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Ofam: Somalia IPC Reaction

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

Reacting to the UN’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) published today for Somalia which shows that over 6 million people are experiencing hunger (IPC Phase 3 or above), including nearly 1.9 million in emergency levels (IPC Phase 4), Oxfam’s Somalia Humanitarian lead, Sameer Kariya said:
“Somalia is once again sliding dangerously close to catastrophe. More than 6 million people – nearly one in every three people is struggling to find food.
“Three poor rainy seasons have pushed communities in the country at risk of famine particularly in Burhakaba district of Bay region where worsening acute malnutrition and the projected failure of the Gu rains (April-June rainy season) threaten to deepen the crisis.
“Water sources have dried up while crops and livestock continue to be wiped out and families are forced to abandon their homes in search of water and pasture. For communities and particularly women, it’s no longer about rebuilding but surviving to find at least one meal a day to keep their children alive.”
“The conflict in the Middle East is further driving up the cost of living with food prices rising by 30% and fuel costs increasing by 50% putting basic necessities out of reach for millions of people. Disruption to supply routes are also making it significantly harder and more expensive to deliver lifesaving aid to those most in need, with no foreseeable end to the blockage, Oxfam fears prices of the basic commodities will continue to exacerbate further.
“Somalia has also suffered heavy funding cuts which continue to undermine its response and are forcing aid agencies to make the impossible choices as to who gets support and who doesn’t.
“The world must not wait for famine to be declared before acting – by then, countless lives will have been lost. Urgent support must be delivered immediately.”
Notes
  • Poor rains and rising costs drive urgent food and nutrition needs with risk of famine in one area according to the latest IPC findings: https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-150/en/
  • The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan estimates that 4.8 million people require humanitarian assistance, with 2.4 million targeted under the response. Funding levels remain critically low, limiting response capacity at a time of increasing needs
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Universities – New undergraduate health programmes to prepare future health workforce – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

A major overhaul of the University of Auckland’s health programmes expands study options, creates flexibility and prepares graduates for the future health workforce.

Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland has announced a major redesign of its undergraduate health programmes, creating clearer and more flexible pathways into a wide range of health careers and strengthening the foundations required for clinical health careers.
 
The changes, the most significant overhaul of the University’s undergraduate health offerings in decades, will take effect from 2027 and are designed to broaden student choice, improve equity and well-being, and ensure graduates are well prepared for the evolving needs of Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system.  

Strengthened undergraduate programmes

Key programme changes include: 
  • A new Bachelor of Biomedical Science (BBiomedSc) will prepare students for careers in research and innovation through an integrated curriculum linking the science of disease with real-world diagnosis and treatment. 
      
  • A refreshed Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc), will offer new majors in Health Systems and Data Analytics, and Community Health, alongside the option to double major in Nutrition, preparing graduates to improve healthcare delivery, shape policy, and support healthier communities.
      
  • An expanded Bachelor of Science (BSc) will offer six health-related majors: three new options in Cell and Molecular Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Nutrition, alongside existing majors in Pharmacology, Physiology and Exercise Sciences, broadening pathways into research and an array of non-clinical careers.  
Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Professor Warwick Bagg, says the redesign delivers strong, standalone qualifications that build future‑focused skills and gives students robust career options beyond clinical work. 
“Our health system is facing increasingly complex challenges, and health careers are evolving,” Bagg says.  
“As an education provider, we have a responsibility to prepare students not just for today’s workforce, but for what lies ahead.  
 
“These redesigned programmes open up new possibilities for students and support the development of modern skills and new ways of thinking needed across the health sector.” 
Bagg says the changes strengthen pathways into non‑clinical health careers, reducing the pressure of an all‑or‑nothing race into clinical programmes and recognising the need to view health in a broader context beyond traditional clinical roles.  
 
“Impactful careers in health take many forms, and many students benefit from the chance to explore where their interests and strengths best fit. The ability to combine complementary majors will also increase graduates’ employability and long-term career resilience. 
“Not every capable student ends up in a clinical programme. These degrees give students a strong option for meaningful, impactful careers across science, policy, data, innovation and community health.” 
He says a case in point is the new Bachelor of Biomedical Science.  
“Students will be in a cohort and can now study health conditions, such as diabetes or cancer, from multiple perspectives, in an integrated way, as they progress through the degree, which better prepares graduates for laboratory science, research, biotechnology and postgraduate study.” 
Updated selection into clinical programmes 
Alongside the programme redesign, the University is modernising how students are selected into its medical programmes, and there are also updates to the Pharmacy, Optometry and Medical Imaging admissions processes. 
 
