International scam artist held to account

August 29, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Like a scene straight out of a movie, an international scam artist has been caught – this time by New Zealand Police.

A 32-year-old man was sentenced at Christchurch District Court yesterday to one year and three months’ imprisonment.

On Tuesday 17 June, Christchurch Police were notified that a hotel guest had left without paying for his two-week stay.

A staff member of the hotel uncovered more deception when alerting other hotels in the city – they had similar offending dating back to 5 May.

The quick actions of Police staff resulted in locating the man, where he was arrested on a charge of obtaining by deception (over $1,000).

Detective Sergeant Michael Freeman says by the next day Police identified three other hotels where the man had offended, alongside multiple unsuccessful attempts.

“Across the four hotels we know of, he has $15,290.61 of unpaid debts.”

Three further charges were laid for obtaining by deception, as well as one charge of failing to carry out obligations in relation to a computer search.

Detective Sergeant Freeman says it soon became clear that the man’s offending may not be limited to Christchurch.

Hotels in Greece, Thailand, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and Cambodia all reported similar offending.

“The man is alleged to have used different names, scamming many victims out of thousands of dollars by posing as a United Nations official procuring aid for charities linked to the war in Ukraine.”

The man is also alleged to have convinced a woman she was being stalked when in fact he was responsible for the acts of intimidation. Another victim, residing in Cambodia, claims he is owed thousands of dollars as an employee who was never paid.

Following the man’s arrest in New Zealand, Police found the man had previously been convicted in the United Kingdom for theft, fraud, and ‘befriending vulnerable people’, the latter in relation to impersonating a paramedic, complete with his own fake ambulance response vehicle.

Detective Sergeant Freeman says he appears to be a scam artist who has been victimising people all over the world, for years.

“A few people have likened him to Frank Abagnale, the real-life inspiration for the film Catch Me If You Can.

“The only key difference is that unlike being arrested by the French Police like Abagnale, the man was arrested by us.

“This movie-like scenario doesn’t happen to Police often, so it is nice to see an offender be held to account for this type of offending.

“Immigration New Zealand and Interpol are now involved, and it is likely more information will surface. “

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

Government Cuts – Department of Internal Affairs job cuts will mean more violent extremism and child exploitation – PSA

LiveNews Publisher

August 29, 2025

Source: PSA

Job cuts to the Digital Safety team at the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) confirmed yesterday will see more violent extremism and child exploitation online.

A change decision announced yesterday will see a net loss of 60 jobs, with another 66 fixed-term roles to close.

“These cuts mean more child exploitation and violent extremism: it’s that simple. These cuts are dangerous and irresponsible and will do harm,” Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, says.

“The latest cuts come on top of heavy job losses over the past few years. These teams have been reduced so much that it is impossible to expect the same output of them.

Some of the critical workers affected is the Digital Safety team, who monitor online extremism and work with other agencies to shut down emerging threats.

“The Digital Safety team has been so understaffed that they have not been able to proactively scan for emerging threats and trends in violent extremism for the past 18 months. This scanning is crucial for early threat detection and informing law enforcement. Without it, the team are operating reactively, which increases risks to public safety.

“The loss of this expertise is hugely damaging for New Zealand, these experts are world-renowned.

“Digital Safety work with domestic and international agencies to prevent online harm in relation to child sexual exploitation and violent extremist content. This team needs more investment, not less, as extremists are becoming more sophisticated every day.

“These workers say that the persistent reductions to their team over the years has led not only to increased pressure on them but a degradation of the critical function they carry out.

“We urge the DIA to listen to their own staff and put in place the right resources to protect New Zealanders from predators and bad actors online.”

MIL OSI

Hun Ming Kwang, Founder of InnerWork Circle, Wins Excellence in Professional Coaching Award at Ignite Global 2025

MIL OSI

August 29, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 August 2025 – Hun Ming Kwang, founder of Singapore-based coaching and consulting practice InnerWork Circle, has received the Excellence in Professional Coaching award at the Ignite Global Awards 2025. The ceremony, held in Bangkok on 16 August, recognised leading practitioners in coaching and personal development from around the world.

Ignite Global is an international platform that promotes professional coaching and leadership excellence. Its annual awards highlight individuals who set high standards of practice and impact across industries and communities.

