The Government has instigated an independent review of New Zealand’s monetary policy response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the purpose of the review is to identify any lessons New Zealand could learn to improve the monetary policy response to future major events.
“An independent review means the conclusions found can be objective and constructive.
“The Reserve Bank of New Zealand took unprecedented action in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This included reducing the Official Cash Rate to 0.25 per cent, and the use of additional monetary policy tools, including a Large Scale Asset Purchase (LSAP) programme.
“These actions helped to preserve jobs and keep businesses afloat, but the indirect impacts included decades-high inflation, and losses of about $10.3 billion on the LSAP programme and a significant spike in asset values with house prices increasing 30 per cent in one year.
“The purpose of the review is to learn from experience. It will focus on decisions by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), and analysis provided by the Reserve Bank to support those decisions. This includes MPC decision making and communication, the use of additional monetary policy tools, and the coordination of monetary and fiscal policy.”
Monetary policy experts Athanasios Orphanides and David Archer have been appointed to conduct the independent review.
Dr Orphanides is a former governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus and member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, and a professor of the Practice of Global Economics and Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mr Archer is a former Reserve Bank assistant governor and former head of the Central Banking Studies Unit at the Bank for International Settlements.
The review is expected to be completed in August 2026 and publicly released in September 2026.
Construction is underway to expand and upgrade Palmerston North Hospital’s emergency department, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“This redevelopment is a practical, front-line investment that will make a real difference for patients and staff, helping to reduce wait times while improving safety, privacy, and the overall flow of care,” Mr Brown says.
The $14.455 million project is part of the Government’s $100 million hospital infrastructure programme funded through Budget 2025, accelerating improvements across health facilities nationwide.
“The upgrade will increase emergency department capacity by around 40 percent, delivering 15 additional points of care, a new mental health assessment room, and redesigned spaces that support better patient flow, privacy, and safety.
“Palmerston North Hospital’s emergency department was built 25 years ago, and demand now far exceeds what it was designed for. This redevelopment will deliver a modern, efficient, patient-centred environment that is better equipped to respond to growing demand and seasonal pressures, including winter.”
Palmerston North Hospital’s emergency department is the central hub for emergency care across the MidCentral district, supporting Whanganui Hospital, Dannevirke Community Hospital, and Horowhenua Health Centre.
“This investment strengthens the wider regional network and helps ensure people across region can access timely emergency care close to home.”
Mr Brown says the Government’s $100 million investment programme is delivering 21 local projects across the country to expand and upgrade clinical spaces, strengthen essential infrastructure, and reduce the risk of disruption to critical health services.
“Our Government is focused on practical improvements that strengthen hospital services and put patients at the centre, with targeted upgrades that lift capacity where it is needed most, including here at Palmerston North Hospital.”
The emergency department will remain open throughout the redevelopment, which is expected to be completed in June 2026.
“This work is being carried out while keeping services running, ensuring patients can continue to access care as we build the capacity Palmerston North needs for the future,” Mr Brown says.
Voter fraud allegations and a lack of transparency around political lobbying and funding were some of the top concerns. (File photo)Pixabay/shafin_protic
New Zealand’s reputation for low levels of corruption has taken a hit for the fourth year in a row.
In global organisation Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perception Index – a survey of surveys measuring how corrupt a country is thought to be – New Zealand’s score has fallen two points.
New Zealand still ranked highly in fourth place alongside Norway, and behind Denmark, Finland and Singapore.
“We used to be first in the world and we’ve just seen a continual drop down the ladder – about 10 percent in four years,” Transparency International New Zealand chairperson Anne Tolley said.
“It sort of feels like the wheels are coming off a bit and that’s really dangerous for our democracy.”
Voter fraud allegations and a lack of transparency around political lobbying and funding are some of the top concerns, with prosecutions for bribery, deception and misuse of public funds adding to potential reputational damage.
“A strong democracy has people feeling very confident about those democratic systems and wanting to take part,” Tolley said.
Corruption perception versus reality
Transparency International’s concerns were mirrored in the pilot report released Tuesday from the Anti-Corruption Taskforce, lead by the Serious Fraud Office.
The report looked at how big the issue of fraud and corruption was within public agencies and how well-equipped they were to find and prevent it.
“Cases of internal fraud and corruption are almost certainly being under-reported, due to a number of factors, and the true scale of the issue remains unclear,” the report said.
It highlighted the need for a national anti-corruption strategy, according to Tolley, and it was crucial for New Zealand’s reputation as a small trading nation reliant on global relationships.
“The world’s become more conscious of dirty money – that money is that’s derived from the drug trade and prostitution and modern slavery,” she said.
“We’re all more aware of being sure that we are we are investing and trading with a country that has good systems in place to stop that.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
A senior navy officer facing court martial over allegations of encouraging a junior to kiss her on the cheeks at a bar during an overseas operation in 2023 has been found not guilty of doing an act to prejudice service discipline
She can now be named as the former Ship Commander of HMNZS Canterbury – Bronwyn Heslop.
Heslop, who spent 36 years in the Navy, is currently in the role of Military Maritime Operation Orders – Instructions and Procedures – after Commander Wayne Andrew took on the of Ship Commander fo HMNZS Canterbury in September 2025.
The charge under the Armed Forces Discipline Act, which includes any act likely to bring discredit on the service of the Armed Forces, carries a penalty of up to two years imprisonment.
A panel of three senior military officers, acting as a jury would in a civilian court, delivered their unanimous verdict of “not guilty” on Wednesday morning, after more than five hours of deliberation across Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, at the Court Martial sitting at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland.
