“Opportunistic” gulls are flocking near Wellington Airport’s runway, picking off easy prey that are surfacing in the water nearby to munch on sewage.

The airport is taking extra precautions to avoid planes hitting birds, but says it hasn’t been a problem in the two weeks since the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant meltdown.

Raw sewage has been spewing into the South coast and further out to the Cook Strait since the plant’s massive failure two weeks ago.

Department of Conservation principal science advisor Graeme Taylor said black-backed gulls were “opportunistic” birds making the most of the sewage flow.

“They’ll be coming around in sort of flocks, when they might otherwise go to a tip site or something like that,” he said.

“They wouldn’t be eating the raw sewage itself, but there will be other species of marine organisms that will be into that… zooplankton and small fish.”

Those species were coming up to the surface where sewage was floating, making them accessible for the gulls, Taylor said.

The birds would probably not get sick, he said.

“They’ve got very strong digestive juices in their stomach and they can eat food that you and I would find disgusting,” he said.

“But having said that, if there is, various viruses or bugs in there that’s not going to be good for them.”

Taylor was concerned about the birds roosting on the rocks near the airport runway.

He said New Zealand’s gull numbers were “huge” so bird strike was not a conservation problem – rather, a problem for those sitting on a plane that hits a bird.

A Wellington Airport spokesperson said there had been more birds gathering around the runway since the sewage plant failure.

Staff were monitoring them and taking precautionary measures to avoid them hitting planes, including using loud noises to scare them away, they said.

Airports are required to report instances of bird strike to the Civil Aviation Authority, which said there was no sign of an increase in bird strike activity in the capital this month.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

New Zealand is once again free of Queensland fruit fly, following a swift biosecurity response in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. 

Biosecurity New Zealand has lifted controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the area. No further evidence of the pest has been found since the discovery of a single male Queensland fruit fly in a surveillance trap in the suburb in early January.

“This is great news for all New Zealanders, and particularly for our horticulture industry, which would have been significantly impacted by the establishment of a Queensland fruit fly population here,” says Mr Hoggard.

“Allowing fruit fly to become established would have hammered New Zealand’s horticulture industry just as it is hitting record export returns. The industry is projected to export $9.2 billion worth of produce a year by 2026, while Kiwifruit alone returned $4.1 billion in the year to July 2025. I’m pleased that our growers can continue to thrive without having to worry about fighting this pest.”

Biosecurity New Zealand, with the help of communities and sector partners, has successfully stamped out 15 fruit fly incursions since 1996. 

“This success shows our multi-layered biosecurity system working. This includes treatment of fruit before it arrives in New Zealand, checks at the border at airports and import facilities, and surveillance trapping to catch any flies that slip through with passengers or on imported goods,” says Mr Hoggard. 

“The Biosecurity New Zealand team put in a great effort, and I commend them for their hard work over the past six weeks.”

The successful eradication of this pest wouldn’t have been possible without the cooperation and support of the local community, local businesses, and sector groups.  

“The way residents and local businesses have engaged with this response has been a terrific display of community spirit. Their efforts to follow the restrictions has protected our horticultural sector and our home gardens,” says Mr Hoggard. 

MIL OSI

Once-in-a-hundred-year storms are coming thick and fast, and the number of states of emergency declared across the country has skyrocketed.

New Zealand isn’t just bracing for emergencies – it’s declaring them at a pace never seen before.

In 2002, across the country, only four days of local states of emergency were declared. In the first two months of this year alone, there have been at least 70.

That stark comparison comes as councils around the country deal with the devastating impact of a powerful, lasting and deadly storm that first hit Ōtorohanga and Waipa districts hard and carried on down the country.

Today, The Detail looks at what it means to be under a local state of emergency, and what goes on behind the scenes at MetService when it issues a weather warning.

Lakes District councillor and Joint Centre for Disaster Research capability development manager Jon Mitchell, who has been involved with emergency management both here and overseas for 30 years, puts the spike in states of emergency down, in part, to climate change. But he also says it’s due to weather services getting better at forecasting, and a culture change which has encouraged authorities to declare early.

“If you wait until the events occur, you lose much of the benefit of being able to declare a state of emergency,” Mitchell tells The Detail.

“When [a declaration] is made at the local level, it automatically has a seven-day period, which can be extended – we have seen that happen with major events recently – and it does several things. It enables those appointed as regional or group controllers … to have special powers to intervene in the emergency.

“It also enables police officers to have those powers where there is a need to act even faster, perhaps, in particular if there isn’t communication and there may only be police with a degree of authority on the ground,” Mitchell says.

“So that’s the ability to require people to evacuate, to enter buildings, to remove vehicles that might be damaged and blocking streets, to clear roads, to close roads, to acquire resources through requisition, a whole range of things.

“But it also provides protection, too, to those involved in the response … sometimes to manage risks, you have to be prepared to take risks, so it enables people to have more confidence, who are responding, to do things they might need to do that they normally wouldn’t be able to do, outside of an emergency situation.”

He says legally, the bar for declaring a state of emergency is “quite low” – it can simply be “any incident that has occurred or may occur that threatens the safety of individuals or property”.

However, with the increasing number of emergencies being declared, does Mitchell worry that emergency fatigue will set in, causing the declarations to lose their urgency and public compliance to drop off?

“There has been quite a bit of research into this. And the impact of not declaring and leaving communities entirely to their own devices, or organisations to not act together in a coordinated way, communities tire of that much more quickly than they do of having an organised response supporting them.

“What we can’t do is hesitate, and hope that things are going to get better.”

He says people should have a plan to escape a dangerous situation as soon as possible. And have a pack ready, with water, food, a torch, and a radio, to listen to alerts and warnings.

“We need the public to be ready,” he says. “Being ready to move is essential, and having a plan about where you are going to go is critical too.”

Eyes on the weather everywhere

While the wild weather has been bombarding many towns and cities outside, inside MetService’s Wellington headquarters forecasters have been inundated with all kinds of data that feeds into their predictions. Information sent in by the 200-odd weather stations from Cape Reinga to the Sub-Antarctic Islands can change by the minute, says meteorologist John Law.

“We’ve got computers, monitors everywhere with maps, webcam views of various bits and bobs around the country and these giant screens which are our situational awareness screens with the latest radar, the latest satellite images and some of the observations as well,” says Law.

“So [it’s] trying to keep us up to date with what’s happening now so we get a nice, firm idea of what’s going to happen in the future.”

When there’s severe weather the pressure steps up from journalists, airports, shipping companies and government agencies for latest information.

But unlike the external mayhem of the last week, Law says inside the national weather hub in Wellington it’s just the opposite. The office is “very quiet and very hardworking”.

Teams of weather specialists are working on aviation, marine and website information, and the lead forecaster is running the show like an orchestra conductor. Three times a day the group gathers for a ‘nod in’.

“This dates back to when the chief forecaster used to stand up and tell everyone what the forecast was going to be and the rest of the meteorologists would sit round and nod in agreement,” says Law.

The name has stuck, but he says the meetings are now more collaborative, with expert forecasters and other meteorologists having a say .

Some of the world’s biggest, most sophisticated computers enable meteorologists to see what’s going on as early as six weeks out but at that stage there are many uncertainties.

“That’s often one of the biggest challenges, is when we look at the forecast, particularly for three, four, five, six weeks away is there can be a lot of uncertainty. And as we’ve seen with just this big system of low pressure, where that exact path goes can have a real big impact on which areas see the most rainfall or which areas see the strongest winds.

“We want to make sure that when we issue severe weather warnings or alerts, we have high certainty they’ll come through. We want to make sure that we’re not crying wolf, as it were.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

The New Zealand Defence Force has combined its maritime and air assets to conduct a search and rescue operation for two men drifting in a wooden boat 105 nautical miles south of Tonga.

The two men were located by a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A Poseidon yesterday morning and were then recovered on board the Royal New Zealand Navy’s HMNZS Canterbury last night.

The P-8A had been en route to conduct maritime surveillance operations for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the South West Pacific when it was diverted to conduct the search for the missing boat.

Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre requested the aircraft crew search for the boat after it was reported overdue.

The crew on board the 11.5-metre wooden boat named Mysterious Wonder were reported to have left Tongatapu, Tonga on 8 February. Authorities were notified on Tuesday that the vessel was missing.

The P-8A crew flew to Fiji to base overnight before starting the search Wednesday morning. They found the boat at 10.15am. The call then went out to HMNZS Canterbury to rescue the men and bring them to safety.

Commander Wayne Andrew, the Commanding Officer of HMNZS Canterbury, said the ship launched a sea boat, rescuing the two men late yesterday evening.

“This was an excellent combined effort to locate and rescue the crew members,” he said.

“The P-8A crew did a fantastic job locating the vessel in a large search area about 105 nautical miles south of Tonga. We were fortunate to be in a position to be able to assist the two men.”

HMNZS Canterbury recently completed a successful trip to Tokelau supporting Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Cindy Kiro to mark the centenary of New Zealand administration of Tokelau. The ship was en route to the Kermadec Islands before it turned around to assist with the rescue.

The two men were flown to Tonga this morning on a RNZAF NH90 helicopter embarked on HMNZS Canterbury.

The ship will today resume passage to Raoul Island, to assist MetService and Earth Sciences New Zealand personnel to carry out upgrade and maintenance tasks of critical weather, tsunami and volcano monitoring equipment and facilities.

MIL OSI

A new travel option that enables eligible Chinese and Pacific visitors to cross the ditch to New Zealand visa free is bringing in a considerable boost in tourism and revenue, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston say.

“In December, we announced that 13,000 Chinese and Pacific travellers had already visited, with 24,000 total requests approved. After two months, that number has now almost tripled to 36,800 visits, along with 54,000 requests approved,” Ms Stanford says.

“With average visitor spend at $5,800 for Chinese visitors, according to the International Visitor Survey, that amounts to an estimated economic injection of $210 million for Kiwi businesses from those who have visited, with Chinese visitors making up around 36,200 of visits through the new pathway.

“We are committed to supporting Kiwis businesses to thrive, and these results, which boost our wider tourism sector. Tourism is our second largest export and it is fantastic to see results which boost our wider tourism sector.” 

“Everybody wants the chance to visit and experience New Zealand, and through our change to allow more people to visit through visa-free travel from Australia, it appears to be a no-brainer.”

Ms Stanford says the change that was introduced was a deciding factor in people visiting New Zealand – 85 percent of Chinese travellers and 82 percent of Pacific travellers surveyed said they travelled here specifically because of the new NZeTA option.

Ms Upston says this is already bringing in a sizeable boost in revenue across the country, and in particular our key tourism regions.

“Visitor spending is going directly into local businesses. That includes shops, eateries, accommodation, and tour operators – and this is spending which may not have come into New Zealand prior to the change. This is all part of our Government’s plan to fix the basics and build the future. 

“The South Island remains extremely popular, with 67 percent of Chinese and Pacific visitors arriving at an international airport in the South Island to start their travels.

“The travel changes we’ve made are reflective of this Government’s stance – we back Kiwi businesses and we back our regions. We are relentlessly focused on making smart, commonsense, and sometimes simple changes, which bring big value for New Zealanders.”

Notes to editor:

Since November, eligible Chinese and Pacific Island Forum passport holders travelling to New Zealand from Australia no longer need to obtain a Visitor Visa . Instead, they can apply for a New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) as part of a 12-month trial. 

Instead of spending $441 and waiting an average of 4 days, individuals from China travelling via Australia can pay as little as $117 and have their application for an NZeTA processed in 24 hours. Individuals from the Pacific can pay as low as $17 instead of spending $216 and waiting an average 6 days for a visitor visa.

MIL OSI

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 February 2026 – Vietnam Airlines, the National Flag Carrier of Vietnam, signed an agreement to purchase 50 Boeing 737-8 narrow-body aircraft in Washington, D.C. (USA), in the presence of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam and Vietnamese officials as part of his visit to the United States to attend the Board of Peace.

On the sidelines of the signing ceremony, the airline’s leadership also met with Boeing to discuss a subsequent plan to invest in 30 wide-body aircraft in the coming period, with an estimated total value of over USD 12 billion, in support of its international network development strategy.

This landmark agreement represents a cornerstone of Vietnam Airlines’ long-term fleet modernization strategy. The airline is scheduled to take delivery of the aircraft between 2030 and 2032, with the expansion expected to increase its total fleet to approximately 151 aircraft by 2030. The US$8.1 Billion (at 2025 catalog pricing) investment prioritizes the development of the narrow-body fleet to enhance network frequency, operational flexibility and cost efficiency, while strengthening competitiveness in the next phase of growth.

The Boeing 737-8 aircraft will primarily operate on domestic and regional Asian routes, supporting rising passenger demand and strengthening regional connectivity. Over the next five years, Vietnam Airlines targets sustained double-digit average annual growth across key operating indicators, in line with the robust expansion of Vietnam’s aviation market.

Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines, said: “Vietnam Airlines is taking a comprehensive and forward-looking approach to strengthening its capabilities, spanning fleet modernization, financial resilience and the development of high quality talent, to support our long term growth ambitions. The investment in 50 Boeing 737-8 aircraft marks a significant step in building a modern, fuel efficient fleet while enhancing operational performance and elevating service standards to meet international benchmarks. This agreement also deepens the long standing strategic partnership between Vietnam Airlines and Boeing, creating a strong foundation for our ambition to become a five star international airline by 2030.”

Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said: “We are proud to build on our partnership with Vietnam Airlines and support them as they pair the 737 MAX with the 787 Dreamliner to further scale regional networks and strengthen connectivity across Asia. The 737‑8’s capabilities, economics and passenger experience make it an ideal airplane to support Vietnam Airlines’ growth plans.”

Boeing 737-8 is the fastest-selling airplane in Boeing’s history, recognized for its advanced design, operational reliability, and sustainability performance. With seating for up to 200 passengers and a range of up to 6,570 kilometers, the aircraft offers strong flexibility across short- and medium-haul networks.

Powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines and incorporating an optimized aerodynamic design and advanced technology winglets, the 737 reduces fuel use and emissions by 20 percent compared to the airplanes it replaces. On average, each aircraft is expected to save up to 8 million pounds of CO₂ emissions annually, supporting the airline’s network expansion while lowering operating costs.

The Boeing Sky Interior further enhances the passenger experience, featuring larger pivoting bins, advanced LED lighting, larger windows, and a spacious cabin architecture that delivers a modern and comfortable flying experience.

Beyond fleet expansion, this investment underscores Vietnam Airlines’ long-term commitment to sustainable development, emissions reduction, and service excellence. With the addition of the 737-8, the airline is strengthening its operational capabilities and adherence to international safety and service standards.

To secure diversified funding sources, Vietnam Airlines in 2025 engaged in discussions with domestic banks and dominant U.S. financial institutions, including EXIM Bank and Citi, to arrange financing for strategic projects such as fleet investment.

Building on strengthened financial foundations and improving operational performance, Vietnam Airlines continues to expand its global footprint, including the recent launch of a record 14 new international routes. The introduction of the Boeing 737-8 will further enhance the airline’s capacity to capture growth in the Asia Pacific aviation market, expand connectivity and elevate service quality, as it advances toward its goal of becoming a five-star airline by 2030.

www.vietnamairlines.com

Hashtag: #VietnamAirlines #Boeing7378 #FleetExpansion #AviationIndustry #AirlineGrowth

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

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

The British government is now allowing dual nationals to have a lifelong digital stamp in their New Zealand passport instead of buying a new UK one.

Thousands of people have already rushed to buy a British passport after being told an alternative certificate of entitlement – costing £589 ($1329) – would last only as long as their current foreign passport.

But, in a change quietly announced on the UK passport’s website eight days ago, it said that from 26 February certificates of entitlement will be linked to new passports for free.

“At the moment certificates of entitlement are stickers (vignettes) placed in a passport. We are going to change this to a digital record.”

