NewzIntel.com

Category: New Zealand

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: West Auckland Cyclone Gabrielle road repairs 80% complete

    Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

    Auckland Transport’s flood recovery team has repaired 80% of the slips that occurred on local roads in the west Auckland area during the early 2023 extreme weather events.

    More than 2000 slips on local roads were reported to AT during this time across the Auckland region. Of these, 1200 smaller slips were fixed fairly quickly, but more than 800 bigger slips required extensive investigation to inform sustainable and resilient engineering design solutions.

    In the west Auckland area 191 complex slips needed repairing: 119 minor (less than $250,000 to repair) and 72 major (more than $250,000 to repair). By the end of April 2025, 153 slips had been fixed while three are under construction and the rest are in the design or procurement phases.

    “It’s been a massive job, and we thank the people of west Auckland for their continued patience, especially those communities dealing with long road closures,” said Alan Wallace, GM Road Asset Maintenance and Renewals at Auckland Transport.

    “A number of roads like Scenic Drive, West Coast Road, Huia Road, Karekare Road and Lone Kauri Road sustained slips in multiple places, and many sites required complex engineering solutions and logistics before construction could begin.

    “In some places utilities like power lines, internet, gas and water lines needed to be relocated, and a number of affected roads in close proximity to each other meant options for alternative traffic routes or detours during simultaneous repairs have been limited.

    “We’ve also had to navigate tricky and often unstable terrain, variable weather conditions, environmental considerations, proximity to homes and tight operating conditions during construction using heavy machinery.”

    Mr Wallace says AT expects most slip sites in West Auckland will be repaired by the end of 2025.

    For more information, visit the AT website.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Budget 2025 – Oranga Whenua, Oranga Tangata: Hāpai Te Hauora Responds to Budget 2025

    Source: Hapai Te Hauora

    Hāpai Te Hauora says Budget 2025 is not a Budget for whānau – it is a Budget for landlords, corporates, and cuts.
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis promised no lolly scramble; but somehow, the sweet stuff still landed in boardrooms and business accounts, while the pantry stayed locked for whānau.
    “This Budget is a choice – and that choice is clear,” says Jacqui Harema, CEO of Hāpai Te Hauora. “A choice to gut pay equity. A choice to ask rangatahi to prove their poverty. A choice to back the boardroom while gutting community support.”
    Businesses receive a 20% tax write-off on new assets. Meanwhile, whānau get 25-cent KiwiSaver contributions, tighter benefit rules, and income-tested child payments. “A baby’s best start now depends on a parent’s payslip – that’s not equity,” Harema says.
    The wealthy retain their capital gains. Yet rangatahi on Jobseeker now face new restrictions based on their parents’ income. “We’re means-testing the vulnerable while letting privilege off the hook.”
    Health receives funding, but only just. Emergency departments remain overwhelmed. Nurses are still burning out. And while primary care sees a modest boost, there is no targeted investment in Māori health – and prevention is notably missing.
    “If we want to reduce long-term costs and create better outcomes, we must fund prevention,” says Jason Alexander, COO of Hāpai. “That means backing kaupapa Māori solutions before harm happens – not waiting until our people are in crisis.”
    Education receives $2.5 billion, but $614 million of that comes from scrapped initiatives. Programmes like Kāhui Ako are axed, and school lunches (Ka Ora, Ka Ako) are set to expire in 2026. “You do not build brighter futures by cutting kai from classrooms,” says Harema.
    Tax cuts favour business, while low- to middle-income families receive just $14 more a fortnight under Working for Families tweaks – roughly the cost of a pack of nappies.
    This Budget did not prioritise Māori health, wellbeing, or equity. It disestablished Te Aka Whai Ora, clawed back unspent Māori housing funds, and continued the short-term funding cycle.
    Hāpai Te Hauora’s Budget 2025 Wishlist included:
    • Investment in Māori-led housing
    • Protection of school lunch programmes
    • Long-term contracts for Māori health services
    • Increased income support and kaupapa Māori employment pathways
    • Serious investment in prevention
    What we got instead were cuts, exclusions, and short-term gains.
    “This is not the Budget for tamariki. Not for our mokopuna. Not for our taiao,” Harema says. “Whānau deserve better.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Budget 2025 – Budget Investment for ENRICH Education Programme – Methodist Mission Southern

    Source: Methodist Mission Southern

    The Hon. Erica Stanford has today announced an investment in the ENRICH oral language programme – which will see the programme reach 525 early learning services over four years.
    ENRICH is an evidence-based programme created by Professor Elaine Reese (University of Otago) in partnership with Methodist Mission Southern (MMS). Over the last four years, the programme has been extensively researched through the world-leading Kia Tīmata Pai study – involving 140 ECEs from BestStart.
    ENRICH focuses on strengthening oral language skills, communication skills and early maths competencies – all critical foundations for future learning and long-term life success. The programme has demonstrated significant improvements for tamariki in these areas in research trials, and has been successfully implemented in ECE classrooms since 2021.
    The implementation of ENRCH is led by Jimmy McLauchlan, Chief Development Officer at Methodist Mission Southern, who has spent ten years working in partnership with researchers, policymakers, and education providers – to translate child development science into practical programmes that can benefit children on a national scale.
    “Some of the world’s best child development science has come out of this country – and programmes like ENRICH are turning that science into learning for hundreds of thousands of New Zealand children,” said McLauchlan.
    “ENRICH works because it shares the science of language development through practical techniques that have been co-designed with teachers to work in busy classrooms. The programme embraces our cultures and curriculum, and has been tested by hundreds of teachers around the country over the last four years.”
    ENRICH will initially be rolled out to 525 ECEs over the next four years, alongside ongoing research and evidence-gathering work, which is aimed at making the programme even more effective and sustainable across the entire ECE sector in coming years.
    “This investment today means we can reach even more tamariki with tools that build language, communication and early literacy skills when it matters most.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Legislation – Regulatory Standards Bill inflicts ACT’s far-right principles on Aotearoa – Greenpeace

    Source: Greenpeace

    The Government is facing backlash over David Seymour’s controversial Regulatory Standards Bill which passed its first reading today, under the shadow of the Budget.
    “After the uproar over the Treaty Principles Bill, the Luxon Government looks to be trying to keep Seymour’s latest unpopular Bill quiet. They’ve clearly chosen to introduce it in Budget week to minimise scrutiny,” said Greenpeace spokesperson Gen Toop.
    “The Regulatory Standards Bill tries to make all future lawmakers in government follow a rigid set of the ACT Party’s far-right principles – prioritising corporate interests over people, nature, and Te Tiriti,” says Toop.
    The Bill was also the subject of a Waitangi Tribunal inquiry, brought by over 13,000 claimants. The Tribunal found the Crown had breached its Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations and called on the Crown to halt further work on the controversial bill until it consults with Māori.
    One of the principles in the Regulatory Standards Bill would create a new and unprecedented expectation that the Crown compensate corporations if environmental or public interest laws affect their property.
    “It’s a simple principle: polluters should pay – not be paid by the public. But Seymour’s bill turns that on its head,” says Toop.
    “If this bill becomes law, corporations like ExxonMobil, Fonterra and Monsanto would expect taxpayer handouts when the government introduces basic environmental or public protections.”
    “These extreme neoliberal ideas have no place in our legal system here in Aotearoa, where we have long valued fairness and collective responsibility rather than individual entitlements to harm nature or others under the guise of freedom,” says Toop.
    Greenpeace, along with Forest & Bird, WWF-New Zealand and the Environmental Defence Society, issued an open letter to the Prime Minister on Monday calling on him to reject the Regulatory Standards Bill, warning that it is an “unprecedented threat” to environmental protection, climate action, and the country’s democratic and constitutional foundations.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZ and Australia: navigating turbulent times together

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    New Zealand and Australia are redoubling our efforts to navigate an increasingly challenging strategic environment together, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.

    “It’s been an honour to be hosted in Adelaide today by Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong,” Mr Peters says. 

    “We wanted to get across the Tasman as soon as possible after the Australian general election because there is so much for us to tackle together.

    “New Zealand and Australia face an unpredictable, contested and disordered region and world. We are strongest when we meet these challenges together.”   

    Ministers Peters and Wong meet formally for Australia–New Zealand Foreign Minister Consultations twice a year. Today’s FMCs in Adelaide follow those held in Melbourne and Auckland in 2024 and covered bilateral cooperation, priorities in the Pacific, regional security in the Indo-Pacific and global tensions and developments. 

    “Australia is New Zealand’s closest, most important and most likeminded partner, and it has been invaluable to discuss in detail with Minister Wong today how we will work together in the period ahead on the issues that matter most to our countries and our peoples,” Mr Peters says.

    “The global environment is such that New Zealand and Australia face more concerted threats to our interests and values than we have for generations. In that context, we have been able today to update each another on our respective government priorities at an important moment in our countries’ political cycles, while focusing on how and where we can cooperate for mutual benefit.

