AM Edition: Here are the top 10 politics articles on LiveNews.co.nz for November 12, 2026 – Full Text
1. E tū slams RNZ bosses and Government for dodging responsibility – E tū
November 11, 2026
Source: Etu Union
E tū says RNZ’s leadership and the Government are dodging responsibility for RNZ’s $11.8 million deficit and leaving workers to carry the cost, after comments from both this week.
RNZ revealed the deficit on Monday, against a forecast deficit of $470,000. It plans to cut the equivalent of 58 full-time jobs by the end of March, about one in six of its workforce. That is roughly double the 25 to 30 roles it announced in August.
Yesterday, Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith ruled out any help for RNZ. “It’s their problem. They broke it. They need to fix it,” Goldsmith told RNZ. He also said RNZ appeared to have done too little to reduce staff numbers.
Also yesterday, RNZ executives met with union delegates to respond to concerns from members. But many questions remain unanswered – such as how the board have come to the number of 58 potential cuts without first presenting a business case to the unions.
Chief executive Paul Thompson has accepted responsibility for the result but will stay on the payroll until the end of December. Board chair Brent Impey, who has called the situation “incomprehensible”, has declined to say whether the board will pay Thompson the remaining $80,000 of his salary even when he is stepping aside for former RNZ Head of News Mark Stevens to take over the organisation as the interim CEO. On RNZ’s Checkpoint this week, when asked about leaders keeping their jobs while frontline staff have to look at cuts, Impey said: “Someone’s got to run the place, don’t they?”
RNZ senior reporter and E tū delegate Phil Pennington says the overhang in the next term of parliament will require more attention from journalists, not less.
“As parliament expands, RNZ shrinks. More MPs are paid as oversight of them is defunded. Is that what we want?”
Phill says workers feel betrayed.
“The board and executive have failed workers who do a terrific job day in and day out to inform the public of New Zealand, including during elections, historic hīkoi, and disasters. We now feel betrayed and angry about the jump to some sort of fait accompli that we must pay the price.
“The same staff are now being told by those who failed them that they have a plan the board and minister approve of, and that plan primarily means slashing staff jobs.
“These are decisions that will determine the future of RNZ for years to come. We reject a plan we have had no input on and knew nothing about until yesterday. We are the front line. We must have a say in our future and RNZ’s future.”
E tū Director Amy Hansen says workers heard a lot of people at the top pointing somewhere else this week.
“The Minister says it’s RNZ’s problem. RNZ’s leaders say they take responsibility, then put forward a plan that lands on workers. Nobody in charge is actually wearing this.
“Taking responsibility means more than saying the words. It means looking at every other option before cutting jobs, and that includes the top of the organisation. The chair won’t rule out a bonus for the chief executive. That’s very hard for staff to take when one in six jobs are on the line.”
Amy says the Minister’s comments ignore his own Government’s role.
“This Government cut RNZ’s funding by $4.6 million a year in 2025 and clawed back another $1.4 million in May. At the same time, the Minister kept pushing RNZ to lift trust and grow its audiences.
“Workers have done that. RNZ is the most trusted news brand in the country and reaches 83% of adults every month. For a lot of New Zealanders, it’s the one place they can get their news without paywalls and pop-up ads.
“For the Minister to turn around now and say RNZ hasn’t done enough to cut staff is a slap in the face to the people doing that work. You can’t keep cutting funding and expect a better service. Fewer people means less journalism.”
Amy says most of the blowout came from one-off costs and accounting mistakes.
“Moving the Auckland office, decommissioning the Henderson towers, cleaning up the Titahi Bay site, and $2 million in land sales counted as income by mistake. None of that was caused by journalists. Cutting permanent jobs to cover one-off mistakes doesn’t add up.
“The independent review doesn’t even have its terms of reference yet. RNZ has a new chief executive on the way. The next Government hasn’t been formed. It’s far too early to be locking in cuts this big.”
E tū is calling on RNZ’s board to:
- immediately pause any further consideration of job cuts
- release the business case for the proposed job cuts
- show what other savings have been considered, including at senior levels
- give workers a real say in RNZ’s future
- hold off on final decisions until the next Government and Media Minister are in place.
“Workers have held RNZ together through funding cuts, a brand-new editorial system, and an election,” Amy says.
“The people at the top made this mess. It’s time they owned it, instead of making workers pay for it.”
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/11/11/e-tu-slams-rnz-bosses-and-government-for-dodging-responsibility-e-tu/
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2. HKSTP Achieves Fruitful Success at Inaugural Participation in Singapore Urban Mobility Week 2026
November 11, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
Leading 10 Park Companies to Expand Overseas and Deepen Collaboration with Singapore
HONG KONG SAR– Media OutReach Newswire – 11 November 2026 – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has successfully concluded its inaugural participation at Singapore Urban Mobility Week 2026 (SUMW 2026), organised by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore from 4-6 November 2026. This mission also marked HKSTP’s first dedicated overseas pavilion focused on the theme of “Smart Mobility”.
HKSTP leads 10 park companies to participate in “Singapore Urban Mobility Week 2026” for the first time, establishing its inaugural overseas pavilion themed around “Smart Mobility” to empower Hong Kong tech ventures in expanding across Southeast Asia.
Leading a delegation of 10 outstanding park tech ventures, HKSTP showcased Hong Kong’s cutting-edge R&D capabilities in smart transit, autonomous driving, passenger experience, and intelligent transport solutions. The initiative actively unlocked international partnerships and commercial opportunities, reinforcing Hong Kong’s firm positioning as an international innovation and technology hub.
Through this delegation, HKSTP further solidified its strategic partnership with Singapore government authorities while expanding multifaceted collaborations with local commercial partners across land transport operators, urban rail networks, and major transport hubs.
Notably, Mr. Ng Lang, Chief Executive of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore, visited the HKSTP Pavilion, acknowledging the immense potential of park ventures to integrate into Singapore’s smart mobility ecosystem. Additionally, HKSTP hosted the “HKSTP Global Mixer – Mobility & Logistics in Singapore” networking event, gathering over 100 representatives from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore, InvestHK, HKTDC, park ventures, and Singaporean industry leaders to foster multi-party dialogue and cross-border exchange.
Mr Terry Wong, Chief Executive Officer of HKSTP, said: ” HKSTP is committed to empowering tech ventures to scale globally. Debuting our first overseas smart mobility pavilion provides a targeted strategy that opens doors for park companies to connect directly with local authorities, industry leaders, academia, and investors. This initiative highlights Hong Kong’s unique role as a gateway for cross-border collaboration and a ‘super-connector’ and ‘super value-adder’. HKSTP will continue to expand its network across Southeast Asia and deepen long-term collaboration between Hong Kong and Singapore in smart city and transport technologies, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as an international innovation and technology hub.”
HKSTP has been actively driving cross-regional collaborations in recent years to provide comprehensive support for park ventures expanding into Southeast Asia and international markets, delivering remarkable results. Moving forward, HKSTP will continue to leverage its strength as a “two-way gateway” to lead more outstanding tech ventures beyond Hong Kong, deepen global commercial and technical matchmaking, and empower them to achieve tangible business breakthroughs in overseas markets.
Click here to download high-res photos
Hashtag: #HKSTP #HongKongScienceandTechnologyParksCorporation
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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3. International Street Work Conference 2026 Concludes Following Hong Kong Debut
November 11, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
Delegates from 40 Countries and Regions Discuss Emerging Youth Challenges and Strengthen Cross-Sector Collaboration
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 November 2026 – The International Street Work Conference 2026 concluded on 8 November at Saint Francis University, marking the first time the international conference was held in Hong Kong. Jointly organised by the Children and Youth Research Centre of Saint Francis University and Hong Kong Playground Association, the conference brought together representatives from 40 countries and regions across five continents, representing more than 80 international and local organisations. More than 400 academics, experts, frontline youth workers and social workers from places including Albania, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Greece, India, Portugal, Senegal, Singapore, Spain and Vietnam attended the event.
Mr Edward To Wing-hang, JP, Director of Social Welfare (third from left); Mr Edwin DE BOEVÉ, Director of Dynamo International – Street Workers Network (fifth from left); Mr Arthur Li, Chairman of Hong Kong Playground Association (fourth from left); Professor Lui Tai-lok, Research Professor of Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences at Saint Francis University (second from left); Professor Francis Lo Tit-wing, Co-chairman of the Organising Committee of the International Street Work Conference 2026 and Vice President (Research and Innovation) of Tung Wah College (sixth from left); and Dr Wan Lap-man, Co-chairman of the Organising Committee and Executive Director of Hong Kong Playground Association (first from left), officiated at the opening ceremony of the International Street Work Conference 2026.
Through keynote presentations, research sharing and international exchanges, the conference focused on six key areas affecting young people: mental health, digital safety, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, career development & employment, and street work. Participants explored the challenges facing youth services worldwide and discussed directions for future development.
The opening ceremony was held on 7 November, officiated by Mr Edward To Wing-hang, JP, Director of Social Welfare of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr Edwin DE BOEVÉ, Director of Dynamo International – Street Workers Network; Mr Arthur Li, Chairman of Hong Kong Playground Association; Professor Lui Tai-lok, Research Professor of Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences at Saint Francis University; Professor Francis Lo Tit-wing, Co-chairman of the Organising Committee of the International Street Work Conference 2026 and Vice President (Research and Innovation) of Tung Wah College; and Dr Wan Lap-man, Co-chairman of the Organising Committee and Executive Director of Hong Kong Playground Association.
Mr Edwin DE BOEVÉ, Director of Dynamo International – Street Workers Network, said, “We organise an international conference every two years to provide street workers with opportunities for in-depth exchanges. We are grateful to Hong Kong for hosting this year’s conference and for the thoughtful arrangements and opportunities to engage with local communities, which contributed to the smooth running of the event. We are also delighted to welcome Singapore as a new member and hope to see our network continue to grow.”
Professor Lui Tai-lok, Research Professor of Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences at Saint Francis University, said, “As one of Hong Kong’s universities of applied sciences, Saint Francis University is committed to building strong partnerships with different industries and communities, combining professional training with academic excellence. This conference is a successful example of that commitment in action.”
Professor Francis Lo Tit-wing, Co-chairman of the Organising Committee of the International Street Work Conference 2026 and Vice President (Research and Innovation) of Tung Wah College, said, “In 1979, the Hong Kong Government established the direction and status of outreaching social work services for young people. At that time, there were 18 daytime outreaching social work teams across Hong Kong, with 180 outreach social workers serving different communities. Today, the sector has developed to a stage where professionals can collaborate with counterparts around the world. It is encouraging to see so many people gathered here today to share their experiences.”
Dr Wan Lap-man, Co-chairman of the Organising Committee of the International Street Work Conference 2026 and Executive Director of Hong Kong Playground Association, said, “Street work is not simply about reaching out to young people on the streets. More importantly, it is about building trust, walking alongside them, and bringing them hope and the prospect of a better future. We would like to thank the Social Welfare Department and 18 local organisations for their support in making this two-day conference and its accompanying activities possible.”
Collaborative Asia-Pacific Study of 1,116 Children and Young People Reveals Mental Well-being and Digital Safety Challenges
At the keynote presentation titled Hidden Risks, Visible Needs: Mental Wellness and Digital Safety in Asia-Pacific Street Youth Populations, Dr Wan Lap-man, Co-chairman of the Conference Organising Committee and Executive Director of Hong Kong Playground Association, and his research team shared findings from a study covering six countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific.
The study collected data from 1,116 young people in Hong Kong, Australia, India, Nepal, the Philippines and Timor-Leste. It examined the living conditions and potential needs of young people experiencing street involvement and other forms of vulnerability, focusing on mental well-being, resilience, emotional distress, street survival risks and digital safety. The findings provide an evidence-based reference for frontline youth support services and intervention strategies.
The study found that resilience is an important factor closely associated with young people’s mental well-being. After controlling for factors including age, gender and country or region, the data showed that every one-point increase in resilience was associated with an average increase of 5.41 points in the mental well-being index. The statistical model also explained nearly 48% of the variation in mental well-being. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening support networks, fostering relationships with trusted adults and promoting community connections to help young people build resilience.
Living conditions were also found to be closely associated with young people’s psychological well-being. Among the street-involved and vulnerable young people surveyed, those living in formal shelters generally reported better psychological well-being, lower levels of emotional distress and stronger resilience. Their psychological well-being scores were, on average, approximately 17.6 points higher than those of young people living in other settings. This suggests a close relationship between safe, supportive living environments and young people’s psychological well-being.
In contrast, young people staying temporarily with friends reported lower levels of psychological well-being and resilience, as well as higher levels of emotional distress. This highlights the often-overlooked needs of young people experiencing hidden homelessness and underscores the importance of extending youth services beyond those who are visibly homeless on the streets.
In terms of digital safety, the study identified a strong positive correlation between street survival risks and digital safety risks (r = 0.619). Street survival risks included hunger, the lack of a safe place to sleep, exposure to violence or control, and making high-risk choices to survive. This suggests that young people facing greater risks in their everyday lives also tend to face greater threats to their safety online.
The study also found that young people of different genders faced different challenges. Female participants reported lower levels of mental well-being and resilience, alongside higher levels of emotional distress. Male participants, meanwhile, recorded higher overall scores for street survival risks. These findings highlight the need for youth support services to adopt tailored strategies that address the circumstances and needs of different groups.
Of particular concern, nearly one-third (31.15%) of young people experiencing severe emotional distress reported current suicidal thoughts, highlighting the importance of early risk identification, timely psychological support and effective referral mechanisms.
Conference Sessions Explore Drug Trends and Social Networks Among Street-Connected Youth
Over the two-day conference, nearly 40 presentations and workshops explored challenges facing street-connected young people, covering international policy, youth social networks, juvenile offending and drug-related issues.
Mr Edwin DE BOEVÉ, Director of Dynamo International – Street Workers Network, delivered a presentation titled Social Street Work on the International Agenda, sharing insights into the development and positioning of social street work on the international agenda. He also explored how international networks can work together to support young people and vulnerable communities.
Professor Jessica Li Chi-mei, Associate Professor of the Department of Applied Social Sciences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, presented a study titled Risk Perception and Reward Expectancy in the Illicit Use of Etomidate Among Young People in Hong Kong: A Qualitative Study. The presentation examined how young people in Hong Kong perceive the illicit use of etomidate, commonly known as “space oil”, including their understanding of the associated risks and the considerations behind its use. The study aimed to deepen understanding of why young people are exposed to and use space oil, providing insights for related prevention education and support services.
Another presentation, The Science of Lepaking, explored how street-connected young people in Singapore chose their companions and formed group relationships known as “street families” before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, gaining a sense of belonging and protection through these connections. The research team conducted in-depth recorded interviews with young people and invited outreach social workers from local youth service organisations to participate in discussions. The study explored the factors influencing young people’s choice of companions, including gender differences, providing insights for the development of more targeted street outreach strategies.
Other presentations also explored the role of social work in preventing and addressing juvenile offending, with participants sharing practical experiences and approaches to supporting young people in different regions.
HKPA Showcases Innovative Digital Support and Street Music Initiatives to Engage Hidden Youth
In addition to keynote presentations and research exchanges, Hong Kong Playground Association shared its practical experience in local youth services. These included the “FEEL3 Youth at Cyber Risk Support Service”, which helps young people respond to cyberbullying and online crises, and the “Make Some Voice” Street Music Project, which uses music and creative activities to engage hidden youth who may be less likely to actively seek help, while establishing channels for trust and communication.
The conference also arranged visits for overseas delegates to local service organisations, including first-hand observations of night-time youth outreach services. Through these visits, delegates gained a better understanding of the daily operations and service models of frontline youth work in Hong Kong, exchanged experiences with local practitioners and explored opportunities for mutual learning and collaboration across regions.
Through two days of international exchanges, the International Street Work Conference 2026 successfully connected researchers, policymakers and frontline youth workers from different countries and regions, highlighting the important role of street work in responding to the challenges facing young people today.
The organisers hope that the conference will help establish closer international partnerships and promote continued knowledge exchange and service innovation. Youth services should not focus solely on addressing risks, but also place emphasis on building trust, strengthening support networks and enhancing resilience, enabling children and young people to grow up in safe and supportive environments.
https://www.iswconference.com/
Hashtag: #InternationalStreetWorkConference2026 #ISWC2026 #StreetWork
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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4. P-CRAFT: Connecting Global Partners to Transform Climate-Resilient Agrifood Value Chains
November 11, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
Global Challenges Call for a More Integrated Approach
Climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation and mounting pressure on natural resources are placing the world’s agrifood systems under unprecedented strain. These challenges affect not only agricultural production but also the livelihoods of millions of farmers, global food security, international trade and the stability of supply chains.
Against this backdrop, agricultural transformation can no longer be viewed simply as a matter of changing production practices on individual farms or within local communities. It requires comprehensive change across the entire value chain, from primary production and harvesting to processing, storage, transportation, trade and consumption.
Such a transformation calls for close collaboration among a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, businesses, farmers, financial institutions, research organisations, development partners and international organisations. In particular, stronger linkages are needed among market demand, production capacity, reliable information, technology and financial resources to ensure that transformation efforts translate into practical results.
It is in this context that P-CRAFT has emerged as an international cooperation initiative to promote collective action and support the development of climate-resilient agrifood value chains that balance economic, environmental and social benefits.
Three Pillars to Drive Value Chain Transformation
P-CRAFT is designed around three strategic pillars, providing an integrated framework for cooperation – from improving transparency and transforming production systems to mobilising investment and financial resources.
First, promoting transparency, traceability and sustainability across agrifood value chains.
Transparent and reliable information is essential to building trust among value chain actors, meeting increasingly stringent market requirements and strengthening accountability throughout supply chains. Improving information systems, traceability mechanisms and data sharing will make it possible to demonstrate more clearly the origin, production practices and sustainability performance of products.
Second, supporting low-emission, climate-resilient and nature-positive production systems.
This pillar focuses on promoting production approaches that are adapted to local ecological conditions, use natural resources more efficiently and reduce negative environmental impacts. At the same time, it seeks to strengthen the capacity of producers and local communities to adapt to growing climate risks.
Third, mobilising finance and investment for transformation.
The transition towards greener and more climate-resilient agrifood systems requires substantial financial resources. Yet many smallholder farmers, cooperatives and small and medium-sized enterprises continue to face difficulties in accessing finance, technology and technical assistance.
Connecting financial institutions, development partners and the private sector, and mobilising diverse sources of investment, is therefore essential to scaling up sustainable production and business models.
These three pillars are closely interconnected. Transparency builds market confidence; sustainable production generates real value; and finance and investment enable successful models to be scaled up and replicated.
Putting Farmers at the Centre of an Inclusive Partnership
A defining feature of P-CRAFT is its commitment to the principles of voluntary participation, inclusiveness, transparency, national ownership and science-based decision-making.
The initiative seeks to strengthen the meaningful participation of smallholder farmers, local communities, women and young people in the transformation of agrifood value chains. These groups play a vital role in agricultural production, yet often face significant barriers to accessing information, technology, finance and markets.
Sustainable transformation must therefore ensure that its benefits are not concentrated among large enterprises or better-resourced actors, but are shared with those directly engaged in production.
Farmers need better access to knowledge, technology, support services and opportunities to participate in higher-value supply chains. Their capacity to meet evolving market requirements must also be strengthened, so that they can share in the economic opportunities created by the transition.
Through its multi-stakeholder approach, P-CRAFT aims to provide an additional platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange and closer links between existing initiatives. It seeks to encourage practical cooperation that reflects the development priorities and specific circumstances of individual countries.
Viet Nam Promotes International Cooperation for Sustainable Agriculture
As a co-initiator of P-CRAFT, Viet Nam looks forward to working with international partners to promote dialogue, share knowledge, mobilise resources and develop practical partnerships that support the sustainable transformation of agriculture.
The announcement of P-CRAFT at COP31 also reflects Viet Nam’s commitment to contributing to global agendas on climate action, sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. The initiative is intended to support the objectives of the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Through international cooperation, Viet Nam hopes to strengthen connections among governments, international organisations, financial institutions, businesses, research institutions and development partners. Their collective engagement can help translate shared commitments and strategic priorities into concrete programmes, projects and practical solutions.
At the announcement event on 17 November 2026, the founding partners of P-CRAFT are expected to share their initial cooperation priorities and explore opportunities for collaboration to advance practical solutions for transforming agrifood value chains.
The event will take place at the Viet Nam Pavilion (C235) in the Blue Zone of COP31 in in Antalya, Türkiye. It is expected to bring together a broad range of stakeholders from the public sector, the private sector, academia and the development community.
As climate change continues to reshape agrifood production and trade, P-CRAFT aspires to become a practical platform for cooperation – connecting resources, sharing knowledge and accelerating collective action.
Ultimately, P-CRAFT’s ambition goes beyond building value chains that are responsible towards climate and nature. It is also about creating new development opportunities, improving farmers’ incomes and strengthening livelihoods, while ensuring that the transition towards sustainability is inclusive and delivers tangible benefits to those who make agrifood production possible.
P-CRAFT envisions markets that remain open, fair and sustainable; value chains that prosper and enable farmers to thrive; and production systems that work in harmony with nature. Working together, its partners aim to build a more sustainable future.
Hashtag: #PCRAFT #ClimateResilientAgrifood #SustainableAgriculture #MAE #Vietnam’sMinistryofAgricultureandEnvironment
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