Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/29/healthy-futures-pae-ora-eligibility-regulations-2026/

Funding of $1.7 million for three projects to reduce food waste across the country has been announced today by Environment Minister Nicola Grigg.

“Reducing food waste is one of the most practical ways of reducing methane emissions, and supporting wider emissions reduction objectives,” Ms Grigg says.

“Funding from the National Food Waste Reduction Programme will support three initiatives across the food supply chain over the next three years, reducing waste from households, food production, hospitality and other businesses.”

“Of the 30 million tonnes of food that enters New Zealand’s supply chain each year, an estimated 1.2 million tonnes is lost or wasted, and a third of that waste occurs in our homes. The Government is backing projects to address this significant and costly waste,” Ms Grigg says.

The projects receiving funding are:

WasteMINZ will receive $800,000 over two years to extend its household food waste reduction work, building on the successful Love Food Hate Waste campaign through national multimedia campaigns and partnerships with councils.

The NZ Food Waste Champions 12.3 Trust will receive $750,000 over three years to continue a voluntary national agreement supporting food production and other businesses to measure, manage and reduce food waste across the supply chain.

The Restaurant Association of New Zealand will receive $150,000 to expand the Kai Keepers programme for one year, helping hospitality businesses reduce food waste, improve diversion of organic waste from landfill.

“These projects align with the Government’s priorities to reduce the volume of organic waste reaching our landfills. They have demonstrated that they actively support businesses and households to measure and manage food waste, set targets, and put waste reduction plans in place.

“This investment will help the initiatives expand their impact and strengthen food waste reduction practices across New Zealand,” Ms Grigg says. 

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/29/funding-boost-to-cut-food-waste-and-emissions/

Tougher penalties and new offences agreed by Cabinet will help tackle the illicit tobacco trade, Associate Minister of Health Costello says.

“Cheap illegal cigarettes are connected to organised crime; they hit legitimate businesses and tax revenue – and they undermine our efforts to stop people smoking,” Ms Costello says.

“The current regulatory regime stretches across various agencies and doesn’t recognise the seriousness of the issue or provide enforcement agencies the tools required. 

“Cabinet has now approved two sets of legislative changes that will support Health New Zealand, the Ministry of Health, Customs and Police to better address black-market tobacco.

“Unlawful packaging of tobacco is a clear indicator that tobacco has been illicitly imported,” Ms Costello says.

New offences and penalties relating to breaches of packaging regulations include:

• a new infringement offence of a $2,000 fine for a breach of packaging regulations 
• a strict liability offence for a breach of packaging regulations of up to $200,000 for manufacturers, importers and distributors  
• increasing the maximum penalty for the existing knowledge-based offence for a breach of packaging regulations from $50,000 to $100,000  
• aligning the offence structure and maximum penalties for the sale of small quantities of tobacco with those for packaging 
• strengthening the consequences for the approval of a specialist vape retailer that breaches regulations.

Changes to fines and offences will require amendments to the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 before they come into effect.

The Customs and Excise (Border Security) Amendment Bill introduced to Parliament last week also contains a significant related change with maximum prison term for tobacco smuggling and excise evasion increasing from six months to seven years.

“The annual increase in the tobacco excise has been a useful tool to discourage smoking, as well as providing important government revenue. Australia’s experience with a huge slump in excise collection connected to illicit tobacco shows that we need to stop this black market as soon as we can,” Ms Costello says.

“Taken together, these changes will strengthen the Government’s cross-agency response by making it easier to identify, disrupt and penalise illicit activity.” 

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/29/tougher-penalties-to-stop-illicit-tobacco/

Good morning. Thank you for having me to open this year’s conference. It’s good to be in a room with the people who grow it, process it and sell it to the world. Farmers, processors, exporters and the people who back them.

I want to talk about one idea this morning. Grow more and sell more. That’s the job. For you and for us.

Where we are

Let’s start with where we’ve come from.

When we came into office in late 2023, rural confidence was at minus 66 per cent. An all-time low. Farmers felt like they were under attack. Rules came thick and fast. Many of them made no sense on the farm. We said we’d end that. And we did.

Two years later confidence was at plus 37. Farmers were allowed to farm again. Today farmers are more confident about profitability than at any time since records began. You can see it in the numbers. Red meat and wool exports hit $14.8 billion in the year to June. Up 20 per cent on the year before. Average sheep and beef farm profit is forecast to nearly double this season, to around $287,600 a farm. Good prices helped. Lower interest costs helped. But none of that counts unless someone does the work. That’s you. Well done.

What we’ve done together

Those results didn’t happen by chance. We’ve worked on them together. First, we opened and protected markets. We concluded free trade deals with the UAE, the Gulf states and India. And we brought the EU deal into force many months early. We fought for you in Washington. When the US put new tariffs on, government and industry lobbied hard together. Beef is now back to normal tariff rates, or zero.

When China investigated beef imports, we made our case together. Our quota is bigger than what we normally send, and bigger than Australia’s. That means no limit on our beef trade to China. And we took on the EU’s deforestation rules. New Zealand farmers don’t clear forests to raise cattle. We held those rules off. And we’re now moving towards a form of exemption for New Zealand.

Second, we backed the value of what you produce.

We created a grass-fed standard for our exports, backed by government assurance. Most of our competitors can’t say their animals live outside on grass all year. Buyers want proof. Now we can give it to them, and they’ll pay more for it. 

In China, government put $8 million alongside the sector behind Taste Pure Nature. It tells Chinese families the New Zealand story. Grass-fed. Free range. Safe. And we set a goal together. Make New Zealand lamb their first choice.

We backed the Dairy Beef Opportunities programme, with more than $10 million of government funding matched by the sector. It turns dairy calves into good beef, and more income for dairy and beef farmers alike.

Third, we fixed the rules.

