking increases, more Kiwi will unlock new ways to track spending, build savings and improve their financial wellbeing.”  

Kiwi are saying that the cost of living, particularly the monthly grocery bill, is the biggest barrier to savings, with some taking on debt such as Buy Now Pay Later or loans from family and friends to help.  

The research also shows some groups face greater pressure than others, and Māori, Pacific Peoples, renters and women are more likely to say they struggle to save.  

The findings highlight the importance of the systems and products that help Kiwi to save. For example, only half of respondents said they were aware that savings accounts often require specific conditions to be met so they can earn the headline interest rate.  

“When Kiwi are working hard to budget and save, they shouldn't have to jump through hoops and hurdles to get the best value. Savings products should be simple, transparent and designed around how Kiwi actually manage their money.  

“Banking should not feel like something you have to work around. It should be something that helps you move forward.”

The research found:  

  • Of those experiencing saving challenges (61%), 74% cited cost of living as their biggest saving barrier. 
  • Of the 59% of Kiwi that have a budget, 85% of them broadly stick to it (1 point up on last year), and those regularly saving now (44%). 
  • 39% made deliberate changes to improve savings, such as reducing discretionary spending (28%), changing grocery shopping habits (14%) and cancelling subscriptions (10%). 
  • 40% have taken on debt to cover increased living costs with Buy Now Pay Later (19%) and loans from friends or family (12%) being the most common. 
  • Kiwi say the best savings accounts offer competitive interest rates (52%), no fees or conditions (37%), and flexible access to their money (33%). 
  • 52% have some understanding of open banking with 42% seeing it as relevant to them. 
  • 12% have used AI for budgeting and savings advice, with 64% of those finding it helpful.

Table 1. Over three years, budgeting and regular saving are consistent  

 

Measure 

2024 

2025 

2026 

Monthly budget 

59% 

60% 

59% 

Regularly save 

41% 

43% 

44% 

Save from time to time 

38% 

37% 

37% 

Have a specific savings goal 

35% 

51% 

43% 

Cost of living biggest barrier* 

73% 

69% 

74% 

Can cover an unexpected $500 expense 

67% 

68% 

68% 

 

* For those who say it’s challenging to put money aside (63% in 2024, 63% in 2025 and 61% in 2026) 

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Household Labour Force Survey income data: Summary of feedback – Stats NZ report

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Household Labour Force Survey income data: Summary of feedback – report

23 July 2026

Kia ora

Earlier this year we sought feedback about using administrative (admin) data to replace Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) income measures.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to make a submission to share your thoughts with us. We’ve published a summary of the feedback we received on our website.

Most submissions told us that our research appears promising, but further work would be required to ensure a new approach would continue to meet information needs. While feedback was mixed, there was general support to continue investigating a linked HLFS and admin data model.

The feedback also included helpful suggestions about how using admin data could improve HLFS income data, and highlighted risks and priorities for us to consider when using admin data for HLFS.

Based on the feedback and other work to date, we will continue further investigations into a linked HLFS and admin data model as resources and priorities allow. This work aligns with Stats NZ’s strategic goal to drive better decisions and services with admin data.

We will keep you informed about any further proposals or progress in the future.

In the meantime, we will continue to collect this income data as usual, through HLFS survey questions.

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Pathway to monthly CPI in 2027 announced – Stats NZ news story

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Pathway to monthly CPI in 2027 announced – news story

23 July 2026

New Zealanders will have access to more frequent information about changing prices from 2027, helping households, businesses, and government make better-informed decisions.

Stats NZ today announced the pathway for introducing monthly consumers price index (CPI) information in 2027.

Government Statistician and Stats NZ Chief Executive Colin Lynch says moving from quarterly to monthly information will provide a more current view of price changes across the economy.

“The CPI is used to inform decisions that affect all New Zealanders, from interest rates and government policy to business planning, contracts, and household finances,” says Colin.