An internationally recognised inner work specialist and life coach, Hun Ming Kwang is known for his work in inner development and leadership transformation. He is the author of five books, including four titles on mental health published by Penguin Random House SEA, and has worked with organisations, institutions, and communities worldwide to help individuals and groups navigate complexity and change.

Under his leadership, InnerWork Circle has partnered with corporations, institutions, and communities to strengthen organisational culture, guide leadership transitions, and resolve systemic challenges. Using Processwork Psychology and integrating systemic, somatic, and transpersonal methods, the practice equips leaders and organisations to manage complexity and deliver lasting results.

“This recognition is not just about personal achievement but about raising the standards of coaching and leadership globally,” said Hun Ming Kwang. “My mission is to help leaders and communities navigate complexity with clarity, and to create change that endures.”

Looking ahead, InnerWork Circle continues to roll out programmes and initiatives in Singapore and across the region to strengthen leadership capacity, build resilient organisational cultures, and equip people to navigate today’s challenges with clarity and purpose. For more information, visit https://innerworkcircle.consult.com.sg/.

https://innerworkcircle.consult.com.sg/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mingkwang/
https://x.com/hunmingkwang
https://www.facebook.com/hunmingkwang
https://www.instagram.com/hunmingkwangofficial/

Hashtag: #InnerWorkCircle #HunMingKwang

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Universities – Pacific elders missing out on health support services – UoA

LiveNews Publisher

August 29, 2025

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Older Pacific Island people receive significantly less funded community support services than European New Zealanders, a problem being investigated by University of Auckland senior lecturer in psychiatry Dr Etuini Ma’u.

The Health Research Council has granted $1.2 million to Ma’u to examine why Pacific elders are missing out on community services – and the impacts on their wellbeing.

Ma’u, who also works as a psychiatrist caring for older people in Waikato, says Pacific people are less likely to receive an interRAI (International Resident Assessment Instrument) health assessment than Pakeha New Zealanders.

This assessment is used to gauge older people’s physical and mental health needs, if they have symptoms of dementia, whether they need extra support to stay in their home, and if they might need residential care.

The researchers will analyse data from three Pacific health service providers in Auckland, Waikato and Christchurch to see how many Pacific people aged 60 and over currently receive the interRAI assessment and can therefore access the support services they need.

“We don’t know what the level of unmet need is, so we want to find out who we are missing,” says Ma’u, a Tongan New Zealander.

Pacific elders with dementia are three times less likely to go into residential care than European New Zealanders, he says.

Among those remaining in the community, only 33 percent of Pacific people diagnosed with dementia through one specialist memory service have ever used community services they were eligible for.

“Pacific people tend to have more health conditions and a higher burden of disease, so you would expect Pacific elders to have more support needs, not less.

“We’re obviously missing a big chunk of the people and that’s the driver of this research,” the 45-year-old says.

The study will assess 400 Pacific elders who have never had an interRAI assessment to see what services they are potentially missing out on. They will be referred to services they are eligible for and followed up to see what supports they end up using and how this influences their health a year later.

The research team will examine why Pacific elders who receive an interRAI assessment and are offered health and support services often don’t use those services. The range of services includes everything from funding family members or support workers to provide personal care, to day programmes offering therapeutic activities and social contact.

During the three-year project, Waikato University Associate Professor Sione Vaka will arrange several talanoa, or gatherings, for 20 Pacific elders and their caregivers to provide more in-depth views on the interRAI assessment, support services and how services could be improved.

“We want to understand the barriers in the current system, not just to receiving an assessment, but why there’s reluctance to use the services on offer, why they’re not seen as appropriate,” Ma’u says.

The researchers will also look at whether receiving the assessment and using services affects how many GP and hospital visits are made by Pacific elders.

“People who don’t get the assessment or access services are likely to have a lower quality of life, because they’re not receiving as much social interaction or the supports that would keep them at home for longer,” Ma’u says.

If Pacific elders are not using support services, the family often takes on a bigger caregiving load, he says.

“The burden of unpaid caregiving by family members of older Pacific people is massive.

“Carers might have to leave the workforce or take time off work to care for a loved one, but it’s not just financial, there’s also an emotional and physical toll.

“Carers tend to neglect their own health because of what’s happening, so they have poorer mental and physical health,” he says.

MIL OSI

Animal Welfare – Billboards, cinema ads, and a call to Fonterra: SAFE marks Bobby Calf Awareness Day – SAFE

LiveNews Publisher

August 29, 2025

Source: SAFE For Animals

This Sunday is Bobby Calf Awareness Day – a day to recognise the two million newborn calves who are separated from their mothers and killed every year by New Zealand’s dairy industry.

