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Category: MIL-OSI

  • Fire Safety – All of Hawke’s Bay now in open fire season

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Fire and Emergency New Zealand will revoke the restricted fire season in all of Hawke’s Bay at 12pm (midday) on Monday 28 April, until further notice.
    This means permits approved by Fire and Emergency are no longer needed for open air fires across the whole district.
    The areas this change applies to are: Esk-Tutaekuri, Ahuriri-Heretaunga, Tukituki West, Tukituki East, Southern Hawkes Bay Coast, Pōrangahau, Pahiatua, Eketāhuna, and Tararua East, West, Central and South.
    Wairoa Coastal, Wairoa Inland, and Te Haroto areas are already in an open fire season.
    Hawke’s Bay District Manager Glen Varcoe says due to the cooler autumn weather, the fire risk in the district has now reduced.
    “I’d like to thank the people of Hawke’s Bay for their vigilance during the fire season, and for applying for fire permits properly while outdoor fires were restricted over summer,” he says.
    “Although much of our district is still dry, the damper conditions have helped our firefighters to extinguish the smaller vegetation fires we’re still getting.
    “We’ve had five fires in the last 10 days, so please continue to keep your fires small, stay with them, and ensure they are fully out over the following days and weeks.
    “We do still ask people to take care when lighting any fires. Always check the requirements for your location on checkitsalright.nz, and check out the great safety advice before you light your fire.”

  • Energy Resources Aotearoa Welcomes New Industry-Led Work-based Learning Model

    Source: Energy Resources Aotearoa

    Energy Resources Aotearoa has welcomed Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds’ announcement today confirming the introduction of an independent, industry-led model for work-based learning from 1 January 2026.
    John Carnegie, Chief Executive of Energy Resources Aotearoa, says the announcement reflects strong industry feedback and is a positive step forward for vocational education in New Zealand.
    “It’s great to see the Government listening to industry and confirming the ‘independent learning model’ that we and others have strongly advocated for,” says Carnegie. “This approach recognises the importance of relevant, fit-for-purpose training that meets the real needs of employers and learners.”
    Carnegie says the energy sector, in particular, has faced challenges under the current system.
    “In the past, the energy industry has had to work across two different standard-setting bodies, creating fragmentation and inefficiencies.
    We would like to see a cohesive Industry Skills Board representing the broad energy sector to ensure consistency and coordination across our workforce needs. This is especially important given the skills deficit and the particular challenges the sector faces to deliver secure, reliable and affordable energy to households and businesses.”
    Carnegie says the timeframe is tight, but the 2026 start date provides some runway to prepare for the transition.
    “We acknowledge that the timeframe is ambitious, but we also appreciate the clarity that changes will take effect from January 2026. This allows industry and training providers to plan for a smooth shift.”
    Carnegie also highlights the need for more detail on implementation.
    “We would like to see more detail on how the Industry Skills Boards will be appointed and when this process will begin. It’s also important that we get clarity around the structure of these boards, particularly which industries will fall under which board, and how those decisions will be made.
    This is especially important given the skills deficit and the particular challenges the sector now faces to deliver secure, reliable and affordable energy to households and businesses.”
    Energy Resources Aotearoa looks forward to working closely with Government to ensure the new model delivers high-quality, relevant training that supports a skilled workforce for the energy sector and beyond.

  • Unicef – Increases in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks threaten years of progress, warn WHO, UNICEF, Gavi

    Source: UNICEF Aotearoa NZ

     Immunization efforts are under growing threat as misinformation, population growth, humanitarian crises, and funding cuts jeopardize progress and leave millions of children, adolescents, and adults at risk, warn WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi during World Immunization Week, 24-30 April.
    Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, meningitis, and yellow fever are rising globally, and diseases like diphtheria, which have long been held at bay or virtually disappeared in many countries, are at risk of re-emerging. In response, the agencies are calling for urgent and sustained political attention and investment to strengthen immunization programmes and protect significant progress achieved in reducing child mortality over the past 50 years.
    “Vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the past five decades,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Funding cuts to global health have put these hard-won gains in jeopardy. Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases are increasing around the world, putting lives at risk and exposing countries to increased costs in treating diseases and responding to outbreaks. Countries with limited resources must invest in the highest-impact interventions – and that includes vaccines.”
    Rising outbreaks and strained health systems
    Measles is making an especially dangerous comeback. The number of cases has been increasing year on year since 2021, tracking the reductions in immunization coverage that occurred during and since the COVID-19 pandemic in many communities. Measles cases reached an estimated 10.3 million in 2023, a 20 per cent increase compared to 2022.
    The agencies warn that this upward trend likely continued into 2024 and 2025, as outbreaks have intensified around the world. In the past 12 months, 138 countries have reported measles cases, with 61 experiencing large or disruptive outbreaks – the highest number observed in any 12-month period since 2019.
    Meningitis cases in Africa also rose sharply in 2024, and the upward trend has continued into 2025. In the first three months of this year alone, more than 5,500 suspected cases and nearly 300 deaths were reported in 22 countries. This follows approximately 26,000 cases and almost 1,400 deaths across 24 countries last year.
    Yellow fever cases in the African region are also climbing, with 124 confirmed cases reported in 12 countries in 2024. This comes after dramatic declines in the disease over the past decade, thanks to global vaccine stockpiles and the use of yellow fever vaccine in routine immunization programmes. In the region of the Americas, yellow fever outbreaks have been confirmed since the beginning of this year, with a total of 131 cases in 4 countries.
    These outbreaks come amidst global funding cuts. A recent WHO rapid stock take with 108 country offices of WHO-mostly in low- and lower-middle-income countries-shows that nearly half of those countries are facing moderate to severe disruptions to vaccination campaigns, routine immunization, and access to supplies due to reduced donor funding. Disease surveillance, including for vaccine-preventable diseases, is also impacted in more than half of the countries surveyed.
    At the same time, the number of children missing routine vaccinations has been increasing in recent years, even as countries make efforts to catch up children missed during the pandemic. In 2023, an estimated 14.5 million children missed all of their routine vaccine doses-up from 13.9 million in 2022 and 12.9 million in 2019. Over half of these children live in countries facing conflict, fragility, or instability, where access to basic health services is often disrupted.
    “The global funding crisis is severely limiting our ability to vaccinate over 15 million vulnerable children in fragile and conflict-affected countries against measles,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Immunization services, disease surveillance, and the outbreak response in nearly 50 countries are already being disrupted-with setbacks at a similar level to what we saw during COVID-19. We cannot afford to lose ground in the fight against preventable diseases.”
    Continued investment in the ‘Big Catch-Up initiative’, launched in 2023 to reach children who missed vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, and other routine immunization programmes will be critical.
    How immunization addresses these challenges
    Joint efforts by WHO, UNICEF, Gavi and partners have helped countries expand access to vaccines and strengthen immunization systems through primary health care, even in the face of mounting challenges. Every year, vaccines save nearly 4.2 million lives against 14 diseases – with nearly half of these lives saved in the African region.
    Vaccination campaigns have led to the elimination of meningitis A in Africa’s meningitis belt, while a new vaccine that protects against five strains of meningitis holds promise for broader protection, with efforts underway to expand its use for outbreak response and prevention.
    Progress has also been made in reducing yellow fever cases and deaths through increasing routine immunization coverage and emergency vaccine stockpiles, but recent outbreaks in Africa and in the Region of the Americas highlight the risks in areas with no reported cases in the past, low routine vaccination coverage and gaps in preventive campaigns.
    In addition, the past two years have seen substantial progress in other areas of immunization. In the African region, which has the highest cervical cancer burden in the world, HPV vaccine coverage nearly doubled between 2020 and 2023 from 21 per cent to 40 per cent, reflecting a concerted global effort towards eliminating cervical cancer. The progress in immunization also includes increases in global coverage of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, particularly in the South-East Asia Region, alongside introductions in Chad and Somalia, countries with high disease burden.
    Another milestone is the sub-national introduction of malaria vaccines in nearly 20 African countries, laying the foundation to save half a million additional lives by 2035 as more countries adopt the vaccines and scale-up accelerates as part of the tools to fight malaria.
    Call to action
    UNICEF, WHO, and Gavi urgently call for parents, the public, and politicians to strengthen support for immunization. The agencies emphasize the need for sustained investment in vaccines and immunization programmes and urge countries to honour their commitments to the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030).
    As part of integrated primary healthcare systems, vaccination can protect against diseases and connect families to other essential care, such as antenatal care, nutrition or malaria screening. Immunization is a ‘best buy’ in health with a return on investment of $54 for every dollar invested and provides a foundation for future prosperity and health security.
    “Increasing outbreaks of highly infectious diseases are a concern for the whole world. The good news is we can fight back, and Gavi’s next strategic period has a clear plan to bolster our defences by expanding investments in global vaccine stockpiles and rolling out targeted preventive vaccination in countries most impacted by meningitis, yellow fever and measles,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “These vital activities, however, will be at risk if Gavi is not fully funded for the next five years and we call on our donors to support our mission in the interests of keeping everyone, everywhere, safer from preventable diseases.”
    Gavi’s upcoming high-level pledging summit taking place on 25 June 2025 seeks to raise at least US$ 9 billion from our donors to fund our ambitious strategy to protect 500 million children, saving at least 8 million lives from 2026-2030.

  • Consumer NZ – Despite low confidence in government efforts, people want urgent action to lower grocery bills

    Source: Consumer NZ

    Consumer NZ calls for stronger regulation of supermarket pricing and promotional practices following its new survey on supermarkets.

    Consumer’s NZ Grocery Survey, carried out in mid-April, reveals a strong public appetite for government action to improve access to affordable food. Many respondents called for clear and effective intervention by the government, while also expressing low confidence in its ability to deliver.    

    “New Zealanders are struggling to access quality food at affordable prices, and they’re not seeing meaningful change at the checkout,” says Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy.  

    “We’re pleased the government has kicked off a request for information process to explore how new entrants could help increase competition and deliver better grocery prices for New Zealanders. But the urgency is real.”  
     
    The survey also revealed the growing impact of rising prices on households. Thirty percent of people have needed help over the past year to get food – for example, from foodbanks, friends, family or Work and Income – based on the survey results.

    The cost of living remains the highest concern for New Zealanders across all age groups and has for three years according to its Sentiment Tracker.

    Low confidence in government action

    The nationally representative survey shows most New Zealanders don’t believe the government is doing enough to keep food affordable.  

    Two-thirds of people (66%) said they have low confidence in current government policies, while just 9% expressed high confidence in government action.

    Distrust in supermarkets also rising

    These results provide valuable insights into more recent trends in public trust in supermarkets and the government, as shown in Consumer NZ’s Sentiment Tracker.  

    Source: Consumer Sentiment Tracker

    Shoppers also report limited or declining trust in supermarkets to price and promote products fairly — an issue that raises additional concerns about consumer protection.

    “There’s increasing discomfort with how data is being used in loyalty schemes, and whether the deals offered actually benefit the consumer,” Duffy says.

    Strong support for government regulation

    When asked in the Grocery Survey what could be done to keep food accessible, hundreds of respondents said food is simply too expensive and urgent action is needed. Many supported stronger regulation and clearer rules to stop misleading promotions, not just more competition in the sector.

    “Consumers want the government to take a harder line — not only in promoting competition, but also in actively regulating how prices are set and how promotions are run,” says Duffy.

    Shoppers adapt to high costs

    Consumers are increasingly turning to cost-saving strategies, such as shopping around and buying in bulk, to deal with rising food prices and growing pressure on household budgets.

    More than half of respondents said they compare prices across supermarkets – most commonly through supermarket websites or apps, rather than in-store checks.  This behaviour signals the need for unit pricing and easy price comparison across retailers.

    Loyalty programme perceptions are mixed

    Perceptions of supermarket loyalty programmes are divided. Nearly two in five consumers feel loyalty schemes offer little or no benefit, while around one in three see them as worthwhile.

    “Consumers are rightly questioning the real value of loyalty programmes,” says Duffy.  

    “Our research found 84% of New Zealanders use loyalty cards, but the so-called ‘specials’ don’t always reflect the lowest prices available at the checkout.”

    While the Commerce Commission has not recommended a full review of loyalty programmes, it has called on supermarkets to ensure transparency in how data is collected and used, and to clearly disclose the terms of these schemes.

    Time for action

    “We are hearing loud and clear that shoppers feel unsupported and are losing trust – not just in supermarkets, but in the laws and systems that are meant to protect them,” Duffy says.  

    “To restore confidence, we need tougher regulation and greater enforcement to tackle pricing practices and market power in New Zealand’s grocery sector.”

    Consumer NZ continues to push for measures that ensure fairer pricing, improved transparency, and increased competition in the supermarket industry.

    Note

    Consumer NZ surveyed 1,005 New Zealanders aged 18 and over online, between 10 and 15 April 2025 for the NZ Grocery Survey. The sample was provided by Dynata and reflects national population profiles based on Stats NZ data.

    The Consumer NZ Sentiment Tracker is a quarterly survey that explores the interests and concerns of New Zealanders. The nationally representative survey of 1,000 respondents is conducted every three months.  

  • BusinessNZ – More detail needed on vocational education reforms

    Source: BusinessNZ

    Government announcements on work-based learning appear to recognise the importance of industry leadership in vocational training, but the timeframe for standing up a new system is very tight and more clarity is needed to ensure a smooth transition, says BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich.
    “As the system is pivoted back toward having more industry involvement in qualifications and quality assurance, it is important the Government works with industry closely to ensure that both businesses, apprentices, parents and training providers can have confidence in what the future system will look like.
    “We need to ensure that in the transition, employers can work with the training provider that delivers best for their company.
    “The new system is due to stand up on 1 January 2026, and we need clarity on the number of organisations, functions of the new organisations and funding to support businesses delivering industry training.
    “Countries with high productivity have gold standard training and apprenticeship systems. Industry training is the most efficient and effective way to train with high employment rates post-graduation. With the significant outflow of skills over the last year, we need to build the skills pipeline and make it easy for employers to develop a highly skilled workforce to support economic recovery and growth,” Mrs Rich said.
    The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

  • ANZAC Day – ‘Never Again’ Anzac Day Peace Picnic

    Source: Peace Action Wellington

    Friday 25 April 2025 – An Anzac Day Peace Picnic with the theme of ‘Never Again’ will be held at Pukeahu National War Memorial on Friday 25 April from 12:30pm-2pm. This is a family-friendly peace event operating under the tikanga of mana whenua, Te Kotahitanga o Taranaki Whanui ki te Upoko o te Ika.

    “’Never again’ means no genocide,” said Valerie Morse, member of Peace Action Wellington.

    “‘Never again’ is a phrase or slogan which is associated with the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. The slogan was used by liberated prisoners at Buchenwald concentration camp to denounce fascism.”

    “We are coming together to stand against war, against fascism and to demand that we meet the aspirations of our ancestors who survived World War 1 and World War 2 for global peace and freedom,” said Valerie Morse, member of Peace Action Wellington.

    “Anzac Day is portrayed as a day where the country can reflect on the horrors of war, the costs in human lives and commit collectively to never again allowing genocidal mass murder. We have to ask, is that really happening?” said Morse.

    “In 2025 the Western world is actively funding a campaign of complete annihilation against Palestinians. Two million men, women and children are daily being shot, bombed from above, burned alive, bulldozed with tanks and held hostage inside a giant concentration camp called Gaza. This is paid for and provided by the US. Meanwhile, across the West fascism and far right political parties are gaining power with campaigns of hatred, exclusion, war, austerity and visions of armageddon.”

    “The NZ government has failed to provide any humanitarian path for Palestinian refugees fleeing the bloodbath. It has been silent about Israel’s crimes. What’s worse is the government is now aiming to spend billions on new weapons of war and committing to fighting alongside the fascist USA in its endless wars. The new Defence Capability Plan clearly aligns NZ to the US and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. This is incredibly dangerous for the peace and security of Aotearoa NZ and the wider Pacific,” said Morse.

    The Anzac Day event is organised by Peace Action Wellington, Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition, VUW Socialists, Justice for Palestine, Students for Justice in Palestine, Falastin Tea Collective and Alternative Jewish Voices.

  • Govt vocational education reforms will cause massive disruption – CTU

    Source: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi  (CTU)

    The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi is warning that the Government’s decision to adopt a new model for the vocational education and training sector will lead to massive disruptions and instability in an already fatigued sector.

    “The NZCTU remains fundamentally opposed to these reforms, which will create further disruption across the sector and come off the back of a period of disruption and change in the sector over the past five years,” said NZCTU Acting President Rachel Mackintosh.

    “We are concerned by the impacts that another several years of change processes will have on the sector, learners, and industries.

    “Our major concern regarding the model that the Government is adopting is the risk of the creation of new private agencies competing for public funding within the sector; this model has not served New Zealand well in the past.

    “Profit motives drive instability in education, and it is not a good use of resources to have multiple agencies competing for funding as they must focus attention on securing funding at the expense of focusing on delivery for learners.

    “The whole process for these reforms has been flawed. There is no reason why the consultation needed to have such a narrow scope, excluding critical stakeholders, and key subject matter experts.

    “The Minister’s insistence on pushing ahead with these poorly thought through reforms is likely to create several more years of instability in the sector, and more uncertainty for learners, industries, and the vocational education and training workforce,” said Mackintosh.

  • 10 April 2025 Kura students help bless 10 new Gisborne homes New Gisborne apartments resounded with the sweet voices of students from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hawaiki Hou as they assisted Kaikarakia to implant mauri (spiritual energy) into the homes.

    10 April 2025 Kura students help bless 10 new Gisborne homes New Gisborne apartments resounded with the sweet voices of students from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hawaiki Hou as they assisted Kaikarakia to implant mauri (spiritual energy) into the homes.

    Source:

    As the sun streamed in the windows, aroha was put into each wall in each of the new homes as the students’ recited chants from local mōteatea and karakia they have learned in the classroom.

    Invited by Kaikarakia Morehu Pewhairangi who has blessed many of our new homes in Gisborne, Kura principal Russel Wilson said it’s a great opportunity for our tamariki to take what they are learning in the classroom and use it in the community. “The waiata, karakia, haka and moteatea learnt are all taonga that are passed down from generation to generation. Our students now have a deeper understanding about what they are learning and how it benefits people moving into a new whare. We definitely felt that today.”

    The sunny, warm dry apartments are close to the CBD and will provide a home for ten individuals and whānau who are leaving the uncertainty of living in emergency and transitional housing.

    The 10 new homes are a combination of two and three-bedrooms and include a three-story walk-up building, only the second one we have built in Gisborne.

    Built by Iconiq Group, Kāinga Ora has purchased the light, bright homes now they are completed. The development features universal design standards on the ground floors, insulation, bike racks, car parking, and views from the balconies.

    Mayor Rehette Stoltz says it makes a huge difference when we see homes like this built in our region. “We know Tairāwhiti has a massive shortage and builds like this don’t just happen. They are a culmination of us all working together and playing our part.

    “Thank you for inviting me to the blessings of your new homes and thank you to kaikarakia Morehu Pewhairangi for guiding us through the appropriate processes. I think the fact that we do it the right way – bless the whenua when the projects start and then put positive energy put into the walls of the homes when they are completed, sets everyone on the right path”.

    The new homes are definitely putting local health and disability support worker Ivan Te Momo on the right path. He is legally blind and has been living in emergency housing for the last two years. “The complex I was staying in had lots of corridors to navigate to the communal kitchen and bathroom facilities. Because of my disability, I have struggled to keep my room to the expected standards.

    “It has been difficult to cook because of my sight and because I could not keep anything in the kitchen. I had to carry everything instead, including my cutlery, down the hallways from my room to the kitchen. That was a struggle.”

    In the last year CCS Disability Action has helped me to cook, clean, cut vegetables and take my daily medication.

    “I am looking forward to feeling settled, having my own place and the autonomy that brings. Having a home gives you a tūrangawaewae … a place where you can stand.”

    For the man who used to be a body combat instructor, even when his eyesight was starting to fail, the first focus is his health. “With my cane, I can walk to work from here. It has been hard to get my health in order staying in a place I don’t control.”

    My other focus is finishing my PHD thesis on health services supporting disabled Māori with Te Whare Wānanga Awanuiārangi. There have been challenges, but I am determined to be one of the first blind Māoris to complete their doctorate in NZ. And I want to be able to show other blind people that it can be done!”

    Page updated: 10 April 2025

  • 3 April 2025 Te is a creative force in her community Since moving into Kāinga Ora apartment complex Te Mātāwai, Te has become known for her creativity and leadership skills.

    3 April 2025 Te is a creative force in her community Since moving into Kāinga Ora apartment complex Te Mātāwai, Te has become known for her creativity and leadership skills.

    Source:

    Naturally artistic, Te can lend her hand to most arts and crafts. She crochets, and her new favourite past times are photography and print making.

    These are skills she’s put to great use in the Te Mātāwai community, contributing work to an onsite art exhibition, assisting with photography projects, taking photos at events, selling her arts and crafts offsite and helping to plan activities for the onsite youth group.

    “When I moved in 18 months ago, I got involved in art classes which led to exhibiting one of my artworks. Then I helped with costumes and a lot of the paperwork for two photography projects involving tenants with artist and lecturer Dieneke Jansen from Auckland University of Technology.

    “I was very excited when Dieneke then invited me to assist on a film and photography project outside Te Mātāwai, it’s a big opportunity for me.”

    Dayne, the Community Development Manager at Te Mātāwai, says Te is a gifted creative and her sense of humour shines through in everything that she does.

    “Te’s worked with us on several projects and events that have benefitted from her creativity and clever thinking, with heaps of laughs along the way. She’s a doer and a leader, and the skills she’s shared with our community have led to new opportunities for her which is awesome. We’re really grateful for all of Te’s contributions to the Te Mātāwai community.”

    Te’s new ventures are part of the upward trajectory her life has taken since moving into Te Mātāwai. The central Auckland complex with 200 apartments for social housing tenants and 24/7 on-site support is a place where lives change.

    “I’d been living in backpacker hostels and boarding houses for years because I couldn’t afford anything more, but it wasn’t very healthy for me.”

    With long-term health problems, Te often felt trapped in her room as she wasn’t well enough to use communal spaces.

    “Now I have my own studio apartment, I can cook and do laundry without having to risk my health. And when I’m well, I can join all the activities going on here.

    “There are so many programmes on offer and there are a lot of nice people around. Everything I need is either here or very nearby which makes life easier.”

    With a place to call her own, improved health and a supportive community, Te says her next goal is to find part-time work, preferably in a reception or administration role. “I like organising other people,” she laughs, another talent that has come to the fore at Te Mātāwai.

    Page updated: 3 April 2025

  • 3 April 2025 Kāinga Ora proposing workforce changes As part of the reset of Kainga Ora – Homes and Communities to focus on providing and managing state owned social housing more cost effectively, consultation with staff on proposed organisational changes has begun.

    3 April 2025 Kāinga Ora proposing workforce changes As part of the reset of Kainga Ora – Homes and Communities to focus on providing and managing state owned social housing more cost effectively, consultation with staff on proposed organisational changes has begun.

    Source:

    Formal consultation has started today that could see the removal of net 673 roles, predominantly in corporate, back-office and other support functions. Of these 195 are currently vacant.

    Frontline tenancy management roles are not directly impacted by the proposed changes.

    “When Kāinga Ora was established in 2019, its mandate saw it rapidly expand to deliver thousands of new social houses and urban development projects and other functions,” says Kāinga Ora Chief Executive Matt Crockett.

    “That period of growth, however, was not financially sustainable. Kāinga Ora has since announced its reset and now needs to resize its workforce and renew the organisation to align to this new direction.

    “Our organisation model and workforce need to reflect our new, narrower focus on managing and providing social housing in a financially sustainable way. We need to align to this tighter focus, and reduced volume of activity, while enabling more cost-effective provision of housing and support services to our tenants. Unfortunately, that means there may be job losses.”

    Mr Crockett confirmed that while there is proposed to be some impact in customer facing roles, including housing placement and call centre teams, this would not negatively impact on the support and services provided to tenants.

    “We have carefully looked at how many people we have in these roles now, and how many people we’ll need while continuing to maintain our service levels.

    “I would like to reiterate the support we provide to the people and whānau in our homes will not be impacted.

    “We’ll continue to respond to requests and queries promptly and the proposed changes would not slow down or affect how quickly we match people to a suitable Kāinga Ora home.

    “While our people have been aware that workforce changes were coming, it has been a difficult day. Our priority now is ensuring we do everything we can over the coming weeks to support them through this process,” Mr Crockett says.

    Kāinga Ora staff have from 3 April to 22 April to give their feedback on the change proposals. Decisions will be made and communicated following consideration of staff feedback, with the aim of having the resizing process completed by 30 June 2025.

    The Public Service Association is being consulted. When decisions on the proposals are made, updates will be provided on the Kāinga Ora workforce change pages.

    Kāinga Ora headcount numbers as of:

    • 31 December 2023 – 3,514
    • 31 December 2024 – 3,018
    • 31 March 2025 – 2,819

    Page updated: 3 April 2025