Category: Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Police Association says members are “gutted” with what it says is effectively a 0.6 percent pay rise for constabulary staff, while managers have been offered no increase.

It comes as the association is for the first time driving a pay bargaining campaign, with the slogan “Repay the Risk”.

On Monday, association members received an email from the association about collective negotiations with Police in relation to both constabulary staff and police managers.

The Association had asked for a 12-month collective agreement that included a general wage increase that exceeded cost of living increases at 5 percent.

However, police had offered a general wage increase of 0.6 percent with competency service increments (CSIs) bringing the offer up to 2 percent. Managers, of which there are almost 900, would get no pay rise.

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

In an email to members, seen by RNZ, the association said the negotiations between the parties had begun on “vastly different levels”.

“With police claiming that built-in CSIs must be subtracted from the pay offer which is, itself, unacceptably low.

“The association considers this offer undermines the value of the relentless effort required of officers including the risks you carry every day. It reflects a profound disconnect between the realities of frontline policing and the value placed on those delivering it.”

The offer was “very difficult to reconcile with any genuine commitment to supporting and sustaining the workforce”.

Police Association president Steve Watt told RNZ the membership was “absolutely gutted”.

“Our members’ work is relentless. When they turn up to work, they have no idea what they’re going to face, and that adds complexity and pressure around their mental health and the risks that they face every day to get a 0.6 offer. It’s fair to say our membership is gutted…. They’re feeling disappointed at the offer that’s been presented.”

Watt said it was an “initial offer”, with the association to work “constructively” with police on negotiations.

“This is why we’ve started our campaign Repay the Risk, and that’s again highlighting those risks that are inherent in policing and making those decision makers understand and be accountable for that.”

There were special provisions afford to police under a final offer arbitration scheme, which is in lieu of being able to strike.

“If it comes to that point, we will look to use that final offer arbitration process. But in the meantime, we’re going to continue constructive bargaining.”

Watt said police and the association disagreed on whether it was a 0.6% or whether the CSIs should be included.

“They see it one way we see it the other. We don’t believe that’s how that should be portrayed or viewed. And hence we’re saying it’s effectively a .6% increase.”

Police have been approached for comment.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A proposed restructure of police’s media and communications team is focusing on ways to use their own platforms to “overcome the depleted media landscape”.

An internal document says this gives organisations an opportunity to “control their narrative ensuring the public are exposed to the fundamentals of the organisation rather than the distorted angles sometimes presented by external media sources”.

RNZ revealed last week police were reviewing the operating model of their media and communications team.

Police’s executive director media and communications Cas Carter said the work was not related to the review into how police managed media and communications engagement in relation to the Tom Phillips documentary.

Since then RNZ has seen the design proposal that has been sent to staff.

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

The proposal says several roles are to be disestablished including the director of media and strategic communications which is held by Juli Clausen, who the OIA revealed had messaged Dame Julie Christie – the chief executive of a documentary production company – while on board a flight to Hamilton to give her a “heads up” that Phillips had been shot.

The role’s accountabilities would be transferred to a proposed head of strategic and district communications and head of content, channels and media positions. Both roles would report to Carter.

Other roles proposed to be disestablished include the brand and marketing manager, whose accountabilities would be transferred to the head of content and manager of design, content and delivery positions. There is also a proposed reduction in the existing number of senior media advisors.

Several vacant positions are also proposed to be disestablished.

The revised proposal also includes a “strengthened” Auckland media and communications hub, retention of district communications capability and “clear accountability for internal communications”.

The document – sent to staff last week by Carter – follows an initial proposal sent to staff which led to 44 responses.

“The feedback received was comprehensive, candid, and honest, reflecting strong support for the need for change balanced with a desire to carefully consider differing perspectives before final decisions are made,” Carter said.

“I have listened to that feedback and the high-level themes that emerged. This has informed adjustments to refine and improve the original proposal. Today, I am sharing these proposed refinements and initiating an additional two-week consultation period.”

The proposed structure is open for consultation until 22 May.

Carter said the proposed changes were about “the structure and positions, not about the people in the roles”.

“We started by examining how our operating model needs to evolve for the future, and the proposed restructure reflects that shift, not individual capability or contribution.”

She said that since the team structure was last reviewed there had been “many changes in the way we all communicate” including digital transformation and the “proliferation of misinformation”.

“Globally, trust is increasingly fragile, and scepticism is rife as audiences face misinformation and information overload. Trust and confidence is a main driver for New Zealand Police, and our media and communications team work hard to lift public and staff trust and confidence by being transparent, authentic and consistent.

“To do this effectively, we must have an operating model that ensures our ability to do this now and in the future.”

Carter also referred to the media landscape and said the number of journalists had fallen from over 4000 in 2006 to about 1300 with “major cuts across all media outlets”.

“When communities lack vital local information, it gives rise to misinformation. To counter this, many organisations are focusing their communications on their own channels, developing them as trusted sources and providing news releases, video content and longer form stories.

