Northlanders are being asked to follow the rules – and be courteous – or risk fines and other penalties as the pre-Winter burning season comes to an end.
Group Manager – Regulatory Services, Colin Dall, says in a typical year roughly a quarter of all calls to the Northland Regional Council’s 24/7 incident hotline (0800 504 639) involve complaints about burning and/or associated smoke nuisance.
He says while for a long time the council had typically preferred to educate rather than take enforcement action, its approach had toughened in recent years as backyard burning continued to generate large numbers of complaints.
The harder line also applies to those caught breaching the rules at industrial and trade premises.
“Open burning at industrial or trade premises is not permitted under our Proposed Regional Plan and businesses breaching this rule are now more likely to receive a $1000 instant fine, rather than the warning they may have got previously.”
Mr Dall says burning on trade and industrial premises must be done in an “incineration device”, which the Plan defines as:
A device made from non-combustible materials designed to burn waste that:
contains all embers and sparks
has a grate and lid or spark arrestor, and
is not used to generate energy.
He says an open 44-gallon (170 litre) drum is not deemed to be an incineration device.
“Those breaching the rules are liable for enforcement action which can range from instant fines of up to $1000, abatement notices and prosecution – the latter with the risk of much stiffer penalties – through the courts.
Mr Dall says last year the council had issued 38 infringement notices ranging from $300 to $1000, 56 abatement notices and there had been two court-ordered enforcement orders for burning-related incidents.
He says the council’s Proposed Regional Plan effectively bans backyard burning in the more densely populated Whangārei urban area.
“People living within the Whangārei city airshed – which is roughly bordered by Maunu, Onerahi, Tikipunga, Springs Flat and Hurupaki – can only burn some waste materials during the period from 01 September to 31 May the following year if the size of their property exceeds one hectare or they have a resource consent to burn.”
“Only waste that is paper, untreated wood, cardboard or vegetation can be burnt.”
Mr Dall says Northlanders outside the Whangārei urban area can still have outside fires, providing;
they don’t cause offensive or objectionable smoke or odour to neighbours
if the fire is going to last for more than 24 hours and is within 100 metres of a smoke sensitive area, the person lighting it needs to notify all neighbours within 100 metres of the fire
they don’t obscure vision along a public road
fires only contain waste that is paper, untreated wood, cardboard and vegetation (or animal remains where the burning is on agricultural land).
(This ability to have fires obviously does not apply when restricted fire season or fire bans are in place.)
Mr Dall says in general the regional council is keen to encourage alternatives to backyard burning (regardless of location) wherever possible.
“Waste vegetation can be composted or mulched, larger branches can be used as firewood and paper and other materials can usually be recycled.”
If waste vegetation is being burnt, a lot of problems can be easily avoided just by ensuring it has been given plenty of time to dry out, rather than burning it green.
However, Mr Dall says even if some burning is allowed, council rules and national regulations specifically ban the burning of some materials on health and environmental grounds. These include rubber tyres, coated metal wires, treated timber, plastic containers, motor vehicle parts and waste oil.
Mr Dall says general information on the rules around backyard burning – including a more detailed map of the existing Whangārei airshed – is also available at:www.nrc.govt.nz/backyardburning
Following the Minister’s announcement this morning about building and consent system productivity increases, Master Builders has issued the below statement in response.
Master Builders welcomes new figures released by the Government today which show we are heading in the right direction when it comes to building consent reform.
The data, shared by Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk, highlights early improvements in inspection timeframes and progress. We’ve been calling for change to the way consents and inspections are handled for years, and today’s update shows we are now on the right path.
According to data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, 92.7 percent of building consent applications and 96.8 percent of code compliance certificates were processed within the statutory timeframe in the first quarter of 2025.That’s up from 88 percent and 93.6 percent respectively when reporting began last year. These numbers are an encouraging sign that Government’s focus on lifting performance is starting to make a difference on the ground.
A recent survey of our members shows 71 percent had experienced delays with consenting that had impacted delivery. The current system is fragmented, with 67 different Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) interpreting the same building code in different ways. It is common for identical plans to be submitted to different BCAs and receive different outcomes. Delays of two or three weeks between inspections are common and that has knock-on effects for homeowners, subcontractors, and project planning. That’s why we’re so supportive of reforms that bring clarity, targets, and a risk-based approach.
We anticipate that as the Government’s work to solidify inspection timeframes continues, we will continue to see these numbers move in the right direction. As always, we look forward to working alongside the Government as this much needed reform of the consenting system continues.
Please attribute to Taupo Area Investigations Manager, Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Yardley:
Police have launched a homicide investigation, and a man has been charged with murder, after a man seriously injured in Tokoroa last week has now died.
Officers were called to an Abercorn Place address about 4:15am on Tuesday 27 May, to reports that a man had been injured by a male known to him outside his house.
The man was rushed to Waikato Hospital in critical condition, but has since passed away.
A 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder. He is next due to appear in the High Court at Rotorua on 27 June.
Police are still working to establish the full sequence of events that led to the man’s death, and we’d like to hear from anyone who witnessed anything, or has any information that might help our investigation.
We’d also like to see any dashcam or CCTV footage anyone may have from around the time in question.
If you can help, please use our 105 service, quoting reference number 250527/7868.
You can also give information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Smart changes proposed for Mount Smart Road will mean less time stuck in traffic at the end of a long day.
As Royal Oak continues to grow, so does the need for smarter, more efficient ways to get around. That’s why Auckland Transport (AT) is seeking feedback on a plan to help keep Mount Smart Road moving from Victoria Street to the busy Royal Oak roundabout.
Mount Smart Road connects Penrose with Onehunga and Royal Oak, carrying around 18,000 vehicles daily. In the evening, trips through this area can take more than twice as long as off-peak, with average speeds dropping to as low as 15km/h.
To help ease congestion, a new T3 transit lane heading towards the roundabout, has been proposed. This will operate from 4-7pm on weekdays and be reserved for buses, motorcycles, cyclists, and vehicles with three or more people.
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board chair Maria Meredith said a quick-fix, low-cost solution will enable more efficient traffic movements in the early evenings.
“Mount Smart Road is often gridlocked in the evenings, but widening it isn’t an option without affecting nearby homes. Adding a transit lane is a smart, low-cost way to keep people moving,” she said.
“This initiative targets one of our community’s busiest roads, which currently sees evening travel times more than double compared to off-peak hours. We want to see congestion eased, so people can spend less time in traffic.”
Broken yellow lines will also need to be added at four bus stops along Mount Smart Road to ensure that buses can enter and exit the stops safely.
AT is seeking feedback from the community on this proposal, with a second community drop-in session planned for Oranga Community Centre, 1 – 3pm on Saturday 07 June 2025.
Have your say on the Auckland Transport website by 15 June 2025.
New data showing international visitor spending increased by almost ten per cent on the previous year is welcome news, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
“Tourism is our second highest export earner and today’s results show just how important the sector is to unleashing economic growth in New Zealand,” Louise Upston says.
