AM Edition: Here are the top 10 politics articles on LiveNews.co.nz for September 29, 2026 – Full Text
1. Government backs BOP regional aviation
September 28, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
The Coalition Government continues to back regional air services with an investment in Bay of Plenty-based Sunair, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Associate Transport Minister James Meager say.
The Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) loan of $2.08 million to Sunair will go towards the potential acquisition of two new aircraft, essential fleet maintenance, and the refinancing of existing debt.
“Airlines such as Sunair are a critical part of the economic and social fabric of our regions,” Mr Jones says.
“They are enablers of business activity and economic growth, facilitate access to education and health services, boost tourism, and enhance community wellbeing and resilience.
“This loan means Sunair can improve efficiency and be better positioned to expand services in the future if the demand is there. It’s meaningful and timely relief in this difficult operating environment,” Mr Jones says.
The new larger aircraft proposed to be added to Sunair’s fleet will increase passenger capacity, provide greater operational flexibility, and reduce reliance on its existing fleet of six-seaters.
The loan to Sunair is part of the $30 million regional air connectivity package developed in 2025 to support vulnerable regional air services.
Sunair currently provides air services to the upper half of the North Island across Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay, with many of its routes not served by other airlines.
“This loan boosts the resilience of the aviation network across these regions by preserving routes that may not be viable for larger operators but remain important for regional connectivity,” Mr Meager says.
“For the communities and businesses in towns like Wairoa, Whitianga or Whakatāne, having access to Sunair services can be a vital lifeline.”
Editors’ note:
For more information on the regional air connectivity RIF package, see Government backing vital regional connectivity | Beehive.govt.nz.
The following loans have been provided to date:
- Air Chathams – $17.2m to refinance debt
- Sounds Air – $4.5m to upgrade its fleet and refinance debt.
- Island Air – $252,000 for fleet maintenance.
- Golden Bay Air – $1.1m to refinance debt and fund essential ongoing maintenance
- Stewart Island Flights – $640,000 for aircraft refurbishment
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/28/government-backs-bop-regional-aviation/
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2. Rotorua museum restored for future generations
September 28, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
The Government is making a further investment in Rotorua’s well-known Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa, recognising its importance to the city and the region, and its historical significance, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says.
Mr Jones joined other dignitaries, stakeholders and the community at an event in Rotorua today to mark a milestone in the journey of the museum. Restoration and seismic strengthening work is now complete, and the museum on track to reopen in August 2028.
“The Government backed this project when the future of this grand building was uncertain, and we’re backing it again with a further $2 million grant through the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to complete the permanent exhibition fit-out phase ahead of reopening,” Mr Jones says.
“This final investment will help bring the museum back to life, ensuring local and international visitors can once again experience around 1600 taonga Māori and 60,000 collection items held within these walls.”
Today’s milestone was celebrated with a blessing and ceremony.
“Completing the construction phase of this landmark is a momentous day for the people of Rotorua, the wider Bay of Plenty region, and the 120,000 visitors expected to visit the museum each year,” Mr Jones says.
The historic Elizabethan Revival-style Bath House building, which houses the museum, was built between 1906 and 1908 and is a Category 1 heritage building. Since the late 1960s, the museum has told the stories of Rotorua, Te Arawa, and the nation.
“For a building that holds such rich history it is fitting that it should have an illustrious story of its own. Since opening in 1908, it has served many purposes, including as a bathhouse, sanatorium for wounded soldiers, and a restaurant and nightclub.
“Now this magnificent building, once deemed unsafe, is ready for its next chapter,” Mr Jones says.
The building has undergone $73.35m of restoration work supported by $31m of Crown investment, including $22m from the previous Provincial Growth Fund and $9m from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
“Some might say Rotorua without its museum is like a hāngī without the steam. This project not only restores a much-loved landmark but will provide economic benefits for businesses and communities across the region,” Mr Jones says.
The exhibition fit-out is due to be completed ahead of the museum’s planned reopening in 2028.
Editors’ note
Co-funding for the restoration project was provided by a combination of local government, community and philanthropic partners, including:
- Rotorua Lakes Council: $15.5 million
- Rotorua Trust: $15 million
- Lottery Grants Funding: $6.35 million
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council: $4.1 million
- J & J La Grouw: $1 million
- New Zealand Community Trust: $400,000
The exhibition fit-out is being co-funded by Rotorua Lakes Council.
The Provincial Growth Fund and the Regional Infrastructure Fund are administered by Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit within the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/28/rotorua-museum-restored-for-future-generations/
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3. New funding to reward GP clinics delivering results
September 28, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
GP clinics that immunise more children, screen more women, and support more smokers to quit will receive extra funding from this year, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“GPs do vital work keeping New Zealanders well, and this funding recognises the clinics getting results for their patients,” Mr Brown says.
“Our Government has invested more than $296 million in general practice over the past two years. This builds on that, backing clinics to deliver easier access to care, more preventive care, and better results for patients.”
The funding is part of the 2026/27 general practice package, which 86 per cent of GP clinics voted to accept in June. A total of $67.3 million is available this year for quality improvement and performance, including $40 million tied to performance. GP clinics and Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) will be funded when they meet targets or make progress towards them.
“Rewarding progress as well as results means every clinic can benefit, wherever it is starting from,” Mr Brown says.
GP clinics are working towards the following targets by 30 June 2027:
- 90 per cent of enrolled children fully immunised at eight months and at 24 months
- 80 per cent of enrolled women up to date with cervical screening
- 25 per cent of current smokers offered support to quit
- an approved patient portal in every clinic, so patients can book appointments and get information online
“Your GP is the front door to the health system. When it works well, you’re seen sooner and closer to home, problems are picked up earlier, and fewer people end up in the emergency department.
“Immunisation protects children from serious illness. Screening finds cancer early, when it’s most treatable. Helping someone quit smoking can add years to their life. These are the basics, and GP clinics are best placed to deliver them.”
Health New Zealand will also track whether people can enrol with a local clinic, workforce capacity, continuity of care, and patients’ experience of care, though these measures won’t be linked to funding this year. Emergency department presentations, avoidable hospital admissions, and flu and COVID-19 vaccination rates for people aged 65 and over will also be monitored.
“Results will be reported by rurality, ethnicity, district, and deprivation, so we can see where general practice is working well and focus support on the communities that need it most.
“We want to give GPs and PHOs clear information to help them improve, without adding to their workload, and give New Zealanders confidence in the system.
“I want to thank the GPs, nurses, and sector representatives who helped shape this approach. Working alongside them, we’ll keep improving access to care right across the country.”
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/28/new-funding-to-reward-gp-clinics-delivering-results/
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4. Fast-track approval for 250 new homes in Wānaka
September 28, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
The Mt Iron Junction Housing Scheme near Wānaka has been granted Fast-track approval, bringing 250 new homes, a childcare centre and two recreational reserves to the 5.98-hectare site, says Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop.
This is the 35th project approved through the Fast-track process.
Mt Iron Junction Limited lodged its application in February this year, with approval being granted five months after the appointment of an expert panel.
“This is exactly what Fast-track is designed to do – get projects moving that will deliver more homes, jobs and economic opportunities for New Zealanders,” Mr Bishop says.
“The scheme, to be built on the Wānaka-Luggate Highway, will provide a range of housing options, with one, two and three-bedroom homes, helping meet the significant demand from people wanting to live and work in the Wānaka area.
“As well as providing much-needed additional housing, the project is predicted to contribute $86 million to the local economy, supporting jobs both during construction and once the development is complete.
“Importantly, 13 of the new homes will be provided to the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust for affordable housing – which the expert panel highlighted as a key benefit.
“The panel also accepted the applicant’s proposal to limit visitor accommodation to 20 per cent of the development, with those properties able to be used for short-term stays for no more than 120 nights a year. This will help ensure these are primarily homes for people to live in, rather than holiday accommodation.
“The development has a three waters strategy covering water, wastewater and stormwater, which the expert panel and local councils were satisfied was appropriate, subject to final design and engineering.
“With the new community sitting alongside the Wānaka-Luggate Highway, the expert panel has made safe access a priority, with well-lit walking and cycling links to be provided along parts of State Highway 84 and State Highway 6, connecting future residents with nearby schools, shops, workplaces and recreation.”
The project will be delivered in five stages over 10 years, with new homes coming online progressively as the development is built.
Notes to editor:
More information about the project: Mt Iron Junction Housing Scheme
Fast-track by the numbers:
- 35 projects approved by expert panels.
- 18 projects with expert panels appointed.
- 71 projects are currently progressing through the Fast-track process. 37 active substantive and 34 referral applications.
- 70 projects have been referred to Fast-track by the Minister for Infrastructure.
- 149 projects are listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act, meaning they can apply for Fast-track approval.
- On average, it has taken 118 working days for decisions on substantive applications from when officials determine an application is complete and in-scope.
Fast-track projects approved by expert panels:
- Arataki [Housing/Land]
- Ashbourne [Housing/Land]
- Ayrburn Screen Hub [Infrastructure]
- Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension [Infrastructure]
- Delmore [Housing/Land]
- Downtown Carpark Site Development [Housing/Land]
- Drury Metropolitan Centre – Consolidated Stages 1 and 2 [Housing/Land]
- Drury Quarry Expansion – Sutton Block [Mining/Quarrying]
- Foxton Solar Farm [Renewable Energy]
- Green Steel [Infrastructure]
- Haldon Solar [Renewable Energy]
- Hananui Aquaculture [Aquaculture]
- Homestead Bay [Housing/Land]
- Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme [Renewable Energy]
- Kings Quarry Expansion – Stages 2 and 3 [Mining/Quarrying]
- Lake Pūkaki Hydro Storage and Dam Resilience Works [Renewable Energy]
- Māhinerangi Wind Farm [Renewable Energy]
- Maitahi Village [Housing/Land]
- Milldale – Stages 4C and 10 to 13 [Housing/Land]
- Mt Iron Junction [Housing/Land]
- North West Rapid Transit [Infrastructure]
- Pound Road [Housing/Land]
- Rangitoopuni [Housing/Land]
- Ryans Road [Housing/Land]
- Southland Wind Farm Project [Renewable Energy]
- State Highway 1 North Canterbury – Woodend Bypass Project (Belfast to Pegasus) [Infrastructure]
- Stella Passage Development [Infrastructure]
- Sunfield [Housing/Land]
- Takitimu North Link – Stage 2 [Infrastructure]
- Tekapo Power Scheme – Applications for Replacement Resource Consents [Renewable Energy]
- The Point Mission Bay [Housing/Land]
- Waihi North [Mining/Quarrying]
- Waitaha Hydro [Renewable Energy]
- Waitākere District Court – New Courthouse Project [Infrastructure]
- Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall Renewal [Infrastructure]
Expert panels have been appointed for:
- 188 Beaumont Street
- Alternative to the Brynderwyn Hills
- Auckland Prison Capacity Increase
- Auckland Surf Park Community – Stage 2
- Barrytown Minerals Project
- Beachlands South
- Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project
- Bream Bay Sand Extraction Project
- Central and Southern Block Mining Project
- Hunua Quarry Development
- Mt Welcome, Pukerua Bay, Porirua
- Ōhoka Residential Subdivision
- Oparure Quarry South-Western Pit
- Remarkables Ski Area Upgrades and Doolans Expansion Project
- Southern Link Inland Port
- The Point Solar Farm
- Twizel Solar Farm
- Waikanae North Development
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/28/fast-track-approval-for-250-new-homes-in-wanaka/
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5. Open, Not Owned: Alliance Party Announces Trade Policy
September 28, 2026
Source: Alliance Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
Monday 28th September 2026
The Alliance Party has announced the first installment in its Trade Policy, which will modernise Aotearoa New Zealand’s international trade regime, protect local industries, and take a stand for human rights around the world.
Alliance Party trade spokesperson and candidate for Wellington North, Josh Harford, says international trade is rapidly becoming a race to the bottom.
“The craven, unrestrained obsession with maximising profits serves only to destroy local industry and bring misery on populations elsewhere in the world. Manufacturing in Aotearoa New Zealand once comprised one-quarter of all economic activity. Now, it is barely one-tenth.”
The policy includes protectionist policies around manufacturing and industry to support economic sovereignty.
“In the past three years, we have seen factory after factory close their doors, usually in order to shift production overseas. This has damaged the economies of our regional centres, worsened unemployment, and deepened generational poverty for many. We cannot be a fully-employed nation when we ship so much economic potential offshore,” Mr Harford says.
The policy includes guidelines for fair and managed trade, rather than free trade.
“Fair trade goes hand in hand with equality. Sweatshops around the world employ women and children in forced labour conditions, exploiting poverty conditions and societal barriers.”
Mr Harford says the Alliance is not opposed to international trade, and recognises that Aotearoa New Zealand is a small market often at the end of a long and expansive supply chain.
“We do not believe in shutting off from the world, but right now we profit from modern slavery, outsource environmentally damaging manufacturing that we still rely on, all while undermining our economic and political sovereignty.”
“We believe in a diversified local economy: one that will take measures to protect critical industry, keep it on shore, and expand it,” Mr Harford says.
Mr Harford took aim at existing regulations:
“We have a very weak trade framework, designed to maximise corporate profits with little regard for either domestic industry or human rights. Without a humanitarian approach to international trade and robust modern slavery legislation, we are rapidly becoming a global outlier.”
“This government has shown great vigour in fast-tracking legislation and using urgency for policies that harm Aotearoa New Zealand. The Alliance Party would bring that gusto to updating our modern slavery legislation and cracking down on exploitation in our trade settings.”
Mr. Harford also observed that humanitarian trade policy benefits domestic workers just as much as those overseas:
“By cracking down on bad actors and unethical practices, we remove the financial incentive to exploit. This will help to restore industry and manufacturing on our shores. We can be a powerhouse of industry, but only if we have the right settings in place to protect those industries.”
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6. Lanson Place Celebrates Brand’s First Michelin Key
September 28, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
Lanson Place Parliament Gardens receives prestigious global accolade of One MICHELIN Key as the Melbourne property marks its second anniversary
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 September 2026 – Lanson Place is delighted to announce that Lanson Place Parliament Gardens in Melbourne has been awarded One MICHELIN Key, the first MICHELIN Key recognition in the brand’s history.
Lanson Place Parliament Gardens (Photo Credit: Lanson Place)
MICHELIN defines the One Key accolade as “a very special stay”, recognising hotels for the overall experience assessed on design and architecture, service, character, value and contribution to the surrounding destination.
“This first MICHELIN Key marks a meaningful milestone for Lanson Place and serves as a profound recognition of our approach to hospitality,” said Michael Hobson, Chief Executive Officer of Lanson Place Hospitality Management. “Our philosophy has always centred on creating a home-away-from-home, somewhere that guests feel a genuine sense of place and belonging. To be recognised by MICHELIN, especially as the Melbourne property celebrates its second anniversary, is a proud moment for our entire organisation and a testament to the dedication of every team member who brings our vision to life.”
“Everyone at Lanson Place Parliament Gardens is honoured and proud to be awarded a MICHELIN Key,” said Marcus Packham, General Manager ofLanson Place Parliament Gardens. “A beautiful building makes a first impression but it’s the people looking after you, and the care they take throughout your stay, that gives a reason to return. This prestigious recognition means a great deal to our team and we are delighted that our work has contributed to such an important milestone for the wider Lanson Place brand.”
The first MICHELIN Key for Lanson Place reinforces the brand’s commitment to delivering comfortable, distinctive residential-style hospitality which is rooted in each destination.
For more information or to book a stay at Lanson Place Parliament Gardens, visit the hotel website.
https://www.lansonplace.com/
https://www.facebook.com/lansonplace/
https://www.instagram.com/lansonplace/
Hashtag: #LansonPlace #MICHELINKey #LansonPlaceParliamentGardens
About Lanson Place Hospitality Management Limited
Lanson Place provides comfortable, personal sanctuaries for both short-term and extended-stay guests at central locations in major global cities. Infused by a family-like service tradition, Lanson Place creates warm and sheltered places with a club-style feel where communities form and bond. Guests can enjoy a true home-away-from-home experience.
The Group aims to grow the Lanson Place brand across the Asia-Pacific region and continues to explore both investment and management opportunities in major gateway cities.
Website: lansonplace.com
Social Media IG: @lansonplace / FB: @LansonPlacePersonalHotels&Residences
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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7. YCO Cloud and Aolani partner to deliver one of the first NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 cluster rollouts in the Philippines
September 28, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
As the country’s first renewable-powered Sovereign AI infrastructure, this strategic collaboration aims to foster local innovation and boost the national economy.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 September 2026 – YCO Cloud is proud to announce its collaboration with Aolani and NVIDIA to deliver one of the first NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 cluster deployments in the Philippines. This collaboration marks a significant milestone, bringing purpose-built sovereign AI infrastructure to the country for the first time. Designed and implemented to meet global sustainability standards for water usage and dedicated renewable energy sources, the project aims to accelerate and solidify the country’s ambitions in sovereign digital capabilities and forward-looking innovation.
(From left) Nicholas Chia, CEO of Aolani and Nikolas Skalomenos de Ynchausti, CEO of YCO Cloud.
Aolani provides AI infrastructure, GPU financing, deployment and operating capabilities; while YCO delivers purpose-built, sustainable and scalable digital infrastructure and local expertise.
By leveraging the combined strengths of YCO Cloud, Aolani, and NVIDIA, this initiative sets the foundation for a scalable, world-class AI ecosystem — accelerating local innovation while driving national economic productivity.
Scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2027, the initial phase will deploy more than 10,000 NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs, extending state-of-the-art AI computing infrastructure to local government bodies, domestic enterprise, and local startups, while also attracting innovative global AI native companies.
As part of its commitment to environmental stewardship, YCO Cloud adheres to best practices to meet global standards for energy, water efficiency and environmental sustainability.
“The Philippines is now ready to scale on digital infrastructure with its robust submarine cable systems and growing renewable energy sources. To deliver a product that hasn’t been built in the Philippines, we partnered with Science Park of the Philippines Inc. (SPPI), the pioneer and one of the largest industrial park developers in the country, with best-in-country power, water and connectivity infrastructure aligned with our sustainability goals.Our partnerships with Aolani and SPPI complement YCO Cloud’s commitment to deliver green digital infrastructure to contribute to the next wave of growth in the country.” said Nik de Ynchausti, CEO of YCO Cloud.
Nicholas Chia, CEO at Aolani, said, “As the leading neocloud in Asia, Aolani is committed to delivering high-performance and compliant AI infrastructure at speed and scale to support our customers operating at the forefront of AI innovation. Southeast Asia is fast becoming a key linchpin for global AI infrastructure, and the Philippines is emerging as a dynamic new market for digital infrastructure growth. This collaboration will play a pivotal role in democratising access to advanced AI infrastructure in the Philippines, supporting the growth of the country’s digital economy and AI ecosystem. We are excited to partner with YCO Cloud on this ambitious development to boost infrastructure growth and innovation.”
The Philippine government welcomed the news of the partnership. “AI presents significant opportunities for innovation, job creation, and economic growth for the Philippines and Filipinos. We welcome the efforts of homegrown companies like YCO and its Singaporean partner, Aolani. Anchored on their belief on the country’s potential, we appreciate the commitment of both companies to work towards enabling Filipinos to become not just users but also builders and developers of AI. These forward-looking collaborations are key in shaping the Philippines’ future and allow us to achieve purposeful progress together,” said Leandro Angelo Y. Aguirre, Undersecretary of Department of Information and Communications Technology.
Rosemarie Edillon, Undersecretary of Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, said, “We thank YCO and Aolani for entrusting the Philippines with this significant role in AI infrastructure development. As we enter the Fifth Industrial Revolution, the Philippine Government stands ready to be an active partner in building a trusted, inclusive and ethical AI ecosystem for the Philippines and the world.”
YCO Cloud
YCO Cloud’s purpose and mission is to deliver sustainable mission-infrastructure designed to drive the Philippines forward. For more information, visit https://www.ycocloud.com/ and follow on YCO Cloud on LinkedIn.
Media Contact
H/Advisors on behalf of Aolani
pr@aolani.com
Hashtag: #Aolani
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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8. Alliance Party: Redistribute Power, Honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Move Forward in Unity
September 27, 2026
Source: Alliance Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
Sunday 27th September 2026
The Alliance Party has released its Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Democracy, and Constitutional policy which aims to redistribute power to ordinary people by advancing constitutional transformation with Te Tiriti o Waitangi at the centre.
Alliance Party president and constitutional spokesperson Tom Roud says the policy builds on the party’s commitment to redistribution of more than wealth alone.
“Our policies tend to deal with immediate, material needs of ordinary Kiwis with an emphasis on the redistribution of wealth in this country. Redistribution of wealth without a rebalance of power would represent a gilded cage for working people, so we want to go further,” he says.
The policy is built on the principles of popular sovereignty, participatory democracy, social justice, and upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
“The Alliance Party and the workers movement in general have a proud history of standing with Māori in their struggle with the Crown to address the criminal attacks on mana motuhake, tino rangatiratanga, and breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Our re-established party pays respect to our own whakapapa, and our previous relationship with the political party Mana Motuhake has provided us with a legacy of sound policy that respects Māori rights,” Mr Roud says.
On democratic issues the policy supports lowering the threshold for entering parliament, ranked-choice voting, and establishing processes for the recall of elected candidates by their electors.
“We are proud to be a radically democratic party that would see a system where no vote is wasted, where power does not become entrenched through custom and practice, and where elected officials are not given a few years of power without any recourse for voters to oust them if they so wish.”
“Accountability can’t just happen every few years at the ballot box, it is a relationship that our politicians must be expected to maintain. If they can’t manage that, voters should be able to remove them from office,” Mr Roud says.
The Alliance supports advancing a written constitution, designed by the people of Aotearoa New Zealand through participatory democracy, and enshrining the constitutional status of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
“The Matike Mai report was an enormous step forward for a serious constitutional conversation in this country. Tangata whenua have provided a framework, and now the rest of the country must come along for the conversation.”
“These are not easy subjects to cover, they take courage and a spirit of kotahitanga (unity) if we are going to come into our own as a country.”
“I am a republican, my neighbour may be a constitutional monarchist, how will we reconcile this? What would ‘the Crown’ come to mean in our existing legislation if we went down a republican route? How do we ensure we honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi in any new constitutional arrangement? Is an upper chamber undemocratic, or a necessary check on power?” Mr Roud says.
“Like almost everyone in this country I am not an expert on these issues. Regardless, the Alliance Party knows these are questions that will only become more and more central to the future of the country. It is time for Aotearoa New Zealand to decide who we want to be, and work through any nervousness and fear about that together. Tūwhitia te hopo, mairangatia te angitū: feel the fear, and do it anyway.”
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9. 380 more health care workers at the end of winter too little too late – NZNO
September 25, 2026
Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation
An announcement of 380 additional nurses, midwives and health care assistants for hospitals around the country at the end of winter is too little too late, NZNO says.
Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says chief nurse Nadine Gray’s comments this morning that Te Whatu Ora has listened to nurses rings hollow.
“It’s a shame they have only decided to listen now. These new health workers are an acknowledgement by Te Whatu Ora of the immense pressure our nurses, midwives and health care assistants have been under.
“They have been warning Te Whatu Ora for two years that chronic and deliberate short staffing is putting their patients at risk.
“In the meantime, nurses have struggled through the worst influenza outbreak in a decade, overcrowding in our hospitals and hours – and sometimes days – long waits in emergency departments. It should not have come to this.
“But any additional health care workers is good news for patients.”
Te Whatu Ora and the Coalition Government continue to claim they have hired 2100 more nurses, but Health Minister Simeon Brown has admitted just 54 new FTE nurses have been added to the hospitals since they came to office, Kerri Nuku says.
“This is partly because of a Government-imposed recruitment freeze designed to save millions of dollars which kept 1300 nursing roles vacant over the past two years.
“NZNO calls on Te Whatu Ora to fast track the hiring of this additional staff. Te Whatu Ora has been deliberately slowing down recruitment with the use of regional panels to approve vacancies. This has meant it can take up to six months in high-needs, understaffed wards such as neonatal units to bring new staff on.
“NZNO hopes today’s announcement means these panels will no longer be used to slow down recruitment, and these nurses, midwives and health care assistants will be on the floor at our hospitals as soon as possible,” she says.
“Te Whatu Ora has said this an annual calculation and decision, so it is surprising they called a media conference to announce business as usual.”
NZNO supports nurse-to-patient ratios, which is why NZNO fought to have methodology included in our most recent collective agreement, Kerri Nuku says, and this work is now underway.
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10. “Don’t risk 6 years of Luxon” – NZCTU launches election campaign
September 26, 2026
Source: NZCTU
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has today launched its “Don’t risk 6 years of Luxon” election campaign. A campaign that uses the stories of working people to warn that another term of an out-of-touch Prime Minister is a risk they can’t afford.
The campaign runs across multiple platforms until the election.
“Everyday workers are sharing their experience living under Luxon’s leadership, and just how hard it is,” says Sandra Grey, President of NZCTU.
“They are speaking up clearly about their concerns about what another three years under a National-led coalition would mean. They have told us they’ve gone backwards while the Prime Minister has shown he has no idea what their lives are like.”
Since the National-led Government took office, 48,000 more people are unemployed, and the number unemployed for six months or longer has risen 130 percent. The minimum wage has fallen 4 percent in real terms since 2023. That leaves a full-time minimum-wage worker $2,076 a year worse off than if it had kept pace with inflation. Wages measured by the labour cost index have fallen 1.5 percent after inflation.
At the same time, the cost of essentials has kept climbing. Household energy costs are up 23.8 percent, bread is up 20 percent, fresh milk 23.8 percent, and beef and veal 30.6 percent. In 2025, an estimated 473,000 people were living in material hardship, including 169,000 children.
“Luxon is a Prime Minister who told the country his weekly shop cost $60, and who saw nothing wrong with taking $52,000 a year from taxpayers for an apartment he already owned,” says Grey.
“Meanwhile, working people are skipping meals, putting off the dentist and watching their savings disappear. His choices are making it harder for working people to make ends meet: a minimum wage that’s going backwards, wages that haven’t kept up, and more people out of work.”
The campaign encourages people to enrol or update their details at vote.nz, and will be followed shortly by the NZCTU’s report into the cost of living, where real working people tell their stories of how the cost of living is affecting them.
“Three more years of National means six years of Luxon,” says Grey. “Working people can’t afford to take that risk. It’s time to vote for change. Don’t risk six years of Luxon.”
For more on the campaign head to dontrisk6.nz
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/26/dont-risk-6-years-of-luxon-nzctu-launches-election-campaign/
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