AM Edition: Here are the top 10 politics articles on LiveNews.co.nz for September 15, 2026 – Full Text
1. Uncertain outlook shades farmer confidence – Federated Farmers
September 14, 2026
Source: Federated Farmers
Profitability is the highest it’s been in a decade, but farmers are worried about whether the good times will hold.
Federated Farmers’ latest Confidence Survey shows 72% of farmers are making a profit, with fewer than one in 20 making a loss.
“That’s an incredibly positive result and the highest since we started asking about profitability back in 2016,” Federated Farmers president Colin Hurst says.
“High interest rates, low commodity prices and sky-high input costs were making it really hard for farmers to earn a living just a few years ago.
“Dairy, sheep and beef farmers are now getting strong returns again, meaning farming has been one of the main bright spots in an otherwise sluggish New Zealand economy.”
The July survey of 634 farms found farmers are feeling confident about wider economic conditions right now.
However, confidence about the next 12 months moved sharply in the opposite direction.
Nearly 30% of farmers expect conditions to worsen, compared with only 12% expecting improvement.
“Most of that concern about the year ahead is coming from dairy farmers, with 39% expecting a downturn versus 18% of meat and wool farmers,” Hurst says.
“Nearly 8% ticked ‘don’t know’, suggesting genuine uncertainty rather than settled pessimism.”
When asked to name their top concerns, the reasons for declining forward confidence are clear, Hurst says.
“Farmers who answered our survey describe a sector that’s currently well paid at the farmgate – arable farms a notable exception.
“But even though returns are good, they’re feeling squeezed by high costs, over-regulated, and politically anxious.”
Farmers’ top three concerns are rising input costs/on-farm inflation (33%), the election and domestic politics (30%) and regulation, compliance and red tape (23%).
“In farmers’ written comments, we can see a recurring theme that fuel, fertiliser, freight, insurance and other costs are ratcheting up faster than returns.
“They have limited ability to pass those costs on, so that means profit margins could be eroded.”
Worries about commodity prices and weather, such as a potential El Niño-driven drought, are well back at 12% and 11% respectively.
Despite net pessimism about the year ahead, more than half of the survey respondents plan to increase on-farm spending, and many expect to lift production.
Two in five farms expect to reduce debt against one in nine expecting they’ll have to borrow more.
“Set against rising profitability, it appears our sector is investing and repairing balance sheets while the cash flow is there,” Hurst says.
Unfortunately, while for dairy and meat and wool farmers many of the indicators are holding or positive, that’s not the case for arable farmers.
The arable sector is the only group that expects to have to increase debt rather than pay it down, and the only group negative on current profitability at net -2.6%.
“It’s incredibly concerning that only one in five arable farmers report making a profit, and nearly one in four report a loss,” Hurst says.
“The current conditions lifting the pastoral sector are not reaching our cropping farmers and that’s bad news for all of us.
“Arable farmers supply the platform of seeds, grains and feed required to run the nation’s multi-billion dollar livestock industry.”
Hurst says for political parties wondering what farmers want most from the Government, the clearest single instruction is to finish what has been started.
“The Government has done a good job of slashing red tape and trying to get Wellington out of farming.
“Even so, nearly a third of farmers say cutting regulation and compliance costs is their top priority for the Government.
“What we need is for the Resource Management Act reform to be completed, alongside simplifying consents and audits, and reducing council powers.
“Our election platform lays out a five-point plan to double farm productivity, cut costs and improve the environment, and we encourage all parties to take it on board.”
Other key findings from the July survey:
- Current profitability has risen at every survey January and July survey since a July 2024 trough. In the 2026 July survey, fewer than one in 20 farms report making a loss, compared with roughly one in three at the depth of the 2022-2024 downturn.
- Dairy farmers report strong current profitability, at a net +74.5, with 77% making a profit. Yet they are by far the most pessimistic about the year ahead: 39% expect economic conditions to worsen and 40% expect their own profitability to decline, against 18% and 14% among meat & wool farmers.
- Asked whether pressures such as economic conditions, weather, or government policy and regulation are affecting their mental health and wellbeing, just under one-third said yes, with a further 8% unsure. When first asked in January 2023, at the depth of the downturn, the figure was just over 70%.