International Visitor Survey results show for the year ending March 2025, international tourism contributed $12.2 billion to New Zealand’s economy, up 9.2 per cent compared to the previous year.
This reflects an increase of 4.3 per cent in international visitor arrivals, with 3.32 million visitors coming to New Zealand, up from 3.18 million in 2024.
“In real terms, that means more bookings in our restaurants, more reservations at local accommodation and visitor experience providers, more people visiting our regions and attractions, more jobs being created across the country, and an overall stronger economy.”
When adjusted for inflation, this equates international spending to $9.7 billion or 86 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
“The growth in visitor numbers and spending is very encouraging but there is still more work to do to ensure tourism and hospitality can really thrive,” Louise Upston says.
“Amongst other initiatives, the Government announced a $20.4 million Tourism Boost package this year to help drive visitor numbers.
“New Zealand is open for business, and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to our beautiful country.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has congratulated the 2025 recipients of King’s Birthday Honours.
“Every person on this list has made New Zealand a better place.
“Locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally they are the proof that individual actions build a strong and thriving country.
“I am inordinately proud that twice every year, we can easily find dozens of outstanding citizens to honour this way, and I would like to thank all of the New Zealanders on this list for their service and achievements.
“To our new Dames and Knights, carry your Honour with the pride with which it was given,” Mr Luxon says.
Appointed as Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit are Ranjna Patel, Emeritus Distinguished Professor Alison Stewart, and Catriona Williams.
“Dame Ranjna Patel has made a lasting impact across New Zealand in her service to ethnic communities, health and family violence prevention. She founded Mana for Mums for young Māori and Pacific women in South Auckland, co-founded a multi-cultural community centre, and co-founded Tāmaki Health, which has grown to become New Zealand’s largest privately owned primary healthcare group. In doing so, Dame Ranjna has helped hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders,” says Mr Luxon.
“Dame Alison Stewart is an internationally renowned plant scientist with a 40-year career focused on sustainable plant protection, soil biology and plant biotechnology. She reinforces New Zealand’s stellar reputation in science and is an example of how our science community will continue to lead the world,” Mr Luxon says.
“Dame Catriona Williams’ legacy in spinal cord injury goes back more than 20 years. This remarkable woman has been the founder and driving force behind the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust since its establishment in 2005. She has inspired countless people by her example of courage and determination in the face of adversity. Dame Catriona dedicates her time to engage with people who have experienced a spinal cord injury and are new to life in a wheelchair,” says Mr Luxon.
This year’s Knights Companion are The Honourable Mark Cooper, Brendan Lindsay, and Ewan Smith.
“Sir Mark Cooper’s service to the judiciary is distinguished and longstanding. He became President of the Court of Appeal after being a Court of Appeal Judge from 2014 and a High Court Judge from 2004. Sir Mark was Chairperson of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure caused by the Canterbury Earthquakes and his detailed findings and recommendations avoided delay to the Canterbury rebuild and provided a sense of resolution to the community at a time it was critical,” Mr Luxon says.
“Businessman and philanthropist Sir Brendan Lindsay built a global brand producing sustainable and recyclable storage products stamped ‘Made in New Zealand’. Sistema was sold to an American firm in 2016, with the buyer committing in writing to keep production in New Zealand for 20 years. That business acumen has created a philanthropic legacy that has helped countless charities including Pet Refuge, Starship National Air Ambulance Service, New Zealand Riding for the Disabled and Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust,” Mr Luxon says.
“Sir Ewan Smith is legendary in the Cook Islands. The founder of Air Rarotonga, he has grown the business to become the largest private sector employer in the Cook Islands. However, it is his passion and loyalty to his people that distinguishes him further. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he ensured no Air Rarotonga employee was made redundant, and the airline maintained essential cargo and medevac services throughout the Cooks. Everyone including himself was placed on a minimum wage and he provided mentorship, counselling and budget advice to staff. Sir Ewan exemplifies what it is to be a good employer and an outstanding citizen.
“I would like to congratulate all 188 recipients of this year’s King’s Birthday Honours. We are proud of you, and we celebrate the example you set for others,” Mr Luxon says.
SPEAKER: Members, on 31 May this year, the Rt Hon Jim Bolger ONZ celebrated his 90th birthday. Jim Bolger was a member of this House from 1972 to 1998. He served as Leader of the Opposition and was Prime Minister for seven years, before his retirement from this House. Post-Parliament, he served as New Zealand’s Ambassador to the United States and, after that, was chair of New Zealand Post. He retains a keen interest in proceedings in this House and the betterment of New Zealand. I’m sure members will want to stand and join with me in expressing our birthday wishes both to the Rt Hon Jim Bolger and Mrs Joan Bolger, who has been such a support to him.
LEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE (Labour—Māngere): Tatou ifo ma tatalo. Le Atua Silisili ese e, matou te sulaina lau Afio mo fa’amanuiaga ma tofi ua e fa’au’uina ai i matou. E lafoa’i ni o matou lagona ma manatua ta’ito’atasi i le amana’iaina o le Masiofo o Peretania. Matou te tatalo ina ia tonu ma fa’amaoni fuafuaga ma fa’ai’uga uma i totonu o lenei Maota Fono. Ia talosia ta’ita’i o lenei Mālō ina ia maua le tōfā mamao, le fa’apalepale ma le agamalū, auā le manuia ma le filemū o Niu Sila. O le matou tatalo lea, e ala atu i le suafa pele o Iesu Keriso. Amene.
HANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE (Te Pāti Māori—Hauraki-Waikato): I seek leave to move a motion without notice and without debate that this House commemorates the 30-year anniversary of the Waikato-Tainui raupatu settlement signed at Tūrangawaewae Marae in May 1995.
SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that particular course of action. Is there any objection? There appears to—
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Minister of Foreign Affairs): Yes. Point of order, Mr Speaker. If we look at the number of settlements there have been, then we’ll be doing this every day for about one-third of the year’s sittings. So it was not against the idea—this was the first settlement we ever had—but it’s the inappropriate repetitiveness of it all.
SPEAKER: Though that is true, it was also the first settlement we had. None the less, leave is denied.
Working with third-party providers: understanding your privacy responsibilities
Your responsibility for the personal information stored or processed by a third-party provider comes from Section 11 of the Privacy Act.
Personal information is any information which tells us something about a specific individual. People’s names, contact details, financial, health and purchase records can all be personal information. The information doesn’t need to name the individual, if they are identifiable in other ways, like through their home address or another identifier, or if their identity could be pieced together. Read more about what we mean by personal information.
This guidance is for organisations who are thinking about using a third-party provider, or those who already do. If you use a third-party provider to store or process personal information on your behalf, you are still responsible for what happens to that information.
This guidance explains what you must think about when you are choosing a third-party provider and what your ongoing responsibilities are. We have a wider suite of guidance ‘Poupou Matatapu’ to find out more about how to ‘do privacy well’ and what good privacy practice looks like.
Your organisation is responsible for your personal information when stored or processed by a third-party provider
The key thing to remember is that you remain responsible for personal information that you send to a third-party provider.
