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  • ANZAC Day – Governor-General’s Anzac Day Dawn Service Address

    Source: Government House

    MEDIA RELEASE – EMBARGOED until 6.15am FRIDAY 25 April
    The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO
    Governor-General of New Zealand
    Anzac Day Dawn Service Address 2025
    Auckland War Memorial Museum
    Takiri ko te ata, haehaetia te pō
    E koro mā i te pō!
    Nga Toa a Tūmatauenga!
    Ngā Toa a Ranginui
    Ngā toa a Tangaroa
    Hoki wairua mai, ki runga i ō koutou marae
    Ki o koutou maunga karangaranga.
    E okioki mai nā i nga taumata, nga kahurangi
    Tirohia mai ra ki ō koutou uri
    E hāpai nei i ngā kupu ōhākī
    Tangihia, mihia nga aitua
    Huihuia mai ki tēnei marae
    Te hunga ora
    Tēnā koutou
    Tēnā koutou
    Tēnā tātou katoa
    I specifically acknowledge:
    The Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister
    Brad Williams, Consul General for the Commonwealth of Australia
    Air Vice Marshal Darryn Webb, Chief of Air Force
    His Worship Wayne Brown, Mayor of Auckland
    Frédéric Leturque, Mayor of Arras, France
    Sir Wayne Shelford, National President of the RNZRSA
    Sir Graham Lowe, Patron of the Auckland RSA
    Graham Gibson, President of the Auckland RSA
    Brad Hodgson, Auckland RSA
    Dr David Reeves, Chief Executive of the Auckland War Memorial Museum
    Mr Keutekarakia Mataroa, Dean of the Auckland Consular Corps
    A special welcome to people who have served – or are currently serving in our Defence Force.
    This Anzac Day marks 110 years since the Gallipoli landings by soldiers in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps – the ANZACS. It signalled the beginning of a campaign that was to take the lives of so many of our young men – and would devastate the communities they left behind at home. One year later, in 1916, grieving New Zealanders gathered to express their sorrow at the first Anzac Day commemoration.
    Today, in our towns, cities and hamlets across the length and breadth of Aotearoa – your comrades have gathered in the chill light of dawn, alongside their families and communities, to commemorate Anzac Day.
    This morning, your thoughts may be turning to your experience of military service – and to those who are missing from among your ranks.
    It’s an honour to join you and the people of Tamaki Makaurau Auckland, at our nation’s preeminent site of remembrance – to show our aroha and respect for the many hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders in our history who have answered the call to arms – and to express our deep sorrow for those who never returned from the field of battle, or who subsequently died of their wounds.
    This year we mark another significant anniversary in our nation’s military history. Eighty years ago, after nearly six long years, the Second World War finally came to an end. An astonishing 140,000 New Zealanders had served in the European, North African and the Pacific theatres of war, and almost 12,000 lost their lives as a result of their war service. Around one third of those casualties were from Auckland.
    Once again, our families and communities experienced the terrible pain of sacrifice and loss, and the impacts of that trauma lingered for generations.
    Eighty years ago, New Zealanders also played a role in establishing the United Nations, which many people fervently hoped would ensure that the horrors of the First and Second World Wars could never be repeated.
    In the years since, conflict on that scale has indeed been avoided, but securing peaceful resolution to geopolitical tensions has remained elusive.
    New Zealand has regularly been called upon to support our allies – from the Korean War in the 1950s – through to the conflict in Afghanistan in the 2000s. Our service personnel have also served in many peace-keeping operations around the globe, and frequently assist people in need in the aftermath of natural disasters – both here in Aotearoa, and in the Pacific.
    To those of you who are currently serving in our Defence Force, I sincerely thank you, on behalf of your fellow citizens. We recognise that your lives, and the lives of your families are affected by the demands of military service – and we salute your courage and readiness to serve in support of collective security efforts with our allies.
    This Anzac Day – when we reflect on the sobering realities of war, and the current state of the world, we see the ideals embodied in the United Nations being routinely ignored, and coercive power being used to threaten human rights and the territorial sovereignty of others.
    In these volatile and uncertain times – New Zealand continues to subscribe to the ideal of peaceful resolution of geopolitical tensions – while also acknowledging the role our nation’s defence personnel have played – and will continue to play in defending freedom, justice and the rule of law.
    In this way, they contribute to efforts to maintain and extend the blessings of peace, security and stability in the world.
    On this Anzac Day, and the Anzac Days to come, we remain committed to honour their service.
    Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou.

  • First Responders – Auckland Hillside Road recycling plant fire update #2

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews have contained a large fire in an Auckland recycling plant to the building. 
    The officer in charge, Assistant Commander Barry Thomas says crews are now continuing to work on extinguishing the fire within the building.
    “Sixteen fire trucks, four ladder trucks, four specialist appliances and twelve support vehicles  from across Auckland and from Hamilton, plus around 90 personnel are responding.” he says.
    “There are lithium-ion batteries in the fire inside the plant and the fire continues to produce toxic smoke. 
    “We sent out an emergency message alert around six thirty this evening with instructions for nearby public,” Barry Thomas says.
    “We continue to urge people living nearby to stay inside and keep their windows closed. There is no immediate need to evacuate unless advised to do so.
    “Roads remain closed in the area. Please stay away so our crews can get on with the job of extinguishing the fire.” 

  • First Responders – Large fire at recycling plant in Wairau Valley Auckland

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Fire and Emergency New Zealand was alerted to a well involved fire at a recycling plant on Hillside Road in Wairau Valley Auckland at 17.24 this evening.
    It is understood there are batteries on fire inside the factory and the fire is producing large amounts of smoke..
    The fire is now at Alert Level 5. Multiple fire crews from across Auckland are responding.
    We ask people in the area to stay inside and close windows due to the smoke. There is no immediate need to evacuate unless advised to do so.
    Roads have been closed in the area. Please stay away so our crews can get on with the job of extinguishing the fire.  

  • Weather News – Chilly Dawn Service but warm air brings rain through weekend – MetService

    Source: MetService

    Covering period of Thursday 24 – Sunday 27 April – Most of the country is in for a dry but cool ANZAC Day dawn service with MetService forecasts looking more favourable for outdoors activities around the South Island while warm, humid air brings rain in from the Far North over the weekend.

    Cloudier skies and spells of rain are expected for Northland on ANZAC day, however, temperatures for the Dawn Service are likely to hold around the mid-teens. Working our way down the country, hugging the eastern coast of the North Island is where a risk of passing showers exist for Dawn Services so bring a raincoat. Moving away from those areas it will be chilly temperatures that people need to prepare for with 2°C forecast for Taupō, Masterton and Alexandra.

    Through the rest of Friday the risk of rain drifts southward and by midday Saturday rain looks likely for areas north of Taupō. The wet weather is linked to an area of warm, humid air so the potential for heavy falls will accompany the rain.

    MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris states, “One area of concern this weekend will be Northland and Auckland, which may see another wet weekend. There is a lot of uncertainty around this weather system and how much rain it may bring so it’s advised to keep up with the latest forecasts.”

    This rain may mean a wet pitch but will hopefully not dampen the Auckland FC supporter’s mood for the match on Sunday evening.

    South of Taupō, areas of the North Island look to stay dry until the second half of Saturday but by keeping up with the latest forecasts you may still find a time to get out and about without rain on Sunday too.

    Generally, the South Island is where the weather is most settled this weekend. After a run of quite gloomy days in Christchurch, where our airport station only detected 7.8 hours of sunshine over 10 days (between Monday 14 and Wednesday 23), they can look forward to a few sunny afternoons for the long weekend with temperatures even climbing into the 20s on Sunday. Match conditions look great for the Warriors game on Friday evening, wrap up warm though as the temperature will plummet once the sun goes down.

    Some showers will be sprinkled down the West Coast, maybe a little more widespread on Sunday. People heading out into the hills around Nelson and Tasman will need to keep an eye on the forecast as there’s the possibility of rain setting in on Saturday.

    “While some areas will need to keep the raincoats on hand, many parts of the country can look forward to some moments of sunshine. Make sure to keep up with the latest MetService forecast over the long weekend,” Lewis concludes.

  • Govt News – Minister listens to industry on training

    Source: MinEx, Health and Safety in NZ Extractives

    Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds has been praised for having listened to industry voices and giving them the lead on work-based training.
    MinEx, the national Health and Safety Council for the extractives sector, was among a number of industry bodies which feared the Government would dominate its new industry skills boards (ISBs) in organising industry training and let polytechs do most of the delivery.
    MinEx CEO, Wayne Scott, says Ms Simmonds deserves real credit for her announcement today that industries will get more control over how they train people.
    “We were concerned departmental officials wanted the new ISBs to coordinate industry training and polytechnics to deliver much of it.
    “We asked for it to be work-based, led and owned by industries like ours which are really connected to their trainees and the skills they need to develop.”
    He says the new ISBs that set training standards, endorse programmes and moderate assessments are welcomed and necessary so long as industry representatives dominate board positions.
    “That’s what the Minister seems to be saying.”
    “For too long under successive Governments, the needs of industry have been ignored, and officials who thought they knew better have decided what training was needed by workplaces.
    “This saw some private organisations precluded from providing training with particular impacts on smaller and more remote employers who wanted to upskill their staff on-site or nearby.”
    Wayne Scott says Cabinet has listened to industry and Ms Simmonds deserves particular credit, given she was a polytech CEO before entering Parliament in 2023.
    Ms Simmonds says the Government is making changes to work-based learning so industries have more influence over how they train apprentices and trainees.
    She says industry representatives made it clear that the current work-based learning model is not delivering because it has become overly centralised through Te Pūkenga, the national network for polytechnics.
    “As a result, the training of apprentices and other workers is often disconnected from the realities of the jobs they are working towards. “
    “Beginning next year, the Government will introduce a new, independent and industry-led model for work-based learning.
    “This means vocational education and training providers will be able to manage all aspects of an apprenticeship or traineeship at an industry level, rather than taking direction from a centralised behemoth.
    “This is great for learners because it makes their learning more relevant to their employment, and it is beneficial to businesses who will gain access to more capable workers to boost their productivity and deliver economic growth.
    “Public and industry consultation clearly showed that this model was the preferred option, and this Government is proud to deliver the changes that we called for,” Ms Simmonds says.
    From 1 January 2026:
    – New ISBs will be set up to set training standards, endorse programmes and moderate assessments.
    – Apprentices and trainees currently with Te Pūkenga will move to the ISBs for up to two years.
    – New students will enrol directly with new work-based learning private providers, polytechnics, or wānanga.
    – ISBs will be able to enrol new learners until other providers are set up to deliver work-based learning.
    “So, if you’re a learner or an employer – keep going. Your qualifications are essential, and your training is valuable. There will be no disruption, your training stays on track,” Ms Simmonds says.

  • Unicef – Increases in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks threaten years of progress, warn WHO, UNICEF, Gavi

    Source: UNICEF Aotearoa NZ

     Immunization efforts are under growing threat as misinformation, population growth, humanitarian crises, and funding cuts jeopardize progress and leave millions of children, adolescents, and adults at risk, warn WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi during World Immunization Week, 24-30 April.
    Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, meningitis, and yellow fever are rising globally, and diseases like diphtheria, which have long been held at bay or virtually disappeared in many countries, are at risk of re-emerging. In response, the agencies are calling for urgent and sustained political attention and investment to strengthen immunization programmes and protect significant progress achieved in reducing child mortality over the past 50 years.
    “Vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the past five decades,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Funding cuts to global health have put these hard-won gains in jeopardy. Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases are increasing around the world, putting lives at risk and exposing countries to increased costs in treating diseases and responding to outbreaks. Countries with limited resources must invest in the highest-impact interventions – and that includes vaccines.”
    Rising outbreaks and strained health systems
    Measles is making an especially dangerous comeback. The number of cases has been increasing year on year since 2021, tracking the reductions in immunization coverage that occurred during and since the COVID-19 pandemic in many communities. Measles cases reached an estimated 10.3 million in 2023, a 20 per cent increase compared to 2022.
    The agencies warn that this upward trend likely continued into 2024 and 2025, as outbreaks have intensified around the world. In the past 12 months, 138 countries have reported measles cases, with 61 experiencing large or disruptive outbreaks – the highest number observed in any 12-month period since 2019.
    Meningitis cases in Africa also rose sharply in 2024, and the upward trend has continued into 2025. In the first three months of this year alone, more than 5,500 suspected cases and nearly 300 deaths were reported in 22 countries. This follows approximately 26,000 cases and almost 1,400 deaths across 24 countries last year.
    Yellow fever cases in the African region are also climbing, with 124 confirmed cases reported in 12 countries in 2024. This comes after dramatic declines in the disease over the past decade, thanks to global vaccine stockpiles and the use of yellow fever vaccine in routine immunization programmes. In the region of the Americas, yellow fever outbreaks have been confirmed since the beginning of this year, with a total of 131 cases in 4 countries.
    These outbreaks come amidst global funding cuts. A recent WHO rapid stock take with 108 country offices of WHO-mostly in low- and lower-middle-income countries-shows that nearly half of those countries are facing moderate to severe disruptions to vaccination campaigns, routine immunization, and access to supplies due to reduced donor funding. Disease surveillance, including for vaccine-preventable diseases, is also impacted in more than half of the countries surveyed.
    At the same time, the number of children missing routine vaccinations has been increasing in recent years, even as countries make efforts to catch up children missed during the pandemic. In 2023, an estimated 14.5 million children missed all of their routine vaccine doses-up from 13.9 million in 2022 and 12.9 million in 2019. Over half of these children live in countries facing conflict, fragility, or instability, where access to basic health services is often disrupted.
    “The global funding crisis is severely limiting our ability to vaccinate over 15 million vulnerable children in fragile and conflict-affected countries against measles,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Immunization services, disease surveillance, and the outbreak response in nearly 50 countries are already being disrupted-with setbacks at a similar level to what we saw during COVID-19. We cannot afford to lose ground in the fight against preventable diseases.”
    Continued investment in the ‘Big Catch-Up initiative’, launched in 2023 to reach children who missed vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, and other routine immunization programmes will be critical.
    How immunization addresses these challenges
    Joint efforts by WHO, UNICEF, Gavi and partners have helped countries expand access to vaccines and strengthen immunization systems through primary health care, even in the face of mounting challenges. Every year, vaccines save nearly 4.2 million lives against 14 diseases – with nearly half of these lives saved in the African region.
    Vaccination campaigns have led to the elimination of meningitis A in Africa’s meningitis belt, while a new vaccine that protects against five strains of meningitis holds promise for broader protection, with efforts underway to expand its use for outbreak response and prevention.
    Progress has also been made in reducing yellow fever cases and deaths through increasing routine immunization coverage and emergency vaccine stockpiles, but recent outbreaks in Africa and in the Region of the Americas highlight the risks in areas with no reported cases in the past, low routine vaccination coverage and gaps in preventive campaigns.
    In addition, the past two years have seen substantial progress in other areas of immunization. In the African region, which has the highest cervical cancer burden in the world, HPV vaccine coverage nearly doubled between 2020 and 2023 from 21 per cent to 40 per cent, reflecting a concerted global effort towards eliminating cervical cancer. The progress in immunization also includes increases in global coverage of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, particularly in the South-East Asia Region, alongside introductions in Chad and Somalia, countries with high disease burden.
    Another milestone is the sub-national introduction of malaria vaccines in nearly 20 African countries, laying the foundation to save half a million additional lives by 2035 as more countries adopt the vaccines and scale-up accelerates as part of the tools to fight malaria.
    Call to action
    UNICEF, WHO, and Gavi urgently call for parents, the public, and politicians to strengthen support for immunization. The agencies emphasize the need for sustained investment in vaccines and immunization programmes and urge countries to honour their commitments to the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030).
    As part of integrated primary healthcare systems, vaccination can protect against diseases and connect families to other essential care, such as antenatal care, nutrition or malaria screening. Immunization is a ‘best buy’ in health with a return on investment of $54 for every dollar invested and provides a foundation for future prosperity and health security.
    “Increasing outbreaks of highly infectious diseases are a concern for the whole world. The good news is we can fight back, and Gavi’s next strategic period has a clear plan to bolster our defences by expanding investments in global vaccine stockpiles and rolling out targeted preventive vaccination in countries most impacted by meningitis, yellow fever and measles,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “These vital activities, however, will be at risk if Gavi is not fully funded for the next five years and we call on our donors to support our mission in the interests of keeping everyone, everywhere, safer from preventable diseases.”
    Gavi’s upcoming high-level pledging summit taking place on 25 June 2025 seeks to raise at least US$ 9 billion from our donors to fund our ambitious strategy to protect 500 million children, saving at least 8 million lives from 2026-2030.

  • Energy Resources Aotearoa Welcomes New Industry-Led Work-based Learning Model

    Source: Energy Resources Aotearoa

    Energy Resources Aotearoa has welcomed Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds’ announcement today confirming the introduction of an independent, industry-led model for work-based learning from 1 January 2026.
    John Carnegie, Chief Executive of Energy Resources Aotearoa, says the announcement reflects strong industry feedback and is a positive step forward for vocational education in New Zealand.
    “It’s great to see the Government listening to industry and confirming the ‘independent learning model’ that we and others have strongly advocated for,” says Carnegie. “This approach recognises the importance of relevant, fit-for-purpose training that meets the real needs of employers and learners.”
    Carnegie says the energy sector, in particular, has faced challenges under the current system.
    “In the past, the energy industry has had to work across two different standard-setting bodies, creating fragmentation and inefficiencies.
    We would like to see a cohesive Industry Skills Board representing the broad energy sector to ensure consistency and coordination across our workforce needs. This is especially important given the skills deficit and the particular challenges the sector faces to deliver secure, reliable and affordable energy to households and businesses.”
    Carnegie says the timeframe is tight, but the 2026 start date provides some runway to prepare for the transition.
    “We acknowledge that the timeframe is ambitious, but we also appreciate the clarity that changes will take effect from January 2026. This allows industry and training providers to plan for a smooth shift.”
    Carnegie also highlights the need for more detail on implementation.
    “We would like to see more detail on how the Industry Skills Boards will be appointed and when this process will begin. It’s also important that we get clarity around the structure of these boards, particularly which industries will fall under which board, and how those decisions will be made.
    This is especially important given the skills deficit and the particular challenges the sector now faces to deliver secure, reliable and affordable energy to households and businesses.”
    Energy Resources Aotearoa looks forward to working closely with Government to ensure the new model delivers high-quality, relevant training that supports a skilled workforce for the energy sector and beyond.

  • Govt vocational education reforms will cause massive disruption – CTU

    Source: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi  (CTU)

    The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi is warning that the Government’s decision to adopt a new model for the vocational education and training sector will lead to massive disruptions and instability in an already fatigued sector.

    “The NZCTU remains fundamentally opposed to these reforms, which will create further disruption across the sector and come off the back of a period of disruption and change in the sector over the past five years,” said NZCTU Acting President Rachel Mackintosh.

    “We are concerned by the impacts that another several years of change processes will have on the sector, learners, and industries.

    “Our major concern regarding the model that the Government is adopting is the risk of the creation of new private agencies competing for public funding within the sector; this model has not served New Zealand well in the past.

    “Profit motives drive instability in education, and it is not a good use of resources to have multiple agencies competing for funding as they must focus attention on securing funding at the expense of focusing on delivery for learners.

    “The whole process for these reforms has been flawed. There is no reason why the consultation needed to have such a narrow scope, excluding critical stakeholders, and key subject matter experts.

    “The Minister’s insistence on pushing ahead with these poorly thought through reforms is likely to create several more years of instability in the sector, and more uncertainty for learners, industries, and the vocational education and training workforce,” said Mackintosh.

  • ANZAC Day – ‘Never Again’ Anzac Day Peace Picnic

    Source: Peace Action Wellington

    Friday 25 April 2025 – An Anzac Day Peace Picnic with the theme of ‘Never Again’ will be held at Pukeahu National War Memorial on Friday 25 April from 12:30pm-2pm. This is a family-friendly peace event operating under the tikanga of mana whenua, Te Kotahitanga o Taranaki Whanui ki te Upoko o te Ika.

    “’Never again’ means no genocide,” said Valerie Morse, member of Peace Action Wellington.

    “‘Never again’ is a phrase or slogan which is associated with the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. The slogan was used by liberated prisoners at Buchenwald concentration camp to denounce fascism.”

    “We are coming together to stand against war, against fascism and to demand that we meet the aspirations of our ancestors who survived World War 1 and World War 2 for global peace and freedom,” said Valerie Morse, member of Peace Action Wellington.

    “Anzac Day is portrayed as a day where the country can reflect on the horrors of war, the costs in human lives and commit collectively to never again allowing genocidal mass murder. We have to ask, is that really happening?” said Morse.

    “In 2025 the Western world is actively funding a campaign of complete annihilation against Palestinians. Two million men, women and children are daily being shot, bombed from above, burned alive, bulldozed with tanks and held hostage inside a giant concentration camp called Gaza. This is paid for and provided by the US. Meanwhile, across the West fascism and far right political parties are gaining power with campaigns of hatred, exclusion, war, austerity and visions of armageddon.”

    “The NZ government has failed to provide any humanitarian path for Palestinian refugees fleeing the bloodbath. It has been silent about Israel’s crimes. What’s worse is the government is now aiming to spend billions on new weapons of war and committing to fighting alongside the fascist USA in its endless wars. The new Defence Capability Plan clearly aligns NZ to the US and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. This is incredibly dangerous for the peace and security of Aotearoa NZ and the wider Pacific,” said Morse.

    The Anzac Day event is organised by Peace Action Wellington, Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition, VUW Socialists, Justice for Palestine, Students for Justice in Palestine, Falastin Tea Collective and Alternative Jewish Voices.

  • BusinessNZ – More detail needed on vocational education reforms

    Source: BusinessNZ

    Government announcements on work-based learning appear to recognise the importance of industry leadership in vocational training, but the timeframe for standing up a new system is very tight and more clarity is needed to ensure a smooth transition, says BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich.
    “As the system is pivoted back toward having more industry involvement in qualifications and quality assurance, it is important the Government works with industry closely to ensure that both businesses, apprentices, parents and training providers can have confidence in what the future system will look like.
    “We need to ensure that in the transition, employers can work with the training provider that delivers best for their company.
    “The new system is due to stand up on 1 January 2026, and we need clarity on the number of organisations, functions of the new organisations and funding to support businesses delivering industry training.
    “Countries with high productivity have gold standard training and apprenticeship systems. Industry training is the most efficient and effective way to train with high employment rates post-graduation. With the significant outflow of skills over the last year, we need to build the skills pipeline and make it easy for employers to develop a highly skilled workforce to support economic recovery and growth,” Mrs Rich said.
    The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.