Wellington: The bottle bill proposal announced today by NZ First is strongly supported by New Zealanders and backed by extensive international evidence showing Container Return Schemes deliver major gains in recycling and litter reduction.

“The evidence is clear: container return schemes work and New Zealanders want one,” said Robert Kelman, Director Reloop Pacific. “This is a practical, well-tested policy that delivers real environmental and community benefits and we hope all New Zealand political parties back the legislation.”

Recent nationwide polling shows more than three-quarters of New Zealanders support a Container Return Scheme, with support cutting across all political parties, age groups and regions. Public backing is also strong worldwide. Surveys across more than a dozen countries show around 80% support for Container Return Schemes, with support often even higher where schemes are already operating. Support tends to grow once a scheme is up and running.

Countries with well-designed schemes routinely achieve return rates above 90%, including Germany (98%), Finland (99%) and Norway (92%). In Lithuania, return rates increased from 34% to around 90% within two years of their scheme’s introduction. International experience shows container return schemes are one of the most effective recycling policies available.

New Zealand already has a co-designed, locally tailored draft scheme that has undergone extensive analysis and consultation. With more than 2.5 billion drink containers sold each year and many still ending up in landfill or litter, a Container Return Scheme represents a proven, popular solution to boost recycling and cut litter.

“New Zealand has the public support, the international proof points and a ready-made scheme design. What we need now is for Parliament to get on with it,” said Kelman.

Independent situation analysis and international evidence
https://www.reloopplatform.org/resources/policy-development-for-a-container-return-scheme-in-new-zealand-situation-analysis

MIL OSI

New Zealand is bottom of the world when it comes to how much we’re saving.

Or is it?

A graphic has been circulating online from Visual Capitalist, based on OECD data collected in recent years, showing how countries compare for their net household savings rate.

Sweden tops the table, with a savings rate of 16 percent.

Hungary is next at 14.3 percent and Czechia third with 13.7 percent.

New Zealand is at the bottom, with a rate of -1.3 percent. South Africa is second worse at -1 percent and Latvia is third with a rate of zero.

Australia is middle of the table, at about 6 percent.

But Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold said it was potentially not an accurate comparison.

New Zealand’s data was taken from 2023, the worst for saving levels in recent years.

He said it was just as the interest rate tightening cycle was really starting to hit and households were potentially drawing money out of savings to help.

Westpac data showed the savings rate had improved markedly from that low.

But Gareth Kiernan, chief forecaster at Infometrics, said it was acknowledged that New Zealand had a low savings rate by international standards.

“There has been a long-term historical issue with us that our savings has been poor.

“In fact, a lot of time through the 90s and 2000s in particularly, it was in negative territory which means we were spending more than we were earning.

“It’s improved a bit since given the establishment of KiwiSaver, so there is more financial savings going on.”

He said New Zealanders tended to do a lot of “saving” in the property market on the expectation that house pries would go up.

“That’s not captured by the numbers here. If you’re getting wealthier through that asset appreciate in value, that’s been all well and good at times over the last three decades given what house prices have done.

“But if they’re not going to appreciate going forward and you always need someone else to sell them to, that’s not a great position to be in.”

He said house prices relative to incomes were still pretty high and affordability was poor. “It’s not a particularly sustainable position. You’re still left from New Zealand’s point of view in being in a structurally not a great position.”

He said policy settings such as those around superannuaation would help to drive savings in some countries.

“In other cases there might be a bias from households to save via financial assets, shares and other investments, not via housing.”

Lifting the KiwiSaver contribution rates over time would help. “If that did change and if people’s attitudes around property, whether it [is] because of where the price is because of the experience of prices dropping 15 percent, if it’s not a sure way to accumulate wealth, you might see gradual improvement over time but it’s very much a medium-term thing.”

He said New Zealanders also had an expectation that the government would look after them in retirement to a degree. “Although there’s more warnings coming about how unsustainable that position is. But if the government is doing the saving for you, why you would bother? That’s over-simplifying it but it does have an impact on people’s behaviour.”

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

Good afternoon, everyone. 

I’d like to thank Raveen, Geoff and the entire team at the Infrastructure Commission for their hard work on the National Infrastructure Plan.

I’d also like to acknowledge His Worship, Mayor Wayne Brown; and Rt Honourable Helen Clark.

It’s great to see you here, because fixing New Zealand’s infrastructure system is going to take everyone, from government, to opposition, mayors, local authorities, infrastructure providers, and – quite frankly – all New Zealanders.

Today, I want to talk about:

• the realities of our poor performing infrastructure system
• work the Government has already done to fix the basics of our system – lots of which aligns with the independent Commission’s Plan, and
• building bipartisanship on the Plan.

Then, I am excited to announce decisions Cabinet has made to strengthen assurance for central government-funded infrastructure, ahead of our formal response to the Plan later this year in June.

This isn’t our first Plan, and it’s time to get on with it

Some of you may be thinking – “couldn’t you have waited a few more months before making these changes.”

Well, no.

I have been clear to officials that I want to get on with eminently sensible, evidence-backed recommendations in the NIP. 

It’s important to note that we have been here before. This is not New Zealand’s first Infrastructure Plan. It isn’t even our second or third.

We had plans in 2010, 2011, and 2015.

Some recommendations in these older plans are identical to those in the Commission’s Plan, like making better use of pricing tools and user-pays.

It’s clear previous Governments of all flavours have put issues like poor infrastructure performance, unaffordable housing, and low productivity in the too-hard basket.

Even worse – some Governments have irresponsibly thrown billions at problems or projects instead of focusing on fixing the fundamentals. 

But I’m not going to do that.

And that’s not what this Government is about.

Achieving genuine economic prosperity is the great challenge driving this Government. 

New Zealand is nowhere near as wealthy as we sometimes like to think we are. 

Currently, our GDP per capita, on a purchasing power parity basis, is about the same as Slovakia, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic. Now, they went through 40 years of communism. 

Our great challenge as a country is how we lift our long run growth rate and productivity – which are main determinants of prosperity.

And that is what this Government is tackling through fixing underlying systemic failures that have accumulated and festered over the last 10 to 30 years.

We are putting in a new planning system to replace the failed Resource Management Act once and for all. This is projected to save $13.3 billion in administrative and compliance costs over the next 30 years and increase GDP by at least 0.56 per cent annually by 2050. 

Our new planning system is a once-in-a-generation opportunity unleash growth. We are making the most of this by progressing Local Government reforms, and establishing the Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) – to ensure both local and central governments are easier to work with. 

19 projects have been granted consent under our Fast-Track legislation representing thousands of jobs and billions in investment.

