Category: MIL-OSI

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Train commuters and businesses moving goods around the country will see more reliable rail services, thanks to the Government’s investment of $604.6 million for rail upgrades and renewals through Budget 2025, Rail Minister Winston Peters and Transport Minister Chris Bishop say. 

“The funding provides $461 million to maintain and renew the rail freight network, and $143.6 million to replace and upgrade the Auckland and Wellington metropolitan rail networks, and will deliver a more productive, efficient and reliable rail network that supports economic growth and productivity,” Mr Peters says.

“We want railways to succeed for this country – rail freight backs our business, and business backs our cities and provinces.

“Rail currently moves 13 per cent of national freight and a quarter of New Zealand’s exports, complementing our road freighters’ short-hauls by doing the heavy-haul weights, the long-distance runs, and being the efficient clearing house so coastal ports can handle more export ships.

“The Rail Network Investment Programme for 2024-2027 is now funded, meaning maintenance, network operations, asset renewals and modest improvements are funded.

“This programme replaces decades’ old bridges, culverts, and other assets with infrastructure to last for generations to come, and provides the bedrock for growth by the commercially-funded freight operations to move our goods.

“We have a legacy for rail freight and this builds on it. The Northland line is upgraded from Swanson to Whangārei, new locomotives and shunts are arriving, new wagons are serving customers and more are being assembled in Dunedin, and rail ferries are being secured on the Strait,” says Mr Peters.

The Government is also funding critical network renewals in Auckland and Wellington.

“Metro rail investment in Auckland and Wellington will improve the level of service for passengers by addressing overdue and critical renewals work,” Mr Bishop says.

“A backlog of overdue renewals has made services less reliable, with commuters experiencing ongoing disruption in recent years. Piecemeal network maintenance has increased overall costs and has not delivered the high-performing metro rail service that our cities need to flourish.

“The poor state of our metro networks has flow-on impacts for performance. For example, temporary speed restrictions are often needed as a safety precaution, leading to increased travel times and disrupting service schedules. 

“The Budget investment in metro rail will continue to support delivery of modern networks that are more reliable, can be efficiently maintained, ease congestion on the busiest parts of the network, and allow for increased future demand. It will also ensure a better experience for commuters who already make 24 million journeys on the networks each year. 

“Auckland Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council will also need to meet their fair share of costs to deliver the services we want for metro rail.”

Editor’s notes for the metro networks and the Wairarapa:

Recent rail investments include funding through previous Budgets and the National Land Transport Fund of:

• $159.2 million funding to complete the Rail Network Rebuild programme in Auckland, and to address historic formation, drainage and track issues. This investment is critical to prepare the network for the opening of City Rail Link
• $107.7 million in Budget 2024 funding for metro rail networks was split between Auckland and Wellington to address the renewals backlog and deliver more reliable services for commuters in our main cities:
  • $48.8 million for Auckland
  • $52.9 million for Wellington
  • $6 million of contingency funding to manage cost escalations on maintenance and renewal works.
• $137.2 million for upgrades to substations on the Wellington metro rail network, to improve the reliability of services
• $802.8 million investment into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail network infrastructure and rolling stock to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island. 

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Defence Minister Judith Collins has announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence to Industry, highlighting the significant contribution they make to New Zealand’s security, economy and workforce.
“Congratulations to this year’s winners, whose work strengthens New Zealand’s defence capabilities and demonstrates the highest standards, skills, innovation and impact on local communities,” Ms Collins says.
“The winners include a New Zealand and Tongan-based construction company, which built the Pacific Leadership Development Programme classrooms and fale in Tonga, and an augmented and virtual reality developer who built simulated training courses with the Royal New Zealand Navy.
“Defence looks forward to enhancing its partnership with industry to supply military assets, equipment and infrastructure following the release of the 2025 Defence Capability Plan, which outlines $12 billion of planned commitments over the next four years.”
Associate Defence Minister Chris Penk says this year’s recipients demonstrate industry is a trusted partner to Defence.
“About 800 companies supply critical products and services to New Zealand’s Defence industrial base, bolstering its resilience,” Mr Penk says.
“Defence is a major contributor to the economy, spending hundreds of millions of dollars locally on engineering and commercial services, maintenance, repair and training support.”
Notes to editor:
More information about the award recipients can be found on the Ministry of Defence website: www.defence.govt.nz/business-and-industry/industry-awards/2024-awards-of-excellence-for-industry 
Imagery of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence to Industry event at Parliament will be available at 10am on 20 May: www.nzdf.mil.nz/nzdfmedia 
Ministry of Defence Youtube channel here: https://youtube.com/@NewZealandMinistryofDefence
2024 Category Winners:
Category A – Prime Contractor of the Year – Hawkins  
Category B – Sub-contractor/Small to Medium Enterprise of the Year Product – (two winners) Build N Concrete and Seipp Construction
Category C – Sub-contractor/ Small to Medium Enterprise of the Year Service – The Sysdoc Group
2024 Special Award Winners:
Tū Kaha (Courage) – Dr Laura Robichaux (Beca)
Tū Tika (Commitment) – (two winners) Krystal Paraone (StaplesVR) and Rodney Bosch (PAE) 
Tū Tira (Comradeship) – Paul Grant (Kuehne + Nagel Limited)
Tū Māia (Integrity) – Damian Little (Hawkins) 
Kotahitanga (Unity) – Annette Smith (The Sysdoc Group)
 
The Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry are administered by the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council on behalf of the Minister of Defence.

Source: Hon Matthew Robson

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Business price indexes: March 2025 quarter – 19 May 2025 – Business price indexes (BPI) includes the producers price index (PPI), capital goods price index (CGPI), and farm expenses price index (FEPI).

Key facts
In the March 2025 quarter compared with the December 2024 quarter:

• the output producers price index (PPI) rose 2.1 percent
• the input PPI rose 2.9 percent
• the farm expenses price index (FEPI) rose 0.4 percent
• the capital goods price index (CGPI) rose 0.5 percent.

Files:

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will visit Australia, Sri Lanka, Nepal and India from later this week.

Mr Peters is travelling first to Adelaide to undertake six-monthly Australia-New Zealand Foreign Ministers’ Consultations with his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong.

“New Zealand’s partnership with Australia is our closest and most important,” Mr Peters says. 

“We consider it vital to get across the Tasman as soon as possible after Australia’s general election to make plans for the period ahead. Our cooperation with Australia has never been more important as we navigate an ever more challenging, uncertain and disordered regional and global landscape.”

Mr Peters then travels to South Asia, with programmes in Sri Lanka, Nepal and India.

“We are committed to bringing greater focus and energy to New Zealand’s relationships with South Asia. 

“New Zealand must work alongside partners to contribute to a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.

In Colombo, Mr Peters will undertake the first visit by a New Zealand Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka since 2013, meeting President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

“New Zealand and Sri Lanka have invested considerably in boosting our bilateral relationship over the past five years, including by opening High Commissions in Colombo and Wellington. This visit will provide political momentum and leadership to that process.”  

In Kathmandu, Mr Peters will undertake the first ever visit to Nepal by a New Zealand Foreign Minister, meeting President Ramchandra Paudel, Prime Minister KP Sharma and Foreign Minister Rana Deuba.

“This visit will reflect on the special relationship between New Zealand and Nepal, coinciding with the anniversary of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary’s ascent of Mount Everest. It also reciprocates a visit to Wellington by Nepal’s Foreign Minister last year.”

Mr Peters will then travel to New Delhi to meet External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

“Over the past 18 months, New Zealand and India have worked hard to build a stronger, broader-based relationship for mutual benefit. This visit will take stock of our progress.”

Mr Peters departs New Zealand on 23 May and returns on 31 May.

Source: Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment MBIE (2)

The visits will identify any breaches of the Act and prompt action by landlords who are found to be not complying with their legal obligations.

Acting TCIT National Manager, Clare Lyons-Montgomery, says landlords must provide rental homes that are warm, safe and dry.

“Young people are a priority population for our team, as they can be vulnerable and unaware of their rights because they are new to renting.

“Landlords have obligations and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act and must provide a rental home that complies with all building, health and safety requirements in additional to tenancy law,” Clare Lyons-Montgomery said.

Landlords have responsibilities throughout the life of each rental, including at the commencement. This includes attending to maintenance and repairs in a timely manner.

All rental properties must also comply with the healthy homes standards by 1 July 2025. Landlords are responsible for ensuring their properties meet the healthy homes standards and continue to do so over time. All new tenancies from 1 July must comply with the standards immediately.

“This visit is an opportunity to change the perception that living in a run-down student flat is a ‘rite of passage’ and just part of university life. We want to make it clear to landlords what their responsibilities are and what the consequences of non-compliance are,” Clare Lyons-Montgomery said.

“MBIE regularly engages with student associations, including those at the University of Otago. This visit is another opportunity to encourage them to speak with their landlords about issues in their rental homes and then if they cannot resolve issues between themselves they can speak with us.”

Otago University Students Association (OUSA) President Liam White say many Otago students are forced to live in cold, old, and mouldy flats and their landlords must be held to account.

“We’re proud to support MBIE’s flat inspections and hope to send a clear message: if you rent a flat, you must meet legal standards or face the consequences,” Liam White said.

“Students often tell us they hesitate to raise issues with landlords or property managers out of fear — fear of jeopardising future references or creating more problems for themselves. Even when they do speak up, many face radio silence or endless delays.

“Otago students deserve better. Warm, healthy homes aren’t optional — they’re the legal minimum. We back every move to ensure these standards are enforced, and through OUSA Student Support, we continue to empower students with advice, advocacy, and education across the academic year,” Liam White said.

If a tenant thinks the property they are renting is not up to standard they should speak to their landlord. If they are still not satisfied they should put their concerns in writing to the landlord giving them a reasonable time to fix any problems, or issue a 14-day notice to their landlord.

If the landlord still doesn’t fix the issue or satisfy the tenants’ concerns they can make a complaint on the Tenancy Services website or apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to make a decision on the dispute.

MBIE’s Tenancy Services website provides information and tools to assist tenants and landlords understand their rights and responsibilities at every stage of their tenancy.

Tenancy Services(external link)

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Regulatory Standards Bill will be read in the House. 

“New Zealand’s low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation. To raise productivity, we must allow people to spend more time on productive activities and less time on compliance,” says Mr Seymour.  

“To lift productivity and wages, the ACT-National Coalition Agreement includes a commitment to pass a Regulatory Standards Act. Today is another significant step towards that as Cabinet has given approval to introduce the Bill to the house, with the target being enactment by the start of next year. 

The Regulatory Standards Bill:

• provides a benchmark for good legislation through a set of principles of responsible regulation
• enables transparent assessment of the consistency of proposed and existing legislation with the principles
• establishes a Regulatory Standards Board to independently consider the consistency of proposed and existing legislation, and
• strengthens regulatory quality by supporting the Ministry for Regulation in its regulatory oversight role.

“In a nutshell: If red tape is holding us back, because politicians find regulating politically rewarding, then we need to make regulating less rewarding for politicians with more sunlight on their activities. That is how the Regulatory Standards Bill will help New Zealand get its mojo back. It will finally ensure regulatory decisions are based on principles of good law-making and economic efficiency,” Mr Seymour says. 

“Ultimately, this Bill will help the Government achieve its goal of improving New Zealand’s productivity by ensuring that regulated parties are regulated by a system which is transparent, has a mechanism for recourse, and holds regulators accountable to the people.

“The law doesn’t stop politicians or their officials making bad laws, but it makes it transparent that they’re doing it. It makes it easier for voters to identify those responsible for making bad rules. Over time, it will improve the quality of rules we all have to live under by changing how politicians behave.

“In a high-cost economy, regulation isn’t neutral – it’s a tax on growth. This Government is committed to clearing the path of needless regulations by improving how laws are made.”

Notes to editors: The Regulatory Standards Bill can be found here: Regulatory Standards Bill 155-1 (2025), Government Bill Contents – New Zealand Legislation

Particular acknowledgements go to Dr Bryce Wilkinson, whose book “Constraining Government Regulation” laid important groundwork for this Bill. Special thanks also go to Dr Graham Scott, Jack Hodder KC, and other members of the Regulatory Responsibility Taskforce, who refined the Bill in 2009

Source: New Zealand Police

An additional charge has been laid over a man’s death following an alleged assault at a Papatoetoe bus stop last month.

On 27 April, 61-year-old Peter Te Kira was located with injuries at a bus stop on Great South Road.

He remained in intensive care at Auckland City Hospital before succumbing to his injuries on 30 April.

A 34-year-old man appeared in the Manukau District Court on 1 May, charged with assault.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Hayward, of Counties Manukau CIB, says a homicide investigation has continued into Mr Te Kira’s death.

“Police have now charged this man with manslaughter,” he says.

“He will be reappearing in the Manukau District Court on 22 May to face this charge.”

Police are unable to comment further while matters remain before the Court.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: UNICEF

Monday 19 May 2025. It’s now been over two months since any humanitarian aid has been allowed into the Gaza Strip — the longest stretch without relief since the conflict escalation began on 7 October 2023. Combined with more than 18 months of conflict, the ongoing blockade is pushing Gaza’s children to the brink.