Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

 

Israel’s drone attack on the Freedom Flotilla boat ‘Conscience’ shows Israel’s genocide strategy has now gone global, according to PSNA.

 

The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa says the attack in international waters is a thoroughly predictable war crime, committed by an out-of-control Israel, intent on violence anywhere to uphold its starvation strategy for Gaza.

 

The ‘Conscience’ was loaded with life-saving humanitarian aid for Gaza and was attacked and disabled off the coast of Malta.

 

“It’s another war crime to add to Israel’s blood-soaked reputation” says PSNA Co-National Chair John Minto. “This is a cowardly attack on the best of humanity trying to get aid to more than two million desperate and starving people.”

 

“Israel has blocked all aid for more than two months in an attempt to starve them to death.”

“This brazen attack in international waters shows how emboldened Israel has become by the silence of Western governments such as New Zealand.”

 

Minto is pointing to the UN Panel of Inquiry in 2011 on a similar Israeli attack on the Turkish aid vessel the Mavi Marmara the year before.  It was chaired by former New Zealand Prime Minster Sir Geoffrey Palmer.

 

Palmer found that Israel used ‘excessive and unreasonable force’ in boarding the vessel and killing ten people on board.

 

“But Palmer also said that Israel had conducted a ‘legitimate security measure’.  I wonder how Geoffrey Palmer feels about legitimising that action now,” Minto says.

 

“Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa is calling on the New Zealand government to condemn the aggression on what is an unarmed, civilian vessel in international waters.”

 

“When Ansar Allah (Houthis) in Yemen did this to Israeli vessels to try to stop the genocide in Gaza, New Zealand involved itself by sending military support to western countries to bomb Yemen.”

 

“We are not calling on the government to send military support for the bombing of Israel. However, if New Zealand really believes in the freedom of passage of unarmed vessels in international waters, it must condemn Israeli outright for this cowardly attack on the ‘Conscience’.”

 

 Minto says to maintain any credibility the government is also overdue and obligated to end its months long silence over other Israeli actions.

 

“Top of the list is Israel’s war crime use of starvation in Gaza as a weapon of war.  But the government must also condemn the Israeli army ethnic cleansing and assisting settler attacks in Occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.”

 

“Israel is building new illegal settlements there at an unprecedented rate.”

 

“Israel has also just conducted unprovoked major military assaults on Syria. Our Foreign Minister must surely know about these things, and we are at a loss to know why he says and does nothing.” 

 

John Minto

Co-National Chair

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

On this World Press Freedom Day, we pause to honour journalists and media workers across the globe who risk their safety to report truth and amplify the voices of the oppressed. Nowhere is this commitment more courageous, or more perilous, than in occupied Palestine.

For decades, Palestinian journalists have operated under constant threat — targeted, detained, censored, and even killed for doing their jobs. In Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, Palestinian reporters document human rights violations, military assaults, home demolitions, and the daily realities of life under occupation, often at great personal risk.

In the latest war on Gaza, media offices have been bombed, journalists and their families deliberately targeted, and communication blackouts imposed to silence Palestinian narratives. As of May 2025, over 140 journalists have been killed in Gaza alone since October 2023, marking one of the deadliest periods for media professionals in recent history. Many others face arbitrary arrest, harassment at checkpoints, equipment confiscation, and restrictions on movement.

Despite these dangers, Palestinian journalists persist — their cameras, pens, and microphones bearing witness to what much of the world might otherwise never see. From the frontline photographers in Gaza to the independent media outlets in the diaspora, their work ensures that Palestinian stories remain in public view.

On this day, we also remember iconic voices like Shireen Abu Akleh, the veteran Al Jazeera journalist killed by Israeli forces in May 2022 while reporting in Jenin. Her legacy is carried by the next generation of Palestinian journalists, who continue to speak truth to power in her name.

Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of justice. In Palestine, this freedom is under siege. And yet, the resilience of Palestinian media workers is a testament to the enduring power of truth.

 Today, we say:
We see you. We hear you. We stand with you.

We demand protection for journalists in Palestine.

We affirm the right of Palestinians to tell their own story.

Press freedom is not a privilege — it is a right. And in Palestine, that right remains worth fighting for.

Maher Nazzal
Palestine Forum of New Zealand

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

A new air ambulance helicopter commissioned today will significantly enhance emergency medical response capabilities across Auckland and Northland, Associate Health Minister Hon Casey Costello and ACC Minister Scott Simpson announced today.
“This state-of-the-art helicopter represents a major advancement in aeromedical service delivery, and we are pleased to see it become operational in this part of the country,” Ms Costello said during a visit to Northern Rescue’s Ardmore base where the aircraft is stationed.
“It’s great news that this helicopter will support people living in these regions as part of the Government’s investment to upgrade some of New Zealand’s air ambulance fleet.
“The Leonardo AW169 aircraft incorporates modern design features and capabilities that improve flight performance, increase safety and reliability, and enhance patient care during transport — especially in challenging weather conditions or remote environments.”
The helicopter is one of nine new or near-new aircraft being introduced across the national Emergency Air Ambulance Helicopter Service fleet throughout 2024/25, jointly funded by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
“Ageing helicopters are being replaced in Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki and Wellington,” Ms Costello says.
The Auckland/Northland helicopter is the third in this fleet renewal programme and the first AW169 to enter service under this investment.
“Our Emergency Air Ambulance Helicopter Service plays a critical role in enabling time-sensitive care for people in urgent need, particularly in regional and rural communities,” Mr Simpson says.
“Notably, this is the first helicopter purchased using ACC Investment debt financing, which has enabled the ageing helicopter replacement programme to progress at a faster pace. This financing arrangement has contributed to savings of around $500,000 per year.”
The regions next in line for improved aircraft capabilities include Northland, which will also receive two additional leased near-new aircraft ready for use from July and Wellington, which will get a brand new replacement aircraft in August. 
The Government’s broader investment into fleet renewal is aimed at replacing ageing helicopters with more capable, efficient, and future-ready alternatives.
“Our air ambulance services do great work and it’s important that the helicopter fleet is upgraded,” Ms Costello says. “Health NZ and ACC are also redesigning the aeromedical operating model to make the best use of air ambulance resources, and the $128 million of rotary wing air ambulance funding provided by the Government.”

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager has joined the thousands of New Zealanders taking part in the annual game bird hunting season opening. 
He spent the morning at Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau / Sinclair Wetlands, a 315-hectare portion of the Lakes Waihola-Waipori wetland south of Dunedin, hosted by Fish & Game New Zealand.
“It was awesome being out there with fellow hunters as the sun rose on opening day,” Mr Meager says. 
“This isn’t just recreation — it’s about sustainably harvesting food, teaching the next generation important skills, and maintaining connections to our heritage that stretch back for generations.”
The game bird season opener saw an estimated 60,000 people head to wetlands and waterways across the country, many travelling significant distances from urban centres.
“Fish & Game regions across the country do a great job managing the game-bird populations, looking after wetlands, waterways and wildlife habitats, and making sure this tradition stays sustainable for future generations,” Mr Meager says.
“My priority is to make it as simple as possible for Kiwis to go hunting and fishing in New Zealand. What I saw today was people from all walks of life coming together to do just that.
“Hunters understand the effort and responsibility involved in harvesting wild food, and there’s real value in that knowledge. We back our hunters to be part of the conservation solution and will continue to ensure Fish & Game are a responsible, responsive and collaborative organisation providing value for licence-holders’ money.”

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that new up-to-date attendance data is helping provide fresh insights into student attendance. For example, data for the first week of term 2 shows the effect of wild weather and which regions were standouts.
The average attendance across week 1 is 87.1 per cent.
“The daily school attendance dashboard kicked off this year. It facilitates the daily recording and publication of student attendance, meaning data for week one of term 2 is already available,” says Mr Seymour.
“It’s pretty clear that areas hit worst by the stormy weather had significant drop offs towards the end of the week. For example, Canterbury and Chatham Islands recorded 90.2% on the first two days of term but dropped to 76.9% on Thursday when the storm hit. I expect attendance to increase again with better forecasts next week.
“The dashboard provides region-specific data and insights. Over the school holidays I wrote to all mayors across New Zealand urging them to check out their region’s statistics so they can help raise awareness and spark local action.
“My letter didn’t ask them to spend money, or hire more bureaucrats, or make more rules. All it asked was for community leaders to play a positive role encouraging young people to get to school. 
“My goal is that all of us take ownership of the attendance problem, because in the long term, all of us will pay for it if children aren’t educated and prepared for the 21st century.
“I congratulate students in the Otago region, who were the most eager to return to school. On Monday, the first day of term 2, 91.7% of students were at school. The Nelson region wasn’t far behind them on 91.5%. 
“Thanks to the daily data, we can finally start to see trends in attendance as they occur. This is going to help educators, parents, community leaders, and the Government target areas in need and more effectively support students back to school.
“Green shoots are present, and we need to keep building on them. In every term in 2024 attendance improved on the same term in 2023. The Government will work with students, parents and educators to build on this.
“There is still more work to do. The Government’s attendance target is 80 per cent of students present for more than 90 per cent of the term. To reach this goal, daily attendance rates of 94 per cent are required. No region achieved this on any day this week. I will be announcing more on how we can help progress further towards our target in weeks to come. 
“It will be mandatory for schools to have their own attendance management plan, such as the Stepped Attendance Response (STAR) in place by Term 1 of 2026. 
“The basic premise of our flagship STAR is that no child is left behind.  
This means every day at school is important, and interventions will follow if absences build up. This could mean consequences for the most uncooperative parents. I would like to acknowledge the work of the 67 per cent of schools who have already in engaged in some form of STAR.
“Attending school is the first step towards achieving positive educational outcomes. Positive educational outcomes lead to better health, higher incomes, better job stability and greater participation within communities. These are opportunities that every student deserves.”
Attendance data can be found here Attendance | Education Counts