Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: World Vision

World Vision New Zealand is urging the government to prioritise Pacific prosperity and resilience with strong investment in climate finance and foreign aid as part of Budget ’25.

The aid agency’s National Director, Grant Bayldon, says in challenging geopolitical times, it is vital the government invests in the Pacific region to ensure it is strong and thriving.  

He says Pacific nations are among the most vulnerable to climate shocks, and New Zealand needs to stand in solidarity with our neighbours.

“These are tough economic times for New Zealand and many other countries, but climate finance is a cornerstone of effective development, ensuring that communities can respond to climate shocks, build resilience, and secure the rights of future generations.

“New Zealand has a leadership role to play and that requires us to step up and support our Pacific neighbours in the face of a changing climate, growing poverty, and changing geo-political alliances.

Bayldon says it’s more important than ever before to invest in the children of the Pacific and to support Pacific communities with education, nutrition, healthcare and the tools to combat climate change.

“Half of the Pacific’s population are children. We know that every dollar invested in child-related programming yields exceptional returns, which will help to make Pacific communities stronger.

“That’s a fantastic return on investment for our region and for New Zealanders who will partner with, and deliver many of these projects,” Bayldon says.

He says this year’s Budget is particularly important because New Zealand will need to decide how much it will invest in climate finance under the United Nations Convention on Climate Change.

New Zealand committed NZ$1.3 billion in climate finance between 2022 – 2025, but at last year’s COP29 climate conference agreed that developed nations together should contribute more (at least US$300 billion per year) in future to help low-income countries transition to clean energy and adapt to climate change.

Bayldon says it’s incumbent on the Government to increase its climate finance commitment in Budget ’25.

“We know that climate change is the great existential crisis of our time, and it is without doubt a humanitarian crisis in which children bear the brunt of suffering.  Every cyclone, every flood, and every village lost to rising sea levels means more children going without food, a home, and an education.

“Our commitment to climate finance will help Pacific children and communities to become more resilient in the face of a changing climate,” he says.

Source: Argument for Lifting NZ Super Age

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is gearing up for an intense 48-hours of work in early June to replace a culvert under SH6 at Te Kuha in the Lower Buller Gorge.

The work will require a full closure of the highway for 48 hours – from 7am on Wednesday, 4 June to 7 am on Friday, 6 June.

“A full road closure will allow our contractors to complete this work in just 48 hours, with crews working around the clock, compared to up to five weeks of disruptions for motorists if the work was completed using traditional stop-go traffic management,” says Moira Whinham, Maintenance Contract Manager for NZTA on the West Coast.

The timing for the two-day closure has been carefully considered – in between King’s Birthday weekend and the Matariki holiday – as well as before the worst of the winter weather typically sets in.

NZTA is urging people to plan ahead and to make alternative travel arrangements if necessary over the planned two day closure.

NZTA has engaged with emergency services in order to ensure that they are well prepared for the planned closure.

Freight and tourism operators, residents and the road user community are also being contacted to ensure everyone is aware of the work and the closure well in advance.

The culvert being replaced is located around 5km east of the intersection of SH6 and SH67. It will be replaced with a much larger capacity pipe, requiring a six metre deep trench to be dug across the state highway. It is not possible to build an off-road detour around the site given the river’s location.

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

The Social Security Amendment Bill has passed its third reading in Parliament today expanding the welfare Traffic Light System that launched in August 2024. 

“This bill brings new tools to ensure beneficiaries stay on track with their obligations to find or prepare for work if they are able”, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston. 

From 26 May 2025, two new non-financial sanctions can be imposed. Rather than reducing a benefit, these non-financial sanctions are: 

• Money Management – where half of someone’s benefit is put onto an MSD payment card that can only be used in approved shops to buy essential items, such as groceries, transport, healthcare-related items, and education-related items. This will be for a four-week period.
   
• Community Work Experience – where someone will have up to two weeks to find suitable work experience and is required to participate in a placement at one or more community or voluntary organisations for at least five hours per week for four weeks.

From 20 October, two more non-financial sanctions will be implemented: 

• Upskilling – Jobseekers will be required to attend and participate, to MSD’s satisfaction, in one or more employment-related training courses or programmes for a minimum of five hours per week over a four-week period.
   
• Report Job Search – Jobseekers must undertake at least three job-search activities per week, to MSD’s satisfaction, and report on them weekly over a four-week period.

Also from 26 May 2025 new policy settings will be put in place: 

• Applicants for certain benefits, and their partners if relevant, will be required to have a completed Jobseeker Profile before they can be granted a benefit.
   
• New obligation failures will carry over for two years rather than one, increasing the likelihood that those who repeatedly refuse to comply with their obligations will have their benefit cancelled if they remain on it for more than a year.

From 1 July 2025, Jobseeker Support clients must reapply for their benefit every 26-weeks (currently 52-weeks). This will require clients to engage with MSD more frequently, allowing for more proactive support and a focus on moving people into employment where they can. 

“These changes will support more people into work and help achieve the Government’s target of having 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support by 2030, which is forecast to save the country over two billion dollars in welfare payments,” Louise Upston says. 

“Because we believe having a job is the best way for people to lift themselves and their families out of hardship, the Government is setting a clear expectation that those who can work, should work.

“Our economy is stronger when more people are in work, and as we look to unleash economic growth, it’s important that as many Kiwis as possible share in the benefits of work.” 

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Te Tai Rāwhiti – East Coast whānau will enjoy greater access to modern housing thanks to a Government-Iwi partnership that will deliver 150 affordable homes, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.
The Government is partnering with East Coast Iwi collective Toitū Tairāwhiti in a $75 million development that will deliver 150 affordable rentals in Gisborne, providing warm, dry, sustainable homes in a high-needs region for housing. The Government is contributing $49 million, and the Iwi collective is contributing the rest.
“The Tūranga Tangata Rite development today contributes to the Government’s wider $200 million commitment, announced in February, to deliver at least 400 affordable rental homes for Māori across key regions,” Mr Potaka says.
“The new Te Tairāwhiti houses, as well as being affordable rentals, will be warm, dry, and sustainable, designed for whānau to live well. With multigenerational layouts, shared communal spaces, and energy-efficient materials, these homes reflect tikanga Māori and are built to support wellbeing. They will also help get people out of temporary accommodation and into homes.
Mr Potaka says the project will also support local workforce development, with a strong emphasis on creating opportunities for Māori tradespeople and apprentices, supporting long-term employment pathways and regional economic resilience.

“Many of the 150 homes we are announcing today will be constructed right here in Tairāwhiti, meaning local jobs with local businesses, and a growing local economy. These are homes for whānau, built by whānau.

“The development also tackles housing shortages in the region. Te Tairāwhiti has one of the highest levels of housing need in the country. Together with iwi, we are delivering the scale of housing that whānau deserve to address shortages and create opportunity.

“On top of this, partnering with land-owning Māori housing providers, and iwi collectives like Toitū Tairāwhiti, to build more affordable housing for Māori, makes sense. 

“Through these partnerships, the Māori entities bring land and a minimum of 50 percent funding on the house build costs, meaning the Government can optimise its spending to enable more homes to be delivered in areas with high housing deprivation for Māori like the East Coast, Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, and Northland.”
Since November 2023, the Government has enabled the delivery of 1,000 homes through the Māori Housing programme. All the homes should be completed by mid-2027. The 150 homes in the Te Tairāwhiti development are scheduled to be completed by the end of December 2026.
 
Notes to editor:

Toitū Tairāwhiti Housing Ltd is a partnership between a collective of Ngai Tamanuhiri, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga a Mahaki and Ngati Porou, plus neighbouring iwi partners in the Bay of Plenty, Te Whanau-a-Apanui and Te Whakatōhea.

The Government will be contributing $48.75 million from the $200 million announced in February 2025 to enable 400 affordable rental homes targeted to supporting Māori land-owning entities to deliver more affordable rentals. Toitū Tairāwhiti will providing the remaining $26.25 million.

The homes will be manufactured off-site at two facilities, Builtsmart in Huntly and the other in Gisborne in a joint venture between Builtsmart and Toitū Tairāwhiti. This method allows the homes to be built quickly and then transported to site.

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Five Tairāwhiti marae impacted by the North Island weather events of early 2023, are moving to safer locations with support from the Crown,” said Mark Mitchell, Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery and Tama Potaka, Minister for Māori Development.

“The Marae Trustees of Puketawai, Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna, Okuri, Takipū, and Rangatira Marae – supported by their whānau and hapū – have made the difficult decision to relocate and re-establish their respective marae in new locations. 

“The local council designated these marae, as Category 3 – High Risk, and not safe to occupy because of unacceptable risk to life from future extreme weather. 

“Each of the marae have accepted the Crown’s support package and have acquired new sites to relocate to. The new sites are in close proximity within, or close to, their respective tribal boundaries,” says Mark Mitchell.

“The impact of the severe weather on the marae was devastating for the many whānau and hapū connected to these marae and their wider community.

“The decision to relocate is not an easy one and has come from the desire of the Marae Trustees to keep their marae, and their respective whānau, safe and secure, protecting the lives of those who might otherwise be at real risk from any future severe weather events.”

Minister for Māori Development, Tama Potaka says relocating the individual marae will take time.

“We expect the relocation works, including the rebuild of wharenui and whare kai where required due to the damage, will take place over the next two or so years.  For some of the marae, the project is a complete rebuild.

“Reaching this point is a significant milestone.  Most importantly, it will provide affected whanau and hapu peace of mind, and will have the added benefit of creating opportunities for SMEs and jobs.  This augments the growing construction capability on the East Coast as a result of the mahi at Toitū Tairāwhiti and others,” says Mr Potaka.

Of the five marae three are located in the Uawa – Tolaga Bay area and the other two are in Te Karaka. 

“The Crown is also working with two Kahungunu Marae, Tangoio and Petāne in Hawke’s Bay with support packages available to both marae so they too can reestablish in safer locations. These marae were also designated, by their local council, as having an unacceptable risk to life.” 

A total of $136.215m, allocated from Budgets 23 and 24 will fund the entire Whenua Māori and Marae relocation Programme after North Island weather events. It includes the costs to relocate owners of 24 whenua Māori properties to safety as well as demolition of residential structures and covers some assistance to support affected sites of cultural significance, principally urūpa.  

“The Crown recognises moving a marae requires careful navigation. This is not an easy journey, and we would like to thank the Marae Trustees for working with us to ensure the safety of people on marae,” Mr Potaka says. 

Note for Editors:

In all cases ownership of the whenua remains with the existing owners.  

The cost for each Marae relocation is commercially sensitive due to procurement undertakings. 

Geographic location of all Category 3 Marae in Tairāwhiti:

• Puketawai, Tolaga Bay
• Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna, Tolaga Bay
• Okuri, Tolaga Bay
• Takipū, Te Karaka
• Rangatira Marae, Te Karaka

Source: New Zealand Police

State Highway 2 south of Pahiatua is closed following a serious crash.

It happened around 3pm and involved two vehicles.

Traffic is being diverted off State Highway 2 at Bridge Road to the south, and Mangahao Road to the north.

The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

There are serious injuries involved.

ENDS