First Responders – 25 new career firefighters join the Fire and Emergency New Zealand team

First Responders – Southbridge Canterbury vegetation fire update 3

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September 18, 2025

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

The large vegetation fire which has been burning at Southbridge in Selwyn, Canterbury since yesterday afternoon is now contained.

Incident Controller Lou Ander says most firefighting crews have been stood down with some heavy machinery work continuing to turn over remaining hotspots.

‘All roads are now open again, and I expect to be able to hand back the fireground to the landowner this afternoon,’ he says.

‘There’ll be some smoke visible from the fireground as remaining hotspots are extinguished over the next few days. This is expected.’

Lou Ander says the cause of the fire won’t be known until the investigation underway is completed.

This will be the last update for this fire unless there is a significant development.

Economy – Action needed as GDP falls faster and further than expected – NZCTU

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September 18, 2025

Source: NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi

NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney is saying that new GDP data released by Statistics New Zealand demonstrates the scale of the problems in the economy, and the desperate need for economic policy change.

“The economy fell 0.9% last quarter. The Reserve Bank forecast a 0.3% fall, and the Treasury had previously forecast a 0.7% increase. Together with recent poor labour market data, it’s clear that the government’s approach is not working,” said Renney.

“GDP fell in 10 out of 16 industry sectors. Manufacturing fell 3.5% in just three months, and mining was down 4.1%. Retail trade fell, and financial services fell. Business services fell. Healthcare and social assistance fell. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing fell.

“Across the past 15 months, the economy has been in decline for 9 of them. This isn’t due to one-off factors such as tariffs – this is an economy with no plan and no direction.

“Quarterly GDP per capita fell back into the red again and is now lower than it was in 2021, even after adjusting for inflation. Business investment fell in plant, machinery, and transport equipment. Residential construction fell 1.9% this quarter. The indicators that might support growth in the future are falling.

“We have consistently called for the government to change track on the economy. For action on rising unemployment. For action on investment in crumbling public services.

“This latest GDP data confirms the Government’s approach has failed. This should be a wake-up call that tax cuts and public service cuts aren’t delivering the economy that New Zealanders deserve or need,” said Renney.

Govt’s working from home crackdown exposed as solution looking for a problem – PSA

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September 18, 2025

Source: PSA

New data shows flexible work was never the issue the Government claimed

Today’s data from the Public Service Commission exposes the Government’s working from home directive as a manufactured crisis designed to distract from the real impact of public sector cuts on Wellington and communities across New Zealand.

“The Government made a huge song and dance about public servants supposedly not turning up to work, but the data shows this was never a real problem,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

The PSA’s position is that workers should be entitled to flexible work arrangements – which suit their individual circumstances unless there is a good business reason not to. Working from home and flexible work are generally a win-win for employers and employees.

“The figures show the Government’s headline grabbing crackdown on flexible work was just a stunt to appeal to Wellington businesses – working from home was never the crisis the Government claimed it was. The majority of public servants don’t even work from home regularly.

“This directive was all about finding a scapegoat for the economic damage the Government’s own cuts have caused to Wellington’s CBD and local businesses.

“Rather than acknowledge that sacking thousands of public servants would hurt the capital’s economy, they chose to blame workers for an imaginary problem.

“The backward step of reducing flexible work arrangements, even slightly, flies in the face of international evidence about productivity and employee wellbeing.

“Flexible work helps retain talented staff, improves work-life balance, and often increases productivity – exactly what the 2025 Public Service Census found, with 49% of managers saying staff working from home either increased productivity or had no impact. It’s certainly not a negative as the Government tried to make out.

“The Government claims to be concerned about raising productivity, but clearly in the public sector this doesn’t suit a government which is determined to keep disrespecting public service workers and eroding their rights.

“That’s why the PSA is challenging this directive at the Employment Relations Authority – because good employers recognise that flexible work arrangements benefit both workers and the organisations they serve.

“New Zealanders deserve a public service that can attract and retain the best people to deliver the services they rely on. Attacking flexible work practices that help achieve this goal is just another example of this Government’s misplaced priorities.”

Previous statements

Weather News – Wind and rain for start of school holidays – MetService

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September 18, 2025

Source: MetService

Covering period of Thursday 18 September – Monday 22 September

The front which brought wet and windy conditions to many overnight will move across the North Island today while a cool, showery southwest flow becomes established over the rest of the country.

“The southwest flow over Aotearoa eases tomorrow as a ridge of high pressure moves across the country from the west, with the South Island in particular enjoying a welcome reprieve from the wild weather of the past few days,” explained MetService meteorologist Ciaran Doolin. Friday night is expected to be unseasonably chilly for many North Island locations due to the cooler air mass and the settled conditions expected with the ridge.

“However, the reprieve for the South Island doesn’t last long as a strengthening northerly flow builds over the country on Saturday ahead of another front approaching from the Tasman Sea,” Doolin said. The front moves up the South Island on Sunday, bringing extensive rain with heavy falls in the west, before becoming stationary over the central part of the country into the coming working week.

The North Island, on the other hand, should experience mostly fine conditions through the weekend. The upside for South Islanders is that temperatures will be fairly warm by September standards for eastern places courtesy of the warming of the northerly air as it descends the eastern side of the Southern Alps.

Early on Monday morning a partial solar eclipse will be visible in Aotearoa, with the southeastern South Island looking like the best spot to catch a glimpse.

Awards – realestate.co.nz named the best small/micro workplace in New Zealand

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September 18, 2025

Source: Brainchild PR

realestate.co.nz has been crowned the number one small/micro workplace in New Zealand, according to Great Place to Work.
The organisation has been recognised as setting the standard for workplace culture and employee experience in Aotearoa.

Earlier this year, realestate.co.nz achieved the official Great Place To Work Certification™ and has now gone one step further, earning a coveted place on the “best” list, recognising 20 organisations that are setting the benchmark for exceptional workplace culture and employee experience across the nation.

Sarah Wood, CEO of realestate.co.nz, says the company’s success is underpinned by its people-first culture and commitment to care.

“We are focused on building a company where people feel their work is truly valued and where they can bring their full selves to work every day.

“Our core values—excellence, growth, and care—underpin everything we do. Care, in particular, has been a cornerstone of this business well before my time as CEO, but over the past six years has become the linchpin of everything we do. I see it in action daily—both in the decisions our leadership team makes and in the way our people support one another.”

Some of the things that make realestate.co.nz a great place to work include:

Ten additional days of leave per year for people to use as they wish – whether it be ‘life admin’, extra rest, or to spend time with loved ones.
Fully subsidised health insurance to support physical and mental wellbeing – a cornerstone of the company’s values.
Individual learning and development budgets empower people to pursue growth opportunities, attend conferences, or upskill in areas that matter to them.
An annual $20,000 scholarship to support advanced study, work-related passion projects, or transformative development experiences. It’s a way of investing in the team’s big ideas and bold ambitions.
Team connection opportunities, including exciting company-wide events every quarter.

This year’s Best Workplaces™ assessment represents the voices of thousands of New Zealand employees across all sectors and organisation sizes.

Each company earned its place on the list following a rigorous assessment of confidential employee feedback and a detailed analysis of organisational culture. This data-driven approach ensures the companies recognised are genuinely committed to creating workplaces where people thrive and performance follows.

About Great Place to Work®
Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, we have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust.

First Responders – Southbridge Canterbury vegetation fire update 2

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September 18, 2025

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews continue to battle a large vegetation fire at Southbridge in the Selwyn District in Canterbury today.

Assistant Commander Kevin McCombe says the fire is currently controlled to 38 hectares with a perimeter of 2.6 kilometres.

‘It is deep seated in mostly pine forestry slash, and we have 30 firefighters, 10 trucks and heavy machinery crews currently working hard turning over logs to extinguish the fire,’ he says.

Two helicopters are on standby.

Fire and Emergency was alerted to the fire around 3pm yesterday afternoon which also destroyed two utility sheds.

Kevin McCombe says Fire investigators will be arriving on scene later this morning to investigate the cause and origin of the fire.

He urges people to avoid lighting any fires in Canterbury today.

‘High winds are forecast again today, and we also urge people to check any existing burn piles to make sure they are fully extinguished.

‘Windy weather is the perfect condition for old fires to reignite and escape.

‘If you’ve been burning vegetation any time in the last few months or so, check the fire is completely extinguished.

‘If there’s hot ash, and it’s safe to do so, dig into it, spread it out and pour water over it.’

Economy – GDP contraction a knock to confidence, but signs of recovery emerging – EMA

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September 18, 2025

Source: EMA

The Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) says the 0.9% contraction in GDP for the June quarter is a reminder of the fragility of business confidence and the ongoing drag in building economic momentum.

“This result is a knock at the wrong time,” says Alan McDonald, Head of Advocacy and Strategy at the EMA. “Even though the data reflects the June quarter, and we’re now seeing signs of improvement, it still sends a negative signal to businesses that are already cautious about investing and hiring.”

McDonald says the lag in GDP data means it doesn’t fully reflect the current sentiment, which is slowly turning more positive. “We know from our exporters and primary producers that things are picking up, but there’s a two-speed economy. Sectors such as construction and services in the main cities are still struggling, and confidence remains delicate.”

While the June quarter figures are disappointing, they must be viewed in the context of a broader economic landscape that is beginning to show signs of life.

In addition to economic indicators, a range of legislative reforms are also beginning to take shape. Key developments such as changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA), infrastructure planning, immigration settings, employment law and the review of vocational education and training are all in motion. While these reforms take time to implement, they represent important steps toward improving the business environment and supporting long-term growth.

The EMA says it’s critical that government continues to do all it can to accelerate the commencement of infrastructure projects that have already been announced and perhaps sequences those projects to prioritise regions facing economic pressure.

“Let’s get moving on the school and hospital upgrades announced in the May Budget,” says McDonald.

