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Save the Children – Kiwi kids offer solutions and call for greater action on climate crisis

Source: Save the Children

Children as young as six have contributed messages to be presented at Parliament today calling on New Zealand politicians to take greater action to help address the climate crisis.
More than 175 messages from New Zealand children and young people aged between 6 and 22 highlight young people’s fears of the impact of climate change on their futures, alongside calls for practical action such as greater investment in safe, reliable public transport, more reuseable options and less plastic in packaging; and raising awareness of the increasing impact of climate change on Pacific nations.
As six-year-old Sophie says: “I want there to be less plastic. I don’t like seeing plastic on the beach and there is lots in the ocean. I worry about spinner dolphins eating plastic. But we need plastic for food sometimes so there needs to be an invention of something else to use.”
The messages, gathered by Save the Children as part of a global campaign, Message in a Bottle, will be presented to Hon James Shaw, Minister for Climate Change by Save the Children’s local youth ambassadors in front of Parliament at 12.30pm today. The messages will then be sent to New York next month where they will be presented to world leaders attending the UN Sustainable Development Goals Summit.
“The climate crisis is a child rights crisis. Children are already experiencing the climate crisis firsthand and its impact on their health and wellbeing, but just 2.4 percent of key global climate funds can be classified as supporting child-responsive activities,” says Save the Children New Zealand’s Advocacy and Research Director Jacqui Southey.
“It’s crucial children and young people’s experiences and views are considered by decision makers as proportionately they will experience much greater impacts of the climate crisis over their lifetime.”
Alongside Minister Shaw and Ricardo Menéndez March (Greens), Hon David Parker, Minister for the Environment and Labour representative, and National’s Matt Doocey will also be in attendance meeting with Save the Children staff, youth ambassadors, and local school children.
“Our planet cries out for action, and we entrust you, our leaders, with the power to make a difference,” says Lola, 15, one of Save the Children’s youth ambassadors.
“Set aside short-term interests, embrace sustainable solutions, and forge a path towards a greener, cleaner future. Together, let us build a legacy of environmental stewardship, ensuring that the generations to come inherit a world filled with possibilities, not limitations. The time to act is now, and history will remember the choices you make today.” 
About Save the Children NZ:
Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.
Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.
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Tech News – New Initiative to Boost NZ-India Digital Links

Source: New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India

Wellington, New Zealand, 15 August 2023   Announcing the New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India to coincide with India’s Independence Day. The establishment of the Centre marks a significant milestone in fostering collaboration and leveraging synergies between New Zealand and India in the digital and tech sectors.

India, the fastest growing major economy in the world, presents a wealth of opportunities for New Zealand’s tech firms. Indian IT majors have a strong presence in New Zealand, serving local customers.

Indian IT professionals, many of whom hold senior positions within the industry, have also established their own successful IT service practices in New Zealand.

Indians also constitute a substantial proportion of digital and tech professionals at all levels in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India aims to capitalise on this collective knowledge, experience, insights, and connections between the two markets.

“There is not a single organisation which leverages this opportunity, and it is remarkable that there has been a vacuum in the space for so long,” says Sunit Prakash, Co-Founder of the New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India.

Recognising this void, the Centre will serve as a focal point and knowledge hub, to achieve the following objectives:

·       Provide inputs to government policy and strategy through submissions and active participation in advisory groups.

·       Connect businesses to new markets, enabling their success in India and New Zealand.

·       Assist organisations in their diversity and inclusion initiatives in the sector.

·       Ensure newcomers to New Zealand achieve their full potential in the shortest possible time.

“This formalises the work Sunit and I have been doing for the past few decades,” says Lalita Kasanji, Co-Founder of the Centre. “Sunit wrote op-eds ‘PatelNET’ and ‘Satellite TV Revolution in India’ for the DomPost in the 1990’s, and in the 1980’s I wrote a thesis on Indian immigration to New Zealand”.

Looking forward, the New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India hopes to play a pivotal role in the ever-evolving landscape of India and technology’s centrality to New Zealand.

