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Education – New charter schools open doors to first students

Source: Charter School Agency

Three of the first seven new charter schools | kura hourua open their doors today, marking a huge milestone for education in New Zealand, says Charter School Agency Chief Executive, Jane Lee.

Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki (Christchurch), L’École Française Internationale (Auckland) and Te Rito, Te Kura Taiao (Doubtless Bay) will all welcome their first students with a range of celebrations.

Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki, the first new charter school to be announced last November, will greet its first 60 students with a mihi whakatau including whānau, supporters, Charter School Agency, government and Authorisation Board representatives, as well as founders of Mastery Schools Australia.

L’École Française Internationale will celebrate with students and families by sharing a traditional French breakfast which coincides with la chandeleur (pancake day) in France while Te Rito, Te Kura Taiao will also have a mihi whakatau to welcome its first cohort, with plans for a larger opening celebration in a few weeks.

“Today is a huge day for education. I welcome these schools to the charter school network and applaud the sponsors and education leaders for their vision and strategic approach to lifting student outcomes,” says Ms Lee.

“The introduction of more diverse learning options in our communities opens more choice for families and students and offers a new start for children who have been disengaged or who will benefit from a different approach.  

“Charter schools will help children attain attendance and achievement levels and the real value will be realised through them growing in confidence, reaching their potential and ultimately contributing to their communities,” says Ms Lee.

The opening of Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki was particularly significant for the school’s sponsors, Dave and Jo Jessep, whose inspiration to open a charter school stemmed from supporting their daughter’s learning needs.

The Mastery Schools programme is evidence based and focuses on learners who are disengaged from mainstream schools. Each class has a core teacher with three teaching assistants.

Four other new charter schools are scheduled to open in the coming week.

TIPENE, the South Auckland Māori boys boarding school, will welcome its first cohort and whānau with a pōwhiri on 6 February, Waitangi Day, which Associate Minister for Education, David Seymour, will speak at following his attendance at Waitangi.

The BUSY School New Zealand (central Auckland) opens on 7 February and both North West College (Auckland) and Christchurch North College start their terms on 10 February.

More new charter schools which could open later this year or early 2026 will be announced in the coming weeks. The Charter School Agency is also preparing to start an expression of interest process for existing state schools which are interested in becoming charter schools and a new round of applications for sponsors to open new charter schools.

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Activist News – Government ministers and Human Rights Commission give green light to Destiny Church assaults against Palestine solidarity protest this weekend – PSNA

Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa is alarmed Winston Peters and the Human Rights Commissioner have given the green light to Destiny Church assaults against Palestinian support protests this weekend.

 

PSNA has been contacted by police to say that Brian Tamaki’s Destiny Church has just issued direct threats to ‘shut down’ PSNA if the government and police won’t do it for them.

 

Tamaki has done this several times over the past 16 months but PSNA Chair John Minto says the orchestrated claims of antisemitism against PSNA this past week have encouraged Brian Tamaki to now believe he could get away with unleashing violence against peaceful protests against the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank.

 

 

“We are most concerned about our supporters in smaller centres.  We have about 30 local protests in support of Palestinian rights over the next two days.  It just takes two or three Destiny Church adherents to get it into their heads that they are doing God’s work and turn up to beat up our people.

 

Minto says he can understand why Tamaki thinks he is licenced to carry out his threats.

 

“Our government still has not uttered one word condemning Israeli genocide.  But when we say we want to tell Israeli soldiers who are on holiday here that they are not welcome in Aotearoa, then the Human Rights Commissioner distorts this into the threats of violence and the Foreign Minister falls into line behind him.”

 

“We did not advocate violence. We are not encouraging nor are we promoting violence – even against Israelis guilty of participating in genocide having a happy holiday here.”

 

“In particular we are concerned that the Human Rights Commissioner Stephen Rainbow is leading the claims against Palestinian human rights supporters.”

 

“Rainbow was a prominent champion of Israeli apartheid before the was appointed Human Rights Commissioner.”

 

“Only a year ago he was writing such articles for the Israel Institute NZ, entitled “With every chant, Israel’s case grows stronger” condemning “kaffiyeh wearing antics of Labour and Green MP’s of late.”

 

“Rainbow has not parked his Zionist apartheid politics at the door of the Human Rights Commission.  He is misusing his high status semi-judicial position to openly promote on behalf of Israel – as a state committing genocide – by misrepresenting PSNA.’

 

“No wonder Brian Tamaki and his Destiny Church think the government will turn a blind eye to Destiny Church escalating into physical attacks.”

 

Minto says Palestinian New Zealanders will be feeling our government and institutions are sanctioning violence against them.

 

“Many Palestinians in this country have lost immediate family in the massive Israeli onslaught on Gaza over the past 16 months.  They are well aware the New Zealand Foreign Minister has been absolutely silent about any blame on Israel.  Yet he is instantly quick to condemn local human rights groups which these Palestinians belong to.”

 

“To send a message of reassurance to Palestinian New Zealanders and hopefully restrain Tamaki, Paul Goldsmith, as Rainbow’s minister, must at the very least immediately suspend Rainbow as Human Rights Commissioner.”

 

John Minto

National Chair

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

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Oxfam Aotearoa responds to New Zealand’s Climate Target

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

“New Zealand’s climate target for 2035 fails to show our commitment to stand with the Pacific and stop climate harm” said Oxfam Aotearoa Climate Justice Lead, Nick Henry.
The New Zealand Government has just announced its climate target for 2035 under the Paris Agreement. New Zealand is obliged to set a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that shows ‘maximum possible ambition’ to reduce climate-harming emissions. The NDC must also show progress from the 2030 target.
New Zealand’s first NDC committed to net emissions in 2030 being 50% less than gross emissions in 2005. The new target for 2035 commits to 51-55% reductions in the same terms.
“While other countries around the world are making real progress, committing to 60 and 70% reductions by 2035, New Zealand offers a paltry additional 1-5% from their 2030 goal.”
‘The new target stretches the meaning of “progress” to a breaking point and fails to show the “maximum possible ambition” that our Government promised.’
‘We are at a critical point for the Pacific as global heating creeps closer to 1.5 degrees. Our Government should be standing with the communities most affected and leading global efforts to stop the climate crisis getting worse.’ 
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Transport – Pothole repairs are paying off

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Transporting New Zealand says the intensified focus on road maintenance and pothole repair is paying off, preventing damage to vehicles, supporting road safety and keeping Kiwis moving.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced this afternoon that 98 per cent of potholes on state highways were repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced by the Coalition Government.
Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih says this will be welcome news to its road freight members across the country.
“Potholes and other road surfacing issues can be a nightmare for our members and other motorists. Transporting New Zealand has consistently called for a greater share of road user charges and fuel excise revenue to be directed to road maintenance and rehabilitation.” says Kalasih.
“Over the past couple of years, we’ve been hearing more complaints from our members and other road users about potholes and road surfacing issues, and these concerns were borne out by the data. In 2023, more than 62,000 potholes required repair on state highways, the highest figure in a decade.”
“Potholes can easily do thousands of dollars of damage to trucks and trailers vehicles.
“We’ve had members report erratic driving from other motorists trying to avoid them, or slowing to a crawl, which can be very dangerous.”
Kalasih says that with 92.8 per cent of New Zealand’s freight moving via road, potholes and other road surface issues are a major drag on economic growth and labour productivity.
“The Coalition Government’s establishment of the $3.9 billion Pothole Prevention Fund and ambitious targets for the repair of potholes on main state highways and regional state highways is now paying dividends.
“It’s a big endorsement of providing clear directions and targets to the New Zealand Transport Agency, and we encourage the new Minister Chris Bishop to continue the hands-on approach of his immediate predecessor, Simeon Brown.”
However Kalasih also says while Transporting New Zealand is grateful for how these repairs are going, the reality is that in an ideal world, the work shouldn’t be needed.
“Potholes are isolated failures in stretches of road. When roads are built to a high and consistent standard, these should be minimal. We’ll be engaging with NZTA to ensure road quality remains a priority and that our roads are built to last.”
About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand 
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand https://www.transporting.nz/ is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter-regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country. 
Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.
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First Responders – Tiwai Peninsula vegetation fire update #3

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews have made good progress in clearing hotspots out of the burnt scrub and wetland on Tiwai Peninsula today.
Incident Controller Hamish Angus says that despite warmer conditions this afternoon, firefighters have been able to hold down any potential flare-ups.
“As well as having four helicopters dousing the fireground from above, we’re using four excavators to widen firebreaks around the perimeter so the fire doesn’t spread if the wind gets up,” he says.
“This work will also help firefighters if they need to deal with any more fires here in the future.”
Fire crews will work until 6pm, and one crew will remain overnight to monitor the fireground.
“Our crews will be back on-site tomorrow morning to continue mopping up and ensuring there are no hotspots left,” Hamish Angus says.
“They’ve all worked incredibly hard over the last two days, and done a great job at getting such a large vegetation fire under control.”
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Climate – Seasonal Climate Outlook February to April 2025 by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)

Source: NIWA

Seasonal Climate Outlook
New Zealand is likely to experience a blend of typical La Niña climate patterns, along with occasional atypical patterns over the next three months, according to the latest Seasonal Climate Outlook released today (Friday 31 January 2025) by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
A La Niña Advisory is in effect, though weak and expected to be short-lived, says NIWA National Climate Centre Principal Scientist Chris Brandolino, with international guidance indicating around a 50% chance for La Niña conditions persisting through the February to April period. “When combined with atypical characteristics including sea surface temperature anomalies, is likely to mean New Zealand will experience La Niña-like patterns with occasional deviation.”
Overall, New Zealand can expect wind from the easterly quarter, ranging from NE to SE flows, along with occasional periods of westerly quarter flows, from SW to NW, for the three-month period, he says. “The north and west of the North Island can expect warmer than average temperatures, with equal chances for near average or above average seasonal air temperatures for most other regions.”
Early February weather is likely to be drier than normal, but over the three months through to the end of April seasonal rainfall is forecast to be near or above normal for most regions. However, northern and eastern North Island may see occasional heavy rain events.
Soil moisture and river flows are expected to be near or below normal in most areas. At the same time, sea surface temperatures are forecast to be above average, with a normal to elevated tropical cyclone risk with the potential for an ex-tropical cyclone to pass near New Zealand.
Attached is the February-April 2025 Seasonal Climate Outlook in pdf and Word formats, along with three supporting infographics showing national rainfall and temperature forecasts.
Please read the ‘Note to Reporters and Editors’ at the end of the outlook to assist your understanding of the content, its creation and the terminology used.
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Government Cuts – Scaled-back new Dunedin hospital puts cost-cutting before health – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

The Coalition Government’s scaled-back new Dunedin hospital build is putting cost-cutting ahead of health and wellbeing, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says.
NZNO President and emergency nurse Anne Daniels says today’s announcement fails to future-proof the health needs of the Southern community.
“This is short-sighted. The Southern community has a growing and aging population. We also have a failing primary care health sector which means more people will unnecessarily need hospital level care.”
NZNO is disappointed but not surprised with today’s announcement, she says.
“We had hoped the Coalition Government would keep its promise to fund the new build as outlined in the 2017 business case which was worked on by 500 clinicians.
“But this Government is still intent on putting dollars before the people. That is a choice.
“They are making decisions about the health and wellbeing of the Southern community rather than doing what they were elected to do,” Anne Daniels says.
The new hospital will open with 16 beds fewer than the existing hospital and even after it is scaled up over time, will have six beds less than originally promised, she said.
“Fewer beds also means fewer jobs for nurses as Te Whatu Ora will resource this hospital based on bed numbers.” 
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Govt Cuts – Official data shows Government over-egged working from home issue – PSA

Source: PSA

The Government should be embarrassed that its own data shows working from home by public servants is not the big problem it made out to be.
The Public Service Commission has today published data showing only a third of public servants work from home around one or two days a week. The average days working from home was in fact less than one day – 0.9 days.
“The Government’s appalling attack on public servants working from home has been exposed for what it really is – a flimsy attempt to deflect from its own decisions to axe thousands of workers,” said Fleur Fitzsimons Acting National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
The PSA has filed a claim with the Employment Relations Authority to stop the Government restricting flexible workplace practices (see statement below).
“The reckless and rushed job cuts ordered by the Government are what has been hurting Wellington’s CBD businesses. Ordering public servants to spend more time in the office when in fact most are already working most days of the week in the office is just stupid policy. It won’t offset the economic damage its austerity policies have inflicted.
“International evidence shows flexible work drives greater productivity. The PSA’s own survey last year showed 85% of members saying it improved the work they do, that means delivering the better outcomes the Government wants.
“The Government promised evidence-based decision-making. It should have waited before launching its attack on flexible work practices.
“It’s directive to order public servants to spend more time in the office has been over-egged for purely political ends – public servants deserve better.”
Past statements on flexible work
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Waitangi Day – Government supports 26 Waitangi events across Aotearoa

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Government funding will go towards 26 community events to commemorate Waitangi Day in 2025, from Tāhuna (Queenstown) to Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) and Rēkohu/Wharekauri (Chatham Islands).
The Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund, administered by Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage, supports events that commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and increases awareness and knowledge of Te Tiriti through celebrations and local storytelling.
“This Fund recognises that Waitangi Day is for all New Zealanders, wherever you celebrate it,” says Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae, Manatū Taonga Tumu Whakarae Secretary for Culture and Heritage.
“With so many exciting events planned, we hope that all New Zealanders will be able to engage with this important kaupapa up and down the motu to learn about our country’s history.
“$300,000 in grants will enable communities to celebrate this important national day and explore how Te Tiriti has shaped the nation we are today.
“In Te Matau-a-Māui (Hawke’s Bay), Ngāti Kahungunu will be hosting an event for all members of the community. Whakawhanaungatanga activities will bring together the shared heritage of the region to commemorate Te Tiriti through kapa haka, English and Gaelic music, Pasifika dance and Asian songs.
“Te Whare Taonga o Waikato, Waikato Museum will be hosting a ‘Weaving a Future Together’ community day with kōrero (talks) and workshops covering local stories, Te Tiriti, toi Māori, and raranga (weaving).
“Masterton District Council is partnering with iwi, hapū, tangata whenua and high schoolers to enhance community understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ‘On the Couch’ discussions with Tangata Tiriti and a Year 13 Te Tiriti wananga are part of efforts to raise awareness and knowledge of Te Tiriti among the Whakaoriori and Wairarapa communities.
“And over on the Chathams, kaumatua, kura, local council and community groups will bring people together with traditional sporting activities, karakia, waiata, kōrero and kai to acknowledge Te Tiriti.
“With so many ways to celebrate in so many locations, we encourage all New Zealanders to take this opportunity to reflect on our nation’s founding document and how we can incorporate the principles of Te Tiriti into our lives on this public holiday and beyond.
“Thank you to all the event organisers across Aotearoa that will bring their communities together to mark this special day,” says Laulu Mac.
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Federated Farmers – Lend, don’t lecture – Feds support Shane Jones’ banking crackdown

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers welcomes Resources and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones’ efforts to hold banks accountable when they stray from their core function – lending money.
Jones is spearheading a member’s bill seeking to ensure financial institutions focus on their legal and social responsibility to provide credit rather than engaging in selective lending based on ideology.
“We’re right behind that. Banks exist to lend, not to lecture,” Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre says.
“It’s the job of elected governments to determine which businesses are lawful -not a handful of banking executives imposing their own moral compass.
“Yet we’re seeing banks decline credit to legal businesses simply because they don’t align with corporate PR strategies.”
One threat identified by Federated Farmers is to petrol stations, a vital lifeline for rural communities and isolated parts of New Zealand.
Internal BNZ documents provided to Federated Farmers in late 2024 clearly state there is to be no new lending to petrol stations, and all existing debt needs to be repaid by 2030.
“If banks are unwilling to provide lending to pay for things like upgrades, expansion or compliance, petrol stations will just disappear,” McIntyre says.
“It’s ideologically driven nonsense. Do they not think farmers and rural communities will still need petrol in five years?
“If a business is lawful, creditworthy, and can service a loan, then why should it be blacklisted by bank officials who jetted off to Glasgow together to sign an agreement on joint lending criteria?”
Banks hold a social licence, and with that comes an obligation to serve their customers fairly, not to dictate how they should run their businesses, McIntyre says.
Federated Farmers has been at the forefront of the fight against banking overreach in recent years.
The farming advocacy group has led the charge for a government inquiry into banking competition, and has been working with Ministers to push for a review of bank capital requirements that penalise the agriculture sector.
The federation also laid a complaint late last year with the Commerce Commission about the Net Zero Banking Alliance and its potential anti-competitive behaviour.
“We continue to monitor and put pressure on banks to be fair to their customers, and we’re pleased to support Minister Jones’ proposal.
“Banks should focus on banking, so farmers can focus on farming.
“We expect this Bill to include provisions ensuring lending decisions are based on financial criteria rather than emissions targets,” McIntyre says.
“Federated Farmers will continue to advocate for rural businesses and fair access to credit, so banking policies support the economy rather than ideology.”