“Providing a monthly CPI from 2027 represents a major change to one of New Zealand’s most important economic measures, so it is essential this is done with quality and trust at its heart.”

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FinCap – Latest financial mentoring statistics reflect cost of living pressures and the need for increased and ongoing sustainable funding for financial mentors

Source: FinCap
Latest financial mentoring statistics reflect cost of living pressures and the need for increased and ongoing sustainable funding for financial mentors.
FinCap today releases our fourth Voices report – an annual analysis of the circumstances faced by tens of thousands of households who are working with financial mentors to address debt issues.
The numbers are sober reading. A record of more than 30,654 cases in the FinCap run Client Voices system, a 57% increase from 2021. A 121% increase in total client debt over five years to almost a billion dollars. The median client was further behind, spending $107 for every $100 of income each week.
FinCap Chief Executive, Fleur Howard, reiterates and celebrates the significant contribution of financial mentors and the value of their support in their communities.
“Both financial mentors and the whānau they support continue to innovate to find a way through many pressures. However, dead ends are being hit and the status quo with financial mentoring funding isn’t sustainable.
“Difficult debt can have a long tail in people’s lives, so when we miss an opportunity to resolve an issue now, this limits their financial inclusion, challenges their physical and mental health, and puts a strain on their relationships.
“We urgently need a reset to the chronic underfunding of the financial mentoring sector so we can ensure this essential service is accessible and safe for mentors and clients in the coming years.”
The report recommends a $30.5 million per annum increase in steady funding for financial mentors. This is in addition to the current $19.5 of Ministry of Social Development funding, which has not increased despite the 57% rise in cases closed over five years.
Recommendations include a $5.5 million increase in government funding and the exploration of levies and voluntary ongoing contributions of $25m from KiwiSaver providers, banks, other lenders, other financial services, electricity providers and telecommunications providers. Industry contributions are proposed in recognition of financial mentors’ roles supporting people to stay included in the essential services markets they need access to.
“Since 2015 there has been a 1046% increase in KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals nationwide and on average financial mentors are spending 40% of their time helping KiwiSaver members to understand options before deciding whether to proceed with a withdrawal,” says Fleur Howard.
“Financial mentors need more funding to keep being there when this support is needed for better outcomes.”
The report also puts a spotlight on the urgent need to modernise our debt collection laws. Our results show 86% of financial mentors had seen debt collectors make demands for repayment that would prevent clients from affording essentials.
“The wild west we have now means a debt collector can coerce someone to sacrifice money from their food budget to service a questionable, historical claim of debt.
Technically, debt collectors can be challenged when doing this, but practically it is unlikely and almost always will be going completely unchallenged,” says Fleur Howard.
FinCap continues to recommend that the government amend legislation to create a licensing regime on debt collectors. This would mean regulators could monitor for unacceptable practices and could better hold debt collectors to account when they cross a line.
FinCap has also just submitted on the Fair Trading Amendment Bill, pointing to the need for clear consequences that prevent harassment and coercion of the increasing number of households who are unable to pay.
More effective debt collection regulation can minimise cumulative harm in years to come from the significant debts people are incurring now while trying to survive endless cost of living pressures.
A copy of this report is available here: FinCap Voices Report 2026
The accompanying Appendix can be found here:
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Rural News – FREE SUPPORT FOR FLOODED WAIRARAPA FARMERS

Source: Rapid Relief Team NZ
 
Farmers affected by catastrophic flooding in South Wairarapa are being invited to attend a free Farmers Community Connect (FCC) event in Martinborough next month, bringing together practical recovery assistance, support services and the rural community.

Hosted by the Rapid Relief Team NZ (RRT), the event will provide flood-affected farmers with free fencing packs containing posts, battens and wire to assist with repair and recovery efforts following the severe weather experienced across the region, valued at $1,500 each.

Farmers will also have the opportunity to connect with a range of local support organisations, in particular Rural Support Trust, along with health services, rural financial counselling providers and veterinary suppliers. 

