Category: MIL-OSI

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Largest boost to Learning Support in a generation
The Government is delivering the most significant investment in learning support in a generation to better support Kiwi kids to thrive at school, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. 
Key investments include substantial annual increases to teacher aide hours, building up to over 2 million additional teacher aide hours per year, from 2028; Learning Support Co-ordinators for all schools with Year 1-8 students; expanding early intervention services from early learning through to end of year 1; and an historic overhaul of the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS) funding model to ensure that demand for the service is met with guaranteed funding so all students with high and complex needs who are verified for ORS receive the support they need.
“Too many children wait too long to receive support, or miss out altogether, on the help they need to succeed. We are addressing this by investing in a smart, system-wide reform that significantly increases specialist and support staff resources in our schools. 
“We’re powering up support to the frontline and investing early to ensure our kids get the tailored help they need, and so that teachers have more time to teach the basics brilliantly,” Ms Stanford says.
Budget 2025 invests $2.5 billion over the forecast period in Vote Education with a focus on delivering a transformational boost to learning support funding.
“Backed by a social investment lens, this is a seismic l shift in how we support learning needs in New Zealand. We’re deliberately prioritising early intervention, investing in what works and directly tackling long-standing inequities in the system.”
The learning support funding package includes:

$266 million to extend the Early Intervention Service (EIS) from early childhood education through to the end of year 1 of primary school. This will fund more than 560 additional FTE for EIS teachers and specialists. We are investing in:

expanding the service through to the end of Year 1 to support the effective transition into school of around 4,000 children with additional needs.
reducing existing waitlists in early intervention so that more than 3,000 children that need the support receive it sooner.
increasing the amount of specialist support provided to the more than 7,100 children who are currently enrolled in EIS.
building up annually to an additional 900,000 teacher aide hours per year, from 2028, to support young learners in EIS.

$122 million to meet increased demand for ORS (Ongoing Resourcing Scheme) for students with high and complex needs. This includes a structural change to the funding model so every child who is verified for ORS funding receives the support they need. This investment will also increase the number of specialists and teacher aide time to support the more than 1,700 additional learners forecast to access ORS over the next four years.
$192 million to ensure that over three years, all Year 1-8 schools and kura are funded for a Learning Support Coordinator to work with students, families and educators to identify and respond to learner needs. This investment will benefit 1250 schools and an additional 300,000 learners around New Zealand.
$43 million for an extra 78.5 FTE speech language therapists, as well as additional psychologists and supporting teacher aide hours to help meet the growing demand of students with communication and behaviour needs. This will provide specialist supports to around 2500 students over the next four years.
$3 million of investment in our teacher aides with targeted professional development for working with learners with social, emotional, wellbeing, behavioural, and neurodiverse needs.
$4 million to employ 25 intern educational psychologists each year to enable a more sustainable pipeline of locally trained workforce.
$90 million of capital for approximately 25 new learning support satellite classrooms to provide around 225 new student places across the Ministry of Education’s specialist school network, as well as provide learning support property modifications so that schools are more accessible to learners with additional needs.  

“Across all learning support services in Vote Education, we are building up to more than 2 million additional teacher aide hours into the system every year from 2028. 
“The education sector has been calling for more support for a long time, and this Government is delivering results. This investment recognises and responds to the growing number of children with additional learning needs and the pressure it places on teachers,” Ms Stanford says. 
Budget 2025 also includes substantive key investments in the Government’s priority areas:

$298 million into strengthening Curriculum and Assessment supports, including $132.2 million for accelerated learning in literacy and maths.
$572 million of capital funding invested into school property.
$100 million of operating funding, to maintain and upgrade classrooms.
$150 million to build the education workforce of the future through leadership development pathways, teacher supply initiatives, and funded registration and certification.
$104 million to support Māori learner success, including $50 million of capital funding for new classrooms in Māori Medium and Kaupapa Māori schools.
$140 million for a new attendance service and to support and strengthen frontline attendance services

 
“To deliver this investment, we have assessed underspends and reprioritised initiatives that are underperforming or lack clear evidence that they’re delivering intended outcomes. Around $614 million within the vote has been identified for reinvestment into frontline, priority education initiatives.
“Budget 2025 builds on the strong foundations we’ve already laid through teaching the basics brilliantly. We will continue to invest to raise achievement and close the equity gap in schools across the country, so all Kiwi kids have the knowledge, skills and competencies they need to reach their full potential,” Ms Stanford says.

Source: New Zealand Police

Following a gruelling 14 month investigation, Police have today charged a fourth person in relation to the death of a woman whose body was found in a bag in Gulf Harbour last year.

The body of 70-year-old Chinese woman Shulai Wang was found in a black rubbish bag in the water in Gulf Harbour on 12 March 2024.

Acting Inspector Tim Williams, Waitematā CIB, says officers attended an Orewa property this morning where one person was taken into custody.

“A 64-year-old man was arrested and has been charged with manslaughter and kidnapping and will appear in court tomorrow.”

This is the fourth arrest in relation to this matter.

A 37-year-old man, a 36-year-old woman and a 61-year-old woman are each facing charges of kidnapping and manslaughter

The 64-year-old man will appear in North Shore District Court tomorrow.

As the matter is before the court Police are limited in providing further comment.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Court case backlogs will be further reduced through extra funding to improve court timeliness and access to justice, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Courts Minister Nicole McKee say.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. Waiting months or years for a case to be resolved only adds to the frustration and trauma for victims and, indeed, all court participants,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“While there has been progress, it’s really important that we keep things moving. This funding will to do exactly that.”

Budget 2025 will provide New Zealand’s courts with $246 million of additional funding over the next four years.

“This funding will support the ongoing operation of specialist courts, tribunals, the District Court, senior courts, the Coroners Court, and the legal aid system.”

“This Government is supporting the courts to be more efficient and minimise delays, to ensure everyone can navigate the process smoothly and have trust and confidence in the system,” Mrs McKee says.

“An efficient court system that delivers timely justice is an important part of the Government’s plan to restore law and order. Through Budget 2025 we are making sure we keep our foot on the pedal.”

In the year ending 31 March 2025, cases disposed of within expected timeframes has stabilised at 81 per cent, after almost a decade of declining timeliness.  

Backlog cases have decreased by 9 per cent to 7,067, while active cases decreased by 3 per cent to 37,920, with a reduction of 1,074 cases on hand.

Disposals of district court jury trials are at historically high levels, reflecting the approach of applying additional resources to reduce the post-Covid backlog of trials in Auckland courts. 

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

New funding will ensure New Zealanders have access to independent local journalism that keeps them informed about what’s happening in their communities, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“Regional journalism helps keep communities informed and holds decision-makers to account. 
“Budget 2025 will invest $6.4 million over four years in council, community and court reporting across New Zealand. The funding will be distributed through NZ on Air.
“Open Justice and Local Democracy Reporting have been successful programmes with an emphasis on reporting, rather than opinion. This funding expands them. 
“It will get funding into regional newsrooms so that more local frontline journalists can report on the things that matter to their audiences. 
“Budget 2025 also adjusts Radio New Zealand’s funding. 
“RNZ has had funding increases in recent years, most notably a boost of $26 million a year in 2023, on top of a previous increase of $7.3 million per year in 2020.
Budget 2025 reduces RNZ funding by approximately $18 million over four years, or $4.6 million a year, equivalent to approximately 7 per cent of its annual Crown operating Budget of $67 million. 
“This savings initiative recognises that government-funded media must deliver the same efficiency and value-for-money as the rest of the public sector. 
“I expect RNZ to improve audience reach, trust and transparency. I am confident the organisation can do so while operating in a period of tightened fiscal constraint.
“This comes as the Government considers how it can modernise media legislation through its Media Reform package. 
“New Zealand media, like media around the world, continue to face significant challenges. We need modern legislation, so the media sector is financially sustainable in the years to come. 
“I am considering submissions from the recent consultation on media reform. I will have more information on next steps for media modernisation in the coming months,” Minister Goldsmith says. 

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Budget 2025 will help up to 66,000 more SuperGold Cardholders with their rates payments, Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Seniors Minister Casey Costello announced today.

“It’s a really tough time for many Kiwis right now and this Government is working at pace to grow the economy so we can take some of the financial pressure off households and ease the cost of living,” Mr Watts says.

“We are seeing good progress in our economy with inflation and interest rates coming down, but we want to do more to relieve the financial burden for households, including for older New Zealanders.

“That’s why we’re making changes to the rates rebate scheme for SuperGold cardholders.”

The Government will introduce a new income abatement threshold to assist SuperGold Cardholders from July 1. The income abatement threshold to be eligible for the maximum rebate for SuperGold Cardholders and their households will be lifted from $31,510 to $45,000 – about the rate for a couple receiving superannuation. The maximum rebate for the scheme will also increase from $790 to $805.

“This is the first time we are introducing a separate income abatement threshold to the Rates Rebate Scheme, Seniors Minister Casey Costello says.

“It will mean that every SuperGold Cardholder earning only NZ Superannuation, with rates higher than $2000, will be eligible for the full rebate. SuperGold Cardholders earning more than $45,000 may also be entitled to a smaller rebate.”

“These changes, worth $154 million over four years, will come as a relief to those seniors who are on fixed incomes and are dealing with rates increases.”

The National Party and New Zealand First coalition agreement had a commitment to explore options to build on the Local Government Rates Rebate Scheme for SuperGold cardholders and to maximise the benefits of the SuperGold Card.

“The Rates Rebate Scheme is administered by local councils and provides financial relief for low-income New Zealanders owning their own home,” Mr Watts says.

Ratepayers can apply for the new maximum rebate under the new abatement thresholds after 1 July 2025.  Application forms will be available from councils and will also be able to be downloaded from the New Zealand Government website (www.govt.nz) and then submitted to local councils after 1 July 2025.

“If over-65s have questions about eligibility they can contact their council or retirement village operator,” Ms Costello says.

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

“Budget 2025 improves KiwiSaver to encourage Kiwis to save more for their first home and retirement, while making the scheme more fiscally sustainable, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.
“To lift savings and provide greater security for Kiwis, we’re raising the default rate of employee and matching employer KiwiSaver contributions from 3 to 4 per cent of salary and wages, phased in over three years. People will have the choice of remaining on the 3 per cent rate if they choose.
“To encourage first-time employees to adopt the savings habit, we’re extending the government contribution, and employer matching, to 16 and 17-year-olds in the workforce.
“We’re also making some changes to the government contribution to ensure the scheme’s costs to the taxpayer remain sustainable.
“The annual government contribution will be halved to 25 cents for each dollar a member contributes each year, up to a maximum of $260.72. Members with an income of more than $180,000 will no longer receive the government contribution.
“Putting these changes together, the KiwiSaver balances of employees contributing at the new 4 per cent default rate will grow faster than they do at the current 3 per cent default rate, providing a larger balance at age 65 and a larger deposit when people use KiwiSaver to buy their first home.
“The new 4 per cent default rate will be introduced in two steps. From 1 April 2026 it will go to 3.5 per cent and, from 1 April 2028 it will go to 4 per cent. Phasing in the increases will help workers and employers plan ahead.
“The Government recognises there will be times when some people do not feel able to contribute a higher proportion of their wages and salaries to KiwiSaver. Therefore, employees will be able to opt to contribute at a lower 3 per cent rate and have that that lower rate matched by their employer. Their contributions will be reset to the default rate after 12 months, but they can opt down again if they wish. Employees may wish to opt down if, for example, they feel they are unable at that time to afford a higher contribution.
Changes to the government contribution will take effect from 1 July 2025. The changes will not affect the government contribution for the current year, which will be paid out in July and August this year.
“An increase in KiwiSaver balances will grow the pool of funds available for investment in New Zealand.
“The Reserve Bank estimates that about 40 per cent of KiwiSaver funds under management are invested in New Zealand assets. The Government is working to reduce barriers that may stand in the way of KiwiSaver funds investing in a wider range of New Zealand businesses, assets and infrastructure.
“Most New Zealanders have already embraced KiwiSaver as a simple way of accumulating savings to supplement their income in retirement. The Budget’s KiwiSaver package is designed to encourage them to save more so they can look forward to greater levels of financial security.”
As at 31 March 2024, KiwiSaver membership had reached 3,334,654 with a total of $111.8 billion in funds under management and an average balance of $33,514 per member.