What do we mean by third-party provider?
‘Third-party’ means an organisation external to your organisation.
‘Third-party provider,’ also known as a ‘third-party’ or ‘service provider,’ is a broad term that can be applied to a range of external organisations that provide services to your organisation, such as storing or processing information on your organisation’s behalf. Software as a Service (SaaS) or cloud service providers are a classic example. However, there is a wide range of other third-party providers you might contract with who may need to store or process personal information provided by your organisation to deliver their service to you.
For example, you might:
Share employee pay information with an external payroll provider or accountant.
Contract a company to collect information for a survey.
Use another organisation to provide personalised services for your customers.
Use an intermediary platform that shares the information with other third parties.
Before you engage a third-party provider, you need to understand:
What types of personal information you’ll share with them, or they’ll collect on your behalf.
What they will do with it.
Do they need personal information?
First, understand whether your organisation needs to provide personal information to the third-party provider at all. You should consider if you can achieve the results you want from a third-party provider without providing any personal information.
For example, your organisation might like to use a third-party marketing agency to provide advertising services. Marketing agencies can offer a range of services, from sourcing advertising on billboards or online advertising (which would not require any personal information), to using the information collected from an organisation’s existing customer database to create marketing strategies (which might require personal information, depending on the task).
Think about whether supplying aggregated, non-personal information might enable the marketing agency to perform the service adequately.
Please note: when changing the way you use clients’ or staff’s personal information, you need to assess the privacy risk and make sure you’re being transparent through your privacy statement to reflect any changes in use of personal information. We have guidance on how to improve your privacy transparency. We also have a PIA toolkit available to help assess the privacy risks.
What kind of personal information is it?
It’s important to understand the level of privacy risk that you’ll need to manage with your third-party provider. We have guidance on different kinds of personal information that may carry higher privacy risk, such as where the information is sensitive or confidential.
For example, an organisation might employ the use of a third-party software provider to manage their payroll. Information required to process payroll can be sensitive, such as bank account and IRD numbers. Appropriate security measures need to be in place. We have guidance on handling sensitive information.
Due diligence
You will need to be confident that the information is protected wherever it is, and whatever organisation is handling it. Ask questions that enable you to have that confidence (this is normally referred to as ‘due diligence’), and ask those questions early, before you commit to using the provider.
Any subsequent contract with that provider should satisfactorily reflect the key protections that you expect to be in place. It should also require the third-party to ensure that any subcontractors or support agencies will equally protect the information. Your organisation needs to know whether the third-party provider will use or disclose the personal information that you provide for its own business purposes.
What will the third-party provider do with the information?
There are a range of services that third-party providers offer. Some third-party providers will merely store the information and some will process the information for you (for example, a service providing data analytics). Some may themselves use third-party services such as generative AI tools to store or process the information.
A key thing to understand is whether the third-party provider will use the information for their own purposes or not. Some examples of third parties using information for their own purposes could be when your information is used as AI training data or using the information you provide for services to other organisations.
If the third-party provider is storing or processing the information solely on your behalf (for example storing information as a cloud service) and will not use or disclose it for its own purposes, section 11 of the Privacy Act says that the third-party provider is not deemed to “hold” the personal information for the purposes of the Privacy Act. This also means that you are not “disclosing” the information to them, which means you do not need to worry about the Privacy Act’s disclosure principle (IPP 11). But as a result, your organisation remains fully responsible under the Privacy Act for what happens to that information. The third-party is “you” for the purposes of the Privacy Act.
If the third-party provider will use or disclose the information for its own purposes, as well as performing services for you, then both the third-party provider and your organisation will be deemed to “hold” that information for the purposes of the Privacy Act. That means you will both be responsible for the information in various ways depending on how it is being stored or used. Sharing personal information with that third-party provider could also be a “disclosure” and you will need to make sure that sharing the information is allowed under IPP11. IPP12 may also be relevant if the third-party provider is not based in New Zealand.
In addition, both your organisation and the third-party provider may be accountable if there is a privacy breach. This means that your organisation and the third-party provider need to have a plan to outline who will notify OPC and individuals affected in case there is a breach. We have guidance on who should notify OPC and affected individuals.
Example of a section 11 situation: Wonder Bottling Ltd uses third-party Big Data Analytics
Wonder Bottling Ltd wants to use the third-party Big Data Analytics Ltd to run Wonder Bottling’s website. Big Data Analytics will store all website data, including personal information provided by customers to Wonder Bottling via web forms. It will also process the information stored and provided to the website to provide website analytics to Wonder Bottling Ltd.
Big Data Analytics is not using Wonder Bottling Ltd’s information for another purpose or service, such as using Wonder Bottling Ltd’s data insights to provide a service to another organisation. It is solely storing and processing information for Wonder Bottling Ltd. Under section 11, this means that Wonder Bottling Ltd is responsible for anything that happens to that information while it is being stored or processed by Big Data Analytics.
For instance, if Big Data Analytics is the subject of a notifiable privacy breach in relation to the personal information transmitted by Wonder Bottling, Wonder Bottling would be responsible for notifying the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) and affected individuals. In their agreement, Big Data Analytics should be required to inform Wonder Bottling about any breaches of that information so that Wonder Bottling can fulfil this requirement.
However, if Big Data Analytics were to change how it operates and start using that information for another purpose, Big Data Analytics would have its own obligations under the Privacy Act, such as responsibilities to make sure the information is accurate and fit for purpose under IPP8, and to use the information in line with IPP10.
Protecting personal information once you’ve chosen a third-party provider
Since your organisation is legally responsible for anything that happens to the personal information that a third-party provider stores or processes for you (whether or not that third-party is also responsible), you should make sure that you have a robust agreement in place with them that requires them to keep the information safe and gives you a remedy when things go wrong.
What should be in an agreement with a third-party provider?
Security measures
An organisation needs to do everything within its power to prevent unauthorised use or disclosure of personal information. This means that your organisation needs to get assurances that the third-party provider has the appropriate security measures in place to protect any information it stores or processes on your behalf. The more sensitive the information is, the stronger those assurances may need to be.
Our guidance on security and access controls provides examples of the types of security measures the third-party provider should take to protect the personal information it stores. Your organisation may wish to seek regular reporting from the third-party provider on the effectiveness of the measures.
Individuals’ right to access and correct the information your organisation holds about them
The Privacy Act requires you to give people access to their personal information if they ask you to, and correct that information if it is wrong. There are also strict statutory timeframes for responding to requests. Those timeframes don’t change when the information is stored by a third-party rather than by you. You need to ensure that your agreement with the third-party provider includes provisions that make sure you can locate and retrieve information quickly, so you can meet your obligations.
The reporting of notifiable privacy breaches also needs to be factored into your agreement with a third-party provider, including how it will notify you of any breaches it has, and whether it will notify you of all breaches or only ones that it considers are notifiable. We strongly recommend that the contract requires the third-party provider to notify you of all breaches that affect the personal information it is storing or processing on your behalf, so that you can then decide what to do.
Your organisation will be responsible under the Privacy Act for reporting notifiable privacy breaches to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner so you need to be satisfied that the third-party provider will promptly notify you of breaches. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner generally expects to be told about notifiable breaches within 72 hours of the breach becoming known. That period starts when the third-party provider knows about the breach, not when they tell you, so it is important to make sure that you are told as soon as possible.
Your agreement should make sure there are contractual obligations on the third-party provider to comply with all applicable privacy laws.
Disposal of personal information during and after the agreement
Organisations must not keep personal information for longer than they need. It’s important that your agreement outlines how long the third-party provider will store the personal information on your behalf. In short, the third-party provider should only retain the information for as long as you want it to and are permitted to yourself. Ideally, you should be able to delete the information yourself as retention periods are reached or your circumstances change.
The agreement should also outline what will happen to the information at the end of the agreement. Will it be transferred back to you? How will it be disposed of? Can the third-party provider give you assurances that the information has been permanently deleted (including from backups)? Poupou Matatapu has more guidance on retention and disposal in the Know your Personal Information Pou.
Assurance that the third-party provider will only use the personal information for delivering the services
Your agreement should include an assurance that the third-party provider will only use the personal information it stores or processes on your behalf to deliver the services you have requested, as outlined in the agreement. Remember, that if the third-party provider will be using or disclosing the information for its own purposes, the third-party will have its own obligations under the Privacy Act.
Checklist for what should be in your agreement with a third-party service provider:
Appropriate security measures.
Facilitation of access and correction requests.
Process and time frame for notifying you of privacy breaches, especially notifiable breaches.
Compliance with relevant privacy laws.
The third-party’s use of the information you provide.
Use a Privacy Impact Assessment to assess and record the privacy risks associated with using a particular third-party provider. We have a PIA toolkit available to help.
If you’re using a third-party provider based in another country, consider your practical ability to control your personal information and ensure it is being handled in line with the New Zealand Privacy Act.
Consult with stakeholders or affected communities if the personal information is particularly sensitive, or where there are Māori data sovereignty implications.
The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety’s announcement today on gutting WorkSafe’s enforcement capability signals a return to a failed approach, that will weaken our health and safety system, said the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi.
“A soft approach to poor health and safety was a critical failing that led to the Pike River mine disaster, one of the worst health and safety failings in New Zealand history,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.
“Brooke van Velden continues to systematically gut WorkSafe to help protect businesses from enforcement of breaches of the law, rather than protecting the workers who suffer huge rates of injury and fatality as a result of work.
“WorkSafe was established in the wake of the Pike River mine disaster. It was clear that we needed a well-resourced, effective, and strong regulator, that was prepared to prosecute where necessary, as this was clearly lacking.
“Every week a worker is killed on the job on average in New Zealand, and 17 more are killed from the impact of work-related illnesses and diseases. Every year there are over 30,000 injuries suffered that require more than a week away from work. Nothing in these announcements will have a positive effect on these numbers.
“In the past few years, WorkSafe has endured cuts to the tune of millions of dollars, resulting in fewer staff. Since it was established the WorkSafe inspectorate has reduced from 8 per 100 thousand employees to 6.5, amongst cuts to the wider WorkSafe staffing levels.
“The Minister’s decision to gut WorkSafe is a reflection of a government that is prioritising profits over people,” said Wagstaff.
Night shift staff pursued a lead that led to a great catch for Mt Wellington Police this morning.
At around 3.20am, units were patrolling near Penrose Road when they stopped a vehicle.
“Once stopped the officers noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from inside,” Auckland City East Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Rachel Dolheguy says.
“A search of the vehicle was invoked and resulted in a guitar case containing an unloaded military style pump action shotgun was located in the boot.”
Also found were four shotgun shells, a small amount of cannabis and cannabis paraphernalia.
“This was great proactive police work by our officers, which has resulted in a high-powered weapon being removed from our community,” Inspector Dolheguy says.
A 34-year-old male will appear in the Auckland District Court this morning charged with possessing a firearm and possessing cannabis.
A teenager’s tearing up of a rugby club’s fields has taken a turn for the worst.
The 19-year-old has swapped the keys to his new pride and joy for a court appearance.
Kumeū Police got onto the case after locals awoke to the Kumeū Rugby Club fields torn up early on Saturday morning.
“A furore ensued on the community grapevines given a prized community asset had been damaged,” Sergeant Graham Bennett says.
“Information was quickly passed onto Police which was followed up and a vehicle of interest was identified.”
After ongoing attempts to speak with the driver, Kumeū Police have since interviewed him.
Sergeant Bennett says the 19-year-old Hobsonville man has been charged with intentional damage as well as other driving offences.
“The driver has had his newly purchased vehicle impounded.”
He will appear in the Waitākere District Court at a later date.
Sergeant Bennett says: “Police would like to thank those involved in the rugby club and members of the public for their assistance in supplying information which led to this apprehension.
“It’s a reminder about consequences, and we will not tolerate this behaviour in the community given the risks posed and damage created.”
Police are urging members of the Wellington community to be aware of recent card skimming incidents, taking thousands of dollars from victims.
Wellington District Operations Manager, Acting Inspector Tim McIntosh says Police have seen an increase in the number of victims losing large amounts of money due to card skimming incidents.
“In the last week alone, we have received around 12 reports of this offending, where in some cases victims have lost over $5,000.”
Card skimming is where an offender will install a device with a camera on an ATM or POS (point of sale) terminal to capture card data and record PIN numbers.
Offenders will then use the obtained information to create fake payment cards and make unauthorised purchases or withdraw funds to steal from victim’s accounts.
“We urge the public to be aware of this type of offending to ensure they can take the proper precautions to keep their data and finances safe,” says Acting Inspector Tim McIntosh.
“Thankfully, there are many ways to help prevent being a victim of card skimming when using your cards.”
Always double check an ATM or POS terminal. Look out for signs of damage or tampering, loose or unattached pieces, or a different colour variation on the device.
Block your PIN number. When entering your PIN number, use your other hand to block any camera that may be recording.
Trust in what you know. A large majority of card skimming takes place at non-bank ATM machines due to increased security and cameras around bank ATMs.
Follow your instinct. If you feel something is off or suspicious about an ATM or POS terminal, check-in with a bank or store staff member.
Regularly check on your accounts. This will not only allow you to keep track of where you have spent your money, but will also ensure you can act quickly in the case your money has been stolen.
If you believe you have been victim to card skimming, please contact your bank immediately and cancel your cards and accounts.
Police also urge you to gather as much information as you can and make a report through 105.police.govt.nz or call 105.
You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111.
“Christopher Luxon must end any further speculation that his Government is on the climate denial bandwagon. After wasting a year playing around with the mythical ‘no additional warming’ idea, international alarm bells are ringing,” says Green Party co-leader and Climate Change spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick.
“The Climate Change Commission is clear that any entertainment of ‘no additional warming’ from agricultural gasses would mean households and businesses across the rest of the economy carrying a far higher burden.
“International experts are rightfully calling out this accounting trick. It’s about fixing numbers on a page while the real world burns.
“While the Government doesn’t tend to show any care for people and the planet, perhaps they would understand that pushing ahead with this agenda poses huge risks for our international exports, climate and trade agreements.
“The Greens haveshownhow we can reduce real-world emissions five times faster than the Government’s ‘plan,’ while reducing the cost of living and improving our quality of life.
“New Zealanders deserve so much better than this Government’s low ambitions for our country,”says Chlöe Swarbrick.
* The Green Party has raised this issue multiple times. Please see some examples below
A range of projects led by community groups have been allocated a share of $303,119 from Auckland Council in the latest round of Ngā Hapori Momoho | Thriving Communities grants for 2024/2025, approved by the Community Committee on 27 May.
The grants support regional goals in the council’s Ngā Hapori Momoho | Thriving Communities Strategy 2022-2032, with the vision for a fairer, more sustainable Tāmaki Makaurau where every Aucklander belongs. The goals aim to improve financial security, improve health outcomes, and grow community and intercultural connection.
Committee chair, Councillor Angela Dalton says the funding recognises the organisations behind these projects as experts at what they do, changing lives for the better in line with council objectives.
“Initiatives funded in this round include a transitional housing service for women, a programme teaching traditional Māori parenting skills, and a support service for young people experiencing sexual harm,” Cr Dalton says.
Deputy chair, Councillor Julie Fairey agrees that this year’s successful applicants will provide a broad spectrum of community benefits, from strengthening wellbeing for rainbow youth to supporting food rescue.
“The council is proud to be able to support a wide range of community activities through these grants, acknowledging the skills of local groups and supporting them in their important mahi. This is the stuff that helps our communities to thrive,” says Cr Fairey.
Ngā Hapori Momoho | Thriving Communities grants are allocated to regionally significant groups, services, events and activities to benefit residents across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
General Manager Community Wellbeing Kenneth Aiolupotea says demand for council funding continues to grow with the highest number of applications ever received for the current round of Ngā Hapori Momoho grants, up 25 per cent from last year, with a total of 119 applications submitted.
“It is really great news that each of the 11 successful applicants have been approved for close to maximum funding, with grants ranging from $26,000 to $28,500 allocated,” Kenneth says.
Organisations delivering strong Māori outcomes were among 11 community groups that each receive a welcome boost this year for their work to improve welfare, health and belonging for Aucklanders in need.
“In addition, four of the successful applicants are Māori organisations and another two are delivering projects with strong Māori outcomes. Together, these six applicants account for 56 per cent of the total recommended funding, which is an important measure for the council.”
In the last funding round for 2023/2024, six of the 13 applicants funded were from Māori organisations or delivered strong Māori outcomes, and together they received 50 per cent of the allocated funding.
All applications were assessed by a panel to determine eligibility, capability, and how well they meet the grants funding criteria, which is available online. Unsuccessful applicants will be supported to reapply for future funding.
The Community Committee has reviewed whether change is needed for future funding rounds to keep meeting the best outcomes. Members have resolved to continue investing in projects that increase whānau and community financial security, improve health outcomes and grow community and intercultural connection for allocations from 2026 through to 2028.
Find out more
The full eligibility criteria and funding priorities are explained in the Ngā Hapori Momoho / Thriving Communities Grants Guidelines, available on the Auckland Council website.
Key dates
Applications for the next round of the 2022-2032 Ngā Hapori Momoho / Thriving Communities Grants are expected to open in November 2025.
The Ngā Hapori Momoho / Thriving Communities Strategy 2023-2024 document is available on the Auckland Council website.
Ngā Hapori Momoho | Thriving Communities grants for 2024/2025:
Applicant
Project
Amount Recommended
Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai
Te Whare Hīnātore – a transitional housing service to reconnect wāhine with their whānau and provide the skills to live independently
$28,500
Auckland Pride Incorporated
Strengthening connections and wellbeing for Rainbow Youth
$28,500
Breathing Space Charitable Trust
Creative wellbeing professional development program for community organisations working alongside at-risk youth and young women
$28,500
EcoMatters Environment Trust
Improving health outcomes through teaching Aucklanders how to keep their house warm and dry and how to save money by reducing water and energy usage
$26,629
ECPAT Child Alert Trust (ECPAT NZ)
Youth engagement programme – supporting youth who are at risk of or have survived sexual exploitation
$28,500
KiwiHarvest
Food rescue and distribution to recipient charities
$28,500
Momentum Charitable Trust
Life and financial skills at Auckland Region Probation Centres
$27,374
Mya Steele-Fonokalafi
Ngākau Aroha parenting – inspiring and empowering whānau to apply tūpuna parenting skills
$26,104
TAIORA
Hauora training for Ngāti Whātua Iwi – training iwi and marae leaders with skills to support young people
$28,500
Te Whare Hukahuka Ltd
Ka Eke Poutama – rangatahi governance skills and pathways into governance roles programme
$28,263
OKE Charity
Working with schools – building outdoor classrooms, hands-on workshops, and community events
A man is facing at least 18 charges after a string of alleged offending across the North Shore area in recent months.
Waitematā East Police caught up with the man and he is custody until his next court date later in June.
Businesses and commuters have been the alleged targets of the man’s spree, including a defibrillator worth thousands of dollars from one Takapuna business.
Area Commander Inspector Stefan Sagar says staff have been piecing together a series of burglaries and shoplifting offences.
“Thanks to this collation the man was deemed a priority to target and locate, and Police arrested him near the Takapuna area late last week,” he says.
“Other alleged offending includes the theft of scooters from Park and Rides at Constellation and Sunnynook.
“We have laid 18 charges against this man including burglary, unlawful takes, theft and trespass.”
A 42-year-old man appeared in the North Shore District Court in late May.
“Police are continuing to target and hold offending to account and in this case, there was ongoing harm being inflicted,” Inspector Sagar says.
“The man has been remanded in custody and is not currently in the community.”
Eligibility criteria If you are approved to provide work-based delivery, AEWV holders that undertake work-based learning with you may be eligible for TEC funding. To be eligible, they must:
For more information about ‘domestic student’ requirements, see: Other valid domestic enrolments Which programmes are funded? TEC publishes a list of funded programmes for work-based learners with AEWVs here: List of funded programmes for eligible AEWV work-based learners (XLSX 73 KB) If a work-based learner with an AEWV meets the eligibility criteria, funding will apply. To determine when a specific programme becomes eligible for funding, see the ‘Programme list’ section under the ‘Instructions’ tab. Check this list regularly. It changes in response to policy, immigration and programme changes. What if a learner is not eligible? If an AEWV holder does not meet the criteria to be an eligible learner, they will not qualify for funding, unless they fall into a different category of people eligible to be treated as domestic learners. Find out more at Other valid domestic enrolments. Learners ineligible for funding may still be able to access both provider-based and work-based learning. However, international fees will apply. Individuals with holiday or work visa types do not meet the criteria; the visa must be an AEWV. Eligibility for Fees Free AEWV learners who are eligible for TEC funding for work-based learning are treated as domestic learners, so they may be eligible for Fees Free. Find the complete list of Fees Free eligibility criteria at the Fees Free website. Learners enrolled in work-based learning before 1 January 2023 Before 2023, all individuals working legally in New Zealand and enrolled in work-based learning were eligible for TEC funding under the Industry Training Fund. This included individuals with visas other than residency visas. From 1 January 2023, limits were placed on funded work-based learning for international workers, to align eligibility more closely with funded provider-based study. As a result, fewer international workers are eligible for TEC funding. However, any learner who enrolled in work-based learning before 1 January 2023 is still eligible for TEC funding until they complete their programme of training, if they meet all other fund requirements. This is because they started their training under the previous policy settings. If the learner changes employers but continues the same programme, they will remain eligible for TEC funding. However, if the learner withdraws from or changes their programme, any new enrolment will be subject to the eligibility criteria in place at the time they enrol.
Rising dairy prices lift export prices – media release
3 June 2025
Export prices rose 7.1 percent in the March 2025 quarter, led by dairy prices, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
“Export prices have been increasing since March 2024 and are now 17 percent higher than they were a year ago,” international accounts spokesperson Viki Ward said.
Prices for dairy products (New Zealand’s top export commodity) rose 10 percent, led by a 13 percent increase in milk powder prices compared with the December 2024 quarter.
“The increase in dairy prices was shared across all of the major dairy categories,” Ward said.
Visit our website to read this news story and information release and to download CSV files:
Concerns about road cone use anywhere in New Zealand can now be reported to WorkSafe New Zealand through a new digital hotline on the WorkSafe website.
The initiative aims to get those deploying cones to be more proportionate and balanced, while maintaining worker and public safety.
“The pilot aims to reduce unnecessary cones on the road. While cones are primarily there to manage the speed and flow of traffic and help keep everyone safe, there can be times when usage is excessive. We will engage with those involved with temporary traffic management and provide information to influence them to take a more risk-based approach to the use of cones on the road,” says WorkSafe’s Chief Executive Sharon Thompson.
Once a report is received through the digital hotline, WorkSafe will assess it to determine the appropriate response. This could include contact with those responsible for the roadwork site, sending an inspector out, and educating the parties involved on what the law and guidance is.
Source: Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
Dr Dave Gittings, Manager, Building Performance and Engineering, said: “This new document streamlines the process for those looking to use proven and tested overseas products, knowing they will be accepted through the consenting system.”
“The draft Building Product Specifications document released today contains specifications and overseas standards that can be used to demonstrate compliance with the Building Code.
“Designers will be able to use overseas products that comply with any one of these standards and specifications to show the building work meets overall Building Code requirements.
“Today we are releasing the proposed first version of this document which contains specifications and standards for products that we already know and use, such as windows, plasterboard and cladding.
“We will be rolling out further updates to this document over time, as well as developing other pathways for recognising overseas products.
“We think there’ll be a lot of interest in the changes – from councils who will be using the Building Product Specifications when assessing compliance – to designers, builders and developers keen to understand what other options are out there, and I’d like to encourage everyone to have their say.”
Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
Jerusalem: Dozens of Palestinians were killed and hundreds more injured yesterday, 1 June, as they waited for food at the newly created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution centres in Rafah and close to the Netzarim Corridor, according to the Ministry of Health.
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams joined the mass casualty response in Nasser hospital, Khan Younis. Patients told MSF they were shot from all sides by drones, helicopters, boats, tanks and Israeli soldiers on the ground.
“Today’s events have shown once again that this new system of aid delivery is dehumanising, dangerous and severely ineffective. It has resulted in deaths and injuries of civilians that could have been prevented. Humanitarian aid must be provided only by humanitarian organisations who have the competence and determination to do it safely and effectively,” states Claire Manera, MSF emergency coordinator.
MSF teams at Nasser hospital treated patients with serious injuries today. Some patients in critical condition are still undergoing surgery. But with the blood banks almost empty, medical staff themselves have had to donate blood.
“The hospital corridors were filled with patients, but unlike what I have witnessed before, where most of the patients were women and children, today it was mainly men. They lay in their beds in the hallways because the rooms are already packed with injured people. They had visible gunshot wounds in their limbs, and their clothes were soaked with blood,” says Nour Alsaqa, MSF communications officer. “They looked shattered and distraught after trying to secure food for their children, returning instead injured and empty handed. Outside, there was shouting, sirens, a constant rush of new arrivals to the emergency room. Amid the chaos, we received confirmation that a colleague’s brother had been killed while attempting to collect aid from the distribution centre,” she adds. Mansour Sami Abdi, a father of four, described the chaos: “People fought over five pallets. They told us to take food—then they fired from every direction. I ran 200 metres before realising I’d been shot. This isn’t aid. It’s a lie. Are we supposed to go get food for our kids and die?”
“I was shot at 3:10am. As we were trapped, I bled constantly until 5:00am. There were many other men with me. One of them tried to get me out. He was shot in the head and died on my chest. We had gone there for nothing but food — just to survive, like everyone else,” says Mohammad Daghmeh, 24, a displaced person in Al-Qarara, Khan Younis.
This is the second time this new system of aid distribution has led to bloodshed. On 27 May, the first afternoon of distribution in Rafah, Israeli forces shot dozens of people as wholly insufficient amounts of basic lifesaving supplies were distributed amid chaos.
As a result of the total siege that was imposed by the Israeli authorities on 2 March, 100 per cent of Gaza is now at risk of famine, according to the United Nations. Since 19 May, the few hundred food trucks brought in – an insufficient fraction of what is needed – have spread despair among the 2 million plus people who have been largely deprived of food, water, and medication for three months now. Totally or partially blocking humanitarian aid to enter Gaza has aggravated the situation of all Gazans.
MSF reinforces that, along with displacement orders and bombing campaigns that kill civilians, weaponising aid in this manner may constitute crimes against humanity. Only a lasting ceasefire and the immediate opening of Gaza’s borders for humanitarian aid – including food, medical supplies, fuel and equipment – can ease this man-made catastrophe.
The change in focus for WorkSafe New Zealand is long overdue and should assist employers in keeping workers safer while having fewer concerns about being punished, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA).
The changes – including a new letter of expectations, a restructured funding model, and a legislative rewrite of the regulator’s core purpose – represent a significant shift in the approach to health and safety regulation in New Zealand.
The EMA has long advocated for a more balanced, collaborative model that fosters partnership and practical support for employers and workers.
‘Hello, what can we do to help?’ may be the new greeting from a WorkSafe inspector, says EMA Manager of Employment Relations & Safety Paul Jarvie.
“These reforms will help modernise WorkSafe into a regulator that promotes compliance through education rather than fear,” he says.
“This is a welcome and necessary change. For years, businesses – particularly small and medium-sized enterprises – have felt they were being policed rather than supported.