We made freshwater farm plans simpler and cheaper for sheep and beef farmers. We made the winter grazing and stock exclusion rules sensible and workable. Rules written for flat dairy land never made sense on hill country. We stopped whole farms being turned into pine trees for carbon credits. Good sheep and beef country was being lost, and rural towns with it. Productive land should stay productive. And we replaced the RMA. The final laws passed last week. That removes the need for up to 22,000 consents. That’s billions of dollars back in your businesses instead of in consultants’ fees.

That’s what working together looks like.

A good problem to have

Here’s where we are now. We have more market access than we can supply. That’s a good problem. But it’s still a problem. Buyers around the world want what we produce. But if we can’t fill the orders, someone else will. The Government wants to double the value of our exports by 2034. You want to reach $24 billion by 2035. 

Some of that will come from better prices. But not all of it. We won’t get there standing still. We have to grow more and sell more. 

Grow more: land use flexibility

That’s why, at Fieldays this year, I announced National’s land use flexibility policy. It starts with a simple belief. The people who own and farm the land are the best people to decide how it’s used. Not officials in Wellington. Not a council plan written ten years ago. You.

Markets change. Prices change. Seasons change. Farmers need room to change with them. Right now too many farmers are stuck. They see a better use for their land but the rules say no. Or the consent takes so long the chance has gone.

Land use flexibility gives you that room. It lets you put land to its best use and produce more. And it does that while still meeting our environmental and climate commitments.

This isn’t about lowering standards. Our exports sell on trust. Our trading partners expect high standards and we’ll keep meeting them. What changes is how we get there. Focus on real risk. Use the evidence. Back good practice. Write rules people on the ground can follow. And trust farmers to meet them in the way that works on their farm.

Grow more: more from every hectare

Growing more also means getting more from the land we already farm. At Fieldays we put $3.55 million into the LIFT programme. It aims to lift hill-country pasture use by around 20 per cent and feed conversion by up to 30 per cent. That’s more meat off the same hills.

We’ve sped up approvals for vet medicines and other farm products. You’ll get the tools your overseas competitors already use. And we’re backing new tools to cut methane, with $437 million over four years. With Beef + Lamb, we’re breeding lower-methane animals through Cool Sheep and now Cool Beef. The first methane bolus for beef cattle is close to a decision.

We’ll cut emissions with science, not by cutting production. More food. Smaller footprint. That’s how we compete.

Sell more: open more doors

Growing more only pays if we can sell it. And free trade deals work. Look at the European Union. In the first two years of our free trade agreement, exports to the EU grew by $3 billion. The primary sector led the charge. And red meat was out in front. That’s what happens when we open a door and you walk through it.

Now take India. Today our sheepmeat faces a 33 per cent tariff there. At current prices that’s about $4 a kilo. On 20 October, that tariff goes. In 2022 we supplied 85 per cent of India’s sheepmeat imports. Then Australia got tariff-free access. Our share fell to just 9 per cent. From next month we’re back on a level playing field with Australia. And India’s middle class is expected to reach around 700 million people by 2030.

Think about the size of that market. Around a billion people in India eat meat. If every one of them had just one New Zealand lamb chop a year, that’s more than our entire annual lamb chop production.

Now imagine they had two.

That’s the scale of the opportunity in the years ahead. India won’t be the last. We’ll keep opening doors, because every new market gives you more options and more pricing power.

The headwinds

I won’t pretend it’s all easy.

The conflict in the Middle East is pushing up fuel, freight and fertiliser costs. We know rural families are spending more of their income on fuel. And the longer it goes on, the harder it bites. Fertiliser companies tell us they have enough product and are locking in future supply. We’re watching closely so we can act early if we need to.

And on the US lamb investigation, our case is simple: New Zealand lamb isn’t hurting American farmers. It fills gaps in their supply. We’ll make that case firmly, just as we did on beef.

Rural communities

Strong farms need strong communities around them. Our $4 million Rural Wellbeing Fund backs groups like Young Farmers, Farmstrong and Whatever with Wiggy. Farming is hard work. People need to know there’s support when they need it.

Closing

So that’s the plan.

Give farmers the freedom to use their land. Get more from every hectare. Prove our quality to the world. And keep opening doors. Grow more. Sell more. The future for this sector is full of opportunity. I’m confident that working together we can make the most of it.

Thank you for all you do for our regions and our economy.

I’m pleased to open the 2026 Red Meat Sector Conference.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/29/speech-opening-red-meat-conference-2026/

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

Women must come first.

With today’s update showing a slightly improving fiscal picture, there is no excuse for Opposition parties not to commit to a pay equity settlement for care and support workers that is real, meaningful and fully in line with the current claim, delivered within 100 days of taking office.

“The books are in better shape than the Government has been telling us. That removes any excuse for delay.

“The 65,000 mostly women care and support workers need a settlement that delivers everything in their claim,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

New PSA analysis shows what settling the claim would mean for workers. A 30 percent pay equity uplift based on work on comparators completed last year (see below) would put $350 a week in the pocket of a full-time care and support worker. The average worker, who works 62 percent of full-time hours, would get $220 a week more.

“That’s life-changing money for women workers who care for our most vulnerable, many of whom are back on the minimum wage because of the failure to update their previous settlement,” said Fitzsimons.

“We welcome Chris Hipkins’ statement last night that reversing this government’s outrageous pay equity law change is a priority straight away. Now Labour needs to take the next step and commit to a quick settlement for care and support workers.

“The work on their claim is done. The evidence shows they are underpaid by up to 38 percent because they are women. The settlement is ready to go. These workers shouldn’t have to wait any longer.

“Today’s numbers show there is room to move, particularly with net debt coming down. Let’s be clear the real cost of pay equity is far lower than the headline figure. Treasury’s own modelling shows settling the claims this Government cancelled would grow the economy by $13.5 billion and create 13,000 jobs over four years. It would also bring in an extra $5 billion in tax.

“That brings the net cost down to around $1.5 billion a year, a return of $2.25 for every dollar spent. That’s better value than the Government’s own flagship growth policies.

“Low-paid women spend what they earn in their local communities, supporting local shops and local jobs. That’s good for workers, good for families and good for the economy. And with an ageing population it has never been more important to retain and grow this critical workforce. We can’t afford not to do this.

“Voters get it. Our polling shows people would rather push out the surplus target than keep making women wait. Politicians need to listen. We want a firm commitment, with funding in opposition parties’ fiscal plans, before 7 November,” said Fitzsimons.

Statement re undervaluation of care and support workers

29 September Opening of books must force Opposition parties to commit to pay equity

The PSA and the NZ Nurses Organisation reveal publicly the precise historic undervaluation of care and support workers showing they have been underpaid by between 24 percent and 38 percent.

Pay equity poll

26 September Pay equity poll: voters say make the fiscals wait, not women!

PSA analysis of economic and fiscal upside to restoring pay equity

9 September Restoring pay equity would boost income of 91,000 families by $300/week – PSA analysis

23 August Govt’s axing of pay equity cost jobs & GDP growth – PSA analysis

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

Source: I Am Hope

29 September 2026

August was another strong month for Gumboot Friday, with 3,505 free counselling sessions delivered to young New Zealanders aged 5–25.

Sessions are free, no referral is required, and young people choose who they want to talk to from Gumboot Friday’s network of registered counsellors.

Breakdown by age group:

• 657 young people aged 5–11 (29%)
• 697 young people aged 12–17 (31%)
• 910 young people aged 18–25 (40%)

Each of those 3,505 sessions represents a young person having time with a counsellor to talk through whatever was happening in their world at the time.

Since 2019, Gumboot Friday has funded 171,334 free counselling sessions for young New Zealanders as at August 2026.

“August was another busy month for us. Thousands of counselling sessions, thousands of conversations, and young people getting someone in their corner when they needed to be heard,” says I Am Hope founder Mike King.

“Gumboot Friday makes it simple for our rangatahi to say, ‘I need someone to talk to’ and actually get someone to talk to. We’ve built a service that gets our kids through the door without cost or a GP referral standing in the way.”

“With all the negative mental health trends, it is also important to take note of all the good that is getting done every single month, and we want to keep it going,” King says.

“With Gumboot Friday coming up in November, we’re asking New Zealanders to get behind it again. Every fundraiser, every business that gets involved, every community that gets together and every person who puts on a pair of gumboots helps us keep this kaupapa moving and make sure young people know there is somewhere they can turn.”

Government support helps pay for counselling sessions, while community support helps fund the platform, the people who keep it running, counsellor support, compliance, awareness, school programmes, community outreach and prevention work.

Gumboot Friday returns on Friday 6 November, with communities, businesses, schools, sports teams and whānau across Aotearoa encouraged to get involved and raise funds for I Am Hope.

Every donation, fundraiser, shared post and gumboot sold helps keep Gumboot Friday moving and helps young people connect with free counselling when they need it.

If you or someone you know is 25 or under and needs someone to talk to, visit Gumboot Friday to book a free counsellor today — no referral needed.

To donate, fundraise, or get involved with I Am Hope, head to I Am Hope or text HOPE to 469 for a $3 donation.

MIL OSI

Source: Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand

In a recent win for the Denniston Plateau: Bathurst Resources’ Fast-track application to mine this extraordinary place has been rejected as incomplete.

Now, we’d love you to join Forest & Bird and 350 Aotearoa for a webinar to hear what this decision means, why Denniston is so important, and what comes next in the fight to protect it.

Register for the webinar.

West Coast green gecko Naultinus tuberculatus (Denniston Bioblitz 2026). Image: Scott Burnett.

This is an important win, but Denniston isn’t safe yet.

Bathurst will attempt to address the gaps and submit a new application soon. But doing so won’t change the fundamental problem with its proposal: open-cast coal mining would cause permanent damage to the unique and irreplaceable ecosystems of the Buller Plateaux.

This setback for Bathurst gives us valuable time to prepare for the next stage of the fight.

Come along to celebrate this win, learn more about what’s at stake, and find out how together we can keep working towards permanent protection for Denniston.

Protecting Denniston webinar: Unpacking Bathurst’s Fast-Track Coal Mine Proposal

Wednesday 21 October, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

At the webinar, you’ll hear from:

• Scott Burnett, Forest & Bird Denniston spokesperson
• Adam Curie, 350 Aotearoa campaigner
• Sally Gepp KC, Resource management and environmental law barrister
• Suzanne Hills, Forest & Bird West Coast branch chair

What we’ll cover:

• An overview of Bathurst’s open-cast mining application and the specific ecological values on the line.
• The Fast-track process: How the current Fast-track legislation operates and a walk-through of the timeline of this application.
• The major environmental concerns: The severe impacts on indigenous biodiversity, freshwater systems, and climate.
• Taking action: Clear, effective steps you can take right now to object to the proposal and activate your community.

This webinar will be of relevance to you whether you are coming to this issue afresh or have been following it closely for some time.

Register for the webinar.

Deep Stream, part of Bathhurst Resource’s Mt Frederick South mine expansion. Image: Scott Burnett.

Take action now

Are you heading along to any political candidates’ meetings? These are the perfect places to raise awareness for Denniston by asking politicians what they’ll do to save this amazing place. You could ask:

• Will your party repeal or strengthen the Fast-track Approvals Act so major projects can’t bypass public scrutiny and environmental safeguards?
• Over 30,000 people have called for the Denniston Plateau to become a Scientific Reserve. Will your party support permanent protection for this unique landscape?
• If mining goes ahead, will you require the company to fully fund long-term water treatment and monitoring so taxpayers aren’t left with the bill?
• Will your party strengthen mining laws to ensure companies pay the full cost of environmental cleanup and rehabilitation?
• What will your party do to create sustainable, long-term jobs on the West Coast without expanding coal mining?

