Statistics – LiveNews.co.nz

Employment indicators: June 2026 – Stats NZ information release

LiveNews Publisher — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:41:54 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Employment indicators: June 2026 – information release

28 July 2026

Employment indicators provide an early indication of changes in the labour market.

Key facts
Changes in the seasonally adjusted filled jobs for the June 2026 month (compared with the May 2026 month) were:

all industries – up 0.1 percent (2,728 jobs) to 2.35 million filled jobs
primary industries – up 0.7 percent (730 jobs)
goods-producing industries – flat (up 149 jobs)
service industries – up 0.1 percent (1,648 jobs).

In June 2026, there were 2.35 million actual filled jobs, up 14,327 jobs (0.6 percent), compared with June 2025.

MIL OSI

Household living costs increase 3.2 percent – Household living-costs price indexes: June 2026 quarter – Stats NZ news story and information release

LiveNews Publisher — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:41:51 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Household living costs increase 3.2 percent – news story

28 July 2026

The cost of living for the average New Zealand household increased 3.2 percent in the 12 months to the June 2026 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

The 3.2 percent increase, measured by the household living-costs price indexes (HLPIs), follows a 2.1 percent increase in the 12 months to the March 2026 quarter.

“Higher petrol prices were the largest contributor to the increase in household living costs in the 12 months to the June 2026 quarter,” prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden said.

Meanwhile, inflation – as measured by the consumers price index (CPI) – was 4.1 percent in the 12 months to the June 2026 quarter, following a 3.1 percent increase in the 12 months to the March 2026 quarter.

MIL OSI

Household Labour Force Survey income data: Summary of feedback – Stats NZ report

LiveNews Publisher — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:26:47 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Household Labour Force Survey income data: Summary of feedback – report

23 July 2026

Kia ora

Earlier this year we sought feedback about using administrative (admin) data to replace Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) income measures.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to make a submission to share your thoughts with us. We’ve published a summary of the feedback we received on our website.

Most submissions told us that our research appears promising, but further work would be required to ensure a new approach would continue to meet information needs. While feedback was mixed, there was general support to continue investigating a linked HLFS and admin data model.

The feedback also included helpful suggestions about how using admin data could improve HLFS income data, and highlighted risks and priorities for us to consider when using admin data for HLFS.

Based on the feedback and other work to date, we will continue further investigations into a linked HLFS and admin data model as resources and priorities allow. This work aligns with Stats NZ’s strategic goal to drive better decisions and services with admin data.

We will keep you informed about any further proposals or progress in the future.

In the meantime, we will continue to collect this income data as usual, through HLFS survey questions.

MIL OSI

Pathway to monthly CPI in 2027 announced – Stats NZ news story

LiveNews Publisher — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:26:44 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Pathway to monthly CPI in 2027 announced – news story

23 July 2026

New Zealanders will have access to more frequent information about changing prices from 2027, helping households, businesses, and government make better-informed decisions.

Stats NZ today announced the pathway for introducing monthly consumers price index (CPI) information in 2027.

Government Statistician and Stats NZ Chief Executive Colin Lynch says moving from quarterly to monthly information will provide a more current view of price changes across the economy.

“The CPI is used to inform decisions that affect all New Zealanders, from interest rates and government policy to business planning, contracts, and household finances,” says Colin.

“Providing a monthly CPI from 2027 represents a major change to one of New Zealand’s most important economic measures, so it is essential this is done with quality and trust at its heart.”

MIL OSI

FinCap – Latest financial mentoring statistics reflect cost of living pressures and the need for increased and ongoing sustainable funding for financial mentors

LiveNews Publisher — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:08:20 +0000

Source: FinCap

Latest financial mentoring statistics reflect cost of living pressures and the need for increased and ongoing sustainable funding for financial mentors.

FinCap today releases our fourth Voices report – an annual analysis of the circumstances faced by tens of thousands of households who are working with financial mentors to address debt issues.

The numbers are sober reading. A record of more than 30,654 cases in the FinCap run Client Voices system, a 57% increase from 2021. A 121% increase in total client debt over five years to almost a billion dollars. The median client was further behind, spending $107 for every $100 of income each week.

FinCap Chief Executive, Fleur Howard, reiterates and celebrates the significant contribution of financial mentors and the value of their support in their communities.

“Both financial mentors and the whānau they support continue to innovate to find a way through many pressures. However, dead ends are being hit and the status quo with financial mentoring funding isn’t sustainable.

“Difficult debt can have a long tail in people’s lives, so when we miss an opportunity to resolve an issue now, this limits their financial inclusion, challenges their physical and mental health, and puts a strain on their relationships.

“We urgently need a reset to the chronic underfunding of the financial mentoring sector so we can ensure this essential service is accessible and safe for mentors and clients in the coming years.”

The report recommends a $30.5 million per annum increase in steady funding for financial mentors. This is in addition to the current $19.5 of Ministry of Social Development funding, which has not increased despite the 57% rise in cases closed over five years.

Recommendations include a $5.5 million increase in government funding and the exploration of levies and voluntary ongoing contributions of $25m from KiwiSaver providers, banks, other lenders, other financial services, electricity providers and telecommunications providers. Industry contributions are proposed in recognition of financial mentors’ roles supporting people to stay included in the essential services markets they need access to.

“Since 2015 there has been a 1046% increase in KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals nationwide and on average financial mentors are spending 40% of their time helping KiwiSaver members to understand options before deciding whether to proceed with a withdrawal,” says Fleur Howard.

“Financial mentors need more funding to keep being there when this support is needed for better outcomes.”