In housing, we have found a compromise on PC120 that enables abundant development opportunities and allows our biggest city to grow. And, importantly, grow in the right areas that enjoy broad support like around train-stations, busways, and the CBD. 

The evidence officials have provided to me suggests that landing an Auckland plan where you get upzoning around rapid transit stops and central city intensification, will be one of the most significant things we can do, not just for housing affordability, but economic prosperity more broadly. 

In education, we are reversing the 30-year experiment on our kids of pretending that basic knowledge and facts don’t matter. We’re restoring standards, teaching the basics, and focusing on achievement. Minister Stanford has also driven the average cost of a classroom down from $1.2m to about $620k.

We are reversing wealth destructive earthquake prone building legislation, opening-up competition in building materials, and tackling joint and several liability.

We’re finally sorting the Holidays Act. And major reforms are underway to employment law and health and safety.

Now, these changes don’t happen overnight, nor are their benefits felt immediately. 

This approach isn’t about ‘sugar hit’ interventions, and, although it’s not always popular, it’s the right thing to do.

The changes we are making are foundational, beneficial shifts to our economy that we should have implemented years ago. They will set the country up for long-term success.

I truly believe that if we follow through, the 2030s will be New Zealand’s decade.

I came to Parliament to help make our country more prosperous and wealthier, and for all Kiwis to have the opportunities that come from that prosperity. 

It’s important we get on with fixing the infrastructure system and fixing this country.

The Plan is a wake-up call 

Now, I want to get into the findings of the Plan.

Even before becoming Minister for Infrastructure, I regularly heard that: “what New Zealand needs is a long-term infrastructure plan that transcends political cycles”.

I agree – that’s why creating a 30-year Plan was a key campaign commitment for the National Party in 2023. 

Shortly after we came into government, I asked the independent Commission to begin work on this Plan. And now, it’s delivered. 

I’d like to again thank Raveen, Geoff, and the team for their hard work. 

This is not the Government’s Plan; it’s New Zealand’s Plan. 

This independence is crucial because it will take a sustained effort across governments to turn the infrastructure system around. 

I believe the Plan is a wake-up call for many New Zealanders.

The Commission has made a compelling case for change – we face significant challenges. 

• Firstly, we have an aging infrastructure stock as assets built in the post-war investment boom of the 1950s to the 1990s wear out.
• Secondly, we have a significant backlog of maintenance and renewals. 
• Thirdly, our demographics are changing, and we have an aging population.
• Fourthly, the risks and exposure we face from natural hazard events and global shocks will continue to increase. This is a challenge all New Zealanders have felt acutely over the past few months – whether that be through the conflict in Iran, leading to the increased fuel prices and further cost-of-living pressure; or the series of extreme weather events we have faced.

At the exact time we must face all these challenges, we also must face the reality that the systems we currently use to plan, fund, build, and maintain infrastructure are underperforming. 

New Zealand is in the top 10% of the OECD for infrastructure spending, but we are in the bottom 10% for what we get for our spend. 

We rank fourth to last in the OECD for asset management. 

Half of all capital-intensive central government agencies have reported that they do not have robust asset registers or adequate plans for looking after existing infrastructure.

And around half of all proposals for investment in the last five Budgets did not have complete business cases.

On top of this, Central Government agencies often don’t follow rules on basic investment management.  

Since coming into Government, I have also been concerned about the quality and completeness of information Ministers receive to make billion-dollar decisions.

Everyone experiences the flow on effects of our underperforming system including bad value for taxpayer money; funding gaps; over-scoped, gold-plated, palace projects; delays; cost overruns, and – often – worn-down and failing assets that don’t do their job.

I can rattle off too many examples of asset failures like leaky police stations, mouldy military homes, rotting classrooms, and in 2018, a hospital with raw sewage seeping into the asbestos-filled walls.

This is not what New Zealanders expect, and government needs to do better.

Because, we are fast approaching these great, complex infrastructure challenges, but we can’t even take care of BAU. 

I’m calling this the “infrastructure twin headwinds”. 

On one front we have exogenous challenges – things that we can’t easily change like our aging infrastructure assets or aging population. 

Then, on the other front we have underperforming systems and processes for how we plan, fund, build, and look after our infrastructure – which we can and will change.

Getting this right is a must, not a nice to have, if we are serious about growth and lifting the prosperity and living standards of all New Zealanders.

And I’m serious. 

Fixing the basics 

The Government has spent a lot of time in the last two years fixing the basics of our infrastructure system.

It’s encouraging that many of the Commission’s Top 10 Priorities reflect work already underway by the Government.

I’ll quickly touch on some of those. 

Lifting hospital investment for an ageing population – Health New Zealand now has a long-term capital infrastructure plan, and this Government is providing record investment in both capital and maintenance spending for health.

Implementing time-of-use charging and fleetwide road user charges – Legislation enabling time of use pricing was passed last year, and the government is working with Auckland Council on scheme options. We have also begun the transition to Electronic Road User Charges (E-RUC) across the transport fleet.

Prioritise adequate maintenance and renewals – Last year, the Government started work on a comprehensive asset management work programme. Phase 1 of the programme has already provided practical tools and guidance to agencies so that they can up their game. 

Phase 2 is about driving more fundamental change and is being informed by recommendations in Plan like those around legislating for proper asset management plans, asset registers, and performance reporting – as well as having those products independently audited. 

Additionally, in Budget 2025, we gave education significant ongoing additional depreciation funding to maintain and upgrade schools. 

Commit to a durable resource management framework – The Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill are in the House. We know some changes are needed to reflect this Government’s policy ambitions and to get the Bills right – and we are working away on that. We have also provided many briefings to the opposition, so that, where possible, we can build consensus. 

Commit to upzoning around key transport corridors – Through what seems like many trials and tribulations, the Government has landed a compromise on PC120 that enables abundant development opportunities, gives Auckland Council greater flexibility, and allows our biggest city to grow. Importantly, it ensures Auckland upzones and grows around key transport corridors like the 15 train stations that benefit from CRL, busways, and other rapid transit hubs.

These are also the areas that benefit from significant investment from Auckland Council and Watercare – including the central interceptor project, which will be finished later this year.  

I’m grateful to have an advocate of housing and urbanism in Mayor Wayne Brown who backs density like I do. 

On top of this, the Government has done a lot of work to improve data and transparency on infrastructure through strengthened Quarterly Investment Reporting. 

Now, each quarter we know key metrics, like how much spend is going out the door and the ratio of agencies’ actual versus planned expenditure. 

New Zealand has long struggled to turn funding into construction quickly, and the market has made it clear that they want higher quality information on upcoming construction activity. 

The improved QIR now makes it clear which agencies are behind.

The Minister of Finance and I have stressed to Portfolio Ministers the need for accurate reporting and forecasting. 

