Category: MIL-OSI

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Tēna koutou kātoa. Greetings everyone. Can I thank you Malcolm for that kind introduction and thank everyone who has taken the time to be here today. My special thanks go to our hosts Metco Engineering and the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Let me also acknowledge my colleagues who join us today – your local MP and my Associate Minister of Finance the Hon Chris Bishop, together with the Minister of Education the Hon Erica Stanford.

This factory is a bit of a different setting than the conference centre or ballroom Ministers typically use for a pre-Budget speech. Why?

Because places like this are the engine room of the New Zealand economy.

Our Government knows that to speed up the economic recovery New Zealanders need we have to get this growth engine cranking.

I appreciate that economic growth can be a bit of an abstract concept: the work that happens on this factory floor is what it’s all about.

The workers at Metco solve problems, coming up with new products and manufacturing processes for a range of industries. They design and create clever components for customers around the world – producing everything from window stays through to bus stops.

Metco has grown successfully by making investments in its own machinery and technology and by hiring and up-skilling great people who come up with innovative ideas and then make them happen.

The growth of businesses like MetCo, and indeed of all the businesses represented in this room today, has created good jobs and livelihoods for the people of the Hutt Valley community.

It’s also allowed your businesses to make healthy tax contributions, which helps fund the Government’s investment in health services, schools, vital infrastructure and other important public spending.

Thank you for that contribution, we don’t take it for granted.

New Zealand needs more success stories like MetCo: Your growth is what’s needed to deliver the kind of country we all want: with better living standards, better job opportunities and more financially secure families.

That’s why our Government is going for growth.

Earlier this year we released a snapshot of the work we have underway to support this growth agenda. Going for Growth sets out 87 specific actions we are taking under five key themes:

• Developing talent
• Competitive business settings
• Innovation, technology and science
• Overseas investment and trade
• Infrastructure for growth

I encourage you to check out the plan and the work underway. There’s more to come.

For today though, I’m going to switch out of my Economic Growth hat and into my Minister of Finance hat and focus my remarks on this year’s Budget.

The Context for Budget 2025

The Government’s growth ambition has been front and centre as we’ve put the Budget together.

We know that global uncertainty is challenging for many of you and we’re determined our Budget will play a role in giving you confidence for the future.

But let me be blunt: it’s not the easiest time to be putting together a Budget.

New Zealand is still recovering from the economic damage inflicted during the Covid period and we’re now facing the headwinds of further global instability.

There is a pressing need for greater investments in our health system, our education system, our defence force and other areas, and very little money to pay for those investments.

Our Government is also acutely conscious of the challenging economic circumstances many New Zealanders have experienced in the past few years as we’ve emerged from a period of very high inflation and rapidly rising interest rates.

The pain is still rippling through our communities. Kiwis feel it in the higher prices they still pay for almost everything, in higher levels of unemployment and in struggling local businesses. The cost of living remains a top-of-mind concern.

The good news is that, despite significant global challenges, a steady economic recovery is now taking place here, with export-led growth gathering strength, business confidence coming off its lows and the primary sector benefiting from higher commodity prices and mostly favourable growing conditions.

Having considered everything happening around the world, the Treasury is continuing to forecast accelerating growth in the New Zealand economy over the coming year, with falling unemployment forecast to follow in the second half of the year.

There’s no magic wand to wish away the price rises baked in over recent years, but getting inflation and interest rates under control has been essential to achieving this economic recovery.

That’s why I always take pause to celebrate that since our Government came to office inflation has returned to normal levels, resulting in a 200 basis point reduction in interest rates.

We must not take this progress for granted.

While some pretend we can fix all the post-Covid damage with yet more extravagant government spending, the economic truth is that they are wrong.

The only way to sustainably overcome cost of living pressures is through successive years of stable inflation, careful investment and sustained economic growth.

Our Government is committed to the responsible fiscal management and growth supporting policies needed to make that happen.

Debt, deficit and the path out

An important part of that effort is getting our own books in order. That’s a big task.

The previous Government’s spending decisions during and after Covid have left New Zealand with a sea of debt and red-ink in the government finances.

Government debt leapt up by almost $120 billion between 2019 and 2024, soaring from under $58 billion to $175 billion.

Those are big numbers, almost too big to comprehend, so let me explain it this way: That amounts to $22,000 more in debt for every New Zealander.

