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Save the Children – Airstrike on Gaza tent marks fourth Palestinian child killed in six days by Israeli forces

Source: Save the Children

Four Palestinian children have reportedly been killed and several injured by Israeli forces over the past six days, including a 10 year old in a tent in Gaza today, said Save the Children. The child rights organisation called once again for urgent international intervention.
 Gaza medics said four people were killed in the airstrike today including a 10 year old child, according to media reports .
 Meanwhile, another child in Gaza was reportedly killed fetching water on Friday; and a 16 year old boy was killed, along with two other children injured by gunfire from Israeli forces during a military raid in Qalandia refugee camp in the West Bank, according to the Ministry of Health. On Tuesday a child was reportedly killed and others were injured in a drone strike on a vehicle south of Gaza City.
A four-month-old baby also reportedly died in the West Bank on Sunday after his transfer to access urgent medical care was delayed for more than an hour at an Israeli military checkpoint west of Ramallah.
The latest deaths come two weeks after the UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israeli authorities and security forces have deliberately targeted Palestinian children. The total number of children killed by Israeli forces since the report’s publication is now at least 11.
Ahmad Alhendawi, Save the Children's Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe said: 
“The killing today of another child should not just be another statistic – this is a precious life that has survived 1000 days of war, displacement and hunger only to be shattered in seconds. This child was a family’s whole world. 
“In just two weeks, 11 more Palestinian children have been killed in cold blood, and another’s life cut short as he waits for lifesaving care. Children are meant to be off-limits in war – this is the rule of law. Yet the world, in its disgraceful inaction, is sending the message that Palestinians are exempt.
“Despite the alarm bells, despite the reports and the data, Israeli forces are getting away with killing children so regularly that the world barely seems to blink an eyelid. Whether by bullets or by being denied access to lifesaving medical care, each death reflects a profound failure to protect children. This is total impunity. The indiscriminate targeting of Palestinian children must end now.”
About Save the Children NZ:
Save the Children calls on all governments to cease the transfer of arms to the Government of Israel, and to comply fully with the July 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice. Member states must intervene to prevent atrocity crimes from continuing throughout the occupied Palestinian territory and refrain from complicity in them-immediately and without delay.
Save the Children has worked in the occupied Palestinian territory since 1953, with a permanent presence since 1973. We work with partners to help provide quality education, protection for children, early childhood development support, and employment opportunities for young people.
Together with our partners, Save the Children helped nearly 890,000 people in the oPt in 2025, including almost 430,000 children. As of May 2026, we have supported over 218,000 people, including over 107,000 children in Gaza, through our multisectoral programming
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Politics – Taking solar subsidies from gas fund is "senseless" – GasNZ

Source: GasNZ

GasNZ says Labour's solar policy released today undermines its benefits by pulling the subsidy from National's $200m Gas Security Fund.

Jeffrey Clarke, chief executive of GasNZ, says it is senseless to steal subsidy money for home solar from a fund intended to underpin essential uses of gas.
“This is a one-dimensional policy for a multi-dimensional problem.  A few more homes might get solar to supplement their supply, but at far greater cost to the economy and energy system.
“More solar is good, but this policy achieves it by undermining something more important – the security of gas supply.
Clarke says the Gas Security Fund will result in more gas options for businesses and the energy system that needs it – including green energy such as biomethane.
“We cannot escape the fact that gas is currently irreplaceable in industry, commerce and even in the electricity system.”
“Renewable gas is essential for industries that need gas for heating processes that electricity cannot easily replicate. Renewable biomethane can provide this, just as natural gas does now,” Clarke says.
Renewable biomethane gas produced from organic waste has the potential to replace up to half of the expected demand for natural gas by 2050. [See GasNZ Biomethane Strategy: https://gasnz.org.nz/biomethane ]
About GasNZ
GasNZ represents renewable gas, natural gas and LPG companies. Its vision is that renewable gases, including biogases and hydrogen gas, are a material part of the energy mix in Aotearoa.
Its members cover all gas energy fuels and all parts of the gas chain: gas producers; gas distributors; gas wholesalers and retailers; and gas equipment suppliers.
GasNZ is committed to a net-zero carbon future. www.GasNZ.org.nz
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Business – AI Adoption Surges Among SMEs, but Businesses Risk Falling Behind on Workforce Readiness, EMA Survey Finds