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2. Government backs local homelessness support in Taranaki
September 14, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
Up to $580,000 in one-off Government funding will help New Plymouth’s Roderique Hope Trust and the YMCA Taranaki to support people experiencing homelessness into stable housing across the Taranaki region, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.
The funding will enable Roderique Hope Trust to lead the Taranaki Housing Pathways Initiative across New Plymouth and South Taranaki, with YMCA Taranaki delivering targeted outreach in New Plymouth.
“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Our Government is delivering more homes while backing the frontline services that help people reach and remain in them,” Mr Potaka says.
“Building more houses is essential, but housing alone will not end homelessness. People also need practical support to address the challenges that have left them without a secure home.
“This investment will help local organisations reach people earlier, connect them with the right services and support them towards stable housing.”
The initiative will support individuals and whānau who are sleeping rough, living in unsuitable accommodation or at immediate risk of homelessness.
“Roderique Hope Trust knows its community and will bring together Iwi, councils, government agencies, health and housing providers, and community organisations to provide coordinated support,” Mr Potaka says.
“YMCA Taranaki will receive $150,000 of the total funding to provide intensive daytime outreach, engagement and reintegration support for people sleeping rough in New Plymouth.
“This is practical, locally led support that will help fewer people sleep rough and give more Taranaki whānau a pathway towards a safe, stable home.”
The funding forms part of the Government’s $14.5 million package announced in June 2026 to expand effective, short-term homelessness initiatives around the country.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/14/government-backs-local-homelessness-support-in-taranaki/
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3. Strategy refresh sets stronger course for te reo Māori
September 14, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
The Government is confirming its clear and ambitious course for the future of te reo Māori with the refresh of the Maihi Karauna strategy, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says.
“Te reo Māori is a taonga and a defining part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s identity. This refreshed strategy is about ensuring the language is visible, valued and voiced.”
The Maihi Karauna is the Crown’s strategy for Māori language revitalisation across government and wider society, working alongside the Maihi Māori to support whānau and communities.
The refreshed strategy builds on the progress made since 2019 and reflects the latest evidence about what works to grow a living, thriving language.
“While it’s clear that public support for te reo is growing, many people are not actively learning or using the language themselves. Bridging this gap is the next step in revitalisation,” Mr Potaka says.
The refreshed Maihi Karauna retains its long-term goals to 2040, including growing the number of speakers and increasing the value placed on te reo Māori as part of New Zealand’s national identity.
The strategy sharpens the Crown’s role and clarifies expectations across the public sector. It remains grounded in partnership between the Crown, Iwi and Māori, under Te Ture mō te Reo Māori 2016 and Te Whare o te Reo Mauriora.
“Revitalising te reo Māori is a shared responsibility. Government has a leadership role, but lasting change comes from whānau, communities and everyday New Zealanders using the language.”
The next phase of work will focus on delivering a coordinated action plan across government agencies to drive collective impact.
“We are focused on results, more people speaking te reo Māori, more often, in more places.
“Kia māhorahora te reo, let the language flow freely” Mr Potaka says.
Mā te whakahoutanga o te rautaki ka tau he ara pakari ake mō te reo Māori
E whakaū ana te Kāwanatanga i tōna ara mārama, manawanui hoki mō te āpōpō o reo Māori i te whakahoutanga o te rautaki Maihi Karauna, te kī a Te Minita Whanaketanga Māori Tama Potaka.
“He taonga te reo Māori, he wāhi nui hoki tōna o te tuakiri o Aotearoa. Ko te tikanga o te rautaki kua whakahoutia ake nei ko te mātua whakarite e kitea ana, e kaingākautia ana, e kōrerotia ana hoki te reo Māori.”
Ko te Maihi Karauna koia te rautaki a te Karauna mō te whakarauoratanga o te reo Māori puta noa i te kāwanatanga, otirā, i te iwi whānui tonu, e haere kōtui ana ki te taha o te Maihi Māori ki te tautoko i ngā whānau me ngā hapori anō hoki.
E whai ake ana te rautaki kua whakahoutia ake nei i ngā mahi mai i te tau 2019, e whakaata ana i ngā taunakitanga hou e pā ana ki ngā mahi e tika ana ki te whakatipu i te reo kia ora rawa ake ai.
“Ahakoa mārama te kitea e piki haere ana te tautoko a te iwi whānui mō te reo Māori, he nui tonu ngā tāngata kāore e āta ako ana, e kaha kōrero ana hoki i te reo Māori. Ko te whakatikatika i tēnei raru koia te mahi i tua atu mō te whakarauoratanga o te reo Māori” te kōrero a Minita Potaka.
Kei te pupuri tonu te rautaki i ōna whāinga roa ki te tau 2040, tae atu ki te whakatipu ake i te nui o ngā tāngata kōrero i te reo Māori me te whakapiki i te uara o te reo Māori hei wāhi nui o te tuakiri ā-motu o Aotearoa.
Ko tā te rautaki hei whakakoi ake i te tūranga o te Karauna me te āta whakamārama i ngā manakohanga puta noa i te rāngai tūmatanui. E tū tonu ana i runga i te hononga i waenga i te Karauna me te Iwi Māori, i raro i Te Ture mō te Reo Māori 2016 me Te Whare o te Reo Mauriora.
“He haepapa ngātahi te whakarauoratanga o te reo Māori. He tūranga ārahi tō te Kāwanatanga, engari kia tino ū ai me ahu mai ngā huringa i ngā whānau, i ngā hapori me te iwi whānui o Aotearoa e kōrero ana i te reo Māori.”
Ko te wāhanga e whai ake nei o te mahi ko te āta aro ki te whakatutukinga o tētahi mahere mahi ruruku huri noa i ngā tari kāwanatanga mō te whakakotahitanga o te kōkiri whakamua.
“E āta aro ana mātou ki ngā hua, kia nui ake ngā tāngata e kōrero Māori ana, i te nuinga ake o ngā wā, i te nuinga ake anō o ngā wāhi.
“Kia māhorahora te reo Māori” te kī a Minita Potaka.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/14/strategy-refresh-sets-stronger-course-for-te-reo-maori/
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4. Great Ride investment to keep wheels turning in Northland
September 14, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
Investment of $1 million is set to enhance Northland’s Pou Herenga Tai Twin Coast Cycle Trail, improving the visitor experience, upgrading visitor facilities, and creating new cultural and tourism experiences, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
“This investment will help the trail attract more domestic and international visitors to the region while supporting local businesses and jobs,” Louise Upston says.
“Funding will enable improved trail infrastructure, better connections to the Bay of Islands, upgraded visitor amenities, and improvements to accessibility so that more people can enjoy this outstanding Great Ride.
“Cycle tourism continues to be an important contributor to regional economies, and it helps spread the benefit of tourism to more communities.
“This new funding will support a trail reroute which enhances the visitor experience and provides an alternative cycling route as the vintage railway is reinstated. It also positions the region to capture even greater tourism and economic benefits, building on the estimated $22.8 million the trail already contributes each year to Northland’s economy.
“Visitors want authentic experiences that help them connect with local culture and history. This investment will bring the stories of Northland to life through new interpretation and storytelling interactions, making the trail an even more compelling destination.”
The funding will help construct the first stage of a new cycle trail between Opua and the Whangae Tunnel, alongside a longer-term project to improve connections between Opua and Taumarere where the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust has reinstated the railway. Cyclists will continue to have access to the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway service on sections of the route while future stages of the project are considered.
Construction is expected to begin this financial year once the final trail design and implementation plan have been finalised.
Note to editor:
The Government’s investment comes from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
The Government’s contribution will be matched by significant local investment, with Far North District Council contributing a further $2 million alongside its previous investment in the trail.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/14/great-ride-investment-to-keep-wheels-turning-in-northland/
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5. Smarter health investment critical to NZ’s future prosperity: BusinessNZ
September 14, 2026
Source: BusinessNZ
BusinessNZ is calling on all political parties to commit to a smarter approach to health spending, warning that New Zealand cannot meet the challenges of an ageing population simply by pouring more money into hospitals while underinvesting in medicines, prevention, workforce planning and rehabilitation.
Launching Health Priorities 2026, BusinessNZ says New Zealand’s health system must be viewed not only as a social service, but as a key driver of economic productivity, workforce participation, and long-term fiscal sustainability.
The document is informed by members of the BusinessNZ Health Forum; its members reach across the health system, including medicines and vaccines, medical technology and devices, testing and diagnostics, private surgical hospitals, rehabilitation, aged care and community services.
It follows BusinessNZ’s Election Priorities report released last week and sets out a detailed programme of reforms aimed at improving health outcomes while helping more New Zealanders remain active in the workforce for longer.
BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich said good health policy was inseparable from good economic policy.
“Health spending should not be viewed simply as a cost. When people stay healthy, they are able to work, care for their families, participate in their communities, and contribute to economic growth.”
“The challenge facing New Zealand is not only how much we spend on health, but whether we are spending in the right places to achieve the greatest return for patients, taxpayers and the wider economy.”
BusinessNZ says demographic change makes reform increasingly urgent. The number of New Zealanders aged 65 and over is projected to grow by around 55 percent over the next 25 years, while those aged 75 and over are expected to increase by around 75 percent. At the same time, workforce shortages are expected to intensify, making it essential that more people remain healthy and economically active for longer.
A key focus of the report is medicines funding.
It notes New Zealand allocates just 4.9 percent of public health expenditure to pharmaceuticals compared with 13.3 percent across comparable OECD countries, leaving many New Zealand patients waiting longer for medicines considered standard treatment in other developed countries.
The report builds on findings from the BERL analysis released on Monday, which concluded that increased investment in modern medicines would produce a net fiscal benefit for the Crown by supporting workforce participation, productivity and tax revenue while reducing pressure elsewhere in the health system. The BERL findings reflect growing consensus that medicines should be viewed as an investment rather than simply a cost.
BusinessNZ is calling for a substantial multi-year increase in Pharmac funding, alongside a long-term strategy to rebalance health spending toward medicines, prevention and early intervention.
The Health Priorities report is also urging governments to make greater use of private sector capacity to tackle growing elective surgery demand.
With demand for cataract surgery and hip and knee replacements expected to rise significantly as the population ages, BusinessNZ says public and private providers should be viewed as partners rather than competitors. It is calling for longer-term contracting arrangements that provide certainty for investment in additional surgical capacity and allow the private sector to shoulder more routine elective procedures, freeing public hospitals to focus on acute and complex care.
The report highlights medical technology as another underutilised tool for improving health outcomes and productivity.
BusinessNZ wants better procurement practices, faster adoption of innovative technologies, and a stronger focus on using hospitals as test beds for new health innovations that could ultimately be exported internationally. It also supports continued progress on the Medical Products Bill, warning against policy delays that could leave New Zealand further behind other countries in accessing medical advances and AI-enabled technologies.
Rehabilitation services are prominently featured in the report.
BusinessNZ argues faster access to rehabilitation following injury or surgery is one of the most effective ways of improving quality of life and reducing costs. It points to previous research identifying delays in rehabilitation services that have prolonged worker absence, increased suffering, and reduced productivity across the economy. The organisation is calling for a wider review of rehabilitation provision and a stronger focus on getting people back to health and work sooner.
The report also calls for:
- Better workforce planning, including more training capacity and improved recognition of overseas qualifications.
- Long-term government support and funding certainty for charitable and community health organisations that help reduce demand on hospitals and primary care services.
- More regular refreshment of medical technology procurement panels to encourage competition and innovation.
- A government strategy to make New Zealand a more attractive destination for clinical trials, bringing patients earlier access to new medicines and technologies while creating economic opportunities.
Katherine Rich said the central message of the report was straightforward.
“New Zealanders deserve access to the treatments that will give them healthier lives and better outcomes. At the same time, taxpayers deserve confidence that every health dollar is being invested where it delivers the greatest benefit.”
“An ageing population means health expenditure will inevitably increase, but we can contain costs and improve outcomes if we spend smarter. That means focusing more strongly on prevention, medicines, rehabilitation, technology, workforce capability and innovation, rather than relying solely on ever-expanding hospital services.”
“Health policy and economic policy are increasingly one and the same. If we want a healthier, more productive and more prosperous New Zealand, we need to start treating health investment as an investment in our future prosperity.”
The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.
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6. Record number of Australian visitors boosts NZ tourism
September 14, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
New Zealand tourism numbers are continuing to strengthen, with international visitor arrivals for July exceeding 2019 levels, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
Figures released today by Statistics New Zealand show 256,600 overseas visitor arrivals in July 2026, up 8.5 percent on July 2025 and surpassing July 2019 numbers.
“As we work to grow our second-largest export, today’s data shows that international tourism is continuing to build momentum. More visitors are choosing New Zealand as a destination and that is helping drive economic growth across the country,” Louise Upston says.
“We’ve welcomed 3.69 million arrivals in the year to July – up 9 percent on the year prior. These results are another positive step towards our goal of doubling the value of tourism exports by 2034, supporting businesses, jobs, and our local communities.
“It is particularly encouraging to see continued growth from some of our key international markets. Australia remains our largest visitor market, and it’s fantastic to see a record number of our Aussie mates crossing the ditch in July.”
Visitor arrivals from Australia increased by 6 percent on July last year, reaching 134,900 visitors.
Visitor arrivals from China increased by 5,400, up 25 percent compared with July 2025, and arrivals from the United States increased by 12 percent to 1,700.
“New Zealand remains a highly desirable destination. We offer world-class experiences, stunning natural landscapes, and the warm hospitality we’re known for around the world.
“Our tourism and hospitality businesses continue to do an outstanding job welcoming visitors and delivering memorable experiences that keep people coming back and recommending New Zealand to others.”
Notes to editor:
The Stats NZ data is available here: International travel: July 2026 | Stats NZ
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/14/record-number-of-australian-visitors-boosts-nz-tourism/
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7. Better planning frees 1500 bed nights in Hawke’s Bay
September 14, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
Patients at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital are getting home faster, with better planning freeing up more than 1,500 bed nights over the past year, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“When a patient is well enough to leave, every extra night they spend on a ward is a night away from their family and their own routine. It also means that bed is not available for someone else who needs it,” Mr Brown says.
A bed night is a single night in a single hospital bed, so each one freed up is a night that bed was available for another patient.
“Staff at Hawke’s Bay have reduced the number of patients left waiting in hospital after they are medically cleared to go home by 57 per cent, freeing up 1,515 bed nights over the year.
“A year ago, an average of 21 patients a day were medically cleared to leave hospital but unable to be discharged. It is now down to nine patients a day.
“That is a significant result, and it reflects the practical, efficient improvements being made across the health system every day.
“It also matters for our emergency departments, where our target is for 95 per cent of patients to be admitted, discharged, or transferred within six hours.
“A patient who needs to be admitted from ED cannot go up to a ward until a bed is free. If that bed is still taken by someone who is well enough to go home, the patient waits in the ED instead, and everyone who comes in behind them waits longer too.
“Initiatives like this keep patients moving through the hospital, and that is what takes the pressure off our emergency departments.”
The improvement is the work of a specialist team, including Clinical Nurse Specialists, a Health Care Assistant, and the geriatrics team. They work alongside ward staff, doctors, Allied Health staff, patients and their families, GPs, care providers, and community services.
Rather than waiting until a patient is ready to leave, the team identifies those likely to need extra support, usually older people or those living with frailty, and starts planning their discharge on the day they arrive.
A key part of that work is completing Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments on the day a patient arrives or the day after. The assessments cover a patient’s health, independence, and how they were managing at home, so the support they will need can be arranged from the outset.
The team works across the Acute Assessment Unit, general medical wards, and surgical areas. Closer relationships with local aged residential care facilities have also made transfers out of hospital smoother.
“The former approach was to sort out what a patient needed once they were ready to leave. Now, the team starts planning it on day one,” Mr Brown says.
“That means families are brought into the conversation earlier, GPs and care providers know what is coming, and the hospital and aged residential care facilities can work through a patient’s next steps together.
“Good planning at the start of a patient’s stay means fewer delays at the end of it, and that keeps beds available across the hospital for the patients who need them.