You may well ask: what do we have to show for all that debt?

To give you some further historical context, New Zealand’s net core Crown debt, which once hovered between five and 25 per cent of GDP, rose to around 42 per cent last year. That’s the highest level of government debt New Zealand has shouldered since the mid-1990s.

Servicing that debt is expensive.

The interest bill on government debt has soared from $3.6 billion in 2014 to $8.9 billion last year. That sum is more than annual core Crown expenses for the Police, Corrections, the Ministry of Justice, Customs and the Defence Force combined.

Our Government’s goal is to put net core Crown debt on a downward trajectory towards 40 per cent of GDP and in the longer term keep it below that percentage.

Why? Because allowing debt to keep spiralling would threaten the livelihood of every New Zealander.

We must ensure our country is financially strong and resilient enough to effectively respond to whatever the future may throw: be it earthquakes, extreme climatic events, biosecurity incursions or whatever. We need the world to keep seeing us as a good country to invest in and lend to. Manageable debt levels are an essential foundation for a strong economy and for your financial future.

Achieving lower debt levels isn’t easy: especially because the government books remain out of balance.

The post-Covid ‘structural deficit’ has left a big gap between what the country needs to fund to deliver on the spending commitments previous Budgets have made and what we need to earn to pay for that spending.

The Government is currently borrowing billions to bridge the gap.

Every Thursday afternoon, New Zealand Debt Management issues around $500 million of Government bonds. Some of this is to that roll over existing bonds that have expired, but large chunks of it are for new borrowing.

That level of borrowing obviously can’t go on forever, or else our kids and grandkids will be left with unsustainable debt and considerable economic uncertainty.

Most of you can probably relate to this if you think about your own household budget: sure, sensible borrowing has its place, but no overdraft can be extended forever, and while you can keep giving the credit card a hammering, left unpaid, it does, eventually, get declined.

It’s worth bearing this in mind next time somebody tries to suggest to you that the New Zealand Government needs to spend more on something.

The second question always needs to be: but how will we pay for it?

Our Government’s strategy is to reduce the deficit over time, through a gradual programme of consolidation and careful spending choices.

We are committed to maintaining stability for New Zealanders, by continuing to invest in essential frontline services, infrastructure for growth and social supports like superannuation.

But delivering those things requires us to make careful choices about what we spend elsewhere.

That’s why we’ve committed ourselves to ongoing reprioritisation and fiscal restraint. It isn’t easy, but it is essential.

Believe me, I’d rather we were in clover, with money to spend on all the good ideas we hear. But the reality is that we are governing in tighter times.

Economic growth is essential to our fiscal repair job. It’s simply the most effective way to raise government revenue, and to give us better choices for the future.

Some have suggested a different approach. They say New Zealand should seek to close the deficit by simply adding more and higher rates of taxes to Kiwis’ wages, savings, wealth or capital.

We reject that approach.

Punishing Kiwis with higher taxes right now would undermine our recovery, strangle growth and threaten the economic stability New Zealand needs.

It would pull the rug out from all those businesses and industries who are already just hanging on. And it would send an exodus of Kiwi talent and wealth to Australia and beyond.

It would be exactly the wrong recipe for a country whose future prospects depend on investment and growth.

Changes in the economic and fiscal outlook since HYEFU

The Treasury’s last set of economic forecasts was presented at the Half Year Update in December.

As you know, the global economic outlook has worsened considerably since that update.

Tarriff announcements by the US government, countervailing tariffs being imposed by China and an uncertain path for future tariffs and exemptions have created volatile global economic conditions with forecasters around the world agreeing that global growth will be lower this year and next year than they were previously predicting.

New Zealand can’t escape the fallout.

Accordingly, Treasury has adjusted the forecasts it presented in December, reducing their assumptions of real GDP growth in New Zealand in 2025 and 2026.

New Zealand’s economy will still be growing, but not as fast as forecast a few months ago.

That lower growth trajectory has an inevitable impact on the government books, reducing revenue and threatening our already difficult return to surplus and debt reduction.

At the same time, it’s clear that the country’s need for investment has not lessened: whether it be in the infrastructure we need for a more productive future, the funding needed to meet pressures in our health service and education system; or the need to rebuild our defence capability to meet the challenges of a less stable world.

On top of all of that, it’s also the case that New Zealand’s long-term productivity and savings challenges haven’t gone away.

