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Government Cuts – Ministry of Health proposes slashing top public health experts – PSA

Source: PSA

The Ministry of Health is proposing to cut some of its most skilled and experienced staff in a change proposal released today, less than three weeks before Christmas.
The ministry’s Public Health Agency could have a net loss of 21 roles, concentrated in the Emergency Management team, which is proposed to go from 11 roles to two, and the Māori Public Health team, which could be cut to two roles from six.
“The Ministry of Health have told affected staff that this proposal is no reflection of the quality of their work, this is correct, their work is critical and high quality. This change proposal is again driven by the Government’s reckless budget cutting,” Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, says.
The Public Health Agency is the ‘lead adviser to the Government on public health and mental health. We advise on preventing disease, promoting health and protecting New Zealanders against threats to their health, including their mental health’.
“Ultimately, this loss of deep skills and expertise to the Ministry of Health is also a huge loss for New Zealanders.
“The COVID pandemic showed us all how crucial planning and public health is in an emergency, and decades of research have revealed that tangata whenua face health inequities at every level of the system. These changes make zero sense.”
Other changes proposed by the Ministry of Health at the Public Health Agency include significant changes to the Mental Health, Addiction and Suicide Prevention office.
Two Group Manager roles are proposed to be disestablished within the unit, with eight of its other roles to be moved elsewhere within the organisation.
“We’ve seen time and time again with the Government’s cuts specialist teams have been broken up. When it comes to health, as our population grows and ages, we need those specialist teams with deep, specialist skills.
“Cuts like these are weakening the public service, making a mockery of these public servants’ hard work to serve all New Zealanders.”
Staff consultation ends on 22 December, with changes expected to be implemented by April 2026. The PSA will be opposing these changes.
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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Employment Disputes – Fire and Emergency New Zealand Statement

