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  • A talk on fashion and sustainability

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    07 Mar, 2022

    Nancy Johnson-Hunt and Emily Miller-Sharma.

    The fashion industry can’t talk about a future that’s free from fast fashion without first addressing the fact that many people simply can’t afford to spend their hard-earned money on designer clothing.

    This was one of the standout points from a panel discussion at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki on the future of the New Zealand fashion industry, says AUT doctoral candidate Nancy Johnson-Hunt, who chaired the panel.

    The event on February 26 featured fashion designer Emily Miller-Sharma (Ruby), with input from Kate Sylvester, speaking on the importance of transparency, moving away from fast fashion and new design approaches for a sustainable future in NZ fashion.

    “One of the main points that really stood out was how we can approach sustainability by addressing more critical conversations about accessibility, size and price inclusivity when it comes to fast fashion,” Johnson-Hunt says.

    “While it is a sensitive topic, we can’t talk about moving away from fast fashion and the implications that has without addressing that not everyone is privileged enough to afford designer or more long-term pieces.”

    The Mary Quant: Fashion Revolutionary exhibition at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki was the impetus for the panel discussion, with key fashion designers speaking to the future of NZ fashion and the climate.

    The Auckland University of Technology has a partnership with Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and is a sponsor of the Mary Quant exhibition – which closes on March 13.

    Before returning to the Popular Culture Research Centre to pursue her doctorate, Johnson-Hunt had worked as an advertising strategist and in the NZ fashion industry for designers such as Juliette Hogan and Wixii.

    Johnson-Hunt’s doctoral thesis explores the representations of contestants’ ethnic and racial identities on popular reality television dating shows.

    “I want it to be known that whether we’re talking about race, gender, culture or class, Popular culture remains an important intersection where academic insights take place, and for that I’m grateful to be working with some of the best academic and diverse minds in the Popular Culture Research Centre.”

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  • Govt’s austerity Budget to cause real harm in communities

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    The Government’s Budget looks set to usher in a new age of austerity. This morning, Minister of Finance Nicola Willis said new spending would be limited to $1.4 billion, cut back from the original intended $2.4 billion, which itself was already $100 million below what Treasury said was needed to keep the lights on.

    “New Zealanders looking around at the state of global politics and asking how things got so bad have their answer in the kind of slash and burn economics Nicola Willis has promised the country today,” says Green Party co-leader and spokesperson for Finance Chlöe Swarbrick. 

    “The Government has decided its job isn’t done growing poverty, climate changing emissions and homelessness. They’ve announced they’re going to go harder shredding the services we all rely on, meaning life is set to get harder and more expensive for regular people.

    “This is the austerity play book: defund public services to failure, watch them fail, then privatise; take the so-called ‘cost’ off the Government’s books and watch those costs rise for regular people.

    “It doesn’t have to be this way. We can reduce the cost of living and climate changing emissions while increasing our quality of life – if we have a Government that cares to actually do these things.

    “It’s not inevitable that people’s lives get worse, as the Government seems intent on telling everyone. In a few weeks’ time, the Greens will release our plan for the future entirely within our reach: a Government budget that supports the wellbeing of people and planet, instead of exploiting and exhausting both,” says Chlöe Swarbrick. 

  • Hossack Wetland restoration for treasured Kakī

    Hossack Wetland restoration for treasured Kakī

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    Just 169 of these wild adult birds remained and they could only be found in New Zealand. Kakī are regarded by Māori as a taonga species – a living treasure.

    However, invasive weeds and pest willow spreading through the wetland has been threatening the environment.

    Farm owners, Diane and Martin Cochrane, and their nephew Simon Bloomberg had always intended on restoring the wetland to its former glory but put it off as it was an expensive undertaking.

    With $10,000 of Action Plan funding allocated by the Lower Waitaki South Coastal Water Zone Committee, they were able to begin work earlier this year.

    Kakī started visiting the farm five years ago. Photo provided by Jess Cochrane

    Getting rid of invasive species

    The first stage of the project was preparing the boundary, which involved getting rid of all the invasive tree species, such as willows, that spread easily. Then, it was a matter of spraying the sides and refencing to allow for future expansion of the wetland. In Spring, they will start planting native vegetation.

    After planting, predator trapping will also be an important stage of the project. Growing native vegetation would attract more birds and insects which will lead to more predators trying to kill those birds.

    Martin Cochrane said the biggest challenge would be the maintenance involved in growing the native plants as they could be quite vulnerable for those first three to five years.

    “It will be a family project, anything we can do to improve the environment, and to make it a better home for wading birds is worth it,” Martin Cochrane said.

    However, improving the biodiversity for birdlife is just one benefit to restoring the wetland.

    Improving water quality and biodiversity

    Diane’s family, the Elliots, had farmed the property since the 1899 Waikākahi farm ballot and bought the neighbouring Hossack Wetland in the early 2000s.

    Martin Cochrane said there had been a lot of wetland loss, particularly in Canterbury, and they were pleased it hadn’t been developed into farmland.

    “The fact that this wetland is still here, providing a natural filter for water going into the Waihao River, is definitely worth protecting,” Martin Cochrane said.

    Restoring the wetland meant improving habitat for native fauna, slowing water down during a flood and forming part of a biodiversity corridor along the Waihao River.

    The family also hoped the project would encourage other landowners to show interest in how they could contribute to improving water quality and biodiversity.

    They planned to protect the wetland with a QEⅡ covenant to ensure its survival for future generations. Incorporating public access to the wetland would also be part of the restoration project.

    Vital role of wetlands

    Acting as a natural ‘filter’ for water, wetlands play an important role in water quality, absorbing nutrients and trapping sediment that would otherwise make its way into our freshwater.

    By slowing the water flow from land and releasing it slowly in dry periods, they also play a vital role during periods of high or low rainfall.

    While historically many of the country’s natural wetlands have been drained, some have simply been concealed by weeds, unable to realise their environmental potential.

    Funding for projects

    This project is supported through the Lower Waitaki South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee’s Action Plan budget allocation for 2024.

    Each of the region’s water zone committees has an action plan which outlines how they will work with the community to help improve the environment and meet Canterbury Water Management Strategy objectives.

  • Single Data Return (SDR)

    Source:

    Last updated 28 April 2025
    Last updated 28 April 2025

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    This page contains resources for preparing, uploading and submitting your Single Data Return (SDR) and Indicative Enrolment Collection (IND) in DXP Ngā Kete.
    This page contains resources for preparing, uploading and submitting your Single Data Return (SDR) and Indicative Enrolment Collection (IND) in DXP Ngā Kete.

    For more information about the SDR, see About the Single Data Return.
    Resources for completing SDR and IND data submissions
    Data Specification for the Single Data Return: * Includes data codes, descriptions, field specifications and validation rules, Source of Funding (SoF) codes and a detailed log of all changes between years or document versions (Appendix B).

    Validation rules for the SDR and IND: Lists the error and warning validation rules that apply to the SDR and IND.

    Additional Data for the August 2025 SDR:  Final-year Fees Free and other data specified in the documents here are required for the first time in the August 2025 SDR. They will be integrated into a new version (v1.1) of the data specifications in early May 2025 just after the April SDR submission.  

    Reference data for SDR Data Specifications: Lists values for specific fields referred to in the Data Specifications. Reference data is aligned to the Stats NZ definitions (where possible).

    Delivery classification and funding category codes: Lists codes you must assign to each course.

    Process and guidance for the SDR: An overview of the requirement to submit data and the Single Data Return (SDR) process.

    Generic enrolment form 2025: * Updated to include the learner IRD number and other changes.  

    * Before 2025 data specifications were contained in the SDR Manual and published on the Ministry of Education (MoE) website. See the MoE website for previous versions of the SDR Manual and generic enrolment forms.
    SDR and IND upload files
    This table provides SDR file names and examples of the .CSV upload files.

    For a guide to CSV files, see Guide to CSV files v0.2 (PDF 409 KB).

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  • It’s not alright to light in your backyard in Christchurch

    It’s not alright to light in your backyard in Christchurch

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    From small brazier fires to residents burning rubbish in their backyards, smoke and ash can affect air quality and have a significant effect on neighbouring properties. It can make it harder for people to breathe, especially those with respiratory conditions.

    Backyard burning is a significant issue

    Since January 2024, we’ve received nearly 450 complaints of outdoor burning in Christchurch, with more than 150 of those repeat offenders.

    Lauren Hamilton, our Team Leader for Urban Compliance, said we take illegal outdoor burning seriously, and are actively responding to reports.

    “While some people may not realise it’s against the rules, others are knowingly burning and impacting their neighbours,” Hamilton said.

    “The high number of reports we’ve received this year, including repeat offenders, shows that illegal burning remains a significant issue. We’re listening to the community’s concerns and will take enforcement action where necessary.” 

    Find out more about the rules around outdoor burning.

    Alternatives to outdoor burning

    There are numerous ways to dispose of rubbish, whether it be green or household. If your rubbish doesn’t fit in your kerbside collection bins, visit a transfer station near you. Kitchen scraps can be composted and used in your garden – great for the plants!

    If you’ve tidied the garden and have a pile of green waste, consider mulching it and spreading in your garden. Sticks and leaves can be combined with lawn clippings for a nutrient-rich addition to your soil.

  • Have you checked your bore lately?

    Have you checked your bore lately?

    Source:

    Date:

    Making sure your bore is in good working order and protected from contaminants is crucial to protecting your family and those living on your property from sickness.

    Winter is coming, and that means wetter soils, deeper drainage, and a higher chance of surface water flooding — all of which can carry risk to your drinking water supply.

    A study published in April 2025, from the Department of Public Health at University of Otago, and the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre at University of Canterbury, found that people using private water supplies in rural areas are more than twice as likely to get a Campylobacter infection compared to urban residents who have access to treated public water.

    While often transmitted through contaminated food, campylobacteriosis can also be found in private water supplies, particularly in areas with a higher density of dairy farming.

    “Waterborne disease outbreaks can occur due to various factors, such as heavy rainfall or spring runoff, improper disposal of manure, sewage, or wastewater, and issues with septic tanks, cesspools, sewers, or landfills,” the study said.

    Look after your bore and keep your drinking water safe

    There are some important steps to look after your bore:

    1. Keep it tidy: Make sure your bore is fenced off from stock (at least 5 metres), is located well away from areas where fertiliser, pesticides or chemicals are used, and is as far away as practical from potential sources of contamination such as compost, rubbish, septic tanks, offal holes, and effluent disposal areas, as contaminants infiltrate into groundwater through the soil/land surface.

    Consider checking the historical use of the land to understand possible groundwater contamination risks in the Listed Land Use Register.

    2. Keep it sealed: To prevent stormwater and contaminants entering the water supply, the top of the borehead should be elevated and securely sealed.

    The bore casing should extend at least 0.5m above the ground and ideally be surrounded by a concrete apron. Don’t forget a backflow preventer to stop contaminants siphoning back into your well.

    3. Know your flow: Flooding situation? Heavy rain or snow? Power cut for an extended amount of time? Make sure you boil your water and don’t forget to let others on your water supply know to do the same.

    Head to our drinking water page for more information and or download this handy printout on keeping your bore water safe (PDF file, 146.5KB).

    For a secure borehead, follow these steps:

    1. Borehead cap

    Install a secure cap and seal between the casing and any hoses or cables going down the bore.

    2. Borehead casing

    Ensure the borehead casing is elevated at least half a meter above the ground surface.

    3. Concrete apron

    Seal between the borehead casing and the surrounding ground with a concrete apron. If you’re drilling a new bore, install a bentonite seal around the casing.

    4. Backflow preventer

    Install a backflow preventer to stop contaminants siphoning back into your bore.

    5. Area around bore

    Keep the area around the borehead clear of animals, pesticides, fertilisers, compost and rubbish.

    6. Sample point

    Have your groundwater supply tested if you suspect a problem with the water quality.

    Who is responsible for my private drinking water?

    If you have your own private water source, the responsibility for maintenance and testing of drinking water rests with you.

    If you own or operate a water supply that’s being used as drinking water by people outside of your own home (for example workers’ dwellings), you’re deemed to be a drinking water supplier and will have responsibilities under the Water Services Act 2021 to ensure safe drinking water to those people who rely on your supply.

    Taumata Arowai can help you determine if you’re a water supplier, what that means, and key timeframes for registering your supply under the Water Services Act.

    A test is best

    It’s a good idea to carry our regular analysis on your water supply, whether it’s bore or rainwater collection.

    Nitrate is just one risk factor in people’s water supplies. Pathogens such as E. coli can also enter water sources (particularly if there’s been heavy rain or you’ve had flooding through your property).

    Copper and lead plumbing in older dwellings can affect the quality and taste of your water. In some areas, the groundwater has naturally high levels of manganese or arsenic, which can also pose a health risk.

    The best way to check water quality is to collect a water sample and have this tested by an independently accredited IANZ laboratory, which you can find on the Taumata Arowai website.

    Water treatment steps

    If you’re concerned about the quality of your water supply, or if testing shows that the water does not meet drinking water standards, you may need to consider treating the water. Water treatment requires specialist advice specific to an individual supply, so it’s best to get this done to determine the best treatment option for the site.

    ESR (Institute of Environmental Science and Research) has produced a comprehensive guide to household water supplies, which can be viewed or downloaded from the ESR webpage.

    Need more information?  Visit Te Mana Ora/Community & Public Health, Taumata Arowai or visit your local council’s website. 

  • Ban on engineered stone essential to protect workers

    Source:

    The Green Party has renewed its call for the Government to ban the use, supply, and manufacture of engineered stone products, as the CTU launches a petition for the implementation of a full ban.

    “Let’s put people before profits and protect our workers by banning this dangerous product,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Workplace Relations and Safety, Teanau Tuiono.

    “Workers are the backbone of our economy, and their safety must be protected from dangerous practices including the use of engineered stone, the dust from which can lead to fatal lung disease.

    “Australia banned this product following extensive consultation and analysis, revealing incontrovertible scientific evidence of the dangers posed by silica dust exposure to workers. What’s stopping our country emulating this ban?

    “Instead of looking for excuses to reduce workplace protections and safeguards, the Government must prioritise workers’ rights that have been fought for over generations

    “Aotearoa has serious mahi to do regarding workplace safety, as far more people are injured or killed on the job here than in countries like the UK or Australia.

    “Banning engineered stone is a good place to start,” says Teanau Tuiono.

  • Greens continue to call for Pacific Visa Waiver

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    The Green Party recognises the extension of visa allowances for our Pacific whānau as a step in the right direction but continues to call for a Pacific Visa Waiver. 

    “The Greens continue to call for our Pacific neighbours to be granted Visa Waiver status as a necessary step to strengthen and honour our relationships in the region,” says Green Party spokesperson for Pacific Peoples Teanau Tuiono.

    “While an extended visa period will lessen the financial and administrative burden for our Pacific whānau, we continue asking them to pay more money and face more delays to visit families compared to other countries. 

    “This is a missed opportunity to deliver what our Pacific whānau deserve.

    “Earlier this year, the Green Party launched our petition to allow Pacific whānau visa-free access to Aotearoa. This would see people from all Pacific Island nations – those in the Pacific Islands Forum and those not – travel to Aotearoa without needing to jump through the hoops of bureaucracy to get a visa. 

    “Aotearoa is part of the family of Pacific nations. We must remove unfair barriers to entry for our Pacific whānau,” said Teanau Tuiono.

  • More children going hungry under Coalition govt

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    The Government yesterday released its annual child poverty statistics, and by its own admission, more tamariki across Aotearoa are now living in material hardship.

    “The Government should be ashamed of the fact that more children are going without enough food and bare essentials under their watch,” says Green Party Social Development spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March.

    “Everyone in Aotearoa deserves a warm, dry home, a bed of their own, and a full belly. What’s achingly sad is that we have all the tools we need to give them that and more. All that’s missing is the political will to make it happen.

    “Worsening material hardship and food insecurity isn’t just a statistic, it means more tamariki are going without the bare basics. At the same time, this report shows food insecurity is on the rise, which means more families can’t afford three meals a day. 

    “This Government certainly is ‘Making a Difference for Young New Zealanders’–as they’ve titled their report–and it’s a pretty bleak one. 

    “There is a clear line to be drawn between the Government’s choices and the increase in hardship being experienced by our youngest. 

    “We are already seeing the harm that increasing public transport fares, gutting free prescription fees have had on children. While the Government hands $3 billion dollars in tax cuts to landlords and $12 billion to defence, it refuses to invest in ending child poverty. What is worse, their cuts to benefit increases will plunge more children into material hardship in the coming years.

    “This Government is clipping every ticket they can from those already doing it tough, all while lining the pockets of their wealthy mates. It’s absolutely appalling.

    “The Green Party campaigned to end poverty for all families in Aotearoa by providing everyone with an Income Guarantee that would ensure every household and every child has all they need to thrive. 

    “If this Government won’t deliver for children, we will,” says Ricardo Menéndez March.

  • About us

    About us

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    At AsureQuality, we’re incredibly proud of our purpose and are passionate about the work we do to help Aotearoa shape a better food world.

    Owned by the New Zealand Government, our name reflects our commitment to providing independent advice backed by our integrity. Working with New Zealand’s food and primary industries for nearly 150 years, we’re not just a team of 1700-plus individuals; we’re Kaitiaki Kai, guardians of food, and it’s our responsibility to share our expertise to help protect and care for food and the environments it comes from.

    Our customers are businesses across the food chain, from farms through food processing and manufacturing to the supermarket shelf. It is our role to support them through our broad range of assurance services to ensure the safety and quality of the food they produce meets the standards needed for export and domestic markets.

    Together with our customers and industry partners, we are committed to protecting the trust in New Zealand food and ensuring the quality that it is renowned for around the world.

    At AsureQuality, it’s not just about the here and now; we’re bold in our outlook. With our eyes on the future, we’re focused on unlocking and growing the value of New Zealand’s food industry. Using our knowledge and insights, we’re exploring technology and new ways of working to make a difference in our modern food world.