Driven by its core values, the centre is fiercely independent, self-funded, transparent, inclusive, apolitical, flat, un-bureaucratic, and action-oriented.

About New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India:
The New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India is a newly established organisation dedicated to fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and growth between New Zealand and India in the digital and tech sectors. With a focus on government engagement, business connections, diversity and inclusion, and newcomer support, the centre aims to unlock the immense potential present in both markets.

https://www.cdc.kiwi

About the Founders

Sunit Prakash is an IT professional based in Wellington and previously in Sydney for a Nasdaq listed company responsible for Support Operation Asia Pacific Japan.  He holds an MBA from NMIMS, Bombay University, one of India’s top business schools.  Through his work and cohort, Sunit has a close connection with successful Indian diaspora in IT, in Australia, Singapore and Silicon Valley.  He is a published author and has written extensively on New Zealand, India, and technology and is regularly published in the national and professional press.

Lalita Kasanji completed her Masters in Sociology from Victoria University of Wellington, examining the settlement of the Gujarati community in Wellington and their integration into New Zealand society.  She played a key role in the Department of Internal Affairs’ Ethnic Affairs Service in the 1990’s which was a precursor to the Ministry for Ethnic Communities.  In her position she produced publications, presented at conferences, held workshops, and worked across agencies relating to ethnic communities. Currently she is an active board member for business and community organisations.

Lalita and Sunit recently wrote Indian IT Professionals in New Zealand in From Yesterday to Tomorrow: 60 years of tech in New Zealand (ed Janet Toland) https://history.itp.nz/part-1/prakash-kasanji.html

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Business News – Chamber welcomes removal of remaining COVID-19 restrictions

Source: Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce

The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce welcomes the removal of all remaining COVID-19 restrictions announced by the Government today.
Chief Executive, Leeann Watson says “The removal of remaining restrictions, particularly the seven-day mandatory isolation period which no longer makes sense, has been something The Chamber has long advocated for.”
“The length of isolation requirements has been disruptive, and exacerbated workforce pressures at the same time as businesses are dealing with historic labour market shortages, inflationary pressure and rising interest rates, and softening demand.
“The impacts have been felt most by sectors like manufacturing, construction, retail, and hospitality where staff can’t work from home.
“The removal of the seven-day isolation period puts us back in line with the rest of the world and will mean businesses can use common sense and knowledge of their own operations to implement policies around mask-wearing, working from home, and sick leave.
“Questions remain about whether the changes announced today will also mean the end of the COVID leave support scheme. The Chamber will continue to support members through this and encourages businesses to get in touch for advice updating any COVID and sickness policies accordingly.”
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Development and Environment – Whenuapai Green development fast-track consent declined

Source: Environmental Protection Authority

An independent panel has declined a consent application to subdivide and develop land in Whenuapai, Auckland.
Neil Construction Limited and Maraetai Land Development Limited applied for resource consent under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020. The application involves subdividing land on Totara Road, Whenuapai and constructing housing.
The decision comes 139 working days after the application was lodged with the Environmental Protection Authority.
The Environmental Protection Authority is not involved in the decision-making. We provide advice and administrative support for the panel convener, Judge Laurie Newhook, and the expert consenting panels he appoints.
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Health Investigation – Error in colostomy surgery breaches the Code C21HDC00322

