Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government and poultry industry have struck a landmark deal, agreeing how they’ll jointly prepare for and respond to exotic poultry diseases, including any possible outbreak of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.

“This new operational agreement between the Government and the Egg Producers Federation (EPF) and Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand (PIANZ) is a significant milestone in the country’s preparation for exotic diseases.

“The H5N1 strain of HPAI is spreading fast around the world. This agreement means we will be ready to respond if that disease, or others, arrives on our shores. 

“The poultry industry earns an estimated $2.2 billion per year domestically and brings in around $200 million in export revenue. It’s essential we’re ready to respond to exotic diseases that could devastate the industry, and impact domestic food supply and international trade.

“This agreement formally recognises industry bodies as decision-makers, alongside the Government, guaranteeing PIANZ and EPF a seat at the table if any of these diseases are detected in New Zealand.”

The agreement covers Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease virus and all strains of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), including the HPAI strain H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b. 

“Importantly, the agreement also sets out cost-sharing arrangements between taxpayers and the industry. This recognises the benefits to both parties of being well prepared, reporting early, and responding rapidly,” says Mr Hoggard.

“By sharing the costs of preparation and response, we ensure there are strong incentives on farmers to take preventative measures while also encouraging them to report suspected disease as soon as possible.”

Under the agreement, industry will contribute 45 per cent of readiness costs for all poultry diseases and 45 per cent of response costs, with the exception of HPAI – for which industry will meet 40 per cent of the response costs.

Readiness costs can include the cost of developing plans for response operational activities, running exercises for testing plans, and applied research to improve response operations. Response costs can include diagnostics, communications and activities to control a disease.  

“We have also agreed that cost-shareable activities for an H5N1 outbreak should be limited, and that industry will lead responding to an outbreak in poultry farms as soon as possible after a detection, with support from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI),” says Mr Hoggard.

“Last year’s avian influenza outbreak at a single commercial egg farm in Otago cost an estimated $25 million. That cost could easily have been far greater were it not for the rapid action on behalf of the farmer and MPI to stand up a response and restrict movements.

“That outbreak, and the success of containing it to a single farm, showed just how important partnership with industry is in any response.”

Executive Director for the Poultry Industry Association and the Egg Producers Federation, Michael Brooks, says the agreement is an important step towards a unified response to exotic poultry diseases.

“The industry’s priority now is to ensure our poultry and egg producers have the most robust biosecurity processes possible in place, to protect their flocks and businesses from H5N1 and other unwanted diseases. H5N1 is a disease spread by wild birds, so our industry, like others, is vulnerable without the right planning, regulation and MPI’s support.  We’re pleased with the strong collaboration with MPI.”

The agreement comes into effect on 1 September 2025.
 

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has published its strategy to boost Kiwis’ engagement with the arts, grow the sector’s economic contribution and create more jobs, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

“Our government’s vision is for New Zealand to we be as well known for its arts and creativity, as it is for dairy exports and beautiful scenery. We know we already have a strong base and areas of global excellence.

“In November 2024, we released our first draft of Amplify, sparking a conversation with those across the sector, seeing if we can agree broadly on a pathway forward. 

“Creativity doesn’t lend itself to tidy strategies. That is why Amplify is enabling, rather than constraining. It provides a framework, but leaves plenty of room for individuals, communities, companies and institutions to find their own path. I’d like to thank all those who have provided feedback and shaped this strategy.”

Amplify sets out a series of goals for the sector:

• The economic contribution of the arts and creative sectors grows to at least $22 billion (of GDP), with a focus on cultural exports and tourism by 2030.
• A 10 per cent increase in the number of New Zealanders engaging with New Zealand arts, culture, and heritage by 2030.
• 5,000 more people working in the creative and cultural sector by 2030.

There are three strategic pillars which outline actions the Government will take to reach these targets:

• Maximising value for New Zealand from the creative and cultural sectors through the Crown investment in Arts, Culture and Heritage and wider government investment.
• Enhancing New Zealand’s creative and cultural talent pipeline and supporting sustainable career opportunities.
• Modernising and streamlining Government regulation so it enables the cultural sectors to thrive.

