Posts

Posted on

Union win for home support workers – but mileage increase still falls short – PSA

Source: PSA

A temporary increase in the mileage allowance for home support workers is a welcome response to the fuel crisis but more is needed.
Health Minister Simeon Brown announced today a temporary 12 month increase in the allowance from 63.5 cents to 82.5 cents per kilometre.
“This is a positive step forward for home support workers who have been subsidising our public health system system with their own vehicles and their own wallets for too long,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“This is a win for these low paid workers doing essential life-preserving work in clients' homes all over New Zealand. They campaigned loud and strong for an increase, but this must be just the beginning of the support they need.
“These workers were already doing it tough after the Government cancelled pay equity, stripping away the prospect of fair pay for a workforce that is overwhelmingly female and chronically undervalued.
“The mileage rate has been frozen since March 2022. Fuel prices have surged, vehicle running costs have climbed, and these workers have worn every cent of that gap. A temporary fix does not cut it. It must be higher, it must be made permanent.”
The PSA is continuing legal action in the Employment Relations Authority, arguing that requiring home support workers to use their own vehicles as a tool of the trade breaches the Wages Protection Act 1983. That claim will proceed regardless of today's announcement.
“The mileage allowance must be set at an adequate level that properly reflects costs and we still need to see the annual statutory review of the In-Between Travel allowance result in further increases,” said Fitzsimons.
“Many home support workers cannot get enough guaranteed hours to earn a decent living. The additional hours that top up their incomes can change week to week, leaving them with precarious and unpredictable pay.”
The Government's Employment Leave Bill adds further pressure. Many home support workers are part-time, and the proposed changes to sick and annual leave entitlements will leave them worse off.
“The Government has taken away pay equity, offered a temporary mileage fix that does not go far enough, and is now moving to cut leave entitlements for part-time workers.
“Every one of these decisions hits the same workers: women, part-time, doing essential work for low pay – it speaks so much to this government’s priorities – workers won’t forget the $3 billion tax cut to landlords, money that could have helped make their lives better.
“The PSA will keep fighting for home support workers in the ERA, at the bargaining table, and wherever else it takes. These workers deserve a permanent, adequate mileage rate, secure hours, and the pay equity they were promised.”
Previous 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.
Posted on

Consumer NZ – Who makes New Zealand’s tastiest hot cross bun?

Source: Consumer NZ

Consumer NZ puts these doughy Easter favourites to the test.

As Easter approaches – and many of us prepare to scoff chocolate eggs and hot cross buns over the holiday weekend – Consumer NZ has put a selection of buns to the test.

A panel of willing Consumer staff blind taste-tested a range of traditional spiced hot cross buns, plus two ‘wild cards’.

Buns were purchased from all the major supermarkets. Tasters were then asked to rank them on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being dreadful and 5 being delicious).

Tasters were allowed to apply butter or margarine.

The winner, for the second year in a row for best traditional hot cross bun, was New World; with the top-ranked buns purchased from the bakery of a Wellington New World supermarket.

“Tasters gave this bun a high score of 3.9 out of 5, describing it as packed with fruit and not dry, well spiced and with a lovely citrusy taste,” says Consumer NZ spokesperson Ben Christie.

“Congratulations to New World for taking out the title for the second consecutive year!”

The top of the ‘wild card’ buns was Woolworths’ Indulgent Hot Cross Buns with Cadbury Caramilk Chips.

“These innovative types of hot cross buns really get up the nose of traditionalists, but our tasters enjoyed them,” says Ben Christie.

“Tasters described them as delicious with ‘good moisture levels', although some did reflect they were more like a cake than a hot cross bun.”

The lowest rated hot cross bun came from Pak’nSave due to a strong gas scent and a weird aftertaste.

Consumer purchased the buns at Pak’nSave, New World, Fresh Choice and Woolworths supermarkets around Wellington, plus one variety from Commonsense Organics.

It’s important to note that recipes can vary from store to store for in-house baked buns.

For the full list of buns, the scorecard and reviews head to Consumer.org.nz

About Consumer NZ

Consumer NZ is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to championing and empowering consumers in Aotearoa. Consumer NZ has a reputation for being fair, impartial and providing comprehensive consumer information and advice.

Posted on

Fire Safety – Daylight saving is ending – do you have smoke alarms where you sleep?

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

The 12 months from July 2024 to June last year saw the highest number of preventable residential fire deaths in a decade, with 17 people killed in house fires. Seven of those deaths occurred during the winter months.
When the clocks go back an hour as daylight saving ends this Sunday, 5 April, Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s Community Education Manager, Tom Ronaldson wants people to install smoke alarms in the rooms where they sleep.
“Many of the deaths in that year were the result of not having smoke alarms in the right places.
“We are urging people to not only check their alarms, but to make sure they have smoke alarms in every room where someone sleeps,” Tom Ronaldson says.
“It’s also important to look out for older neighbours, family and friends who may not have the ability to install smoke alarms themselves.
“More than 60 percent of avoidable residential fires in the last five years involved people over the age of 60.
“We encourage you to check in on the older people in your lives and near you to make sure their smoke alarms are less than 10 years old, still working, and that they have one in the room where they sleep.”
Every year over the colder months, Fire and Emergency sees an increase in household fires as people heat their homes, including in households where they have smoke alarms, but not necessarily in the right places to save lives.
“Most New Zealand homes have smoke alarms, but now is the time to make sure you, your family and your community have them in the right places and that means in every bedroom, living area and hallway,” Tom Ronaldson says.
Posted on

Universities – Sámi governance in focus for Indigenous scholar – UoA

Source: University of Auckland – UoA

Across the Arctic north, reindeer still follow routes that have shaped Sámi life for generations, tying people to land, culture and identity.

Now University of Auckland Law School Professor Claire Charters is heading to Sápmi to study the Indigenous political institutions that have emerged from that history.

Charters (Ngāti Whakaue, Tūwharetoa, Ngāpuhi, Tainui) has received a $10,000 Borrin Foundation Travel and Learning Award to examine Sámi governance institutions and what they might offer Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Sámi, who number about 80,000 across Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia’s Kola Peninsula, are the only recognised Indigenous people in the European Union. In response to pressure on their land, culture and political rights, representative bodies known as Sámi parliaments were established in Norway, Finland and Sweden.

Charters will attend sessions of the parliaments, meet parliamentarians and members of the Sámi Council, and connect with experts in Sámi law and governance at the University of Tromsø, the University of Helsinki, and the University of Oulu.

“The Sámi parliaments in Norway, Finland and Sweden are utterly fascinating as mechanisms to realise Indigenous peoples’ self-determination, even if they only do so imperfectly,” says Charters, who co-directs the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre for Indigenous Peoples and the Law.

“There are so many lessons we can learn to apply in Aotearoa. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to undertake research on the parliaments in situ.”

Her research will focus on the relevance of Sámi constitutional arrangements to Indigenous governance in Aotearoa, at a time when questions about Māori political authority, self-determination and constitutional transformation remain central.

Charters says her broader work in Indigenous peoples’ rights, in Aotearoa and internationally, is driven by a passion for justice for Māori and other Indigenous peoples in light of the impact of colonisation, together with consequential structural and socio-economic inequities.

Posted on

Property Market – Property values not feeling war effects … for now

Source: Cotality

Property values across Aotearoa New Zealand increased by 0.2% in March, matching the same rise seen in February. While this marks a modest lift, it comes against the backdrop of the Iran conflict that began in late February and continues to weigh on business and household confidence.

Cotality NZ’s latest Home Value Index (HVI) also shows that the national median value in March of $802,599 was -1.3% lower than a year ago and still down by -17.1% from the peak in early 2022 – which was $968,333.

Trends across the main centres were a little more divergent in March, with Kirikiriroa Hamilton and Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington both edging down by -0.1%, while Tauranga and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland were flat. By contrast, Ōtautahi Christchurch was up by 0.6% and Ōtepoti Dunedin by 0.7%.

Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist, Kelvin Davidson said that March’s subtle rise in property values at the national level would pique the interest of those looking for early signs of a market upturn, but he also noted that uncertainty remains high.

“Coming off the back of February’s small gain, the latest rise means we’ve now had two increases in a row, potentially signalling a change in trend.”

“That being said, the increases in national values in the past two months clearly remain small and have only made a minor difference to the drop from early 2022’s peak.”

“The Iran conflict is throwing an extra layer of uncertainty over everything.”

