Source: Federated Farmers

ACT’s plan to transfer responsibility for managing game animals on conservation land to the Game Animal Council needs a major rethink, Federated Farmers says.

Richard Dawkins, Federated Farmers pest management spokesperson, says allowing the Game Animal Council to set game population targets is extremely concerning.

“ACT has fired a shot with this policy, but they’ve completely missed the mark,” he says.

“Hunters generally see deer as a valuable resource. They want healthy herd numbers, plenty of hunting opportunities and, in some places, quality trophy animals.

“On the other hand, many farmers view those same deer as pests that cause huge problems when they damage pasture, crops, fences, forestry and native vegetation.”

That conflict is evident in ACT’s description of Himalayan tahr as a ‘treasured herd’, Dawkins says.

“They may be treasured by hunters, but they’re also an introduced pest that can cause significant damage to vulnerable high-country vegetation.

“Under ACT’s plan, the people who value the animals would be setting the limits, while neighbouring farmers could carry the consequences and the costs.

“That is an obvious conflict of interest.”

Dawkins says there is plenty in the announcement worth discussing.

“Hunters make a valuable contribution to conservation and back country maintenance, and we support better access and more secure funding for community groups.

“But giving hunters control of population targets crosses a line.

“ACT has made a significant mistake by assuming the interests of hunters and neighbouring farmers are automatically aligned – they are not.

“Farmers should not be expected to carry the cost of maintaining game animal populations for someone else’s recreational benefit.”

Federated Farmers says the practicalities are also far more complex than ACT’s announcement suggests.

Game animal management sits alongside the Wild Animal Control Act, the Conservation Act, Treaty obligations, public access, visitor safety and communications with people using conservation land.

It must also work alongside OSPRI, regional pest management plans, 1080 operations and control programmes for goats, pigs and other species.

“These animals are often managed across the same landscape,” Dawkins says.

“Having one organisation managing deer while another manages goats, biodiversity and disease control risks duplication, conflicting objectives and more bureaucracy.”

Dawkins says the Wapiti Foundation demonstrates that carefully designed partnerships between hunters and government can work in specific circumstances.

“That success reflects a unique arrangement with clearly defined objectives and does not justify transferring responsibility for setting deer population targets nationwide.

“Good local partnerships should be expanded where they work, not used as the basis for a wholesale transfer of responsibility.”

Dawkins says the answer is clear targets, better coordination and targeted investment.

“Federated Farmers agrees the current system is not delivering the level of feral browser control New Zealand needs, but simply transferring responsibility from DOC to the Game Animal Council is not the answer.

“What we need is a properly funded national feral browser strategy that brings hunters, farmers, DOC, OSPRI, councils, iwi, foresters and conservation groups around the same table, with clear targets, responsibilities and accountability.

“Similar to the coordinated approaches used for wilding conifers and wallabies, hunters should have a strong seat at the table and an important role in delivery, but they should not set population targets alone.”

Population targets should be informed by independent ecological monitoring, animal health risks and the effects on neighbouring landowners.

Dawkins says more International Visitor Levy funding could significantly increase pest control, monitoring and community partnerships.

“Hunters are an important part of the solution, but they cannot be the sole judge of how many pest animals should remain on the landscape.

“Good policy must balance hunting values with the rights of neighbouring landowners and the protection of New Zealand’s environment.”

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Hawkers, cafés and restaurants can claim their pages and set up no-app loyalty and referral programmes at no upfront cost

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

Hosted by the Rapid Relief Team NZ (RRT), the event will provide flood-affected farmers with free fencing packs containing posts, battens and wire to assist with repair and recovery efforts following the severe weather experienced across the region, valued at $1,500 each.

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

APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABOUT THE HALLECK CREEK RARE EARTHS PROJECT

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

ABOUT AMERICAN RARE EARTHS LIMITED

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

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¹ Refer ASX announcement dated 4 February 2025

– Published by The MIL Network

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 – Imperial Harvest, an Imperial Feng Shui consultancy in Singapore, has unveiled a one-of-one bespoke mahjong set valued at US$1.888 million (approximately S$2.4 million) — placing it among the world’s most valuable mahjong sets ever created — with all proceeds from its sale pledged to DIPG Foundation Singapore, funding research into one of the deadliest childhood brain cancers.

