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Category: MIL-OSI

  • Government Cuts – Govt spending decision signals crisis and cuts – CTU

    Source: CTU

    The decision to nearly halve the amount of new investment being made in the next Budget signals that this Government doesn’t care about the users of public services, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney.

    “$1.3bn in operating allowance isn’t enough to pay for cost pressures in health alone ($1.55bn). There is no money for cost pressures in education and other public services, or proposed defence spending. This is a Budget that will be built on cuts to essential services,” said Renney.

    “The fact that this announcement has come only three weeks away from Budget suggests that there is no agreement around the cabinet table about what government should be doing.

    “We now know that we are looking at a Budget where departments will be asked to make further rounds of deep cuts – just after cuts at Budget 2024.

    “The Minister of Finance is blaming borrowing for the need to make cuts. At the last Budget the government borrowed $12bn to pay for tax giveaways, including to landlords and tobacco companies.

    “This decision to cut investment is a choice. When child poverty rises, as it currently is, it’s a choice to not increase support. When we can’t support people losing their job, that’s a choice. This Government’s choices are now very clear.

    “We implore the Government to rethink this decision. It doesn’t help solve the public investment gap that already exists. It doesn’t help tackle unmet need in health and education. It’s time for a better approach, and to rebuild our public services,” said Renney.

  • Govt’s further backtrack on Te Tiriti o Waitangi at Pharmac endangers Māori health – PSA

    Source: PSA

    Pharmac’s proposal to axe its specialist Māori advisory team is another sad example of the low priority the Government places on improving the health of Māori.
    The proposed scrapping of the Māori Directorate announced to staff today will see a net loss of three roles, including those responsible for supporting an anti-racism research programme, and the roles responsible for supporting the work of the now-defunct Māori Advisory Group.
    “This is an abandonment of Pharmac’s commitment to the health of Māori and another breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” said Janice Panoho, Te Kaihautū Māori for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
    This follows a decision in October last year to scrap the independent Māori Advisory Group, Te Rōpū Māori, made up of medical specialists including doctors, pharmacists and researchers.
    This was a result of the Government’s Letter of Expectations to Pharmac instructing it to stop embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in its funding decisions.
    “This latest proposal flies in the face of Pharmac’s statutory obligation to consider equity and address racism in access to medicines – this change will further diminish the voice of Māori in Pharmac’s funding decisions.
    “The dismantling of Pharmac’s Māori leadership capacity is unacceptable. It sends a clear message to our communities, that Māori voices in the health system can be ignored, erased, and sidelined.
    “Across the public service, the Government is overriding its legal obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and washing its hands of the partnership between the Crown and Māori that previous governments embraced.
    “We urge the Government and Pharmac to not walk away from Te Tiriti o Waitangi if it’s serious about improving the health outcomes of Māori.”
    The PSA stands with its Māori members at Pharmac and calls for a firm recommitment to equity in health outcomes for Māori and its community.

  • UNICEF to launch groundbreaking project to 3D print prosthetics for war-injured Gaza children

    Source: UNICEF Aotearoa NZ

    A groundbreaking project to 3D print prosthetic limbs for war-injured children in Gaza will be launched by UNICEF, thanks to funding from a New Zealand organisation.
    Gaza currently has the highest number of child amputees per capita in the world. Over 23,000 children have sustained conflict-related injuries, and many thousands are facing disabilities and needing long-term rehabilitation.
    Funding of more than quarter of a million dollars from a new collaboration between UNICEF Aotearoa and the Federated Islamic Association of New Zealand ( FIANZ) has allowed a pilot to launch with the planning of a production facility in Jordan to ‘print’ desperately needed prosthetics.
    3D printed prosthetics cost around a sixth of the price of traditional prosthetics and can be made efficiently based on digital measurements taken using a smart phone. This helps solve the common issues of seriously injured children facing long and treacherous journeys to clinics to be assessed. They also allow for the fact that as children grow, they need new and updated components every six months. The project is intended to vastly improve efficiency and outcomes for children.
    UNICEF is working with leading global prosthetics manufacturers, alongside hospital and physiotherapist teams in the region who will collaborate on the wrap-around services each affected child may need. Partnerships with existing hospitals and facilities will help UNICEF ensure children in Gaza are still reached despite incredibly difficult conditions at the border and the breaking of the previous ceasefire.
    FIANZ president Ibrar Shaikh said the organisation has a focus on improving the lives of children, who are often the most affected by conflict.
    “This project directly addresses the physical and emotional well-being of children, alongside providing a tangible way to restore hope and dignity,” he said.
    “The collaboration between a local organisation like FIANZ and a global entity like UNICEF demonstrates how even smaller organisations can contribute meaningfully to groundbreaking humanitarian efforts. This work serves as an inspiration for other organisations to strive beyond their perceived limitations, reinforcing the collective potential to create a more compassionate and just world”.
    UNICEF Aotearoa CEO Michelle Sharp said the funding collaboration was a leading example of the tangible change and impact that can be made for children.
    “When organisations with a passion to help others, such as FIANZ, join with us – we can make incredible things happen to improve the lives of children who are enduring some of the toughest conditions imaginable,” she said.
    “This funding has meant a groundbreaking project has been able to launch which will go on to become a blueprint for the future as we aim to reach as many children in need as possible. We are honoured to build this relationship with FIANZ and look forward to seeing the outcomes we can achieve together”. 

  • Events – REPORTERS FACING MULTIPLE CHALLENGES COVERING THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY – AUT

    Source: Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
    The challenges faced by journalists covering the climate emergency will be at the heart of a public symposium at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) next month.  
    The symposium, titled Framing the Emergency: Climate Journalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, will explore how journalists report on the climate crisis, what more they can do, and how more climate stories might be told.  
    Speakers will include leading journalists Eloise Gibson (RNZ), Marc Daalder (Newsroom), and Miriama Kamo (TVNZ).  
    Experts and activists in the line-up include Russel Norman (Greenpeace), Jessica Palairet (Lawyers for Climate Action), and Joe Nagera (Pacific Climate Warriors).
    The symposium convenor, Professor Geoffrey Craig, said New Zealand climate journalists had a challenging job relating how the planetary crisis was impacting the nation.  
    They needed to “traverse the complexities of governmental policies and emission trading schemes, the power of corporations and the technicality of scientific research”, he said.  
    “They must cover the politics of land and water management, the advocacy of activists, and the struggles of citizens responding to disasters and building greater sustainability in their communities and everyday lives.”
    Journalists also face the challenge of reporting independently on the “actions and discourses of stakeholders” who frame climate issues in different ways, based on their interests. 
    The climate emergency could be said to transforming our understanding of the relationships between economy, environment and society.  
    “Yet some might argue there is little sense of an ’emergency’ in our public responses to the climate crisis,” he said.  
    “Do we need other climate stories in our media where the mahi and hope of communities point the way forward?”  
    Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is one of the world’s best modern universities. Home to 28,000 students across three campuses, AUT has more than 60 research centres and institutes delivering leading research – from artificial intelligence to robotics,
    and ecology to public health. As a contemporary university, AUT is connected to an extraordinary range of organisations sharing expertise and resources, collaborating on ground-breaking research, and connecting students with industry leaders and employers. 

  • Government Cuts – $1b cut in Budget operating allowance ‘unnecessary and damaging’

    Source: Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign

    The announcement by the Government that it will cut $1b to its Budget operating allowance is unnecessary and damaging, according to the Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign.

    “This cut, on top of last year’s mean spirited Budget, is a result of the 2024 tax cuts, which overwhelmingly favoured the wealthiest New Zealanders, including the $2.9b tax break for landlords,” says Glenn Barclay, spokesperson for the Better Taxes Campaign.

    “The Government has painted itself into a fiscal corner as a consequence and is making decisions that are both unnecessary and damaging because of their unwillingness to recognise that our tax system is broken and that we need to raise more revenue for the betterment of all New Zealanders.”

    “We are seeing the health system in crisis and other essential public services being squeezed,” says Glenn Barclay.

    “While this is an immediate problem, it reflects the failure of successive governments to ensure that we collect sufficient revenue to meet our needs and that those who can afford to pay more in tax do so.”

    New Zealand’s core Crown revenue has averaged around 30% of GDP historically and this is low compared to many European countries, which have much better health systems and public services.

    In 2023, research by Inland Revenue demonstrated that the the wealthiest 310 families in New Zealand had an effective tax rate of around 9% whereas the average New Zealander paid over 20% in tax.

    “It is clear that our health system and public services need better funding, that we need more resources for tackling climate change and that inequality is eating away at our society,” says Glenn Barclay.

    “Our broken tax system lies at the heart of all these pressing issues and we call on the Government and opposition parties to recognise the need to introduce taxes that many other countries have – such as a capital gains tax, an excess profits tax, wealth taxes and wealth transfer taxes.”

    The Better taxes for a Better Future Campaign was launched in June 2023 with the support of 21 partner organisations. It is seeking a tax system that:

    • Is fully transparent.
    • Ensures people who have more to contribute make that contribution: that we gather more revenue from wealth, gains from wealth, all forms of income, and corporates.
    • Makes greater use of fair taxes to promote good health and environmental health.
    • Addresses the tax impact on the least well-off in our society.
    • Raises more revenue to enable us to address the social, economic and environmental challenges we face.

  • BusinessNZ – Regulatory roadblock to be removed

    Source: BusinessNZ

    Swift action to remove a regulatory roadblock in the way of medical innovation, global events and tourism has been applauded by BusinessNZ.
    A ‘nonsensical’ ruling by Medsafe effectively prevents major international medical conferences from being held in New Zealand because displaying new products or sharing the latest research with medics in trade shows is deemed to be “advertising” and therefore prohibited – but now the Government intends to fix the regulations concerned to allow these major global conferences to come here.
    The announced changes means more global organisations can consider New Zealand as a conference destination, and our tourism sector will benefit from the flow on effect of post-conference travel.
    BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich says it’s a good example of the Government taking action to remove regulatory barriers to economic growth.
    “New Zealand has been locked out of the multi-billion-dollar global medical conference market because Medsafe’s stance prohibits the trade shows and expos that are usually a valuable part of global medical conferences.
    “But the economics of running a large international conference often depend on there being a major expo or trade show associated with the event, where companies can share information about their latest products and medical research.
    “Medsafe’s ruling makes it uneconomic for large medical conferences to be held here, meaning multi-million-dollar lost opportunities for New Zealand and our medics have to travel to conferences outside of New Zealand to hear about the latest drugs, devices and procedures.
    “Over the years many professional associations and medical organisations with annual conferences on a global circuit have wanted to come to New Zealand, but have had to rule out coming here because of the financial hit of not being able to hold a world-class trade show to support their event.
    “New Zealand’s unique stance is nonsensical. Sharing information and new research with medical experts in a closed setting is in no way unsafe. We know of no other country that has taken the same stance, but we do know this is why New Zealand conference centres and our local economy regularly lose out to Australia when global conference circuits rotate to the Southern Hemisphere.
    “It’s excellent news that the Government plans to fix the regulations to make clear that global medical conferences are welcome in New Zealand.
    “New Zealand stands to gain an estimated $90 million in revenue over the next few years with the dismantling of this roadblock to economic growth.”
    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.

  • Weather News – April set to end with a bang! – MetService

    Source: MetService

    Covering period of Monday 28th April – Thursday 1st May – Key points

    •    A busy stretch of weather is on the way, with many areas set to face a range of notable conditions throughout the week
    •    After an already wet month, Northland will see pockets of heavier rain on Tuesday, while Canterbury will see heavy rain from mid-week
    •    Unseasonal snow is expected for inland Canterbury on Wednesday and Thursday
    •    Wild winds are expected for eastern and central parts of the country from Wednesday, with disruptive southerlies expected to surge through Wellington.

    “Everyone is going to get a bit of something this week – there will be some sun, lots of rain and strong winds, and even some snow coming our way, as a low pressure system passes right over central Aotearoa New Zealand,” says MetService meteorologist Dom Barry.

    Come tomorrow (Tuesday), Northland, Auckland and Coromandel can expect wet and windy conditions, with heavy rain and thunderstorms expected for the northern most regions. The West Coast will also see some heavy falls, while remaining areas of both Islands have some cloud about, with the showers in the east.

    Heavy rain will be hauled across much of the country heading into Wednesday by a low pressure system which tracks across the central North Island. Some of that rain will fall as snow above 600 metres in the South Island.

    Thunderstorms are expected for parts of Northland through to Thursday, which may bring periods of more intense rainfall to localised areas. Barry adds that, “For already sodden areas, particularly in the Far North, more heavy rain may bring impacts such as flash flooding, rivers to rise dangerously high and hazardous driving conditions. It is imperative people stay up to date with the latest forecasts, and listen for any advice from local Civil Defence agencies.”

    A Heavy Rain Watch has been issued for Northland with a high likelihood of being upgraded to a Warning, while the heavy rain and snow in the South Island has triggered a Heavy Rain Watch for Canterbury. As we get closer to this event, more severe weather Watches and Warnings are expected to be issued, including road snow warnings, strong wind warnings and some more rain watches and warnings.

    On Wednesday night and into Thursday, the low lingers east of Wairarapa, driving very strong and disruptive southerlies up Cook Strait and possibly into Wellington – these winds will be very strong, even for Wellingtonians’ standards. Couple this with a very high tide (king tide), low pressure and heavy swell, we could see coastal inundation in the south. “These very strong winds will be disruptive for travel in the Wellington and Marlborough regions on Wednesday evening and into Thursday. It won’t be a day to cycle to work – work from home or take the bus,” says Barry. Strong winds will also affect Canterbury into Thursday, while strong winds will be felt west of the Main Divide at times.

    Choppy seas up the east coasts of both Islands and possibly into Wellington can be expected from Wednesday, with possibly up to 7 metres of combined waves off the east coast of the North Island.

    Temperatures remain warmer than average overnight for many places though to Wednesday, before things cool off come Thursday. The minimum temperatures for places like Masterton, New Plymouth, Wellington and Wanaka become their maximum temperatures from Thursday – a noticeable difference.

    It is quite a wild weather week ahead – stay up to date with your Freshest Forecast on the MetService app or at our website www.metservice.com

  • Health – Te Whatu Ora’s failed pay offer cements strike action for senior doctors

    Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists

    Te Whatu Ora’s latest offer to senior doctors fails to take staffing shortages, or achieving health targets, seriously the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says as mediation between ASMS and the employer concluded at midday today.
    More than 5,000 senior doctors will strike for 24 hours on Thursday May 1 as Te Whatu Ora refused to budge from their 1.5 per cent cap on total salary increases for senior medical staff.
    “On an annualised basis, Te Whatu Ora’s offer would increase pay by 0.77 per cent,” ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton says.
    “This will drive existing doctors away rather than help retain them, let alone attract any new senior doctors we need to fix the gaps.
    “New Zealand will be short more than 3,450 senior doctors by 2032 and we are already seeing the impact of doctor shortages across the country with longer wait times in emergency departments and for first specialists’ appointments.”
    In mediation Te Whatu Ora did move to address some issues, which ASMS says is a good start.
    “They offered to remove the bottom three steps of the pay scale to restore relativities with junior doctors, and this would benefit approximately 500 members.
    “They also suggested a recruitment and retention allowance for four districts only – coincidentally four districts where our members have been publicly sharing stories of the healthcare shortage. But they are far from the only districts facing shortages. This needs to be rolled out across the country wherever there are shortages with clear criteria.
    Vacancies for SMOs across the country are running at an average of 12 per cent. But they are as high as 44 per cent in places like Tairāwhiti.
    “ASMS is also still waiting for parts of the last collective settlement to implemented. There are districts where ED shift allowances are still not being paid and ASMS has taken the matter to court.”
    Doctors will continue with planned strike action on May 1.
    “The strike will result in planned procedures being postponed, but the same number of procedures are lost every week due to ongoing staff shortages,” Dalton says. “We need Te Whatu Ora to get up to speed and get serious.”
    ASMS members are working to ensure all life preserving services will be maintained at our public hospitals during the strike.
    “Senior doctors don’t want to be striking – they are striking because every day is a “may day” call in our health system right now and patients deserve better,” Dalton says. 

  • Education – Success Tutoring expands globally with New Zealand centre launch

    Source: Success Tutoring

    The global tutoring revolution has arrived in New Zealand. Success Tutoring, Australia’s fastest growing and most innovative education and tutoring franchise, has officially opened its first centre in Papanui, Christchurch, marking the beginning of a bold global expansion into New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
     
    “This is an incredibly exciting time for our company and for tutoring globally,” Success Tutoring founder and CEO, Michael Black said.
     
    “We have redefined how students learn in Australia and now we’re bringing that same energy and innovation to the world, starting right here in Christchurch.”
     
    Success Tutoring breaks away from the traditional one-size-fits-all tutoring model. Instead, it delivers a highly flexible, student-first approach, giving families unlimited access to personalised sessions through a subscription model that fits modern life.

    It’s more than academic support, it’s about building confidence, curiosity and a mindset for success.

    “Our students aren’t just lifting grades, they’re unlocking their potential,” Black said.

    “We’ve helped kids significantly improve their academic results, earn scholarships, get into selective schools and most importantly, feel proud of themselves again.”

    Results from across the Australian network in 2024 were outstanding with Success Tutoring seeing strong academic improvements in Math and English, scholarships and school-entry success for many students and the majority of students reported significant boosts in confidence and self-esteem.

    The Christchurch launch is being led by powerhouse pair Abhishek Gupta (Abhi) and Jalvanti Bhanderi (Jayvee), franchisees with a powerful combination of business smarts, education experience and passion for youth development.

    Gupta, with a master’s in economics and a background in banking, consulting and teaching, has spent years empowering learners. Bhanderi, who grew up in Nairobi and speaks four languages, brings a background in accounting, operations and people-focused leadership.

    “We’re not just running a tutoring centre, we’re creating a space where young people can grow, be inspired and realise what they’re capable of,” Gupta said.

    Bhanderi added that they have seen the gap, the average student who gets left behind. Success Tutoring is here in New Zealand to give all students the tools and support to soar.

    As the brand goes global, Success Tutoring is also offering a life-changing business opportunity for passionate tutors and entrepreneurs. With a turnkey system, national marketing and world-class support, the franchise model is designed to deliver exceptional results for students as well as franchise business owners.

    “The majority of Success Tutoring franchises are cashflow-positive from day one, deliver high profit margins and rapid growth potential and boast purpose-driven ownership backed by proven national systems,” Black said.

    “This is a business where your success is measurable in both income and impact. It’s a model that delivers for students, for families and for the people who run it.”

    With Christchurch opening and already accepting bookings, Success Tutoring is actively recruiting new franchisees across New Zealand, from Auckland to Queenstown, looking for people who want to change lives and build a business with heart.

    “We’re on a mission to empower the next generation and we’re calling on visionary leaders to join us,” Black said.

    “If you want to inspire, uplift and grow a business that matters, there’s never been a better time.”

    About Success Tutoring

    Founded by Michael Black in 2017, Success Tutoring is Australia’s fastest growing education centre with multiple locations and a further 150 cities planned worldwide by 2026. The company offers weekly tutoring sessions in English and Math for students aged five to 17, with a school readiness program for kids even younger, and selective school exam preparation tutoring also available. The Success Model not only empowers students to work at their own pace towards progress but also finds success in the social aspect of students coming together and working as a community of students to find motivation, inspiration and a lifelong love of learning.

    https://successtutoring.com.au/

  • Education – Experts Urge Educators to Support Neurodiversity in the Classroom

    Source: Skills Group

     

    As the education landscape continues to evolve, experts are urging tutors and educators to deepen their understanding of neurodiversity to achieve teaching excellence and better support the diverse needs of students.

     

    Over 100 tutors from across the country recently participated in a special training forum on the subject hosted by Skills Group in Auckland.

     

    The event provided a platform for educators to engage with experts, share insights, and explore practical strategies for supporting neurodivergent students whose brains are wired differently, affecting how they think, process information and behave.

     

    Skills Group Head of Learner Support and Teacher Development Terresa Whimp says with conditions like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and dyscalculia affecting an increasing number of students, it is vital that educators adopt strategies that recognise and address the unique challenges these students face.

     

    During the forum, experts introduced the concept of neurodiversity as the natural variation in the way people’s brains function.

     

    “Neurodivergent individuals process information in different ways. Conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia, and autism are examples of neurodivergence, and understanding these differences is key to providing better educational support,” Terresa says.

     

    One major focus of the forum was helping educators understand the various cognitive challenges that neurodivergent learners may face.

     

    “Key concepts like executive function which involves planning, organising, and decision-making, and processing speed, which affects how quickly information is absorbed and recalled, were discussed in-depth.

     

    “Neurodivergent students often struggle with these areas, making it harder to stay organized, remember tasks, and complete assignments on time.”

     

    The forum also provided practical strategies that educators can implement to better support neurodivergent students.

     

    “A major takeaway was the importance of adopting a strengths-based approach. Tutors were encouraged to focus on what neurodivergent students can do, rather than their challenges. This approach helps to build confidence and foster a positive learning environment,” Terresa says.

     

    Tutors were also reminded to plan for the variation in students’ capabilities and prior knowledge, and to establish a structured classroom environment that promotes focus and engagement.

     

    “Some strategies discussed at the forum included: breaking tasks down into manageable steps, providing clear and direct instructions, and offering students multiple ways to access and engage with information. Neurodivergent learners often benefit from a predictable routine and clear expectations, which can reduce anxiety and improve learning outcomes.”

     

    The forum also explored how to reduce cognitive load, or the mental effort required to process information. Educators were advised to minimise distractions in the classroom, simplify written content, and break down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable components.

     

    “Using visual aids and tools such as checklists and timetables was also suggested to help neurodivergent learners stay organised and better manage their time.”

     

    A major highlight of the forum was the discussion on assistive technologies, which can play a pivotal role in supporting neurodivergent learners.

     

    “Tools like Immersive Reader, Speechify, Microsoft’s Dictate function, screen readers, text-to-speech apps, and browser extensions such as Helperbird are powerful resources that allow students to engage with text, improve reading comprehension, and manage written assignments.

     

    The event concluded with a call to action for educators to continue developing their understanding of neurodiversity and integrate these strategies and tools into their teaching practices.

     

    “The overarching message was clear: neurodiversity is not something to be ‘fixed’, but rather something to be embraced. With the right support and strategies, neurodivergent learners can succeed just as much as their neurotypical peers.”

     

    By fostering an environment that supports and understands the diverse ways in which students learn, educators can unlock the full potential of every student, regardless of their neurological makeup.