Ask these questions and help put Denniston’s future on the agenda.

Join us online on 21 October.

More information about Denniston.

MIL OSI

Treasury’s Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU) forecasts show ongoing pain for working people and declining public services if the fiscal approach doesn’t change. The election provides an opportunity for a reset.

“The Luxon Government’s fiscal choices have made life harder for working people. There are now almost 50,000 more Kiwis unemployed than when it took office,” says Sandra Grey, President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi.

“Treasury is now forecasting the unemployment rate will stay above 5 percent through most of 2027.

“Jobseeker numbers have also climbed under this Government, up 15 percent from when it came to power. The number of people on Jobseeker Support and the Emergency Benefit is forecast to stay above 200,000 through the entire forecast period – way above the Government’s target,” says Grey.

“Real wages have been squeezed in recent years and are forecast to fall further through the rest of 2026 and into 2027. Many Kiwi households are already unable to afford the basics. More real-terms wage cuts will be devastating.”

Treasury is forecasting an upturn in growth, but this is heavily reliant on net migration and ongoing favourable terms of trade. Treasury’s forecasts were completed before oil prices spiked again. Higher oil prices will mean higher inflation, higher interest rates, and reduced household spending, all of which drag on growth.

“The Luxon Government has continually promised an economic recovery, and it has continually failed to deliver it. The reality is the long-promised recovery looks as shaky as ever,” says Grey.

Government expenditure is forecast to fall as a percentage of GDP. Core Crown expenses fall below 30 percent of GDP by 2031, and more than half of the annual Budget Operating Allowances are needed just for health cost-pressure funding. That money doesn’t improve services or close funding gaps – it just keeps services running at current levels.

“Given the stress our public services are already under, and the large funding gaps, this reduction in Government spending is simply irresponsible,” says Grey. “Health services are underfunded by more than $6 billion a year, according to Kaitiaki Hauora. The PREFU forecasts show this gap won’t be closed under a second term of Luxon.”

“The election provides an opportunity for a reset. The next Government needs to invest at scale in the things New Zealanders need: good jobs, stronger public services, and modern infrastructure. This is affordable if the Government makes the right choices, including tax reform,” says Grey.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/29/prefu-shows-jobs-pain-and-service-cuts-locked-in-under-luxon/

Transport Minister Chris Bishop has welcomed news that a contract has now been signed for strengthening work the State Highway 50 (SH50) Ngaruroro River Bridge, south of Fernhill, to help improve the resilience of Hawke’s Bay’s transport network and unlock a vital connection for local communities and freight. 

“Carrying nearly 7,000 vehicles per day, around 5 per cent of that heavy vehicles, the current bridge on SH50 is more than 80 years old, with speed and weight restrictions since October 2022. Funding was approved for bridge strengthening work in December last year and we’re getting on with the work,” Mr Bishop says.

“SH50 is an important route into and out of Hawke’s Bay for freight operators, as well as local businesses, emergency services, and other road users. It also plays an important role as an alternative route when other parts of the network are disrupted. 

“Since funding was approved, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has been working to secure consents and finalise detailed planning. Downer will deliver the project, with site offices due to be established shortly. At a cost of between $5 million and $10 million, construction is expected to begin in October and be completed next year.

“Once the work is complete, the weight and speed restrictions currently in place on the bridge will be lifted. The strengthened bridge will support High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMV) and 50MAX freight configurations, while also providing a stronger and more resilient transport link for everyone who relies on SH50. 

“The National Infrastructure Plan is clear that our first priority should be maintaining and improving the infrastructure we already have and this is a great example. This project will deliver a considerable upgrade to the SH50 Ngaruroro River Bridge, as it has never been suitable for HPMVs and 50MAX, even before the 2022 restrictions.

“I want to thank local freight operators and communities across Hawke’s Bay for their patience and advocacy, alongside MPs Katie Nimon and Catherine Wedd. I know we are all looking forward to construction getting underway in the next few months and being completed as soon as possible next year,” Mr Bishop says.

Notes to editor: 

Bridges/culverts set to be replaced in the 2024-27 NLTP period: 

• SH3 Mangapepeke No. 1 Culvert, Taranaki (new addition for 2024-27 period)
• SH3 Mangapepeke No. 2 Culvert, Taranaki 
• SH43 Kururau Stream Water Drive, Whanganui 
• SH25 Pepe Stream Bridge, Coromandel
• SH82 Elephant Hill Bridge, South Canterbury  
• SH82 Waihao North Bridge, South Canterbury 
• SH6 Coal Creek Overbridge, West Coast 
• SH25 Ramarama Stream Bridge, Waikato
• SH27 Ohinekaua Bridge, Waikato  
• SH36 Hauraki Stream Culvert, Bay of Plenty  

Bridge maintenance renewal works: 

• SH25 Boundary Creek Bridge, Coromandel (new addition for 2024-27 period)
• SH35 Mangahauini No. 1 Bridge, Gisborne (new addition for 2024-27 period) 
• SH38 Frasertown Bridge, Hawke’s Bay (new addition for 2024-27 period) 
• SH50 Ngaruroro River Bridge, Hawke’s Bay (new addition for 2024-27 period) 

Other announcements recently made:

• SH2 Pekatahi Bridge, Bay of Plenty. Design and pre-implementation work for a two-lane replacement is underway. Construction is expected to be within the 2027-30 NLTP once funding is approved and a contractor is appointed.

This programme excludes bridges being replaced due to weather event damage.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/29/sh50-ngaruroro-river-bridge-work-to-get-underway/

Today’s pre-election update forecasts healthy economic growth and a distinct improvement in the government’s books, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.

“I’m pleased that New Zealanders’ hard work, resilience and adaptability through tough economic times is bearing fruit.

“Today’s numbers show that the deficit in the year ending July this year was $3.4 billion smaller than forecast in the Budget in May, reflecting stronger economic momentum. 

Treasury’s forecasts also show:

significantly smaller deficits this year and next year
bigger surpluses in the following years
less debt
lower debt servicing costs
the economy growing at an average of 2.6 per cent 
220,000 more jobs being created; and
wages rising faster than prices.

“The positive outlook reflects hard work by households and businesses, backed by a government focused on restoring fiscal discipline and driving economic growth. 

“The upgraded forecast is driven to a large extent by actual improved performance. Businesses have been doing better than anticipated, which feeds into the government’s bottom line through increased tax revenue.

“Treasury’s Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update shows the operating balance deficit shrinking from the $11.4 billion forecast at the Budget to $6.8 billion this financial year and to less than $1 billion next year. 

“Over the following three years the surplus is forecast to grow from $4 billion to almost $12 billion.

“Debt is forecast to start declining as a proportion of the economy in 2028/29 and to fall in dollar terms in 2030/31. That will be the first such fall since 2017/18. 

“The improved forecast means the Government will borrow $15 billion less over the next four years through reduced bond issuance. This is on top of the $6 billion reduction in forecast borrowings at the Budget and means borrowing costs will be lower.

“That is welcome news. The amount New Zealand spends servicing our debt each year is significant, equivalent to the cost of building more than four Dunedin Hospitals every single year. 

“Ultimately, this frees up more money for the things New Zealanders care about and ensures we are in a stronger position to weather the next global conflict or major weather event.

“The same applies to households and businesses. Wages rising faster than prices means Kiwis will have more of their own money in the bank and more choices about how to use it, whether that’s taking the kids on holiday, saving for a house deposit, or investing more in their business or KiwiSaver.

“A stronger fiscal position cannot be taken for granted and treated as a green light to open the chequebook, because Kiwis know from bitter experience that things can always change and global instability is not going away.

“There is still a lot of work to do to turn the forecasts into reality and there are clear risks to the forecasts from ongoing instability in the Middle East. That is why we need to stay the course.

“The pre-election forecasts are based on the work done to restore fiscal discipline to government spending and an ongoing commitment by our government to maintaining that discipline. 

“The last government’s irresponsible spending, combined with the Reserve Bank’s over-stimulus of the economy, caused unnecessary hardship that many Kiwis are still feeling the effects of.

“The lesson of the past 10 years is that governments must manage the public’s money as carefully as people manage their own finances.

“The pre-election update confirms that is what this government has been doing.

“Our plan to prioritise responsible economic management, underpinned by careful spending and a consistent focus on growing the economy, is working. Now is the time to stick with the plan and secure a stronger financial future for every New Zealander.”

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/29/economy-strengthening-books-getting-better/

Transport Minister Chris Bishop has welcomed a significant milestone on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Papakura to Drury Road of Regional Significance, with southbound traffic now using a new motorway alignment and bridge.

“The Southern Motorway carries about 80,000 vehicles each day and is critical to Auckland and the upper North Island’s economy. The Papakura to Drury project will improve safety, resilience, and journey reliability, while supporting growth in South Auckland and strengthening connections for people and freight,” Mr Bishop says.

“Moving southbound traffic onto the new alignment is a major milestone for the team working on SH1 Papakura to Drury and helps create the space needed to continue widening the motorway and replacing ageing infrastructure in a way that keeps traffic moving as safely and efficiently as possible.

“The new southbound alignment includes the first of five new bridges being delivered as part of the second and final stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project. Starting in October, the old bridge will be dismantled in sections using cranes operating from within the widened motorway median. 

“Once the old bridge is removed, construction can begin on a second southbound bridge that will ultimately be connected to the new structure alongside it. This bridge will then temporarily carry 2 lanes of traffic in each direction while the northbound bridge is dismantled and replaced with a wider structure. 

“These new bridges will be up to 2.5 metres higher than the bridges they replace, improving flood resilience and futureproofing for climate change and sea level rise.

“I’m pleased to see good progress being made on the project, with bridge building activities continuing across the wider corridor. Piles were recently finished for a new motorway bridge over Great South Road at Drury Interchange and next month teams will prepare to lift beams for a new Bremner Road bridge over Ngaakooroa Stream. 

“Construction of a new Bremner Road bridge over the motorway, replacing the structure demolished in mid-February, is also progressing, with abutment piling on the western side scheduled to begin in October.

“I want to thank road users and freight operators for their patience as this critical work is carried out, and the construction teams on the ground for your hard work. I look forward to further progress being made in the months and years ahead.

“Once completed in 2030, these improvements will see three lanes in each direction between Papakura and Drury Interchanges and six new motorway bridges, walking and cycling connections, as well as future proofing for additional rail connections.

Notes to editor:

SH1 southbound traffic was switched onto the new alignment between the BP motorway service centre, south of Papakura Interchange, and Drury Interchange overnight last night, Monday 28 September. 
Once completed in 2030, the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will provide:
An additional traffic lane in each direction on SH1
Wide shoulders to accommodate future bus services
A shared walking and cycling path alongside SH1 with local connections
Improvements to the Drury Interchange
Enhanced safety barriers and lighting
100 per cent treatment of motorway stormwater runoff

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/29/sh1-papakura-to-drury-upgrade-hits-new-milestone/

Families across the country can now access free, trusted parenting information through Tākai, the national parenting platform, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. 

“Raising children is one of the most important jobs any of us will do, and it’s important that parents can easily get useful, timely information they can trust,” Louise Upston says. 

“Tākai provides evidence-based, accessible information for parents, grandparents and everyone else playing a part in raising a child. 

“We know that what happens for a child in their early years shapes how they develop and how well they do throughout their life.  

“By sharing trusted, practical information, Tākai gives parents and those supporting children access to free resources grounded in child development evidence, neuroscience and mātauranga Māori, to help our children thrive. 

“Tākai helps deliver on two of the three priorities in the Government’s Child and Youth Strategy – supporting children and their families and whānau in the first 2000 days of a child’s life and preventing against harm.” 

Tākai is funded through the Government’s $20 million investment in parenting initiatives from a Budget 2025 contingency fund. The same funding is also expanding two evidence-based parenting programmes, Triple P Positive Parenting and Mellow Parenting/Hoki ki te Rito and supporting a new initiative for families with the highest needs through the Social Investment Fund. 

Tākai offers more than 900 pages of plain-language articles, activities, songs, workshop ideas, and other resources covering pregnancy through to age five. It also provides a programme of webinars and short online lessons for people supporting young children. 

Among the new online lessons are videos fronted by Kiwi parenting and child development specialists, such as Brainwave Trust, covering the importance of early experiences and positive parenting approaches. 

“A platform like Tākai doesn’t replace the specialist support some families need, but it means many more parents and caregivers can get good information early, helping set their children on a positive path to a healthy, fulfilling life,” Louise Upston says. 

Tākai resources are available at www.tākai.nz.

Note to editor:

Tākai was named following extensive community engagement. The term refers to the practice of wrapping pēpi and tamariki to create warmth, closeness, security, and safety. 

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/29/free-parenting-advice-for-families-with-takai/

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi welcomes Labour’s commitment to reverse the Government’s gutting of pay equity within its first 100 days in office, and to put care and support workers at the front of the queue for a settlement.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins made the commitment at a public meeting in Christchurch on Monday night.

“This is the commitment working women have been waiting for since the day this Government ripped away their right to fair pay,” says Melissa Ansell-Bridges, Secretary of NZCTU.

“One of the most despicable things this Government has done to working people was when in May last year, with no warning and no consultation, they rushed a law through Parliament under urgency that cancelled all 33 pay equity claims in progress – affecting more than 180,000 working people.

“Nurses, care and support workers, teachers, librarians, and administrators who had spent years building their cases were told to start again under rules designed to make sure they fail.

“Care and support workers have waited far too long, and we’re pleased Labour has committed to prioritising them first.

“Restoring pay equity within the first 100 days was one of the core priorities in our Briefing to the Incoming Government. It’s good to see Labour step up and make this commitment for working women. Now we want every other party that hopes to form the next government to make the same commitment – along with a clear plan to fund it.

“Pay equity isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s about fixing the historic undervaluation of work done mostly by women. On 7 November, voters have a clear choice between a government that took pay equity away and parties that will give it back.”

“We can’t risk three more years of Luxon and his anti-worker government,” says Ansell-Bridges. “It’s time to vote for change. It’s time to vote for pay equity. Working women can’t afford six years of Luxon.”

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/29/nzctu-welcomes-labour-pledge-to-restore-pay-equity/

Source: Health Coalition Aotearoa

Media are invited to cover an upcoming webinar, where politicians from across the political spectrum will present their parties’ policies on lobbying reform.

Lobbying is set to be an election issue: attend a webinar on Monday 5 October to hear where six political parties stand on the issue.

“Out of 47 OECD countries, we are bottom of the class for regulating lobbying activities, when most countries have already enacted laws and regulations,” says Health Coalition Aotearoa co-chair Professor Boyd Swinburn.

See OECD Economics Working Paper 2026: https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2026/01/regulating-lobbying-activities-to-protect-competition_269a52e7/ad88f58a-en.pdf

“None of these lobbying regulations, including in places like Ireland, Australia, Canada or France, are perfect, but they do create transparency and accountability.”

The webinar comes at a time when Aotearoa New Zealand faces a health system crisis that could be eased by policies addressing tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food. However, it is highly likely that lobbying by vested interests before and during the development of health policy is the main reason successive governments have failed to act.

One in four years of healthy living lost in New Zealand is caused by the impacts of tobacco, obesity and unhealthy food, and alcohol.

“It doesn’t have to be this way if politicians put people, their voters, ahead of the profits of harmful industries,” says Swinburn.

A recent series of cancer research survey findings, published in the NZ Medical Journal, found broad public support for rules to regulate lobbying across voters for all parties and undecided voters: https://nzmj.org.nz/journal/vol-139-no-1641/public-support-for-better-controls-on-lobbying-and-industry-influence-in-aotearoa-new-zealand-findings-from-a-national-survey

Despite the evidence and public support, successive governments have failed to enact changes at a national level that would prevent illness and save lives. The result is a system that creates enormous health harm, disproportionately experienced by Māori, Pacific people, lower socioeconomic communities and children.

Politicians will be asked where their party stands on:

• A Lobbying Regulation Act with a mandatory, searchable public register.
• Stand-down periods to slow the revolving door between government and lobbying roles.
• Stronger management of commercial conflicts of interest.
• A rewrite of the Official Information Act.
• Tighter limits on political donations.

Health Coalition Aotearoa has received positive responses from – Te Pāti Māori Debbie Ngārewa Packer, Green Party Hūhana Lyndon (health), Jessica Hammond The Opportunity Party, Labour Camilla Belich, National – no response, NZ First Jenny Marcroft, ACT Todd Stevenson.

Join Health Coalition Aotearoa for this cross-party webinar to hear directly from representatives about the reforms they will support and push for. The discussion will be moderated by Georgie Craw from WEAll Aotearoa with time for audience Q&A: https://www.weall.org.nz/read-panui/welcome-georgie-craw-our-new-communications-lead

Event details

Date: Monday, 5 October 2026

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM NZT

Format: Online via Zoom Panel

Confirmed Parties: ACT | Labour | Greens | Opportunity Party

Cost: Free (Registration required)

Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/webinar-a-cross-party-panel-on-lobbying-reform-tickets-2000537987975

MIL OSI

A man has been charged following damage to election hoardings in the south Auckland area. 

Police have received multiple reports of election hoardings being vandalised in Takanini since early September. 

Inspector Matt Hoyes, Counties Manukau South Area Prevention Manager, says members of the public had allegedly observed a person defacing and removing signs.

“Yesterday, Police sighted a suspect actively vandalising a hoarding on Great South Road. 

“A 34-year-old male was arrested and charged with seven counts of theft under $2000.”

He will appear in Papakura District Court today

“These charges serve as a reminder that deliberate damage to hoardings will be met with consequences.

“We thank those who notified us of this offending as it occurred and encourage anyone who witnesses suspicious activity to report it to Police,” Inspector Hoyes says. 

Information can be provided to Police through 105 online or by phone, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS.

Frankie Le Roy/NZ Police. 

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/29/man-charged-after-election-hoardings-damaged/

MIL OSI

Source: Save the Children

Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have swept away houses and buildings in Western Nepal, forcing nearly 750 families to leave their homes and killing more than 20 people, according to the government.

The floods and landslides come just a month after flash floods tore through Northern Nepal, killing at least 1,400 people with about 5,700 still missing.

Save the Children in Nepal is working with partners to distribute emergency aid including shelter kits, comprising tarpaulins, blankets, sleeping mats and rope, and hygiene kits to the affected areas.

Tara Chettry, Country Director, Save the Children in Nepal, said:

“Children are extremely anxious. They saw the devastating destruction in Northern Nepal one month ago, and are now seeing their homes being washed away.

“Floods in Nepal are crippling livelihoods, disrupting education and causing fear for children who need security and safety.

“The heavy rain is forcing children and their families to flee to higher ground or move into emergency shelters. Roads and bridges have been damaged, hampering efforts to reach communities.

“Save the Children is working with partners to deliver essential aid to people who have been displaced, including shelter and hygiene kits, in the first phase of the response, but, as we have seen before, their needs will be long-term.”

In areas impacted by the massive flash floods on 26 August in Northern Nepal, Save the Children has so far reached more than 7,500 people, including about 2,300 children, with emergency assistance and support.

The humanitarian and child rights organisation has set up child-friendly and temporary learning spaces, providing children with a safe place to play and learn, and is working alongside local authorities and partners to strengthen protection measures including increased monitoring and surveillance, including at checkpoints, and access to psychosocial support and case management services for children and their families.

Save the Children has worked in Nepal since 1976. The child rights organisation runs programmes spanning child protection, child rights governance, education, climate change, gender equality, health and nutrition and child poverty.

New Zealanders wanting to support Save the Children’s emergency response in Nepal can donate here: https://childrens-emergency-fund-colombia.savethechildren.org.nz/

About Save the Children NZ

Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.

Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.

MIL OSI

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers says it’s outrageous that another Otago council is thinking about trucking its treated human effluent from town out onto farmland.

As part of a meeting tomorrow, Central Otago District Council (CODC) will vote whether to send thousands of cubic metres of sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to the small community of Lauder.

“It’s absolutely staggering that the council is even discussing this after the recent outcry over Wānaka trucking its treated excrement to a Lauder farm,” Feds Otago president Anna Gillespie says.

“People all over the country – not just farmers down here – have been so angry to hear about Otago Regional Council granting consent to do that.

“We’re calling on CODC to either remove this item from their agenda or vote it down tomorrow.”

CODC staff have recommended that the solution to Cromwell’s growing mountain of accumulated sludge waste is to spread it on farmland in the Manuherekia catchment.

Gillespie says that’s a kick in the guts for farmers there who’ve long been bagged by councils and the government for alleged poor water quality.

“I’m surprised the environmental groups are being so quiet on this. It’s a sensitive catchment and landowners have worked extremely hard to lift standards and protect groundwater and waterways.

“Central government invested more than $4 million in Jobs for Nature funding to boost that work through the Thomson’s catchment project and Waiora Manuherekia.

“Now it seems urban areas from all over the province reckon it’s fine to transfer a by-product of what they flush to this same sensitive catchment under some sort of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ delusion.

“Our call for Local Government Minister Simon Watts to intervene is now even more pressing.”

News broke several weeks ago that a consent had been granted for up to 2000 cubic metres of sewage sludge from Wānaka and Albert Town to be spread across 178 hectares of a former sheep and beef farm in Lauder.

A further 3600 cubic metres of waste from grease traps, mud tanks/sumps and winery wastewater can also be spread on the property.

The consent was granted non-notified, meaning there was no public hearing, as the effects were judged to be ‘no more than minor’.

Gillespie acknowledges strict monitoring conditions are attached to the consent but says there’s deep scepticism among rural residents about modelling showing the Lauder farm can handle the sludge.

“Experienced local farmers know what a farm like this – with porous gravelly soils and low rainfall – can realistically produce by way of crops to soak up effluent nutrients.

“There is a serious mismatch between those estimations and what the consent allows.”

The same consent that allows Queenstown Lakes District Council to contract SJ Allen Ltd to transport and dump Wānaka’s sludge at Lauder allows Central Otago District Council to do the same.

Sludge – the remains of micro-organisms that have disgested human wastewater – has been stored in geobags at the Cromwell treatment plant.

The geobags act as sieves, allowing the sludge to dry out, so the material is not so heavy and expensive to transport.

But the council is running out of room to store the geobags and another 20,000 cubic metres of sludge from the bottom of the wastewater settlement ponds also needs to be moved “as a matter of urgency”, a council report says.

If it isn’t, the plant could be in breach of its own consent, and more expensive treatment requirements may be triggered.

Sludge from the Alexandra treatment plant also needs to be dealt with.

The report to Wednesday’s meeting says the council could save about $600,000 if the sludge is taken to Lauder, rather than transporting it to a landfill in Winton, a disposal method used in the past.

“We all understand the desire to save ratepayers’ money, but this shouldn’t be at the expense of water quality in a sensitive catchment upstream of public water intakes,” Gillespie says.

“Federated Farmers, and many rural residents, want the Lauder farm consent to be re-investigated.

“Spreading treated effluent on land and in forests is not new, but the characteristics of the site selected makes it highly unsuitable.