Source: EMA

More than eight in 10 small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are already using artificial intelligence (AI), but many are not yet preparing their people, leaders and workplaces for the changes AI will bring, according to a new survey by the EMA (Employers and Manufacturers Association).
The survey of more than 300 EMA member businesses found that 83% are already using AI, yet only 13% have an AI policy in place. While leadership teams are driving AI adoption in a third of businesses, just 4% reported that AI initiatives are led by HR, highlighting a gap between AI use and the workforce planning and capability-building needed to support it.
AI success is increasingly a people challenge, not a technology challenge
EMA Head of Marketing and Transformation Lisa Dean says the survey revealed a significant shift in the conversation around AI.
“What we found is that most small businesses have already started their AI journey. The question now is how they prepare their leaders, workforce and organisations to create value.
“Many businesses have been experimenting with tools, but they're now reaching a point where they need to think more strategically about how people develop new skills, and how leadership supports that transition.”
Human capability becomes more valuable
“AI may help people work more efficiently and uncover new insights, but it is people who provide the context, make the decisions, build relationships and drive innovation,” Dean says.
Skills such as critical thinking, judgement, creativity, communication, adaptability and leadership will increasingly distinguish high-performing individuals and organisations.
Dean says businesses that focus on developing these human capabilities alongside AI adoption will be better positioned to improve productivity, adapt to change and create long-term value.
EMA launches Workforce 2030
The findings have informed the development of Workforce 2030, a new EMA initiative designed to help organisations build the leadership, workforce capability and organisational adaptability needed to thrive in an AI-enabled economy.
Through workforce readiness education, leadership development, peer learning and practical implementation tools, Workforce 2030 will help businesses redesign work for greater productivity while ensuring people remain at the centre of change.
The initiative will be showcased at Leading with People: Workforce Readiness in the Age of AI, to be held at the EMA Business Hub on 28 July 2026.
Key survey data:
What percentage are using AI?
– 83% are already using AI.
Who is driving AI within small businesses?
– In 33% of companies surveyed, AI is led by the leadership team.
– In 20% of companies surveyed, AI is led by IT.
– AI is led by HR in only 4% of companies surveyed.
– In 18% of companies surveyed, AI is being used without a clear owner.
How many companies have AI policies in place?
– Only 13% of companies surveyed have an AI policy in place.
More information about Workforce 2030 can be found here: Workforce 2030 – Preparing NZ Workforces for the impact of AI
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Fish and Game – Sea-Run Salmon Closure Threshold – 2026 Rangitata Count Clears the Mark

Source: Fish and Game NZ

The threshold level at which CSI Fish & Game would recommend to the Minister a closure of the region’s sea-run salmon fishery has been defined.

Over the last few months, the Central South Island Fish and Game Council (CSIFGC) has established a formal closure threshold for its regional sea-run salmon fishery following careful deliberation across four separate meetings. The 2026 Rangitata River spawning count has been confirmed at 222 fish – 22 above the new closure threshold – meaning there will be no changes proposed to sea-run salmon regulations for the upcoming 2026/27 season.

Setting a threshold that could temporarily close one of New Zealand's most treasured fisheries was not a decision taken lightly. The CSIFGC worked through the issue across four meetings. Those sessions brought councillors and Fish & Game staff together to examine decades of population monitoring, work through several regulatory options, and weigh up the long-term viability of wild salmon populations against the impacts any closure would have on anglers and communities.
Sea-run salmon populations on the East Coast of the South Island have been declining for approximately 30 years. The 2024/25 spawning season recorded the lowest combined count across the three indicator rivers – the Waimakariri, Rakaia, and Rangitata – in the history of monitoring. While angler harvest is not identified as a principal cause of this long-term decline, reducing harvest through fishing regulations remains the most immediate tool available to Fish & Game to increase the proportion of the annual run that reaches the spawning grounds and contributes to the next generation of salmon.
“This wasn’t a decision any of us came to, quickly. The Council and staff spent a lot of time working together through population monitoring, management assessments, and angler consultations. The weight of that process reflects how seriously we take our responsibility to this fishery – and to the people who love it,” explains CSIFGC Chair Dr Andrew Simpson.
CSIFGC and the North Canterbury Fish and Game Council (NCFGC) jointly consulted salmon anglers and the wider public during the 2025/26 summer. More than 1,000 responses were received. This was a remarkable level of engagement, underlining how much this fishery means to Canterbury and beyond. CSIFGC thanks everyone who took part in the consultation. Your feedback made an important contribution to this decision. The results were clear:
– On average, anglers ranked ‘temporarily close the fishery’ and ‘reduce season length’ as their most preferred regulatory options to increase spawning.
– Anglers’ preference for a temporary closure strengthens relative to other regulatory options when the hypothetical spawning population decreases.
– ‘Keeping the regulations the same’ was consistently the least preferred option among survey respondents.
Council resolved that if the annual Rangitata River spawning count falls to 200 or fewer fish – approximately 10% of the historic average – it will recommend to the Minister that all CSI regional sea-run salmon waters be temporarily closed for a minimum of three seasons. Temporary closure was preferred by more than two-thirds of surveyed anglers at that level of spawning count. The Rangitata River is used as the indicator for closure decisions within the CSIFGC region due to the availability of long-term aerial live salmon spawning survey data.
“The threshold we’ve set aligns strongly with what anglers told us. When the spawning population reaches that critically low level, our fishing community has made clear their majority support for protecting the fishery over keeping it open,” says Dr Simpson.
The 2026 Rangitata River sea-run salmon spawning count has now been confirmed at 222 fish – placing the spawning population 22 fish above the 200-fish closure threshold. As the threshold has not been reached, the closure trigger has not been activated this year. The CSI sea-run salmon fishery will remain open for the 2026/27 season.
Although the Council welcomes this outcome, the salmon population remains at historically low levels. CSIFGC is committed to conducting annual spawning counts on the Rangitata River and will publicly communicate the results as they are confirmed. Anglers and the community will continue to be kept informed.
WHAT IS FISH & GAME?
Fish & Game manage trout, salmon and game birds to provide healthy recreation for Kiwis.
We work to protect the environment that anglers and hunters have enjoyed as a tradition for over 150 years.
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Human Rights – New podcast marks 40 years since the law that decriminalised homosexual activity between men in New Zealand
Source: Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission

Rights & Realities: Remembering 1986 launches today, drawing on first-hand accounts of the 1985-86 campaign that changed New Zealand law.

Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission today announced the launch of Rights & Realities: Remembering 1986, a new podcast marking the 40th anniversary of the Homosexual Law Reform Act, the law that decriminalised consensual sex between men in New Zealand.

The Act passed its third reading in Parliament on 9 July 1986, following a 16-month nationwide debate that divided the country. It came into force on 8 August, finally ending the threat of prosecution and imprisonment that gay men had lived under.

The Act, introduced as a member's bill by then-Wellington Central MP Fran Wilde in March 1985, was a major step forward for human rights and justice in Aotearoa New Zealand.

“The passing of the Homosexual Law Reform Act 40 years ago today represented far more than the passing of a piece of legislation – for gay men who lived during that era, the act represented a watershed,” said Dr Stephen Rainbow, Chief Commissioner, Human Rights Commission.

“As New Zealand’s first openly gay Chief Human Rights Commissioner, this anniversary carries particular significance for me,” said Dr Rainbow. “The 40th anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on how fortunate we are to live in a democracy that enables minority voices to be heard, protected and promoted.”

Disability Rights Commissioner and Rainbow rights spokesperson, Prudence Walker adds: “This anniversary is a chance to celebrate social progress in Aotearoa New Zealand, while also acknowledging that some Rainbow people don’t yet enjoy the freedoms that generation fought to achieve.”

Rights & Realities: Remembering 1986 is a limited series of five episodes featuring interviews with political and social campaigners, archival audio, and reflection on the impact of the law change for gay men in New Zealand.

For the Human Rights Commission, it’s a chance to reflect on its role in history – including deciding not to recommend to Parliament in 1979 that the Human Rights Act be amended to add ‘sexual orientation’ to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination.

“Although the Commission supported decriminalising sex between men and strengthening anti-discrimination in the Human Rights Act later in 1985, we wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge we did not provide the leadership expected of us to Rainbow communities at that time,” says Walker.

In the podcast leaders from Rainbow communities guide us through the changing story of sexuality and gender in New Zealand, revisit the moments that shaped the landmark Bill, and honour the courage of those who fought on the frontlines for equality. 

Episodes feature:

  • Takatāpui scholar and artist Professor Elizabeth Kerekere.
  • Professor of gender studies, Professor Chris Brickell.
  • Frontline activists Linda Evans and Gavin Young.
  • Fran Wilde, former Labour MP who introduced the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, and Dr Stephen Rainbow, Chief Commissioner, Human Rights Commission.
  • Niuean fakafifine and rights activist Phylesha Brown-Acton, and wahine takatāpui, former MP, and marriage equality changemaker, Louisa Wall.
  • Disability Rights Commissioner and Commission Rainbow rights spokesperson, Prudence Walker, and legal scholar and advocate Vinod Bal.

Listen to all five episodes now on:

Notes

The Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986 decriminalised consensual sexual activity between men aged 16 and over. It did not address discrimination directly, but it opened the door to later protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation that followed with the Human Rights Act 1993.

Key dates: Bill introduced 7 March 1985; third reading (passed) 9 July 1986; Homosexual Law Reform Act came into force 8 August 1986.

Discussions on the podcast reflect that it was recorded while submissions were open on the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill. Submissions on that bill closed on 2 July 2026.

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Infrastructure – Some regions expected to be hit harder than others, as flood damage to infrastructure is expected to grow

Source: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission

New research by Earth Sciences New Zealand, commissioned by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, explores how flood damage to infrastructure could change under different climate scenarios. It shows that, across the scenarios modelled, flood damage is expected to increase over the coming decades, with the impacts felt unevenly across the country.
The Commission’s cover note, ‘When waters rise: Climate change, regional risk and infrastructure investment’, summarises the research and highlights that flood-related financial losses are expected to increase significantly under these scenarios and, in most regions, exceed those from any other natural hazard over the coming decades.
“Infrastructure decisions made today will shape New Zealand for decades. While we cannot predict exactly how the future will unfold, scenarios help us consider a range of plausible futures, understand the implications of different choices, and build infrastructure that is more resilient to uncertainty,” says Graham Campbell, Director – Economics and Research, New Zealand Infrastructure Commission.
“Financial losses to infrastructure rise significantly under any modelled climate scenario. Under a scenario with high greenhouse gas emissions, the annual cost of inland flood damage to New Zealand’s infrastructure – our roads, our powerlines and other critical services – is estimated to increase from $300 million per year in 2025 to around $465 million in 2075. Coastal flooding damages are expected to almost double: from $165 million per year in 2025 to around $325 million in 2075.”
Dr Nick Horspool, Senior Natural Hazard Risk Scientist, Earth Sciences New Zealand, says the flooding will not be experienced evenly across the country.
“Some regions, like Hawke’s Bay and Manawatū-Whanganui, face high expected losses relative to the overall size of their infrastructure networks – around double the national average. Regions such as Auckland, Wellington, and Taranaki tend to face lower losses proportionate to infrastructure exposed.
“The research shows that most of the increase in inland flooding losses under a high greenhouse gas emission scenario occurs over the coming decades, while coastal flooding losses grow gradually but at an accelerating rate over time,” Horspool says.
“We also modelled future losses to private buildings like homes and businesses, helping Te Waihanga assess the need for future flood protection investments. Like infrastructure, this modelling also finds that annual flood damage to private buildings is forecast to grow significantly over the next 50 years. This is particularly true in places like the West Coast, Hawke’s Bay, and the Bay of Plenty.”
Campbell says that making the right decisions requires knowing the size of the risk and the cost of inaction.
“If we don’t size the risk, investment decisions risk being either too cautious or too costly. The research shows that flood losses are real and growing, but also that they can be best managed with strong asset management practices, using insurance costs to help assess options, and prioritising cost-effective flood protection infrastructure. The right response will differ by region, sector, and hazard,” Campbell says.
This work provides a high-level understanding of the scale of potential damage to our infrastructure networks from natural hazards. It provides an evidence base to support one of the National Infrastructure Plan's top ten priorities – identifying cost-effective flood risk infrastructure.
Notes:
  • The research, research note and associated data book will be available on the Te Waihanga website from 5.00am 9 July.
  • Average annual losses (AAL) are the expected financial cost of damage from natural hazards each year, averaged over many years. In some years, damages will be much higher than the AAL, while in other years it will be lower.
  • Under the SSP3-7.0 climate scenario, average annual losses for infrastructure from inland flooding are expected to grow from about $300 million per year in 2025 to almost $465 million by 2075. Coastal flooding losses are expected to grow from $165 million per year in 2025 to $325 million in 2075. These losses reflect the financial book value losses to infrastructure, not the full replacement value.
  • Key regions with highest increases in flood losses to infrastructure relative to their network size under the SSP3-7.0 climate scenario:
  • Hawke’s Bay: From $43 million in 2025 to around $89 million by 2075
  • West Coast: From $12 million in 2025 to around $24 million in 2075
  • Nelson-Tasman: From $13 million in 2025 to around $25 million in 2075
  • Manawatū-Whanganui: From $53 million in 2025 to around $85 million in 2075
  • Bay of Plenty: From $45 million in 2025 to around $78 million in 2075.
  • In 2025 and in total dollar terms, Auckland is the region with the highest flood losses at around $66 million. However, by 2075, climate change sees Auckland flood losses (around $97 million) overtaken by Canterbury (around $113 million) and Waikato (around $107 million) in the SSP3-7.0 scenario.
  • Average annual flood (inland and coastal) losses to private buildings are expected to grow from $270 million per year in 2025 to around $420 million per year by 2075 in the SSP3-7.0 scenario. These losses reflect the replacement value of private buildings.
  • Regions with highest private building losses as a share of asset value include West Coast, Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, and Nelson-Tasman.
  • These flooding estimates do not include the losses related to rainfall-induced landslides or predict future growth or development patterns.
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NZ Super Fund – STAKEHOLDER UPDATE JULY 2026 – Global recognition for Guardians

Source: NZ Super Fund

The NZ Super Fund has for the third year in a row been awarded a perfect score in the annual GSR (governance, sustainability, resilience) scoreboard published by international sovereign wealth fund experts GlobalSWF.  

First introduced in 2020, the GSR scoreboard assesses 200 state-owned investors against 25 criteria covering each entity’s governance structure and processes, responsible investment policies and practices, and ability to manage liquidity and operational risk.

The Super Fund is one of nine investors to achieve a perfect score.

CEO Jo Townsend says GlobalSWF’s scoreboard is a valuable guide to industry best practice for state-owned investors.

“We are delighted to have performed well against these criteria again,” Ms Townsend said.

Ms Townsend said the increase in sustainability and resilience scores globally reflected the increasing awareness among investors of how relevant these criteria were for long-term success.

“Our discussions with peers show a strong ongoing commitment to these areas, in keeping with our shared focus on creating long-term value for stakeholders.”

The Super Fund is also one of 13 New Zealand investors recently recognised as Responsible Investment Leaders by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA).

RIAA said Responsible Investment Leaders were required to demonstrate leading practice across four pillars: Responsible Investment commitment and transparency; ESG integration and screens; Stewardship; and Allocation of Capital.

Guardians co-Chief Investment Officer Will Goodwin said RIAA recognition was an important benchmark.

“The RIAA’s four pillars are well aligned with what we consider to be best-practice portfolio management,” said Goodwin.

“Integrating these considerations into an investment strategy is not an optional extra, it is absolutely fundamental to achieving strong, sustainable risk-adjusted returns.”

Beachlands South development moves to next phase

Beachlands South Limited Partnership (BSLP), the company behind the development of a master-planned community in East Auckland, is moving to internalise the management of its flagship project as preliminary earthworks get under way at the 255 hectare site.

BSLP has announced the appointment of Ian Passau to head the project’s new management team. Passau has held senior executive roles with NZX-listed property company Kiwi Property Group, Arvida and Foodstuffs, and helped to design and implement Auckland Airport’s commercial property development programme.  

BSLP has also named Guy Milburn as Chief Operating Officer. Milburn has more than 20 years’ experience in the property and construction sectors in New Zealand and Australia, most recently as COO at Lime Global. He previously held various GM roles at Ngāi Tahu Property.

The Super Fund is the majority shareholder in BSLP, alongside local iwi Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, property fund Hāpai, and interests associated with construction and property organisation Russell Property Group.

Taranaki Offshore Partnership welcomes new legislation

Taranaki Offshore Partnership (TOP), a joint venture between the Super Fund and global infrastructure investor Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners that wants to develop New Zealand’s first offshore wind farm, says the recent passing of the Offshore Renewable Energy Bill is a significant step towards harnessing a world-class fuel source that will generate both sustainable energy and significant downstream economic benefits.

Read TOP’s full announcement here.

Guardians supporting development of award-winning New Zealand Taxonomy

Guardians investment team members Greg Munford and Terina Williams are among a group of industry, investment and sustainability experts creating a sustainable finance framework that is gaining international recognition.

The New Zealand Taxonomy project was last month awarded the 2026 Climate Bonds Initiative Award for Most Innovative Taxonomy. The citation said the project, which is being led by the Centre for Sustainable Finance with support from the Ministry for the Environment, was providing “global leadership in the development of science-based criteria for agriculture and forestry, two of the most difficult sectors for taxonomy development.”

The New Zealand Taxonomy is intended to identify economic activities that either meet sustainability criteria or are actively transitioning towards doing so, thereby helping qualifying New Zealand businesses access global and local green finance.

It is also recognised as one of the first such initiatives to explicitly incorporate climate change adaptation and resilience measures.

Terina Williams (pictured above), a member of the Forestry & Agriculture Technical Advisory Group, said that as well as encouraging investment in local primary industries, the Taxonomy will also help New Zealand exporters maintain access to important overseas markets.

“A growing number of countries are introducing carbon border adjustment mechanisms or mandatory climate-related disclosures. The Taxonomy provides a practical mechanism for exporters to demonstrate their environmental credentials.”

The broader New Zealand Taxonomy project covers agriculture and forestry, energy, buildings and construction, and transport. It will be submitted to the Government to consider for endorsement in December 2026.

Established in 2010, Climate Bonds Initiative is a UK-based non-governmental organisation focused on developing a large and liquid Green and Climate Bonds market that will help drive down the cost of capital for climate projects and improve access to lower-cost debt in emerging markets https://www.climatebonds.net/

More information about the New Zealand Taxonomy can be found on the Centre for Sustainable Finance website: https://sustainablefinance.nz/nz-taxonomy/

Super Fund features as case study in new ICPM study

The Super Fund is one of five funds profiled in a paper that looks at the various ways in which the Total Portfolio Approach to investing is being implemented. Guardians Head of Asset Allocation Charles Hyde was one of the contributors to the study, which was published by the Toronto-based  International Centre for Pension Management and is available on their website.

Annual Report wins Gold

In June, the Guardians’ 2025 Annual Report won Gold at the Australasian Reporting Awards, our 13th consecutive Gold Award, and was named best report in the Financial Services sector.

Latest SOI and SPE now available

The Guardians’ 2026-31 Statement of Intent, and 2026/27 Statement of Performance Expectations, have been published and are available on our website.

People News

The Guardians recently announced the appointments of Will Fletcher as Head of Private Equity and Alternatives and Dr Anastasia Moskvina as Head of Data Analytics.

Dean Hill, formerly of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, has been appointed Strategic Relationship Manager, overseeing some of our most important external partnerships, including with Northern Trust and Bloomberg.

Finally, Eleanor Morrison has been appointed Fund Finance Manager, leading financial accounting and reporting for the NZ Super Fund.

And special congratulations to former Guardians’ staffer Joe Margison, recently appointed CEO of Virgin Hotels Collection.

Co-CIOs in the Media

Brad Dunstan tells Investment Magazine’s Darcy Song how our assessment that equity risk premia are likely to reduce has led to us lowering the long-term expected return for our benchmark reference portfolio.

Will Goodwin writes in the NZ Herald that sustainability is fundamental to risk, return, and portfolio resilience over decades, making it a core component of any long-term investment strategy.

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NZ Economy – A rate rise to get ahead of the curve – Cotality Analysis

Source: Cotality – Analysis / Commentary by Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson.

Today’s decision to raise the official cash rate by 0.25% to 2.50% wasn’t universally expected, but seems to reflect the Committee’s view that increases back to a more neutral level (perhaps 3%) were inevitable at some point so they may as well start now – even though fuel prices have eased and second-round inflation risks have probably receded too. 
As opposed to the 3-3 split on the Committee last time around, this was a unanimous rise. The associated commentary with the decision also noted that further OCR increases will probably be necessary, but the timing is uncertain right now, depending on how the incoming data evolves and obviously whether the US-Iran peace deal proves to be lasting. 
We had been leaning towards a hold today, on the basis that there doesn’t seem to be immediate pressure to curb inflation and delayed rate rises might just give the economy more time to get going again. But an OCR rise was never going to be a total shock either, given the RBNZ had been signalling increases even before the Iran conflict broke out. 
For the housing market, it’s really just (subdued) business as usual. On one hand, the US-Iran peace deal has already seen lower fuel prices and a boost to consumer confidence, as well as falls in mortgage rates (although these may not run any further). 
A continued economic recovery in the coming months, even if/when the OCR rises again, would tend to bolster sales volumes and property values too. 
But a fresh boom seems very unlikely. Indeed, listings remain elevated, giving buyers the balance of power on pricing. The election – and potential tax changes – appears to be dampening investors’ moods too. 
Meanwhile, a mindset shift also seems to be underway, with a lot of questions being asked about long-run capital growth prospects in a world where new housing supply looks to have taken a permanent step higher.
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Legislation – Accessibility Standards Bill creates opportunity for more accessible New Zealand

Source: Access Matters Aotearoa (AMA)

Auckland, New Zealand – Access Matters Aotearoa (AMA) welcomes the introduction of the Accessibility Standards Bill by New Zealand First, a Member’s Bill in the name of Jenny Marcroft, as an important opportunity to build cross-party support for lasting accessibility reform.

AMA Co-Chair Amy Hogan says disabled people and those with access needs deserve accessibility planned from the outset, rather than relying on goodwill, exceptions and workarounds.

“For more than three decades, disabled people, advocates, families and community organisations have called for stronger accessibility legislation.

Accessibility affects participation in education, employment, housing, healthcare, transport, information and community life. Good accessibility standards benefit everyone.

The Accessibility Standards Bill is an opportunity to advance practical reforms, making accessibility simpler, fairer and more consistent across New Zealand.”

Dr Rebekah Graham, AMA Co-Chair, says today’s announcement is a constructive step towards improving a system that has left too many New Zealanders facing avoidable barriers.

“Too often, disabled people are expected to adapt to systems, environments and services that were never designed to be accessible in the first place.

Stronger accessibility standards help prevent barriers before they even happen and provide government agencies, businesses, service providers, and communities with clearer guidance on what accessibility looks like in everyday situations.”

Through its Kōrero for Change programme, Accessible Futures Summit, policy research, and engagement with lived-experience leaders, AMA has worked alongside hundreds of participants and organisations to identify practical solutions to improve accessibility across New Zealand – many of which are addressed in the first draft of the Accessibility Standards Bill.

Hogan says AMA encourages all political parties to engage as the Accessibility Standards Bill progresses.

“Accessibility reform belongs to all New Zealanders. Lasting change will require broad support across Parliament and across society.

We welcome New Zealand First’s commitment, and encourage all political parties to work together toward a more accessible New Zealand, one that works better for disabled people, people with access needs, older people, families, carers, businesses and the wider community.

As the Bill progresses, we look forward to constructive engagement with disabled people and people with access needs, community organisations, businesses, and government agencies, as we work together towards a more accessible New Zealand.”

About Access Matters Aotearoa

Access Matters Aotearoa is a solutions-driven, non-partisan advocacy trust working to secure strong accessibility legislation so everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand can participate fully.

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Defence News – Kiwi sailors benefit from deployment with Cook Islands Police

Source: New Zealand Defence Force

Four Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) personnel have completed a seven-week deployment throughout the Cook Islands and French Polynesia aboard the Cook Islands Police patrol vessel Te Kukupa II.

Supporting maritime security operations and a humanitarian assistance exercise, Midshipman Imogen Herbert, Leading Combat Systems Specialist Leon Fortes, Leading Chef Monique Manuel and Able Communications Warfare Specialist Brodus Murray augmented the Cook Islands maritime police crew on Te Kukupa II.

Midshipman Herbert said the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Pacific environment was one of the most rewarding aspects of the deployment.

“Visiting communities with populations of only a few hundred people gave us a real appreciation of the unique challenges faced by Pacific Island nations and highlighted the importance of regional cooperation,” she said.

While the Navy personnel brought specialist knowledge and operational experience to their time on Te Kukupa II, they gained an appreciation for the Cook Islands' culture and the close connection between its people and the maritime environment.

“From day one, the crew of Te Kukupa II welcomed us as part of the team. Over the seven weeks living and working together, we developed great friendships and learned a tremendous amount.”

During Operation Tui Moana, the crew completed around 15 boardings of vessels suspected of fishery violations as well as supporting maritime security operations throughout the Cook Islands' Exclusive Economic Zone.

There was also an opportunity to visit a local school on Penrhyn, the northernmost atoll in the Cook Islands group, and deliver much needed sports equipment.

The deployment concluded with the French-led Exercise Marara in Tahiti, involving 12 Pacific partner nations across land, air and maritime domains. The exercise focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief designed to strengthen the coordination between Indo-Pacific partners using a simulated large-scale natural disaster scenario.

Cook Islands Police Commissioner Teokotai Joseph said the seven week deployment demonstrated the strength of the relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand.

“This is the second time this year that RNZN personnel have augmented the crew of Te Kukupa II on an international deployment and we are very grateful for the additional skills, experience and perspectives they have provided to enhance our capability.

The deployment provided an important opportunity to learn from one another, and develop professional relationships and personal connections that underpin the long-standing partnership between our two services. We thank them for their outstanding contribution.”

For Midshipman Herbert and the other RNZN personnel, the deployment delivered operational and personal rewards.

“It reinforced the importance of working together with our Pacific partners and showed that by sharing knowledge, experience and friendship, we all become stronger.”