It’s early days, but this year we are already seeing a reduction in underspends. And we will continue to closely monitor this. 

All of this is a good start, but there is more work to do.

Bipartisanship on the Plan

I know many people are keen to see more bipartisanship in infrastructure. To the extent that that’s possible, I’m up for it. 

That’s why all parties in Parliament were offered briefings from the Commission on the Plan, and why we held a Special Debate on the Plan once it was finalised. 

I also intend to engage with other political parties in Parliament before finalising the Government’s formal response in mid-June. 

I can’t claim to speak for all parties, but I suspect that almost all projects underway right now are supported by everyone.

It’s the high profile and high-cost disagreements that make the headlines. But it’s the low profile and often low-cost projects that make New Zealand.

I’ve long held the view that we should move away from the rhetoric of needing a bipartisan pipeline and instead build bipartisan consensus on the idea that governments of all colours should use best practice to plan, select, fund and finance, deliver, and look after infrastructure.

Problems with infrastructure assurance 

Since coming into Government, the Minister of Finance and I have been concerned by the quality of information provided on infrastructure including what we own and its condition, the forward investment pipeline, assurance on individual projects and programmes, and agency performance. 

When it comes to assurance, there are multiple project review tools across the investment system that serve slightly different purposes and have different assessors, information requirements, reporting formats, and outputs.

However, none of these tools provide Ministers with unapologetically strong, clear, and actionable assurance that is focused on substance (as opposed to bureaucracy), so that we can make well-informed investment decisions.

We want experts to give us their free and frank; is it a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’. 

Instead, it seems the modus operandi is to let investments move through the system and let bad projects gain momentum – until it’s too late – wasting tens or hundreds of millions of taxpayer money on Business Cases and early design and feasibility work for phantom projects.

Multiple assurance products like the Infrastructure Priorities Programme and Gateway Reviews are also causing duplication and overcomplication for both Ministers and agencies. 

Put simply, there are too many assurance tools, but none of them do what is needed – support ministers to make good decisions. 

This is alarming considering its Ministers who ultimately make these significant investment decisions. Its clear change is needed.

Today’s announcement on strengthening assurance 

So, today, I can announce that Cabinet has agreed to strengthen assurance for central-government funded projects, with a focus on infrastructure. 

This is being progressed through five changes:

Firstly, on 1 November 2026, we will transfer responsibility for providing external investment assurance on central-government-funded infrastructure proposals from the Treasury to the Infrastructure Commission. This will allow Government to leverage the Commission’s expertise and independence.  

This means the Commission will analyse all major infrastructure investments funded by central government including hospitals, schools, prisons, courthouses, and more. 

Treasury will continue to lead policy across the Investment Management System and provide holistic advice to Ministers on investments – including on prioritisation, sequencing and fiscals.

I know people will ask if this independent assurance applies to NZ Transport Agency projects.

The answer to that is yes, under certain circumstances. Independent assurance will apply to NZTA where funding for a project is sought from central government, outside of the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF). This goes for other entities too. 

Secondly, Government has agreed to establish a formal assurance function for asset management and long-term investment plans, which will apply to capital-intensive central government agencies and other entities. The Commission will be responsible for running the ruler over these plans when it comes to infrastructure, and the Treasury will be responsible for policy.

Thirdly, going forward, External investment assurance will be focused on what Ministers need to make good decisions on behalf of New Zealanders. 

This means simplifying the external assurance space by consolidating existing products like the Commission’s Infrastructure Priorities Programme (IPP) and Treasury’s Gateway Review – taking the best elements of both.

Fourthly, for all Business Cases seeking Cabinet endorsement, Treasury will provide Ministers with a standardised “Fitness Assessment” that has holistic, high-quality information on proposals. The assessment will also provide Minister strategic advice by putting the project in context of the entity’s past performance and the fiscal landscape. 

Lastly, to test the quality and credibility of investments, the Infrastructure Investment Minister Group will review High-Profile-High-Risk investments, and Long-Term Capital Plans before they go to Cabinet.

These changes directly respond to and accept recommendations 7, 8, and 9 in the Plan under the theme of, prioritising the right projects.

For Ministers, these changes mean they can confidently say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to projects and long-term capital plans – early – knowing that their decisions are informed by strong evidence and independent, expert advice. 

For taxpayers, these changes mean more projects that meet their needs and represent good value for money. Stronger assurance can also be a tool for the public to hold Ministers to account. 

If a government funds a project that did not receive a favourable assessment, then that’s a good basis for questions and scrutiny. 

For the sector, these changes will mean less stopping and starting of projects as good projects rise to the top, and unrealistic, unfunded projects quickly sink to the bottom. 

Of course, central government agencies will need to up their game on asset management plans, asset registers, data collection and reporting, and monitoring the condition of assets, long-term investment plans – which likely means getting more capacity and capability in these areas.

The NIP recommends further changes here – watch this space for the Government’s formal response in June.  

Now, I’ve heard concerns from agencies about “lack of funding” for these functions, but from my perspective things like good asset management is BAU. If agencies can’t fund it out of baselines, then they shouldn’t be infrastructure providers or asset owners. 

Central Government holds regulated utilities, and local government to these standards, certainly a higher standard than it does itself, and it’s time that changed.

Fuel crisis and transport 

Before wrapping up, it would be remiss of me not to address the Strait of Hormuz sized elephant in the room. 

The conflict in Iran has obviously impacted the transport portfolio. 

Top of mind for me are a couple of things including Public Transport (PT), and the Roads of National Significance programme. 

On PT – 80% of New Zealand’s bus fleet is diesel. So, in the context of diesel prices going through the roof, this has a flow on effect to the costs of providing PT.

We are working closely with Public Transport Authorities around exactly what those cost impacts are, and whether the Government needs to provide additional support. 

On the revenue side of things, people are driving less – price is working, price is the great rationing mechanism – and people are buying less fuel, so less revenue is flowing into the National Land Transport Fund. 

I’ve also been upfront that the 12-cent increase in petrol tax set for 1 January 2027, is unlikely to go ahead.

This combination will affect funding and delivery timelines for future transport projects. That’s just reality. 

Before the conflict, we were already in a challenging and constrained funding environment as outlined in the Plan. The conflict has made a difficult situation worse. 

We are working hard on a prioritisation exercise. 

There are 17 Roads of National Significance we are committed to, plus progress on the Second Harbour Crossing, plus progress on projects like North-West Rapid Transit and the Airport to Botany Busway. 

These can’t all be built at once – that was never going to happen. And they can’t all be funded at once. So, they were always a long-term pipeline of projects. 

So, we are just working on a prioritisation exercise around what the sequencing looks like over the next 20 years. 

Some projects are ready to go, others will be ready in the next three to five years, and others are off into the distance. 

What I hear from the sector and the public, is that they want a prioritised sequence out over the next few years. Part of the problem with this, is that we haven’t had a pipeline. 

And that’s what I am working very hard on and will have more to say on it shortly.

Conclusion

To finish, I’d like to thank the Infrastructure Commission for inviting me to speak and to congratulate you all on the Plan.

It was a massive effort, and from what I can tell it has been received well across government, the sector, and the public – which reflects your expertise, high-quality insights, and trust you have built since your establishment in 2019. 

I look forward to formally responding to the Plan in mid-June. Then, it will be up to all of us to turn the Plan into reality. 

Thank you.

MIL OSI

Fin Melville Ives has made history by winning the freeski halfpipe Crystal Globe, crowned men’s World Cup series champion as New Zealand celebrated a triumphant end to the season.

Compatriot Luke Harrold won the final event in Switzerland on Monday morning (US time) to clinch his first ever World Cup event win while Melville Ives finished on top of the overall standings despite not competing.

The 19-year-old reigning world champion broke his collar bone during the qualifying rounds of last month’s Winter Olympics in Italy and was stretchered from the course.

The serious injury meant he was never likely to line up in Silvaplana, leaving him exposed to be passed.

However, he retained his lead on 280 points, having won two previous rounds and notching a runner-up finish in the five-leg World Cup series.

He is the first New Zealander to win the freeski halfpipe Crystal Globe.

Harrold thrilled

It was also an unforgettable day for 17-year-old Harrold, who pipped Estonia’s Henry Sildaru with his second-run score of 93.25 after posting 80.25 in his first.

Harrold upped the ante in his second run with a switch right alley oop double 900 critical grab, a switch left alley-oop double 900 mute, then a switch left cork 720 Japan, a right dub 1260 mute, to end on a massive left double 1620 safety on the last hit.

“I was at the top, I was trying to have as much fun as possible. Just wanting to try to give everything I had in this last run, last run of the year. Just gave it my all and it worked out, so I’m super happy,” Harrold said, who failed to reach the final in his maiden Olympic appearance last month.

“To come away with the win and land that last run really meant a lot in the last World Cup of the year. There were a few World Cups and the Olympics in the middle where I wished I maybe did a little bit better, so to end the year like this is incredible.”

Sildaru topped the men’s overall Freeski Park and Pipe standings.

Thomas runner-up

There was more success for New Zealand in the women’s halfpipe finale, with Mischa Thomas runner-up in her first World Cup podium finish.

Reigning women’s world champion Zoe Atkin of Great Britain clinched victory to secure the Crystal Globe with a score of 86.75,

Thomas, 18, was second with 80.75 to finish her rookie season in style.

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

USA’s Alex Ferreira celebrates after winning the freestyle skiing men’s freeski halfpipe final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

There were no medals for New Zealand at the men’s freeski halfpipe final, USA’s Alex Ferreira taking home the gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

The final run ended with Ferreira in first place (93.75 points), Estonia’s Henry Sildaru (93.00) in second and Canada’s Brendan Mackay in third (91.00).

Canada’s Brendan Mackay reacts after competing in the freestyle skiing men’s freeski halfpipe final run 3 during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

New Zealand’s Ben Harrington was ninth.

Earlier Harrington had led the Kiwi contingent after a clean first run saw him sitting at ninth, dropping to 12th during the second run.

Making it to the finals was “an insane feeling”, he said.

“My biggest goal was just to come out and land some runs. I had knee surgery just over a year ago, so it was a mission to get back here but we did it.”

Fin Melville Ives fell during the second run, leaving him unconscious and stretchered off.

USA’s Nick Goepper came in fourth after he crashed on his final jump as he attempted a switch double cork misty flip – a never-before-done halfpipe trick – to land on the deck of the halfpipe.

“I have no regrets,” he said to the crowd. “I’m going to be 35 in four years,” as he looked ahead to another Olympic Games.

USA’s Birk Irving finished in fifth and Britain’s Gus Kenworthy in sixth.

New Zealand has so far secured three medals in this year’s Games.

On Thursday, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott became the world’s most decorated Olympic snowboarder with her silver-medal run in the women’s snowboard slopestyle event.

Luca Harrington brought home bronze at the men’s freestyle skiing slopestyle last week, after Sadowski-Synnott also claimed New Zealand’s first medal of the games, taking silver in the big air event.

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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 – 19 January 2026 – On January 17th, amidst Beijing’s first snow of the year, the fashion industry promotion event “Kung Fu Comes From Yongchun” warmly commenced at the Fujian Mansion. Centered around Yongchun’s intangible cultural heritage, with its iconic incense as the soul and the “One County, One Table of Dishes” Kui Xing Banquet as its medium, the event was jointly hosted by the Fujian Provincial Government Office in Beijing, the CPC Yongchun County Committee, and the People’s Government of Yongchun County. It masterfully presented the capital’s guests with the craftsmanship and cultural richness of this millennia-old county.

Distinguished guests attending the event included: Zhang Tong, Senior Consultant of the China International Cultural Communication Foundation and former Member of the Party Leadership Group of the National Audit Office; Chen Zhiming, former President of the Air Force News; Yang Xiaoyang, Chairman of the China National Society for the Promotion of Arts and Culture; Shi Yuhui, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Fujian Provincial Government Office in Beijing; Xiao Hanhui, Chairman of the CPPCC Quanzhou Municipal Committee; and Pan Zhigang, Chief Economist of the China International Cultural Communication Foundation and Director-General of the Taihu World Cultural Forum (China Government Foreign Affairs Forum). Ambassadors from Albania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Argentina, and Turkey also attended the event.

Elegant swirls of Yongchun incense opened the event, setting the stage for the stunning debut of the “Yongchun Incense Aesthetics Fashion Show,” which ingeniously blended traditional craftsmanship with modern fashion, injecting a rich cultural atmosphere and fashionable vitality into the scene.

Industrial cooperation and concrete project deals formed the core of this promotion. A series of agreements were signed on-site, including a “Cultural Export of Yongchun’s Intangible Heritage” project between the China International Cultural Communication Center and the Yongchun County Government, designed to systematically promote Yongchun’s culture globally. A package of deals under the “China Fragrance Capital · Fashion Yongchun” initiative was also concluded, providing impetus for the traditional incense industry’s shift towards branding and fashion. The distinctive “Yongchun Incense Aesthetics Fashion Show” vividly demonstrated the potential of heritage crafts in modern life by pairing traditional incense-derived accessories with contemporary apparel.

A range of supporting activities accompanied the main event, including the food promotion event “Kui Xing Banquet”, intangible cultural heritage flash mobs, and related special exhibitions, allowing citizens of the capital to experience the cultural charm of Yongchun up close. In the future, Yongchun will further integrate culture with tourism, accelerate the global outreach of its high-quality products and cultural resources, and build itself into a model for Maritime Silk Road cultural exchange where tradition and modernity resonate, and industry and humanities flourish together.

Hashtag: #Yongchun

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

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

Global rankings show New Zealand’s passport is less powerful than last year.

The Henley Passport Index for 2026 ranks New Zealand 24th-equal in the world in terms of destinations passport holders can travel to without a prior visa.

People with New Zealand passports have easy access to 183 countries, compared to 190 last year. Countries in which travellers can get a visa on arrival are included in the calculation.

The ranking puts New Zealand in the sixth tier, on par with nations such as Croatia, Estonia and Poland and in front of the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

Last year New Zealand was in 17th-equal place, in the fifth tier with easy access to 190 countries.

Singapore remains the most powerful passport in the world, with access to 192 countries without a prior visa, followed in second-equal place by Japan and South Korea.

Henley said its rankings were based on “exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – the largest, most accurate travel information database” and enhanced by its own research team.

The top passports were:

• 192 countries – Singapore
• 188 – Japan, South Korea
• 186 – Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
• 185 – Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy ,Netherlands, Norway
• 184 – Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates
• 183 – Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Malta, New Zealand, Poland
• 182 – Australia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, United Kingdom
• 181 – Canada, 180 Iceland, Lithuania
• 180 – Malaysia
• 179 – United States

The weakest passports belonged to Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Holders of an Afghan passport only have easy access to 24 countries.

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

Sport is far more than just what happens on the court, pitch, field or canvas. The biggest stories often involve controversy completely away from the game.

Jonty Dine takes a look back at at the most dramatic headlines in sport in 2025.

Agar throttles journo

What happened in Vegas made headlines back home when Warriors assistant coach Richard Agar looked to settle an old score with an English journalist, grabbing John Davidson by the throat in the media room during his sides opening round loss to the Raiders. Agar was served a three-game suspension, and a $10,000 fine.

Mascot shoves child

The Rabbitohs beloved mascot Reggie the Rabbit dramatically defied his character when he made the hare-brained decision to lash out at a nine-year-old fan who was pestering him during an NRL game in Sydney. The 81-year-old man beneath the suit was forced to apologise for the incident which was caught on camera.

RunIt debuts in Auckland

A neurologist’s nightmare, the collision craze emigrated to Aotearoa from across the ditch and quickly made horrifying impact. Several clips went viral showing two men thundering into each other at full speed, with one inevitably losing the contact and often his consciousness. A debate which started as freedom vs safety became incredibly serious after a teenager died emulating the game with friends.

CEO steals boys hat

Entitlement incarnate. Polish CEO Piotr Szczerek was rightfully slammed online after going viral for unceremoniously snatching a signed cap out of the hands of a child at the US Tennis Open. His later apology, in which he said he believed the cap was intended for him, just further demonstrated his privilege.

Cheese embroiled in scandal

Kiwi hooker Brandon Smith became the centre of controversy after text messages were leaked showing he had provided inside betting information to his mates, while sorting another group of friends and fellow league players with an 8-ball of cocaine. Smith has pleaded not guilty and is yet to make a statement on the matter.

Caleb Clark flees from police

The All Black winger’s public image took a dive in 2025 after details emerged of the young star evading police on his motorbike while being clocked going 110km in a 50km zone. Clarke plead guilty and was discharged without conviction on the same day he was named in the All Blacks squad for the series against France.

‘No class, no education’

An ugly tirade by Latvian tennis player Jelena Ostapenko aimed at American Taylor Townsend following their match at the US Open. Fellow black tennis star Naomi Osaka condemned Ostapenko’s comments as racist and Ostapenko’s apology didn’t exactly help to quash those allegations.

Sex toys thrown on court

A disturbing trend in US sport emerged in 2025, as on at least three occasions, sex toys were thrown on court at WNBA games, one even striking a player.

Moana’s roster reset

In one brutal foul swoop, Moana management crossed out 15 names from their 2025 roster, taking the gloss off what was their best season to date in which they finally forged meaningful connections with their growing fanbase and found a home on the North Shore.

Crocs in river for Olympics

The most Australian story of the year, canoeists at the 2032 Olympics are set to contest with both fellow competitors and crocodiles in their quest for gold, with the Fitzroy River, home to many of the reptiles, approved as the events venue.

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

Good afternoon, I am pleased to be among so many of New Zealand’s business leaders – people who are driving innovation, creating jobs, and shaping the future of our economy.

Can I acknowledge Simon Bridges, Chief Executive of the Auckland Business Chamber and Rob Morrison, Chair of InvestNZ.

As the Minister for Trade and Investment, I want to talk about a powerful driver of economic growth: Foreign Direct Investment, and the bold new steps the Government is taking to unlock the full potential of greater investment into New Zealand.

Why Foreign Investment Matters

Trade is one of New Zealand’s great economic success stories. 

It is a major engine for economic growth for this country. We are a globally significant exporter of primary produce. And we have built a comprehensive network of high-quality free trade and other agreements with countries and economic blocs. 

This network of trade agreements helps make New Zealand an attractive destination for investment. Because producing goods in New Zealand provides almost unrivalled access to major overseas markets free of tariffs.

Yet while international trade is New Zealand’s strength, international investment is not.

As a percentage of GDP, New Zealand’s stock of Foreign Direct Investment, or FDI, amounts to 37% of GDP.

That compares to an OECD average of 53% of GDP.

Annual net inflows of FDI are 1.4% of GDP. 

These figures put New Zealand in 27th and 31st place respectively out of 38 OECD countries.

For outwards FDI to other countries, New Zealand is 34th.

Chronically low levels of overseas investment have starved this country of capital for infrastructure and business. Quite simply, we need more capital.

Because surrounding our workers with more capital lifts productivity and wages.

Because lifting investment in small and medium businesses to expand production and adopt new technologies increases exports.

And because having multinational companies choose to put their headquarters in New Zealand, as they have in Ireland and many other small countries, increases prosperity.

New Zealand only has half the capital per hour worked as Australia and the United States, and 60 per cent less than Denmark. New Zealand’s low capital intensity helps explain why our productivity consistently lags other OECD countries.

While New Zealand has overachieved in trade, we lag other countries when it comes to investment.

History tells us this is not about size. When small countries adopt sound policies or change to more business-friendly regimes, foreign investment can pour in.

Here are three examples:

Starting in the early 1990s, Estonia lifted annual net flows of FDI from 5% of GDP to a high of 21% of GDP in 2005. Recent net FDI flows for Estonia remain high, averaging 8% of GDP over the past five years.

