Responding to President Trump’sannouncement of a reciprocal tariff regime, ACT Finance spokesperson Todd Stephenson says:
“ACT has previously argued to scrap our remaining tariffs. President Trump’s announcement makes this urgent.
“New Zealand charges tariffs on imported products like clothing, makeup, biscuits, gardening tools, railway locomotives, and ambulances. Under Trump’s plan, these tariffs would be reflected in tariffs charged on our exports to the US – unless we choose to ditch the tariffs, in which case Trump’s reciprocal tariffs will be lifted.
“It’s a no-brainer. By scrapping our remaining tariffs we can spare local exporters from the cost of a reciprocal American regime. At the same time, we’ll be cutting the cost of popular imported goods for Kiwi households and firms.
“When two countries trade, both are better off. New Zealand has preached the gospel of free trade on the world stage since the 1980s, and it’s time to start practising what we preach.
“It appears possible that Trump’s plan will impose a reciprocal tariff in response to our GST regime. This would impose a significant cost on companies exporting to the US. Abolishing our remaining tariffs would at least somewhat offset this cost.”
In a report released today, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has called for new standalone legislation directed at preemptively policing protest.
“I completely reject the IPCA recommendation for a specific protest law. It will limit our fundamental rights and freedoms,” said Valerie Morse.
“We already have a great protest law: it’s called the NZ bill of rights.”
“Police regularly try to limit or shut down protests that are simply embarrassing or unhelpful for the government. They cannot be trusted to prioritise people’s rights at protests.”
“I have been arrested a number of times at protests. When these charges have gone to court the judge has thrown them out. If the police had had their way these protests never would have occurred.”
“Just because similar jurisdictions have laws about policing protests doesn’t mean that they are a good idea. The US, UK and Australia are all suffering from extreme democratic deficits – in part due to authoritarian responses like these anti-protest laws.”
Today’s release of two reports into the protection of personal information show agencies must be better at privacy, says Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster.
The Inquiry into how government agencies protected personal information for the 2023 Census and COVID-19 vaccination programme (the PSC Inquiry) and the Independent investigation and assurance review of allegations of misuse of 2023 Census information (the Stats NZ report), show the protection of personal information needs to be treated as a priority.
Several matters have now been referred to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (these are detailed below).
Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster said he is carefully reviewing the referrals raised in the two reports. That work will be done in the context the Privacy Act and the need to ensure individuals’ rights to privacy is protected and respected.
“New Zealanders need to be confident that when they do activities, like filling in their Census form, or giving over information for medical services, that their information is collected, used, and shared as the law outlines it should be,” says Mr Webster.
“The Privacy Act is very clear that agencies collecting personal information need to keep it safe and treat it with care. This responsibility extends to the use of third-party service providers.
Agencies need to be confident that personal information is protected wherever and whatever organisation is handling it.”
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has recently issued guidance to help agencies working with third-party providers understand their responsibilities.
Mr Webster said he was encouraged to see that work on a new information sharing standard is underway, supporting the information stewardship framework at the core of the Privacy Act.
“Its important people can trust that their information is treated with care. In our 2024 Privacy Survey the percentage of people who said they are “more concerned” about privacy issues over the last few years has increased to 55%, a 14% increase from two years ago. New Zealanders were clear in their response to these concerns:
80% want more control and choice over the collection and use of their personal information.
63% said protecting their personal information is a major concern in their lives.
around two-thirds of New Zealanders are concerned about businesses or government
organisations sharing their personal information without telling them.
“Good privacy is an essential part of providing services and doing business in a digital economy. Today’s findings should be a reminder to government organisations that good privacy practices aren’t an optional extra but are fundamental to the work they do,” says the Commissioner.
A number of questions have now been referred to the Privacy Commissioner by the PSC Inquiry:
Whether systems and controls were appropriate for personal data following its transmission by Te Whatu Ora, the Ministry of Health and Stats NZ to service providers
Whether there were appropriate means in place for these public agencies to be confident that their service providers were meeting their contractual privacy requirements
Whether personal information was collected or used by Manurewa Marae for unauthorised purposes
Whether separation of personal data from Census data was maintained at Manurewa Marae, and whether privacy statements were adequate to inform people about the use of their information.
A further matter has been referred to the Privacy Commissioner by the Stats NZ report about the collection and management of personal information and confidential census data.
While the review of the referrals takes place, the Office will not be making any further comment.