Former Ship Commander of HMNZS Canterbury Bronwyn Heslop.RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Judge William Hastings declined to grant Heslop name suppression earlier this week, but suppressions had to remain in place, after her lawyer signalled an appeal.
However, Heslop’s lawyer told the Court Martial that today’s verdict meant they no longer had grounds for an appeal and that no appeal would be filed.
Judge Hastings lifted the interim order, which allows media to name Heslop.
On Monday, both the former junior officer who was allegedly encouraged to kiss the senior officer, as well as Heslop, took the witness stand.
The alleged interaction happened in Fiji in March 2023, when the junior officer first joined HMNZS Canterbury, and officers were given leave for a few days after docking and were drinking at a bar in town at night.
The former junior officer, who was the sole witness for the prosecution, said the senior officer first caught the attention of him and another junior officer when she tapped on a glass pane and gestured for a kiss through the other side of the glass, and later gestured for them to come inside the bar and tapped on her cheeks to gesture for a kiss.
Devonport Naval Base.RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Heslop denied seeking a kiss on the cheek from the junior officer, and said her level of intoxication was two, on a scale of zero to ten, with zero being sober, when they arrived at the bar.
Another navy officer called as a defence witness said they’d spent the majority of that night with Heslop and did not see them with the junior officer.
The former junior officer, during cross-examination by the accused’s lawyer, conceded that he didn’t tell the whole truth when first approached by the military police in August 2024, as he didn’t think he’d be taken seriously and that he was worried his career would be affected if he spoke up.
Under cross-examination by the defence lawyer, he admitted that alcohol affected his memory of some events of the night, but was adamant that he had a clear memory of the alleged core interaction with Heslop.
Heslop in 1998 became the first female officer to be in charge of a Royal New Zealand Navy vessel, when she took command of HMNZS Moa.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
The State of the Nation report released today by Better Taxes Coalition member, The Salvation Army, shows persistent inequality across most measures, from child poverty and food insecurity, to unemployment and housing affordability.
The Better Taxes campaign endorses the remarks of Dr Bonnie Robinson, Salvation Army Director Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit, at the launch that something significant is required to address inequality and poverty in Aotearoa New Zealand:
“Rebalancing our tax system to gather more revenue from those who can most afford to contribute, and to fund the things that will improve living standards for everyone in Aotearoa is critical to shifting the dial on the shocking picture painted by the Salvation Army report,” said Glenn Barclay, spokesperson for the Better Taxes campaign.
The report lays bare numerous areas where we need to do more to support the most vulnerable in our communities:
Child poverty rates have increased and the number of children in material hardship in 2024 was higher than the in 2018 (baseline measure).
Numbers receiving welfare assistance rose over the last year, but restricted access to hardship support meant there was less support for households at this time of greater need.
Food insecurity remained high in 2025. Salvation Army food assistance through food parcels increased with some 90,000 food parcels distributed, 7 percent higher than in 2024 and almost 50 percent more than in 2019 pre-Covid-19.
Although household living cost increases eased over the last year, this was uneven and lower-income households still faced higher household costs increases compared to high earners.
Public housing units increased, but new-builds are poised to fall off the cliff. While homelessness continued to rise and thousands remain on public housing lists, some specialised housing services for people facing homelessness actually reduced over the course of 2025.
The data shows that structural settings continue to produce inequitable outcomes for tangata whenua and vulnerable communities.
“These are the kinds of pressures that are driving the fiscal challenges that the Treasury and Inland Revenue have identified in a number of recent reports. In order to address these pressures and enable everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand to live good lives we need to gather more revenue”, said Barclay.
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.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kirsty Forsdike, Principal Research Fellow and Associate Professor, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University
Research shows gender-based violence in sport is widespread: between a quarter and three-quarters of women within sport report experiencing some form of psychological, physical or sexual violence during their sporting lives.
These experiences happen across all levels of sport and affect not only athletes but also coaches, officials, volunteers and administrators.
And too often, when those affected try to speak up, systems fail them.
Our research team recently examined how reports of gender-based violence in sport are currently experienced and managed.
Based on what we found, we designed a new resource to help sporting organisations handle issues that arise and support victims.
What is gender-based violence in sport?
Gender-based violence can include sexist jokes, humiliation, exclusion from leadership roles, coercive coaching practices, sexual harassment and assault.
These behaviours are often normalised or minimised in sport but their impact is serious: women leave sport, their health is affected, teams dissolve, talent is lost and trust in sporting institutions is eroded.
What our research found
We examined how reports of gender-based violence in sport are currently managed.
We reviewed policies, interviewed women and gender-diverse people who had disclosed gender-based violence in sport, and also interviewed people working in national and state sport integrity and safeguarding roles.
We found policies related to violence in sport to be legalistic, inaccessible and almost entirely gender-blind.
Women and gender-diverse participants shared uncertainty about who to approach, what the process would entail and whether they would be believed.
Some felt re-traumatised by systems meant to support them. One woman told us:
[the sport] never followed any of their own written processes around safety and supporting us. They made promises and then actively went against them. They pretty much gaslit us the whole way.
The people we interviewed said they stayed engaged when listened to, believed and offered choices. When dismissed or blamed, many left – not just the organisation, but sport.
A clear message emerged from those working in integrity and safeguarding roles: many want to do the right thing but are often constrained by unclear policies, limited guidance and support and a lack of training.
They described feeling overwhelmed, unsure of what steps to take and concerned about their organisation’s reputation or getting it wrong.
One person working in integrity and safeguarding roles said:
I’ll be quite candid with you […] they’re protecting the business. They’re not protecting the member.
Another sad:
One time I got one [a report] and I had to run out the door here to throw up. It was just so terrible.
Where current systems fall short
In Australia, Sport Integrity Australia responds to breaches of integrity through the National Integrity Framework and its complaints handling system.
But our research shows when it comes to gender-based violence against adults, significant gaps remain.
While Sport Integrity Australia’s suite of policies include the “safeguarding of children and young people” there is no equivalent for adults.
Also, Sport Integrity Australia can only implement its policies with sports that signed up to its national framework, and only if the issue being reported occurred after the sport signed up.
This means in many cases, gender-based violence against an adult will fall outside of its policies.
In these cases, responsibility falls back to sporting organisations – many of which are under-resourced, unclear about their role or ill-prepared to respond.
For women and gender-diverse people, this often results in confusion, inadequate or inconsistent responses and an increased risk of ongoing harm.
In the absence of sufficient national policy, sport organisations must therefore be better prepared to respond to and address gender-based violence, from the grassroots to elite levels.
Why disclosures so often go wrong
Our research shows reports of gendered violence go wrong not because people don’t care but because systems are not designed with victim-survivors in mind.
Policies are frequently written to protect organisations rather than support those who experience harm.
Reporting pathways mimic legal and criminal justice pathways rather than trauma-informed practices.
Power imbalances – between athletes and coaches, volunteers and boards, players and administrators – are not acknowledged or addressed.
At the same time, those tasked with responding are often unsupported.
Integrity managers, volunteers and administrators told us they regularly absorb traumatic stories without adequate supervision or specialist support and without the ability to address the root causes of the issue. This increases the risk of burnout and turnover.
A practical roadmap for safer responses
In response we developed a practical, evidence-based toolkit designed to help sporting organisations at every level respond better when gender-based violence is reported.
This new guide translates research and best-practice principles from health, trauma and violence-prevention sectors into the sport context in ways that are easy to understand and implement.
It sets out five core principles for good responses:
making reporting easy
having clear and fair policies
supporting choice and autonomy
responding with care and respect
committing to ongoing improvement.
It provides concrete tools such as scripts for responding to disclosures, checklists for organisational readiness and a clear roadmap outlining what a good response looks like from first disclosure through to follow-up and review.
Kirsty Forsdike receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the IOC Olympic Studies Centre. She is a board member of Sports Focus, a regional sports assembly for the Loddon Campaspe region of Victoria.
Aurélie Pankowiak currently receives funding from the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), Early Career Research Fellowship and the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse. Aurélie received funding form the IOC Olympic Studies Centre for this project.
Mary Woessner receives funding from the Australian Research Council, Movember and the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse. While she did not directly receive funding from the IOC Olympic Studies Centre, she was added as an investigator after the project commenced.
Natalie Galea receives funding from the Ithe IOC Olympic Studies Centre. Natalie is an Australian Olympian.
Samantha Marshall does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A senior navy officer facing court martial over allegations of encouraging a junior to kiss them on the cheeks at a bar during an overseas operation in 2023 has been found not guilty of doing an act to prejudice service discipline.
The charge under the Armed Forces Discipline Act, which includes any act likely to bring discredit on the service of the Armed Forces, carries a penalty of up to two years imprisonment.
A panel of three senior military officers, acting as a jury would in a civilian court, delivered their unanimous verdict of “not guilty” on Wednesday morning, after more than five hours of deliberation across Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, at the Court Martial sitting at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland.
The senior officer’s name cannot yet be reported, pending their appeal of a decision by Judge William Hastings to decline their application for name suppression.
On Monday, both the former junior officer who was allegedly encouraged to kiss the senior officer, as well as the accused senior officer, took the witness stand.
The alleged interaction happened in Fiji in March 2023, when officers were given leave for a few days and were drinking at a bar in town at night.
The former junior officer, who was the sole witness for the prosecution, said the senior officer first caught the attention of him and another junior officer when they tapped on a glass pane and gestured for a kiss through the other side of the glass, and later gestured for them to come inside the bar and tapped on their cheeks to gesture for a kiss.
The senior officer denied seeking a kiss on the cheek from the junior officer, and said their level of intoxication was two, on a scale of zero to ten, with zero being sober, when they arrived at the bar.
Another navy officer called as a defence witness said they’d spent the majority of that night with the senior officer, and did not see them with the junior officer.
The former junior officer, during cross-examination by the accused’s lawyer, conceded that he didn’t tell the whole truth when first approached by the military police in August 2024, as he didn’t think he’d be taken seriously and that he was worried his career would be affected if he spoke up.
Under cross-examination by the defence lawyer, He admitted that alcohol affected his memory of some events of the night, but was adamant that he had a clear memory of the alleged core interaction with the senior officer.
More to come….
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Victoria University of Wellington, Te Wāhanga a Manaia – Faculty of Science and Engineering
Te Wāhanga a Manaia—Faculty of Science and Engineering is celebrating a remarkable $5 million gift from the George Mason Charitable Trust to support multidisciplinary research into the natural environment.
Dr George Mason ONZM, who passed away in 2024, was an accomplished research scientist who generously supported environmental research throughout his lifetime. Through his Trust, he donated millions of dollars to scholarships, education, and postgraduate research across Aotearoa, significantly advancing our nation’s collective expertise in the natural and environmental sciences.
