Two cars impounded, two men charged after anti-social road user incidents

September 2, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Two Kinleith men have had their cars impounded and are facing criminal charges after two recent incidents involving sustained loss of traction.

The first incident occurred on 29 June, when Police responded to a report of an anti-social road user gathering on Mamaku South Road in rural Kinleith.

The driver of one of the cars at the gathering performed a sustained loss of traction directly in front of police officers, before immediately leaving the scene.

“Some fairly simple enquiries enabled us to identify the driver and car involved,” says Sergeant Matt Sillars, Tokoroa Police.

“A search warrant was subsequently executed at a Mamaku property on 16 August, where the car was located and impounded.”

A 20-year-old man was also summonsed to appear in court for sustained loss of traction and driving while disqualified.

On 22 August, Police were called to another anti-social road user gathering, this time outside a fast food restaurant in Tokoroa.

“Several cars were involved, performing both sustained loss of traction and burnouts, flooding the area with smoke, and the drivers immediately scattered when Police arrived,” says Sergeant Sillars.

“All of the cars involved had their licence plates removed, presumably to prevent us from identifying those involved.”

“However, it did not take us long to identify one of the cars – as we had seen the very same car while carrying out the search warrant six days earlier.”

On 27 August, Police executed another search warrant at the Mamaku property.

“The car involved had been painted in a bid to disguise it, however Police were able to confirm it was the same car involved in the gathering on 22 August,” says Sergeant Sillars.

This car was also impounded, and a 19-year-old man has been summonsed to appear in court for sustained loss of traction and dangerous driving.

The two men are scheduled to appear in Tokoroa District Court on 3 September.

“Our communities are sick of the disruption and damage caused by this anti-social road user activity,” says Sergeant Sillars.

“Those involved should be on notice that even if we can’t take enforcement action at the time of such incidents, we will undertake follow-up enquiries in order to hold those involved to account.”

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.

MIL OSI

Times Higher Education Campus Live event

LiveNews Publisher

September 2, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai tatou.

Thank you for the warm welcome, and thank you to the University of Canterbury for hosting us. It is a real pleasure to be here with colleagues from across New Zealand, Australia, and further afield.

The theme of this event – Global Impact and Student Success – could not be more fitting. These are exactly the ambitions that drive this Government’s approach to our universities.

Universities matter enormously to New Zealand. They educate the next generation of leaders, they advance the frontiers of knowledge, and they play an important role in powering our economy. In fact, they sit within our Going for Growth agenda – an agenda to lift New Zealand’s economic performance and create greater opportunities for every New Zealander.

But let me be direct: we need our universities to do better at aligning the skills students gain with the needs of employers and industry. We need stronger and faster pathways from research into real-world impact. And we need institutions that can adapt quickly to new opportunities in areas like advanced technologies.

Today, I want to set out the government’s priorities for change. These priorities are about modernising our system, ensuring universities are well led, and ensuring the significant taxpayer investment in them delivers the best possible outcomes – for students, for industry, and for New Zealand.

The first step is a new Tertiary Education Strategy, being developed by myself and my colleague, Minister Simmonds, for both the university and vocational education sectors.

The strategy will have five clear priorities:

Lifting student achievement.
Maximising economic impact and innovation.
Increasing access and participation for people from all backgrounds and regions.
Building stronger integration between universities, communities, and industries.
Boosting the international education sector and strengthening New Zealand’s global connections.

This strategy will shape the Tertiary Education Commission’s investments. We’ll be consulting on it over the coming weeks, with the aim of publishing it in November.

Second, we are establishing a new University Strategy Group, which I will chair.

This will bring together university leaders, independent experts, and senior officials to tackle challenges that affect the system as a whole – challenges no single university can solve on its own.

Its purpose is simple: to make sure our universities work together more effectively, and to strengthen the alignment between universities, government, and industry. The group will begin its work in the next two months and run for an initial period of 18 months.

Third, we are replacing the Performance-Based Research Fund with a new Tertiary Research Excellence Fund.

The Performance-Based Research Fund was world-leading when it was created, but its processes have become too time-consuming and costly. It is time for a simpler, smarter approach.

The new fund will focus on metrics that reflect real outcomes – centred on citations, but also including measures that recognise diversity of research, collaboration with industry, and commercialisation.

