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Working from home dispute in mediation today – will Govt support women on this?

Source: PSA
The PSA is urging the Government to pull back from restricting flexible work practices in the public service, including working from home when mediation begins today.
The PSA filed action with the Employment Relations Authority last December to stop the Government from restricting flexible workplace practices, which disproportionately impacts women who make up 62% of public service workers.
“The Government has heard the loud outrage of women over its shocking destruction of the pay equity framework – it needs to listen now and stop further attacking women in the workplace,” said Fleur Fitzsimons National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“We are hoping to settle this dispute in mediation.”
“Women need flexible work to help them manage caring responsibilities whānau and be more productive. It’s a win win.
“What the Government is proposing is effectively ripping up the Gender Pay Principles, which was an agreement to end discrimination based on gender and normalise flexible work practices.
“Flexible work is the backbone of employment agreements in modern workplaces and the Government must not undermine this.
“These are binding on the Government and are included in collective agreements so the Government can’t turn around and shift the goalposts.
“This is exactly what it is doing with the pay equity overhaul, upending a system that was working to lift the pay of women in female-dominated occupations.
“The Government needs to learn the lesson from last week, hear the voice of women, and come to the party and resolve this if it wants to avoid litigation before the Authority.”
Background
In 2018 the PSA entered in into an agreement – the Gender Pay Principles, following legal action in the Employment Court to establish principles governing work performed by women in accordance with the Equal Pay Act 1972. The follow up agreement, Flexible Work by Default, gave effect to these principles and was signed by the PSA, CTU, the State Services Commission (as it then was) and the Ministry for Women in 2020.
The Gender Pay Principles guide all government work on gender pay with the aim of ending discrimination based on gender, and closing the gender pay gap. They require senior leaders to eliminate gender inequalities, require agencies to apply specific resourcing to ensure Māori women are not discriminated against and work with unions to ensure equitable practices are sustained.
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Serious crash, Takapau, Central Hawke’s Bay

Source: New Zealand Police

Emergency services are responding to a serious crash on State Highway 2 near Takapau this morning, which has closed the State Highway.

The two vehicle crash was reported to Police just before 7.30am.

Initial indications are there are serious injuries.

Motorists are advised there are diversions in place via Fraser Road and Marahakeke Road.

The Serious Crash Unit has been notified.

ENDS

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Health and Employment – Struggling hospice nurses shattered by pay equity changes – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

This year’s Hospice Awareness Week comes as hospices struggle to keep their doors open because of a lack of Government funding and nurses’ chances of fair pay shattered by the removal of their pay equity claim, NZNO says.
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) hospice pay equity claim was filed in late-2023 covering 27 hospices employing its members. That claim, alongside nine others for NZNO, were thrown out by the Government last week with its to pay equity law changes.
Hospice New Zealand today said Te Whatu Ora had refused to adjust their funding so hospice nurses and health care assistants could be paid the same as their hospital counterparts. Hospices could not afford to fund the widening pay gap as at least 35% of hospice nurses’ wages came from fundraising and donations because of chronic underfunding of the sector.
NZNO delegate and hospice nurse Donna Burnett says hospice nurses are demoralised and angered by last week’s announcement.
“Hospices are already facing service cutbacks, with a strong possibility of closures in small region because of the current lack of funding. It is not sustainable. On top of this, at the swipe of a pen and a blink of an eye, Government pulled pay equity out from under us.”
Due to New Zealand’s aging population, the crisis for hospices will only worsen if the Government doesn’t step up and properly fund the sector, she says.
“We are meant to be raising awareness about hospices this week, but the reality is people need to be aware of what’s happening to us nurses and health care assistants because it impacts our patients.
“Without pay equity and a fully funded sector, hospices will keep losing nurses and health care assistants to better paying hospitals or overseas health systems.
“Dying New Zealanders and their whānau have enough to worry about without not being able to access hospice care because of short staffing which is a direct result of Government decisions,” Donna Burnett says.
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No congestion charging for goods vehicles, says Transporting New Zealand

