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Privacy Act 2020 turns 5 – changes are needed

Source: Office of the Privacy Commissioner

The introduction of the Privacy Act 2020 was a big step forward in protecting New Zealander’s privacy, but five years on (1 December), it needs further changes to respond to today’s needs,” Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says.
“The Privacy Act doesn’t provide sufficient incentives for many organisations to understand or meet even the most basic privacy requirements. This is one reason why my Office is getting record numbers of privacy complaints and increased breach notifications by agencies.”
“If New Zealand wants to be serious about privacy, then organisations need to be held accountable for their failings in handling personal information. That includes introducing significant fines, and real consequences. We see multimillion dollar penalties in Australia for organisations who fail to protect personal information, but in New Zealand there’s no civil penalty regime.
The New Zealand public also supports the need for Act reform. In our March 2025 privacy survey, three quarters of those surveyed said the Privacy Commissioner should have the power to:
– audit the privacy practices of agencies
– issue small infringement fines for a privacy breach, and
– ask the Courts to issue large fines for serious privacy breaches.
“Stronger penalties are a great start, but there are also other things that can be done to modernise the Privacy Act and strengthen privacy outcomes.”
In the European Union, people have the right to ask organisations to delete their personal data if certain conditions apply. Adding the ‘right to erasure’ to privacy rules here would provide New Zealanders with the right to ask organisations to delete their personal information in certain circumstances. This right would reduce the harm arising from privacy breaches through reducing the amount of personal information an agency is holding.
“We also need stronger protections for the significant privacy risks that arise from automated decision-making, which can cause problems such as inaccurate predictions, discrimination, unexplainable decisions, and a lack of accountability.
“Automated decision making is increasingly used to make decisions about people’s finances and allowances, which can really impact lives, and I think people should know why an automated decision is taken against them”, Mr Webster says.
The Commissioner is also suggesting that agencies need to be able to demonstrate how they meet their privacy requirements, such as the privacy management programmes recommended by the OECD.
“There’s been incredible technological change since 2020, and we need to keep up. Many other countries have modernised their privacy rules to capture the benefits and avoid the harms of new technologies and we need to do the same and make sure our privacy rules reflect the society we live in today.”
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Health – Labour’s GP-owned general practice incentive could open doors for long-term workforce growth

Source: Royal NZ College of General Practitioners

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) is welcoming today’s announcement outlining how the Labour Party intend to support doctors to see more patients, specifically the “Family Doctor Loan Scheme” proposal that acknowledges the vital role that GPs and GP-owned general practices play across the health sector.
Throughout this year there has been an increased focus on the value of general practice and the wider primary care sector, along with a suite of changes that will have a positive impact on the workforce. The overarching goal across the political spectrum is to ensure patients have timely access to their GP when they need it. However, achieving these goals is dependent on training more GPs and to do this there needs to be a continued and targeted focus on showing the specialisation of general practice as a rewarding and attractive career.
The “Family Doctor Loan Scheme” would provide financial incentives, in the form of low-interest loans, for GPs to buy into an existing general practice or establish a new practice.
College President Dr Luke Bradford says, “GP owners undertake a huge amount of discretionary work in service to their communities and alongside their clinical care including, leadership and governance, the ongoing operational aspects of running a practice, and helping to maintain a pipeline and route into ownership for our younger doctors. Having acknowledgement of this work is gratifying and will go a long way to attracting more doctors into this profession.
“General practice is a phenomenal career. This step, if it comes into effect, would remove barriers and encourage more doctors into leadership roles while also allowing us to compete with other medical specialities for trainees.”
This policy proposal recognises that the increasing corporatisation of general practice in Aotearoa New Zealand does not have patients’ best interests at the centre of its decision-making, instead favouring profits over service.
“By changing the narrative and showcasing general practice ownership as a positive and more achievable option, our current and future GPs would have the opportunity to combine leadership and continuity of care, and it would also help create a more sustainable general practice workforce,” says Dr Bradford. 
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Health – GenPro welcomes renewed political focus on strengthening primary health care

Source: General Practice Owners Association (GenPro)

The General Practice Owners Association (GenPro) welcomes the renewed political attention on the critical role of general practice in improving health outcomes for New Zealanders.

“While GenPro is politically neutral, and does not endorse party policies, we welcome fresh ideas intended to support general practice—the foundation of an effective, efficient, and equitable health system,” said Dr Angus Chambers, Chair of GenPro.

The Labour Party announced today that, if elected, it would support general practitioners to buy into existing clinics or establish new ones. Under the proposal, GPs would have access to no- or low-interest loans aimed at reducing financial barriers to practice ownership.

“This policy links to what we’ve been saying for a long time: New Zealand faces a critical shortage of general practitioners and other clinicians,” Dr Chambers says. “It also addresses the growing threat to patients as individual general practices struggle to compete with large corporate businesses.”
 
He warned that the rapid expansion of corporate ownership is reshaping the sector.
 
“If the current trend continues, patients risk facing the same challenges we’re seeing in supermarkets or banking, where a handful of corporates dominate the market. That’s an oligopoly —and it’s not in the best interests of communities,” Chambers says.  
 
“Financially enabling GPs to become practice owners strengthens the workforce, supports continuity of care, and ensures clinics remain community-based small businesses capable of responding to local needs. GenPro supports any policy that helps rebuild capacity in primary care.”

Increasing opportunities for GP ownership, he added, will help stabilise the workforce and promote the sustainability of clinics across urban, rural, and high-needs communities, Chambers says.

GenPro also noted Labour’s commitment to reviewing telehealth settings to prevent perverse incentives that draw clinicians away from in-person care and toward online-only models.

“These commitments recognise that general practice – and the face-to-face care that it provides to communities – is not just another part of the health system. It is the part that keeps people well and relieves pressure on hospitals,” Dr Chambers said.

“We welcome this renewed political focus and look forward to working with all parties to ensure policies are designed and implemented in ways that truly strengthen community-based care.”

Dr Angus Chambers
Chair, GenPro

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Concern Raised Over Extension of NZDF Liaison Officer Deployment to Israel – PFNZ

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand
The Palestine Forum of New Zealand expresses deep concern at the Government’s decision to extend the deployment of a New Zealand Defence Force liaison officer to Israel for a further eight weeks. At a time when Israel stands before the International Court of Justice facing credible charges of genocide, New Zealand must ensure that none of its actions contribute—directly or indirectly—to the machinery of oppression, occupation, or military aggression.
The Government states that the officer’s role is to “provide informed advice” through the U.S.-led Civil Military Coordination Centre. However, the continued embedding of NZDF personnel within structures aligned with Israel’s military operations risks undermining New Zealand’s longstanding commitment to international law, human rights, and an independent foreign policy grounded in peace.
New Zealand must not allow itself to become complicit, even symbolically, in actions that support or legitimise the ongoing atrocities in Gaza. Instead, our nation should align with the global majority demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access, and accountability for war crimes and violations of the Genocide Convention.
We call on the New Zealand Government to:
1. Immediately end the NZDF liaison deployment to Israel.
2. Uphold New Zealand’s obligations under international law, including the duty to prevent genocide.
3. Adopt a principled and independent foreign policy, free from pressure by states that continue to arm and support Israel’s military actions.
4. Stand unequivocally with the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom, dignity, and self-determination.
New Zealand must choose the path of justice. Anything less is a betrayal of the values we claim to uphold.

Palestine Forum of New Zealand

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Aotearoa Marks International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

The Palestine Forum of New Zealand joins millions around the world today in marking 29 November – the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, a day designated by the United Nations to reaffirm the global community’s commitment to justice, human rights, and the long-denied right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

This day serves as a reminder that the question of Palestine remains unresolved after decades of occupation, dispossession, and systemic violations of international law. As the International Court of Justice, human rights organisations, and global civil society continue to highlight the grave realities faced by Palestinians, the need for principled international solidarity has never been more urgent.

Aotearoa’s Role and Responsibility

As a nation that upholds Te Tiriti o Waitangi and stands for justice, equality, and Indigenous rights, Aotearoa New Zealand has a moral and legal responsibility to ensure its policies reflect these values.
This includes:

Supporting all international mechanisms aimed at ending grave breaches of humanitarian and human rights law.

Opposing complicity in war crimes, including military, intelligence, or diplomatic cooperation with states under investigation for genocide or apartheid.

Amplifying Palestinian voices and recognising the shared struggles of Indigenous peoples worldwide.

Standing with the Palestinian People

The Palestine Forum of New Zealand honours the resilience, courage, and dignity of Palestinians everywhere—those living under occupation, those under siege, those in exile, and those in the diaspora who continue to advocate for peace grounded in justice.

We acknowledge the growing public support across Aotearoa for Palestinian human rights, reflected in community actions, cultural initiatives, academic work, and grassroots organising from Kaitaia to Invercargill.

Call to Action

On this International Day of Solidarity, we call on:

The New Zealand Government to align its foreign policy with international law and its obligations under the Genocide Convention.

Communities, organisations, and unions to continue advocating for Palestinian rights through peaceful action, education, and public engagement.

Media outlets to uphold accuracy and fairness when reporting on Palestine and to include Palestinian perspectives historically excluded from mainstream coverage.

Maher Nazzal
President
Palestine Forum of New Zealand

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Save the Children – NZ-funded project to boost Cambodian horticulture and improve the lives of children and families

Source: Save the Children

A new NZD$12 million multi-year project aimed at increasing household incomes, reducing child labour, and ensuring communities across Cambodia are better off through innovative horticultural practices was announced yesterday afternoon (local time) at an event attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Winston Peters in Phnom Penh.
The Growing Transformative Horticulture (GROWTH) project is funded by the New Zealand Government and Kiwi donors and will be implemented by Save the Children in Cambodia alongside technical partner iDE Cambodia. The project aims to create healthier, more resilient households by increasing farmer incomes, improving nutrition, and creating safer environments for children across Cambodia’s Koh Kong, Kampot, Siem Reap, and Banteay Meanchey provinces.
Over the next five years (2025-2030), the programme will reach 8,000 farming households, 40,000 people and strengthen 700 local institutions and enterprises, with more than 165,000 people set to benefit indirectly.
By transforming Cambodia’s horticulture sector through inclusive, climate-resilient market development, GROWTH aims to ensure that improved livelihoods translate directly into better outcomes for children – supporting families to keep children in school, reduce economic-driven risks, and ensure safer labour practices.
“Children thrive when families are resilient,” Save the Children Cambodia Country Director Reaksmey Hong says.
“By boosting incomes, expanding access to safe farming practices, and embedding child protection and nutrition into agricultural work, GROWTH ensures that economic development leads to real improvements in children’s lives.”
The project builds on the learnings from previous climate-smart agricultural resilience and market linkage programmes funded by the New Zealand Government.
Today’s event – marking the official announcement of the partnership – was attended by Minister Peters, alongside Cambodian government officials, Save the Children Cambodia Country Director Reaksmey Hong and iDE Country Director Kevin Robbins.
New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rt Honourable Winston Peters, said, “New Zealand proudly supports the GROWTH project in Cambodia. The project aims to enhance the horticulture sector, which is vital as a driver of rural prosperity, and builds on over 20 years of agricultural collaboration.”
The programme places strong emphasis on gender equality, disability inclusion and safe community environments. By addressing the systemic barriers that prevent women, youth, people with disabilities and marginalised groups from participating in markets, GROWTH helps households build protective, stable conditions for children.
“GROWTH represents a new generation of agricultural programming – one that not only strengthens markets, but also strengthens families,” says iDE Cambodia Country Director Kevin Robbins.
“Better incomes, climate resilience and inclusive market opportunities create the foundation for safer, healthier futures for children in Cambodia.”
The event was held Saturday 28 November local time. 
About Save the Children
Save the Children works in more than 110 countries around the world, working to create irreversible positive change for and with children. Our vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation. Areas of work include humanitarian and emergency response, child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.
About iDE
iDE powers entrepreneurs and builds inclusive market ecosystems to help low income and marginalized communities thrive on their own terms. Our SHE team leads gender-sensitive entrepreneurship programs across sectors to support women's economic empowerment and fuel local economies. We work in 11 countries across the themes of agriculture and food systems, climate change and resilience, gender equality, and WASH. 
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Save the Children – Israeli military raids in the West Bank force entire communities into lockdown, keeping children out of school

Source: Save the Children

Israeli military operations have forced entire communities in areas of the northern West Bank into lockdown in their homes, keeping children out of school, jeopardising family incomes and increasing risk of physical violence and child detention from the Israeli military, Save the Children said. 
Save the Children has been forced to halt its remedial education classes and child protection work, including mental health support, in these areas, with no indication of when programmes might be able to resume. This will put critical support out of reach for over 700 children, the child rights organisation said. 
The latest raid follows two years of increased Israeli military use of force in the West Bank, and record attacksby Israeli settlers last month. 
According to OCHA , between 7 October 2023 and 11 November 2025, 995 Palestinians – among them at least 219 children – were killed in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. 
One in every five Palestinians killed by Israeli forces so far in 2025 across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, was a child, according to the UN . Last week the UN said that more than 12,000 Palestine refugee children remain forcibly displaced in the northern West Bank, unable to return to their homes in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams camps. 
Ameer-, project co-ordinator for a Save the Children partner organisation working in child rights and education programming in the area, said: 
“What’s happening now in the Tubas area is a systematic assault by Israeli forces and a continuation of the Israeli government’s collective punishment policy. The operation is cutting off children from the key services and supplies they rely on and need, including education and health services. Every child in these areas is being denied the right to an education. 
“At the same time, in these areas, public infrastructure like roads and public utilities are being destroyed, which will delay and prevent the community from easily recovering once the Israeli forces withdraw from the area in the coming weeks and months, shattering their sense of normalcy.” 
Ahmad Alhendawi, Save the Children’s Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, said: 
“Our staff in the occupied Palestinian territory work under incredible pressure to deliver for children. For these children, our education classes represent hope for a future of opportunity, as well as time to learn, play and develop socially – elements of childhood that are critical to healthy development. 
“While attention has been focused on Gaza we must not take our eyes off child rights violations in the West Bank. All children deserve to go to school and have the fulfilling and productive futures it helps to unlock. Education is a right, as is a safe environment. 
“Restrictions on aid, settler violence, demolitions, land confiscation, and the destruction of essential infrastructure including donor-funded infrastructure – are creating a coercive environment that is making daily life unliveable for Palestinian families. The futures of an entire generation are being jeopardised.” 
Save the Children has worked in the occupied Palestinian territory since 1953, with a permanent presence since 1973. Since then, we have worked with partners to help provide quality education, protection for children, early childhood development support, and employment opportunities for at-risk youth. 
As the situation for Palestinian children in the West Bank worsens, Save the Children is continuing its long-term work while also stepping up support to meet growing needs. In response to mass displacement caused by military operations and settler violence, we are prioritising the delivery of essential items and cash support to families, providing mental health care for children, caregivers and frontline workers, and creating safe spaces where children can play and learn.
About Save the Children NZ:
Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.
Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.
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ASB Survey: Easing cycle sparks 15-year high in housing confidence

Source: ASB

  • On net, nearly one-third of respondents say now is a good time to buy property, the strongest result since 2010
  • Majority anticipate further drops in mortgage rates, but house price expectations remain modest
  • Great time for buyers, with lower interest rates and strong housing supply.

Confidence in the New Zealand housing market has risen to its highest level in 15 years, according to the latest ASB Housing Confidence Survey. The survey shows a net 28% of respondents believe now is a good time to buy property, buoyed by the Reserve Bank’s recent cuts to the Official Cash Rate and competitive mortgage rates.

ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley says the market is in a “pre-economic recovery sweet spot”, with lower interest rates and an increase in property listings, giving buyers more choice and confidence.

“We’re seeing a unique window of opportunity for buyers – low borrowing costs and high housing supply are creating conditions we haven’t seen in over a decade,” Nick says.

“However, with the Reserve Bank hinting we could be at the end of the easing cycle, the current environment won’t last forever. Buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines may find now is the time to act.”

More than half of respondents (54%) expect home loan rates to fall further, up from 47% last quarter, while relatively few (10%) expect rates to rise. However, house price expectations remain subdued, with just a net 17% of respondents expecting prices to rise over the next year as high inventory continues to weigh on the market.

Nick adds: “We expect house prices to lift gradually as the economy recovers, but the days of double-digit growth are behind us. For now, buyers have the advantage – and that’s a rare position in New Zealand’s housing market.”

The latest ASB Housing Confidence Survey, along with other recent ASB reports covering a range of commentary, can be accessed at the ASB Economic Insights page: https://www.asb.co.nz/documents/economic-insights.html

Results at a glance

Note: net percent is calculated as the percentage of “yes” or “up responses minus the percentage of “no” or “down responses. The ASB Housing Confidence Survey has been conducted quarterly since July 1996. Respondents are asked about their expectations for house prices and interest rates over the next 12 months, and whether it is a good time to buy a property.

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Employment indicators: October 2025 – Stats NZ information release

 

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Health New Zealand’s fixing bid fails – Medical Specialists

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists

The Employment Relations Authority has thrown out an application by Health New Zealand to “fix” the terms of salaried medical specialists.
Health NZ alleged the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists had breached the obligations of good faith such that the authority must fix the terms and conditions in place of bargaining.
The allegations made by HNZ have not been upheld.
ASMS welcomes the Authority’s recommendation in the determination, which states: “There does seem room for further bargaining. The parties are encouraged to participate fully, openly and in good faith to work together to reach a resolution.”
ASMS is ready to resume bargaining immediately.
ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton says: “We are at serious risk of losing significant numbers of senior doctors and dentists due to HNZ’s intractable approach to recruitment, retention and remuneration. In the end it will be patients who continue to miss out on healthcare.
“Health NZ should never have filed this type of litigation. Public money has been wasted. It is now time to get back around the table.”