The report also puts a spotlight on the urgent need to modernise our debt collection laws. Our results show 86% of financial mentors had seen debt collectors make demands for repayment that would prevent clients from affording essentials.

“The wild west we have now means a debt collector can coerce someone to sacrifice money from their food budget to service a questionable, historical claim of debt.

Technically, debt collectors can be challenged when doing this, but practically it is unlikely and almost always will be going completely unchallenged,” says Fleur Howard.

FinCap continues to recommend that the government amend legislation to create a licensing regime on debt collectors. This would mean regulators could monitor for unacceptable practices and could better hold debt collectors to account when they cross a line.

FinCap has also just submitted on the Fair Trading Amendment Bill, pointing to the need for clear consequences that prevent harassment and coercion of the increasing number of households who are unable to pay.

More effective debt collection regulation can minimise cumulative harm in years to come from the significant debts people are incurring now while trying to survive endless cost of living pressures.

A copy of this report is available here: FinCap Voices Report 2026

The accompanying Appendix can be found here:

Appendix FinCap Voices Report 2026

MIL OSI

Tertiary Education – Cost of tertiary education will be 19% higher than 2 years ago

LiveNews Publisher — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:22:35 +0000

Source: Tertiary Education Union

The union for academics and staff working in universities, polytechnics and wānanga say that the proposal to permit tertiary institutions to increase student fees to 6% in a year when fees-free support has been withdrawn is unacceptable and irresponsible.

President Te Tiriti for the Tertiary Education Union (TEU), Ti Lamusse, says the 6% addition proposed by the Government in the Annual Maximum Fee Movement would push fees for New Zealand students to more than 19% above 2024 levels.

“Everyone is suffering from the cost of living crisis. To remove fees free and to push student costs and debt even higher is cruel, short-term thinking by this Government.”

Ti Lamusse says that students are being asked to absorb fee increases at nearly double the rate of general price increases. Inflation currently sits at 3.1%.

“This puts the burden of education on the shoulders of young people and their whānau. We want our young people to enter the workforce armed with skills, energy and great ideas, not weighed down by debt.

“Ultimately TEU believes education is a public good and it should be freely accessible to all. We want to set our young people up for success, not use their education as a profit-making machine.”

Aidan Donoghue, President of Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) says students are doing it hard.

In a recent State of the Student Survey conducted by VUWSA with 1200 students at Victoria University, 38% of respondents said they had skipped a meal in the last fortnight.

“Our everyday living costs and debt have been compounded. Having fees free ripped away from us was an absolute kick in the teeth. I had a student phone me in tears after the annoucement, because they’d budgeted their education under the assumption that their last year would be free.They’ve now left university.

“Students I talk to are wondering why they’d stay in New Zealand. We’re talking about losing the next generation of nurses, teachers, doctors, agricultural workers and engineers – highly skilled people who should be moving into our workforce, but they can’t see why they’d stay with the level of debt and cost and a better lifestyle overseas. There’s a sense that there’s no support for them here in their own country.”

Ti Lamusse says the Annual Maximum Fee Movement has become a mechanism for passing the chronic government underfunding of universities, polytechnics and wānanga onto students.

“The answer to creating a thriving society for our young people is proper government investment, not higher fees.

The Tertiary Education Union submitted on the consultation which closed this morning.

Notes:

19% increase in student fees cost since 2024 is based on: the 6% increases over three years ( link) are compounding. In other words, each year’s 6% increase is calculated on the already-increased fee from the year before (assuming a TEI chooses to go with the maximum). Over 3 years, this works out to be just over 19%.

Public investment in tertiary education sits more than 24% below the OECD average ( link).

New Zealand’s total student loan debt has reached $16.8 billion and is growing ( link).
TEU’s submission on the Annual Maximum Fee Movement can be read here: https://teu-production.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/260713_FINAL_TEU_Submission_on_Consultation_on_2027_Tertiary_Fee_Regulation_Settings.pdf

MIL OSI

Ancient Port, New Voyages: Ningbo’s Smart Manufacturing Expands Global Trade Footprint via Maritime Silk Road

MIL OSI — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:46:26 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA- Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – On July 4, 2026, the cultural exchange event Encounter & Insight: Dialogue Between Ningbo, China and Colombo, Sri Lanka took place in Colombo.

On July 4, 2026, the cultural exchange event Encounter & Insight: Dialogue Between Ningbo, China and Colombo, Sri Lanka took place in Colombo.

Separated by thousands of miles, the two millennia-old port cities reconnected, leveraging their ports as a bond and cultural exchanges as a cohesive force to hold in-depth talks on integrated port-city development and bilateral economic and trade connectivity.

This cross-Indian Ocean dialogue echoes the ancient Maritime Silk Road while charting a brand-new outbound development path. As a pivotal starting port of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, Ningbo is building a new global trade landscape powered by smart manufacturing.

A thousand years ago, merchant vessels from Mingzhou Port set sail southward loaded with Yue Kiln celadon porcelain, passing through Ceylon to deliver Oriental crafts across the Indian Ocean coasts. Precious gemstones and spices traveled the same sea route back to regions south of the Yangtze River, laying the groundwork for the earliest cultural exchange between the two ports through trade. Today, the cargo carried by giant cargo ships has undergone a dramatic transformation. Beyond traditional daily necessities, intelligent equipment, digital home appliances and industrial robots now dominate shipments.

Official statistics show that Ningbo’s exports of intelligent equipment, including mechanical arms and industrial robots, hit 440 million yuan in 2025, surging more than 40% year-on-year. From January to May this year, Ningbo’s exports of mechanical and electrical products maintained steady growth, reaching 247 billion yuan, a 4.1% year-on-year increase and accounting for 58.0% of the city’s total export volume. The new energy foreign trade sector saw explosive growth, with exports of new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products jumping 138.4% year-on-year, with electric vehicle exports skyrocketing 215.9%. Smart manufactured goods are continuously expanding the scope of Ningbo’s foreign trade.

