Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Employment – Authenticity over Authority – 63% of professionals admit to leaving a previous employer because they didn’t resonate with leadership

Source: Robert Walters

Two thirds of professionals (63%) have admitted that one of the leading reasons for leaving a previous employer is because they did not have a ‘connection’ with their management or leadership team.  

A further 68% stated that their exit was due to ’empty promises’ from management – with professionals feeling that leaders who fail to act on commitments erode trust.

The findings come from a new report from global talent solutions business – Robert Walters – which highlights ‘Human-centric Leadership’ as a key trend that will be required of any business that wants to be successful in 2025 and beyond.  (ref. https://www.robertwalters.co.uk/insights/hiring-advice/e-guide/top-talent-trends-in-recruitment.html )

Gerrit Bouckaert – CEO of Robert Walters Recruitment – comments:  

“In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, leadership success will be easier to achieve when leaders put people first – more so now than ever as professionals fear the role of AI and whether it will be considered as a job replacement.  

“We will always need people in the workplace. And much like you would invest in your technology with R&D and improvements, the same goes for your people.  

“Business leaders that foster psychological safety, flexibility, and continuous learning will build stronger, more engaged teams – and ultimately, a more successful business.”

Transactional Relationships  

The report highlights the downfall of when a leader lacks genuine interest – with 62% stating that they feel disengaged when leaders only communicate when they need something.

71% of employees say they can tell when leaders are being insincere in their optimism, with many reporting this as ‘forced enthusiasm.’

Gerrit adds: “Leaders who fail to engage personally with their teams not only risk losing loyalty, but also some valuable insight on the company and ideas for improvement or future growth.”  

Inauthentic Leadership  

When asked what the common traits were for poor or inauthentic leadership, professionals responded with:

Lack of Transparency (72%) – Employees lose faith in leaders who withhold information or fail to explain decisions.

Inconsistency (66%) – Leaders who say one thing but do another struggle to earn long-term respect.

Avoiding Accountability (44%) – A failure to admit mistakes or take responsibility leads to a culture of blame.

Ignoring Employee Wellbeing (30%) – Leaders who prioritise profit over people create a toxic work environment.

Micromanagement (28%) – A lack of trust in employees’ abilities can stifle innovation and motivation.  

Playing Favourites (22%) – Unequal treatment of team members fosters resentment and disengagement.

Route to Success

Findings from the Robert Walters Talent Trends 2025 report include that companies are 1.5x more likely to retain high performers when leaders display a human-centric organisational focus.

In fact, companies are 2.6x more likely to meet objectives as a ‘people-first’ organisation. Gerrit outlines top tips on how organisations (and its leaders) can become more human-centric:  

Offer coaching and development: Leaders should receive coaching on the principles of human-centric leadership—including empathy, emotional intelligence, leading with authenticity, active listening, and inclusivity. If you don’t have this expertise in-house, consider outsourcing coaching and development programs.

Deliver clear communication: Open, transparent and regular communication is key in a human-centric approach. Companies should build an environment where ideas are freely shared and valued, and where constructive feedback is encouraged. Simple things such as open Q&A’s to the office floor or having an open-door policy for questions – be it in-person or via email.  

Don’t forget about culture: Shifting to a human-centric approach may require a significant change in company culture. This may involve redefining company values, rethinking performance metrics and revamping reward systems to align with human-centric principles.

Engage your employees: Organisations should focus on understanding the needs of their employees to develop strategies to increase employee engagement. This could involve creating more opportunities for collaboration, promoting work-life balance and implementing recognition and reward systems.

