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Today, the Environmental Protection Agency released new pollution standards for cars and trucks. These new standards are expected to reduce emissions by approximately 30% compared to 2021 levels, or about 7.3 billion metric tons of climate pollution, which is crucial to mitigating climate change and align with our national goal of cutting emissions by 50-52% from 2005 levels by 2030. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) issued the following statement from Marcene Mitchell, senior vice president of climate change:

“This new rule is the strongest-ever emissions standard of its kind, surpassing previous regulations and significantly reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Tackling tailpipe emissions, which pose the biggest source of climate pollution in the US, is critical to combating global warming. The auto industry has the technology to make cleaner vehicles, and like all of us, they must do their part to help us reach our climate goals.

These standards will lead to improved public health with cleaner air that supports healthier communities and a better quality of life for all. WWF looks forward to continuing to work with the EPA and other partners to further advance policies to promote a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations.”

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On March 23rd at 8:30 pm local time, WWF’s Earth Hour will return to unite millions worldwide in support and celebration of our planet. In an increasingly divided world struggling with the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, Earth Hour provides much-needed positivity, inspiration, and hope.

Since 2007, Earth Hour has been known for its iconic “lights out” moment, with landmarks and homes worldwide switching off their lights. This year, while major landmarks go dark to celebrate Earth Hour, WWF encourages individuals to ‘Give an Hour for Earth’ by spending 60 minutes participating in any eco-positive activity from now until Earth Day on April 22nd. An interactive online tool will suggest activities for various lifestyles and interests, and participants can log their contribution to the national and global ‘Hour Bank’.

Katy Fenn, Director of Brand Engagement and Education, said: “From food and fitness to art and entertainment, there’s an activity for everyone in the Hour Bank, and we are aiming to bank 100,000 hours here in the United States. This new campaign approach proves that environmental action can be easy, fun and impactful. By expanding participation to those who are not yet environmentally engaged, we hope to raise awareness and spur collective action in protecting our planet.”

For more information, visit https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/earth-hour.

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For more information, please contact:

tara.doyle@wwfus.org

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Link to social media assets here.

Link to previous Earth Hour photos here.

About Earth Hour

Earth Hour is WWF’s flagship global environmental movement. Over the past 17 years, it has grown to become the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment, inspiring individuals, communities, businesses and organizations in more than 190 countries and territories to take action for our collective future.

Historically, Earth Hour has focused on the climate crisis, but more recently, Earth Hour has strived to address a range of concerns facing people and the planet. The movement recognizes the role of individuals in creating solutions to the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges and demonstrates the power of millions of people working together towards a common goal.

About World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

WWF is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working for 60 years in nearly 100 countries to help people and nature thrive. With the support of 1.3 million members in the United States and more than 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment, and combat the climate crisis. Visit worldwildlife.org to learn more; follow @WWFNews on Twitter to keep up with the latest conservation news; and sign up for our newsletter and news alerts here.

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Esta semana, el Senado aprobó dos proyectos de ley bipartidistas propuestas por Tom Carper, presidente del Comité Senatorial de Medio Ambiente y Obras Públicas y los senadores Shelley Moore Capito y John Boozman, que ayudarán a reducir la contaminación por plásticos mediante la inversión en los sistemas de reciclaje y compostaje de Estados Unidos. La Ley de Responsabilidad de Reciclaje y Compostaje solicitaría a la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) recopilar datos adicionales sobre el reciclaje y una estrategia nacional de compostaje, mientras que la Ley de Accesibilidad e Infraestructura de Reciclaje crearía un programa piloto de la EPA para construir proyectos de infraestructura de reciclaje en áreas rurales y comunidades de escasos recursos. En respuesta a ello, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) emitió la siguiente declaración de Alejandro Pérez, vicepresidente senior de políticas y asuntos gubernamentales:

“La semana pasada, 61 activistas y personal de WWF se reunieron con miembros del Congreso para solicitar medidas para hacer que los sistemas de reciclaje y compostaje sean más accesibles para todos los estadounidenses. Hoy felicitamos al Senado por aprobar, con un fuerte apoyo bipartidista, dos medidas importantes que facilitarán que más personas reduzcan los desechos plásticos. La adopción de estas prácticas propuestas es un paso positivo para evitar que los plásticos lleguen hasta nuestros océanos, ríos, vertederos e incluso nuestros cuerpos. Ahora instamos a la Cámara de Representantes para que apruebe estos proyectos de ley que contribuirán a mejorar los sistemas de gestión de residuos de Estados Unidos, con la confianza de que cuentan con un fuerte apoyo tanto de los consumidores como de las empresas para actuar. Las futuras generaciones están contando con nosotros para mantener el plástico alejado de la naturaleza”.