“In the property market, values were already still proving slow to respond to the falls in mortgage rates since mid-2024 and the nascent economic recovery.”

“The missing piece has probably been a confidence factor, and now, in light of the latest conflict and sharply higher fuel prices, it’s difficult to see housing sentiment or property values lifting sharply in the near term.”

“Of course, there are always two sides to the coin, and while some sellers/owners may not be too pleased with current housing conditions, first home buyers are capitalising – provided that they feel secure about their jobs in this current uncertain environment.”

“In a nutshell, both the economy and housing market still face a testing period ahead.”

Index results for March 2026
Change in dwelling values
Month
Quarter
Annual
From peak
Median value
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
0.0%
-0.2%
-3.4%
-23.1%
$1,039,955
Kirikiriroa Hamilton
-0.1%
0.6%
-2.1%
-12.5%
$723,721
Tauranga
0.0%
0.1%
2.0%
-14.7%
$917,527
Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington*
-0.1%
0.1%
-1.7%
-25.0%
$771,699
Ōtautahi Christchurch
0.6%
1.1%
2.4%
-2.2%
$689,739
Ōtepoti Dunedin
0.7%
1.7%
2.0%
-9.3%
$622,269
Aotearoa New Zealand
0.2%
0.3%
-1.3%
-17.1%
$802,599

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland saw flat property values in March across the market as a whole, but this reflected ups and downs at a more granular level. For example, Manukau saw a 0.3% rise, while North Shore was up by 0.2%. Yet Rodney, Waitakere, and Franklin all dropped by -0.3% or more.

Waitakere and Franklin have also been weaker over a three-month period to start the year (down by -0.8% and -0.9% respectively), while North Shore and Manukau have both edged slightly higher since December.

Mr Davidson said, “Auckland’s housing affordability has improved significantly in recent years as more supply has become available, prices have dropped, and incomes have increased. It’s not cheap as such, but better affordability probably does still set the scene for rising house prices eventually.”

“It’s just that in the meantime, general economic confidence around Auckland still looks subdued and it doesn’t benefit as much from a booming agricultural sector as much as say the Canterbury/Christchurch or Otago/Dunedin areas – where property values lifted again in March.”

“Until we can see more of an improvement in the services sector of the economy, Auckland’s housing market may well remain slow – but favourable for buyers.”

 
Change in dwelling values
Month
Quarter
Annual
From peak
Median value
Rodney
-0.3%
-0.6%
-2.4%
-21.3%
$1,194,535
Te Raki Paewhenua North Shore
0.2%
0.1%
-0.8%
-17.9%
$1,299,465
Waitakere
-0.3%
-0.8%
-2.7%
-24.9%
$902,907
Auckland City
-0.1%
-0.2%
-4.8%
-24.6%
$1,073,683
Manukau
0.3%
0.3%
-3.8%
-24.5%
$975,458
Papakura
-0.1%
-0.4%
-3.4%
-24.1%
$796,089
Franklin
-0.4%
-0.9%
-3.9%
-23.2%
$916,700
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
0.0%
-0.2%
-3.4%
-23.1%
$1,039,955

Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Variability in property values was also on show in the wider Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington area in March, with Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt for example dropping by -0.6%, but Kāpiti Coast and Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta Upper Hutt both rising by at least 0.7% over the month.

That being said, Wellington has still broadly been one of the weakest parts of the country over a longer horizon, with all sub-markets down to some degree over the past 12 months and all by more than 20% from the peak.

Mr Davidson noted, “to a degree new housing supply will have been one factor keeping a lid on values lately, especially in the markets outside Wellington City itself. But as we also see in Auckland, economic confidence in the Wellington area remains muted and it clearly also has a lower exposure to growth sectors such as farming. In this environment, it’s no great surprise that Wellington’s property values remain patchy.”

“The Iran conflict may again push this year’s election into the background for a while, but as domestic political uncertainty rises later in 2026 this is also cause for caution around Wellington’s house prices.”