“This is not a set-and-forget strategy. Amplify will be a living document, updated regularly with input from creative industries to ensure it remains relevant to the sector. The conversation will continue.” Mr Goldsmith says.

Source: New Zealand Government

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.

Thank you to Dan Wildy for the kind invitation and for the hard work you do to keep this institute alive while balancing your day job at New Zealand Police.

I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you in person today. However, it is comforting to know that our intelligence professionals come together like this to share ideas and update each other on best practice. I say that because there has probably never been a time when your work is more in demand.

For a long time, intelligence insights from professionals like you, have been a key source of information and insight for decision makers like me.

You have enjoyed a monopoly on the best tradecraft; you have had the best relationships with overseas partners; and the best access to specialised technology from which to draw your insights.

It is fair to say that there are signs that monopoly is beginning to crumble.

Intelligence professionals are now competing in a highly contested information environment where there is some very interesting work happening in the open source.

My colleagues and I as decision makers rely on your hard work to cut through the noise by giving us clear, impactful and credible insights on the things that truly matter.

I am fortunate that I to get to read rich and impactful intelligence across all of my portfolios.

You can count me as a happy customer, but I’m not the only one that can benefit from your insights.

A key challenge for you is to understand how to use your insights to support a wider range of New Zealanders: from the private sector, to critical infrastructure operators, to community organisations.

These groups all make decisions that can have implications for our national security.

How can you provide actionable intelligence and guidance that organisations and citizens can actually use?

There will always be intelligence that is too sensitive to be shared broadly.

No one is expecting you to relinquish the Crown jewels, but there’s an opportunity to find a balance.

How you engage as intelligence professionals is crucial to ensuring New Zealanders have confidence that you are focused on what matters to support our nation’s prosperity and security.

Another key challenge is to understand how innovation and technology can support this endeavour.

New Zealanders need you to stay ahead of the threats. That’s not going to happen without an innovation mindset and embracing the technological solutions that can help us solve our biggest problems.

Today I will share my thoughts on these challenges, to hopefully set the scene for some of your discussions today.

Implementing the national security strategy

This Government is focused on ensuring a secure and resilient New Zealand- one that is protected as a free, open, and democratic society for future generations.

This is the vision outlined in our national security strategy.

The strategy sets out three priorities:

• Acting early to prevent national security threats and build resilience;
• Working together with our international partners, businesses, and people across New Zealand; and
• Adopting an integrated approach for our national security system.

As Minister of the NZSIS and GCSB, Defence, and Space, I’m lucky to see the great work happening in this area.

We are achieving some wins, and I think you can help us drive further change.

Acting early

The first priority is acting early.

Intelligence insights are absolutely crucial to helping the national security system, and the country as a whole, to act early on a range of threats.

I see this regularly in the reports that come across my desk.

In the cyber-security space the sooner we become aware of and take action against a threat, the stronger our defences are.

The National Cyber Security Centre’s Malware Free Networks, or MFN capability, is an excellent example of how early access to intelligence gives us the awareness needed to protect New Zealanders.

MFN has disrupted more than 500 million threats since it started operating in 2021.

If that’s not a success story for intelligence then I don’t know what is.

But there is the potential to deliver even greater impact.

There is some excellent thinking underway across the national security system about how we act earlier to disrupt the capabilities of these malicious actors and legally prevent them from striking in the first place.

When it comes to countering violent extremism, early intelligence insights are supporting efforts to disengage individuals from a radicalisation pathway.

The next step is to think about ways we can disrupt individuals when they are first engaging in violent extremist propaganda.

In order to stay ahead of the threats, the intelligence and security agencies need to do more than just collect intelligence and provide protective security advice.

What if the NZSIS was able to covertly divert an individual in some way? Or encourage a potential violent extremist to seek help and support? We could achieve an even greater impact.

In the murky world of foreign interference and espionage, early intelligence insights and protective security advice help prepare government officials and the private sector to visit countries where they may be targeted.

