RMTU members have started industrial action at Napier Port amid negotiations for better pay for about 185 workers. The draft National Infrastructure Plan is challenging the government to “lift its game” on project planning, saying it has often been “short-term and reactive”. Record numbers of people are chasing a dwindling number of jobs, while wage rises are barely keeping pace with inflation, according to Seek. Treasury advised the government not to buy rail enabled Cook Strait ferries three weeks before it announced it would.
Union coverage
- RMTU: Industrial action begins at Napier Port over pay deal
- NZEI: Principals warn Education Ministry instruction on school opening hours ‘not feasible’
Employment
- Record numbers of people chasing a dwindling number of jobs – Seek
- Dale Bramley named as new Health NZ boss (paywall)
Politics
- ‘Once-in-a-generation’ National Infrastructure Plan sets vision for next 30 years
- Christopher Luxon says he wasn’t pressured by NATO to increase defence spending
- PM Christopher Luxon arrives at NATO summit in the shadow of Trump and Iran
- Treasury advised government not to buy rail enabled Cook Strait ferries weeks before it announced it would
- Conservation Minister rejects Shane Jones’ concession overhaul (paywall)
- Govt presses for taller buildings around some Auckland train stations
- Increased scanning of social media threats against MPs likely (paywall)
Te Ao Māori
- Whānau Ora launches NZ’s longest ever ad urging more Māori to join the Māori roll
- NZ First’s Shane Jones criticises Whānau Ora ad encouraging enrolment to Māori Roll
Economics
- Opposition mounts to new tax for organisations
- Big tech wants Luxon to turn NZ into ‘sandbox’
- Two Auckland PAK’nSAVE supermarkets plead guilty to breaching Fair Trading Act
- Nicola Willis rules out fuel subsidies for New Zealand amid global oil price surge
- SolarZero customers ‘secondary’ for government finance fund that’s being wound up (paywall)