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First Responders – Driver rescued from floodwaters

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s Specialist Water Rescue Teams have rescued a person from a vehicle trapped in floodwaters near Mt Lyford this morning, supported by members of the Waiau Volunteer Fire Brigade.
The incident was reported shortly after 3am and the occupant of the vehicle was rescued about 7am.
The Specialist Water Rescue Team members are now responding to an incident on the Inland Kaikoura Road, where two vehicles were reported to have crashed about 6.40am.
The two specialist teams are firefighters from Canterbury who are trained in water response. They were pre-deployed to Kaikoura yesterday afternoon in anticipation of the forecast heavy rainfall. They will be working in support of the volunteer firefighters from Kaikoura and surrounding brigades.
Fire and Emergency asks people to prioritise their safety and stay off roads that are affected by flooding or slips. Driving through flood waters is dangerous and puts lives at risk – not just for the driver and passengers, but for the first responders who are called to rescue them.
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ASB backs Kiwi sport through new NZOC and Athletics New Zealand partnerships

Source: ASB
 
ASB is teaming up with the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and Athletics New Zealand to help more Kiwi participate in sport, supporting their progress and performance from grassroots programmes to the world stage.
 
ASB has signed partnerships with the NZOC and Athletics New Zealand for seven and five years respectively, with funding to cover direct support for the New Zealand Team to pinnacle events and a school education programme for NZOC, and two major youth development programmes for Athletics New Zealand.
 
ASB Executive General Manager Business Banking Ben Speedy says sport has a powerful way of bringing New Zealanders together, whether cheering on tamariki from the sidelines or watching our best athletes take on the world.  
 
“ASB’s NZOC partnership will support our top athletes as they compete internationally and inspire the next generation, while the Athletics NZ partnership will help grow nationwide programmes for kids across all ages that build movement skills and confidence. We look forward to bringing these partnerships to life and encouraging more Kiwi to get active.”
 
With the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games only weeks away, Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Olympic Committee Nicki Nicol said she is proud to welcome ASB to the NZOC’s Premium Partner whānau. The long-term commitment from ASB will see this support for the New Zealand Team athletes extend beyond the LA28 Olympic Summer Games through to the ‘home Games’ in Brisbane 2032.
 
“The New Zealand Team has a unique ability to bring New Zealanders together through moments of pride, ambition and achievement. Working alongside ASB creates opportunities to extend that impact beyond the field of play and into communities across the country,” said Nicol. A key focus of the partnership will be ASB’s support of the NZOC Olympic Education Programme and give students the opportunity to hear directly from New Zealand Team athletes about goal setting, preparation and perseverance.
 
Cam Mitchell, Chief Executive of Athletics New Zealand, says ASB’s support comes at a pivotal time for the sport and will help Athletics NZ reach more tamariki and rangatahi across the country.
 
“There’s huge momentum behind our sport, and ASB’s support of our ASB Get Set Go, and ASB Run Jump Throw programmes will help get even more Kiwi kids involved with athletics. We’re supporting them to develop fundamental movement skills for life. It’s about turning their energy into opportunity, building confidence and giving more Kiwi the chance to give sport a go.”
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University Research – AI drives experts from online community – UoA study

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

The rise of generative AI is causing some expert contributors to leave the online communities they helped build, according to University of Auckland research.

When AI can instantly generate expert-looking answers, people who have spent years developing specialist knowledge may feel their contributions are no longer valued or recognised, says Business School researcher Dr Kenny Ching.

Analysing activity on Stack Overflow, the world's largest online community for software developers, Ching found respected, high-reputation users started withdrawing from the platform at accelerated rates in 2022, when generative AI tools became more widely available.

“As AI-generated content becomes more common, people might feel their expertise and effort no longer stand out or are valued. Some stop contributing altogether.”

Worryingly, says Ching, the people most likely to withdraw are often knowledgeable and capable contributors.

“They aren't leaving because they can't compete with the technology; they’re leaving because their hard-earned expertise is no longer distinct from a chatbot’s answer.”

Ching says although his research focuses on Stack Overflow, similar scenarios are likely playing out in other areas.

“This isn't just about coding platforms. I argue this exact same dynamic is discouraging genuine effort in classrooms, corporate workplaces, and scientific communities. The long-term risk is that by crushing the incentive to show genuine effort, AI might actually truncate the formation of future human expertise.”