    “Our relationship is as strong as ever, and we are committed to maintaining this close bond now that Prime Minister Albanese, Foreign Minister Wong and their colleagues have secured a second term.

    “These consultations highlight not just the value New Zealand places in our relationship with Australia, but also our enduring commitment to work together to promote our shared international goals, such as Pacific development and security,” Mr Peters says. 

    Minister Peters will depart Australia for Sri Lanka tomorrow, where he will begin a tour of South Asia

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Budget 2025 – Principals describe Budget as Bitter Sweet

    Source: NZ Principals Federation

    Principals say the boost to Learning Support from Budget 2025 is the most substantial in years, even though there is a cost through other valuable resources.
    “For schools, this Budget has delivered a breakthrough. The Government has recognised the intense pressures teachers and principals are under with minimal support,” said Leanne Otene, President of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation. (NZPF).
    “We have been calling for a substantial increase to learning support, especially for our most vulnerable tamariki, for years, and at last we have been heard,” said Otene.
    “The Additional Learning Support Coordinators, Teacher Aide hours, 25 new specialist classrooms and specialist services will make a huge difference to our schools,” said Otene.
    “Our only concern is where these people will come from,” she said. “We have often been told there are not enough qualified specialists to cover schools’ needs and more will have to be trained,” she said. 
    Principals were also pleased that the Minister has recognised the role of principals and the minimal support they receive. The additional Leadership Advisors will give confidence to principals, especially those new to the role.
    “We are thrilled to see an increase in the number of Leadership Advisors. Principals report high satisfaction rates with the existing service which now gets a boost from 16 to 34 Leadership Advisors across the country,” she said. “That will still not be enough, but it is a step in the right direction,” she said.
    Otene also acknowledged what services have been reprioritised in the Budget process,
    “We have lost valued services such as Resource Teachers of Literacy, Resource Teachers of Maori the Kahui Ako collaborations and the halt to pay equity will affect our future Teacher Aide staff.”
    ” I call it the ‘Bitter-Sweet Budget,” said Otene, “because the gains in learning support resources and leadership support are hugely welcome, but it is at the cost of losing other valued resources,” she said.  
    Otene was clear that if the new funding is to be effective, it must be ‘demand driven’ and not restricted to a single Budget. 
    “This funding needs to be locked in and grow to meet the real needs in our schools,” said Otene. “This gives us a great kick start, but more is needed for long term changes in learning and behaviour,” she said. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Starving’ masked Palestine protesters condemn Luxon’s Gaza ‘appeasement’

    Asia Pacific Report

    Protesting New Zealanders donned symbolic masks modelled on a Palestinian artist’s handiwork in Auckland’s Takutai Square today to condemn Israel’s starvation as war weapon against Gaza and the NZ prime minister’s weak response.

    Coming a day after the tabling of Budget 2025 in Parliament, peaceful demonstrators wore hand-painted masks inspired by Gaza-based Palestinian artist Reem Arkan, who is fighting for her life alongside hundreds of thousands of the displaced Gazans.

    The “bodies” represented more than 53,000 Palestinians killed by Israel’s brutal 19-month war on Gaza.

    The protest coincided with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addressing the Trans-Tasman Business Circle in Auckland.

    The demonstrators said they chose this moment and location to “highlight the alarmingly tepid response” by the New Zealand government to what global human rights organisations — such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch — have branded as war crimes and acts of collective punishment amounting to genocide.

    “This week, we heard yet another call for Israel to abide by international law. This is not leadership. It’s appeasement,” said a spokesperson, Olivia Coote.

    “The time for statements has long passed. What we are witnessing in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe, and New Zealand must impose meaningful sanctions.

    “Israel’s actions, including the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, forced displacement, and obstruction of humanitarian aid, constitute grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of which we are signatories.”

    A self-portrait by Palestinian artist Reem Arkan who depicts the suffering of Gaza – and the beauty – in spite of the savagery of the Israel attacks. Image: Insta/@artist_reemarkan

    Green Party Co-Leader Chlöe Swarbrick challenged Prime Minister Luxon in Parliament over his government’s response earlier this week, saying: “We’ve had lots of words. We need action.”

    Luxon claimed that sanctions were in place — but the only measure taken has been a travel ban on 12 extremist Israeli settlers from the West Bank.

    “This is an action that does nothing to protect the more than two million Palestinians in Gaza who face daily bombardment, siege, and starvation,” Coote said.

    The protesters are calling on the New Zealand government to act immediately by:

    • Imposing sanctions on Israel; and
    • Suspending all diplomatic and trade relations with Israel until there is an end to hostilities and full compliance with international humanitarian law.

    “This government must not be complicit in atrocities through silence and inaction,” Coote said. “The people of Aotearoa New Zealand demand leadership as the world watches a genocide unfold in real time.”

    A street theatre protester demonstrates today against starvation as a weapon of war as deployed by Israel in its brutal war on Gaza. Image: APR

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Two men before the courts after firearms incident

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Please attribute to Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Darren Pritchard

    Two men have been arrested in Gisborne this afternoon, following an incident involving a firearm earlier today.

    At around 6:30am today Police were called to an address on Colin Street after receiving reports of two vehicles being damaged, and a firearm presented at the occupants of the address.

    Armed Police attended and two men, aged 29 and 50 were taken into custody at the scene.

    A search of a nearby address resulted in Police locating two firearms.

    The incident, which was not gang related was resolved quickly due to a swift Police response, and enquiries into the incident will continue.

    The two men are due to appear in the Gisborne District Court tomorrow, charged with wilful damage, commission of a crime with a firearm and presenting a firearm at a person.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Post-Budget speech to Auckland Business Chamber

    Source: New Zealand Government

    It’s a pleasure to be invited here today by the Auckland Chamber for my first post-Budget speech.

    The Chamber is the peak body for the Auckland business sector, where so many of our country’s businesses are based.

    Our Government backs business-friendly policies because, ultimately, business success underpins our success as a nation. 

    I am going to talk to you today about the Budget’s business growth measures. 

    Thriving businesses deliver the growth, jobs and incomes that New Zealanders need to get ahead.

    One of those thriving businesses is hosting us right here. 

    If you’ll pardon the pun, I reckon that Recorp is the can manufacturing company with the can-do attitude.

    I admire the scale of your ambition to eliminate the use of single use plastic bottles in New Zealand by 2030.

    My congratulations to you Bruce Parton and your team, and also to Rob Fyfe whose vision and commitment helped get this company up and running.

    One of Recorp’s critical points of difference is the quality of its manufacturing equipment.

    You invested heavily at the outset in the technology that enables you to accurately tailor orders to match customer requirements, regardless of size.

    You have set an example for other new Kiwi businesses. Many are following it, but it’s a challenge for others.

    We know that capital investment is a key to business success. So often, it’s the piece that gives companies the edge over competitors at home and overseas.

    One of the things I hear from business leaders is the difficulty many Kiwi businesses face raising capital to invest in the equipment and other assets they need to succeed.

    Lack of good quality capital has become a barrier to growth.

    This Government has acted to lower that barrier.

    The Investment Boost tax incentive announced in the Budget gives businesses an adrenalin boost to invest in the new productive assets they need to succeed.

    I’m really proud that we’ve managed to incorporate this exciting new initiative in the Budget.

    I expect almost all of you will have heard something about Investment Boost in recent days. 

    You may even have heard our critics say in the media that it won’t make much difference.

    Well, our MPs have been out since the Budget was delivered and what they’ve heard is that Investment Boost will be a game-changer for many Kiwi businesses.

    Like the manufacturer now planning a $70 million capital expansion over the next two years to install a fully automated plant.

    Like the chicken farmer now planning to raise his investment in upgrades and new assets from $12 million to $18 million over the next 12 months. He said this was the “best news for our sector in a long time”.

    Like the caterer with a new kitchen to fit out, who says they will be “thousands and thousands better off”.

    Like Robbie Smith, owner of Stevenson and Taylor, the large Hawke’s Bay agricultural machinery business. He has already seen a jump in sales since the announcement, with one customer purchasing two tractors. He said: “This initiative is great news for local businesses.”

    Like Pic’s Peanut Butter Chief Executive Aimee McCammon, who thinks Investment Boost will be “super helpful” for the many small to medium-sized businesses like hers that are running on old kit.

    Or like Chartered Accountants New Zealand country head Peter Vial who says  the announcement was more generous than expected and will significantly increase productivity and growth 

    He says: “New Zealand’s poor productivity is not due to poor work ethic or laziness, but rather a lack of capital investment in equipment, machinery and technology. The Investment Boost tax incentive strikes at the heart of this.”

    I couldn’t agree more.

    Then there’s the semi-retired accountant who was inundated with calls on the Friday morning after the Budget from clients looking to take advantage of Investment Boost. 