It will continue to support postgraduate teaching and encourage external research income, especially where it serves the needs of industry and communities.

We will begin a phased transition in 2027, with the new fund fully in place from 2028.

Fourth, we are reviewing and strengthening our quality assurance system.

We need to protect the world-class reputation of our universities, but also make sure the system is flexible enough to respond to the changing needs of students, industries, and communities.

Finally, we will also take steps to improve governance – to strengthen decision-making, accountability, and transparency. Universities must remain independent, but with independence comes responsibility: responsibility to students, to taxpayers, and to the country.

These university reforms are closely connected to our wider science reforms.

We are bringing together New Zealand’s publicly funded science organisations to work more strategically – focusing effort on science that delivers real impact for New Zealanders and for our economy.

Just as we are asking universities to collaborate more effectively, so too are we reshaping the science system to break down silos, encourage partnerships, and support research that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

Universities will be central to this. By aligning education, research, and science investment, we can create a more joined-up system – one that produces skilled graduates, world-class research, and innovations that drive growth.

These reforms set a clear direction.

We will simplify systems, strengthen leadership, and sharpen the focus on outcomes that matter.

I encourage you to build on your strengths, work together, and focus your research on solving problems that matter to New Zealanders.

Our universities already rank among the top three per cent worldwide. With the right priorities and partnerships, they can be at the forefront of global innovation and impact.

This is a time of challenge, but also of extraordinary opportunity. Together, we can ensure our universities deliver for students, for industry, and for the nation’s future.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

MIL OSI

NZ Initiative’s simplistic approach would weaken public services – PSA

LiveNews Publisher

September 2, 2025

Source: PSA

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi has criticised a new report calling for a sweeping reduction in the number of government agencies, saying it takes a simplistic approach.

Responding to the New Zealand Initiative’s report “Unscrambling Government”, PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the report overlooked the important New Zealand context behind why agencies exist.

“This report essentially argues that cutting the number of agencies will automatically lead to better outcomes for New Zealanders. That’s a simplistic view that ignores the complex reasons these agencies were established in the first place,” Fitzsimons said.

“The analysis misses the important reasons for agencies’ existence. Take the Cancer Control Agency, for example – it exists because cancer advocates fought for years for independent national leadership on cancer control. It provides crucial oversight and accountability that would be lost if merged back into a larger ministry.”

The report also proposes structural changes such as merging all population-focused agencies – including those serving women, Pacific peoples, ethnic communities and seniors – into a single entity, and combining the Police with the Ministry of Justice.

“These suggestions show how the authors have abstracted away crucial complexities to fit their predetermined conclusions. Merging all demographic agencies would dilute the specific expertise and advocacy these agencies provide for communities that have historically been underserved.

“Similarly, the proposal to merge Police with the Ministry of Justice would undermine police independence – a fundamental principle of our democracy.

“Royal Commissions examining government failures – from Pike River to the Christchurch earthquakes to the March 15 mosque attacks – have consistently recommended more resources and clearer accountability, not fewer agencies.

“Unlike Australia, New Zealand has no upper house and weak local government, meaning the central government has far more concentrated power. You can’t simply compare agency numbers across different countries with fundamentally different governmental structures,” Fitzsimons said.

“A radical overhaul would be particularly dangerous when agencies are already under pressure from the thousands of public service jobs that have been cut.”

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Business closures now a daily news story – renewed calls for urgent local support

LiveNews Publisher

September 2, 2025

Source: Buy NZ Made

Business closures are fast becoming a daily news story in New Zealand, with new data showing a sharp 26% rise in company liquidations across key industries.

Buy NZ Made is calling for urgent support for Kiwi businesses as closures mount.

“Every day we’re seeing another Kiwi business close its doors, and that’s devastating for owners, workers, and communities,” Buy NZ Made executive director Dane Ambler says.

“But with lower interest rates providing some relief, there’s also an opportunity to steady the ship – if we act collectively to back local.”

New Centrix data shows company liquidations up 26% year-on-year. The construction sector remains the hardest hit, with 765 closures (+46%), followed by hospitality, with 297 closures (+49%). Hospitality businesses are now more than two times likely to fail as the typical New Zealand business.

Meanwhile, unemployment has risen to 5.2%, the highest since 2020, with 158,000 people unemployed and underutilisation at 12.8%, highlighting the strain on workers and employers alike.

