Category: MIL-Submissions

Auto Added by WPeMatico

Posted on

New campaign calls for an end to criminalising Aotearoa’s vulnerable children – Save the Children

Source: Save the Children

Save the Children has today launched a new campaign calling on New Zealanders to oppose a new Government bill looking to introduce the use of physical force and re-introduce military style detention camps for the country’s most vulnerable children.
The ‘Boot the Bill’ campaign and petition asks Kiwis to make a stand against the new Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Amendment Bill, currently before Select Committee, which, if passed, would reintroduce harmful military-style boot camps and permit the use of physical force against children.
Save the Children’s Advocacy and Research Director Jacqui Southey says evidence shows that punitive approaches like these fail to address the root causes of youth offending, such as trauma, abuse and systemic inequality, and risk causing further harm to already vulnerable children.
“This form of coercive youth justice intervention is an outdated methodology, has been tried before in New Zealand, with little to no effect in preventing youth offending and may even increase rates of reoffending,” she says.
“The inclusion of allowing the use of “reasonable physical force”, which in real terms is the use of physical violence to subdue a child, poses a real risk to children and is absolutely unacceptable, breaching children’s rights to be protected from all forms of violence.
“It’s time to stop criminalising our most vulnerable children and look towards policies that support positive change and ensure a brighter future for our youth.”
In addition to the research, testimony provided by survivors of Abuse in State Care as part of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care and Faith Based Care clearly shows that children have been violently abused and traumatised in State-funded boot camp style institutions in New Zealand.
Ms Southey says as recently as 2004, Te Whakapakari Youth Programme (Te Whakapakari) was a fully State-funded boot camp style programme where children were sent as social welfare care and protection or youth justice sentencing options. While it claimed to promote drug abuse rehabilitation, self-esteem and skills development, Māoritanga and confidence building, underpinned by military style discipline, instead children suffered cruel, violent and inhumane treatment including, extreme psychological, physical and sexual abuse.
“A former Minister of Child, Youth and Family, Hon Ruth Dyson, was quoted as saying, ‘A lot of government money was put into that programme and in the end it resulted in the State funding violence and abuse towards children and young people’” she says. 
“Most young offenders are victims themselves, having experienced high rates of criminal abuse, neglect, and violence, often from infancy. If New Zealand is to be truly effective in preventing youth crime, we need to be serious about preventing harm to children occurring in the first place. That means investing in programmes and policies to strengthen families, particularly those struggling, to ensure good outcomes for children in both the short and long term.”
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.
Posted on

Greenpeace – Jones reveals Govt’s actual climate policy – expanding fossil fuel extraction

Source: Greenpeace

The Government’s true climate policy, which is to increase fossil fuel extraction, was revealed today in the release of the finalised mining policy, says Greenpeace.
“Just a few hours after the Government released an updated Paris Climate Target, their actual climate policy was revealed by Shane Jones in the policy to increase fossil fuel extraction,” says Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman.
“The Luxon Government wants to fast track coal mining and restart oil and gas exploration, which is a complete contradiction to the objectives of the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse emissions.”
The Government’s announcement went one step further with a threat to introduce regulations that will force banks to finance fossil fuel expansion.
“Shane Jones, acting as an agent of foreign mining companies, is attempting to force fossil fuel extraction on New Zealanders, most of whom want a responsible climate policy,” says Norman.
“Overseas-based fossil fuel companies will walk away with profits while New Zealanders will be left to pay the clean-up costs.
The offshore oil company Tamarind Oil left New Zealanders with a $400m clean-up bill when they went bankrupt.
“The Government’s true climate policy must be judged by their actions not their words – and their actions are more fossil fuel extraction.”
Posted on

Govt Cuts – Workers sound alarm as Govt cuts impact services Kiwis rely on – PSA Survey