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The Senate this week passed two bipartisan bills from Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Carper, Ranking Member Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, and Sen. John Boozman that would help reduce plastic pollution by investing in America’s recycling and composting systems. The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act would direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to collect additional data on recycling and a national composting strategy, while the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act would create an EPA pilot program to build recycling infrastructure projects in rural and underserved communities. In response, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) issued the following statement from Alejandro Pérez, senior vice president of policy and government affairs:

“Last week, 61 WWF activists and staff met with members of Congress asking for action to make recycling and composting systems more accessible for all Americans. Today, we commend the Senate for passing two important measures with strong bipartisan support that will make it easier for more people to reduce plastic waste. The adoption of these practical proposals is a positive step forward to keeping plastics out of our oceans, rivers, landfills and even our bodies. We now urge the House to pass these bills to improve America’s waste management systems with the confidence that they have strong support from consumers and businesses alike to act. Future generations are counting on us to keep plastic out of nature.”

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Our Ignite consultants wrapped up their Semester One projects at a special event with their Dunedin based client organisations recently at the Business School. Each semester, student-run charitable organisation Ignite Consultants pairs groups of the best Otago University students with local Dunedin not-for-profit organisations, helping with business needs such as finance and marketing. Clients in this round were the City of Dunedin Pipe Band, Ōtepoti Seed/YouthGrow, Diving Ōtākou and Give to Grow Ōtepoti, and each of these groups were delighted to work with a team of Ignite consultants, lead by an Ignite project manager. Ignite Dunedin CEO Sam White is a final year BA LLB student at Otago and says she is extremely proud of the tangible impacts the Ignite teams made for their clients and the communities those clients serve. The Pipe Band was particularly pleased with the focus the team had on the band’s connection with the Highlanders and the advice they gave on how to leverage this to drive recruitment. Both parties were pleased with the results and it was a great project, says Caleb Oakley, Project Manager. Kaitlyn Payne, Project Manager for Ōtepoti Seed says “the consultants’ recommendations provided guidance around creating a social enterprise, organising the finances and resources of the organisation, strategies for marketing and for distributing the seeds. The clients described the report as a “roadmap” which would be useful to refer to help structure the organisation.” Another garden-themed client, Give to Grow Ōtepoti, which redistributes gardening tools from those who have a surplus to those who need tools, worked with a team led by Emile Aiken, Project Manager. Recommendations covered volunteers, governance, accounting processes, fundraising, donations, strategic partnerships and developing a social media presence.“The client was overjoyed by the detailed and pragmatic recommendations the consultants provided her. She expressed her gratitude, saying the consultants’ work provided clear direction for growth” says Emile. At Diving Otago, a springboard diving club based at Moana Pool, the consultants made recommendations on formalising roles and defining mission and values, marketing, funding and grants.“The club was very happy with the work our consultants did and they plan to implement the recommendations” says Sophia Davis, Project Manager. Ignite will farewell CEO Sam White later this year, as she comes to the end of her studies. Sam began her Ignite journey in 2020 and says “I worked initially as a consultant for K9 Medical Detection NZ. I loved my time with Ignite so much that I wanted to stay on for as long as possible. “In 2021, I became a member of the student leadership team as a project manager, a role in which I remained in for two years. During this time, I managed five different projects and met many incredible people and organisations along the way. “Most of our Ignite Consultants come from the Business School but we also recruit students from across the University. This is a fantastic way to grow skills and to give back to the community.” About Ignite Ignite is a charitable organisation started by students at the University of Otago, who saw the potential to combine the skills of passionate and talented young students and to help build strategic partnerships with not-for-profit organisations who need their help. The students mix their business skills with entrepreneurial ability to create socially innovative ideas that will spark change and fully maximise the potential of all not-for-profit groups involved. www.igniteconsultants.co.nz/ -Kōrero by Communications Adviser, Sally Knox