For generations, mahjong has been far more than a pastime. Rich in symbolism, strategy and tradition, the centuries-old game has long brought families and friends together around a table, and today it is enjoying a global resurgence, winning new audiences across the United States and beyond.

Against this backdrop, the one-of-one creation brings together exceptional materials, artisanal craftsmanship and Imperial Feng Shui principles into a collector’s piece that channels cultural heritage into meaningful change.

Turning Prosperity Into Hope for Children

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) is a rare and aggressive brain tumour that primarily affects children between the ages of five and 11, and has long been considered incurable. In 2024, doctors reported the world’s first case of a child effectively cured of DIPG, renewing global momentum in the field — yet research into the disease remains critically underfunded.

All proceeds from the sale of the mahjong set will be donated to DIPG Foundation Singapore, Singapore’s first foundation dedicated to advancing research into DIPG and other paediatric brain cancers. Founded by families who each experienced the loss of a child to the disease, the foundation supports research, advocates for greater access to innovative therapies and clinical trials, and provides resources for affected children and their families.

For Grand Master David Goh, founder of Imperial Harvest, donating the proceeds reflects a belief that prosperity carries its greatest meaning when it can be shared. The mahjong set celebrates abundance through symbolism and craftsmanship while channelling that value into research that brings hope to affected children and their families.

A Fading Craft, Reimagined

The set arrives at a time when the traditional art of mahjong tile carving is fading worldwide, lending its craftsmanship a significance beyond luxury alone. At the heart of the set are 156 playing tiles, including Animal, Fei and Joker tiles, individually crafted in untreated Burmese Grade A Black Jadeite. Revered for its rarity and cultural significance, the stone has long been associated with protection, resilience and prosperity, with every tile retaining its natural individuality.

The tiles are housed in a bespoke trunk wrapped in exceptionally rare Himalayan Niloticus crocodile leather, prized for its naturally occurring gradient reminiscent of snow-capped mountain peaks and sourced from a tannery that supplies some of the world’s most prestigious luxury maisons. Inside, aerospace-grade Alcantara — the same premium material found in the interiors of Ferrari and Lamborghini supercars — creates a soft, durable lining that protects every tile.

Where Feng Shui Meets Design

Guided by third-generation feng shui master Grand Master David Goh, every detail has been considered not only for its visual appeal but also for its symbolic significance, resulting in a collector’s piece that seeks to harmonise Heaven, Earth and humanity.

The conventional Singapore animal tiles have been replaced by the Four Celestial Guardians — the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Phoenix, White Tiger and Black Tortoise — mythical creatures deeply rooted in Chinese cosmology that traditionally represent protection, balance and harmony. Likewise, the flower tiles have been redesigned to depict four auspicious creatures: the bat, deer, crane and magpie, collectively symbolising fortune, prosperity, longevity and happiness.

Even one of mahjong’s most recognisable tiles, the Seven Dots, has been reimagined. Instead of following its conventional arrangement, the seven circles are positioned according to the “Seven Star Lighting” formation, an Imperial Feng Shui configuration believed to represent stability, clarity and strategic balance. The Character suit, meanwhile, features English transliterations such as “Yi Wan”, “Er Wan” and “San Wan”, making the set accessible to an international audience while preserving its cultural identity.

As Grand Master David Goh describes it, the set is “far beyond a Mahjong set. Every detail has been calibrated to harmonise Heaven, Earth and Man, ensuring that its owner engages not just in a game, but in a field of aligned opportunity, protection and infinite prosperity.”

A New Definition of Luxury

Whether viewed as a collector’s piece, a work of design or cultural heritage, the Imperial Feng Shui Mahjong Set occupies a category of its own — a reminder that the greatest luxury may ultimately be the opportunity to create meaningful change. It is a philosophy that Imperial Harvest carries through its bespoke Feng Shui consultation services in Singapore, where prosperity is understood as something to be built, and shared.

https://imperialharvest.com/
https://www.instagram.com/imperialharvest/

Hashtag: #ImperialHarvest #GrandMasterDavidGoh #ImperialHarvestMahjongSet #ImperialFengShui

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

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

Vietnam’s leading international F&B exhibition – 30 years of partnering with businesses to create sustainable value

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.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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Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd has today updated its forecast 2026/27 Farmgate Milk Price off the back of declining prices at recent Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auctions.
 
