MIL Email Publisher (NZ)

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace says the Government has poured fuel on the growing backlash over its Conservation Amendment Bill, with a revised version of the Bill retaining controversial changes to the very purpose of New Zealand’s conservation law.

The new Bill just released by the Environment Select Committee retains clause 6ea, dubbed the “Shane Jones Clause”, which rewrites the purpose of the Conservation Act by requiring DOC to enable commercial activities on public conservation land “to the greatest extent practicable”.

Greenpeace spokesperson Gen Toop says the Government is attacking the fundamental principle that conservation land exists to be protected, not exploited.

“The Government has just confirmed it still plans to open up protected public conservation land to private commercial exploitation. Mines, private resorts, dams, shopping complexes – all on land and waters that are supposed to be protected for nature to thrive and the public to enjoy.

“People would not accept the Government selling off public conservation land, so instead it is trying to strip away the very protections that make it conservation land in the first place.”

“This is a cynical and underhanded move. You cannot rewrite the law to enable corporations to exploit conservation land ‘to the greatest extent practicable’ and still claim it is protected. And if protection is no longer the purpose, it is no longer conservation land in any meaningful sense,” says Toop.

“I don’t believe for a second that people will accept a future where public conservation land in Aotearoa no longer means land protected for nature and the public. These are places that are deeply cherished by our people and that previous generations chose to protect, not exploit.”

The Conservation Amendment Bill originally proposed making it easier to sell or exchange around five million hectares of public conservation land. Following a massive public backlash to the Bill, the Government committed to removing those specific provisions.

But the revised Bill retains the purpose change, which applies to the whole conservation estate, including National Parks. It retains controversial changes to Treaty provisions, visitor amenity areas and concession rules as well as proposals to concentrate power with the Minister.

Toop says, “Let’s be very clear: the Conservation Amendment Bill is unsalvageable. From start to finish, this Bill is rotten to its core. It must be thrown out.”

“More than 90,000 submissions have been made against this Bill and thousands are expected to march down Queen Street against it in two weeks. The public continues to make its opposition clear. It is time the Government listened and abandoned the Bill altogether.

“Nobody wants to show up to their favourite conservation park to go hunting, camping, tramping, or fishing and discover that it has been fenced off and turned into a private resort, open-cast mine, or commercial development.”

Toop says the coalition Government should remember what happened the last time the Beehive tried to open up conservation land to exploitation.

“In 2010, the John Key Government tried to open some of our most treasured conservation land to mining. It became a major political battleground – and the Government lost. Tens of thousands of New Zealanders took to the streets and forced it to back down.

“This Government has made a huge political gamble by repeatedly putting public conservation land in the firing line in an election year. It has badly underestimated how deeply people from all walks of life love these places – and how fiercely they are prepared to defend them.”

Greenpeace, Forest and Bird and more than 30 other organisations are calling on people to join them to march against the bill on September the 19th in Auckland. 

Source: Fish and Game NZ

Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game have secured $36,000 in Game Bird Habitat Trust funding to help landowners across the regions create more than 12 hectares of valuable wetland habitat.

Five wetland projects in the Wellington/Taranaki Fish & Game regions have been awarded funding this year, supporting landowners in Wairarapa, Manawatū and Taranaki to create and enhance wetland environments on their properties.

The successful projects include:

• $16,000 towards a 4.3ha wetland in lower Wairarapa.
• $11,000 for two Wairarapa projects covering a combined 1.5ha.
• $5000 for a 2.2ha project in eastern Wairarapa.
• $4000 for two projects in Manawatū covering just under 1ha.
• $5000 for a 0.6ha wetland near Stratford.
• $3900 for a project in Marton covering 2.6ha.

Together, the projects will create or enhance more than 12ha of wetland habitat, demonstrating how funding generated through game bird hunting is being reinvested into conservation.

The funding comes through the NZ Game Bird Habitat Trust, which supports the creation, restoration and protection of habitat for game birds and other wetland wildlife. The Trust is funded through the Game Bird Habitat Stamp programme, with money generated by the sale of game bird hunting licences helping deliver practical, on-the-ground wetland conservation projects throughout the country.

Wellington/Taranaki Fish & Game manager Phil Teal says staff enjoy working closely with farmers and other landowners to identify opportunities for wetland creation and restoration.

“This can involve turning marginal or difficult-to-farm areas into valuable environmental assets that benefit both the property and the wider landscape.

“Hunters are not just users of the environment – they are also helping to fund its protection and restoration,” he says.

“These projects are a great example of Fish & Game, landowners and hunters working together to create lasting environmental benefits.”

Wetlands are among New Zealand’s most threatened environments. While these projects will provide important habitat for game birds, the benefits extend well beyond hunting.

Wetlands provide food, shelter and breeding habitat for a wide range of native birds, fish, insects and other wildlife. Wetland plants and shallow-water environments support diverse ecosystems, while wetlands can also help improve water quality by filtering sediment and nutrients before reaching rivers and streams.

Wetlands can also store water, slow the movement of floodwaters and add biodiversity and resilience to working rural landscapes.

For Fish & Game and landowners, creating wetlands on marginal areas of rural properties is a win-win.

“Creating habitat for game birds also creates opportunities for native flora and fauna,” Mr Teal says. “A well-designed wetland can become a thriving ecosystem, benefiting wildlife, improving the surrounding environment and becoming a valuable aesthetic feature of a working farm.”

The projects also demonstrate that wetlands do not need to be vast to make a difference. While the largest successful project covers 4.3ha, smaller wetlands can provide valuable habitat and, collectively, contribute to healthier and more diverse landscapes and waterways.

For the landowners involved, the funding will help turn suitable areas of their properties into living ecosystems that will continue to provide benefits for years to come.

“This is a reminder that every game bird licence contributes to more than the opportunity to hunt – it helps support the protection and creation of habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife across New Zealand,” says Mr Teal.

WHAT IS FISH & GAME?

Fish & Game manage trout, salmon and game birds to provide healthy recreation for Kiwis.

We work to protect the environment that anglers and hunters have enjoyed as a tradition for over 150 years.

Source: Asia New Zealand Foundation

WELLINGTON, 2 September 2026 – The Asia New Zealand Foundation's Asia Media Centre has selected RNZ investigative reporter Anusha Bradley as this year's Jefferson Fellow, one of the most prestigious international journalism fellowships available to Asia-Pacific reporters.

Bradley was chosen from a highly competitive field of applicants for a project the Asia Media Centre says closely matches this year's fellowship focus: the societal and economic impact of artificial intelligence across the region.

The Jefferson Fellowship is a three-week reporting and study tour delivered by the East-West Centre in partnership with the Asia Media Centre, which covers all associated costs. This year's programme, “New Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence: Navigating AI's Impacts on Societies and Economic Security in the Asia-Pacific Region,” runs from 25 October to 12 November 2026 and takes fellows to Honolulu, Tokyo and Seoul, with visits to hospitals, laboratories, AI-driven manufacturing plants, chipmakers and AI-enabled farms.

Asia Media Centre Manager Graeme Acton says the AMC is proud to be working with the Hawaii-based East West Centre on the Fellowship. “The Jefferson has always been an attractive and useful opportunity for Kiwi journalists looking to spread their wings and learn a bit more about the region”, he says. “Anusha Bradley is one of the best in the business in New Zealand right now”.

During the fellowship, Bradley will report on four interlinked threads: AI's role in healthcare and agriculture; algorithmic decision-making and accountability in the public sector; indigenous data sovereignty, drawing on Aotearoa's position as an international leader in Māori data sovereignty; and AI's growing role in Asia-Pacific defence and security. She plans to bring the reporting home as a series of in-depth stories for RNZ, alongside a paper examining New Zealand's “light-touch” approach to AI regulation.

“AI is changing the world,” Bradley said. “Helping the public understand these changes, clearly and honestly, feels like one of the more important things journalism can do right now.”

Bradley is an award-winning reporter with RNZ's In Depth team, where she covers health, disability, social justice and the intersection of policy and politics. She was named Reporter of the Year at the 2025 Voyager Media Awards, won the Health Journalism Award in 2022, and was a finalist for Best Investigative Reporting at the 2025 New York Festivals Radio Awards.

The Asia Media Centre is part of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, and partners with the East-West Centre to deliver the Jefferson Fellowship each year, connecting New Zealand journalists with a global cohort of Asia-Pacific reporters and bringing sharper, better-informed coverage of the region back home.

Source: World Vision New Zealand

World Vision warns that children separated from family in the aftermath of Nepal’s devastating flash floods are at risk of trafficking and exploitation.

The child-focused aid agency says many children are living in evacuation centres and temporary shelters, unsure whether relatives are alive or when they may be able to return home.

World Vision New Zealand National Director TJ Grant says with so many separated children sheltering it’s vital to have robust family tracing and child protection measures in place.

“Children who have survived the floods and who are separated from family are very vulnerable right now. We need robust child protection and family reunification systems in place to ensure that children are not separated again, or worse trafficked and exploited. Every reunification must put a child’s safety first and we must focus on restoring and strengthening local child protection systems.”

In partnership with government authorities, World Vision is mobilising protection teams, along with providing emergency food, shelter kits, safe drinking water, and hygiene and dignity kits for women and girls.

The flash floods have killed more than 1,000 people, with 4,000 still missing. It’s estimated that a further 50,000 people have been impacted, including 17,000 children. Some communities are still isolated due to washed out roads and bridges.

World Vision Nepal National Director, Roslyn Gabriel, says it’s vital to meet immediate physical needs while restoring safety and stability.

“Children have survived a terrifying disaster, and they need to know who they can trust, where they will sleep and whether they will see their families again. Our focus is on reaching the families most in need while ensuring that displaced and separated children are protected throughout the relief and recovery process,” she says.

Gabriel says as children and families grapple with the devastation left behind by the floods, the impact on children’s wellbeing will endure long after the waters recede.

She says sudden displacement, the loss of homes, schools and communities, and separation from caregivers can leave children facing profound fear, uncertainty and distress.

Gabriel says education must be recognised as an urgent humanitarian priority because schools help to provide a vital source of stability, learning and support.

In the coming weeks, World Vision plans to provide child-friendly spaces, temporary learning centres, livelihood programmes, and repair community water systems.

New Zealanders wanting to support children and families affected by the flash floods in northern Nepal can give here: www.worldvision.org.nz/Nepal-floods  

Source: Real Estate Authority

3 September 2026

In a decision released on 14 August 2026 the Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal found One Up Realty Limited (the Agency) guilty of misconduct under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 for breaches of real estate trust account audit regulations between the financial years ending 31 March 2018 through to 2024.
The Tribunal censured the Agency and ordered it to pay a fine of $18,000. The Agency's company officer was ordered to undertake further training and education on trust accounts.

Facts
Under the Real Estate Agents (Audit) Regulations 2009https://www.legislation.govt.nz/secondary-legislation/pco-drafted/2009/279/en/latest/#DLM2393208 (Audit Regulations), all real estate agencies in New Zealand must ensure any money received in respect of a real estate transaction is deposited in a designated trust account, and every agency must keep trust account records in a manner that enables them to be properly audited.
On 24 August 2017, the Agency opened a Trust Account. In accordance with the Audit Regulations, the Agency was required to appoint an auditor, however it did not do so until 29 August 2023. Throughout this time, the Trust Account was operational, received funds relating to 275 transactions and was not audited at the times and in the manner prescribed by the Act and Audit Regulations. During this time REA engaged with the Agency reminding it of its trust account obligations.The Agency admitted that its conduct constituted a reckless contravention of the Act and Audit Regulations and pleaded guilty to the charge.
Reports prepared by the Agency's auditor retrospectively for the 2018 to 2024 financial years did not identify any irregularities in the handling of trust monies.