Source: PSA

The Government’s austerity measures are taking a toll on public servants’ wellbeing and their ability to deliver effective public services, a new PSA survey has found.
More than 4,000 workers in public services, health, the state sector, local government, and community services responded to the survey.
Key findings:
– Over half of respondents have too much work to do everything well
– More than 90% have been affected by restructuring
– More than 40% regularly work longer hours without pay
– 70% respond to work calls and messages outside of work hours
– Over half are worried about losing their job
Workers say the Government’s sweeping funding cuts are undermining their ability to do a good job. One health professional said it feels “like you are doing a disservice to people in our community as we cannot deliver the health care that they need with our waitlist and restricted service provision.”
A respondent at a community organisation that’s had its funding significantly cut by the Government said they now spend more time chasing funding and less time providing services to the community.
“It’s obvious now that the Government’s claim that ‘no front-line services will be affected’ is a lie,” said Duane Leo, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. “No amount of spin will stop the public from seeing that the Government is deliberately underfunding their public services and setting the table for private shareholders to enrich themselves from people’s needs.”
The survey also shows that, like most of the country, public sector, health and community workers are struggling with cost-of-living pressures. More than half are worried about becoming unemployed and not being able to find a job, as the Government signals cuts will continue.
Public sector, health and community workers need more certainty and better management support. They want fair treatment, better pay, career progression and to be valued. Most of all, they want the restructuring and disruption to stop, to allow them to get on with the work of delivering for their communities.
“Public, health, and community services – and the workers that provide them – are part of a future that works for everyone in Aotearoa,” said Leo. “To get that, they need certainty, resources, leadership, and a vision for effective, universal services. This survey shows the Government isn’t providing any of this. It’s part of a mountain of evidence that this Government wants a country for the wealthy few, rather than the many.”
About the survey
The PSA conducted the survey in December 2024 and got 4090 responses from members across the country, working in public services, health, the state sector, local government, and community public services.
Read the full report of the survey results attached.
Posted on

Housing Market – Housing market close to a trough – CoreLogic

Source: CoreLogic

Property values in Aotearoa New Zealand edged -0.1% lower in January, marking the fifth month in a row with limited movement.

The CoreLogic Home Value Index (HVI) shows that after a cumulative decline of -4.1% over the six months from March to August, there has only been a further combined fall of -0.4% since then – a potential sign that a rebound in prices could be taking shape.
The national median value now stands at $803,819, which is -17.5% below the record highs from late 2021/early 2022, but still 16.3% above the pre-COVID level from March 2020.
Around the main centres, it was a broadly flat month in January, with Tauranga and Ōtepoti Dunedin both seeing growth of +0.1%, and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Ōtautahi Christchurch at -0.1%. Kirikiriroa Hamilton stood out, growing +0.5%, while Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington remained soft (-0.6%).
CoreLogic NZ Chief Property Economist, Kelvin Davidson said the recent stability in property values at the national level could be a sign of future growth potential.
“Since the ‘mini downturn’ seen through the middle part of last year petered out in August, national property values have been in a holding pattern – not moving clearly in either direction,” he said.
“But with mortgage rates having dropped significantly from their peaks, property sales volumes have continued to rise in recent months and may well start to reduce the available stock of listings on the market in the near term.”
“That would create more competitive pressure amongst buyers, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see property values start to rise again shortly.”
He noted some caution was still warranted.

“After all, not all areas have stopped falling, including Wellington. Given that the economy remains soft and the labour market subdued, it is unlikely we will see a sharp upturn in values.”

He also noted debt to income ratio caps will also play a role in dampening the market in 2025.

Index results for January 2025 – national and main centres

From post-COVID peak
From 2024 mini peak
From pre-COVID levels
Median  value
Aotearoa New Zealand
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
$1,069,140
Kirikiriroa Hamilton
Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington*
Ōtautahi Christchurch
Ōtepoti Dunedin

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

Tamaki Makaurau Auckland’s sub-markets were a mixed bag in January, with North Shore recording a 0.3% rise, and Waitakere and Manukau flat (with Auckland City only down slightly, by -0.1%). However, in the more outlying areas the value patterns were weaker, with falls of between -0.3% and -0.5% in Papakura, Franklin, and Rodney.

Over a slightly longer three-month horizon, there have been signs of growth in North Shore and Waitakere (0.8% and 0.7% respectively), although other parts of Auckland have remained more subdued.
Mr Davidson commented: “It would appear that the downwards momentum across many parts of Auckland is slowing, and North Shore certainly looks to be a market worth keeping an eye on as a possible guide to where the rest of the city goes in the next few months.”

“Even so, with buyers still having plenty of choice, not least because of the pipeline of new property still being completed in Auckland, it’s difficult to see a broad-based upturn kicking off anytime soon.”

From post-COVID peak
From 2024 mini peak
From pre-COVID levels
Median value
$1,216,586
Te Raki Paewhenua North Shore
$1,291,965
Auckland City
$1,131,326
$1,014,115

Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

The wider Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington area still stands out in terms of lingering property value weakness. Indeed, values dipped across the board in January, ranging from fairly modest declines in Kapiti Coast and Porirua, up to drops of 0.6% in Lower Hutt and 0.7% in Wellington City itself.

As Mr Davidson noted: “Parts of the Wellington area may be showing signs of optimism, or at least less pessimism.”

“But the latest data still shows that values in and around the Capital are generally facing continued downwards pressure, linked to the elevated level of listings available on the market, and presumably also the underlying concerns about public sector employment.”

From post-COVID peak
From 2024 mini peak
From pre-COVID levels
Median value
Kāpiti Coast
Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta Upper Hutt
Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt
Wellington City

Regional results

The early signs of some modest gains in property values that had started to become evident around regional areas in November and December have continued into January. That being said, Gisborne did drop by -0.5%, and Palmerston North and Invercargill also edged lower in January. But seven of the other eight markets covered in this section were either flat or rose by up to 0.3%, with New Plymouth showing a more robust 0.9% increase.

“It remains early in the process, but there are signs in a number of provincial areas that lower mortgage rates have brought the falls in property values to an end, and some modest growth might even have restarted in certain markets,” Mr Davidson said.

“Again, there’s cause for caution about how strong or sudden an upturn in property values might be in 2025, especially with the unemployment rate still rising. But the first signs of growth nevertheless seem to be emerging.”

From post-COVID peak
From 2024 mini peak
From pre-COVID levels
Median value
Ahuriri Napier
Te Papaioea Palmerston North
Heretaunga Hastings
Whangārei
Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Gisborne
Whakatū Nelson
Ngāmotu New Plymouth
Waihōpai Invercargill
Tāhuna Queenstown
$1,631,244

Property market outlook

Looking ahead, Mr Davidson noted that the continued slowdown in net migration continues to dampen overall population growth and marginal demand for property, especially in the rental sector.
He said that would likely weigh on investor sentiment in the near term.

“Even so, the tax rules have become more favourable for mortgaged investors again, and of course lower interest rates are shrinking the top-ups from other income that are typically required to sustain rental property cashflows. Some extra demand from investors this year is firmly on the cards, although the debt to income ratio rules will be something this group may have to weigh up too.”

“Other buyer groups will also tend to target property in a lower mortgage rate environment, and certainly conditions remain favourable for first home buyers too. A more liquid and faster-moving market may also help existing owner-occupiers to get their house sold and allow them to press ahead with the next purchase.”

“All in all, 2025 looks set to be a stronger year for the property market than 2024, but the slowly emerging growth in values in some areas is not universal yet, and the upturn this year could well be more muted than in the past,” he concluded.

For more property news and insights, visit www.corelogic.co.nz/news-research.

Notes:

The CoreLogic Hedonic Home Value Index (HVI) is calculated using a hedonic regression methodology that addresses the issue of compositional bias associated with median price and other measures. In simple terms, the index is calculated using recent sales data combined with information about the attributes of individual properties such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, land area and geographical context of the dwelling. By separating each property into its various formational and locational attributes, observed sales values for each property can be distinguished between those attributed to the property’s attributes and those resulting from changes in the underlying residential property market. Additionally, by understanding the value associated with each attribute of a given property, this methodology can be used to estimate the value of dwellings with known characteristics for which there is no recent sales price by observing the characteristics and sales prices of other dwellings which have recently transacted. It then follows that changes in the market value of the entire residential property stock can be accurately tracked through time.

The detailed ‘frequently asked questions’ and methodological information can be found at: https://www.corelogic.co.nz/our-data/hedonic-index

Posted on

Miners celebrate support for economic growth – Straterra

Source: Straterra Inc

Miners are celebrating the Government’s support for growing mining’s contribution to the economy with the release of a minerals strategy and critical minerals list today, says Straterra chief executive Josie Vidal.
“The Government is listening, so this is a good day – not just for miners, but also all the businesses that make mining possible, including those producing mining equipment, technology, and services,” Vidal says. “They provide jobs and contribute to the economy. We have been asking for some years for buy-in from the Government to support mining growth that benefits workers in New Zealand, and their communities.
“It is great to see facts, evidence, and science being used in decision making to further develop mining. Let’s be clear, that is not at the expense of the environment and there won’t be a mine on every corner.
“The strategy has been developed through consultation and it is important it has a clear vision. We need this to put a marker in the ground for global markets indicating that we can be part of the minerals supply chain. Minerals are needed for energy, technology, medicine, transport, infrastructure, communications, and food production.
“Identifying critical minerals helps with this. New Zealand has its own unique path and that includes acknowledgement that some of what is already mined here is critical to our economy. So, the list released today rightly includes gold and metallurgical coal.
“While thermal coal not on the list, it does not mean it is not critical, and the strategy acknowledges the role thermal coal plays in keeping the lights on and businesses running. Coal is critical to national energy security and users of coal energy face a supply risk if domestic miners are forced to exit the market before affordable alternative fuel sources are readily available.
“Productivity is at the heart of the strategy and mining is one of the most productive sectors in New Zealand, which translates into high wages.
“The strategy recognises the value of responsible mining and New Zealand can be proud our strict employment and health and safety laws and stringent environmental regulations that back that.
“What has been missing is an enabling business environment. The Fast-track Approvals Act is a game changer and there is interest in it from law makers around the globe.
“We also need investment and with that, basics such as banking and insurance. While on the investment front there is plenty of interest in New Zealand mining, is disappointing to see debanking of coal mining in New Zealand due to arbitrary moral judgements. If banks start making ‘moral’ judgements, where does that end? I fail to see how banks can refuse to do business with legal and legitimate business entities.
“We must not go backwards now on political whims. The foundations are starting to form to enable the mining sector to double the value of exports and contribute to economic growth, jobs, and regional development and to do what benefits New Zealanders.”
Straterra is the industry association representing New Zealand’s minerals and mining sector.
Posted on

Fire Safety – Fire restrictions eased in parts of Mid-South Canterbury

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has revoked the restrictions on lighting outdoor fires in the lower-lying areas of Mid-South Canterbury from 8am on Friday 31 January.
Mid-South Canterbury District Manager Rob Hands says that as fire danger has eased in these areas after recent rainfall, they are now back in an open fire season until further notice.
In a restricted fire season, people need a permit from Fire and Emergency to light an outdoor fire.
In an open season, permits are not needed, but people are asked to take reasonable precautions when lighting fires.
“As well as the rain we’ve now had, the outlook for the next few weeks is cooler and damper, which means there’s less chance of a wildfire starting and spreading through vegetation,” Rob Hands says.
The areas in Mid-South Canterbury which have moved to an open fire season include Cattle Creek, Waihaorunga, Waimate Coastal, Waimate, Timaru Coastal, Albury, Cannington, Clayton, Geraldine Plains, Mt Somers, Ashburton Plains, and Ashburton Coastal.
The Mackenzie Basin and high country – including Rangitata and Rakaia Gorges, and Ashburton Lakes – remain in a restricted fire season, as those areas continue to be affected by hot, dry conditions.
Rob Hands says people should not become careless with fires, just because the season has changed.
“While rain has reduced the fire risk in the low-lying areas, people must take care to prevent unwanted fires getting started,” he says.
“Even if you are in an open season, you should go to www.checkitsalright.nz to see if it’s safe to have an outdoor fire at your location.”
Posted on

First Responders – Tiwai Peninsula vegetation fire update #2

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews are back on Tiwai Peninsula in Invercargill today, where the large vegetation fire has not grown further overnight.
The fire grew to 1,200 hectares yesterday in hot, windy conditions but was contained by the end of the day.
Incident Controller Hamish Angus says there will be 35 firefighters on site today, with support from five helicopters, the Department of Conservation and local forestry companies.
“Our focus today is on knocking out those remaining hotspots,” he says.
“We’re expecting winds to pick up over the next few days, so we want to make sure there’s nothing left here that could get the fire under way again.
“It’s too early to say what caused the fire, but we will have fire investigators here today looking into that.”
Posted on

Latest climate target as useful as a screen door on a submarine – Greenpeace

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace has slammed the Luxon Government for failing to protect future generations after releasing New Zealand’s latest climate target of a 1-5% additional reduction in emissions by 2035, saying it’s “about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.”
Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson says, “This target is an absolute joke, yet the climate crisis is no laughing matter.”
“Against the backdrop of Luxon’s war on nature, not only is this target too weak to protect our kids and grandkids from a disastrous future but there is no plan to achieve even the targets we already have.”
Under the Paris Agreement on climate change, nations are required to submit a so-called nationally determined contribution (NDC) every four years. Each NDC must represent an increase in ambition on the last, which was submitted in 2021.
“Every parent and grandparent wants to pass on a safe and stable world to our kids. That requires brave and visionary leadership, both of which Luxon is lacking,” says Larsson.
“Luxon’s vision for New Zealand seems to be a landscape ripped open by coal mines, a coastline dotted with oil rigs and fields crammed with cows, knee deep in mud and effluent.”
The Luxon Government controversially overturned the 2018 ban on offshore oil and gas exploration, despite advice from MFAT that this is likely to breach our recent free trade agreements with the EU and UK. Coal mines are included in the list for fast-tracking, overriding community will and environmental laws. Luxon has also exempted New Zealand’s most polluting industry – dairying – from paying for its emissions through the Emissions Trading Scheme.
“Our country is doing worse on climate change than it was ten years ago,” says Larsson. “This is what happens when you let polluters write the policy.”
“The increasingly rampant wildfires, floods and cyclones we’re witnessing around us are a sign that our planet is sick. If governments won’t stand up to polluters to protect our kids and grandkids, as Luxon has shown he will not, then people will use the courts, protest and other means to save their children from climate disaster,” says Larsson.
Posted on

Government signs NZ up to a decade’s more pine planting – Federated Farmers

Source: Federated Farmers

The Government’s announcement today of a 2035 climate target of a 51-55% emissions reduction has signed New Zealand up for a decade more of planting pine on productive land, Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams says.
 “In the past, New Zealand has signed up to Paris Agreement targets that are achievable only by either paying billions of dollars for international units or planting large areas of New Zealand in carbon forestry.
“The 2030 target of a 50% reduction in all greenhouse gas emissions in just the next five years is already completely beyond reach.
“Even by 2035, as half of New Zealand’s emissions are from agriculture, a target of 51-55% is still not feasible.
 “All the target does is commit us to 10 more years of planting pines, because that’s the only way for our country to achieve such a steep reduction.” 
Williams says New Zealand’s options for achieving the climate targets are simple. 
“We can’t reduce our emissions to the extent required without trade-offs that would see New Zealand worse off.
“Treasury has estimated that the 2030 target, if we were to meet it, would cost up to $24 billion. The Prime Minister, when interviewed on Q+A with Jack Tame late last year, couldn’t commit to hitting the target, as he said it was very challenging.
“So, our only other options are to send billions of dollars overseas to buy offshore credits, or plant pine trees, destroying our iconic and world-famous landscapes.” 
Last year, the Climate Commission suggested keeping an all-gases target and at least a 50% reduction, which would mean another 850,000 hectares of land converted to forestry.
“To paint a clear picture: that’s an area five times the size of our country’s treasured Molesworth Station,” Williams says. 
“That would be devastating, forever changing the face of New Zealand.
“There is a very real risk that we could become the great pine plantation of the South Pacific – hardly something to be proud of.”
Williams says the Government needs to be setting climate targets that are realistic and achievable. 
“Mr Luxon is right now facing an unachievable target for 2030 left to him by the previous Government. 
“Signing up to an even more ambitious target for 2035 has simply created the same headache for a future Prime Minister.”
Parliament agreed in 2019 to set ‘split-gas’ targets for greenhouse gas reductions domestically. This means short-lived methane is treated differently to long-lived carbon dioxide. 
Taking this split-gas approach to our international targets would see New Zealand in a position to set more achievable targets.
“Federated Farmers wrote to Climate Change Minister Simon Watts in October last year asking for a meeting to discuss a split-gas approach to an emissions target, but we didn’t get a reply,” Williams says. 
“That’s extremely disappointing. It seems he doesn’t even want to hear our concerns for rural New Zealand, let alone understand them. It’s wilful blindness.
“We really need the Government to start setting achievable targets that don’t require huge levels of forestry, and we need the Government to use the most up-to-date science on the warming impact of methane.” 
Posted on

Auckland News – Developers Urged to Act Swiftly as Auckland Council Plans Major Development Fee Increases

Source: WarkWorth Web

The Auckland Council is planning a considerable hike in development contributions, which are the monetary fees residential property developers pay to fund local infrastructure projects. These contributions, currently calculated over a 10-year timeframe, are proposed to be spread over 30 years, leading to significant cost increases for developers.

The average development contribution in Auckland is projected to increase from $21,000 per lot to around $50,000 per lot. In some areas, such as Tamaki, the rise is even steeper, jumping from $31,157 to $119,000 per lot. The Inner Northwest region is set to see contributions soar from $25,167 to between $89,000 and $101,000 per lot.

Troy Patchett, Director of Auckland residential development company Subdivide Simplified, expressed concern over these proposed changes. “This increase could halt housing developments. Many developers may struggle to pass these costs on to consumers, making some projects unfeasible. This could further restrict future development and worsen the housing shortage in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest and fastest-growing city,” Patchett stated.

Patchett also warned that the increased contributions could lead to fewer housing developments and place upward pressure on the value of existing properties.

He strongly advises developers to submit their council applications as soon as possible. “If you can get your applications in before March, you should only need to pay the current development contributions and avoid this increase. Don’t delay starting your development projects,” he urged.

The calculation of development contributions takes place when development applications are lodged, with this window expected to close around April.