“I want to acknowledge the frontline teams behind this initiative. It is an example of putting patients first and finding better ways of working, because getting patients home safely and sooner is what good care looks like.”
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/14/better-planning-frees-1500-bed-nights-in-hawkes-bay/
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8. Hornets’ eradication response enters crucial phase
September 14, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
The fight to eradicate the yellow-legged hornet in Auckland is entering a critical phase as warmer weather increases the risk of any surviving queens emerging from winter, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says.
The response has already destroyed 77 queens and 132 nests, with no hornets seen since April.
“That’s encouraging, but we are not out of the woods yet.
“If any mated queens survived winter, they may start emerging in the coming weeks to build new nests.
“That is why we need Aucklanders to stay alert. If you think you have seen a yellow-legged hornet or nest, take a photo if it is safe, and report it straight away. Early reports give us the best chance of finding and destroying any new nests before they become established.”
More than 18,000 public notifications have helped the response so far. “That support remains vital.”
Surveillance, trapping and apiary monitoring continued over winter and are now being stepped up for the high-risk spring period.
“This is a crucial time. If any queens are out there, we need to find them now.
“Search teams will be looking for hornets and early-stage nests, supported by trapping and new detection tools.”
The response has used local and international scientific advice, including hornet-mounted radio trackers, AI-enabled cameras, thermal drones, traps and Vespex bait.
“If no further hornets are found after two years of surveillance, New Zealand will be able to meet international standards for declaring eradication. If you see a suspected hornet or nest, take a photo if it is safe and report it immediately by calling 0800 80 99 66 or visiting report.mpi.govt.nz.”
Full information, including photos, is at: Yellow-legged hornets
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/14/hornets-eradication-response-enters-crucial-phase/
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9. Hang Lung Properties Inaugurates Amoy Footbridge, Strengthening Connectivity and Community Ties in Kowloon Bay
September 14, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
Reinforcing 50 Years of Commitment to District Transformation
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 September 2026 – Hang Lung Properties Limited (SEHK Stock Code: 00101) (the “Company” or “Hang Lung”) held an opening ceremony today to celebrate the launch of the Amoy Footbridge, a landmark community infrastructure project supporting the continued development of Kowloon Bay. Fully funded, constructed and operated by Hang Lung, the footbridge provides a seamless, covered and barrier-free pedestrian link with round-the-clock access between Amoy Plaza, the East Kowloon Cultural Centre and Kowloon Bay MTR Station, significantly enhancing pedestrian accessibility, convenience, and integration within the Kowloon Bay district.
The inauguration ceremony for the Amoy Footbridge was officiated by the Honourable Mr. C.Y. Leung, GBM, GBS, JP, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (left), and Mr. Adriel Chan, Chair of Hang Lung Properties (right).
The Honourable Mr. C.Y. Leung, GBM, GBS, JP, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (second left), Mr. Adriel Chan, Chair (center); Mr. Weber Lo, Chief Executive Officer (second right); Mr. Leo Tsoi, Chief Executive Officer Designate (first left); and Mr. Kenneth Chiu, Chief Financial Officer (first right), all of Hang Lung, attended the inauguration ceremony of the Amoy Footbridge.
Officiating guests, together with representatives from Kwun Tong District Office, Development Bureau Works Branch, Leisure and Cultural Services Department Cultural Services Branch, District Council members, MTR Corporation Limited and Amoy Gardens Owners Committees, toured the Amoy Footbridge.
The opening ceremony was officiated by the Honourable Mr. C.Y. Leung, GBM, GBS, JP, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and Mr. Adriel Chan, Chair of Hang Lung. They were joined by Mr. Weber Lo, Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Leo Tsoi, Chief Executive Officer Designate; and Mr. Kenneth Chiu, Chief Financial Officer, all of Hang Lung.
Hang Lung’s relationship with Kowloon Bay dates back to 1976, when it jointly developed Telford Gardens with the Mass Transit Railway (“MTR”) Corporation and Hopewell Holdings. Completed in 1980, Telford Gardens was Hong Kong’s first MTR-integrated residential development, built at a time when Kowloon Bay was still largely an industrial district. Amoy Gardens and Amoy Plaza followed in 1981, contributing to the area’s gradual transformation into a vibrant residential and commercial neighborhood. In 2024, THE APERTURE was completed as the Company’s newest addition to the precinct.
Completed in 1981, Amoy Gardens and Amoy Plaza were among the earliest major residential and commercial developments in Kowloon Bay. Amoy Gardens and Amoy Plaza are established mixed-use developments integrating residential and retail components, exemplifying Hang Lung’s early focus on integrated development planning.
Conceived in support of the Hong Kong SAR Government’s Energizing Kowloon East initiative first outlined in the 2011 Policy Address, the Amoy Footbridge represents one of the pioneering examples of public-private collaboration to improve district-level connectivity. With the inauguration of the Footbridge, district-level mobility and integration have been further strengthened, reflecting Hang Lung’s confidence in the long-term development of Kowloon East as a dynamic hub for business, culture and community.
The Amoy Footbridge provides a seamless, covered and barrier-free pedestrian link between Amoy Plaza, the East Kowloon Cultural Centre and Kowloon Bay MTR Station, offering convenient round-the-clock access for residents, office workers and visitors. Amoy Footbridge under construction
Mr. Adriel Chan, Chair of Hang Lung Properties, said, “For 50 years, Hang Lung has grown alongside Kowloon Bay, standing with the local residents through times of both challenge and recovery. During the 2003 SARS outbreak, our frontline colleagues provided steadfast support to local residents, and in its aftermath, we launched the pioneering consumption voucher initiative to help revitalize the area. These efforts reflect our belief that business development and community well-being go hand in hand. As Hang Lung celebrates its 66th anniversary, we are proud to dedicate the Amoy Footbridge to Kowloon Bay as a gesture of appreciation to the neighborhoods that have been part of our journey, reaffirming our commitment to creating compelling spaces that enrich lives.”
Following the SARS outbreak in 2003, Hang Lung launched the consumption voucher initiative at Amoy Plaza to attract visitors, support local merchants and residents, and help revitalize the community economy.
Mr. Mikael Jaeraas, Senior Director – Retail and Hong Kong Business Operation of Hang Lung Properties, said, “The Amoy Footbridge is expected to improve connectivity for the community by providing a weather-proof and traffic-safe passage to Amoy Plaza, enhancing accessibility and convenience for residents, visitors, professionals and students. The increased pedestrian flow is expected to strengthen connections to the second floor of the mall, creating opportunities to refresh the tenant mix with popular lifestyle and dining brands that better reflect evolving customer journeys and needs. The footbridge is also fitted with solar panels, reflecting our long-term commitment to sustainable development.”
Hashtag: #HangLung
About Hang Lung Properties
The Company’s diverse portfolio in Hong Kong includes office towers and malls in prime districts, as well as luxury residential developments in prestigious areas. In the Chinese Mainland, under the signature “66” brand, the Company’s mixed-use and retail developments are regarded as premium landmarks, strategically located in the hearts of key cities of Shanghai, Shenyang, Jinan, Wuxi, Tianjin, Dalian, Kunming, Wuhan, and Hangzhou.
The Company is recognized for pioneering sustainability in the real estate industry, with an MSCI ESG rating of AA and inclusion on CDP “A List” for Climate Change. The Company powers 90% of its operating properties in the Chinese Mainland with renewable energy, with a net-zero commitment by 2050.
At Hang Lung Properties – We Do It Well.
For more information, please visit www.hanglung.com.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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10. Yemen: As conflict escalates, MSF provides lifesaving care in Mokha
September 14, 2026
Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
14 September 2026 – Following the recent escalation of fighting in western Yemen, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) confirms that its teams remain in Mocha, supporting the General Hospital.
Over the past few days, many people have fled the city, including health staff from most hospitals. With several health facilities currently not functioning, the staff who remain at the General Hospital are a vital source of medical care for people in Mocha.
The needs are high and go far beyond trauma care. Around 30 MSF healthcare workers are doing their utmost to help keep essential services running in the hospital, including maternity and paediatric care, as well as treatment for a range of other medical needs, including cholera. Their work is saving lives.