The Tribunal decision
In its decision the Tribunal noted that “the Agency was reminded by the [Real Estate Authority] of its obligations to comply with the Audit Regulations and the Act on multiple occasions”, and outlined a series of notifications of requirements, requests for explanation, and referrals to compliance information from the Real Estate Authority to the Agency.
In determining the penalty the Tribunal concluded that the fine ordered against the Agency must be placed at the higher level of the available penalty for misconduct, and noted “[b]reaching the Audit Regulations must be regarded as serious. …However, we take into account that the Agency admitted liability and cooperated with the Authority at an early stage.”

REA Chief Executive Belinda Moffat says that this case highlights the critical importance of compliance with the trust account audit regulations by real estate agencies.
“Real estate agencies handle significant client and customer funds in relation to property transactions. Trust account obligations exist for the protection of consumers, and their funds. If trust accounts are not managed correctly, this could result in financial loss to consumers, reputational damage to the agency, and loss of trust and confidence in the industry as a whole.

Agencies need to have good systems for dealing with client and customer money. They also need sound procedures for oversight of the handling of money and trust accounts. Appointing a qualified auditor is a legal requirement under the Audit Regulations and a key part of the independent oversight required.
As the conduct regulator of the real estate profession, REA seeks to educate and assist agencies to meet their obligations in operating trust accounts. However where we identify reckless, wilful or ongoing non-compliance REA will take stronger regulatory action.
The Tribunal's decision reminds agencies that failure to comply with the provisions of the Audit Regulations in relation to trust accounts is a serious breach with potentially significant consequences including consumer harm. Agencies' systems and practices must be fully compliant and company officers are responsible and accountable for ensuring that they remain so.”

Full Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal decision:
2026-NZREADT-40-Complaints-Assessment-Committee-2302-v-One-Up-Realty-Ltd-14-August-2026.pdfhttps://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Decisions/2026-NZREADT-40-Complaints-Assessment-Committee-2302-v-One-Up-Realty-Ltd-14-August-2026.pdf

About REA

The Real Estate Authority (REA) is the independent government agency that regulates the conduct of licensed real estate professionals in New Zealand. We license people and companies working in real estate, provide oversight of the code of conduct, oversee the complaints and disciplinary process for poor conduct by licensees, provide education and guidance to licensees to assist them to meet their regulatory obligations, and provide information to consumers about the real estate transaction process. REA is governed by a Board. The Chair is Denese Bates KC. REA Chief Executive is Belinda Moffat.
People who have concerns about the conduct of a real estate professional can contact the Real Estate Authority (REA) – visit rea.govt.nzhttps://www.rea.govt.nz/ or call 0800 367 732. Consumers seeking independent information about buying and selling property can visit REA's consumer website settled.govt.nzhttp://www.settled.govt.nz.

Source: ASB Bank

Thursday 3 September 2026

In response to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's move to increase the Official Cash Rate from 2.50% to 2.75%, ASB is increasing its variable home loan rates by 25 basis points. ASB is also increasing the interest rates on its Savings Plus product by 25 basis points, and its Headstart savings product by 10 basis points.

ASB Executive General Manager Personal Banking Adam Boyd says rising interest rates can be challenging for some homeowners and buyers.

“Recent data shows most of our customers are managing well, with 45% of our home lending book ahead on repayments by a month or more. However, we recognise not everyone is in the same position.

“Our teams are ready to support customers who may need extra help and can work with them to explore options that suit their circumstances. Reaching out early gives us the best opportunity to find a solution together.

“We also encourage customers to regularly review their savings arrangements. We offer a range of savings products, including bonus saver accounts and competitive term deposits, which may help customers make the most of their savings.”

Home Loan	Current Rates	New Rates	Rate Change
Housing Variable	6.04%	6.29%	+ 0.25%
Orbit Variable	6.14%	6.39%	+ 0.25%

ASB's new variable home loan rates are effective from Wednesday 9 September for new customers, and from Thursday 10 September for existing customers.

Savings	Band	Current Rates	New Rates	Rate Change
Savings Plus**		1.80%	2.05 %	+ 0.25%
Headstart*	All Balances	1.95%	2.05%	+ 0.10%

*This change is effective from Thursday 10 September.
**This change is effective from Thursday 1 October.

ASB has practical information for customers on the current interest rate environment available on its websitehttps://www.asb.co.nz/home-loans-mortgages/preparing-for-rising-interest-rates.html as well support to help customers take control of their financial wellbeing and achieve their goals at its Financial Wellbeing Hubhttps://www.asb.co.nz/banking-with-asb/financial-wellbeing.html.

Source: Office of the Ombudsman

The Office of the Ombudsman has released its findings of an investigation into the Official Information Act practices and capabilities of five government agencies.

The agencies reviewed were the Ministry for Regulation, Ministry for the Environment, Ministry for Primary Industries, Inland Revenue and the Civil Aviation Authority.

Assistant Ombudsman Proactive and Preventive Monitoring and Interventions, Zoey Henley, says the investigation looked at two key areas to determine how each agency worked to meet the requirements of the OIA. They were leadership and culture, and performance monitoring and learning.

“We did not identify any conduct that was wrong, unreasonable or contrary to law so there were no formal recommendations. We did find some good practices, as well as opportunities for improvement.

“Staff across most agencies spoke positively about their agencies’ OIA leadership and culture, with many highlighting their senior leaders’ commitment to promoting transparency.

“The agencies were generally responsive to our suggested actions. Some agencies implemented a number of improvements before the investigation was finalised.

“However, we did feel that at one agency, an aversion to risk was emphasised on occasion over the importance of the timely release of information.

“As with all practice investigations, all of the agencies have been encouraged to provide clear, visible, and regular statements to staff about the importance of the OIA and to make sure their OIA team is well-resourced.”

All agencies received action points to strengthen their leaders’ OIA oversight including record-keeping and applying the right grounds for withholding information. They were also asked to consider developing formal agreements with Ministers’ offices on handling departmental OIA requests.

The agencies were selected because they represented a cross section of the public sector and included a new agency and a crown entity.

The latest investigation is part of the Ombudsman’s ongoing programme of investigations into public sector official information practices.

Read the 5 reports:

• Civil Aviation Authority
• Inland Revenue
• Ministry for the Environment
• Ministry for Primary Industries
• Ministry for Regulation

Source: New Zealand Defence Force

3 September 2026

Surveillance assets from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and New Zealand Customs Service have been in action across the Pacific in August, helping regional partners safeguard their waters and protect vital ocean resources.

At the request of the Government of Fiji, the jointly owned Royal New Zealand Navy and Customs Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USV) Tahi and Rua have completed a four-week deployment in the waters of Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), strengthening maritime surveillance and awareness across Fiji’s waters.

USV controllers from the NZDF and Customs monitored the operation from the Customs Integrated Targeting and Operations Centre in Auckland, while NZDF analysts remained at Devonport Naval Base in New Zealand.

Together, the USVs surveilled 145 vessels.

Customs Assistant Comptroller Maritime Operations, Paul Campbell, says the deployment demonstrates the value of agencies working operations together to help build a clearer picture of maritime activity across the region.

“Bringing our people, technology, and intelligence together allows us to share information in real time, make faster and better-informed decisions, and provide stronger support to our Pacific partners.

“This closer way of working has and will continue to deliver benefits and gives us more options for future deployments.

In the skies above, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A Poseidon patrolled the EEZs of Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, and two high seas pockets, in support of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency.

Fifty-three fishing vessels were observed and reported, with many of them either not holding fishing licences or deliberately obscuring their name plates.

In the Tongan EEZ, an RNZAF MC-12K King Air aircraft completed a week-long series of patrols covering the areas of the Ha’apai Island group and northeast of Tongatapu, for the Government of Tonga.

His Majesty’s Armed Forces Tonga Maritime Intelligence highlighted vessels and areas of interest for the crew to investigate, with 20 being photographed for follow-up by authorities.

The aircraft was also tasked to photograph two volcanic islands for the Department of Lands and Survey.

Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, Major General Rob Krushka, says the maritime and air deployments send a strong message to those who seek to take advantage of Pacific nations.