About Robert Walters  

With more than 3,200 people in 31 countries, Robert Walters Group delivers recruitment consultancy, staffing, recruitment process outsourcing and managed services across the globe. From traditional recruitment and staffing to end-to-end talent management, our consultants are experts at matching highly skilled people to permanent, contract and interim roles across all professional disciplines, including: Accountancy & Finance, Banking & Financial Services, Engineering, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal, Sales & Marketing, Secretarial & Support, Supply Chain & Procurement. www.robertwaltersgroup.com  

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Transporting New Zealand welcomes return to original speed limits

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Today’s announcement by NZTA that 43 sections of state highway will revert to their previous higher speed limits, in line with community feedback, has been welcomed by road freight peak body Transporting New Zealand. The reversals must be implemented by July 1, 2025.
Between 30 January and 13 March 2025, NZTA consulted on 49 sections of state highway around the country to determine public support levels for keeping speed limits at lowered speeds.
Based on community feedback, speed limits at 43 of the 49 sections will return to their previous speed limits.
For six locations, consultation demonstrated majority public support to keep the current lower speed limit:
– SH30 Rotorua South
– SH5 Waipā State Mill Road
– SH5 Waiotapu,
– SH3 Whanganui
– SH3 Palmerston Northeast to Whakarongo
– SH94 Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound
Chief executive Dom Kalasih says the partial rollback is a positive outcome that respects local views and demonstrates that the Coalition Government’s 2024 speed limit rule change strikes a careful balance between efficiency and safety considerations.
“We were pleased to see the end of the previous Government’s policy of blanket speed limit reduction. This one-size-fits all approach slowed everyone down, led to frustrated drivers and increasing disregard for lowered limits.
“In contrast, the Coalition Government’s approach of lower speed limits in areas with high crash risk, variable speed limits outside schools during pick-up and drop-off times, and meaningful community consultation is a big improvement.
“Free-moving traffic benefits all road users, maximises productivity, and keeps the 93 percent of New Zealand’s freight that travels via road moving efficiently,” he says.
NZTA received 21,500 submissions on 49 sections of the state highway system, with the level of participation and volume of submissions making the speed reversal consultation one of NZTA’s largest to date.
There are other areas on state highways where decisions have yet to be made, and these are what NZTA calls “urban connectors” which range from Northland to Rakaia.
  Consultation closes May 14.
About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
Transporting New Zealand 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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EMA – Northwest Busway will transform Auckland’s western suburbs

Source: EMA

The decision today by the NZ Transport Agency to endorse the Northwest Busway investment case is welcome news for West Auckland residents, says EMA’s Head of Advocacy, Alan McDonald.
“We’ve seen the success of the Northern Busway in significantly reducing traffic on the Auckland Harbour Bridge,” he says.
“There is no doubt that the Northwest Busway will have a similarly transformative impact on Auckland’s burgeoning north-western suburbs.”
Today’s decision follows other significant infrastructure announcements by the government this week, including the preferred corridor for a four-lane connection over the Brynderwyn Hills to Whangārei, as well as the Tauriko four-laning and Takitimu North projects in Tauranga.
“Together, these major roading projects will generate thousands of jobs and provide much needed work for the construction sector.”  
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Aid cuts threaten the lives of 110,000 children with severe malnutrition reliant on emergency treatment from Save the Children