“The ACT Party can’t be bothered putting an MP on one of the Justice subcommittees hearing submissions on their own Treaty Principles Bill,” Labour Justice Spokesperson Duncan Webb said.
“It is bad enough that ACT has put New Zealand through the expense and anguish of this doomed Bill, but to then refuse to hear oral submissions is utterly disrespectful, lazy, and it shows that this is all just a stunt by David Seymour.
“It is outrageous that $6 million of the taxpayer’s money is being misused to promote ACT Party ideology, while Christopher Luxon stands idly by. For the ACT Party to refuse to send an MP to hear 30 of the 80 hours of submissions just adds insult to injury.
“Thousands of New Zealanders have spent hours carefully preparing their submissions and some have been invited to submit to the select committee. Those submitters deserve to have the ACT Party listen to what they have to say. The ACT Party’s suggestion that they have more important things to do is insulting and disingenuous,” Duncan Webb said.
Returning the Ō-Rākau battle site to tūpuna ownership will help to recognise the past and safeguard their stories for the benefit of future generations, Minister for Māori Crown Relations Tama Potaka says. The Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passed its third reading at Parliament today. The Bill will vest the title to the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres east of Kihikihi, in ngā tūpuna o Ō-Rākau – the ancestors of Ō-Rākau. “This unique arrangement acknowledges those who were present during the battle or had traditional connections to the land,” Mr Potaka says. “The battle site will be managed by a body representing the descendants of ngā tūpuna, as well as their whānau, hapū and Iwi. “I know it’s been a long journey to achieve this result and I acknowledge the work of Maniapoto, Raukawa, Waikato and all others whose mahi has contributed to the return of the whenua. “Since 2015, the Crown and Iwi have worked closely together to return the whenua at Ō-Rākau and honour the tūpuna who had connections to that land. Ō-Rākau was the site of the last major battle in the Crown’s 1863-64 invasion of Waikato. Between 31 March and 2 April 1864, around 300 Māori, many of them women and children, defended their pa against an attack by 1,400 British troops. An estimated half of the defenders were killed during the fighting and subsequent retreat and the land was subsequently confiscated by the Crown. “Ō-Rākau was the site of an important conflict in our nation’s history and I was honoured to attend the 160th anniversary commemorations there last year. “Today is the next step on a journey taken together by Crown and Iwi in recognition of our shared experiences together.” E hoki ana te pae riri o Ō-Rākau ki raro i te rangatiratanga o ngā tūpuna Mā te hokinga o te pae riri o Ō-Rākau ki raro i te rangatiratanga o ngā tūpuna ka āhukahukatia tō rātou onamata, ka whakamarua ā rātou kōrero hei painga mō ngā whakatupuranga kei te heke mai, te kī a te Minita mō Te Arawhiti, a Tama Potaka. Kua pāhi Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara i muri i te pānuitanga tuatoru i te Pāremata i tēnei rā. Ka tukuna e te Pire te taitara ki te pae riri e 9.7 heketea te rahi, e 5 kiromita te tawhiti whakaterāwhiti o Kihikihi, ki ngā tūpuna o Ō-Rākau. “Ko tā tēnei whakaritenga ahurei he āhukahuka i ērā i reira i te wā o te pakanga, i whai hononga taketake rānei ki taua whenua,” hei tā Minita Potaka. “Ka whakahaeretia te pae riri e tētahi rōpū e whakakanohi ana i ngā uri o aua tūpuna, i ō rātou whānau, hapū, iwi anō hoki. “E mōhio ana ahau he roa te huarahi i whāia kia puta ai tēnei otinga, me āku mihi ki ērā mahi nunui a Maniapoto, a Raukawa, a Waikato, a ētahi atu rānei i whai wāhi ki te whakahokinga o te papa whenua nei. “Mai i 2015 he kaha te mahi ngātahi a te Karauna me ngā Iwi ki te whakahoki i te whenua i Ō-Rākau me te whakamiha i ngā tūpuna i whai hononga ki taua pito whenua. Ko Ō-Rākau te pae o te pakanga nui whakamutunga o tā te Karauna urutomokanga o Waikato i te 1863-64. I waenga i te 31 o Māehe me te 2 o Aperira 1864 i whakangungua e tōna 300 tāngata Māori, ko te tokomaha o rātou he wāhine me te tamariki, tō rātou pā ki tētahi pāhatanga e ngā hōia Piritene 1,400. Ko te whakatau tata, i whakamatea tata ki te haurua o ngā kaiwawao i ngā wā o te pakanga, me te whakatahinga i whai muri, ka mutu, he mea raupatu te whenua e te Karauna. “Ko Ō-Rākau te pae o tētahi pakanga nui i te hītori o te motu, ā, nōku te whiwhi i tae atu au ki reira mō te whakanuinga huritau 160 i tērā tau. “Ko tēnei rā he wāhanga anō i te haerenga ngātahi o te Karauna me ngā Iwi ki te āhukahuka i ō mātou hononga tētahi ki tētahi.”