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Future cardiologists hope their work will have a positive impact on heart health in their clinical cardiology practise and research field. Three talented University of Otago students have received funding from the A H Couch Trust Heart Foundation Scholarship, which is designed to support promising health professionals. The three students are studying towards the intercalated Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme, which combines a PhD with a medical degree. Heart Foundation Medical Director Dr Gerry Devlin says that all three of 2023’s successful applicants are enrolled in the same degree is an “infrequent occurrence”. “This reflects the exceptional calibre of the individuals and their potential as future research and heart health leaders in New Zealand,” Dr Devlin says. “In addition, we believe the research work all three investigators are undertaking will help extend our current knowledge and potentially have implications for the development of future treatments.” University of Otago PhD candidate and third-year medical student Thomas Pirker (Kāi Tahu, Te Ātiawa) will be researching the biological activity of a novel inflammatory protein called suPAR (soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor) at the Christchurch Heart Institute. High suPAR levels in heart disease patients are often associated with poorer outcomes, and there is limited knowledge to date on whether suPAR has any biological activity on the heart. Pirker will research suPAR’s biological actions on the heart wall (myocardium) by studying cellular pathways activated by suPAR and its role in energy metabolism which is important for heartbeat regulation during heart attack recovery. Knowledge obtained from this research could potentially unlock a new treatment pathway for heart attacks and improve survival and recovery. Pirker was recently awarded the prestigious Young Investigator’s Award for 2023 from the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. Devin Tonkin, also a University of Otago PhD candidate and third-year medical student, will be investigating the potential of a new therapy called a “microRNA cocktail” to restore normal levels of microRNA in a failing heart. Dysregulation of microRNA molecules in chronic heart failure is thought to increase the death of heart cells, reduce the formation of new blood vessels and stiffen the heart walls. By developing a three-dimensional model of heart tissue, Tonkin will be able to mimic chronic heart failure and evaluate the effects of the microRNA cocktail treatment. Evidence from this study could aid development of a novel microRNA therapy for patients that prevents cardiovascular diseases from progressing to chronic heart failure. Mathew Shuen (Ngāti Ranginui), a University of Otago PhD candidate and third-year medical student will be unravelling the cellular biology of the ageing heart. His research will examine how levels of nuclear pore complex proteins in heart muscle cells change with patient ageing. Investigating the cellular causes of heart ageing could lead to new interventions that directly target the underlying mechanisms and inform the prevention and treatment of age-related heart diseases. The Couch Trust is excited at the calibre of the three awardees for 2023. “Their early career dedication and direction is remarkable, and we are confident they will contribute to cardiology research and leadership in the future,” trustees says. This honours the purpose of the Trust, which was established in 1972 through the generosity of the late Arthur Herbert Couch after he survived a serious heart attack.