These insights can also support communities who are being targeted by transnational repression activities such as surveillance or harassment.

The new foreign interference legislation currently before the House will send a message to foreign state actors that this behaviour is unacceptable in New Zealand. It will also make it harder for them to operate here.

Working together domestically and internationally

The second priority from the strategy is about domestic and international collaboration.

We’ve seen significant advances from this intelligence community to make your insights more accessible to a broader audience of New Zealanders.

I may be biased as their Minister, but both the GCSB and the NZSIS have been shining lights in this regard- for example the GCSB’s annual Cyber Threat Report and the NZSIS’s Threat Environment Report.

I would like to congratulate the Service for publishing another excellent document last week.

This report brings these threats to life through clear descriptions of what we face and case studies based on actual activities that have been observed over the past year to 18 months.

There are some challenging issues in the report that will need to be addressed by our broader society.

It’s about time these conversations were normalised and for more people to understand why our national security is worthy of attention.

There is an attitude in some quarters that security and economic growth are somehow in competition with each other.

That couldn’t be further from the truth. You can’t have prosperity without security, and you can’t have security without prosperity.

In my space portfolio, we talk about growth and security in the same conversations.

We attract investment into this sector not only because we have brilliant people and technology, but also because we’re a safe place to do business with an enabling regulatory system and strong security provisions.

The most recent example of this is the ground-based space infrastructure legislation I recently passed in Parliament.

To be attractive to potential investors, New Zealand needs to show we can protect our IP and those of our customers.

That’s why I’m glad to see the NZSIS and GCSB raising awareness about the threat of foreign interference, espionage and cyber attacks. This is encouraging much more mature conversations about identifying threats and managing risk.

I would like to see these conversations taking place in boardrooms across the country, but particularly in our technology and research sectors.

If we don’t take security seriously enough, it will be a foreign state actor benefiting from our leading edge innovation, not New Zealand.

To foster collective understanding we must also focus on the work you do with our international partners.

I know those relationships are strong and I know they are vital.

You as intelligence professionals are well regarded, particularly within our most important relationship with the Five Eyes intelligence partnership.

We receive tremendous value from these relationships, but I know we contribute significant value too.

That’s why it is so galling to hear commentary that questions the value of our Five Eyes participation or claims that it interferes with our independent foreign policy.

Nothing could be further from the truth, and frankly it is time people grew up. We remain firmly in charge of our own destiny. In fact, our Five Eyes relationships help us to maintain our independence. When we receive good intelligence, we make good decisions.

I think it is time we talked more about the kind of value we receive.

It is as simple as this: our membership of the Five Eyes intelligence partnership contributes to the safety and security of New Zealand each and every day.

Being part of the Five Eyes gives us access to capabilities that help to disrupt drug flows. It helps us counter violent extremist, terrorist and foreign interference threats. It keeps us in the fight on espionage and cyber attacks.

Any cooperation with Five Eyes partners is always on our own terms. It needs to be done in accordance with our own laws and priorities, and our sovereign decision-making abilities are maintained throughout.

I think there are plenty of reasons for New Zealanders to have trust and confidence in these relationships.

The debate misses the real point – our security and prosperity, now and into the future.

Thank you for the work you do as intelligence professionals to keep our Five Eyes relationships so strong.

Adopting an integrated approach

I will finish with the third priority from the national security strategy: adopting an integrated approach.

Because of our size, we can only achieve the scale we need by working together and sharing resources across government.

New Zealand risks being left behind by the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence if we don’t look at how to achieve greater technological integration.

It’s important to get the transition to AI right, but we also can’t afford to muck around.

From a security and intelligence perspective, AI is important for three reasons:

• AI has huge potential to make your agencies more efficient and effective.
• Our adversaries are already using AI in ways that undermine our interests; and finally
• Intelligence professionals need to support New Zealanders to embrace AI safely and securely.

I am pleased that your agencies have work underway in these areas, but it would be even better if we went faster, if we were more joined up, and if we better leveraged private sector capabilities.

