|
|
|
|
Government Cuts – Latest proposed health cuts will leave public health system worse off – PSA
Source: PSA
The PSA is deeply concerned about the long-term consequences of the proposed restructure of the Ministry of Health’s Corporate Services function, which will see 46 roles disestablished and workers forced to reapply for fewer jobs.
The proposed cuts would, if finalised, see a net loss of 25 roles.
“This is the direct result of the Government’s relentless spending cuts,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Those who could lose their jobs are skilled and committed public servants who do important work – they have more to give our health system.”
The proposed restructure would see design services outsourced, financial advisory roles cut from five to two, and information management and digital workplace roles reduced with some IT training reduced to self-service online models. The Ministry itself acknowledges that ‘some service levels within information and knowledge services will need to reduce’.
“These are the people managing finances, information systems, business analysis, and digital infrastructure. When you gut this function, the impacts are real, the work just gets pushed onto other staff who are already stretched. And right now, the last thing the health system needs to lose are IT specialists.
“The Ministry has been told it must ‘live within a reduced baseline’ over the next three years, but what that really means is fewer people doing vital work that keeps the public health system running.
“This is just more hollowing out of our health system, part of the pattern we have seen right across the public sector for more than two years now. The Government keeps cutting, agencies keep shrinking, and the services New Zealanders rely on keep getting worse.”
The cuts follow several other restructures at the Ministry, alongside massive job cuts at Health NZ Te Whatu Ora where 2,800 roles have been axed over the past two years. The PSA will be strongly opposing the cuts in its submission to the Ministry on the proposal.
“The Government's priorities are all wrong when you consider it's giving away $20 billion in tax cuts to business, landlords and big tobacco and not funding the health system properly,” said Fitzsimons.
“New Zealanders deserve a public health system that can meet the challenges of an ageing population, growing demand, and increasing complexity. These cuts take us further from that goal, not closer to it.
“Make no mistake, come the election, we will be reminding New Zealanders of the damage the Government is doing to the public health system we all rely on.”
Recent statement
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
Consumer NZ – Tens of thousands of people face cancelled flights – they have rights
Source: Consumer NZ
Consumer NZ says passengers disrupted by Air New Zealand’s flight cuts are entitled to ask for a refund if they don’t want to accept a replacement flight.
“Air New Zealand has announced it will be cutting over a thousand flights in the coming weeks because of rising fuel costs. While most travellers will be rebooked onto same-day flights, we want people to know that if that new flight doesn’t suit them, they can choose not to take it and ask for their money back instead,” says Jon Duffy, chief executive of Consumer.
When an airline cancels flights due to events out of its control, like severe weather or airspace closure, passengers usually have to accept the disruption and wear any associated expenses or claim on their insurance. Consumer believes Air New Zealand’s cancellations are within its control.
“The decision to amend the flight schedules is driven by rising fuel costs. We think this is an operational decision, which means impacted passengers have rights if the rescheduled flight doesn’t suit them.”
Your domestic flight rights
If your domestic flight is cancelled for a reason within an airline’s control and you do not want to accept a replacement flight, you can ask for a refund under the Civil Aviation Act (CAA).
Under the CAA, you can also claim back additional expenses such as meals, accommodation and any other costs incurred in getting to your destination.
In total, you can claim back the lesser of up to 10 times the cost of the ticket, or the actual cost of delay.
Your international flight rights
Consumer says that because Air New Zealand’s flight cancellations are a financial decision, and the airline will struggle to show it took all reasonable measures to avoid the cancellations or delays, it is also likely to be liable for disrupted international flights under international laws, including the Montreal Convention.
For international flights, your rights differ depending on where you’re flying and the airline you’re flying with. However, at a minimum, you’ll be entitled to a refund if you don’t want to accept the alternative flight that’s offered to you. You may also be able to claim back any additional costs you incur. In total, the maximum amount you can claim for a delay under the Montreal Convention is $15,134 – this includes alternative flights to get you to your intended destination.
Disrupted passengers who are set to depart from airports in the EU could be entitled to additional financial assistance. Consumer has further detailed information on its website: https://consumernz.cmail19.com/t/i-l-ztjuyit-ijjdkdttjk-y/
Consumer’s flight rights petition
Airlines in New Zealand don’t have to tell passengers their rights.
Despite amendments to the Civil Aviation Act last year, giving the minister the power to require airlines to inform passengers about their rights, no action has been taken.
“People impacted by flight disruptions deserve clarity – it shouldn’t be up to them to interpret complex laws to figure out who is at fault for a cancellation, and what that means for their own situation. Air New Zealand’s flight cuts highlight precisely why the current information gap needs to be filled,” says Duffy.
On Tuesday, Consumer presented a petition to parliament calling on the Government to require airlines to tell passengers their rights when flights are delayed or cancelled. The petition was signed by over 10,500 people.
About Consumer
Consumer NZ is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to championing and empowering consumers in Aotearoa. Consumer NZ has a reputation for being fair, impartial and providing comprehensive consumer information and advice.
A GENERATION OF SYRIAN CHILDREN LOST TO WAR, CONFLICT AND DISPLACEMENT – World Vision
Source: World Vision
Fifteen years since civil war erupted in Syria (March 15, 2011), and more than a year since the fall of the Assad regime, Syrian children are once again trapped in a crisis of conflict and displacement.
In the past month as conflict across the Middle East has erupted, more than 70,000 Syrians have fled Lebanon to return to their home country.
World Vision Country Programme Manager Ritam Bhattarai says many of those fleeing Lebanon have already experienced years of war, displacement, hunger, and insecurity.
“Children and families had found some semblance of safety in Lebanon, but renewed airstrikes, missile and rocket fire, and hostilities mean children are at risk and desperate families are on the move again.
“Many of these children have only ever known life as a refugee and to be faced with yet another round of violence and displacement is actually unbearable,” she says.
Families fleeing Lebanon to return to Syria may be escaping violence, but they will face yet more challenges upon the return to Syria.
More than half the country’s population is in need of humanitarian assistance, including 7.5 million Syrian children.
Bhattarai says children and families are in desperate need of emergency food supplies, clean water, healthcare, and psychological support.
“One of the most devastating impacts of the prolonged war is the impact on children’s mental health. Many Syrian children are only just surviving, and they carry deep emotional and psychological wounds. Without urgent intervention, we risk losing an entire generation to the long-term effects of trauma and despair,” she says.
Bhattarai says children living with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions in Syria have little to no access to specialised mental health and psychosocial support.
Furthermore, she says many children are missing out on the benefits of education for learning, development, and future opportunities. Around two million Syrian children do not attend school.
Bhattarai says World Vision New Zealand is calling on the New Zealand government to better support Syria by investing in expanded food assistance and resilience programmes and helping to fund long-term recovery and reconstruction, not simply support with emergency aid.
World Vision has been working in Syria since 2011 and with its partners has supported millions of children with emergency food, clean water, education support, and mental health and psychosocial care.
New Zealanders wanting to support children in Syria, can give here: https://www.worldvision.org.nz/give-now/childhood-rescue/syria/
Appointments – WILLIAMSON TO CHAIR GUARDIANS FOR A FURTHER TWO YEARS
Source: The Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation
John Williamson will Chair The Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation for a further two years to October 2028, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today.
Ms Willis said Mr Williamson's reappointment reflected his strong leadership and would maintain stability and continuity at the Guardians, manager of the $90 billion New Zealand Superannuation Fund.
Mr Williamson said the Guardians had implemented some significant organisational changes in the past couple of years, following the adoption of a revised strategic framework in April 2024.
“Our focus continues to be on ensuring we have the right structure and processes to achieve our purpose: Sustainable investment delivering strong returns for all New Zealanders,” Mr Williamson said.
“I'm pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this important work.”
Mr Williamson joined the Guardians Board in 2016 and was appointed Chair on 1 March 2024.
Ombudsman’s office publishes OIA and LGOIMA complaints information for July to December 2025
Source: Office of the Ombudsman
The Office of the Ombudsman has published its half-yearly data on Official Information Act (OIA) and Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) complaints.
The data covers the number of complaints received under each Act from 1 July to 31 December 2025 as well as the number of complaints completed by the Ombudsman during this period.
The number of complaints about the way government agencies handle OIA requests has continued to rise year on year. In the most recent six-month period, there was an increase of 173 complaints compared to the previous half year (1,198 complaints, up from 1,025 in the previous half year).
The top three types of OIA complaints related to refusals in full (322, up from 260), delays in making a decision (280, up from 210), and partial refusals (247, down from 258).
Of the total received, 953 were from individuals (up from 794), 121 from media (up from 113), 55 from companies, associations, incorporated societies or collectives (up from 54).
There were 322 complaints made under the LGOIMA, up from the previous six-monthly period when 251 complaints were received.
Of the 322 LGOIMA complaints received, 290 were from individuals (up from 209), 19 from the media (up from 14), and 12 from companies, associations, incorporated societies or collectives (down from 20).
The top four types of LGOIMA complaints were refusals in full (87, up from 66), refusals in part (87, up from 52), inadequate or incomplete responses (53, up from 47), and delays in making decisions (49, down from 53).
Complaints data (1 July – 31 December 2025)
Complaints received
Complaint type Individual Media Other Total received LGOIMA 290 19 13 322 OIA 953 121 124 1,198
LGOIMA or OIA complaints received may also be from: political party research units; trade unions; special interest groups, companies, associations, incorporated societies, Members of Parliament, etc. These are categorised as ‘Other’ in this table. See this half year data set for more detail.
Reasons for complaints
Complaint type Delay in decision Refusal in full Refusal in part Incomplete/ inadequate response Extension Other LGOIMA 49 87 87 53 15 31 OIA 280 322 247 102 71 176
The ‘Other’ category may include complaints about decisions to make information available subject to a charge; the manner or form in which information was released; alleged delay in releasing information; extensions of the time limit to making decisions on requests; refusal – statement of reasons; refusal – internal rules and guidelines; refusal – personal information about body corporate. See this half year data set for more detail.
Complaints completed
Complaint type Individual Media Other Total completed LGOIMA 333 28 29 390 OIA 1,253 151 156 1,560
About the data
The data released by the Ombudsman concerns both OIA and LGOIMA complaints received and completed from 1 July to 31 December 2025. It includes information on the number of complaints received by Minister or agency, the nature of the complaint and type of complainant (media, private individual, etc). For the complaints completed, the data also includes the outcome of the complaint.
The data does not enable a direct comparison between agencies, as complaints data on its own does not give the full picture. The number of complaints received by the Ombudsman may be a very small proportion of the total number of OIA or LGOIMA requests received by an agency.
Te Kawa Mataaho | Public Service Commission publishes its own data on OIA requests received by agencies and their response times on the same day as the Ombudsman publishes.
Employment – Fire and Emergency and FECA reach agreement strengthening leadership and community outcomes
Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Fire and Emergency New Zealand welcomes the successful ratification of the collective employment agreement with Fire and Emergency Commanders Association (FECA) covering operational firefighting management, District Commanders and Assistant District Commanders, and senior specialist positions.
The collective employment agreement was ratified by FECA members on 2 March 2026, following 14 days of negotiations and an Offer to Settle made on 23 February 2026.
Fire and Emergency Chief Executive Kerry Gregory said the agreement reflects a mature and constructive relationship between the two organisations.
‘This agreement is about strengthening leadership across Fire and Emergency so we can deliver the best possible outcomes for our communities,’ Kerry Gregory said.
‘Securing a new agreement is critical to our leadership capability, operational stability, and our ability to deliver on our strategic direction and organisational change objectives. Just as importantly, it ensures our frontline leaders are aligned, supported, and empowered to perform at their best.
‘It is an important milestone to have this contract settled, as it builds on the progress we made last September when we signed a Strategic Relationship Agreement with the UFBA, who represent more than 650 volunteer brigades across the country.’
FECA President Geoff Purcell said the agreement recognises the vital role Fire and Emergency’s operational leaders play across Aotearoa New Zealand.
‘Our members command, lead, manage and support paid and volunteer firefighters across the motu. This agreement acknowledges their professionalism, their national responsibilities, and their commitment to serving communities,’ Geoff Purcell said.
‘We’re particularly pleased to see the Strategic Relationship Panel formalised, providing a structured and collaborative forum where operational leaders can work closely with Fire and Emergency on issues that matter most.’
The agreement also confirms FECA’s support for Fire and Emergency’s key leadership and cultural change initiatives reinforcing constructive, sustainable relationships with volunteers.
Kerry Gregory said the settlement enables the organisation to focus squarely on its core mission.
‘We acknowledge and thank FECA for their constructive approach to reaching a settlement. With this agreement in place, we can concentrate on what matters most, strengthening how we protect people, the environment, and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.’
Property Market – NZ housing affordability improves to near decade-best levels – Cotality
Source: Cotality
Housing affordability across New Zealand has improved to its most favourable level in almost a decade, as lower property values, rising wages and easing mortgage rates continue to reduce pressure on buyers.
The latest Cotality NZ Housing Affordability Report for Q4 2025 shows the national value-to-income ratio fell to 7.2, the lowest level since a brief period in 2019 and before that 2016.
Although still slightly above the long-term average of 6.8, the figure represents a marked improvement from the stretched affordability conditions seen during the post-COVID housing boom.
Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said affordability has improved materially over the past three to four years as several market forces moved in the same direction.
“Lower property values, rising incomes and falling mortgage rates have all helped ease the pressure on buyers,” Mr Davidson said.
“Housing certainly isn’t cheap, but for those trying to buy their first home or upgrade, we’re currently seeing the best conditions in several years and a level of affordability that is much closer to the country’s historic norms.”
Mortgage costs return to more typical levels
Mortgage servicing costs have seen the most notable improvement with repayments accounting for 42% of gross median household income, in line with the long-term average.
Mortgage servicing costs have seen the most notable improvement with repayments accounting for 42% of gross median household income, in line with the long-term average.
Mr Davidson noted it’s been almost five years since mortgage servicing hit a peak of 56% recorded in early 2022 and again in late 2023.
“Servicing a relatively new mortgage is also back to around its normal levels and is much improved from the situation a few years ago,” he said.
“Mortgage affordability isn’t easy, but in the current lower interest rate environment it may not be the significant handbrake on medium-term house price growth that it was a few years ago.”
Deposit hurdle easing but still significant
Although saving a deposit has improved compared with recent years, it remains one of the largest barriers to the housing market for aspiring buyers.
Although saving a deposit has improved compared with recent years, it remains one of the largest barriers to the housing market for aspiring buyers.
The years required to save a 20% deposit has fallen to 9.6, down almost four years from a peak of 13.4 during the post-COVID housing surge.
Mr Davidson said while this figure remains above the long-term average of around nine years, the reduction highlights the positive impact of lower property values and stronger incomes.
“There’s no suggestion the market is affordable as it remains slightly more challenging than ‘normal’ however it has been on an improving trend in recent quarters and is certainly more favourable than the previous post-COVID boom period,” he said.
“Saving for a deposit is just one factor in measuring housing affordability and it currently takes four years less save a deposit than it might have done at the market’s peak. In addition, let’s not forget that a lot of first home buyers don’t actually need a 20% deposit anyway, with many taking advantage of the banks’ LVR allowances.”
Main centres show varying improvements
Affordability across the main centres showed a mixed picture in the December quarter, reflecting differences in how property values have adjusted since the market peak.
Affordability across the main centres showed a mixed picture in the December quarter, reflecting differences in how property values have adjusted since the market peak.
Tauranga remains the least affordable of the major centres, with a value-to-income ratio of 8.5 in Q4 2025. Although that figure has eased from its peak of 11.9 in 2021, affordability in the city remains stretched compared with most other main centres.
Auckland has seen one of the more notable improvements with the city’s value-to-income ratio at 7.5, slightly below its long-term average of 7.7, indicating housing costs are closer to typical levels than they have been in recent years.
Wellington is currently the most affordable of the main centres on this measure, with a ratio of 6.4, broadly in line with its long-term average.
Mr Davidson said the recent underperformance of property values in Auckland and Wellington had played an important role in restoring affordability in those markets.
“That adjustment has taken some of the heat out of markets that had previously become extremely stretched,” he said.
Hamilton, Christchurch and Dunedin have seen less improvement in affordability, as property values in those markets have remained more resilient and have shown modest growth in recent months.
Rental affordability still stretched
While affordability for buyers has improved, rental costs remain elevated. Rents currently absorb 27.9% of gross household income nationally, down slightly from a peak of 28.5%, but still above the long-term average of 25.8%.
While affordability for buyers has improved, rental costs remain elevated. Rents currently absorb 27.9% of gross household income nationally, down slightly from a peak of 28.5%, but still above the long-term average of 25.8%.
Recent easing in rents in Auckland and Wellington has brought those markets closer to their long-term norms. However, Mr Davidson noted most other parts of the country continue to record relatively high rent-to-income ratios.
“Rental affordability remains stretched in a number of regions, and some tenants are likely to earn less than the median used in these measures,” he said.
“That means the real financial pressure for some households is likely to be greater than the headline figures suggest. When rents are already taking up a large share of income, there’s naturally less scope for further increases.”
Outlook cautious despite improving affordability
Improving affordability may reduce one of the key constraints on housing market activity this year, although other factors will continue to influence property values.
Improving affordability may reduce one of the key constraints on housing market activity this year, although other factors will continue to influence property values.
Mr Davidson said the outlook for the labour market, alongside lending restrictions such as the debt-to-income ratio rules, would continue to shape housing demand. Over the longer term, sustained improvements in affordability will require an increase to housing supply.
“Affordability may act less as a handbrake on property value growth than it has in recent years,” he said.
“But there are still limits on how far prices can rise in the near term. A lasting improvement in housing affordability ultimately requires more homes to be built, not just in absolute terms, but also relative to demand. The good news is that the Government is already pushing very hard on this lever.”
Note:
The Cotality NZ Housing Affordability Report measures housing affordability using the ratio of property values to household incomes, the share of income required to service a typical mortgage, the number of years needed to save a 20% deposit, and the proportion of income required to pay rent. The analysis draws on Cotality’s hedonic Home Value Index (HVI), income data from Infometrics, mortgage rates from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and rental data from MBIE tenancy bond figures.
Greenpeace – Luxon’s climate policies leave Kiwis hurting as petrol hits $3 a litre
Source: Greenpeace
As petrol prices climb to around $3 a litre, Greenpeace is pointing to a series of Government decisions that have left Kiwis hit harder by the oil price spike.
“The Luxon Government has spent the last two years dismantling policies that were helping wean New Zealanders off expensive imported oil,” says Gen Toop, Senior Campaigner at Greenpeace Aotearoa.
“Instead of helping households escape volatile and expensive petrol prices, they have crashed the EV market, slashed public transport funding and are spending billions on new roads.
“These decisions are making the climate crisis, and the cost of living crisis worse.”
Greenpeace points to a number of decisions that it says have increased New Zealand's dependence on imported fossil fuels including:
- Scrapping the Clean Car Discount, which provided rebates for electric and low-emissions vehicles. The collapse in the EV market was instant: In 2023 around one in four new cars sold was electric, by early 2024 that had plummeted to one in 26.
- Cut fees on high-polluting vehicle imports by nearly 80% despite officials warning it would cost Kiwi drivers an extra $115 million at the pump. Now Ministers are considering going further and scrapping the clean car standard entirely,
- C ancelling Auckland Light Rail and scrapping Wellington’s low-emissions transport plan, both of which aimed to reduce car dependence in the country's major cities.
- Ending half price public transport fares for young people
- S lashing funding for public transport, walking and cycleways while pouring billions into 17 roads of “national significance” – the total cost of those roads has now blown out to between $44 – $54 billion
- Cancelling the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) fund, which helped businesses move away from fossil fuels.
- Plans to build a new LNG import terminal so that New Zealand can begin importing and burning fossil gas for electricity.
“This Government is effectively turning New Zealand into a dumping ground for the world’s dirtiest, most oil-hungry cars while other countries rapidly switch to EVs,” Toop says.
“At the same time they are slashing public and active transport options which forces more people into cars leaving them facing more pain at the pump when petrol prices spike.
“This latest plan to build a multi-billion dollar LNG import terminal is ludicrous. Importing and burning another volatile fossil fuel is the last thing our climate, and power bills need. Especially when we have all the wind, sun and renewable energy potential we need right here at home.”
Local News – Porirua keeping tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of the city
Source: Porirua City Council
A report to Porirua City Council’s Te Puna Kōrero Committee has highlighted Council’s commitment to the city’s younger residents.
Council has had “tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of the city” as a strategic priority since 2018, and in 2024 adopted a refreshed Tamariki and Rangatahi Strategy. Last week’s report outlined the ways Council is meeting the five focus areas in that strategy, and a roadmap for future action.
It highlights a number of initiatives already making a positive impact in Porirua, including:
It highlights a number of initiatives already making a positive impact in Porirua, including:
- Careers Expo – an annual event connecting rangatahi with local employers, training providers, and career pathways to prepare them for a thriving future Mahi Rangatahi programme:
- Council’s inhouse work experience programme for rangatahi, offering mentorship and skill-building opportunities
- Young Peoples Fund – empowering youth to lead their own projects, with funding for community initiatives designed and delivered by young people
- Mau Te Rongo – navigators employed to maintain a safe and engaging presence at Porirua railway station and other locations across the city
- Mana Taiohi and Inside Out training for staff – equipping Council and partner organisations with tools and professional development to better meet the diverse needs of our
- youth.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker welcomed the report.
“We’re committed to putting our tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of everything we do. This report is a testament to our city’s vision – where every child and young person feels valued, listened to, and empowered to shape their future.
“Our youth have told us what matters most to them, and we’ve listened. By working together as a community, we are creating pathways for success and wellbeing for all Porirua’s young people.”
The full meeting agenda, including the report, can be viewed online at www.poriruacity.govt.nz/meetings