Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Green Party

“The passing of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill is a dark day for Aotearoa, and shows this government is on the side of big corporates and against the workers.” says Green Party Workplace Relations spokesperson Teanau Tuiono.

“Workers have a basic right to seek remedies for unjustifiable and unlawful dismissal. This law effectively destroys that right, leaving workers completely exposed to abuses of power by their employers.”

“This law also makes it easier to dismiss workers and gives bosses the ability to mischaracterise employees as contractors, meaning that they miss out on basic rights like sick leave and holiday pay.”

“Minister Van Velden has proudly ignored and refused to meet with workers’ representatives, while she’s getting her ideas for reforms from multinational corporations like Uber.”  

“New Zealand workers already have significantly less rights at work than Australian workers, and this government is busy eroding those that we have managed to keep. It’s no surprise that young people are flocking across the ditch, and this will only see that flow increase.” 

Over 3000 submissions on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill were opposed to it, while only 34 were in favour. Unions, employment lawyers, and academics lined up alongside regular workers to reject this attack on basic rights.

“Workers are the backbone of our economy. Instead of protecting and supporting them, this Government is in the pockets of multinational corporates, delivering on their every whim.”

“Enhancing the rights of workers to organise collectively is the best to get decent pay and working conditions, and the Greens are committed to strengthening this,” says Teanau.  

“We will go further than reversing these changes when we are in government. We will introduce default union membership for all new workers and look to increase the ability for workers to take industrial action to promote their basic rights.”  

Source: Green Party

The newly released National Infrastructure Plan stands in stark contrast to the Government’s actual spending priorities, the Green Party says. 

“We welcome today’s National Infrastructure Plan, which would take us in the opposite direction of the decisions of Luxon’s Government,” said Chlöe Swarbrick, Green Party Co-Leader and Finance spokesperson.  

“This Plan shows how we can and must invest in resilient critical infrastructure like hospitals and renewables. Yet Luxon’s Government continues to burn taxpayer money on inflaming the climate crisis and inducing congestion through the daft LNG terminal and roads at all costs. 

“Treasury confirmed on Friday that we should be borrowing more to invest in infrastructure that builds real value and expands our productive capacity, which is exactly the vision the Greens have shown can be a reality in our Fiscal Strategy. 

“As parts of our country are underwater in yet another climate emergency, the need for decisive action, leadership and investment has never been more clear. 

“The choice is obvious: invest now in resilience, reducing the cost of living and improving our quality of life – or pay exponentially more for failures and disasters later,” said Swarbrick. 

Source: NZCTU

The passing of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill is a dark day for working New Zealanders, says New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi President Sandra Grey.

“This law strips working Kiwis of long-held and fundamental rights.

“Employers will now be empowered to misclassify employees as contractors, stripping from them key entitlements including the minimum wage, sick pay, and Kiwisaver. This threatens entire workforces, particularly in industries where work is already low-paid and precarious.

“With this change, National, ACT, and New Zealand First are once again prioritising profit over people. The National-led Government is shamelessly giving in to Uber and other multinational companies whose business models rely on insecure work.

“The legislation also makes a mockery of the personal grievance system. Workers now face the absurd situation where they could prove in court they were unjustifiably dismissed but not be eligible for remedies for this injustice.

“This Bill was strongly opposed during the select committee process. The Government was warned by employment experts and working Kiwis that it will dramatically undermine job security. It has refused to listen.

“Everyone deserves good work – work that is well-paid, secure, and provides employees with minimum rights and conditions. This Bill does the opposite, eroding fair pay, job security, and basic protections.

“National have let Uber and the ACT Party set the agenda for employment law in this country. They need to grow a backbone and stand up for the interests of New Zealand workers,” said Grey.

Source: New Zealand Government

The Employment Relations Amendment Bill has passed its third reading, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says.

“I am proud to see the Bill pass as law, bringing these reforms to life and fixing what really matters for employers and workers. 