    He said: “It is a long time since I have seen a reaction like this to the Budget.”

    I’m going to talk more about Investment Boost soon – how it works, with some examples of the savings it offers. 

    But I’d like to start by putting a bit of context around the Budget, and why we’ve taken the approach we have.

    The Budget is a responsible Budget for uncertain times.

    I’ve been calling it the no-BS Budget.

    We’ve levelled with Kiwis about the challenges we face as a nation. 

    No rainbows or unicorns. No lolly scrambles. Just straight talk, and responsible actions.

    We inherited a country with its bank account run down and the credit card maxed out.

    Thanks to the previous Government’s refusal to turn off the spending tap after Covid, public debt ballooned from just 18.6 per cent of GDP in 2019 to 41.7 per cent in 2024, just five years later.

    We’ve slipped back to the bad old days of the eighties and nineties, when debt servicing was among the biggest government spending items.

    Today, about one dollar in every 15 of the Government’s operating spending goes to paying the interest bill on our borrowings.

    Our political opponents say that’s all good. Other countries have higher debt, so we can just borrow and spend more to get ourselves out of trouble.

    That kind of talk ignores the reality that New Zealand’s economy is different to many of those other more highly indebted economies. 

    We are small, isolated and heavily reliant on overseas trade. We have very limited ability to influence the global financial and trading conditions that affect our livelihood.

    This audience needs no reminding of how unstable and unpredictable the world trading environment is right now. 

    Further, we are a country that’s vulnerable to sudden, costly shocks. 

    One day another big earthquake, cyclone, pandemic or biosecurity breach is going to hit us. Recovering from events like those is even harder if there’s nothing left in the kitty to pay for it. 

    The good news is that the economic recovery is under way. 

    Inflation is down and is forecast to stay within the 1 to 3 per cent target band.

    Interest rates are down, and forecast to fall further. 

    The Budget forecasts GDP to rise to healthy rates of around 3 per cent in each of the next two years.

    Wages are forecast to grow faster than the inflation rate, making wage earners better off, on average, in real terms.

    The Budget also forecasts that 240,000 more people will be in work over the forecast period to mid-2029.

    Many New Zealanders may not be feeling better off now, but over time they will – provided we stay the course.

    The recovery remains fragile. Global uncertainty has caused Treasury to peg back its forecasts, especially in the near term.

    The recovery isn’t in danger, but it is likely to be slower than previously forecast.

    As a government, we’re talking straight with New Zealanders about the way ahead. 

    About getting public debt under control and nurturing the economic recovery now under way.

    About carefully managing the public purse. Making sure we’re using taxpayer dollars to pay for the must-haves, rather than the nice to haves.

    About doing nothing to put the economic recovery at risk – because a growing economy is the route to higher living standards for everyone.

    But we’re also clear that the no-BS Budget doesn’t mean penny-pinching across the board.

    We get that New Zealanders are struggling with the cost of living. The Budget responds with some carefully targeted help, including rates relief for more SuperGold Card holders, 12-month prescriptions to save the cost of repeats, better targeting Working for Families to low and middle-income earners, and continuing funding for food banks.

    We’re also investing more in health, education, law and order and other frontline public services.

    We’ve done that while also finding room to invest in business success.

    The Budget demonstrates that we truly can walk and chew gum at the same time.

    It’s about hope grounded in reality.

    That we can continue to invest in the things that matter, while staying on a debt reduction and economic growth track.

    That we can reduce government spending as a share of the economy and return the government’s books to balance.

    We’ve done it despite reducing our operating allowance from $2.4 billion to $1.3 billion a year.

    That’s the lowest allowance in a decade. The adjustment was made to keep government spending on a tight track, recognising changing forecasts due to the uncertain economic conditions.

    Despite the smaller discretionary kitty, we’ve still been able to deliver $5 billion in new spending and $1.7 billion for the Investment Boost tax incentive that I talked about earlier.

    That’s because most of the spending increase is funded by savings.

    We’ve been able to find $5.3 billion in savings through reprioritising and cost reductions across government.

    Half the savings come from changes to the pay equity regime. 

    To be clear, I am absolutely committed to pay equity. But we have to be sure that future settlements stick to fixing pay discrepancies between occupations that are based only on sex-based discrimination, and not for other reasons. 

    Otherwise, pay equity negotiations simply become a surrogate for a normal wage bargaining round.

    Even our political opponents are starting to realise that the previous pay equity regime was simply out of control. The scale of settlements coming at us would have limited our ability to invest in health, education and the other public services that the women – and men – of New Zealand rely on.

    We’ve also put another $1.8 billion towards investment in health and education infrastructure like hospitals and schools.

    And we’re putting $1.7 billion into what I believe is the single most important policy in this year’s Budget – the Investment Boost tax incentive that I talked about earlier.

    Investment Boost is available right now to every business represented in this room.

    Businesses large and small – manufacturers like Recorp, farmers, tradies, whoever.

    It’s for all those businesses that are keeping their heads above water but need a bit of help to get beyond that, by getting their hands on the productive assets they need to grow.

    Assets like machinery, tools, equipment, technology, vehicles and industrial buildings.

    Investment Boost applies to new assets purchased by New Zealand businesses. It can also apply to second-hand assets imported from overseas.

    It excludes land, residential buildings, and assets already in use in New Zealand.

    There’s no cap on the value of new investments. All businesses, regardless of size, are eligible.

    It allows you to immediately deduct 20 per cent of the cost of a new asset from your taxable income, on top of depreciation.

    That means a much lower tax bill in the year of purchase. The remaining book value is depreciated at normal rates.

    Since a dollar now is more valuable than a dollar in future, the cashflow from investments is more attractive and the after-tax returns are better.

    It means that more investment opportunities stack up financially, so more investments will be made.

    Let’s look at an example.

    A manufacturer – let’s call it Green Kiwi – wants to invest in a new environmental test chamber, at a cost of $200,000.

    Before Investment Boost, the company could claim an annual depreciation deduction of 10.5 per cent. That would reduce Green Kiwi’s taxable income by $21,000 a year over its useful life.

    With Investment Boost, it can now also claim 20 per cent of the value of the asset – that’s $40,000 – in the year of purchase, as well as the standard depreciation on the remaining 80 per cent of its value

    Together, these deductions reduce the company’s taxable income in that year by $56,800.

    This translates to an additional $10,000 off the company’s tax bill that year.

    That’s $10,000 more that Green Kiwi has to reinvest in the assets it needs to grow.

    Another example. Farmer Brown gets a woolshed built for $150,000. The extra deductions he gets under Investment Boost mean his tax bill will be $8,274 less than it would otherwise have been, meaning more to invest in shearing equipment in his new shed.

    And another one. Pam the plumber buys a ute for $60,000. Investment Boost gives her $2906 more than she would otherwise have had to buy new tools.

    Over the next 20 years, Investment Boost is expected to lift New Zealand’s capital stock by 1.6 per cent, leading to wages rising by 1.5 per cent and GDP by 1 per cent.

    These are estimates, not precise values. But officials estimate that roughly half those benefits will be achieved in the first five years.

    The Government did consider reducing the company tax rate as an alternative to Investment Boost. But dollar for dollar, Investment Boost raises investment more than a company tax rate reduction as it only applies to new investments, not those made in the past.

    The other advantage of Investment Boost is that the benefits are expected to flow to workers.

    Inland Revenue’s Regulatory Impact Statement states that “the majority of the increase in national income from Investment Boost would flow to workers. This increase would come from a combination of higher wages and higher employment. We therefore expect that the benefits of Investment Boost will be spread broadly across a wide range of New Zealanders.”

    There you have it. Ultimately, all workers benefit from Investment Boost.

    There’s a number of other business growth initiatives in this Budget.

    We’re setting up a new agency, Invest New Zealand, to attract global capital, business and talent to this country. An experienced advisory group chaired by Rob Morrison, has been appointed to support its establishment. 

    We’re changing our thin capitalisation tax rules to encourage foreign investment in our infrastructure. We’re consulting now on the details of that.

    We’re allowing employee share schemes to defer their tax liability, to help start-ups and unlisted companies to compete for and retain talent.

    We’re re-prioritising our science and technology funding towards growth-promoting investment in areas like gene technology. We want our researchers to focus on real-world problems and innovations that can be commercialised.

    And we’re supporting our highly successful film and television sector by increasing the screen production rebate to just over a billion dollars across this year and the next four years.

    We don’t subsidise business as a rule, but when it comes to the screen industry, a rebate is the price of entry to the game.

    Over the last decade overseas production companies have invested $7.5 billion in New Zealand. We simply wouldn’t get that kind of investment in future without continuing the rebate.

    We’re also replacing the much-maligned Resource Management Act to unlock investment and growth across the country. You’ll be hearing more about that in the months ahead.

    No doubt you have heard about the changes to KiwiSaver, which the media has focused pretty heavily on.