RRT New Zealand General Manager Paul Simmons said the event is designed to provide both practical assistance and an opportunity for farmers to connect with others facing similar challenges.

“Recovery from a weather event of this scale doesn't happen overnight. Many farming families are under real emotional and financial pressure as they cope with damaged infrastructure and the ongoing clean-up effort,” Mr Simmons said.

“Farmers Community Connect is about providing practical support while creating an opportunity for people to come together, access services and have conversations that can make a real difference during the recovery process.”

In addition to collecting recovery supplies, attendees can enjoy a complimentary barbecue lunch and barista coffee while catching up with fellow farmers and support providers. 

RRT is expecting to donate around 100 fencing packs and provide 250 free lunches to the local community on the day.

This will be RRT’s ninth FCC event, bringing the total level of support for flood, drought, and storm affected farmers to over 1,600 since 2023.

To be eligible to receive free fencing supplies, farmers must register before on Friday, 7 August 2026. For registration information, visit: www.bit.ly/martinboroughFCC.

Event Details: 

Date: Thursday, 13 August 2026

Time: 11:00 to 13:00

Location: Martinborough Transport, 204 Lake Ferry Road, Martinborough

About Rapid Relief Team NZ:

Established in 2013, the Rapid Relief Team is a charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church which provides practical support, community assistance and disaster relief across New Zealand and around the world. For more information on RRT, please visit www.rrtglobal.org.

Since 2023, RRT has supported more than 1,640 New Zealand farmers affected by severe weather events through its Farmers Community Connect programme – further information available here: https://rrtglobal.org/nz/operations-appeals/farmers-community-connect-events/

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Business leaders say new Emissions Monitoring Report serves as wake-up call for New Zealand

Source: Sustainable Business Council

The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) welcome the release of the Climate Change Commission’s 2026 Emissions Reduction Monitoring Report, describing it as a significant wake-up call for New Zealand, and supporting its key recommendations.
As illustrated on page 6 of the report, the country’s second emissions budget (2026-2030) is at significant risk, and current plans are insufficient to meet the third emission’s budget (2031-2035) or the 2030 biogenic methane target. According to the Commission New Zealand needs to more than double its current pace of decarbonisation efforts, and if additional action does not occur in the next one to two years, key climate goals will be out of reach.
SBC Chief Executive Mike Burrell says the report serves as significant wake up call.
“We welcome this report and thank the Commission for their important independent, evidence-based advice that helps successive governments, and our businesses, stay on track. Its central finding is one our business leaders are taking seriously, acknowledging current plans are not enough to meet the second or third emissions budgets, and the time available to us to close those gaps is rapidly disappearing.”
Mr Burrell says the Commission’s findings reinforce the economic case SBC and CLC set out earlier this year in their Driving Sustainable Growth report, which the Commission itself has cited in the new report.
“The modelling of our Driving Sustainable Growth report clearly shows that acting now on a focused shift toward an innovation-driven, productivity-led economy, underpinned by affordable and plentiful renewable energy and stable policy settings would add $22 billion a year to GDP by 2035, while also contributing to greater emissions reductions. Closing the budget gaps and unlocking that growth is the same task. The recommendations in our report, from electrification and renewable energy to innovation and productivity, present a practical pathway to do both. What we need now is to act on them.”
CLC Convenor and Genesis CEO Malcolm Johns says the Coalition’s signatories are already moving and are ready to move faster with the right settings in place.
“Our signatories are already investing in the transition right across renewable energy, electrification and in low-emissions technology because they recognise both the risk and opportunity before them. The Commission’s report confirms what our members are already seeing in their own investment decisions – the transition is real, the economic case is stronger than ever, and delaying action is no longer an option. What business needs now is confidence that the country is moving in the same direction, at the pace this new report demands.”
Mr Johns says business leaders stand ready to work alongside government to deliver on the significant task that’s required.
“Ambition alone won’t reduce our emissions; we need investment to make that happen. Investment at the scale this transition requires depends entirely on confidence in the pathway ahead. The Commission has given us an independent, expert and robust assessment of our current state – where the risks lie and what needs to happen next. The task now is to get on and do it, together, so we don’t squander the economic opportunity before us.”
SBC and CLC will shortly release a joint pre-election briefing paper setting out their priorities for the incoming Government. The views represent the 140 businesses making up the two networks, who together contribute 42 percent of New Zealand’s private sector GDP.
SBC’s Mr Burrell says, “Business is not standing still, and neither should policy. The Commission is clear that decisions taken now, or delayed action, will significantly shape whether our third emissions budget and 2050 target remain in reach. Our pre-election briefing paper will set out what we believe the next Government needs to prioritise to give business the confidence to invest at the pace and scale this transition requires, in order to harness the opportunity before us as a nation.”
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 accountfor delivering on commitments outlined by a ‘Statement of Ambition’. www.climateleaderscoalition.org.nz
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Save the Children – OPT: Israeli forces kill 19 children so far in July with four dying in overnight strike

Source: Save the Children

At least 19 Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli forces in the occupied Palestinian territory so far in July with four children reportedly killed in Gaza yesterday morning (local time), with attacks near-daily despite a ceasefire, Save the Children said.
A drone strike on a residential building south of Gaza City in the early hours of yesterday set the building on fire, reportedly killing four children and their parents. This was the latest in a spate of deadly attacks this month, with an average of one child dying each day.
On Saturday, a family of five was reportedly killed when an Israeli fighter jet struck their apartment in Gaza, with one sibling surviving the attack. Last Wednesday, a 6-year-old girl was reportedly killed with her parents and her four-year-old brother injured after an Israeli helicopter targeted an apartment building in Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza. Earlier in July , two siblings, aged seven and eight, were killed when an Israeli drone hit a vehicle in the al-Sabra neighbourhood south of Gaza City.
Another 9 children have reportedly been killed since the start of the month , with the latest fatality last Saturday when a 17-year-old from Al-Mughayyir northeast of Ramallah, died from injuries sustained during a raid on a village the week before. Besides the children killed, many others have suffered severe and long-lasting injuries, with others left orphaned after narrowly escaping the attacks, which have continued to be almost daily despite a nine-month ceasefire.
  Ahmad Alhendawi, Save the Children's Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, said:  
“How can this be called a ceasefire when whole families are still being wiped out? Children with their parents burned alive in a single strike. Others left as the sole survivors, carrying soul shattering injuries that will leave them scarred for life. Is this the new reality? 
“This comes less than a month after the UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) concluded that Israeli authorities and security forces have deliberately targeted Palestinian children. Yet children continue to be killed. International law cannot apply selectively. If it does not protect Palestinian children, then it is failing to serve the very purpose for which it exists. Palestinian children deserve life; the targeting of Palestinian children must be stopped.” 
Save the Children is calling on governments to immediately suspend the transfer of arms to Israel and ensure that they do not support or sustain unlawful practices in the occupied Palestinian territory. Member States must also ban trade, economic cooperation and services that maintain or support illegal Israeli settlements, in line with the International Court of Justice’s 2024 Advisory Opinion and represents a necessary step to end the systematic violation of Palestinian children's fundamental rights.  
Save the Children has worked in the occupied Palestinian territory since 1953, with a permanent presence since 1973. We work with partners to help provide quality education, protection for children, early childhood development support, and employment opportunities for young people. 
Despite continued access constraints, repeated displacement, and a deteriorating humanitarian environment, since the beginning of 2026, Save the Children has sustained life-saving operations across the occupied Palestinian territory. In Gaza, we have expanded learning spaces, scaled up water and sanitation services to displacement sites, strengthened health delivery through partnerships, and reached families with cash assistance. In the West Bank, we are supporting the mental health and psychosocial well-being of children and their caregivers, providing children with access to safe and inclusive education and families with cash assistance.