Complementing the Colombo forum, an exhibition highlights Ningbo’s outstanding going-global enterprises and their products, vividly illustrating the profound shift in Ningbo’s trade structure.

Alongside time-honored Maritime Silk Road staples such as celadon porcelain and silk, Ningbo’s smart manufactured products—including AI translation glasses, intelligent outdoor gear and digital small home appliances—occupy prominent display spaces across the venue. In Sri Lanka, Ningbo smart water meters are widely adopted nationwide, while handheld cooling fans and intelligent kitchen appliances have entered ordinary households.

Leveraging Colombo Port’s transshipment advantages, massive volumes of Ningbo smart manufactured goods are distributed onward to Europe, the Middle East and beyond. What Ningbo exports today is no longer mere commodities, but a complete outbound solution integrating technology, brand value and after-sales services.

Faced with mounting challenges including homogeneous global market competition and rising trade barriers, Ningbo’s manufacturing sector has abandoned the old model of low-cost OEM production, relying on intelligent transformation to consolidate its competitive edge in overseas markets.

Over more than a decade of digital transformation efforts, Ningbo has achieved full digital upgrading of all industrial enterprises above designated size. A large number of local factories have built unmanned black-light workshops and flexible production lines, escaping vicious price competition through continuous technological iteration. Represented by five specialized, sophisticated, distinctive and innovative enterprises dubbed Ningbo’s “Five Little Tigers”—famous for their core proprietary technologies, including highly sophisticated visual inspection equipment, heat-resistant materials, sun-proof coatings, puncture-proof materials and self-drilling fasteners—these niche manufacturers have developed differentiated technical routes and full-spectrum production capacity, cementing irreplaceable competitiveness for Ningbo smart manufacturing on global markets.

Beyond trade expansion, Ningbo has built a supporting cultural communication system to ensure “products go global, accompanied by local culture”.

The launch of Sri Lanka’s first “One-Meter Cultural Space” cultural station during the Colombo event marks a tangible milestone of Ningbo’s go-global initiative. Built on enterprises’ overseas outlets, these miniature cultural exhibition halls integrate intangible cultural heritage crafts, urban stories and smart products, enabling overseas clients to experience cutting-edge manufacturing while gaining insight into Ningbo’s profound cultural heritage.

During the twin-city story-sharing session, Ningbo entrepreneurs based in Sri Lanka and local designers blending Chinese and Sri Lankan aesthetics shared stories of bilateral exchanges. Economic and trade ties have evolved into a bond for people-to-people communication, bridging divides in cross-cultural trade.

From Tang-dynasty celadon porcelain sailing across the Indian Ocean to intelligent equipment shipping to every corner of the globe, Ningbo, the ancient Maritime Silk Road port, has preserved its enduring gene of openness. Where exchanges once relied purely on commodity trade, today smart manufacturing underpins a stable, diversified and high-value-added global trade network.

The Ningbo-Colombo dialogue stands as a vivid microcosm of this transformation: the port still links lands and seas, yet the core of its trade has undergone a full intelligent upgrade.

Rooted in its historical legacy as a key Maritime Silk Road hub, Ningbo has consolidated its industrial foundation through a decade of digital development, expanded global market reach via worldwide port networks, and softened trade cooperation through cultural exchanges. This brand-new outbound shipping route forged by smart manufacturing has not only reshaped the city’s foreign trade landscape, but also delivered a replicable port-city development model for Chinese manufacturing to go global.

Hashtag: #NingboSmartManufacturing #MaritimeSilkRoad #GlobalTrade

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

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

Household labour force survey estimated working-age population: June 2026 quarter – Stats NZ information release

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:17:04 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand Household labour force survey estimated working-age population: June 2026 quarter – information release 1 July 2026 The household labour force survey estimated working-age population table shows the population benchmarks used to produce household labour force survey estimates for the upcoming labour market statistics release. Visit our website to read the full information ... Read more

Employment indicators: May 2026 – Stats NZ information release

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:17:02 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Employment indicators: May 2026 – information release

29 June 2026

Employment indicators provide an early indication of changes in the labour market.

Key facts
Changes in the seasonally adjusted filled jobs for the May 2026 month (compared with the April 2026 month) were:

all industries – up 0.3 percent (7,678 jobs) to 2.35 million filled jobs
primary industries – flat (down 25 jobs)
goods-producing industries – up 0.1 percent (602 jobs)
service industries – up 0.4 percent (6,980 jobs).

Visit our website to read the full information release and to download CSV files:

MIL OSI

Annual number of home consents up 19 percent – Building consents issued: May 2026 – Stats NZ news story and information release

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:16:59 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Annual number of home consents up 19 percent – news story

2 July 2026

There were 39,737 new homes consented in New Zealand in the year ended May 2026, up 19 percent compared with the year ended May 2025, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

“The annual increase in new home consents followed declines in May for the last three years, and consent numbers remain below the record peak reached in 2022,” economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen said.

There were 18,271 stand-alone houses consented in the year ended May 2026, up 17 percent compared with the previous year.

There were 21,466 multi-unit homes consented, up 20 percent over the same period.

Of the multi-unit homes consented in the year ended May 2026, compared with the year ended May 2025, there were:

17,230 townhouses, flats, and units (up 22 percent)
2,554 apartments (up 20 percent)
1,682 retirement village units (up 3.4 percent).