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Transporting New Zealand told today’s [note: Monday] Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee at Parliament that goods vehicles should be exempt from time-of-use charging.
Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih and Head of Policy & Advocacy Billy Clemens listed four key improvements that would maximise time of use savings for businesses and consumers as part of their submission on the Land Transport Management (Time of Use Charging) Amendment Bill.
The recommendations were:
1. That the legislation exempts freight vehicles and public transport vehicles from paying time-of-use charges.
2. That the legislation does not allow differentiated time-of-use charges according to vehicle class.
3. That the legislation specifies assessments of the impact of time-of-use charging include the expected impacts on the supply chain and freight movement.
4. That the legislation enables scheme boards, with the approval of impacted local authorities and the Minister, to implement short-term trials ahead of a scheme being put in place.
Clemens told the Committee that many in the road freight industry are understandably wary of freight efficiency tools focusing on revenue raising rather than boosting the productivity of the supply chain.
“We’ve seen examples of de-facto congestion charging at Port of Auckland where they introduced peak-based vehicle booking systems that were initially introduced at relatively modest rates… [and then the] Port of Auckland realised it was an excellent revenue raising tool.
“So our members are looking at that and thinking: ‘These are always sold to us on productivity grounds… but once things get settled in it’s pretty tempting to turn the system into a revenue lever.’
“I think you’ve probably heard from some local authorities and councils suggesting [time of use charging] would be a helpful revenue tool.”
Transporting New Zealand also called for the legislation to reference freight impacts and good supply chain outcomes to provide further reassurance to freight businesses and their customers.
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Boots on the Ground make a $164M Footprint

Source: Predator Free 2050

Predator Free 2050 Limited (PF2050 Limited or the Company) is celebrating remarkable contributions by the collective of predator free landscape projects nationwide. A target of $164M of non-government contribution to work on urban and rural land has been more than met in what is proving to be an unprecedented community effort. “The belief and commitment from communities is truly inspiring,” says PF2050 Limited Chair Denise Church. “Having so many people and organisations investing in the movement not only financially but also through in-kind support demonstrates the power of collective action toward achieving the Predator Free 2050 goal.”
The goal of eradicating rats, mustelids, and possums across two-thirds of Aotearoa New Zealand, the urban and rural areas where people live, work, and play, has morphed from an ambitious “moonshot” into a feasible proposition. Beyond financial backing, volunteer efforts have become an invaluable asset, uniting a generation in a shared purpose and delivering what would normally come with substantial costs.
The tireless efforts of projects with boots on the ground, and supported by PF2050 Limited, have proved that predators can be eliminated in urban and rural areas. Thanks to those efforts, as of 31 March 2025, communities have already contributed more than $164M in non-government support for 18 major projects since their inception. This meets a key target for community contribution and is a testament to the unwavering dedication of hundreds of Kiwis working on urban and rural land to protect Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity before it’s too late. Support has come in the forms of cash, in-kind donations, and the value of volunteer labour, and it more than matches the PF2050 Limited contribution of $92M to this work.
Year after year, Predator Free 2050 projects have proven that, with a combined collective effort from communities, philanthropists, councils, and volunteers, people are willing to put more on the line to bring nature back to our communities and the places we live, work and play. From visible nature gains to economic and public health gains and strengthened communities, the payback is significant.
It is a great achievement so far, but to reach the PF2050 goal, more is needed. While PF2050 Limited and the projects it supports remain committed to sustaining momentum, they face the end of funding from Jobs for Nature and the Provincial Growth Fund. The collective of predator free projects and PF2050 Limited will be working to raise new funds to advance this essential work in our cities, towns, farms and forests and to develop even more efficient and scalable predator free approaches. So much has been achieved by the community already that it is unthinkable to let the momentum falter.
PF2050 Limited, a Crown-owned charitable company established in 2016, plays a pivotal role in this transformative movement. The Company focuses on supporting large-scale predator elimination projects and breakthrough scientific innovations, supporting professionally delivered, community-led initiatives, in its mission to address a critical biodiversity crisis. The Predator Free 2050 goal, a bold national commitment to eradicate possums, rats, and mustelids by 2050, has achieved remarkable funding success.
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Weather News – Mostly settled weather, with a few showers in the mix – MetService

Source: MetService

Covering period of Monday 12th – Thursday 15th May – This week is shaping up to be a much more settled week compared to the severe weather of last week. However, that will come with some days of rain for others, mostly in the South Island. With only a few weeks of autumn left, temperatures remain steady.

For much of New Zealand, it is going to be a fine weather week. This is especially true for the North Island, where settled conditions will be the prevailing theme. The odd shower may pop up in western areas at times, and there’s a brief chance of showers in the east late Tuesday into Wednesday. However, for the South Island, it’s a mixed bag of weather. While today (Monday) remains fine apart from odd showers, a front is expected to move up the South Island on Tuesday morning, bringing rain for the lower and western parts of the island.  