Source: Health and Disability Commissioner

The Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner has found a consultant general surgeon breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights (the Code).
The breach concerns the care of a man with a spinal fracture who was partially tetraplegic and had difficulties with bowel care. The surgeon performed a laparoscopic end colostomy which diverts one end of the colon through an opening in the abdominal wall. The surgeon mistakenly formed the stoma (end of the bowel) at the wrong end, which led to bowel obstruction, and required additional hospital care and treatment.
According to the independent advisor consulted during this investigation, the formation of an end colostomy in patients with bowel dysfunction after spinal injury is a well-recognised procedure, and wrong end stoma formation is a significant technical error. Dr Vanessa Caldwell agreed that the incorrect formation of the colostomy was a departure from accepted practice.
Dr Caldwell found the surgeon breached Right 4(1) of the Code for not providing services with reasonable care and skill.
Following the surgery in a private hospital, the man was then admitted to a public hospital after developing postoperative complications. While Dr Caldwell noted there were delays in the follow-up treatment she was not critical of this, as the issues were mutli-factorial, including that wrong end stoma is rare.
Dr Caldwell acknowledged that, in addition to providing a written apology to the man and his family for the breach of the Code, the surgeon has taken a number of actions to improve his practice, including:
– Converting to open, rather than laparoscopic surgery, if there is any doubt about the correct end of the colon being made into a stoma.
– Placing his camera and operating ports on the contralateral side of the abdomen from where the stoma is being formed, and using a cut-down technique under direct vision, while performing laparoscopic colostomy.
– Remaining vigilant for the possibility of wrong end colostomy (and other complications).
– Reviewing the discharge plan with the patient (and family if necessary) and nursing staff (including the stoma nurses) daily to ensure that timing of the discharge is safe and appropriate.
The private hospital also made several changes to practice. 
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Employment Disputes – Fired Up Stilettos meet with Labour MP Ibrahim Omer to fight ‘Modern day slavery’ in strip clubs

Source: Fired Up Stilettos (FUS)

Despite months of protests and bad press (club’s name withheld) show no signs of treating their workers fairly unless forced.

Strippers’ rights activist group Fired Up Stilettos seek urgent support in parliament as strip clubs across the country continue to introduce new predatory contractual conditions unchallenged.

In the last two months dancers at a club in Christchurch have received facebook messages from management notifying them of new contract clauses, enforced by fines of hundreds of dollars.

These clauses include demanding independent contractors produce a doctors note, at their own expense, if they are too sick to work.

According FUS sources, in the last month multiple dancers have already been fined $250 for failing to submit a doctors note under the new clause.

The club is also enforcing mandatory Friday and Saturday night shifts, with any time off needing to be ‘requested’ 2 weeks in advance.

Dancers contracting to the club are forced into complying with these contracts for fear of income theft and harassment. Working for another company would require dancers to leave their home city and work elsewhere.

Speaking on the issue, Fired up Stilettos gave the following statement:

“Fines in our industry are not fines at all- they are just theft. Money taken from a dancers pay packet before they receive it, with no opportunity for disputes. Sometimes a dancer will be fined before they’ve made an income, becoming indebted to the club. They then have to return to the club to work off a debt- this is modern day slavery.”

Ibrahim Omer’s members bill to criminalise wage theft has been of interest to the Fired Up Stilettos, and had its first reading last week in Parliament. FUS members are expected to be present for the next reading in the coming weeks. The strippers’ rights activist group intends to make submissions to ensure that all contractors are also protected against income theft under this bill.

A dancer Katie* who wishes to remain anonymous is taking (the name of the club is withheld as case is pending) to the small claims court . She paid $1000 bond to the strip club and was led to believe she could have it returned when she moves on to work elsewhere. She traveled 6 hours in total to and from the venue to claim her bond:

“When I got there, one of the managers told me it was forfeited and ‘not my problem’. Their reasoning for not giving my money to me was a lie and I have proof. When I asked the other workers whether they had their money returned to them, they all  said no. They were all given excuses as to why their money was not being returned to them and felt they had no power to do anything about it. Well, I am taking them to court. I find it dispicable how they try to exploit women and gender minorities in an already marginalised industry. They should be protecting us, not stealing from us.”

Fired up Stilettos:

“Our society hopes to empower dancers across the motu to challenge these practices in the legal system, but recognises the multiple barriers that stop our workers from doing so. We are in the process of building a support system for dancers that makes this revolution accessible.”