There is no point undertaking this work within our agencies’ silos – an integrated approach will make us both stronger and safer.

If you were after a challenging and rewarding career, you have come to the right place.

There are some incredible opportunities to deliver credible, impactful and actionable intelligence that has the potential to make a real difference. You are excellent at countering threats but let’s consider how you can disrupt threats too.

You are lucky enough to work with the best of the best both here in New Zealand and alongside your international partners.

My message to you is to make the most of those opportunities and always strive for better.

Thank you for keeping us well informed and for the great work you do to keep New Zealand safe and secure.

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee today announced proposed changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, and says the focus is on restoring fairness and practicality to the system without compromising public safety.

“Most New Zealanders who choose to drink alcohol do so responsibly. Our reforms recognise that responsible drinkers should not be penalised because of the behaviour of a few who do not drink safely,” Mrs McKee says.

“The Government is making targeted reforms to alcohol legislation to remove unnecessary red tape while continuing to uphold protections that minimise alcohol-related harm.

The package aims to improve how the law operates in practice, removing compliance burdens that don’t meaningfully reduce harm, while strengthening areas where regulation can have a real impact.

Key changes include:

• Fairer, clearer licensing processes, including ensuring that objections to licence applications come from the local community, and allowing applicants the right to respond to objections;
• Modernised rules for national events, enabling Ministers to declare major televised events without the need for legislative amendments each time;
• Stronger safeguards, such as improved age verification under the Government’s Digital Identification Trust Framework, and clear responsibilities for alcohol delivery services to prevent sales to intoxicated or underage people.

“These are practical changes that maintain the core objective of the Act – minimising alcohol-related harm – while recognising that regulation must also be proportionate and workable,” Mrs McKee says.

The reforms also reflect growing consumer demand for non-intoxicating alternatives. Licensed premises will be required to offer a wider range of zero- and/or low-alcohol beverages, and outdated definitions in the Act will be updated to reflect modern products and preferences.

“People deserve to have choices, including the choice to enjoy a drink responsibly, or to opt for non-alcoholic alternatives that suit their lifestyle. The current rules around non-alcoholic options are overly restrictive and don’t reflect how people actually drink today,” Mrs McKee says.

Mrs McKee stressed that territorial authorities will retain all current powers to regulate alcohol within their communities through Local Alcohol Policies and District Licensing Committees.

“I trust local councils to make the right decisions for their communities. If people have concerns about alcohol in their area, they should raise them directly with their council, and many already do.”

“These changes strike a careful balance: they make life fairer for responsible drinkers and honest businesses, while continuing to target the areas where alcohol misuse can cause real harm,” Mrs McKee says.

Cabinet decided to

• Allow licence applicants a right of reply to objectors.
• Only allow objections to applications from local communities.
• When renewing a licence under a new LAP, require DLCs to change licence conditions, rather than completely decline the application.
• Allow hairdressers and barbers to supply small amounts of alcohol to customers without a licence.
• Allow premises like wineries, such as breweries and meaderies, and distilleries, to hold both on- and off-licences to support cellar door sales.
• Update regulations so that rapid delivery services will be better supported to reduce alcohol-related harm.
• Enable the responsible Minister to declare a stand-alone exemption to special licensing requirements for national televised events.
• Allow age verification digital identity credentials as approved evidence of age documents for alcohol purchases.
• “Non-alcoholic” drinks are drinks with no alcohol content. E.G., water and soft drinks.
• “Low alcohol” drinks are drinks with negligible alcohol content. E.G., kombucha.
• “Zero-alcohol” drinks are drinks with no alcohol content, but which simulate alcoholic drinks e.g. 0.0% gin.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police acknowledge the findings of the Independent Police Conduct Authority in relation to the actions of two officers during an arrest.

On 17 September 2023, Police approached a man (identified only as Mr X) who was sitting in the drivers seat, to request his name and address.

One of the officers reached into the vehicle to remove the car keys from the ignition.