“This gives organisations an opportunity to control their narrative ensuring the public are exposed to the fundamentals of the organisation rather than the distorted angles sometimes presented by external media sources.”

Police invested “significant resources” into responding to media requests, Carter said.

“It is important for this to remain to ensure we continue to be, and be seen as, a transparent and authentic organisation that the public can trust.

“However, there is a balance between this and the opportunity to use modern technology and overcome the depleted media landscape to build our own stories across the country through our own channels.”

The media and communications team was the “single point of truth for our organisation”.

“One voice that provides authentic and honest information tailored to our audiences. We strive to be innovative, ahead of the game, and provide everyday New Zealanders an insight into how we work for them.”

Carter also provided a summary of feedback received saying many supported the “overall intent of the original proposal”.

“Particularly the move to better integration, prioritisation of police-owned channels, and a more future-focused communications approach”.

However, there were also “strong and repeated concerns” that elements of the proposal did not reflect operational realities.

The most common concern was around media capacity and resourcing.

This included submitters saying “media work is inherently reactive, unpredictable and high-risk”.

Reductions in media staffing or hours risked “delayed responses, loss of narrative control, increased stress and burnout, flow on effects to front-line policing”.

Some were opposed to disestablishing the director of media and strategic communications role as it was seen as “essential for senior decision-making, risk mitigation, executive engagement”.

Carter said most of the proposed media team changes were paused pending further engagement with the media team.

Other submitters focused on the importance of local media leadership as well as the need to “clearly protect specialist capability”.

There had also been some feedback regarding changing the name from Media and Communications as it “may no longer fully reflect the breadth of our group’s role, particularly as our work increasingly spans digital channels, content creation, internal communications, and strategic advice”.

Carter said no change to the name was proposed, however she was interested in views on whether the name was “fit-for-purpose”.

“Any feedback provided on this topic will be treated as exploratory and informational only and will not result in an immediate decision or change.”

In response to questions from RNZ on Monday, Carter said proposed changes to the Media and Communications operating model had been shared for “internal consultation”.

“No final decisions have been made.”

Police said they were unable to say how many roles were proposed to be disestablished.

Carter earlier confirmed the media and communications team had been “assessing the way it operates to ensure we are set up in a way that is effective for the future”.

“We are reviewing how we operate which includes if we are resourced in the right places. Any proposed redesign will be shared with the team first for their feedback.”

Carter said it had been eight years since the operating model had been reviewed.

“In that time there have been many changes in communication through digital transformation, shifting stakeholder expectations, changes in media and the proliferation of misinformation.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The number of New Zealand students studying on Massey Univeristy’s campuses is rising after halving over the past 10 years, it says.

Meanwhile, a union leader says the university’s Albany, Palmerston North and Wellington sites feel like ghost towns.

Official figures showed Massey had 12,345 equivalent full-time domestic students in 2025 including 4770 on-campus and 7575 studying remotely.

The number studying remotely was one of the highest on record and nearly 2000 more than in 2016, but the on-campus figure was the lowest point in a steady decline from a high of 9705 in 2016.

The university also had 4040 full-time equivalent international students giving it a total of 16,385 EFTS last year – slightly more than in the previous two years but about 2500 fewer than in the years prior to the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

The university’s annual report showed its Albany and Palmerston North campuses had nearly 2900 full-time equivalent students each last year and Wellington had 1997.

The university recorded a financial surplus for the year and the report said it had reduced its floor space by 23 percent since 2023.

Tertiary Education Union Massey branch co-chair, Te Awatea Ward, said staff were very aware of the decline in on-campus enrolments.

“They’ve noticed. Particularly last year and the year before there was a great concern at how empty our campuses were, particularly the Albany campus,” she said.

“This year staff have got very excited from the orientation day and seeing more students on campus… that lasts for about two or three days, and then it goes back to a ghost town.”

She said there were a lot of theories about what was to blame.

Ward said Massey had emphasised its online courses and staff noticed the contrast with Canterbury University, where domestic enrolments were well up.

“If you want students on campus, you have to provide courses on campus. If you’re wanting to have the maximum number of students qualify or complete with the least amount of financial input you have online courses,” she said.

“There’s definitely a competition for students between the eight universities.”

Ministry of Education figures showed nationally the number of on-campus students grew four percent last year to 104,420, slightly more than in 2016.

There were 13,905 full-time equivalent domestic students studying remotely, fewer than in recent years but 60 percent more than in 2016.

In a statement, Massey University said its drop in on-campus domestic students “reflects a combination of sector-wide shifts and changes in student behaviour – particularly over the pandemic when campus-based students shifted online (which has consistently grown), as well as a move back to campus learning at a time when our portfolio was changing”.

It said the university was “moving into a growth phase” by refreshing existing programmes and introducing new ones.

“We are already seeing positive indicators in our pipeline with new domestic on-campus learners up by 4.3 percent year on year, particularly in the Manawatū,” it said.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Waikato Expressway is closed southbound, south of Rangariri, following a serious crash.

The Expressway was expected to remain closed for some time while emergency services work at the scene.

Motorists are advised to expect delays.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand