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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
HUZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 September 2025 – A series of activities highlighting ecological progress were held on August 15th as the country embraces its third National Ecology Day. The focus is on protecting the ecological environment, addressing climate change and how China’s meteorological departments are taking action. This year it was Yucun Village, nestled in Anji County of Zhejiang Province in eastern China that took center-stage, becoming the most talked-about village in the country during the period.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the pivotal concept “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”—a guiding principle that has steered China’s green transition. Visitors from across the globe have flocked to this scenic village of Yucun where the concept was born, eager to trace the evolution of China’s economy from a resource-driven model to one centered on sustainability.
Tianhuangping Town, Anji County, Zhejiang Province
Over the past 20 years, this village has undergone a dramatic transformation. It hasn’t just rewritten its own fate; it has also shown how a nation’s commitment to green development can reshape rural landscapes and transform people’s lives.
Two decades ago, Yucun was known for a very different reason.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the 4.9-square-kilometer village thrived as Anji’s “richest village” thanks to its high-quality limestone reserves. But mining came at a steep ecological cost: “Blasting scared birds from the mountains; sand and gravel filled the air”—a vivid description of its environmental scars.
When the village resolved to shut down its mines and cement factories, few anticipated that this move would pave the way for a whole new development path. Today, the stone stele at the village entrance, inscribed with “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” stands not only as a symbol of Yucun’s transformed development model but also as a beacon for resource integration.
In 2020, Yucun joined forces with four neighboring villages to form a 43-square-kilometer cluster. By the end of 2022, this expanded to 245 square kilometers, linking one town, two townships, and 23 villages. The “Greater Yucun” framework has turned the once-small village into a cross-regional development hub.
This expansion is far more than a simple increase in area. As Xu Jinjing, head of Tianhuangping Town, explains: “After closing the mines, we started rural guesthouses and rafting activities—that was Version 1.0 of practicing the green development concept. Now, ‘Greater Yucun’ is building industrial clusters for new economy, new cultural tourism, and new agriculture—that’s a leap to Version 2.0.”
The numbers tell the story of this upgrade: In 2024, the average collective operating income of villages in “Greater Yucun” reached 2.82 million yuan, an 11.5% year-on-year increase. Even more striking is the world-class pumped storage cluster here: Tianhuangping and Changlongshan power stations, with a combined installed capacity of 3.9 million kilowatts, have made green energy a new hallmark of “Greater Yucun.”
Industrial reforms have revitalized the countryside’s appeal. What was once a village of 280 households (1,060 people) now covers over 40,000 residents under the “Greater Yucun” umbrella. Tourism hit new heights in 2024, with Yucun welcoming 1.22 million visits and the broader “Greater Yucun” area exceeding 10 million.
This influx of people reflects a diverse landscape shaped by industrial shifts. Tourists come to savor its ecological beauty; new villagers arrive to seize opportunities in the industrial shifts；local residents enjoy expanding prospects right at their doorstep. Additionally, nearly 80,000 online users have registered as virtual villagers, with some 6,000 adopting farmland via the cloud and participating in local development.
“Efficient government services and ecological strengths make this more appealing than any urban office building,” says Duan Yi, CEO of Photoplus, who relocated his company’s headquarters here.
Despite growing larger, diversifying its industries, and welcoming more people, Yucun’s ecosystem remains unharmed—this is both the foundation of the concept of “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” and one of its core goals.
In 2021, Yucun was named one of the first Best Tourism Villages by the World Tourism Organization. Its 10 landmark scenes weave together attractions like lotus pond serenity, Longqing Temple’s spiritual ambiance, and the haunting beauty of abandoned mines.
Visitors can take sightseeing buses or scan codes to rent electric vehicles and explore the lanes. At 1,168 meters above sea level, a fairy town on grassland recreates a celestial realm, where mist-shrouded bamboo forests evoke the ethereal mood of the Oscar-winning film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. An 18-kilometer winding mountain road leads to a year-round scenic spot that has become a must-visit for cyclists.
Beyond its natural beauty, Yucun buzzes with cultural fusion. Last July, French pianist Richard Clayderman performed in an abandoned mine, his music blending with the rustle of bamboo leaves—a perfect metaphor for ecological transformation.
Zhuo Li, who moved from Shanghai, traded the bustle of skyscrapers for a European-style blue villa here, where she runs a mountain biking business. “I came to live and work here because of the stunning scenery and the relaxed rural lifestyle.”
Over 20 years, Yucun has shifted from selling limestone to forging a sustainable path where ecology and industry thrive together—a testament to the vitality of green development.
As early as 2016, the UN Environment Programme released a report on the concept of “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” highlighting China’s efforts to integrate ecological progress into national planning. Today, the 572 national ecological civilization demonstration zones and 240 green development bases exploring models like “trading green protection for prosperity” and “turning collective green into shared wealth” all trace their roots to this small village.
