Master Plumbers is pleased the Government is progressing with a self-certification scheme that makes plumbers accountable for their work, rather than relying on council inspectors.
“We have been advocating for years that plumbers and drainlayers should be able to self-certify, just as gasfitters – who are also plumbers in most instances – and electricians can,” Master Plumbers Chief Executive Greg Wallace says.
Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk announced today that the Government has agreed on a new self-certification scheme for plumbers and drainlayers allowing them to sign off on their own work.
The new scheme does come with some caveats: it will be opt-in and limited to plumbers and drainlayers carrying out work on simple residential dwellings. Trades that are currently able to self-certify are not required to opt-in or be restricted to a specific category of work.
“For plumbers and drainlayers to be competitive, we believe all of the industry should opt-in,” Mr Wallace says. “While the Minister has limited the scheme to simple residential dwellings, we hope this is the first phase and that, in future, it will expand to all work.”
“Ultimately, we want the same system as electricians and gasfitters, but we understand this may be a staged approach.”
Mr Wallace says there’s a common misconception that liability moves to Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) once an inspection has been completed. “The reality is that tradespeople are still accountable for their workmanship. Under the Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers Act, qualified plumbers and drainlayers are responsible for all work – including large-scale industry installations.”
Plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers are overseen by an independent regulatory board, the PGDB. Consumers can have confidence that certified plumbing professionals are highly skilled and their work completed to a professional standard. It takes seven years to obtain the qualification of a Certifying Plumber and two years for a Certifying Drainlayer.
In addition, Master Plumbers members are subject to a rigorous quality assurance process and carry a guarantee for their work.
Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers NZ Inc (Master Plumbers) is the national membership organisation for plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying businesses, with 18 regional Associations and Branches across New Zealand. Companies go through a Quality Assurance programme in order to become a member. We provide members with a wide range of resources and training opportunities to support them in staying up with the latest technologies, products and compliance requirements. We advocate on behalf of our members and our industry.
Masterlink, a group training scheme owned by Master Plumbers, provides managed mentored apprenticeships across New Zealand, with Regional Managers supporting the apprentices and the businesses who host them during their training.
NZ Plumber is the award-winning, bi-monthly magazine for New Zealand’s plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers. It is owned by Master Plumbers.
“The Government’s decision to pay our Teaching Council fees indicates that it realises it needs to do everything it can to keep teachers in the profession in the midst of a chronic secondary teacher shortage. Paying teachers’ Teaching Council fees lets teachers know their professional expertise is valued and provides an incentive to stay in the job.
“Teaching is an extremely rewarding and amazing profession; it is also an increasingly challenging and demanding one, so we need to everything possible to keep all of our experienced and skilled teachers in the workforce. Paying their Teaching Council fees is a step in the right direction.”
Chris Abercrombie said the decision was also important in terms of keeping beginning and new teachers in the profession. “Teachers in their first few years of teaching are among the highest number of teachers who are leaving either for better paid work in Australia or for jobs with a reasonable work / life balance here in Aotearoa New Zealand. Teaching Council fees are a significant expense when you’re in your first few years in the job, so this decision will encourage some of these teachers to stay.
“The decision announced today is a positive step. PPTA Te Wehengarua looks forward to working with the Government on other steps to attract graduates into secondary teaching and keep our highly experienced and skilled teachers in the workforce. These include making teachers’ salaries more attractive and making the job more manageable.”
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ali Asgary, Professor, Disaster & Emergency Management, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies & Director, CIFAL York, York University, Canada
The carnage along a street lined with food trucks took place shortly after one of the men vying to become Canada’s prime minister — New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh — attended the event. A shell-shocked Singh observed a moment of silence in Penticton, B.C., during another campaign stop the next day.
Vancouver police say the suspect has mental health issues and was known to police prior to the attack. Police also told a news conference there was no indication there was a need for extra policing at the festival, deeming it to have a “low threat level.”
What goes into making that calculation, and is a public event ever truly low-risk?
Vancouver police hold a news conference on the SUV attack. (CTV News)
Difficulties of crowd management
The Vancouver SUV attack is now classified as a crowd-related or mass gathering type of disaster. There have been cases of public vehicle-ramming attacks in Canada in the past, in particular the 2018 Toronto van attack that left 10 people dead.
Unfortunately, many mass gathering events do not allocate either sufficient resources or time for crowd management procedures, particularly those related to risk and emergency management.
Organizing mass gathering events in public spaces should factor in different threats, including the potential for car ramming, and implement effective mitigation and preparedness measures.
‘Soft targets’
Many public spaces where these events take place are vulnerable to car attacks. Evidence shows that mass gatherings are soft targets, meaning they’re easily accessible to large numbers of people and have limited security, protective and warning measures in place. Extreme precautions are needed to protect the public from such attacks so that they don’t become mass casualty events.
Those in attendance should be aware that public spaces generally lack physical barriers, or the proper distribution of them, to resist car or vehicle attacks.
While public awareness programs exist for other hazards such as flooding, earthquakes and extreme weather events, it’s now clear that such awareness and education are needed for mass public gatherings too.
Police should be aware that relying on limited surveillance may not be sufficient to identify such threats at the scene. Vehicle access and traffic control should be in place throughout such events. Lack of warning systems to quickly inform the crowd about an ongoing attack further increases the impacts of vehicular attacks.
Much of the focus on these types of events has been on the motivations of the attackers. Since a considerable number of vehicle-ramming attacks have been attributed to terrorism, communities or events with the perception of lower terrorism threats may not pay close enough attention to this type of threat.
Canadians aren’t likely to get many more details about the Vancouver attack until after voting day on Monday. Could the tragedy have an impact on the outcome of the federal election?
Past and recent studies have drawn different conclusions about the impact of disasters on election results.
According to what’s known as retrospective voting theory, voters judge governments on how they manage disasters, particularly highly publicized, tragic events, when casting their ballots. Voters can evaluate governments based on their handling of the disaster and the amount of effort they have put into minimizing risk.
Voters can and do punish or reward governments and elected politicians based on the effects of recent disasters on them and governments’ responses to them.
Hopefully, however, it will have an influence on how organizers, police and other authorities manage public crowds and events at a time when vehicle-ramming attacks are becoming a recurrent threat. Those elected this election should prioritize efforts to ensure communities can have safer mass gathering events.
Ali Asgary does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Government has agreed on a new scheme allowing trusted builders to sign off their own work and will set a mandatory target to tackle building inspection wait times, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced. “Making it easier and more affordable to build opens the door to homeownership for more Kiwis, gives families choice about where they live, and supports growth and job creation in the construction sector,” Mr Penk says. “We can’t achieve this vision while the building consent system remains slow and overloaded. Even simple, single-storey homes must go through around 12 inspections before they’re finished, with costly delays when demand is high. “At a time when many Kiwis are locked out of the housing market, that’s simply not good enough. “The Government is committed to making the building system more efficient and Cabinet has now agreed to an opt-in self-certification scheme, which will allow approved building firms, plumbers, and drainlayers to sign off their own work. “Reputable building companies delivering large numbers of near-identical houses each year will be able to proceed without the need for Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) to approve a building consent and carry out inspections. “Giving qualified plumbers and drainlayers the ability to self-certify their work puts them on equal footing with electricians and gasfitters, who’ve had that flexibility for years. It’s a common-sense change backed by Master Plumbers and delivers on a National Party campaign promise. “Kiwis should have confidence that their homes are built to a high standard. That’s why only proven professionals who meet strict criteria will be eligible for the scheme – and only for simple residential dwellings. “Initially these changes are expected to see around 3,000 homes built each year without delays from approvals or inspections. BCAs will be freed up to focus on high-risk, complex builds instead of being bogged down by simple homes. “In addition, the Government will require BCAs complete 80 percent of building inspections within three working days. “Master Builders have welcomed this announcement as a meaningful step toward reducing inspection delays. We regularly hear from builders frustrated by the disruption to project timelines and the uncertainty it creates for homeowners. “Wait times sometimes stretch up to a week – having a knock-on effect which can add about $400 for every day a project is held up. “Updated guidance will be issued to BCAs, outlining practical strategies to boost efficiency, reduce bottlenecks, and help authorities better prioritise their workloads.” “BCAs success in meeting the target will be shown in quarterly performance data – giving the public greater transparency and encouraging improved performance.
“By backing skilled professionals and focusing council resources, we can cut building costs without sacrificing quality – delivering more affordable homes for Kiwi families.”
Inspection targets will come into force later this year and legislation to enable the self-certification scheme will be introduced by the end of 2025.
Notes to editors:
The self-certification scheme will be a voluntary, opt-in measure enabled by changes to the Building Act 2004 and the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006.
There will be two self-certification pathways available under the scheme:
An opt-in self-certification scheme for house builders carrying out work on an entire simple residential dwelling (including design and construction).
An opt-in self-certification scheme for plumbers and drainlayers carrying out work on a simple residential dwelling.
The definition of an eligible simple residential dwelling will be set down in regulation, following industry consultation.
BCAs will still be required to provide a nominal consent for entire simple homes where trusted building professionals are self-certifying their work.
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ali Asgary, Professor, Disaster & Emergency Management, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies & Director, CIFAL York, York University, Canada
The carnage along a street lined with food trucks took place shortly after one of the men vying to become Canada’s prime minister — New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh — attended the event. A shell-shocked Singh observed a moment of silence in Penticton, B.C., during another campaign stop the next day.
Vancouver police say the suspect has mental health issues and was known to police prior to the attack. Police also told a news conference there was no indication there was a need for extra policing at the festival, deeming it to have a “low threat level.”
What goes into making that calculation, and is a public event ever truly low-risk?
Vancouver police hold a news conference on the SUV attack. (CTV News)
Difficulties of crowd management
The Vancouver SUV attack is now classified as a crowd-related or mass gathering type of disaster. There have been cases of public vehicle-ramming attacks in Canada in the past, in particular the 2018 Toronto van attack that left 10 people dead.
Unfortunately, many mass gathering events do not allocate either sufficient resources or time for crowd management procedures, particularly those related to risk and emergency management.
Organizing mass gathering events in public spaces should factor in different threats, including the potential for car ramming, and implement effective mitigation and preparedness measures.
‘Soft targets’
Many public spaces where these events take place are vulnerable to car attacks. Evidence shows that mass gatherings are soft targets, meaning they’re easily accessible to large numbers of people and have limited security, protective and warning measures in place. Extreme precautions are needed to protect the public from such attacks so that they don’t become mass casualty events.
Those in attendance should be aware that public spaces generally lack physical barriers, or the proper distribution of them, to resist car or vehicle attacks.
While public awareness programs exist for other hazards such as flooding, earthquakes and extreme weather events, it’s now clear that such awareness and education are needed for mass public gatherings too.
Police should be aware that relying on limited surveillance may not be sufficient to identify such threats at the scene. Vehicle access and traffic control should be in place throughout such events. Lack of warning systems to quickly inform the crowd about an ongoing attack further increases the impacts of vehicular attacks.
Much of the focus on these types of events has been on the motivations of the attackers. Since a considerable number of vehicle-ramming attacks have been attributed to terrorism, communities or events with the perception of lower terrorism threats may not pay close enough attention to this type of threat.
Canadians aren’t likely to get many more details about the Vancouver attack until after voting day on Monday. Could the tragedy have an impact on the outcome of the federal election?
Past and recent studies have drawn different conclusions about the impact of disasters on election results.
According to what’s known as retrospective voting theory, voters judge governments on how they manage disasters, particularly highly publicized, tragic events, when casting their ballots. Voters can evaluate governments based on their handling of the disaster and the amount of effort they have put into minimizing risk.
Voters can and do punish or reward governments and elected politicians based on the effects of recent disasters on them and governments’ responses to them.
Hopefully, however, it will have an influence on how organizers, police and other authorities manage public crowds and events at a time when vehicle-ramming attacks are becoming a recurrent threat. Those elected this election should prioritize efforts to ensure communities can have safer mass gathering events.
Ali Asgary does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
The ACCC is encouraging businesses to review their card payment surcharges to ensure they are in line with their cost of accepting card payments.
Businesses should also ensure they adequately disclose upfront any card payment surcharges that apply, so that their customers can make informed decisions before ordering, booking and paying for a product or service.
Misleading surcharging practices and other add-on costs is a compliance and enforcement priority for the ACCC in the 2025-26 financial year.
“Businesses need to ensure their customers know about any card payment surcharges upfront, and that they are only charging what it costs them to accept those card payments,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.
The Australian Consumer Law prohibits businesses from misleading people about the prices they charge.
The Competition and Consumer Act also prohibits businesses from charging a card payment surcharge that is excessive. A card payment surcharge is considered excessive if it is higher than the business’s ‘cost of acceptance’.
For example, if a business’s ‘cost of acceptance’ for Visa credit card payments, including the merchant service fee and all other permissible costs, is 1 per cent, and they choose to charge a card payment surcharge, they can only apply a surcharge of up to 1 per cent to their customers that pay using a Visa credit card.
The ACCC has commenced an education and compliance campaign to inform businesses, particularly small businesses, of their obligations and help them to comply with the relevant laws.
As part of this campaign, the ACCC is helping businesses to comply with the law through advertisements and updated guidance material. It will also be engaging closely with relevant industry representatives to help them support their small business members in complying with the laws.
The ACCC will also be actively monitoring business compliance, and may take appropriate compliance or enforcement action, in line with our Compliance and Enforcement Policy.
“We understand that small businesses need to be across a lot of information to comply with all of the laws that apply to their business, however, charging excessive surcharges and not being upfront with customers about pricing can result in small businesses losing customers,” Mr Keogh said.
“It is important for small businesses to ensure they understand their obligations and check their costs of acceptance to know what amounts they can legally charge their customers as a payment surcharge, as well as reviewing how they inform customers of their prices, including any applicable surcharges.”
More information to help businesses comply with the law is available on the ACCC website.
Businesses may also wish to seek advice from their bank or payment facilitator, an accountant or business advisor to assist them with working out what their ‘cost of acceptance’ is.
Background
A standard set by the Reserve Bank of Australia sets out the costs that businesses can include when working out their ‘cost of acceptance’ for each payment type they accept. More information about this can be found on the Reserve Bank of Australia’s website.
Businesses’ banks or payment facilitators provide businesses with statements or similar payment processing information, which includes their main costs of accepting different payment types, typically shown as a percentage figure amount.
There are other costs that businesses may be able to include when calculating their ‘cost of acceptance’. Businesses need to be able to verify and calculate these costs with reference to contracts, statements or invoices from their providers.
The costs for accepting card payments can vary between businesses. This means that the card payment surcharges charged to customers can also vary between businesses.
The ACCC’s education and compliance engagement campaign is about the existing surcharging laws.
Sometimes to uncover Auckland’s past, you need to dig deep. Just ask Chris Mallows, Team Leader Cultural Heritage Implementation in Auckland Council’s Heritage Unit. He’s part of a team of archaeologists unearthing the fascinating history of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Auckland’s rich and varied landscape – encompassing coastland, forest, wetlands, maunga and volcanic fields – mirrors the diverse heritage of the people who have settled here since around the 14th century. With Archaeology Week running from 3-11 May, it’s the perfect time to acknowledge the groundbreaking work of archaeologists who help further our knowledge of our region’s past.
Archaeology is the study of past human societies through the analysis of material culture, including artefacts or the remains of buildings.
“Archaeologists look at the physical evidence that’s left behind and interpret how people lived and worked in the past,” explains Chris.
In Tāmaki Makaurau, archaeological work could involve everything from protecting maunga and Māori pā settlement sites, preservation of the Wilson Cement Works in Warkworth or uncovering artefacts from the former Queen Street Gaol that was on the corner of Queen and Victoria Streets from 1841-1865.
“During an archaeological excavation, we’re always finding something new and expanding our understanding of how people lived in that specific area,” says Chris.
Auckland Council’s archaeologists work on a range of projects including preservation work, providing advice on heritage sites and as well as reviewing on resource consent applications around areas with scheduled heritage sites.
While fictional archaeologist Indiana Jones’ favourite tool was his whip, in reality archaeologists are more likely to be armed with a trowel. Excavating can be physically demanding and painstaking work, as archaeologists work carefully to uncover artefacts without damaging anything in the process. The sharp edge of the trowel is used to meticulously unearth fragile items, such as ceramics, from the earth.
“Buying your first trowel is a bit like a rite of passage”, says Chris, who still has his first William Hunt and Sons trowel he received as a fledgling archaeologist in the UK.
Archaeologists use trowels to carefully unearth artefacts without damaging any fragile parts. Chris Mallows still has his WHS trowel from his first excavation in the UK.
“When you’re a field archaeologist, a trowel is the first tool you’ll ever get. It helps you excavate the small features in a controlled manner. For example, if you’re on a European-era site in Auckland dating from the 1860s or 1870s, you may use a trowel to find glass, ceramics, animal bones or other remnants that people were eating.”
Other tools include sieves for sorting very small remnants, measurement tools for mapping out a site and a “good old fashioned spade and shovel”, Chris adds.
While traditional excavation tools are still part of the work of an archaeologist, there have been a number of digital advances that make this work a little easier. Auckland Council’s archaeologists have access to LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data. This technology uses laser light pulses emitted from a drone or plane to create three-dimensional maps of the environment.
“LiDAR uncovers things that were previously hidden by the landscape. For example, on farmland, LiDAR has uncovered pits hidden by long grass which were later revealed to be kūmara pits (rua),” says Chris.
Another modern tool is photogrammetry, a process of creating a 3D model of an artefact or structure using a series of overlapping photographs.
Chris uses photographic scales to measure the site.
“Photogrammetry is a great tool and allows our communities to see artefacts and heritage sites really easily,” says Chris. “Even if you can’t physically gain access to the artefacts – they may be a museum, for example, or you may not be able to travel to these sites – having photogrammetry allows anyone to look at them. It’s a really good tool for the future.”
There have been a number of notable archaeological discoveries in Auckland, but one that sticks out to Chris is the Sunde Site on Motutapu Island. In 1958, archaeologist Rudy Sunde discovered what has since been spoken of as ‘New Zealand’s Pompeii’ when he found artefacts from a pre-European kainga (village).
Later, in 1981, University of Auckland archaeologist Reg Nicol uncovered footprints of eight people and one dog beneath a layer of ash from Rangitoto Island. This is evidence that mana whenua living on or near Motutapu witnessed the eruption of Rangitoto in around 1400 CE.
“What I find fascinating about this site is you have evidence of somebody going about everyday life and then you’ve got a volcanic eruption happening, and we can only wonder what that experience was like,” says Chris. “There’s a clear timeline of the eruption and you can see the people adapting to the changing climate because of the natural disaster.”
Through archaeology, we can learn from the past and see how people adapted to change and use this to understand how we adapt to change in the future.”
“Recent damage to an Auckland park by treasure hunters highlights why our heritage needs protecting”, says Chris.
Mary Barrett Glade near Ngataringa Park in Devonport is a scheduled heritage place on Department of Conservation (DOC) land, and was unfortunately recently targeted by vandals looking to dig up vintage bottles. Auckland Council archaeologists are supporting DOC in the protection and restoration of the area.
The site is the former location of Duder’s Brickworks, which operated between 1875 and 1942. The factory used clay from Ngataringa Bay to make ordinary and decorative bricks as well as sanitary pipes and chimney heads, and employed many Devonport locals up until the 1920s. The factory supplied clay bricks for many of the Edwardian buildings in Devonport including the pumphouse (now the PumpHouse Theatre).
The PumpHouse Theatre is built with bricks from Duder’s Brickworks.
Following a fire on Victoria Road in 1888, the Devonport Borough Council made a rule that buildings in the main shopping area were to be constructed from bricks only, and the bricks are part of the suburb’s its distinctive look.
“The brickworks are part of Devonport’s industrial heritage and character. You never know what’s around the corner, so we do need to be vigilant in protecting our history. As archaeologists, we are the kaitiaki (guardians) of our heritage sites, preserving them for our future generations.”
For more information about Archaeology Week and to see what events are on, head to the New Zealand Archaeological Association website.
Auckland Council’s plan to set up a co-governed committee to manage the Waitākere Ranges shows why Kiwis need councillors who believe in democracy, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
“The Waitākere Ranges belong to all Aucklanders, and should be managed democratically. But Auckland Council’s plan would see unelected decision-makers closing tracks and dictating land use in the surrounding rural areas.
“The ranges are governed under the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act. That is a local act, which means any change to the legislation, such as a prohibition on co-governance arrangements, has to come from the elected council.
“We’ve seen the same problem with the Ngāi Tahu Representation Act, where the Minister for Local Government has had to go cap-in-hand to a left-wing regional council asking them to repeal co-governance. The council (Environment Canterbury) declined.
“The Coalition is rolling back co-governance of public services. But when it comes to local co-governance, local action is needed.
“This is exactly why ACT is standing candidates in council elections, not just in Auckland, but across the country. ACT councillors will fight for democracy, equal rights, and accountable government. That means ensuring beloved public spaces are governed by people directly accountable to ratepayers.”
Please attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Rob Hunkin:
Police investigating the disappearance of missing mother Leonie Emery in 2018 are encouraging people to watch Monday night’s Cold Case episode on TV One.
Leonie who was just 25 years old when she disappeared without a trace seven years ago, leaving behind her four children and devastated whānau.
Leonie was a free spirit who moved around regularly so her family were used to regular periods of no contact. She was reported missing to Police in 2019 but it’s believed she had not been seen or heard from for around a year prior to that.
Investigators have undertaken extensive enquiries to understand Leonie’s last movements and what might have happened to her. Police have examined several possible scenarios but believe it is most likely that Leonie has been the victim of foul play.
Leonie had been spending time in the Waikato but was last seen at a family member’s address in Papakura sometime in late January, early February 2018. Where did she go when she left and who was she with? These are some of the questions we need the public’s help with.
The Cold Case episode will outline key elements of this investigation and we hope it will prompt someone to come forward with information which will help us get the answers Leonie’s whānau desperately want.
We know there are people out there with key information Police need. Please tune in on Monday at 8:30pm to watch the episode.
We urge anyone with information, no matter how small you might think it is to contact Police.
If you can help, call 0800 COLD CASE (0800 2653 2273).
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeffrey Fields, Professor of the Practice of International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
A mural on the outer walls of the former US embassy in Tehran depicts two men in negotiation.Majid Saeedi/Getty Images
The scheduled talks follow the two previous rounds of indirect negotiations that have taken place under the new Trump administration. Those discussions were deemed to have yielded enough progress to merit sending nuclear experts from both sides to begin outlining the specifics of a potential framework for a deal.
The development is particularly notable given that Trump, in 2018, unilaterally walked the U.S. away from a multilateral agreement with Iran. That deal, negotiated during the Obama presidency, put restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. Trump instead turned to a policy that involved tightening the financial screws on Iran through enhanced sanctions while issuing implicit military threats.
But that approach failed to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program.
Now, rather than revive the maximum pressure policy of his first term, Trump – ever keen to be seen as a dealmaker – has given his team the green light for the renewed diplomacy and even reportedly rebuffed, for now, Israel’s desire to launch military strikes against Tehran.
Jaw-jaw over war-war
The turn to diplomacy returns Iran-US relations to where they began during the Obama administration, with attempts to encourage Iran to curb or eliminate its ability to enrich uranium.
As a long-time expert on U.S. foreign policy and nuclear nonproliferation, I believe Trump has a unique opportunity to not only reinstate a similar nuclear agreement to the one he rejected, but also forge a more encompassing deal – and foster better relations with the Islamic Republic in the process.
There are real signs that a potential deal could be in the offing, and it is certainly true that Trump likes the optics of dealmaking.
But an agreement is by no means certain. Any progress toward a deal will be challenged by a number of factors, not least internal divisions and opposition within the Trump administration and skepticism among some in the Islamic Republic, along with uncertainty over a succession plan for the aging Ayatollah Khamenei.
Conservative hawks are still abundant in both countries and could yet derail any easing of diplomatic tensions.
Many Iranians would say relations have been strained since 1953, when the U.S. and the United Kingdom orchestrated the overthrow of Mohammad Mossadegh, the democratically elected prime minister of Iran.
Washington and Tehran have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1979, and the two countries have been locked in a decadeslong battle for influence in the Middle East. Today, tensions remain high over Iranian support for a so-called axis of resistance against the West and in particular U.S. interests in the Middle East. That axis includes Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.
For its part, Tehran has long bristled at American hegemony in the region, including its resolute support for Israel and its history of military action. In recent years that U.S. action has included the direct assaults on Iranian assets and personnel. In particular, Tehran is still angry about the 2020 assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Standing atop these various disputes, Iran’s nuclear ambitions have proved a constant source of contention for the United States and Israel, the latter being the only nuclear power in the region.
The prospect of warmer relations between the two sides first emerged during the Obama administration – though Iran sounded out the Bush administration in 2003 only to be rebuffed.
U.S. diplomats began making contact with Iranian counterparts in 2009 when Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns met with an Iranian negotiator in Geneva. The so-called P5+1 began direct negotiations with Iran in 2013. This paved the way for the eventual Iran nuclear deal, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2015. In that agreement – concluded by the U.S., Iran, China, Russia and a slew of European nations – Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear program, including limits on the level to which it could enrich uranium, which was capped well short of what would be necessary for a nuclear weapon. In return, multilateral and bilateral U.S. sanctions would be removed.
Many observers saw it as a win-win, with the restraints on a burgeoning nuclear power coupled with hopes that greater economic engagement with the international community that might temper some of Iran’s more provocative foreign policy behavior.
Yet Israel and Saudi Arabia worried the deal did not entirely eliminate Iran’s ability to enrich uranium, and right-wing critics in the U.S. complained it did not address Iran’s ballistic missile programs or support for militant groups in the region.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, draws a red line on a graphic of a bomb while discussing Iran at the United Nations on Sept. 27, 2012. Mario Tama/Getty Images
When Trump first took office in 2016, he and his foreign policy team pledged to reverse Obama’s course and close the door on any diplomatic opening. Making good on his pledge, Trump unilaterally withdrew U.S. support for the JCPOA despite Iran’s continued compliance with the terms of the agreement and reinstated sanctions.
Donald the dealmaker?
So what has changed? Well, several things.
While Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA was welcomed by Republicans, it did nothing to stop Iran from enhancing its ability to enrich uranium.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, eager to transform its image and diversify economically, now supports a deal it opposed during the Obama administration.
In this second term, Trump’s anti-Iran impulses are still there. But despite his rhetoric of a military option should a deal not be struck, Trump has on numerous occasions stated his opposition to U.S. involvement in another war in the Middle East.
In addition, Iran has suffered a number of blows in recent years that has left it more isolated in the region. Iranian-aligned Hamas and Hezbollah have been seriously weakened as a result of military action by Israel. Meanwhile, strikes within Iran by Israel have shown the potential reach of Israeli missiles – and the apparent willingness of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use them. Further, the removal of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria has deprived Iran of another regional ally.
Tehran is also contending with a more fragile domestic economy than it had during negotiations for JCPOA.
With Iran weakened regionally and Trump’s main global focus being China, a diplomatic avenue with Iran seems entirely in line with Trump’s view of himself as a dealmaker.
A deal is not a given
With two rounds of meetings completed and the move now to more technical aspects of a possible agreement negotiated by experts, there appears to be a credible window of opportunity for diplomacy.
This could mean a new agreement that retains the core aspects of the deal Trump previously abandoned. I’m not convinced a new deal will look any different from the previous in terms of the enrichment aspect.
There are still a number of potential roadblocks standing in the way of any potential deal, however.
As was the case with Trump’s meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his first term, the president seems to be less interested in details than spectacle. While it was quite amazing for an American leader to meet with his North Korean counterpart, ultimately, no policy meaningfully changed because of it.
As has become a common theme in Trump administration foreign policy – even with its own allies on issues like trade – it’s unclear what a Trump administration policy on Iran actually is, and whether a political commitment exists to carry through any ultimate deal.
Top Trump foreign policy negotiator Steve Witkoff, who has no national security experience, has exemplified this tension. Tasked with leading negotiations with Iran, Witkoff has already been forced to walk back his contention that the U.S. was only seeking to cap the level of uranium enrichment rather than eliminate the entirety of the program.
For its part, Iran has proved that it is serious about diplomacy, previously having accepted Barack Obama’s “extended hand.”
But Tehran is unlikely to capitulate on core interests or allow itself to be humiliated by the terms of any agreement.
Ultimately, the main question to watch is whether a deal with Iran is to be concluded by pragmatists – and then to what extent, narrow or expansive – or derailed by hawks within the administration.
Jeffrey Fields receives funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Future Industries Institute researchers Professor Colin Hall and Professor Allison Cowin.
UniSA researchers are the big winners in a Federal Government announcement of two new industry-led collaborative research centres designed to strengthen Australia’s manufacturing sector.
FII Industry Professor Colin Hall is one of the key researchers in the newly established AMCRC, that involves 73 industry partners, 14 research organisations and five government departments, sharing in $57.5 million in government funding and $213 million in partner contributions.
He says that additive manufacturing – commonly known as 3D printing – is revolutionising the way that many industries work.
“Once limited to plastic prototype parts, 3D printing today includes metal, ceramic and composite materials that are on the cusp of full-scale adoption across Australia’s manufacturing sector,” Prof Hall says.
Over the next seven years, the AMCRC will tackle some significant challenges hampering the advancement of 3D printing, so that processes can be optimised, new materials developed, and the workforce upskilled.
UniSA Business entrepreneurship and innovation researcher, Associate Professor Shruti Sardeshmukh, will lead the Sustainable Manufacturing research theme in the AMCRC, helping to develop sustainable 3D printing solutions to transform manufacturing businesses across Australia.
“By embedding environmental, social and governance principles, 3D printing can fuel innovation, drive business transformation and propel Australian businesses towards a more resilient future,” Assoc Prof Sardeshmukh says.
The other themes are Applications and Materials Development; Technology and Process Development; and Surface Technologies and Post-Processing, which will be the major focus of UniSA’s FII researchers.
“From a South Australian perspective, this CRC means that UniSA can engage with some of our long-term industry partners, including SMR Automotive, Starke-AMG, EntX and Laserbond to take our industry research and workforce development to a higher level,” Prof Hall says.
FII Professor Allison Cowin, an international leader in wound healing and regenerative medicine, will be a key researcher in the $238 million Solutions for Manufacturing Advanced Regenerative Therapies (SMART) CRC.
The SMART CRC involves 63 partners spanning government, industry, medical providers, universities and research institutes, all focused on helping Australian biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies bring a 10-year pipeline of regenerative therapy projects to market.
A $65 million commitment from the Federal Government will be boosted by an additional $173 million in partner contributions.
“The SMART CRC will accelerate the Australian regenerative therapy industry,” Prof Cowin says. “It will catalyse, drive and co-ordinate a national effort, guiding industry growth in the cell and gene therapy sectors.
“Regenerative therapies aim to cure, rather than treat diseases. They replace, engineer and regenerate human cells, tissues and organs that will restore normal function in patients with diseases such as cancer, diabetes, wounds and blood disorders.”
The SMART CRC is expected to create 1500 skilled jobs and generate $4.5 billion worth of business over the next decade, setting Australia up as a global leader in technologies that can cure disease rather than treating symptoms.
Along with the Additive Manufacturing CRC, it will build sovereign manufacturing capability, anchoring companies and their technology to Australia, instead of relying on foreign supply chains.
UniSA Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research and Enterprise, Professor Peter Murphy, says once UniSA and the University of Adelaide merge in 2026 to become Adelaide University, the new institution can expect to share in more than $26 million worth of projects through the AMCRC and SMART CRC.
“This is a fantastic outcome for the Australian manufacturing sector and will lead to exciting times ahead, not only for our researchers but for the nation as a whole,” Prof Murphy says.
The third Cooperative Research Centre announced by the Federal Government is the Care Economy CRC, a partnership between 60 research, government and industry organisations to revolutionise the care sector by customising the commercialising new technologies, data solutions and models of care.
Gyeonggi Provincial Government’s Sudden Cancellation RaisesConcerns of Bias and Violation of Rights
An administrative decision by a South Korean government agency sparked international controversy, raising concerns about religious freedom.
On November 27, religious leaders and opinion leaders delivered a joint protest statement to the Government of the Republic of Korea condemning the cancellation of the venue rental on October 29th as an act of biased religious oppression through public power.
Signed by 402 organizations, 758 religious representatives, and 977 individuals across the globe, totalling 1,735 signatories, the statement emphasized the psychological and financial damage caused to the international participants and highlighted the need for accountability.
On October 30 the “Religious Leaders Forum and Graduation Ceremony,” a joint initiative by two prominent religious organizations, was set to take place in Paju, South Korea. The event was expected to draw over 30,000 participants from 78 countries, including 1,000 religious leaders representing Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism.
However, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization (GTO), a public entity under Gyeonggi Province, abruptly canceled the venue rental at 11am on the morning of the event, when preparations were already underway.
This decision, made without prior notice, has resulted in significant financial damage to the international event and its organizers. As the first clause of Article 20 of the South Korean Constitution states: “All citizens shall enjoy freedom of religion”, they argue that the cancellation constitutes an unconstitutional act of discrimination against a specific religion, violating religious freedom, human rights, and due process of law and an act that divides the people and divides the country into two.
The Joint Protest Statement demands accountability for this situation and calls for an official apology from the Gyeonggi Provincial Government and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization to both domestic and international religious organizations and the global community.
It also requires the government to take appropriate disciplinary actions against the officials responsible for handling this matter and to strengthen fair and transparent venue reservation procedures and preliminary consultation systems.
Over 88 global leaders including international law experts, religious leaders, education experts, heads of organizations, journalists from around the world sent official documents and protest letters to the Republic of Korea upon hearing the news of the cancellation of the event, expressing shock and disappointment at this administrative action and demanding prompt and appropriate measures.
In particular, international law experts from around the world, including those with experience as prime ministers, vice ministers of justice, chief justices of the Supreme Court, presidents of the Constitutional Court, lawyers, and professors of international law, pointed out that the cancellation of the event on this day was an act that violated the Constitution, and religious leaders expressed concern that it was a biased decision and an anti-peaceful act that infringed on religious freedom.
Since November 15, religious leaders and members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus have held rallies outside the Gyeonggi Provincial Office and Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, condemning the biased cancellation urging the government to address the issue and take measures to prevent recurrence.
Timeline of Events Leading to the Cancellation ● July 22: Notification of approval for the rental from 29th to 31st October by GTO. ● October 2: Full payment of the rental fee. ● October 16: A working-level meeting held to discuss the event’s size, arrangements, safety plans, and special effects. The GTO reviewed all details and completed a safety inspection. While Paju City was designated a danger zone due to potential North Korean provocations, officials assured organizers that this designation would not impact the event. ● October 23 & 28: Officials confirmed twice that ‘there are no plans to cancel the rental’. ● October 28: A rally was hosted by ‘SUGICHONG’, a Christian council of capital area of Korea urging the cancellation of a venue rental. ● October 29: At 11 o’clock on the day of the rental while the event was being set up, the Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon unilaterally notified the cancellation, citing security concerns related to recent North Korean actions and activities by a North Korean defector group. Organizers allege that pressure from opposing groups, including vested religious interests, influenced the decision. ● October 19-20, November 4: Notably, other events in the same area proceeded without disruption.
New Zealand and the Philippines will this week sign an agreement to enable the two countries’ militaries to work more closely, Defence Minister Judith Collins says.
Ms Collins will travel to the Philippines today to sign the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, which highlights the importance New Zealand places on working closely with our partners, she says.
“It formally sets the legal framework for engagement between our respective militaries, better facilitating ongoing cooperation, activities and exercises in each of our territories.
“The agreement follows a commitment made by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr during Mr Luxon’s visit to Manila last year.”
It will now undergo a final ratification process in the Philippine Senate.
While in the Philippines, Ms Collins will meet with the President and hold a bilateral meeting with counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, the Secretary of National Defense.
“We are committed to reinvigorating our security relationships, to playing our part, and working with regional partners such as the Philippines to uphold the international rules-based order,” Ms Collins says.
Ms Collins returns to New Zealand on 2 May.
Notes to editors:
The Status of Visiting Forces Agreement is a treaty-level document that sets out the legal conditions for military cooperation between our countries, including the responsibilities and obligations on both sides.
This agreement with the Philippines builds on two previous agreements that provide for practical defence cooperation, the Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement (2024) and the Defence Cooperation Arrangement (2012).
New Zealand has a number of similar agreements, the most recent being one signed with Fiji in 2023.
After a successful beta-launch in April PodTalk.live is now ready to invite people to register as foundation members. Foundation members are free to join the post and podcast social platform.
The Foundation Membership soft-launch is a great opportunity for founders to help shape a brand new, vibrant, algorithm-free, info discussion and debate social platform.
Developer of the platform, Selwyn Manning said: “PodTalk.live has been put to test by selected individuals and we are pleased to report that it has performed fabulously.”
Manning is founder and managing director of the company that custom-developed PodTalk.live – Multimedia Investments Ltd (MIL: milnz.co.nz).
MIL is based in New Zealand, where PodTalk.live was developed and is served from.
And now, PodTalk.live has emerged from its Beta stage and is ready for foundation members to shape the next phase of its development.
About PodTalk.Live:
PodTalk.live was designed to be an alternative platform to other social media platforms. PodTalk has all the functions that most social media platforms have but has placed the user-experience at the centre of its backend design and engineering.
PodTalk.live has been custom-designed, created and is served from New Zealand.
“We ourselves became annoyed at how social media giants use algorithms to drive what content their users see and experience. And, we also were appalled at how some social media companies trade user data, and were unresponsive to user-concerns” Selwyn Manning said.
“So we decided to create a platform that focuses on ‘discussion and debate’ communities, and we have engineered PodTalk to ensure the content that users see is what they choose – rather than some obscure algorithm making that decision for them.
“PodTalk.live is independent from other social media platforms, and at best will become an alternative choice for people who seek a community where they are the centre of a platform’s core purpose.
“And today, we invite people to sign up now and become foundation members of this new and ethically-based social community platform,” Selwyn Manning said.
Live audio and video webcasts with special guests and member talkback events
premium video and audio podcasts (on-demand and live)
premium posts on big issues from prominent writers
featured documentaries on interesting and important topics.
Security Safety Moderation:
Security and safety has been baked into PodTalk’s function and culture. And at PodTalk, free-speech is welcomed but hate speech is rejected.
“With PodTalk, we recognise that many people, wherever they live, require security and at times anonymity so to avoid reprisals from authorities and other actors,” Selwyn manning said.
“Along with a strong focus on security, and guidance on how to remain anonymous when necessary, we have built robust member-moderation into the core of PodTalk to ensure users are in control of their experience.”
“PodTalk has robust moderation tools so that members can easily block and report those who they feel disrupt their experience,” Selwyn Manning said.
And now, we invite all who seek an information, discussion and debating community to register as foundation members.
To do so, simply go to: https://PodTalk.Live and register. Once on the platform, members can familiarise themselves with what PodTalk.Live has to offer, and begin to create their own online community experience.
“We are working on audio-to-text multi-language translation+transcription tools, and will soon push the boundaries of cutting edge on-platform communication tools,” Selwyn Manning said.
The platform already has cutting edge tech, also smart community and premium publishing tools – including an invitation tool so you can invite your friends and grow your community.
PodTalk.live is founded on the belief that for social, political and economical progress to occur people need to discuss issues in a safe environment and embark on robust debate.
Register free as a founder. Check out the platform. See you there…
Source: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has today launched a campaign to ban the import, supply, and use of engineered stone in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“We are urging the Government to do the right thing and save workers’ lives by banning engineered stone, an extremely dangerous product that causes the fatal lung disease silicosis”, said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.
“Engineered stone is the asbestos of our times. It is not an essential product and there are many safe alternatives already in the market.
“Silicosis is a debilitating disease that cannot be cured. The evidence is clear that the only solution is to stop workers from being required to process engineered stone, which exposes them to the dangerous silica dust.
“Brooke van Velden has the power to save workers’ lives. All she needs to do is follow Australia’s example and implement a total ban.
“There is broad support for this campaign. Last year the CTU joined with 18 other organisations, including public health experts and health and safety specialists, and called on the Minister to act.
“Aotearoa has a terrible record when it comes to work-associated deaths. The Government has the opportunity to help turn that around by banning engineered stone. It’s time they stepped up on behalf of Kiwi workers,” said Wagstaff.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand will revoke the restricted fire season in all of Hawke’s Bay at 12pm (midday) on Monday 28 April, until further notice.
This means permits approved by Fire and Emergency are no longer needed for open air fires across the whole district.
The areas this change applies to are: Esk-Tutaekuri, Ahuriri-Heretaunga, Tukituki West, Tukituki East, Southern Hawkes Bay Coast, Pōrangahau, Pahiatua, Eketāhuna, and Tararua East, West, Central and South.
Wairoa Coastal, Wairoa Inland, and Te Haroto areas are already in an open fire season.
Hawke’s Bay District Manager Glen Varcoe says due to the cooler autumn weather, the fire risk in the district has now reduced.
“I’d like to thank the people of Hawke’s Bay for their vigilance during the fire season, and for applying for fire permits properly while outdoor fires were restricted over summer,” he says.
“Although much of our district is still dry, the damper conditions have helped our firefighters to extinguish the smaller vegetation fires we’re still getting.
“We’ve had five fires in the last 10 days, so please continue to keep your fires small, stay with them, and ensure they are fully out over the following days and weeks.
“We do still ask people to take care when lighting any fires. Always check the requirements for your location oncheckitsalright.nz, and check out the great safety advice before you light your fire.”
New Zealand energy professional Esther Tomkinson has been selected to join the World Energy Council’s Future Energy Leaders Programme.
Esther Tomkinson is a Sustainability and Strategy Analyst at Mercury Energy and Co-Chair of the Young Energy Professionals Network of the BusinessNZ Energy Council.
The Future Energy Leaders Programme is a global network of young energy professionals who contribute to national, regional, and international activities aimed at solving the world’s most pressing energy and sustainability challenges.
Tina Schirr Executive Director of the BusinessNZ Energy Council said, “We are incredibly proud of Esther Tomkinson’s selection for the Future Energy Leaders Programme. Her dedication to sustainability and the local Future Energy Leaders Programme – YEPN – will be extremely valuable to the global and New Zealand energy community. This recognition also highlights the exceptional talent we have in New Zealand’s energy sector.”
The first opportunity to convene with future energy leaders from across the globe will be at the World Energy Week in Panama from 6-9 October 2025, followed by the World Energy Congress in Saudi Arabia from 26-29 October 2026.
Schirr says, “This year, 25 young energy professionals from 21 countries will join the Future Energy Leaders Programme, including Esther Tomkinson, the only New Zealand delegate.
“At the same time, we farewell two outstanding Kiwis from the Future Energy Leaders Programme, Emily Hilton, the HSEQ Manager at Hiringa Energy, and Mark Todoroff, Business Development Director at Yes Energy.”
The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.
The Government is backing New Zealand’s teaching workforce by funding teacher registrations and practising certificates, acknowledging the vital role educators play in driving positive change in classrooms.
“We know the most important aspect of a child’s education is the quality of the teacher in front of them. Teachers have stepped up to implement our ambitious reform programme that’s delivering real change in the classroom. They are teaching a new world-leading curriculum as well as embracing structured approaches to literacy and maths to ensure better outcomes for our children. They are supporting students to gain vital secondary qualifications that will prepare them for the future. This initiative is a direct recognition of the ongoing hard work, dedication, and professionalism of teachers across the country,” Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
The Government has committed funding of $53 million in Budget 2025 to cover fees through to 2028, including any increases the Teaching Council may implement through their current fee review.
From July 1, teachers will save up to $550 when applying for registration or renewing their practising certificate. This initiative will benefit around 40,000 fulltime and part time school and early learning teachers in the first year of funding and approximately 115,000 across the three years.
“As we work to raise standards and restore trust in the education system, it is important that we support the teaching workforce leading this reform. The Government has promised to remove this cost, and we have delivered”.
Since coming into office, the Government has introduced and maintained many initiatives to attract and retain teachers:
Doubled the numbers of paid School Onsite Training Programme places to 1200, paying out $21,500 for each place, through Budget 2024
Supporting 352 teachers to return to the classroom since October 2024 by covering the costs of their practising certificates or limited authority to teach fees (LAT)
Ongoing marketing campaigns, in NZ and overseas, that are focussed on attracting increasing numbers of teachers to teaching in NZ
Added primary and secondary teachers to the straight to residence pathway on the Green List with 1400 teachers arriving from overseas in 2024
Continued to fund relocation packages of up to $10,000 for qualified teachers who are overseas to move to New Zealand with 891 teachers supported in 2024.
Continued to fund more than 400 scholarships to encourage in to, and support people through, teacher training.
Supported 130 beginning or returning teachers through the BeTTER Jobs Programme in the 2024/2025.
Funded ongoing targeted marketing campaigns that have seen approximately 2,000 newly graduated teachers join the workforce this year.
“This Government is determined to raise achievement and close the equity gap so all children get an equal chance to thrive. Enabling more teachers to do what they do best in the classroom is another step to achieving this,” Ms Stanford says.
Organised from 23 to 25 April 2025 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, the 3rd ASEAN-China Youth Exchange Visit brought together 133 delegates from ASEAN Member States, Timor-Leste, and China to advance youth capacity and engagement on ICT development, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and strengthening a future ready ASEAN youth.
The post Empowering Future Digital Leaders: 3rd ASEAN-China Youth Exchange Visit Strengthens Regional Cooperation and Youth Engagement in ICT Development appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey is pleased to announce today that the Women’s Refuge is the latest recipient of the Government’s Mental Health and Addiction Innovation Fund. “Women’s Refuge do incredibly important work in our communities. They provide a safe space for women and children experiencing family violence, some of whom may be experiencing mental health and addiction challenges. I am delighted that the organisation will receive funding from the Government to help deliver mental health and addiction support to those in need,” Mr Doocey says. “I am pleased the funding announced today will support 250 advocates based within the 41 Women’s Refuges across New Zealand with mental health and addiction training, advisory support from clinical specialists and strengthen referral pathways so clients can access local mental health and addiction services more efficiently. “The feedback I often hear about mental health services is that it is too hard to navigate and know where to go in a time of need. This funding will enable Women’s Refuge to upskill their staff on mental health and addiction as well as improve connections with local services and referral pathways and join up the system to make it more accessible to those in need. “Over the past five years, Women’s Refuge has supported an average of 15,000 clients per year. This funding will strengthen the workforce and improve referral pathways for those women and children who are accessing Women’s Refuge services. “Initiatives like this is exactly what the Innovation Fund was designed for, and this support will only grow as we move into the second round of funding.” The Women’s Refuge will receive $540,000 from the Government across two years, which will be matched by the Women’s Refuge to make a total of $1,080,000 over a two-year period. In round one of the Innovation Fund the Government have so far supported MATES in Construction, The Mental Health Foundation, YouthLine, Wellington City Mission, Rotorua Youth One Stop Shop and the Sir John Kirwan Foundation. “I am committed to doing everything possible to bring down mental health and addiction wait times in New Zealand. Partnering with organisations such as Women’s Refuge through the Innovation Fund to deliver innovative projects and initiatives supports the Government’s priority focus of increasing access to mental health and addiction support for Kiwis,” Mr Doocey says. Note to editors: A future procurement opportunity for round two of the Fund was released on the Government Electronic Tender site (GETS) last week and a Request for Proposal is scheduled to be released in May 2025.
Minister for Trade and Investment Hon Todd McClay will today welcome Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, His Excellency Eng Abdulrahman A. AlFadley, to New Zealand. Minister AlFadley is leading a delegation of more than 35 senior Saudi officials and business people to Auckland for the 9th New Zealand–Saudi Arabia Joint Ministerial Commission—a key platform for advancing trade and economic ties between the two countries. “The hosting of this Joint Commission in New Zealand reflects the strong momentum in our relationship with Saudi Arabia and the broader Gulf region, particularly following the successful conclusion of negotiations for the New Zealand-Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement late last year,” Mr McClay says. “In a time of global uncertainty, the Government is focused on opening doors for Kiwi exporters and providing greater certainty for New Zealand businesses. lf’s largest economy and one of our top export markets, with exports reaching $1.14 billion last year, Saudi Arabia presents significant opportunities for Kiwi businesses through the NZ-GCC FTA.” Alongside the Commission, the Ministers will participate in business outreach focused on agriculture, technology, and digital innovation. “This visit provides a valuable opportunity to profile world-class Kiwi exporters and highlight investment opportunities in New Zealand’s fast-growing tech sectors,” Mr McClay says. The Joint Ministerial Commission and business programme will run from 28–30 April in Auckland.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on local leaders to join the Government in driving up school attendance, citing it as a foundation for community and national success. Seymour has written to all mayors across New Zealand urging them to use the Government’s new daily school attendance dashboard to raise awareness and spark local action. “I’m calling on mayors to be champions for education in their regions. When students go to school, communities are stronger and better prepared for generations to come,” says Mr Seymour. “The dashboard provides region-specific data. For instance, the Mayor of Southland is able to see their region recorded an 89% attendance rate on the last Monday of Term 1. “This is a tool for action, local leaders can now see how their region is doing at a glance, and lead the change they want to see. “Every day a child misses school is a day they miss out on opportunities to learn, to grow, and to succeed. In the letter, Seymour encourages local councils to:
Check out the dashboard and how your region compares with other parts of New Zealand. Encourage others in your community to engage with this dashboard. Lead a conversation with your community around how they can support schools to improve attendance. Even small steps like encouraging local businesses to be aware that school-aged children should be at school during school hours is helpful. Amplify the message that school is helping our young people achieve better outcomes. Let us know what’s working, or not working, in your community, to get young people in school.
In Term 4 of 2024, 58.1% of students attended school regularly, up from 53% in Term 4 of 2023 — a 5.1 percentage point rise. Every region saw an increase on the year prior. “Attending school is the first step towards achieving positive educational outcomes. Positive educational outcomes lead to better health, higher incomes, better job stability and greater participation within communities. These are opportunities that every student deserves,” says Mr Seymour. “I encourage students, parents, and educators to prioritise education. That is what this Government is doing, and it is what is required for New Zealand to have a better future.” Attendance data can be found here Attendance | Education Counts
There are few battlegrounds as ingrained in New Zealand’s history and identity as this place. The very name “Chunuk Bair”, like the name, “Gallipoli” resonates with New Zealanders at home, so very, very far away. The thousands of our men who spilled blood on this soil mean a part of our country is forever part of this land, too. At the time, this battle was the culmination of months of fighting for those men. Many would not have ventured much beyond their hometown at the ‘uttermost ends of the earth’ before arriving here at the start of the Gallipoli campaign. In the dawn light, they would have seen the ridges and gullies rise and drop along the coastline. They would have seen this place – the highest point in view – and known it would be crucial to the campaign. Some would have thought it looked a bit like home. But for them and for all who joined this battle, it was closer to hell. Some 16,000 New Zealanders came ashore over those months, 110 years ago. They fought in unspeakable conditions from trenches that still scar this peninsula. When Lieutenant Colonel William Malone led the Wellington Battalion to seize this summit before dawn on the 8th of August 1915, days of horror followed. Under a scorching sun, they clashed with waves of charging Ottoman Turks. William Malone was killed that afternoon. The Wellington Battalion was joined by men from the Auckland Mounted Rifles, before being replaced by the Otago Battalion and the Wellington Mounted Rifles. For two days, they clung to this summit before being overwhelmed early on the 10th of August. The losses on both sides were immense. An Australian war correspondent wrote, “of the 760 of the Wellington Infantry Battalion who had captured the height that morning, there came out only 70 unwounded or slightly wounded men.” “Not one had dreamed of leaving his post.” “They could only talk in whispers. Their eyes were sunken. Their knees trembled.” The other battalions faced similar losses. Only 22 of the 288 Auckland Mounted Rifles remained. They say that truth is the first casualty of war and the true horror of this battle was not reflected by the newspapers back home at the time. Stories were headlined “our boys win new glory,” and “splendid progress made” in the days following Chunuk Bair. A letter Colonel Malone wrote to a friend was published with the announcement of his death. “I love these men of mine,” he said. “Heroes all – as brave as brave can be.” “Hardy, enduring, patient, cheerful, clever soldiers.” “New Zealand has reason to be proud of her sons.” And Turkiye has reason to be proud of its sons too. They defended this hilltop and their country and gave their lives to do so. Too many sons of New Zealand, of Turkiye and of other countries breathed their last breath on this ground and in the battles that raged below it. The circumstances in which our two nations’ bonds were forged are nightmarish, but we owe it to the fallen to learn from their sacrifice. Politicians in New Zealand walk past a painting of Chunuk Bair as we enter our debating chamber. Inside, a plaque bearing Gallipoli’s name hangs above us. And a few hundred steps away from our Parliament sits a stone from this very memorial. Reminders like these speak not just of the horrors of war that took place here, but of the need for enduring peace everywhere. Many New Zealanders come to this place to honour our fallen. We show by our presence that we have made good on our promise: One hundred and 10 years on, we do remember them. And the people of Turkiye remember their own sons and the great courage with which they defended their country. Today – and on all days – we acknowledge their sacrifice. Heroes all – as brave as brave can be
AI-driven hazard detection is coming to timber manufacturing, thanks to a new agreement worth nearly half a million dollars between WorkSafe New Zealand and a major player in the wood processing industry.
Claymark, New Zealand’s largest manufacturer and exporter of premium pine products, is putting $481,000 into a range of initiatives. It comes after a worker had two fingers amputated in a machine at Claymark’s Rotorua factory in February 2023.
WorkSafe’s investigation found the machine was unguarded and there was an ineffective system for maintenance. Training and supervision of workers also fell short.
WorkSafe has now accepted an enforceable undertaking (EU) from Claymark. An EU is a binding commitment to fund and resource comprehensive health and safety improvements. Claymark’s EU includes:
CCTV systems incorporating AI technology to indicate risks to workers’ health and safety in real time.
Offering up to 15 trials of the technology to other businesses in the wood manufacturing sector.
Microlearning and interactive displays in break rooms to upskill workers on health and safety.
Reparation to the victim.
We are sharing details of the investment to coincide with World Day for Health and Safety at Work, which this year focuses on the impacts of digitalisation and artificial intelligence on workers’ health and safety.
Workers in action at Claymark’s Vaughan Road factory in Rotorua.
“We are looking forward to seeing Claymark pioneer its AI innovation to benefit the timber processing sector more broadly. Agreements like this are all about enacting positive improvements from an adverse event,” says WorkSafe’s Head of Regulatory Services, Tracey Conlon.
“The initiatives align with WorkSafe’s priority plan for manufacturing, which is one of the most high-risk sectors for workers in Aotearoa. Unsafe machinery is a persistent problem in the sector, which businesses cannot overlook.”
EUs are a way for WorkSafe to hold businesses accountable for health and safety breaches. WorkSafe monitors progress on the agreed commitments and can seek a court order enforcing them if they are not upheld. WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses to meet their responsibilities and keep people healthy and safe.
Statement from Claymark’s executive director Paul Pedersen
At Claymark, the health, safety, and wellbeing of our people is our highest priority. An incident involving one of our team members has had a significant impact – both physically and emotionally. We acknowledge the effect this has had on the individual, their whānau, and our wider community, and we are committed to learning from this experience to ensure safer outcomes for everyone.
Through our enforceable undertaking, we see a valuable opportunity to drive meaningful, people-focused change – both within Claymark and across the wood manufacturing sector.
Our key initiatives include:
Engaging with local communities and schools in the towns where we operate to promote safe wood manufacturing practices and support safe, informed pathways into the industry.
Working alongside the Central North Island Wood Council (CNIWC) and other industry bodies to share our learnings and help build a stronger health and safety culture sector-wide.
Investing in our people through modern, online and interactive training modules, with flexible learning tailored to roles and responsibilities. We are also exploring the potential of AI to support smarter, more responsive safety systems and personalised learning experiences.
This is about more than compliance – it’s about creating a workplace where our people feel informed, supported, and safe. Claymark is committed to continuous improvement and collaboration as we work towards a safer, stronger future for our people, our industry, and our communities.
Statement from the injured worker
On 27 February 2023, my life changed forever. While performing my job, I suffered an injury that resulted in the amputation of two fingers on my right hand. Since that day, I’ve undergone three surgeries to address the damage, and while recovery has been challenging, I remain hopeful about the possibility of prosthetic fingers in the future.
Everyday tasks I once took for granted like writing, showering, even holding objects, now require patience and adaptation. Music, which has always been a passion of mine, has become a bittersweet pursuit; playing the guitar and trumpet now demands creativity and resilience as I relearn techniques with my altered hand.
Throughout this journey, my wife, children, and wider whānau have been my rock. Their unwavering emotional support and practical help have carried me through the darkest moments of my recovery. I cannot overstate how grateful I am for their love and strength.
I’m deeply appreciative of Claymark’s commitment to workplace safety improvements outlined in this agreement, many of which I’ve witnessed firsthand. At 51, retirement isn’t an option I’m ready to consider which is why I feel fortunate to continue contributing to Claymark’s team. While my path forward looks different than I once imagined, I’m determined to adapt and keep moving ahead, one day at a time.
This Anzac Day, Labour recognises veterans and the service they have given to our country.
“We back the people who have served our country, on deployment or supporting operations here at home,” Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said.
“On this day we recognise the sacrifices they have made and acknowledge there is still work to do.
“Our current system still treats veterans differently based on when they served. The law says that those who served after 1974 aren’t entitled to the same support as those who served before that date, creating a two-tiered system. Meanwhile, in Australia they have a much more consistent veterans’ support system.
“Anzac Day is a reminder that our armed forces serve together, regardless of the decade or deployment. Let’s make sure our support for them reflects that same spirit of unity.
“I know Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Chris Penk shares the same commitment, and I want to reiterate Labour’s willingness to work across the aisle to deliver better outcomes for those who have worn the uniform.
“I remain ready to support meaningful change that gives veterans the support and dignity they deserve,” Greg O’Connor said.
This Anzac Day, Greg O’Connor will attend the Dawn Service and the National Commemorative Service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. He will also attend the Atatürk Memorial Service in the afternoon.
WA leads on five of eight economic indicators as Australian state economies remain resilient in the face of higher interest rates and inflation pressures.
Western Australia has held off a fast-finishing Queensland to claim top spot as the country’s best performing economy for the second quarter in a row in the latest CommSec State of the States report.
Now in its 16th year, the State of the States report determines which state or territory economy is performing best, by tracking eight key economic indicators and comparing the latest data with decade averages (or the “normal”).
Western Australia led the national performance rankings for the second time in a decade, ranked first on five of the eight economic indicators.
In a closely fought contest, Queensland moved up from third spot, joining South Australia in second spot. Victoria remains in fourth place, with Tasmania steady in fifth place.
NSW leapfrogged the ACT into sixth from seventh place, with the nation’s capital slipping back to seventh. The Northern Territory remains in eighth spot.
“Overall, economies have slowed in response to higher interest rates and inflation, however Australian states and territories are proving resilient due to a strong job market and solid population growth. As consumers respond to higher borrowing costs and price pressures, the future path will depend on whether the job market can hold up as well as the trajectory of interest rates over the coming months,” Chief CommSec Economist Ryan Felsman said
“Western Australia’s performance across a number of indicators, namely retail spending, unemployment, population growth, housing finance and dwelling starts powered the state to the top of our economic leaderboard for the second quarter in a row. Queensland however is nipping at WA’s heels, having shot up to equal second place alongside South Australia, with solid results across the eight economic indicators and strong economic momentum. As expected, the interest-rate sensitive south-eastern states remained in a tight cluster mid-table.”
Additional state and territory highlights include:
Western Australia ranks first on retail spending, relative unemployment, relative population growth, housing finance and dwelling starts. Queensland is now equal second, up from third place, with solid results across the board. South Australia, now joint second, ranks first on economic growth. Victoria remains in fourth place – leading on construction work done – and is in fourth spot on two indicators. Tasmania is steady in fifth spot — ranking second on equipment spending — but is held back by lower rankings on other indicators. NSW moves up to sixth from seventh position and now ranks fifth on four indicators. The ACT has slipped back to seventh — in that position on four indicators. The Northern Territory remains in last place. But the “Top End” has performed better over the past 12 months, ranking first for retail spending and equipment investment when annual growth rates are considered.
Annual growth rates
The State of the States report also compares the annual growth rates of the eight major indicators, enabling comparisons in terms of more recent economic momentum. This quarter’s report showed:
Resources-focused Queensland and Western Australia both have the strongest annual economic momentum, and Queensland is now in first spot with Western Australia slipping to second. There is little to separate the states with Queensland ranked first or second on five out of the eight key economic indicators. Western Australia is top ranked on three indicators. The biggest mover is Victoria, which has jumped to third from seventh place in a sign of improvement in underlying economic activity. South Australia has ascended to fourth from sixth place. The Northern Territory has eased back to fifth from third spot. The ACT and NSW are now in joint sixth position, ahead of Tasmania in eighth spot – all held back by higher borrowing costs and slower population growth.
About the CommSec State of the States Report
The January 2025 edition of the State of the States report uses the most recent economic data available. While population growth data relates to the June quarter of 2024, other data – such as unemployment – is much timelier, covering the month of December 2024, with housing finance figures focusing on the month of September 2024.
CommSec, the digital broking arm of Australia’s largest bank, assesses the performance of each state and territory on a quarterly basis using eight key indicators. Those indicators include economic growth, retail spending, equipment investment, unemployment, construction work done, population growth, housing finance, and dwelling commencements.
Just as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) uses long-term averages to determine the level of “normal” interest rates, CommSec compares the key indicators to decade averages; that is, against “normal” performance.
CommSec also compares annual growth rates for eight key indicators for all states and territories, in addition to Australia as a whole, enabling a comparison of economic momentum.
University of South Australia scientists have developed a highly sensitive method to detect illegal opioids and a veterinary sedative in Australia’s wastewater system, providing a vital early warning tool to public health authorities.
A new study published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research, funded by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and Preventative Health SA, explains the innovative wastewater-based testing method capable of identifying trace levels of nitazenes – a class of highly potent synthetic opioids – and xylazine, an animal sedative not approved for human use.
Nitazenes are among the most dangerous opioids ever synthesised, up to 1000 times more potent than morphine. Initially developed in the 1950s but never approved for clinical use, these substances have recently emerged in the illicit drug supply worldwide. Their extreme potency poses a significant risk of overdose, often with fatal consequences.
Xylazine, commonly used in veterinary medicine, is often added to illicit opioids such as fentanyl and heroin. It complicates overdose treatment because its effects cannot be reversed with naloxone, the standard emergency antidote for opioid toxicity. Moreover, xylazine use is associated with severe health impacts including sedation, respiratory depression, hypotension, and dangerous skin ulcerations.
“This is the first time a comprehensive suite of nitazene compounds and xylazine has been monitored in Australian wastewater,” says lead researcher UniSA Associate Professor Cobus Gerber.
“Our method can detect even minute levels, allowing us to track emerging threats before they escalate,” he says.
Over a three-day period in August 2024, researchers analysed 180 wastewater samples from 60 sites around Australia. They identified five different nitazenes in 3–6% of all samples. Alarmingly, xylazine was detected in 26% of all samples.
“Given the potency of nitazenes and the health complications associated with xylazine, even low-level detections are a red flag,” says co-first author Dr Emma Keller.
The research team developed a laboratory method using solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to concentrate and identify target compounds. The method achieved up to 1000-fold enrichment, with limits of detection well below 1 ng/L for most substances.
Crucially, the method is adaptable and can be quickly updated to detect new derivatives as they emerge – an essential capability as drug manufacturers continue to tweak chemical structures to evade legislation.
“This analytical platform enhances Australia’s capacity to monitor and respond to the shifting landscape of illicit drug use,” says Assoc Prof Gerber. “It complements forensic analysis and can provide near real-time data to inform public health strategies.”
The results underscore the growing presence of harmful and often unsuspected substances in street-level drugs. In the United States, xylazine has already been detected in over 80% of fentanyl-containing paraphernalia and is implicated in an increasing number of overdose deaths.
“With similar patterns now being detected in Australia and nitazenes also infiltrating the stimulant market, there’s an urgent need to raise awareness and strengthen harm reduction responses,” Assoc Prof Gerber says.
“Comprehensive method to detect nitazene analogues and xylazine in wastewater” is authored byEmma L. Keller, Brock Peake, Bradley S. Simpson, Jason M. White and Cobus Gerber. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-025-36425-0
In the second episode of Apple TV’s The Studio (2025–) – a sharp satirical take on contemporary Hollywood – newly-appointed studio head Matt Remick (Seth Rogen) visits the set of one of his company’s film productions.
He finds the crew anxiously attempting to pull off an extremely audacious and technically demanding shot known as a “oner”, or “long take”. Chaos ensues.
But despite the difficulties associated with it, the long take has a long history and continues to be a promising creative choice in contemporary film and television.
High stakes on the set
The long take is a shot which captures a scene in a single, unbroken take.
It’s a risky endeavour. While most film and TV production is constructed through the use of coverage – different shots edited together – the long take can’t hide behind the editing process. Every minute detail needs to be perfectly planned, executed and captured.
As a result, the oner is often associated with big, ostentatious, showstopping set pieces that exemplify technical and directorial prowess. Think of the “Copacabana” sequence from Goodfellas (1990), or the opening scene of Children of Men (2006).
Yet the practice also has its detractors. Film critic A.A. Dowd’s recent article for The Ringer says that “to the unimpressed, oners often come across as an act of glorified self-glorification”.
This dichotomy is also highlighted in The Studio, when one executive complains long takes are just directors showing off. Rogen’s character counters the oner is, in fact, “the ultimate cinematic achievement”.
A theory of the long take
The long take has existed in nearly every stage of film history – from silent films to sound, from Asian films to European, and from art-house to mainstream.
The greatest advocate of the long take was arguably French film theorist André Bazin. In his piece The Evolution of Film Language, Bazin argued cinema’s greatest asset was its ability to capture reality – and the long take was central to his understanding of how film achieved that.
For Bazin, editing “did not show us the event, but alluded to it”. To illustrate his point, he examines a scene from Robert Flaherty’s controversial silent documentary Nanook of the North (1922), in which a hunter patiently waits for his prey.
The passage of time could have been suggested by editing but, as Bazin notes, Flaherty “confines himself to showing the actual waiting period”. If the act of editing creates a synthetic manipulation of space and time, then the long take does the opposite – bringing us closer to a true representation of reality. For Bazin, the length “is the very substance of the image”.
The tradition of the long take – of showing “reality” – is perhaps most upheld in the world of art-house cinema. Directors such as Chantal Akerman, Béla Tarr, Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Tsai Ming-liang have used the long take to “de-dramatise” narrative, creating a deliberately slow pace to prompt audiences to contemplate aspects of existence traditional narratives usually ignore.
Mainstream cinema also uses the long take to show “reality”, albeit in a different manner. Here, the long take has often been used as a mark of authenticity for the amazing feats of practical performers, whether this is the wild stunts or camera trickery of Buster Keaton, the balletic graces of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers or this white-knuckled fight scene from The Protector (2005), starring Thai martial artist Tony Jaa.
However, our strong association between the oner and a distinct directorial vision likely began with Citizen Kane (1941). In this film, screen reality itself is manipulated, as director Orson Welles and cinematographer Gregg Toland liberated the camera to move as if it was its own player in the drama.
In the below example, the camera starts outside, before reversing backwards through a window and two different rooms. The actors are constantly repositioning themselves around the camera for dramatic impetus, rather than for reality.
Bazin would refer to this as “shooting in depth”. Subsequent auteurs also embraced this technique, including William Wyler, Max Ophüls, Stanley Kubrick and Steven Spielberg.
Many viewed it as a chance to up the ante from Welles, something the director did himself with the remarkable opening sequence of his 1958 film Touch of Evil.
The future of the long take
There are far too many oners for me to list here, and they seem to only be increasing. It’s now common to see entire films seemingly shot in one take, such as Russian Ark (2002), Birdman (2014), 1917 (2019) and Boiling Point (2021), to name a few.
Technological advancements have made the long take more achievable. Camera stabilisers enable greater freedom of movement, while digital camera tech allows us to record for longer durations.
Furthermore, digital compositing has made it easier to fake the long take, such as in Birdman and 1917. Both of these films use multiple long takes that are strategically edited to look like a single shot. Impossible-to-see cuts may be hidden in dark moments, or through fast whip pans.
Prestige television has also lifted the oner practice, with examples from shows such as Mr. Robot (2015-19), True Detective (2014–), The Bear (2022-), Severance (2022) and, of course, The Studio.
But perhaps the most remarkable recent example comes from Netflix’s Adolescence (2025), a show in which four separate standalone episodes are all shot in a single long take.
In the age of TikTok and shortening attention spans, it should strike us as positive to see a resurgence of the long take as a creative choice in so much contemporary film and TV.
Kristian Ramsden receives funding, in the form of a research stipend, from The University of Adelaide.