Universities – New undergraduate health programmes to prepare future health workforce – UoA

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Source: University of Auckland (UoA) A major overhaul of the University of Auckland’s health programmes expands study options, creates flexibility and prepares graduates for the future health workforce. Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland has announced a major redesign of its undergraduate health programmes, creating clearer and more flexible pathways into a wide range of … Read more

Lack of dental graduates, supporting staff forcing some practices to close for good

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Source: Radio New Zealand AFP/ Thibaut Durand/ Hans Lucas The head of the dental association says some clinics are waiting as long as a year to employ a dentist, and are having to close temporarily or even permanently. NZDA chief executive Dr Mo Amso told Nine to Noon the number of dentists coming through the…

Government Cuts – Nicola Willis sets out reckless plan to savage public services and sack 10,000 public servants – PSA

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Source: PSA The Finance Minister today is laying out a plan to devastate the public service and sack thousands of dedicated workers, further damaging the services New Zealanders rely on. In pre-Budget speech Nicola Willis today will set out a radical plan to savage the public service by merging departments, using more AI and setting a … Read more

Greenpeace – New Fuel Crisis Scorecard: Coalition Flunks, Labour Offers Few Commitments

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Source: Greenpeace As fuel prices remain high and the Budget looms closer Greenpeace has released a scorecard ranking political parties on practical solutions to cut dependence on imported fossil fuels and shield households from oil and gas price shocks. Parties were asked nine yes-or-no questions about whether they back concrete measures including cancelling the proposed LNG … Read more

BusinessNZ – Announced investment in education will bolster reform

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Source: BusinessNZ BusinessNZ welcomes the Government’s Budget 2026 investment of $131.1 million into compulsory education, saying the package reinforces the importance of strong foundational learning for New Zealand’s long-term economic future. BusinessNZ Director of Education, Skills and Immigration Rachel Simpson says meaningful education reform requires resourcing and ensuring teachers have the tools, training, and support to … Read more

Wellington councillor Ray Chung steps down from subcommittee

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Source: Radio New Zealand Wellington City councillor Ray Chung. RNZ / Mark Papalii Wellington City councillor Ray Chung has stepped down as chair of a council subcommittee. On Monday, the council said Chung would no longer chair of the Council Controlled Organisations (CCO) Subcommittee nor a member of that subcommittee. The sub-committee is responsible for…

More public service job cuts may be coming – here’s how many have gone already

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ The government is set to announce proposals which RNZ understands will seek to reduce the number of government agencies, with amalgamation, more work on digitisation and using AI, and setting a target to reduce the public service headcount to 1 percent of the total population by 2029. There are 42…

‘Bigger isn’t always better’: Labour’s Chris Hipkins on coalition’s plan to merge government departments

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Source: Radio New Zealand Labour leader Chris Hipkins says bigger government departments aren’t always more efficient than smaller departments. RNZ / Marika Khabazi Labour leader Chris Hipkins says public servant caps can be “arbitrary” and bigger government departments aren’t always better at doing the job, as the finance minister looks to downsize the public service.…

Southland farmers to benefit under improved farm plan system

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Source: New Zealand Government The Government is extending the timeframe for Southland farmers to submit freshwater farm plans to ensure they can benefit from the updated national system to be adopted later this year, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Nicola Grigg, and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say. The regulation currently requires farmers to…

Second master’s degree brings valedictorian honour for EIT Auckland graduate

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Source: Eastern Institute of Technology 14 hours ago Komal Saddi will add a valedictorian honour to her second master’s degree when she graduates from EIT Auckland this week. The 35-year-old will graduate with a Master of Health Science and deliver a valedictory address as one of two valedictorians at EIT Auckland’s graduation ceremonies at Aotea…

How Kiwis are Coping: Pensioners forgoing coffee, meat to keep budgets low

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Source: Radio New Zealand The pension only covers the basics. (File photo) 123rf As the cost of living climbs and Trump’s war on Iran drives fuel costs sky-high, how are Kiwis coping? What are they doing without? How are they saving money? An RNZ series examines the ways it’s impacting different groups. The increasing cost…

Cost of living pressures: Pensioners forgoing coffee, meat to keep budgets low

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Source: Radio New Zealand The pension only covers the basics. (File photo) 123rf The increasing cost of living is hurting most, but those on fixed incomes have even less room to move with some forced to forego coffee and meat. Petrol and oil prices have crept exponentially higher after the war in Iran, while statistics…

‘Our best resource’: Teachers a better investment than workbooks, school leaders say

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Source: Radio New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford reveal a $131 million education package. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone School leaders say the government is better to spend up on teacher development rather than workbooks if it wants to improve kids’ reading, writing and maths. Education Minister Erica Stanford on Monday…

Tech bros say AI can be your best friend. Experts explain why it can’t

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Source: Radio New Zealand Say everyone had a best friend who was always available, never judgmental, totally on the same page about everything and needed nothing in return. Wouldn’t that solve the loneliness so many people are facing? No, experts say. In fact, having a best friend like that might make things much worse. This…

Motorbike doco inspired by a quarter-life crisis wins international award

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Source: Radio New Zealand As a child, filmmaker Brooke Darrow remembers going to a funeral for somebody who’d died on a motorbike, then finding it “incredibly confusing” when her dad and brothers continued to ride their bikes around the paddocks like nothing had happened. To better understand the “allure” of motorbike riding, she made the…

Selling second-hand: Where do you go and what’s the appetite?

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Source: Radio New Zealand Recent reports about second-hand sales booming are probably met with gleaming eyes from potential sellers looking for an extra buck in a cost-of-living crisis. TradeMe’s circular economy report earlier this year estimated, on average, each person has 19 items to sell, with an estimated value of $1300 per person. It highlighted…

Why Australians are calling New Zealand a tax haven

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Source: Radio New Zealand Australia’s latest government Budget has prompted some strong reactions. 123rf A recent headline in The Australian newspaper declared: Budget increases New Zealand’s appeal as a tax haven. It said, with no capital gains tax, no stamp duty or land tax, and the opportunity to negatively gear, business owners and property investors…

New English, maths primary curriculums had little effect on achievement, first results show

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Source: Radio New Zealand In some cases average scores in the subjects edged up, but in others they dropped lower by statistically insignificant amounts. RNZ / Marika Khabazi The first national results show new English and maths curriculums have had little effect on children’s achievement so far. In some cases average scores edged up, but…