As “Greater Yucun” continues to grow and more young dreamers arrive, the village is penning more stories of harmony between humans and nature, and of industry and ecology boosting each other.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Government is making changes to New Zealand’s universities to give students the best possible opportunities – making sure they’re developing the skilled workforce New Zealand needs and driving cutting-edge research that powers economic growth.
Universities Minister Dr Shane Reti today announced a package of initiatives to modernise the sector and ensure taxpayer investment delivers real impact for New Zealanders.
“Our universities are world-class – in the top three per cent globally – but they must evolve to meet the demands of a fast-changing society and economy,” Dr Reti says.
“These changes will help universities focus on what matters: developing the workforce we need now and in the future, and delivering excellent research and innovation that creates real value for New Zealand.”
The initiatives include:
A new Tertiary Education Strategy, aligning teaching and research with New Zealand’s future skills and innovation needs.
A University Strategy Group to strengthen collaboration between universities, government, industry and global experts.
A simplified Tertiary Research Excellence Fund to replace the $315 million Performance-Based Research Fund – cutting red tape while rewarding quality teaching and impactful research.
Stronger quality assurance systems to maintain academic excellence, support international competitiveness, and enhance student mobility.
Updated governance and accountability rules to ensure universities are well-led and focused on quality teaching and qualifications.
Dr Reti says the reforms will set universities up to compete on the world stage while ensuring research investment supports economic growth and delivers benefits at home.
“These changes are about working together, simplifying where it makes sense, and strengthening leadership and quality,” says Dr Reti.
“Collectively, they will make sure our universities continue to deliver opportunities for students, impact for businesses, and growth for New Zealand’s economy.”
The new initiatives have been informed by a report by the University Advisory Group, led by Chair Sir Peter Gluckman.
They will be rolled out in consultation with universities, other tertiary education organisations, students and industry, with further details to come in the months ahead.
HAMBURG, GERMANY – EQS Newswire – 1 September 2025 –
Preferred Supply Agreements (PSAs) have been awarded for supply of monopile foundations to EEW Special Pipe Construction GmbH, transition pieces to Dajin Heavy Industry, foundation transportation and installation to Seaway7 and inter-array cable supply and installation to the consortium of Boskalis and TKF.
The Gennaker project is securing employment local to the project in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region in northeast Germany, where the monopile foundations will be manufactured.
Gennaker to add up to 976.5 MW to Germany’s renewables capacity*.
Skyborn Renewables (Skyborn) is proud to announce it has secured contractors for all major packages of the Gennaker offshore wind farm. The completion of PSAs signatures during the summer of 2025 is a major step towards the successful completion of Gennaker, planned for 2028.
“We are extremely proud of the agreements we have signed with each of Gennaker’s suppliers. We, and the project, can now rely on a pool of highly experienced contractors to deliver Gennaker on budget and on schedule. The signed preferred supplier agreements also demonstrate our commitment to Gennaker being rooted in the local community, delivering long-lasting value and benefits for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Offshore wind delivers positive impact on the ground, be that via investments, jobs or decarbonization!” says Patrick Lammers, Skyborn CEO. “I would like to not only thank our suppliers, but also the Skyborn team, whose dedication and hard work has been key to bringing Gennaker one step closer to reality.” Lammers adds.
Monopile foundations: Preferred Supply Agreement has been signed with EEW Special Pipe Construction GmbH (EEW SPC) for the supply of 63 monopile foundations, each monopile is up to 54.1 metres long, with a top diameter of 7.5 metres and will weigh up to 877 tonnes. Monopiles will be manufactured in Rostock – only 40 kilometres from the Gennaker site. The contract will further bolster the already strong local Mecklenburg-Vorpommern supply chain through a robust employment plan, securing jobs at EEW SPC which currently employs 1,000 people. A ceremony was held at the EEW Special Pipe Construction premises in Rostock to celebrate this major milestone for the project.
Transition piece: Preferred Supply Agreement has been signed with Dajin Heavy Industry for supply of 63 transition pieces. Each transition piece will be approximately 20 metres high and will weigh approximately 400 tonnes. The manufacture of the transition pieces will be performed in Penglai, China and will be finalised in Odense, Denmark.
Foundation transportation & installation: Preferred Supply Agreement has been signed with Seaway7 for the transportation and installation of monopiles and transition pieces for the project.
Inter-array cables: Preferred Supply Agreement has been signed with the consortium of Boskalis and TKF for the supply and installation of approximately 140 kilometres of inter-array cables. Inter-array cables are to be manufactured in Eemshaven, Netherlands.
These agreements follow prior announcements of Gennaker for turbine supply and long-term service with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and wind turbine transport and installation with Fred. Olsen Windcarrier.
With a capacity up to 976.5 MW, Gennaker is to become the largest offshore wind farm in the German Baltic Sea to date. Located approximately 15 kilometres north of the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula, the project area sits within a designated priority zone for offshore wind energy in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern coastal sea. Skyborn secured the initial building permit for the Gennaker site in May 2019 and maintains site exclusivity for development. Gennaker is planned to be commissioned in 2028.
Hashtag: #Skyborn
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