“Targeting areas like South Auckland, where growth is slower, would help restore confidence and create momentum. It’s not about spending more, it’s about spending smarter.”

Accelerating infrastructure projects stimulates economic activity and sends a strong signal to businesses about supporting recovery. The recent announcement of a funding boost for major events and tourism is also a welcome shot in the arm.

“Despite the knock, there are signs of movement. We just need to make sure we continue to build more momentum,” says McDonald.

Health – “Backsliding opinions on gender and equality have no place in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2025

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September 18, 2025

Source: Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa

Societal attitudes to gender and equality are both caught and taught, Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa chief executive Jackie Edmond says.

“In an environment where some people are feeling emboldened to make deeply offensive comments and where parts of our sexuality education curriculum are under threat, it should come as no surprise that we’re going backwards,” Ms Edmond says.

She was commenting on the Gender Attitudes Survey released yesterday by the National Council of Women New Zealand (NCWNZ) which showed us backsliding on opinions related to gender, equality, sexual violence, and sexual and reproductive health.

“Just this week, we’ve had a former politician make some startling comments about women – reducing them simply to body parts. You don’t make this kind of comment if it’s not what you’re thinking. Comments of this kind embolden others. Our leaders – in politics, in culture, in all aspects of society – need to step up, condemn this kind of rhetoric, take the lead and say these attitudes have no place in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2025.”

NCWNZ president Suzanne Manning noted that while the survey shows New Zealanders value gender equality, small parts of the population are reversing progress that has been achieved.

“We agree with the National Council of Women that we need to re-engage young people in these conversations. To do that, we need to ensure that what young people are hearing and being taught is positive, respectful and inclusive. We all have a responsibility to do something about it and not buy into the rhetoric.”

Read the survey results.

Universities – Climate news hits wine prices, study suggests – UoA

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September 18, 2025

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Climate-related news can influence how much people are willing to pay for wine, according to a study by University of Auckland finance academic Dr Gertjan Verdickt.

“I ask the question, if you see more climate-related news, are you willing to pay more or less for foreign wine? And my analysis shows it’s less. The economic magnitude is meaningful with a one-standard-deviation increase in climate attention is associated with a 3.58 percent drop in the price of a bottle.”

In everyday terms, that would mean that when climate news spikes, the price a person is willing to pay for a US$480 bottle would fall by about US$17.

The decrease in the amount investors are willing to pay for a bottle of wine in relation to their exposure to climate-related news, says Verdickt, could mean a significant cost for fund managers and wine collectors.

He calls this phenomenon ‘climate extrapolation’ – when investors project climate news from their local environment onto an asset’s valuation, even if that asset is tied to a different geography.

“I compare the price of these wines abroad relative to their price in France; I used France as my benchmark. In theory, the ratio should be one, meaning a bottle costs the same abroad as it does in France. When that ratio changes, I look to understand why.”

A growing body of research shows that personal experiences influence financial decision-making, and climate news and events are no exception, says Verdickt. Events like unusually hot weather or poor air quality can alter how people invest and spend.

One theory suggests that heightened awareness of climate risks prompts investors to seek out assets perceived as resilient, thereby driving up their value. Another view is that climate awareness makes people more cautious, highlighting the vulnerabilities of certain assets and reducing demand.

The decrease in what people are willing to pay for a bottle of French wine is amplified when the effects of climate change are most palpable, during the summer months, says Verdickt, who ruled out other explanations, including natural disasters, investor mood, general uncertainty and differences in bottle condition.

To test how climate news affects what buyers are willing to pay for the same bottle of wine in different countries, he employed a dataset of over 68,000 Bordeaux Premier Cru wine auction prices from 222 houses in 18 countries, including Australia and New Zealand. Overall, the study examined more than 70,000 auction transactions.

“I collected a large dataset from auction houses that sell wines from five Bordeaux Premier Cru producers in France. These are considered the best in the world. Because of their reputation, they are highly sought after, and the average bottle costs around US$480,” says Verdickt.

“This is not the kind of wine you casually open on a weeknight, at least … I don’t. At the same time, these wines are frequently traded, which makes them a good product for analysis.”

The Bordeaux Premier Cru wines include five châteaus: Haut-Brion, Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, and Mouton Rothschild. These five producers constitute the most liquid and globally traded segment of the wine market, forming the entire benchmark’ Liv-Ex Fine Wine index’.

Furthermore, there have been investment funds dedicated to investing in these five producers, ensuring that these wines, while still a consumption good, are also considered ‘investment-grade’ wines.

Verdickt’s dataset also included climate change news for each of the 18 countries in the study. To understand climate perceptions in different countries, he used a ‘Climate Attention Index’. This index breaks down climate-related attention across multiple countries by analysing over 23 million tweets from major (national) newspapers. Verdickt compared the newspaper tweets to authoritative climate change texts to generate a daily index with country-specific scores detailing levels of climate news.

The key takeaway from the study, that climate experiences can drive investor behaviour, is consistent with previous research showing that such experiences can also influence corporate voting and other financial decisions, according to Verdickt.