Source: Save the Children

At least 110,000- severely acutely malnourished children supported by Save the Children in 10 countries could be left without access to life-saving ready-to-use emergency food and nutrition programmes as aid cuts hit supplies in coming months, according to a Save the Children analysis.
Globally, one in five deaths among children aged under 5 are attributed to severe acute malnutrition, making it one of the top threats to child survival. Community-based programmes combining medical treatment and therapeutic foods, including a fortified peanut paste, have a 90% success rate.
Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) is an energy-dense, micronutrient paste typically made using peanuts, sugar, milk powder, oil, vitamins and minerals that is packaged in foil pouches with a long shelf life and no need of refrigeration. Over the past 30 years this emergency therapeutic food has saved the lives of millions of children facing acute malnutrition [1] [2].
At a time when global hunger is skyrocketing [3], the current global supply of RUTF is already not even meeting 40% of global needs, Save the Children said, leaving millions of children without access to this life-saving intervention.
In 2024 there were large-scale breaks in the supply of RUTF as rising malnutrition rates drove up demand and due to disruptions in global supply chains and insufficient funding. This situation is expected to worsen in 2025. An analysis by Save the Children of the 10 countries forecast to have the biggest gaps in supplies found 110,000 malnourished children could miss out on this vital treatment by the end of the year. RUTF supplies are expected to run out in many locations from next month due to a lack of funding.
Globally at least 18.2 million children were born into hunger in 2024, or about 35 children a minute, with children in conflict zones from Gaza to Ukraine, to Haiti, Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), struggling daily to get enough to eat. Famine has been declared in several parts of Sudan where people are resorting to eating grass to stay alive.
Hannah Stephenson, Head of Hunger and Nutrition at Save the Children, said:
“Right now, funding shortfalls mean essential nutrition packs are not reaching the children who desperately need them. We know we have the expertise and the track record to reach children around the world but what we urgently need now is the funding to ensure children can receive life-saving treatment. We are running out of time, and t his will cost children’s lives.
“We also need to see long-term commitments to tackle the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, or else we will continue to see the reversal of progress made for children.”
In Kenya, one of the countries where Save the Children treats acute malnutrition cases, 18-month-old Ereng has just recovered from malnutrition with treatment from Community Health Promoter Charles, who was trained in basic healthcare by Save the Children.
Lomanat and Daniel, Ereng’s parents, walked for several kilometres to reach Charles’ clinic. The family are pastoralists, but recent droughts have killed their livestock, and the family now has no sustainable income and no reliable food source.
They know how important treatment is for children like Ereng, who gained 2.4 kgs (5.3 pounds) in two months once she started receiving nutrition treatment using the fortified peanut paste which has about 500 calories in each portion. Lomanat said:
“Our  child was in a very bad shape, and the doctor helped by giving her peanut paste. I am very happy, because she is cured.”
In Somalia, where Save the Children also treats child with acute malnutrition, 7-month-Mukhtar- arrived at a health centre in Puntland after contracting flu which led to breathing difficulties and malnutrition.
His mother Shamso, 40, who has eight other children, feared her son would not survive with the family struggling after drought killed all but six of their herd of 30 goats. But after receiving medical care and treatment for malnutrition with peanut paste, Mukhtar recovered and returned home.
“His condition was serious when I brought him in and I didn’t expect him to reach the town alive ,” said Shamso. “My biggest worry is the children, whether my own, those of the relatives or those of my neighbours. When drought comes, it follows that hunger will strike.”
Children are always the most vulnerable in food crises and, without enough to eat and the right nutritional balance, they are at high risk of becoming acutely malnourished.
Malnutrition can cause stunting, impede mental and physical development, and increase the risk of contracting deadly diseases.
About 1.12 billion children globally – or almost half of the world’s children – are unable to afford a balanced diet now, according to data from Save the Children released last month.
In 2025, Save the Children aims to treat 260,000 children for severe acute malnutrition at outpatient sites in 10 countries that are now experiencing therapeutic food shortages.
Save the Children is urgently trying to raise $7 million to provide 110,000 severely malnourished children with life-saving RUTF and the critical services needed to treat malnutrition 1 including skilled health workers, community follow-up, immunizations, safe spaces for treatment, safe water, hygiene and sanitation support.
In the United States, actress and Save the Children ambassador Jennifer Garner launched her #67Strong4Kids campaign on her birthday last week. For #67Strong4Kids she is running a mile a day for 67 consecutive days to raise awareness about Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF). The amount $67 covers a six-week course of RUTF that treats a child suffering from severe acute malnutrition and potentially saves their life.
-Methodology: Save the Children used the target reach figures for all outpatient severe acute malnutrition treatment in 10 countries facing the largest disruption to the RUTF supply and compared with the current funding gaps for RUTF in those countries. Given the continued uncertainty in supply funding these figures are preliminary and up to date as of 26 March 2025. The 10 countries facing the largest disruptions are Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen.
REFERENCES
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.
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Fire Safety – Marlborough eases outdoor fire restrictions