Mr X has tried to stop the officer, resulting in an altercation ending in his arrest.

The IPCA found the officers were justified in speaking to Mr X and requesting his details, and their use of force during the altercation was justified as self-defence.

However, the Authority found that Police were not justified in removing the keys under the Land Transport Act 1998.

Acting Waikato District Commander Superintendent Scott Gemmell say Police investigated and self-referred the matter to the IPCA.

“Our staff experience unpredictable behaviour from people we encounter every day, and the officers made decisions and acted based on the circumstances as the incident unfolded.”

ENDS

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Top of the South drivers are being urged to cool down, calm down, and slow down when driving through road work sites.

Rob Service, System Manager Nelson/Tasman says with multiple parts of the state highway network needing repairs following the winter floods, contractors are seeing some unsafe behaviour from people driving through road works.

“We completely understand that drivers have places to go and people to see, and that having to slow down for road works can be frustrating.”

“However, that is no excuse for speeding and breaking temporary speed limits,” Mr Service says.

He says it is a huge safety risk for road crews.

“Live traffic lanes are incredibly dangerous, and our crews are often just centimetres away from them. It only takes a tiny mistake to have horrendous consequences. Temporary speed limits are there for a reason, please respect them,” Mr Service says.

His view is shared by Acting Inspector Chris Brooks, Tasman District Road Policing Manager NZ Police, who says a lot of crashes Police see are due to people not driving to the conditions.

“This doesn’t just apply to weather; it also includes when roads are not operating at 100 percent.”

“Dangerous driving of any kind, including not adhering to the speed limit – whether it be temporary or otherwise – is taken very seriously by Police, and following road works signage and speed limits through these areas is essential in keeping yourself, other drivers, and workers on site safe,” Mr Brooks says.

Mr Service says safety is key but, so too, is protecting damaged sections of the highway to ensure they do not degrade further.

“For example, on State Highway 60 Tākaka Hill we have six separate sites we need to fix. Some of these are vulnerable underslips where unsafe driving and excessive speed creates a real risk of worse damage occurring.”

“We have already had to introduce a pilot vehicle on the Drummond’s slip site to keep traffic speeds down. This just adds unnecessary time and expense to the job. Damaging the road further means we will have to work there for longer and spend more money”, Mr Service says.

Mr Service says drivers also need to keep their cool when they’re delayed at road work sites.

“We are getting anecdotal reports of issues from our contractors. Please realise our crews are doing their best to fix the road so you can get where you are going.”

We ask they be respected. We treat any incidents of abusive or aggressive behaviour very seriously and will report them to the Police.”

Acting Inspector Brooks agrees, saying aggression and abuse towards road workers is unacceptable.

“It’s honestly disappointing to hear that this has become an issue – please remember that this is someone’s mum, dad, son, or daughter working at these sites.”

“We urge the public to report any dangerous driving matters or abuse, by calling 111 if it is happening now, or through our 105 channels if it is after the fact,” he says.

With the summer road works season about to get underway in October both NZTA/Waka Kotahi and NZ Police are encouraging drivers to do the right thing – respect road workers, respect speed limits, and make sure they drive safely on the roads.

Watch the keeping safe around roadworks video:

Source: New Zealand Government

The Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand will receive an increased annual contribution to support its restoration efforts of rail heritage buildings and structures, Rail Minister Winston Peters announced today.

“This is about our national industrial heritage and the volunteer power and engineering pride of railway communities,” Mr Peters says.

“Only fools steam ahead without any knowledge of where they have been, and communities that value their past are not fools.

“KiwiRail has a small amount of funding for public good initiatives like rail safety campaigns, helping the public enjoy historic steam locomotives and carriages access on the network, and minor infrastructure works for community benefit.

“We requested KiwiRail’s board consider increasing its public good investment in heritage and were pleased to hear from new Chair Sue Tindal that they have increased the annual contribution to the Trust from $125,000 to $500,000.

“The Trust has restored many railway buildings, including the famous Cass railway station, as depicted in the painting by Rita Angus. The Trust has a long list of valued sites which they want to support with local financial and volunteer backing.

“Discussions are underway to transfer ownership of the historic Mataura Railway Station from KiwiRail to the Trust, with this funding increase enabling its restoration with the support of local volunteers and donors. This project has been at an impasse for too long, and we have heard the provincial champions who have worked hard to see it restored so we are fixing it.

“Resolving another neglected heritage site, KiwiRail is repairing the historic rail footbridge at Moana on the West Coast and is in discussion with the Trust about it taking responsibility the for the bridge’s ongoing upkeep,” Mr Peters says.

Source: New Zealand Police

A wanted man was no match for Ōtara community Police in a foot pursuit.

He will now face his warrant in court along with several other new charges, after he was found to allegedly be carrying an imitation firearm.

Counties Manukau East Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Rakana Cook says a unit sighted a man known to Police outside a tavern on East Tamaki Road on Wednesday morning.

“He had a warrant for his arrest for breaching his court-imposed bail, and on approach he was told he was under arrest.

“Instead of complying he made the decision to run on foot from our staff.”

There was nowhere to run.

“Police quickly caught up with the man and units quickly had him in custody without further incident.”

Inspector Cook says the 31-year-old man was searched, which yielded an imitation firearm as well as a quantity of cannabis.

The man, with links to the Killer Beez, will appear in the Manukau District Court, now facing additional charges of unlawfully carrying an imitation firearm, escaping Police custody and possession of cannabis.

“It’s a fine result for our Ōtara Community Team who continue to be actively engaged in their area,” Inspector Cook says.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

A man acting suspiciously around parcels at a Glen Innes property has delivered himself a court summons.

On Wednesday morning, Police received information about the man hanging around a residential unit.

Both the homeowner and neighbours reported the man had no reason to be there, Auckland City East Area Prevention Manager Inspector Rachel Dolheguy says.

“He was allegedly examining courier packages left outside the property, and neighbours had challenged the unknown man about what he was doing,” she says.

“Our staff soon got on scene and spoke with this man further, who offered unfounded reasons for being there.”

The 44-year-old man has been summonsed to the Auckland District Court for unlawfully being in an enclosed yard.

Police applaud residents’ vigilance in reporting the activity straight away.

“Courier packages are irresistible for opportunistic offenders.

“It’s great to see residents keeping an eye out for their neighbours, and taking action by reporting what has happening straight away,” Inspector Dolheguy says.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: Tertiary Education Commission

Last updated 25 August 2025
Last updated 25 August 2025

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This page explains what the Workforce Questionnaire (WFQ) is, who needs to complete one, and how the data is used. It has links to resources for preparing, uploading and submitting your WFQ.
This page explains what the Workforce Questionnaire (WFQ) is, who needs to complete one, and how the data is used. It has links to resources for preparing, uploading and submitting your WFQ.

What is the WFQ and how is the data used?
The WFQ is a statistical return used to collect data on staff employed by tertiary education organisations (TEOs) that receive government funding.
It is administered by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) on behalf of the Ministry of Education.  
The data collected is used to:

calculate student-to-staff ratios
monitor workforce trends, such as:

changes in the international education labour market
staff diversity
an ageing workforce.

Who needs to complete a WFQ?
All TEOs that receive government funding and submit a Single Data Return (SDR) must complete a WFQ.
When and how to submit your WFQ
You will find the WFQ Excel workbook under Data Submissions in DXP Ngā Kete.
Data requirements are provided in the “Questionnaire Instructions” tab of the WFQ workbook.
You need to submit your WFQ with your December SDR – the workbook for the new Return Year will be available in DXP Ngā Kete from November. See the SDR submission dates.
Helpful resources
These resources will help you prepare, upload and submit your WFQ.

Need help?
If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Contact Team on 0800 601 301 or email customerservice@tec.govt.nz with subject: [EDUMIS #] – WFQ.
For help with your Education Sector Login (ESL), contact the Education Service Desk on 0800 422 599 or email service.desk@education.govt.nz.