“This Bill is about backing business to hire with increased confidence. 

“When employers can hire and grow their business with confidence, more people get opportunities. That means more jobs and higher paid jobs,” says Ms van Velden. 

“Rebalancing the employment relations settings, as this law does, brings more choice for businesses and workers to create and enter working arrangements that suit their individual needs,” says Ms van Velden.

The Act will:

• Clarify contractor vs employee status with a four part ‘gateway test’ to ensure businesses and workers have more clarity from the start of their contracting arrangement.
• Ensure accountability for serious misconduct and poor behaviour which means the law stops pay-outs that financially reward employees for serious misconduct.
• Set an income threshold of $200,000 for unjustified dismissal personal grievances, enabling employers to give workers a go in these high impact positions, without having to risk a costly and disruptive dismissal process if things don’t work out.
• Restore freedom for workers to negotiate their employment agreements from day one by removing the 30-day rule. This means employers and workers can agree on their own terms from the first day on the job. 

Most of these changes will come into effect the day after the Employment Relations Amendment Bill receives Royal assent.

“This Government is committed to maximising business confidence and accelerating business growth, and today’s changes advance both,” says Ms van Velden. 

Editor’s notes:

• Employees on existing employment agreements who meet the remuneration threshold will have up to 12-months to re-negotiate their agreements before the threshold for unjustified dismissal claims takes effect.  

Source: New Zealand Government

Legislation to formally recognise all those who have served New Zealand in times of war as part of Anzac Day commemorations has passed in Parliament today.

“Honouring our service personnel on Anzac Day is one of our most enduring national traditions,” Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

“It binds us to our history and to the story of who we are as a country, while providing an opportunity to reflect on the courage and extraordinary sacrifice of those who have served to defend and protect New Zealand and our allies.

“However, the Anzac Day Act was in desperate need of updating. It failed to acknowledge conflicts after 1966, meaning many service personnel were excluded from official commemorations under the law. The modernised law more accurately reflects public sentiment about who we honour on Anzac Day.”

Veterans Minister Chris Penk says, increasingly, New Zealanders are using the occasion of Anzac Day to reflect on the loss of loved ones in war and in warlike situations, including United Nations missions, other multi-force groupings, and service alongside allied forces.

“Kiwis also commemorate the loss of family members who served as civilians in medical units, and the Merchant Navy during the two World Wars. Others remember those who tragically died while training for conflict.

“The updated Act will now also cover the service of members of allied forces who participated in the first landing on Gallipoli, including personnel from countries such as France and India.

“These changes are well overdue, and come into effect before Anzac Day 2026, meaning that this year will be the first time our national commemoration formally recognises all those who have served New Zealand in times of war.

“We will remember them.”

Mr Goldsmith says the passage of the legislation strengthens the integrity and relevance of one of New Zealand’s most important days of remembrance.

“Preserving the memory of those who fought to defend our country, and of those who served in other vital roles during times of war, is a critical part of safeguarding New Zealand’s history and national identity.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Police investigating a high-value burglary in Swanson last month are seeking assistance from the public.

Sometime between 14 and 27 January, a residential address on Swanson Road has been entered and a significant amount of silver and gold stolen.

Detective Shaun Galbraith, Waitematā West Tactical Crime Unit, says a large quantity of silver bullion, including a number of 1kg silver bars, were taken.

“Each of the bars is imprinted with “MW” (Morris & Watson) inscription.

“A number of 1oz gold Kiwi coins were also stolen from the property. 

“The combined value of the stolen items is significant and we are determined to locate those responsible and hold them to account but we need the public’s help.”

Detective Galbraith says Police are urging anyone who has information to please come forward.

“We would like to hear from anyone who may have seen any suspicious people or vehicles around the Swanson Road and Christian Road areas between 14-27 January.

“If you noticed unusual activity near rural driveways, gate areas, or properties backing onto the Swanson rail corridor then please reach out.”

He says Police are also keen to hear from people who may have been offered a large amount of silver or gold for sale in unusual circumstances.

“If you have any information regarding the burglary or the whereabouts of the bullion please contact Police.”

Information can be provided through 105, either online or over the phone, please use reference number 260128/8576.

Alternatively, you can make a report anonymously though Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111, using the same reference number.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can release the name of the man who sadly died following a crash on Puketutu Road, Matamata, on Sunday 1 February.

He was Jonathan Marc Fairfax-Brown, 49, from Mount Maunganui.

Police extend condolences to Jonathan’s loved ones.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  17 February 2026 Source:  Department of Conservation and Project Janszoon

Representatives from Project Janszoon, the NEXT Foundation, the Department of Conservation, Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama and Te Ātiawa joined the Plowman family at the unveiling of a commemorative sign, seat and wheku (carved post), just off the Abel Tasman Coast Track above Anchorage.

Project Janszoon, the first privately-funded landscape-scale restoration project of its kind in New Zealand, has transformed the ecological prospects of the Abel Tasman National Park. Its benefactors, Neal and Annette Plowman, have given over NZ$20 million to rid the park of wilding conifers, educate young people in conservation, restore the park’s threatened habitats and bring birds like kākā, whio and kākāriki back to its forests and rivers.

When, in June this year, Project Janszoon hands its achievements over to the Department of Conservation for long-term management under the Tomorrow Accord, it will leave a legacy of inspired youth, noisy bush parrots and a skyline free of the scourge of wilding conifers.

NEXT Environmental Advisor Devon McLean says generosity and vision of Neal and Annette Plowman has been a wonderful gift to New Zealand.

“The park is newly alive with kākā, pāteke, whio, kākāriki, and robin. Project Janszoon’s investment in the control of weeds, including wilding conifers, and animal pests has revived the natural processes of the forest – exactly as envisioned 14 years ago when the project began. Witnessing the change here today with the Plowman family, NEXT Foundation trustees and members of our community is incredibly special.”

Neal and Annette went on to launch the NEXT Foundation, which has funded conservation and education across the country, at scale.

“The successful partnership model created for Project Janszoon has become a blueprint for several other transformational restoration projects already underway across New Zealand,” says Devon.

Project Janszoon Board Chair Gillian Wratt echoes those statements: “To be here today with the people who not only supported the idea, the dream, but who had the means and commitment to make it happen and see it through is truly memorable.

“This project has paved the way for extraordinary innovation and investment in conservation across New Zealand. Seeing the Plowman’s vision bought to life has been incredibly rewarding for all of us – board, staff, contractors and volunteers – involved in Project Janszoon.”

Aneika Young of Ngāti Rārua and Te Ātiawa, a director on the Project Janszoon board, says that as long-standing kaitiaki of Abel Tasman National Park, manawhenua iwi acknowledge and appreciate the significant restoration work that has been delivered on the ground.

“The project has brought people together to contribute practical knowledge, tikanga, hands-on conservation work, bird translocations, restoration planting, and education initiatives. These collective efforts are strengthening the mauri of this nationally treasured landscape so it can be enjoyed and cared for by future generations.”

Aneika also acknowledges the Plowman whānau for their generosity and commitment, which has helped turn a shared vision for the park into lasting action.
Department of Conservation Director-General Penny Nelson says the vision and bravery of Plowman family to get Project Janszoon going is incredible, and the project has been a trailblazer for conservation.

“The ecological gains that have been made and community buy in for conservation are remarkable. Forest birds can be seen in the lowlands after being absent for decades, and the massive collaborative effort to remove weeds, wilding conifers and ungulates has eased pressure on the ecosystem.

“DOC is committed to honouring the legacy Project Janszoon has created. We’ll be working with iwi, community groups, landowners and other supporters to sustain and build on these gains for future generations.”

Contact