Category: Politics

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Legislation – Darkest day in decades for NZ workers’ rights as ERA Bill passes – Workers First Union

Source: Workers First Union

Workers First said that the passage of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill today was the “darkest day in decades” for New Zealand workers’ rights and that every person, whether an employee or contractor, should be deeply concerned for their future job security and prosperity.
Dennis Maga, Workers First General Secretary, said that while it was obvious that the governing ACT Party and National Party intended to change New Zealand law to protect the “exploitative” business model of employers like Uber, NZ First had “sold out” workers despite meeting with several unions over the last few months and claiming their intention to amend the Bill during its Committee Stage. Instead, NZ First offered no amendments during the final Parliamentary opportunity to develop the legislation and rejected every Opposition attempt to limit the Bill’s “catastrophic” scope.
“This ‘fire-at-will’ Bill not only protects contractor misclassification by enshrining the process in law, but it decimates the right to workplace justice and enables employers to erase the rights workers fought for decades to win,” said Mr Maga.
“This is a shameful day for Aotearoa and an international embarrassment. While other nations stood up to international corporates like Uber and required them to adapt to sovereign law, our Government has laid out the red carpet for them to redesign our employment system in their favour.”
“It’s no surprise to see the ACT Party advance legislation as the parliamentary wing of Uber’s business model, but NZ First’s decision to back the Bill is a stark act of hypocrisy.”
“They are a party that pretends to care about sovereignty but have turned their backs on New Zealanders today, and workers will not forget it.”
Mr Maga said that the passage of the Bill did not rule out the pursuit of backpay and lost entitlements for the misclassification of Uber drivers, which last year’s judgement from the Supreme Court allowed for. Over 1,500 financial claims for Uber drivers have already been lodged by Workers First Union, and they would proceed despite the law change.
Other elements of the Bill that disadvantage workers included the end of the “30-day rule” that protected new employees under an existing Collective Agreement, and changes to the Personal Grievance process that allowed employers to unilaterally define “serious misconduct” and deny workers the right to compensation or reinstatement if they are deemed to have “contributed” to the situation.
“The Bill is an omnibus of gifts to exploitative employers and a firm admission that this Government does not care about ordinary New Zealand workers,” said Mr Maga.
“It will worsen the cost-of-living crisis, exacerbate the exodus of New Zealand workers to Australia, and encourage more predation on the working class by big business without redress.”
Ultimately, Mr Maga said the legislation created the conditions for New Zealand employers to pursue mass redundancies of employees before attempting to ‘re-hire’ them under the new category of a ‘specified contractor’, lacking the protections of employment like a minimum wage, holiday pay, sick and annual leave, and the right to join a union.
“If you think this Bill doesn’t apply to you now, it may well in the future,” said Mr Maga.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/legislation-darkest-day-in-decades-for-nz-workers-rights-as-era-bill-passes-workers-first-union/

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Legislation – Dark day for workers as Parliament passes bill that strips away job security – PSA

Source: PSA

Parliament has just passed the most extreme anti-worker legislation since the notorious Employment Contracts Act of 1991, stripping away protections that have been the foundation of fair employment for decades.
“The Employment Relations Amendment Bill effectively introduces fire at will, leaving New Zealand workers more vulnerable than at any time in the past 30 years,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“This is a disgraceful power grab by employers that will pile more pressure on families already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis this Government promised to fix.
“Workers can now be sacked at will with employers able to undermine personal grievance protections even when their own conduct is clearly unreasonable.
“This law change will radically change every workplace in New Zealand. Workers can be unjustifiably dismissed and walk away with nothing.
“How does threatening people’s jobs help families cope with higher prices and a weak job market? It shows how heartless this Government is – prioritising the profits of business over the wellbeing of working New Zealanders and their families.”
The changes will also affect the quality of public services New Zealanders rely on.
“Insecure workers means insecure services. When teachers, health workers, and other public servants face constant job insecurity, it undermines their ability to deliver the quality services New Zealanders deserve.
“This law will drive down wages and accelerate the exodus of skilled workers offshore to countries that value their expertise and provide job security.”
“Supporters of this law change talk about ‘labour market flexibility.’ But flexibility is not evenly shared.
“For large employers, it means more power. For workers, it means uncertainty – wondering whether a minor mistake could cost them their job, or whether a new contract quietly removes protections they once relied on.
“Just like in 1991, with the Employment Contracts Act, business lobby groups are the strongest supporters of these reforms while workers face losing their jobs, reduced protections and weaker bargaining power.”
Latest attack in Government’s war on workers
The bill is the latest in a series of attacks on working New Zealanders by the Coalition Government:
– Axed Fair Pay Agreements
– Reinstated 90-day fire at will
– Scrapped pay equity for more than150,000 women workers
– Suppressed minimum wage increases
– Proposing to cut back sick leave for part-time workers
“The changes made today continue the shift of power in one direction only – strengthening the hand of large employers while leaving workers more exposed in an already fragile economy,” said Fitzsimons.
“This Government’s priorities are clear: landlords and big business are in but working New Zealanders and their families are out.
“Come the election in November, the PSA will be reminding voters of the choices the Coalition parties have made to put the interests of business ahead of working families.”
ENDS
Background Employment Relations Amendment Bill
In summary, the changes will:
– mean workers who are legally unfairly dismissed will have no proper remedies if they have contributed to the situation, however minor.
– allow employers to fire at will workers who are unjustifiably dismissed and earn more than $200,000 – they cannot access a personal grievance process for unjustified dismissal.
– remove the provision that automatically enrols new employees in collective agreements for 30 days. This means new workers will risk being exposed to 90-day fire-at-will trials before understanding the protections offered by collective agreements.
– allow employers to deem workers contractors removing their right to holiday and sick pay and means they can be fired at will – the law change written by multi-national ride share company Uber.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is 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.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/legislation-dark-day-for-workers-as-parliament-passes-bill-that-strips-away-job-security-psa/

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All wartime service now honoured on Anzac Day

Source: New Zealand Government

Legislation to formally recognise all those who have served New Zealand in times of war as part of Anzac Day commemorations has passed in Parliament today.

“Honouring our service personnel on Anzac Day is one of our most enduring national traditions,” Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

“It binds us to our history and to the story of who we are as a country, while providing an opportunity to reflect on the courage and extraordinary sacrifice of those who have served to defend and protect New Zealand and our allies.

“However, the Anzac Day Act was in desperate need of updating. It failed to acknowledge conflicts after 1966, meaning many service personnel were excluded from official commemorations under the law. The modernised law more accurately reflects public sentiment about who we honour on Anzac Day.”

Veterans Minister Chris Penk says, increasingly, New Zealanders are using the occasion of Anzac Day to reflect on the loss of loved ones in war and in warlike situations, including United Nations missions, other multi-force groupings, and service alongside allied forces.

“Kiwis also commemorate the loss of family members who served as civilians in medical units, and the Merchant Navy during the two World Wars. Others remember those who tragically died while training for conflict.

“The updated Act will now also cover the service of members of allied forces who participated in the first landing on Gallipoli, including personnel from countries such as France and India.

“These changes are well overdue, and come into effect before Anzac Day 2026, meaning that this year will be the first time our national commemoration formally recognises all those who have served New Zealand in times of war.

“We will remember them.”

Mr Goldsmith says the passage of the legislation strengthens the integrity and relevance of one of New Zealand’s most important days of remembrance.

“Preserving the memory of those who fought to defend our country, and of those who served in other vital roles during times of war, is a critical part of safeguarding New Zealand’s history and national identity.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/all-wartime-service-now-honoured-on-anzac-day/

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Reform brings more flexibility for workers and confidence for employers

Source: New Zealand Government

The Employment Relations Amendment Bill has passed its third reading, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says.

“I am proud to see the Bill pass as law, bringing these reforms to life and fixing what really matters for employers and workers. 

“This Bill is about backing business to hire with increased confidence. 

“When employers can hire and grow their business with confidence, more people get opportunities. That means more jobs and higher paid jobs,” says Ms van Velden. 

“Rebalancing the employment relations settings, as this law does, brings more choice for businesses and workers to create and enter working arrangements that suit their individual needs,” says Ms van Velden.

The Act will:

  • Clarify contractor vs employee status with a four part ‘gateway test’ to ensure businesses and workers have more clarity from the start of their contracting arrangement.
  • Ensure accountability for serious misconduct and poor behaviour which means the law stops pay-outs that financially reward employees for serious misconduct.
  • Set an income threshold of $200,000 for unjustified dismissal personal grievances, enabling employers to give workers a go in these high impact positions, without having to risk a costly and disruptive dismissal process if things don’t work out.
  • Restore freedom for workers to negotiate their employment agreements from day one by removing the 30-day rule. This means employers and workers can agree on their own terms from the first day on the job. 

Most of these changes will come into effect the day after the Employment Relations Amendment Bill receives Royal assent.

“This Government is committed to maximising business confidence and accelerating business growth, and today’s changes advance both,” says Ms van Velden. 

Editor’s notes:

  • Employees on existing employment agreements who meet the remuneration threshold will have up to 12-months to re-negotiate their agreements before the threshold for unjustified dismissal claims takes effect.  

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/reform-brings-more-flexibility-for-workers-and-confidence-for-employers/

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Energy Efficiency – Hot water heat pumps a faster, lower-cost alternative to risky LNG imports – Ecobulb

Source: Ecobulb

An energy efficiency expert is urging the Government to prioritise hot water heat pumps as one immediate and cost-effective response to New Zealand’s energy crisis, backing views in a new report that importing LNG would increase energy prices and expose the country to volatile international markets.

A New Zealand Green Building Council report warns that importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) would require significant taxpayer subsidies and likely place sustained upward pressure on gas and electricity prices. International experience – including in eastern Australia – shows that linking domestic supply to global gas markets can dramatically increase generation costs, accelerating industrial decline and job losses.
(ref. https://nzgbc.org.nz/news-and-media/lng-imports-would-lock-kiwis-into-higher-energy-bills-for-decades-when-more-secure-options-are-ready-now )
 
New Zealand doesn’t need to take that risk, says Ecobulb Managing Director Dr Chris Mardon.
 
“Before we spend hundreds of millions subsidising imported gas, we could fix the biggest, most remedial source of household energy waste – hot water,” says Mardon. “Hot water heat pumps are proven technology that can slash electricity use by up to 70 percent compared to traditional electric cylinders, and completely remove the need for gas water heating.”
 
Hot water typically accounts for around a third of household energy consumption. Replacing ageing electric or gas water heaters with high-efficiency heat pump systems delivers permanent demand reduction – lowering peak loads and easing pressure on the national grid.
 
According to the NZGBC’s analysis, widespread adoption of efficient electric technologies, including hot water heat pumps and rooftop solar, could offset a significant portion of the energy shortfall that LNG imports are intended to address – without exposing New Zealand to global fuel price volatility.
 
“If all new homes built had rooftop solar and all new residential hot water systems sold were heat pumps, by 2030 more electricity would be being generated and saved than the LNG terminal would provide,” Mardon said. “That’s energy we don’t have to generate, import, or subsidise.”
 
Unlike LNG infrastructure, which creates a centralised point of failure and ties prices to international markets, hot water heat pumps are distributed assets installed in thousands of homes across the country.
 
“Distributed efficiency is inherently more resilient,” Mardon said. “Every home that upgrades, reduces national demand. That lowers wholesale price pressure and protects households from future energy shocks.”
 
The report also highlights that LNG imports would likely increase the marginal cost of electricity generation, pushing up power prices even in normal years. Higher energy input costs would further strain manufacturers and gas-intensive industries.
 
Mardon says improving hot water efficiency is a direct way to reduce both household living costs and system-wide demand.
 
“Energy we don’t use is the cheapest energy of all. A hot water heat pump delivers guaranteed, ongoing savings for families – year after year – without requiring permanent government subsidies.”
 
The NZGBC report estimates that LNG imports would depend on substantial annual taxpayer support.
 
Ecobulb is calling for those funds to instead be redirected into targeted grants or financing support for hot water heat pump installations, particularly for low- and middle-income households.  The NZGBC report says that rooftop solar should also be supported.
 
“Instead of subsidising imported fuel, we could invest in permanent bill reductions for Kiwi families,” said Mardon. “That strengthens energy security, supports local installation jobs, and reduces long-term system costs.”
 
Mardon says the pathway forward is clear.
 
“Hot water heat pumps are available now. They’re efficient, scalable, and already proven in thousands of New Zealand homes. If we’re serious about reducing energy costs and protecting our economy, accelerating the transition to hot water heat pumps is one of the smartest steps we can take.”
 
About Ecobulb

Ecobulb is a New Zealand-owned energy efficiency company specialising in lighting and high-performance hot water heat pump systems for residential and commercial applications, helping households reduce energy use, cut power bills, and transition away from fossil fuels.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/energy-efficiency-hot-water-heat-pumps-a-faster-lower-cost-alternative-to-risky-lng-imports-ecobulb/

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Legislation – Long-term Infrastructure Plan welcomed by road freight sector

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Road freight association Transporting New Zealand has welcomed the release of the Infrastructure Commission’s National Infrastructure Plan that was tabled in Parliament by Minister Chris Bishop today.
Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih says that the National Infrastructure Plan takes a well-reasoned, long-term view of New Zealand’s infrastructure needs and funding arrangements, including the road and rail networks.
“The Plan emphasises the importance of maintaining existing assets, the need for road revenue reform, and the importance of ensuring that party politics don’t disrupt the delivery of good infrastructure maintenance and improvements:
“Not every major project will attract consensus, but that need not prevent progress. Political contestability is normal, and priorities will shift over time. What matters is staying focused on the fundamentals – looking after existing assets, delivering projects well, planning efficiently, and being transparent about costs and outcomes.” ( National Infrastructure Plan, page 33) (ref. https://tewaihanga.govt.nz/national-infrastructure-plan )
“Transporting New Zealand is a strong advocate of these three pillars, and we’re looking forward to seeing the Government’s formal response to the plan later this year. We encourage all opposition parties to do the same.”
Kalasih says that the severe weather and travel disruptions affecting the country this year demonstrate the importance of prioritising asset maintenance and renewals, that the Infrastructure Commission says should account for 60 per cent of total infrastructure spending. Total infrastructure spending is currently $20 billion per year.
“A strong message we hear from our road freight members is the importance of maintaining the existing road network. That has been historically underfunded by successive governments.”
Kalasih says he is looking forward to discussing the Plan and feedback from Transporting New Zealand members with the Infrastructure Commission and elected officials.  

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/legislation-long-term-infrastructure-plan-welcomed-by-road-freight-sector/

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Arts – Global exhibitions coming to Tāmaki Makaurau: Auckland Museum announces 2026/2027 international exhibition programme

Source: Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum

Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum announces an exciting line-up of international touring exhibitions, including an exclusive new Triceratops exhibition, coming to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland over 2026 and 2027.

Auckland Museum Director of Audience Engagement Victoria Travers says the upcoming programme brings a diverse range of exhibitions from around the world.

“The next two years of our international exhibition programme reflects Auckland Museum’s commitment to presenting world-class touring exhibitions, with March of the Triceratops set to be a major highlight.”

“As the only Australasian venue on the exhibition’s international tour, Auckland Museum will give visitors the rare opportunity to come face-to-face with the world’s only known Triceratops herd, alongside other exceptional international exhibitions arriving in Tāmaki Makaurau,” says Travers.

Due to strong public interest, Sharks, created by the Australian Museum, has been extended through to Monday 1 June 2026. This exhibition explores the diversity and evolution of sharks, their significance within First Nations and Pasifika knowledge systems, and the latest global research into shark conservation, offering visitors a deeper understanding of these ancient and often misunderstood ocean predators.

Opening on Saturday 27 June 2026, Wildlife Photographer of the Year returns to Auckland Museum in its 61st year, presenting a breathtaking selection of images from the world’s most prestigious wildlife photography competition. The exhibition celebrates the beauty, complexity and fragility of the natural world, captured by photographers from across the globe.

Coming September 2026, families and dinosaur enthusiasts can step back into the prehistoric past with March of the Triceratops. This once-in-a-lifetime exhibition showcases the world’s only Triceratops herd, with a rare group of five recently excavated fossils. Through immersive displays, life-size models, animatronics and augmented reality, this exhibition brings the story of Triceratops to life, exploring their behaviour, biology, and the ancient environments they once roamed.

Opening in June 2027, Ming: The Golden Empire showcases the brilliance of China’s Ming dynasty. This exhibition explores revolutionary social change, artistic achievement, and cultural richness through treasures from the Nanjing Museum that rarely leave China.

Auckland Museum Membership, with three options to select from, provides unlimited free entry to all paid exhibitions, as well as discounted event tickets and exclusive Member-only events. Find out more at: aucklandmuseum.com/membership

Further details, and public programmes and events to be announced; sign up to our What’s On email for updates.

Auckland Museum exhibition programme for 2026/2027:

SHARKS
EXTENDED UNTIL MON 1 JUN 2026
ADULT $22, CHILD (5-15 YRS) $11, UNDER 5 YRS FREE, FAMILY (2 ADULT, 2 CHILD) $59, CONCESSIONS (STUDENTS & SENIORS) $20
FREE FOR MUSEUM MEMBERS

Created by the Australian Museum, Sharks invites you to explore the fascinating, and often misunderstood, world of sharks. Come face-to-face with life-sized, scientifically accurate shark models, including one of the most famous and feared species of shark, the Great White Shark. Learn through artefacts and tactile displays; be immersed in a digital oceanarium; and see the world in a 360-degree view through the eyes of a Hammerhead Shark.

Sharks is produced and toured by the Australian Museum and proudly supported by Earth Sciences NZ.

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 61
SAT 27 JUN – SUN 23 AUG 2026
FREE WITH MUSEUM ENTRY

Now in its sixty-first year, and on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, Wildlife Photographer of the Year features some of the most exceptional nature photography taken today from across the globe.

The exhibition shines a light on powerful and fascinating images that capture hidden animal behaviour, spectacular species, and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world. Using photography’s unique emotive power to engage and inspire audiences, the images share stories and species from around the world, encouraging a future of advocating for the planet.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.

MARCH OF THE TRICERATOPS
SEPT 2026 – APR 2027
ADULT $29.90, CHILD (5-15 YRS) $19.90, UNDER 5 YRS FREE, FAMILY (2 ADULT, 2 CHILD) $90, CONCESSIONS (STUDENTS & SENIORS) $27.90, FREE FOR MUSEUM MEMBERS

March of the Triceratops brings to life one of the world’s most iconic dinosaurs, revealing how these extraordinary creatures lived, moved, and survived millions of years ago.

The exhibition features the only known Triceratops herd ever discovered, with a rare group of five recently excavated fossils. Alongside the fossils are life-size Triceratops models and animatronics, created using the latest scientific research, and hands-on interactives and animated experiences that offer fascinating insight into a prehistoric world.

Explore how fossils are formed, learn what palaeontologists do, and use augmented reality to step into the Triceratops’ natural environment and imagine a landscape shaped by dinosaurs.

March of the Triceratops is a collaboration between Naturalis Biodiversity Center, and MuseumsPartner, both based in Europe.

MING: THE GOLDEN EMPIRE
JUN 2027 – OCT 2027
ADULT $25, CHILD (5-15 YRS) $15, UNDER 5 YRS FREE, FAMILY (2 ADULT, 2 CHILD) $72, CONCESSIONS (STUDENTS & SENIORS) $23, FREE FOR MUSEUM MEMBERS

Discover the brilliance of the Ming dynasty in Ming: The Golden Empire. This stunning exhibition explores revolutionary social change, artistic achievement, and cultural richness through treasures from Nanjing Museum that rarely leave China. From imperial luxuries to everyday objects, journey through China’s Great Ming era, which spanned 1368-1644, all brought to life with striking visuals, films, and interactive displays.

Ming: The Golden Empire is produced by Nomad Exhibitions in association with Nanjing Museum.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/arts-global-exhibitions-coming-to-tamaki-makaurau-auckland-museum-announces-2026-2027-international-exhibition-programme/

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Minister welcomes settlement for pharmacists

Source: New Zealand Government

Health Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for pharmacists employed by Health New Zealand, following a vote by members of the Association of Professionals & Executive Employees (APEX).

“I’m pleased for the approximately 300 pharmacists nationwide who will benefit from this agreement. It recognises the valuable work they do and the high level of skill and care they provide to patients and their families each day,” Mr Brown says.

“Importantly, it also helps provide greater stability for the workforce and supports the essential role pharmacists play in delivering services across our health system.”

The agreement also includes uplifts to professional membership contributions and other improvements to the collective agreement.

“This is another step toward building a more stable and supported pharmacy workforce that can continue delivering timely, quality care for New Zealanders,” Mr Brown says.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/minister-welcomes-settlement-for-pharmacists/

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Members of Gas Security Fund panel named

Source: New Zealand Government

Gas and energy industry specialist Andy Knight has been named as chair of the expert panel appointed to advise the Government on projects applying to the $200 million Gas Security Fund, Resources and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says.

“Mr Knight’s depth and breadth of experience in gas industry regulation and energy production and supply makes him uniquely qualified to lead the panel that will provide expert advice on the technically and economically complex projects targeted by the fund,” Mr Jones says.

The $200m Gas Security Fund opened for applications on 12 January 2026. It was created to unlock opportunities to improve gas supply and storage by focusing on activities that have short- to long-term benefits, including from existing sites, in response to declining gas production.

“New Zealand’s history of affordable and secure domestic gas has underpinned major parts of our economy – and this Government wants that to continue by shoring up our domestic supply, supported by the import of LNG which can provide flex to supplement our gas requirements in the meantime,” Mr Jones says.

Two other members appointed to the panel are geophysicist Tim Allan, who has extensive international experience in the industry, and John Pagani who brings experience of working with boards and management of energy firms and industry associations in New Zealand and Australia. Officials continue to assess options for two more members to be appointed in due course.

Mr Jones as Resources Minister and Associate Finance Minister Chris Bishop are the decision-making ministers for applications to the fund. 

“The panel members’ direct commercial and technical oil and gas expertise, and experience of New Zealand’s complex gas exploration and market conditions, means they will be able to provide valuable independent advice,”

“These are high-calibre individuals with impressive technical and industry expertise. We look forward to working with them,” Mr Jones says.

The Gas Security Fund is administered Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit. For more information, including how to apply, go to www.growregions.govt.nz/gas-security-fund. 

Biographies:

Andy Knight

Mr Knight is the former chief executive of The Gas Industry Co, one of the gas sector’s co-regulators. He is chair of Taranaki Iwi Holdings Management and a director of the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA) as well as of related iwi entities and private investments. He was previously a director of Powerco, CEO of New Zealand Oil & Gas and has held executive roles with Vector Limited, the NGC Holdings Limited Group of Companies, The Australian Gas Light Company and Fletcher Challenge Energy.

Tim Allan

Mr Allan is a resources industry professional, with more than 30 years’ international experience. Most recently he was the exploration stakeholder lead and senior exploration geophysicist (Australasia) for OMV. His experience covers the full spectrum of oil and gas exploration, appraisal, development and production operations, in a wide range of land and marine environments.

John Pagani 

Mr Pagani is the external relations manager for the Gas Industry Company. He has been involved in the energy sector since 2012 and was previously general manager corporate services at New Zealand Oil & Gas. Mr Pagani has worked with boards and management of energy firms and industry associations in New Zealand and Australia. 

 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/members-of-gas-security-fund-panel-named/

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Teaching Council reviews highlight need for change

Source: New Zealand Government

Education Minister Erica Stanford is highlighting the clear, critical need for major change within the Teaching Council following the significant and serious findings of two recent, external reviews. 

“The findings of recent reports on issues within the Teaching Council are some of the most serious that I have seen. The reports make it abundantly clear that there are various, highly concerning failures and problems that need to be addressed,” Ms Stanford says.

“The issues identified are not just minor or technical in nature that require slight adjustments. We have recently seen significant revelations that highlight key issues which should not be understated. 

“While the reports identified numerous shortcomings, they identified above all that there has been an inadequate focus on ensuring child protection, a paramount function of the Council that should be their top priority. 

“Various issues have been identified with leadership, culture, purpose, and the priorities of the Council. The organisation has not appeared to see themselves as a regulator, and ultimately have not been supporting teachers sufficiently.

“Teachers have long questioned the use of the fees within the organisation and these reports show teachers were right to do so. Teachers should be well supported to succeed in their roles, and this is something I have confidence will be addressed.

“These and the other pressing issues raise serious questions concerning the capability of previous boards. A regulatory standards setting body should hold itself to the very highest level, enabling trust and confidence. These reports show previous boards have failed to do this. 

“Boards play a key role in organisational culture. As Minister, I have appointed new members to the board to restore sound governance and effectiveness of the Teaching Council. I have confidence in the new board’s ability to govern the Council, but note the organisation has a very long way to go to restore confidence.

“Ultimately, the Teaching Council needs to undertake their duties competently, ensuring within that child safety, that teachers are well supported to deliver a world-leading education system, and that parents, the public and the sector have confidence in their activities.”  

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/teaching-council-reviews-highlight-need-for-change/

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New Zealand’s first national infrastructure plan unveiled

Source: Radio New Zealand

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop. RNZ / Nathan McKinnon

  • The Infrastructure Commission has released the country’s first National Infrastructure Plan
  • Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop requested the plan and is pushing for cross-party buy-in
  • The plan sets out 16 recommendations, and 10 priorities for the next decade

The country’s first National Infrastructure Plan has landed, laying out an ‘affordable’ plan to tackle the country’s infrastructure woes.

The 226-page report discusses “formidable challenges” to New Zealand’s roads, water pipes, power lines, hospitals, schools and courts.

It said building and maintaining infrastructure was becoming more expensive as climate change was making the natural hazard risks more severe.

On top of this, much of what had been built in the past decades was wearing out and needed to be replaced, the report said.

Infrastructure Commission chief executive Geoff Cooper said the plan set out a practical, affordable pathway to deliver the infrastructure the country needed over the next 30 years.

Infrastructure Commission chief executive Geoff Cooper. Supplied / Infrastructure Commission

“While the plan looks at the long term, it’s clear that we need to take action now. Weather events and infrastructure failures make very clear the importance of investing to renew and build resilience into the networks that sustain our way of life.

“We can’t keep doing what we’ve always done. Each year we invest just over $20 billion on infrastructure, yet on a dollar-for-dollar basis we achieve less than many of our more efficient international peers.”

Cooper said the plan was “ambitous, but centred on affordability” to give decision makers a clear, system-wide picture of where pressures were emerging and where investment would deliver the greatest value.

The National Infrastructure Plan’s 16 recommendations (detailed version below)

1. Needs-based capital allowances

2. Land transport funding and oversight

3. Long-term investment planning

4. Predictable government funding signals

5. Multi-year budgeting

6. Asset management performance reporting

7. System-wide assurance

8. Asset management assurance

9. Investment readiness assurance

10. Project information coordination

11. Stable resource management framework

12. Integrated spatial planning

13. Optimised infrastructure use

14. Accelerated electricity investment

15. Coordinated workforce development

16. Public sector project leadership

Rockfall on a South Westland road. NZ Transport Agency / Waka Kotahi

Cooper said the plan charted an affordable way to meet a diverse set of infrastructure demands over time and identified how to best prioritise and sequence a large programme of significant investments such as roads, rapid transit, and hospitals.

“The plan demonstrates a fundable and affordable programme of works that futureproofs existing services, while incrementally building on the network as the country grows and develops,” he said.

“A plan by itself won’t change anything. The National Infrastructure Plan charts the course, but progress depends on how decision-makers, delivery agencies, industry, and communities use the plan to do things differently.

The National Infrastructure Plan’s 10 priorities for the next decade (detailed version below)

1. Lift hospital investment for an ageing population

2. Complete catch up on renewals in the water sector and restore affordability

3. Implement time of use charging and fleetwide road user charges

4. Prioritise and sequence major land transport projects

5. Manage assets on the downside

6. Prioritise adequate maintenance and renewals

7. Identify cost-effective flood risk infrastructure

8. Commit to a durable resource management framework

9. Commit to upzoning around key transport corridors

10. Take a predictable approach to electrify the economy

Responding to the release of the report, Bishop said delivering and maintaining better infrastructure was a key part of the coalition’s plan to fix the basics and build the future.

“The government has spent a lot of time in the last two years making a start on fixing the basics of our system, but there is a lot more to do.

“The Investment Management System has been strengthened, long-term investment plans are beginning to be developed, and ministers are demanding higher quality information from agencies.

“We have launched a comprehensive programme of work to improve asset management in the public sector.”

Bishop said the coalition would study each of the recommendations carefully and publish its response to the plan in June 2026.

The Dunedin Hospital build site in 2024. RNZ/Tess Brunton

“As part of our response to the National Infrastructure Plan I intend to engage with other political parties in Parliament.

“Infrastructure Commission officials will make briefings available to parties who wish to take a deeper dive into the detail behind the recommendations, and I will be writing to Parliament’s Business Committee seeking time for a special debate on the plan.

“Infrastructure lasts for generations. Where we can build durable consensus, we should.

“Fixing the basics and building the future of New Zealand infrastructure is central to lifting living standards and driving our prosperity. The National Infrastructure Plan is a great contribution to this shared agenda for everyone in New Zealand. Now it is up to all of us to do the hard work required to turn ambition into delivery.”

The commission consulted on a draft plan last year before giving the final report to Bishop on 22 December 2025.

The National Infrastructure Plan’s 16 recommendations (detailed version)

1. Needs-based capital allowances: Ensure fiscal strategy and capital allowances are informed by the commission’s independent assessment of long-term needs and agencies’ infrastructure asset management and investment plans.

2. Land transport funding and oversight: Reform the land transport funding and investment oversight system to ensure financial sustainability and enhance economic and social outcomes by aligning investment expectations with available revenue and strengthening efficiency and accountability in delivery.

3. Long-term investment planning: Introduce legislative requirements for capital-intensive central government agencies to prepare and publish longterm investment and asset management plans aligned with the government’s fiscal strategy.

4. Predictable government funding signals: Extend the horizon over which governments plan their infrastructure funding intentions and communicate these intentions to agencies and the public.

5. Multi-year budgeting: Adopt multi-year budgeting arrangements that leverage and reinforce high-quality infrastructure planning, delivery and asset management practices.

6. Asset management performance reporting: Require, through legislation, capital-intensive central government agencies to report on asset information and asset management performance, including progress against their investment and asset management plans.

7. System-wide assurance: Establish a consolidated assurance function that provides ministers with a system-wide view of infrastructure planning, delivery, and asset management performance and risk.

8. Asset management assurance: Establish an assurance function for capital-intensive central government agencies covering asset management and investment planning activities.

9. Investment readiness assurance: Strengthen investment assurance by applying a transparent, independent readiness assessment to major government-funde investment proposals.

10. Project information coordination: Require all infrastructure providers to maintain up-to-date data in the National Infrastructure Pipeline and strengthen arrangements for improving data quality over time.

11. Stable resource management framework: Commit to maintaining a stable legislative framework for resource management that enables infrastructure development while managing environmental impacts.

12. Integrated spatial planning: Ensure spatial planning within the resource management system aligns infrastructure investment with land-use planning and regulation.

13. Optimised infrastructure use: Set land-use policies to enable maximum efficient use of existing and new infrastructure.

14. Accelerated electricity investment: Establish clear, consistent, and coordinated government policies to accelerate electricity infrastructure investment that supports economic growth and emissions reduction.

15. Coordinated workforce development: Align workforce development planning and policy with infrastructure investment and asset management plans and the commission’s independent view of longterm needs.

16. Public sector project leadership: Strengthen public sector project leadership through a consistent, system-wide approach to appointing, developing, and supporting infrastructure leaders.

Discharge from pipes in Taharoa. Waikato Regional Council / Supplied

The National Infrastructure Plan’s 10 priorities for the next decade (detailed version)

1. Lift hospital investment for an ageing population: Increase investment as a share of GDP to address ageing population demands and maintenance backlogs through clear long-term planning.

2. Complete catch up on renewals in the water sector and restore affordability: Sector affordability can be restored through national guidance on demand management, resourcing the economic regulator and providing assurance over investment proposals.

3. Implement time of use charging and fleetwide road user charges: This is essential for improving the efficiency of our urban road networks, particularly in congested cities.

4. Prioritise and sequence major land transport projects: Restore affordability by timing major road and rapid transit investments based on demonstrated demand and cost benchmarking, while using low-cost and targeted improvements first to lift network performance.

5. Manage assets on the downside: Actively plan for declining demand scenarios arising from changing demographics, technology and climate change, and explore asset recycling opportunities within portfolios to maintain value and affordability.

6. Prioritise adequate maintenance and renewals: Central government agencies must prioritise adequate funding to prevent asset deterioration and costly reactive fixes.

7. Identify cost-effective flood risk infrastructure: Climate change will intensify flooding and impact infrastructure, requiring effective community risk management approaches.

8. Commit to a durable resource management framework: New Zealand needs a durable legislative framework with spatial planning and national standards that can evolve through incremental amendments.

9. Commit to upzoning around key transport corridors: This will lead to more efficient use of water and other networks and maximise the value of transport infrastructure investments.

10. Take a predictable approach to electrify the economy: Achieving electrification and net zero carbon targets requires predictable market rules and policy settings rather than non-commercial government investment in electricity supply.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/17/new-zealands-first-national-infrastructure-plan-unveiled/

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Legislation – Plan sets path for New Zealand’s infrastructure over the next 30 years

Source: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission

The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission has released a National Infrastructure Plan setting out a practical, affordable pathway to deliver the infrastructure New Zealanders need to thrive over the next 30 years.
“While the Plan looks at the long term, it’s clear that we need to take action now. Weather events and infrastructure failures make very clear the importance of investing to renew and build resilience into the networks that sustain our way of life,” says Commission Chief Executive Geoff Cooper.
“We can’t keep doing what we’ve always done.
“Each year we invest just over $20 billion on infrastructure, yet on a dollar-for-dollar basis we achieve less than many of our more efficient international peers.”
The Plan includes 16 recommendations to improve the foundations of the infrastructure system and 10 priorities for the next decade. The priorities include identifying cost-effective flood risk infrastructure, completing catch-up on renewals in the water sector and restoring affordability, lifting hospital investment for an ageing population, and implementing time-of-use charging and road-user charges to get the most out of our urban road networks.
“The Plan is ambitious, but centred on affordability,” Cooper says.
The Plan also provides decision-makers with a clear, system-wide picture of where pressures are emerging and where investment will deliver the greatest value.”
Planning for today and tomorrow
“The Plan responds to a period of immense change facing New Zealand. Demographic changes, the impacts of climate change, and technological innovations are all reshaping the demands on the hospitals, schools, water systems and transport networks that New Zealanders depend on every day,” Cooper says.
“Some of the infrastructure issues we’re facing have been decades in the making – and they’ll take time to fix.
“But New Zealand also faces acute pressures that require attention now. Addressing the top 10 priority areas identified in the Plan will result in visible infrastructure gains and support our longer-term recommendations for the next 30 years.
“The Plan does this by charting an affordable way to meet a diverse set of infrastructure demands over time and identifying how a large programme of significant investments such as roads, rapid transit, and hospitals can be prioritised and sequenced. In doing so, the Plan demonstrates a fundable and affordable programme of works that futureproofs existing services, while incrementally building on the network as the country grows and develops,” Cooper says.
Feedback on the draft National Infrastructure Plan that the Commission released in June 2025 showed strong agreement on the need for greater certainty, better coordination, and a stronger focus on delivery and affordability. The final Plan has been informed by what we heard.
From plan to action
“A plan by itself won’t change anything. The National Infrastructure Plan charts the course, but progress depends on how decision-makers, delivery agencies, industry, and communities use the Plan to do things differently,” Cooper says.
The National Infrastructure Plan is available at www.tewaihanga.govt.nz [note that the National Infrastructure Plan will be available online from 17 February at 12.00pm].
Notes:
  • The National Infrastructure Plan was delivered to the Minister for Infrastructure on 22 December 2025.
  • On 17 February 2026 at 12.00pm, the Minister for Infrastructure will table the Plan in the House of Representatives.
  • After receiving the Plan, the Government has 180 days to respond.
  • Over 2,700 responses were received from individuals and organisations on the draft National Infrastructure Plan, comprising a representative online survey of 1,001 New Zealanders, 1,557 general public responses to an online survey, and 122 written submissions.
  • Along with the National Infrastructure Plan, the Commission will publish the written submissions made on the Plan and supporting technical reports.
  • Parts of the Plan will be updated regularly, and the Commission will monitor progress against its recommendations to support transparency and accountability over time.

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LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/legislation-plan-sets-path-for-new-zealands-infrastructure-over-the-next-30-years/

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National Infrastructure Plan Delivered

Source: New Zealand Government

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop today welcomed the release of the National Infrastructure Plan and tabled it in Parliament.

“New Zealand’s future prosperity depends on high quality infrastructure. It is central to our quality of life and to the Government’s “Going for Growth” agenda,” Mr Bishop says.

“Delivering and maintaining better infrastructure is a key part of the Government’s plan to fix the basics and build the future New Zealanders both need and deserve.

“Creating a 30-year plan for New Zealand’s infrastructure was a key campaign commitment for the National Party in 2023, and I asked the independent New Zealand Infrastructure Commission to begin work on it shortly after we formed government. 

“The resulting National Infrastructure Plan, released today, sets out a 30-year view of how New Zealand can improve the way it plans, funds, maintains and delivers infrastructure. The final Plan follows consultation on a draft released last year and identifies four themes for change and 10 priority actions for the decade ahead.”

“The Plan does not sugar coat things: New Zealand has real challenges ahead. 

“We spend a lot on infrastructure – around 5.8% of GDP annually over the last 20 years, one of the highest in the OECD – yet we rank towards the bottom for efficiency, and fourth to last in the OECD for asset management. Many central government agencies do not properly understand what they own or have long-term investment plans. The assurance system for new projects and long-term investments is fragmented and inconsistent.

“The Government has spent a lot of time in the last two years making a start on fixing the basics of our system, but there is a lot more to do. The Investment Management System has been strengthened, long-term investment plans are beginning to be developed, and Ministers are demanding higher quality information from agencies. We have launched a comprehensive programme of work to improve asset management in the public sector. 

“On top of this, we have established National Infrastructure Funding and Financing to connect private capital with public projects, clarified roles and responsibilities across the system, published Funding and Financing Principles, updated guidance material for PPPs, and improved the quality and transparency of the National Infrastructure Pipeline.

“It is encouraging that many of the Commission’s top 10 priorities for the decade ahead (page 14) reflect work already underway by the Government:

  • Lifting hospital investment for an ageing population – Health New Zealand now has a long-term capital infrastructure plan, and this Government is providing record investment in both capital and maintenance spending for health.
  • Completing catch-up on water renewals and restoring affordability – The Local Water Done Well reforms are well underway, including stronger economic oversight.
  • Implementing time-of-use charging and fleetwide road user charges – Legislation enabling time of use pricing was passed last year, and the government is working with Auckland Council on scheme options. We have begun the transition to Electronic Road User Charges (E-RUC) across the transport fleet.
  • Prioritising and sequencing major land transport projects – the government will soon publish a Major Transport Projects Pipeline.
  • Managing assets on the downside and prioritising maintenance first – Phase 1 of the government’s Asset Management Work Programme has provided practical tools and guidance to agencies so that they can up their game in asset management. Phase 2 is about driving more fundamental changes to system settings.
  • Identifying cost-effective flood resilience infrastructure – The Government has developed a National Adaptation Framework to help reduce and manage the growing risks we face. The Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) has invested nearly $200 million into 74 flood resilience projects across the country.
  • Committing to a durable resource management framework – The government has introduced legislation to replace the Resource Management Act with a more enabling and stable system, with spatial planning and national standards at its heart.
  • Upzoning around key transport corridors – the government’s housing and planning reforms are focused on enabling transport-oriented-development, particularly around the new City Rail Link stations.
  • Taking a predictable approach to electrification – we are focused on creating stable policy settings to unlock investment in electricity generation and transmission.

“The Plan contains a series of recommendations for long-term system shifts, including legislative change to require long-term investment and asset management plans, a consolidated assurance function for Ministers, and better linkages between the Commission’s assessment of long-term needs and fiscal strategy.

“We will be studying these recommendations carefully and the Government will publish a response to the plan in June 2026.

“As part of our response to the National Infrastructure Plan I intend to engage with other political parties in Parliament. Infrastructure Commission officials will make briefings available to parties who wish to take a deeper dive into the detail behind the recommendations, and I will be writing to Parliament’s Business Committee seeking time for a special debate on the Plan. 

“Infrastructure lasts for generations. Where we can build durable consensus, we should.

“Fixing the basics and building the future of New Zealand infrastructure is central to lifting living standards and driving our prosperity. The National Infrastructure Plan is a great contribution to this shared agenda for everyone in New Zealand. Now it is up to all of us to do the hard work required to turn ambition into delivery.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/national-infrastructure-plan-delivered/

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Supreme Halberg Award winner Hamish Kerr sets sights on world record

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand high jumper Hamish Kerr is the Supreme Winner at The 63rd Halberg Awards. 2026. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Supreme Halberg Award winner Hamish Kerr has set himself some lofty goals to achieve over the next few years and it includes a tilt at the world record.

Kerr won the New Zealand Sportsman of the Year Award and the Supreme Award for his feats in 2025 which included winning the World Championship title for the first time and claiming the Diamond League title.

“To be honoured for those achievements (at the Halberg Awards) was very special,” Kerr told RNZ.

However, what the Olympic champion has done in the last two years is spurring him on to higher things.

The 29-year-old Cantabrian has always been motivated by jumping higher and has said with that comes results.

“I came into this sport with just this desire to want to jump higher and that is the amazing thing about athletics it is so measurable.

“That goal to see where the limit is, with how high I can jump, has not been achieved yet.”

Kerr is in the middle of a heavy training block and will open his season at the National Championships in Auckland in early March.

He will defend his Diamond League title and Commonwealth Games titles this year and improving his personal best from 2:36m to 2:40m is the aim for 2026.

Hamish Kerr during the International Athletics Meet in Christchurch, 2025. © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz

Only 16 men have jumped 2:40m or higher and the last person did it in 2014.

“It is definitely the target for this year and to achieve that would be an amazing honour, but we also know there is more in the tank.”

He is also inspired by the thought of challenging the world record of 2:45m set by Cuban Javier Sotomayor in 1993.

Kerr realises it would be quite an achievement, but it’s one he has put plenty of thought into.

“With my team we wrote down all the things we think we could optimise and it came out as quite a big list. So that is really gratifying to know that even after all these years there are still a lot of stones that we haven’t turned over yet.

“I think in the next few years if we can start flipping a few of those over there is a decent chance that we’ll be able to get a number of those centimetres.”

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LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/supreme-halberg-award-winner-hamish-kerr-sets-sights-on-world-record/

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Insurance price drop for some households – as other struggle to get it at all

Source: Radio New Zealand

The median price for insurance for a large house in Auckland had dropped 11 percent year-on-year, Consumer NZ said. RNZ

*Clarification: This article has been updated to clarify AA Insurance’s policy

Aucklanders may finally be getting some relief on their insurance premiums – but the same cannot be said for Wellington and Christchurch, and some people are struggling to get it at all.

Consumer NZ said its latest survey of house and contents insurance premiums showed the median price for insurance for a large house in Auckland had dropped 11 percent year-on-year.

But in Wellington and Christchurch, the cost of insurance was up 10 percent.

Wellington was the most expensive city in the country for house insurance. The median cost of house and contents cover for a standard home was $3824 a year, Consumer’s insurance expert Rebecca Styles said.

Dunedin has the cheapest home insurance options, with the median cost for house and contents insurance for a standard home coming in at $2227.

The quotes were based on a couple with a standard-sized house insured for $560,000 and contents for $90,000, and a family of four with a large house insured for $840,000 and contents for $140,000.

Styles said people could often save money by shopping around.

“When we compared policies with the same excess and sum insured across the six centres, we found the median potential saving was about $550.

“More than eight in 10 people have had the same insurance provider for at least three years. When people decide to switch, it’s usually because of price, and with some of the savings available, we can see why.”

She said people who could find a better price elsewhere could use that to try to negotiate a discount with their current provider.

Opting for a higher excess could also mean lower premiums. But Styles said people should not set their excess so high they could not cover it if they had to claim.

“Ask your insurer if your premiums would be cheaper if you installed an alarm or security cameras – the savings might subsidise the installation costs. If you can afford to, pay your premiums annually – you should get a discount.”

Styles said 1 percent of the 3000 people who responded to the survey said they could not switch because no other provider would offer insurance.

The Auckland drop was coming on the back of a large spike after Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary weekend flooding, she said. It could be that flood mitigation efforts and infrastructure improvements were also reducing risk.

But people in high risk areas were likely to find it harder to find insurance, she said.

“I think in Wellington and Christchurch, it’s the same old thing of earthquakes, floods and landslides. And it just means that we’re paying more and more for insurance in those regions.

“With the reports of AA Insurance not covering some postcodes, and I think other insurers are weighing up risk across the country, they’re always monitoring their risk portfolios and making sure they don’t have too much risk in one area more so than another. And, if we don’t do anything about a climate adaptation framework, practically in terms of infrastructure – there’s just more and more frequent extreme weather events and flooding – if the infrastructure doesn’t keep up with that, I think prices will just keep going up and up.”

AA Insurance has implemented a temporary pause on new house and landlord policies in a small number of areas across New Zealand.

If someone was struggling to find suitable cover, they could contact the Natural Hazards Commission and ask about its natural hazards cover, which offered more limited protection, she said. “It’s sort of the insurance of last resort for natural hazards. So it would be for your house, it wouldn’t be for your contents.”

She said the government’s investigation into the insurance market would help in terms of giving people assurance about whether they were paying fair price.

“We eagerly await the outcome of that, given it’ll be at least six months.”

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LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/insurance-price-drop-for-some-households-as-other-struggle-to-get-it-at-all/

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East Auckland residents say three-storey development shouldn’t be allowed, fear for privacy

Source: Radio New Zealand

Residents of an affluent east Auckland suburb fear their quiet lifestyle could be shattered. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Residents of an affluent east Auckland suburb fear their quiet lifestyle could be shattered by a three-storey development in the middle of their neighbourhood.

With dozens of buildings looming high above her garden, Farm Cove resident Anne Moore said there was nowhere to hide.

“My sister’s room is curtains drawn because there are people building on the building site, and there’s no privacy,” she said.

Moore was leading the charge urging council to take action over the partly-completed construction.

With the support of her neighbours, she had sought legal advice, maintaining the development should no longer be allowed under Auckland’s recently changed planning rules.

The hammers and grinders echoing through her home office were hard at work on a pair of three-storey residential units, and they were right next door.

Moore worried the lack of privacy could be permanent once her new neighbours moved in.

“I think the fact that it looks right into our home and right into our property. We’ve got a spa pool, there’s two or three swimming pools in the surrounding area that they now look down on all of us,” she said.

Farm Cove resident Anne Moore says the development should no longer be allowed under Auckland’s recently changed planning rules. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Another neighbour, Lisa Anne Roy, said the new building towered over her property and blocked the sun.

“The impact’s been absolutely huge,” Roy said.

“We have an immune-compromised child, and taking all the sunlight away from the bedroom side of the house, I mean going up 11 metres, it’s just horrific.”

Roy only heard about the development through word of mouth after construction had already started.

“I have three dogs. To have that third dog on my property, I had to get every single neighbour to sign before council would let me have three dogs on my property,” she recalled.

“They didn’t have to get any signatures to totally change the landscape.”

The development in Farm Cove was allowed by the central government’s Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS), introduced in 2022 and permitting three-storey buildings on most city properties.

Contractors at the site on Bramley Drive had just broken ground in October last year when Auckland Council pulled out of those standards, the result of an agreement with the government following the 2023 floods.

That change limited new builds in Farm Cove to two floors, but the development had already been consented for three.

Anne Moore said construction should stop, and was campaigning for the council to step in.

“I keep getting emails saying that, you know, he had a building consent, he got it under the MDRS, and so they’re not going to enforce it because he was given that at the time. Well, that’s all very well, but those rules don’t apply anymore.”

Auckland Council’s head of resource consents, James Hassall, said the development could go ahead despite the recent changes.

“The government is investigating changes to help remedy the situation. This has allowed Auckland Council to issue formal notices to affected consent holders confirming they can rely on their existing consents and continue with their developments while a permanent fix is investigated,” he said in a written statement.

The developers declined RNZ’s interview request, but reiterated that the council had given them permission to continue.

And continue it had. Within a few months, contractors had already erected the frame of the third floor, and the shape of the building was coming into view.

Moore said the noise was driving her crazy, work often dragging into the evenings and weekends.

“They are allowed to work until six in a residential area, but they often keep going and we all have to yell out, hey, time to go, because by then we’ve had enough. So we really want our privacy back for what little time we have it,” she said.

“They’re here Monday to Saturday, and then last Sunday some showed up to work last Sunday, which they’re not allowed to do.”

In an election year, she said National risked losing its previously loyal support in east Auckland.

“I think it’s going to make a difference at the polls this year, to be honest,” she said.

“And this area is a big stronghold for a certain party, and so people are outraged.”

Anne Moore said her community felt burned, and feared others may be put in a similar position.

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LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/17/east-auckland-residents-say-three-storey-development-shouldnt-be-allowed-fear-for-privacy/

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National population estimates: At 31 December 2025 – Stats NZ information release

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Electronic card transactions: January 2026 – Stats NZ information release

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“The Olympics of Astrophysics and Space Science” APRIM2026 Makes Hong Kong Debut

Source: Media Outreach

Gathering Global Experts Delivering Insights from the forefront of Space Science and Sustainability

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 February 2026 – In a landmark development for the region’s scientific community, Hong Kong has been selected to host the Asia-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM) for the first time. Dubbed the “The Olympics of Astrophysics and Space Science,” this prestigious event will take place from May 4 to 8, 2026, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).

Organised by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and hosted by The University of Hong Kong’s Laboratory for Space Research (LSR), the conference will feature Nobel and Shaw laureates, together with other distinguished scientists from around the world. As a leading astronomical gathering in the Asia-Pacific, the event represents a significant milestone for Hong Kong, underscoring its pivotal role in fundamental research, STEM education, and international collaboration.

A Convergence of Minds in a Burgeoning Space Hub

Professor Quentin Parker, Chair of the APRIM2026 and Director of the HKU Laboratory for Space Research, noted that bringing the “The Olympics of Astrophysics and Space Science” to Hong Kong demonstrates the city’s capacity to serve as a global nexus for astrophysics and space science.

“As Chair of this historic meeting, I am honoured to welcome the global Astrophysics and Space Science community to Hong Kong. We aim to use this platform not only to showcase our city’s capabilities in the ‘New Space’ era but to inspire the next generation of scientists to pursue the unknown,” said Prof. Parker.

Professor Xue Suijian, former Deputy Director of the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, attributed the IAU’s decision to Hong Kong’s highly international environment and academic excellence. He highlighted the city’s growing contributions to deep-space exploration, planetary science, and big data analysis, cementing its role as a bridge for international scientific exchange.

Bridging Fundamental Research and Future Possibilities

While rooted in academic rigour, APRIM 2026 also addresses the paradigm shift from government-led initiatives to the democratised era of “New Space.” The conference offers a platform that links theoretical astrophysics with real-world applications.

Aligning with the global scientific agenda, the conference is expected to bring together nearly 1,000 experts. Discussions will span from the origins of the universe to emerging directions in space exploration, covering key areas such as Planetary Science, Stellar Evolution, and Cosmology. The event will also seek to bridge academia and industry, exploring how frontier technologies can contribute to addressing global challenges.

Championing Space Sustainability

A defining feature of APRIM2026 is its focus on “Space Sustainability.” With the growing density of satellite constellations in low Earth orbit, the scientific community faces urgent challenges, particularly in relation to space debris and light pollution.

Through dedicated sessions and public engagement, the conference will tackle these critical issues, advocating for responsible stewardship of the cosmic environment. By integrating these discussions with outreach sessions including youth-focused workshops, the event aims to cultivate a scientifically literate generation ready to steward the future of space exploration.

Professor Luis C. Ho, Director of the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at Peking University, described the meeting as a vital platform for strengthening Asia-Pacific research collaboration. He noted that the event marks a shift from pure fundamental research to industrial application, allowing high-tech solutions to serve the public and open the “blue ocean” of the space economy.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/16/the-olympics-of-astrophysics-and-space-science-aprim2026-makes-hong-kong-debut/

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Rugby league: Door open for Kiwis to play State of Origin

Source: Radio New Zealand

Born in Sydney, Kiwis player Casey McLean would be eligible for State of Origin. Photosport / David Neilson

With State of Origin set to debut in Auckland in 2027, Kiwis can now also feature in the iconic series after changes to the eligibility criteria.

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) today announced it was amending the Origin selection rules, which paves the way for Australian-born Kiwis to play in the series.

Players were previously required to be eligible to represent Australia or a tier two nation as defined by International Rugby League.

The updated rules remove this restriction, allowing players who who meet the traditional State of Origin criteria and represent tier one nations to be eligible.

The criteria is a player must have been born in New South Wales or Queensland, resided in New South Wales or Queensland prior to their 13th birthday, or their father played State of Origin.

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys AM said the changes were a necessary and logical evolution for the game in 2026.

“Rugby league has changed, the international game has grown, and our rules need to reflect that. If a player is eligible to play State of Origin, it makes no sense to exclude them simply because they’ve represented New Zealand or England at test level.”

He said State of Origin is about where you were from and what state you were eligible for – not which country you represent internationally.

“If you’re eligible, you should be able to play for your state. Over 45 years, State of Origin has developed into something special, and we want the best players playing if they’re eligible. The commission has a responsibility to grow both the international game and State of Origin, and this change strengthens both.”

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/16/rugby-league-door-open-for-kiwis-to-play-state-of-origin/