RNZ asked the British High Commission in Wellington if it had sent out a media release about any of the changes. It pointed to a January 2025 media release that dealt only with the issue of introducing ETAs (Electronic Travel Authorisations) and not the new requirement for British passport holders, or certificates of entitlement.

It has been asked for further comment on the issue of digital certificates of entitlement.

In questions about whether staff will be at airports to assist its citizens when the new passport requirement comes in next Wednesday, it said consular assistance was provided for all citizens abroad who needed it.

Many British migrants had asked why the passport requirement was introduced, after the UK government said it was to make their borders more secure. When asked for more information, the High Commission told RNZ it had already provided that reasoning.

Counting aliens

UK law professor Elspeth Guild, who specialises in border controls, said the rationale behind the changes could be led by a drive for better statistics.

“A number of countries insist that where their nationals are entering their ‘home’ country they must use their ‘home’ passport. This requirement seems to have a basis in the entitlement of countries to know whether their citizens are at home or not.

“The new insistence on the use of the home passport when entering a state, I think it [is] linked to the entry-exit databases where a lot of modifications were required to deal with dual nationals, and now states want to know. There is a justification in that citizens arriving home cannot be subject to immigration rules (at least in the UK), but if the authorities do not know that the person is a citizen they will be classified as an alien, and then when they fail to leave at the end of their permitted stay they mess up the statistics on how many ‘illegal’ immigrants are floating around.”

She said while revenue generation was also a possible reason for the new policy, several countries which permit dual nationality had tightened up their processes.

For travellers embarking on a trip to the UK next week who had British parents but no visible link to the UK, she had some words of comfort.

“Unless the place of birth stated on the passport indicates that the person may have birthright citizenship somewhere else, it is virtually impossible without a detailed investigation to know whether someone is a dual national. This is particularly so where citizenship was acquired through ancestry rather than place of birth.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Auckland Airport has posted a steady half-year result, with the company cautiously optimistic about passenger growth in the near term.

Key numbers for the six months ended December 2025 compared with a year ago:

• Net profit $177m vs $187.3m
• Revenue $519.6m vs $499.9m
• Underlying profit $157.1m vs $148.1m
• Passenger numbers 9.64m vs 9.46m
• Interim dividend 6.5 cents per share v 6.25 cps

Its bottom line profit decreased 5 percent amid a jump in depreciation expenses reflecting new assets the airport commissioned. Stripping aside one-offs, underlying profit increased 6 percent.

Chief executive Carrie Hurihanganui said the passenger demand trend was “positive”, and singled out the China Eastern Shanghai-Auckland-Buenos Aires service as a highlight, which she said was proving popular.

“While the passenger demand trajectory is certainly positive, we expect the ongoing global fleet shortages to continue to weigh on the availability of new seat capacity supply and the pace of growth in the near term,” she said.

The airport said it had been a promising start to the 2026 financial year for international travel, with seat capacity up 1.8 percent from a year ago, lifting non-transit passenger movements to 93 percent of pre-Covid levels.

“Travellers on North American routes continue to be exceptionally well served with seven airlines competing in the market, and we’re welcoming more inbound visitors to New Zealand on these routes than ever before,” Hurihanganui said.

Temporary disruption as work continues on terminal

Hurihanganui said construction of the integrated domestic jet terminal remained on track for completion in 2029.

Construction activity at the international terminal over the next 18 months would become more visible to travellers with the opening of a temporary check-in facility.

“This next stage of the build, where we are upgrading the check-in area at the international terminal, is an essential step in delivering the long-term capacity, resilience and improved customer experience travellers have been asking for at Auckland Airport,” she said.

“Travellers can expect some temporary disruption as this complex work gets underway, particularly in international departures.”

Hurihanganui said the airport was working with airlines and government agency partners to minimise

The airport forecast full-year underlying profit of between $295 million and $320m, and forecast capital expenditure guidance of between $1 billion and $1.2b.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

The Government has ring-fenced $80 million in the Regional Infrastructure Fund to develop and process domestic critical minerals resources, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development and Resources Minister Shane Jones say.

“Critical minerals are used everywhere, from clean energy technologies and electronics to aviation, medical technology and more. They are essential to modern life,” Mr Peters says.

“A year ago the Coalition Government released its Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List. Since then, there has been increasing interest by a number of countries in securing supplies of critical minerals and rare earths.

“With global demand clearly rising, New Zealand is in a position to be a credible and reliable source of critical minerals and an essential link in the international supply chain,” Mr Peters says.

“By backing the extraction and processing of our own critical minerals resources, the New Zealand Government is sending a message to the world that we are serious about contributing to the critical minerals market.”

“New Zealand engages with a broad range of partners to gather information about the scope of market interest in this sector, and how that relates to the New Zealand Government’s objectives and priorities.

“We will continue to engage with the New Zealand public appropriately, as and when policy and project proposals around critical minerals are developed,” Mr Peters says.

Mr Jones says the $80m Regional Infrastructure Fund package will help New Zealand turn its resources into more jobs, investment and long‑term value for its communities.

“Our regions hold substantial deposits of critical minerals that could support a strong, sustainable economic recovery and position the country at the forefront of high‑value industries,” Mr Jones says.

“By supporting the development of critical minerals opportunities in New Zealand, we create jobs, build self-sufficiency, improve national resilience, and benefit from the new infrastructure, technology and skills that come with development.

“It’s important that we think beyond just extraction when it comes to critical minerals. Developing advanced processing techniques and technology that could help other countries to unlock their resources is an equally exciting prospect. That could open the door to new and deeper partnerships with countries looking to strengthen their own supply chain resilience.

“Given the scale of opportunity, and the importance of the sector to regional development, it makes sense to create this $80m package to help realise those benefits while supporting our Minerals Strategy, which lays a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector.”

Relevant projects which meet the criteria and have already applied to the Regional Infrastructure Fund will be considered. Applications for new projects will also be accepted for consideration. 

Successful projects will be announced when they have been evaluated and ministers have made decisions.

MIL OSI

House prices aren’t moving much in many parts of the country – but what could cause the value of your place to drop?

Property experts say there are a few things that can happen to influence a property’s value – some within the owner’s control and some not.

Messy neighbours

Property economist Ed McKnight said having neighbours who did not look after their house could be a problem.

“If your neighbour’s property looks like a mess – overgrown lawns, rubbish piling up, cars on the front lawn – that could make it harder to get a premium price for your property. It’s hard to quantify this in data.

“But buyers tend to pay premium prices for the dream home. If next door makes it seem more like a nightmare, then the price premium will fall.”

More neighbours

There has been a townhouse boom around parts of Auckland but work in neighbouring sections can make your house less valuable – at least in the short term.

McKnight said he visited a house in Ōrākei, Auckland, where the owner was grappling with this.

“Just as this owner was trying to sell, the neighbour was bulldozing their house and knocking up a five-storey apartment building. It was hard to get someone to pay a premium price for a property when there’s going to be noise and disturbance next door for the following three years.

“The tricky part is that most of this is outside your control. You can have the best-maintained property on the street, but if next door is a disaster, you’re wearing some of that cost.”

Cotality chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said many people valued privacy and having sunlight.

“Putting townhouses up next door potentially reduces that. But I think it’s just the world we’re in at the moment, the government is pushing hard on intensification, infill housing.”

But Vanessa Williams, a spokesperson for Realestate.co.nz, said in an area with a lot of finished townhouses, having a place with a garden and garage could be worth more.

Flooding

Recent weather events have drawn more attention to potential flooding, and properties that could be in a flood zone.

About 20 percent of Auckland buildings are in areas that are prone to floods and it was reported last year that new homes are still being built in flood zones.

Williams said it was something that many buyers should research before they bought a house. A property in a risky area could have a lower value. Some owners might not realise they were affected until they went to sell.

Power pylons

McKnight earlier said a house that was less than 250 metres from a power line could be worth up to 20 percent less than the same property not near the lines.

“The further away you are the less impact. Once you get over 250m away, there was no discernible difference.”

But he said if they were blocking an otherwise nice view, that could cut a property’s price by 27 percent.

McKnight said lamppost cell towers and simple monopole towers made no impact. But armed monopoles could add about a 10 percent discount for houses very close to them.

Flight paths

Davidson said anywhere that had planes flying closely overhead at regular intervals could face challenges.

But an Airways and Auckland Airport report in 2018 said a new flight path over parts of Auckland did not impact property prices, media reported at the time.

An earlier study in Brisbane said aircraft noise only had a minimal impact on property prices.

Davidson said homes next to correctional faciilties could also face a stigma.

A UK survey showed 36 percent of people would live by a prison but half would expect a discount in price of almost a third to do so.

Apartments near Auckland’s Mt Eden Correctional Facility are valued at about $860,000, a similar price to some a few streets away. But in areas where there is less employment, the arrival of a prison can mean more work.

Sewage ponds

Davidson said problems with sewage ponds, as seen recently in Christchurch, could devalue a property.

Offensive odours have been a problem for the city’s eastern suburbs.

Recently, locals complained that it was making them unwell and they had had to stay indoors.

But it was reported earlier this month that there had not yet been an impact on property values.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 February 2026 – The People’s Daily has launched two seasons of the documentary My China Story, featuring 10 foreigners who have pursued their careers in China. Season one features tech entrepreneur Nikk Mitchell, US zoologist Kevin Messenger, US ceramist Matt Watterson and Argentinian motorcycle designer Rodrigo Álvarez. The newly released season two of the series puts the spotlight on Neil Schmid, a US expert on Buddhist studies and Dunhuang; US martial arts lover and Taoist Jake Pinnick; French spelunker Jean Bottazzi and Russian vlogger Anton Butov, all of whom have shared their distinctive life paths in China.

My China Story gives the world a window into foreign residents who have lived across different regions with a wide range of career choices. This documentary series has gained a significant number of overseas viewers on a variety of social media platforms, including Youtube, Tiktok and X. Among all the episodes, the viewers have shown the most interest in Pinnick, who was born in the 1990s in the US, and came to China following an obsession with Chinese martial arts and Taoism studies. This contrasting background has made viewers more eager to learn why and how he lived in China ‘s Wudang Mountains for over a decade.

2025 marked a remarkable year for Pinnick. In April, he received China’s Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card — the “Five-Star Card” — and in May, he was named an Honorary Citizen of Shiyan City at an inaugural ceremony. These honors stand as powerful testaments to his decade-and-a-half journey of cultural immersion.

Pinnick’s story began in 2010 when, inspired by kung fu movies, the then-20-year-old arrived at the foot of the Wudang Mountains with zero martial arts experience and no knowledge of the Chinese language. He carried only a dictionary and a handwritten note that read, “I want to go to the Wudang Mountains.” Emerging from the morning mist, he found his purpose the moment he saw a master leading disciples in practice.

The path from novice to master has been paved with rigorous discipline. Pinnick mastered Tai Chi and various weapon techniques. Beyond the physical movements, he delved into the spiritual heart of China, studying the Tao Te Ching and learned to play Taoist music. During his toughest moments of exhaustion and homesickness, it was his “kung fu family” that gave him the strength to persevere.

Over the past 16 years, Pinnick has not only transformed personally but also witnessed China’s rapid development. He vividly remembers that reaching Wudang once required a slow train to Yibin; today, the journey is defined by high-speed rail and an expanding airport now welcoming international travelers.

Today, Pinnick serves as a vital cultural bridge. Through social media and live performances, he shares the wisdom of Wudang with a global audience. “I originally came for martial arts,” Pinnick reflects, “but I stayed for the culture and history.” Guided by his master’s philosophy that “Kung fu knows no borders,” Pinnick continues to demonstrate that martial arts is not about conflict, but about inclusivity and connecting a diverse world.

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

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

Wellingtonians are being warned to stay off south coast beaches as severe southerly winds and heavy rain strike the region this evening.

Severe weather warnings are in place for a large part of the lower North Island, and some parts of the upper South Island.

Swells could rise to seven metres this evening and overnight, MetService said.

Wellington’s weather warnings are:

• An orange heavy rain warning from 3pm Sunday until 7pm for the eastern hills of Wellington, also Wairarapa, Tararua District and the Tararua Range;
• A heavy swell warning from 7pm Sunday until midday Monday from Cape Terawhiti to Turakirae Head;
• An orange strong wind warning from 6pm Sunday until 3pm Monday;
• A heavy rain watch from 7pm Sunday until 5pm Monday for Wellington, away from the eastern hills.

Wellington City Council said large sea swells are expected later today and could throw up debris or cause damage to people or property.

It said people should also keep away from the beaches because of the ongoing discharge of untreated sewage from the shutdown of the Moa Point treatment plant.

Last week, the facility completely failed – sending tens of millions of litres per day of raw sewage into the Cook Strait.

The council said in windy conditions, there’s a risk seaspray containing bugs could cause illness.

Wellington Water is also warning that raw sewage may need to be pumped out of the plant due to the increased pressure from incoming rain.

“The focus today is to minimise any need to use the short outfall while keeping our operators safe.”

The water company said its latest round of testing showed some high levels of bacteria in the results, which was expected.

Meanwhile, Air New Zealand is warning of potential flight disruptions as a result of the strong winds.

Chief operating officer Alex Marren said winds over 50 knots are expected, likely causing delays and cancellations.

He said low visibility, combined with ongoing airport upgrades in Wellington, could add to the disruption.

Wellington Electricity is also warning those in the capital to prepare.

“Make sure trampolines and other outdoor objects are secured for safety reasons, and to prevent them from damaging property and overhead electrical equipment.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

A physics professor says he does not trust the New Zealand Space Agency to make good decisions about a likely host of new space launches.

The government is raising the total number of launches allowed to 1000, as the cap set at 100 in 2017 comes close to being breached.

The US-NZ company Rocket Lab dominates the launch market from its pad at Mahia.

Space Minister Judith Collins said the 100 cap was likely to be hit this year.

“This change ensures our space and advanced aviation industries can continue to expand while operating within clear environmental boundaries.”

The environmental impact from more debris from space vehicle launches had been newly determined to be low.

The rules would have required a special marine consent for every launch over the 100 cap.

The government has been streamlining aerospace regulations under its strategy to double the industry to be worth $5 billion by 2030.

“This is yet another example of the government fixing the basics while building the future,” Collins said in a statement.

The review late last year covered impacts from debris in the Exclusive Economic Zone on the ocean and seabed but not beyond that, and not the effects on space or the atmosphere.

Māori, maritime and fishing rights, international obligations, economic benefits and environmental sustainability were looked at.  

Professor Richard Easther of Auckland University said the new 1000 cap was good for the tech industry – albeit it was over a long period of time.

“You could easily imagine it taking two decades to get through a thousand launches.”

However, he said New Zealand had yet to match its leading launch position globally with taking some sort of lead on the related environmental issues, such as launches and what satellites and other vehicles they take up impacting the nightsky and the chemistry of the upper atmosphere.

“It certainly gives us a seat at the table that otherwise we wouldn’t have … and I would like to think that we were leading on that.”

But the country was not.

“As a country that regulates orbital launch New Zealand should be at the front of these discussions. However, the announcement is silent on this context,” Easther said on Thursday.

There appeared to still be limited opportunity for oversight of launches.

“Firstly, we need to look at whether we trust the New Zealand Space Agency to do the right thing in private.”

Widespread concerns remained the agency had not been forthcoming about a methane-measuring satellite that taxpayers put $32m into but which got lost in space last year.

“They have shown that they can overly deferential to international partners.

“It seems that they didn’t insist on transparency and clarity when they had the ability to do that.

“The question of what gets launched is different from the MethaneSAT question but it is true that it is roughly the same people who are giving advice on both things and so if we don’t have confidence in one it’s very hard to have confidence in the other.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

An Air New Zealand customer has been left upset after discovering at the last minute that a cabin crew strike had disrupted her travel plans.