The revised forecast is $9.25 per kgMS, with a new range of $8.00 – $10.50 per kgMS.
 
This is down from the opening forecast of $9.75 per kgMS announced in May, when the Co-operative started with a wide range of $8.00 – $11.00 per kgMS to reflect the potential for volatility and varied outcomes throughout the season.
 
Fonterra CEO Richard Allen says the change to the 2026/27 forecast reflects softer-than-expected demand at a time of strong global supply.
 
“GDT prices have fallen 11% across the reference products that inform the Farmgate Milk Price since we announced the opening forecast in late May, while milk production from key exporting regions is up on last year. We’re expecting a strong start to the season in New Zealand, noting the potential for the El Niño weather pattern to impact global supply as the season progresses,” says Mr Allen.
 
“It’s very early days in terms of the proportion of our FY27 sales book that has been contracted, so we face significant exposure to changes in commodity prices.”
 
Mr Allen says the Co-operative continues to focus on maximising returns for its farmer shareholders.
 
“As the seasonal supply picks up, our plan will ensure we utilise our flexible operations footprint, strong customer relationships and robust supply chain to shift milk into the products and markets where we can get the best returns for our farmers’ milk.”
 
The 2025/26 forecast Farmgate Milk Price of $9.60 – $9.80 per kgMS, with a mid-point of $9.70, remains unchanged.

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Forty years after the passing of the Homosexual Law Reform Act, Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum will open its archives for an evening of storytelling, taonga, music and performance reflecting on a crucial moment in Aotearoa New Zealand’s fight for equal rights.

LATE at the Museum | 1986: A Look Back at Homosexual Law Reform will take place on Wednesday 29 July, bringing together key figures involved in the campaign for reform, from Tāmaki Makaurau to the heart of Parliament. See: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/visit/whats-on/evenings/1986-a-look-back-at-homosexual-law-reform

On 9 July 1986, after 16 divisive months of nationwide protest and debate, the Homosexual Law Reform Act passed in Parliament, decriminalising consensual sexual activity between men. The Bill passed by a narrow margin, with 49 votes in support and 44 against.

Auckland Museum Manuscripts Curator Nina Finigan says the event will bring a significant moment in Aotearoa’s recent history into the room through archives, collection items and the voices of people who lived it.

“Museums are not only places for looking back; they are places where history that is still within living memory can be held, shared and understood through the people who experienced it,” says Finigan.

“Homosexual Law Reform is part of Aotearoa’s recent history, but it is also deeply personal history for many people. By bringing together archival material, collection objects and the voices of those who were there, this event allows us to reflect on what was won, what it took to get there, and the work that continued beyond 1986.”

Hosted by former MP and LGBTQIA+ rights advocate Louisa Wall, the evening will feature storytellers including Dame Fran Wilde, who introduced the Homosexual Law Reform Bill into Parliament in 1985, alongside Edward Cowley, Bruce Kilmister, Welby Ings and Ngāhuia Te Awekōtuku, who were each part of the wider movement for change. The programme will also include live performances from GALS choir and drag artist Adena Delights to mark this significant anniversary.

Louisa Wall says the 40th anniversary of the Homosexual Law Reform Act marks a defining moment in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history.  

“It was more than a change to the law; it affirmed the dignity, humanity and equal worth of people who had lived under the burden of criminalisation. This anniversary is an opportunity to recognise the courage and determination of everyone who campaigned for reform and to remember those whose lives were profoundly affected by the law.”

“As we commemorate this milestone, we celebrate the progress that has been made while recognising that the pursuit of equality and inclusion continues. By sharing these stories and preserving this history, we pay tribute to those who came before us and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring all LGBTQIA+ and takatāpui people can live with dignity, safety and belonging,” says Wall.

Stories will include critical fundraising hijinks that countered the deep pockets of the opposition, the nurturing of drag as a form of advocacy at the inner-city nightclub Staircase, and the battles that would continue to be fought in the years to come.

The evening will also feature mini-talks from Auckland Museum curators Nina Finigan and Jane Groufsky, who will share rarely seen collection items and archival material from the period connected to queer life and creative expression in Tāmaki Makaurau.

LATE at the Museum | 1986: A Look Back at Homosexual Law Reform
Wednesday 29 July
Doors open 6.30pm, Event starts 7.30pm
Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum
Adults $59
Concession $25 – Concession tickets are available for students, seniors, unwaged people and Community Services Card holders.
Bookings are essential.

About the speakers:

Edward Cowley, renowned drag artiste performing as Buckwheat, is a public health advocate and former member of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation. He worked at the legendary Staircase nightclub in the 1980s.

Welby Ings is a Professor of Narrative Design, educational reformer, author, designer, filmmaker and “disobedient thinker”. He was arrested several times during the 1980s Homosexual Law Reform protest movement.

Bruce Kilmister was a founding member of Auckland’s Gay Task Force chapter, Founding Trustee of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (now Burnett Foundation Aotearoa) and CEO of Body Positive for more than 20 years. Bruce played a key role in the organisation and fundraising effort for the 1986 Homosexual Law Reform movement here in Tāmaki.

Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku (Te Arawa, Tūhoe, Ngāpuhi, Waikato) has fought for Māori, LGBTQI+ and women’s rights for five decades. In March 1972 she was refused a scholarship visa to the US as a ‘known sexual deviant’. That same week, the first gay activist group got together in Auckland. She describes herself as a Kuia/Queer.

Dame Fran Wilde introduced the Homosexual Law Reform Bill into Parliament in 1985 and worked tirelessly to see it through. Since then, she has been a Cabinet Minister, CEO and company director and is now Mayor of South Wairarapa.

Louisa Wall (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Waikato, Ngāti Hineuru) is Chair of the Tūwharetoa Iwi Māori Partnership Board, a former New Zealand MP, and Patron of Toitū Takatāpui. Her human rights leadership includes Marriage Equality, Safe Areas around abortion facilities, and reforms addressing image-based sexual abuse.

Nina Finigan is Manuscripts Curator, Documentary Heritage at Auckland Museum, and will speak on material from the Museum’s ephemera archive folder titled “Gay Liberation.”

Jane Groufsky is Auckland Museum’s Social History Curator, Human History, and will speak on the shoes and life of Doug George, as well as Garth Maxwell and Peter Wells’ filmic ode Naughty Little Peeptoe.

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The NZ Super Fund has for the third year in a row been awarded a perfect score in the annual GSR (governance, sustainability, resilience) scoreboard published by international sovereign wealth fund experts GlobalSWF.  

First introduced in 2020, the GSR scoreboard assesses 200 state-owned investors against 25 criteria covering each entity’s governance structure and processes, responsible investment policies and practices, and ability to manage liquidity and operational risk.

The Super Fund is one of nine investors to achieve a perfect score.

CEO Jo Townsend says GlobalSWF’s scoreboard is a valuable guide to industry best practice for state-owned investors.

“We are delighted to have performed well against these criteria again,” Ms Townsend said.

Ms Townsend said the increase in sustainability and resilience scores globally reflected the increasing awareness among investors of how relevant these criteria were for long-term success.

“Our discussions with peers show a strong ongoing commitment to these areas, in keeping with our shared focus on creating long-term value for stakeholders.”

The Super Fund is also one of 13 New Zealand investors recently recognised as Responsible Investment Leaders by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA).

RIAA said Responsible Investment Leaders were required to demonstrate leading practice across four pillars: Responsible Investment commitment and transparency; ESG integration and screens; Stewardship; and Allocation of Capital.

Guardians co-Chief Investment Officer Will Goodwin said RIAA recognition was an important benchmark.

“The RIAA’s four pillars are well aligned with what we consider to be best-practice portfolio management,” said Goodwin.

“Integrating these considerations into an investment strategy is not an optional extra, it is absolutely fundamental to achieving strong, sustainable risk-adjusted returns.”

Beachlands South development moves to next phase

Beachlands South Limited Partnership (BSLP), the company behind the development of a master-planned community in East Auckland, is moving to internalise the management of its flagship project as preliminary earthworks get under way at the 255 hectare site.

BSLP has announced the appointment of Ian Passau to head the project’s new management team. Passau has held senior executive roles with NZX-listed property company Kiwi Property Group, Arvida and Foodstuffs, and helped to design and implement Auckland Airport’s commercial property development programme.  