The gift will be used to support postgraduate students and researchers who are conducting solutions-focused research that advances conservation, restoration, and sustainability in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Professor Nicola Nelson, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, says the Faculty is truly grateful for the generous gift, which will be an opportunity to deepen and broaden the impact of their research.
“Dr Mason’s gift is transformative. His investment in the future of human knowledge is a profound act of belief in the power and potential of scientific research here at Te Herenga Waka.
“We are deeply grateful to the trustees of the George Mason Charitable Trust, who have ensured Dr Mason’s vision of supporting research within the natural environment is realised far into the future.”
The gift agreement was signed at a ceremony held earlier today in the Victoria Room and attended by Vice-Chancellor Professor Nic Smith, Victoria University of Wellington Foundation Chair John McCay, and the trustees of the George Mason Charitable Trust.
Te Herenga Waka Vice-Chancellor Professor Nic Smith says Dr Mason’s gift will have a lasting impact on the University’s research capacity.
“Dr Mason’s lifelong goal to restore and protect the environment will be significantly advanced through the meaningful research his gift will enable.
“His legacy will live on through the ambitious research projects this gift will support, the solutions our researchers will develop as a result, and the influence their groundbreaking work will have on our society.”
Professor of Marine Biology James Bell, who led a research group that was generously supported by Dr Mason, says this funding had a transformative impact on the reach and scope of their work.
“Past funding from the George Mason Trust unlocked an amazing opportunity to develop an exciting new area of research focused on deep water or so-called mesophotic reefs. We were able to purchase remotely operated vehicles and fund student scholarships that supported the discovery of never-before observed marine communities and understand their significance to Aotearoa New Zealand.
“This new gift will ensure that George’s legacy of generosity and support for conservation and scientific advancement lives on through numerous research projects across many disciplines. We will continue to be inspired by George’s passion for solutions-focused science that will ultimately benefit people and the planet.”
One of Auckland’s most loved and historic waterbodies is getting a much-needed helping hand.
This week, Auckland Council’s Environmental Services and Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience teams will carry out a major pest fish removal operation at Te Wai Ōrea / Western Springs Lake, an important step toward improving water quality and protecting native freshwater species.
Western Springs is no ordinary lake. Known to mana whenua as Te Wai Ōrea, it is the original water source for Auckland and has long been a place of cultural, ecological and community significance. While the city has grown beyond relying on the springs for drinking water, the lake remains a treasured green space and an important freshwater ecosystem.
Over time, however, pest fish such as koi carp and brown bullhead catfish have taken a toll. These species feed by rooting around in the lakebed, stirring up sediment and nutrients that cloud the water and fuel algal blooms.
Matthew Bloxham, Auckland Council’s Senior Regional Advisor Freshwater says koi carp are well known for their negative effects on water quality.
“When left uncontrolled, their feeding disturbs lakebed sediments and harms freshwater habitats. Reducing pest fish numbers is a proven way to help lakes recover.”
Catfish add further pressure by preying on native fish and kōura (freshwater crayfish), and by competing with native species for food.
Western Springs is also home to a regionally significant tuna (eel) fishery, with three species of eel present. Because of this, there is a proposal to declare the lake an eel sanctuary, making protection of the ecosystem even more important.
“This is about looking after taonga species and restoring balance,” says Bloxham.
“Cleaner water supports healthier eel populations and stronger native biodiversity overall and reduces the botulism risk.”
The operation will be led by a specialist team from the University of Waikato, using New Zealand’s only electrofishing boat of its kind. The technique uses a pulsed electrical current to temporarily stun fish, allowing pest species to be safely collected while native species, including eels, are returned unharmed.
“Electrofishing allows us to capture all sizes and species with minimal harm,” says Associate Professor Nick Ling from the University of Waikato.
“Unlike nets or traps, it’s highly effective while still being safe for native fish, which recover quickly and can be released back into the lake.”
Pest fish removed during the operation will be humanely euthanised and taken off-site to be turned into compost.
The work is scheduled for the week of 9–13 February. Water levels will be temporarily lowered from Sunday to improve the effectiveness of the operation, and parts of the lakebed, particularly at the western end, will be visible during this time.
Cultural monitoring will be carried out throughout the week by mana whenua (Te Ahiwaru).
Councillor Richard Hills says the project reflects a long-term commitment to protecting one of Auckland’s most iconic natural spaces.
“Western Springs is a place many Aucklanders have grown up with,” he says.
“This work shows we’re serious about restoring the lake, supporting native species, and doing the right thing for future generations. It’s good environmental stewardship and it’s the right thing to do.”
With no upstream source for reinvasion, ongoing management and community care, such as not releasing unwanted pet fish, gives Te Wai Ōrea a strong chance to remain a healthy, largely native freshwater ecosystem into the future.
ASB Bank has reported a flat half-year profit as higher expenses offset higher improved lending and margins.
Key numbers for the six months ended December 2025 compared with a year ago:
Net profit $765m vs $763m
Cash profit $719m vs $714m (excludes one-offs)
Total income $1.84b vs $1.78b
Operating expenses $839m vs $695m
Bad debt provisions $3m vs $17m
Net interest margin 2.35% vs 2.29%
The bank’s profit showed improvement in key areas of increased lending, larger margins, and improved income, but was balanced by a significant rise in expenses because of the settlement of the a class legal action over credit disclosures.
Chief executive Vittoria Shortt said the bank was seeing signs of economic improvement and that was flowing through into business.
“We are seeing more confidence in the economy, supported by lower interest rates and good export earnings in key sectors.”
“This is evident in the uptick we’ve seen in business lending, with more lending growth across small business, commercial and rural this half than in the previous financial year,” Shortt said.
Overall lending rose 6 percent to $118.7b, with housing loans up 8 percent, and rural and business lending 4 percent.
Total customer deposits rose 5 percent.
Banks have been competing for market share in the housing market, amid falling interest rates and large numbers of borrowers refixing their mortgages.
Net interest income – the difference between what the bank borrows at and charges for loans – increased 8 percent, while net interest margin, regarded as a measure of profitability, rose six basis points to 2.35 percent because of timing effects from interest rate hedges.
The amount set aside for bad and doubtful debts fell to $3m from $17m.
Expenses surge on case settlement
ASB’s operating expenses surged 21 percent to $839m, mostly because of the $135.6m out of court settlement of a class legal action brought by former consumer for alleged breaches of credit disclosure rules.
ASB never accepted liability, but said the settlement was a “pragmatic” way to settle the issue.
Shortt said ASB had spent more on improving its anti-scam defences and engaging with affected customers.
She said the bank, owned by Australia’s CBA, was also improving its technology to simplify its processes and offer better products to customers, as well as advance its own lending for social housing and business technology investment.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
A new study analysing COVID-19 vaccine uptake has found markedly lower vaccination rates among Māori, which researchers link to existing inequities in healthcare access.
The study looked at vaccination rates from December 2020 to May 2023, finding 28.4 percent of Māori were unvaccinated during this period, compared with 14.7 percent of non-Māori.
“Based on these numbers, we estimate 78,880 fewer Māori were fully vaccinated than would have been the case if vaccination rates were the same for both groups,” said Dr James Mbinta, lead author of the study and a research fellow at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
The study also found marked differences in rates of partial vaccination, with Māori more likely to receive only the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and not go on to get the second dose.
Enrolment in a primary health organisation (PHO) was flagged as a key factor influencing whether Māori received at least one dose of the vaccine. The study also found those living in lower-income households and in lower-quality and crowded housing were less likely to be vaccinated.
“For Māori, the likelihood of being partially or fully vaccinated was higher among those enrolled in a PHO. This highlights the need for vaccination strategies that include improving PHO enrolment, especially for populations that have a known higher risk of severe health outcomes from COVID-19,” said co-author Andrew Sporle (Ngāti Apa, Rangitāne, Te Rarawa), an honorary academic in the Department of Statistics at Auckland University and managing director of research firm iNZight Analytics.
Previous research has shown Māori have higher rates of both hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 compared with the general population.
“Our findings highlight the crucial need to ensure vulnerable populations can access healthcare. Targeted approaches, using evidence from data generated by rigorous studies such as this, are needed to address health disparities and ensure equitable access to healthcare resources,” said co-author Professor Colin Simpson, a senior adviser in the School of Health at Te Herenga Waka and professor in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Auckland University.
A message from HM King Charles III on the 100th anniversary of the constitutional relationship between Tokelau and New Zealand
To the people of Tokelau, Malo Ni! My wife and I have such fond and lasting memories of meeting members of the Tokelauan community during our visits to New Zealand, and so it gives me great pleasure to extend my warmest greetings to you on the very special occasion of the 100th anniversary of Tokelau’s unique relationship with New Zealand.
The flag of Tokelau depicts a canoe under full sail, voyaging towards the stars of the Southern Cross; stars which have helped Tokelauans navigate the Pacific waters for centuries. On this milestone anniversary, I hope that all Tokelauans can take pride in their nation’s voyage over the past 100 years and your many achievements in that time. The Tokelauan voice is vital on the global stage, reminding the world of the urgency with which we must all act to ensure that the rich natural beauty and vibrant cultural heritage not only of your nation, but also of so many small island states around the world, continue to thrive in the years to come.
Although, sadly, I am unable to join you in person as you embrace this opportunity to reflect on the past and look towards the future, I particularly wanted to send you my very best wishes for your celebrations.
ASB has reported a cash net profit after tax (NPAT) of $719 million for the six months to 31 December 2025, up 1% on the prior comparative period. Statutory NPAT was $765 million.
Since December 2024, home lending has grown 8%, while business and rural lending grew by 4%. Total customer deposits increased by 5%.
Net customer margins remain flat, reflecting higher home lending margins and lower deposit margins. Net Interest Margin (NIM) was up 6 basis points driven by higher earnings due to timing effects from interest rate hedges.
ASB KiwiSaver Scheme funds under management grew by more than $1.7 billion to more than $20.6 billion, thanks to continued strong returns to customers and top quartile performing funds.[1] Collectively, ASB Group Investments manages more than $31 billion for investors across its range of five products.
Operating expenses were $839 million, an increase of 21% largely driven by the settlement of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 class action proceedings, and investments in people, technology modernisation, digital experience and regulatory compliance.
Chief Executive Vittoria Shortt says “While the geopolitical outlook remains uncertain, we are seeing more confidence in the economy, supported by lower interest rates and good export earnings in key sectors. This is evident in the uptick we’ve seen in business lending, with more lending growth across small business, commercial and rural this half than in the previous financial year.
“We remain well positioned to support our personal and business customers as they continue to tackle higher costs, navigate volatility or transition to growth.”
Investing in our customer experience
“We continue to make significant investments so customers choosing to bank with ASB have a simple and modern experience, where they feel informed and confident about making important financial decisions and safer knowing we actively seek to protect them from fraud and scams.
“Through our technology modernisation we are simplifying the way we work and the services we provide, removing overlap and complexity and offering products that might better suit our customers’ changing needs.
“We have a focus on service excellence and meeting customers’ expectations of faster and simpler processes, with quicker decisions on their home loan applications. Building on our capability for single home loan applications to be started digitally through the ASB Mobile App, in November we extended this functionality to include joint home loan applications. Customers can track the progress of their application and view indicative pricing in the ASB Mobile App, so they remain informed at every step.”
Further customer protections
“Fraud and scams remain an issue for New Zealand, and we continue to seek to make banking with us safer with enhanced customer protections against economic crime.
“We are now able to share data between banks related to digital fraud and money mule activity through the Fraud Reporting Exchange and New Zealand Data Exchange. We remain available to assist customers 24/7 on our 0800 ASB FRAUD line.”
Investing in New Zealand
“While we’ve seen business lending growth pick up, with increases across agricultural and property lending, for long-term prosperity New Zealand needs to become more productive.
“We are backing business customers to boost their productivity using artificial intelligence and technology in partnership with the New Zealand Product Accelerator and universities. Following a successful pilot, the programme is being scaled up this year to match up to 100 ASB business customers with AI, business analytics and data science masters’ students to work on their business.
“We are continuing to show up for rural New Zealand with offerings to help with transformation and succession through our Every Hectare Matters programme, and reduce costs with ASB’s Smart Solar 0% lending to assist the switch to renewable, resilient energy. We are supporting the future of the dairy industry and empowering the next generation of farmers towards the goal of farm ownership with financial support and expertise in partnership with the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards and Fonterra.
“These initiatives are highly valued by the rural sector, as a result we have grown our rural lending more than any other bank in the 12-months to September 2025.[2]
“Long-term prosperity also requires that we have enough housing to support our growing population and easier access to more affordable housing solutions. We have doubled our commitment to $1 billion to accelerate the development of social and affordable housing and the long-term delivery of thousands of new homes. To date we have committed $517 million for social and affordable housing, and this half we committed nearly $50 million to a Māori social housing provider in Tāmaki Makaurau to deliver more than 150 homes.”
Saving for the future
“Regular savings provide a pathway to long-term financial wellbeing and broader economic resilience for Aotearoa.
“We have put a lot of effort into the ASB Investment Funds and the ASB KiwiSaver Scheme so we can offer competitive investment options for customers. We have multiple top performing KiwiSaver funds with low fees, and this is a powerful combination that can make a big difference for our nearly half a million ASB KiwiSaver Scheme members who stand to benefit when purchasing a first home and/or in retirement.
“We remain focused on how we can help tamariki build financial literacy and early savings habits. In November, we reintroduced our Kashin moneybox to celebrate ASB’s 150 years of supporting Kiwi kids to get one step ahead with money. We’ve seen a notable increase in the opening of new Headstart accounts, helping children to start their savings journey. We continue to support the delivery of financial education nationwide with nearly 45,000 students participating this half in our GetWise and Tikitiki o Pūtea programmes in schools.”
[1]ASB KiwiSaver Scheme Conservative, Moderate, Balanced and Growth funds are in the top quartile for 12-month performance to 31 December 2025, Morningstar KiwiSaver Survey (Dec 2025).
2RBNZ quarterly release, 12-months to September 2025.
Income Statement ($ millions)
For the half year ended 31 December
2025
2024
Dec 25 vs Dec 24 %
Net interest income
1,602
1,471
9
Other operating income
233
233
–
Total operating income
1,835
1,704
8
Operating expenses
(839)
(695)
21
Operating performance
996
1,009
(1)
Loan impairment expense
(3)
(17)
(82)
Net profit before tax
993
992
–
Corporate tax expense
(274)
(278)
(1)
Cash net profit after tax (“Cash profit”1)
719
714
1
Reconciliation of Cash profit to Statutory profit
Cash profit
719
714
1
Reconciling items:
Hedging and IFRS volatility2
7
(7)
large
Notional inter-group charges3
53
71
(25)
Reporting structure differences4
6
6
–
Tax on reconciling items
(20)
(21)
(5)
Net profit after tax (“Statutory profit”)
765
763
–
Performance indicators (cash basis)
6
Net interest margin (%)
2.35
2.29
6 bpts
Return on assets (%)
1.0
1.1
(10) bpts
Operating expenses to total operating income (%)
45.7
40.8
490 bpts
Return on average total equity (%)
12.0
12.6
(60) bpts
Statutory Balance Sheet ($ billions)
As at 31 December
2025
2024
Dec 25 vs Dec 24 %
Advances to customers
118.7
111.6
6
Total assets
139.7
131.9
6
Deposits and other borrowings
94.5
94.8
–
Total liabilities
127.4
120.5
6
Cash profit reflects the Banking Group’s underlying operating results and excludes items that introduce volatility and/or one-off distortions which are not considered representative of ongoing financial performance. These items are calculated consistently year on year and do not discriminate between positive and negative adjustments.
Hedging and IFRS volatility includes unrealised fair value gains or losses on economic hedges that do not qualify for hedge accounting and unrealised fair value gains or losses on the ineffective portion of hedges that do qualify for hedge accounting under NZ IFRS. These fair value gains or losses are excluded from Cash profit/(loss) since the asymmetric recognition of the gains or losses does not affect the performance of the Banking Group over the life of the hedge.
This represents the recognition of a notional cost of capital from the ultimate parent and other allocated costs which are not included in Statutory profit. Comparative information (including the tax impact) has been restated to conform to presentation in the current period. As a result, the return on average total equity and operating expenses as a percentage of total operating income have been restated accordingly.
The results of certain business units within the CBA Group are excluded from Cash profit for management reporting purposes but included in Statutory profit.
[1]ASB KiwiSaver Scheme Conservative, Moderate, Balanced and Growth funds are in the top quartile for 12-month performance to 31 December 2025, Morningstar KiwiSaver Survey (Dec 2025).
[2]RBNZ quarterly release, 12-months to September 2025.
Thousands more plumbing and drainage products already used widely in Australia can now be accessed easily by Kiwi tradies and do-it-yourself homeowners. “The Government is focused on fixing the basics and building a better future for New Zealand, and that means making it easier and more affordable to deliver the homes and public buildings that will ease house prices and lift living standards,” Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “It’s great to see the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) recognise a second tranche of overseas building products certified under the reputable Australian WaterMark scheme, issuing 54 recognition notices that cover around 38,274 products.
“A first round in October made it easier to bring more than 90,000 WaterMark-approved products onto the market, including tapware, water service products, and sanitary and stormwater drainage products.
“While these materials are already tried and tested in Australia and familiar to many tradies in New Zealand, Kiwi builders and designers previously had to individually demonstrate that each product met Building Code requirements when applying for consent to use it.
“By amending the Building Act through the Overseas Building Products Amendment Bill, MBIE can now recognise building products already certified under overseas schemes in comparable countries in the tens of thousands, rather than one at a time. “The granting of these recognition notices means Building Consent Authorities must accept the products as compliant, reducing unnecessary red tape, costs, and delays while allowing a more diverse range of materials to be used.
“Supply chain shocks and shortages choke building productivity. Better access and greater choice provide industry with more resilience and increases market competition to put downwards pressure on prices for tradies and homeowners.
“As MBIE continues to review overseas building products under the new law, tradies and homeowners can expect even better access to essential materials, including plasterboard, cladding, windows, and doors.”
Notes to editor:
“Recognition notice” is the official term for approval of an overseas building product or standard by MBIE.
Notices are not a blanket approval for all WaterMark certificates. Only products that have a valid, up‑to‑date certificate listed on a current notice can be used as meeting the required standards.
Recognition notices are now publicly available at www.building.govt.nz, along with a diagram showing how these overseas standards fit within New Zealand’s building regulatory framework.
This policy outlines the commitment of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) to equal employment opportunity, diversity and inclusion and to eliminating the barriers that cause or perpetuate inequalities in employment.
OPC aims to provide equal employment opportunities to make the most of the talents of all our people and attract top talent to the organisation. This policy applies to all OPC employees, including those on secondment to us.
Policy Statement
OPC is committed to upholding its responsibilities as an Equal Employment Opportunities employer and creating a workplace that attracts, retains and values a diverse workforce.
2.2. To achieve this OPC seeks to:
a) provide equal opportunities for recruitment, retention, development, and promotion of all its current and prospective employees, regardless of gender, sex, marital status, religious/ethical belief, ethnic or national origins, disability, age, political opinion, employment status, family status, or sexual orientation
b) develop and maintain a workplace culture that values and supports diversity and inclusion
c) ensure that it provides a safe, supportive, and healthy environment for all employees that is conducive to quality service delivery
d) provide a workplace that welcomes, respects, and includes rainbow and takatāpui communities
e) identify and seek to eliminate all aspects of policies and procedures or other institutional barriers that cause or perpetuate inequality in respect of the employment of any person or group of persons
f) ensure all staff appointments are made solely on the basis of merit, and that all promotions, advancements, salary reviews and professional/career development opportunities are based solely on merit
g) seek to improve employment opportunities for groups who are traditionally under-represented in either occupational groups or levels of seniority, in particular women, Māori and Pacific people
h) not tolerate any form of unfair discrimination in the workplace on any ground, including gender, sex, marital status, religious/ethical belief, ethnic or national origins, disability, age, political opinion, employment status, family status, or sexual orientation
i) promote equal employment opportunities as an integral part of OPC workplace policies and practices
j) monitor, review and evaluate progress towards achieving equal employment opportunities. This includes assessing and, if required, reducing identified gaps at all levels of the organisation.
Responsibilities
General Manager
Framework development, implementation and compliance monitoring. Progression against OPC’s Kia Toipoto and DEI Action Plans.Supporting and training for OPC leaders and teams.
Managers
Creating an environment that promotes EEO/diversity. Understanding their obligations under applicable legislation and processes and ensuring compliance.Ensuring that all practices and procedures that apply to the staff for whom they are responsible are consistent with this policy.
All employees
Accountability for themselves and their activities to act in accordance with our EEO principles and OPC values.
The independent review of the Government’s controversial facebook adverts opposing the nationwide strikes last October is a waste of public money with no finding of fault able to be found.
Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission released theterms of referenceyesterday, but dated 18 December. It states, ‘The reviewer will not make any findings of fault’ and will not consider the actions of anyone outside the commission or Ministers.
“The terms of reference are way too narrow and will not help in ensuring lessons are learned,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Excluding findings of fault is a joke. What is the point if fault cannot be found and learned from?
“We have a costly review that seems more aimed at protecting Ministers and others than learning lessons.
“Workers have a right to strike, this should be the fundamental starting point.
“The Employment Relations Act requires the Commission, like all public sector employers, to negotiate and behave in good faith – the review needs to consider how the adverts undermined this clear obligation.
“Running a public relations campaign against workers rather than focusing on negotiating in good faith was wrong. Further they compromised the Commission’s duty to be politically neutral.
“The review is a waste of public money. The Government should have simply admitted it made the wrong call, apologised and said it won’t happen again.”
The PSA stands ready to assist the independent reviewer to better understand the Commission’s damaging actions.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahiis Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
Pets are not permitted in New Zealand’s national parks or on DOC land where dogs are prohibited – even if the hounds are inside vehicles – and owners could face a $400 infringement fee.
DOC Principal Investigations Officer Marlous Heijs says staff at Aoraki/Mount Cook are seeing more canines in cars because they’re monitoring vehicles during the paid parking pilot running at Whitehorse Hill.
Staff have issued seven infringement notices in less than two months.
“We know this is an issue right around the country, but over the past couple of months our staff have seen it first hand at Aoraki, where they’ve spoken to people and gathered information and evidence,” she says.
“Some of the photos are quite classic. The dogs are clearly enjoying hanging out the windows and taking in the mountain air – but the issue of dogs in national parks is serious.”
“The rules are there to protect our precious native species. Dogs are loveable and popular pets, but they can have a massive impact on protected birds, plants and animals – and any pet can make a mistake and attack wildlife, defecate or dig something up,” she says.
A report compiled and released by DOC’s National Compliance Team in October 2025 revealed 75 recorded incidents of dogs attacking, killing, or harassing wildlife between 9 September 2020 and 12 August 2025.
“People sometimes plead ignorance of the rules or try and argue their pets staying in the vehicle don’t present an issue, but we’ve seen dogs being let out to have a run around and to toilet,” Marlous says.
“There is also an animal welfare issue, given how long it takes to drive to Aoraki and the amount of time people spend there,” she says.
Last December the SPCA issued a media release asking people to be more aware over summer about the risk of leaving their pets in cars during the hot December/January months.
SPCA receives hundreds of calls every summer about dogs left in hot cars – a preventable and heartbreaking welfare issue.
“You wouldn’t leave a child in a hot car,” says SPCA CEO Todd Westwood. “Please do the same for your furry family members.”
Todd says SPCA is reminding the public even on mild days, the temperature inside a car can rise rapidly. On a 21°C day, a car parked in the shade with windows down can still reach more than 31°C in just 10 minutes, and more than 40°C in 30 minutes.
“Dogs cannot cool themselves effectively in enclosed spaces. Panting alone is not enough. Parking in the shade or lowering windows does little to reduce the risk.”
Marlous says she’s surprised at what some pet owners do and it’s not just dogs. People have brought in cats and even goats into various national parks around the country wanting to walk the tracks.
She says it’s a pet owners’ responsibility to do research before taking pets onto public conservation land.
Roads running through some national parks in New Zealand are administered by Waka Kotahi/NZTA and as public roads, you are permitted to drive through them with a pet in your car. Aoraki/Mount Cook is not one of them.
“Many of the roads within Aoraki Mount Cook National Park are administered by DOC and are known as a ‘park road’. This includes most of the roads within Mount Cook Village and the road to White Horse Hill Carpark where many short walks start. These roads are part of the National Park therefore the same rules apply (no dogs in vehicles). These are all well signposted, and there is plenty of information online about where you can (and can’t) take your dog.”
Marlous Heijs says the clear message for everyone is pet owners have a key role to play in looking after nature.
“Our message is ‘leave your dog at home if you’re going naturing in a national park’. There are plenty of other places to go with your dog, but this isn’t one of them.”
NATURE LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM HERE
Nature isn’t scenery. Nature is a society that we rely on for everything, every day. It’s behind our identity and our way of life.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis.RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has committed to releasing all the calculations which she says show the government’s new gas plan will reduce New Zealanders’ power bills.
Labour was quick to label the levy a “gas tax” which would be passed on to consumers, driving up power bills.
But speaking on Morning Report’s politics panel on Wednesday morning, Willis said the official advice was that the new facility would provide more energy security, ultimately bringing bills down.
“At the moment, in New Zealand, everyone pays a big risk premium for the fact that everyone is desperately worried that in the days when there’s not enough rain in the lakes and the sun’s not shining and the wind’s not blowing, we do not have enough gas.”
Willis said that risk premium would go down once the plant was built around 2028.
“The advice we’ve received… is that the reduction in the risk premium will far outweigh the cost to the energy generators of supporting the development of the LNG plant.
“We did all the analysis because we wanted to be clear that there would be more benefit than cost – and the analysis is very clear.”
Labour Party energy spokesperson Megan Woods.RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Responding, Labour’s energy spokesperson Megan Woods said that was “absolute nonsense”.
“This is putting a gas tax on New Zealanders at a time when they’re already struggling with their power bills. The government hasn’t released the modelling. They haven’t shown us the alternatives they looked at.”
Woods said National was scrambling for solutions after cancelling Labour’s whole work programme on affordable energy storage.
“They are going for an expensive option that is going to be… taxed on New Zealanders each and every month, on their power bill, because this government has failed to do the work.
“There’s a reason they didn’t release the modeling yesterday with all the other papers.”
Willis said the government would release that modelling “pretty shortly”.
“But let’s just remember: Labour’s decisions pushed power prices up. Our solution will save Kiwis money,” Willis said.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand