PM Edition: Top 10 Business Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for October 18, 2026 – Full Text

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders

Kinshasha, 16 October 2026 – Children are paying a devastating price in the Ebola outbreak unfolding in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). While children face a higher risk of death from Ebola than adults, they also represent a significant proportion of those affected by the current outbreak. According to Epicentre, MSF’s epidemiological research centre, nearly one in four confirmed Ebola cases in North Kivu is a child. Médecins sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is deeply concerned by the disproportionate impact of the disease on children and calls for more attention to their specific vulnerabilities in both the medical and research response.

While Ebola remains a deadly disease for all age groups, the youngest children face the highest risk of death. In North Kivu, children have been particularly affected by the current outbreak: 24% of confirmed cases are among children under five years of age, compared with 13% in Ituri, while infants under one year old account for 13% of cases, compared with 6% in Ituri. At the Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC) in Butembo, North Kivu, MSF teams have observed that the case fatality rate among children was particularly high. Between June and September 2026, 24 out of 30 children—most of whom under the age of five—died from the Bundibugyo virus in this ETC alone. The rapid progression of the disease in communities and limited access to specialised care at health facility level are contributing to such alarming high fatality rates.

“Primary health facilities often lack the specialized expertise, equipment, and infection prevention and control measures needed to identify and safely manage suspected cases,” explains Stéphanie Hoffmann, project coordinator for MSF in Butembo. “Most of the paediatric cases admitted in our ETC in Butembo, North Kivu, over the summer, had already been hospitalised for other illnesses in several facilities during the days or weeks before their admission. Their family members did not have Ebola themselves, and it is highly likely that these children contracted the disease inside healthcare facilities.” Strengthening infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in health facilities, ensuring the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), and reinforcing the training of healthcare workers in non-Ebola health centres across at-risk areas are critical to maintaining essential services while preventing healthcare-associated transmission.

While efforts have been made to reduce the emotional toll of isolation on children in ETCs, including the creation of visibility areas where parents can see and communicate with their hospitalised children, being admitted to an Ebola Treatment Centre remains a deeply distressing experience for young patients. Children may be too young to understand their situation or meet their own basic needs. To help address this situation, MSF has recruited and trained caregivers who provide daily support and comfort to children inside several MSF-supported ETCs while wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE). These caregivers come from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to Ebola survivors. Today, 13 caregivers are supporting children at Kitatumba Ebola Treatment Centre in Butembo. While far from a perfect solution, this initiative provides essential human contact and emotional support for children facing the outbreak.

“On top of enormous challenges caring for young patients, medical facilities are dealing with a lack of paediatric dosing guidance, and limited availability of child-friendly formulations of investigational medicines. A child-centred approach must be at the heart of medical care, operational planning, and research efforts”, said Dr. Guyguy Manangama, epidemiologist and deputy director of operations at MSF.

Children have been disproportionately affected by the current outbreak, yet they are left behind when it comes to access to innovative medical tools. Historically, children are often excluded from clinical research or included only after significant delays, creating dangerous gaps in evidence and access to potentially life-saving interventions.

“Treatments, vaccines, and other preventive tools should be evaluated for use in children from the outset of research efforts and made available to them without delay. Yet in the current outbreak, children are still being left behind, with very limited access to vaccination trials and campaigns, as well as the latest therapeutic innovations despite bearing a significant burden of disease. Children cannot continue to wait for data generated in adults before benefiting from advances in Ebola care and prevention,” added Dr. Guyguy Manangama.

MSF urges national authorities, research institutions, pharmaceutical developers, and international funders to prioritise the inclusion of children in all ongoing and future Bundibugyo virus studies. Ensuring equitable access to research and new medical tools, including vaccines, is essential to reducing preventable deaths and improving outcomes for one of the most vulnerable groups.

The impact of the outbreak on children extends beyond Ebola infection itself. Disruptions to essential health services can rapidly increase risks from vaccine-preventable diseases, malnutrition, and other common childhood illnesses. Preserving routine immunization, nutrition programmes, and access to primary healthcare must therefore be considered a core component of the outbreak response, not an afterthought.