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

STATEMENT – NZPFU strikes again, putting public safety at risk – people should be extra careful – Fire and Emergency New Zealand Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says it is extremely disappointing the New Zealand Professional Firefighters’ Union (NZPFU) will undertake another one-hour strike today, now facilitation with the Employment Relations Authority has been granted.
“NZPFU members will walk off the job again between 12-1pm today,” Megan Stiffler says.
“This comes after a decision by the Authority yesterday to refer both parties to facilitation to help make progress in ongoing negotiations.
“We ask the NZPFU to call off all planned future strikes while both parties are preparing for facilitation.
“There is no good reason for continuing to put the community at risk while we go through that process.”
People, especially those in cities and towns served by paid firefighters, are being asked to be extra careful with fire safety today.
“We will continue to answer 111 calls during the one-hour strike and respond to fires in affected areas, but our responses will be delayed. Our dispatch system will direct volunteers from their own stations and in their own trucks to help as they regularly do when there are multiple emergencies at one time, but it will take them longer.
“Businesses should take care with any work practices that could result in fire, and make sure their tenants understand their evacuation schemes and procedures,” Megan Stiffler says.
“We are advising everyone that, should there be a fire, they should evacuate early and, once out, stay out, and call 111.
“People should also check their smoke alarms and their escape plans.
“Community safety is of the utmost importance to us,” Megan Stiffler says.
“And, as we have done during the previous one-hour strikes, Fire and Emergency will prioritise emergencies and, as a result, may not respond to less serious incidents in cities and towns during the one-hour strike.
“For example, private fire alarms where there is no evidence of fire, small rubbish fires, assisting traffic management, and animal rescues. This will ensure our resources are focused where they are needed most,” Megan Stiffler says.
“We have notified Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance that, for the one-hour strike, our volunteer crews won’t be able to respond to medical calls outside their patch.
“I want to reassure people that this strike action will not affect most of the country,” Megan Stiffler says.
“The vast majority of communities are served by our more than 11,800 volunteers in nearly 600 stations across New Zealand, who will respond as usual.
“I want to say a special thank you to all our volunteer personnel today, on International Volunteer Day,” Megan Stiffler says.
“They are the backbone of Fire and Emergency, and we couldn’t serve New Zealand communities without them.
“I would also like to extend a thanks to our volunteers’ employers and whanau, who support them to respond.”
Bargaining
Fire and Emergency welcomes the recent Employment Relations Authority’s decision to refer it and the NZPFU to facilitation to help make progress in bargaining for a collective employment agreement.
“Attending independent facilitation with the Authority is the next logical step in coming to an agreement and we will participate in good faith with the NZPFU.
“We hope the facilitation process introduces some realism into discussions. The NZPFU’s most recent settlement proposal was more than three times higher than our last offer, which we believe was fair, sustainable, and reasonable, and in line with other settlements across the public service.
“Our latest offer of a 6.2 percent increase over three years would have taken the average senior firefighter remuneration from a range of approximately $80,700-$87,400 to $85,800-$92,900 at the end of the period, excluding overtime and allowances which currently adds an average of $38,800 to annual remuneration. We believe this represents a fair and sustainable increase for our people.
“We value our people, which is why over the past decade average senior firefighter pay has cumulatively increased by 37 percent – more than 10 percent above the average increase for all workers.”
Notes
  • Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union have been in bargaining talks for a collective employment agreement for paid firefighters since 16 July 2024.
  • Fire and Emergency’s most recent offer amounts to a 6.2 percent increase over three years and compares favourably with equivalent public sector agreements.
  • Fire and Emergency considers the offer is sustainable, balances cost of living pressures being faced by individuals alongside fiscal pressures faced by Fire and Emergency and is consistent with the Government Workforce Policy Statement.
  • The previous 2022 collective employment agreement settlement provided a cumulative wage increase of up to 24 percent over a three-year period for paid firefighters.
  • Fire and Emergency has also been investing in replacing our fleet. We’ve taken delivery of 317 new trucks since 2017 and have another 78 on order. We are currently spending over $20 million per year on replacement trucks. There is also a significant programme of station upgrades underway, as well as investment in training.
  • For the 2025/26 financial year, Fire and Emergency’s operating budget is $857.9 million. Of that operating budget, 59 percent will be spent directly on the frontline, while another 32 percent is spent on frontline enablers. This means that over 90 percent of Fire and Emergency’s budget is spent on the frontline and the people directly supporting the frontline. 
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Universities – Commerce and legal leaders awarded honorary doctorates – Vic

Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Business leader Dame Theresa Gattung and legal luminary Sir David Carruthers will receive honorary doctorates from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington during its December graduation.  

Each recipient boasts impressive career achievements, while leading public service focused pursuits ranging from gender parity and animal welfare, to advocacy for restorative and therapeutic justice.

They will be presented with their honorary doctorates at graduation ceremonies on Thursday 11 December 2025.

Dame Theresa Gattung to receive Doctor of Commerce

Distinguished alumna Dame Theresa Gattung is an award-winning business leader who throughout her career has championed causes such as gender parity, animal welfare, and social equity. She will be presented with a Doctor of Commerce.  

Born in Wellington to British immigrants who instilled a strong work ethic, Dame Therese studied economics and marketing at the University of Waikato, earning a Bachelor of Management Studies. 

Upon graduating, she moved to Wellington to study law at Victoria University of Wellington, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in 1988. 

While studying, Dame Theresa began working in marketing at TVNZ, before eventually joining Telecom New Zealand, now known as Spark, in 1994. 

At the age of 37, Dame Theresa was appointed chief executive officer of Telecom, making history as the first woman to lead a publicly listed company in New Zealand. During her tenure as CEO from 1999 to 2007, she took it from a traditional telecommunications company to become the number one IT provider in New Zealand. 

In 2010, she wrote the bestselling memoir Bird on a Wire: The inside story from a straight-talking CEO (Penguin NZ). 

Three years later, Dame Theresa co-founded the to-your-door grocery and recipe service My Food Bag.

She credits her studies at Victoria University of Wellington with teaching her about a lot more than law.

“My law degree at Victoria University prepared me well for my business career. I learnt to always be prepared for the unexpected and to respond in as concise yet as powerful a way as possible. I also learnt that preparation matters.”  

In addition to numerous governance roles, Dame Theresa is involved with several not-for-profit and philanthropic interests, including as chair of the Wellington Board of the SPCA, and as a board member of the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women. 

Having received many honours during her career, in 2024, Dame Theresa Gattung was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to women, governance, and philanthropy. 

“I am thrilled to be receiving an Honorary Doctorate in the city I was born, which my parents chose as their home upon immigrating to New Zealand.”

Sir David Carruthers to receive Doctor of Laws

Alumnus Sir David Carruthers is a long-serving and highly respected member of Aotearoa New Zealand’s legal community. He will be presented with a Doctor of Laws.

He studied at Victoria University of Wellington, where he completed a Bachelor of Laws in 1964 and a Master of Laws with Honours in 1968. 

After graduating, he began his legal career in Wellington before returning to practise law in his hometown of Pahiatua. He then established his own law practice in Palmerston North. 

In 1985, he was appointed a Family Court Judge and Youth Court Judge in Wellington. He became Principal Youth Court Judge in 1996. Five years later he was appointed Chief District Court Judge—a position he held until 2005. 

Following his retirement from the judiciary, he served as Chairman of the New Zealand Parole Board, overseeing a period of significant reform focused on safety, fairness, and rehabilitation.  

He was then appointed Chairman of the Independent Police Conduct Authority, serving from 2012 to 2017. During his tenure he oversaw several large investigations, including those into the Urewera raids and the Roastbusters scandal.  

Throughout his career, Sir David has been a strong advocate for restorative and therapeutic justice. He believes communities should play an active role in resolving harm and supporting both victims and offenders to achieve lasting change.

Sir David continues to contribute his expertise as a member of the Advisory Board for the Roy McKenzie Centre for the Study of Families and Children at Victoria University of Wellington and described his own time there as a student as “life-changing”.

“Not only did I learn from highly qualified and committed teachers about the law and its application to all aspects of life in Aotearoa New Zealand and its philosophy and culture, but I also made life-long friends there who have supported and enriched my life,” he says.

Since 2021, he has been the Independent Implementation Monitor, overseeing the implementation of the recommendations of the Victorian Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants. 

In recognition of his exceptional career, Sir David was knighted by the Governor-General in 2009. 

Chancellor Alan Judge said, “The University is proud to recognise two celebrated alumni, who have gone beyond their career achievements by contributing their knowledge and experience to give back to the wider community.”

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Real Estate – Rental market in abundance as Kiwis flock to Oz in record numbers

Source: RealEstate.co.nz

  • Rental stock up 17.4% compared to November 2024 
  • Record number of new listings hit rental market – 7,253 properties
  • West Coast average rental price hits $500/week bracket for the first time.

Latest data from realestate.co.nz shows New Zealand’s rental market is awash with properties with a record 7,253 new rental listings hitting the market in November 2025, a 12.4% increase on the same time last year.  Total rental stock – 8,801 properties – has also increased by 17.4% year-on-year.

Sarah Wood, CEO of realestate.co.nz, says this significant lift in rental stock is likely a result of mixed factors, landlords opting to re-let their properties as opposed to sell them, and the high number of Kiwis leaving New Zealand for Australia.

“We know New Zealand's net migration loss to Australia has reached a 12-year high, and the majority of those moving have been in the prime tenant demographic – 20-39-year-olds. While this surge in supply of rental properties presents clear opportunities for renters remaining in New Zealand, it’s also creating a market that landlords and investors will need to navigate carefully.”

Record number of rentals available in the regions

The plethora of rental properties could also be found in regional pockets with new rental listings at record highs in Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu/Whanganui, Waikato, and Wairarapa.

  • Hawke’s Bay climbed 176% year-on-year to 127 listings
  • Manawatu/Wanganui had a 32.5% increase in new listings with 363 properties
  • Waikato’s supply of rental listings increased 12.3% to 783 properties
  • Wairarapa recorded a 52.7% increase in new listings in November to 84 properties.

Wood says: “To see all-time highs in new rental listings across four regional markets during the same month is significant.”

Rental rates continue to fall, but West Coast bucks the trend

In November, the national average rental asking price reduced slightly by 3.1% to $626/week, compared to $646/week at the same time last year. However, some regions bucked the trend.

The West Coast recorded an average weekly rental rate in the $500/week bracket for the first time, with the region’s average rent at $518/week in November 2025, an 8.4% increase year-on-year. Southland also recorded an 8.5% increase, with the average rent in the region now $483/week.

“These increases suggest strong local demand and they’re a reminder that not all rental markets move in sync,” says Wood. “Seeing the West Coast cross the $500 mark for the first time is a notable milestone, especially in a market where the national average has declined.”

Defining moment for New Zealand’s rental market

Wood says November’s numbers confirm the market continues to sway in tenants’ favour. “With more rental properties on the market than ever before, alongside policy settings including changes to pet rules coming into effect this week, the dynamic between landlords and tenants is changing. It’s a rental market reset and everyone in the sector will need to adapt.”

 

About realestate.co.nz | New Zealand’s Best Small Workplace (2025)

We’ve been helping people buy, sell, or rent property since 1996.  

Established before Google, realestate.co.nz is New Zealand’s longest-standing property website and the official website of the real estate industry. In 2025, realestate.co.nz was crowned Best Small/Micro Workplace in New Zealand by Great Place to Work.

Dedicated only to property, our mission is to empower people with a property search tool they can use to find the life they want to live. With residential, lifestyle, rural and commercial property listings, realestate.co.nz is the place to start for those looking to buy or sell property.    

Whatever life you’re searching for, it all starts here.   

Want more property insights?  

  • Market insights: Search by suburb to see median sale prices, popular property types and trends over time.  
  • Sold properties: Switch your search to sold to see the latest sale prices and an estimated value in the current market.   

Glossary of terms: 

The average weekly rental rate is an indication of current market sentiment. It is calculated by taking the asking rental rate of every residential property listed during that month and dividing it by the total number of rental properties. The average is a truncated mean. 

New listings are a record of all the new residential dwellings listed for rent on realestate.co.nz for the relevant calendar month. Listings on the site include rental properties listed by Property Managers and private landlords and provide a representative view of the New Zealand rental property market. 

Stock is the total number of residential dwellings that are for rent on realestate.co.nz on the penultimate day of the month. 

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Human Rights Commission intervention a boost for landmark pay equity legal case

Source: PSA

The PSA welcomes the High Court confirming that the Human Rights Commission can intervene in the landmark High Court action launched by five unions challenging the Government's decision to scrap 33 pay equity claims and gut the Equal Pay Act 1972.
The Human Rights Commission is offering the Court its expertise on pay equity, given it has statutory authority to promote equal employment opportunities and to monitor New Zealand's compliance with international human rights conventions, particularly those covering discrimination against women.
“The intervention of the Human Rights Commission in this litigation is significant and welcome,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The commission’s statutory role is to promote equal employment opportunities including pay equity so it has a unique perspective to offer the Court.
“The Government rode roughshod over the human rights of New Zealand women when it cancelled pay equity claims and gutted the Equal Pay Act under urgency without consulting the very women impacted by this damaging decision.
“We know that the Commission with its expertise and deep knowledge of human rights will help us hold the Government to account for its outrageous actions to deprive New Zealand women of pay equity.
“We will not let the Government off the hook for its betrayal of New Zealand women.”
The High Court action was launched in August by five unions – the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, the PSA, E tū, the New Zealand Educational Institute and Tertiary Education Union – seeking a declaration that the amended Equal Pay Act 1972 is inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
The first stage in the litigation will take place with a 2-hour provision of discovery hearing by the High Court on 8 December 2025 at 10.00am
The unions represent more than 150,000 workers whose pay equity claims were cancelled.
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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Value of building work put in place: September 2025 quarter – Stats NZ information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Value of building work put in place: September 2025 quarter – information release

4 December 2025

Value of building work statistics estimate the value and volume of work put in place on construction jobs in New Zealand.

Key facts
In the September 2025 quarter:

  • the seasonally adjusted total building volume rose 1.5 percent compared with the June 2025 quarter – residential rose 2.8 percent, and non-residential fell 1.3 percent
  • total building value was $8.2 billion, down 4.4 percent from the September 2024 quarter.

Visit our website to read this information release and to download CSV files:

For media enquiries contact: Media team, Wellington, media@stats.govt.nz“>media@stats.govt.nz, 021 285 9191

The Government Statistician authorises all statistics and data we publish.

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Employment Disputes – Fire and Emergency welcomes facilitation referral as best option to progress agreement with NZPFU

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand – Statement

The NZPFU should call off continued strikes while facilitation process plays out Fire and Emergency says
Fire and Emergency New Zealand welcomes the Employment Relations Authority’s decision to refer it and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) to facilitation to help make progress in bargaining for a collective employment agreement.
“Attending independent facilitation with the Authority is the next logical step in coming to an agreement and we will participate in good faith with the NZPFU,” Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says.
“We ask the NZPFU to call off its strike tomorrow and all planned future strikes while both parties are preparing for facilitation which represents the best opportunity to settle bargaining.
“There is no good reason for continuing to put the community at risk while we go through that process.”
The parties have been in talks for a collective employment agreement for more than 16 months.
“We hope the facilitation process introduces some realism into the discussions.The NZPFU’s most recent settlement proposal was more than three times higher than our last offer, which we believe was fair, sustainable, and reasonable and in line with other settlements across the public service.”
Fire and Emergency’s recent offer amounts to a 6.2 percent average increase over 3 years and compares favourably with equivalent public sector agreements.
“We believe our latest offer represents a fair and sustainable increase for our people. It would’ve taken average senior firefighter salaries from a range of approximately $81,000-$87,000 to $86,000-$93,000 at the end of the period. That excludes overtime and allowances, which currently adds an average of almost $39,000 to annual remuneration.
“We’ve approached talks in good faith with the goal of reaching a fair, sustainable, and reasonable settlement with the NZPFU that keeps our communities safe. Fire and Emergency values the incredible dedication of our people, which is why over the past decade average senior firefighter pay has cumulatively increased by 37 percent, or more than 10 percent above the average total increase for all workers.
“We’re also conscious that approximately 95 percent of Fire and Emergency’s operations are funded by a levy on New Zealanders’ building, contents and vehicle insurance, and the cost-of-living pressures that would arise from pushing those costs up too much,” Megan Stiffler says.
The Authority has indicated it will convene a case management conference to make the necessary arrangements to progress this matter. 
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Weather News – Heat returns to the east – MetService

Source: MetService

Covering period of Thursday 4th – Monday 8th December – Heat returns to the east.
 
Yesterday (Wednesday) the North Island saw wet and wild weather as an active low-pressure system crossed overhead.

The North Island had more than 17,000 lightning strikes overland.
The region with the most was Bay of Plenty with around 3,800 strikes.
The highest intensity rainfalls recorded were 43mm/h in Matamata, 37mm/h near Devonport in Auckland and 31.9mm/h in Gisborne.

Most regions will see the sun come out this weekend, especially in the North Island as high pressure builds and brings settled weather. The weekend will be more of a rollercoaster for the South Island.

MetService has a Strong Wind Watch for Southland, Otago and Canterbury High Country south of Aoraki / Mount Cook on Friday. Gusts of 100km/h can be expected, especially inland.

These northwesterly winds will also drive up the temperature for eastern regions. Christchurch, Ashburton, and Oamaru will all crack 30°C on Friday, and a MetService Heat Alert will be in place for Oamaru. Saturday will be more temperate in these regions, then the northwesterly returns on Sunday to bring the heat back.

In the North Island, the heat will be more persistent. Gisborne, Napier and Hastings are forecast to exceed 30°C on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

The West Coast will see a sprinkling of showers on Saturday, but more substantial rain arrives in the west and south of the South Island on Sunday. This band of rain moves north on Monday, weakening as it travels. The North Island remains out of reach and dry on Monday.

MetService Meteorologist Michael Pawley details “Saturday will be the pick of the days this weekend in the South Island; perfect timing for runners to complete the Kepler Challenge and be off the mountain before the rain rolls in overnight.”
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Education – Open letter to Education Minister from Tai Tokerau Principals’ Association

Source: NZ Principals Federation

Open letter follows:
Tēnā koe Minister Stanford,
On behalf of the Tai Tokerau Principals’ Association (TTPA), representing 108 primary and intermediate school principals across the six regions of Te Tai Tokerau (Northland), I am writing to express our profound opposition to the government's decision to remove the requirement for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi within the Education and Training Act 2020.
The TTPA is committed to fostering an education system that is culturally responsive and ensures the success of all ākonga (students). In Te Tai Tokerau, where a significant proportion of our students are Māori, this commitment is not just a professional goal but a moral imperative. We believe that schools must be environments where ākonga Māori and their whānau feel a deep sense of belonging, connection, and cultural affirmation. The proposed amendment to the Act directly undermines this fundamental principle.
We support the vital role of school boards in governance and their focus on core responsibilities such as student achievement, attendance, and well-being. However, we contend that honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi is not a distraction from these responsibilities but is, in fact, integral to achieving them. Our principals and their boards work diligently to ensure that their school's plans, policies, and curriculum reflect local tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te ao Māori. This work is essential for ensuring that our Māori students, who represent a significant and growing part of our school communities, see themselves and their heritage valued within our education system.
The removal of the explicit obligation to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi sends a damaging message that the principles of partnership, participation, and protection are negotiable and can be relegated to a matter of voluntary goodwill. While we are confident that our principals will continue to champion Te Tiriti in their schools, we believe that legislation plays a crucial role in setting clear expectations, protecting progress, and ensuring that all schools in Aotearoa New Zealand are held to the same high standard. A legislative framework that is silent on Te Tiriti creates ambiguity and risks eroding the gains that have been made in creating a more equitable and inclusive education system.
We stand in solidarity with our colleagues in the wider education sector, in opposing this change. We urge you and your government to reconsider this decision and to reaffirm the Crown's commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a cornerstone of a high-quality, inclusive, and successful education system for all learners in Aotearoa.
We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this important matter further.
Nāku noa, nā
Brendon Morrissey (TTPA President)
On behalf of the Tai Tokerau Principals’ Association
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Culture in the Digital Age: Preparing New Zealand for the Future

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage has released its Long-term Insights Briefing (LTIB) 2025, Culture in the Digital Age, exploring how digital technologies will change the ways New Zealanders create, share and protect their stories in 2040 and beyond.
This work has been informed by cultural sector and industry feedback received during public consultation. The LTIB does not set policy but provides impartial, future-focused insights and policy options to guide long-term decision-making.
By 2040, our cultural landscape will be deeply intertwined with artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. These changes offer unprecedented opportunities for our cultural system – but they also raise significant ethical, legal, cultural, and governance challenges.
Key insights include:
  • By 2040, the concept of creativity will have changed. While creativity and technology have always been linked, recent developments in generative AI are calling into question what it means to be creative, and who has the power to create.
  • By 2040, we won’t be able to tell which stories are real. The increasing use of AI-generated synthetic content in mis- and disinformation, are making it harder for people to tell what is real and exacerbating existing socioeconomic inequalities.
  • How New Zealanders’ stories are protected will shape our future history. New tools are emerging for the preservation and revitalisation of knowledge, culture, heritage and language. However, the global community continues to grapple with how to best protect cultural heritage and intellectual property.
  • Māori data governance principles and cultural values may help safeguard future stories in New Zealand’s unique context. Emerging frameworks are guiding responsible data governance, empowering communities to control and protect their cultural knowledge.
Secretary for Culture and Heritage Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae says: “This briefing explores key trends, risks and opportunities, and presents policy options to ensure our cultural system remains vibrant, inclusive and resilient in the digital age. The insights can guide efforts to grow and harness the potential of digital technologies while safeguarding the values and traditions that define us.”