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is changing the restrictions for outdoor fires throughout Marlborough at 8am on Thursday 24 April, until further notice.
The Marlborough South area will move from a prohibited to a restricted fire season, which means all outdoor fires need a permit approved by Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
The Marlborough North area will move from a restricted fire season to an open fire season, which means people can light outdoor fires without an approved permit.
All Department of Conservation land in Marlborough remains in a restricted fire season.
Nelson Marlborough Group Manager Chris Hayles says recent rainfall has lowered the fire danger in both areas, although the southern area is still drier after a hot summer.
“There has been new grass growth across Marlborough, but long dry grass can enable fire to move extremely fast in windy conditions,” he says.
“It’s still critically important that people lighting permitted fires comply with the conditions required.
“Even where no fire permit is required, the person lighting the fire has a responsibility to do this safely.
“Fires need to be kept to a manageable size and not allow smoke drift to become a hazard for motorists.
“If you’re not sure what the fire season is in your location, go to checkitsalright.nz to find out, and follow the advice provided.”
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Stats NZ information release: Employment indicators: March 2025

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Employment indicators: March 2025 – 29 April 2025 – Employment indicators provide an early indication of changes in the labour market.

Key facts
Changes in the seasonally adjusted filled jobs for the March 2025 month (compared with the February 2025 month) were:

  • all industries – up 0.2 percent (3,548 jobs) to 2.36 million filled jobs
  • primary industries – up 0.4 percent (462 jobs)
  • goods-producing industries – up 0.1 percent (453 jobs)
  • service industries – up 0.2 percent (2,762 jobs).

Files:

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Health – Alcohol and mental health symposium at Parliament – 5 May 2025

Source: Alcohol Healthwatch

Alcohol Healthwatch are excited to be joining E Tipu E Rea Whānau Services, Takanga A Fohe, Le Va, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, and the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs (APSAD) deliver a symposium on alcohol and mental health.
This symposium will take place at the Grand Hall in Parliament, and aims to:
– Hear from and build on promising practice in prevention, early intervention, and research.
– Facilitate meaningful relationships supporting the collective goal of taking action on the intersection between alcohol and mental health challenges.
– Produce an attendee-informed consensus statement reflecting people’s experiences to guide future efforts in this space.
Boasting a 150 strong audience of health and policy professionals, mental health and alcohol NGOs and importantly, individuals bringing lived experience, the symposium will be an opportunity to identify key action areas for prevention and early intervention in this important area.
Hosted by Aotearoa New Zealand’s first-ever Minister for Mental Health, Hon. Matt Doocey, the time to act has never been better. We will be bringing a range of people together including those with lived experience, young people, professionals, and community champions from the wide range of sectors impacted by alcohol and mental health challenges.
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Master Plumbers welcomes Cabinet approval of self-certification for plumbers and drainlayers

Source: Master Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers

Master Plumbers is pleased the Government is progressing with a self-certification scheme that makes plumbers accountable for their work, rather than relying on council inspectors.
“We have been advocating for years that plumbers and drainlayers should be able to self-certify, just as gasfitters – who are also plumbers in most instances – and electricians can,” Master Plumbers Chief Executive Greg Wallace says.
Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk announced today that the Government has agreed on a new self-certification scheme for plumbers and drainlayers allowing them to sign off on their own work.
The new scheme does come with some caveats: it will be opt-in and limited to plumbers and drainlayers carrying out work on simple residential dwellings. Trades that are currently able to self-certify are not required to opt-in or be restricted to a specific category of work.
“For plumbers and drainlayers to be competitive, we believe all of the industry should opt-in,” Mr Wallace says. “While the Minister has limited the scheme to simple residential dwellings, we hope this is the first phase and that, in future, it will expand to all work.”
“Ultimately, we want the same system as electricians and gasfitters, but we understand this may be a staged approach.”
Mr Wallace says there’s a common misconception that liability moves to Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) once an inspection has been completed. “The reality is that tradespeople are still accountable for their workmanship. Under the Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers Act, qualified plumbers and drainlayers are responsible for all work – including large-scale industry installations.”
Plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers are overseen by an independent regulatory board, the PGDB. Consumers can have confidence that certified plumbing professionals are highly skilled and their work completed to a professional standard. It takes seven years to obtain the qualification of a Certifying Plumber and two years for a Certifying Drainlayer.
In addition, Master Plumbers members are subject to a rigorous quality assurance process and carry a guarantee for their work.
Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers NZ Inc (Master Plumbers) is the national membership organisation for plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying businesses, with 18 regional Associations and Branches across New Zealand. Companies go through a Quality Assurance programme in order to become a member. We provide members with a wide range of resources and training opportunities to support them in staying up with the latest technologies, products and compliance requirements. We advocate on behalf of our members and our industry.
Masterlink, a group training scheme owned by Master Plumbers, provides managed mentored apprenticeships across New Zealand, with Regional Managers supporting the apprentices and the businesses who host them during their training.
NZ Plumber is the award-winning, bi-monthly magazine for New Zealand’s plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers. It is owned by Master Plumbers.
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Awards – Master Plumbers welcomes Cabinet approval of self-certification for plumbers and drainlayers