    Essentially, we are raising the default employee and matching employer contribution rate from 3 to 4 per cent over the next three years. To ensure the scheme’s sustainability, we are also reducing the government contribution by half, to just over $260 a year. 

    We’re also extending the government contribution to 16- and 17-year-olds, to foster the savings habit, but removing it altogether for people earning more than $180,000 a year, because they don’t need it.

    I acknowledge that change impacts on employers. But to allow time to adjust, we are phasing it in over the next three years, and we are not making the new rate compulsory – employees can choose to opt back down to a three per cent contribution if they wish.

    The changes are designed to lift our retirement savings rates which, frankly, are too low, especially when compared with other countries like Australia. 

    Higher retirement savings deliver big benefits for individuals and for the country. Our financial institutions have a larger pool of capital to invest back in the economy, and the pressure on Government to financially support retired New Zealanders is eased.

    To finish, I want to touch on where this Budget takes us.

    Our decisions mean we are on track to bend the debt curve downwards without applying a blowtorch to public services.

    We are taking a deliberate, medium-term approach to fiscal consolidation.

    This is far from austerity, as some commentators have claimed. In fact, it is what you do to avoid austerity.

    There’s no doubt that balancing the books is challenging.

    Some would do it with higher taxes; we are doing it by controlling growth in spending.

    We’re saying to New Zealanders: we’re about no BS, just straight talk about the choices we face as a country.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Security – Sensible Sentencing Trust Slams Police for Dangerous Shift in Shoplifting Investigations

    Source: Sensible Sentencing Trust

    The Sensible Sentencing Trust is appalled by the disturbing reports that New Zealand Police have issued a directive to staff to avoid investigating shoplifting cases under $500, or online fraud under $1,000, among other crime thresholds.

    Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesperson Louise Parsons condemned the directive as “an outrageous and dangerous move,” saying it sends the wrong message at a time when retailers are struggling under rising crime rates and financial pressure.

    “The past five or six years, retailers have been hit with an onslaught of crime, and now they’re being told that crimes under certain thresholds are essentially not worth investigating. This is a green light to criminals,” Parsons said.

    The directive, which could well include ram raids, has sparked widespread outrage. Parsons pointed out that in a climate where petrol drive-offs under $150 have effectively been decriminalised, this move could further embolden offenders. “This is an absurd, reckless approach that puts businesses and communities at risk. It’s madness!” she stated.

    She added, “Do the Police not realise that the Government changed 18 months ago? We have a new Police Commissioner, and the era of ‘policing by consent’ is over. We need strong leadership and a zero-tolerance approach to all crime, particularly when retail crime is spiralling out of control.”

    Parsons also drew attention to the disastrous effects of similar policies in other cities, such as San Francisco, which recently raised the shoplifting threshold to $950, only to witness an explosive rise in retail crime. “The chaos in San Francisco was swift and devastating. Retailers had to shut down because they couldn’t operate safely or profitably. We cannot afford to let that happen here.”

    She also warned that this directive undermines critical efforts being made by the Ministerial Advisory Group on Retail Crime. “This approach flies in the face of their work to combat retail crime and protect local businesses. If we let this stand, it could undo all the progress we’ve worked so hard to achieve.”

    While Parsons acknowledged the frustration of frontline Police officers who are overwhelmed by repeat offenders and lenient judicial outcomes, she firmly stated that setting “de-facto legal theft thresholds” is unjustifiable. “It’s unacceptable. Criminals cannot be allowed to operate with impunity just because the Police aren’t investigating their crimes.” 

    The Sensible Sentencing Trust is calling on the Government to step in and reassert a tough stance on crime, ensuring that no theft—no matter the size—is left unpunished.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Govt should defuse NZ’s social timebomb – but won’t

    We have been handed a long and protracted recession with few signs of growth and prosperity. Budget 2025 signals more of the same, writes Susan St John.

    ANALYSIS: By Susan St John

    With the coalition government’s second Budget being unveiled, we should question where New Zealand is heading.

    The 2024 Budget laid out the strategy. Tax cuts and landlord subsidies were prioritised with a focus on cuts to social and infrastructure spending. Most of the tax package went to the well-off, while many low-income households got nothing, or very little.

    Even the tiny bit of the tax package directed to low-income people fell flat. Family Boost has significantly helped only a handful of families, while the increase of $25 per week (In Work Tax Credit) was denied all families on benefits, affecting about 200,000 of the very poorest children.

    In the recession, families that lost paid work also lost access to full Working for Families, an income cut for their children of about $100 per week.

    No one worked out how the many spending cuts would be distributed, but they have hurt the poor the most. These changes are too numerous to itemise but include increased transport costs; the reintroduction of prescription charges; a disastrous school lunch system; rising rents, rates and insurance; fewer budget advisory services; cuts to foodbank funding and hardship grants; stripping away support programmes for the disabled; inadequately adjusted benefits and minimum wage; and reduced support for pay equity and the living wage.

    The objective is to save money while ignoring the human cost. For example, a scathing report of the Auditor General confirms that Oranga Tamariki took a bulldozer to obeying the call for a 6.5 percent cut in existing social services with no regard to the extreme hurt caused to children and struggling parents.

    Budget 2025 has already indicated that Working for Families will continue to go backwards with not even inflation adjustments. The 2025 child and youth strategy report shows that over the year to June 2024 the number of children in material poverty continued to increase, there were more avoidable hospitalisations, immunisation rates for babies declined, and there was more food insecurity.

    Human costs all around us
    We can see the human costs all around us in homelessness, food insecurity, and ill health. Already we know we rank at the bottom among developed countries for child wellbeing and suicide rates.

    Abject distress existing alongside where homes sell for $20 million-$40 million is no longer uncommon, and neither are $6 million helicopters of the very rich.

    Changes in suicide rates (three-year average), ages 15 to 19 from 2018 to 2022 (or most recent four-year period available). Source: WHO mortality database

    At the start of the year, Helen Robinson, CEO of the Auckland City Mission, had a clear warning: “I am pleading with government for more support, otherwise what we and other food relief agencies in Auckland can provide, will dramatically decrease.

    “This leaves more of Auckland hungry and those already there become more desperate. It is the total antithesis of a thriving city.”

    The theory held by this government is that by reducing the role of government and taxes, the private sector will flourish, and secure well-paid jobs will be created. Instead, as basic economic theory would predict, we have been handed a long and protracted recession with few signs of growth and prosperity.

    Budget 2025 signals more of the same.

    It would be a mistake to wait for simplistic official inequality statistics before we act. Our current destination is a sharply divided country of extreme wealth and extreme poverty with an insecure middle class.

    Underfunded social agencies
    Underfunded and swamped social agencies cannot remove the relentless stress on the people who are invisible in the ‘fiscally responsible’ economic narrative. The fabricated bogeyman of outsized net government debt is at the core, as the government pursues balanced budgets and small government-size targets.

    A stage one economics student would know the deficit increases automatically in a recession to cushion the decline and stop the economy spiralling into something that looks more like a depression. But our safety nets of social welfare are performing very badly.

    Rising unemployment has exposed the inadequacy of social protections. Working for Families, for instance, provides a very poor cushion for children. Many “working” families do not have enough hours of work and face crippling poverty traps.

    Future security is undermined as more KiwiSavers cash in for hardship reasons. A record number of the talented young we need to drive the recovery and repair the frayed social fabric have already fled the country.

    The government is fond of comparing its Budget to that of a household. But what prudent household would deliberately undermine the earning capacity of family members?

    The primary task for the Budget should be to look after people first, to allow them to meet their food, dental and health needs, education, housing and travel costs, to have a buffer of savings to cushion unexpected shocks and to prepare for old age.

    A sore thumb standing
    In the social security part of the Budget, NZ Super for all at 65, no matter how rich or whether still in full-time well-paid work, dominates (gross $25 billion). It’s a sore thumb standing out alongside much less generous, highly targeted benefits and working for families, paid parental leave, family boost, hardship provisions, accommodation supplement, winter energy and other payments and subsidies.

    Given the political will, research shows we can easily redirect at least $3 billion from very wealthy superannuitants to fixing other payments to greatly improve the wellbeing of the young. This will not be enough but it could be a first step to the wide rebalancing needed.

    New Zealand has become a country of two halves whose paths rarely cross: a social time bomb with unimaginable consequences. It is a country beguiled by an egalitarian past that is no more.

    Susan St John is an associate professor in the Pensions and Intergenerational Equity hub and Economic Policy Centre, Business School, University of Auckland. This article was first published by Newsroom before the 2025 Budget and is republished with permission.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Legal academic says Samoa’s criminal libel law should go after charge

    By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist

    An Auckland University law academic says Samoa’s criminal libel law under which a prominent journalist has been charged should be repealed.

    Lagi Keresoma, the first female president of the Journalists Association of Samoa (JAWS) and editor of Talamua Online, was charged under the Crimes Act 2013 on Sunday after publishing an article about a former police officer, whom she asserted had sought the help of the Head of State to withdraw charges brought against him.