That compares to less than 2% for New Zealand over the same period.

Since 1993, Estonia’s stock of overseas investment relative to GDP increased about 8 times while real GDP per capita increased 11 times.

Over that same period, the Czech Republic increased its stock of FDI relative to GDP by 6 times and per capita GDP 8 times.

And between 1970 and 2023, Chile lifted its stock of FDI relative to GDP by around 16 times while per-capita GDP went up 14 times.

Of course, these countries achieved these remarkable results by moving from oppressive to business-friendly regimes. But what these examples show is that good policy is more important for investment than the size of a country or even its location.

Our Government is serious about attracting more overseas investment to New Zealand, and we are putting policies and structures in place to do this.

That’s why this Government established the first Minister for Trade and Investment.

That’s why this Government has made trade and investment one of its five pillars in our Going for Growth strategy.

That’s why this Government established InvestNZ.

Because if New Zealand is to attract more business investment from overseas, we need a clear plan and a dedicated agency to get out there and put this country on the radars of investors.

Driving more investment into New Zealand

As I said, this Government is serious about lifting investment into New Zealand and we have already made a series of changes to achieve this:

Our reforms to streamline the Active Investor Plus visa went live in April this year and have been highly successful with application rates increasing more than 10-fold.
Our changes to the Overseas Investment Act will streamline approvals for low-risk investments and introduce a single national interest test.
The Investment Boost Tax Incentive, announced in this year’s Budget, allows businesses to deduct 20% of the upfront cost of productive assets immediately. This deduction is open to any business and has already had a significant impact on investment.
And in April this year we made significant changes to Foreign Investment Fund rules so eligible investors –particularly new migrants and returning New Zealanders – will be able to use a new taxation method that taxes realised returns rather than estimated gains.
More high-growth businesses scaling globally;
More jobs and skills for New Zealanders;
More innovation commercialised; and, ultimately
A stronger, more resilient economy.
Rob Morrison as Chair, an investment banker and corporate leader with a distinguished international career in finance, governance, and sustainability
Carmel Fisher as Deputy Chair, who is a seasoned investment professional with over thirty years’ experience in New Zealand’s investment industry.
David Tapsell, a respected legal and governance professional with a career spanning law, Māori economic development, and corporate leadership.
Richard Hedley, an experienced private markets investor and non-executive director with over 25 years’ experience in global investment markets.
Mary MacLeod, a seasoned financial services executive with over two decades of international experience in investment banking and corporate strategy.
Ross George,  a private equity leader with more than three decades’ experience supporting New Zealand businesses and institutional investors.
Private infrastructure;
Renewable Energy;
Data Infrastructure;
Digitisation and Artificial Intelligence;
Technology, which includes AgTech, MedTech, SpaceTech and FinTech; and
Advanced manufacturing and processing facilities.
Innovative food production;
Wood processing; and
Tourism.

Introducing Invest New Zealand

Our next step to drive more investment into New Zealand is to establish InvestNZ.

InvestNZ marks a step-change in how we attract and facilitate foreign investment to this country. 

When we came into government, we moved quickly to design InvestNZ. We announced it in January this year. We passed legislation in June. InvestNZ began operations four days later on 1 July.

Its purpose is simple: get more investment into New Zealand. We will measure the success of InvestNZ by its ability to increase investment into New Zealand: 

InvestNZ is not a government department, purposely. It is a Crown entity, and will employ a small group of highly skilled specialists with the international connections to get the attention of institutional investors and high net worth individuals overseas.

Their job will be to get out there, find global opportunities, build relationships with international investors, and ultimately see those efforts crystallise in the form of new investment into New Zealand. 

InvestNZ is not an investment subsidy scheme. It will promote New Zealand to investors, then onboard those investors into New Zealand with tailored local support to help investors navigate regulations and make new connections here.

InvestNZ is based on successful models overseas, particularly the IDA, Ireland’s highly successful FDI agency.

Board announcement

I am pleased to announce the appointment of the inaugural board for InvestNZ.

The new board marks a shift from the establishment board to a permanent governance structure. Permanent board members are: 

I am absolutely delighted that this high-powered group of individuals has agreed to join the board of InvestNZ. I am confident they will deliver the leadership needed to get results for New Zealand.

I also welcome the board’s announcement yesterday that they have appointed InvestNZ’s first Chief Executive, Robert Wall. Robert is an accomplished leader in investment and an outstanding appointment.

He has more than 20 years of experience in infrastructure and private markets. He was Senior Principal of Infrastructure at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, a Partner at Hermes Infrastructure, and most recently the Head of Sustainable Private Infrastructure at Lazard Asset Management.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the establishment board members Charles Finny and Catherine Savage for their service during the early stages of InvestNZ.

I also want to thank the members of the wider Ministerial Reference Group – Justin Murray, Jonty Edgar, and Matt Whineray, alongside Rob and Catherine, for their advice. Their deep expertise in global investment and governance was invaluable. Their engagement provided a solid foundation to establish InvestNZ and shape the direction of this new entity.

Can I also acknowledge the tireless efforts of officials in New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

Further details on InvestNZ 

I want to talk about how InvestNZ will work in practice, and why we have decided to take a different approach.

If we’re going to get more investment, we need a clear plan that targets efforts in certain areas.

In its first Statement of Intent, the InvestNZ Board has identified six target areas with the strong potential for growth:

In scale terms, InvestNZ will target investments in the range of $100M to $1 billion.

However, where opportunities for smaller-scale investments in the range of, say, $20 million which can be quickly realised and scaled then I anticipate InvestNZ will grab those opportunities.

InvestNZ will also act as a bridge for local investors, connecting domestic capital with high-value investment opportunities through the AIP scheme.

Finally, InvestNZ will advise the government on policy and regulatory settings to support New Zealand as a globally competitive place to invest. InvestNZ will become a knowledge hub, using its front-line experience working with actual and potential investors into New Zealand to help inform future policy changes to further lift investment.

I believe InvestNZ is a step-change for investment into New Zealand.

Launch of new prospectuses

Today, I am launching three new prospectuses by InvestNZ.

The prospectuses cover:

The purpose of these prospectuses is to draw investors’ attention to opportunities in areas where New Zealand has a competitive edge and a compelling growth story.

In each of these areas, New Zealand is an established leader and has the opportunity to shift from volume to value and adopt new technologies.

Conclusion

To conclude, for years investment into New Zealand has been harder than it should be. We’ve heard the feedback, and we get it.

New Zealanders have paid the price for limiting overseas investment.

InvestNZ is now five months into its mission to deliver a world-class experience for investors who want to invest in Kiwi businesses.

This dedicated agency sends a signal that New Zealand is open for business and we are committed to competing globally for new business in this country.

InvestNZ is a partnership between government and investors. Government cannot do this alone. Together, we can build a better investment ecosystem – one that showcases the best New Zealand can offer to the world.

I look forward to working with you as New Zealand takes our investment story to the world. 

Thank you.

MIL OSI

Education Minister Erica Stanford welcomed Estonian Education and Research Minister Dr Kristina Kallas to New Zealand this week, providing an opportunity to learn from each other’s successes, lessons, and practices in delivering a world-leading education reform.

“Estonia consistently ranks among the top performers in the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study,” Ms Stanford says.

“The opportunity to meet in New Zealand with Minister Kallas forms part of my work to engage with international experts and thought leaders, from high-performing education systems, to bring evidence-based best practice into every school and every classroom in New Zealand,” Ms Stanford says.

“I’m particularly interested in how Estonia achieves student success in reading, maths, and science, and how their high-performing education system achieves strong academic achievement with equity and access to digital technology.

“Minister Kallas was here to look at our education reforms, and made comments in the media that many other European countries are also looking closely at New Zealand is doing. She was also very supportive of New Zealand’s knowledge-rich curriculum, which she noted Estonia has had for many years.”

Minister Kallas and Minister Stanford also attended the Teaching and Learning Symposium, hosted by Auckland University of Technology, where Minister Kallas delivered an address on Estonia’s AI-Leap (TI-Hüpe) programme. 

The programme embeds AI literacy and training in higher cognitive processes into schools to help prepare learners for interacting and working with AI.

“AI presents an opportunity for New Zealanders and the Government is committed to helping Kiwis to harness it in their jobs and industries where appropriate. This includes new subjects we are introducing at the secondary level,” Ms Stanford says.

As part of the visit, Minister Kallas also visited schools in Auckland and Wellington to meet with students, school leaders, and senior officials from the Ministry of Education, New Zealand Qualifications Authority, and the Education Review Office.  

Given our shared interest in strengthening collaboration between our countries in science and research, Minister Kallas also met the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor and with Universities New Zealand, including representatives of our universities on the Research Committee. 

“Our meetings have been very insightful and valuable – I acknowledge the outstanding work Minister Kallas and Estonia are doing in their education system.”

Notes to editor:

Estonia has a high-performing education system, recognised for combining high academic achievement with strong equity. It consistently ranks among the top performers in international assessments like the OECD’s latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study, particularly in reading, math, and science.

MIL OSI

New Zealand has joined the international Minerals Security Partnership to attract investment in our critical mineral sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters say.

“Joining the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) aligns with New Zealand’s ambitious Minerals Strategy which aims to double the value of minerals exports by 2035 and contribute to resilient and sustainable global minerals supply chains,” Mr Jones says. 

“Critical minerals are essential for technologies that power the modern world, from renewable energy systems to digital devices. 

“New Zealand is blessed with natural resources and talented firms creating cutting-edge technologies that are of great value to the world. Joining the MSP puts New Zealand alongside the world’s largest economies and will help to attract funding to realise the potential of our minerals sector,” Mr Jones says.  

“Joining the MSP is of significant importance for New Zealand’s international relationships,” Mr Peters says. 

“This partnership will leverage our natural resource potential and innovative technologies to create high-paying regional jobs which will have a global impact on secure and sustainable international supply chains.”

“New Zealand’s first Critical Minerals List, released in January, identifies 37 minerals vital to the economy and susceptible to supply chain risks. Many of these minerals are in high demand globally for use in clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing,” Mr Jones says. 

“Several countries have already seen significant benefits from MSP membership, including financing commitments for major projects. We expect similar opportunities for New Zealand as we continue to back our minerals sector.”

Editors’ note

The Minerals Security Partnership currently includes Australia, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.

MIL OSI

• First-of-its-kind multi-region study on the perceptions of ageing and ageing well officially launched at the Intercontinental Alliance for Integrated Care (IAIC) gala dinner.
• The study featured insights from five member regions to advance support for ageing.
• The Alliance welcomed seven new members, strengthened its local chapters and handed over 2026 hosting duties to the United Kingdom.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 November 2025 – The Intercontinental Alliance for Integrated Care (IAIC), hosted by the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), today launched its first-ever multi-region study on the perceptions of ageing and ageing well. Now in its second edition, the Alliance’s annual flagship event IAIC 2025 brought together partners from across Asia, Europe, and North America, including new members from Estonia, India, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei, to advance new knowledge, partnerships and innovations shaping the future of ageing and integrated care.

Launch of the IAIC Multi-Region Study Report

Led by SUSS and co-developed with IAIC members, the multi-region study – A Study on Perceptions of Ageing and Ageing Well: Exploring Older Adults’ Experiences and Coping Strategies Across Regions – draws insights from five regions: Singapore, Canada, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and the United Kingdom. It examines how older adults across different societies understand ageing, navigate later-life transitions and define what it means to age well.

Placing the lived experiences of older adults at its core, the study offers a clearer picture of what ageing well means to them and underscores the role of families, communities and care systems in shaping those experiences. It provides a cross-cultural view of older adults’ aspirations and coping strategies, revealing how social, economic and policy contexts influence their day-to-day realities. Insights from Brunei and Thailand will be incorporated in the next phase and shared progressively.

Across regions, the findings highlight a common theme: ageing is shaped not only by biological changes, but also by social and cultural contexts. A recurring paradox emerges – despite physical decline, many older adults continue to experience purpose, connection and well-being.

Singapore Chapter: Local Insights into Ageing Well

Within this broader landscape, the Singapore chapter adds depth to how these themes manifest locally, drawing on responses from about 1,000 survey respondents and 15 in-depth interviews. Several key insights emerged on how older Singaporeans understand and experience ageing. For instance:

• Women aged 75–84 placed higher value on family and close relationships than men of the same age bracket, underscoring the central role of social bonds. Staying socially connected helps them remain emotionally engaged and supported by strong community ties. Men, by contrast, are more vulnerable to isolation after retirement, particularly when their identities were closely tied to work.

• The study also highlighted “mastery” – the belief that one can still influence the course of one’s life – as a strong predictor of successful ageing. Older adults with a strong sense of mastery tend to stay socially connected, feel more satisfied, and continue pursuing activities that bring purpose and joy. They remain active not simply because they are physically stronger, but because they believe their actions continue to matter.

For the full report, please visit https://suss.to/iaic2025-report.

