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Greenpeace – Luxon’s war on nature opens gate for more dairy conversion

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace Aotearoa is calling out the Luxon Government for “leaving the gate wide open” to more dairy conversion with no plan to protect fresh water from pollution.
Temporary rules that restricted the conversion of farmland to intensive dairy were in place until 1 January this year, to allow time for Regional Councils to implement the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. This was effectively a stop-gap to prevent further degradation of lakes, rivers and drinking water.
However, the Luxon Government repealed many of those intended protections last year, blocked Regional Councils from implementing their own freshwater plans, and allowed the dairy conversion restrictions to be lifted without replacing them. BussinessDesk has reported that Environment Canterbury has approved several dairy farm conversions this year.
Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says, “Everyone, no matter where they live, should be able to drink the water from their kitchen tap without getting sick. But this basic right is under threat by an already oversized intensive dairy industry that’s set to expand further.”
“They were happy to delay freshwater plans for Regional Councils, and repeal the few freshwater protections we had, but did not extend the stop-gap on dairy conversions. Now that dairy conversions have started up again, we have to ask how many more communities have to have unsafe drinking water before intensive dairy is reigned in?”
Nearly half of New Zealand’s rivers are now unsafe for swimming, and 20% of the population could be drinking water contaminated with unsafe levels of nitrate. Emerging evidence shows that drinking water nitrate levels from 1mg/L are associated with a higher risk of some health conditions, including colo-rectal cancer. The largest contributor to nitrate contamination is cow urine and the overuse of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser in the intensive dairy industry.
At water testing events run by Greenpeace in the Ashburton District last month, almost half of all bore water samples tested were above 5 mg/L of nitrate, a level linked to an increased risk of preterm birth. Several Canterbury town supplies are close to or exceed this level, including Darfield, Hinds, and the Oxford Rural 1 supply. The New Zealand College of Midwives recommends that pregnant people consider avoiding water above 5 mg/L for nitrate.
“We’ve already seen what dairy expansion does – unswimmable rivers and water that’s unsafe to drink. It’s now up to Regional Councils to step up and protect drinking water, lakes and rivers. And if they’re unwilling, for candidates to step up at the Local Body Elections this year to get the job done.”
“Environment Canterbury must halt any dairy conversion or intensification applications, at a bare minimum, and swiftly take action to protect the health of people and fresh water from dairy pollution.”
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Brisbane’s Olympic Boom: Why Thousands of Kiwis Are Making the Move to the Sunshine State

Source: Robert Walters

  • Migration Surge: 42% of New Zealanders are planning to move to Australia, with Brisbane a top destination. 
  • Key Motivators for Relocation: Better salaries (48%), improved job prospects (22%), and more affordable living (13%). 
  • Brisbane’s Growth: The city was voted Australia’s happiest city in 2024 and is already one of the fastest-growing urban centres in the country. 
  • Queensland’s Competitive Advantage: More affordable living compared to Sydney and Melbourne, making it attractive for skilled workers. 
  • Business Recruitment Efforts: Companies are accelerating hiring and offering competitive salaries, relocation assistance, and flexible work policies to attract talent. 
  • Economic Transformation: The 2032 Olympics are positioning Brisbane as a major employment hub. 

With the 2032 Olympics on the horizon, Brisbane is gearing up for an economic and employment surge that’s already attracting thousands of skilled workers – including a growing number of New Zealanders.

Recent research from global recruitment firm Robert Walters reveals that 42% of New Zealanders are considering relocating to Australia in the next 12 months, with Brisbane emerging as a top destination over traditional hotspots like Sydney and Melbourne due to more affordable living.

With tens of thousands of jobs expected to be created in the lead-up to the Games, Kiwis looking for better salaries, career opportunities, and a lower cost of living are increasingly turning their sights to Queensland’s capital.

Why Kiwis Are Choosing Brisbane

New Zealanders have long been drawn to Australia for work, but the 2032 Olympics are accelerating this trend. Brisbane offers key advantages over other major cities, including:

Job Creation: The Games are expected to generate over 91,600 jobs across construction, infrastructure, tourism, hospitality, and event management.

Higher Salaries: Better pay remains the number one reason for relocation, with 48% of job seekers prioritising increased earnings when considering a move.

Affordable Living: Brisbane’s cost of living is significantly lower than in Sydney or Melbourne, making it an attractive choice for professionals and families heading to Australia.

Lifestyle Benefits: Voted Australia’s happiest city in 2024, Brisbane offers great weather, outdoor activities, and a strong sense of community.

Brisbane’s Growing Appeal for Kiwi Talent

According to Robert Walters, businesses across Queensland are ramping up hiring efforts, offering competitive salaries, relocation assistance, and flexible work policies to secure top talent.  

Jane Lowney, Senior Director at Robert Walters Queensland, says, “Brisbane is at the centre of a once-in-a-generation economic transformation. We’re already seeing a surge in demand for skilled workers, and this is just the beginning. Now is the perfect time for New Zealand professionals to consider making the move.”

New Zealand is currently experiencing record-high migration departures, with Stats NZ reporting 122,800 departures in the year to January 2025 – the highest annual figure on record. While Kiwis have traditionally favoured Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane is now emerging as a strong alternative due to its job opportunities and affordability.

Whilst there has historically been a trend of New Zealanders moving to Australia, they have often favoured cities like Sydney and Melbourne. However, Robert Walters has observed an increasing number opting for Brisbane.  

“We’re seeing more Kiwis than usual seeking work specifically in Brisbane and we do have the jobs for them due to the Olympics. The cost of living and amount of job opportunities is a big pull for them.” Lowney added.  

How to Make the Move

For New Zealanders considering relocation, now is the time to explore opportunities in Brisbane. With increasing demand for skilled workers, businesses are actively seeking talent from across the Tasman and are offering relocation incentives to attract the right candidates.

“The 2032 Olympics are a game-changer for Brisbane’s job market,” says Lowney. “For Kiwis thinking about moving, this presents a rare chance to secure career growth in a thriving, dynamic city.”

With Queensland’s economy set to soar, Brisbane is positioning itself as the ultimate destination for professionals looking to advance their careers while enjoying an enviable lifestyle. You can utilise recruitment companies to make the move.  

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BusinessNZ – Regulatory roadblock to be removed

Source: BusinessNZ

Swift action to remove a regulatory roadblock in the way of medical innovation, global events and tourism has been applauded by BusinessNZ.
A ‘nonsensical’ ruling by Medsafe effectively prevents major international medical conferences from being held in New Zealand because displaying new products or sharing the latest research with medics in trade shows is deemed to be “advertising” and therefore prohibited – but now the Government intends to fix the regulations concerned to allow these major global conferences to come here.
The announced changes means more global organisations can consider New Zealand as a conference destination, and our tourism sector will benefit from the flow on effect of post-conference travel.
BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich says it’s a good example of the Government taking action to remove regulatory barriers to economic growth.
“New Zealand has been locked out of the multi-billion-dollar global medical conference market because Medsafe’s stance prohibits the trade shows and expos that are usually a valuable part of global medical conferences.
“But the economics of running a large international conference often depend on there being a major expo or trade show associated with the event, where companies can share information about their latest products and medical research.
“Medsafe’s ruling makes it uneconomic for large medical conferences to be held here, meaning multi-million-dollar lost opportunities for New Zealand and our medics have to travel to conferences outside of New Zealand to hear about the latest drugs, devices and procedures.
“Over the years many professional associations and medical organisations with annual conferences on a global circuit have wanted to come to New Zealand, but have had to rule out coming here because of the financial hit of not being able to hold a world-class trade show to support their event.
“New Zealand’s unique stance is nonsensical. Sharing information and new research with medical experts in a closed setting is in no way unsafe. We know of no other country that has taken the same stance, but we do know this is why New Zealand conference centres and our local economy regularly lose out to Australia when global conference circuits rotate to the Southern Hemisphere.
“It’s excellent news that the Government plans to fix the regulations to make clear that global medical conferences are welcome in New Zealand.
“New Zealand stands to gain an estimated $90 million in revenue over the next few years with the dismantling of this roadblock to economic growth.”
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.
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Government Cuts – $1b cut in Budget operating allowance ‘unnecessary and damaging’

Source: Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign

The announcement by the Government that it will cut $1b to its Budget operating allowance is unnecessary and damaging, according to the Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign.

“This cut, on top of last year’s mean spirited Budget, is a result of the 2024 tax cuts, which overwhelmingly favoured the wealthiest New Zealanders, including the $2.9b tax break for landlords,” says Glenn Barclay, spokesperson for the Better Taxes Campaign.

“The Government has painted itself into a fiscal corner as a consequence and is making decisions that are both unnecessary and damaging because of their unwillingness to recognise that our tax system is broken and that we need to raise more revenue for the betterment of all New Zealanders.”

“We are seeing the health system in crisis and other essential public services being squeezed,” says Glenn Barclay.

“While this is an immediate problem, it reflects the failure of successive governments to ensure that we collect sufficient revenue to meet our needs and that those who can afford to pay more in tax do so.”

New Zealand’s core Crown revenue has averaged around 30% of GDP historically and this is low compared to many European countries, which have much better health systems and public services.

In 2023, research by Inland Revenue demonstrated that the the wealthiest 310 families in New Zealand had an effective tax rate of around 9% whereas the average New Zealander paid over 20% in tax.

“It is clear that our health system and public services need better funding, that we need more resources for tackling climate change and that inequality is eating away at our society,” says Glenn Barclay.

“Our broken tax system lies at the heart of all these pressing issues and we call on the Government and opposition parties to recognise the need to introduce taxes that many other countries have – such as a capital gains tax, an excess profits tax, wealth taxes and wealth transfer taxes.”

The Better taxes for a Better Future Campaign was launched in June 2023 with the support of 21 partner organisations. It is seeking a tax system that:

  • Is fully transparent.
  • Ensures people who have more to contribute make that contribution: that we gather more revenue from wealth, gains from wealth, all forms of income, and corporates.
  • Makes greater use of fair taxes to promote good health and environmental health.
  • Addresses the tax impact on the least well-off in our society.
  • Raises more revenue to enable us to address the social, economic and environmental challenges we face.
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Events – REPORTERS FACING MULTIPLE CHALLENGES COVERING THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY – AUT

Source: Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
The challenges faced by journalists covering the climate emergency will be at the heart of a public symposium at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) next month.  
The symposium, titled Framing the Emergency: Climate Journalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, will explore how journalists report on the climate crisis, what more they can do, and how more climate stories might be told.  
Speakers will include leading journalists Eloise Gibson (RNZ), Marc Daalder (Newsroom), and Miriama Kamo (TVNZ).  
Experts and activists in the line-up include Russel Norman (Greenpeace), Jessica Palairet (Lawyers for Climate Action), and Joe Nagera (Pacific Climate Warriors).
The symposium convenor, Professor Geoffrey Craig, said New Zealand climate journalists had a challenging job relating how the planetary crisis was impacting the nation.  
They needed to “traverse the complexities of governmental policies and emission trading schemes, the power of corporations and the technicality of scientific research”, he said.  
“They must cover the politics of land and water management, the advocacy of activists, and the struggles of citizens responding to disasters and building greater sustainability in their communities and everyday lives.”
Journalists also face the challenge of reporting independently on the “actions and discourses of stakeholders” who frame climate issues in different ways, based on their interests. 
The climate emergency could be said to transforming our understanding of the relationships between economy, environment and society.  
“Yet some might argue there is little sense of an ’emergency’ in our public responses to the climate crisis,” he said.  
“Do we need other climate stories in our media where the mahi and hope of communities point the way forward?”  
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is one of the world’s best modern universities. Home to 28,000 students across three campuses, AUT has more than 60 research centres and institutes delivering leading research – from artificial intelligence to robotics,
and ecology to public health. As a contemporary university, AUT is connected to an extraordinary range of organisations sharing expertise and resources, collaborating on ground-breaking research, and connecting students with industry leaders and employers. 
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UNICEF to launch groundbreaking project to 3D print prosthetics for war-injured Gaza children

Source: UNICEF Aotearoa NZ

A groundbreaking project to 3D print prosthetic limbs for war-injured children in Gaza will be launched by UNICEF, thanks to funding from a New Zealand organisation.
Gaza currently has the highest number of child amputees per capita in the world. Over 23,000 children have sustained conflict-related injuries, and many thousands are facing disabilities and needing long-term rehabilitation.
Funding of more than quarter of a million dollars from a new collaboration between UNICEF Aotearoa and the Federated Islamic Association of New Zealand ( FIANZ) has allowed a pilot to launch with the planning of a production facility in Jordan to ‘print’ desperately needed prosthetics.
3D printed prosthetics cost around a sixth of the price of traditional prosthetics and can be made efficiently based on digital measurements taken using a smart phone. This helps solve the common issues of seriously injured children facing long and treacherous journeys to clinics to be assessed. They also allow for the fact that as children grow, they need new and updated components every six months. The project is intended to vastly improve efficiency and outcomes for children.
UNICEF is working with leading global prosthetics manufacturers, alongside hospital and physiotherapist teams in the region who will collaborate on the wrap-around services each affected child may need. Partnerships with existing hospitals and facilities will help UNICEF ensure children in Gaza are still reached despite incredibly difficult conditions at the border and the breaking of the previous ceasefire.
FIANZ president Ibrar Shaikh said the organisation has a focus on improving the lives of children, who are often the most affected by conflict.
“This project directly addresses the physical and emotional well-being of children, alongside providing a tangible way to restore hope and dignity,” he said.
“The collaboration between a local organisation like FIANZ and a global entity like UNICEF demonstrates how even smaller organisations can contribute meaningfully to groundbreaking humanitarian efforts. This work serves as an inspiration for other organisations to strive beyond their perceived limitations, reinforcing the collective potential to create a more compassionate and just world”.
UNICEF Aotearoa CEO Michelle Sharp said the funding collaboration was a leading example of the tangible change and impact that can be made for children.
“When organisations with a passion to help others, such as FIANZ, join with us – we can make incredible things happen to improve the lives of children who are enduring some of the toughest conditions imaginable,” she said.
“This funding has meant a groundbreaking project has been able to launch which will go on to become a blueprint for the future as we aim to reach as many children in need as possible. We are honoured to build this relationship with FIANZ and look forward to seeing the outcomes we can achieve together”. 
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Govt’s further backtrack on Te Tiriti o Waitangi at Pharmac endangers Māori health – PSA

Source: PSA

Pharmac’s proposal to axe its specialist Māori advisory team is another sad example of the low priority the Government places on improving the health of Māori.
The proposed scrapping of the Māori Directorate announced to staff today will see a net loss of three roles, including those responsible for supporting an anti-racism research programme, and the roles responsible for supporting the work of the now-defunct Māori Advisory Group.
“This is an abandonment of Pharmac’s commitment to the health of Māori and another breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” said Janice Panoho, Te Kaihautū Māori for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
This follows a decision in October last year to scrap the independent Māori Advisory Group, Te Rōpū Māori, made up of medical specialists including doctors, pharmacists and researchers.
This was a result of the Government’s Letter of Expectations to Pharmac instructing it to stop embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in its funding decisions.
“This latest proposal flies in the face of Pharmac’s statutory obligation to consider equity and address racism in access to medicines – this change will further diminish the voice of Māori in Pharmac’s funding decisions.
“The dismantling of Pharmac’s Māori leadership capacity is unacceptable. It sends a clear message to our communities, that Māori voices in the health system can be ignored, erased, and sidelined.
“Across the public service, the Government is overriding its legal obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and washing its hands of the partnership between the Crown and Māori that previous governments embraced.
“We urge the Government and Pharmac to not walk away from Te Tiriti o Waitangi if it’s serious about improving the health outcomes of Māori.”
The PSA stands with its Māori members at Pharmac and calls for a firm recommitment to equity in health outcomes for Māori and its community.
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Education – Success Tutoring expands globally with New Zealand centre launch

Source: Success Tutoring

The global tutoring revolution has arrived in New Zealand. Success Tutoring, Australia’s fastest growing and most innovative education and tutoring franchise, has officially opened its first centre in Papanui, Christchurch, marking the beginning of a bold global expansion into New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
 
“This is an incredibly exciting time for our company and for tutoring globally,” Success Tutoring founder and CEO, Michael Black said.
 
“We have redefined how students learn in Australia and now we’re bringing that same energy and innovation to the world, starting right here in Christchurch.”
 
Success Tutoring breaks away from the traditional one-size-fits-all tutoring model. Instead, it delivers a highly flexible, student-first approach, giving families unlimited access to personalised sessions through a subscription model that fits modern life.

It’s more than academic support, it’s about building confidence, curiosity and a mindset for success.

“Our students aren’t just lifting grades, they’re unlocking their potential,” Black said.

“We’ve helped kids significantly improve their academic results, earn scholarships, get into selective schools and most importantly, feel proud of themselves again.”

Results from across the Australian network in 2024 were outstanding with Success Tutoring seeing strong academic improvements in Math and English, scholarships and school-entry success for many students and the majority of students reported significant boosts in confidence and self-esteem.

The Christchurch launch is being led by powerhouse pair Abhishek Gupta (Abhi) and Jalvanti Bhanderi (Jayvee), franchisees with a powerful combination of business smarts, education experience and passion for youth development.

Gupta, with a master’s in economics and a background in banking, consulting and teaching, has spent years empowering learners. Bhanderi, who grew up in Nairobi and speaks four languages, brings a background in accounting, operations and people-focused leadership.

“We’re not just running a tutoring centre, we’re creating a space where young people can grow, be inspired and realise what they’re capable of,” Gupta said.

Bhanderi added that they have seen the gap, the average student who gets left behind. Success Tutoring is here in New Zealand to give all students the tools and support to soar.

As the brand goes global, Success Tutoring is also offering a life-changing business opportunity for passionate tutors and entrepreneurs. With a turnkey system, national marketing and world-class support, the franchise model is designed to deliver exceptional results for students as well as franchise business owners.

“The majority of Success Tutoring franchises are cashflow-positive from day one, deliver high profit margins and rapid growth potential and boast purpose-driven ownership backed by proven national systems,” Black said.

“This is a business where your success is measurable in both income and impact. It’s a model that delivers for students, for families and for the people who run it.”

With Christchurch opening and already accepting bookings, Success Tutoring is actively recruiting new franchisees across New Zealand, from Auckland to Queenstown, looking for people who want to change lives and build a business with heart.

“We’re on a mission to empower the next generation and we’re calling on visionary leaders to join us,” Black said.

“If you want to inspire, uplift and grow a business that matters, there’s never been a better time.”

About Success Tutoring

Founded by Michael Black in 2017, Success Tutoring is Australia’s fastest growing education centre with multiple locations and a further 150 cities planned worldwide by 2026. The company offers weekly tutoring sessions in English and Math for students aged five to 17, with a school readiness program for kids even younger, and selective school exam preparation tutoring also available. The Success Model not only empowers students to work at their own pace towards progress but also finds success in the social aspect of students coming together and working as a community of students to find motivation, inspiration and a lifelong love of learning.

https://successtutoring.com.au/

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Health – Te Whatu Ora’s failed pay offer cements strike action for senior doctors

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists

Te Whatu Ora’s latest offer to senior doctors fails to take staffing shortages, or achieving health targets, seriously the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says as mediation between ASMS and the employer concluded at midday today.
More than 5,000 senior doctors will strike for 24 hours on Thursday May 1 as Te Whatu Ora refused to budge from their 1.5 per cent cap on total salary increases for senior medical staff.
“On an annualised basis, Te Whatu Ora’s offer would increase pay by 0.77 per cent,” ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton says.
“This will drive existing doctors away rather than help retain them, let alone attract any new senior doctors we need to fix the gaps.
“New Zealand will be short more than 3,450 senior doctors by 2032 and we are already seeing the impact of doctor shortages across the country with longer wait times in emergency departments and for first specialists’ appointments.”
In mediation Te Whatu Ora did move to address some issues, which ASMS says is a good start.
“They offered to remove the bottom three steps of the pay scale to restore relativities with junior doctors, and this would benefit approximately 500 members.
“They also suggested a recruitment and retention allowance for four districts only – coincidentally four districts where our members have been publicly sharing stories of the healthcare shortage. But they are far from the only districts facing shortages. This needs to be rolled out across the country wherever there are shortages with clear criteria.
Vacancies for SMOs across the country are running at an average of 12 per cent. But they are as high as 44 per cent in places like Tairāwhiti.
“ASMS is also still waiting for parts of the last collective settlement to implemented. There are districts where ED shift allowances are still not being paid and ASMS has taken the matter to court.”
Doctors will continue with planned strike action on May 1.
“The strike will result in planned procedures being postponed, but the same number of procedures are lost every week due to ongoing staff shortages,” Dalton says. “We need Te Whatu Ora to get up to speed and get serious.”
ASMS members are working to ensure all life preserving services will be maintained at our public hospitals during the strike.
“Senior doctors don’t want to be striking – they are striking because every day is a “may day” call in our health system right now and patients deserve better,” Dalton says. 
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Weather News – April set to end with a bang! – MetService

Source: MetService

Covering period of Monday 28th April – Thursday 1st May – Key points

•    A busy stretch of weather is on the way, with many areas set to face a range of notable conditions throughout the week
•    After an already wet month, Northland will see pockets of heavier rain on Tuesday, while Canterbury will see heavy rain from mid-week
•    Unseasonal snow is expected for inland Canterbury on Wednesday and Thursday
•    Wild winds are expected for eastern and central parts of the country from Wednesday, with disruptive southerlies expected to surge through Wellington.

“Everyone is going to get a bit of something this week – there will be some sun, lots of rain and strong winds, and even some snow coming our way, as a low pressure system passes right over central Aotearoa New Zealand,” says MetService meteorologist Dom Barry.

Come tomorrow (Tuesday), Northland, Auckland and Coromandel can expect wet and windy conditions, with heavy rain and thunderstorms expected for the northern most regions. The West Coast will also see some heavy falls, while remaining areas of both Islands have some cloud about, with the showers in the east.

Heavy rain will be hauled across much of the country heading into Wednesday by a low pressure system which tracks across the central North Island. Some of that rain will fall as snow above 600 metres in the South Island.

Thunderstorms are expected for parts of Northland through to Thursday, which may bring periods of more intense rainfall to localised areas. Barry adds that, “For already sodden areas, particularly in the Far North, more heavy rain may bring impacts such as flash flooding, rivers to rise dangerously high and hazardous driving conditions. It is imperative people stay up to date with the latest forecasts, and listen for any advice from local Civil Defence agencies.”

A Heavy Rain Watch has been issued for Northland with a high likelihood of being upgraded to a Warning, while the heavy rain and snow in the South Island has triggered a Heavy Rain Watch for Canterbury. As we get closer to this event, more severe weather Watches and Warnings are expected to be issued, including road snow warnings, strong wind warnings and some more rain watches and warnings.

On Wednesday night and into Thursday, the low lingers east of Wairarapa, driving very strong and disruptive southerlies up Cook Strait and possibly into Wellington – these winds will be very strong, even for Wellingtonians’ standards. Couple this with a very high tide (king tide), low pressure and heavy swell, we could see coastal inundation in the south. “These very strong winds will be disruptive for travel in the Wellington and Marlborough regions on Wednesday evening and into Thursday. It won’t be a day to cycle to work – work from home or take the bus,” says Barry. Strong winds will also affect Canterbury into Thursday, while strong winds will be felt west of the Main Divide at times.

Choppy seas up the east coasts of both Islands and possibly into Wellington can be expected from Wednesday, with possibly up to 7 metres of combined waves off the east coast of the North Island.

Temperatures remain warmer than average overnight for many places though to Wednesday, before things cool off come Thursday. The minimum temperatures for places like Masterton, New Plymouth, Wellington and Wanaka become their maximum temperatures from Thursday – a noticeable difference.

It is quite a wild weather week ahead – stay up to date with your Freshest Forecast on the MetService app or at our website www.metservice.com