    JAWS has already called for the criminal libel law to be scrapped and Auckland University academic Beatrice Tabangcoro told RNZ Pacific that the law was “unnecessary and impractical”.

    “A person who commits a crime under this section is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 175 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months,” the Crimes Act states.

    JAWS said this week that the law, specifically Section 117A of the Crimes Act, undermined media freedom, and any defamation issues could be dealt with in a civil court.

    JAWS gender representative to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said Keresoma’s arrest “raises serious concerns about the misuse of legal tools to independent journalism” in the country.

    Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson called on the Samoan government “to urgently review and repeal criminal defamation laws that undermine democratic accountability and public trust in the justice system”.

    Law removed and brought back
    The law was removed by the Samoan government in 2013, but was brought back in 2017, ostensibly to deal with issues arising on social media.

    Auckland University’s academic Beatrice Tabangcoro . . . reintroduction of the law was widely criticised at the time. Image: University of Auckland

    Auckland University’s academic Beatrice Tabangcoro told RNZ Pacific that this reintroduction was widely criticised at the time for its potential impact on freedom of speech and media freedom.

    She said that truth was a defence to the offence of false statement causing harm to reputation, but in the case of a journalist this could lead to them being compelled to reveal their sources.

    The academic said that the law remained unnecessary and impractical, and she pointed to the Samoa Police Commissioner telling media in 2023 that the law should be repealed as it was used “as a tool for harassing the media and is a waste of police resources”.

    Tonga and Vanuatu are two other Pacific nations with the criminal libel law on their books, and it is something the media in both those countries have raised concerns about.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Budget 2025 – Budget of austerity piles on least well-off, misreads public mood – Better Taxes

    Source: Better Taxes for a Better Future

    As your average New Zealander struggles to pay the bills, the Government’s 2025 Budget piles austerity on the least well-off, and misreads the public mood. Recent polling commissioned by the Better Taxes for a Better Future campaign showed the vast majority of New Zealanders supported increased spending on public services, and only 3% were in favour of cuts.

    By limiting its operating allowance to $1.3b to reduce debt, following the introduction of  unaffordable tax cuts last year and the failure to advance other meaningful revenue gathering options, the Government has manufactured the need for cuts in spending on public services that New Zealanders rely upon on a daily basis.

    “The most significant contributor to the Government’s $5.3bn in savings required to reach its arbitrary operating allowance are the lowest paid working women through the scrapping of the pay equity settlements,” says Glenn Barclay, Better Taxes campaign spokesperson.

    “Many other good programmes have also been sacrificed to allow the Government to get away with such a miserly operating allowance.”

    “The total cost to mainly low paid working people from scrapping pay equity of $12.8bn over 4 years represents one of the largest wealth transfers in modern history, and will have a real cost for the lives of some of the least well off in New Zealand.”

    Other items in the Budget are worth commenting on.

    “While a modest increase in the abatement threshold for Working for Families is to be welcomed, it will be paid for by increasing the abatement rate and means testing the first year of Best Start payments. Here we see the Government giving to young families with one hand, while taking away with the other.”

    “The flagship Investment Boost allowing for accelerated depreciation on new assets to be deducted from taxable income, while a useful tool to grow GDP, implemented in this untargeted way stands to benefit monopolistic companies like supermarket chains, electricity generators and banks at the expense of the collective revenue pool,” says Glenn Barclay.   “With the substantial cost of $1.7 billion per year, it would have been much better to use this tool to focus on areas such as advanced manufacturing or green technology.”

    “Similarly the halving of Government contributions to KiwiSaver is shortsighted, when we ought to be  supporting lower income earners and young people  to grow their retirement savings.  On the other hand the Government has significantly expanded the ability for SuperGold card holders to claim rates rebates. It looks like a case of valuing the priorities of older property owners over the  future retirement savings of today’s workers.”

    “The Budget reflects choices about what the Government values and how it’s going to pay for those things.  This budget shows the government does not value the work of the least well-off in New Zealand, who are paying for its austerity,” says Glenn Barclay.

    “It is inescapable that we need to generate more revenue to pay for the public goods New Zealanders value, like public healthcare, education, transport and housing. It is wrong to pretend that we can deliver the kind of society New Zealanders want now and in the future by constantly reducing the collective pool,” says Glenn Barclay.

    “Successive governments have failed to ensure we’re collecting enough revenue to meet our needs and ensure those who can afford to contribute more, make that contribution. Polling indicates New Zealanders want increased investment in public services and think that the wealthy should be contributing more,” says Glenn Barclay.

    “Today’s Budget fails to grapple with that challenge  to respond to what the New Zealand public wants.  With this Budget the government continues to ask more of those who have the least.”

    “We call on the Government to consider common sense taxes that many other countries already have, like a capital gains tax and a wealth tax, so we have enough revenue to allocate to the public goods that enable all New Zealanders to thrive.”

    The Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign is a coalition of over 20 organisations led by Tax Justice Aotearoa.

    We believe that tax reform is the only solution to the current challenges facing Aotearoa NZ.  We need the tax system to:

    be transparent
    raise more revenue to enable us address the challenges we face
    make sure people who have more to contribute make that contribution: that we gather more revenue from wealth, gains from wealth, all forms of income, and corporates
    make greater use of fair taxes to promote good health and environmental health
    address the tax impact on the least well off in our society.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Budget 2025 – Reverse Robin Hood Budget steals from working people – CTU

    Source: NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi

    Budget 2025 takes $12.8bn from low-income, female dominated workforces to prop up the Government’s failed economic policies, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney.

    “The Government has promised this would be a growth budget, yet it has effectively cut the wages of low-income women workers. We know that one of the best ways to stimulate economic growth is by lifting wages – the Government is doing the opposite,” said Renney.

    “The figures released today also showed that the number of people on Jobseekers Support is rising, and higher than forecast just last year. Real wage growth is lower than forecast last year – the Treasury itself says the Budget “lowers wage growth”. This is a Budget that is taking working people backwards.

    “The Budget delivers more cuts to investment, including real terms cuts to early childhood education funding. New funding for learning support is largely being delivered by cutting funding from other programmes in education. Māori Development programmes have been cut significantly, as has funding from our media, culture, and heritage institutions.

    “Promises made in health aren’t provided with new funding and the destruction of the pay equity process will mean we will continue to lose health workers to Australia, putting further stress on the system.

    “Forecasts show we will continue to miss our child poverty targets over the next four years, and we will see thousands of families loose essential income due to cuts to Best Start and Working for Families. The Government is taking money from unemployed 18- and 19-year-olds, while investing nothing in action on climate change.

    “Overall, this is a Budget that works by taking away from some of the poorest people in New Zealand, to fund tax cuts for multinationals, increased investment in corrections, the failed charter schools project, and more spending on defence.

    “This is a Budget with its priorities all wrong – and working people will be paying the price,” said Renney.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Budget 2025 – ProCare concerned by 12-month prescribing extension in Budget 2025

    Source: ProCare

    ProCare, Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest network of general practices, is concerned that the Government has chosen to disregard sector feedback by announcing a full 12-month repeat prescribing extension in Budget 2025, bypassing a more balanced 6-month approach recommended in formal submissions made in October 2024.

    ProCare’s submission to Manatū Hauora in October 2024 made a strong case for a staged approach, recommending a 6-month limit in the first instance, with potential for further extension once safety and equity impacts were evaluated.

    Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare says: “While we acknowledge the Government’s intention to ease pressure on the health system and reduce costs for patients, we remain deeply concerned about the patient safety implications, equity risks, and unintended consequences for the primary care workforce.

    “We believe a 6-month prescribing model would have achieved a much better balance. It would have reduced unnecessary appointments and made access easier for patients, without undermining the crucial relationship between patients and their primary care teams,” continues Norwell.

    ProCare supports increased efficiency in repeat prescribing, but believes that 12-month prescriptions risk reducing proactive clinical oversight, particularly for patients with long-term or complex health conditions. We are particularly concerned for some of our vulnerable communities with limited health literacy or those with minimal engagement with general practice.

    Dr Allan Moffitt, Clinical Director at ProCare says: “General practices are already under significant pressure. This change risks creating longer and more complex consultations down the line, and may reduce opportunities to catch early signs of deterioration in a patient’s condition. We also have questions around the allocation of the $10 million allocated, and if it is going to mainly cover technical changes, rather than educating patients on the need to maintain strong relationships with their General Practice care teams.”

    ProCare warns it may destabilise continuity of care without clear guidelines and appropriate wraparound support like clinical pharmacist follow-up or nurse-led monitoring.

    Bindi Norwell says: “This isn’t about resisting change. It’s about making sure we get it right for patients – the devil will be in the details, and our priority will be ensuring high-quality, clinically appropriate care for patients. Primary care must remain the front door of the health system, not a check-out aisle.”