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Health Investigation – Canterbury DHB and a physician breached Code for delaying the diagnosis of a man’s lung cancer C20HDC00132

Source: Health and Disability Commissioner

Canterbury District Health Board (DHB) (now Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury) and a physician breached the Code of Health & Disability Services Consumer’s Rights (the Code) for delaying the diagnosis of a man’s lung cancer.
The man presented to an emergency department several times with chest pain and was diagnosed with angina. A chest X-ray taken during one of the admissions identified a mass on his right lung, and a CT scan was recommended by the reporting radiologist.
This recommendation was not actioned and the man was not told of any abnormality in the X-ray. When the man was admitted over a month later, a CT scan was taken. At this time, the man was told there would be further investigations to confirm suspected lung cancer, including a biopsy. However, he was not told that the mass on his lung had been identified in an earlier X-ray and not followed up.
An X-ray, performed on the same day as the biopsy, noted the mass in the man’s right lung had increased in size from when it was first identified. The man unfortunately died from lung cancer the following year.
In his complaint to HDC, the man noted that decisions were made without his knowledge concerning his condition and treatment. He was not fully informed about his condition and had no opportunity to question his treatment. He also expressed concern that his frequent admissions to the ED could have been an indicator of the lung cancer and should have been investigated further.
Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner, Deborah James, found the physician’s failure to act on the radiologist’s report of the chest X-ray delayed the diagnosis of lung cancer for approximately four weeks. She found the physician in breach of Right 4(1) of the Code, which states that every consumer has the right to have services provided with reasonable care and skill.
Ms James also noted that, despite several different clinicians in two different departments being aware of the failure to action the radiologist’s report, no clinician took responsibility for ensuring that the man was informed of this error at the earliest opportunity.
“Systemic issues at Canterbury DHB constituted a failure to ensure that the man had all the information that a reasonable consumer in his circumstances would expect to receive,” Ms James said.
She found Canterbury DHB in breach of Right 6(1) of the Code, which relates to the right of the consumer to be fully informed.
Ms James recommended the physician arrange for an audit of 50 radiology reports to identify whether significant abnormal findings are being actioned.
She made a number of recommendations to Canterbury DHB, including that they:
– Audit compliance with the requirement to update discharge summaries with abnormal results that are received after a patient has been discharged, and compliance with sending the updated summary to the patient’s GP.
– Introduce a further requirement that discharge summaries note any results that are still awaiting reporting.
– Audit compliance with its current policy on open disclosure, in particular the requirement that (if possible) disclosure has been made within 24 hours, and any communication with the patient documented in the patient’s record.
Ms James also recommended both the physician and Canterbury DHB write a formal apology to the man’s family. 
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University Research – Researchers install pollen trap on Auckland Museum roof – UoA

Source: University of Auckland

Asthma and allergy researchers have installed a pollen trap on the Auckland Museum roof to provide current data on allergenic pollen in the air we breathe.

A green metallic pollen trap, looking like a small spacecraft with a large sail, has been installed on the roof of Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira so health researchers can gather near-real-time data on the pollen and spores that can trigger a range of allergic reactions.
 
Currently public information is modelled on trends detected decades ago and the likelihood of certain types of pollen being in the air.
 
“We simply don’t have current – or recent – data that tells us about how these pollen triggers may have changed in recent decades in response to changes in climate, land use and vegetation patterns,” says Dr Amy Chan, a pharmacist and asthma researcher at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland.
 
“So there’s a real need to look at pollen and how this relates to health. This is the first time in 35 years we’ve been able to do it using pollen capture, which is why it’s really exciting.”
 
The last time pollen was trapped and analysed in Auckland and across New Zealand generally was in 1988 when a member of the current research team, palynologist Professor Rewi Newnham now based at Victoria University in Wellington, was doing his doctoral research with Dr David Fountain.
 
Dr Chan and Dr Stuti Misra, also of the University of Auckland, are leading the initiative to look at pollen and allergic disease. The project, funded by Auckland Medical Research Foundation, Health Research Council and Life AI Corp, will follow 300 asthma patients for six months to see whether there are correlations between their asthma attacks and amounts and types of pollen.
 