Created in 2008, Stack Overflow is a question-and-answer site mainly for computer programmers. People can vote questions and answers up or down, similar to Reddit.

Users of the website, which has around 23 million registered accounts, can earn reputation points for well-informed answers and valued contributions.

For example, a person with 10,000 reputation points has provided answers that the developer community repeatedly judged to be accurate, helpful, and well-explained.

Ching analysed 24,304 contributors over 17 months.

He found that following 2022, which saw the widespread availability of generative AI tools, including the launch of ChatGPT, the rate at which higher-reputation users left the platform sped up over time – steadily closing the gap with less established contributors, who tended to leave first, but whose departures didn’t speed up in the same way.

AI, says Ching, can make expert and non-expert contributions look increasingly similar, reducing the visibility and value of genuine expertise.

He calls this ‘signal compression’.

“On Stack Overflow, the withdrawal of genuine contributors is real, measurable, and accelerating, and the most affected are often those whose authentic expertise is most valuable and hardest to replace.

“If everybody can create a good quality response or output using AI, some people may think, 'Why should I make an effort to share my expertise and participate?’”

His study argues that people with ‘high ability,’ who have typically invested most in their knowledge, face the sharpest devaluation of that investment as a result of AI, and they eventually stop participating and leave the platform.

Read Dr Kenny Ching’s working paper, When Effort Stops Signalling: AI, Signal Compression, and the Withdrawal of Authentic Performance.
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Politics – Greenpeace says Greens’ policy announcement a win for fresh water and oceans, but Labour must follow

Source: Greenpeace
Greenpeace Aotearoa is welcoming the announcement from the Green Party that, if elected, they will phase out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, reduce the size of the dairy herd and lower the legal limit for nitrate contamination.
However, Greenpeace Freshwater Campaigner Will Appelbe warns that this is not the end of the road for water protections.
“We welcome the announcement from the Greens that they will implement common-sense bottom lines for freshwater management and tackle the source of the pollution – the intensive dairy industry. But more needs to be done,” says Appelbe.
“Places like Canterbury and Southland are experiencing a nitrate crisis. Rural drinking water is being poisoned by fertiliser runoff and cow urine. And we need action now.
“The dairy boom in those regions occurred over a relatively short space of time. We know we can change land use practices quickly, which those communities dealing with nitrate contamination desperately need.”
Greenpeace is also welcoming commitments to protect more of the ocean surrounding Aotearoa, including phasing out destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling on seamounts.
Oceans campaigner Ellie Hooper says: “Protecting vulnerable habitats from bottom trawling is urgent,so it’s good to see it recognised in the Greens’ policy. We would like to see a timeline for this as it’s imperative bottom trawling is banned on seamounts by the end of 2027. Every year of delay is just furthering ocean depletion.”
Greenpeace is calling on the Labour Party to adopt the policies.
Appelbe says, “It’s time for Hipkins to copy the Greens’ homework, and take action to stop dairy pollution. There is no time to lose, and peoples’ lives depend on it.”
Nitrate contamination in drinking water has been linked to several health risks, including bowel cancer and preterm birth. A 2022 study revealed that up to 100 cases of bowel cancer and 40 deaths every year could be caused by exposure to nitrate contamination in drinking water.
Hooper says, “New Zealand has fallen far behind other parts of the world when it comes to looking after the diverse ocean that surrounds us. We are hopeful that strong policy to protect it from destructive fishing techniques will give the ocean we all love a real shot at recovery. “
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ChildFund and rugby – a global partnership targeting 500,000 children

Source: ChildFund New Zealand

ChildFund is proud to be the global social impact partner for World Rugby, via its partner, ChildFund Rugby. This gives ChildFund designated rights across Rugby World Cup 2027 and Rugby World Cup 2029.
“ChildFund donors across New Zealand, and our staff in New Zealand and the Pacific were thrilled to see the ChildFund brand at the All Blacks game on Saturday” says CEO of ChildFund New Zealand, Josie Pagani.
“This is a multi-year partnership that uses the values embedded in rugby to promote leadership and career pathways for children in some of the poorest communities across the globe,” says Josie Pagani.
ChildFund Rugby is led by ChildFund Australia on behalf of the ChildFund Alliance; a global network of ten organisations, including New Zealand, that reaches about 36 million children in more than 60 countries.
It works across major tournaments and through local Rugby Unions and clubs around the world, to translate rugby values into life-changing outcomes for children and young people in vulnerable communities.
This programme aims to reach and empower 500,000 young people worldwide by 2030.
“Values like integrity, passion, teamwork, discipline and respect define the game and are also the qualities of leadership in any area of life.
“Through rugby-based programmes, like Pass it Back, and Grassroots to Global, children and teenagers across the world and in our own region of the Pacific, learn essential life skills, like decision-making, and how to manage emotions. Their confidence grows, and they are supported to access education and employment,” says Josie Pagani.
Ambassadors from around the world support the initiative – from DJ Forbes, Rikki Swannell, and Mere Baker in New Zealand to USA superstar Ilona Maher.
“It’s not just about the game – it’s about confidence, courage, and trying new things”, said DJ Forbes.
“Evidence shows that this not only improves schoolwork but also sets these kids up for life in the workforce, even leadership roles in community or business.”
Grassroot to Global also expanded the number of young women in community coaching as part of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025’s goal of reducing the gender gap in rugby.
“This is just one of the ways ChildFund works across sectors, with businesses, sporting institutions and governments, to give children the best opportunities in life, no matter where they are born,” says Josie Pagani.
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Politics – Federated Farmers says Greens freshwater plan is bad policy and bad science

Source: Federated Farmers

The Green Party is putting politics ahead of practicality and science with its freshwater policy, Federated Farmers freshwater spokesperson Mark Hooper says.
“The Greens’ plan to phase out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser would significantly hike the cost of food for Kiwi families.
“It’s a completely mad idea.
“It’s estimated global food production would fall by about 50% without modern fertilisers. With over 60% of New Zealand's exports coming from agriculture, taking fertiliser off farmers would be economic suicide,” Hooper says.
Multiple surveys show the cost of living is the number one issue for New Zealanders, and if our farmers and growers can’t use synthetic fertilisers to grow grass for livestock, and vegetables for human consumption, higher food prices in supermarkets are inevitable.
“In a 2024 study, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research found that putting the squeeze on farmers’ use of nitrogen via proposed tougher regulation could send the price of broccoli as high as $9 a head.
“The Greens are putting ideology ahead of common sense with this kind of daft idea,” Hooper says.
Another plank of party’s policy announced today, based off its own interpretation of overseas research, is a call for lowering nitrate limits for drinking water.
“This is a steal from the Greenpeace playbook and is counter to advice from the Ministry of Health, Bowel Cancer NZ and the World Health Organisation.
“Federated Farmers has said time and again that when it comes to what chemicals are safe, what causes cancer, what medicines are safe, decisions need to be made through science-technical processes, not political announcements.
“If the Ministry of Health changes its advice on the link between nitrates and cancer, then of course we would welcome any change in drinking water standards,” Hooper says.
“The Green Party making such an announcement without that health advice risks simply creating confusion and panic in rural communities.”
Hooper says farmers are working hard to lift water quality and further lighten their environmental footprint. In the interests of Kiwi families any new freshwater policy needs to be based off sound scientific evidence or risks simply creating economic pain and pushing up the price of food for no good reason.
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Education – Iwi-led programme reshapes the future of nursing