 
Change in dwelling values
Month
Quarter
Annual
From peak
Median value
Kāpiti Coast
0.7%
1.7%
-2.2%
-21.8%
$786,281
Porirua
-0.1%
-0.5%
-3.0%
-24.2%
$731,942
Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta Upper Hutt
0.9%
1.0%
-0.7%
-23.8%
$707,441
Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt
-0.6%
-0.5%
-3.4%
-26.9%
$657,422
Wellington City
0.0%
0.4%
-0.8%
-24.6%
$857,311
Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington
-0.1%
0.1%
-1.7%
-25.0%
$771,699

Regional results

March’s data showed a pretty consistent picture of rising property values in the next tier of markets down from the main centres, with areas such as Te Papaioea Palmerston North and Ngāmotu New Plymouth only edging higher (0.1% apiece) but Ahuriri Napier up by 0.7%, Tairāwhiti Gisborne 0.8%, and Waihōpai Invercargill by 1.7%.

“Invercargill continues to outperform most other parts of the country, rising by 7.1% over the past 12 months. Wairoa and Grey Districts are the only other areas to have growth of 7% or more since March last year,” Davidson noted.

“Invercargill also sits alongside Grey, Westland, Ashburton, Timaru, Central Otago, Southland District, and Gore as the only markets where house prices are currently at a new peak. Those are all in the South Island and with a strong farming base.”

“Of course, even in these areas, the Iran conflict puts a new level of uncertainty into the mix, especially around diesel supply for primary production. In other words, housing market activity and prices in most if not all parts of the country are vulnerable to this developing economic shock.”

 Region
Change in dwelling values
Month
Quarter
Annual
From peak
Median value
Whangārei
0.4%
0.4%
-1.3%
-19.3%
$725,087
Heretaunga Hastings
0.2%
0.6%
-0.5%
-17.9%
$730,431
Te Papaioea Palmerston North
0.1%
0.7%
1.8%
-17.8%
$594,523
Ahuriri Napier
0.7%
1.3%
0.1%
-17.6%
$710,615
Tairāwhiti Gisborne
0.8%
1.4%
4.0%
-13.6%
$608,363
Whakatū Nelson
0.4%
0.7%
-1.1%
-13.3%
$714,059
Rotorua
0.2%
0.6%
-0.8%
-12.2%
$652,298
Whanganui
0.3%
1.3%
2.4%
-9.5%
$497,509
Ngāmotu New Plymouth
0.1%
-0.9%
-1.7%
-6.7%
$698,943
Tāhuna Queenstown
0.3%
2.2%
2.9%
-2.0%
$1,583,378
Waihōpai Invercargill
1.7%
2.6%
7.1%
At peak
$531,571

Property market outlook

Mr Davidson noted that the Reserve Bank remains on high alert and although there won’t necessarily be any knee-jerk official cash rate rises in the short term, it’s important to remember that mortgage rates are driven by a broader range of factors.

“Global uncertainty stemming from the Iran conflict and concerns about wider inflationary pressure have already seen interest rates rise in world money markets, and that’s flowed through to mortgage rate lifts at some NZ banks.”

“Many households will be watching that very closely and recent data shows there’s recently been a strong shift by borrowers towards fixing longer.”

“That will give some sense of security to individuals, but for the wider housing market the risks of higher inflation, rising interest rates, and/or a softening economy both point to headwinds,” Davidson said.

“Indeed, our modelled forecast for property sales to rise from around 90,000 last year to 100,000 this year is starting to look a stretch. In the end, though, everything is a watching brief at the moment when it comes to the economy and housing market.”

Posted on

Culture and Events – Waiheke Launches "Island of Wine" – A Month-Long Celebration This October

Source: Waiheke Winegrowers Association

Waiheke Island will uncork a new chapter this spring with the launch of Waiheke Island of Wine – October, a month-long celebration of the island’s world-class wine, food, culture, and community.
From 1-31 October, vineyards, restaurants, accommodation providers, and local businesses will come together to host a diverse programme of wine-led experiences, positioning Waiheke as New Zealand’s Island of Wine.
The programme will feature winemaker dinners, masterclasses, cellar door exclusives, curated tastings, wine and wellness events, wine talks, and larger-scale hospitality experiences. An invite-only VIP launch will also bring together media, trade, and industry leaders.
Waiheke Winegrowers Chair Rory Dunleavy says the initiative is about bringing a sharper focus to what makes the island unique.
“October is a special time on Waiheke. The vineyards are waking up, the island is stretching into the season, and there’s a real sense of energy building.
This is about opening that moment up and inviting people in. Not just to taste the wines, but to experience the place they come from. The people, the land, the stories behind it all.
Individually we’ve always had something special here, but this is about bringing it together and presenting it as one unified voice.”
The programme is designed to drive shoulder-season visitation while building momentum ahead of the summer peak. Visitors can expect thoughtful, place-led experiences that reflect the character and diversity of Waiheke.
Businesses across the island are invited to participate by creating wine-linked experiences and offers throughout the month.
The full programme will be announced in August 2026.
For more information visit: www.waihekewine.co.nz
Posted on

Health – Safe Sleep Day 2026 Announced: Friday 5 June

Source: Hapai Te Hauora

Preventing avoidable harm starts with safe sleep. Hāpai Te Hauora is encouraging whānau and communities across Aotearoa to mark Safe Sleep Day 2026 on Friday 5 June.
This year’s focus is on ensuring every pēpi has a safe sleep, every time. The message is simple: “make every sleep, a safe sleep.”
Supporting this is the Foundations for Safe Sleep – a practical framework that helps both the sector and whānau create safe sleep environments in everyday life.
The Foundations were launched in 2025 in partnership with whānau, clinicians and researchers, bringing together mātauranga Māori and evidence-based practice.
They were developed in response to feedback that previous safe sleep messaging felt too clinical and didn’t reflect real whānau realities. This approach centres simple, practical guidance that supports whānau to make safe sleep decisions in everyday life.
Preventable sleep-related deaths continue to impact whānau across Aotearoa.
Hāpai Te Hauora National SUDI Lead, Fay Selby-Law, says safe sleep remains an urgent and ongoing kaupapa.
“The message is simple, but it is important: make every sleep a safe sleep. That means giving whānau practical guidance they can use every day, in ways that reflect their realities and keep their pēpi safe.”
The four foundations are:
  • Face up, face clear
  • Flat and firm
  • Free (smoke, vape, alcohol and drug-free environment)
  • Fathers & Family
Safe Sleep Day is an opportunity to raise awareness, share knowledge, and support whānau across the motu.
More information and resources can be found at: https://sudinationalcoordination.co.nz/
Posted on

Annual number of home consents up 12 percent – Building consents issued: February 2026 – Stats NZ news story and information release

Posted on

Mixed trends in river and lake water quality indicators – Stats NZ news story

Posted on

Health – West Coast bed shortage shows aged care is health care and the system is broken

Source: Aged Care Association

The growing shortage of aged residential care beds on the West Coast is not just a community issue – it is a health system failure, reinforcing that aged care must be treated and funded as an essential part of New Zealand’s health system.
Over the past decade, the Buller District has lost 54 aged residential care beds following the withdrawal of Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora) from service provision in Reefton and Westport. This has occurred in a region with one of the oldest populations in the country, where 26.3% of residents are aged over 65 – nearly double the national average.
The impact is now being felt across the entire health system.
O’Conor Home in Westport currently has 20 people on its waiting list, including eight who have already been assessed as requiring residential care but cannot access it locally. With no beds available, older people are either remaining in hospital unnecessarily or being forced to leave their communities to receive care.
In one recent case, an older person nearing the end of their life spent over a month in a hospital Assessment, Support and Rehabilitation Unit simply because there was no aged care bed available and they could not return home.
“This is what happens when aged care is not recognised as health care,” says Aged Care Association Chief Executive Tracey Martin. 
“These are people who have been clinically assessed as needing care. When there is no aged care bed available, they don’t stop needing care – they stay in hospital, or families are left to manage complex health needs at home.”
The consequences extend beyond individual families, placing additional pressure on already stretched hospital and emergency services.
Despite the clear need, providers ready to expand capacity are unable to do so due to a lack of capital funding support.
“We have providers who are shovel-ready to build and expand beds,” says Martin. 
“But unless aged care is treated as core health infrastructure, and funded accordingly, those beds will not be built and hospitals will continue to carry the cost.”
The Aged Care Association is calling on the Government to establish a dedicated Aged Residential Care Infrastructure Fund, recognising aged care as a critical component of the health system.
“If aged care is health care – and it is – then it must be planned, funded, and invested in as part of the health system,” says Martin. 
“Right now, we are seeing the consequences of not doing so. People are stuck in hospital beds, families are under pressure, and communities are losing the ability to care for their own.”
“This is not a future problem. It is happening now, and it is entirely fixable.”