“We stand by our Pacific neighbours as they work to protect their resources and livelihoods, upholding fishing regulations and preventing transnational serious and organised crime.

“We will continue to make our capabilities available to our Pacific whānau so we can face the threats to our neighbourhood together.

Source: Aged Care Association

From an 85% reduction in pressure injuries to resident-led sustainability projects and technology giving people with dementia greater freedom, the finalists in the 2026 ACA | EBOS Excellence in Care Awards show aged care at its best.

Fifteen finalists from across New Zealand have been selected across seven categories, recognising exceptional care, leadership, innovation, design, sustainability and service.

Aged Care Association Chief Executive Hon Tracey Martin says the finalists challenge outdated perceptions of aged care and provide a window into the quality of work happening in care homes across New Zealand.

“We spend a lot of time talking publicly about the very real pressures facing aged care, from workforce shortages and funding to the need for thousands more beds. These awards give us an opportunity to also talk about what is happening inside our care homes every day. Aged care is health care. It is also about supporting older people to retain their independence, dignity, identity and connection to the people and communities around them.”

“An 85% reduction in pressure injuries is an extraordinary clinical result. Giving someone living with dementia greater freedom while keeping them safe can fundamentally change their quality of life. Creating opportunities for residents to lead projects and continue contributing to their communities recognises that moving into aged care does not mean you stop having something to contribute. That is what these finalists represent. They have identified something that could be better for older people and found a way to make it happen.”

Across the seven categories, the finalists range from frontline clinical initiatives and new models of dementia care to sustainable food projects, purpose-built care environments, and individuals whose work has improved care both within their facilities and across the wider health system.

Tom Webster, presenter of Grand Designs New Zealand and a judge for the Aged Care Association Excellence in Design Award, says the entries showed that meaningful innovation does not always require large budgets or complex solutions.

“What stood out was the strong focus on residents. The best entries began with the measures that would improve people’s daily lives. Turning that understanding into really practical and impressive results.”

Dame Annette King, former Deputy Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, was among the judges assessing entries for the Careerforce Legendary Service to the Aged Care Sector Award. She says the finalists demonstrate the depth of expertise within aged care and the potential for good ideas to benefit the wider sector.

“Behind every entry are people who have seen an opportunity to do something better and followed it through. Their leadership, persistence and willingness to share what works means the impact of these ideas can reach well beyond an individual care home.”

Joining Dame Annette on the judging panel was Tom Symondson, Chief Executive Officer of Ageing Australia. He says the awards are an opportunity to recognise those who have dedicated themselves to improving the lives of older people.

“Across Australia and New Zealand we see extraordinary people working in aged care every day. It is a privilege to help recognise those whose leadership, compassion and commitment are making a lasting difference to the lives of older people.”

Category winners and the recipient of the EBOS Healthcare Overall Excellence in Care Award will be announced at the Aged Care Association Conference Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at Tākina in Wellington on Thursday 29 October.

The 2026 finalists:

Gilmours Excellence in Food Award for Care Homes and Hospitals

• Keith Park Retirement Village, Auckland
• St Andrew’s Village, Auckland
• Ranfurly Residential Care, Feilding

Lifecare Property Small Operator Industry Award

• The Beachfront Home and Hospital, Stanmore Bay, Whangaparāoa
• Harbour View Rest Home, Oamaru

Hercules Health Innovative Delivery Award

• Te Wiremu House Lifecare & Village, Gisborne
• The CARE Village, Rotorua

Eversource Sustainability Award

• Ranfurly Residential Care, Feilding
• Glenbrae Rest Home and Hospital, Rotorua

ACA Excellence in Design Award

• Tamahere Country Club Care Centre, Hamilton
• Ashbury Heights Care Centre, Whangārei

Careerforce Legendary Service to the Aged Care Sector Award

• Susan Watson, O’Conor Home, Westport
• Sandy Turnwald, Bupa Aged Care New Zealand

Leecare Individual Award for Outstanding Solutions

• Elyana Pestano, Queen Rose Retirement Village, Dunedin
• Navjot Kaur, Hodgson House Lifecare & Village, Tauranga