Associate Professor Justina Tan, Vice President of Strategic Partnership and Engagement at SUSS and Principal Investigator for the study, shared “As Singapore becomes ‘super-aged’ next year, the multi-region study aims to provide us with invaluable insights to guide more targeted policies and interventions. By understanding the unique needs and aspirations of our older adults, we can design programmes that not only preserve autonomy and foster meaningful conversations but also ensure that support is tailored to help every senior thrive in their own way.”

Following today’s launch, the IAIC partners will move into the implementation phase, where each country will adapt insights into on-the-ground pilot initiatives within their local care systems.

IAIC 2025: Beyond Borders, Beyond Age

Themed “Beyond Borders, Beyond Age: Shaping Tomorrow’s Tapestry of Integrated Care”, IAIC 2025 convened like-minded partners such as academic institutions, care providers, policymakers, and innovators across regions to shape care systems that transcend geographical, generational, and institutional boundaries.

Across the two-day programme, delegates took part in discussions, learning journeys and collaborative sessions focused on integrated care and healthy ageing. A key highlight was a visit to TOUCHpoint@AMK 433 this morning, where participants learned about Singapore’s community-based approaches to ageing well and supporting seniors to age in place.

The event culminated in a gala dinner at Conrad Singapore Marina Bay, where Guest-of-Honour, Mdm Halimah Yacob, Chancellor, SUSS, witnessed the official launch of the multi-region study together with IAIC representatives from Singapore, Canada, Mainland China and the United Kingdom.

In her address, Mdm Halimah said “Ageing is not a burden to be managed. It is a season of life to be respected, supported, and reimagined, where every person, regardless of age, continues to have value, voice, and belonging.” She added, “As we look to the future, the challenge of ageing will test every society’s capacity for compassion, creativity, and courage. It also offers a profound opportunity to redefine what it means to live and age well, and to reaffirm our shared humanity.”
Alliance Expansion and New Local Chapters

IAIC 2025 also marked a significant milestone for the Alliance with the addition of seven new member institutions, welcomed through a symbolic handprint ceremony. Led by SUSS, the IAIC is supported by 12 founding members across Asia, Europe and North America, each contributing expertise in ageing and integrated care.

This year, the Alliance expanded its network with the following new members:

• Jeonbuk National University (South Korea)
• Center for Sports Science and Healthy Aging, National Cheng Kung University (Chinese Taipei)
• National Mental Health and Welfare Commission (South Korea)
• Public Health Foundation India (India)
• Tallinn University (Estonia)
• Teikyo University (Japan)
• Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Malaysia)

SUSS also formalised two new Local Chapter Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with Presbyterian Community Social Services Limited and Singapore Hospice Council. These partnerships seek to strengthen community-based initiatives, pilot projects and workforce development in integrated care, while advancing applied research and fostering innovation to better serve community needs.

Intergenerational Fashion Runway Featuring Seniors and Young Designers

A highlight of the gala dinner was a vibrant intergenerational fashion showcase co-created by seniors from Lions Befrienders and student-designers from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), University of the Arts Singapore (UAS), in partnership with SUSS.

Themed “Tapestry of Style: Weaving Generations Together through Fashion,” the showcase brought together lived experience, creativity and technical skill as seniors and students co-designed each ensemble. It celebrated seniors as active creators, spotlighting their stories, perspectives and style while demonstrating the value of intergenerational collaboration.

Passing the Baton

IAIC 2025 drew to a meaningful close with a symbolic handover ceremony, where SUSS formally passed hosting duties to Royal Holloway, University of London, which will host IAIC 2026. After two years of stewardship in Singapore, the Alliance now continues its journey of learning and collaboration beyond Singapore’s shores.

The handover highlighted IAIC’s rotating stewardship model and its commitment to continuity, shared leadership and cross-border knowledge exchange. It reaffirmed the Alliance’s vision of a global community working together to advance integrated care through partnership, research and collective progress.

Professor Tan Tai Yong, President, SUSS, said “The Intercontinental Alliance for Integrated Care reinforces a collective commitment across regions to rethinking how societies can better support ageing populations. SUSS is proud to take the lead in convening this year’s Alliance and in spearheading the multi-region study with our partners. The intergenerational elements woven into this year’s edition – from the study’s findings to the collaborative fashion showcase with Lions Befrienders and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts – remind us that strengthening care systems requires the voices, creativity and participation of all ages.”

https://www.suss.edu.sg/
https://www.linkedin.com/school/singapore-university-of-social-sciences/

Hashtag: #IAIC2025 #SUSS #HealthyAgeing #IntegratedCare #ActiveAgeing #SeniorsWellbeing #PublicHealth #SocialCare #Gerontology #AgeFriendlySociety

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

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

Former Olympic champion Emma Twigg has set herself up for yet another tilt at the games after winning the women’s title at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Turkey.

38-year-old Twigg won gold in the women’s solo event.

She beat defending champion Magdalena Lobnig of Austria to reclaim the title she won at the world championships in Wales in 2022.

Twigg can now set her sights on contesting the LA 2028 games, where coastal rowing will be included for the first time at the Olympics.

 ”My commitment is that I’m going to keep going if I keep enjoying it and I keep winning,” Twigg said.

“LA seems like a long way away to me, especially at my age, but I’m loving it. I’m loving being part of the team.  I’m loving the challenge of something different.”

Twigg has competed at five Olympics in flat water rowing, winning gold in Tokyo in 2021 and silver in Paris in 2024.

The beach sprint format of 500 metres racing, as opposed to the 2000m of flat-water, is part of the appeal.

 ”We’re just scratching the surface really, because I think physiology is so different. The skills are so different – the way you have to be able to get around buoys and use different forces – it’s all a challenge that I’m enjoying trying to master.

“I’m happy to be at the front of the pack and so long as I’m there and enjoying it, why not give it a nudge?”

Twigg came out on top in a gruelling morning session of sudden death racing, outclassing Lithuania’s Raminta Morkunaite in the quarter-final, then Great Britain’s Laura McKenzie in the semi-final before taking on Lobnig.

Her ability at the turning buoy proved decisive on the final day of the championships.

Meanwhile, Finn Hamill was eliminated in the first round of the men’s solo and Erin James and Matt Dunham were eliminated in the first round of the mixed double sculls.

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

• 2,457 hotels worldwide awarded One, Two, or Three MICHELIN Keys, setting a new global benchmark for hotel excellence
• Debuting to the prestigious list for the first time are 5 hotels in the Philippines, each awarded One MICHELIN Key

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 October 2025 – The MICHELIN Guide proudly unveils its inaugural Global MICHELIN Keys Selection, recognizing 2,457 hotels across the globe for truly outstanding stays. Following the successful launch of MICHELIN Key distinctions in 15 destinations last year, MICHELIN Guide Inspectors have now evaluated over 7,000 hotels they are already recommending worldwide to identify the very best of them.