Buy NZ Made emphasises that the combination of supportive monetary policy and community-driven consumer choices can make a tangible difference to New Zealand’s recovery.

“The story doesn’t end with the challenges – there’s real opportunity here,” Ambler says.

“By backing local now, New Zealanders can help businesses weather the storm, protect jobs, and lay the foundation for a stronger economy.”

MIL OSI

Events – New Zealand Investors Strengthen Climate Commitments, But Action Still Lags Behind Opportunity

LiveNews Publisher

September 2, 2025

Source: Mindful Money

Aotearoa New Zealand’s institutional investors are making significant strides in climate governance and emissions reporting, but remain cautious in translating climate ambition into investment action, according to the 2025 Survey of Investor Climate Policies and Actions released today.

The survey, conducted by the Centre for Sustainable Finance, Mindful Money, and Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC), captures the views and practices of 27 major New Zealand investors, representing over $263 billion in assets under management—more than half of the country’s total.

The findings show a marked improvement in climate governance:

91% of investors reported board-level awareness of climate risks and strategies;
Nearly half (48%) have now set net zero targets, up from 30% in 2023; and
93% are measuring at least some of the emissions associated with their portfolios.

However, the report highlights a persistent gap between climate risk awareness and capital allocation:

17% of investors currently invest in climate solutions such as renewable energy or low-carbon infrastructure; and
13% have set public targets to increase these investments.

“New Zealand investors clearly understand the financial imperative of managing climate risk,” said Barry Coates, CEO of Mindful Money. “But despite falling costs and rising opportunities in clean technologies, investment in climate solutions remains low. This is potentially a missed opportunity for both returns and impact.”

The survey identifies key barriers to climate-aligned investing, including regulatory uncertainty, lack of clear definitions, and limited data—particularly for private and alternative asset classes. While the introduction of mandatory Climate-Related Disclosures (CRD) has driven improvements in emissions tracking, many investors are still navigating the complexities of the new reporting regime.

Public pressure is also mounting. Recent surveys show that 74% of New Zealanders expect their fund managers to reach net zero before 2050. Yet, the report notes that few investors have escalation strategies when companies fail to act on climate, and shareholder activism remains limited compared to Australia.

“Investors are responding to fiduciary duty and risk management, but they’re also hearing the call from clients and the public,” said Duncan Paterson, Director of Investor Practice at IGCC. “The next step is to move from measurement to meaningful investment in the transition.”

The report also underscores the importance of policy stability. While New Zealand’s legislative framework remains intact, recent political shifts have introduced uncertainty. Two-thirds of investors surveyed have engaged in climate policy advocacy over the past year, signalling a growing recognition of the finance sector’s role in shaping a supportive policy environment.

As global standards evolve and expectations rise, the report calls for stronger alignment between climate ambition and investment practice. With the right tools, data, and policy signals, New Zealand’s investors are well-positioned to lead in financing a resilient, low-emissions economy.

Notes:

A webinar will be held at 11am on Tuesday, 2^nd September. Over 250 people have registered so far. Register for the webinar here: https://loghic.eventsair.com/773665/128311/Site/Register

About CSF

The Centre for Sustainable Finance is an independently governed charitable trust, founded in 2021, which works with partners across the finance system to enable and accelerate capital flows towards sustainability and resilience outcomes across key sectors of New Zealand’s economy.

About Mindful Money

Mindful Money is a charity that promotes ethical and impact investment in New Zealand. It provides transparency for KiwiSaver and managed fund investors on portfolio holdings, together with public education and engagement. Mindful Money provides services to the financial sector including research on the integration of climate change into investment portfolios.

About IGCC

The Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) is a collaboration of Australian and New Zealand institutional investors focused on the impact of climate change on investments. IGCC represents investors with total funds under management of over $5 trillion in Australia and New Zealand and $35 trillion globally. IGCC members’ beneficiaries include more than 14.8 million Australians and millions more New Zealanders.

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Afghanistan: Urgent humanitarian aid needed for earthquake survivors – Amnesty International

LiveNews Publisher

September 2, 2025

Source: Amnesty International

Responding to the devastating earthquake that struck eastern provinces of Afghanistan, Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, said:

“Amnesty International expresses its deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones in the devastating earthquake that has come at a time when Afghanistan faces a multitude of existing crises.

“More than 22 million people, almost half of the country’s population, already remain in need of humanitarian assistance in the country. The humanitarian crisis is further deepened by the mass deportation of more than 1.9 million Afghan refugees and asylum seekers from Iran and Pakistan – many of whom had been living in makeshift tents near the borders. Additionally, many donor countries, including the US, have cut or scaled back aid and assistance for the people of Afghanistan.

“The Taliban de-facto authorities have also been responsible for the shrinking of operations of humanitarian and aid agencies in the country due to restrictive policies and a ban on Afghan women working for the UN as well as other NGOs in Afghanistan. This is part of the Taliban’s systematic attack on human rights in the country.

“Amnesty International calls on the Taliban de facto authorities to ensure immediate and unimpeded access to all humanitarian organizations and to remove administrative barriers delaying needs assessments. They must attend to the needs of the affected communities and ensure that rescue and relief efforts are carried out without discrimination. Special measures must be put in place to ensure that the human rights of the most at-risks groups who often face compounded challenges in crisis situations, including women, children, older persons, and people with disabilities, are guaranteed in relief and recovery efforts.

“In times of crisis, it is vital that human rights protections are at the heart of the response. The Taliban de-facto authorities must ensure that they uphold their human rights obligations and take steps to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance in a manner that is non-discriminatory and effective in responding to people’s needs.”

Background:

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck just before midnight local time in eastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan. At least 800 people have been killed and 2,500 injured as several villages are completely destroyed.

Afghanistan suffered a devastating magnitude-6.3 earthquake in October 2023, which flattened villages and left thousands killed. Due to sanctions, international isolation and Taliban interference, rescue workers said at the time, that there was little to no aid available for the people and thousands remained trapped for days without help.

MIL OSI

Business Acquisitions – Fusion5 acquires APAC Shopify partner

LiveNews Publisher

September 2, 2025

Source: FUSION5

1 September, 2025, Auckland, New Zealand. Australasian systems integrator Fusion5 has announced the acquisition of Pocket Square, a New Zealand Shopify Premier Partner.

Formed in 2014, Pocket Square is a Shopify Plus Partner, boasting over 40 deployments and 15 in-house experts. The business has offices in Auckland, Nelson, and Sydney, and its customers include Walker & Hall, Bendon Lingerie, Sylvester, Life Pharmacy, The Salvation Army, and Te Whatu Ora/ Health New Zealand.

Kristy Brown, CEO of Fusion5 – New Zealand, says that the acquisition will help the systems integrator meet the ever-growing demand for digital commerce. “The ability to do business online is now a must-have, not a nice-to-have. By bringing Pocket Square into the Fusion5 fold, we can support our local customer community – regardless of their underlying financial applications – with a powerful, right-sized e-commerce solution. Backed by Pocket Square’s team of exceptional professionals, the opportunities for our B2B and B2C customers to grow their revenue through enhancing their e-commerce presence are endless.”

Sven Martin, CEO of Fusion5 – Australia, is enthusiastic about the benefits the acquisition will bring to customers. “On top of our purchase last year of Microsoft partner, Optimum.consulting, the addition of Pocket Square to the Fusion5 family means our customers have ready access to a wealth of expertise in the retail and e-commerce sectors – no matter what their technology environment.”

Brown says that Pocket Square has an incredible track record of delivery success. “This, along with their customer centricity and focus on employee well-being, align strongly with our own culture and approach. They’re a perfect fit for us and our customers.”

Lance O’Grady, Managing Director and Solution Architect, likewise appreciates the strong cultural alignment – and the opportunities the acquisition presents to both its team and customers. “We know our people and our customers will be in really good hands with Fusion5. There are new career development paths for our people that come with being part of a larger entity, and our customers will be exposed to a wider range of technologies and services. It’s a very exciting and positive time for everyone.”

Rhys Furner, Director of Partnerships at Shopify APAC, said: “We’re thrilled to see Fusion5 invest in Pocket Square’s Shopify expertise. This move aligns with Shopify’s goals across ANZ to expand our partner ecosystem, and deliver local, best-in-class support – helping merchants of all sizes start, scale, and go global on Shopify. By combining Pocket Square’s proven Shopify Plus capability with Fusion5’s strength in enterprise integrations and data, this will accelerate outcomes for both B2C and B2B merchants.”

Pocket Square officially becomes part of Fusion5 on 1 September 2025.

About Fusion5

Fusion5 offers a comprehensive range of digital transformation business solutions, applications, consulting services, cloud services, and managed services, along with first-class support and training. Their expertise covers all key functional business areas, including Enterprise Resource Planning, HR / Payroll, Customer Relationship Management, AI, Data & Analytics, Integration, Corporate Performance Management, Digital Enablement, Cloud, Infrastructure, Systems Integration, and IT Managed Services.

Fusion5 is recognised as a leading partner for a range of global technologies, including Microsoft, NetSuite, Oracle, Workday, and IBM.

MIL OSI

NZNO union strike to disrupt more than 13,000 surgeries and appointments

LiveNews Publisher

September 2, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

Thousands of New Zealanders who are already waiting too long for care will now wait even longer because the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) union has decided to strike again this week, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“It will mean thousands of New Zealanders face more disruption, including:

Around 2,251 more surgeries and treatments such as hip, knee, and cataract operations cancelled or postponed.
Additional delays for approximately 3,600 first specialist assessments.
Postponement of around 8,000 critical follow-up appointments.

“Even appointments before and after the strike will be delayed, with impacts expected to drag on well beyond the strike itself. For many patients, that means more pain, more uncertainty, and more time without the care they need.

“We value our nurses and the vital care they give patients. That’s why our Government has invested heavily in our nursing workforce. The average salary for a registered nurse is now over $125,000 a year, including overtime and allowances, which aligns with base pay in New South Wales.

“Since 2011, NZNO union nurses’ pay has risen by nearly 74 per cent, which is more than double the wage growth of 35 per cent across the wider economy. Nurses also receive:

Extra pay for nights, weekends, and on-call work.
Additional leave for long shifts, long service, and sickness.
Professional development payments of up to $6,000 a year for some roles.
Five weeks’ annual leave after five years.

“This strike is a choice by the NZNO union to put politics ahead of patients. It will not shorten waitlists or improve care, it will only make delays worse for people already in pain and waiting for treatment. The NZNO union has also refused to disclose how its members voted on this strike.

“They should be upfront about it. Patients and nurses deserve honesty, not secrecy.

“Health New Zealand remains ready to negotiate in good faith. The current offer would see a new graduate nurse on $75,773 receive a total pay increase of $8,337 by the end of June 2026, including step progression.

“We will keep working to reduce wait times and get patients the care they need, when they need it. We thank the thousands of nurses who will continue to care for patients during this period, and we call on the NZNO union to stop playing games with people’s lives, step back from this strike and return to the bargaining table, and put patients first.”

MIL OSI

Wharerata Road, Matawhero closed following crash

LiveNews Publisher

September 2, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Wharerata Road, Matawhero is currently closed at the intersection with Riverpoint Road following a crash.

Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash just after 7:50am.

Two people have been seriously injured.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

ENDS

MIL OSI

Investment support for Southland space sector

LiveNews Publisher

September 2, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

Southland’s role in the space sector has been given a turbo-boost from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson has announced.

“Southland’s Space Operations New Zealand Limited will receive a loan of up to $2.25 million from the fund as part of a $4.55 million project to expand its business.

“Southland is an ideal location for a satellite ground station given its proximity to the South Pole, low horizon and limited radio interference. The loan help fund development of a headquarters building, workshops and other infrastructure at the Awarua Satellite Ground Station at Greenhills near Invercargill,” Mr Patterson says.

The Minister turned a sod on the site today with the company’s executives to mark the announcement.

Space Operations is solely owned as a subsidiary of Great South, a council controlled economic development agency of the Southland Councils.

“The loan accelerates essential works which would otherwise have faced a two-year delay. It meets Space Operations New Zealand needs to meet current demand and to future growth plans,” Mr Patterson says.

“The project will create a regional space hub to support the continued growth and development of Southland’s space sector.”

Space Operations New Zealand operates out of two hubs – the Ground Station at Greenhills, and Warkworth Space Centre north of Auckland. The company provides satellite launch mission support capability and ground station services for spacecraft in low-earth orbit. It hosts, maintains and operates antennae and equipment for customers around the world.

Great South first established the Ground Station at Greenhills in 2004, working with European and French space agencies.

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