Dr Misra, an optometrist and scientist, is in the ophthalmology department and is currently conducting pilot research on the effects of seasonal variation on the ocular surface. Dr Misra has regularly noted inflammatory cells in the cornea of those with allergies. Whether these cells vary depending on pollen is something that needs to be investigated.  
 
Both researchers would like to see permanent automated pollen monitoring stations throughout the country, so people could access real-time data on pollen that could inform prevention and care of all types of allergic reactions from hay fever to asthma, eczema and allergic eye conditions.
 
Australia has several pollen monitoring stations installed and Europe has about 600 pollen traps, several of which have been in operation for more than 50 years.
 
Back in 1988, the pollen trap was also on the roof of the museum, which is an ideal location as it is elevated and open on all four sides.
 
Auckland Museum asset manager Edward Howell said the museum is dedicated to supporting research that benefits people in Tāmaki Makaurau and across Aotearoa.
 
“The unique characteristics of the museum building, including its elevated position and clear surroundings of the Domain, makes it is the ideal location for the pollen traps – so we are excited to have been able to support Dr Chan and Dr Misra’s research.
 
“Auckland Museum is one of the oldest research institutions in Aotearoa and we are happy to support researchers, especially if it helps us better understand our surrounding environment,” says Howell.
 
The team is assisted by doctoral researcher Laura McDonald and Masters researcher Natasha Ngadi, from the University of Auckland.
 
Making up the team is senior lecturer and palynology (pollen study) lab manager Dr Katherine Holt from Massey University.
 
McDonald and Ngadi change out the pollen trap each week and then identify and count the various types of pollen species, using facilities at the University of Auckland’s Science faculty, with expert advice from Dr Holt and Professor Newnham.
 
Dr Chan says the pollen capture is part of a larger project tackling New Zealand’s globally high rates of asthma and asthma attacks, which is itself rising around the world.
 
In another just published study, Dr Chan and co-investigators found there was a one-third increase in total asthma attacks in the decade to 2019 in New Zealand, with half of hospital admissions being Māori or Pacific people. See Respiratory Medicine. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0954611123002536
 
With such a need for information on asthma triggers and allergens, the green metal pollen trap will be worth its weight in gold.

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Awards – IHC Capture the Moment photo competition winners announced

Source: IHC

Cameron Henson (23) has taken out first prize in the IHC “Capture the Moment” photography competition with his work, ‘Dog Frightens Ducks, Lake Taupo’.

While he often uses a Cannon camera, Cameron’s dramatic winning image was taken on the fly with his phone.

Cameron first picked up a camera in 2017 and the following year did an online course while still at school. Nature photography is one of his passions.

“Capture the Moment – Your Aotearoa, New Zealand” was his first competition and he says the win means he’ll “probably be doing a lot more in the future.”

Second place went to Chloe Zuppicich for ‘Karioitahi Beach’. Third place went to Jade Laughton for ‘Wake Up Auckland’ and Ben Scurr won the Youth Award for ‘Between the Forests’.

Judge and FOTO FEST organiser, Shayne Jeffares says it was a real honour to select the winning entries alongside IHC Patron, Dame Denise L’Estrange-Corbet and freelance commercial photographer Anna Briggs.

“It was not an easy job with so many great images, but together we discussed the merits and composition of each photograph, and what drew us to the ones we personally liked and why. It was pretty cool that we agreed on many of the same images as our favourites.

“The standard of photography was incredibly high and congratulations to those that were selected. I hope I can encourage those that were not selected to keep on seeing the beauty around them, getting out there and capturing it in a photograph and to enter again next year. Well done to everyone who entered.”

The 30 finalists will be exhibited at FOTOFEST main gallery, 129 Heretaunga Street West Hastings (corner Hastings and Market Street).

The photographs will be for sale with 100% of the sale proceeds going to the photographer.

FOTOFEST is a city-wide visual art and cultural event to take place within local galleries, community spaces, inside and out, local businesses and retailers from 15 September to 25 October 2023.