    ProCare remains committed to working with Government to ensure that patient safety, health equity, and system sustainability are protected as these changes roll out.

    About ProCare

    ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to nearly 700,000 patients across Auckland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Budget 2025 – No new spending announced for primary care in Budget 2025 – ProCare Health

    Source: ProCare

    Leading healthcare provider, ProCare, has called today’s Budget extremely disappointing for primary care, with no new spending announced.

    While the Budget document touts a significant investment of $440.7 million over five years, the reality is that none of that is new money.

    Bindi Norwell, CEO at ProCare says: “Whist we acknowledge and welcome the pre-announced money which will help improve access, retention, and performance in general practice; the Government has not further invested in the wider primary care system as was anticipated by the sector.

    “Last year’s commitment to health care barely covered inflation and population growth, let alone addressing the issues we have with an aging population. This year’s new commitment is a paltry sum with additional requirements, that in real terms suggests the government investment in primary care is going backwards.

    “While our colleagues in secondary care will likely be welcoming the announcement, particularly the infrastructure investment for new hospitals, the reality is that primary care is once again missing out. Primary care has been underfunded for years now and is in desperate need of a significant funding investment,” continues Norwell.

    “It’s integral to invest in preventative care to keep people out of hospitals. Research shows that every dollar invested in general practice saves around $13 to $15 in secondary healthcare costs. Not investing more seems counter-intuitive to keeping our population well and to saving money in the long run,” points out Norwell.

    “Today’s announcement will likely hit consumers hard, as practices will likely need to increase their fees again to cover the costs of keeping the lights on and paying their staff,” concludes Norwell.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government’s Budget fails Māori

    Source: Green Party

    The Government has failed Māori and ignored its Te Tiriti obligations with its Budget, says Te Mātāwaka, the Green Party’s Māori and Pasifika Caucus. 

    “This Budget has no ambition for Māori and ignores te Tiriti o Waitangi. We deserve better and can do much better,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.

    “Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a promise of protection, for our whānau and our whenua. A promise this Government has broken before and has broken again today with this Budget.

    “This Budget builds on the Government’s legacy of the Treaty Principles Bill, the disestablishment of Te Aka Whai Ora and the repeal of 7AA.

    “Budget 2025 strips the Māori Development fund by nearly $10 million, cuts funding to Whakaata Māori even deeper and leaves Whānua Ora with even less than what it was given in the last Budget which we know was far from enough. The cuts made to Māori housing today are also an absolute disgrace.

    “Christopher Luxon has clearly given up on even pretending to care about Māori, failing to show up at Waitangi and now failing to provide anything of substance for our communities with this Budget.

    “A Green Government will uphold te Tiriti o Waitangi in everything we do. We are here to honour the promises Aotearoa was founded upon.

    “We will fill the gaps in our health system that have failed our people across generations by bringing back Te Aka Whai Ora and rolling out free GPs across Aotearoa, especially in hard-to-reach communities. 

    “Our Hoki Whenua Mai policy means land back for tangata whenua and protection against further acquisitions from the Crown.

    “We can do all of this and more by making this a one-term Government, by demanding the rich pay their fair share, and by embedding te Tiriti o Waitangi as the poutokomanawa of our whare ora,” says Marama Davidson. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Budget 2025 delivers little to nothing for our youngest

    Source: Green Party

    The Government’s Budget offers little more than crumbs for our tamariki, while real issues in the ECE system are ignored.

    The Government’s Budget offers little more than crumbs for our tamariki, while real issues in the ECE system are ignored.

    “We would make ECE free, this Government has failed whānau by making it even more unaffordable. Our tamariki deserve better,” says Green Party spokesperson for Māori Education and Early Childhood Education Benjamin Doyle (they/them).

    “Every child in Aotearoa deserves an education that sets them up for success. That demands an ECE system that places tamariki at the heart.

    “Today’s minuscule offering in the Budget – an inflation adjustment of 0.5 per cent – isn’t enough to cover inflation. Effectively, ECE is getting a 1.6 per cent cut. 

    “While puna and kōhanga reo appear to receive marginal funding increases at first glance, a failure to match inflation or consider compounding under-funding year on year means there are real world cuts for both providers.

    “Instead of investing into our children’s critical early years, the Government continues to prop up a profit-driven system that relies on overcharging parents, underpaying kaiako and, as a result, short-changing our tamariki.

    “There’s no relief for whānau today. No overhaul for teachers who have been loudly calling for just that. No bold vision or imagination from our Government.

    “Our Green Budget clearly showed how we can cover the full cost of delivering quality ECE, ending subsidies to corporations and instead supporting community-based and public centres that prioritise the needs of our kids, not the interests of shareholders.

    “Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai. We must nurture our tamariki from day one, so they can flourish and thrive,” says Benjamin Doyle

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: ‘Growth Budget’ growing inequality and fuelling climate crisis

    Source: Green Party

    Budget 2025 represents a significant step backwards for Aotearoa, with the Government adding fuel to the fire when it comes to the climate and inequality crises, says the Green Party. 

    “This Budget is bad news for people and planet,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.

    “Christopher Luxon clearly has no ambition for this country and not a care in the world when it comes to the climate crisis. This Budget will see more and more people living on the street, it will mean thousands more families struggling to put food on the table and it will result in more children growing up in poverty.

    “With cuts to Kiwi Saver, housing for the ‘right people,’ instead of all people and taking away money from whānau with babies, this Government has well and truly put its cards of cruelty on the table. We do not have to accept this and we can fight for a future where everyone has what they need on a planet with thriving nature and a stable climate.

    “A Green Government will do things differently. Instead of opening gas fields in the middle of the climate crisis, pushing people into poverty and punishing them for it, we will rapidly reduce emissions, reduce the cost of living and improve our quality of life,” says Marama Davidson.

    Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says, “This is even worse than a BS budget. Not only is the Government shredding public services and giving up on reducing child poverty, they’re pouring oil and gas all over the climate crisis fire.

    “Resilient energy supply means investing in distributed renewable energy, not burning public money to subsidise new gas fields and fossil fuel executive profits.

    “Somehow even more bewildering, these very moves could compromise our Free Trade Agreements with the UK and EU. So much for ‘responsible economic managers.’

    “Last week, the Greens released our budget to show how we can reduce the cost of living, increase the quality of life and rapidly reduce climate changing emissions.

    “Today, the Government said ‘yeah,nah,’ to a liveable future for all of us,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Budget to increase energy hardship

    Source: Green Party

    Budget 2025 delays our transition to a low emissions and low-cost energy network, this will put even more pressure on households, businesses and the climate. 

    “This Budget doesn’t leave enough to keep the lights on, let alone spark the transition towards a low-emissions and low-cost electricity network,” says the Green Party’s Spokesperson for Energy, Scott Willis.

    “Stripping $56 million from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority comes on top of last year’s vicious cut. This cut is effectively delivering energy hardship to those who are already struggling.

    “Aotearoa can be a country where every home is powered with clean, green affordable energy that lowers our emissions and lowers costs on households. However, this will require action and ambition, something that is completely missing in this Budget. 

    “A meagre $2 million for households to counter energy hardship is a joke when we know there’s some 110,000 households doing it tough.

    “Since the Government has come into power we have seen the preservation of an energy market that prioritises profit and fossil fuels over our communities and the climate. This Budget further cements that direction and opens the door wide open to more fossil fuelled climate disasters. 

    “A Green Government would separate the gentailers that are dominating the energy market and invest $4.8 billion in renewables over four years directly in new renewable energy and storage to benefit both people and planet in the long and short term. We can have cleaner, cheaper, smarter power with the right political will.  

    “Through a mix of grants and interest-free loans, our Green Budget would create a Clean Power Payment to help people cover the upfront cost of zero carbon upgrades and energy efficiency.

    “It’s not inevitable that thousands of people have to choose between heating and eating. Our energy network needs to work for us, instead of serving shareholders. 

    “We can build a more sustainable and affordable energy network that puts people and planet before the profits of our gentailers,” says Scott Willis.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Housing crisis will rage on with Budget 2025

    Source: Green Party

    Budget 2025 makes clear that the Coalition Government has no long-term plan to help communities most in need of public housing.

    “This Budget treats housing like a game of monopoly, where a select few get homes while others are left out in the cold,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Housing, Tamatha Paul. 

    “By cutting more money from social and transitional housing, the Māori Housing Programme and emergency housing, this Government for landlords has abandoned all hope of solving the housing crisis. 

    “The callous decision to completely scrap emergency housing is paired with scaling down the long-term solutions of public housing. It’s clear this Government simply doesn’t care about people forced to sleep on the streets.

    “When we hear the Minister talking about housing the ‘right people’ you know the Government is only looking out for a select few. Everybody needs housing – nobody can live a meaningful, fulfilling life without it.

    “We need to ensure everyone has a home, but the Government has pulled the pin on large-scale public housing projects by Kāinga Ora that would have made a big dent in the backlog of people waiting for homes. This includes homeless whānau, people living in tents and those in overcrowded homes. Now families are left prey to the market which has more interest in profit than well-being.

    “Public housing is as vital as public health and public education. It’s a human right – one this Government is denying.

    “Under our Green Budget, we would build 35,000 new public homes in five years to clear the public housing waitlist and ensure everyone can live in a warm, healthy home because we don’t believe anybody should be left on the street.

    “The housing crisis in Aotearoa is spiralling out of control amid rising poverty and homelessness. But instead of fixing it, the Government is making excuses. It’s time to empower Kāinga Ora to build big, and build fast,” says Tamatha Paul.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Minister for the Environment missing in action in Budget 2025

    Source: Green Party

    Budget 2025 makes it crystal clear that this Government has no interest in protecting nature or securing a liveable future for our tamariki.

    Budget 2025 makes it crystal clear that this Government has no interest in protecting nature or securing a liveable future for our tamariki.

    “Our environment is in crisis. This Budget proves the Government simply does not care,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Environment, Lan Pham.

    “They have no understanding that their so-called ‘laser-focus’ on the economy makes them blind to the indisputable fact that there is no economy without a functional environment.

    “Not only is there no new funding in Budget 2025 for environmental protection, but they’ve taken cuts further than we even thought possible. They’ve raided the waste levy and initiatives which were designed to provide at least some basic level of protection for te taiao.

    “While our communities are crying out for action, the Minister for the Environment is nowhere to be seen. 

    “We needed bold investment and courageous action today. Instead, we got cut after cut after cut. 

    “It doesn’t have to be this way. Our Green Budget, with our Green Jobs Guarantee and expanded Jobs for Nature package, would provide credible support for green infrastructure, oceans, native forests, conservation, and climate resilience, allowing nature to flourish and thrive. 

    “A better path was possible today. Instead, the Government chose to plunder our whenua and hand it to the highest bidder,” says Lan Pham.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Reverse Robin Hood Budget steals from working people

    Source: Team effort to rescue teens

    Budget 2025 takes $12.8bn from low-income, female dominated workforces to prop up the Government’s failed economic policies, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney.

    “The Government has promised this would be a growth budget, yet it has effectively cut the wages of low-income women workers. We know that one of the best ways to stimulate economic growth is by lifting wages – the Government is doing the opposite,” said Renney.

    “The figures released today also showed that the number of people on Jobseekers Support is rising, and higher than forecast just last year. Real wage growth is lower than forecast last year – the Treasury itself says the Budget “lowers wage growth”. This is a Budget that is taking working people backwards.

    “The Budget delivers more cuts to investment, including real terms cuts to early childhood education funding. New funding for learning support is largely being delivered by cutting funding from other programmes in education. Māori Development programmes have been cut significantly, as has funding from our media, culture, and heritage institutions.

    “Promises made in health aren’t provided with new funding and the destruction of the pay equity process will mean we will continue to lose health workers to Australia, putting further stress on the system.

    “Forecasts show we will continue to miss our child poverty targets over the next four years, and we will see thousands of families loose essential income due to cuts to Best Start and Working for Families. The Government is taking money from unemployed 18- and 19-year-olds, while investing nothing in action on climate change.

    “Overall, this is a Budget that works by taking away from some of the poorest people in New Zealand, to fund tax cuts for multinationals, increased investment in corrections, the failed charter schools project, and more spending on defence.

    “This is a Budget with its priorities all wrong – and working people will be paying the price,” said Renney. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Seventy-four new constables heading to districts in a week

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Commissioner Richard Chambers, members of the police executive and wing patron former police assistant commissioner, Allan Boreham congratulated 74 graduating constables from Wing 384 today. 

    Also attending the graduation and presenting a prize in absence of the Minister of Police was her worship Anita Baker, the Mayor of Porirua.

    Families and friends celebrated the newly attested police officers at Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua this afternoon to acknowledge the successful completion of their initial training course. 

    There are some likeminded individuals in the wing with 11 of the graduates having family members currently working in police.

    Four graduating officers made the change from non-constabulary roles to police officers.

    The wing is very diverse with eighteen recruits speaking more than one language and 19 recruits who were born overseas. The top prize winner was born and raised in France.

    Top of wing, Constable Diane Aspalvo is a French-trained and certified clinical psychologist. She has worked as a psychologist in Paris and in Tairawhiti New Zealand before deciding to join the New Zealand Police.

    She previously volunteered for the French Army as a reserve after a call-up for national security due to the terrorist attacks in France in 2015. She is a keen swimmer, skier and is also into CrossFit.

    “I decided to join the New Zealand Police at 41 years old, so I am a living proof that it is never too late to achieve your dreams.”

    Diane will be deployed to Eastern District.

    Second Top Award winner Constable Hunta Sutherland, Ngāti Kuia is also a sporting talent, representing her district, Tasman, in football up to high school level.

    Not only is she a ‘Golden Boot’ winner for the most goals scored  in a regional competition (39), she’s into running track, cross country, and road races with many podium finishes. Hunta has worked as a teacher’s aide with troubled and autistic youth which she found inspiring.

    “While training at college I found strength I never knew I had, and a purpose I’ll never forget.”

    Hunta will be based in Tasman District.

    Leadership Award winner Constable Charise Perez is also a keen sports person excelling in netball. She was born in Wellington and raised by her Fijian dad and Samoan mother. Charise has experience in hospitality, service and politics. 

    She began her employment at the Electoral Commission as an administrator. She was a community liaison and worked on the 2020 elections and has also managed administration for an emergency housing organization called Tuatahi Centre. 

    As the leadership award winner, Charise gave a speech to the wing.

    “I stand here today as a product of the relationships and bonds between the members of wing 384. Together we began our journey as strangers, but today we stand as brothers and sisters.

    As we take the next step in our police journey, I believe that each and every one of wing 384 are more than capable of fulfilling the oath that we have just taken.”

    Charise, a former Authorised Officer for Police, will be based back in Wellington District to start policing.

    The wing is dispersed as follows:

    Deployment:

    Northland 3, Tāmaki Makaurau a total of 23 and broken down as follows: Waitematā – 9, Counties Manukau – 14, Waikato – 4, Bay of Plenty – 8, Eastern – 3, Central – 8, Wellington – 9, Tasman – 6, Canterbury – 3, Southern – 7.
    The new constables will start their first week of duty in their Police districts from Monday 2 June 2025 and will continue their training on the job as probationary constables.

    Awards:

    Minister’s Award recognising top student: Constable Diane Aspavlo, posted to Eastern District. 
    Commissioner’s Award for Leadership: Constable Charise Perez, posted to Wellington District.
    Patron’s Award for second in wing recognising second top student: Constable Hunta Sutherland, posted to Tasman District.
    Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award: Constable Ethan Baldwin posted to Waitematā District.

    Demographics:

    25.7 percent are female, 74.3 percent are male. New Zealand European make up 56.8 percent of the wing, with Māori 12.2 percent, Pasifika 17.6 percent, Asian 10.8 percent, LAAM 2.7 percent. 

    383 Wing Patron: Allan Boreham:

    Allan Boreham is a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police and former head of Youth Justice for Oranga Tamariki, Ministry for Children. Allan holds the New Zealand Police in very high esteem and is honoured to be the patron for Wing 384.

    He says he is looking forward to supporting the wing members to succeed and gain all the satisfaction a Police career offers. Allan joined Police in 1985 (in Wing 97) and served for more than 33 years. He was also a Deputy Chief Executive in the public service for five years in charge of Youth Justice.

    His Police career was varied and involved completing a wide range of roles in public safety, investigations, and road policing. These included postings in Auckland, Tokoroa, Hamilton and Wellington.

    He received an award for his leadership in solving the 1997 kidnapping and murder of an Auckland businessman, Graham Kirkwood.

    Allan holds a Bachelor Arts, majoring in Sociology, from Massey University. He is currently learning to speak Spanish and is also a keen motorcyclist and skier.

    His father Bruce, now in his eighties, also served in the Police for 32 years.

    ENDS

    Watch out for our Ten One story coming soon with more images and stories.

    If you’re interested in joining police check out newcops.govt.nz

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Have you seen Marilyn?

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police are asking for the public’s help finding Marilyn, who has been reported missing from the Ponsonby area.

    The 14-year-old was last seen on 18 May and is described as about 175cms tall with brown eyes and brown hair.

    Police and Marilyn’s family have concerns for her welfare and would like to find her as soon as possible.

    If you have seen her or have information that might help us find her, please call 111 and quote reference number 250519/9845.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Largest boost to Learning Support in a generation

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    Largest boost to Learning Support in a generation
    The Government is delivering the most significant investment in learning support in a generation to better support Kiwi kids to thrive at school, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. 
    Key investments include substantial annual increases to teacher aide hours, building up to over 2 million additional teacher aide hours per year, from 2028; Learning Support Co-ordinators for all schools with Year 1-8 students; expanding early intervention services from early learning through to end of year 1; and an historic overhaul of the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS) funding model to ensure that demand for the service is met with guaranteed funding so all students with high and complex needs who are verified for ORS receive the support they need.
    “Too many children wait too long to receive support, or miss out altogether, on the help they need to succeed. We are addressing this by investing in a smart, system-wide reform that significantly increases specialist and support staff resources in our schools. 
    “We’re powering up support to the frontline and investing early to ensure our kids get the tailored help they need, and so that teachers have more time to teach the basics brilliantly,” Ms Stanford says.
    Budget 2025 invests $2.5 billion over the forecast period in Vote Education with a focus on delivering a transformational boost to learning support funding.
    “Backed by a social investment lens, this is a seismic l shift in how we support learning needs in New Zealand. We’re deliberately prioritising early intervention, investing in what works and directly tackling long-standing inequities in the system.”
    The learning support funding package includes:

    $266 million to extend the Early Intervention Service (EIS) from early childhood education through to the end of year 1 of primary school. This will fund more than 560 additional FTE for EIS teachers and specialists. We are investing in:

    expanding the service through to the end of Year 1 to support the effective transition into school of around 4,000 children with additional needs.
    reducing existing waitlists in early intervention so that more than 3,000 children that need the support receive it sooner.
    increasing the amount of specialist support provided to the more than 7,100 children who are currently enrolled in EIS.
    building up annually to an additional 900,000 teacher aide hours per year, from 2028, to support young learners in EIS.

    $122 million to meet increased demand for ORS (Ongoing Resourcing Scheme) for students with high and complex needs. This includes a structural change to the funding model so every child who is verified for ORS funding receives the support they need. This investment will also increase the number of specialists and teacher aide time to support the more than 1,700 additional learners forecast to access ORS over the next four years.
    $192 million to ensure that over three years, all Year 1-8 schools and kura are funded for a Learning Support Coordinator to work with students, families and educators to identify and respond to learner needs. This investment will benefit 1250 schools and an additional 300,000 learners around New Zealand.
    $43 million for an extra 78.5 FTE speech language therapists, as well as additional psychologists and supporting teacher aide hours to help meet the growing demand of students with communication and behaviour needs. This will provide specialist supports to around 2500 students over the next four years.
    $3 million of investment in our teacher aides with targeted professional development for working with learners with social, emotional, wellbeing, behavioural, and neurodiverse needs.
    $4 million to employ 25 intern educational psychologists each year to enable a more sustainable pipeline of locally trained workforce.
    $90 million of capital for approximately 25 new learning support satellite classrooms to provide around 225 new student places across the Ministry of Education’s specialist school network, as well as provide learning support property modifications so that schools are more accessible to learners with additional needs.  

    “Across all learning support services in Vote Education, we are building up to more than 2 million additional teacher aide hours into the system every year from 2028. 
    “The education sector has been calling for more support for a long time, and this Government is delivering results. This investment recognises and responds to the growing number of children with additional learning needs and the pressure it places on teachers,” Ms Stanford says. 
    Budget 2025 also includes substantive key investments in the Government’s priority areas:

    $298 million into strengthening Curriculum and Assessment supports, including $132.2 million for accelerated learning in literacy and maths.
    $572 million of capital funding invested into school property.
    $100 million of operating funding, to maintain and upgrade classrooms.
    $150 million to build the education workforce of the future through leadership development pathways, teacher supply initiatives, and funded registration and certification.
    $104 million to support Māori learner success, including $50 million of capital funding for new classrooms in Māori Medium and Kaupapa Māori schools.
    $140 million for a new attendance service and to support and strengthen frontline attendance services

     
    “To deliver this investment, we have assessed underspends and reprioritised initiatives that are underperforming or lack clear evidence that they’re delivering intended outcomes. Around $614 million within the vote has been identified for reinvestment into frontline, priority education initiatives.
    “Budget 2025 builds on the strong foundations we’ve already laid through teaching the basics brilliantly. We will continue to invest to raise achievement and close the equity gap in schools across the country, so all Kiwi kids have the knowledge, skills and competencies they need to reach their full potential,” Ms Stanford says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Bills increase transparency of money transfers and ports

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    Two Labour bills drawn from the Member’s Ballot today would require greater transparency of international money transfers, and bring more public accountability and transparency to port companies.

    “Too many families are losing money to hidden fees when they send remittances overseas. That’s not fair, especially with the cost of living rising,” Arena Williams said.

    “My Financial Markets (International Money Transfers) Amendment Bill will require banks and other money transfer services to be upfront about their fees, exchange rates, and commissions. Consumers should know exactly what they’re paying, before they send a cent.

    “New Zealanders pay more for international money transfers than people in Australia and other countries. My Bill is especially important for Pacific, Filipino, Indian and other migrant communities who regularly use remittance services to support loved ones abroad.

    “Banks and finance companies charge for these services in a way most consumers won’t understand. It’s not clear, it’s not fair, and it hits working families hardest.

    “This Bill is about making banking fairer for everyone, whether you’re sending money home to support family or making a purchase online in a foreign currency. Labour is on the side of consumers, not the banks.”

    The Bill would:

    • Require full disclosure of all fees, commissions, and exchange rates before a transfer is made
    • Ensure the total cost of a transfer is clearly displayed, including markups
    • Stop banks and providers from hiding charges in fine print

    “This is an important step in bringing down everyday costs for families – starting with banking. Everyone deserves to know what they’re paying,” Arena Williams said.

    Lemauga Lydia Sosene’s Local Government (Port Companies Accountability) Amendment Bill would bring more public accountability and transparency to publicly-owned port companies.

    “Currently, publicly-owned port companies are immune to Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act requests which limits their public accountability. This Bill would change that and give local communities greater transparency around decisions that could affect their lives,” Lemauga Lydia Sosene said.

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    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: The Austerity Budget that leaves women out

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    Today’s Budget is a masterclass in making the wrong decisions for New Zealanders.

    “After a year of job cuts, now we are on to pay cuts and stealing from our kids’ retirement funds,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.

    “The Government has taken $11 billion that should be lifting women’s pay and used it to make its budget add up.

    “Christopher Luxon’s decision to cut the Government KiwiSaver contribution will steal $66,000 from the retirement savings of an 18-year-old entering the scheme today.

    “Women, young people and the working public are paying for handouts to landlords, multinationals and tobacco companies. Today we can add oil and gas companies to that list.

    “With the cost-of-living pressure reaching crisis point, this Government is offering some families a measly $7 a week. That won’t even buy a block of butter.

    “Last Budget Nicola Willis made a choice to borrow $12 billion for tax cuts which haven’t delivered for Kiwis. It’s time she took some responsibility.

    “We don’t know if a single family has received the $250 she promised last year, so why should Kiwis believe her this this year?

    “She is choosing austerity to make up for her poor fiscal management.

    “More people are homeless, more children are going hungry and women are going to be paid less. That’s what Nicola Willis and Christopher Luxon will be remembered for,” Chris Hipkins said.

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    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: National failing on the cost of living

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    Despite all the promises, Kiwis are still going backwards in Budget 2025.

    “Kiwis do not feel like they’re getting a fair deal under National,” Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

    “They have cut $11 billion from women’s pay and cut KiwiSaver contributions.

    “As a result of Nicola Willis’ cuts to Kiwisaver, an 18-year-old today will have $66,000 less at retirement age than they would have if the Finance Minister had any foresight.

    “Some families will no longer get BestStart, which helps families buy a can of formula and a box of nappies each week. On top of that, 61,000 families will now be worse by an average of $43 per fortnight.

    “It’s not just tough for families with newborns. Food prices are still climbing, including staples like milk, butter and meat.

    “Rates and insurance have gone up. Energy prices are high. People aren’t getting the support they were promised with childcare.

    “Unemployment is scheduled to rise. Thousands of people have lost their jobs under National and are choosing to head overseas.

    “The cost of living remains as high as ever. Nobody can find a family that got the $250 they promised in the last Budget, not even the finance minister.

    “No matter the spin, help is not on the way for families. In fact, at first glance the only increase some families are getting is $7 a week.

    “Nicola Willis’ flagship cost of living policy is a disgrace. There are tens of thousands of people she said would get support with childcare, but aren’t; and a quarter of the money she’s spent on it has gone to administration, not childcare.

    “Instead of investing in good jobs so people can work and support their families, reliable healthcare and warm, dry homes, this Government has chosen tax cuts for landlords, multinationals, and tobacco companies. Today, overseas oil and gas giants have been promised $200 million too.

    “Nicola Willis is taking money from low paid women and families, to make all of her failures add up,” Barbara Edmonds said.

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    MIL OSI New Zealand News –