Note to editors:

Treatment: One ongoing study, EBO-PEP, is evaluating an oral antiviral drug, obeldesivir, to prevent Ebola infection after high-risk exposure. If proven effective, the treatment could provide a practical way to protect people who have recently been in contact with an Ebola patient. While the trial is expected to expand eligibility to include some children, those under 20 kilograms remain excluded because an appropriate paediatric formulation is not yet available.

For the youngest children, the current alternative involves a 10-day course of intravenous treatment, an approach that is particularly difficult to implement in outbreak settings and can be especially challenging for young patients and their caregivers. More information: An urgent opportunity to ensure children’s access to oral post-exposure prophylaxis trials for Bundibugyo virus disease – The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.

Vaccination: While the results of ongoing trials evaluating vaccines specifically designed for the Bundibugyo virus are not expected for several months, ERVEBO® is an immediately available option. Its safety profile is well established, it is approved for use in children aged one year and older, and health authorities in the DRC have extensive experience deploying it in outbreak settings. Emerging evidence also suggests that it may offer some protection against the Bundibugyo virus, although the degree of protection remains to be clarified. In areas at high risk of Ebola transmission, vaccinating contacts of confirmed cases, including children over one year of age, could help prevent severe illness and save lives

* This refers to cases not patients, including new or follow up consultations.

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 msf.org.au.

Official release.

Elevating the Fashion Ecosystem and Unlocking Value in the Creative Economy
Advancing Bangkok’s Position as a Fashion Capital of Asia

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 October 2026 – Siam Paragon reaffirms its position as a global fashion destination, advancing a strong and sustainable fashion ecosystem through the success of “Siam Paragon Bangkok International Fashion Week 2026” (BIFW2026). Held from 8–11 October 2026, this major regional fashion event extended beyond presenting collections on the runway to serve as a strategic platform, connecting creativity, Thai designers, fashion brands, business partners and consumers within an integrated ecosystem. By enhancing brand visibility, strengthening brand image and supporting the purposeful growth of Thai fashion, BIFW2026 demonstrated its vital role in shaping Bangkok’s fashion identity and advancing the city’s position as a fashion capital of Asia. Under the theme “TH-nomenal Extraordinary – Lead the Culture, Wear the Future”, the event presented 10 fashion shows by 10 leading Thai brands, achieving full-capacity attendance at every show and generating strong buzz across all social media platforms.

The success of BIFW2026 was made possible through the collaboration between Siam Paragon and leading partners from the public and private sectors, united in their commitment to strengthening Thailand’s fashion industry. Partners included the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Kasikornbank Public Company Limited, Merz Aesthetics Thailand Co., Ltd., Madame Fin Co., Ltd., XPENG Thailand, Millennium Auto Group, Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, THANN, KIKI Beauty Space, Grey Goose, and M.A.C Cosmetics Thailand. Together, they elevated the fashion experience on the iconic Grand Runway at Parc Paragon, M Floor, Siam Paragon.

Thanaporn Tantiyanon, Managing Director of Siam Paragon Shopping Center, said: “Siam Paragon Bangkok International Fashion Week 2026 reflects the creative strength and the increasingly distinctive, diverse capabilities of Thai fashion. Under the theme ‘TH-nomenal Extraordinary – Lead the Culture, Wear the Future’, we aim to push fashion beyond a mere expression of clothing beauty. We see it as a powerful force that connects culture, heritage, craftsmanship and the vision of a new generation.

Throughout the four days of BIFW2026, we witnessed Thai designers express their identities through distinctive designs, skillfully reinterpreting their cultural roots through a contemporary lens. Our greatest source of pride in BIFW2026 goes beyond attendance figures or the response it generated. It lies in seeing the entire Thai fashion ecosystem grow, encompassing pioneering designers, emerging talents, entrepreneurs, Thai artisanal craftsmanship, brands, and business partners, all working together to create new value for the industry.

BIFW is therefore more than an annual fashion event. It is a platform of opportunity that connects creativity with the real economy, serves as a key catalyst for bringing Thailand’s soft power to international audiences through fashion, and creates meaningful experiences and inspiration for people.”

BIFW2026 brought fashion narratives to life through 10 shows by 10 Thai brands, each with its own distinctive creative perspective and design language. Its success lay not only in gathering leading designers, but also in providing a platform where different generations of Thai design talent could grow together across every dimension. Iconic brands such as FLYNOW, NAGARA, and 27FRIDAY expressed their enduring identities and design DNA through contemporary perspectives that retained a powerful presence on the runway.

Meanwhile, established brands that have grown and evolved alongside the platform—ISSUE, POEM, PAINKILLER Atelier, and VVON SUGUNNASIL—each presented a clearly defined design language. Their collections demonstrated the ability to preserve a distinctive identity while extending their creativity in response to an ever-evolving fashion landscape. Adding another compelling perspective was 37°C Thirty-seven degrees Celsius, a brand featuring a legendary designer who delivered a bold interpretation of fashion’s next chapter. This diversity made BIFW2026 more than a showcase of collections: it became a space where the experience, design philosophies, and visions of Thai brands came together with depth and dimension.

Another significant achievement of BIFW2026 was its role in providing promising brands with a platform to fully establish their presence, particularly CHATO and MERGE, whose collections combined contemporary perspectives with distinctive design signatures. MERGE reinterpreted denim and craftsmanship through silhouettes reflecting contemporary lifestyles, while CHATO translated floral inspiration into garment construction and folding techniques rooted in Thai heritage.

The participation of both brands highlighted BIFW2026’s role in enabling designers to expand the scope of their creative presentations, build wider awareness, and further develop their brands along their individual growth journeys, while bringing fresh dimensions to Thailand’s fashion landscape.

Throughout the event, BIFW2026 attracted attention both offline and online, trending across all social media platforms. This response reflected fashion’s power to connect brands, designers, fashion industry figures, and consumers. The event’s success further reaffirmed Siam Paragon’s ability to deliver world-class experiences while serving as a platform that supports Thai designers’ growth, connects partner networks and broadens the reach of Thai fashion.

Siam Paragon remains committed to developing Siam Paragon Bangkok International Fashion Week into more than a fashion platform, positioning it as a driving force for the future of Thai fashion. By bringing together iconic designers, established brands that continue to evolve, and emerging brands ready to redefine the industry, Siam Paragon continues to advance Bangkok’s position as one of Asia’s key fashion destinations.

For the latest updates, follow Facebook: Siam Paragon or visit www.siamparagon.co.th⁠

https://www.siamparagon.co.th
https://www.facebook.com/SiamParagon

Hashtag: #SiamParagonBIFW2026 #BIFW2026 #SiamParagon

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers’ call for changes to the Sharemilking Agreements Act is gathering momentum, with the National Party now committing to a review of the legislation.

National’s agriculture spokesman Todd McClay has announced that, if re-elected, his party will review the Act to reflect the growth of contract milking, protect young entrants and reduce disputes.

The commitment is exactly what Federated Farmers has been advocating for on behalf of its members, the organisation’s dairy chair Karl Dean says.

“Last month, Labour said it would review the sharemilking laws if elected to government, and we challenged other parties to make the same commitment.

“It’s incredibly promising that National has today also thrown its support behind bringing the legislation into line with modern dairy farming.

“Both major parties have now committed to this, so that’s a big win. It means it’s definitely going to happen during the next term of Parliament.”

Dean says contract milking has become a common step on the dairy progression pathway, but contract milkers lack the same legal protections as sharemilkers.

“The legislation was written way back in 1937, when contract milking didn’t even exist. We need the law updated to reflect what the sector actually looks like today.

“Contract milkers perform much the same role as variable-order sharemilkers, but they sit outside the Act because they’re paid a negotiated rate rather than a share of returns.

“We know some contract milkers have struggled because they don’t have the same protections, and that’s simply not good enough.

“It’s time those protections were extended to cover contract milking too.”

There were 1,367 dairy herds operated by contract milkers in the 2024/25 season, representing 13.2% of all dairy herds.

Unlike variable-order sharemilkers, contract milkers aren’t guaranteed the minimum terms and dispute-resolution processes provided by the Act and Sharemilking Agreements Order 2011.

Instead, they rely on their individual agreements and general contract law, even where there’s a significant imbalance in bargaining power.

Dean says farm owners are also affected by the current legislation’s shortcomings.

“Sharemilking and contract milking are hugely important to our sector, giving the next generation a way to build their skills, experience and capital.

“These arrangements also give many farm owners a way to gradually transition out of the business.

“We need the legislation to reflect how farming businesses actually operate today, while retaining the flexibility that makes these progression pathways work so well.

“That’s good for everyone – both farm owners and sharefarmers.”

Dean says Federated Farmers sharefarmer chair Sam Ebbett and sharefarm owner chair Brendan Attrill have been instrumental in pushing for the review.

“They will also be instrumental when it comes to the actual review.

“Sam represents sharemilkers and contract milkers, and Brendan represents farm owners, so they bring both sides of the equation to the table.

“Having them both involved will be crucial to making sure any changes work for everyone.”

Federated Farmers wants a review to consider how the framework can provide appropriate and consistent minimum protections for comparable dairy operating arrangements, without turning independent operators into employees.

It also wants the law to recognise the nature of the work being done, rather than relying solely on how an operator is paid.

The organisation also wants the legislation to provide greater clarity around new revenue and incentive payments, and establish clearer, more accessible and proportionate dispute-resolution processes.

Federated Farmers wrote to the major political parties last month asking them to commit to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act 1937 and Sharemilking Agreements Order 2011.

“We’re very pleased to have National and Labour on board, and we invite the other major parties to make the same commitment,” Dean says.

“Our dairy sector has been an absolute pillar of the New Zealand economy.

“Updating these laws will help protect the next generation of dairy farmers and ensure the sector goes from strength to strength.”

Source: Save the Children New Zealand

More than 300,000 additional children in Afghanistan are expected to need treatment for acute malnutrition in 2027, as aid cuts continue to strain health and nutrition services, Save the Children said.

New analysis from global hunger monitor, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), [https://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/IPC_Afghanistan_AFI_AMN_Sep2026_Sep2027_Snapshot.pdf] warned 4.04 million children under five will need acute malnutrition treatment between January and December 2027, a 9% rise compared to the same period in 2026. Cases of severe acute malnutrition are expected to increase 16% to nearly 1.1 million children next year, from 942,000 in 2026.

This new analysis reports the highest acute malnutrition levels ever recorded in Afghanistan for the period, according to the IPC.

About 15.9 million people, or 32% of the population analysed, are now in Crisis or worse levels of hunger (IPC Phase 3 or above), according to the IPC. This includes 3.4 million facing emergency levels of hunger (Phase 4) – one step away from IPC Phase 5, the highest level of acute food insecurity, which can include famine.

The upcoming winter lean season is expected to make hunger conditions worse, as farm activity and jobs dry up, and harsh weather cuts access to remote areas. Between November 2026 and April 2027, 19.2 million people – including about 10 million children – are projected to be in Phase 3 or above, about 3.3 million more people than now, according to the IPC.

Hunger in the country is deepening despite improved rainfall and a strong harvest. Declining humanitarian assistance, weak purchasing power, and unemployment are leaving many households without knowing where their next meal will come from.

Mirwais-, 25, and Asma-, 23, are constantly moving with their three children in search of work and water. The family struggles to afford food, and Asma and 18-month-old Somaya- have both been treated for acute malnutrition at a Save the Children clinic.

“The drought has made our situation much worse over the past several years. We depend on farming for our livelihood, but this year everything dried up,” Mirwais said.

“If this clinic were not here, we would face many challenges. In the past, we had to borrow money to travel to the city for treatment. Given our financial situation, those expenses were a heavy burden on our family.”

Due to a lack of funding, 40 Save the Children health facilities, including health and nutrition clinics and mobile health teams, are at risk of closure this year. These clinics and health teams operate in some of the most remote and hardest to reach parts of Afghanistan, some in places where there are no other services available for communities, including maternal and newborn care.

Ashish Damle, Country Director, Save the Children in Afghanistan said:

“Afghanistan is in the grip of a deadly hunger crisis and there is no end in sight. Needs are soaring while critical funding is running dry. Winter is just weeks away, and for children already battling acute malnutrition, the cold will make survival even harder.

“Our doctors and nurses witness the devastating consequences of the hunger crisis every day: malnourished children arriving at our clinics, mothers going hungry so their families have something to eat, and parents desperately seeking help as their children’s health deteriorates. No parent should have to watch their child suffer from a treatable condition simply because the care they need is out of reach.

“Behind every aid cut is another essential service at risk of closing, and another family left to face hunger and winter alone. There is no quick fix for a crisis of this magnitude, but there are immediate steps we can take to prevent further suffering. Governments and donors must act now to protect essential health and nutrition services before even more children are left without the treatment they urgently need.”

Save the Children has launched Nourished Futures, a $300 million global humanitarian nutrition initiative for 2026-2028 bringing together public and private funders to treat and prevent child malnutrition and illness in the toughest humanitarian contexts. Partners joining this initiative are helping reshape the future of humanitarian nutrition, redesigning together the way the world treats malnutrition – from a reactive system focused on treating crisis to one that prevents it.

Save the Children has been working in Afghanistan since 1976, including through periods of conflict, displacement and natural disasters. We currently run programmes in nine provinces and work with partners across an additional 11 provinces, delivering services in health, nutrition, education, child protection, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene and livelihoods. Last year we reached more than 2 million people, nearly half children. Nearly 5,000 children were successfully treated for severe acute malnutrition, and 1.4 million people received outpatient consultations in our clinics.

Multimedia content: www.contenthubsavethechildren.org/Package/2O4M1T7TOL4 [http://www.contenthubsavethechildren.org/Package/2O4M1T7TOL4]

– Denotes name changed to protect identity

* [1] The IPC Acute Food Insecurity scale was introduced in Afghanistan in August 2011 and led by FAO through the Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC). Since 2012, the country has been conducting IPC Acute Food Insecurity analyses in all 34 provinces once a year. More information: https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/where-what/asia/afghanistan/en/ [https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/where-what/asia/afghanistan/en/]

Captions: CH264063_Doctor Hakim measures Somaya’s mid-upper arm circumference during a nutrition assessment.jpg – Doctor Hakim measures Somaya’s mid-upper arm circumference during a nutrition assessment. Additional content available here www.contenthubsavethechildren.org/Package/2O4M1T7TOL4 CH264057_Somaya (18 month) and her family travel by animals to reach a Save the Children-supported health facility.jpg – Somaya (18 month) and her family travel by animals to reach a Save the Children-supported health facility. Additional content available here www.contenthubsavethechildren.org/Package/2O4M1T7TOL4 CH264091_Somaya (18 months) and her parents on their way to a Save the Children-supported health facility.JPG – Somaya (18 months) and her parents on their way to a Save the Children-supported health facility. Additional content available here www.contenthubsavethechildren.org/Package/2O4M1T7TOL4

Source: Child Poverty Action Group and New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) are shining a light on the state of child poverty with the Pre-Election Child Poverty Update.

Saturday 17 October marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, which began as World Child Poverty Day.

In the lead-up to the election, both organisations are calling on the next government to increase investment in reducing Aotearoa New Zealand’s shocking child poverty rates.

“Child poverty is a political choice,” says CPAG spokesperson Isaac Gunson.

“We’ve seen how political choices have made child poverty worse across the decades, and how they’ve made it better, too.”

The Pre-Election Child Poverty Update pulls together data from across Government agencies, original research by both organisations, and a timeline of policies which have positively and negatively contributed to child poverty rates, to paint a clear picture of the struggle our tamariki face.

“This document is not intended to attack one party over another. In fact, it makes clear that both governments led by both National and Labour have achieved reduction in child poverty,” says Gunson.

“Sadly, both parties have led governments which presided over increases in child poverty, too.”

NZCCSS Chief Executive Alicia Sudden says hardship and poverty are not inevitable.

“Poverty impacts children at all stages of childhood. It not only makes it harder to meet children’s basic needs, but limits their participation, achievement and sense of hope for their future. Too many families are being trapped in poverty and hardship by failing systems that no longer provide a safety net. Our member organisations see firsthand children arriving at their services with lingering coughs, shoes that are too small and the stress they are carrying.

“With the right policy choices and investment in our children, New Zealand can build a just and compassionate society where every child has enough.”

Both NZCCSS and CPAG have made clear policy asks of the next government to immediately address rising rates of material hardship and stagnating rates of income poverty.

“In 2018, our politicians made a promise to halve child poverty rates by 2028. Today, material hardship is worse than when the Child Poverty Reduction Act was signed into law, despite meaningful reductions in the early 2020s” says Gunson.

“Child poverty affects us all. A child who grows up in poverty faces significant barriers throughout their life, and with one in seven children (14.3%) living in material hardship, that will have a flow-on effect on our economic output in generations to come.”

The Pre-Election Child Poverty update lays bare both major parties’ record on dealing with this significant issue.

“We love all Kiwi kids. We know what we need to do. Let’s get on with it,” says Gunson.

“Enough is enough.”

Source: The Drug Detection Agency

A concerning spring snow in Kiwi workplaces – Imperans Q3 Report, State of Workplace Drug Use from TDDA

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 14 October 2026 – Cocaine and methamphetamine use continues to climb across New Zealand workplaces. The latest Imperans Report, a quarterly analysis of workplace drug use from The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA), carries a warning for employers ahead of the festive season.

TDDA’s Imperans report empowers New Zealand employers to engage in proactive workplace risk management, it provides them with an analysis of drug and alcohol usage trends, combining workplace testing and screening results from across the country. TDDA is New Zealand’s largest workplace drug testing provider.

In Q3 2026, 3.2% of all screens1 conducted by TDDA indicated the presence of drugs, returning the nation’s businesses to an upward trend, compared with 2.8% in Q2.

Among all positive results2 across New Zealand, year-on-year (YoY) substance detections are as follows.

* Cocaine: 3.2% of positive tests, up 117.7% YoY

* ATS (including methamphetamine): 25.4% of positive tests, up 9.4% YoY

* THC (Cannabis): 68.9% of positive tests, down 3% YoY

Cocaine accounted for 3.2% of positive tests in Q3 2026, up 117.7% YoY. It is the highest level seen in a year outside of seasonal holiday peaks, and Auckland’s North Shore is establishing itself as a hotbed of activity.

“This quarter, our Imperans data points to a concerning shift in cocaine. We warned businesses in the South Island in particular last quarter, and now it’s expanding to the North Island. Detections suggest that organised crime has found a suitable supply chain and they continue to identify markets, like Auckland’s North Shore, where the drug can be sold effectively. This is following global supply trends,” says Glenn Dobson, Chief Executive of TDDA.

“Cocaine affects how the brain evaluates risk, producing misplaced confidence and compromised decision-making at exactly the wrong moment. On safety-critical sites, where split seconds matter, that combination can turn deadly. In the office, that same overconfidence can lead to reckless and poor decisions under pressure. With more corporate events such as year-end parties, people’s guard tends to drop. It’s one of the most exciting times of the year, but it’s also a time to pause and think about how to protect your people and your business.”

ATS, including methamphetamine, accounted for 25.4% of positive tests, up 9.4% YoY. This may look like an easing from last quarter (32.7%), but that reflects a high base in Q2. Setting that spike aside, ATS has held an upward trend over the past several quarters. Businesses in Wellington and Otago should particularly take note, as positive rates keep climbing.

“While cocaine is on the rise, businesses can’t take their eye off methamphetamines. The drug class remains an ever-growing plague in communities as well as in workplaces, and the harms of the drug, from paranoia and aggression to clouded judgement and chronic fatigue, are well known. Wellington saw over a 200% increase in positive results, and businesses in the area need to understand the signs of use and have a plan in place to manage workers,” added Dobson.

Cannabis and opioids detection rates remain stubbornly high. Cannabis accounted for 68.9% of positive tests, down 3% YoY, although the quarterly trend turned back upward, up 7% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ). Opioids accounted for 18.2% of positive tests, down 2.2% YoY.

Regional trends
TDDA tracks regional fluctuations in substance use to help employers better manage workplace safety risks through targeted testing, education, and early intervention.

Click HERE for regional figures.

Cocaine
The YoY rise runs both nationally and regionally, particularly across the North Island this quarter.

* North Shore: 11.5% of positive tests, up 266.1% YoY

* Northland: 3.9% of positive tests, up 73.4% YoY

* Auckland West: 3.4% of positive tests, up 60.6% YoY

* Hawke’s Bay: 3.1% of positive tests, up 200% YoY

ATS
ATS positive rates eased nationwide this quarter but stay high across most regions.

* Wellington: 45.1% of positive tests, up 203.3% YoY

* Otago: 28.8% of positive tests, up 184.6% YoY

* Auckland West: 21.9% of positive tests, up 71.7% YoY

Cannabis
Cannabis positive rates stay the highest of any substance in most regions, and some regions show a concerning trend.

* Gisborne: 73.3% of positive tests, up 193.3% YoY
* Taranaki: 90% of positive tests, up 35% YoY
* The Lakes: 72.7% of positive tests, up 22.4% YoY

While cannabis positive rates eased YoY in many regions, most have turned upward again this quarter. Some regions rose sharply QoQ, such as Otago, up 33.2% QoQ, and Taranaki, up 110% QoQ.

What this means for employers
“Ahead of the holiday season, I’d recommend going through your health and safety checklist, and ensure it includes a comprehensive drug and alcohol policy and action plan for the worst that could happen. The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 puts the obligation on employers to manage foreseeable risks. With the right system in place to handle a situation, you can maintain a healthy and productive workforce, even through the silly season,” says Dobson.

TDDA recommends reviewing the types of testing businesses use and the frequency of testing, such as in a random drug testing programme.

Education now helps supervisors and managers to recognise the behavioural signs of substance use and act on reasonable grounds – a skill needed as the nation moves towards the holidays. Employees need to know how drugs and alcohol affect safety, and why that matters. Testing is the foundation of the system and education is what makes that system work in an organisation.

“At TDDA, our mission is what we call protecting the girl on the bike. The truck, the commuter car, the construction site she rides past, every one of them is part of getting her home safely. That is what we are protecting,” says Dobson.

Notes:

Methodology: Tests from 27 sterile clinic locations and over 60 mobile clinics throughout New Zealand were used. All tests were taken between 1 July and 30 September 2026. Data from pre-employment, post incident, regular and random testing has been combined. Testing methods included urine and oral fluid screening. Data is reported into, anonymised, and aggregated using TDDA’s Imperans system, a bespoke IT platform for testing services, data recording, and reporting. It represents a snapshot of drug trends across Australasian workplaces and industries.

TDDA drug tests screen for amphetamines; benzodiazepines; cocaine; methamphetamine; opiates and opioids; cannabis; and synthetic drugs. Poly-drug use, where multiple drugs are present in the same test, is common.

1: TDDA conducts over 250,000 tests per year, however, complete figures on testing volumes by location, industry or region are commercially sensitive.

2: For the purposes of this report, the term “positive result” refers to non-negative initial screening results. This approach was adopted to provide a comprehensive view of potential drug presence in the workforce, acknowledging that not all non-negative samples proceed to confirmatory testing due to operational constraints such as employee resignation, withdrawal of consent, or logistical limitations in sample viability. While confirmatory testing offers definitive identification, initial non-negative results are used given their relevance to immediate workplace safety considerations and policy triggers.

• The MoU was signed at the LSCM Logistics Summit 2026 at Hong Kong Science Park
• The two parties will collaborate on ICT infrastructure, AI, general computing, operating systems and cyber resilience

HONG KONG, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 October 2026 – ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary ZTE (Hong Kong) Limited (“ZTE Hong Kong”) and The Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (“LSCM”) today officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Hong Kong Science Park during the LSCM Logistics Summit 2026.

The signing ceremony was attended by representatives of both parties. Ir Prof Alan Lam, Chairman of the Board of Directors of LSCM, and Mr. Mei Zhonghua, Senior Vice President of ZTE, jointly witnessed the signing; Mr. Simon Wong, Chief Executive Officer of LSCM, and Ms. Wang Huan, Managing Director of ZTE Hong Kong Representative Office, signed the MoU on behalf of both parties..

In accordance with the principles of complementary strengths, equality and mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation, both parties reached a consensus on cooperation focusing on Hong Kong’s digital and intelligent development, enhancing e-government information services, and promoting the local application of secure and reliable diversified technologies in Hong Kong. They also agreed to jointly cultivate a digital and intelligent industry ecosystem suited to Hong Kong’s actual needs.

The Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM) was established in 2006 with funding from the Innovation and Technology Fund of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Since its establishment, LSCM has been committed to researching and developing various technologies that promote the development of industries related to logistics and supply chains, and to assisting industries across Hong Kong and mainland China in adopting relevant technologies.

ZTE (Hong Kong) Limited was incorporated in Hong Kong in 2000 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ZTE Corporation. ZTE Hong Kong has been deeply rooted in the Hong Kong market for many years, serving local operators over the long term. It has a strong localized service team and delivery capability, enabling it to respond quickly to customer needs, as well as full-stack locally developed products and IT application innovation solutions, which have been widely implemented. With a deep understanding of the Hong Kong market and rich project experience, ZTE Hong Kong has achieved breakthroughs and established a presence in key industries such as the public sector and finance, providing safe and reliable ICT solutions to customers across various industries. In the future, ZTE Hong Kong will continue to leverage its localized service advantages to support the digital transformation of industries in Hong Kong.

Under the MoU, cooperation between the two parties covers areas including ICT infrastructure, artificial intelligence, general computing, operating systems, and cybersecurity. Both parties will also actively promote technology and talent exchange, fully leverage their respective R&D strengths, comprehensively carry out joint innovation in areas such as general computing and artificial intelligence, and jointly develop and incubate a digital and intelligent ecosystem suited to Hong Kong. Focusing on the C86 next-generation computing platform, the two parties will carry out in-depth cooperation in areas such as locally developed computing infrastructure development and the digital transformation of government and enterprises, jointly promoting the high-quality development of industries in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

The signing of this MoU marks the official launch of the strategic cooperation between the two parties in promoting Hong Kong’s digital and intelligent development and the application of secure and reliable technologies. Both parties will take this opportunity to deepen cooperation and complement each other’s strengths, jointly contributing to Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development and enhancements in trusted public-sector digital capabilities.

Hashtag: #ZTE

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua and Financial Markets Authority – Te Mana Tātai Hokohoko

15 October 2026

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua (RBNZ) and the Financial Markets Authority – Te Mana Tātai Hokohoko (FMA) have today outlined their supervisory expectations on cyber risks associated with frontier Artificial Intelligence (AI).

RBNZ Assistant Governor Financial Stability, Angus McGregor and FMA Executive Director Response and Enforcement, Louise Unger, delivered the remarks at an industry roundtable jointly hosted by the RBNZ, FMA, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the National Cyber Security Centre.

Cyber risk has long been recognised as a significant operational risk for regulated entities and a focus for both the RBNZ through its financial stability mandate and the FMA through its conduct mandate.

Mr McGregor explained that regulators expect entities to maintain cyber security strategies and frameworks that adequately address the cyber threats they face.

“Today, we take the opportunity to outline our supervisory expectations specifically on the cyber risk associated with the advances in frontier AI. These build upon existing prudential, conduct, cyber and operational resilience obligations and aim to support resilience for regulated entities and the broader financial system” Mr McGregor said.

The supervisory expectations focus on how entities should be responding to three key risks arising from frontier AI developments:

• increased cyber risk,
• evolving governance and oversight challenges, and
• growing third-party and concentration risk.

In the face of this dynamic risk landscape, the RBNZ and FMA expect regulated entities to maintain strong foundational cyber controls and security posture, this means focussing on “getting the basics right” Mr McGregor said.

FMA Executive Director, Response and Enforcement, Louise Unger said engaging with senior leaders from the financial services sector provided a valuable opportunity to gather industry’s insights.

“We appreciated the strong engagement from industry participants and the willingness to share practical insights and experiences. These perspectives help inform our understanding of the challenges and opportunities arising from AI and support our ongoing regulatory work.”

“Today’s discussion highlighted a shared recognition that advances in AI are changing the cyber threat environment. There was a constructive conversation about the importance of strong governance, effective oversight, operational resilience and the management of third-party dependencies as entities adapt to emerging risks.”

Ms Unger also noted AI can bring benefits for entities and their customers, but it also changes the risks they face.

“Boards and senior management need to know where AI is being used in their business, understand the risks it brings, and be clear about who is accountable for managing them.”

Mr McGregor explained that operational resilience remains a key supervisory focus for the Reserve Bank and the FMA, who will continue engaging with regulated entities to ensure these risks are managed appropriately.

“The core message today is simple: advances in AI are changing the operating environment for financial institutions. Entities are responsible for ensuring that they have the systems and controls in place to manage the risks arising from AI”, Mr McGregor concluded.

More information

Supervisory expectations on cyber risk associated with frontier AI