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Govt Cuts – PSA members rally against further WorkSafe job cuts to keep the ‘health’ in our health and safety system

Source: PSA

More than 50 PSA members, MPs, other union representatives and health and safety experts staged a ‘flash mob’ picket outside WorkSafe’s head office this morning as the agency confirms plans to cut a further 54 jobs.
The jobs being axed include the disestablishment of the health team, who work to prevent health-related harm and deaths in our workplaces. Every year, 750-900 workers die of ‘chronic harm’, or health issues caused by work.
“These latest job losses give us great concern that the government is intent on taking the health out of health and safety,” said PSA Acting National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.
“They build on repeated job cuts at WorkSafe over the past 18 months and members have repeatedly said this crucial agency, which protects New Zealanders at work from death and serious injury, can no longer do the job we need it to do.”
CTU Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk told the rally that cuts demonstrated that Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brook van Velden has no commitment to keeping people safe at work.
“Health and safety system is being decimated. We are seeing the recreation of the inadequate system which directly led to the Pike River disaster. The government must set a clear strategy to ensure not one more worker is killed or injured at work.”
“These latest job cuts are the direct opposite of the investment WorkSafe needs to do the job it is legally charged with doing. We again call on the Minister to intervene. Not doing so will have serious consequences for New Zealand workers and Ms van Velden’s reputation.”
Labour and Greens Workplace Relations spokespeople Camilla Belich and Teanau Tuiono and Greens Public Services spokesperson Francisco Hernandez also spoke to the rally, emphasising their support for WorkSafe staff and for rebuilding a properly resourced health and safety system.
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Greenpeace – Court rules systemic failings in bycatch reporting

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace is welcoming a High Court decision that helps clarify how threatened marine species like the Antipodean Albatross can be better protected through accurate bycatch reporting and management, saying the case demonstrates the failings of the current privatised model.
In the case, taken by the Environmental Law Initiative (ELI), the High Court found systemic failings with the management and reporting of protected bycatch species in commercial fisheries, with ELI saying the ruling paves the way for the Department of Conservation (DOC) to set hard limits on the killing of protected species.
Greenpeace oceans campaigner Juan Parada says the case demonstrates the serious issues with the FishServe model, a centre piece of ELI’s legal case, where the government and the Ministry of Primary Industries allow the fishing industry to self-regulate and report on its own performance.
“Nobody wants to see protected dolphins, sea lions or seabirds killed in commercial fishing nets, and accurate reporting and strong management, free from fishing industry influence, is a valuable tool to help protect vulnerable marine life.
“For too long the government has bowed to pressure from the fishing industry leading to a lack of transparency around bycatch and the true cost of commercial fishing, from dead sea lions to Hector’s dolphins and Antipodean albatross dying in bottom trawl nets.
“To make the best fisheries decisions and protect the ocean for the future, we have to have the best information, shared openly across government departments and free from fishing industry influence. This looks like accurate reporting of bycatch, alongside action to enforce limits to protect vulnerable species from further decline.
“We commend ELI on its excellent work and welcome this decision that outlines the powers that the Department of Conservation has under the Wildlife Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.’
Greenpeace has been campaigning for years to keep the fishing industry accountable and get greater transparency around bycatch reporting, including calling for cameras on boats, so we have eyes at sea, and for this information to be publicly available.
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Appointments – Two new Fire and Emergency New Zealand local advisory committees for Bay of Plenty and Manawatū-Whanganui

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s Board has announced two new local advisory committees for Bay of Plenty and Manawatū-Whanganui and appointed their members.
Local advisory committees (LACs) are independent committees around New Zealand which provide advice with a strong local perspective to help Fire and Emergency understand communities’ needs and engage with them effectively.
“Ngā komiti tohutohu ā-rohe local advisory committees help us better support communities to reduce risk, prepare for and respond to emergencies, and recover quickly when they happen,” Lucy Chamberlain, National Manager, Local Advisory Committees says.
“These two new committees’ first tasks will be to plan how to best engage and seek feedback from people and groups across their community about local needs. Engagement is expected to get underway in early 2025.”
Eleven LACs have already been established, in Northland, Waikato, Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Marlborough, Nelson-Tasman, West Coast, Chatham Islands, Southland and Otago.
Fire and Emergency is currently working to establish the Auckland LAC, with decisions expected before March 2025. Planning is underway to establish the Wellington and Canterbury LACs in the first half of 2025. This will conclude the national implementation.
The two new local advisory committees in Bay of Plenty and Manawatū-Whanganui will comprise eight members each, covering a cross section of both communities.
New local advisory committee appointments for Bay of Plenty and Whanganui-Manawatū
Bay of Plenty: Soifua Pearson (Chair), Te Rika Tamara-Benfell (Deputy Chair), Sam Fellows, Clinton Naude, Mike Chapman, Georgia Mischefski-Gray, Jay Bocock, Carey Urlich.
Manawatū-Whanganui: Materoa Mar (Chair), Stefan Speller (Deputy Chair), Ross Brannigan, Bonnie Kuru-Whatuira (Brown), Paul Patel, Paul Sharland, Amy Valentine, Graeme Spiers.
Full profiles for each LAC member can be found
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BusinessNZ – Immigration changes a step in the right direction

Source: BusinessNZ

BusinessNZ welcomes changes to work visas as a step in the right direction, says BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich.
“Removing the requirement to pay the median wage will help relieve cost pressures and distortions that this rule created in the labour market, with international workers commanding a premium over their New Zealand counterparts in many occupations. This compounded inflation pressures in recent years.
“The changes are a positive start to what will need to be a continuing programme of refinement to immigration settings to ensure that businesses can get the skills they need to support economic recovery and growth. The vast majority of businesses use immigration responsibly and as a last resort to source skills that are not available in New Zealand. We foresee that demand for immigration will pick up again and businesses need to be able to rely on an immigration system that does not have unnecessary barriers and bureaucracy, and is timely and efficient.
“It is positive to see the Government signalling greater responsiveness to business needs, particularly in meeting seasonal peaks in demand. This will greatly support our export industries. There is a significant work programme necessary to get the immigration system fit for purpose and user-friendly, however these initial changes are a step in the right direction,” Mrs Rich said.
The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.
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Employment – Early notice of minimum wage rise helpful for business, says EMA

Source: EMA

The Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) says the government’s early decision to deliver a modest 1.5% increase to the adult minimum wage will allow employers time to prepare.
EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald says the increase from $23.15 an hour to $23.50, which will take effect from 1 April 2025, reflects the current economic climate and labour market conditions.
“While we support this modest increase, we continue to advocate for a more predictable and stable approach, such as an index-linked method, to future wage increases,” says McDonald.
“In the past, significant increases have often been announced with little notice and businesses have been left scrambling to adjust their budgets and payroll systems.
“The government’s early announcement of this modest increase will give businesses time to prepare. In the past we’ve seen sharp increases at short notice and that can be an unexpected burden for businesses, especially when they are already grappling with rising costs.
“New Zealand currently has a relatively high minimum wage compared with other key OECD countries.
“At the EMA, we’ve received a record number of calls this year to our Member AdviceLine regarding restructuring and redundancy as businesses have faced significant financial pressures.
“This modest minimum wage increase is a sensible response to the state of the economy and will result in more Kiwis getting into jobs and learning the skills they need to build rewarding careers.”
As part of the government’s announcement, the starting-out and training minimum wage rates are also being adjusted, from $18.52 to $18.80, maintaining 80% of the adult minimum wage.
“We believe this proportionate increase is fair and avoids pricing young people out of job opportunities, as the experience and life skills they gain at the start of their careers are invaluable for their future success,” says McDonald.
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BusinessNZ – Reform of local government – relief and celebration

Source: BusinessNZ

BusinessNZ congratulates the Government and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown on planned local government reform.
BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich said the Government’s agreement to change the purpose of the Local Government Act, from the current ‘four well-beings’ purpose, to one focused on delivering basic infrastructure and services, has not come a moment too soon.
“The current description of local government’s purpose – ‘promoting social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being’ – is incredibly broad in its reach. It has led to councils around the country getting involved in expensive, wasteful undertakings, causing rates to rise exponentially, while ignoring the real infrastructure needs of local communities,” Katherine Rich said.
“Refocusing the Act on the basics is well overdue and will be greeted with relief and celebration by communities around New Zealand.
“The reform will be significant not only for households but businesses as well, since businesses pay the greatest share of rates while often receiving poor service delivery and inadequate infrastructure provision in return.
“Of course, repurposing local government does not mean ditching the idea of community well-being. Local government does have a role to play in advancing New Zealanders’ overall well-being, however, that role cannot be all-encompassing – it needs to be established on a principled basis and properly focused.
“This planned local government reform will help future councils stay in their lane,” Mrs Rich said.
The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.
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Environment – Government washes its hands of “unethical” plastic waste exports

Source: Lydia Chai

16 December 2024 – Today the Government rejected a petition to ban New Zealand’s plastic waste exports to developing countries, citing a lack of agreement with Australia to divert our waste exports there if such a ban was implemented.

Instead, the Government intends to focus on improving monitoring to ensure compliance with border controls and invest in New Zealand’s domestic recycling infrastructure. There is no mention of whether this will encourage a business-as-usual approach rather than reduce plastic production.

 

In September last year, the Parliamentary Environment Committee recommended by majority that New Zealand sets a deadline to phase out unlicensed plastic waste exports “to countries beyond Australia”. 

The Committee had stated that it was “unethical” for communities in Malaysia to bear the burden of New Zealand’s historic under-investment in plastics reprocessing infrastructure.

 

The Committee’s report was a response to a petition by Lydia Chai to ban the export of plastic waste to developing countries because the waste trade in Malaysia is causing significant health and environmental harms. Chai’s petition did not mention diverting waste to Australia.

Chai says the Government’s final decision to reject her petition “gives a lot of reasons for doing nothing”.

“Not only is there growing evidence that recycling is not a solution for most plastics, but the Government intends to rely on industry actors to self-report and be architects of their own plastic waste reduction initiatives. This is futile and solves nothing.”

The Government says it “could review the plastic waste export situation” in 2028. Chai says this is a “slap in the face” to Malaysians and the thousands of New Zealanders who supported her petition.

 

Notes

·         The Government’s response to Lydia Chai’s petition was published today: https://bills.parliament.nz/v/4/f91c98ad-ab5a-4228-e413-08dd1d439809

·         The Environment Committee’s report was published in September 2023: https://selectcommittees.parliament.nz/v/6/0c8f3daa-eec0-4dfd-76fa-08dbaa8106fc

·         Lydia Chai’s petition calls for a ban on plastic waste exports to developing countries: https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/stop-sending-our-plastic-waste-to-developing-countries

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Govt Health Cuts – Patients will die if Govt proceeds with plans to halve Health IT staff – PSA

Source: PSA

Documents lay bare Govt putting dollars ahead of patient safety
The Government is playing fast and loose with the lives of New Zealanders by running down the vital IT systems that underpin critical care services in hospitals.
A risk planning document obtained by 1 News show the Government ignoring the risks to patient safety by pressing ahead with gutting Te Whatu Ora’s Data and Digital group to save $100 million a year.
“This is cold, hard evidence that the Government is prepared to risk the lives of patients to save money,” said Ashok Shankar, National Health Sector Lead, Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The Government has told New Zealanders continually and loudly that its cuts will not impact the frontline of hospital services. These documents expose that for what it is – a bold-faced lie.
“The Government promised evidence-based decisions but is happy to ignore evidence when it doesn’t suit its cost cutting agenda.”
The document was prepared to inform Te Whatu Ora leaders of the risks to critical care systems from its proposal to cut 47% of roles in the Data and Digital Group – a total of 1120 full time roles.
“It’s shameful that the Government has signed off on these cuts despite knowing the huge risks it’s taking. The price will be paid by New Zealanders who will not get the urgent critical treatment they need. Without a doubt some patients will die.
“It’s very concerning that the documents also show that the ability of hospitals to respond to a major emergency like a cyclone or earthquake is being put at risk by this decision. New Zealanders deserve better.
“The PSA understands that staff, including senior leaders, are alarmed at the risks that are being taking with the scale of these cuts, but have been ignored.”
“New Zealanders should expect hospital IT systems to work well, 24/7, so clinicians can provide the care patients need at the most critical moment in their lives.
“Given the urgent need to upgrade systems, integrate various old legacy DHB systems and maintain them for the time being, the Government should be investing more not less.
“But the Government has made a choice to fund tax cuts for landlords and big tobacco ahead of the lives of New Zealanders. This is reckless and irresponsible.”
Previous PSA statement
Background
The PSA has sighted the document obtained by 1 News, relating to the Northern Region where most New Zealanders live, titled Regional DCE impact assessment worksheet Sept 2024
The documents reflect feedback from Digital and Data staff on the risks of reducing the workforce. The register of risks rates 14 out of the 40 risks as “almost certain” to happen, with “severe” consequences.
Many of the impacts described relate to outages in critical core care systems (Category 0 and 1). Te Whatu Ora says the consequences of failure for a Category 1 service “could result in permanent injury or death for one or more health consumers”.
The document states that unplanned outages or reduction in Data and Digital staff could have significant impacts for example as follows.
“Outages would last longer, severely impacting patient care, administrative functions, and operational efficiency.”
“Imminent risk of catastrophic failure.”
“Increased incidents and outages, overall reduced quality, safety, effectiveness and efficiency of care.”
“Clinicians making clinical decisions without access to full information.”
‘Less effective and efficient clinical and operation teams during emergency response situations.”
“This will lead to poorer health outcomes, increased staff turnover, and the loss of vital intellectual property, ultimately resulting in significant deterioration of category 0 and 1 clinical services and patient safety.”
“Clinical staff burnout and patient care.”
“Will lead to an overwhelmed workforce.”
Faults could “snowball.”
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Reo Advocate Poia Rewi to leave Te Mātāwai CE role

Source: Te Mātāwai

Te Mātāwai Tumu Whakarae Poia Rewi has announced he will step down as CE in March 2025 after 4.5 years at the helm dedicated to te reo Māori revitalisation by iwi and whānau Māori.  

During this time, Poia (Ngāti Manawa, Tūhoe, Te Arawa, Ngāti Whare, Tūwharetoa) has considerably grown the capability and capacity of Te Mātāwai. Starting with just four fulltime staff in 2020 he’s increased this to 38 full time staff today, including nine FTE’s in Pae Motuhake regional roles.  

Reikura Kahi, Te Mātāwai co-chair says it has been an honour to have someone of Poia’s high calibre and passion for increasing te reo Māori use.

“Poia is a deeply humble but truly excellent leader who is well-respected across Aotearoa and loved by all his kaimahi. Since starting at Te Mātāwai he has developed our unique community model, which has seen eight Kāhui established, each with a Pae Motuhake board of reo Māori champions,” she says.

This year Poia worked alongside the Board to set a new strategic visionfor te reo Māori illustrated through a waka journey to Hawaiki Tipuna in 2027, with the future destination for te reo revitalisation being Hawaiki Mokopuna in 2040.      

“We are grateful to Poia for all he’s achieved as Tumu Whakarae. As a skilled expert in te reo Māori, tikanga, whaikōrero and research we’ve benefited from his immense pūkenga and the direction he’s taken us.  

“Most of all though, we’ll miss Poia’s authenticity, his manaakitanga towards all people, and his unwavering commitment to te reo Māori revitalisation all day, every day,” Reikura says.

Poia says although he is sad to leave Te Mātāwai, he’ll continue living its vision ‘Kia Ūkaipō Anō te Reo – restoring te reo Māori as a nurturing first language within homes and communities’.

“I have achieved all the objectives set out for me upon my appointment, and more. Now, I want to spend quality time with my whānau. I also want to support the kāinga, hapori and iwi I moved away from, where there’s still a huge desire for reo and tikanga,” he says. 

The search for a new Chief Executive will begin in the new year.

Pānui pāpāho / 17 Tīhema 2024

Ko te Toa Reo Māori, ko Poia Rewi tēnei e wehe nei i tōna tūranga mahi hei Tumu Whakarae mō Te Mātāwai

Kua pānuitia e te Tumu Whakarae mō Te Mātāwai, e Poia Rewi, ka heke ia i tōna tūranga mahi hei te Māehe 2025; kua whā tau me te hāwhe ia e noho nei hei kaihautū i te waka whakaūkaipō i te reo Māori ki ngā iwi me ngā whānau Māori.

I roto i tēnei wā, kua kaha te whakatipuria mai o ngā pūkenga me ngā raukaha e Poia (Ngāti Manawa, Tūhoe, Te Arawa, Ngāti Whare, Tūwharetoa) ki Te Mātāwai. Tokowhā noa ngā kaimahi pūmau i te tau 2020, ā nāwai kua piki te tokomaha ki te 38 kaimahi a mohoa (tae atu hoki ki ngā tūranga mahi pūmau e iwa kei ngā Pae Motuhake o ngā rohe).  

Hei tā Reikura Kahi, hoa-toihau o Te Mātāwai, he hōnore nui te piringa mai o te momo pēnei i a Poia i tōna ngākau remurere kia kaha ake te kōrerotia o te reo Māori.

Ko tāna, “He tangata ngākau iti, engari hiranga ake nei a Poia i roto i āna mahi kaihautū. He tangata e kauanuanutia ana puta noa i Aotearoa nei, ā, e arohatia nuitia ana ia e āna kaimahi katoa. Te amohanga ake āna i te urungi i Te Mātāwai, nāna i hua ai tā mātou mahere hapori motuhake, ā, nō konei whakapūmautia ai ngā Kāhui ā-Iwi e waru me ā rātou ake Pae Motuhake e kī pohapoha ana i te toa reo Māori.

I tēnei tau, i mahi ngātahi a Poia me te Poari Matua ki te waihanga i terautaki whakakitenga hou mō te reo Māori mā te whakaterenga o tētahi waka e pae atu nei ki Hawaiki Tipuna ā te tau 2027, ā, kia tau rā anō ia me āna mahi whakaūkaipō i te reo Māori ki tōna wāhi ūnga, ki Hawaiki Mokopuna ā te tau 2040.      

“Me mihi e mātou a Poia i ngā mahi katoa kua tutuki i a ia hei Tumu Whakarae. Kua ora rawa atu mātou i tōna mātanga ki te reo Māori, ki ngā tikanga, ki te whaikōrero me ngā mahi rangahau; kua whai hua nui hoki te huarahi nāna tonu i para hei takahitanga mā mātou.

“Heoi, i te otinga atu, ka mokemoke mātou ki a Poia i tōna ngākau motuhenga, i tōna ngākau manaaki ki te tangata me tōna manawa tītī ki te whakarauoratanga o te reo Māori, ao noa, pō noa.” te kī mai a Reikura.

E mea ana a Poia, ahakoa pōuri te ngākau i tōna wehenga i Te Mātāwai, ka pūmau tonu ia ki tōna tūruapō, arā, ‘Kia Ūkaipō anō Te Reo ki ngā Kāinga me ngā Hapori’.

“Kua tutuki katoa ngā whāinga i whakaritea hei whai māku i taku taenga mai me ētahi kaupapa i tua atu. Ko taku hiahia i tēnei wā, he piri kaha ki tōku whānau, he takoha hoki i ōku mōhio ki ngā kāinga, ngā hapori me ngā iwi i tawhiti ai ahau i ngā tau, he hanga e matenui ana ki te whakatipu ake anō i tōna reo me ōna tikanga,” te kōrero mai a Poia.

Hei te tau e tū mai nei ka rapua anō he Tumu Whakarae hou.

-KUA MUTU-  

Whakaahua: Kua tata pau te rima tau ia e hautū ana i tēnei kaupapa whakaūkaipō i te reo, ā, kua heke a Poia i tōna tūranga hei Tumu Whakarae. Ka hoki ia ki te āhuru o tōna whānau noho ai hei hoa rangatira, hei pāpā, hei ‘koro’.

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Employment – Zero pay offer triggers strike action by MBIE staff – PSA

Source: PSA

PSA members at the Ministry of Business and Innovation (MBIE) have voted overwhelming in favour of taking industrial action after receiving a zero percent pay offer.
Industrial action from approximately 3000 union members starts on Tuesday 17 December and will run until 20 January. Members will not undertake unpaid essential or non-essential work, and take rest and meal breaks together at specific times. From 6am on New Year’s Eve, Border Operations staff will join the industrial action.
“These workers are worth much more than zero percent and have been left with no choice but to stand together and take this action, and to show the importance of their work to all New Zealanders,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, acting National Secretary Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Once again, we are seeing the Government devaluing workers who provide important public services to New Zealanders. This is just another sad symptom of the Government’s obsession with cutting public service budgets regardless of the valuable work carried out.”
PSA members at MBIE deliver a wide range of services supporting businesses and people across New Zealand. Border Operations workers facilitate the flow of migrants across, and maintain the security of, New Zealand’s borders.
“The scale of work done is broad and deep – their work underpins New Zealand’s economy.”
PSA members work at MBIE includes:
  • Answering the public’s questions about employment, immigration, tenancy, public holidays, minimum wage, and more.
  • Bringing in tourist dollars and new workers through the Immigration system.
  • protecting our borders
  • Investing in regional initiatives and research, science and innovation.
  • Helping draft laws for the smooth running of the country
  • Ensuring safe and fair rules and regulations for consumers and businesses
  • Supporting the sustainable management of natural resources
  • Guiding businesses through major economic events.
  • Maintain the security of New Zealand’s borders
This is the latest group of workers to be offered a zero percent pay increase. It follows New Zealand Defence Force civilian staff being offered the same. These workers are also undertaking industrial action.