AM Edition: Top 10 Politics Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for June 19, 2026 – Full Text

Source: NZCTU

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi (CTU) President Sandra Grey says the Government has chosen to once again pass on the costs of its failed economic policies onto working families.

“The Government has today announced that it will increase paid parental leave by 2.84 percent. Inflation is currently 3.1 percent. That steals up to another $53 from families when a baby is first born. Together with attacks on Best Start Payments, cutting early childhood education operations funding in real terms by 2.5 percent, and child poverty statistics, tens of thousands of families will be worse off after these decisions,” says Grey.

“The Government could have chosen to increase paid parental leave by inflation, but instead it chose to make this cut. It could have chosen to deliver action on child poverty, but it chose to ignore that problem. Instead, the Government chose to tell people at the Budget that ‘a key driver of child poverty is living in a benefit-dependent home’. The real driver of child poverty is not having enough money – a problem made worse when the government cuts its support.

“For a government that claims it is committed to families and family values, it is not keen to demonstrate any real value in families’ wallets. It has cut the minimum wage in real terms for three years. It has cut support to destitute families through welfare reform and increased the rents on 84,000 households through income-related rents. Meanwhile it continues to waste time in the House of Parliament discussing the definition of who is a woman.

“The Government should row this decision back and at least provide support that matches the cost of living. Deliberately making new families poorer in a cost-of-living crisis is a choice, and not one we believe that most New Zealanders would agree with. Since the oil crisis began, 93 percent of households have had no support with the cost of living, and this latest decision simply makes things worse,” says Grey.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/06/18/governments-parental-leave-decision-steals-from-new-families/

MIL OSI

Source: Green Party

The Green Party says the Government’s new funding for homelessness, announced yesterday, is a drop in the bucket to address the crisis in New Zealand.

“This is the worst homelessness in our history, with 57,000 women homeless and half of all homeless people under the age of 24. The Government’s response has been a drop in the bucket to meaningfully address this crisis,” says Green Party housing spokesperson Tamatha Paul. 

“The Housing First waitlist is rising while 33% of emergency housing applications were declined. Community organisations are telling us that homelessness is at the highest in New Zealand’s history. To tackle the issue, we need more than the drips and drabs being given out randomly from this Government.” 

“Frontline organisations are screaming out for more funding. They could end homelessness overnight with the right support. Unfortunately, the Government has chosen handcuffs over housing by ignoring these pleas and instead introducing cruel Move-On Orders legislation.” 

“The Green Party has a bill on the order paper, the Duty to Assist, which would make sure every young person leaving state care can access secure housing. With half of all homeless people under 24, that is not a nice-to-have. It is the difference between a young person getting a start in life and being pushed towards the criminal justice system.” 

“Homelessness continues to trend up in Wellington. This is upsetting because it is entirely preventable. There is a strong willingness on the ground to provide the housing and care needed to break cycles of homelessness here in Pōneke.” 

“The Green Party are calling on political parties to support Hon Marama Davidson’s bill to introduce Duty to Assist legislation, and have committed to ending homelessness through funding Housing First organisations and building enough public housing to clear the waitlist,” says Paul. 

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/06/18/homelessness-at-historic-levels-in-new-zealand/

MIL OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is bringing more common sense to mandatory climate reporting by removing health and life insurers from a regime they were never well suited to, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer says.

“Unlike general insurers, health and life insurers aren’t directly exposed to climate risks like extreme weather events, so there’s little value in making them report on it. They’ve told us they don’t belong in the climate reporting regime, as ultimately it adds cost to their clients,” Mr Brewer says.

“This is a commonsense fix. It’s about making sure the right businesses are reporting, not tying up firms in paperwork that does nothing for anyone.

“Climate reporting was introduced by the previous Government, but it wasn’t working as well as it should. We heard it was a barrier to listing on the NZX, and that in some cases the costs were disproportionately high.

“This Government backs business growth, so last year we made practical changes to fix the regime. We raised the climate reporting threshold to $1 billion in market capitalisation for listed issuers and removed managed investment schemes. Now we’re taking health and life insurers out too.”

Nine health and life insurers will be removed from the climate reporting regime, along with the 88 businesses removed through the previous decisions. Once the updates are in place, around 67 businesses will be required to report, compared to 164 originally.

“Our largest businesses, the ones with the greatest impact and the resources to comply properly, will still report. This is about cutting costs where they don’t make sense, not lowering the bar for those who should be at the table,” Mr Brewer says.

“That’s all part of this Government’s plan to fix the basics, build the future, and make sure Kiwi firms can get on with growing rather than drowning in red tape.”

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/06/18/commonsense-change-to-insurance-reporting/

MIL OSI

Source: Green Party

The Green Party is welcoming the Government’s backdown on the Fisheries Amendment Bill, but says the Bill needs to be scrapped completely, not just delayed.

“The Government may be at war with nature in their plans to privatise our oceans, conservation land and waterways, but people are pushing back and winning,” says Green Party Co-leader and Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick.

Fisheries Minister Shane Jones today confirmed he would delay the Bill until after the election.  

“This is the same Minister who in March dismissed everyone worried about gutting our fisheries as ‘noisy voices’. Those noisy voices were scientists, recreational fishers, hapū and ordinary New Zealanders who can see what is happening to our moana.” 

“This Bill would have loosened the rules that keep fish stocks from collapsing and kept on-board camera footage hidden from the public, all so a handful of commercial operators could take more out of waters that belong to all of us.”

“New Zealanders should not have to fight their own Government to protect the fish in their own oceans. Delaying this Bill until after the election is not the same as killing it.” 

“Our oceans are not a commodity to be carved up for short-term profit. The Green Party will keep fighting alongside the communities who stopped this Bill until it is gone for good,” says Swarbrick.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/06/18/calls-for-fisheries-amendment-bill-to-be-dropped-completely/

Source: New Zealand Government

Critical underwater infrastructure (CUI) such as the telecommunications cables that connect the country to the world will be better protected through breakthrough technology launched today, Associate Transport Minister James Meager says.

Mr Meager unveiled the National Surveillance and Warning Capability at the Maritime Operations Centre in Wellington this afternoon.

“This new 24/7 monitoring system is a world-first and will go a long way in ensuring submarine cables on our shores are protected, which are vital to New Zealand’s security and resilience as they carry around 99 percent of our data traffic,” Mr Meager says.

“Large volumes of these cables are vulnerable to damage, particularly those in waters shallower than 200 metres which lie close to busy fishing and shipping routes. 

“Even minor contact from fishing gear or anchors can compromise a cable’s protective outer layer. When this occurs, there is a real risk of widespread digital disruption, with significant impacts for businesses, communities and the wider economy.”

The new system, to be delivered by Kordia and Starboard Maritime Intelligence, will trigger an alert to staff when vessel activity risks damaging nearby CUI. This will prompt direct contact to mariners notifying them of the risks and their legal obligations when entering cable protection zones. 

Mr Meager says the technology is a collaboration between the Government and industry, with its rollout following a successful trial in the Hauraki Gulf and Muriwai Cable Areas last year.

“I thank all of those involved from the sector, including Starboard and Kordia, for delivering this world-first technology. The trial made clear this is a winner, with both organisations quickly awarded overseas contracts to also deliver the capability in European waters,” Mr Meager says.

“The creation of this technology has been enabled through a Budget 2024 investment, while the 24/7 surveillance costs come at no expense to the taxpayer, with the companies that own the assets paying for it.

“Our Government is committed to fixing the basics and building the future, and this is exactly what this new system achieves. This is one of 10 workstreams under way to improve the security and resilience of New Zealand’s CUI.”

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/06/18/protecting-our-critical-underwater-infrastructure/

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand’s manufacturing sector was the single biggest driver of economic growth in the March 2026 quarter, growing 1.9 percent and powering the country’s start to 2026, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Cameron Brewer says.

“Manufacturing was the largest contributor to economic growth in the March quarter. That tells you just how much this sector matters to New Zealand,” Mr Brewer says.

Statistics New Zealand figures show GDP grew 0.8 percent, with manufacturing up 1.9 percent, led by a 4.0 percent lift in transport equipment, machinery and equipment manufacturing.

“That growth is being driven by world-leading firms like Dawn Aerospace and Rocket Lab, medtech manufacturers like Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, and the specialist firms building the components that go into them,” Mr Brewer says.

“This is exactly what I’ve been seeing on the factory floor around the country: hard-working, innovative Kiwis making world-beating products, lifting productivity and pushing into new markets.

Manufacturing contributes around 8 percent of GDP and employs more than 220,000 people.

“Our Manufacturing Productivity Advisory Group, who I meet with regularly, tell me forward orders are strong. They’re a great example of industry and government working together, as is the outstanding work Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa is doing to champion the sector,” Mr Brewer says.

“Our priority is to back manufacturers to invest and grow. That’s what Investment Boost is designed to do, letting businesses deduct a chunk of new capital investment upfront so they can buy the machinery and equipment that lifts productivity, exactly the kind of activity we’re seeing in this data.

“When manufacturing grows, the whole economy benefits. This is all part of the Government’s plan to fix the basics and build the future, with a sector that’s leading New Zealand’s recovery.”

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/06/18/strong-quarter-as-manufacturing-leads-growth/

Source: New Zealand Government

Last year Pharmac appointed the Consumer and Patient Working Group (the Working Group) to help Pharmac reset how it works with patients and consumers, today they met for the last time having achieved that goal, Associate Health Minister David Seymour says.  

“The patient community used to picket outside Pharmac. This group has transformed that relationship by giving patients an ongoing voice at the table when Pharmac makes its decisions,” Mr Seymour says.

“I want to thank Dr Mulholland and all members of the Working Group for their work over the past year. The work done to reset the relationship between Pharmac and the patient community is a big reason for the change in Pharmac’s culture. 

“When new leadership took over Pharmac they set out to change the culture. It was clear that Pharmac could provide a better service for Kiwis. They came up with a 5-year plan to take Pharmac to the level Kiwis deserve. To inform the plan Pharmac conducted a number of reviews, engaged with the patient community, and took part in workshops. 

“For example, two years ago Pharmac hosted the Consumer Engagement Workshops. This put the patient community in a room with Pharmac’s decision makers to answer the question: how can Pharmac do better for Kiwi patients? The patient community told Pharmac the first step was to reset the patient – Pharmac relationship. 

“Pharmac invited workshop participants, in association with the wider consumer-patient representative community, to select the Working Group to help reset the patient – Pharmac relationship. Dr Malcolm Mulholland was selected as the chair. The Working Group was set up for the first 12-month phase in the 5-year plan. The next phase in the plan will be announced shortly.

“The Working Group has shown what’s possible when Pharmac partners with consumer advocates and patients. Their advice helped shape Pharmac’s initial 12-month Reset Programme which has improved patient engagement, transparency, and organisational culture.”

Over the past year, Pharmac has: 

improved how it works with patient advocates by creating a dedicated consumer relations function 
made it easier for patients to give feedback on Pharmac proposals by introducing a new consultation tool and creating better consultation processes 
progressed a refreshed vision and strategy that sets a clear, ambitious direction for the future that fosters trust, collaboration, and innovation 
begun a review of its Exceptional Circumstances Framework, including Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessments (NPPA)
trialled new approaches to reduce its funding application backlog, including piloting a rapid assessment process 

“The progress so far has been impressive, but there is more work to be done. Listening to the voices of patients and consumers will continue to be at the heart of Pharmac’s work as it launches the next phase of its long-term improvement programme,” Mr Seymour says. 

“Patients are reaping the benefits. Since this Government took over we’ve allocated Pharmac its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, and a $604 million uplift Pharmac. With that money, Pharmac has made 133 decisions to fund or widen access to medicines. This includes decisions on 46 cancer medicines. Over 360,000 patients have benefited.”

The consumer working group members are:

Dr Malcolm Mulholland MNZM – Patient Voice Aotearoa
Libby Burgess MNZM – Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition
Tim Edmonds – Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ
Chris Higgins – Rare Disorders NZ
Francesca Holloway – Arthritis NZ
Trent Lash – Heartbeats Charitable Trust
Gerard Rushton – The Meningitis Foundation
Rachel Smalley MNZM – The Medicine Gap
Tracy Tierney – Epilepsy NZ
Deon York – Haemophilia NZ

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/06/18/pharmac-consumer-working-group-wraps-up-job-well-done/