“We’ve heard consistently from our members that the culture of enforcement-first created a climate of fear and concealment, rather than clarity and cooperation. This meant businesses were reluctant to call in WorkSafe for assistance because they were worried about simply being fined without getting the help or guidance they originally sought to avoid or manage a potential risk in the workplace.
“That feedback has come through strongly from our members for many years and Minister van Velden heard the concerns during her roadshow events with small to medium businesses last year. The EMA has been calling for a shift towards an enabling, advisory-based regulator – and it’s pleasing to see the government respond.”
The announcement includes a redefinition of WorkSafe’s role, with a greater emphasis on early engagement, targeted guidance, and clear, consistent advice.
Updating and streamlining more than 50 guidance documents and re-prioritising critical risk areas are among the first steps being taken.
“Cleaning up of WorkSafe advice documents is long overdue and must continue,” Jarvie says.
“Clear expectations, consistent advice, and a shared goal of risk reduction should be the foundation of our health and safety system. New Zealand workplaces are safer when employers and regulators work in partnership.”
The EMA also supports the move to involve industries more directly in developing Approved Codes of Practice, with WorkSafe providing guidance and oversight.
“Industry knows its risks best,” says Jarvie. “Empowering businesses to help shape the standards they work to – with proper regulatory oversight – is a smart, pragmatic approach that will deliver better compliance and ultimately, better outcomes for workers.”
The EMA assisted the Minister ’s review roadshow and found strong support from our members for these changes. The EMA is actively involved in supporting our members to meet and surpass their health and safety obligations through our comprehensive training programme.
The EMA looks forward to continuing to work with the government, WorkSafe, Unions and other key stakeholders to ensure the transition achieves its intended purpose: a modern, fit-for-purpose regulator focused on outcomes, not bureaucracy.
The indicative allocation is our early estimate of each tertiary education organisation’s on-Plan funding. It indicates what you could receive for the following year if your Investment Plan is approved for funding. The indicative allocation is our early estimate of each tertiary education organisation’s on-Plan funding. It indicates what you could receive for the following year if your Investment Plan is approved for funding.
We calculate this using a set of allocation methodologies, which are specific to each fund. We review and revise these every year to make sure they’re aligned to funding determinations and the current tertiary environment. Your indicative allocations will be made available from 3 June and can be accessed through the My Allocations and Payments app on Ngā Kete. 2026 indicative allocations 2026 Global indicative allocation methodology (PDF 841 KB) Historical indicative allocation methodologies
The focus of the workshops will be about getting farmers to think about their purchasing decisions. Instead of opting for products that could be wasted after a single use, she is encouraging farmers to choose sustainable products with Agrecovery stickers signalling they’re part of a recycling scheme.
Trish said her biggest hope is that after finishing a workshop, people would leave with the confidence to make one decision a month towards minimising and managing waste.
“This month it might be Fun Day Friday, where you take a load to the recycling depot and have a fish and chip lunch with your workers. That’s one change, and then next month you might look at doing something with your silage or baleage wrap or composting.”
Taranaki dairy farmer Trish Rankin is running workshops across Waitaha to help farmers minimise waste
From monthly skip bins to recycling pro
In 2017, Trish and Glen were sharemilking in Taranaki when they started noticing they had a skip bin of waste collected every month.
“I started to think — ‘how do we have this much rubbish on the farm, and it’s all going to landfill, there must be another option’.”
In 2019, through the Kellogg Leadership Programme, Trish began researching waste minimisation on farms and how a circular economy model could be developed in New Zealand.
She found growing requirements for manufacturers of on-farm products to be a part of a recovery scheme.
The missing link was that many farmers still didn’t know what they could recycle and how, because it hadn’t been well communicated, she said.
“The great thing about the workshops is people can share solutions. It’s not me telling people what to do—someone might have a solution for tractor batteries and someone else might know more about recycling bale wrap. That way we can learn from each other.”
Trish said many farmers were unaware they were already paying a product recovery levy.
“Let’s just say I buy a $1000 drum of alkaline. $75 of that might be a levy to get that collected, but you don’t know you’ve paid that and instead you’re paying more money to get it collected in your skip bin,” she said.
Farmers are trying to do better
There were many changes people could make to better our environment and sometimes that could feel overwhelming, which was why Trish suggested focusing on one goal at a time.
“The ‘should be’ list can be very long in farming. You ‘should be’ doing better for your animals, for your people, for your climate. Sharing knowledge and experiences farmer-to-farmer, and breaking it down, is empowering,” Trish said.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand has welcomed back its specialist team from their deployment to New South Wales.
The contingent of four Community Liaison Officers and two Jurisdiction Liaison have been operating mainly in the flood-hit areas of Taree and Port Macquarie.
Deputy National Commander Brendan Nally says he is proud of the efforts of the team who were faced with significant devastation caused by the floods.
“At the request of the New South Wales State Emergency Service, our people were tasked with supporting Australian emergency services and communities affected by the flooding,” he says.
“This involved going from door to door in the affected communities, speaking with homeowners, answering their questions, addressing their concerns about the damages from the flooding, and ensuring they knew how to access help.
“The willingness of our people to lend their skills to our close neighbours in their time of need is greatly appreciated.
“They bring home with them new experiences and knowledge that will benefit the communities of Aotearoa New Zealand when we’re faced with our own severe weather events.”
Local tech company, Wych, will assist Kiwibank in implementing open banking.
Kiwibank will not be charging accredited third parties to make standard API requests.
Open banking will deliver more value, choice and flexibility for customers.
Kiwibank is the first New Zealand bank to partner with Wych, a New Zealand based financial technology company specialising in providing open data services and capabilities to data holders and data recipients.
Wych will provide the integration capability to connect accredited third parties with Kiwibank as it delivers open banking.
Steve Jurkovich, Kiwibank’s Chief Executive, says, “As a modern integration provider, Wych’s solution is cloud hosted and provided as a complete end-to-end SaaS solution. It’s also scalable and will enable Kiwibank to easily adapt as the open banking ecosystem develops.
“This next step in our open banking journey will set us up to collaborate with even more innovative partners to offer services and experiences that provide our customers greater value and choice. As a smaller player compared to the larger banks, Kiwibank is excited to partner with fintechs to drive more competition to make Kiwi better off.”
Dermot Butterfield, Wych’s Chief Executive Officer, says, “We are excited to be partnering with Kiwibank to build on the opportunity that open banking represents for their customers, including more innovation and customer-centric solutions as the market matures.”
Kiwibank is proud to be supporting a Kiwi technology company and leveraging the expertise we have right here in New Zealand.
Kiwibank takes competitive stand on open banking fees
Kiwibank exists to challenge the status quo and to create a future where banking in New Zealand is stronger and fairer than ever before.
“We see the significant value open banking can deliver for our customers and we want to enable that,” says Jurkovich. “That’s why we won’t be charging accredited third parties to make standard API requests.”
This sets Kiwibank apart. While some banks are offering temporary waivers on fees charged to accredited third parties, in the longer term those costs could be passed on to customers.
“At Kiwibank, we’re committed to shaping an open banking environment that delivers real benefits for New Zealanders,” says Jurkovich. “By removing cost barriers we’re helping to unlock innovation that puts customers first – enabling more tailored, transparent, and empowering financial experiences.”
Kiwibank is committed to delivering payment initiation API services by 30 May 2026 and account information API services by 30 November 2026.
About Kiwibank
Kiwibank is a Purpose-led organisation that has modern, Kiwi values at heart and keeps Kiwi money where it belongs – right here in New Zealand. As a Kiwi bank, with more than a million customers, our trusted experts are focused on supporting Kiwi with their home ownership aspirations and backing local business ambitions, so together we can thrive here in Aotearoa and on the world stage. Kiwibank is the #1 bank in Kantar’s 2024 Corporate Reputation Index and the only bank in the top 20. To find out more about Kiwibank visitwww.kiwibank.co.nz.
When new rōpū Kōkō Tangiwai stormed to the front of the Waitaha region kapa haka competitions in 2024 they pushed the boundaries of creativity and innovation to take out the top spot and earn their place at Te Matatini 2025.
Kapa haka is a vital expression of Māori identity, history, and culture. It has been passed down through generations and has evolved into a dynamic art form. Originating from traditional mōteatea, haka, mau rākau, and poi, kapa haka has spiritual significance.
Today, it thrives as both a cultural tradition and a modern artistic discipline, showcased in events like Te Matatini. Contemporary performers and composers are finding new ways to showcase kapa haka by integrating elements of theatre, modern music, and digital technology.
Kapa Haka leader Junior Tana and his wife Kerrie-Anna formed Kōkō Tangiwai early in 2024 in response to the relatively small number of teams entering the Waitaha regional competition at the time.
Junior says that kapa haka presents the perfect platform for developing an understanding of te reo Māori because all items performed are in te reo Māori. “We are definitely focused on ensuring that performers know what they’re singing about and, therefore, know how to portray the ideas and concepts within the compositions.
“The whole way we practice, and train together is like a kaupapa Māori framework. We karakia at the beginning of practices, we do whanaungatanga, and we allow our tamariki and rangatahi to be with us. We also spend time discussing different Māori concepts that are affecting us as a people at any given time. So yeah, there are lots of examples of where we can integrate te ao Māori into our practices and performances,” says Junior.
Kōkō Tangiwai has over 70 people engaged in its kaupapa, including performers and the people who support the team with resourcing, cooking, teaching, and making the uniforms. Junior says there is a big whānau involved that embodies both unity and inclusiveness. “Those relationships become really strong and tight.
“We have an open-door policy – anybody who’s interested in learning or developing is welcome to come and at least see whether they like us or not.”
Kapa haka is vital for preserving and reviving tikanga Māori, language, and traditions. It also fosters a sense of identity and ensures that tikanga Māori is passed down to future generations.
Kōkō Tangiwai performer Rangimarie Pomare was inspired to join the rōpū after watching her older siblings doing kapa haka. “The benefits of kapa haka, personally for me, is doing it with my family and my fri
Farmers are feeling more satisfied with their banks, pointing to improved communication and less ‘undue pressure’, Federated Farmers’ latest Banking Survey shows.
“It’s good to see things are improving but farmers’ trust in their banks is still fragile,” Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre says.
“Where farmers have given positive feedback in the survey, it’s usually about their individual managers, not bank policy.
“When those individual staff leave, that trust can erode quickly.”
Nearly 700 farmers responded to the May survey, with 60% of them ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their bank.
That’s up from 53% in Federated Farmers’ November 2024 survey but well shy of the 80% peak rating recorded in 2017.
“It’s helped that over the last year banks have been grilled by the select committee inquiry on banking competition that Federated Farmers pushed for,” McIntyre says.
“There has been a lot of scrutiny and banks have definitely been feeling the pressure, so it’s good to see them start to lift their game as a result.”
In the survey, 61% of farmers rated their bank’s communication as good or very good – the best result since 2020.
Just on 18% of farmers said they were feeling undue bank pressure, down from 24% six months earlier and the lowest rating recorded since 2018.
“Many farmers said bank pressure has eased over the past six to 12 months, with some noting their bank had become more understanding or backed off earlier demands,” McIntyre says.
“However, for those still under pressure, the situation remains serious.
“A few farmers shared difficult stories with us, including being forced out of farming altogether.”
One farmer said: “We’ve sold the farm. If the bank had been more understanding, things might have been different.”
The survey shows interest rates on farm mortgages have also eased by about 1% since late 2024 to an average of 6.52%.
“Even so, we’re still very concerned that, compared with average residential mortgage interest rates, farm mortgage interest rates are around 0.92% higher – and were about 1.12% higher late last year,” McIntyre says.
From 2016 until 2021, the margin of difference hovered between about 0.6% and 0.35%.
“These don’t seem like big differences, but when total agricultural lending is around $61 billion, a 1% margin difference puts $600 million of extra interest costs on the sector each year.
“It’s crazy how much more money farmers are having to shell out to the banks in interest payments.
“Part of the problem is the unnecessarily conservative Reserve Bank capital requirements, and the recent decision to review those settings is very welcome,” McIntyre says.
“What we desperately need as well is stronger competition among banks in the rural sector. That would really help lower costs for farmers and drive better bank performance.”
In the open comment section of the May survey, many farmers said they were still paying far too much in interest.
Several expressed frustration that banks were quick to hike rates, but slow to pass on savings when the OCR falls.
“OCR drops come through like a feather. Increases hit like a brick,” one said.
The May survey also found that just under 20% of farmers said their bank has inquired about their farm’s emissions profile or environmental footprint as part of loan requirements.
Westpac and ASB were much more likely to ask such questions, at 32% and 40% respectively.
“Federated Farmers’ view is that our democratically elected Government is the correct body to be setting emissions and environmental policy, not banks,” McIntyre says.
“Farmers are closely watching what’s happening with Bills passing through Parliament, promoted by MPs Andy Foster and Mark Cameron, that would rein in banks’ ability to make lending decisions on non-commercial grounds.”
Foster’s proposed law would prohibit banks from refusing loans or services purely for environmental or emissions reasons. May survey responses show 70% of farmers support such a law (18% oppose, 12% unsure).
Other key findings from the survey:
Farm Debt Levels: 84% of farmers surveyed have a mortgage. The average mortgage in the survey was $4.7 million, compared to $4.4 million six months ago.
Overdraft Use Declining: Only 76% of farms now have an overdraft facility, down from 88% a decade ago.
Overdraft Limits:Average overdraft limits have risen to $349,000. Arable farms saw the largest increase (from $500k to $718k).
Overdraft Interest Rates:Rates have dropped. The average is now 9.0%, down from 10.0%. Rabobank offers the lowest (7.3%), while BNZ remains highest (9.7%).
Efficiency Concerns:19% of farmers feel their bank isn’t allowing them to structure debt as efficiently as possible – down slightly from 23% in November. Rabobank and ANZ performed best; Westpac performed worst.