From 2027, applicants to the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) will still need to achieve a minimum GPA of 6.0 (B+). Final selection will then be based on performance in a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) and a situational judgement test (CASPer), replacing the current UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test).  
These modern tools assess communication, decision-making and professional judgement, qualities Bagg says are vital to ensure safe and effective clinical practice. 
“Excellence in healthcare relies on more than academic results alone, but this does not mean standards are being lowered,” Bagg says. 
He says selection is rigorous and robust and a strong academic standard remains in place.  
“What’s changing is how we define excellence once that standard is achieved. Evidence shows that once the academic threshold is met, there is little value in ranking applicants on very small GPA differences, and that MMI performance is a stronger indicator of how someone will perform when assessing clinical competence.” 
He says the University is combining selection tools used internationally. “It helps us select well-rounded candidates, not just strong test-takers.”  
The changes are also expected to improve the experience of first-year students across all health programmes, supporting a more diverse intake into health studies. 
“The current model has fostered an overly competitive environment, even for students not aiming for clinical pathways,” Bagg says. “We want to foster collaboration and a sense that there are multiple valid pathways into meaningful health careers.  
“Right now, success in admission is too closely linked to socio-economic advantage. We want to ensure more capable students see medicine as a realistic option so that our future health workforce is reflective of our society.” 
Applicants to Pharmacy, Optometry and Medical Imaging will continue to be ranked using a combination of GPA and MMI performance. From 2026, the MMIs for all four clinical programmes will be delivered in an asynchronous format, with applicants recording timed responses to standardised pre-recorded questions rather than attending live interviews. 
Bagg says this format allows all applicants to respond to the same questions in a structured format, improving consistency in assessment.  
The University will also introduce a standardised Guaranteed Entry Score of 200 for school-leavers across all undergraduate health programmes, replacing existing variations between degrees. 
Current first-year students applying for entry into clinical programmes starting in 2027 are not affected, with existing criteria remaining in place for those cohorts. 
The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, established in 1968, is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading faculties for health education and research. Its programmes are developed in partnership with health professionals and combine strong academic foundations with real‑world clinical experience. 
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Government Cuts – Nicola Willis sets out reckless plan to savage public services and sack 10,000 public servants – PSA

Source: PSA

The Finance Minister today is laying out a plan to devastate the public service and sack thousands of dedicated workers, further damaging the services New Zealanders rely on.
In pre-Budget speech Nicola Willis today will set out a radical plan to savage the public service by merging departments, using more AI and setting a target to reduce the public service headcount to about 1% of the population by 2029.
Based on Stats NZ population projections of 5.5 million, that would mean a workforce of roughly 55,000 – meaning up to 10,000 public servants will lose their jobs.
“This is an act of wilful destruction. It will devastate the services New Zealanders rely on every single day. This is irresponsible and reckless and make no mistake the price will be high,” said Duane Leo National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The Government needs to tell New Zealanders now which services they’re going to lose. Vague talk of mergers and headcount targets is not good enough.
“Will there be fewer biosecurity officers keeping pests and diseases out of the country? Fewer social workers protecting vulnerable children? Fewer people stopping online harm, child exploitation and scams? Which conservation projects will stop? Which communities will lose access to the services they depend on?
“This can only mean less with less, and all New Zealanders will be worse off.
“This is all about choices. This Government has chosen to give tax breaks to landlords and big tobacco. How can this be smart economics when our population is growing, when climate change is with us, and when our infrastructure challenges have never been bigger?
“An arbitrary headcount target is not a plan. You don’t plan a workforce by picking a number that sounds good in a pre-Budget speech.
“Willis talks about using digitisation and AI as a justification for sacking thousands of workers. The PSA has called for an approach to AI that maximises the benefits and prevents negative impacts for workers and the public. Linking AI to an arbitrary headcount target does exactly the opposite – it turns technology into a threat rather than a tool.
“Department mergers are a recipe for more chaos. Every restructure costs money, drives experienced people out the door, and grinds critical work to a halt for years.
“These cuts will further devastate Wellington’s economy, which has already been hammered by two years of public service job losses.
“New Zealanders deserve to know before the election, not after – which services will be cut? Which communities will be worse off? If the Government is so confident this is the right path, it should tell voters exactly what it means for them. Show us the evidence,” said Duane Leo.
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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Greenpeace – New Fuel Crisis Scorecard: Coalition Flunks, Labour Offers Few Commitments