For this work to continue, the medical and humanitarian mission must be respected. Medical facilities, vehicles and staff must be protected so that people can safely access the care they need. This is also essential to ensure that patients in critical condition can be safely referred when the treatment they need is not available locally.
We are looking for ways to reinforce our team in Mocha, but this is not straightforward. The situation remains highly uncertain and is stressful for both the population and our teams. We are closely monitoring developments and engaging with the relevant authorities on the need to protect medical and humanitarian activities.
MSF has been supporting the provision of care in Mocha since 2018. Today, as yesterday, our focus remains clear: to ensure that people in Mocha can continue to access essential medical care despite the current uncertainty.
TESTIMONY: From Australian Lou Cormack, MSF country coordinator in Yemen:
“Our teams have been present in Mocha and the surrounding area since 2018. Our work focuses on improving access to paediatric and maternal healthcare, a lifeline for many women and children in an area where access to such care is a daily challenge.
In Mocha, we support the General Hospital through the direct presence of MSF teams, as well as through broader support to the hospital and Ministry of Health staff. Outside the city, we also support maternal and paediatric healthcare in two primary healthcare centres in the region: Mafraq, east of Mocha, and Khawkhah, to the north. In these two facilities, our support includes funding, training, medical equipment and supplies. We do not have permanent MSF teams based there.
The rapid evolution of the situation this week, including the swift advance of Ansar Allah forces and their control of most of the western coast, has had a major impact on both medical activities and the needs of the population in recent days.
Just a few days ago, our teams in Mocha were preparing to reopen our former field hospital in the city to treat patients, including providing trauma stabilisation, in response to the fighting taking place east of Mafraq and the gradual arrival of displaced people in Mocha.
We had already started providing water to displaced people arriving in the city, as well as finalising the setup of cholera isolation and treatment units in Khawkhah and Mocha. We were also increasing our ambulance fleet to refer critical patients to Aden, as hospitals there were at capacity.
The rapid advance of Ansar Allah forces has fundamentally changed the situation. Within hours, the hospitals providing trauma services on the western coast were evacuated, while large numbers of people fled Mocha towards the south and Aden, including healthcare workers from the city’s hospitals. The General Hospital in Mocha was no exception.
Our team remained in Mocha, but we had to scale back and reorganise our activities and focus on one immediate priority: doing everything possible to keep essential medical services at the General Hospital running.
So far, thanks to the commitment of Yemeni doctors, gynaecologists, nurses and other healthcare workers, we have been able to maintain a minimum level of essential care, including deliveries, emergency care and intensive care. As of today, around 30 healthcare workers remain present at the hospital. This may not seem like many, but their work is saving lives.
When the city was taken, dozens of patients were still hospitalised in the maternity and paediatric wards. It was essential to maintain their care while continuing to receive patients requiring urgent treatment. On that day, hospital teams cared for two patients who arrived in the paediatric and maternity emergency departments, performed two emergency caesarean sections, and continued caring for seven patients in intensive care and ten babies in the neonatal intensive care unit, in addition to dozens of other patients and babies in the regular wards.
The situation remains extremely challenging. As of 11 September, almost all other healthcare facilities in the city had stopped functioning, largely because their staff had left. There is currently no possibility of referring patients, either within the city or to Aden.
The medical needs were already enormous before the latest escalation. They are even greater now.
We are looking for ways to reinforce our team in Mocha, but this is not straightforward. The situation remains highly stressful for both the population and our teams. There were further bombardments overnight, and there is still considerable uncertainty about what may happen in the coming hours and days.
For us to continue providing care, our medical and humanitarian mission must be respected. Medical facilities, vehicles and staff must be protected so that people can safely access the care they need. This is also essential to allow patients in critical condition to be referred safely when the treatment they need is not available locally. Any threat to the medical mission puts the provision of essential healthcare at risk and may jeopardise our ability to continue working in Mocha. Without these basic guarantees, we simply cannot do our job: treating people and saving lives.
We do not know what will happen next. What we do know is that medical needs are enormous and go far beyond trauma care. We will continue to do our utmost to support the population and maintain access to essential healthcare for as long as we can.”
MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit https://msf.org.au/
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