“I have a flight tonight with Air NZ from Tonga,” the traveller who wanted to be identified only as Lia said. “I haven’t received any contact either via email or phone about my flight cancellation. I only found out about it when I went online to add a bag only to find out my flight date has been changed.

“I called customer service and they say email has gone out on Wednesday for a flight on Thursday, really? However, I didn’t receive any of that.

“There is a flight tomorrow. The customer rep said this morning there is one seat left but there is a possibility that it will be cancelled… If it will be cancelled the flight on Saturday is fully booked. I might lose my seat on the Saturday flight and the earliest I can go is Monday.”

Lia said it seemed to be very poor customer service and no compensation had been offered.

Flight attendants working on Air New Zealand’s Boeing 777 and 787 long range aircraft are striking on Thursday and Friday after failing to agree on pay and conditions.

Air New Zealand chief customer and digital officer Jeremy O’Brien told Morning Report it had proactively contacted all customers affected by the flight cancellations and offered alternative flights across its airline as well as its partner airlines.

The “vast majority” had been offered travel dates within a few days either side of the strike action.

Flights most affected were heading to North America and Asia, he said.

O’Brien said he appreciated that not all offered flights would suit every customer and a full credit or refund was available for those in that situation.

They could also claim “reasonable costs” involved with the disruption, like if accommodation was impacted by the changes.

A Consumer NZ spokesperson said in its view an international cabin crew strike was an event that within the airline’s control, and should be covered by the Montreal Convention.

“Under the Montreal Convention, if a flight is cancelled or delayed, impacted passengers can ask for a refund, or an alternative flight. They can also claim back any additional costs they incur as a result of the disruption – up to set limits. Passengers should retain receipts for any extra costs they incur to ensure they can get this back from the airline.”

Massey University marketing expert Bodo Lang said the strike could be an issue for Air New Zealand’s brand.

“On the one hand, passengers have been vocal about rising fares, with some complaints attracting headline coverage. On the other hand, staff are seeking improved conditions, including higher pay.

“For some consumers, this creates a perceived inconsistency: if ticket prices are increasing, why are staff arguing that pay and conditions need improvement? The inference some may draw is that Air New Zealand is generating excessive profits.

“However, the financial reality is more nuanced. Profit expectations for Air New Zealand have recently been revised downward, not upward. Explaining the intricacies of Air New Zealand’s financial statements to the public in an engaging manner is difficult. Some consumers may interpret the current strikes as profiteering, which could reduce the brand’s equity.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

A huge increase in the number of space launches allowed from New Zealand will enable our space and advanced aviation sectors to continue their rapid growth, Space Minister Judith Collins and Environment Minister Penny Simmonds announced today.

“The permitted number of launches will rise from 100 to 1000, following a review of space vehicle launch debris regulations,” Ms Collins says.

“When the limit of 100 was first set in 2017, New Zealand had very little launch activity. Since then, the landscape has transformed, to the point where we are the world’s third most frequent launcher of orbital rockets.

“With this strong growth, the current launch limit is expected to be reached this year. This change ensures our space and advanced aviation industries can continue to expand while operating within clear environmental boundaries.”

Ms Simmonds says projections show the new limit will not be reached until at least 2050, providing long-term certainty for industry planning and investment.

“This follows a review of regulations for space vehicle launch debris in our Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf, feeding into a decision grounded in evidence, environmental assessment and responsible sector management.

“The review assessed environmental effects for up to 1000 launches and found the environmental risk to be low. 

“Without lifting the limit, every additional launch after the current cap is reached would require a fully notified marine consent. That would slow innovation, add unnecessary cost, and undermine the Government’s commitment to investment certainty for a sector that is rapidly growing and supporting regional economies.”

The space and advanced aviation sectors are growing rapidly and making a huge contribution to New Zealand’s economy, with the space sector contributing $2.47 billion in 2024, an increase of 48 percent on five years ago. Advanced aviation, which overlaps with the space sector, contributed an estimated $480 million in 2024.

Ms Collins says today’s announcement aligns with the Government’s long-term ambition for the sector, which includes doubling the size of New Zealand’s space and advanced aviation sectors by 2030.

“This is yet another example of the Government fixing the basics while building the future.”

MIL OSI

Air New Zealand says staff are working “around the clock” to minimise disruption as cabin crews go on strike Thursday and Friday.

Flight attendants working on board the airline’s wide-body long range aircraft will stop work over stalled talks on pay and conditions.

Air New Zealand said 46 flights had been cancelled ahead of the strikes.

Chief customer and digital officer, Jeremy O’Brien, said teams were working to rebook and support the nearly 9500 customers affected.

“We have done everything possible to minimise the impact, and our teams have been working around the clock to reaccommodate customers whose flights are affected.

“We are very sorry for the disruption to some customers’ travel plans. Customers have been contacted directly with rebooking options and may also choose a refund or to hold the value of their ticket as credit for travel at a later date,” O’Brien said.

The airline said it had adjusted some flight times and used alternative aircraft to protect the majority of its Tasman and Pacific services from cancellations.

Striking a last resort

E tū union’s national secretary, Rachel Mackintosh, said the strike action was “a last resort” for members frustrated by the failure to reach an agreement after nearly 10 months of negotiations.

“The crew are – from a passenger point of view – the people who make Air New Zealand such a great airline, who keep people safe, manage crisis and are first responders. Pretty much every member of the travelling public will have seen flight crew manage difficult situations, calm people down who are anxious travellers, manage conflicts, keep every body healthy and safe.

“That’s really important work and the crew are so professional that they make it look easy but it’s actually complex and responsible work,” Mackintosh said.

She said while cabin crews received additional allowances for long hours and time away from home, the low base salary for flight attendants meant many faced problems paying rent or getting loans.

“The base pay [for flight attendants] is very low. Currently less than $60,000 a year. That is the only guaranteed income that people have and not all crew get much more than that because the extra allowances really depend on where you go and what roster you get.

“That pay level has an effect on people’s lives including that they can’t get bank loans or mortgages because that’s their only guaranteed income,” Mackintosh said.

Mackintosh said expensive additions to the airline’s assets such as a new hanger, purchasing aircraft and redesigning new uniforms flew in the face of the efforts of the people working aboard the airline’s flights who, like many others, were struggling to deal with the high cost of living back home.

Air New Zealand said it had offered to increase base salaries by a range of 4.14 percent to 6.41 percent and more pay talks were scheduled for later this month.

The airline has been approached for comment in response to E tū’s statements.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

It is “business as usual” at Air New Zealand despite a number of flight cancellations affecting thousands of passengers as a result of strike action.

Flight attendants working aboard the airline’s Boeing 777 and 787 long range aircraft will stop work on Thursday and Friday after failing to agree on terms over pay and conditions.

Flight Attendants’ Association president Craig Featherby said his members would rather not strike but the union had tried everything to reach a deal with the airline to no avail.

Featherby said an original plan for three days of strike action was reduced to two.

Air New Zealand chief customer and digital officer Jeremy O’Brien told Morning Report it had proactively contacted all customers affected by the flight cancellations and offered alternative flights across its airline as well as its partner airlines.

The “vast majority” had been offered travel dates within a few days either side of the strike action.

Flights most affected were heading to North America and Asia, he said.

O’Brien said he appreciated that not all offered flights would suit every customer and a full credit or refund was available for those in that situation.

They could also claim “reasonable costs” involved with the disruption, like if accommodation was impacted by the changes.

O’Brien said disruptions to flights were “part and parcel” with what happen for airlines operating around the world.

“This is no different than other disruptions that we manage on an ongoing basis. It’s just part of business as usual.

“The key thing for us is when we know that we’ve got a disruption to the schedule that we go out and offer as many alternatives and options as possible to the customers and in this case, the whole business is rallying around and been able to do that.”

Questioned if industrial action by its flight attendants was a bit more than “business as usual”, O’Brien said the cause of disruptions was irrelevant for customers.

It was more about what the airline would do to get them where they needed to go, he said.

Air New Zealand respected the flight attendants right to strike and it was reacting as a business – which meant focusing on what options were available to customers, he said.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

BRP‑Rotax unveils its latest milestone in aviation with Aircraft Meets Racetrack. In an unprecedented accomplishment for the Bahrain International Circuit, Red Bull athlete and Rotax Ambassador Luke Czepiela became the first pilot to fly this Grand Prix track’s complete racing line from the air, showcasing the capabilities of Rotax powered aviation in a dramatic low‑level performance.

Gunskirchen, Austria – Newsaktuell – 10 February 2026 – In a demonstration of precision aviation, Luke Czepiela traced the full ideal line of the Bahrain International Circuit at low level, including short takeoffs and landings (STOL) on the start/finish straight. The achievement is documented in the short film Aircraft Meets Racetrack, the first project to emerge from BRP-Rotax’s Brand Ambassador partnership with Luke Czepiela, launched in 2025. The short film premiered during the Bahrain International Circuit’s official F1 pre‑season press conference today.

When Racing Meets Aviation

The project transfers what racing drivers follow on the ground with high precision accuracy into the sky. The circuit’s racing line becomes an aerial flight path, demanding exceptionally tight tolerances, high and low speeds, and uncompromising line discipline. Conducting the maneuver required extreme precision. Low altitude, shifting wind conditions, more than 495 light poles, and the narrow, enclosed layout of the Grand Prix track created an environment with virtually no margin for error.

“Flying a racing line from the air demands absolute control at low altitude and instant reaction in every phase,” said Czepiela, Rotax Brand Ambassador. “It is precision flying in its purest form.”

The flight was performed in a CubCrafters Carbon Cub UL equipped with the 160‑hp Rotax 916 iS engine. The aircraft’s lightweight STOL design, immediate throttle response, and exceptional power‑to‑weight ratio made the aerial replication of the racing line possible.

Production took place during the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals in Bahrain – marking the first time all project partners collaborated on‑site. Working closely with the Bahrain International Circuit, Red Bull Bahrain, and local authorities, the team implemented a comprehensive safety and operations plan. The track and airspace were fully closed to ensure uninterrupted filming, supported by constant air traffic coordination and emergency services on-site.

“With Luke Czepiela, we aimed to create something that authentically unites our two passions: racing and aviation,” said Peter Ölsinger, General Manager of BRP‑Rotax and Vice-President Sales, Marketing RPS‑Business & Communications. “This project represents technical precision, long‑standing partnerships, and the courage to pursue new creative paths.”

The film not only showcases a great achievement it underscores Rotax’s mission to connect disciplines, push boundaries, and deliver high‑performance experiences on the ground and in the air.

Links:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNgMGArCGBU
Presskit: https://newsroom.ketchum.at/Media.aspx?menueid=34496

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

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

SYDNEY, Jan. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Siltrax, a leader in high-performance electrochemical innovation, has announced a definitive commercial milestone: the G-100 Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell Stack has officially attained TÜV certification.

Validating compliance with IEC 62282-2-100, this certification confirms the G-100’s safety architecture, manufacturing consistency and readiness for immediate integration into regulated global markets. A copy of the certificate is available here.

For Tier-1 system integrators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), this certification is a significant commercial accelerator. By providing validated, component-level safety evidence, Siltrax materially reduces “certification friction,” allowing partners to bypass redundant testing and accelerate the deployment of hydrogen-powered systems.

From Record-Setting Performance to Certified, Repeatable Hardware

This certification builds on Siltrax’s previously announced G-100 performance milestone, where independent third-party testing by TÜV Rheinland verified record-setting fuel-cell power density results from Siltrax’s silicon-based architecture. In that testing, the G-100 achieved up to 9.77 kW/L volumetric power density and up to 9.7 kW/kg gravimetric power density, establishing a new benchmark for size, weight and performance in hydrogen fuel cell stacks.

Siltrax is now translating that breakthrough into a certified, production-ready platform designed for real-world duty cycles and regulated markets.

Solving Downstream Challenges with Silicon Technology

For aviation, heavy transport and other high-duty and weight-critical applications, hydrogen adoption is often constrained by hardware limitations at the stack level. Siltrax’s proprietary silicon-based bipolar plate architecture — the first of its kind —directly addresses these constraints:

• Optimizing Power-to-Weight Ratios: The G-100 achieves a volumetric power density and gravimetric power density of 9.77 kW/L and 9.4 kW/kg, respectively. In mass-sensitive sectors like aerospace, this efficiency translates directly into increased payload capacity and extended operational range.
• Enhanced Durability and Reduced Downtime: Silicon substrates offer high thermal conductivity and structural rigidity, reducing thermal gradients and mechanical stress that commonly drive degradation in graphite- and metal-plate designs under sustained high-load operation.
• Certification-Ready Hardware: TÜV certification allows integrators to reuse component-level safety evidence, reducing the time and costs associated with downstream qualification and system-safety cases.

Notably, Siltrax’s record-setting test results were achieved using commercially available, off-the-shelf components beyond Siltrax’s proprietary bipolar plate and flow channel design, underscoring additional headroom for future gains as the company integrates tailored gas diffusion layers and membranes optimized for its high-precision architecture.

Power Density That Unlocks New Markets

Siltrax’s G-100 performance exceeds key long-term international targets that many in the industry are still working toward. For example, the G-100’s demonstrated volumetric power density surpasses Japan’s NEDO targets across multiple time horizons, and its stack-specific power outperforms U.S. Department of Energy USDRIVE targets for stack specific power. That combination of performance credibility and certification readiness enables faster commercial adoption in applications where every kilogram and cubic centimeter counts.

A Platform for Real-World Use Cases

“The TÜV certification is a critical business enabler,” said Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Siltrax CEO. “We aren’t just building a more efficient fuel cell —we are providing a certified, safe and repeatable hardware platform. This allows our partners to bypass regulatory uncertainty and move straight to commercial application with full confidence in the product’s reliability.”

Siltrax is now actively scaling its operations to support deployment in three core business sectors:

• Aviation & Drones: Delivering the weight efficiencies required for viable commercial hydrogen-electric flight.
• Heavy Transportation: Enabling long-haul trucking and maritime fleets to meet emissions targets without sacrificing cargo volume.
• Distributed Energy Infrastructure: Providing modular, certified onsite power for mission-critical assets, including data centers and EV mega-charging hubs.

Manufacturing Readiness

Siltrax is scaling manufacturing with a focus on repeatability, quality controls and supply continuity. The company is now offering G-100 evaluation units to qualified OEMs and integrators, with evaluation units available now.

For more information or to request an evaluation unit or the certification evidence pack, contact Daniel Zafir (dzafir@siltrax.net).

About Siltrax

Siltrax re-engineers the economics of power through electrochemical innovation. By utilizing proprietary silicon-based bipolar plates, we leverage the mature industrial foundations of the photovoltaic industry to deliver next-generation PEM fuel cells with leading power density and longevity, translating directly into higher payloads, longer uptimes, and lower total cost of ownership. Headquartered in Sydney, Siltrax provides the high-intensity energy required to transform demanding industrial operations into high-efficiency, zero-emission assets.

PR Contact:
Leah Wilkinson
Wilkinson + Associates for Siltrax
leah@wilkinson.associates

– Published by The MIL Network

MIL OSI

Rays from the biggest solar storm of the last couple of decades hit the Earth overnight, causing aurora visible in both the north and south extremes of the globe.

The lights were caused by a storm that nearly hit the highest level on the scale used by space weather monitors to measure magnetic disturbance.

• Do you have photos? Share them with us at: iwitness@rnz.co.nz

Early Tuesday morning, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Centre (SWPC) posted on X: “An S4 severe solar radiation storm is now in progress – this is the largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years. The last time S4 levels were observed was in October, 2003.

But, it noted: “Potential effects are mainly limited to space launch, aviation, and satellite operations.”

The Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights, glows on the horizon over the waters of Lake Ellesmere on the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand, on 21 January, 2026. SANKA VIDANAGAMA / AFP

Disturbance is measured on the K-index. According to the SWPC, it reached Kp8, out of a possible Kp9.