Source: Whitireia and WelTec

A powerful story of aspiration, identity, and community is reshaping the future of nursing in Aotearoa. At its heart is an innovative programme that shows what’s possible when learning is grounded in kaupapa Māori and shaped by iwi, for iwi.
Led by Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa and delivered in partnership with Whitireia and WelTec, the Bachelor of Nursing Māori ‘Matariki’ programme is strengthening whānau, building community capability, and redefining what success in education can look like.
Grounded in culture, connection, and manaakitanga, the programme was developed to help address the underrepresentation of Māori in nursing and to support the growth of confident, capable practitioners who remain closely connected to their communities. As the first ‘Matariki’ cohort prepares to graduate, the impact is clear – seen in the journeys of ākonga like Horowai Moeahu (Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa).
For Horowai, nursing is about honouring her whakapapa, caring for her whānau, and serving her community. A mother of four, she is now in her final year of the Bachelor of Nursing Māori ‘Matariki’. “I wasn’t even sure I had the qualifications to become a nurse,” she says. “But here I am, almost a graduate.”
Horowai’s journey began through her work with Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa, starting as a kaiawhina at a COVID-19 vaccination centre. She later supported whānau at drive-through clinics at Te Whiti Park and worked as a kaiārahi in Tamariki Ora. “I loved helping and educating whānau Māori in their health journeys and protecting them against illness,” she says. “That’s what inspired me to take this opportunity.”
Guided by Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Tapuhi, the Bachelor of Nursing Māori ‘Matariki’ combines marae-based wānanga, whānau-centred learning, and strong connections to whenua and whakapapa. The wānanga learning in Waiwhetū has been especially meaningful for Horowai.
“I didn’t stay at high school long and struggled in a classroom,” she says. “But studying on my whenua puts me at ease. If I feel overwhelmed, I can look to my awa, walk, see my maunga, or go to the marae. That helps me reset.” Clinical placements – especially in a hospital ward – have further shaped her path. “That’s when it hit me, I won’t be a student much longer. I’ll be a registered Māori nurse caring for patients.”
With graduation approaching in September, Horowai has clear goals. In the short term, she plans to gain hospital experience while continuing to give back to Te Āti Awa communities, including through Tamariki Ora. Longer term, she hopes to become a nurse practitioner and return to Taranaki. “I’d love to open a nursing-led medical centre for our Māori people, staffed by Māori nurses and doctors.”
As Horowai prepares to enter the workforce, her journey shows what’s possible when education is delivered by, with, and for Māori – connected to identity, strengthened by whānau, and driven by purpose.
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Health – Next steps for mental health law will be crucial

Source: Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission

Next steps for mental health law will be crucial
The final reading of the Mental Health Bill on Saturday 4 July marks a significant step forward to embedding a modern, human rights framework in our mental health and addiction system.
“This updated law provides greater human rights protection for people receiving compulsory care,” said Sonya Russell, Director Mental Health and Addiction Sector Leadership.
“Importantly, through implementation of the law we expect to see a reduction in the use of coercive practices and support for better outcomes for people and those who support them.”
“We are pleased to see that people under 18 cannot be held in seclusion under this new legislation.”
“There are some areas where the law has not gone as far as we recommended. We will continue to advocate strongly for the elimination of seclusion for adults and the reduction and eventual phasing out of community compulsory treatment orders that remain sanctioned under the law.”
“With the date for the law to commence set on 1 July 2028, a year later than initially proposed, implementation must be properly resourced to enable practice change on the ground to be accelerated. This work will require increased investment in alternative approaches to care and workforce development and training.”
“People directly impacted by this law must have the opportunity to be involved in next steps. This includes Māori, lived experience, and priority population groups, such as Pacific people and disabled people.[AS1] “
“We acknowledge the journey to get here and everyone who has contributed to these changes to mental health law envisioned in the Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry report He Ara Oranga published eight years ago.” [SY2]
“We will continue to monitor the mental health and addiction system to make sure everyday practices are changing in line with the intent of the new law,” said Sonya Russell.
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Woolworths introduces popular Disney OOSHIES™ collectibles

Source: Woolworths New Zealand

6 July 2026: The hugely popular Disney OOSHIES™ collectibles are coming to Woolworths New Zealand for the first time, allowing customers to collect iconic characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars during their weekly grocery shop.

Disney OOSHIES™ will also be available through FreshChoice and MILKRUN, providing more opportunities for fans to collect their favourite characters.

Starting July 13 until August 23, customers can collect one of 40 unique Disney OOSHIES™ for every $30 spent, while stock lasts.

This year’s range celebrates the 10th anniversary of OOSHIES™ collectible pencil toppers and some of the most anticipated cinematic releases of the year, featuring characters from Disney’s Moana live action, Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Woolworths General Manager Brand and Marketing Abbe Hale says the collectibles range is highly anticipated. “We know our customers love Disney and we’re thrilled to launch OOSHIES™ in New Zealand for the first time with a whole set of characters ready for customers to collect, and bring a little extra joy to their everyday routine.”

Pallavi Gaur, Executive Director, Brand Commercialisation at Disney Consumer Products Australia and New Zealand, said:

“We’re delighted to bring Disney OOSHIES™ to Woolworths NZ. These much-loved collectibles bring joy to families and fans of all ages across Australia and New Zealand. This year’s collection marks the 10th anniversary of OOSHIES™ and celebrates the incredible 2026 blockbuster slate of storytelling from across Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars.

“With more ways for consumers to collect the new range through Woolworths, FreshChoice and MILKRUN, we’re excited to see how OOSHIES™ will make each shop a little more magical.”

