Category: MIL-OSI

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Stats NZ information release: International migration: February 2025

Source: Statistics New Zealand

International migration: February 2025 – 14 April 2025 – International migration statistics give the latest outcomes-based measure of migration, which includes estimates of migrants entering or leaving New Zealand.

Key facts

Annual migration
Provisional estimates for the February 2025 year compared with the February 2024 year were:

  • migrant arrivals: 154,300 (± 1,400), down 30 percent
  • migrant departures: 121,300 (± 1,100), up 15 percent
  • annual net migration: gain of 32,900 (± 1,700), compared with a net gain of 113,700 (± 200).

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Business – Fonterra plans to close Canpac site

Source: Fonterra

Fonterra has today announced that it plans to close its canning and packaging facility in Hamilton at the end of July.

The closure of the Canpac site, which blends and packages milk powders, follows the Co-operative’s decision to focus on higher value ingredients such as advanced proteins and medical nutrition.

Fonterra’s Chief Operating Officer, Anna Palairet, says low product volumes and increasing complexities in production has created challenging economic conditions for the facility.

“It’s been a tough day for all the team at the site. Making decisions like this is never easy.

“Our strategy is about creating end-to-end value and growing total returns for our farmer shareholders. We believe the best way to achieve this is to focus on our strengths and scale in ingredients and foodservice, and we are prioritising our investment on the parts of our operations that are better suited to this.”

“We are committed to supporting our employees as we work through the next steps,” says Ms Palairet.

Around 120 people currently work at the site. The Co-op will now work through a consultation process including exploring potential redeployment opportunities before operations are planned to come to an end on 31 July 2025.

The site currently packs up to 4000 metric ton of powders per year, less than one per cent of the Co-op’s total product volume.

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Health – Government focus on physician associates a distraction from real issues

Source: GenPro

New workforce regulations in the future are a distraction from what’s needed now to fix the crisis in primary healthcare, says the General Practice Owners Association (GenPro).

“Planned regulation of small numbers of physician associates is welcome but will do absolutely nothing for reducing waiting times for people wanting to see a GP this week,” said Dr Angus Chambers, Chair of GenPro.

“Physician associates can be valued health workers, and we congratulate them on gaining recognition of their skills and service, but they’ll be first to agree they’re not a substitute in a face-to-face consultation with a family doctor.

“Packing these regulations with other minor changes to prescribing rights to suggest that the government is demonstrating a commitment to providing high quality care.is misleading.

“The biggest change the government can make to improve health care is to immediately invest in general practice to retain the GPs we have now and to make it more attractive for GPs to come to New Zealand. And it needs to overhaul the out-of-date funding model which is driving general practices out of business or restrict hours and service,” Dr Chambers says.

“A better funding model which reflected actual health needs of people, and true costs of running a general practice, in 2025 would be more effective at cutting waiting times and taking pressure off emergency departments.

“GenPro appreciates that government finances are restricted but general practice receives just five percent of the $30 billion health budget, which is significantly less than in other developed countries.

“Meanwhile GenPro is surprised that the government signed off on a new regulated profession in the midst  of a consultation on whether it would be a good idea.

“Clearly the Ministry of Health’s Putting Patients First: Modernising health workforce regulation risks being seen as a Clayton’s consultation. GenPro will present its views but decisions taken in recent days suggest that the government has already made up its mind on what the future workforce looks like, packaging it as a panacea, and releasing it on a slow news day, when it is actually just tinkering around the edges and avoiding the big calls which need to be made.”

“It is ironic that the Ministry wants to put patients first, but the Minister doesn’t want to wait to hear from them,” Dr Chambers says.

GenPro members are owners and providers of general practices and urgent care centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information visit  www.genpro.org.nz

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Governance – Joint committee will help public access to Waitākere, Outdoor Access Commission says

Source: Herenga ā Nuku – the Outdoor Access Commission

Auckland councillors’ proposal for tangata whenua to be part of a committee overseeing the Waitākere Ranges will support public access to the area, according to Herenga ā Nuku, the Outdoor Access Commission.
“Based on our expertise negotiating public outdoor access, we believe the joint committee proposed in the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Deed of Acknowledgement can play a vital coordination and communication role in shaping long-term public access in the area”, Herenga ā Nuku acting chief executive Phil Culling says.
The background to the comment is that in 2008, the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act said the nationally significant area required protection. This would involve a Deed of Acknowledgement that the Auckland Council, the Crown and nominated iwi would enter into.
Under the proposal, a joint committee would be created with equal representation from Auckland Council, the Crown, represented by the Department of Conservation, and tangata whenua – specifically, Te Kawerau ā Maki. Ngāti Whātua is also named in the Act as tangata whenua. Their ability to be part of the Deed will be kept open and discussions are ongoing.
The proposed Deed applies only to public land owned or managed by the Crown or the council within the heritage area. It does not apply to private land or water and will not replace existing governance structures.
Aucklanders need sustainable public access to the Waitākere Ranges, and that requires a strong framework for authentic dialogue, Culling says.
“It is the largest publicly accessible outdoor space near New Zealand’s biggest city. Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, the Outdoor Access Commission, believes that achieving free, certain, enduring, and practical outdoor public access relies on talking and listening to each other in an ongoing dialogue.”
Many community groups and individuals currently struggle to understand who is managing outdoor public access in the Waitākere Ranges, Culling adds.
“The joint committee could create and implement a long-term strategic plan for the Heritage Area. But, more importantly, it would have the authority and respect to coordinate all the people with an interest in the Waitākere Ranges, improve communication, and increase collaboration.”
“We also support the joint committee’s advocacy role, championing the Waitākere Ranges and raising awareness of their national significance and their significance for tangata whenua. This shared understanding is key to providing long-term recreation and public access.”
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Health – Protecting our youngest citizens: put people before profit in infant formula rules

Source: Health Coalition Aotearoa

Health Coalition Aotearoa is deeply concerned by reports of industry lobbying that appears to have influenced Government decisions to weaken infant formula labelling standards in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“Multinational dairy companies should not dictate rules that shape the health of our youngest citizens. Caregivers deserve clear, evidence-based information-not marketing spin dressed up as science,” says Sally Mackay from Health Coalition Aotearoa.
The New Zealand Government opted out of an infant formula standard in August 2024. Media has recently reported on intense industry lobbying to undermine the infant formula standards for Aotearoa. Multinational dairy companies are reported to have convinced Ministers to back away from the rules. More recently, the media reported the Government is now considering a U-turn and is thinking of recommitting to the baby formula standards.
Health Coalition Aotearoa supports a U-turn in the policy and a recommitment to the infant formula standard. We strongly oppose any move to prioritise corporate profits over population wellbeing. New Zealand health policies need to move away from commercial interests and keep people’s best interests in mind,” says Vanessa Souter from Health Coalition Aotearoa.
Infant formula companies have a long history of using unproven health claims and misleading labels to suggest their products offer benefits that rival or exceed those of breastfeeding. This is simply not supported by evidence.
Whānau-particularly those who cannot breastfeed-are vulnerable to this kind of marketing. They deserve protection from tactics that pressure them to buy expensive formula based on false promises.
Infant caregivers-particularly those who cannot breastfeed-are vulnerable to this kind of marketing.
The lack of transparency in government decision-making only adds to our concern. Industry lobbying must not come at the cost of public trust or public health.
The infant formula export market is worth billions-but that should never outweigh our duty to uphold the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes or Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Article 2 of Te Tiriti affirms the need to protect hauora Māori. That includes protecting breastfeeding-an act with proven short and long-term health benefits for māmā and pēpi.
Now is the time for bold, evidence-based leadership. We urge the Government to strengthen-not roll back-protections for whānau and pēpi. This means putting child health first, committing fully to The Code, and listening to trusted public health voices like the New Zealand Breastfeeding Alliance and the NZ Lactation Consultants Association.
Let’s build a future where every caregiver has access to honest information, every pēpi gets the healthiest start, and every policy puts wellbeing before profit.
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New publishing date for Productivity statistics: 1978?2024

New publishing date for Productivity
statistics: 1978–2024

9 April 2025

The productivity statistics release due to
be published on 16 April 2025 has been rescheduled and will now be published
on 16 May 2025.

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Stats NZ information release: Household labour force survey estimated working-age population: March 2025 quarter

Household labour force survey estimated working-age population: March 2025 quarter – information release

9 April 2025

The household labour force survey estimated working-age population table shows the population benchmarks used to produce household labour force survey estimates for the upcoming labour market statistics release.

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Greenpeace – Luxon’s war on nature opens gate for more dairy conversion

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace Aotearoa is calling out the Luxon Government for “leaving the gate wide open” to more dairy conversion with no plan to protect fresh water from pollution.
Temporary rules that restricted the conversion of farmland to intensive dairy were in place until 1 January this year, to allow time for Regional Councils to implement the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. This was effectively a stop-gap to prevent further degradation of lakes, rivers and drinking water.
However, the Luxon Government repealed many of those intended protections last year, blocked Regional Councils from implementing their own freshwater plans, and allowed the dairy conversion restrictions to be lifted without replacing them. BussinessDesk has reported that Environment Canterbury has approved several dairy farm conversions this year.
Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says, “Everyone, no matter where they live, should be able to drink the water from their kitchen tap without getting sick. But this basic right is under threat by an already oversized intensive dairy industry that’s set to expand further.”
“They were happy to delay freshwater plans for Regional Councils, and repeal the few freshwater protections we had, but did not extend the stop-gap on dairy conversions. Now that dairy conversions have started up again, we have to ask how many more communities have to have unsafe drinking water before intensive dairy is reigned in?”
Nearly half of New Zealand’s rivers are now unsafe for swimming, and 20% of the population could be drinking water contaminated with unsafe levels of nitrate. Emerging evidence shows that drinking water nitrate levels from 1mg/L are associated with a higher risk of some health conditions, including colo-rectal cancer. The largest contributor to nitrate contamination is cow urine and the overuse of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser in the intensive dairy industry.
At water testing events run by Greenpeace in the Ashburton District last month, almost half of all bore water samples tested were above 5 mg/L of nitrate, a level linked to an increased risk of preterm birth. Several Canterbury town supplies are close to or exceed this level, including Darfield, Hinds, and the Oxford Rural 1 supply. The New Zealand College of Midwives recommends that pregnant people consider avoiding water above 5 mg/L for nitrate.
“We’ve already seen what dairy expansion does – unswimmable rivers and water that’s unsafe to drink. It’s now up to Regional Councils to step up and protect drinking water, lakes and rivers. And if they’re unwilling, for candidates to step up at the Local Body Elections this year to get the job done.”
“Environment Canterbury must halt any dairy conversion or intensification applications, at a bare minimum, and swiftly take action to protect the health of people and fresh water from dairy pollution.”
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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.

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Northland Regional Council News 29/04/25

Source: Northland Regional Council

Climate Resilient Communities Fund open for applications
Northland Regional Council is inviting applications to the Climate Resilient Communities Fund.
The fund aims to build community resilience to the effects of climate change by focusing on local needs and community-led solutions. Council has $600,000 to invest in projects that meet the funding criteria, and eligible groups can apply for between $5,000 and $40,000 plus GST.
Applications must be for projects in Te Taitokerau and from a legal community entity, such as hapū or iwi groups, community or neighbourhood groups, education providers, social enterprises and not-for-profit businesses.
The fund will support projects focusing on: Food resilience (Te Kai); Water resilience (Te Wai); Energy resilience (Te Ngao); Nature-based resilience (Te Taiao); Planning for resilience (Ngā mahi Whakamahere).
Applications close 3 June 2025.
Free open day event at award-winning, sustainable Northland farm
Anyone interested in sustainable farming is invited to attend the Rob and Mandy Pye – Mangere Falls Farm, Ballance Farm Northland Regional Supreme Winner Open Day in Kōkopu (Whangarei) on May 7.
The special free event hosted by New Zealand Farm Environmental Trust will include an overview from Rob and Mandy Pye about striking a balance between profitability, environmental stewardship and farm efficiency, a farm tour, presentations from Alison Whiteford (B+LNZ), Northland Regional Council, Kaipara Moana Remediation and Silver Fern Farms, followed by lunch.
Anyone wishing to attend must ensure all vehicles and footwear are clean (to comply with biosecurity requirements), with 4WDs required to take part in the farm tour (carpooling is recommended where possible).
The event will be held from 10am and finish with a lunch at 1pm at Mangere Falls Farm, 638 Knight Road, Kōkopu, Whangarei.