FOTOFEST is managed by FOTO IWI, a creative charitable trust.

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Health News – A team of 8000 – fresh first-timers to veteran volunteers – Cancer Society

Source: Cancer Society

On Daffodil Day (Friday 25 August) 8000 volunteers will hit the streets across the country to collect funds to help the Cancer Society continue its work so no one faces cancer alone.

The iconic fundraising event has been held annually since 1990 and the daffodils and show of yellow synonymous with the day are a symbol of hope for all New Zealanders impacted by cancer.

The day would not be possible without the help of an amazing team of volunteers who put their hands up – many year after year – to get involved. People like John and Kapil. 

John Partridge is a veteran volunteer who has been an area coordinator in the Auckland suburbs of Papakura/Takanini since 2009, the same year he had surgery for prostate cancer and received advice and support from the Cancer Society that he says was “lifesaving”.

Having worked in sales all his life, John says he gets great joy in being involved and helping to spread the message of the great work the Cancer Society does, which is “an easy sell”.  

He also enjoys talking to people on the day. “Everyone has a story to tell, and I listen to every one of them – some are sad, some are wonderful and hopeful, and so many want to talk about what the Cancer Society has done for them.”

Across the city in the Auckland suburbs of Sandringham and St Lukes Kapil Chadha will be pulling on a daffodil emblazoned yellow hi-vis vest for the first time this year and managing a team of volunteer collectors.

Kapil says his life used to revolve around making money, but now his focus has shifted to raising money to make a difference in the lives of others.

“I have had some issues in the past with my health and I have a lot of gratitude for the health services in New Zealand,” he says. “I’ve had a career working in the corporate industry, where I was running around chasing money and it was about materialistic things. I wanted to do something for people, so I did a bit of searching and researching. I learned about the Cancer Society, about the rising number of people getting the disease and how much help the Cancer Society offers from initial diagnosis through people’s whole journey.”

For Cancer Society National Projects Manager Susie Ferkins this is the fourth Daffodil Day she has been at the helm helping organise.

Susie says the excitement feels like the build up to Christmas with “so much planning, anticipation and hype”.

“I know many of our team around the country sit with their mouse on the refresh button, getting excited every time the total increases. There’s so much energy and passion from staff and volunteers, and to have the public reciprocate that is the most incredible gift.

“I hope New Zealander’s will continue to show their support for people affected by cancer and, once again, be generous this Daffodil Day so we can continue to keep up with the growing number of people who need our support.”

Look out for Daffodil Day street collectors on Friday 25 August. Daffodil Day donations can also be made at any ANZ branch, anywhere a daffodil day QR code is displayed or online at daffodilday.org.nz Give today so no one faces cancer alone.
 
About the Cancer Society of New Zealand
The Cancer Society of New Zealand is the country’s leading organisation dedicated to reducing the incidence of cancer and ensuring the best cancer care for New Zealanders. We are committed to working with communities and decision makers by providing leadership and advocacy in cancer control, with core services in information and support, research and health promotion.

Daffodil Day Fast Facts

·       Daffodil Day (Te Rā Daffodil) symbolises hope for all New Zealanders impacted by cancer. The iconic event has been held since 1990. Funds raised support the Cancer Society’s ongoing work.

·       The Cancer Society provides support care services including a helpline, counselling, transport and accommodation to individuals and their whānau during treatment.

o   More then 1,000,000km+ driven to get patients each year

o   50,000+ nights stayed in Cancer Society accommodation

o   9600+ phone calls to the 0800 CANCER support line each year

·       We are the largest private funder of cancer research in NZ with over $5.2 million spent on research each year.  

·       We work proactively across Aotearoa to help reduce the risk of cancer through cancer prevention activities like our Smokefree and SunSmart campaigns, promoting screening and early detection, and prevention advice around diet and alcohol-related cancers.  

 
Follow Cancer Society online:
cancer.org.nz
facebook.com/cancersocietyNZ
instagram.com/cancersocietynewzealand
twitter.com/nzcancerso