BSLP has also named Guy Milburn as Chief Operating Officer. Milburn has more than 20 years’ experience in the property and construction sectors in New Zealand and Australia, most recently as COO at Lime Global. He previously held various GM roles at Ngāi Tahu Property.

The Super Fund is the majority shareholder in BSLP, alongside local iwi Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, property fund Hāpai, and interests associated with construction and property organisation Russell Property Group.

Taranaki Offshore Partnership welcomes new legislation

Taranaki Offshore Partnership (TOP), a joint venture between the Super Fund and global infrastructure investor Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners that wants to develop New Zealand’s first offshore wind farm, says the recent passing of the Offshore Renewable Energy Bill is a significant step towards harnessing a world-class fuel source that will generate both sustainable energy and significant downstream economic benefits.

Read TOP’s full announcement here.

Guardians supporting development of award-winning New Zealand Taxonomy

Guardians investment team members Greg Munford and Terina Williams are among a group of industry, investment and sustainability experts creating a sustainable finance framework that is gaining international recognition.

The New Zealand Taxonomy project was last month awarded the 2026 Climate Bonds Initiative Award for Most Innovative Taxonomy. The citation said the project, which is being led by the Centre for Sustainable Finance with support from the Ministry for the Environment, was providing “global leadership in the development of science-based criteria for agriculture and forestry, two of the most difficult sectors for taxonomy development.”

The New Zealand Taxonomy is intended to identify economic activities that either meet sustainability criteria or are actively transitioning towards doing so, thereby helping qualifying New Zealand businesses access global and local green finance.

It is also recognised as one of the first such initiatives to explicitly incorporate climate change adaptation and resilience measures.

Terina Williams (pictured above), a member of the Forestry & Agriculture Technical Advisory Group, said that as well as encouraging investment in local primary industries, the Taxonomy will also help New Zealand exporters maintain access to important overseas markets.

“A growing number of countries are introducing carbon border adjustment mechanisms or mandatory climate-related disclosures. The Taxonomy provides a practical mechanism for exporters to demonstrate their environmental credentials.”

The broader New Zealand Taxonomy project covers agriculture and forestry, energy, buildings and construction, and transport. It will be submitted to the Government to consider for endorsement in December 2026.

Established in 2010, Climate Bonds Initiative is a UK-based non-governmental organisation focused on developing a large and liquid Green and Climate Bonds market that will help drive down the cost of capital for climate projects and improve access to lower-cost debt in emerging markets https://www.climatebonds.net/

More information about the New Zealand Taxonomy can be found on the Centre for Sustainable Finance website: https://sustainablefinance.nz/nz-taxonomy/

Super Fund features as case study in new ICPM study

The Super Fund is one of five funds profiled in a paper that looks at the various ways in which the Total Portfolio Approach to investing is being implemented. Guardians Head of Asset Allocation Charles Hyde was one of the contributors to the study, which was published by the Toronto-based  International Centre for Pension Management and is available on their website.

Annual Report wins Gold

In June, the Guardians’ 2025 Annual Report won Gold at the Australasian Reporting Awards, our 13th consecutive Gold Award, and was named best report in the Financial Services sector.

Latest SOI and SPE now available

The Guardians’ 2026-31 Statement of Intent, and 2026/27 Statement of Performance Expectations, have been published and are available on our website.

People News

The Guardians recently announced the appointments of Will Fletcher as Head of Private Equity and Alternatives and Dr Anastasia Moskvina as Head of Data Analytics.

Dean Hill, formerly of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, has been appointed Strategic Relationship Manager, overseeing some of our most important external partnerships, including with Northern Trust and Bloomberg.

Finally, Eleanor Morrison has been appointed Fund Finance Manager, leading financial accounting and reporting for the NZ Super Fund.

And special congratulations to former Guardians’ staffer Joe Margison, recently appointed CEO of Virgin Hotels Collection.

Co-CIOs in the Media

Brad Dunstan tells Investment Magazine’s Darcy Song how our assessment that equity risk premia are likely to reduce has led to us lowering the long-term expected return for our benchmark reference portfolio.

Will Goodwin writes in the NZ Herald that sustainability is fundamental to risk, return, and portfolio resilience over decades, making it a core component of any long-term investment strategy.

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 July 2026 – The “Taiwan International Plant-Based Festival” officially launched in Singapore. Led by Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) Deputy Minister Hu Jong-I, the delegation introduced Taiwan’s premium produce and elite Phalaenopsis orchids into Singapore’s luxury dining and international sectors. The initiative leverages high-end restaurant marketing and immersive thematic exhibitions to showcase the quality, safety, and sustainability of Taiwanese agriculture, actively expanding its reach into premium consumer and international procurement markets.

The culinary campaign features a high-profile partnership between “Yang Ming Spring”—a prominent Taiwanese pure vegan culinary group honored with the Michelin Green Star—and Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant at PARKROYAL on Beach Road under the Pan Pacific Hotels Group. From July 1 to September 30, this exclusive plant-based menu highlights premium fresh ingredients sourced directly from Taiwan, including water snowflake, green bamboo shoots, cabbage, tea leaves, and the rising export star, the “Mango Pineapple,” elevating Taiwanese produce onto international five-star tables.

The launch was attended by MOA Deputy Minister Hu Jong-I, Ministry counselor Wu Wen-ling, Pan Pacific Hotels Group Executive Director Ms. Wee Wei Ling, and Yang Ming Spring Founder Mr. Chen Chien-Hung. Deputy Minister Hu noted that this festival marks a critical milestone for Taiwanese agriculture as it integrates with green gastronomy globally. The MOA aims to connect Singaporean consumers with Taiwan’s top-tier produce, establishing a premium brand image rooted in food safety and trust to unlock future export channels.

The launch elegantly incorporated Taiwan’s Phalaenopsis orchid floral aesthetics to create a “five-sensory feast” that harmonized taste, vision, and cultural narrative, solidifying Taiwan’s premium brand image. The event successfully drew over 80 distinguished guests, including mainstream Singaporean media, food critics, business chamber representatives, and executive chefs.

Concurrently, the official residence of the Taipei Representative Office in Singapore hosted the festival’s thematic opening reception, serving as a premier venue for cultural diplomacy and showcasing the narrative of Taiwan’s agricultural excellence. The exhibition focused on three themes: Taiwanese orchid aesthetics, Mango Pineapple innovation, and sustainable agriculture tourism. This space demonstrated Taiwan’s agricultural evolution from precision R&D to green sustainability, highlighting its export potential to foreign diplomats and Singaporean trade buyers.

The MOA emphasized that the initiative’s core strategy is to “drive tangible procurement through engaging and immersive experiences in our target markets.” By bridging high-end dining with diplomatic prestige, the three-month campaign will maximize the visibility of Taiwanese agri-products across Southeast Asian markets. Aligning with global net-zero sustainability trends, the festival establishes a safe, premium brand image, paving the way for Taiwanese agriculture to integrate into global high-end supply chains and broader Asia-Pacific channels.

Hashtag: #YMSpring

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

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

Queenstown & Wānaka New Zealand (1 July 2026) Queenstown and Wānaka have taken another step onto the global culinary stage, with local restaurants receiving outstanding recognition in the MICHELIN Guide.
 
Five restaurants across the two destinations received coveted MICHELIN Stars, including two stars for Queenstown’s Essence – the only restaurant in New Zealand to receive the prestigious two-star rating.
 
Queenstown restaurants Rātā, Sherwood and Amisfield each received one MICHELIN Star, while Wānaka’s Kika also earned a one-star distinction.
 
A further eight local restaurants were recognised with Bib Gourmand awards for offering exceptional quality at good value. Wānaka’s Paloma Taqueria, Bombay Palace, Francesca and Muttonbird were recognised, along with Queenstown’s Aosta, Sundays, and The Cow.
 
Mat Woods, chief executive of Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism, says the results highlight the region’s growing reputation as a world-class food and wine destination.
 
“To see five restaurants receive MICHELIN Stars, including New Zealand’s only two-star restaurant, is an extraordinary achievement and one the entire region can celebrate.
 
“This is global recognition of the exceptional standard of dining experiences visitors can enjoy in Queenstown and Wānaka. It reflects years of passion, creativity and commitment from some incredibly talented chefs and hospitality teams.
 
“Food and drink have become defining reasons people choose to visit our region. Alongside our spectacular scenery and experiences, our restaurants are helping shape Queenstown and Wānaka’s international reputation as a world-class destination.
 
“From award-winning fine dining through to neighbourhood favourites recognised with Bib Gourmand distinctions, the depth and diversity of our hospitality offering is something we’re incredibly proud of. Congratulations to every restaurant recognised.”

Thirteen restaurants in Queenstown and Wānaka were also included in the official MICHELIN Guide selection.

Backed by Tourism New Zealand, the arrival of the MICHELIN Guide marks the beginning of a new chapter for New Zealand’s international food and wine tourism.

After months of anonymous inspections, 110 establishments in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown were recognised; 15 with MICHELIN Stars, 35 with a Bib Gourmand, and a further 60 included in the official MICHELIN Guide selection.

The MICHELIN Guide is expected to further raise the country’s global culinary profile, creating new opportunities for destinations such as Queenstown and Wānaka to attract visitors seeking world-class dining experiences.

Local MICHELIN Guide recipients
 
Two MICHELIN Stars
Essence, Queenstown
 
One MICHELIN Star
Amisfield, Queenstown
Kika, Wānaka
Rātā, Queenstown
Sherwood, Queenstown
 
Bib Gourmand
Aosta, Queenstown
Bombay Palace, Wānaka
Francesca, Queenstown
Muttonbird, Queenstown
Paloma Taqueria, Wānaka
Sundays, Queenstown
The Cow, Queenstown
Treehouse, Wānaka.

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The appointment of a CEO from a NYSE American-listed mining company will further strengthen ARE’s Board as it progresses its planned Nasdaq listing. Mr Gili brings deep Wyoming, hydrometallurgical and mine development expertise to the largest known rare earth deposit in the United States.

LARAMIE, Wyo., June 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rare Earths Limited (ASX: ARR | OTCQX: ARRNF | ADR: AMRRY) (“ARE” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce that it has agreed to appoint Matthew D. Gili, B.Eng, BSc, as a Non-Executive Director of the Board. Mr. Gili’s appointment will become formally effective upon completion of the necessary Australian regulatory formalities, which are expected to be completed shortly. Upon commencement, Mr. Gili will join the Company’s Technical Committee and contribute directly to advancing the Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project, the largest known rare earth deposit in the United States on a total rare earth oxide (TREO) basis,¹ toward construction and production.

The appointment is a key component of ARE’s broader Board renewal program as the Company accelerates toward a NASDAQ compliance dual-listing targeted in H2 2026, with a prospective full U.S. domicile planned for 2027. Once appointed, Mr. Gili will bring to the ARE Board a sitting chief executive of a NYSE American-listed Wyoming mining company, adding institutional credibility and U.S. capital markets depth at a decisive moment in the Company’s development.

BOARD COMMENTARY

_________________________________
¹ Refer ASX announcement dated 4 February 2025.

STRATEGIC CONTEXT: BOARD RENEWAL AND NASDAQ PATHWAY

American Rare Earths is advancing on two parallel and mutually reinforcing tracks. At the project level, the Company has commenced its 2026 FS-level drilling program at the Cowboy State Mine within Halleck Creek, targeting geological and geotechnical data to support ore reserve estimates, geotechnical engineering, environmental baseline studies, and pilot-scale metallurgical testwork. In parallel, the Company has taken a series of deliberate steps toward a NASDAQ listing in H2 2026, including the appointment of BDO Audit Pty Ltd as U.S.-standard auditor and the engagement of Rimon as U.S. securities counsel to guide SEC registration and disclosure requirements.

The agreed appointment of Mr. Gili directly will advance the Board’s quality and composition in anticipation of the NASDAQ listing. U.S. institutional investors, index funds, and mining sector analysts routinely assess the calibre of non-executive directors alongside technical and financial credentials when evaluating emerging mine developers. A Board that includes a sitting NYSE American-listed CEO with a track record of building mines in the United States, operational experience in Wyoming, and hands-on hydrometallurgical processing knowledge is materially stronger in the context of U.S. investor due diligence.

The Company has confirmed that the NASDAQ listing is targeted as a compliance listing in 2026, with ASX retaining its status as the primary listing. A prospective shareholder vote on Company domicile to the United States is planned for 2027. The Board renewal program, of which this agreed appointment forms a part, is explicitly designed to ensure that ARE meets and exceeds the governance, independence, and leadership expectations of both the NASDAQ listing standards and U.S. institutional investors.

PROCESSING SYNERGY: URANIUM ISR AND RARE EARTH HYDROMETALLURGY

A central aspect of Mr. Gili’s relevance to American Rare Earths is the substantial overlap between uranium in-situ recovery (ISR) processing and rare earth element (REE) hydrometallurgical processing the primary processing pathway being developed for Halleck Creek. While the two commodities are distinct, the core unit operations that underpin commercial-scale production share the same fundamental chemistry and engineering disciplines:

• Acid leaching: Both uranium ISR and REE leaching use sulfuric acid (H2SO4) as the primary lixiviant to mobilize target metals from mineralized host rock into solution.
• Solvent extraction (SX): Liquid-liquid solvent extraction is the principal separation technology for both uranium purification and REE individual element separation. The same class of extractants (e.g. D2EHPA, Cyanex 272, Alamine 336) are used across both industries.
• Ion exchange (IX) resins: IX circuits are deployed in both uranium ISR facilities and REE processing plants for selective metal recovery from dilute leach solutions.
• Precipitation and drying: Final product stages yellowcake (U3O8) in uranium, mixed REE carbonate or oxide in rare earths use analogous precipitation, filtration, drying, and calcination processes.
• Environmental and solution management: ISR operations require rigorous management of pregnant and barren leach solutions, aquifer protection, and groundwater restoration — disciplines directly applicable to the environmental and hydrogeological management requirements of REE processing in Wyoming.

Research has demonstrated that REEs including scandium and yttrium have been co-recovered as by-products directly from uranium ISR process solutions in pilot programs, underscoring the chemical affinity between the two recovery systems. Mr. Gili’s operational oversight of ISR uranium hydrometallurgy at Lost Creek an operating Wyoming ISR facility gives him direct, practitioner-level experience with these unit operations in a Wyoming geological, environmental, and regulatory context. This is not analogous experience; it is substantively the same processing discipline applied to a different target metal.

INVESTMENT CASE: WHY THIS APPOINTMENT MATTERS

ABOUT THE HALLECK CREEK RARE EARTHS PROJECT

The Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project, located in Albany and Platte Counties, Wyoming, hosts the largest known rare earth deposit in the United States on a total rare earth oxide (TREO) basis¹. The Cowboy State Mine area within Halleck Creek offers cost-efficient open-pit mining methods on Wyoming State land, benefiting from streamlined permitting under Wyoming’s mining-friendly regulatory environment. The project is currently progressing DFS-level drilling (commenced May 2026) alongside a Whole of Property Development Assessment awarded to leading U.S. engineering consultants.

Halleck Creek is strategically positioned to reduce U.S. reliance on rare earth imports, predominantly from China, while meeting growing domestic demand from defence, advanced manufacturing, electric vehicles, wind energy, and semiconductor industries. The project includes plans for onsite mineral processing and separation facilities, and the Company is engaged with U.S. Government-supported R&D programs to develop innovative extraction and processing technologies. The Company is evaluating a potential Wyoming rare earth processing hub strategy that would leverage the state’s existing critical minerals infrastructure.

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¹ Refer ASX announcement dated 4 February 2025.

ABOUT AMERICAN RARE EARTHS LIMITED

American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR | OTCQX: ARRNF | ADR: AMRRY) is a critical minerals company at the forefront of reshaping the U.S. rare earths industry. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Wyoming Rare (USA) Inc. (WRI), the Company is advancing the Halleck Creek Project in Wyoming, a world-class rare earth deposit with the potential to secure America’s critical mineral independence for generations.

ARE is committed to environmentally responsible mining practices and continues to collaborate with U.S. Government-supported R&D programs to develop innovative extraction and processing technologies for rare earth elements. The Company is progressing toward a NASDAQ dual-listing in 2026 to deepen its engagement with U.S. institutional and retail investors and accelerate the path to project financing and construction. Further information is available at www.americanree.com.

INVESTOR AND MEDIA CONTACTS

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

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the planned NASDAQ listing, the advancement of the Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project toward feasibility and production, processing technology development, project financing, and the strategic benefits of the Board appointment described herein. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors include, without limitation: delays in permitting or regulatory approvals; changes in commodity prices; failure to complete the NASDAQ listing on the timeline described; capital cost overruns; changes in technology or processing pathways; and general economic conditions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.

– Published by The MIL Network