The solar storms of October 2003 caused power outages in Sweden and damages to power transformers in South Africa, CNN reported.

People look at the Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights, as it glows on the horizon over the waters of Lake Ellesmere on the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand, on 21 January , 2026. SANKA VIDANAGAMA / AFP

Some viewers posted pics and clips to social media. Sadly, cloud cover ruined the view for some New Zealand skywatchers.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) told RNZ the coronal mass ejection arrived in Aotearoa about 8.30am on Tuesday, and was “not expected to cause significant impacts for NZ”.

The agency had activated its Space Weather Science Advisory Panel, which had considered international space weather monitoring and forecasting agencies, as well as current information from the NZ-based monitoring network.

“On current conditions, the panel advises this event is not concerning for NZ and no significant impacts are expected. NEMA and Transpower will continue to monitor the situation.”

There were no updates from Transpower overnight.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

HAIKOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 January 2026 – One month into the island-wide special customs operations, the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) in south China has maintained smooth and orderly functioning, with initial achievements in logistics efficiency, passenger convenience, and economic aggregation, highlighting the country’s commitment to high-level opening up.

Hainan Heren Pearl Co., Ltd., which mainly imports pearls from overseas, has emerged as a direct beneficiary of Hainan FTP policies.

Under the value-added processing policy, the company can sell its high-value products to the mainland duty-free, cutting its overall tax burden from about 52 percent to roughly 26 percent and redirecting the savings into research and development, said Zhang Shizhong, the company’s chairman.

“The FTP holds great promise, with more policy dividends set to be released in the future,” Zhang said.

One notable special customs policy is offering “freer access at the first line,” referring to freer trade between Hainan and areas outside China’s customs borders, and “regulated access at the second line,” which involves applying standard customs controls for goods moving from Hainan to the mainland.

According to Haikou Customs, from Dec. 18, 2025 to the early hours of Jan. 18, 2026, the value of “first line” imported zero-tariff goods was 753 million yuan (about 107 million U.S. dollars); the value of processed and value-added goods sold domestically through the “second line” was about 85.9 million yuan.

In Wanning City, production lines at Chia Tai (Hainan) Xinglong Coffee Industry Development Co., Ltd. are running at full capacity. The company imports green coffee beans from Colombia and processes them in Hainan before shipping the finished products to the mainland, enjoying an 8 percent tariff reduction under the FTP policies.

“After the launch of island-wide special customs operations, Hainan will gradually become a value-added processing center and trade hub with global resource allocation capabilities,” said Ye Jian, the company’s general manager. “Enterprises will not only pass through Hainan, but also be able to put down roots here and create higher value.”

Drawn by the policy incentives, a growing number of companies are choosing to do business in Hainan. The General Administration of Customs said a total of 5,132 new foreign trade enterprises completed registration in Hainan over the past month, an increase in a month roughly equivalent to the total registrations in an entire quarter of 2024.

The total number of registered foreign trade market entities in Hainan has surpassed 100,000, according to official data.

As the policy came into force, major ports across Hainan saw a surge in activity.

Days after Hainan began island-wide special customs operations, a flight from Prague carrying 115 European passengers touched down in the tourist city of Sanya, marking a breakthrough in the high-level opening up of the aviation sector at the Hainan FTP.

The arrival marked the launch of China’s first official passenger route operated under the Seventh Freedom of the Air, which allows foreign carriers to operate flights between two foreign countries without having to land in their home country.

The route is operated by Kazakhstan’s Scat Airlines, with one round-trip scheduled each week.

At Yangpu Port, the largest cargo port in the Hainan FTP, mega-ships berthing in quick succession, gantry cranes operating around the clock, and container trucks moving in tightly coordinated flows have become a routine sight.

“Yangpu will shoulder the role of the main logistics gateway of the Hainan FTP,” said Yang Xiaobin, deputy head of the Transportation, Port and Waterway Bureau of Yangpu Economic Development Zone. “The port aims to build a smart and green international shipping hub and logistics center.”

Container throughput at Yangpu reached 3.31 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025, up more than 65 percent from a year earlier.

“It is particularly noteworthy that the Hainan FTP launched island-wide special customs operations at a time of intensifying deglobalization and rising global uncertainty,” said Cui Weijie, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, a think tank with the Ministry of Commerce.

“It not only demonstrates China’s unwavering commitment to high-standard opening up, but also injects greater certainty and positive momentum into the global economy and international trade cooperation,” Cui said.

Hashtag: #HainanFreeTradePort #HainanFTP #CustomsReform #FreeTradePort #DutyFreeTrade

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

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

• China Tourism Group Duty Free (“CTG Duty-Free”) to acquire DFS’ stores in Hong Kong and Macau and intangible assets in Greater China
• CTG Duty-Free and LVMH to develop further collaborations
• LVMH and the Miller Family to subscribe to CTG Duty-Free’s H-shares

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 January 2026 – DFS, a global leader in luxury travel retail owned by LVMH and DFS’ co-founder and shareholder Robert Miller, and CTG Duty-Free, a prominent travel retail operator headquartered in Beijing, today announced a definitive agreement for CTG Duty-Free to acquire DFS’ travel retail business in Hong Kong and Macau and intangible assets in Greater China.

Through this transaction, CTG Duty-Free will acquire the DFS retail stores in Hong Kong and Macau¹ as well as intangible assets encompassing a series of DFS brands and intellectual properties for exclusive use in Greater China. CTG Duty-Free will conduct the acquisition through its wholly owned subsidiary, China Duty Free International Limited. The proceeds of this transaction will be paid in cash. Following this transaction, DFS will continue to operate its other luxury travel retail operations worldwide.

In a complementary move, LVMH and the Miller Family will participate in a capital increase of CTG Duty-Free by subscribing to newly issued H-shares listed in Hong Kong. The subscription amount represents a small part of their proceeds, and the subscription will be made upon completion of the transaction.

CTG Duty-Free and LVMH also entered into a memorandum of understanding pursuant to which both parties aim to set up a strategic cooperation notably in the retail sector where the strategies of both parties are aligned and in line with the current business model of the LVMH Maisons. This cooperation will offer CTG Duty-Free and LVMH opportunities to leverage their respective strengths and forge further collaborations in Greater China to achieve mutual benefits, e.g. in the areas of product sales, store establishment, brand promotion, cultural communication, travel services or customer experience.

Luke Chang, Executive Director and President of CTG Duty-Free, commented: “This move will further expand CTG Duty-Free’s service network across the Greater Bay Area, aiming to build a platform for promoting China-chic brands globally and establish an international business mid-platform. CTG Duty-Free remains committed to providing high-quality travel retail experiences to both domestic and international tourists, fulfilling its responsibility as a central state-owned enterprise-controlled listed company to support the high-quality development of the retail economy in Hong Kong and Macau. Executed under the leadership of its parent company, China Tourism Group, this represents a significant step in accelerating CTG Duty-Free’s international business layout and actively implementing the Greater Bay Area Strategy and the “China-chic Brands Going Global” Strategy.”

Ed Brennan, Chairman and CEO of DFS, commented: “The sale of our Hong Kong and Macau stores marks an important step for DFS. DFS’ well-established presence and operational excellence in Hong Kong and Macau is an achievement we take great pride in. The DFS shopping experience will be carried forward and enhanced by the new skills and perspectives that CTG Duty-Free will bring. We are proud of our journey in this region and grateful to everyone who has been a part of it.”

Michael Schriver, President of LVMH for North Asia commented: “For decades, DFS has played a pivotal role in shaping Hong Kong and Macau into premier destinations for travel retail. As we look to the future, we consider China Tourism Group Duty Free to be the ideal partner to operate the DFS business in Hong Kong and Macau and to lead it into its next chapter, thanks to their expertise and proven track record in travel retail. This whole operation underscores our confidence in the long-term potential of the Chinese market.”

The completion of this transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in around two months.

China Galaxy International acts as the sole financial advisor to CTG Duty-Free for this transaction, King & Wood Mallesons acts as the legal advisor to CTG Duty-Free, and Freshfields acts as the legal advisor to DFS and LVMH.

China Tourism Group Duty Free Corporation Limited (601888.SH, 1880.HK)

China Tourism Group Duty Free Corporation Limited (“CTG Duty-Free”) is a large listed company controlled by China Tourism Group. Its business includes duty-free retail, tax-paid retail, and the development of travel retail complexes. The company operates nearly 200 duty-free stores across more than 100 cities worldwide. CTG Duty-Free is the global duty-free operator with the most comprehensive range of store types and the largest number of retail outlets in any single country, with sales volume ranking among the world’s highest.

DFS: Your Personal Guide to The World of Luxury

DFS Group is the leading luxury travel retailer. Established in 1960, DFS Group continues to be a pioneer in global luxury travel retail, offering its customers a carefully curated selection of exceptional products from the most desired brands. Its stores are present in major global airports and downtown locations. DFS Group is privately held, and majority owned by the world’s largest luxury conglomerate, LVMH, alongside DFS co-founder and shareholder Robert Miller.

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (MC.PA)

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (“LVMH”) is represented in Wines and Spirits by a portfolio of brands that includes Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, Krug, Ruinart, Mercier, Château d’Yquem, Domaine du Clos des Lambrays, Château Cheval Blanc, Colgin Cellars, Hennessy, Glenmorangie, Ardbeg, Belvedere, Woodinville, Volcán de mi Tierra, Chandon, Cloudy Bay, Terrazas de los Andes, Cheval des Andes, Bodega Numanthia, Ao Yun, Château d’Esclans, Château Galoupet, Joseph Phelps and Château Minuty. Its Fashion and Leather Goods division includes Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Celine, Loewe, Kenzo, Givenchy, Fendi, Emilio Pucci, Marc Jacobs, Berluti, Loro Piana, RIMOWA, Patou, Barton Perreira and Vuarnet. LVMH is present in the Perfumes and Cosmetics sector with Parfums Christian Dior, Guerlain, Parfums Givenchy, Kenzo Parfums, Perfumes Loewe, Benefit Cosmetics, Make Up For Ever, Acqua di Parma, Fresh, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Officine Universelle Buly. LVMH’s Watches and Jewelry division comprises Bulgari, TAG Heuer, Tiffany & Co, Chaumet, Zenith, Fred, Hublot and l’Epée. LVMH is also active in Selective Retailing as well as in other activities through DFS, Sephora, Le Bon Marché, La Samaritaine, Groupe Les Echos-Le Parisien, Paris Match, Cova, Le Jardin d’Acclimatation, Royal Van Lent, Belmond and Cheval Blanc hotels.

LVMH Contacts:

• Media: Jean-Charles Tréhan, press@lvmh.com, + 33 1 44 13 26 20
• Analysts and investors: Rodolphe Ozun, + 33 1 44 13 27 21

CTG Duty-Free Contacts:
DFS group Contact:

• Velda Steel – velda.steel@dfs.com

¹ Excluding the City of Dreams store in Macau

Hashtag: #DFS

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

A solar storm is being monitored by the National Emergency Management Agency and national power grid owners Transpower, but so far, it isn’t expected to cause disruption.

These events, also known as space weather, do not pose a physical threat to human health.

But with society increasingly dependent on technology, an otherwise harmless burst of radiation from the sun could easily disrupt business as usual, taking out the power grids and GPS.

New Zealand monitors alerts from the Unites States agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regarding solar activity.

Early Tuesday morning, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Centre (SWPC) posted on X: “An S4 severe solar radiation storm is now in progress – this is the largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years. The last time S4 levels were observed was in October, 2003.

But, it noted: “Potential effects are mainly limited to space launch, aviation, and satellite operations.”

An S4 severe solar radiation storm is now in progress – this is the largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years. The last time S4 levels were observed was in October, 2003. Potential effects are mainly limited to space launch, aviation, and satellite operations. pic.twitter.com/kCjHj4XYzB

— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) January 19, 2026

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) told RNZ the coronal mass ejection arrived in Aotearoa about 8.30am on Tuesday, “and it is not expected to cause significant impacts for NZ”.

The agency had activated its Space Weather Science Advisory Panel, which had considered international space weather monitoring and forecasting agencies, as well as current information from the NZ-based monitoring network.

“On current conditions, the panel advises this event is not concerning for NZ and no significant impacts are expected. NEMA and Transpower will continue to monitor the situation.”

A Transpower spokesperson told RNZ it was keeping an eye on the storm, but the threshold had not yet been met to make changes to the grid.

Large solar storms could send unwanted currents through the long electricity circuits which Transpower managed. When they reached transformers in stations or large hydroelectric dams, they could cause extensive damage. 

“We have been closely monitoring the solar storm since the coronal mass ejection lifted off the sun on Sunday,” the spokesperson said.

“It arrived at 8.40am this morning resulting in geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) in our electricity transmission network, but these are within limits where mitigation actions are not needed.”

There was a contingency plan in place to switch out circuits to mitigate effects if needed, but there would be no impact on consumer electricity supply even if this was necessary.

The threat of disruption caused by solar storms has become increasingly understood by local agencies, and a number of them have plans in place. Nema simulated a G5 event in the Beehive bunker in November last year.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Yellow leggings and fuel tanks helped three cray fishermen who were in the water for about seven hours after capsizing near Tolaga Bay be rescued.

The men were found off Tolaga Bay on Wednesday, after their commercial boat Sidetracked capsized suddenly when it got tangled in a craypot line.

On board the boat were skipper Nicholas Destounis, second skipper Blake Powell and third deck hand Aaron Bastion.

Destounis said after the line got tangled they quickly got washed onto the reef, with breakers then coming over the boat filling it up with water and rolling it over.

As a commercial boat, he said they had lifesaving gear onboard, but the boat flipped so quickly they didn’t have time to grab it.

“We eventually got clear of the reef and picked up some flotation devices, which were two fuel tanks.”

The tanks floated out of the boat after it flipped, which Destounis said he then tied them together with some rope he had on him.

“We were spread apart at first, but we decided to all get together and we frantically tried to paddle in towards Marau Point, but the wind and the tide were against us.”

Destounis said the wind was blowing them down the coast.

“So it was blowing us out to sea and we were trying to paddle against it. But we kept paddling trying to get closer for seven hours and we just end up in a straight line rather than getting blown further out to sea.”

He said they tried to head towards an island but drifted past it, and at the time they were rescued their hope was to end up close to land on the south end of Tolaga Bay.

Rescuers spotted overhead

One of the first on the scene was an RNZAF P-8A Poseidon, that morning’s training flight having quickly become a real-life search.

Destounis, who had been wearing yellow leggings, said the men used them to signal the aircraft.

“Once they got closer, [we] waved the yellow leggings in the air, and we were spotted.”

Following the rescue Flight Lieutenant Pilkinton said the bright-coloured object make it easier for the crew to spot them.

The crew then contacted the rescue helicopter, which arrived on the scene in minutes and dropped smoke in the water that the Coastguard was able to see easily.

The men were then pulled out the water by Coastguard volunteers, along with three Surf Life Saving IRBs and taken to Tolaga Beach.

“Once I got onto the rescue boat, I just had to lie down. I found it hard to stand up. My legs were like jelly,” Destounis said.

He said they were greeted by family, friends and rescuers when they arrived at the beach before being whisked to Gisborne hospital.

He said there were a lot of tears and hugs upon returning home.

“We certainly felt as though we were wanted.”

Cost of a capsize

For Destounis fishing on Sidetracked is his primary source of income.

But the last five years had been tough, he said, between Covid, cyclones and issues with forestry slash.

“We’ve had no significant income for five years and we were hoping that we could get something done in this one,” he said. “It didn’t start the way we wanted.”

Sidetracked has since been recovered and Destounis’s focus is on getting back in the water and getting business back underway.

But he said getting the boat rebuilt or replaced would come at a high cost.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand