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Statement – Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia Continue Legal Battle

Source: Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia Incorporated Society

STATEMENT – Auckland, New Zealand – The Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia Incorporated Society (DLMC) has confirmed the continuation of its legal challenge against Auckland Council following the Puketāpapa Local Board’s decision not to pursue a community-led resolution regarding the future of the park’s off-leash dog area.

The matter was heard in the High Court on 24 and 25 February, where DLMC sought a judicial review of the Puketāpapa Local Board’s decision relating to the removal of the long-standing off-leash area at Monte Cecilia Park.

During the hearing, Justice Becroft repeatedly encouraged both parties to explore a negotiated resolution, noting that litigation was not the optimal use of resources and that a mutually agreeable outcome should be possible.

Following the hearing, DLMC acted quickly to pursue that path.

Within 48 hours, the society convened a meeting and formally submitted a proposal to the Puketāpapa Local Board and Auckland Council titled “A Roadmap to Peace.”

The proposal outlined practical steps to address council concerns while preserving the park’s well-known off-leash “bowl” area, including:

  • Stronger community enforcement of existing dog laws
  • Collaboration with council animal management teams
  • Clearer signage marking the off-leash area
  • The creation of a working group between council representatives and park users

The society also formally condemned any inappropriate comments directed at Local Board members and issued an apology in the interest of constructive dialogue.

Despite the proposal being submitted in good faith, DLMC was advised on 6 March that Auckland Council wanted the matter referred back to the Court rather than entering into negotiations.

Jonathan Sweeney, Chair of the Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia Society, said the group remains committed to finding a balanced outcome for the community.

“Monte Cecilia Park serves many purposes, but at its heart it’s about community. For years this space has supported positive dog socialisation, responsible ownership, and meaningful connection between people. Our proposal was a genuine attempt to find common ground.”

The society says the case represents more than simply access to an off-leash area.

“This judicial review is also about confidence in decision-making — ensuring that community voices are heard and that decisions affecting shared spaces are based on thorough consultation and practical solutions.”

DLMC is conscious of the fact that its legal challenge continues amidst a concerning increase of reports of dog attacks throughout New Zealand.  

“At its core, these attacks are examples of what happens when dogs are not properly trained, cared for and kept under their owner’s control at all times.  These aren’t just “good dog owner” requirements: they are legal requirements on all dog owners under the Dog Control Act”.  

DLMC welcomes calls to reform the Dog Control Act to better empower (and fund) Councils to address irresponsible dog ownership issues while enabling responsible dog owners (and their dogs) to play a vibrant role in the community.  

DLMC continues its legal challenge because of the importance that off-leash spaces play in socialising dogs and helping them (and their owners) to be positive members of society.  

“The advice that the Puketāpapa Local Board received from Council staff was that off-leash areas, like the “bowl” at Monte Cecilia Park, benefit dogs by providing a space that enables them to socialise with other dogs and humans, curbing unwanted (and dangerous) behaviours in the long run.  The Local Board was also told by Council staff that “communities that invest in off-leash areas foster a sense of shared responsibility, encouraging dog owners to be mindful of their pets’ behaviour and respectful of others”. This advice was never made available to the public until the Local Board made its decision to get rid of the off-leash area at Monte Cecilia Park.  

Monte Cecilia Park is widely used by local residents for recreation, social gatherings and dog walking and playing. Many regular users say the park plays an important role in supporting wellbeing and community connection.

DLMC says it will continue its work as a volunteer-led organisation advocating for responsible dog ownership and fair access to public spaces.

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Building New Zealand: Focus on the construction industry – Stats NZ news story

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Business financial data: December 2025 quarter – Stats NZ information release

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Business employment data: December 2025 quarter – Stats NZ information release

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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.
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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.

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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/
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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.

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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.
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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.’