So there’s a huge amount to juggle in this year’s Budget.

How has the Government managed these challenges?

We started with that question that I suggested to you earlier: How do we pay for the things we need now without putting our future economic stability at risk?

Our approach has been threefold.

First, there has been a very high bar for new initiatives in the Budget. I can confirm today that there will be no lolly scramble in Budget 2025. New spending initiatives are strictly limited to the most important priorities: our focus has been on health, education, law and order, defence, and a small number of critical social investments. We have also found room for modest measures to support business growth and to provide some carefully targeted cost of living relief.

Second, beyond a small number of exceptions, government departments are not receiving additional funding in the Budget. We expect government agencies to adjust themselves to New Zealand’s limited fiscal means. This will require restraint in public sector wage increases and an ongoing commitment to getting more impact out of every dollar spent.

Third, we have undertaken a significant savings drive.

That effort has involved Ministers identifying areas of previously committed spending that can no longer be justified in light of the challenging circumstances New Zealand now faces.

We’ve analysed spending decisions made by previous governments and re-evaluated them in the context of today’s constraints. This has involved a line-by-line review of previous funding commitments, including money put aside in contingency.

This reprioritisation exercise has required careful consideration and some tough, but necessary, choices.

At every step, we’ve asked ourselves two questions:

1. Can these dollars be justified when we are borrowing to pay for them?
2. Can we be sure these dollars will do more good in this area than if invested in our most pressing priorities – like funding essential health services, better educating our kids, defending New Zealand’s security or ensuring our future growth?

Taken together, the Government’s savings drive has freed-up billions of dollars. Those savings will now be re-deployed to fund New Zealand’s most pressing priorities.

Sticking to the fiscal strategy

In this year’s Budget we’ve also had to carefully consider whether, in light of major global economic events, our fiscal strategy still remains achievable.

The strategy is focused on two key goals: putting net debt on a downward trajectory and returning the books to an OBEGALx surplus by 2028.

This strategy matters, it matters for getting the books back in order and that’s about more than a set of numbers. It’s about keeping interest rates lower and providing a solid platform for future growth. It’s about ensuring New Zealand continues to be seen as a stable, reliable place to invest in and lend to. It’s about making sure we don’t leave our kids and grandkids with debts they just can’t repay.

At our last update in December – well before President Trump’s “Liberation Day” – we were expecting a small surplus in 2029, and it remained our intention to returning it a year earlier if possible.

I can confirm that our Government remains committed to those goals.

Sticking to them has required some careful adjustments in this year’s Budget.

The key change we have made is to the size of this year’s “operating allowance” – that is the amount of money put aside for new spending.

At the Half Year Update, the Treasury forecast that the “allowance” in Budget 2025 would be $2.4 billion.

That was always a small envelope. However, as I outlined earlier, our approach has been to supplement our new spending by reprioritising funds from elsewhere.

I am confirming today that the Government has reduced the size of our Budget 2025 operating allowance to $1.3 billion.

This means we will be spending billions less over the forecast period than would have otherwise been the case. This will reduce the amount of extra borrowing our country needs to do over the next few years and it will keep us on track towards balanced books and debt reduction.

The fiscal forecasts will not be finalised until later this week, but according to the latest numbers I have seen, this smaller operating allowance means we will continue to forecast a surplus in 2029.

The reality of global economic events is that if we’d pushed on with a larger operating allowance then we would be staring down the barrel of even bigger deficits and debt.

Let me emphasise once again: our Budget will still deliver increased investment in the things that really matter to Kiwis: like health, education, law and order, the defence force, business growth and targeted cost of living relief. Those things are important to you and they’re important to our Government.

Our careful reprioritisation approach means we can continue to make progress on today’s priorities while ensuring we are better positioned to face the challenges tomorrow will bring.

Yes, those challenges loom large.

But let’s get real: global instability may not be a passing trend. New Zealand can’t expect to keep borrowing as much as we are now. The world doesn’t owe us any favours.

This is not the time to kick the can down the road.

We must act now to secure our financial future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Budget 2025 takes place against a difficult global backdrop.

We can’t wish that away. What we can do is focus on the things in our control.

Our Government is doing just that, by providing a predictable, steady approach to economic and fiscal management.

In an unstable world we are staying the course with responsible policies that provide stability, support investment and make New Zealand an attractive place for the world to trade and do business with.