The Disney OOSHIES™ range is made from 97% recycled materials and customers can also choose to return any unused OOSHIES™ from the new range to Woolworths stores for recycling until 13th September, 2026.

Customers can also pick up a bonus OOSHIE when purchasing participating products in a $30 shop. Participating products will change weekly. Look out for the Bonus Ooshie lozenge when shopping in-store or online.

A special Collector Case will be available at Woolworths and Fresh Choice stores for $12. This includes a board game and two exclusive glow in the dark Disney OOSHIES™ to help shoppers kickstart their collection.

For more information and terms and conditions visit woolworths.co.nz/Disney-Ooshies

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Property Market – Affordability trumps climate risk as buyers drive greater value resilience in flood-prone properties – Cotality

Source: Vitality

New analysis from Cotality has revealed a striking affordability paradox within New Zealand’s housing market.
Despite a recent and unprecedented surge in the severity and cost of extreme weather events, buyers are increasingly overlooking long-term flood hazards in favour of lower entry prices, causing flood-affected properties to outgrow the broader market in value.

Cotality New Zealand Chief Data Officer Craig Dargusch explained that while buyers face undeniable climate risk, immediate financial pressures are dictating purchase decisions.
“Our data shows that flood-affected properties trade at an initial discount, but the market is buying them anyway and growing their value faster than the rest,” Mr Dargusch said.
“Affordability wins today, but risk shapes tomorrow.”
“Buyers are actively accepting known flood exposure in exchange for a lower price point, which inadvertently accelerates the rate of value growth in these vulnerable zones.”
The research utilises Cotality’s advanced property-level pricing model, customised with granular flood-extent flags and 500-metre buffer rings to isolate the precise impact of climate hazards on property values.

The local dynamics: Auckland vs Hawke's Bay

In Auckland, where the median dwelling value sits at $1.05M, purchasing a home in a flood-susceptible pocket of a suburb like Mount Albert offers an upfront discount of $70k to $100k.
This price variance has driven more intense demand among budget-conscious buyers.

Consequently, cumulative house value growth in Auckland's impacted zones reached 18.4% since 2020, leaving nearby comparable buffer zones behind at 13.0%.

A similar pattern emerged in Hawke’s Bay following Cyclone Gabrielle. While the disaster generated a devastating $14.5B economic impact and displaced more than 10,000 people nationally, the local shock was heavily felt in the regional property market, triggering a 10% to 15% median rent spike in Hawke's Bay due to a sharp 30% contraction in local rental listings.

Post-Gabrielle, impacted properties in Hawke's Bay outperformed surrounding areas by up to 5 percentage points. While that gap has since narrowed, impacted zones retain a higher cumulative growth rate since 2020 at 24.3%, compared to 22.7% for properties situated within a 500-metre buffer ring.
Mr Dargusch noted that smaller regional markets demonstrate a slightly less pronounced divergence than metro areas.
“With median values in Napier and Hastings sitting well below Auckland at $703k and $710k respectively, buyers have a different starting point,” Mr Dargusch said.
“Furthermore, in a tighter-knit regional market, local buyers often possess sharper, localised knowledge of exactly which streets flood, allowing them to price risk more precisely.”

National trends and shifting credit realities

Nationally, the trend remains highly consistent, displaying the sharpest divergence at the geographical and statistical extremes. Properties designated with a Cotality FloodScore of 5 (Very High risk) recorded a 26.1% increase in total growth change since January 2020. Conversely, properties classified with a score of 0 (No risk) saw total growth of a more modest 19.8% over the same period.
However, Cotality warns that this divergence in long-term growth faces an impending friction point as insurance providers refine their property-by-property asset risk profiling.
“While the consumer market is currently absorbing these properties, the credit lens is evolving rapidly,” Mr Dargusch warned.
“Insurance availability is becoming the de facto pricing mechanism for climate risk at the property level. Because insurance is a non-negotiable prerequisite for mortgage lending, any future retreat by insurers means no loan and no liquidity.”
“Lenders inherit what insurers leave behind, leading to uncollateralised exposure if an industry-wide cliff edge is not avoided through collaboration and cross-sector alignment.”
Mr Dargusch closed by noting that Cotality would continue to support the entire property ecosystem, connecting data and climate hazard analytics across credit, valuation, and lending workflows to help build a more resilient society.