Last updated 18 February 2025 Last updated 18 February 2025
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This page provides information about tertiary education organisations’ (TEOs’) reporting on TEO-led Workplace Literacy and Numeracy (TEO-led WLN) delivery, and our monitoring of their performance. This page provides information about tertiary education organisations’ (TEOs’) reporting on TEO-led Workplace Literacy and Numeracy (TEO-led WLN) delivery, and our monitoring of their performance.
For information about Employer-led Workplace Literacy and Numeracy (EWLN) reporting and monitoring, see Employer-led Workplace Literacy and Numeracy (EWLN) Fund. Reporting If you receive TEO-led WLN funding, you must submit:
a progress report for the period 1 January to 31 May no later than 10 working days after 31 May; and a progress report for the period 1 January to 30 September no later than 10 working days after 30 September; and a final report for the period 1 January to 31 December no later than 31 January of the following year.
Each progress report and the final report must:
be submitted in accordance with the template that we will provide to you; and relate to the specific delivery commitments outlined in your Investment Plan.
For details about the information we require you to report, please refer to Data requirements: Other Fund Actuals. Templates for the two progress reports and one final report are available for TEOs to complete and submit by the due dates on DXP Ngā Kete. Monitoring We monitor TEO performance and practices to understand their performance in the sector, and to inform our decisions about future funding they may receive. We monitor a TEO’s:
achievement of mix of provision (MoP) delivery commitments compliance with TEO-led WLN funding conditions for the relevant year compliance with legislative requirements, and achievement of other expectations that we communicate to TEOs.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advises resurfacing work will take place on southbound lanes 1 & 2 (clip-on lanes) of the Auckland Harbour Bridge this weekend.
This will require longer than a typical overnight closure due to the nature of the material used to pave the bridge. Southbound lanes 1 & 2 (clip-on lanes) will be closed from 9pm Saturday 22 February until 12pm Sunday 23 February while this work is carried out. Shelly Beach southbound off-ramp will also be closed.
Traffic will still be able to cross the bridge in both directions at all times during the works.
We recommend using State Highway 16 Western Ring Route where possible to avoid congestion. The route carries traffic between SH1 Constellation Drive and SH1 Manukau using State Highway 18, SH16 and State Highway 20.
This work has been scheduled on a weekend to avoid disrupting peak travel times during the week.
Please be patient and treat our crews with kindness and respect. Reduce your speed, adhere to the temporary speed limits and follow the traffic management directions at our work sites.
This work is weather dependent and there may be changes to the planned works in the case of unsuitable weather. Please visit the NZTA Journey Planner website for up-to-date information on these works, including any changes due to weather.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is urging drivers to expect delays following a truck breakdown on Hawke’s Bay Expressway.
The truck is partially blocking the northbound lane just before Tutaekuri River Bridge.
The southbound lane is unaffected.
However motorists through this area are currently experiencing significant delays. Please avoid this stretch of road if possible and plan ahead, until the truck can be removed from the road.
The MICHELIN Guide announced its arrival in Manila and Environs & Cebu for an upcoming 2026 selection
The restaurant selection for the inaugural edition will be revealed in the last quarter of 2025
The renowned anonymous MICHELIN Inspectors are already in the field
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 February 2025 – The MICHELIN Guide announced today its latest expansion into the vibrant culinary landscapes of Manila and Cebu. This new selection will focus on the bustling Metro Manila and the dynamic city of Cebu, while also beginning to explore the environs of Manila, including Pampanga, Tagaytay, and Cavite. The prestigious guide revealed that its independent, anonymous inspectors have been thoroughly exploring these regions to identify the most outstanding dining venues. This selection will highlight the best of Manila and Environs & Cebu’s dining scene, showcasing talented chefs and teams who embody passion, creativity, and respect for local culinary traditions.