Visit our website to read the full news story and information release and to download CSV files:

MIL OSI

National accounts (income, saving, assets, and liabilities): March 2026 quarter – Stats NZ information release

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:16:57 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

National accounts (income, saving, assets, and liabilities): March 2026 quarter – information release

2 July 2026

We have developed experimental quarterly estimates for institutional sector accounts and balance sheets, to provide more timely data on New Zealand’s economy. We have published these experimental estimates on a quarterly basis since the first release for the March 2021 quarter.

Key facts

Quarterly income and outlay accounts
In the March 2026 quarter, compared with the December 2025 quarter (in seasonally adjusted terms):

household saving increased $610 million to $2.2 billion
household net disposable income rose 2.1 percent ($1.4 billion):
- compensation of employees rose 1.2 percent ($595 million)
- income tax paid by households fell 2.3 percent ($370 million)
- income of self-employed businesses (entrepreneurial income) received by households rose 2.8 percent ($337 million)
- social assistance benefits in cash rose 1.2 percent ($146 million)
- interest received by households fell 6.8 percent ($197 million)
household final consumption expenditure rose 1.2 percent ($742 million)
non-financial business enterprises saving fell $275 million to $6.0 billion
central government saving fell $717 million to -$2.4 billion
interest received by financial business enterprises fell 1.3 percent ($124 million)
interest paid by financial business enterprises fell 3.2 percent ($323 million).

Visit our website to read the full information release and to download CSV files:

MIL OSI

Dwelling and household estimates: June 2026 quarter – Stats NZ information release

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:01:39 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Dwelling and household estimates: June 2026 quarter – information release

7 July 2026

National dwelling and household estimates are used for many purposes including planning, policy formation, business decisions, and as ‘bottom lines’ in the calculation of market coverage rates.

Key facts
At 30 June 2026, the estimated number of:

private dwellings is 2,124,800
households is 2,072,000.

Visit our website to read the full information release:

Dwelling and household estimates: June 2026 quarter

MIL OSI

Animal Welfare – More Than 181,000 Animals Lost Their Lives Through New Zealand’s Research, Testing and Teaching System in 2025

LiveNews Publisher — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 02:22:57 +0000

Source: Beyond Animal Research

More Than 181,000 Animals Lost Their Lives Through New Zealand’s Research, Testing and Teaching System in 2025

New Government statistics released today by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) show that 274,985 animals were used in research, testing and teaching (RTT) in New Zealand during 2025.

The figures also reveal that 181,043 animals ultimately lost their lives because of the research, testing and teaching system. This includes 99,711 animals killed during or for research, testing and teaching, and a further 81,332 animals bred for research but never used before being killed as “excess” animals.

Beyond Animal Research (BAR), a New Zealand charity dedicated to working with the science community to replace harmful animal use with modern scientific methods, says the figures highlight the need to accelerate New Zealand’s transition towards animal-free science.

“While the total number of animals used has decreased compared with 2024, these figures show that more than 181,000 animals still lost their lives because of New Zealand’s research, testing and teaching system,” says Tara Jackson, Co-Founder of Beyond Animal Research.

“Almost half of these animals were never used in any scientific procedure. They were bred for the research, testing and teaching system, but were ultimately killed as excess.

This is a profound waste of sentient lives, and one that deserves far greater public attention.”

The five most commonly used species in 2025 were cattle (69,579), sheep (58,016), fish (56,506), mice (45,553) and fowls/chickens (10,730).

The species most commonly killed during or for research, testing and teaching were mice (43,334), fish (34,302), fowls/chickens (9,227), rats (6,270) and sheep (1,897).

BAR emphasises that the annual statistics require careful interpretation. Not every animal included in the figures undergoes invasive procedures or experiences significant suffering, and annual totals naturally fluctuate because some long-term projects are only reported when they conclude.

“Looking at one year’s statistics in isolation doesn’t tell the full story,” says Jackson.

“But what these figures do tell us is that New Zealand continues to rely on the harmful animals in research, testing and teaching, despite rapid advances in animal-free technologies around the world.”

Jackson says New Zealand now needs a coordinated strategy to accelerate the uptake of these approaches.

“The tools to transition exist. The alternatives are improving. The science is evolving. What we need now is to remove long-standing barriers across institutions, regulators and government so New Zealand can accelerate the uptake of modern, animal-free methods wherever they can replace harmful animal use.”

“Working with the science community and not against, BAR believes that real progress comes from trust, collaboration and transparency. By working together, as a science alliance for animals, Aotearoa New Zealand has the opportunity to become a global leader in scientific innovation that no longer involves animal suffering.”

About Beyond Animal Research:

BAR is a science alliance for animals working with progressive scientists, institutes and organisations from the animal science and research community in NZ and beyond.
Our science advisors are highly respected figures in the international scientific community, recognising BAR as a revolutionary charity – the first of its kind, created to unite for animals and scientific progress.
Together, we believe in an Aotearoa, New Zealand that leads the world in the ethical use of animals for science.

The full report from MPI can be found here: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/animals/animal-welfare/animals-research-testing-teaching/statistics-on-the-use-of-animals-in-research-testing-and-teaching

A summary of the key statistics from 2025 can be found on the latest Blog from BAR: https://www.beyondanimalresearch.org.nz/post/nz-government-releases-2025-animal-use-statistics

MIL OSI

Cigna Healthcare Hong Kong Enhances VHIS Flexi Plan (Superior) with Expanded Regional Medical Coverage and Recovery Support

MIL OSI — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 08:46:56 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

Delivering greater flexibility in accessing care across locations, with enhanced support from treatment through recovery

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 July 2026 – Cigna Healthcare Hong Kong today announced enhancements to its Cigna VHIS Series – Flexi Plan (Superior), strengthening its medical insurance offering to help customers better manage rising healthcare costs and access quality health care locally, regionally and overseas.

Rising medical costs and mobility reshape healthcare needs

Hong Kong’s healthcare landscape is evolving amid rising cost pressures. The Hospital Authority’s revised public healthcare fees, effective from January 1, 2026, are driving high out-of-pocket expenses. As these trends persist, individuals face greater exposure to rising and unpredictable medical costs underscoring the need for adequate health protection such as VHIS to help manage financial risk.

At the same time, increased mobility is reshaping healthcare needs. Hong Kong residents made over 117 million outbound trips in 2025, according to the Census and Statistics Department^{^*}, driving greater cross-border spending and numbers of customers requiring medical care outside Hong Kong, particularly between Hong Kong and Mainland China. This is fueling demand for health coverage that provides seamless access to quality health care across markets.

Strengthening Care Access and Recovery Support

In response, the Cigna VHIS Series – Flexi Plan (Superior) introduces enhanced proposition^¹ on access, support and recovery:

Extended coverage in Mainland China to all Tier 3 hospitals
Upgraded Accommodation Room Type outside Hong Kong, Macau and the United States to Private Room level^²
Rehabilitative care coverage^² of up to HK$80,000 per policy year (up to 60 days)
The coverage^² for follow-up outpatient visits per Confinement after major or complex surgery, covering all visits within 365 days after discharge from Hospital

In addition, this product continues to offer value to customers with access to existing benefits including:

Worldwide emergency assistance services³ at no additional cost
Coverage of up to US$1,000,000 for emergency medical evacuation to an appropriate location for treatment, or for repatriation to the home country or usual country of residence
Personalized support throughout the care process, including a dedicated one-on-one Cigna Care Manager⁴ to assist with hospital stay, surgery or other treatment arrangements, as well as access to virtual consultations⁵ with exclusive discount

Promotional Offer^⁶

Eligible customers who enrol in the Cigna VHIS Series – Flexi Plan (Superior) on or before September 30, 2026 can enjoy premium discounts of six months in the first policy year. As part of a limited-time offer, customers enrolling together with family and friends may receive up to ten months of premium discount in the first two policy years.

For more information about the Cigna VHIS Series and the promotional offers, please visit Cigna Healthcare Hong Kong’s website at: Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme – Cigna Healthcare

Notes:

The product information above is for general reference only and does not constitute the full terms and conditions of the policy. For detailed definitions of specified terms, specific coverage conditions, exclusions, and complete terms, please refer to the policy document.
Only applicable to policies with the Accommodation Room Type as Semi-Private Room.
This service is a value-added service provided by an independent third-party service provider and does not form part of the contractual benefit under your policy. Cigna Healthcare reserves the right to amend or cancel the service at any time without prior notice at its absolute discretion. Cigna Healthcare is not the service provider for this service. The relevant service provider is not our agent, and vice versa. We make no representation, warranty or undertaking as to the quality and availability of the service, and do not accept any responsibility or liability for the service provided by the service provider. Under no circumstances will Cigna Healthcare be responsible or liable for acts or omissions of the service provider in the provision of the service.
Cigna Care Manager Service is a value-added service and subject to terms and conditions. Medical support service and value-added services arranged by Care Manager are subject to individual cases.
The virtual consultation and medication delivery services are value-added services only and are subject to the terms, conditions and availability of the relevant service providers.
The above promotional offers are subject to terms and conditions.

Remarks:

The above product is intended for sale in Hong Kong only. The above information should not be regarded as any form of offer or recommendation to purchase insurance.

^*https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/data/stat_report/product/B1010006/att/B10100062026AN26B0100.pdf

Hashtag: #CignaHealthcareHongKong

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

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

Environment – The next government must restart action on plastic pollution – Zero Waste Aotearoa

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 05:41:40 +0000

Source: Zero Waste Aotearoa

Plastic Free July begins with an urgent call to put plastic pollution back on the political agenda. Plastic Free July is a worldwide campaign to reduce plastic waste and eliminate single use plastics.

“This coalition government has made no progress on addressing the plastic pollution crisis. The Plastics Action Plan targeting problematic plastics has stalled. The tools that would have made a difference are all still sitting on the shelf. We are calling on all political parties to make reducing plastic pollution a priority,” says Sue Coutts from Zero Waste Aotearoa.

“Kantar’s 2026 Better Futures report showed that most New Zealanders expect business to take responsibility for the impacts of the packaging and products they put onto the market and they do not think business or government are doing enough. Voluntary schemes to collect soft plastics and caps and lids collect a small proportion of what goes onto the market, less than 10%.”

“More and more plastic is being imported into Aotearoa, with no viable plan for reusing or recycling it.” says Sue Coutts from Zero Waste Aotearoa. “Harm is caused upstream, with ecosystem damage and health risks to communities near plastic production facilities. And downstream, as plastic is littered, burned, sheds microplastics and leaches harmful chemical additives. “

“Around 1.5 million tonnes of plastic are imported into Aotearoa NZ every year. About 400,000 tonnes of that is packaging. Less than 20%, only 68,000 tonnes of this gets recycled. The rest gets landfilled, littered, or burned. All three cause negative health, environmental and social impacts. “

“”Time and time again, New Zealanders say that plastic pollution is a major concern. Individuals, communities and small businesses can’t stop this flood of hard to recycle and problematic plastic on their own.”

“Government needs to upgrade the Waste Minimisation Act so New Zealand can implement the product stewardship scheme for plastic packaging and get the drink container return scheme up and running.”

“Business has to take responsibility for covering the real cost of these systems and adapt their business models and packaging designs so they are not putting hard to recycle plastics on the market in the first place.”

“High quality recycling helps but won’t solve our plastic pollution crisis. Phasing out the most problematic plastic products and polymers is essential for minimising the harms caused by plastic pollution. Phase outs make room for better alternatives, like reusables, to become mainstream.”

Plastic Free July puts the issue of plastic pollution squarely in front of all of the political parties. We challenge every party to get serious about implementing the practical solutions that will reduce unnecessary and single use plastic, make it viable to collect high value plastics for reuse and recycling and make it easier for everyone to live plastic pollution free lives.

Notes

Kantar Better Futures Survey Results – p12 – Business should take responsibility p15 Business, brands and government not doing enough: https://www.kantarnewzealand.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Better-Futures-Report_2026.pdf

Plastic statistics for Aotearoa NZ: from Envirowaste NZ presentation to the annual WasteMINZ conference, Wellington, May, 2026

Plastic Free July https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/

MIL OSI

Freshwater physical habitat: Data to 2024 – Stats NZ indicator

LiveNews Publisher — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 03:47:11 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Freshwater physical habitat: Data to 2024 – indicator

22 June 2026

Freshwater physical habitat is a fundamental indicator of the condition of Aotearoa New Zealand’s river ecosystems, underpinning the structure and function of aquatic communities by influencing where aquatic organisms can live. Understanding changes in habitat condition is critical to assessing the extent and impact of human activities on freshwater ecosystems.

We report on the current state of New Zealand’s freshwater physical habitat condition using the median habitat quality score calculated from data recorded at monitored river sites between 2020 and 2024. We also report on the relationship between upstream human modified land cover and physical habitat condition at monitored river sites.

Habitat quality scores are made up of 10 habitat parameters at each assessed site:

deposited sediment
invertebrate habitat diversity
invertebrate habitat abundance
fish cover abundance
fish cover diversity
hydraulic heterogeneity
bank erosion
bank vegetation
riparian width
riparian shade.

Freshwater physical habitat: Data to 2024

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Meat leads rise in exports in May – Overseas merchandise trade: May 2026 – Stats NZ news story and information release

LiveNews Publisher — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:47:07 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Meat leads rise in exports in May – news story

19 June 2026

New Zealand’s total exports were valued at $8.9 billion in May 2026, up $1.4 billion (18 percent) compared with the same period last year, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

Leading the rise in total exports were meat (up $436 million), dairy (up $147 million), aluminium (up $134 million), and fruit (up $113 million).

Together, these four commodity groups made up 61 percent of the total increase in the value of exports in May 2026.

Total imports were valued at $8.1 billion in May 2026, up $1.7 billion (26 percent) compared with the same period last year. Petroleum and petroleum products (up $834 million) led the rise, accounting for almost half the increase in total imports.

“While monthly overseas merchandise trade does not explicitly measure price changes, the rising value of fuel imports was predominately driven by higher prices,” international accounts spokesperson Shanna Dilworth said.

Visit our website to read the full news story and information release and to download CSV files:

For media enquiries contact: Media team, Wellington, media@stats.govt.nz“>media@stats.govt.nz, 021 285 9191

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GDP increases 0.8 percent in the March 2026 quarter – Gross domestic product: March 2026 quarter – Stats NZ news story and information release

LiveNews Publisher — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:01:41 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

GDP increases 0.8 percent in the March 2026 quarter – news story

17 June 2026

New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.8 percent in the March 2026 quarter, following a 0.5 percent increase in the December 2025 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

“GDP rose 0.8 percent in the March 2026 quarter, and annual GDP growth was also 0.8 percent,” general manager and macroeconomic spokesperson Jason Attewell said.

Nine out of 16 industries recorded an increase in economic activity in the March 2026 quarter.

Manufacturing up 1.9 percent in the quarter
Manufacturing was the largest upward contributor to the overall increase in GDP, up 1.9 percent in the quarter.

“New Zealand’s manufacturing industry is a large and diverse sector of the economy, making up around 8.0 percent of GDP,” Attewell said.

Visit our website to read the full news story and information release and to download CSV files:

For media enquiries contact: Media team, Wellington, media@stats.govt.nz“>media@stats.govt.nz, 021 285 9191

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Govt cuts dismantle team supporting public services that represent all NZers – PSA

LiveNews Publisher — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:52:46 +0000

Source: PSA

A proposal to disestablish the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Team at Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission continues the Government’s attack on quality public services that properly represent New Zealand.

The proposed changes would result in a net loss of six roles. The team currently supports employee-led networks and DEI practitioners across public service organisations, building fair representation and closing gender and ethnic pay gaps in the workforce.

“Diversity, equity and inclusion in our workforce are not nice to haves,” said Duane Leo, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. “They are essential to delivering fair and effective public services.”

Leo said the public service still has work to do to close diversity and equity gaps.

“We’ve come a long way towards closing gender and ethnic pay gaps in the public service, for example, but the gaps are still there. The public service needs a strong central team at Te Kawa Mataaho with specialist knowledge to keep building and maintaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce.”

The proposal follows the Government’s changes to the Public Service Act, which removed requirements on chief executives and the Public Service Commissioner to foster a public service that’s inclusive and representative of the communities it serves.

“We all benefit from a public service that’s informed by the expertise and experience of people from the diverse communities it serves,” said Leo. “The Government’s culture-war scaremongering has no basis in reality, and now it’s making it harder for public services to deliver for all New Zealanders.”

Previous:

Previous media releases on Government’s push back on developing a public service that reflects and meets the needs of all New Zealanders:
Reform of the Public Service Act: Disappointing Govt attack on diversity, inclusion in public service
Removing WorkSafe’s dedicated function to reduce accident rates for Māori, Pasifika and migrant workers: Lowering Māori injury rates put at risk by Govt’s focus on culture wars – PSA
Cuts to ACC Māori, Pasifika and disability roles: Govt cuts come for Māori, Pasifika, disability roles at ACC
Removing references to Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in 19 laws: Removing Te Tiriti principles will do lasting damage to public services
Cuts to Māori Public Health team: Ministry of Health proposes slashing top public health experts
IR cuts Māori Research team: Disestablishing IR’s Māori research team will disadvantage whānau – PSA
StatsNZ disestablish its Tangata Tiriti Learning Capability Team: Statistics NZ proposes axing Māori Learning Capability team in latest cull
Pharmac removes Te Tiriti policy: PSA condemns Pharmac move to dismantle Te Tiriti policy and Māori protections.

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, and community groups.

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NZ NEEDS NEW IMMIGRATION FRAMEWORK FOR HUMANITARIAN CRISES

LiveNews Publisher — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 17:07:39 +0000

Source: World Vision

This World Refugee Day (June 20) a new report calls for immigration changes to better support and protect people displaced due to disaster, conflict, and humanitarian emergencies.

World Vision New Zealand and the University of Auckland Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies have partnered on the report which urges changes to the country’s humanitarian protections and immigration settings.

It comes as the world faces an unparalleled refugee crisis in which the number of displaced people has nearly trebled since 2010 to more than 117 million people. [i]

The organisations say New Zealand and other countries need new approaches to assist and protect people for humanitarian reasons.

In the recent past, New Zealand has created special visas to support resettlement for those caught up in the war in Ukraine and regime change in Afghanistan but has not created equivalent pathways for people affected by other humanitarian emergencies such as Sudan or Iran.

World Vision’s Head of Advocacy and Justice Rebekah Armstrong says this has meant that New Zealand’s response to humanitarian emergencies has been ad hoc, inconsistent and unevenly applied.

She says New Zealand needs an Emergency Protection Framework which can be applied consistently and transparently across a range of humanitarian crises.

“Every time a crisis erupts, New Zealand has to design a response under pressure and while we’re figuring out the rules, children and families are left waiting for safety and certainty.

“We negotiate the visas, the eligibility, the support and the funding while the emergency is already unfolding. A country with New Zealand’s humanitarian record has an opportunity to prepare in advance and respond with greater clarity and compassion,” she says.

Timothy Fadgen, an affiliated scholar with the University of Auckland’s Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies, says New Zealand has the opportunity to show principled leadership in a time of growing global displacement.

“Countries like New Zealand have a responsibility to respond to conflict, disasters, and climate-related displacement with compassion and fairness, particularly in our Pacific region.

“An Emergency Protection Framework would allow New Zealand to show practical humanitarian leadership by putting fair and prepared systems in place before emergencies occur which can be applied fairly across the board,” he says.

Armstrong says in addition to being inefficient and costly, the current makeshift approach does not adequately support successful settlement.

“Children and families who have settled in New Zealand from Ukraine and Afghanistan have received different combinations of legal status, settlement support, and family reunification compared with those who arrive under the refugee quota. We need the same systems and services to apply to both groups of people,” she says.

Armstrong says an Emergency Protection Framework could be adopted as part of an amendment to the current Immigration Act 2009 and should include: pre-determined criteria for an emergency protection response, defined visa pathways, community sponsorship, and coordinated settlement systems.

Fadgen says a change is also needed to respond to the growing issue of climate-related displacement in the Pacific.

“Climate mobility is already affecting Pacific communities, and future emergencies may not fit within existing mobility pathways. We need to recognise this and have a plan in place to best manage climate-related displacement if it happens at scale,” he says.

Both World Vision and the Centre of Asia Pacific Refugee Studies hope that the country’s political parties will address New Zealand’s obligations to humanitarian protection as part of policy debates in the lead-up to the 2026 general election.

Notes:

World Vision New Zealand is a global, child-focused humanitarian organisation. We work alongside children, families, and communities to tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice, serving all people regardless of faith, ethnicity, or gender.

[i] https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics

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Current account deficit $4.6 billion for the March 2026 quarter – Balance of payments and international investment position: March 2026 quarter – Stats NZ news story and information release

LiveNews Publisher — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 11:26:40 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Current account deficit $4.6 billion for the March 2026 quarter – news story

17 June 2026

New Zealand’s seasonally adjusted current account balance widened by $100 million to a deficit of $4.6 billion in the March 2026 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

“The current account balance records the value of New Zealand’s transactions with the rest of the world in goods, services, and income,” general manager and macroeconomic spokesperson Jason Attewell said.

“New Zealand has a current account deficit when we spend more than we earn from our transactions with the rest of the world.”

The goods deficit widened by $323 million in the March 2026 quarter. This was the main contributor to the widening current account deficit.

The services balance was a surplus of $33 million in the March 2026 quarter. The primary income deficit narrowed by $219 million in the same period.

Visit our website to read the full news story and information release and to download CSV files:

For media enquiries contact: Media team, Wellington, media@stats.govt.nz“>media@stats.govt.nz, 021 285 9191

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Petrol and diesel prices down in May month – Selected price indexes: May 2026 – Stats NZ news story and information release

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:01:42 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Petrol and diesel prices down in May month – news story

16 June 2026

Petrol and diesel prices both decreased from April 2026 to May 2026. Petrol prices were down 3.8 percent while diesel prices decreased 11.4 percent, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

“The decreases in May 2026 follow rises for both petrol and diesel in March and April 2026,” prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden said.

Prices for these two fuel types increased in the 12 months to May 2026 – petrol was up 28.7 percent and diesel up 76.8 percent.

Domestic and international airfares down over the month
Domestic airfares decreased 11.4 percent, and international airfares decreased 5.5 percent in May 2026 compared with April 2026.

“Decreases in airfares were recorded in May 2026, in line with historical trends for the month,” Growden said.

Visit our website to read the full news story and information release and to download CSV files:

For media enquiries contact: Media team, Wellington, media@stats.govt.nz“>media@stats.govt.nz, 021 285 9191

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Economy – Bay of Plenty bops to the top in ASB’s latest Regional Economic Scoreboard

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:31:58 +0000

Source: ASB

Bay of Plenty reclaims first place, ending Canterbury’s run at the top
Canterbury and Otago round out the podium in second and third
North Island shows broader improvement, with most regions in top half
Wellington lifts off the bottom rung, but ongoing pressures remain

The Bay of Plenty has taken out the top spot in ASB’s Regional Economic Scoreboard for the March quarter, as regional economic growth remains uneven but continues to broaden across New Zealand.

ASB’s Regional Economic Scoreboard ranks New Zealand’s 16 regions across key indicators, including employment, construction, house prices, retail trade and consumer confidence. In the March quarter, the Bay of Plenty led the country, supported by strong employment growth and solid gains across construction demand, retail spending and the housing market.

ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley says the Bay’s performance reflects the strength of its primary sector and export base.

“After a bumper 2025 kiwifruit season and a strong start to 2026, the Bay of Plenty has reclaimed the top spot. Strong export demand and solid employment growth are underpinning the region’s momentum,” says Nick.

Canterbury, which held the top position for much of 2025, slipped back to second place but continues to perform strongly across most measures. The region remains well supported by strong dairy incomes, population growth, tourism and ongoing investment.

Otago retained a podium finish in third place, with strong retail spending and tourism activity supporting household demand, although employment growth has softened.

Five of the North Island’s eight regions placed in the top half of the Scoreboard in Q1, reflecting improving momentum across employment, construction demand and retail spending.

“The regional story this quarter is one of a more balanced recovery,” says Nick. “We’re seeing broader improvement across the North Island, with most regions now sitting in the top half of the rankings.”

Auckland remains mid-table, with growth in retail spending and housing activity supported by migration and tourism, though labour market conditions remain weak.

At the other end of the rankings, Wellington showed some improvement, moving off the bottom of the Scoreboard, although the region continues to face significant headwinds, particularly in housing and construction.

“While it’s encouraging to see Wellington lift from last place, the Capital still faces ongoing challenges. Weak housing market conditions and job uncertainty are continuing to weigh on confidence and activity,” says Nick.

Nationally, economic activity continued to gain momentum in the March quarter: ASB is forecasting March quarter GDP growth of 0.8%.

Employment, tourism and migration all lifted, supporting broader economic momentum, while retail spending remained resilient. However, ASB Economists note that global uncertainty is increasingly shaping the outlook.

“While there are encouraging signs of recovery, storm clouds are looming. Inflation remains elevated and global developments, particularly the Middle East conflict, are expected to weigh on growth, cost pressures and consumer confidence in the short term,” says Nick.

“With inflation expected to remain above the RBNZ’s target for much of 2026 and cost pressures building, the pace of the recovery is likely to remain uneven across regions.”

About the ASB Regional Economic Scoreboard

The ASB Regional Economic Scoreboard takes the latest quarterly regional statistics and ranks the economic performance of New Zealand’s 16 Regional Council areas. The fastest growing regions gain the highest ratings, and a good performance by the national economy raises the ratings of all regions. Ratings are updated every three months, and are based on 11 measures, including employment, construction, retail trade, and house prices.

The full ASB Regional Economic Scoreboard, along with other recent ASB reports covering a range of commentary, can be accessed at our ASB Economic Insights page: https://www.asb.co.nz/documents/economic-insights.html

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Electronic card transactions: May 2026 – Stats NZ information release

LiveNews Publisher — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:11:38 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Electronic card transactions: May 2026 – information release

15 June 2026

The electronic card transactions (ECT) series cover debit, credit, and charge card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants. The series can be used to indicate changes in consumer spending and economic activity.

Key facts
All figures are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified.

Values are at the national level and are not adjusted for price changes.

May 2026 month
Changes in the value of electronic card transactions for the May 2026 month (compared with April 2026) were:

spending in the retail industries increased 1.7 percent ($121 million)
spending in the core retail industries increased 2.2 percent ($137 million).

Visit our website to read the full information release and to download CSV files:

For media enquiries contact: Media team, Wellington, media@stats.govt.nz“>media@stats.govt.nz, 021 285 9191

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International migration: April 2026 – Stats NZ information release

LiveNews Publisher — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:37:54 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

International migration: April 2026 – information release

12 June 2026

International migration statistics give the latest outcomes-based measure of migration, which includes estimates of migrants entering or leaving New Zealand.

Key facts

Annual migration
Provisional estimates for the April 2026 year compared with the April 2025 year were:

migrant arrivals: 134,500 (± 1,300), up 2 percent
migrant departures: 111,700 (± 1,100), down 7 percent
annual net migration: gain of 22,800 (± 1,700), compared with a gain of 12,200 (± 200).

Annual migrant arrivals peaked at 232,900 in the October 2023 year.

Visit our website to read the full information release and to download CSV files:

For media enquiries contact: Media team, Wellington, media@stats.govt.nz“>media@stats.govt.nz, 021 285 9191

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