Source: Greenpeace

As fuel prices remain high and the Budget looms closer Greenpeace has released a scorecard ranking political parties on practical solutions to cut dependence on imported fossil fuels and shield households from oil and gas price shocks.
Parties were asked nine yes-or-no questions about whether they back concrete measures including cancelling the proposed LNG import terminal, financing rooftop solar, shifting freight from roads onto rail, making public transport free, and restoring EV incentives.
The scorecard revealed starkly different policy responses to the fuel crisis. ACT scored 0 points out of 18, National scored just 1 and NZ First scored 2. Labour sat firmly in the middle scoring a 9, while Te Pāti Māori scored 18, and the Greens and Opportunity scored 16.
“We put parties to test to see who has a plan to take decisive and concrete action to cut energy costs and reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels,” says Greenpeace campaigner Gen Toop.
“National, ACT, and NZ First flunked the test, with plans to burn more money on mega-roads, and an LNG import terminal. Their abysmal ranking doesn’t bode well for the upcoming Budget,”
“Te Pāti Māori, the Greens, and TOP ranked highly, after giving clear commitments to policies that would deliver homegrown renewables as the cheapest, most secure energy option, alongside electrified public transport and rail.”
“Labour sat in the middle of the ranking. While they often supported the intent of the policy in question, they rarely gave a clear unconditional commitment to actually delivering it,” says Toop.
One of the most striking findings was that all the current governing parties continue to back the proposed LNG import terminal, despite the soaring imported gas prices and widespread warnings against it from a range of experts including the OECD.
‘”Kiwis are already being hit hard at the pump, the supermarket and on their power bills because of expensive, imported fossil fuels. Those same fuels are driving the climate crisis, and supercharging the storms damaging our communities and environment.”
“Building an LNG terminal in the middle of a global gas crisis is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline.”
“Instead of wasting billions on an LNG terminal, the Government should be supporting rooftop solar to reduce household bills, cut climate pollution, and stop further obscene profits flowing to the trillion dollar oil and gas industry at the public’s expense,” says Toop.
Greenpeace points to Australia as an example of effective Government policy on solar. Supported by $11 billion in government incentives, one in three Australian households now has rooftop solar. The New Zealand Government offers no financial support for household solar and only one in every 35 Kiwi homes have it.
“There are proven solutions to the fuel and climate crises already being rolled out around the world, like rooftop solar and free public transport. Our scorecard shows which political parties plan to ramp up those solutions here and which are choosing to double down on fossil fuels.”
National and NZ First were the only two parties that chose not to participate in the scorecard. Their scores were assessed using their public policies and voting records.
Greenpeace has published the scorecard on its website, along with its scoring methodology.
Greenpeace is an independent environmental campaigning organisation and does not take any money from political parties or corporations. It provides independent analysis of political party policies and actions, but does not endorse any political party or tell people how to vote.
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BusinessNZ – Announced investment in education will bolster reform

Source: BusinessNZ

BusinessNZ welcomes the Government’s Budget 2026 investment of $131.1 million into compulsory education, saying the package reinforces the importance of strong foundational learning for New Zealand’s long-term economic future.
BusinessNZ Director of Education, Skills and Immigration Rachel Simpson says meaningful education reform requires resourcing and ensuring teachers have the tools, training, and support to consistently deliver high-quality learning in the classroom.
“This investment recognises that teacher professional development is central to lifting student achievement and ensuring reforms translate into better outcomes for young New Zealanders. Strong foundational education is critical for the future workforce New Zealand businesses depend on.
“Businesses need a schooling system that equips young people with the core skills, resilience, and confidence to succeed. Investment in education is ultimately an investment in New Zealand’s productivity, competitiveness, and long-term prosperity.
“For young people coming through the system, the new settings and resourcing will better equip them for a wider range of opportunities, giving them the core skills to pursue different careers, and the confidence and capability to continue adapting, learning, and succeeding as industries evolve.”
The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.
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Health Provision – One in five GP referrals declined as wait times for care increase

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists

Twenty per cent of GP referrals to specialists are being declined across several districts, but the extent of the problem nationally is unknown as Health NZ doesn’t collate this information.
A new report by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists compared data from seven districts and found declined referrals increased from 101,962 in 2023 to 110,916 in 2024 and an estimated 112,348 in 2025.
If the trend remained consistent across every district it would mean 255,000 people are declined first specialist appointments (FSAs) every year.
“FSA wait times are a key health target for this Government and our report shows that more and more are being declined,” ASMS Senior Policy and Research Advisor Virginia Mills says.
“This is due to chronic public health workforce shortages and increases in acute admissions. Health funding is not responding to population changes and unmet need.”
Despite increasing declined referrals, the report found the treatment waiting list has not substantially declined.
“Even with the current push to outsource planned care to the private sector, the workforce shortages and limited capacity to deliver planned care are too great to overcome,” Mills says.
The report concluded:
  • Workforce targets must accompany FSA and planned care targets
  • Transparency from outsourced procedures is required including cost, type and volumes.
  • Data collection and reporting from Health NZ must improve.
“The fact that Health NZ does not collate and publish this vital information means Minister of Health Simeon Brown is making decisions based on guess work and assumptions.
“Health NZ must do better to report its basic functionality which is, how many people get treatment and how many get declined.”
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National population estimates: At 31 March 2026 – Stats NZ information release