“We’re calling on Central Otago District councillors to kick this short-sighted plan to touch.”

MIL OSI

Source: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

Tuesday 29 September 2026

Aotearoa New Zealand needs a health system that delivers safe, effective and timely surgery to people when they need it, wherever they live.

That is the vision the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is putting to political parties ahead of the 7 November general election.

RACS is calling for the next government to make three commitments:

Grow and retain the surgical workforce

Aotearoa needs enough surgeons and a wider surgical workforce — from anaesthetists and nurses to technicians, orderlies and support staff — to meet current and future demand, with more training positions and targeted action to build capacity in underserved communities.

Make access to surgery needs-based and equitable

Healthcare resources should be directed to where the need is greatest, informed by evidence. This includes investing in high-quality demographic data and building a surgical workforce that is appropriately distributed to meet the needs of all communities, including those in regional and rural settings, and better reflects Aotearoa’s population.

Build the infrastructure to deliver surgery

Accelerated investment is needed into modern digital and data systems as well as operating theatres, procedural suites and hospital beds so the health system can meet current and future demand.

“People should not have to wait longer for surgery because the health system has failed to plan for the workforce, facilities or digital infrastructure needed to deliver it, or because those resources are not available where they are needed most,” said Dr Sharon English, Chair of the RACS Aotearoa New Zealand National Committee.

“Aotearoa has an opportunity at this election to take a longer-term view of surgical care. We hope political parties can put ideology aside and unite around a shared vision for the future, and the practical steps needed to make it a reality. That means building the workforce, capacity and systems we need, and making sure they are available where they are most needed, so people can access timely surgery wherever they live.”

Read the full RACS manifesto: https://www.surgeons.org/News/Advocacy/Manifesto-2026—advocacy-targeting-the-7-November-general-election-in-Aotearoa-New-Zealand

About the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

RACS is the leading advocate for surgical standards, professionalism and surgical education in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The College is a not-for-profit organisation that represents more than 8000 surgeons and 1300 surgical Trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates. RACS also supports healthcare and surgical education in the Asia-Pacific region and is a substantial funder of surgical research. There are nine surgical specialties in Australasia: Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Urology and Vascular Surgery.

MIL OSI

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Road freight association Transporting New Zealand is warning that continued volatility in the global fuel market highlights the importance of New Zealand having resilient fuel reserves in the event of supply disruptions.

“Diesel prices have risen over 50 cents per litre in the past month, back to over $3 a litre for the first time since early June,” says Transporting New Zealand Policy and Advocacy Advisor Mark Stockdale.

“We’re not out of the woods yet, with higher commodity prices reflecting continued tensions not only in the Middle East, but also Russia and Ukraine, where attacks on Russian refineries have halted exports of diesel from what was the world’s second biggest producer,” Stockdale adds.

Transporting New Zealand says diesel is the fuel of the economy, with approximately 93% of annual freight tonnage being moved by road.

“Whilst we have not seen a supply disruption yet, global diesel supply is constrained, and that is what is driving up prices. We can’t afford for fuel supplies to be cut due to an escalation in these conflicts, and that is why our election platform is calling for an increase in diesel reserves to 60 days’ supply,” Stockdale says.

This would double the current reserves, after the Government boosted onshore stocks from 21 to 30 days following the American attacks on Iran. Transporting New Zealand says doubling onshore diesel reserves could be achieved through establishing a Fuel Resilience Fund via a 1 cent per litre levy on fuels.

“Increasing domestic diesel reserves to two months’ supply will provide insurance that supermarkets are stocked, farms serviced, deliveries moving and exports flowing while any global disruption is resolved,” Stockdale says.

Transporting New Zealand’s election platform also calls for formal contingency agreements with refined-fuel suppliers such as South Korea. These would be similar to the recent Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies with Singapore, which prevents either government from restricting exports of agreed essential goods, including fuel.

Election platform: https://www.transporting.nz/books/election-platform-2026/

MIL OSI

Construction is set to begin on the first new specialist school in Drury the first to be built in New Zealand in 50 years while the region is also getting land for a future primary school, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced today.

The school located in Drury is one of three new specialist schools being delivered, alongside schools in Gisborne and Palmerston North. The new school is planned to open in Term 1, 2028.

The school will have six off-site-manufactured classrooms for up to 54 students with high and complex needs

This forms part of the Government’s wider investment in specialist education infrastructure and learning environments across New Zealand. Since mid-2024, about $320 million has been committed to projects including new schools, additional classrooms, redevelopments, accessibility improvements and maintenance upgrades

“Every child deserves an education setting that meets their needs and helps them learn, grow and succeed,” Ms Stanford says.

“For too long, demand for specialist education has exceeded available places, leaving many families with long waits and limited options. Significant waiting lists remain across Auckland’s specialist schools, so we needed to act.”

“We are giving families more choice by expanding access to specialist education and enabling more students to learn in environments designed for their needs.

As construction begins on Drury Specialist School and we work towards its 2028 opening, families can be confident we are strengthening the specialist school network and delivering the infrastructure students need now and in the future.”

The Government is also supporting Auckland’s fast-growing southern communities by progressing plans to secure land for a future primary school in Drury East.

Residential growth in Drury is accelerating. Auckland Council forecasts more than 25,000 new homes over time, supporting a future population of about 60,000.

To meet this growth, the Ministry of Education has been working to include future education provision in residential development planning for Drury East.

A 3.2-hectare site has been identified for a future primary school, with funding allocated for the land purchase. Acquisition is underway and expected to be completed in the coming months.

  Editors Note the Dury specialist school will have:

• Six off-site-manufactured classrooms for up to 54 students with high and complex needs
• Whānau and therapy spaces
• Outdoor learning areas and a hard court
• Dedicated pick-up and drop-off facilities

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/29/drury-gets-new-specialist-school-and-land-for-a-new-primary-school/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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