These sensible policy approaches are the base from which we will deliver better choices and investments in the years ahead.

With those basics in place, there is much for Kiwi businesses to feel optimistic about.

New Zealand has enormous economic growth potential.

We are a safe, secure country with a growing constellation of free trade agreements and a global reputation as a good place to do business.

We are blessed with abundant natural resources – everything from ocean to freshwater, fertile land and temperate weather to abundant minerals.

In a world worried about food security, we feed more than 40 million people with levels of efficiency and sustainability that are the envy of many.

We have a long history of stable democracy, strong institutions and rule of law.

We’ve delivered scientific breakthroughs and global success stories and we will continue to do so. As I stand here today, we are world leaders in sending rocket to space – rockets that include components made right here in this factory.

Fundamentally, I’m optimistic about New Zealand’s economic future because I have faith in you: the New Zealanders who get out of bed each morning and go and make things happen.

I’m optimistic because I see how hard Kiwis work. I see how much effort Kiwi parents go to for their kids. I see how much employers and workers care about their communities. We are a smart, innovative, resilient people.

The next decade can be our decade. That requires good and steady government and careful spending choices. This year’s Budget will not be a lolly scramble. What this Budget will be is a responsible Budget that secures New Zealand’s future.

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

The Government has agreed on a new scheme allowing trusted builders to sign off their own work and will set a mandatory target to tackle building inspection wait times, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced.

“Making it easier and more affordable to build opens the door to homeownership for more Kiwis, gives families choice about where they live, and supports growth and job creation in the construction sector,” Mr Penk says.

“We can’t achieve this vision while the building consent system remains slow and overloaded. Even simple, single-storey homes must go through around 12 inspections before they’re finished, with costly delays when demand is high.

“At a time when many Kiwis are locked out of the housing market, that’s simply not good enough.

“The Government is committed to making the building system more efficient and Cabinet has now agreed to an opt-in self-certification scheme, which will allow approved building firms, plumbers, and drainlayers to sign off their own work.

“Reputable building companies delivering large numbers of near-identical houses each year will be able to proceed without the need for Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) to approve a building consent and carry out inspections.

“Giving qualified plumbers and drainlayers the ability to self-certify their work puts them on equal footing with electricians and gasfitters, who’ve had that flexibility for years. It’s a common-sense change backed by Master Plumbers and delivers on a National Party campaign promise.

“Kiwis should have confidence that their homes are built to a high standard. That’s why only proven professionals who meet strict criteria will be eligible for the scheme – and only for simple residential dwellings.

“Initially these changes are expected to see around 3,000 homes built each year without delays from approvals or inspections. BCAs will be freed up to focus on high-risk, complex builds instead of being bogged down by simple homes.

“In addition, the Government will require BCAs complete 80 percent of building inspections within three working days.

“Master Builders have welcomed this announcement as a meaningful step toward reducing inspection delays. We regularly hear from builders frustrated by the disruption to project timelines and the uncertainty it creates for homeowners.

“Wait times sometimes stretch up to a week – having a knock-on effect which can add about $400 for every day a project is held up.

“Updated guidance will be issued to BCAs, outlining practical strategies to boost efficiency, reduce bottlenecks, and help authorities better prioritise their workloads.”

“BCAs success in meeting the target will be shown in quarterly performance data – giving the public greater transparency and encouraging improved performance.

“By backing skilled professionals and focusing council resources, we can cut building costs without sacrificing quality – delivering more affordable homes for Kiwi families.”

Inspection targets will come into force later this year and legislation to enable the self-certification scheme will be introduced by the end of 2025.

Notes to editors:

• The self-certification scheme will be a voluntary, opt-in measure enabled by changes to the Building Act 2004 and the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006.
• There will be two self-certification pathways available under the scheme:
  • An opt-in self-certification scheme for house builders carrying out work on an entire simple residential dwelling (including design and construction).
  • An opt-in self-certification scheme for plumbers and drainlayers carrying out work on a simple residential dwelling.
• The definition of an eligible simple residential dwelling will be set down in regulation, following industry consultation.
• BCAs will still be required to provide a nominal consent for entire simple homes where trusted building professionals are self-certifying their work.

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Partnership with industry has been key to the successful eradication of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at a large commercial egg farm in Otago, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has now lifted the strict biosecurity controls that have been in place at Mainland’s Hillgrove property since the HPAI H7N6 strain was confirmed there in December last year – allowing the farm to begin repopulating.