To mark the day, SAFE has launched a nationwide campaign with cinema ads, digital advertising, and billboards, including one placed outside Fonterra’s Auckland headquarters. The campaign also coincides with the tenth anniversary of SAFE’s internationally recognised Calf in a Glass campaign, which exposed the hidden suffering of bobby calves and forced limited reforms.

SAFE has invited Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell to sit down over a coffee and talk about what a future without this cruelty could look like.

“Ten years on from Calf in a Glass, little has changed for calves,” says SAFE Campaigns Manager Emma Brodie.

“Every year, calves are torn from their mothers within hours of birth, while their mothers call out for them in distress. It’s a cycle of suffering repeated millions of times, and it continues today.”

“It’s time for Fonterra to start looking seriously at animal-free technologies and plant-based innovation that could end the killing of bobby calves for good.”

SAFE says the cost of dairy is not borne by calves alone. The industry is Aotearoa’s biggest climate polluter and a leading cause of freshwater degradation yet continues to market itself as “sustainable.”

“Protecting calves and protecting the environment are two sides of the same problem, and both demand urgent action,” says Brodie.

SAFE is urging the public to mark Bobby Calf Awareness Day by going dairy-free this Sunday – a small action with a big impact for calves and the planet.

“Every dairy product on the shelf represents a calf taken from their mother,” says Brodie.

“This is the hidden cost behind New Zealand’s dairy industry. Calves deserve better, and they cannot wait another ten years for change.”

SAFE is Aotearoa’s leading animal rights organisation.

We’re creating a future that ensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core work empowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves, animals and our planet.

Notes:

Bobby calves refer to newborn calves (males who can’t be used for milking and unwanted females) who are considered surplus to the needs of the dairy industry. Every year in New Zealand, around two million are separated from their mothers shortly after birth and slaughtered within their first week of life. Their bodies are then processed into veal, pet food, and pharmaceuticals.

In 2015, SAFE published advertisements in the UK Guardian drawing attention to the plight of New Zealand’s bobby calves. In response to the pressure created by Calf in a Glass and subsequent investigations, the Government introduced the regulations on the care and treatment of bobby calves, which required calves to be at least four days old and fit before transport, capped journeys at 12 hours, and prohibited sea transport across the Cook Strait. The regulations also banned blunt force trauma as a method of killing (except in emergencies), required calves to be fed at least once within 24 hours before slaughter (from February 2017), and mandated suitable shelter and proper loading facilities during transport (from August 2017). While these reforms somewhat improved handling and transport conditions, they did not address the fundamental issue of calves being separated from their mothers and slaughtered at only a few days old.

Earlier this month, SAFE received footage from Lincoln University’s Dairy Demonstration Farm – a facility presented as “world best-practice” and a training ground for the next generation of farmers. The footage shows the reality behind the PR: newborn calves being born into mud, piled on top of each other in trailers where they risk suffocation and injury, and a mother chased aggressively on a quad bike after separation from her calf. This footage reveals the ongoing suffering that the dairy industry fails to acknowledge, highlighting why campaigns like Bobby Calf Awareness Day remain urgent and necessary. All images and footage from Lincoln University must credit Matt Coffey.

MIL OSI

Business – Alvarium acquires 100% of Salt Funds Management

LiveNews Publisher

August 29, 2025

Source: Rātā Invest

Alvarium (NZ) Wealth Management Holdings Ltd (Alvarium), parent company of Alvarium Wealth and Pathfinder Asset Management, is pleased to announce the effective acquisition of 100% of Salt Funds

Management for an undisclosed sum. The transaction increases Alvarium’s total assets under advice to more than NZD$4.3 billion.

Alvarium has completed this strategic acquisition to expand its investment platform capabilities. The acquisition enhances the firm’s existing service architecture and expands its product suite to deliver greater investment diversification and client optionality. Solely owned by New Zealanders, this news reinforces their long-term vision and commitment to New Zealand.

As a specialised financial services firm serving high-net-worth families and individuals, foundations, and next-generation wealth holders, Alvarium delivers bespoke advisory services, alternative investment strategies, and proprietary investment solutions, and through the Pathfinder KiwiSaver Plan and Managed Fund solutions.

The integration aligns with Alvarium’s boutique positioning while enhancing its institutional capabilities and broadening its investment management platform.

“Salt has built an exceptional reputation as an active fund manager with robust investment processes and successful track record of style-agnostic investing,” said Alvarium Wealth Chair, Shane Edmond. “We are looking forward to working with their experienced investment team as we align to further grow these strong funds management businesses and considerable wealth advisory platform.”

Salt is committed to active fund management and places great emphasis on its rigorous in-house fundamental research. Salt is well known for its innovative products such as the Salt Long Short Fund, the listed Carbon Fund, and the Salt NZ Dividend Appreciation Fund. Continuity under the existing investment management teams will ensure preservation of Salt’s established investment processes and the managers’ proven track record of generating strong risk-adjusted performance for investors.

“Alvarium has been very successful in bringing together multiple businesses with a focus on creating wealth for their clients,” said Salt Managing Director, Matthew Goodson. “Alvarium is an ideal fit for the Salt team. They have a tremendous franchise with their Pathfinder KiwiSaver Plan and funds, with market-leading ESG practices and capability. We are excited by the outlook when we add our fundamental research skills to this.”

Since inception Salt has been wholly owned by its investment personnel, and these individuals will remain co-owners, via equity ownership in Alvarium.The Alvarium family of wealth advisers, investment and operations professionals will not change, and we welcome the Salt team to support our continued delivery of best-in-class financial advice and wealth management.

On 1 April 2025, Rātā Foundation made a strategic direct investment in Alvarium Wealth/Pathfinder, acquiring a 25% stake in the firm.

Rātā Chief Executive Leighton Evans says, “The investment in Alvarium reflects our long-term strategy to grow the capital base of Rātā through direct, values-aligned partnerships. The acquisition of Salt Funds is a natural extension of that strategy—bringing together strong investment capability with a shared commitment to ethical outcomes. This is about more than financial growth; it’s about ensuring our investments reflect the aspirations of the communities we serve and enable us to increase our impact over time.”

As the South Island’s largest community investment fund, Rātā Foundation manages a $700 million pūtea, supporting social initiatives across its region with approximately $26 million annually.

Background

On 1 April 2025, Rātā Foundation made a strategic direct investment in Alvarium Wealth/Pathfinder, acquiring a 25% stake in the firm.

Alvarium has now acquired 100% of Salt Funds to expand its investment platform capabilities, increasing total assets under advice to over NZD$4.3 billion.

Q1: Why did Alvarium acquire Salt Funds Management?

Salt brings a strong track record in active fund management and a suite of high-performing products, including the Salt Long/Short Fund, Carbon Fund, and Dividend Appreciation Fund.

Q2: How does this acquisition align with Rātā Foundation’s investment strategy?

This acquisition is a natural extension of the Rātā direct investment strategy. It strengthens Alvarium’s institutional capabilities and broadens its product suite—enhancing diversification and values-aligned investment options. It also supports the Rātā goal of growing its capital base through strategic partnerships that deliver both financial and social returns.

Q3: What does this mean for Rātā commitment to ethical investing?

Salt’s investment philosophy—focused on structural market inefficiencies and risk-adjusted returns—complements Rātā ESG-I values. The acquisition reinforces Rātā leadership in ethical investment and its commitment to Tiakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Manaakitanga, and Kotahitanga.

Q4: Is this consistent with Rātā SIPO?

Yes. The Rātā Foundation Statement of Investment Policies and Objectives (SIPO) allows up to 30% of its portfolio to be allocated to direct investments. These are expected to improve long-term financial returns, increase distributions to communities, and align with Rātā purpose of creating equity, sustainability, and ESG-I aspirations.

Q5: What are the risks and how are they being managed?

Risks include market volatility, stakeholder scepticism, and reputational exposure. These are mitigated through clear values-based messaging, transparent governance, and ongoing alignment with Rātā ESG-I standards.

Q6: What impact will this have on South Island communities?

The partnership enhances Rātā ability to deliver impact through ethical investment. It supports community wellbeing by increasing the capital available for grants and aligning investments with local aspirations—particularly in Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, and the Chatham Islands.

Q7: What future growth opportunities does this acquisition unlock?

The acquisition of Salt Funds positions Alvarium—and by extension Rātā—as a key player in the evolving landscape of ethical and values-aligned investment. With over NZD$4.3 billion in assets under advice, the expanded platform offers:

Enhanced diversification: Salt’s fund suite adds new investment strategies, including long/short, carbon-focused, and dividend appreciation funds.
Stronger institutional capability: Alvarium’s boutique advisory model is now backed by Salt’s robust investment processes and style-agnostic approach.
Scalable impact: The combined entity is better equipped to pursue larger, more complex investments that align with Rātā strategic pou—housing, health, education, and environment.

Q8: How does this benefit our stakeholders?

Stakeholders—including community partners, fund managers, and grantees—stand to gain from:

Increased distributions: Improved financial returns from direct investments will grow the Rātā pūtea over time, enabling more funding for community initiatives.
Greater transparency: Rātā leadership in ethical investment and its commitment to ESG-I (ESG + Indigenous) principles ensure that stakeholders can trust the integrity of its investment decisions.
Stronger partnerships: The acquisition strengthens the ability of Rātā to co-invest with aligned organisations, iwi, and community trusts, fostering collaborative growth.

Q9: What is the social impact of this investment?

This transaction is more than financial—it’s a strategic move to amplify Rātā purpose:

Values-aligned investing: Salt’s ethical investment philosophy complements Rātā Foundation’s commitment to Tiakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Manaakitanga, and Kotahitanga.
Community wellbeing: Increased investment returns mean more resources for grants, loans, and local ventures that directly benefit Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, and the Chatham Islands.
Leadership in impact investing: Rātā is setting a precedent for how other community trusts and foundations can create social impact while maintaining financial discipline.

Visit www.ratainvest.org.nz for more on our investment approach.

MIL OSI

Banking – Park Hyatt Auckland achieves best-in-class sustainability rating with ASB backing

LiveNews Publisher

August 29, 2025

Source: ASB

Park Hyatt Auckland is the first hotel in New Zealand to be awarded the coveted 4-star Green Star Performance Rating by the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC).

Green Star Performance sets out a range of criteria that is used to determine if a building and its operations are best practice in terms of sustainability. This was adopted and adapted for the New Zealand market from the Australian tool with input from the New Zealand property sector.

ASB provided lending through its Sustainable Transition Loan along with advisory services, to support Park Hyatt Auckland through the rigorous certification process and ultimately achieve the impressive certification. The Green Star Rating ensures sustainability claims are substantiated and backed up by a commitment to continuously maintain and improve performance, with energy and water efficiency monitored annually and a full re-certification completed every three years.

From its innovative 85,000-litre collection tank that filters rainwater through the building to flush toilets and water plants, the philosophy flows right down to the ground floor kitchen, where food waste is converted into renewable energy. With the hotel generating an average of 45 bins of food waste per month, each weighing around 150kgs, this amounts to approximately 6,700 kilos of food waste per month that’s diverted from landfill. Other leftover ingredients are either composted or donated to charitable organisations.

“We’re proud of leading the way by achieving this prestigious performance rating, and we’re thrilled the Council has recognised our commitment to balancing a superb guest experience with responsible resource use,” says Park Hyatt Auckland General Manager Brett Sweetman. “When the hotel project began in 2015, we already had sustainability in mind, and it continues to be very important to us – right down to locally sourced ingredients and even the sustainably sourced paper we use in the meeting room.”

“This is a tremendous achievement and shows real leadership for the sector,” says NZGBC Senior Manager Bobby Shen. “By going through this process, the Park Hyatt Auckland team has benchmarked vital elements like indoor air quality, temperature comfort, and efficiency that will support visitors to Tāmaki Makaurau to have a healthy, comfortable stay, while also ensuring they’re measuring and working to reduce their impact on the planet.”

“Discerning travellers increasingly expect luxury hotels to demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainability. At Park Hyatt Auckland, we believe true luxury lies not only in exceptional experiences, but also in operating responsibly and with respect for our environment and community,” says Mr Sweetman. “ASB has been instrumental in joining the dots of what’s possible and how to bring those ideas to fruition to make them not only commercially viable and but also to lower emissions.”

ASB’s General Manager Commercial Banking and Business Strategy Ben Speedy describes sustainability as a ‘win-win’.

“We see time and time again that enabling building owners to analyse their operations from an environmental perspective inevitably leads to lower costs,” he says. “It’s not just ‘feel-good’ factor, it’s also about the bottom line. Sustainable business decisions make commercial sense, and our role is to support our customers to grow their business while working towards their sustainability goals.”

ASB has now issued $1.5b of sustainable finance to support the decarbonisation of New Zealand’s property sector over the past four years. The bank is actively engaged with business customers across all sectors to help progress New Zealand’s transition to Net-Zero by 2050.

“We offer funding that kicks in straight away to back the customer while they work toward their desired goal,” says Mr Speedy. “This means that as soon as you’ve identified the next step of your sustainability journey, you’ll have ASB’s support to hit the ‘go’ button. At ASB we’re always monitoring and working to reduce our own emissions, so we share values with Park Hyatt Auckland when it comes to meaningfully contributing to our country’s net zero aspirations.”

MIL OSI

Unions propose establishment of new Workplace Education Agency – NZCTU

LiveNews Publisher

August 29, 2025

Source: NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is calling on political parties to adopt their new policy to establish a Workplace Education Agency. The agency would provide support for unions to build their capacity and better engage with employers.

The proposal is the first in a series of NZCTU policies that political parties will be expected to adopt if they want the support of working people.

“We have an opportunity to build democratic workplaces and productive industries. We can transform how unions and employers work together,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“We have done this before, and it worked. From 1986-1992 the Trade Union Education Authority coordinated and delivered trade union education and built union capacity to carry out their role more effectively.

“The agency would support unions with training and developing their organisational capabilities.

“Trade unions are fundamental for strong democratic workplaces, and productive economies. Respecting and valuing workers is good for the economy.

“If we want fair and productive workplaces, we must invest in dedicated support for union development.

“Government supports business as standard practice yet doesn’t give any support to unions. That must change.

“Support for this proposal will tell us whether political parties are truly committed to workers,” said Wagstaff.

Port of Auckland General Manager Phil Doak has said the company supports workplace education and training and partnering with unions to achieve better outcomes.

“Port of Auckland support building and developing its people and a great workforce. We believe that there is mutual benefit from safety, leadership and business acumen training. We’ve seen immense benefit in partnering with our unions through High Performance, High Engagement (HPHE) over the past few years and encourage the adoption of HPHE as a model for collaboration in other organisations,” said Doak.

MIL OSI

Two Blenheim premises caught selling alcohol in controlled purchase operation

LiveNews Publisher

August 29, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Two premises have been caught selling alcohol to underage volunteers in Blenheim.

Blenheim Police in conjunction with Marlborough District Council licencing team conducted a controlled purchase operation on Friday (22 August).

Of the ten premises that were checked through the evening, two failed checks after serving alcohol to volunteers.

“It’s disappointing to have two premises letting down the community,” says Sergeant Graham Single.

“Two fails is too many – It’s not rocket science – no ID, no service.

“Alcohol harm has real effects on our community, so making sure all premises are complying with their liquor licencing conditions is imperative.”

Friday’s controlled purchase operation involved volunteers between the age of 15 and 17 year of age attempting to buy alcohol, at the direction of Police.

When alcohol is sold to a volunteer; the licensee, duty manager and staff member selling may all be liable to prosecution.

“Alcohol continues to one of the most destructive drugs in our community, and we all need to do our part to limit the harm.”

Licencing matters will be dealt with through the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.

MIL OSI

Health and safety reforms put workers at risk

LiveNews Publisher

August 29, 2025

Source: NZCTU

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is renewing its call on the Government to stop their planned health and safety reforms. This follows the news today that confirms the reforms have no evidential basis and are instead being driven by Act party ideology.

“It is disappointing to once again see the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety push uninformed policies that are not supported by evidence or by leaders in health and safety,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“The feedback from officials is damning and confirms what we said from the outset. These reforms will not improve health and safety outcomes at work.

“The regulatory impact statement does not state how the reforms would lead to improved safety outcomes. This shows that the intent behind these changes is not a focus on improving safety.

“The Pike River disaster was a wakeup call to up our game on health and safety. It was clear we had to improve our regulator and enforcement, as well as our laws and regulations. A broad consensus emerged to do just that. These new changes will undermine that effort.

“New Zealand has a long way to go to improving its health and safety record. Every week a worker is killed on the job, and 17 more are killed from the impact of work-related illnesses. Every year there are over 30,000 injuries that require more than a week away from work.

“The Minister seems intent on bringing back the regulatory settings that enabled the Pike River disaster. This simply is not acceptable. Her proposed changes to health and safety laws are an insult to those killed and injured at work,” said Wagstaff.

MIL OSI

1...888990...1,066 Page 89 of 1,066