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Births and deaths: Year ended March 2026 – Stats NZ information release

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Advocacy – Israeli Naval Warships Encircle and Intercepting Civilians on the Global Sumud Flotilla–250 Nautical Miles from Gaza in Another Illegal High-Seas Interception in International Waters

Source: Global Sumud Flotilla

MEDITERRANEAN SEA — The Global Sumud Flotilla is currently surrounded and under active interception by Israeli naval warships in international waters, approximately 250 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza. This military encirclement marks the commencement of another illegal, high-seas aggression four days after 54 civilian vessels lifted anchor from Marmaris to establish a humanitarian corridor and break Israel's illegal siege of Gaza.

Three New Zealanders are currently facing illegal interception, including Hāhona Ormsby, Mousa Taher, and Julien Blondel.

A Pattern of Extrajudicial High-Seas Piracy

This active naval confrontation is a direct continuation of the lawless Israeli military assault launched just two weeks ago, off the coast of Crete. During the previous interception, located over 650 nautical miles from Gaza, within the Greek Search and Rescue (SAR) zone, israeli military forces illegally boarded, sabotaged, and abducted 181 peaceful human rights defenders across 21 civilian vessels, subjecting participants to documented detention as well as physical and sexual violence.

By intercepting the flotilla at a perimeter of 250 nautical miles today and in Cyprus’ SAR zone, the israeli regime continues to demonstrate a systematic disregard for international maritime law, freedom of navigation on the high seas, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Dismantling the Manufactured Propaganda Pretext

This military interception follows a coordinated week-long propaganda campaign broadcast by state-controlled Israeli regime media outlets, including N12 and amplified by their own self-proclaimed ‘propaganda yacht” filled with influencers spreading the Israeli regime’s lies. This established playbook seeks to manufacture consent to carry out war crimes and crimes against humanity against an unarmed, non-violent civil society mission composed of doctors, journalists, and humanitarians.

The Global Sumud Flotilla legal team has placed the international community on formal notice that the participants are entirely unarmed, and any violence executed on these vessels remains the sole legal responsibility of the Israeli regime and the country’s leaders allowing it to happen. Active criminal investigations are moving forward across twenty countries, and individual liability will also be pursued in international courts for all forces enforcing this genocidal siege.

Connecting the Siege: From Crete to Sirte

The naval interception of the flotilla occurs in tandem with an aggressive containment strategy on land, where the Global Sumud Land Convoy—comprising more than 30 vehicles including 7 specialized ambulances and 20 mobile homes—has halted near Sirte, Libya. Eastern Libyan authorities, acting under direct political pressure from Egypt, have positioned military forces to block the overland humanitarian route toward Rafah.

The consecutive targeting of both the sea and land components of the mission makes clear that the illegal siege on Gaza has expanded into a global architecture of violence, occupation and expanded impunity. This represents an extraterritorial projection of the ‘Greater israel' doctrine, deploying proxy political influence and military force across sovereign international borders to crush civil society support for Palestine.

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Chief Ombudsman says fishing boat camera footage should not be excluded from the OIA

Source: Office of the Ombudsman

The Chief Ombudsman says a proposal in the Fisheries Amendment Bill to exempt commercial fishing camera footage from release under the Official Information Act is unnecessary and excessive.
John Allen made an oral submission on the Bill before Parliament’s Primary Production Committee today.
Mr Allen says the array of measures included in the Bill including carving out fishing camera footage from the OIA aren’t justified because the law already offers protections.
“In my view, these measures risk undermining the OIA, and lowering trust and confidence in both the fishing industry and in government.”
Mr Allen says the OIA provides mechanisms to withhold information when disclosure is not in the public interest.
Since the wider roll out of on-board cameras in June 2023, The Ministry for Primary Industries has provided written summaries of incidents and, in some cases, has allowed requestors to watch the footage.
The Ombudsman has only received a handful of complaints, which suggests the public is generally comfortable with MPI’s written summaries. The Ombudsman has not recommended the release of any full camera recordings in any of these cases.
“We’ve been satisfied each time that the public interest in disclosure has been met by the written summaries. However, we reserve the right to find otherwise in cases where the summary failed to reflect the gravity of the incident recorded,” Mr Allen says.
“The OIA ‘carve out’, along with other provisions in the Bill including one which imposes a penalty of up to $50,000 for leaking footage from fishing boat cameras, goes well beyond the protections given to information provided to other regulators.
“I suggest the committee recommends excluding those clauses from the Bill.”
“The Bill, as it stands, will achieve nothing more than preventing the public from assessing the worst examples of regulatory failures by the Ministry or most shocking breaches of the law by the fishing industry. This is contrary to the purpose of both the OIA and the Fisheries Act.”