Glass, spare tyres, metal sheets and poles, building materials, furniture, hay bales – these are just some of the objects causing obstruction on South Island state highways and needing to be cleared daily by contractors.
Reports of the obstructions come into New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) each day as contractors are dispatched to remove these items that can cause a hazard by blocking or interfering with traffic flows.
“Sometimes it is as simple as tree branches falling onto the highway, or road cones having been shifted; but often we are talking about heavy items that have fallen from vehicles that weren’t properly secured or became dislodged in accidents,” says NZTA system manager Mark Pinner.
“It underlines the need for vehicles such as trucks, or lighter vehicles towing trailers, to ensure that any loads are well secured. The Road Code does state that motorists must not drive an unsafe vehicle or a vehicle with an unsafe load which isn’t tied down, could fall from the vehicle, or is dragging on the ground.”
“Sometimes the reports that come in from road users about items on the road are quite vague and we don’t really know what we are dealing with until the contractors arrive onsite to deal with them.”
“The risk is not only that items or material that fall onto the roads may disrupt traffic, but it can also potentially lead to injury if there is a collision or evasive action is taken by drivers. This is why we act fast to clear the obstruction, or we may put in place closures or traffic management if needed to keep people safe while the object is cleared.”
People can report objects and obstructions 24/7 on the state highway network by calling 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49).
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners welcomes the Minister of Health’s announcement today at GP25: Conference for General Practice of significant additional funding for registrars across the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP).
This announcement will go a long way to strengthen the training and grow the next generation of the specialist GP workforce, and includes:
In 2025, training fees for doctors in their second, third, and post-third year of GPEP to encourage completion of their training.
Fellowship assessment costs for around 200 GPEP trainees to enable them to complete their training and become Fellows.
From 2026, full ongoing training and education costs for an estimated 400 GPEP year 2 and 3 trainees each year.
Currently, GP registrars only have their first year of GPEP funded with the second and third years having to be self-funded. This funding approach is different to all the other medical training programmes (in New Zealand and Australasian medical colleges) that are fully funded for their entirety.
College President Dr Samantha Murton says, “This funding will be a gamechanger for current and future trainees. This is a significant acknowledgement for the specialism of the general practice workforce and the vital role we play in healthcare being as important as those of our peers in secondary hospital settings.
“Not only will this funding offer the necessary financial support our GP registrars need throughout their training, but we are optimistic that the news will encourage medical graduates who have an interest in general practice but have been put off by the financial barriers to make the step to train as a specialist GP. To them, I say welcome and you won’t regret your decision.
The College has been a strong and vocal advocate for the current and future general practice workforce and is enthusiastic that the funding for primary care is heading in the right direction to ensure that it is sustainable.
College Chief Executive Toby Beaglehole says, “We are focused on building a sustainable workforce for the future, which starts with training and the equitability of our program costs to other specialist medical training.
The rail crossing on State Highway 1B Telephone Road, east of Hamilton, is set to reopen to traffic next week, more than 3 years after it was closed.
The signals and barriers at the crossing are in the final stages of KiwiRail’s testing and commissioning process. Pending final approval, the crossing is expected to open Wednesday afternoon, 30 July.
“This is a big milestone for the Puketaha community who have been living with the lengthy detour,” says Andrew Corkill, Director of Regional Relationships for Waikato/Bay of Plenty at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
“It’s been a long process to reopen this rail crossing and we’d like to thank the community, Waikato District Council and KiwiRail who have all worked constructively with NZTA to get us to this point.”
Since early 2025, work has been ongoing at the crossing to address the 2 main safety concerns which led to the rail crossing being closed in April 2022.
The first was the height of the rail tracks above the road on either side of the crossing, which led to low vehicles hitting and dislodging sections of the rail track; the second was the short distance from the crossing to the intersection with Holland Road.
To mitigate these, the road height has been raised by up to 410mm for a distance of 90 metres either side of the rail crossing and escape lanes have been built on Holland Road to ensure that vehicles can clear the rail crossing while the train is approaching.
Siva Sivapakkiam, KiwiRail’s Acting Chief Infrastructure Officer says; “We are pleased to see the SH1B Telephone Road rail crossing open again, and safer than before with newly installed active safety protection. This is a good outcome for the community, and we thank everyone for their patience. This has not been a straightforward project, but strong collaboration with NZTA and others has led to this good result.”
New signals and barriers have been installed at the rail crossing and additional warning signs for approaching trains have been installed on SH1B Telephone Road and at the Holland Road intersection.
Background
The rail crossing on SH1B Telephone Road was previously considered one of the most dangerous in New Zealand.
As a result of an incident in April 2022 KiwiRail and NZTA decided to immediately close the rail crossing until it could safely reopen.
Following the closure, NZTA commissioned a detailed report on the future options for the crossing from consultants WSP. The report explored a range of options from low-cost interventions such as barrier arms, limited access to light vehicles and judder bars, to more complex options that involved significant engineering work to reconfigure the rail crossing and adjacent intersection.
NZTA remained committed to investigating practical and affordable solutions to allow the SH1B Telephone Road rail crossing to reopen and continued to work with KiwiRail. This led to the new design which met KiwiRail requirements to allow the rail crossing to reopen.
Another important factor in the new design meeting safety requirements is the reduction in traffic volumes, particularly the lower number of trucks, using SH1B following the completion of the Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway.
The busy intersection of State Highway 5 and State Highway 28-Harwoods Road east of Tīrau will be made safer with work starting next month on a roundabout.
The T-intersection has a poor safety record which NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says can be improved with a 3-leg roundabout.
Work will start on 18 August with traffic expected to be flowing on the roundabout by March 2026. Schick Construction has been awarded the physical works contract and will monitor and manage traffic through the site during the construction period.
Some closures of SH28-Harwoods Road at the works site may be needed later in the build, with dates and detours to be advised when confirmed.
In the past 10 years there has been one death and 17 serious injury crashes at the SH5 Harwoods Road intersection.
“This roundabout is one of several safety improvements planned for the stretch of SH5 between Tīrau and Tārukenga Marae Road,” says Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery, Darryl Coalter.
A right-turn bay was built at Waimakariri Road earlier this year, while funding has been allocated to complete design for a roundabout at SH5/SH28-Whites Road.
NZTA is also undertaking general widening works between Whites and Harwoods roads to allow for wide centrelines. The first section between Whites and Waimakariri roads will be done this spring.
The maintenance programme this spring/early summer will see a rebuild of 400m of Whites Road from south of the SH5 intersection. The intersection itself will receive a new asphalt surface.
No changes are proposed for the road through Tūkorehe Reserve/Fitzgerald Glade.
The Government is trialling new technology which will help clamp and seize cars of people evading paying court fines, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“If you haven’t paid your court fines, you may soon find yourself walking home or needing a lift.
“Bailiffs are now trialling handheld devices which scan the number plates of parked cars, and determine whether the owners have overdue court fines or reparations.
“If they do, the car may be clamped or towed away. It’s that simple.
“This is first being trialled throughout streets nationwide, and will be present at some breath testing stations this weekend alongside police.
“We promised to find new effective ways to force people to pay their court fines. That’s exactly what we’re delivering. We know wheel clamping is already a successful enforcement tool and we want to build on that.
“Those who have suffered emotional harm or have had their property lost or damaged by an offender’s actions should not be left out of pocket.
“Victims are our priority, and their needs underpin all our work to restore law and order, which we know is working.
“There’s been a long-standing slackness when it comes to bringing in fines and I’ve given very strong instructions to the Ministry of Justice to find ways to collect them.”
Greenpeace is asking NZ First leader Winston Peters what the heck his party is doing supporting an amendment Bill which could lead to greater corporate control of Aotearoa.
NZ First has supported ACT leader David Seymour’s amendment Bill to the Overseas Investment Act, through its first reading. Submissions on the Bill closed this week.
Greenpeace spokesperson Gen Toop says: “ACT is trying to change the Overseas Investment law to make it easier for multinational corporations to buy up and exploit conservation land, lakebeds, coastal zones, wāhi tapu sites and other sensitive land across Aotearoa.”
“Shockingly, ACT is even trying to remove the mandatory requirement that the Government check whether a corporation has been involved in serious criminal activity before giving them access to New Zealand’s sensitive land and natural resources.”
The Act currently mandates that the Government apply the Benefit to New Zealand test and Investor Test before giving consent to the sale of land that is classified as “sensitive” and allows them to decline consent if either of these tests are failed.
Sensitive land is outlined in the Act and includes conservation areas, lake beds, marine and coastal zones, offshore islands, wāhi tapu and other culturally significant sites, as well as land adjoining these areas.
The Bill proposes that instead of applying a public benefit and investor test, the Government applies a narrower “national interest” test which Greenpeace says completely fails to guarantee any meaningful consideration of environmental, cultural, or public interest values.
“NZ First currently supports a Bill that would make it easier for multinational corporations to loot and destroy Aotearoa and funnel the profits to offshore shareholders leaving New Zealanders to deal with the mess – polluted rivers, drained aquifers and degraded ecosystems,” Toop says.
The Bill also scraps the requirement that water quality and sustainability be assessed before allowing overseas interests to extract, bottle and sell New Zealand’s freshwater.
“NZ First claims to put New Zealand first. But this ACT party Bill firmly puts offshore corporations first and New Zealanders last. Winston Peters should withdraw his party’s support for the Bill before it’s too late.”
On Saturday 20 September communities across Aotearoa will unite for a Women’s Day of Action for Pay Equity – taking place 132 years after New Zealand women secured the right to vote. This mobilisation responds directly to the Government’s gutting of pay equity.
“This week, alongside our affiliated unions, we handed the Government a petition with 93,924 signatures demanding they stop this attack on workers. But we’re not done. The Women’s Day of Action is another opportunity for women to show the Government that this issue is not going to go away,” said NZCTU Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges.
“These changes have hurt Māori, Pacific, migrant, and low-paid women – nurses, teachers, care and support workers and more who are the backbone of Aotearoa. We will keep fighting until pay equity is restored, and workers’ rights are respected.
“Over 180,000 workers have already had their pay equity claims scrapped. The changes make it nearly impossible to lodge new claims and allow employers to opt out entirely.
“Pay equity isn’t just the right thing to do – for many workers, it’s the difference between working one job or two, between feeding their kids or going without.
“The Women’s Day of Action is both a protest and a celebration of women’s legacy, honouring the suffrage movement while amplifying collective power. The event is family-friendly and community-led, with kai, performances, and opportunities to hold politicians accountable. Participants are encouraged to wear purple, green, and white in honour of suffragists.
“A range of actions all over the country are being planned. Whether you march in Auckland, gather in Porirua or Christchurch, raise your voice in Wellington, have a crafternoon in Invercargill or show support online – you are part of this movement.
“On September 20, we are sending a clear message: pay equity is not optional, and we will not back down,” said Ansell-Bridges.
25 July 2025 – The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) welcomes the sentencing of a man who was fined $14,475 for multiple serious breaches of aviation safety rules, including flying without a pilot licence, flying an aircraft without a certificate of airworthiness, and operating in a manner that caused unnecessary danger.
The defendant was on his own piloting the amateur-built Jodel D.11 aircraft when it took off from Feilding Aerodrome on 23 March 2024 and crash landed in a field approximately 1 kilometre south of the Marton township. The aircraft, which he had been rebuilding since it was involved in an earlier crash, was damaged beyond repair in the crash and the defendant sustained serious injuries.
The investigation found the defendant had operated the aircraft on several occasions despite not holding a pilot licence, and while the aircraft was not certified as airworthy. This undermines the safety and integrity of the aviation system, and breaches New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Rules.
“This case is a stark reminder that aviation safety rules exist for a reason — to protect people in the air and on the ground,” said CAA Deputy Chief Executive, Dean Winter.
“The ‘pilot’ made a series of reckless choices that could have had significant consequences for other people, in addition to the serious injuries he suffered.”
The Court considered the seriousness of the offending and the potential for harm when imposing the fine, noting the danger the public under the aircraft flightpath, emergency services personnel attending the crash site, and other airspace users – in addition to the pilot himself.
“Flying without proper qualifications or approvals is not just a paperwork issue — it’s a safety issue,” Winter said.
“Proper training, aircraft maintenance, licensing and certification are fundamental to ensuring safe skies. When individuals choose to ignore those responsibilities, they put lives at risk, as the defendant did in this case when he flew across State Highways, numerous farms and occupied houses.”
The CAA will continue to investigate and take action appropriate against serious breaches of aviation law where safety is compromised.
“People should have confidence that those operating aircraft in New Zealand are qualified and compliant, prioritising safety above all else,” Winter said.
Details of charges
The defendant was sentenced in the Marton District court on 16 July 2025 for the following charges:
Under Section 46 of the Civil Aviation Act 1990:
Operating aircraft without necessary aviation document (PPL-A)
Operating aircraft without necessary aviation document (COA)
Under Section 44 of the Civil Aviation Act 1990:
Operating aircraft in a manner that caused unnecessary danger.
The Government is taking further action to ensure Kiwis can see a doctor, focusing on improved funding for rural practices, faster access to primary care, and a stronger pipeline of locally trained GPs, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
Updating GP funding to better reflect patient needs
Setting a new health target for faster GP access
Backing GP training and retention
“We want all New Zealanders to be able to see a GP when they need one, regardless of where they live,” Mr Brown says.
“In rural areas especially, GP clinics with only one doctor or closed books makes it harder for patients to get timely appointments. We’re committed to changing that.
“The health system should reflect the needs of patients, wherever they live in New Zealand. That’s why we’re making changes to the way GP clinics are funded to ensure money goes where it’s needed most.”
The government’s funding method for GP clinics, known as capitation, will be updated for the first time in more than 20 years. This is proposed to take effect from 1 July 2026.
“The current model is outdated and doesn’t reflect the needs of patients. The revised formula will go beyond just age and sex, to also include multimorbidity, rurality, and socioeconomic deprivation.
“These changes will better distribute funding to where it’s needed most, so that GP clinics with a higher needs population of enrolled patients will receive more funding to care for them.”
The Government is also introducing a new national health target to drive timely access to primary care.
“People shouldn’t have to wait weeks to see a doctor. Delays can lead to poorer health outcomes, more pressure on hospitals, and growing frustration for patients. We’re focused on delivering timely, quality care that puts patients first.”
“This new target will be developed in partnership with the primary care sector and is proposed to ensure that more than 80 per cent of people can see a primary care provider within one week, taking effect from 1 July 2026. It will take effect from 1 July 2026 and aligns with the target of ensuring 80 percent of people receive faster access to primary mental health and addiction services within one week.”
The Government is also making targeted investments in general practice training to strengthen the GP workforce and support long-term retention.
“The General Practice Education Programme (GPEP), delivered by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, is the only accredited training and education pathway in New Zealand for doctors wanting to specialise as GPs. Vocational training through GPEP takes a minimum of three years to complete, but currently only the first year of training is funded.
“We are increasing funding for this programme to ensure it is valued and supported in the same way as other medical specialist training programmes.”
As part of this investment, the Government is funding:
Training fees in 2025 for doctors in their second, third, and post-third year of GPEP to encourage completion of their training
Exam and preparation costs for around 200 GPEP trainees who have completed, or nearly completed, training but not yet taken the fellowship exam
Full ongoing training and education costs for approximately 400 GPEP year 2 and 3 trainees each year
“Our goal is to make general practice a more attractive and sustainable career path, especially in rural and high-needs communities, so we can bring more doctors into the areas that need them most.
“By fully covering training and exam costs, we’ll enable hundreds of doctors to complete the pathway to becoming GPs, giving them the support they need to finish their training and enter the health workforce – building a stronger pipeline of experienced GPs who can train and mentor the next generation.
“This Government knows that primary care is the cornerstone of the health system, which is why we’re committed to making it more accessible and responsive to the unique needs of communities.
“Improving access, particularly in rural and underserved areas, will help ease pressure on hospitals and ensure New Zealanders get timely, quality care when and where they need it,” Mr Brown says.
Headline: Alchemy Bathroom Renovations Auckland Expands Services Across South and East Auckland
Alchemy Bathroom Renovations Auckland, a long-established specialist in bathroom upgrades, has announced it is now extending its services into South and East Auckland. The expansion comes as the company responds to steady enquiry growth from homeowners in suburbs such as Papakura, Takanini, Pakuranga, Howick, Botany, and Beachlands.
The PSA has just filed legal action with the Employment Relations Authority over MBIE’s disregard of existing flexible work arrangements including working from home which are protected under the PSA’s collective agreement with the Government department.
The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has recently introduced a new Flexible Work Policy to align with the Government’s directive to restrict flexible work arrangements for public service workers including reducing days working from home. This directive is also itselfsubject to legal actionby the PSA.
“Cracking down on flexible work is the wrong approach from employers in 2025,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Working from home and flexible work are generally a win-win for employers and employees, that’s why we are asking MBIE to stick with current flexible work arrangements and look for more ways to enable flexibility which we know is particularly valuable for women, people with disabilities and everyone with caring responsibilities.
“The PSA originally raised objections to MBIE’s flexible work guidance in June 2025 and then tried to resolve this dispute through mediation, but this failed. MBIE hasn’t been willing to backdown, leaving the PSA with no choice but to take this step to protect the rights of MBIE staff included in existing agreements.
“The collective agreement binds MBIE to supporting flexible work, so its new policy is simply unlawful. We are seeking a determination from the ERA that MBIE is violating the ‘flexible by default’ approach which forms part of its collective agreement with members.
“Employees at MBIE have a right to flexible work arrangements which suit their individual circumstances unless there is a good business reason not to. Now MBIE is saying working from home and other arrangements must be re-negotiated, their position is that all new arrangements are to be reviewed every six months with the aim of reducing the number of days worked from home.
“MBIE wants to meet individually with employees to tell them they need to make a new flexible work request which will be considered under the more restrictive policy,” said Fitzsimons.
“MBIE can’t just change existing agreements which are protected under the collective.
“This is a backward step, going against all international evidence and tr
Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark warned activists and campaigners in a speech on the deck of the Greenpeace environmental flagship Rainbow WarriorIII last night to be wary of global “storm clouds” and the renewed existential threat of nuclear weapons.
Speaking on her reflections on four decades after the bombing of the original Rainbow Warrior on 10 July 1985, she said that New Zealand had a lot to be proud of but the world was now in a “precarious” state.
Clark praised Greenpeace over its long struggle, challenging the global campaigners to keep up the fight for a nuclear-free Pacific.
“For New Zealand, having been proudly nuclear-free since the mid-1980s, life has got a lot more complicated for us as well, and I have done a lot of campaigning against New Zealand signing up to any aspect of the AUKUS arrangement because it seems to me that being associated with any agreement that supplies nuclear ship technology to Australia is more or less encouraging the development of nuclear threats in the South Pacific,” she said.
“While I am not suggesting that Australians are about to put nuclear weapons on them, we know that others do. This is not the Pacific that we want.
“It is not the Pacific that we fought for going back all those years.
“So we need to be very concerned about these storm clouds gathering.”
Lessons for humanity Clark was prime minister 1999-2008 and served as a minister in David Lange’s Labour government that passed New Zealand’s nuclear-free legislation in 1987 – two years after the Rainbow Warrior bombing by French secret agents.
She was also head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2009-2017.
“When you think 40 years on, humanity might have learned some lessons. But it seems we have to repeat the lessons over and over again, or we will be dragged on the path of re-engagement with those who use nuclear weapons as their ultimate defence,” Clark told the Greenpeace activists, crew and guests.
“Forty years on, we look back with a lot of pride, actually, at how New Zealand responded to the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. We stood up with the passage of the nuclear-free legislation in 1987, we stood up with a lot of things.
“All of this is under threat; the international scene now is quite precarious with respect to nuclear weapons. This is an existential threat.”
Nuclear-free Pacific reflections with Helen Clark Video: Greenpeace
In response to Tahitian researcher and advocate Ena Manuireva who spoke earlier about the legacy of a health crisis as a result of 30 years of French nuclear tests at Moruroa and Fangataufa, she recalled her own thoughts.
“It reminds us of why we were so motivated to fight for a nuclear-free Pacific because we remember the history of what happened in French Polynesia, in the Marshall Islands, in the South Australian desert, at Maralinga, to the New Zealand servicemen who were sent up in the navy ships, the Rotoiti and the Pukaki, in the late 1950s, to stand on deck while the British exploded their bombs [at Christmas Island in what is today Kiribati].
“These poor guys were still seeking compensation when I was PM with the illnesses you [Ena] described in French Polynesia.
Former NZ prime minister Helen Clark . . . “I remember one of the slogans in the 1970s and 1980s was ‘if it is so safe, test them in France’.” Image: Asia Pacific Report
Testing ground for ‘others’ “So the Pacific was a testing ground for ‘others’ far away and I remember one of the slogans in the 1970s and 1980s was ‘if it is so safe, test them in France’. Right? It wasn’t so safe.
“Mind you, they regarded French Polynesia as France.
“David Robie asked me to write the foreword to the new edition of his book, Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior, and it brought back so many memories of those times because those of you who are my age will remember that the 1980s were the peak of the Cold War.
“We had the Reagan administration [in the US] that was actively preparing for war. It was a terrifying time. It was before the demise of the Soviet Union. And nuclear testing was just part of that big picture where people were preparing for war.
“I think that the wonderful development in New Zealand was that people knew enough to know that we didn’t want to be defended by nuclear weapons because that was not mutually assured survival — it was mutually assured destruction.”
New Zealand took a stand, Clark said, but taking that stand led to the attack on the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland harbour by French state-backed terrorism where tragically Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira lost his life.
“I remember I was on my way to Nairobi for a conference for women, and I was in Zimbabwe, when the news came through about the bombing of a boat in Auckland harbour.
‘Absolutely shocking’ “It was absolutely shocking, we had never experienced such a thing. I recall when I returned to New Zealand, [Prime Minister] David Lange one morning striding down to the party caucus room and telling us before it went public that it was without question that French spies had planted the bombs and the rest was history.
“It was a very tense time. Full marks to Greenpeace for keeping up the struggle for so long — long before it was a mainstream issue Greenpeace was out there in the Pacific taking on nuclear testing.
“Different times from today, but when I wrote the foreword for David’s book I noted that storm clouds were gathering again around nuclear weapons and issues. I suppose that there is so much else going on in a tragic 24 news cycle — catastrophe day in and day out in Gaza, severe technology and lethal weapons in Ukraine killing people, wherever you look there are so many conflicts.
“The international agreements that we have relied are falling into disrepair. For example, if I were in Europe I would be extremely worried about the demise of the intermediate range missile weapons pact which has now been abandoned by the Americans and the Russians.
“And that governs the deployment of medium range missiles in Europe.
“The New Start Treaty, which was a nuclear arms control treaty between what was the Soviet Union and the US expires next year. Will it be renegotiated in the current circumstances? Who knows?”
With the Non-proliferation Treaty, there are acknowledged nuclear powers who had not signed the treaty — “and those that do make very little effort to live up to the aspiration, which is to negotiate an end to nuclear weapons”.
Developments with Iran “We have seen recently the latest developments with Iran, and for all of Iran’s many sins let us acknowledge that it is a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty,” she said.
“It did subject itself, for the most part, to the inspections regime. Israel, which bombed it, is not a party to the treaty, and doesn’t accept inspections.
“There are so many double standards that people have long complained about the Non-Proliferation Treaty where the original five nuclear powers are deemed okay to have them, somehow, whereas there are others who don’t join at all.
“And then over the Ukraine conflict we have seen worrying threats of the use of nuclear weapons.”
Clark warned that we the use of artificial intelligence it would not be long before asking it: “How do I make a nuclear weapon?”
“It’s not so difficult to make a dirty bomb. So we should be extremely worried about all these developments.”
Then Clark spoke about the “complications” facing New Zealand.
Mangareva researcher and advocate Ena Manuireva . . . “My mum died of lung cancer and the doctors said that she was a ‘passive smoker’. My mum had not smoked for the last 65 years.” Image: Asia Pacific Report
Teariki’s message to De Gaulle In his address, Ena Manuireva started off by quoting the late Tahitian parliamentarian John Teariki who had courageously appealed to General Charles De Gaulle in 1966 after France had already tested three nuclear devices:
“No government has ever had the honesty or the cynical frankness to admit that its nuclear tests might be dangerous. No government has ever hesitated to make other peoples — preferably small, defenceless ones — bear the burden.”
“May you, Mr President, take back your troops, your bombs, and your planes.
“Then, later, our leukemia and cancer patients would not be able to accuse you of being the cause of their illness.
“Then, our future generations would not be able to blame you for the birth of monsters and deformed children.
“Then, you would give the world an example worthy of France . . .
“Then, Polynesia, united, would be proud and happy to be French, and, as in the early days of Free France, we would all once again become your best and most loyal friends.”
‘Emotional moment’ Manuireva said that 10 days earlier, he had been on board Rainbow Warrior III for the ceremony to mark the bombing in 1985 that cost the life of Fernando Pereira – “and the lives of a lot of Mā’ohi people”.
“It was a very emotional moment for me. It reminded me of my mother and father as I am a descendant of those on Mangareva atoll who were contaminated by those nuclear tests.
“My mum died of lung cancer and the doctors said that she was a ‘passive smoker’. My mum had not smoked for the last 65 years.
“French nuclear testing started on 2 July 1966 with Aldebaran and lasted 30 years.”
He spoke about how the military “top brass fled the island” when winds start blowing towards Mangareva. “Food was ready but they didn’t stay”.
“By the time I was born in December 1967 in Mangareva, France had already exploded 9 atmospheric nuclear tests on Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls, about 400km from Mangareva.”
France’s most powerful explosion was Canopus with 2.6 megatonnes in August 1968. It was a thermonuclear hydrogen bomb — 150 times more powerful than Hiroshima.
Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman . . . a positive of the campaign future. Image: Asia Pacific Report
‘Poisoned gift’ Manuireva said that by France “gifting us the bomb”, Tahitians had been left “with all the ongoing consequences on the people’s health costs that the Ma’ohi Nui government is paying for”.
He described how the compensation programme was inadequate, lengthy and complicated.
Manuireva also spoke about the consequences for the environment. Both Moruroa and Fangataufa were condemned as “no go” zones and islanders had lost their lands forever.
He also noted that while France had gifted the former headquarters of the Atomic Energy Commission (CEP) as a “form of reconciliation” plans to turn it into a museum were thwarted because the building was “rife with asbestos”.
“It is a poisonous gift that will cost millions for the local government to fix.”
Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman spoke of the impact on the Greenpeace organisation of the French secret service bombing of their ship and also introduced the guest speakers and responded to their statements.
A Q and A session was also held to round off the stimulating evening.
A question during the open mike session on board the Rainbow Warrior. Image: Asia Pacific Report
Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark warned activists and campaigners in a speech on the deck of the Greenpeace environmental flagship Rainbow WarriorIII last night to be wary of global “storm clouds” and the renewed existential threat of nuclear weapons.
Speaking on her reflections on four decades after the bombing of the original Rainbow Warrior on 10 July 1985, she said that New Zealand had a lot to be proud of but the world was now in a “precarious” state.
Clark praised Greenpeace over its long struggle, challenging the global campaigners to keep up the fight for a nuclear-free Pacific.
“For New Zealand, having been proudly nuclear-free since the mid-1980s, life has got a lot more complicated for us as well, and I have done a lot of campaigning against New Zealand signing up to any aspect of the AUKUS arrangement because it seems to me that being associated with any agreement that supplies nuclear ship technology to Australia is more or less encouraging the development of nuclear threats in the South Pacific,” she said.
“While I am not suggesting that Australians are about to put nuclear weapons on them, we know that others do. This is not the Pacific that we want.
“It is not the Pacific that we fought for going back all those years.
“So we need to be very concerned about these storm clouds gathering.”
Lessons for humanity Clark was prime minister 1999-2008 and served as a minister in David Lange’s Labour government that passed New Zealand’s nuclear-free legislation in 1987 – two years after the Rainbow Warrior bombing by French secret agents.
She was also head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2009-2017.
“When you think 40 years on, humanity might have learned some lessons. But it seems we have to repeat the lessons over and over again, or we will be dragged on the path of re-engagement with those who use nuclear weapons as their ultimate defence,” Clark told the Greenpeace activists, crew and guests.
“Forty years on, we look back with a lot of pride, actually, at how New Zealand responded to the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. We stood up with the passage of the nuclear-free legislation in 1987, we stood up with a lot of things.
“All of this is under threat; the international scene now is quite precarious with respect to nuclear weapons. This is an existential threat.”
Nuclear-free Pacific reflections with Helen Clark Video: Greenpeace
In response to Tahitian researcher and advocate Ena Manuireva who spoke earlier about the legacy of a health crisis as a result of 30 years of French nuclear tests at Moruroa and Fangataufa, she recalled her own thoughts.
“It reminds us of why we were so motivated to fight for a nuclear-free Pacific because we remember the history of what happened in French Polynesia, in the Marshall Islands, in the South Australian desert, at Maralinga, to the New Zealand servicemen who were sent up in the navy ships, the Rotoiti and the Pukaki, in the late 1950s, to stand on deck while the British exploded their bombs [at Christmas Island in what is today Kiribati].
“These poor guys were still seeking compensation when I was PM with the illnesses you [Ena] described in French Polynesia.
Former NZ prime minister Helen Clark . . . “I remember one of the slogans in the 1970s and 1980s was ‘if it is so safe, test them in France’.” Image: Asia Pacific Report
Testing ground for ‘others’ “So the Pacific was a testing ground for ‘others’ far away and I remember one of the slogans in the 1970s and 1980s was ‘if it is so safe, test them in France’. Right? It wasn’t so safe.
“Mind you, they regarded French Polynesia as France.
“David Robie asked me to write the foreword to the new edition of his book, Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior, and it brought back so many memories of those times because those of you who are my age will remember that the 1980s were the peak of the Cold War.
“We had the Reagan administration [in the US] that was actively preparing for war. It was a terrifying time. It was before the demise of the Soviet Union. And nuclear testing was just part of that big picture where people were preparing for war.
“I think that the wonderful development in New Zealand was that people knew enough to know that we didn’t want to be defended by nuclear weapons because that was not mutually assured survival — it was mutually assured destruction.”
New Zealand took a stand, Clark said, but taking that stand led to the attack on the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland harbour by French state-backed terrorism where tragically Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira lost his life.
“I remember I was on my way to Nairobi for a conference for women, and I was in Zimbabwe, when the news came through about the bombing of a boat in Auckland harbour.
‘Absolutely shocking’ “It was absolutely shocking, we had never experienced such a thing. I recall when I returned to New Zealand, [Prime Minister] David Lange one morning striding down to the party caucus room and telling us before it went public that it was without question that French spies had planted the bombs and the rest was history.
“It was a very tense time. Full marks to Greenpeace for keeping up the struggle for so long — long before it was a mainstream issue Greenpeace was out there in the Pacific taking on nuclear testing.
“Different times from today, but when I wrote the foreword for David’s book I noted that storm clouds were gathering again around nuclear weapons and issues. I suppose that there is so much else going on in a tragic 24 news cycle — catastrophe day in and day out in Gaza, severe technology and lethal weapons in Ukraine killing people, wherever you look there are so many conflicts.
“The international agreements that we have relied are falling into disrepair. For example, if I were in Europe I would be extremely worried about the demise of the intermediate range missile weapons pact which has now been abandoned by the Americans and the Russians.
“And that governs the deployment of medium range missiles in Europe.
“The New Start Treaty, which was a nuclear arms control treaty between what was the Soviet Union and the US expires next year. Will it be renegotiated in the current circumstances? Who knows?”
With the Non-proliferation Treaty, there are acknowledged nuclear powers who had not signed the treaty — “and those that do make very little effort to live up to the aspiration, which is to negotiate an end to nuclear weapons”.
Developments with Iran “We have seen recently the latest developments with Iran, and for all of Iran’s many sins let us acknowledge that it is a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty,” she said.
“It did subject itself, for the most part, to the inspections regime. Israel, which bombed it, is not a party to the treaty, and doesn’t accept inspections.
“There are so many double standards that people have long complained about the Non-Proliferation Treaty where the original five nuclear powers are deemed okay to have them, somehow, whereas there are others who don’t join at all.
“And then over the Ukraine conflict we have seen worrying threats of the use of nuclear weapons.”
Clark warned that we the use of artificial intelligence it would not be long before asking it: “How do I make a nuclear weapon?”
“It’s not so difficult to make a dirty bomb. So we should be extremely worried about all these developments.”
Then Clark spoke about the “complications” facing New Zealand.
Mangareva researcher and advocate Ena Manuireva . . . “My mum died of lung cancer and the doctors said that she was a ‘passive smoker’. My mum had not smoked for the last 65 years.” Image: Asia Pacific Report
Teariki’s message to De Gaulle In his address, Ena Manuireva started off by quoting the late Tahitian parliamentarian John Teariki who had courageously appealed to General Charles De Gaulle in 1966 after France had already tested three nuclear devices:
“No government has ever had the honesty or the cynical frankness to admit that its nuclear tests might be dangerous. No government has ever hesitated to make other peoples — preferably small, defenceless ones — bear the burden.”
“May you, Mr President, take back your troops, your bombs, and your planes.
“Then, later, our leukemia and cancer patients would not be able to accuse you of being the cause of their illness.
“Then, our future generations would not be able to blame you for the birth of monsters and deformed children.
“Then, you would give the world an example worthy of France . . .
“Then, Polynesia, united, would be proud and happy to be French, and, as in the early days of Free France, we would all once again become your best and most loyal friends.”
‘Emotional moment’ Manuireva said that 10 days earlier, he had been on board Rainbow Warrior III for the ceremony to mark the bombing in 1985 that cost the life of Fernando Pereira – “and the lives of a lot of Mā’ohi people”.
“It was a very emotional moment for me. It reminded me of my mother and father as I am a descendant of those on Mangareva atoll who were contaminated by those nuclear tests.
“My mum died of lung cancer and the doctors said that she was a ‘passive smoker’. My mum had not smoked for the last 65 years.
“French nuclear testing started on 2 July 1966 with Aldebaran and lasted 30 years.”
He spoke about how the military “top brass fled the island” when winds start blowing towards Mangareva. “Food was ready but they didn’t stay”.
“By the time I was born in December 1967 in Mangareva, France had already exploded 9 atmospheric nuclear tests on Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls, about 400km from Mangareva.”
France’s most powerful explosion was Canopus with 2.6 megatonnes in August 1968. It was a thermonuclear hydrogen bomb — 150 times more powerful than Hiroshima.
Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman . . . a positive of the campaign future. Image: Asia Pacific Report
‘Poisoned gift’ Manuireva said that by France “gifting us the bomb”, Tahitians had been left “with all the ongoing consequences on the people’s health costs that the Ma’ohi Nui government is paying for”.
He described how the compensation programme was inadequate, lengthy and complicated.
Manuireva also spoke about the consequences for the environment. Both Moruroa and Fangataufa were condemned as “no go” zones and islanders had lost their lands forever.
He also noted that while France had gifted the former headquarters of the Atomic Energy Commission (CEP) as a “form of reconciliation” plans to turn it into a museum were thwarted because the building was “rife with asbestos”.
“It is a poisonous gift that will cost millions for the local government to fix.”
Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman spoke of the impact on the Greenpeace organisation of the French secret service bombing of their ship and also introduced the guest speakers and responded to their statements.
A Q and A session was also held to round off the stimulating evening.
A question during the open mike session on board the Rainbow Warrior. Image: Asia Pacific Report
More than 100 humanitarian groups are demanding action to end Israel’s siege of Gaza, warning mass starvation is spreading across the Palestinian territory.
The NGOs, including Amnesty International, Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, warn, “illnesses like acute watery diarrhea are spreading, markets are empty, waste is piling up, and adults are collapsing on the streets from hunger and dehydration.”
Their warning came as the Palestinian Ministry of Health said the number of starvation-related deaths has climbed to at least 111 people.
This is Ghada al-Fayoumi, a displaced Palestinian mother of seven in Gaza City.
GHADA AL-FAYOUMI: “[translated] My children wake up sick every day. What do I do? I get saline solution for them. What can I do?
“There’s no food, no bread, no drinks, no rice, no sugar, no cooking oil, no bulgur, nothing. There is no kind of any food available to us at all.”
AMY GOODMAN: Thousands of antiwar protesters marched on Tuesday in Tel Aviv outside Israel’s military headquarters, demanding an end to Israel’s assault and a lifting of the Gaza siege. This is Israeli peace activist Alon-Lee Green with the group Standing Together.
ALON-LEE GREEN: “We are marching now in Tel Aviv, holding bags of flour and the pictures of these children that have been starved to death by our government and our army.
“We demand to stop the starvation in Gaza. We demand to stop the annihilation of Gaza. We demand to stop the daily killing of children and innocent people in Gaza.
“This cannot go on. We are Israelis, and this does not serve us. This only serves the Messianic people that lead us.”
AMY GOODMAN: This comes as the World Health Organisation has released a video showing the Israeli military attacking WHO facilities in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah. A WHO spokesperson condemned the attack, called for the immediate release of a staff member abducted by Israeli forces.
TARIK JAŠAREVIĆ: “Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot and screened at gunpoint.
“Two WHO staff and two family members were detained.”
AMY GOODMAN: Meanwhile, health officials in Gaza say Israeli attacks over the past day killed more than 70 people, including five more people seeking food at militarised aid sites. Amid growing outrage worldwide, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday the situation in Gaza right now is a “horror show”.
UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES: “We need look no further than the horror show in Gaza, with a level of death and destruction without parallel in recent times.
“Malnourishment is soaring. Starvation is knocking on every door.”
AMY GOODMAN: For more, we’re joined by Michael Fakhri, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. He is a professor of law at University of Oregon, where he leads the Food Resiliency Project.
Israel waging ‘fastest starvation campaign’ in modern history Video: Democracy Now!
Dr Michael Fakhri, welcome back to Democracy Now! If you can respond to what’s happening right now, the images of dying infants starving to death, the numbers now at over 100, people dropping in the streets, reporters saying they can’t go on?
Agence France-Presse’s union talked about they have had reporters killed in conflict, they have had reporters disappeared, injured, but they have not had this situation before with their reporters starving to death.
DR MICHAEL FAKHRI: Amy, the word “horror” — I mean, we’re running out of words of what to say. And the reason it’s horrific is it was preventable. We saw this coming. We’ve seen this coming for 20 months.
Israel announced its starvation campaign back in October 2023. And then again, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced on March 1 that nothing was to enter Gaza. And that’s what happened for 78 days. No food, no water, no fuel, no medicine entered Gaza.
And then they built these militarised aid sites that are used to humiliate, weaken and kill the Palestinians. So, what makes this horrific is it has been preventable, it was predictable. And again, this is the fastest famine we’ve seen, the fastest starvation campaign we’ve seen in modern history.
AMY GOODMAN: So, can you talk about what needs to be done at this point and the responsibility of the occupying power? Israel is occupying Gaza right now. What it means to have to protect the population it occupies?
DR FAKHRI: The International Court of Justice outlined Israel’s duties in its decisions over the last year. So, what Israel has an obligation to do is, first, end its illegal occupation immediately. This came from the court itself.
Second, it must allow humanitarian relief to enter with no restrictions. And this hasn’t been happening. So, usually, we would turn to the Security Council to authorise peacekeepers or something similar to assist.
But predictably, again, the United States keeps vetoing anything to do with a ceasefire. When the Security Council is in a deadlock because of a veto, the General Assembly, the UN General Assembly, has the authority to call for peacekeepers to accompany humanitarian convoys to enter into Gaza and to end Israel’s starvation campaign against the Palestinian people.
AMY GOODMAN: People actually protested outside the house of UN Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday. People protested all over the world yesterday against the Palestinians being starved and bombed to death. Those in front of the UN Secretary-General’s house said they don’t dispute that he has raised this issue almost every day, but they say he can do more.
Finally, Michael Fakhri, what does the UN need to do — the US, Israel, the world?
DR FAKHRI: So, as I mentioned, first and foremost, they can authorise peacekeepers to enter to stop the starvation. But, second, they need to create consequences.
The world has a duty to prevent this starvation. The world has a duty to prevent and end this genocide. And as a result, then, what the world can do is impose sanctions.
And again, this is supported by the International Court of Justice. The world needs to impose wide-scale sanctions against the state of Israel to force it to end the starvation and genocide of civilians, of Palestinian civilians in Gaza today.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, I want to thank you so much for being with us, Michael Fakhri, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, speaking to us from Eugene, Oregon.
Today’s superb (and well overdue) policy change by Sport New Zealand regarding biological males in women’s sports simply reflects public opinion.
A recent Curia Market Research poll found that only 13% of New Zealanders thought that boys who identify as girls should be able to play in a girls team. 68% said they shouldn’t, and 19% were unsure.
What is most interesting is that a similar poll in 2018 by the same polling company found that support and opposition was locked at 39% each. Opposition has grown markedly over the last five years to the unfairness and safety concerns around boys competing against girls.
Contrary to the narrative, ‘𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞’ 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐱. The other option is to create a new mixed category.
But females deserve to play in their own league. The government had dropped the ball on this by not sending clear guidelines to sporting groups.
The national road freight association, Transporting New Zealand, is calling on all parties across the supply chain to play their part in preventing speeding, breach of work time rules and overladen trucks.
Transporting New Zealand has launched a set of resources raising awareness about the “Chain of Responsibility” provisions in the Land Transport Act, that can result in serious fines for those who influence truck drivers to breach transport rules.
Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih says that it isn’t just truck drivers with road safety responsibilities.
“If your conduct contributes to truck drivers exceeding speed limits, breaching work time rules, or operating overweight vehicles, you can be liable for a fine of up to $25,000 under the Land Transport Act.”
“This is relevant to everyone from transport company directors, cargo owners, processors, and ports. All those supply chain parties whose instructions, expectations and facilities can contribute to non-compliance.”
“While it is ultimately the responsibility of truck drivers and road freight businesses to ensure they are operating safely and compliantly, the Chain of Responsibility provisions recognise that other parties are often in a position of power when it comes to getting freight delivered.”
“Transporting New Zealand has always maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards deliberate non-compliance by transport operators, and that remains unchanged.”
Kalasih says he hopes that the Chain of Responsibility resources will encourage conversations between transporters, their clients, and transport facilities like processing plants and ports.
“Issues that really put road freight companies under pressure include last minute timing and delivery changes, unrealistic ultimatums from supply chain partners, and a lack of weighing facilities or parking facilities.”
Kalasih would like to see supply chain partners have clear chain of responsibility policies, and increased use of written contracts with appropriate protections for transporters.
“If all parties across the supply chain play their part, it puts truck drivers and road freight companies in the best position to deliver the freight task safely and efficiently.”
Chain of Responsibility Resources
Chain of Responsibility Posters can be downloadedhere.
The NZTA Chain of Responsibility Fact Sheet is availablehere.
New Zealanders will be better protected from cybercrime following legislation passing third reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“11 per cent of New Zealanders were victims of fraud and cybercrime in 2024, and the National Cyber Security Centre estimates $1.6 billion was lost to online threats.
“The emotional and financial harm caused by cybercrime is significant, and such a quickly evolving threat warrants a coordinated response.
“The Budapest Convention, also known as the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, is the only binding international treaty on cybercrime.
“It aligns member countries’ laws and makes it easier for them to cooperate on criminal investigations.
“By joining the convention, we are signalling to the other like-minded countries that we take cybercrime seriously and we are prepared to do our part to eliminate it.
“It will help our law enforcement agencies to protect New Zealanders, by providing the tools they need to detect, investigate, and prosecute criminal offending, even when it happens online.”
The Bill contains provisions to ensure our domestic laws meet the requirements of the Convention. These include;
New ‘preservation directions’ in the Search and Surveillance Act, to enable law enforcement agencies to require companies to preserve records that could be evidence of offending.
Amendments to the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act to enhance our ability to seek assistance from foreign countries for criminal investigations, and to provide assistance in return.
Minor amendments to the Crimes Act to ensure offences related to cybercrime and the use of computers are comprehensive and fully align with the Convention.
Associate Health Minister David Seymour is welcoming steps to provide medical practitioners with more tools to treat people with depression, with Medsafe publishing guidelines for experts wanting to prescribe Psilocybin.
“This is huge for people with depression who’ve tried everything else and are still suffering. If a doctor believes psilocybin can help, they should have the opportunity to do what’s best for their patient,” says Mr Seymour.
“Recent changes have put New Zealand’s settings in line with Australia, where authorised prescribers have been using psilocybin in clinical settings for some time.
“Psilocybin remains an unapproved medicine, but one highly experienced psychiatrist has already been granted authority to prescribe it to patients with treatment-resistant depression.
“This is excellent news for their patients, but there are other Kiwis in need in different parts of New Zealand who might have an appropriate practitioner nearby.
“Practitioners must meet a series of requirements to gain approval, including being registered with the Medical Council with a current practicing certificate, a good understanding and experience of the medicines and the psychotherapeutic processes involved in psychedelic-assisted therapy, and a detailed proposal of how they will administer the treatment that has been peer reviewed and will be considered by Medsafe.
“Soon more practitioners will have the ability to use this medicine, meaning more patients will benefit.”
The need to meet Government spending cut requirements means the Department of Conservation (DOC) will be cutting a net 71 support roles around the country, many in small rural towns.
DOC confirmed to staff today that it will be disestablishing 143 support roles and creating 72 new positions, meaning a net reduction of 71 roles. Of the 72 new support roles, 25 are half-time.
Removing support staff, who monitor the radios used by DOC staff working away from the office to stay safe, poses health and safety risks, PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says.
“The current support staff have sizeable health and safety responsibilities, such as monitoring staff radio systems and helping to manage emergencies like fires. The loss of these team members will mean that these important duties will fall on others – and pose a significant health and safety risk.
“DOC Rangers, contractors and volunteers rely on the radios to stay in regular contact with their offices and ensure they can get help if they run into trouble,” Fitzsimons says.
“It’s one example of how the loss of business support staff will mean administrative work will have to be done by other DOC staff.
“This will mean they have less time to focus on vital work like protecting threatened species, repairing tracks and pest control,” Fitzsimons says.
The cuts also mean the public will no longer be able to access DOC offices, apart from Visitors’ Centres, because the loss of support staff will mean there will be no one to manage reception.
“A farmer in town for errands will no longer be able to drop into the DOC office to talk with staff about matters of concern. A wealth of local knowledge and wisdom will be lost with the axing of support staff,” Fitzsimons says.
“Downgrading 25 roles to half-time is a blow to the many workers who cannot make
The PSA is condemning proposed changes to New Zealand’s electoral laws as undemocratic and the result of a systematically underfunded public service.
“We were shocked to see the Government propose several changes to electoral laws, especially the end to same-day voter enrolment,” Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi national secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, says.
“They say that the system – in other words, the Electoral Commission – can’t handle the strain of same-day enrolment in the years to come.
“Why has the Government chosen to build obstacles around people’s basic right to vote, instead of funding the Electoral Commission properly?”
Like many other public service agencies, the Electoral Commission has been forced to tighten its budget by the National-led Government and restructured its staff last year.
“At the time, we criticised that restructure process as rushed – and it eventually resulted in several highly skilled staff leaving the organisation.
“New Zealanders are rightfully proud of our democracy. But we also know that to maintain our democracy, we need to care for it and invest into it.
“New Zealanders want the public service to be given the tools – including the funding – to make sure voting is as easy as possible for everyone.
“100,000 people used the same-day enrolment process at the 2023 election. This is not a nice-to-have – this is a basic function of our democracy.”
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahiis Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell today announced the retirement of statutory Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tania Kura.
Ms Kura has served in the statutory Deputy Police Commissioner role since her appointment on 18 April 2023.
Deputy Commissioner Kura notified the Governor-General yesterday of her intention to retire from the role and the New Zealand Police in November this year.
Ms Kura has served in the police for 37 years, graduating from the Royal New Zealand Police College in 1988. She started her career as a constable in Christchurch before working her way through the ranks to be Area Commander Hawkes Bay in 2012 and District Commander Eastern from 2017. She moved to Wellington in 2020 to be based at Police National Headquarters, taking up the role of Deputy Commissioner Leadership and Capability.
“I wish to acknowledge Deputy Commissioner Kura for her service, and I wish her and her family the best for the future,” Mr Mitchell says.
Statutory Deputy Commissioners of Police are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Public Service Commission has started a recruitment process for both Deputy Commissioner positions
Greenpeace Aotearoa has tested a sample collected from the Gore town supply, which returned a result above 5 mg/L nitrate (NO3-N), a level associated with an increased risk of preterm birth.
Above this level of nitrate, the New Zealand College of Midwives recomm
Vocational Education Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced the appointment of Yvonne Browning MNZM to a vacant position on the Board of the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).
“I am pleased to confirm the appointment of Mrs Browning to this role. She is passionate about ensuring students, particularly young women, can realise their potential by engaging in tertiary education and training,” Ms Simmonds says.
“Mrs Browning has been Principal of Southland Girls’ High School since 2003 and in 2023 was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to education and youth.
“Key to this honour was her role leading a partnership with Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter and other organisations in Southland, including iwi and the Pacific community, that resulted in more young women pursuing qualifications and careers in engineering.”
“The TEC has a statutory role to facilitate and strengthen connections between schools, employers and tertiary education organisations to ensure students are prepared for further education or training and employment. Mrs Browning’s expertise in this area will be valuable to its Board,” Ms Simmonds says.
“Her experience and skills will complement and strengthen the governance of the Board and ensure that the TEC’s funding of tertiary education and training providers is informed by views of what works for young people when they are considering potential career options.
“This is critical as the TEC has a key role in ensuring young New Zealanders have the information and skills they need to succeed and help New Zealand grow.”
The appointment is for a three-year term from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2028.
“Right now, our decision-making framework—the Factors for Consideration—looks at how a medicine affects the person who needs it, their whānau, and the health system,” says Dr David Hughes, Pharmac’s Director of Advice and Assessment
Like countries such as Australia, Canada, and the UK, our economic evaluations focus on the health system perspective. That means we look at how well a medicine works and what it will cost the health system in New Zealand.
But there are other ways to look at the value of funding a medicine – for example, through a societal lens.
“Medicines can have an impact on New Zealanders well beyond the hospital room. They can help people stay in work, reduce the need for unpaid care, and ease financial pressure on families,” says Dr Hughes.
To begin exploring this idea, Pharmac partnered with researchers at Erasmus University in the Netherlands last year and is now working with the Institute for Medical Technology Assessment (iMTA) at Erasmus University – world leaders of the ‘societal perspective.’
Their pilot study showed that using a societal perspective can change how New Zealand values medicines. Greater value was identified for treatments for chronic conditions affecting working-age people, for example, when broader impacts were considered.
Pharmac is now commissioning two more assessments from iMTA. The Erasmus team will also train Pharmac staff to apply this approach in future assessments.
Pharmac has also been talking with the Canadian Drug Agency (CDA) to share perspectives on measuring societal impacts. At the same time, the CDA has been piloting its own assessment of an expanded societal perspective.
“We’re building our capability to see what it would look like if our assessments reflect the value of medicines not just to the health system, but to the whole of society,” says Dr Hughes.
“We originally estimated that the uplift would allow us to fund around 54 medicines – 26 for cancer and 28 for other conditions – benefiting about 175,000 New Zealanders,” says Geraldine MacGibbon, Director Pharmaceuticals.
Pharmac has used the increase to fund 66 medicines – 33 for cancer conditions and 33 for non-cancer conditions. In the first year of funding, nearly 250,000 New Zealanders will benefit from these medicines.
“These medicines are making a real difference in people’s lives,” says MacGibbon.
“They’re helping New Zealanders manage a wide range of health conditions – from cancer and heart failure to osteoporosis and schizophrenia.”
For example, about 580 people are expected to benefit from aripiprazole depot injection, used to treat schizophrenia. This medicine works by correcting chemical imbalances in the brain and can reduce the risk of schizophrenia symptoms coming back.
Having access to the medicine denosumab will help 1,900 people with osteoporosis to live healthier lives.
“We heard from people living with osteoporosis that this medicine helps reduce the risk of fractures and supports them to stay active in their communities,” MacGibbon says.
Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) was one of the first medicines funded through the budget increase. It’s now available for people with several types of cancer, including triple-negative breast cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma.
“Access to these medicines will slow down the progression of these cancers and improve survival, so that people have more valuable time with their whānau and friends,” MacGibbon says.
For 18,000 New Zealanders living with chronic heart failure, access to the heart medicine empagliflozin can reduce the risk of needing to be hospitalised, protect their heart, and reduce the risk of kidney failure.
People with severe eczema also now have access to upadacitinib to help manage their condition. Upadacitinib is a medicine that supresses immune and inflammatory processes in eczema and provides a treatment option for those with severe disease.
“These are just a few of the life-changing treatments that we’ve been able to fund using the budget increase,” says MacGibbon.
Looking ahead, while there was no additional increase to the medicines budget in 2025, Pharmac will continue to fund new medicines through its usual funding and savings activities. These tools allow Pharmac to keep funding and widening access to medicines that make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders.
These organisations represent people and communities with lived experience of health conditions. They help to make sure that these voices are heard and considered in Pharmac’s decision-making.
“We want to make sure these groups can hear directly from our senior leadership about the progress we are making on key initiatives, and that they have the opportunity to ask us questions and give us feedback,” says Pharmac’s Director Equity and Engagement, Dr Nicola Ngawati.
“It’s really important that the voices of the people these groups represent are heard when we make decisions,” she says.
“We know many of these advocates are busy, so we appreciate them taking the time to meet with us each month. We’ve been encouraged by the feedback we’ve received so far, but we’ll continue to adapt so that these meetings are helpful and relevant for people who attend.”
“The recent external reviews have highlighted the need for Pharmac to continue evolving into a more outward-focused and transparent organisation,” says Pharmac’s Director Strategy, Policy & Performance Michael Johnson.
A five-year change programme commenced on 1 July. It will occur in two phases, starting with an initial 12-month reset.
“While some changes can be made quickly, other changes will take longer to make. In the first 12 months, we want to focus on making improvements that benefit consumers, and lay strong foundations for the future change work”, he says.
A working group, made up of patient advocates and consumer representatives, is being established to support the development and delivery of the reset programme. This supports recommendations from the Consumer Engagement Workshop Report released in March 2025.
“This group will provide insight, lived experience, and practical advice to ensure that the reset programme is designed in a way that reflects the needs, values, and perspectives of consumers,” says Johnson.
Patient advocate Dr Malcolm Mulholland has been elected by the consumer and patient community as the Chair of this group.
Dr Mulholland said, “We’ve waited a long time for this opportunity. The work that Pharmac does is vitally important for the health of patients and their families, and this is why getting Pharmac to work as well as it can, will be the focus of the working group.”
The Medical Technology Association of New Zealand (MTANZ) is the leading industry body representing medical technology manufacturers, importers and distributors of medical devices in New Zealand. HealthTech Week is New Zealand’s national conference for health technology industry and research.
“It was fantastic to have such a strong presence at HealthTech week this year,” says Pharmac’s Director Medical Devices, Catherine Epps.
Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Health – Pharmac, David Seymour, gave the opening address, followed shortly afterwards by Pharmac’s Board Chair Paula Bennett, who spoke about her work as Board chair of Pharmac and vision for the organisation
Catherine Epps then provided an update on the progress of Pharmac’s medical devices programme.
“It was great to be able to share the significant progress that we’ve made on the comprehensive list of medical devices,” she says.
New Zealand’s first ever nationwide list of medical devices, effective from 1 July, will support better patient care and long-term investments in medical devices.
This list represents medical devices that are used in hospitals or provided to people to use at home.
“Having a comprehensive list of what is used will support the health system to make more strategic, long-term investments in medical devices,” Epps says.
HealthTech week provided a great opportunity for Pharmac staff to meet with suppliers, hear their questions, and share more about our work.
“It’s essential that Pharmac’s medical devices programme is informed by those who work with medical devices every day – whether that’s clinicians, suppliers, consumers, advocates, or other industry partners,” says Epps.
“We couldn’t have success in this programme without working together with many others,” she says.
24 July 2025 – Global tariffs and economic uncertainty are likely to mean less inflation pressures in New Zealand and a pullback in business investment and household spending, RBNZ Chief Economist Paul Conway says.
However, the economy is currently supported by high export prices and lower interest rates, he says.
In a speech delivered to Business New Zealand in Wellington today, Mr Conway says that as a small, open economy, we are heavily influenced by global developments.
“Being tied in with the global economy helps us prosper. It also means that when something big happens offshore, such as the imposition of tariffs, its ripple effects impact the New Zealand economy,” he says.
The US has made a decisive shift towards a more trade protectionist stance, which is a major change in the global trading environment with significant implications for the global economy, Mr Conway says.
Tariffs may make global supply chains less efficient and could nudge up the cost of imports. This is why tariffs are expected to add to inflation pressures in the US.
But for New Zealand, the main impact is likely to be weaker global growth, which could reduce demand for our exports and lower import prices. Import prices could fall further as other countries redirect their exports away from the US. This is expected to reduce inflation pressures here.
At the same time, uncertainty is elevated, making it harder for households and businesses to plan.
“When businesses aren’t sure what’s coming, they hold off hiring and delay big investments. Households tend to respond to increased uncertainty by putting off big sp
Better, and more, training to help staff support in family and sexual violence responses are being rolled out across frontline services, with the goal of reaching 10,000 workers in the next two years.
Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour says, “this will ensure victim-survivors receive best practice support, and will empower staff to safely recognise, refer, and respond to family and sexual violence.”
“This training is an important part of our response to family and sexual violence. I am proud of our progress against the second Te Aorerekura Action Plan, it shows the benefits of a multi-agency response and the dedication of government departments to best supporting victim-survivors.”
Other progress against the Action Plan includes:
The Ministry of Justice has delivered training to over 800 members of its court-related workforce. Ongoing training is expected to reach up to 500 people per year.
The Department of Corrections has given essential-level family violence training to more than 4,700 of its staff.
In 2024, Police redesigned the course for new recruits to include two weeks’ family violence training. Over 550 Police recruits received training in that first year, and over 850 recruits are expected to receive training by the end of 2025.
“The Action Plan sets out a number of key actions to be achieved, including training 10,000 frontline workers in family violence and sexual violence over two years.
“These goals are bold. Achieving them will require strong cross-agency collaboration and re-enforced commitment to this focus area as a priority.
“This boldness is needed to improve the support provided to victim-survivors and will empower these frontline workers to undertake their roles with the greatest care,” says Mrs Chhour.