“Rapid action on behalf of the farmer and MPI to stand up a response and restrict movements paid off. Tracing did not detect any HPAI-infected chickens beyond the farm where the disease originated.

“That has meant, with the focus of the response, along with support and expertise of the wider poultry industry, we have been able to quickly contain and stamp out this disease,” says Mr Hoggard.

“It has been important work, because New Zealand’s robust biosecurity system and the relative freedom from pests and disease that it protects play a massive part in our farmers’ competitive advantage.”

Andrew Hoggard says all the work that has been going in to prepare for the possible arrival of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza that has led to millions of bird deaths overseas, put New Zealand in a good position to deal with the less virulent H7N6 strain found on the farm.

“This was the first detection of HPAI in New Zealand and it tested some of the plans that are being developed for the arrival of HPAI H5N1. It certainly provides a timely reminder that all New Zealanders have a role to play in being prepared and that is through strong biosecurity as an essential first line of defence.

“Our geographic isolation has protected us from H5N1 to date, but we can’t afford to be complacent.”

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

New Zealand and the Philippines will this week sign an agreement to enable the two countries’ militaries to work more closely, Defence Minister Judith Collins says.

Ms Collins will travel to the Philippines today to sign the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, which highlights the importance New Zealand places on working closely with our partners, she says.

“It formally sets the legal framework for engagement between our respective militaries, better facilitating ongoing cooperation, activities and exercises in each of our territories.

“The agreement follows a commitment made by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr during Mr Luxon’s visit to Manila last year.”

It will now undergo a final ratification process in the Philippine Senate. 

While in the Philippines, Ms Collins will meet with the President and hold a bilateral meeting with counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, the Secretary of National Defense.

“We are committed to reinvigorating our security relationships, to playing our part, and working with regional partners such as the Philippines to uphold the international rules-based order,” Ms Collins says.

Ms Collins returns to New Zealand on 2 May.

Notes to editors:

• The Status of Visiting Forces Agreement is a treaty-level document that sets out the legal conditions for military cooperation between our countries, including the responsibilities and obligations on both sides.
• This agreement with the Philippines builds on two previous agreements that provide for practical defence cooperation, the Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement (2024) and the Defence Cooperation Arrangement (2012).
• New Zealand has a number of similar agreements, the most recent being one signed with Fiji in 2023.

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

The Government is backing New Zealand’s teaching workforce by funding teacher registrations and practising certificates, acknowledging the vital role educators play in driving positive change in classrooms.

“We know the most important aspect of a child’s education is the quality of the teacher in front of them. Teachers have stepped up to implement our ambitious reform programme that’s delivering real change in the classroom. They are teaching a new world-leading curriculum as well as embracing structured approaches to literacy and maths to ensure better outcomes for our children. They are supporting students to gain vital secondary qualifications that will prepare them for the future. This initiative is a direct recognition of the ongoing hard work, dedication, and professionalism of teachers across the country,” Education Minister Erica Stanford says.

The Government has committed funding of $53 million in Budget 2025 to cover fees through to 2028, including any increases the Teaching Council may implement through their current fee review.  

From July 1, teachers will save up to $550 when applying for registration or renewing their practising certificate. This initiative will benefit around 40,000 fulltime and part time school and early learning teachers in the first year of funding and approximately 115,000 across the three years. 

“As we work to raise standards and restore trust in the education system, it is important that we support the teaching workforce leading this reform. The Government has promised to remove this cost, and we have delivered”.

Since coming into office, the Government has introduced and maintained many initiatives to attract and retain teachers:

• Doubled the numbers of paid School Onsite Training Programme places to 1200, paying out $21,500 for each place, through Budget 2024
• Supporting 352 teachers to return to the classroom since October 2024 by covering the costs of their practising certificates or limited authority to teach fees (LAT)
• Ongoing marketing campaigns, in NZ and overseas, that are focussed on attracting increasing numbers of teachers to teaching in NZ
• Added primary and secondary teachers to the straight to residence pathway on the Green List with 1400 teachers arriving from overseas in 2024
• Continued to fund relocation packages of up to $10,000 for qualified teachers who are overseas to move to New Zealand with 891 teachers supported in 2024.
• Continued to fund more than 400 scholarships to encourage in to, and support people through, teacher training.
• Supported 130 beginning or returning teachers through the BeTTER Jobs Programme in the 2024/2025.
• Funded ongoing targeted marketing campaigns that have seen approximately 2,000 newly graduated teachers join the workforce this year.

“This Government is determined to raise achievement and close the equity gap so all children get an equal chance to thrive. Enabling more teachers to do what they do best in the classroom is another step to achieving this,” Ms Stanford says.

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on local leaders to join the Government in driving up school attendance, citing it as a foundation for community and national success.

Seymour has written to all mayors across New Zealand urging them to use the Government’s new daily school attendance dashboard to raise awareness and spark local action.

“I’m calling on mayors to be champions for education in their regions. When students go to school, communities are stronger and better prepared for generations to come,” says Mr Seymour.

“The dashboard provides region-specific data. For instance, the Mayor of Southland is able to see their region recorded an 89% attendance rate on the last Monday of Term 1.

“This is a tool for action, local leaders can now see how their region is doing at a glance, and lead the change they want to see.

“Every day a child misses school is a day they miss out on opportunities to learn, to grow, and to succeed.

In the letter, Seymour encourages local councils to:

• Check out the dashboard and how your region compares with other parts of New Zealand. Encourage others in your community to engage with this dashboard.
• Lead a conversation with your community around how they can support schools to improve attendance. Even small steps like encouraging local businesses to be aware that school-aged children should be at school during school hours is helpful.
• Amplify the message that school is helping our young people achieve better outcomes.
• Let us know what’s working, or not working, in your community, to get young people in school.

In Term 4 of 2024, 58.1% of students attended school regularly, up from 53% in Term 4 of 2023 — a 5.1 percentage point rise. Every region saw an increase on the year prior.

“Attending school is the first step towards achieving positive educational outcomes. Positive educational outcomes lead to better health, higher incomes, better job stability and greater participation within communities. These are opportunities that every student deserves,” says Mr Seymour.

“I encourage students, parents, and educators to prioritise education. That is what this Government is doing, and it is what is required for New Zealand to have a better future.”

Attendance data can be found here Attendance | Education Counts 

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

There are few battlegrounds as ingrained in New Zealand’s history and identity as this place. The very name “Chunuk Bair”, like the name, “Gallipoli” resonates with New Zealanders at home, so very, very far away.

The thousands of our men who spilled blood on this soil mean a part of our country is forever part of this land, too.

At the time, this battle was the culmination of months of fighting for those men.

Many would not have ventured much beyond their hometown at the ‘uttermost ends of the earth’ before arriving here at the start of the Gallipoli campaign.

In the dawn light, they would have seen the ridges and gullies rise and drop along the coastline.

They would have seen this place – the highest point in view – and known it would be crucial to the campaign.

Some would have thought it looked a bit like home.

But for them and for all who joined this battle, it was closer to hell.

Some 16,000 New Zealanders came ashore over those months, 110 years ago.

They fought in unspeakable conditions from trenches that still scar this peninsula.

When Lieutenant Colonel William Malone led the Wellington Battalion to seize this summit before dawn on the 8^th of August 1915, days of horror followed.

Under a scorching sun, they clashed with waves of charging Ottoman Turks. William Malone was killed that afternoon.

The Wellington Battalion was joined by men from the Auckland Mounted Rifles, before being replaced by the Otago Battalion and the Wellington Mounted Rifles.

For two days, they clung to this summit before being overwhelmed early on the 10^th of August.

The losses on both sides were immense. 

An Australian war correspondent wrote, “of the 760 of the Wellington Infantry Battalion who had captured the height that morning, there came out only 70 unwounded or slightly wounded men.”

“Not one had dreamed of leaving his post.”

“They could only talk in whispers. Their eyes were sunken. Their knees trembled.”

The other battalions faced similar losses. Only 22 of the 288 Auckland Mounted Rifles remained.

They say that truth is the first casualty of war and the true horror of this battle was not reflected by the newspapers back home at the time.

Stories were headlined “our boys win new glory,” and “splendid progress made” in the days following Chunuk Bair.

A letter Colonel Malone wrote to a friend was published with the announcement of his death.

“I love these men of mine,” he said.

“Heroes all – as brave as brave can be.”

“Hardy, enduring, patient, cheerful, clever soldiers.”

“New Zealand has reason to be proud of her sons.”

And Turkiye has reason to be proud of its sons too.

They defended this hilltop and their country and gave their lives to do so. 

Too many sons of New Zealand, of Turkiye and of other countries breathed their last breath on this ground and in the battles that raged below it.

The circumstances in which our two nations’ bonds were forged are nightmarish, but we owe it to the fallen to learn from their sacrifice.

Politicians in New Zealand walk past a painting of Chunuk Bair as we enter our debating chamber.

Inside, a plaque bearing Gallipoli’s name hangs above us.

And a few hundred steps away from our Parliament sits a stone from this very memorial.

Reminders like these speak not just of the horrors of war that took place here, but of the need for enduring peace everywhere.

Many New Zealanders come to this place to honour our fallen.

We show by our presence that we have made good on our promise: One hundred and 10 years on, we do remember them. 

And the people of Turkiye remember their own sons and the great courage with which they defended their country.

Today – and on all days – we acknowledge their sacrifice.

Heroes all – as brave as brave can be

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

The Government is updating the way it co-invests in public electric vehicle (EV) chargers with the private sector to accelerate the delivery of EV chargers across New Zealand, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Energy Minister Simon Watts say.

“New Zealand needs more EV chargers. We have fewer public chargers per EV than many other countries in the OECD, and we know that this is a barrier to Kiwis purchasing EVs,” Mr Bishop says.

“People buying an EV need confidence that they can charge where and when they need to on a comprehensive public network.

“The number of EV charge points (as of 31 December 2024) is 1,378 – around one for every 84 EVs (battery electric and plug in hybrid). The Government is targeting 10,000 by 2030, so that there will be one public charge point to around 40 EVs. This will remove people’s ‘range anxiety’ and make owning an EV as easy as possible.

“The Government will therefore utilise the highly successful Ultra-Fast Broadband model to accelerate the roll-out of EV chargers. Under the status quo, the private sector are reluctant to invest in charging infrastructure until there’s sufficient demand, but demand for charging won’t grow until the purchase of EVs stops being hampered by a lack of public charging. This chicken-and-egg situation is hampering the roll-out and justifies government action.

“Since 2016, government investment in EV chargers has consisted of direct grants. This made sense when the market for public EV charging was being established. This model is now outdated, with EVs now making up over 2 per cent of the light vehicle fleet, and expected to make up around 11 per cent by 2030. A range of charge point operators have now also entered the market.

“The Government is moving to a more sophisticated, commercial procurement model. We have set aside up to $68.5 million in currently held grant funding, to provide concessionary loans to private operators to co-invest in public EV charging infrastructure. Loans will be quicker to implement and will help achieve the Government’s objectives with less complexity, cost and risk.

“Concessionary loans will bring forward private investment in public EV charging infrastructure by lowering the cost of capital. They will also provide better value for money by maximising private sector investment while keeping the taxpayers’ contribution to a minimum.

“Loans will be awarded through contestable co-investment rounds, and applications will be open to proposals to establish portfolios of public EV charging sites (i.e. multiple charging locations). This is the best way to support scaled-up development and to maximise competitive tension between providers.

“Giving effect to commitments made on the National-Act Coalition agreement, this competitive tension will help ensure public investment flows to proposals delivering the best value-for-money. A cost benefit analysis will also be applied at the point loan applications are assessed, with a successful applicant having demonstrated that the benefits to New Zealand of its project outweigh the costs.”

Mr Watts says that EVs make a huge amount of sense for New Zealand.

“With our bountiful renewable energy resources EVs are a winner for New Zealand. Kiwis charging their EVs are essentially filling their cars with predominantly water, wind, and geothermal energy – rather than fossil fuels – due to our high level of renewable energy.

“There are real benefits to owning an EV. Not only does it support our economic and climate goals, but it also delivers long-term benefits to users by helping keep running costs low. This Government is focused on growing the economy so Kiwis can get ahead.

“By giving people more options to reduce everyday expenses like transport, we’re helping households stay ahead and build a more sustainable future. By co-investing to accelerate public EV infrastructure ahead of demand, we will give more Kiwis the confidence to go electric.”

The new EV charging initiative will be administered by National Infrastructure Funding and Financing (NIFFCo), the successor organisation to Crown Infrastructure Partners (which delivered Ultra-Fast Broadband). EECA will provide assistance as required.

Editor’s notes

• Increasing the number of chargers to support rapid EV uptake will help to reduce New Zealand’s light road transport emissions. An EV used in New Zealand emits at least 60 percent fewer emissions over its full life cycle than do petrol vehicles.
• The concessionary loans will offer up to 50 percent of project costs, have a zero percent interest rate, and a maximum tenure of 13 years. The loans will be awarded through a contestable co-investment bid process.
• Applications will be assessed against value-for-money criteria to ensure loans are awarded to projects of greatest benefit and that New Zealand’s EV charging network grows at pace. A Request for Proposals (RFP) for interested parties is expected to be released shortly.
• Consumer monitoring by EECA consistently shows that some of the main perceived disadvantages of EVs include that the driving range is not suitable for long distance travel, and that there are not enough public chargers available. Increasing the availability of public charging infrastructure gives drivers the confidence to switch to an electric vehicle. See EECA’s Transport Monitor: https://www.eeca.govt.nz/assets/EECA-Transport-Monitor-Mar-Jun-2024.pdf 

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey is pleased to announce today that the Women’s Refuge is the latest recipient of the Government’s Mental Health and Addiction Innovation Fund. 

“Women’s Refuge do incredibly important work in our communities. They provide a safe space for women and children experiencing family violence, some of whom may be experiencing mental health and addiction challenges. I am delighted that the organisation will receive funding from the Government to help deliver mental health and addiction support to those in need,” Mr Doocey says.

“I am pleased the funding announced today will support 250 advocates based within the 41 Women’s Refuges across New Zealand with mental health and addiction training, advisory support from clinical specialists and strengthen referral pathways so clients can access local mental health and addiction services more efficiently.  

“The feedback I often hear about mental health services is that it is too hard to navigate and know where to go in a time of need. This funding will enable Women’s Refuge to upskill their staff on mental health and addiction as well as improve connections with local services and referral pathways and join up the system to make it more accessible to those in need.

“Over the past five years, Women’s Refuge has supported an average of 15,000 clients per year. This funding will strengthen the workforce and improve referral pathways for those women and children who are accessing Women’s Refuge services.

“Initiatives like this is exactly what the Innovation Fund was designed for, and this support will only grow as we move into the second round of funding.”

The Women’s Refuge will receive $540,000 from the Government across two years, which will be matched by the Women’s Refuge to make a total of $1,080,000 over a two-year period.

In round one of the Innovation Fund the Government have so far supported MATES in Construction, The Mental Health Foundation, YouthLine, Wellington City Mission, Rotorua Youth One Stop Shop and the Sir John Kirwan Foundation.

“I am committed to doing everything possible to bring down mental health and addiction wait times in New Zealand. Partnering with organisations such as Women’s Refuge through the Innovation Fund to deliver innovative projects and initiatives supports the Government’s priority focus of increasing access to mental health and addiction support for Kiwis,” Mr Doocey says.

Note to editors: 

A future procurement opportunity for round two of the Fund was released on the Government Electronic Tender site (GETS) last week and a Request for Proposal is scheduled to be released in May 2025.

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Minister for Trade and Investment Hon Todd McClay will today welcome Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, His Excellency Eng Abdulrahman A. AlFadley, to New Zealand. 

Minister AlFadley is leading a delegation of more than 35 senior Saudi officials and business people to Auckland for the 9th New Zealand–Saudi Arabia Joint Ministerial Commission—a key platform for advancing trade and economic ties between the two countries.

“The hosting of this Joint Commission in New Zealand reflects the strong momentum in our relationship with Saudi Arabia and the broader Gulf region, particularly following the successful conclusion of negotiations for the New Zealand-Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement late last year,” Mr McClay says.

“In a time of global uncertainty, the Government is focused on opening doors for Kiwi exporters and providing greater certainty for New Zealand businesses.

lf’s largest economy and one of our top export markets, with exports reaching $1.14 billion last year, Saudi Arabia presents significant opportunities for Kiwi businesses through the NZ-GCC FTA.”

Alongside the Commission, the Ministers will participate in business outreach focused on agriculture, technology, and digital innovation.

“This visit provides a valuable opportunity to profile world-class Kiwi exporters and highlight investment opportunities in New Zealand’s fast-growing tech sectors,” Mr McClay says.

The Joint Ministerial Commission and business programme will run from 28–30 April in Auckland.