The rain in the South Island is forecast to clear by Tuesday night, as the front weakens significantly.  

MetService Meteorologist Surprise Mhlongo states, “Midweek sees a clearance of the rain but also a slight and short-lived drop in maximum temperatures for the Island, as the wind turns southwesterly. Overnight temperatures are expected to drop below 3 degrees for some places in Otago, leading to the possibility of frosty nights,”

Another front is forecast to arrive in the South Island on Thursday morning, with yet another rainy day for the lower and western parts of the island.

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Local News – Stellar lineup of speakers for Porirua’s BizFest

Source: Porirua City Council

BizFest in Porirua will take place on 1 July – a day that aims to inspire, connect and share business knowledge.
Run jointly by Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira and Porirua City Council, BizFest 2025: Kōpū i te pae – Light up the Horizon celebrates the courage of those who seek new business opportunities, the wisdom of those who navigate uncertain times, and the collective resilience and strength of our people.
1 July will provide opportunities to engage in three key areas over the course of the day, with speakers, panel discussions and other kōrero:
– What’s on the economic horizon for our region and city
– How business leaders are navigating uncertain economic conditions
– Seizing opportunities during times of change and the key ingredients for innovation and success.
Key speakers include Animation Research Ltd’s Ben Taylor, Infometrics chief executive and principal economist Brad Olsen, and software engineer, director of Fibre Fale, Young New Zealander of the year and Porirua’s own Eteroa Lafaele. More will be announced soon.
Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira Pou Ohanga Boyd Scirkovich will open BizFest with an overview of the first Economic Development and Investment Strategy for the Rūnanga.
“We are excited to partner with the Council to bring BizFest to our whānau and community,” he says.
“The event is an opportunity to shine a light on local businesses doing amazing things. We are surrounded by abundant potential here in Porirua and have unique talents within our diverse communities that thrive on the global stage. We hope Bizfest provides the opportunity for people to come together to support each other and explore new areas of collaboration.”
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker, who has a background in business, says the event offers plenty to Porirua employers, business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, new and established businesspeople, and anyone wanting to be inspired.
“This will be an amazing day – what a fantastic opportunity for the business sector, which has experienced challenging times of late, to listen, share and connect,” she says.
“Porirua is a place to do business and that’s highlighted by large and medium-sized businesses establishing themselves here recently, along with our small traders that keep our city humming. Our city is always moving forward and I’m excited about BizFest showing off what we have now, what’s coming, and the innovation we’re seeing.”
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Northland Regional Council media briefs – 12 May 2025

Source: Northland Regional Council

FREE CITYLINK WHANGĀREI AND SCHOOL LINK BUSES FOR YOUTH WEEK 19-24 MAY
Northland Regional Council (NRC) is celebrating Youth Week 19-24 May by providing free bus travel in Whangārei for rangatahi (young people) age 12-24.
The free bus travel is available on all CityLink and SchoolLink bus services from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 May 2025.
Young people can download a ticket from the posters around town or online, or pick up a printed ticket at schools, CityLink bus office (Vine Street car park), Youth Space, NRC Water Street reception and Whangārei Library. Show tickets to the driver when boarding the bus.
Terms and conditions apply – ID may be asked for proof of age with ticket and remember to be a respectful passenger when riding the bus and at bus stops around town. Inappropriate behaviour may result in removal of a ticket, once removed the ticket will be invalid.
HAVE YOUR SAY ON NAVIGATION SAFETY BYLAW
Northlanders are being encouraged to have their say on Northland Regional Council’s Navigation Safety Bylaw, which sets the rules for keeping people safe on the water.
The council is proposing some changes to get better alignment of rules across regions, incorporate safety improvements, and make the bylaw easier to use.
Some of the proposed changes include a new requirement to carry two forms of communication on a vessel; amending the requirements for wearing a lifejacket; and removing a clause prohibiting wind-powered board sports in the Ruakākā and Waipū estuaries as this is not considered a navigation safety issue.
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Transport – Driver well-being a key issue in survey

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Health, safety and wellbeing are big concerns for the road freight industry, a major survey of the sector has found.
The 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey of 194 industry participants across 128 road freight businesses was run by Research NZ on behalf of advocacy group Transporting New Zealand. The survey was also promoted by the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association and Groundspread NZ and represents the most extensive industry snapshot in more than a decade.
A total of 78 per cent of respondents in the survey called for more purpose-designed rest stops for drivers, and 72 per cent said it was important for drivers to have a good work-life balance.
Finding new drivers and an aging workforce were also big issues for the sector. Almost one-half of industry respondents (47 per cent) indicated that “up to 25 per cent” or more would retire or leave the industry in the next five years.
The survey painted a gloomy picture for business at the moment – only 34 per cent of those surveyed expected their financial situation to improve over the next 12 months, and only one in four respondents reported having sustainable operating margins.
Concerns about the state of New Zealand’s roads were nearly universal. The vast majority (93 per cent) agreed that poor road maintenance is putting truck drivers and other road users at risk. A significant number (84 per cent), believed that regional roads and bridges are neglected, and that delays in replacing the Cook Strait ferries pose a major risk (79 per cent).
However, one bright spot in the survey for truck drivers is how the public sees them.
While freight industry people believe the public have a negative perception of professional drivers, that is not the case. A poll of 1000 New Zealanders conducted by Research NZ painted a more favourable picture, with 52 per cent saying they view professional road freight drivers positively; and only 7 per cent expressing a negative view. (Only 20 per cent of industry people had thought the public viewed them positively.)
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Universities – Gowns flying, whānau crying—it must be Te Herenga Waka graduation week

Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

With over 2,600 graduates, two parades, and eight ceremonies, this May graduation will fill Wellington’s streets with cloaked and capped graduates.

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s graduates will honour the community that saw them through and the connections they have made, as they cross the stage.

Among those crossing the stage this graduation will be Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban, our first Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika), who is being awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Literature, after leaving her position at the start of this year.

The inaugural recipients of our Master of Criminology, as well as an early graduate of the Bachelor of Global Studies, will also be graduating in the May ceremonies.

Parades on Tuesday 13 and Thursday 15 May will see graduates walk from the Government Buildings to Queens Wharf Square, before our ceremonies are held at Michael Fowler Centre.

“This is a time to recognise academic achievement, but also to acknowledge the perseverance and resilience it has taken our graduates to achieve their goals.

“We are in a time of global change, but our graduates have developed values and relationships that will sustain them throughout their lives,” says Chancellor Alan Judge, who will preside over graduation for the first time in his new role.

“To our graduates—our future leaders and innovators, I look forward to walking alongside as you lead us into the future with creativity, empathy, and determination,” says Mr Judge.

The University will award PhDs to 50 graduates at the May ceremony. These graduates have added significantly to research in their fields, across the sciences, social sciences, arts, and beyond.

Vice-Chancellor Nic Smith says this cohort of graduates deserve every moment of praise for their incredible accomplishments.

“Our graduates are wonderful ambassadors for the remarkable work taking place at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. The impact of our university on society is significant, and we are proud to see our graduates take their skills, connections, and commitment to community into the public, creative, and commercial sectors that underpin our society.

“I look forward to witnessing the contributions they will make as they join our global network of 150,000 alumni. Congratulations to all our graduates — we celebrate your achievements and look forward to your future successes.”

About Graduation

Graduation ceremonies 

Monday 12 May 

Pasifika Celebration, 5.30 pm, The Hub


Tuesday 13 May 

Ceremony 1 – 9.30 am, Michael Fowler Centre

 

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

 

Ceremony 2 – 3 pm, Michael Fowler Centre

 

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Faculty of Education

 

Parade 1 – 1 pm, Old Government Buildings – Queen’s Wharf Square

Students from Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences, Education, Architecture and Design Innovation, and Health

 

Wednesday 14 May 

Ceremony 3 – 9.30 am, Michael Fowler Centre

 

Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation

Faculty of Health

 

Ceremony 4 – 3 pm, Michael Fowler Centre

 

Faculty of Engineering 

Faculty of Science

 

 

Thursday 15 May 

Ceremony 5 – 9.30 am, Michael Fowler Centre

 

Wellington School of Business and Government

 

Ceremony 6 – 3 pm, Michael Fowler Centre

 

Faculty of Law 

Wellington School of Business and Government

 

Parade 2 – 1 pm, Old Government Buildings – Queen’s Wharf Square

Students from Faculties of Law, Science, Engineering, and the Wellington School of Business and Government

 


Friday 16 May—Te Hui Whakapūmau

Ceremony 1 – 9.30 am, Te Herenga Waka Marae

 

Wellington Faculty of Education

Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

 

Ceremony 2 – 2 pm, Te Herenga Waka Marae

 

All other faculties