The Government is investing $24 million in smart, practical science that will help New Zealanders live healthier lives and support the development of sustainable food industries.
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti today announced two major research programmes in partnership with Singapore, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) tools for healthy ageing and biotechnology for future food production.
“Science and innovation are critical to building a high-growth, high-value economy. That’s why we’re investing in research with a clear line of sight to commercial outcomes and real public benefit,” Dr Reti says.
“This Government is focused on backing the technologies that will deliver real-world results for New Zealanders – not just in the lab, but in our hospitals, homes, and businesses.
“Whether it’s supporting older Kiwis to live well for longer or developing smarter food production systems, these projects are about practical applications of advanced science to solve problems and grow our economy.”
Funded through the Catalyst Fund, designed to facilitate international collaboration, the investment will support seven joint research projects over the next three years, deepening New Zealand’s research ties with Singapore and building capability in AI and biotechnology.
The AI programme, delivered alongside AI Singapore, directly supports the Government’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy – a plan to use AI to safely and effectively boost productivity and deliver better public services.
“Our AI Strategy is about encouraging the uptake of AI to improve productivity and realise its potential to deliver faster, smarter, and more personalised services, including in healthcare,” says Dr Reti.
“These projects will help develop tools that support clinicians and improve care for our ageing population. Our collaboration with Singapore, a country well advanced in their use and development of AI, will help grow Kiwi capability to explore future practical uses of AI.”
The biotechnology programme will focus on turning scientific research into scalable food solutions, including alternative proteins and new food ingredients, in partnership with Singapore’s A*STAR.
“These partnerships are about future-proofing our economy and our communities — tackling global challenges with New Zealand science at the forefront,” Dr Reti says.
Notes to the Editor:
The Leveraging AI for Health Ageing programme will partner with AI Singapore (AISG) and will fund three projects which apply AI to improve health outcomes for older adults, particularly in cognitive health and personalised care:
AI-Assisted interRAI Assessment– University of Otago will enhance aged care assessments by integrating AI to improve efficiency and personalisation.
AI-Driven Risk Score for Dementia– University of Auckland will build an AI tool to help clinicians identify individuals at high risk of progressing to dementia.
AI-Augmented Cognitive Health Monitoring– Victoria University of Wellington will develop a remote monitoring platform using speech analysis, cognitive games, and caregiver input.
The Biotech in Future Food Research Programme will partner with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and fund four groundbreaking projects:
Algae-Based Future Foods– Cawthron Institute will develop processing methods for two algae species suited to commercial development in both countries.
Hybrid Meat Production– University of Canterbury will design a novel, scalable approach to producing affordable hybrid meat.
Bio-Fermented Functional Foods– University of Auckland will create next-generation food ingredients from bacterial cellulose and mushroom mycelium.
Black Soldier Fly Bioproducts– Scion will explore the use of insect larvae to develop bioactive compounds and protein sources for human and animal nutrition.
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The Government is overhauling outdated and unsustainable electoral laws including stopping same-day enrolment, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“Allowing late enrolments, however well intentioned, has placed too much strain on the system. The final vote count used to take two weeks, last election it took three.
“If we leave things as they are, it could well take even longer in future elections. The 20-day timeframe for a final result will likely already be challenging to achieve at the next election without changes.
“Therefore, the Government has agreed to close enrolment before advance voting begins. People will need to make sure they enrol or update their enrolment details by midnight on the Sunday, before advance voting opens on Monday morning.
“This is a significant, but necessary change. The Electoral Commission will have plenty of time to run an education campaign to ensure people understand the new requirements. For Australia’s federal election earlier this year, the enrolment deadline was 26 days before election day. I have every confidence New Zealand can manage within the 13-day deadline.
“We’ve also agreed to a range of other changes, including creating a new offence to strengthen the rules around treating near voting places. There has been some confusion in the past around what is and isn’t treating. This will make the rules crystal clear.
“The donation threshold for reporting the names of party donors is also being adjusted from $5,000 to $6,000, to account for inflation.”
Key changes include:
Closing enrolment 13 days before election day to reduce pressure on post-election timeframes.
Requiring 12 days of advance voting at each election.
Introducing automatic enrolment updates so the Electoral Commission can update people’s enrolment details using data from other government agencies.
Enabling greater use of digital communication by removing postal requirements for enrolment.
Creating a new offence that prohibits the provision of free food, drink or entertainment within 100 metres of a voting place while voting is taking place. It will be punishable by a fine of up to $10,000.
Reinstating a total ban on prisoner voting.
The Bill makes a wide range of other changes including:
Enabling special vote processing to begin earlier.
Increasing the Electoral Commission’s board from three to up to seven members.
Setting a single deadline for all candidate nominations.
Changing party registration requirements and timeframes.
Providing flexibility on the contact details that can be included in promoter statements.
The Government is progressing a separate bill to amend the Constitution Act 1986 to ensure the continuity of executive government in the post-election period.
The Government is ensuring more parents have choice with their child’s education, delivering a $30 million investment package to deliver roll growth classrooms across the state-integrated school network.
“State-integrated schools are an important part of our education system. It’s clear they are experiencing similar growth pressures to the state network and need support to meet this demand. We are making sure they have the resources to support and grow alongside their communities,” Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
The $30 million investment will be phased equally over the next four years and is expected to deliver up to 1,250 new student places for students whose families choose state-integrated schooling. It is more than five times the value of the previous government’s investment
The classrooms will be delivered through a combination of cost-effective repeatable designs and offsite manufactured buildings, so funding can go further, and more students benefit. Schools will be able to apply in the coming weeks.
“This Government is committed to providing parents with choice and high-quality schooling options for their children’s education. With this funding, integrated schools will be able to expand, giving students and teachers the spaces they need to thrive,” Ms Stanford said.”
Tāwhaki Joint Venture’s crucial role in the Government’s drive to grow our space and advanced aviation sectors has received a $5.85 million boost, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today.
“These are rapidly growing sectors, with space alone growing 53 percent in the five years to 2024, contributing $2.47 billion to the economy in 2023-24,” Ms Collins says.
“The Government sees space and advanced aviation as having huge economic potential, and that’s why we’re working towards delivering a world-class regulatory environment for advanced aviation by the end of this year, as signalled less than a year ago.
“The first step towards this was Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre being allocated permanent Special Use Airspace – essentially a test flight area that gives advanced aviation companies the freedom to safely trial next-generation technologies.
“Already companies such as Kea Aerospace, Syos and Dawn Aerospace are using Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre for test flights,” Ms Collins says.
“The Crown’s $5.85 million in operational funding over the next three years will support the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to grow its role as a national aerospace centre and innovation hub.
“This funding will help it scale up aerospace operations, attract new customers, and strengthen New Zealand’s position in the global advanced aviation sector.”
Tāwhaki was established in 2021 by the Crown and two Rūnanga, Te Taumutu and Wairewa, and has established key infrastructure at Canterbury’s Kaitorete Spit, including a sealed runway and hangar.
“The operational funding takes the Crown investment in Tāwhaki to more than $35 million, with this latest phase aimed at ensuring the venture continues to grow, attract commercial operators and deliver long-term value for the region and the country.”
A new digital model of care is transforming how heart failure is managed in Hawke’s Bay, delivering faster treatment, fewer hospital visits, and better outcomes for patients, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“This Government is focused on practical, patient-centred improvements to healthcare,” Mr Brown says.
“Instead of long waits, repeated hospital visits, and lengthy travel for more remote patients, people are now receiving tailored, home-based care that’s faster, safer, and more effective.”
The remote patient monitoring pathway supports people with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction – a condition where the heart does not pump blood as it should. A key part of treatment is titration – the process of slowly adjusting medication doses to the safest and most effective level, based on how a patient responds.
“Traditionally, this requires frequent in-person appointments and can take many months. This new approach means patients can be safely monitored and have their medications adjusted from home.”
The service uses hospital-supplied smart kits, including a tablet, scales, blood pressure cuff, and pulse oximeter, so patients can check their vital signs daily and connect with clinicians via regular video consults.
“This is about delivering more care, closer to home. Instead of travelling in for every check-up or medication change, patients can be supported where they’re most comfortable, while more frequent monitoring is enabling health professionals to step in more quickly if anything changes.”
Results show clear improvements:
Hospital readmissions within 30 days have dropped to zero, from a previous rate of 25 per cent Appointment attendance has improved, with no missed appointments compared to a previous 15.3 per cent no-show rate Medication titration now takes 6 – 8 weeks, a substantial reduction from the previous 6 – 8 months Increased capacity for clinical teams, enabling more patients to receive timely care
“Under the old pathway, it could take up to nine months for patients to reach the right combination of medications. The new pathway is accelerating access to care, reducing hospitalisations, and making it possible for more patients to be seen and receive the care they need.
“This is a smart, patient-focused solution that’s delivering real results for patients with heart failure in Hawke’s Bay,” Mr Brown says.
Data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) shows that the national median rent in the three months to May edged down by -0.3% from last year, not a big fall but still the first since late 2009.
After significant increases over 2021-23, rental growth has generally petered out in recent months, or turned negative in some key centres.
There has been a rare shift in markets such as Auckland where the median weekly rent has dropped -2.0% over the past year to $650. Wellington City has also seen a decline of -0.8%, down to $602. Tauranga and Christchurch are other main centres with soft rents at present.
Median weekly rents in three months to May, % change from a year ago
Sources: MBIE, Cotality (formerly CoreLogic)
Cotality Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said this shift is being driven by a range of interrelated factors.
“There was a sharp rise in rents post-COVID as borders reopened and net migration spiked. Many new migrants tend to rent, especially given the foreign buyer ban, and that demand placed pressure on key centres such as Auckland.”
“At the same time, rental supply was tighter. Investor activity had dipped due to rising mortgage rates and tax rule changes, which arguably meant fewer rental properties were added to the available pool than otherwise might have been the case.”
Mr Davidson noted that these dynamics pushed rents up to high levels, both in dollar terms and relative to household incomes, placing strain on tenant affordability.
“This affordability ceiling is now acting as a natural brake on further rent increases.”
“And while it’s still expensive to be a tenant, the balance of power has shifted slightly. It’s not suddenly easy to rent, but it is nevertheless a friendlier market for tenants than it has been in recent years,” he said.
Recent falls in net migration have reduced marginal rental demand growth, while the supply of available listings rises.
“Supply has risen as investors are starting to return to the market, and at the same time we’re seeing the completion of many new-build properties.
“Overall, this has contributed to a softening in the rental market, with conditions gradually shifting in favour of tenants,” Mr Davidson concluded. Highlights from the July 2025 Housing Chart Pack include:
New Zealand’s residential real estate market is worth a combined $1.65 trillion. The Cotality Home Value Index shows property values across New Zealand ticked up by +0.2% in June. Over the three months to June, however, there was a -0.1% dip in median property values across NZ.
The total sales count over the 12 months to June is 85,951.
Total listings on the market were 27,006 in June. The total number of properties listed on the market remains elevated, although the seasonal fall for new listings flows means that agreed sales have just started to eat into stock levels.
The pace of rental growth remains subdued, with net migration having fallen a long way from its peak, and the stock of available rental listings on the market still elevated.
Buyer Classification data shows first home buyers made up 26% of purchases from April to June, while smaller investors (‘Mums and Dads’) are having a comeback, targeting cheaper, existing dwellings.
Gross rental yields now stand at 3.8%, which is the highest level since mid-16. Inflation is back in the 1–3% target range. The Reserve Bank looks set to cut the official cash rate again to 3.0%, potentially as soon as August.
The Chart of the Month for July highlights MBIE data showing the annual % change in median weekly rents over the three months to May. After years of sharp increases, rents are now softening in some main centres, with Auckland down -2.0% to $650, alongside modest declines in Wellington City (-0.8%) and Tauranga (-0.2%).
Covering period of Thursday 24th – Monday 28th July – Calm conditions set to turn wet, windy and warm:
Cold, settled weather holds through Saturday for most
Rain and wind move in from the south late Saturday
More widespread wet weather expected early next week, with possible heavy falls for the north of both islands.
Aotearoa New Zealand has enjoyed a run of calm, frosty mornings and crisp, clear days under a broad ridge of high pressure. Places like Dunedin Airport, Timaru, and Wanaka dipped to their lowest temperatures of the year this morning (Thursday), at -6.7°C, -4.7°C and -5.1°C respectively. While Aucklanders have seen consistent low morning temperatures, dropping below 4°C every day so far this week.
However, this spell of settled weather is coming to a close, as conditions gradually turn over the weekend with warmer temperatures, rain and wind firmly returning to the forecast from early next week. After what has been a notably cold and settled week of July, the shift to a more active pattern may feel like a dramatic change for many.
MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden says, “We can enjoy the clear days for a little bit longer. But that ridge is on the move, and we’ll start to feel the effects as early as Saturday in the south.” He adds, “Our focus is on the next system which will bring rain and wind back into the picture for many areas by late Sunday and into Monday, with more severe weather possible on Tuesday.”
The first signs of change eventuate in Fiordland late Friday, with cloud and showers spreading northward. By Sunday, areas like Northland and the West Coast can expect scattered showers, while eastern regions such as Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay stay dry a little longer.
Next week looks more unsettled overall, with warmer temperatures brought in by strengthening northerly winds. Showers spread further east on Monday, and by Tuesday, there is the risk of heavier rain developing for the north of the North Island, the Tasman District and the West Coast, areas that have already seen plenty of severe weather this winter.
“Warnings and Watches for Heavy Rain and for Strong Winds may be issued in the coming days. Keep up with the latest information at metservice.com, especially as we head into a more active and changeable weather week,” advises Lynden.
A Federated Farmers survey has revealed how the country’s biggest rural lenders are performing in the eyes of farmers – ranking the banks from best to worst.
“A farmer’s relationship with their bank is one of the most important relationships within their business, and for many farmers interest payments will be their single-biggest expense,” says Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Mark Hooper.
“Farmers, along with politicians and the general public, deserve full transparency of what each of the rural lenders is doing well – and just as importantly, what they’re not doing so well.
“That’s why, for the first time, we’ve asked farmers to tell us how the banks are stacking up.
“We’re now releasing these report cards because we want to create more visibility of rural banking issues and competition.”
Federated Farmers’ May banking survey of 681 farmers found Rabobank and ANZ were the top-performing rural banks, sharing first-place on the podium.
Rabobank received the highest scores for overall satisfaction, communication quality and overdraft rate.
ANZ scored the best farmer ratings for mortgage rates, the level of undue pressure felt by farmers, and mental health scores.
Westpac came in at the middle of the pack, scoring well with their mortgage rates and communication.
BNZ and ASB were nearly tied in last place, showing they’ve got some work to do with farmers.
Hooper says the banks’ CEOs should keep an eye out for a report card coming their way.
“The purpose of these report cards isn’t to tear down the banks – it’s to really help them see what they need to focus on to deliver a better service to Kiwi farmers.
“Over the coming weeks we’ll be providing each of the banks with a copy of their report card, and some constructive feedback on how they could improve.
“We hope this is a helpful process and results in a benefit to both farmers and their lenders.”
The United Nations’ highest court has found that countries can be held legally responsible for their greenhouse gas emissions, in a ruling highly anticipated by Pacific countries long frustrated with the pace of global action to address climate change.
In a landmark opinion delivered yesterday in The Hague, the president of the International Court of Justice, Yuji Iwasawa, said climate change was an “urgent and existential threat” that was “unequivocally” caused by human activity with consequences and effects that crossed borders.
They were frustrated at what they saw was a lack of action to address the climate crisis, and saw current mechanisms to address it as woefully inadequate.
Their idea was backed by the government of Vanuatu, which convinced the UN General Assembly to seek the court’s advisory opinion on what countries’ obligations are under international law.
The court’s 15 judges were asked to provide an opinion on two questions: What are countries obliged to do under existing international law to protect the climate and environment, and, second, what are the legal consequences for governments when their acts — or lack of action — have significantly harmed the climate and environment?
The International Court of Justice in The Hague yesterday . . . landmark non-binding rulings on the climate crisis. Image: X/@CIJ_ICJ
Overnight, reading a summary that took nearly two hours to deliver, Iwasawa said states had clear obligations under international law, and that countries — and, by extension, individuals and companies within those countries — were required to curb emissions.
Iwasawa said the environment and human rights obligations set out in international law did indeed apply to climate change.
‘Precondition for human rights’ “The protection of the environment is a precondition for the enjoyment of human rights,” he said, adding that sea-level rise, desertification, drought and natural disasters “may significantly impair certain human rights, including the right to life”.
To reach its conclusion, judges waded through tens of thousands of pages of written submissions and heard two weeks of oral arguments in what the court said was the ICJ’s largest-ever case, with more than 100 countries and international organisations providing testimony.
They also examined the entire corpus of international law — including human rights conventions, the law of the sea, the Paris climate agreement and many others — to determine whether countries have a human rights obligation to address climate change.
The president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Yuji Iwasawa, delivering the landmark rulings on climate change. Image: X/@CIJ_ICJ
Major powers and emitters, like the United States and China, had argued in their testimonies that existing UN agreements, such as the Paris climate accord, were sufficient to address climate change.
But the court found that states’ obligations extended beyond climate treaties, instead to many other areas of international law, such as human rights law, environmental law, and laws around restricting cross-border harm.
Significantly for many Pacific countries, the court also provided an opinion on what would happen if sea levels rose to such a level that some states were lost altogether.
“Once a state is established, the disappearance of one of its constituent elements would not necessarily entail the loss of its statehood.”
Significant legal weight The ICJ’s opinion is legally non-binding. But even so, advocates say it carries significant legal and political weight that cannot be ignored, potentially opening the floodgates for climate litigation and claims for compensation or reparations for climate-related loss and damage.
Individuals and groups could bring lawsuits against their own countries for failing to comply with the court’s opinion, and states could also return to the International Court of Justice to hold each other to account.
The opinion would also be a powerful precedent for legislators and judges to call on as they tackle questions related to the climate crisis, and give small countries greater weight in negotiations over future COP agreements and other climate mechanisms.
Outside the court, several dozen climate activists, from both the Netherlands and abroad, had gathered on a square as cyclists and trams rumbled by on the summer afternoon. Among them was Siaosi Vaikune, a Tongan who was among those original students to hatch the idea for the challenge.
“Everyone has been waiting for this moment,” he said. “It’s been six years of campaigning.
“Frontline communities have demanded justice again and again,” Vaikune said. “And this is another step towards that justice.”
Vanuatu’s Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu (cenbtre) speaks to the media after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings on climate change in The Hague yesterday. Image: X/CIJ_ICJ
‘It gives hope’ Vanuatu’s Climate Minister Ralph Regenvanu said the ruling was better than he expected and he was emotional about the result.
“The most pleasing aspect is [the ruling] was so strong in the current context where climate action and policy seems to be going backwards,” Regenvanu told RNZ Pacific.
“It gives such hope to the youth, because they were the ones who pushed this.
“I think it will regenerate an entire new generation of youth activists to push their governments for a better future for themselves.”
Regenvanu said the result showed the power of multilateralism.
“There was a point in time where everyone could compromise to agree to have this case heard here, and then here again, we see the court with the judges from all different countries of the world all unanimously agreeing on such a strong opinion, it gives you hope for multilateralism.”
He said the Pacific now has more leverage in climate negotiations.
“Communities on the ground, who are suffering from sea level rise, losing territory and so on, they know what they want, and we have to provide that,” Regenvanu said.
“Now we know that we can rely on international cooperation because of the obligations that have been declared here to assist them.”
The director of climate change at the Pacific Community (SPC), Coral Pasisi, also said the decision was a strong outcome for Pacific Island nations.
“The acknowledgement that the science is very clear, there is a direct clause between greenhouse gas emissions, global warming and the harm that is causing, particularly the most vulnerable countries.”
She said the health of the environment is closely linked to the health of people, which was acknowledged by the court.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Corbies Creek, Canterbury, showing the exclusion barrier (left) and a DOC team removing weeds to improve longjaw habitat. Photo: Sjaan Bowie/DOC.
About this time last year, a group of DOC rangers and scientists set out from Twizel for a regular check of a population of threatened fish in nearby Corbies Creek. It was a beautiful day. Soon after getting their gear in the water, they realised something was very wrong. Where were all the fish? Only a year ago they’d found more than 100 in a 25m stretch, but there were hardly any there now.
Corbies Creek, along with just a few other small streams in Canterbury, is a refuge for native lowland longjaw galaxias. If we lost them from here, they’d be gone from everywhere. Sleek, pencil-thin and exquisitely camouflaged, their pale-yellow skin is dusted with brown and silver flecks. Adults rarely grow longer than 80 mm.
Lowland longjaw galaxias. Photo: P Ravenscroft/DOC.
Longjaws are one of New Zealand’s river-resident galaxiid species that live their entire lives in a single waterway. All river-resident galaxiids are vulnerable to being eaten or displaced by larger fish. Some, including longjaws, can’t share habitat with any bigger fish. To safeguard this population, an exclusion barrier has been built to stop predatory trout and kōaro from swimming up into their habitat.
So how had two brown trout – the cause of the drastic decline at Corbies Creek – got up there? Sjaan Bowie, DOC senior freshwater technical advisor, thinks the trout were carried across a paddock from a nearby waterway, in a particularly high flood event a few months earlier.
Rest assured the trout were quicky removed and the longjaws are bouncing back.
“We’re pleased to report that monitoring in March this year found numbers had risen from just 12 to more than 50 fish, and no more trout have been seen upstream of the barrier.”
Limited tools available – innovations welcome
Sjaan says this near-miss extinction of longjaws in Corbies Creek shows that more management tools will be needed to protect our freshwater fish in the future.
“What we’re doing generally works fine for small streams under current climatic conditions. But with increasing temperatures, we’re seeing trout head further inland looking for cooler water. More severe weather is also causing bigger floods and longer droughts. This combination increases the risk of trout making it past barriers or accidentally getting into threatened fish habitat, as we saw in Corbies Creek.”
Flooding can overtop fish barriers and put native species at risk. Photo: Dean Nelson/DOC.
She highlights the need for better technology – both for remote monitoring of populations and to protect larger areas.
“We’re looking at remote water level monitoring, so we’d get a warning ‘ping’ and could go and check if a barrier had been breached or there was an overland flow. There’s also a need to protect more and larger areas to prevent individual populations becoming genetically isolated.
“A fish exclusion barrier that works in larger rivers or low gradient streams without backing up the flow and creating a pool, would also make a big difference to the ongoing survival of these species. If anyone has bright ideas about how to build something like that, we’d really love to hear from you.”
Sjaan says the same issues are faced in fish conservation around the world, so any solutions we created here could be used internationally.
Regardless, future work to secure our river-resident galaxiids is likely to include building exclusion barriers in new streams and moving current barriers downstream. Other tools like captive breeding and translocations into protected areas are also likely to be necessary.
An exclusion barrier in Omarama Spring protects an important population of non-migratory galaxiids. Photo: Sjaan Bowie/DOC.
Let them through – migratory fish need to move
Managing the other group of New Zealand’s native fish couldn’t be more different. It’s vital for these species to be able to move up and down waterways and get to and from the sea to complete their lifecycles. In this group of migratory species are eels, bullies and the fish we collectively known as whitebait – the juveniles of īnanga, kōaro and banded, giant and shortjaw kōkopu.
The strongest swimmers of the group move the furthest inland. Kōaro stand out as best in class as they can climb near-vertical walls. Īnanga are the most challenged by inclines, jumps, rapids and fast flows, and tend to stay in flatter areas near the coast.
Human-built structures in waterways can present swimming challenges. Conservation work for migratory species therefore includes identifying, fixing or removing barriers like poorly designed or unmaintained culverts, fords, dams and weirs.
As part of her role, Sjaan advocates for better fish passage. She’s helped develop and update fish passage guidelines and resources, given dozens of seminars about best practice, offered advice and support to others, and coordinated the New Zealand Fish Passage Advisory Group.
“We can make a real difference for migratory fish by removing barriers. Yes, we can plant trees and improve habitat but if we can take out something that’s stopping migration, the benefit is immediate. It means the fish aren’t slowed down or stopped in their migration and allows them to get to natural habitat upstream to grow and mature.”
Researching ways to fix impassable culverts
Sjaan Bowie setting up a net to capture and count fish that made it up a ramp and through the culvert. Photo: Nixie Boddy/DOC.
Culverts are a big issue. There are hundreds of thousands of them around the country and some hinder or block fish passage by creating overhangs or impassably fast flows.
Sjaan and her colleagues have been testing different retrofitted baffles and ramps to see how well they help fish move up and through culverts.
“We couldn’t find a lab that was big enough, so we chose some barriers in waterways on the South Island’s West Coast. It has high rainfall, lots of culverts and an abundance of fish.
“It looks like these fixes can be used to improve passage for some species under certain conditions, but not for all species. They may be best considered as a temporary solution. Final results will indicate when they improved passage, and allow us to offer better guidance on installation, monitoring and maintenance of these fixes.”
Brittany Earl, freshwater ranger (left) and Nixie Boddy measuring post-trial fish before releasing them back into Hodson Stream. Photo: Sjaan Bowie/DOC.
Sjaan says if there’s a structure that’s restricting fish passage, the best option is always to remove it. “If that’s not possible we need to consider replacing or fixing it permanently.”
Spectacular success at Te Pouaruhe wetland, Wairarapa
Our work with the Wairarapa Moana Wetlands project restored fish passage to Te Pouaruhe wetland in early 2022 – using a large digger.
The area was drained for agriculture in the 1940s and separated from Lake Ōnoke by a stopbank and two culverts. One of the culverts had a flap gate that severely limited fish access to the wetland from the lake and the sea. The digger removed the culverts and made two breaks in the stopbank that now provide free passage up and downstream.
Before and after fish surveys in 2019 and 2023 found huge differences in the number and range of species present. Īnanga and common bullies were found at every sampling site in 2023 and in large numbers at most sites. At one site, the number of īnanga rose from 339 to 1563 after fish passage was restored.
Challenges to fix ford in lower Waipoua River, Northland
This ford across the Waipoua River was built to provide access for mana whenua (local residents) and commercial forestry vehicles.
It’s a significant barrier to fish passage because of a drop off downstream and culverts inside the ford that accelerate the flow. Installing four fish ramps has helped, but a permanent solution is still needed.
“Having a barrier 5 km from the sea restricts or prevents fish access to around 100 km of beautiful stream habitat in kauri forest”, says Sjaan. “Improving fish passage there would make a big difference for many species, including threatened shortjaw kōkopu.”
Fixing the ford is a priority for Te iwi o Te Roroa and DOC and options, including a fish bypass or replacement bridge, are being looked at.
This ford across Waipoua River hinders fish passage for several species despite the installation of floating fish ramps. Photo Sarah Wilcox/DOC.
Progress to celebrate and some lessons learned
Reflecting on progress in the last 10 years, Sjaan is pleased to have national guidelines, improved policy and new tools in place.
“The Fish Passage Assessment Tool is one way that anyone can record instream structures and assess the risk they pose to fish passage. The tool has contributed to a database of more than 150,000 structures nationwide that are being prioritised and ticked off.
“It’s been exciting to see councils such as Northland, Taranaki and West Coast, as well as other organisations, taking action to remove barriers and put in some good fixes to open up habitat for fish.”
Wairau Stream after work by New Plymouth District Council to remove a culvert that was hindering fish passage. Photo: New Plymouth District Council.
Sjaan says instream structures always have at least a dual purpose – to transport water and allow fish to move – and both are important to consider.
“One stand-out lesson for me though is the benefit of oversizing and embedding culverts. They will be long-lasting, stand up to floods, and provide good fish passage.”
The Government is revoking 2023 regulations requiring all vaping devices to have removeable batteries to resolve a current court challenge brought by Mason Corporation Limited.
“Cabinet was advised that taking this step was the best way to resolve the case,” Associate Health Minister Casey Costello says.
“This decision means the proceedings, which relate to regulations brought in by the Labour government, can be withdrawn.”
The changes will be gazetted today and take effect from 1 September. From that date vaping devices will not be required to have a removeable battery.
“It is not expected that the revocation will negatively impact our falling smoking or vaping rates,” Ms Costello says.
“This Government legislated to ban disposable vapes, which have been the most popular products among young people, and these are now off the market.”
Source: New Zealand Institute for Earth Science Limited (Earth Sciences New Zealand)
A world-first study of marine life, including sea creatures found in New Zealand’s dark, cold, pressurised ocean depths, has revealed that deep-sea life is surprisingly more connected than previously thought. The research, led by Australia’s Museums Victoria Research Institute and just published in Nature, found that while marine life in shallow waters is regionally unique, deeper ocean life shows more global connectivity, with some deep-sea species found across vast distances, even on opposite sides of the world.
A previous lack of global data meant that the connections of deep-sea species weren’t fully known, but the researchers from 19 different institutions, including Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA), were able to discover how marine life is connected across the sea floor. The landmark study mapped the global distribution and evolutionary relationships of brittle stars (Ophiuroidea), an ancient, spiny animal found from shallow coastal waters to the deepest abyssal plains, and from the equator to the poles.
In the most comprehensive study of its kind, brittle star DNA from four dozen collections, including from Earth Sciences New Zealand’s invertebrate collection in Wellington, was examined. By analysing over 2,500 DNA samples collected from over 300 research voyages in all oceans and at various depths, the researchers were able to uncover how the deep-sea invertebrates have evolved and migrated across the oceans over the past 100 million years, linking ecosystems from Iceland to Tasmania.
‘You might think of the deep sea as remote and isolated, but for many animals on the seafloor, it’s actually a connected superhighway,’ said study lead Dr Tim O’Hara, Senior Curator of Marine Invertebrates at Museums Victoria Research Institute. ‘Over long timescales, deep-sea species have expanded their ranges by thousands of kilometres. This connectivity is a global phenomenon that’s gone unnoticed, until now.’
The brittle star was chosen because the animals, which have lived on Earth for over 480 million years, are found on all ocean floors, including at depths of more than 3,500 metres, says Dr O’Hara. “These animals don’t have fins or wings, but they’ve still managed to span entire oceans. The secret lies in their biology; their larvae can survive for a long time in cold water, hitching a ride on slow-moving deep-sea currents.”
With the yolk-rich larvae able to drift on deep ocean currents for extended periods, the brittle stars have been able to colonise far-flung regions. Unlike marine life in shallow waters, which is restricted by temperature boundaries, deep-sea environments are more stable and allow species to disperse over vast distances, the study found. “The research shows that deep-sea communities, particularly at temperate latitudes, are more closely related across regions than their shallow-water counterparts. This may be due to historic ocean currents and temperature patterns that allowed species to spread over time. For example, marine animals found off southern Australia share close evolutionary links with those in the North Atlantic, on the other side of the planet.”
However, the deep sea is not uniform, and while species can spread widely, factors such as extinction events, environmental change, and geography have created a patchwork of biodiversity across the seafloor.
Deep-sea ecosystems are more connected than first thought, says study co-author Sadie Mills, invertebrate collection manager at Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA). “Understanding how species are related and their connections in the ocean at different depths and different latitudes is key to protecting marine biodiversity across the entire planet. These global links should be taken into account in planning.”
As threats from deep-sea mining and climate change increase, this new appreciation of how life is distributed and moves through this vast environment is essential if we want to protect it, says Dr O’Hara. “It’s a paradox. The deep sea is highly connected, but also incredibly fragile.”
Three laundry detergents have scored no better than water in Consumer NZ’s laundry detergent test.
We put 46 detergents through the wringer. Two detergents ended up with an overall score of 27 out of 100 – the same score given to a wash with only water. Those two products were Shotz Laundry Liquid and EcoLiving Laundry Detergent Sheets with lavender scent.
Another laundry sheet product – Re-Stor Laundry Detergent Sheets fresh linen scent – scored even lower. These sheets were rated ‘poor’ at removing everyday grime and most of the stains we use in our detergent tests, including grass and mud, olive oil and tomato.
Our head of testing James le Page said he wasn’t surprised laundry sheets once more took out two of the bottom spots in the test.
“They only weigh a couple of grams, so when you put them in your machine, they’re just not going to do a good job compared with a capful of laundry liquid or scoop of powder, both of which have the potential to contain more active ingredients,” James said.
However, James wouldn’t be surprised if laundry sheets one day climbed up the test results.
“They’re early in their developmental journey as a product. They’re years behind the other options, so they’re playing catch-up.”
Persil products took out the top three spots in the test results, with Persil Ultimate powder proving to be New Zealand’s most effective laundry detergent.
Persil Active Clean powder wasn’t far behind, followed by Persil 3 in 1 Ultimate capsules.
Ten detergents were given ‘Consumer Recommended’ status, including some New Zealand-made Laundromate and Ecostore products.
The cheapest Recommended detergent was Ecostore Ultrapower Citrus Fresh – it costs just 8c per wash. It was particularly good at removing everyday grime as well as grass and tomato stains.
“We encourage people to have a look at the results and see how the detergent they’re using now scores. You might find something that will do a better job for a better price,” James said.
Best powder detergent – Persil Ultimate Best liquid detergent – Ariel Original Best capsule detergent – Persil 3 in 1 Ultimate
Notes
Consumer NZ test results are usually exclusively available to our members. However, this time, we have made the laundry detergent test results available for all New Zealanders. You can view them at www.consumer.org.nz/products/laundry-detergents/review.
MinterEllisonRuddWatts is pleased to have advised Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. on the sale of its New Zealand subsidiary, Discovery NZ Limited, to Sky Network Television Limited (Sky).
The transaction, announced this week, involves the sale of 100% of the shares in Discovery NZ to Sky, with completion expected on 1 August 2025.
Discovery NZ operates the broadcast-video-on-demand (BVOD) platform ThreeNow, free-to-air channel Three, and a suite of FAST channels in New Zealand.
As part of the deal, Warner Bros. Discovery and Sky have entered into a significant and ongoing content supply agreement, ensuring continued access to premium content for New Zealand audiences.
Michael Brooks, Managing Director Australia and New Zealand for Warner Bros. Discovery commented: “This is a fantastic outcome for both Warner Bros. Discovery and Sky. While Discovery NZ is no longer commercially viable as a standalone asset in our New Zealand portfolio, we see the value Three and ThreeNow can bring to Sky’s offering. The transaction includes a content supply agreement that benefits both parties.”
MinterEllisonRuddWatts advised Warner Bros. Discovery on all legal aspects of the transaction, including deal structuring, negotiation of the share sale agreement, transitional services arrangements, employment aspects, content supply arrangements and regulatory engagement.
Corporate PartnerMark Formanwho led the deal, says: “We are proud to have supported Warner Bros. Discovery in this strategic divestment. The transaction reflects our firm’s expertise in cross-border M&A and media sector transactions, and we are pleased to have helped deliver a successful outcome that creates a unique opportunity for Sky.”
MinterEllisonRuddWattsis a top tier New Zealand law firm known for providing clients with technically excellent legal solutions and innovative advice. We are trusted advisors and work alongside our clients to ensure success. We are proud to be a New Zealand law firm offering a global outlook. Our offices in Auckland and Wellington can access an international network through our firm’s strategic alliance with MinterEllison, a leading firm in the Asia-Pacific. The firm supports numerous charitable endeavours and organisations through its pro bono and fundraising initiatives.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union have been negotiating a collective employment agreement for career firefighters since 16 July 2024.
Deputy Chief Executive Service Delivery Operations/Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says Fire and Emergency has offered the Union a 5.1 percent pay increase over the next three years, as well as increases to some allowances.
“We consider the offer is fair, balances cost of living pressures being faced by individuals alongside fiscal pressures faced by Fire and Emergency and is consistent with the Government Workforce Policy Statement.”
Megan Stiffler says Fire and Emergency has invested significantly in its people and its resources for the safety of communities since it was established in 2017.
“The previous collective employment agreement settlement in 2022 provided a cumulative wage increase of up to 24 percent over a three-year period for our career firefighters.”
“Fire and Emergency has also been investing in replacing our fleet, with 317 trucks replaced since 2017 and another 70 on order. We are currently spending over $20 million per year on replacement trucks. There is also a significant programme of station upgrades underway, as well as investment in training,” she says.
“In 2023/24 most career firefighters earned over $100,000 per year, including overtime and allowances. The turnover rate for our career firefighters was just 3.6 percent last year, and the average length of service was 17 years. We work constantly with our people to ensure we are an employer of choice.”
“Our firefighters are highly trained and deeply committed to serving their communities and we are investing in our people and our resources, to support them. They do an incredible job keeping New Zealanders safe.”
The historic climate change ruling at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) today is a landmark win for child campaigners, acknowledging the adverse impacts of climate change on child rights, and offering children renewed hope, Save the Children said.
The Advisory Opinion delivered by the world’s highest court finds that states’ legal obligations to address climate change extend beyond existing climate agreements. It also found that “states must take their obligations under international human rights law into account when implementing their obligations under the climate change treaties and other relevant environmental treaties.”
While not legally binding, leading environmental lawyerssaythe ruling “could become a guiding star for climate policies at all levels of governance”, including how States are held accountable under multiple areas of international law.
The Advisory Opinion originated from an extensive campaign led by a group of law students from the Pacific Islands, with strong support from the Republic of Vanuatu [1].
In December last year, Vepaiamele, 16, a child campaigner with Save the Children Vanuatu, travelled to The Hague with the Government of Vanuatu – the only child to attend as part of a government delegation – to speak about the impacts of climate change on the Pacific island nation and call for action.
Vepaiamele said today: “This Advisory Opinion is everything I hoped for and I am so happy with this outcome as I know it will pave the way for a safer future for youth like myself and future generations, too.”
Speaking from The Haguelast year, Vepaiamele said:
“As a young Ni-Vanuatu girl, I feel the effects of climate change every day of every year. I’ve experienced many cyclones. It can be kind of terrifying sometimes, especially the really strong ones. Every cyclone, our classrooms are destroyed, our homes are flattened to the ground, and hospitals and communication towers are ripped apart. And then there’s also the mental health impacts, and we don’t really talk about it that much, but it can really cause anxiety in children and young people.”
Human-induced climate change is driving up global temperatures, with the past 10 years the warmest on record, according to theWorld Meteorological Organization. Children, particularly those affected by inequality and discrimination, bear the brunt of climate change impacts that are already forcing them from their homes, putting food out of reach, damaging schools and increasing risks like child marriage as they are forced out of education and into poverty.
Limiting warming temperatures through the rapid phase-out of the use and subsidy of fossil fuels is critical for children’s rights and lives, Save the Children said.
Earlier this year,research releasedby the child rights organisation with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) found that the difference between global temperature rise of 1.5°C and 2.7°C could see 38 million more children from the 2020 birth cohort face unprecedented lifetime exposure to extreme heatwaves. [2] Save the Children also called for increased climate finance targeted at helping children and their families, child-centred and locally led adaptation and an increase in the participation of children in shaping climate action.
Save the Children New Zealand CEO Heather Campbell says, “The ICJ’s opinion strengthens the argument that climate inaction is a form of intergenerational injustice, disproportionately borne by those least responsible and least equipped to adapt.
“At home in Aotearoa New Zealand, children and their families are experiencing the devastating impacts of extensive flooding and other climate-related emergencies, including Cyclone Gabrielle. Communities across the Nelson Tasman region are still reeling from floods that have destroyed homes and farmland, displaced families and closed schools.
“On a recent visit to Solomon Islands, children told us about the impact rising sea levels were having on their communities, including monthly flooding in homes and schools, saline infiltration into fresh water supplies, and crops being destroyed. In other parts of the Pacific, communities are having to constantly rebuild after multiple cyclones in the last few years alone. These are not future scenarios – they are current realities.
“Save the Children welcomes the finding from the ICJ, and we also urge governments and development agencies to ensure that climate finance reaches those on the frontline of this crisis.
“Currently, only 2.4% of climate finance from multilateral funding sources is child centred. Even without the Court’s opinion, we know that states must do far more to protect children from the worst impacts of this crisis, including by significantly increasing climate finance to uphold children’s rights and access to health, education and protection.”
In light of the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion, Save the Children New Zealand is calling on the New Zealand Government to renew its commitment to provide climate finance to help communities recover from climate induced loss and damage as well as working to reduce the country’s carbon emissions.
As the world’s leading independent child rights organisation, Save the Children works in about 110 countries, tackling climate change across everything we do. Save the Children supports children and their communities across the Pacific and globally in preventing, preparing for, adapting to, and recovering from both sudden climate disasters and slow onset climate change. We have set up floating schools, rebuilt destroyed homes and provided cash grants to families hit by disasters.
We also work to influence governments and other key stakeholders in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world on climate policies, including at the UNFCCC COP summits, giving children a platform for their voices to be heard.
Notes:
Multimedia can be foundhereincluding Vepaiamele with other young people on Tuesday 22 July, Vepaiamele at the Hague, and general vision of Vanuatu
[1] The Advisory Opinion is in response to a Pacific-led resolution (A/RES/77/276) to the UN General Assemblyadoptedby consensus on 29 March 2023. This was the result of an extensive campaign by a group of law students from the University of the South Pacific (Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change) with strong support from the Republic of Vanuatu. Save the Children has worked closely with thePacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Changeto ensure the voices of children and young people are incorporated into countries’ written and oral submissions to the Court. As part of her campaigning work, Vepaiamele and other activists met with embassies of high emitting countriesin Vanuatu ahead of the hearing to try and influence their submissions.
[2] The report found that, for children born in 2020, if global temperature rise is limited to 1.5°C rather than reaching 2.7°C above pre-industrial levels:
– About 38 million would be spared from facing unprecedented lifetime exposure to heatwaves; o About 8 million would avoid unprecedented lifetime exposure to crop failures; o About 5 million would be spared from unprecedented lifetime exposure to river floods; o About 5 million would avoid unprecedented lifetime exposure to tropical cyclones; o About 2 million would avoid unprecedented lifetime exposure to droughts; o About 1.5 million children would be spared unprecedented lifetime exposure to wildfires.
The International Court of Justice has ruled that governments must phase out fossil fuels, rapidly reduce emissions, provide remedy to those facing climate damages, and provide climate finance to developing countries.
Oxfam climate change policy lead Nafkote Dabi said:
“Oxfam is proud to have supported young climate defenders from the Pacific and elsewhere who bravely took their fight for justice from a classroom in Vanuatu to the world’s highest court. They won the world a tremendous victory today.
This ruling elevates national climate commitments everywhere by confirming that countries must reduce emissions enough to protect the universal rights to life, food, health and a clean environment. All countries, particularly rich ones, now have to cut their emissions faster and phase out fossil fuels. Rich countries have to increase their financing to Global South countries to help them reduce emissions and protect their people from past and future harm. This is not a wish-list – it is international law.
We now have a powerful tool for holding countries to account for their obligations, especially in protecting the world’s most marginalised people and future generations of humanity. The ICJ rejected arguments by the likes of the US and UK that governments are bound only by climate treaties such as the Paris Agreement and did not have stronger obligations under international law. This ruling will inject new impetus into negotiations at the COP30 Summit in Brazil this November.”
Oxfam Aotearoa climate justice lead Nick Henry said:
“Today’s ruling is a stunning rebuke to the rich countries, including New Zealand, who are failing to stop harm to our climate. It is a victory for a people-powered campaign started by Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change, gaining support from Pacific leaders and allies around the world.
The New Zealand government provided early support to the campaign and co-sponsored the UN resolution that referred the case to the ICJ. But in its submissions to the court, New Zealand argued that human rights law is not relevant to climate change and that governments don’t have climate obligations beyond the existing Paris Agreement.
The world’s highest court has rejected the New Zealand government’s arguments and ruled that the international treaties on human rights and the environment create binding obligations to prevent harm to the climate.
This means that New Zealand must do more to reduce emissions and increase funding for climate action in the Pacific.”
Notes:
Oxfam has been supporting the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change’s lawsuit since 2022, joining in advocacy for the UN General Assembly to refer the case to the Court. Oxfam provided awritten statementto the ICJ in March 2024 on human rights obligations beyond borders and what this means for climate action. Oxfam also contributed to an expert legal opinion that was referenced in several State submissions, theMaastricht Principles on the Human Rights of Future Generations.
Gruesome smoking warnings and frightening obesity statistics use fear to drive behaviour change. But a University of Auckland researcher says it might be time to try a different approach.
Marketing lecturer Dr Saira Raza Khan, whose work focuses on consumer well-being and meaningful consumption, says gratitude can be more effective than fear when it comes to promoting healthier choices.
“I don’t think fear in advertising is beneficial for people’s mental health and well-being,” says Khan. “We’re already going through negative emotions in relation to other elements of our lives – the news, work stress, etc. Why not use emotions in health advertising that promote well-being?”
Her article, published in the Journal of Advertising Research, examines how different emotional appeals (fear and gratitude) influence people’s responses to diet-related messages.
Greenpeace Aotearoa says the world’s highest court has just delivered a wake-up call for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
In a historic climate ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has confirmed that governments have legal obligations to protect people – both now and in the future – from the worsening impacts of the climate crisis. That includes regulating big polluters like fossil fuel companies and intensive livestock operations.
“This is a warning shot to Luxon that his Government’s war on nature and the climate comes with consequences,” says Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson.
“The Court has made it clear: states must take action to prevent climate harm, no matter where it occurs. They must uphold people’s fundamental right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment – for today’s communities and future generations.”
The ICJ ruling goes beyond the Paris Agreement, reinforcing that governments have a duty to regulate climate pollution, cooperate internationally, and prevent environmental harm. It strengthens the legal grounds for climate-impacted communities to hold governments accountable.
Since taking office, the Luxon Government has scrapped or weakened numerous key climate policies. It has:
Overturned the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration
Pledged to fast-track coal mining
Shelved agricultural emissions pricing
Exempted the country’s worst climate polluter – intensive dairying – from meaningful accountability
“Luxon is elevating the profits of polluters above people’s fundamental human rights,” says Larsson. “This ruling puts him – and governments like his – on notice.”
The dairy industry, led by Fonterra, is New Zealand’s largest climate polluter. Yet under pressure from lobby groups, the Government has rolled back environmental safeguards and is now considering weakening methane targets – despite clear advice from the Climate Change Commission that action on methane must be strengthened.
Earlier this year, Luxon received a letter authored by dozens of international climate scientists accusing him of ignoring scientific evidence on methane and urging him to follow the Climate Commission’s advice to strengthen New Zealand’s methane target. The letter was featured on the front page of the Financial Times.
“New Zealand is the world’s largest dairy exporter and a major player in the global livestock industry,” says Larsson.
“How New Zealand addresses livestock emissions sets an important precedent for the rest of the world. If Luxon guts the methane target, New Zealand risks breaching the Paris Agreement and, by extension, its trade agreements with partners like the UK and EU.”
The historic ICJ ruling is a result of action taken in 2019 by 27 law students from The University of the South Pacific. As thePacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change,they campaigned for the ICJ to issue an Advisory Opinion on the responsibilities of States in respect to climate change. Theresolution, put forward by Vanuatu alongside a global alliance of States, passed the United Nations General Assembly unanimously in March 2023, co-sponsored by over 130 countries.
“As this ruling shows, the courts are becoming an increasingly important venue for climate justice – because governments like ours are failing to protect people and the planet. And when that happens, people will step up to defend their future.”
Tracks to Gemstone and Stingray bays were damaged in the same February 2023 extreme weather events which resulted in the extended closure of walking access to Mautohe Cathedral Cove.
DOC’s Coromandel Operations Manager Nick Kelly says DOC has worked hard to assess the tracks and was pleased to find a good solution for Gemstone.
“A repair project will see a reroute of the existing track and a new 40 metre section constructed in time for the summer visitor season, all going to plan.
“We’ve explored a couple of options to reinstate access to Waimata Gemstone Bay and we’ve chosen what we consider to be the most cost-effective and simplest solution.”
The new route will take visitors away from a slip risk area and will be much safer to construct. It will require some vegetation removal and the construction of box steps in places. The track will be gravel with wooden edging and connect with existing access stairs.
The reinstatement option also means there’s no need for geotechnical stabilisation.
Nick cautioned Waimata Gemstone Bay and the track are still prone to coastal erosion, but the choice of a low complexity option means future repairs are likely to be cheaper and quicker.
“Reinstating the Waimata Gemstone Bay track will restore land access to a popular snorkelling destination within Te Whanganui-O-Hei Marine Reserve,” says Nick.
“The bay’s rocky reef has long supported educational snorkelling trips by local schools and provides both visitors and the community the opportunity to experience marine life in a marine protected area.”
Investigations into reinstating walking access to nearby Te Karaka Stingray Bay, have highlighted significant difficulties, costs and visitor risks, Nick says. Other considerations are the cost to maintain hard infrastructure at the site and the long-term sustainability of having a track to the site.
“Unfortunately, this means walking access to Stingray Bay will not be reinstated.
“The current steps are gradually being twisted by a slow-slip landslide which over time will require significant maintenance if access is reestablished. Nick acknowledges there will be disappointment about the Te Karaka Stingray Bay decision but says it’s a tough, but necessary, call.
“Geotechnical advice confirms the cliffs surrounding the beach are highly unstable, with active rockfall areas and limited practical options for mitigation.
“Visitors would be forced into hazardous zones by rising tides or walk near to unstable cliff – and we don’t think that’s sensible or safe considering the type of visitor who goes there.”
Te Karaka Stingray Bay can still be reached from the sea. Anyone planning to do this is urged to check weather, sea and tide conditions.
DOC is working with mana whenua and the community to identify the best options for the long-term management and protection of Cathedral Cove Recreation Reserve.
With over 2000 tourism businesses operating in protected natural areas, nature tourism is worth $3.4 billion each year and is vital in supporting local communities like Hahei.
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey joined the Gumboot Friday team today, an initiative that is helping thousands of young people access mental health support faster.
“We are turning the corner with reducing wait times and increasing the workforce. Initiatives such as Gumboot Friday are helping drive that change,” Mr Doocey says.
“In the first twelve months of Government funding, Gumboot Friday has been able to scale up and deliver more than 30,000 free counselling sessions. They have supported more than 10,000 young New Zealanders who might not otherwise have access to timely support.”
Last year, the Government committed $24 million over four years to the Gumboot Friday initiative under the National – New Zealand First coalition agreement to scale up its support for young people across the country.
“This funding has given certainty moving forward for the organisation, for counsellors delivering the service, and most importantly, for young people who rely on it. It means Gumboot Friday can continue to scale up knowing they are backed by the Government.
“There are now more than 700 qualified counsellors registered on the Gumboot Friday platform, a 33 per cent increase over the last year. This is an additional 175 counsellors. This has given young people a greater choice of the counsellor they see and has ensured that if someone is reaching out, they are seen when and where they need it.
“There are not many organisations that can get our young people off waitlists into counselling often within just a few days.
“The Government is backing Gumboot Friday to deliver more. Funding for 2025/26 will deliver 40,000 individual counselling sessions, reaching as many as 15,000 young New Zealanders.
“Over the next 12 months, the organisation will be looking at how it can scale up and encourage even more young people to access free counselling.
“I want to acknowledge the tireless work of the team at I Am Hope. It’s a powerful partnership between Government and a grassroots organisation that’s making a real difference in the lives of many New Zealanders.”
The ‘Everyone Must Go’ campaign encouraging Australians to pick New Zealand for their next holiday has hit its results out of the park, bringing in thousands of visitors in a boost for regional economies and tourism operators.
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says ‘Everyone Must Go’ was initially targeted at 6,750 additional arrivals over the autumn but ended up significantly exceeding expectations.
“‘Everyone Must Go’ has been a winner,’” Louise Upston says.
“Tourism NZ stats released to me show it delivering an additional 7,981 visitors to smash its initial forecasts. It also attracted significant attention on both sides of the Tasman, and got Kiwis and Aussies talking about New Zealand as a destination.
“Tourism is a key part of our plan to grow the economy, create jobs, lift wages and help Kiwis get ahead. ‘Everyone Must Go’ is a great example of the sector and Government working together to achieve these goals.
“We knew Aussies would recognise it as a great opportunity. Just like they grabbed Phar Lap and pavlova, it’s proved the same story with ‘Everyone Must Go.’
“A key part of this campaign’s success were the deals the tourism industry came to the party with. This team approach showed we can deliver great results for the sector when Government and industry are joined up and working towards the same goals.”
More than 800 deals from 450 operators across accommodation, transport and experiences were available during the campaign.
The initial $500,000 campaign spend delivered a solid return on investment, leading to an additional $300,000 to give the campaign a further boost.
“This campaign was the first Tourism Boost initiative, and these positive results show that with the right investment in the right markets we will drive economic growth.
“Every one of those Australian visitors who ate at cafes and restaurants, visited tourist attractions and shopped in our towns and cities has helped the New Zealand tourism sector grow, and boosted the Kiwi economy in the process,” Louise Upston says.
There was a time when New Zealanders stood up for what was morally right. There are memorials around our country for those who died fighting fascism, we wrote parts of the UN Charter of Human Rights, we took an anti-nuclear stance in 1984, and three years prior to that, many of us stood against apartheid in South Africa by boycotting South African products and actively protesting against the 1981 Springbok Rugby Tour.
To call out the Israeli government for genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza is not to be antisemitic. Nor is it to be pro- Hamas. It is to simply to be pro-human.
While acknowledging the peace and humanitarian initiatives on the Foreign Affairs website, I note there is no calling out of the genocide and ethnic cleansing that cannot be denied is happening in Gaza.
The Israeli government is systematically demolishing whole towns and cities — including churches, mosques, even removing trees and vegetation — to deprive the Palestinian people the opportunity to return to their homeland; and there have been constant blocks to humanitarian aid as part of a policy forced starvation.
There is no doubt crimes against international law have been committed, which is why the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has issued warrants for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, his former defence minister, for alleged crimes against humanity.
So, my question to you is: why are you not pictured standing in this photograph (below) alongside the representatives from 33 nations at the July 16 2025 Gaza emergency conference in Bogotá?
The nations that took part in the Gaza emergency summit in were:
Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Colombia, South Africa, Bolivia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Algeria, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, China, Djibouti, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Lebanon, Libya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Representatives from 33 nations at the July 16 2025 Gaza emergency conference in Bogotá. Image: bryanbruce.substack.com
Is your policy simply to fall in behind the USA denying there is genocide and ethnic cleansing happening in Gaza?
If not, are you prepared to endorse the six coordinated diplomatic, legal and economic measures already signed up to by 12 of the participating countries in the Bogetà summit, to restrain Israel’s assault on the Occupied Palestinian Territories and defend international law at large?
Remaining countries, which could still include New Zealand, have a deadline of September 20, to coincide with the 80th UN General Assembly, for additional states to join them.
The 6 agreed measures are: Prevent the provision or transfer of arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel.
Prevent the transit, docking, and servicing of vessels at any port in all cases where there is a clear risk of the vessel being used to carry arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel
Prevent the carriage of arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel on vessels bearing our flag . . . and ensure full accountability, including de-flagging, for non-compliance with this prohibition.
Commence an urgent review of all public contracts, to prevent public institutions and funds from supporting Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territory and entrenching its unlawful presence.
Comply with obligations to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law, through robust, impartial and independent investigations and prosecutions at national or international levels, to ensure justice for all victims and the prevention of future crimes.
Support universal jurisdiction mandates, as and where applicable in national legal frameworks and judiciaries, to ensure justice for victims of international crimes committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
In addition, are you prepared to specifically support the enforcement of the International Criminal Court arrest warrants issued last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, his former defence minister, for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza including murder and forced starvation, in a war that has left more than 211,000 Palestinians, including many children, dead, maimed, or missing since October 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry? (That’s a figure that is approximately the entire population of Hamiton and Rotorua).
What then is the NZ government’s policy? Are we going to support International Law and call out the Israeli government’s acts of genocide in Gaza, or not?
Yours sincerely,
Bryan Bruce Investigative documentary maker, journalist and podcaster. Auckland.
There was a time when New Zealanders stood up for what was morally right. There are memorials around our country for those who died fighting fascism, we wrote parts of the UN Charter of Human Rights, we took an anti-nuclear stance in 1984, and three years prior to that, many of us stood against apartheid in South Africa by boycotting South African products and actively protesting against the 1981 Springbok Rugby Tour.
To call out the Israeli government for genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza is not to be antisemitic. Nor is it to be pro- Hamas. It is to simply to be pro-human.
While acknowledging the peace and humanitarian initiatives on the Foreign Affairs website, I note there is no calling out of the genocide and ethnic cleansing that cannot be denied is happening in Gaza.
The Israeli government is systematically demolishing whole towns and cities — including churches, mosques, even removing trees and vegetation — to deprive the Palestinian people the opportunity to return to their homeland; and there have been constant blocks to humanitarian aid as part of a policy forced starvation.
There is no doubt crimes against international law have been committed, which is why the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has issued warrants for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, his former defence minister, for alleged crimes against humanity.
So, my question to you is: why are you not pictured standing in this photograph (below) alongside the representatives from 33 nations at the July 16 2025 Gaza emergency conference in Bogotá?
The nations that took part in the Gaza emergency summit in were:
Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Colombia, South Africa, Bolivia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Algeria, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, China, Djibouti, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Lebanon, Libya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Representatives from 33 nations at the July 16 2025 Gaza emergency conference in Bogotá. Image: bryanbruce.substack.com
Is your policy simply to fall in behind the USA denying there is genocide and ethnic cleansing happening in Gaza?
If not, are you prepared to endorse the six coordinated diplomatic, legal and economic measures already signed up to by 12 of the participating countries in the Bogetà summit, to restrain Israel’s assault on the Occupied Palestinian Territories and defend international law at large?
Remaining countries, which could still include New Zealand, have a deadline of September 20, to coincide with the 80th UN General Assembly, for additional states to join them.
The 6 agreed measures are: Prevent the provision or transfer of arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel.
Prevent the transit, docking, and servicing of vessels at any port in all cases where there is a clear risk of the vessel being used to carry arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel
Prevent the carriage of arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel on vessels bearing our flag . . . and ensure full accountability, including de-flagging, for non-compliance with this prohibition.
Commence an urgent review of all public contracts, to prevent public institutions and funds from supporting Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territory and entrenching its unlawful presence.
Comply with obligations to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law, through robust, impartial and independent investigations and prosecutions at national or international levels, to ensure justice for all victims and the prevention of future crimes.
Support universal jurisdiction mandates, as and where applicable in national legal frameworks and judiciaries, to ensure justice for victims of international crimes committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
In addition, are you prepared to specifically support the enforcement of the International Criminal Court arrest warrants issued last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, his former defence minister, for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza including murder and forced starvation, in a war that has left more than 211,000 Palestinians, including many children, dead, maimed, or missing since October 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry? (That’s a figure that is approximately the entire population of Hamiton and Rotorua).
What then is the NZ government’s policy? Are we going to support International Law and call out the Israeli government’s acts of genocide in Gaza, or not?
Yours sincerely,
Bryan Bruce Investigative documentary maker, journalist and podcaster. Auckland.
A review of Nelson Hospital has confirmed concerns that staff shortages are increasing wait times and delaying people getting the care they need, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says.
The Nelson Marlborough Clinical Quality and Systems Review carried out by Te Whatu Ora was released this afternoon and has found serious issues with the management and development of the nursing workforce at Nelson Hospital.
NZNO delegate Marijke Cooper says the findings of this review go to the heart of concerns nurses are striking over next week.
“Te Whatu Ora is failing to resource safe staffing levels and are delaying hiring more staff because of issues with their recruitment process.
“This is having a real impact on patients because they are unable to get First Specialist Assessments. We saw in media last week concerns overghost First Specialist Assessmentsat Nelson,” she says.
The review also found Nelson Hospital needs to do more to upskill their nurses.
“Requests from nursing staff to upskill are being frequently turned down. The hiring of high-calibre nursing staff is being limited because of an inflexible approach to part-time work.
“Nelson is also underinvesting in advanced nurse practice roles compared to other parts of New Zealand.
“Te Whatu Ora needs to commit to building a sustainable and high-skilled home-grown nursing workforce by upskilling nurses and hiring graduate nurses.”
Marijke Cooper says NZNO is concerned that despite the review raising concerns about poor communication practices at Nelson Hospital, none of our delegates are aware of any staff being consulted on it.
Te Kūiti whānau will enjoy greater access to modern affordable rental housing thanks to an Iwi-led partnership backed by the Government, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.
The Government has approved in principle $17million into a partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto that will build 40 affordable rental homes with infrastructure in Te Kūiti, giving effect to the Crown’s Treaty of Waitangi settlement commitment with the iwi. The Iwi will also contribute a significant portion to the development including $11million – representing 50 percent of the housing supply costs – and the land.
“This is an area of high housing need. With over a third of Te Kūiti residents renting, the limited availability of rental properties makes it difficult for whānau to secure stable housing,” Mr Potaka says.
“We’re taking action to help address this shortage, which will also help local businesses because employers can struggle to attract and retain staff due to the lack of affordable housing. This mahi can mean a world of difference for whānau in small rural communities that need stable employment and incomes.
“The development, named Te Kirikiri, will feature affordable rentals of a mixed typology to meet the diverse needs of kaumātua and young whānau, consisting of 20 two-bedroom accessible homes for kaumātua, 13 three-bedroom homes and 7 four-bedroom homes.
“Work is scheduled to begin next month and will take about two years to complete.
“Te Kirikiri will incorporate tikanga Māori and kaupapa-led design principles, and include the use of wetlands, native grasses, trees, and shrubs to create safe, communal spaces for whānau to enjoy.
“These affordable rentals will support Ngāti Maniapoto’s ambition to place 200 whānau in safe, secure, high-quality and affordable homes by 2030.”
The Government investment is part of a $200 million commitment announced earlier this year that will accelerate Māori housing projects across the country and enable the delivery of 400 affordable rentals in high-need areas by the end of June 2027.
Pacific Peoples Minister Dr Shane Reti this week attended the Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Suva, Fiji, where he reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to Pacific-led priorities and announced new support for climate resilience and public health.
“This week’s Forum focused on strengthening regional ties and tackling key challenges like economic development, banking access, and labour mobility,” says Dr Reti.
While in Suva, Dr Reti launched Fiji’s NZ$3.2 million participation in the Pacific Climate-Smart Agriculture and Sustainable Land Management Partnership.
“This investment will help develop climate-resilient crops, restore soil health, and support sustainable farming practices in Fiji,” says Dr Reti.
He also announced NZ$4 million in support of Fiji’s response to its national HIV outbreak.
“Fiji is facing a serious public health crisis, and New Zealand is proud to stand alongside them. This funding will support efforts to reduce transmission, improve treatment, and fight stigma,” says Dr Reti.
Both initiatives align with the Duavata Partnership and are funded through New Zealand’s International Development Cooperation Programme.
“New Zealand is backing Pacific leadership and resilience on the issues that matter most.”
Source:Association of Salaried Medical Specialists
The review of Nelson Hospital released by Health New Zealand today is little more than a ‘plan to make a plan’ the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says.
The review just restates well-established problems with leadership and severe understaffing at Nelson Hospital which are causing delayed care for hundreds of patients.
The Nelson Review was commissioned after Senior Medical Officers spoke to media in March about the poor working conditions. Doctors, fed up with inaction, described massive wait times for first specialist appointments, and repeated refusals from leadership to address staffing shortages across many departments.
This prompted Health New Zealand’s chief clinical officer Richard Sullivan to commission a review. He said, “I would hope we will have some answers within weeks.”
“Four months later and all we have is a a plan to make a plan,” ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton says.”
Doctors, nurses and patients want solutions to these ongoing problems, not a bland description of known issues leadership should have addressed years ago.
“The review lacks timeframes, holds no leaders to account for these failures. Just last month Nelson Hospital was again in the news for booking “ghost clinics” in what appears to be an attempt to game the system in regard to first specialists’ appointments numbers.
“There is a worrying trend of poor management and poor leadership at Nelson Hospital which the review fails to address.”ASMS is disappointed there has been little engagement with hospital staff – and no consultation as to the review’s findings and recommendations.
“We understand regional deputy chief executive Martin Keogh and National Chief Clinical Officer Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard presented the report to just a handful of senior staff and gave other staff just 24 hours’ notice to a 30-minute briefing.
“This is a wasted opportunity to make positive change.”Dalton says the real finding from the review is that the issues at Nelson are present in other hospitals around the motu.
“The review uses comparative data that paints the dire picture of medical staffing gaps in similar sized hospitals across the country too. This aligns with our own findings.
We simply need more doctors,” she says.
“Short staffing and increased acute patient demand, coupled with a lack of accountability from our health leaders that allow hospitals to be so poorly staffed has bred a culture of getting by instead of getting ahead.”
Establishes new Singapore office to deepen local relationships and expand investment capabilities
SAN FRANCISCO & SINGAPORE – Sixth Street, a leading global investment firm, today announced the appointment of Stuart Wrigley as Partner, Head of Sixth Street Asia Pacific and Head of Capital Formation and Strategy International. Wrigley will also lead the firm’s new Singapore office, which is expected to open in October 2025.
In this newly created role, Wrigley will be responsible for leading the expansion of Sixth Street’s client franchise across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. His mandate will focus on deepening relationships with existing investors, while leading new capital formation activity, strategic partnerships and the expansion of the firm’s investment capabilities in Asia Pacific. Sixth Street has built a longstanding track record in Asia Pacific, having invested in the region for more than a decade, including AirTrunk and ESR Group Limited.
“Stuart brings the depth of experience and expertise to accelerate our activity internationally,” said Sixth Street Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Alan Waxman. “We’ve developed a close relationship with Stuart over the course of two decades. In that time, he has demonstrated his strength as a business builder and clear alignment with our values of entrepreneurship, integrity and teamwork. We believe that the unconstrained and thematic nature of our investment platform is well positioned to deliver investment excellence and serve our investors in these strategic regions. We are committed to Asia Pacific and look forward to further expanding our presence through the opening of our new office in Singapore.”
Wrigley joins Sixth Street following a 24-year tenure at Goldman Sachs, where he most recently served as Head of Client Solutions Group in Asia Pacific for Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM). In this role, he supported GSAM’s expansion across Asia Pacific and led a team focused on developing tailored investment strategies for institutional and wealth management clients in the region.
“I have been consistently impressed with Sixth Street’s culture, team and success in building a truly differentiated global investment firm,” added Stuart Wrigley, Partner, Head of Sixth Street Asia Pacific and Head of Capital Formation and Strategy International at Sixth Street. “Having spent 18 years in Asia Pacific and the Middle East, I believe that Sixth Street’s flexible, long-term capital has a unique opportunity to further support great companies in these regions and, most importantly, serve our investors.”
About Sixth Street
Sixth Street is a global investment firm with over $115 billion in assets under management and committed capital. The firm uses its long-term flexible capital, data-enabled capabilities, and “One Team” culture to develop themes and offer solutions to companies across all stages of growth. Founded in 2009, Sixth Street has more than 650 team members including over 280 investment professionals around the world. For more information, visit www.sixthstreet.com, and follow Sixth Street on LinkedIn.