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New University of Otago, Christchurch, research has found that a legal drug – alcohol – causes more widespread harm to New Zealand society than other illegal drugs. Published in the UK’s highly-respected Journal of Psychopharmacology, the findings show alcohol is the most harmful drug for the total population – when separately considering harm to those who use it and harm to others – followed by methamphetamine, synthetic cannabinoids and tobacco. While other international drug harm ranking studies have examined harm in a general population, this Health Research Council-funded study is believed to be the first to evaluate and rank psychoactive drugs in Aotearoa New Zealand according to harm within both the general population, and also separately for youth. Two expert panels were established to provide data for the study, using knowledge based on their diverse expertise in medicine, psychology, justice, community services and harm reduction. Two facilitated workshops identified separate rankings of harm for (firstly) the total population, and then for youth aged between 12 and 17. In all, 23 drugs (including legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco) were scored against 17 different harm criteria using a swing weighting process, and analysed with specialised Multi Criteria Decision Analysis MCDA) software. This method is used to systematically consider options and build consensus; it is a valuable method for this type of study when quantitative data are not consistently available. Study co-author, Dr Rose Crossin from the campus’s Department of Population Health, says the findings will surprise some – who may have assumed other illegal drugs caused more harm than our most widely used legal drug. “It might challenge people to learn this, but alcohol isn’t the most harmful because it’s the most widely used drug in Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s rated the most harmful because of its association with a huge number of diseases, cancers, psychological disorders and other medical conditions. “Alcohol also causes more harm to others than to those who use it, including families, friends, communities and wider society. As one example, it’s associated with the likes of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which negatively affects a person’s life, education and employment prospects. Therefore, we need to improve resourcing for interventions that reduce harm, for those who need them,” says Dr Crossin. Aotearoa’s two most widely used legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, were found to cause the first and fourth-largest amount of harm overall. Study co-author Professor Joe Boden, from the campus’s Department of Psychological Medicine, says the results also identified a mismatch between harmfulness and legal status. “We found a spread of harmfulness amongst a number of illegal Class A drugs, with some causing a lot of harm, and others very little. In some cases, the criminal penalties for using these drugs don’t match the level of societal harm they actually cause,” says Professor Boden. New Zealand’s drug policies are also causing harm, the study authors say. “Our study has identified that a significant proportion of drug harm arises from the legal status of the drug, rather from the drug itself. This includes harms to the drug user such as loss of employment and relationships, along with harms to others relating to crime and family adversities. This suggests we need to reconsider our policy settings to reduce overall drug harm, and consider how best to support family, friends and communities – not just the actual individual using the drug,” Professor Boden says. NZ Drug Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm says that the new research is extremely valuable, especially as it focuses on the New Zealand population. “When you rank drugs by harm, the evidence supporting drug law reform is compelling. This research makes clear that there’s no relationship between legality and lower harm, in fact our laws are causing a lot of the harm. We need to shift towards regulation of substances based on the actual harm they cause.” Publication details The New Zealand Drug Harms Ranking Study: A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Rose Crossin, University of Otago, Christchurch; Joe Boden, University of Otago, Christchurch; Tuari Potiki, University of Otago; Chris Wilkins, Massey University Journal of Psychopharmacology For more information, contact: Dr Rose Crossin Department of Population Health University of Otago, Christchurch Email rose.crossin@otago.ac.nz Professor Joe Boden Director, Christchurch Health and Development Study University of Otago, Christchurch Email joseph.boden@otago.ac.nz Lorelei Mason Communications Adviser University of Otago, Christchurch Mob +64 21 279 2203 Email lorelei.mason@otago.ac.nz

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From wild cuisine to a pantry staple – University of Otago research has uncovered future uses of the humble grub. Researchers in the Department of Food Science have been investigating the nutritional value of huhu grubs and possible food applications of huhu and sago grubs. They have published two research papers in leading international journals Foods and Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, revealing the rich and high-quality proteins of the insects, and their potential uses in a variety of foods. Co-author and project supervisor Dr Dominic Agyei says the research raises the awareness of the functional properties of edible insect proteins, created by drying and grinding the grubs into powder, and extracting proteins from them. “Edible insects have a growing reputation as an excellent source of important nutrients such as proteins, fat, and minerals. But we felt the general public was less aware that insect proteins can also have functional properties – the things that make food look and taste good and be appealing,” he says. The researchers found protein from sago grubs is very good at forming strong gels, foams and emulsions. Lead author, PhD candidate Ruchita Kavle says the interesting thing is that both grub proteins had the ability to create foams that were stable by at least 80 per cent even after 60 minutes. “To put this in context, if you had used the insect proteins to make a cappuccino, the foam would still be sitting on top of your coffee after more than an hour. “These properties make it excellent for use in products like mayonnaise, salad dressings, ice cream, desserts, dips such as hummus, and perhaps in huhu grub milk. “By including grub protein in these foods, their nutritional value would be boosted,” she says. Dr Agyei believes more people should embrace insects as an alternative protein source. “Insects are excellent alternatives that diversify our food sources and are incredibly nutritious – they are rich in proteins, minerals, and a compound called chitin, a gut-health-friendly dietary fibre.” For those who are put off by the sight of insect parts in their food, there are other options. “Insects can be turned into powders to enhance their appeal and use in other foods. It is remarkable to know that once converted into protein powders, we can harness even more potential uses for these grubs as a sustainable food source,” he says. Miss Kavle also highlights the sustainability of edible insects – they contribute to eight of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. “Rearing insects is a low-resource business opportunity which emits fewer greenhouse gases than other animal-based food sources. Insects can also be raised on food waste, which is great for building a circular economy and sustainability,” she says. Consumer insights is an area in which more research needs to be done to get more people eating insects regularly. “We need more data to understand the social and psychological factors that control people’s motivation to try novel foods. Without consumer buy-in, the many benefits of insects as a source of food cannot be realised. A bigger market would also drive interest from entrepreneurs and researchers, which can drive prices down for the consumer.” Tasting event The proof is in the pudding – try insect ice cream yourself! As part of the New Zealand International Science Festival, you have the opportunity to taste edible insects: Edible Insects: Treat or Trick? – New Zealand International Science Festival Saturday 8 July 2023,  2–4pm Publication details Nutritional composition and techno-functional properties of sago palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) larvae protein extract Ruchita Rao Kavle, Ellenna Tamsin Maree Pritchard, Alan Carne, Alaa El-Din Ahmed Bekhit, James David Morton, Dominic Agyei Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Physicochemical Characteristics, Techno-Functionalities, and Amino Acid Profile of Prionoplus reticularis (Huhu) Larvae and Pupae Protein Extracts Ruchita Rao Kavle Patrick. J. Nolan, Alan Carne, Alaa El-Din Ahmed Bekhit, James David Morton, Dominic Agyei Foods For more information, contact: Dr Dominic Agyei Senior Lecturer Department of Food Science University of Otago Tel +64 3 479 7545 Email dominic.agyei@otago.ac.nz Ellie Rowley Communications Adviser University of Otago Mob +64 21 278 8200 Email ellie.rowley@otago.ac.nz

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While vaping provides a pathway to help smokers wanting to quit, for non-smokers it may be the first step on a pathway to taking up smoking, a new study has shown. Led by University of Otago post graduate student Andre Mason and Associate Professor Damian Scarf, of the University of Otago’s Department of Psychology, the collaborative research, published today in the Drug and Alcohol Review, analysed data related to smoking and vaping status of New Zealanders from the 2018-2020 New Zealand Attitudes and Values survey. Associate Professor Scarf says broadly, the prevalence of smoking was found to be decreasing over time, while the prevalence of vaping was increasing. No differences were observed in the likelihood of transition from smoking to vaping or vice versa, indicating that either pathway was equally as likely. Survey results were analysed from the three years starting in in 2018. The prevalence of those in the survey who smoked decreased at each time point (7.4, 6.2 and 5.2 per cent), while the prevalence of those who vaped increased (2.8, 2.9 and 3.4 per cent.) In 2018, those who vaped were more likely to start smoking than those who smoked were to start vaping, while in 2019, the opposite effect was found. Vaping is an increasing phenomenon worldwide. Recent estimates suggest that Aotearoa New Zealand has the second highest rates of ever using (15.5 per cent) or currently using (7.8 per cent) nicotine vaping products in the world. It is estimated that 81 million people vaped globally in 2022, up 39 per cent from 58 million in 2018 and up 103 per cent from 21 million in 2012. Mr Mason says vaping was initially “hailed a new tool to help people quit smoking, but to date that evidence has been inconsistent”. Unlike other studies, the researchers found no consistent evidence that vaping acts as a cessation pathway from smoking. “Instead there are frequent transitions between smoking and vaping and vice versa. While most individuals continued to engage in the behaviour they reported at the previous time point, there were individuals transitioning between both smoking and vaping,” Mr Mason says. The results offer “critical insight” into the potential adverse effects of vaping and emphasise the need for stricter policies. “Contrary to the desired hope, vaping appears to have emerged as just another smoking-related behaviour rather than a substitute for smoking that primarily helps people quit,” he says. Although the prevalence of smoking decreased over time, the lack of evidence for a cessation effect through vaping suggests the drop may be due to other factors, such as marketing campaigns focused on the negative health impacts and increased costs of buying cigarettes. “Furthermore, and perhaps more concerningly, vaping appeared to be equally as likely to increase the uptake of cigarette smoking as it was to have a cessation effect,” he says. “This supports the arguments that policy discussions cannot simply focus on a one-directional consideration of harm reduction, in this case that if vaping is less harmful than cigarettes, then vaping can be less regulated to enable smokers to switch to healthier behaviours.” Publication details Effects of vaping on uptake and cessation of smoking: Longitudinal analysis in Aotearoa New Zealand adults Andre Mason, Damian Scarf, Tamlin S. Conner, (all of the Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin), Benjamin C. Riordan (Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia) Taylor Winter (School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Canterbury), and Chris G. Sibley (School of Psychology, University of Auckland). Drug and Alcohol Review For more information, please contact: Andre Mason Lead author Post graduate student, Department of Psychology University of Otago Email andre.mason@postgrad.otago.ac.nz Lea Jones Communications Adviser, Media Engagement University of Otago Mobile +64 21 279 4969 Email lea.jones@otago.ac.nz

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The cost of returning to school and work put pressure on households this year, with 70% of those who faced these expenses reporting negative impacts, according to a BNZ survey.

The survey found that of the 48% of respondents who faced start-of-year expenses in 2025, nearly one in three (29%) reported feeling pressure when deciding what to pay, how to pay, and when to pay. To manage, 37% turned to Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services, credit cards, and other high interest lending.

“The financial pressure at the start of the year is very real for some households, especially after the holiday period when budgets are already stretched,” says Anna Flower, Executive for Personal and Business Banking at BNZ.

“For some, these pressures led to difficult sacrifices – 14% of affected households reported selling things to help meet these costs,” she says.

The biggest start-of-year expenses were stationery (53%), followed by transport (42%), school and work uniforms (42%), and technology-related costs (40%).

Budget service sees impact on families and seniors

“The findings from the BNZ survey mirror what we’re seeing on the frontlines,” says Claudette Wilson, General Manager of North Harbour Budgeting Services (NHBS).

“2025 has been challenging for parents, with many turning to Buy Now Pay Later schemes and other high-interest credit options that can create longer-term financial strain.

“Perhaps most concerning is seeing children excluded from essential school activities because their parents simply can’t afford them,” Wilson adds.

“We’re witnessing families forced to choose between paying rent, putting food on the table, or covering basic school costs like technology, books and camp fees. With the ongoing cost of living pressures, some families simply can’t stretch their budgets to cover all these necessities.

“We’ve also identified a concerning trend that’s often overlooked – a significant increase in seniors over 65 seeking our support because they’re raising grandchildren. These older New Zealanders, who should be enjoying retirement, are instead navigating school uniform purchases and technology requirements, creating substantial financial pressure on fixed incomes.”

Wilson encourages those feeling financial pressure to reach out for support. “NHBS offers free, confidential financial guidance to anyone struggling with these costs. Our team can help with personalised budgeting solutions, negotiate with creditors if needed, and provide ongoing support as circumstances change.”

Planning ahead can ease financial pressure

While the costs can be a significant burden, the survey shows many households are finding ways to manage. Of those with start-of-year expenses, 57% took proactive steps, including 48% saving in advance and 17% spreading payments over time.

Flower says saving even a small sum each month can make a big difference when new year costs roll around.

“Putting aside a little each month can ease the financial pressure when these costs come around. Even better, using a dedicated high interest savings account can help these funds grow with interest throughout the year, giving families a bit extra when costs arrive.”

Practical tips for managing start-of-year costs

• Plan ahead – If possible, set aside a small amount each month and use high-interest savings accounts to help grow your money
• Use budgeting tools – use digital budgeting tools to track and categorise back-to-school or work costs to avoid overspending
• Explore your options – Check with schools about payment plans, second-hand uniform programmes or community exchanges
• Research tech choices – Ask if there are any special deals available through your child’s school, or consider quality refurbished technology to keep costs down

 

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Source: BNZ Voice customer panel survey, 18^th February – 2nd March 2025. Total responses: n=300 respondents. The profile of participating customers was not controlled for this survey. 

 

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