Source: Master Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers

Master Plumbers is pleased the Government is progressing with a self-certification scheme that makes plumbers accountable for their work, rather than relying on council inspectors.
“We have been advocating for years that plumbers and drainlayers should be able to self-certify, just as gasfitters – who are also plumbers in most instances – and electricians can,” Master Plumbers Chief Executive Greg Wallace says.
Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk announced today that the Government has agreed on a new self-certification scheme for plumbers and drainlayers allowing them to sign off on their own work.
The new scheme does come with some caveats: it will be opt-in and limited to plumbers and drainlayers carrying out work on simple residential dwellings. Trades that are currently able to self-certify are not required to opt-in or be restricted to a specific category of work.
“For plumbers and drainlayers to be competitive, we believe all of the industry should opt-in,” Mr Wallace says. “While the Minister has limited the scheme to simple residential dwellings, we hope this is the first phase and that, in future, it will expand to all work.”
“Ultimately, we want the same system as electricians and gasfitters, but we understand this may be a staged approach.”
Mr Wallace says there’s a common misconception that liability moves to Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) once an inspection has been completed. “The reality is that tradespeople are still accountable for their workmanship. Under the Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers Act, qualified plumbers and drainlayers are responsible for all work – including large-scale industry installations.”
Plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers are overseen by an independent regulatory board, the PGDB. Consumers can have confidence that certified plumbing professionals are highly skilled and their work completed to a professional standard. It takes seven years to obtain the qualification of a Certifying Plumber and two years for a Certifying Drainlayer.
In addition, Master Plumbers members are subject to a rigorous quality assurance process and carry a guarantee for their work.
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Unions launch campaign to ban engineered stone – CTU

Source: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has today launched a campaign to ban the import, supply, and use of engineered stone in Aotearoa New Zealand.

“We are urging the Government to do the right thing and save workers’ lives by banning engineered stone, an extremely dangerous product that causes the fatal lung disease silicosis”, said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“Engineered stone is the asbestos of our times. It is not an essential product and there are many safe alternatives already in the market.

“Silicosis is a debilitating disease that cannot be cured. The evidence is clear that the only solution is to stop workers from being required to process engineered stone, which exposes them to the dangerous silica dust.

“Brooke van Velden has the power to save workers’ lives. All she needs to do is follow Australia’s example and implement a total ban.

“There is broad support for this campaign. Last year the CTU joined with 18 other organisations, including public health experts and health and safety specialists, and called on the Minister to act.

“Aotearoa has a terrible record when it comes to work-associated deaths. The Government has the opportunity to help turn that around by banning engineered stone. It’s time they stepped up on behalf of Kiwi workers,” said Wagstaff.

The NZCTU have today launched a public petition calling on the Minister to implement a full ban on the import, supply, and use of engineered stone. https://link.nzctu.org.nz/click/RHWCpAYxy9dO.1IjInuH_AUC6.nqb8dQq_J8r/1S8E5I-Z/3s/www.together.org.nz/ban_engineered_stone