“Our MICHELIN Inspectors have been following the evolution of the Filipino culinary scene with great excitement. The country’s deep-rooted culinary traditions, combined with a strong openness to global influences, create a uniquely diverse dining culture.” Explained Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides. “In Manila, we see young, talented chefs redefining Filipino cuisine with fresh perspectives, while Cebu, as a leading tourist destination, offers an impressive range of dining experiences with world-class hospitality.”
With its 7,641 islands, diverse regional cuisines, and cultural fusion, the Philippines has a thriving food scene that embraces both authentic heritage and contemporary innovation. From Manila & Environs, where Filipino cuisine thrives with strong regional identity, to Cebu, a globally recognized tourism hub with a flourishing hospitality industry, the country’s culinary landscape continues to evolve, attracting food lovers from around the world.
A standout example of the Philippines’ celebrated cuisine is lechon, a signature dish deeply embedded in Filipino culture. Particularly famous in Cebu, lechon has gained global recognition for its perfectly crisp skin and flavorful, tender meat, often enjoyed during festive celebrations and special gatherings. The presence of iconic dishes like lechon further elevates the Philippines as a top culinary destination, drawing food lovers eager to experience its bold flavors and rich traditions. The MICHELIN Guide’s recognition will further elevate Filipino cuisine on the international stage and expand global appreciation for the country’s diverse and dynamic food culture.
The arrival of the MICHELIN Guide is supported by the Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT). Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco stated, “We extend our warmest welcome to the MICHELIN Guide whose international recognition of the Philippines’ rich culinary heritage celebrates the diversity of flavors and exceptional creativity that permeate our nation. We are proud to share our vibrant culture and distinct cuisines to the world, which can be enjoyed through exceptional dining experiences across our dynamic cities and beautiful islands. We invite travelers to visit the Philippines and experience the love, warmth, and creativity of Filipino cuisine, while savoring innovative culinary creations shaped by diverse global influences.“
“The arrival of the MICHELIN Guide is not only a testament to our country’s culinary excellence but also a significant leap forward for Filipino tourism, with gastronomy now forming a key part of our national tourism priorities. In the Philippines, every dish tells a story and every flavor is an invitation to experience our nation’s rich cultural tapestry,” Secretary Frasco added.
The MICHELIN Guide Methodology
The MICHELIN Guide was created in 1900 by the Michelin tire company to support the growth of automobile mobility. Since then, it has remained loyal to its original mission: to settle in mature gastronomic destinations, to guide international travelers and local foodies to the best restaurants, to highlight world culinary scenes and to promote travel culture.
The selection will follow MICHELIN’s historic method based on five universal criteria to ensure consistency between each selection, including;
The quality of the ingredients
The mastery of cooking techniques
The harmony of flavors
The personality of the cuisine
The consistency both over time and through the menu as a whole
The MICHELIN Guide Restaurant Selection
The MICHELIN Guide conveys its restaurant reviews through an extensive system of distinctions, which are awarded to special restaurants within its full selection. The most famous distinctions are its globally renowned MICHELIN Stars awarded to the restaurant offering the best culinary experiences. One MICHELIN Star is awarded to restaurants for “high-quality cooking that is worth a stop,” two MICHELIN Stars for “excellent cooking that is worth a detour,” and three MICHELIN Stars for “exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey.”
Alongside the coveted Star ratings, the selection also includes the popular Bib Gourmand category, a distinction awarded to restaurants that provide good quality food at a moderate price.
The MICHELIN Guide is committed to maintaining the highest global standards in its restaurant selection process. Our team of anonymous, experienced, and expert inspectors conduct continuous and rigorous evaluations of restaurants. These evaluations are carried out objectively and independently, ensuring that external factors do not influence the results. This dedication to impartiality and excellence guarantees that only the outstanding dining establishments are recognized.
The full restaurant selection of the MICHELIN Guide Manila and Environs & Cebu 2026 will be unveiled at a special event to be held in the last quarter of 2025. It will be available exclusively in digital format on all the Guide’s interfaces: website, mobile applications, and social networks. It will join the global MICHELIN Guide restaurant and hotel selections to be found for free on its digital platforms.
To learn more about the MICHELIN Guide history, methodology or selection organization, please visit guide.michelin.com or follow updates on facebook.com/MichelinGuideAsia and instagram.com/michelinguide.
The MICHELIN Guide Worldwide app foriOSandAndroiddevices.
