AM Edition: Top 10 Politics Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for July 21, 2026 – Full Text

Source: New Zealand First

Introduction

Thank you for being here this afternoon.

Mr. President, Members of the New Zealand First Party Board, Ministers and Members of Parliament, delegates of New Zealand First nationwide, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Over the past two days we have held our thirty-third annual convention, and it was this exact weekend, in July 1993, when the New Zealand First Party began. 

To all those members who began our political party thirty-three years ago, under a First Past the Post electoral system, a genuine sentiment of gratitude to you all.

Over the decades your dedication has remained steadfast, and we have grown to become the most successful new political party in modern New Zealand history.

We salute you here today as the next generation, together with a former one, taking this party forward to new levels of success.

Serious Times Require Experience & Prudent Judgement

The world is in a troubled state, the worst we can remember. And yet, having returned last week from Singapore and Japan, we are hopeful, because our discussions were gripped by how our friends, like us, see opportunity amidst so much turmoil.

We haven’t needed lectures from others to act; no, we’ve been seizing chances to advance New Zealand’s economic and security relationships with energy ever since this term began. Our 80 plus overseas trips have not been to collect passport stamps, but to enhance existing agreements, or create new ones, whether in our region, the Pacific, or in Asia, South America, Europe and the Nordics.

In country after country, we have learned first-hand that they want to do more with us, they too see opportunity, and our job is to make the most of them.

That said, do not underestimate just how disruptive the geo-strategic environment is. It’s a hugely complex and challenging period we are facing. This places an enormous premium on experience, and through experience, good judgements that protect New Zealand’s vital interests.

We take the world as it is, not as some cloistered varsity lecturer or woke leftie wants it to be. The record shows that we have exercised sound judgement when it has mattered most. 

With experience comes prudence, and with diplomacy comes opportunity, and that is why we are guardedly optimistic that New Zealand will emerge from the serious global disruptions in a strong position to exploit every opportunity that we create or that comes our way.               

And The Time is Now

New Zealand First has always been the greatest challenge to blind ideology, to social elitism, and to the status quo.

We, from the very beginning, have been for one country, one people, one law, one flag, regardless of gender, race, or religion.

We have been for protecting our nation’s sovereignty and national interest, protecting our unique role in the world, protecting our nation’s pride in who we are, where we have come from, and our traditional Kiwi values.

We fight for the hardworking blue-collar Kiwi battler, who just wants the chance to help build a country they are proud of.

We have always been, and always will be, for common sense.

Thirty-three years ago we created this party with a vision. A vision of hope and a heart to fight for the belief of every New Zealander for the chance of a better future for our children and grandchildren. 

Our country is not just a place, it is who we are as people. 

It is a set of values, stitched together across time. It is never complete – it grows. 

It grows into what we, as a New Zealanders, together, chose it to be. 

And the question is, ‘what do we want our country to be?’

We can no longer continue to accept the status quo who represent the establishment, who want nothing more than to protect the power they think they have, and maintain the separation of the ordinary kiwi and the elite. 

In this election, we have a rare chance to change the shape of parliament for the better, and in doing so, to reshape our country the way you want it.

We can choose to continue down the path we have been on for over forty years, continuing to watch the swing of the pendulum where blue or red just wait long enough and then yell “it’s our turn now’. 

Only to then proceed to change very little, apart from continuing to manage the decline.

Or, we can make a choice with our future generations in mind, take back control from the Wellington 

Bluesky bubble, take back control from the ‘way it’s always been’, take back control from those who choose to be a CV politician, where they are here one day, run out of gas, and are gone the next – taking with them a rolodex of international job opportunities, speaking circuits, or book tours, looking back over their shoulder at New Zealand’s decline. 

New Zealand First, from our launch thirty-three years ago, has been battling that elitist status quo. 

No one can deny that. When others wouldn’t raise a finger, we have raised the roof.

We will never give up that fight against the elitest status quo, and this election is where we can turn it on its head.

In November we have the real chance to show the power of MMP. We can move away from what our system used to be and make a real change to how our country is governed and who is representing you in government.

What we are asking you to do, is to give us the tools so we can finish the job. 

We cannot fly a microlight to the moon, but if you give us an Artimus, we will reach the stars.

We have a real chance to change the path we are on as a country, give hope a chance, and make 

New Zealand great again, like it once was when we were the number one democracy in the world.

The time is now.

We Are Breaking the Shackles of the Status Quo

New Zealand First has achieved a lot over the four governments that we have been a part of, punching well above our electoral weight.

We are the Party that raised the minimum wage for workers, not once, but three times in 2005, 2017, and again in this current government.

We are the Party that increased our frontline police numbers, not once, but three times, in 2005 by 1000, in 2017 by 1800, and again in this government we will have shortly completed our coalition agreement to increase our frontline police numbers by 500.

We are the Party who demanded in our coalition agreement to introduce Coward Punch laws and tougher penalties for those who assault our First Responders.

We are the Party who fought for the SuperGold Card for our seniors in 2005, repealed the pernicious surtax, raised super to 66% of median wage, and now making the SuperGold Card a form of physical ID.

We are the Party who brought in free healthcare for children under the age of 14.

We are the Party who brought in pay parity for primary school teachers.

We are the Party who have invested billions into our struggling regions with the Provincial Growth

Fund in 2017, and again this term with the Regional Infrastructure Fund.

We are the Party that has rebuilt our regional rail network after 2017, and again this term with much needed investment into the once neglected system.

We are the Party that has increased funding to our great St John Ambulance service.

We are the Party that has a bill to let the local ratepayers decide about fluoride in their water, instead of central government ramming it down your throat. 

We demanded a second Covid Inquiry, but sadly other parties watered that purpose down. Why?

Because they are all implicated. 

We are the only Party that has called for a new select committee inquiry into those who were injured by the vaccine – and being compensated for it. We are not going to let the matter be swept under the carpet by incompetent ministers.

We stopped all work on He Puapua, we stopped the WHO imposing International Health Regulations without New Zealand’s consent.

We repealed the Natural Health Products legislation.

We have taken men out of women’s sports.

We stopped the use of puberty blockers in children.

We are making English an official language, that will stop the nonsense that led to the CRL renaming the Britomart Station “Waitamata” and the Mt Eden Station “Mangawhau” without seeking a mandate, we are fighting against that woke ideology that has pervaded our country over the past ten years.

The list goes on and on.

The width and breadth of our accomplishments is vast and has influenced and positively affected every sector, every region, every part of New Zealanders lives.

But it’s not just the policies that our party has accomplished. It is about the common sense, experience, and the values that we bring to government.

Currently, we are fighting against the Gene Tech Bill. 

We are fighting against the use of Digital ID.

And the ban on social media for under sixteen-year-olds.

But if we as a country want to truly achieve more, to see more of those great policies, to see those values and principles of nationalism, patriotism, conservatism in the true leadership of our great country, then New Zealand First needs you – to give us the tools we need to get the job done.

We need to break the shackles of the status quo, we need to stop accepting the swing of the managed decline.

Pepsi or Coke Pendulum Swing

We need to take this unique chance in November, to stop the monotonous “Pepsi or Coke pendulum swing”, and give our country the chance to be truly great again. 

We are asking you to Party Vote New Zealand First.

One local example, Labour made all the promises to build the Mill Road four-lane corridor, then did nothing about it.

National’s MP based in Papakura then said “We have a city, the size of Napier, being built at Drury and still, this Labour government thinks a cycle way will be sufficient.”

Then, National has just continued to delay this project once again.

Pepsi and Coke have promised and done nothing.

New Zealand First, the party of the Provincial Growth Fund, and Regional Infrastructure Fund, the rebuilder of the Rail Network across the country, is committing, as an election promise, to get the Mill Road corridor built as a priority.

The Problems with the FTA

New Zealand First is against the Indian Free Trade Agreement, for good reason. It is not the ‘great deal’ that has been portrayed by other political parties.

We aren’t against free trade agreements. 

It is written in the New Zealand First coalition agreement to specifically prioritise an FTA with India. 

But, what we are against are bad Free Trade Agreements that are not in New Zealand’s best interests.

If you talk about the good parts of the Indian FTA, you have to talk about the bad parts – which other political parties are conveniently ignoring, brushing off, or passing the buck. 

New Zealand First has highlighted from day one the reasons this deal is bad.

We stated from day one that this deal has unprecedented immigration settings including uncapped student numbers with working rights and 5000 visa holders entering New Zealand able to bring in families with them. This is in addition to other uncapped immigration work visa pathways within the agreement. 

The ultimate question and problem we have is why has migration been made one of centrepieces of what is meant to be a free trade deal? Why has this become a free migration deal?

There are also two clauses that are included in the FTA that no one can give an explanation as to why. 

The UN co-governance framework UNDRIP, the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of

Indigenous People, is in the agreement. This is the provision that created He Puapua.

The Paris Agreement clause is also in the FTA. The agreement that will see us send up to $22 billion overseas in a pointless and futile attempt to reduce our 0.17% CO2 emissions in the face of just four countries China, US, Russia and India producing 60% of the worlds emissions – and who produce more CO2 in a day than we do in a year.

If it is in the coalition agreement that UNDRIP is not recognised, and the Act Party is supposedly against UNDRIP and Paris Accord, why are these clauses in the FTA that both National and Act have supported?

What is more, New Zealand must promote $33 billion of investment into India over just the next 15 years, otherwise India can claw back the agreement. Billions of our dollars into a foreign country when we are desperate for investment here in New Zealand. 

We heard last weekend, when Prime Minister Modi himself said, not just once, but twice, that this was a “commitment to invest”, yet we were told by National that it was just “an aspiration”.

Do you remember John Key when he told us all not to worry because UNDRIP was “just aspirational”?

Luxon said Modi was wrong, and Hipkins washed his hands of all responsibility for this mess of different interpretations.

Surely the New Zealand people need an explanation. 

If, since 2012 New Zealand has only invested $4.2 Billion into China through that FTA, then how are we going to find $33 Billion over the next 15 years for India? Riddle me that.

To get to this point where there is such a difference in interpretation, after this deal has been signed, is a real worry. 

What is worse, is when Hipkins clearly understood that there was a very serious potential for this different interpretation of the deal to badly effect New Zealand businesses, he warned those businesses that there are “risks” with what was in the FTA. This is after Hipkins supported it.

Hipkins is now putting all that responsibility and risk that he has allowed to occur by supporting this FTA, onto New Zealand businesses. 

Why wasn’t the interpretation clear before the FTA was signed by National and before Act and Labour supported it?

National brushes it off saying ‘India is wrong’ and Labour is washing their hands of all the risk they have both created. 

This is a recipe for disaster.

Astonishingly, Luxon told media that the good news is he spoke to a New Zealand manufacturing business who told him that they are already planning to put manufacturing facilities into India.

Since when was it a good thing that New Zealand companies are moving employment and production overseas? 

Do you see how backward this has all become?

Are you seeing now why New Zealand First has opposed this FTA from the time we saw the real detail?

The Left Must Not Win

We must not forget what we inherited just three short years ago from an economically destructive and morally bereft Labour government, that left this country in a precarious and impossible position.

We inherited a broken economy, a fractured society, and a country on a road to social disaster. That road was paved with the unbelievable incompetence from the last Labour government. 

New Zealand’s debt skyrocketed, there were multiple fiscal policies with no allocated funding, racist co-governance and woke ideology had spread into legislation and throughout the public sector, universities, government departments, and schools. 

The left had simply run roughshod over our country.

Labour left us:

• A crumbling, underfunded, overwhelmed Health System.

An education system that had seen:

• a record number of children failing basic standards and truancy rate,
• an unmanageable number of schools without adequate classrooms, and
• many in the teaching force under enormous strain.

A Defence Force that had lost more than a third of its personnel over the three years.

An undermanned Police Force:

• haemorrhaging officers to Australia,
• massive shortages in recruitment,
• massive increases in crime, and
• youth ramraids and violence that was simply out of control.

Gang numbers that ballooned over the three years.

A cost-of-living crisis.

A housing crisis with skyrocketing prices and unprecedented numbers living in emergency hotels. 

Remember the Labour promise 100,000 new Kiwi-Build houses in ten years?

They left us a rate of child poverty even higher than when in 2021 Jacinda Ardern made herself the ‘Minister of Child Poverty’.

A mental health system that had seen more and more young people suffering with no help.

Crumbling infrastructure around the country with no plan, no funding, and no idea.

An unprecedented, uncontrollable level of immigration – over 133,000 entering in 2023 alone.

And during Covid, Labour left large numbers of people ostracised, demonised, shutdown and shutout, ignored and cancelled – all because those people fought for their right to say ‘no, we disagree.’

And they are hoping we have all forgotten about all of that. 

They are now actively banking on working with the wacky Greens and racist mess of the Māori Party. 

Labour care more about the seats that will give them a road to power, rather than the danger of who it is that will fill those seats. 

The Labour Party of just twenty years ago would never entertain working with the likes of those in the current Greens or Māori Party. Those two parties are self-confessed Marxists and separatists, who have unworkable dangerous policies, and care more about globalist woke ideology and geopolitical wars happening ten thousand miles away than understanding the real world here in New Zealand.

A Labour, Greens, Māori Party government would be an unmitigated disaster for our country. 

The reality is, Labour long ago deserted the traditional blue-collar workers of New Zealand.

The movement of the party to the far left has caused longtime Labour voters to feel abandoned by a party that once stood for the ‘ordinary hard-working kiwi’. 

Instead, Labour now cares more about ‘social justice’ issues, socialist economics, and cultural separatism. 

That is why we ruled out working with Labour before the last election and why we are again ruling out working with the Labour Party in 2026.

New Zealand Needs Bold Policies

New Zealand First has already announced a number of election policies that we believe are needed to affect real change in the direction of the country, drive down the cost of living, and to secure a future for kiwis.

We have announced policies to break up the power companies, split the supermarket duopoly, re-establish a competitive state owned bank, return mining royalties created in the regions back to the regions, we announced our KiwiSaver policy of making it compulsory with automatic sign-up at birth $1000 kickstart – which by the way we announced a month before National decided to steal it and announce it as its own.

We announced a policy to establish a $100 billion Future Fund that will invest in thirty-year infrastructure plan for our country – a fund that is separate from the influence of politicians and run similar to the highly successful Temasek model in Singapore.

We have also announced that we will pull out of the Paris Agreement that is senselessly hamstringing our economy.

And we have most recently announced a policy to ensure that only citizens are allowed to vote in our country. 

Unbelievably, right now someone who has been in New Zealand for just twelve months can vote on who is in government, who is in local council, and vote on referendum issues that change the social fabric of our country. Over voting rules are the most lax in the world. 

New Zealand First will fix this.

These polices will change the status quo, reform our country, and put New Zealand back on a pathway of prosperity. 

They are bold policies. But bold policies are needed to create a fair playing field in the power, food, and banking systems so we can make real change to kiwis’ lives, drive down the cost of living, give kiwis a fair go, and take back control of our country.

Election 2026 Campaign Policy Announcement

We are announcing another bold campaign policy today.

One of the most concerning issues we are currently facing as a nation is the existential threat to fuel security and fuel supply.
We have seen the immediate effects of being isolated and totally dependent on international supply lines of oil and gas, and the dramatic and costly effects it has on New Zealand’s sustainability, planning, and future certainty.
We are totally susceptible to the geopolitical choices made by other nations in the cost, supply, and certainty we need as a country to survive, today and into the future.
This needs to change.
Other parties want to ‘tinker around the edges’ with solar panel plans – which does next to nothing to address fuel and gas insecurity; we say New Zealand has one of the greatest potentials in the world to have ownership of our own supply of oil and natural gas.New Zealand potentially holds Norway-scale energy prospects in our offshore basins and that potential has never been accurately surveyed or characterised with modern tools.
If we identify those reserves in our basins, we will have the ability to utilise the natural resources we have to make our country secure, prosperous, and to build real resilience.
Analysis shows that the odds of New Zealand having a major commercial discovery in our basins is well above ninety percent. And most likely, we hold something that would be transformational for our country, and potentially the equivalent of Norway in scale.
We can no longer ignore this potential we have in our deep sea basins.
This is about future-proofing New Zealand in a world of uncertainty.
This is about making the investment now to build fuel security and fuel resilience for New Zealand’s future. We cannot afford to wait any longer.
New Zealand First will be campaigning on an initial investment of $1 billion over the term of government, into a ‘National Subsurface Development Survey’ – to identify and create one national dataset across energy, geothermal and CO₂ storage sites, and create the framework for New Zealand to develop those sites, extract those resources, and build our country’s resilience and prosperous economic future.
New Zealand has ten prospective basins with world-class potential, the Great South Basin has had eight wells drilled in its entire history and the deeper horizons are untested. The existing seismic data is two technology generations old, covering only a fraction of our subsurface inheritance.
Namibia has made the discoveries that can now transform its country and economy after a focused data acquisition campaign which began in 2022.
In under a decade, Guyana went from first discovery to South America’s third-largest producer.

We have that potential here in New Zealand.
Since the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, capital is now moving into politically stable basins elsewhere in the world, and for it to move it needs modern data. The reality is, survey costs right now sit at structural lows.
The policy is a game changer.
Under this plan we would expect to see first results within twelve months and convert that potential into knowledge that global capital can bid against. This is at a time when we are in the midst of the largest basin-capital movement in a generation.
Within the first twenty-four months the highest-ranked basins will have surveying completed with wells identified, and the first physical proof that reserves exist.
Potentially within just six years, we will have a pathway forward for our country to own and control our own supply of energy that we can use domestically and export around the world.
New Zealand First would utilise these resources to transform our economy and our future.
We would set fair terms while explorers carry the risk of proving the fields — and over time place a royalty well above 50% on all extractions as production matures.
We would use these finds to end the gas shortfalls that have sent power prices through the roof, and to drive fuel costs down locally, export oil and gas, and establish a Norwegian-model sovereign fund.
We will transform any discovery into permanent national wealth and invest in regional industry.
New Zealand has natural resources that are there, ready to be utilised to transform our country.
This is about New Zealand’s economic sovereignty and security, we cannot wait and continue to be beholden to international interests and decision making.
We will find those energy reserves, we will extract them, and what we find, we will use to make our country prosperous again.

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen, we are all here because we love our country, and we are proud of it.

True democracy is a rare flower in the history of humanity.

We have inherited a free country that our forebears fought and died for, and it’s our job to preserve it.

But only if we are proud of what we have inherited can we come together and move forward to shape the vision of our country’s future.

We live in a country that, at its core, traditional New Zealand values once saw us amongst the world’s leaders – hard work, fair pay, valuing our citizenship, building a sense of community, and knowing who we are as kiwis.

We must remember, New Zealand is the beneficiary of Western values, democracy, and the rule of law. And the advancement and enhancement of those principles have only occurred in those societies that have united together as one people – and who celebrate their nationhood instead of perpetuating division.

We must take hold of new opportunities and embrace hope for a new direction. Because the past is now over, the future is coming, and New Zealand needs to be ready.

There is a lot of uncertainty around the world and at home, but we must keep hope alive that, with hard work and perseverance, tomorrow will be better.

New Zealand First is nationalist, patriotic, and socially conservative.

We are proud to not only stand for those values, but to fight for them. 

Times are tough. But we are fighting for you. And we will never give up.

We must not lose sight of how far we have come on this long road to recovery.

And, if you give us the tools, we will finish the job.

It hasn’t been easy – but things in life worth doing – are never easy.  

It is what will build the character of our country.

We must never forget that challenge.

We must never stop believing in New Zealand.

That is our vision and that is our mission.

To protect, to save, and to restore New Zealand’s place at the top of the world.

By putting New Zealand and New Zealanders first.

We are asking you to join us – and Party Vote New Zealand First.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/20/winston-peters-hope-and-a-better-tomorrow/

Source: New Zealand Government

Resource Management Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court are welcoming the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill being reported back from the Environment Committee, with changes that improve the workability of New Zealand’s new planning system while retaining its core design.

“The Government is replacing the broken Resource Management Act with a new planning system that will make it easier to produce food and fibre, and build the homes, infrastructure and renewable energy that New Zealand needs – while continuing to protect the environment,” Mr Bishop says.

“It’s a big part of the Government’s plan to fix the basics, remove barriers to growth and build a stronger economy.

“The economic benefits of our new planning system are significant. Independent analysis shows the new planning system is projected to boost GDP by an additional 0.56 per cent every year by 2050, worth up to $3.1 billion annually. A cost benefit analysis estimates $13.3 billion in savings over 30 years through reduced administrative and compliance costs.

“Officials also estimate that around 45 per cent of consent and permit applications required under the RMA could be removed under the new system. Based on 2023/24 volumes, that represents between 15,000 and 22,000 consents no longer needed.

“Over the past six months, the Environment Committee has carefully considered submissions from across New Zealand. 

“The Committee has now reported the Bills back to Parliament having recommended a range of sensible improvements – which the Government supports – that strengthen the legislation while retaining the core features of the new planning system.

“Alongside the Committee’s recommendations, the Government has agreed further amendments to the legislation.

“One of those changes relates to Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements.

“The Bills as introduced provide that Mana Whakahono ā Rohe that existed or had been initiated prior to the Bills being enacted would transfer into the new system, but that there would be no provision for new ones. 

“Since the Bills were introduced, we have become concerned about the rapid increase in new agreements and initiated processes between councils and iwi. Eight existed when the Bills were introduced late last year. Since then, several dozen more have been agreed or initiated.

“Cabinet has therefore agreed that existing and initiated Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements will not transfer into the new planning system.

“Instead, councils will have the option of entering into new narrowly scoped iwi participation agreements to record how iwi authorities will participate in statutory planning processes and processes required to give effect to Treaty settlement redress. Clear guardrails will be included in the legislation to prevent scope creep.

“The Government is also considering options around Waikato’s Plan Change 1 (PC1), which the Environment Court recently released its final decision on. 

“It doesn’t make sense for Waikato farmers and growers to be implementing a new plan change at the same time as the underlying legislation is changing and new national direction is being issued, so we may address this issue through a further amendment.

“The Committee’s recommendations also include a range of practical improvements that strengthen certainty, reduce unnecessary compliance costs, and make the legislation more practical to implement.

“The core architecture remains unchanged. The new two-Bill system will be retained, which features goals and national instruments setting direction from the top, a narrowing of matters that can be revisited at each successive level of decision-making, more consistent planning rules, fewer consenting requirements, higher thresholds for public participation in consents, and a clearer focus on managing the effects that matter.

“Changes to the purpose and goals will give stronger recognition to people’s enjoyment of their land and the importance of food and fibre production, and will better enable infrastructure, create competitive urban land markets that deliver an abundance of development opportunities, and support enhancement of the natural environment.

“In response to concerns raised by submitters, the Committee has strengthened the safeguards around natural resource levies, ensuring they remain tightly focused on covering costs and are better linked to the resource, location and activities they fund.

“It has also removed the proposed market-based and comparative allocation approaches and retained first-in, first-served permitting, providing greater certainty while the Government continues work on future allocation approaches.

“The removal of the precautionary principle better reflects the Government’s intention that planning decisions should be proportionate and evidence-based, even where information is uncertain.

“The Committee has retained the approach to providing for Māori interests through a system goal and iwi participation in national instruments and plan-making rather than relying on broad, open-ended Treaty provisions.

“It has also made helpful recommendations to clarify the obligations related to upholding Treaty settlements, which the Government has committed to do. We intend to provide further specificity regarding some settlements through an Amendment Paper.

“Importantly, the Committee has also refined the transition to the new planning system, extending the implementation period from 30 to 39 months in response to feedback from councils and planning practitioners. 

“This will provide more time to prepare the first tranche of national instruments and support a smoother transition from the Resource Management Act to the new system,” Mr Bishop says.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court says the Committee has made practical changes that make the new planning system easier to use while protecting the environment. 

“Changes to the Natural Environment Bill restore controlled activity classes to give farmers and other primary producers more certainty, and simplify wildlife approvals to cut unnecessary bureaucracy so projects can get underway sooner.

“They have also made it clearer that environmental limits need to balance environmental, social and economic outcomes, and that those limits should be workable in practice.

“The Bill also reins in unnecessary council overreach through the regulatory relief provisions while recognising the contribution private landowners make to protecting public values.

“The negative effects of greenhouse gas emissions are already managed through the Climate Change Response Act and the Emissions Trading Scheme. Removing them from this planning system avoids duplication and provides greater certainty.

“The result is a planning system that’s simpler, more predictable, and makes it easier to build the homes, infrastructure and energy projects New Zealand needs while protecting the environment.”

Mr Bishop and Mr Court thanked the Committee, chaired by Catherine Wedd, and the many New Zealanders, organisations and businesses who made submissions on the Bills.

“The Bills will now proceed to their second reading in Parliament,” Mr Bishop says.

“We will shortly release an illustrative draft of the new National Policy Direction, continuing the next phase of these reforms and giving New Zealanders a clearer picture of how the new planning system will operate in practice.

“These reforms will replace one of New Zealand’s most complicated and litigious pieces of legislation with a planning system that is more predictable, more consistent and far better at enabling New Zealand to grow.”

Find attached:

• Fact sheet: Key features of the new planning system
• Fact sheet: Key changes to the Bills at Select Committee

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/20/better-planning-for-growth-and-environment/

Source: New Zealand Government

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the Select Committee report on the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill is a significant step forward for the primary sector.

“These bills are central to this Government’s plan to grow the economy and back our farmers,” says Todd McClay.

“For too long the RMA has added cost, delay, and uncertainty for the people who grow and produce New Zealand’s food and fibre. Replacing it with a system that is practical, proportionate, and focused on outcomes is good news for farmers and for the wider economy.”

“I’m pleased to see the Select Committee has listened to the sector and refined how freshwater farm plans will work in practice.”

Associate Environment and Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard has welcomed the Select Committee report on the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill, which have been sent back to the House.

“This is a milestone for the Government and another step for the two new bills to replace the RMA, which has held up development and caused frustration for farmers, homeowners, iwi, councils, and others,” says Andrew Hoggard.

“There is a role for freshwater farm plans in the new planning system, as a key tool to manage environmental impacts in a way that is proportionate, cost-effective, and risk focused.”

There have also been key and welcome changes to the bills as part of the Select Committee process, relating to audits in the freshwater farm plan system. The Select Committee has agreed to amend the legislation to remove the requirement for a non-certified farm plan to be audited.

“This change supports the risk-based and practical approach for farm plans.

Only those farms undertaking activities with a higher identified risk to freshwater will be required to have a certified and audited freshwater farm plan.”

Farmers with lower risk activities will still need to prepare and hold a farm plan, and declare they have one to the council, but they will not need to have it certified or audited.

In sensitive catchments, freshwater farm plans may also be used to comply with rules or regulations.

“Farm plans will be straightforward for most farmers to develop, giving them a practical way to identify, manage, and reduce the impacts of farming on their land and freshwater.”

Farmers can opt to have their plans certified and audited at any time, if that’s required for access to specific markets.

“We’ve heard from farmers that they want a system that’s cost-effective, restores certainty, and provides environmental protections without the delays of the old RMA. I believe we’ve achieved that,” says Andrew Hoggard.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/20/select-committee-report-on-the-natural-environment-bill-and-planning-bill-welcomed/

MIL OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is acting to maintain New Zealand’s ongoing domestic cement manufacturing capacity and ensure our economy remains resilient to global supply chain shocks.

“We have agreed to grant Golden Bay Cement (GBC) up to $60m to continue cement manufacturing at its Whangarei plant, maintain domestic clinker manufacturing capability, and undertake at least $150m in investments needed to support cost-effective domestic cement production through to at least 2040.”

“Ministers were advised that due to rising costs Fletcher Building Limited was considering closure of the GBC clinker facility in Whangarei, in favour of switching to a cheaper import-only model. 

“The Golden Bay factory is New Zealand’s only fully integrated cement manufacturing plant and plays a vital role in our economic supply-chain. 

“In May Cabinet carefully considered the case for targeted, time-limited financial support to secure its ongoing operation.   

“Ultimately the Government determined that losing domestic cement production would leave us massively exposed to potential global supply disruptions. Cement has no practical substitutes. It is needed for the building of homes, hospitals, schools, roads, and other nationally significant infrastructure.  Any reductions in its availability could bring essential construction and infrastructure development, and the economic activity they support, to a standstill.

“Cabinet therefore agreed to enter negotiations to keep the GBC plant operating, with a limited envelope of funds set aside for this purpose and strict conditions for support. The agreement we are announcing today meets those conditions within the funding envelope determined by Cabinet.   

“Our Government did not take this decision lightly. Before entering negotiations we undertook a rigorous supply chain assessment of the role domestically produced cement plays in the economy, analysed the underlying financial factors at-play, and gave careful consideration to potential precedent risks. Ultimately, we concluded that this is an exceptional case, which meets the very high bar needed to justify taxpayer support.  

“As part of our deliberations, we commissioned an independent open-book financial assessment of the GBC operation.  This concluded that there were binding constraints on the financial viability of domestic cement production, primarily due to emissions costs. 

“While we considered alternative forms of regulatory relief, we were concerned to take a lowest-cost approach that did not undermine the effective operation of the Emissions Trading Scheme.  The agreed approach strikes the right balance, preserving a strategically significant domestic capability without creating a precedent for wider support, or undermining the integrity of the ETS.

“Under the terms of the deal, GBC must maintain domestic manufacture of cement until at least 31 December 2040, commit at least $150m of its own investment, maintain jobs, and submit to additional reporting and auditing requirements, with the Government able to claw back funds if obligations are not met.

“In an uncertain world, the Government has acted to secure New Zealand’s national economic resilience.” 

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/20/domestic-cement-production-secured/

Source: Media Outreach

Concurrent Food Expo features “Multi-Facets of Chinese Medicine” exhibition

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 – The 25^th International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM), organised by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA) together with the HKTDC and ten scientific research institutions, will be held from 13 to 15 August at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), offering industry professionals the latest insights into Chinese medicine. This year’s conference is funded by the Chinese Medicine Development Fund of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It is dedicated to strengthening the ties between Hong Kong’s Chinese medicine industry and the international market, while promoting Hong Kong’s leading role in the global field of Chinese medicine.

Register for the conference to stay updated with the latest industry information on Chinese medicine: https://tinyurl.com/tmvryr38

Aligning with the strategic Blueprint with a focus on “Bringing In and Going Global”

The Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint of Hong Kong (the Blueprint) released in 2025 positions Hong Kong as a bridgehead for the global internationalisation of Chinese medicine and a key highland within the national framework for Chinese medicine development. To actively support the strategic direction of the Blueprint, this year’s conference adopts the theme Clinical Translation, Regulatory Policies and Global Innovative Pathways of Traditional Medicine, focusing on two core elements: bringing in and going global. It introduces Hong Kong’s Chinese medicine regulations and resource support to participants from Chinese Mainland and overseas, while inviting overseas regulatory authorities to share their local traditional medicine regulations. This year, some 30 experts and scholars from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, and overseas have been invited to comprehensively explore the latest research and development trends, regulatory interpretations, and success cases in Chinese medicine.

The three-day conference is divided into five major thematic sessions, covering policy blueprints, international regulations, clinical research, success case sharing, and talent cultivation:

To help enterprises from Chinese Mainland and abroad understand Hong Kong’s Chinese medicine regulation and support, Dr. Vincent Chung Chi-ho, Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development, Chinese Medicine Unit, Health Bureau, will elaborate on the Blueprint, while Law Kwok-wai, Robert, Chief Pharmacist (Chinese Medicine), Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office, Department of Health, Dr. Yeung Kin Wai, Senior Chemist, Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, Department of Health, and Prof. Bian Zhaoxiang, Hospital Chief Executive, The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) , will share in-depth insights into the latest progress in Chinese medicine regulation, quality standards testing, and clinical practice and research at the Chinese Medicine Hospital. Furthermore, Arnold Lau, Associate Director-General, Invest Hong Kong, Dr. William Cheung, Deputy Chief Manager (Life and Health Technology), Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Angela Yu, Deputy Head of Health Tech and TCM, Hong Kong Productivity Council and Wing Chu, Deputy Director of Research, HKTDC, will participate in a panel discussion to analyse the Hong Kong government’s resource support for the development of Chinese medicine.

To provide attendees with a comprehensive analysis of market trends, Prof. Zheng Linyun, Executive Vice President of the Shanghai Academy of International Standardization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, will share reflections and prospects on the transformation of ISO/TC249. Furthermore, Prof. Taruna Ikrar, Chairperson of the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM), Indonesia, Nurul Anisah Binti Shahri from National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), Ministry of Health, Malaysia and Thawatchai Nakkaratniyom, Senior Professional Level Pharmacist, Head of Pre-marketing Control Group, Herbal Products Division at Thai Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand will jointly analyse the regulations and standards of the Southeast Asian market.

Scientific and clinical experts will share the latest progress in the scientific research and clinical application of Chinese medicine, as well as experiences regarding the R&D application and clinical efficacy of hospital-made Chinese medicine preparations. Prof. Zhang Zhongde, Deputy President of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine & President of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine will share Chinese Mainland’s practices in the research and development of Chinese medicine. Prof. Lee Sanghoon, Dean, International Education Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University will discuss the development of new natural product drugs in Korea. Prof. Pei Xiaohua, Dean of Changping Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Director of the Institute of Traditional Chinese Surgery will discuss clinical needs in developing new Chinese herbal medicines for TCM-advantageous breast diseases. Locally, Prof. Zhang Ge from Hong Kong Baptist University will present innovative achievements in utilising traditional Chinese medicine to drive target discovery for triple-negative breast cancer, while Prof. Xian Yanfang Lisa, Assistant Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong will share pre-clinical and clinical studies of novel Chinese medicine formula for treating gout.

Focusing on successful industry practices, ICMCM provides an interactive platform for the industry, helping to ensure the continuous development and growth of the traditional Chinese medicine sector. Yan Han, Chairman, Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Medicine Company Limited will share the cultural heritage and internationalised development of Chinese medicine, and Dr. Celine Cheng, Chief Compliance & Technology Officer of Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited will share GMP applications in the industry. Several professors from Chinese Mainland, Australia, Canada, Macao, and Singapore—including Prof. Li Min, Dean and Chair Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University; Prof. Xu Hongxi, Chairman, Belt and Road Alliance for Traditional Medicine, Honorary Dean & Distinguished Professor, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Prof. Zhu Xiaoshu, Co-Director, Australia-China Chinese Medicine Centre, Western Sydney University, Australia; and Prof. Linda Zhong, Director, Biomedical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore —will explore training models for Chinese medicine talent at home and abroad, alongside market demands for Chinese medicine products in potential markets.

The Symposium will be held on the morning of 15 August. This year, it is jointly organized by eight institutions, including four Hong Kong universities—The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology—alongside Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, the University of Macau, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. The Symposium will kick off with Vincent & Lily Woo Fellowship in Memory of Dr Albert Wong endowed by Vincent & Lily Woo Foundation Award Presentation Ceremony, hosted by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Foundation. This year’s Symposium will feature nearly 100 research presentations, including oral research presentations by 10 postgraduate students from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, and Serbia, and nearly 90 poster displays. The judging panel will select 10 winners for the Tianjiang Cup Li Shizhen Youth Outstanding Thesis Award. The Symposium not only provides a platform for postgraduate students in Chinese medicine to share their research progress and achievements but also promotes student collaboration and exchange, laying an important cornerstone for cultivating a new generation of scientific research professionals and driving the development of Chinese medicine.

This year’s conference continues to operate under the hybrid model, with simultaneous interpretation in both English and Putonghua offered to enable wider industry participation.

In addition to the professional conference tailored for industry practitioners, ICMCM is committed to promoting the popularisation and implementation of Chinese medicine in the community through a public education display area titled “Multi-Facets of Chinese Medicine” at the concurrent Food Expo. In response to the directives of the Blueprint, this interactive and educational display aims to significantly enhance the public’s correct understanding of and confidence in Chinese medicine.

The design of the exhibition is closely aligned with the development direction set out in the Blueprint, providing a comprehensive overview of the new chapter in Hong Kong’s Chinese medicine sector. It covers four main themes including the latest development trends of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong, the service features of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong, the Hospital Authority’s Chinese medicine outpatient services, Chinese medicine regulation framework and Chinese medicine practitioner registration system, alongside knowledge on Chinese medicine wellness practices.

A half-day ICMCM Public Forum will be held on Saturday, 15, August 2026, to promote the advantages of Chinese medicine services, interesting Chinese medicine wellness tips and preventive healthcare. By running industry conferences alongside public exhibitions and forums in parallel, the event aims, on the one hand, to foster academic and industrial innovation exchanges among global Chinese medicine experts, and on the other, to embed Chinese medicine culture deeply into the daily lives of the public, thereby jointly promoting Hong Kong’s development as an international centre for Chinese medicine.

Conference programme: icmcm.hktdc.com/pdf/2026/programme.pdf
Website: hktdc.com/icmcm

Concurrent Exhibitions:
HKTDC Food Expo PRO foodexpopro.hktdc.com
HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair hkteafair.hktdc.com
HKTDC Food Expo hkfoodexpo.hktdc.com
HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com
HKTDC Home Delights Expo homedelights.hktdc.com

Hashtag: #HKTDC #ICMCM

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 – The four-day World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026 (WAIC 2026) concluded successfully in Shanghai. During the event, Phancy showcased its full-stack AI cloud service platform and real-world industry applications, highlighting its AI infrastructure, model platforms, and commercialization cases across multiple sectors.

At the heart of the showcase was Phancy’s “Token Factory”, which demonstrated a complete closed-loop from technological innovation and engineering implementation to industrial empowerment. The exhibit received widespread acclaim from industry leaders, government and enterprise representatives, international guests, and major media outlets. A number of high-profile guests visited the booth, sparking in-depth discussions on innovation opportunities and development trends in the AI 2.0 era.

Building the “Token Factory”: Full-Stack Capabilities Driving Scalable Industrial Adoption

At WAIC 2026, Phancy centered its presentation on its full-stack AI cloud service platform, demonstrating the “Token Factory” and turning the vision of scalable, reusable and deployable AI productivity into tangible industrial capabilities.

At the infrastructure and foundational layer, Phancy’s HAMi (virtual heterogeneous GPU management and orchestration platform) and ModelHub XC (opensource model adaption and optimization platform) effectively addresses key industry pain points — including localized deployment of large models, efficient computing resource scheduling and large‑scale implementation. These solutions provide a solid foundation for industrialized AI production and strengthen the Token Factory’s core advantages in efficiency, stability, and scalability. Both technologies attracted significant attention at the event, drawing government officials, industry experts, and enterprise clients for demonstrations, consultations, and partnership discussions.

Core Production and Intelligent Applications

At the core production and application layer, Phancy highlighted its AGI platform Phanthy Pantheon and the self-evolving AI modeling tool PhanthyModel, both of which significantly lower the barriers to building advanced models. On the delivery side, the company introduced its cross-platform embodied agent framework PhanthyMotus, the AI coding agent PhanthyCode, and the AI-powered film production platform PhanthyMovie. These solutions enable seamless integration of AI capabilities into real-world operations across a wide range of industries.

From computing orchestration and model development to intelligent agent deployment, Phancy continues to connect computing resources, AI models, developers, and industry ecosystems, driving the stable and efficient transformation of AI technologies into practical, scalable industrial productivity.

Internationally Recognized as a Trusted Global Industrial AI Solution

In addition to its technology showcase, Phancy received significant international recognition at WAIC 2026. At the Global Industrial AI Cooperation Forum, in the presence of high-level guests including the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Brazil’s Minister of Public Service Management and Innovation, and academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Phancy was selected as a “Global Flagship Case in Industrial AI” and named among the first batch of “Trusted Global Industrial AI Solutions.”

This prestigious honor validates Phancy’s technological reliability, compliance and real‑world implementation capabilities in industrial AI, and marks strong international endorsement of the company’s AI engineering and commercialization strengths.

Building an Open Industry Ecosystem and Entering a New Era of AI 2.0

The successful conclusion of WAIC 2026 was not only a celebration of technological achievements but also a powerful platform for deep industry collaboration. As AI moves into the era of large-scale application, Phancy will continue to pursue technological innovation and open collaboration, further strengthening its full-stack AI cloud service system.

Looking ahead, Phancy will work closely with global developers, industry partners, and clients to bring the “Token Factory” into more real-world scenarios, making AI a true driver of industrial upgrading and high‑quality productivity.

Hashtag: #PhancyGroup

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-NZ-AU)

DENVER, July 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rare Earths Limited (ASX: ARR | OTCQX: ARRNF | ADR: AMRRY) (“ARR” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Conover as Chief Development Officer (CDO), a new executive role focused on advancing the Company’s flagship Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project in Wyoming through the current Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS), the planned Final Feasibility Study (FS), and towards construction.

APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Mr. Conover is a mining projects executive with approximately 20 years of experience delivering studies, major capital projects, restarts and brownfield expansions across the Americas. Most recently, he served as Senior Director of Construction at Elko Mining Group / Origin Mining, where he was accountable for the restart of a brownfield copper-molybdenum mill, tailings and associated infrastructure with a capital budget of approximately US$350 million, while achieving strong safety outcomes and disciplined execution.

As Chief Development Officer, Mr. Conover will be responsible for integrating and driving the Halleck Creek Cowboy State Mine pre-feasibility and feasibility programs, including engineering, project controls, risk management and constructability. He will also establish the development and execution framework required to move Halleck Creek efficiently from feasibility into permitting, detailed engineering and construction, while working closely with technical, operations and permitting teams to support long-term safety, operability and capital discipline.

In addition, he will help advance the Whole of Property Development Assessment for the broader, multi-generational Halleck Creek deposit beyond the initial Cowboy State mine.

The creation of the Chief Development Officer role reflects the Company’s focus on de-risking Halleck Creek as a future domestic source of rare earths for defense, energy, and advanced manufacturing supply chains, and on aligning internal capabilities with the scale and strategic importance of the project.

The Company also advises that Mr. Dwight Kinnes has retired from the Company. American Rare Earths thanks Mr. Kinnes for his substantial work on the Halleck Creek project and wishes him the best in his retirement.

This announcement has been authorized for release by the Board of American Rare Earths Limited.

ABOUT THE HALLECK CREEK RARE EARTHS PROJECT

The Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project, located in Wyoming, is described by the Company as the largest known rare earth deposit in the United States on a total rare earth oxide (TREO) basis¹. The Cowboy State Mine area is being advanced as the initial development area, while the Company also continues to assess the broader long-term potential of the overall property.

ABOUT AMERICAN RARE EARTHS LIMITED

American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR | OTCQX: ARRNF | ADR: AMRRY) is a critical minerals company focused on advancing the Halleck Creek Project through its wholly owned subsidiary, Wyoming Rare (USA) Inc. The Company states that Halleck Creek has the potential to support U.S. critical mineral independence and that it continues to work on innovative extraction and processing technologies with support from U.S. government-backed research program. Further information is available at www.americanree.com.

________________________________
¹ Refer ASX announcement dated 4 February 2025

– Published by The MIL Network

MIL OSI

Source: Media Outreach

• Deep dive into the DNA of Thailand’s wellness giants—BDMS Wellness Clinic and Chiva-Som—and their strategic blueprints to transform the kingdom into the ultimate global wellness destination.

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 – In the modern era, “good health” has redefined the meaning of true wealth. Consumers worldwide are now heavily investing in innovations that promote longevity and extend healthspan—the period of life spent in good health. Even amid economic uncertainty, health and well-being remain top priorities for consumers. This behavioral shift helping drive the global wellness economy to a reached USD 6.8 trillion in 2024, representing a 7.9% growth from the previous year. Furthermore, the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) projects the market to surge to USD 9.8 trillion by 2029, maintaining an average annual growth rate of 7.6%. Driven by this exponential growth, nations worldwide, including Thailand, are aggressively developing wellness services and innovations to serve as a “New Growth Engine” and a key indicator of long-term national competitiveness.

Where Does Thailand Stand in the Global Health & Wellness Industry?

When evaluating Thailand’s potential, Thailand ranks among the world’s leading healthcare destinations. According to the Numbeo Health Care Index 2026, Thailand’s healthcare system is ranked 8th globally, making it the sole ASEAN nation to secure a spot in the Top 10. Focusing specifically on the health and wellness sector, Thailand achieved the highest growth rate globally in 2023, with the market value soaring past USD 40 billion—a remarkable 28.4% increase. The “Wellness Tourism” segment alone skyrocketed by 36.4%, outperforming the global average by threefold.

These figures reflect much more than financial profits; they underscore Thailand’s robust readiness and distinct advantages. The country boasts world-class medical infrastructure, accredited hospitals, highly skilled medical professionals, reasonable treatment costs, and an established reputation as a top wellness destination. Additionally, Thailand possesses unique cultural assets—such as traditional Thai herbs, Thai massage, healthy cuisine, and medical tourism—that can be strategically leveraged into a high-value economy.

Driving a High-Income Economy with Deep Tech in the Wellness Market

Prof. Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), announced a strategic vision to transform Thailand’s wellness industry from traditional services into a high-value, globally competitive innovation sector. The strategy aims to unlock the potential of Thai culture, local wisdom, and rich biodiversity by implementing modern science and technology to establish evidence-based efficacy. Furthermore, cutting-edge innovations such as Health Tech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) will be deployed to analyze deep health data. Equipping the sector with Deep Tech will significantly elevate international credibility.

Prof. Dr. Yodchanan emphasized: “MHESI is fully prepared to act as a vital gear in mitigating R&D investment risks for the private sector through an end-to-end support system. We aim to accelerate the commercialization of Thai innovations by systematically connecting the innovation ecosystem. This includes matchmaking entrepreneurs, startups, researchers, and universities, alongside injecting comprehensive financial and resource support. Our assistance spans R&D grants, advanced laboratory access, clinical trials, global production standard upgrades, and intellectual property protection. Collectively, these mechanisms will propel wellness into a New Growth Engine, boosting national competitiveness and establishing Thailand as a true global wellness hub.”

NIA’s Four Strategic Pillars to Propel the Thai Wellness Economy Globally

Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (NIA), stated that driving the wellness industry sustainably cannot be achieved by the private sector alone. It requires cross-sector collaboration to foster an innovation ecosystem conducive to research, technological development, standard testing, and global market expansion. The NIA has continuously supported entrepreneurs in health, wellness, and medical technology through capacity-building initiatives like the Wellness Academy, startup incubation, university network integration, and innovation competitions to translate ideas into market-ready businesses.

The NIA prioritizes data, research, and scientific evidence to build trust and add value to Thai wellness products and services. Simultaneously, the agency connects entrepreneurs to vital resources and innovation networks to stimulate the healthcare economy, creating jobs and new revenue streams through four key strategies:

1. Connecting Innovative Businesses: Fostering synergies across the ecosystem.
2. Upgrading Wellness Establishments and Labor Skills: Elevating service standards and workforce capabilities to international levels.
3. Driving Progress via Thailand Innovation Hubs: Utilizing regional hubs to stimulate localized innovation.
4. Scaling Up and Building International Recognition: Enhancing global awareness of Thai wellness as credible, safe, verifiable, and uniquely high-value.

The NIA’s ultimate goal is not merely to create new innovative businesses, but to build a sustainable ecosystem that empowers Thai entrepreneurs to grow robustly and integrate seamlessly into the global health and wellness supply chain.

BDMS Champions “Healthspan” and Preventive Medicine to Secure a Competitive Edge

As longevity becomes a primary aspiration for the global population, BDMS Wellness Clinic—a premier wellness leader in Thailand—is accelerating the preventive healthcare industry. By utilizing health science and personalized medicine, the clinic designs deep-level bodily care to firmly establish Thailand as a pioneer in modern health trends.

Dr. Tanupol Virunhagarun, Chief Executive Officer of BDMS Wellness Group, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Limited (BDMS), highlighted that transitioning from treating illnesses to preventing them is an undeniable global megatrend. This aligns with World Health Organization (WHO) data indicating that every 1 Baht invested in wellness yields up to a 35-fold return by reducing public healthcare expenditures and enhancing citizen quality of life. This expertise has positioned BDMS Wellness Clinic as a major private-sector anchor, attracting high-spending global consumers to Thailand through its concept of “Scientific Wellness.” This approach features evidence-based healthcare, ranging from advanced genetic testing and personalized nutrition and vitamin formulations to blending modern medical innovations with traditional Thai medicine for verifiable results. Upgrading these standards shifts Thailand’s image from a leisure destination to a highly credible, advanced medical hub, serving as a crucial mechanism in partnering with the government to promote the nation as “Wellness Hub Thailand, The Land of Life” and a top-of-mind Global Wellness Destination.

Chiva-Som Showcases the “Thai Spirit” to Redefine the Health Economy

Complementing advanced medical dimensions, Thailand possesses iconic brands in health tourism marketing, such as Chiva-Som—the country’s first wellness resort and a pioneer in Asia. Spanning over three decades, Chiva-Som evolved from a modest beachfront holiday home in Hua Hin into one of the world’s top wellness resorts, capturing the loyalty of high-net-worth consumers from the West. What sets Chiva-Som apart is not just its world-class international treatments, but the “Thai spirit of hospitality”—characterized by humility, gentleness, and sincerity—seamlessly integrated with a profound understanding of holistic wellness.

Drawing from this tangible success, Mr. Krod Rojanastien, Consultant to President of Chiva-Som International Health Resort Co., Ltd., shared a pivotal insight: In a digital era where people face chronic stress and burnout, wellness has become mainstream. Thailand holds a distinct competitive advantage through its innate service spirit, gentle culture, and centuries-old traditional Thai medical wisdom. Moving forward, the priority must be backing this traditional wisdom with scientific research to secure international trust. Thailand’s future marketing goal must transcend being a temporary vacation spot; it must elevate into a global “Sanctuary” where people intentionally travel to restore their body, mind, and overall quality of life.

When science, technology, innovation, and Thai wisdom are systematically woven together, the wellness economy will transform from a mere service sector into a powerful economic engine. It will lead Thailand toward becoming a definitive Global Wellness Destination, generating economic wealth and holistic well-being simultaneously.
Hashtag: #NIA #NationalInnovationAgency

https://www.nia.or.th/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.