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.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

PERTH, Australia, Feb. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX:PDN, TSX:PDN, OTCQX:PALAF) (Paladin or the Company) announces it has received Ministerial approval for the Company’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under The Environmental Assessment Act (Saskatchewan) for the development of its Patterson Lake South (PLS) Project, located in the Athabasca Basin, Canada.

The Saskatchewan Minister of Environment has formally approved the Company’s EIS for the shallow, high grade PLS Project. The approval follows technical acceptance of the document in June 2025 and an extensive public review period from July to September this year.

The Environmental Assessment approval is an important regulatory milestone for the PLS Project and a prerequisite for permits and licences issued by provincial and federal authorities leading to construction and operation.

Paladin continues to work closely with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to progress the PLS Project within its licensing process at the federal level. Paladin is advancing the technical detail needed to support the application for a construction licence submitted to the CNSC.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said: “We welcome the continuing focus by Paladin in progressing the development of the PLS Project in a sustainable and safe way to benefit the people and communities of Saskatchewan. Our province continues to be a leader in all aspects of uranium production and the Environmental Approval will assist this project to move forward and further enhance our world-class energy sector.”

“The Patterson Lake South (PLS) Project supports the province’s Growth Plan and Saskatchewan’s role as an energy supplier. I am pleased to see this project moving forward with strong environmental safeguards” Minister of Environment Darlene Rowden said. “The environmental and sustainability aspects of the PLS Project have been subject to our robust Environmental Assessment process including scrutiny of our review panel of subject matter experts and having undergone considerable public and indigenous consultation. I commend Paladin on its approach to the approval process and congratulate their team on achieving this important milestone in their development.” 

Paladin Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Paul Hemburrow said: “Paladin is delighted that the Minister, the Saskatchewan Government and its environmental regulatory agency have formally recognised that our approach to delivering a sustainable and safe development at the PLS Project is both environmentally and socially appropriate and achievable. The PLS Project is an economically and strategically important development within Canada and we will continue to progress the construction licencing process with the CNSC.”

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Directors of Paladin Energy Ltd.

– Published by The MIL Network

UK lobby groups are calling on the British government to urgently delay the deadline for dual nationals to get UK passports.

It comes as reports that the British Home Office is allowing airlines to decide whether they accept expired British passports when the border changes start on Wednesday.

Advocates have accused the government of failing to communicate the impending requirement for overseas dual citizens to use a UK passport, or certificate of entitlement, saying many only found out last month.

An opposition MP, Liberal Democrat Will Forster, has also asked for a grace period to allow travellers to catch up with the change.

Campaign groups British in Europe and ‘the3million’ wrote to the government this week along with immigration lawyers asking for the deadline to be postponed. They also want the cost of a certificate of entitlement, now a £589 (NZ$1330) digital addition to a foreign passport, to be significantly reduced.

“Please hit the pause button,” the3million’s head of advocacy Monique Hawkins told RNZ. “Think again, do more comms. Canada paused it twice before they began their enforcement. But from what we’ve heard, I think they’re digging in and they’re not prepared to move on this at all.”

Getting a certificate of entitlement could be a very complex, expensive process, she said, but for people with a recently expired passport it could be made a lot more straightforward.

“It should cost no more than the cost of a passport, I think, and they could just maintain one passport then,” she said. “We would like carriers to show flexibility for carriers to perhaps look at an expired British passport and think, yes, OK, we can accept that.

“If you look at what Canada did. Canada had exactly the same problem for its own dual nationals, but they came up with a pragmatic solution.”

Canada’s workaround, a special authorisation, was still open to its citizens 10 years after it required its nationals to use its passport, she said.

Using an expired UK passport

The UK Guardian is reporting that the Home Office said airline carriers could at their own discretion accept an expired British passport as alternative documentation, in addition to a valid foreign passport.

It would be a further frustration for dual nationals who had sent their expired UK passport away to get a new one to comply with the new rules, the newspaper noted.

Hawkins called on airlines who will implement the new regime to be sympathetic, but she feared many people would be turned away at international check-in desks. Carriers face a £2000 (NZ$4500) fine per passenger for allowing passengers with incorrect documentation to board.

A Carrier Support Hub was a 24/7 Home Office service airlines could contact to check that someone was British, she said.

The groups want the government to reconsider its overall position. “People are saying I’m just going to renounce my British citizenship. You know, it’s an expensive process to renounce it, but I’ve had it. Why should I still feel any loyalty towards the UK?

“And I think that’s tragic, really. I mean, that’s not how our country should treat its citizens. I really don’t understand what the mischief is that they’re trying to address. They want to know who’s coming to the country. It is just crazy that a New Zealand national coming as a tourist can get an ETA for £16 no problem and their dual British New Zealand partner is blocked from going to this country that they once belonged to. It doesn’t make sense.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Auckland freeskier Mischa Thomas has qualified for the final of the halfpipe at the Winter Olympics.

The 17 year old landed a score of 77.00 in her first run and followed that up with a slightly improved 77.50 in her second.

With the best score from the two runs counting, Thomas qualified tenth.

The field had to contend with falling snow during the competition and Thomas said it provided some challenges.

“It was a run I was pretty comfortable doing, I’ve done quite a few times,” she told Sky Sport.

“The pipe was still fast and it is kind of scary to see what it is going to be like when it’s not snowing. It was a little bumpy so just had to manage that, but you get given what you’re given and you just have to deal with it.”

Zoe Atkin of Great Britain topped the qualifying with a best score of 91.50, while defending champion Eileen Gu of China qualified fifth with a score of 86.50.

The competition was paused for 15 minutes when Canadian Cassie Sharpe, who won halfpipe gold in 2018 and silver in 2022, fell and appeared to knock her head. She received medical attention but still qualified third.

The final is on Sunday morning.

Heavy snow again forced organisers to change the schedule with qualifying for the men’s freeski halfpipe pushed back a day.

It means Fin Melville Ives, Luke Harold, Gustav Legnavsky and Ben Harrington will start their qualifying on Friday night with the final scheduled for Saturday morning.

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

Parliament’s last order of the week was to debate something the minister in charge of the bill has admitted is not really a priority.

The government has introduced a bill to make English an official language, to ridicule from the opposition, and a fierce defence from Winston Peters.

The legislation would see English be recognised as an official language alongside Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.

It would not affect the status or use of Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language as official languages.

Just two pages long, the legislation states that English has long been a de facto official language, but not set out in legislation.

The bill is in the name of the Justice Minister, Paul Goldsmith, who was reluctant to sing its praises.

“It’s something that was in the coalition. It wouldn’t be the top priority for us, absolutely not. But it’s something in the coalition and it’s getting done.”

Goldsmith did not speak at the first reading.

Instead, Winston Peters led the speeches on Thursday.

Peters said other jurisdictions such as Canada, Ireland, and Wales had English language legislation of their own, which indicated the “importance” of putting it into legislation.

“This bill won’t solve the push of this virtue signalling narrative completely. But it is the first step towards ensuring logic and common sense prevails when the vast majority of New Zealanders communicate in English, and understand English, in a country that should use English as its primary and official language,” he said.

The New Zealand First leader, who was made to wait nearly an hour and a half to deliver his speech, argued the proliferation of te reo Māori in health and transport services meant people were getting confused.

In other cases, they were being put in danger, claiming first responders did not know where they were going, and boaties were unable to interpret charts.

“With the increase in recent years of te reo to be used in place of English, even when less than five percent of the New Zealand population can read, write, or speak it, it has created situations that encourage misunderstand and confusion for all. And all for the purpose to push a narrative.”

Peters’ speech drifted into a lengthy historical anecdote, with an example of “out of touch bureaucrats” in the Soviet Union building, costing, and installing chandeliers based on weight “for production bonuses, rather than shape and design”, which was leading to ceilings being ripped out.

“And the then-President Khrushchev, upon finding this out, asked this question: For whom is this illuminating? As for whom, are the circumstances we now finding ourselves in with the use of te reo as a means of important communication now, illuminating what?”

Opposition MPs ridicule bill

Opposition MPs questioned the government’s priorities, expressing ridicule, exasperation and concern at the bill.

Beginning his contribution with, “Ngā mihi, great to be here in Aotearoa today,” Labour MP Duncan Webb said only the “wandering mind” of Peters could explain what Russian chandeliers had to do with the English language.

Webb said language was a “moving thing”, with New Zealand English containing words from across the Pacific.

“A silly piece of legislation, that Winston Peters, in his jurassic thinking, wants to put before his sub-sub-sub-section of voters, because they get a little bit anxious because the library in Christchurch is called Tūranga. A big building full of books, with big signs to it, but because it doesn’t say ‘library’ they don’t know it’s the library if they’re New Zealand First voters.”

Webb said when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, all the laws of England applied, of which an English language law was not one.

“What’s the official language of the United Kingdom? Well, it doesn’t say, it is not set out there in legislation. There is no English Act or United Kingdom Act which sets out English as an official language, but I’m pretty sure they’re comfortable with the fact that it’s an official language of England and the United Kingdom.”

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said the government “wants us distracted” while the country experienced severe weather events, and unemployment was as high as it had been in a decade.

“They want us divided, and they want regular people exhausted, fighting amongst themselves. Some out there say that this government is stupid. Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, I think that they know exactly what they are doing,” she said.

“The English language is not under threat. We are literally speaking it and debating in it right now. This is a bill which is an answer to a problem that does not exist, a problem which this government is trying to create in the minds of people across this country, in place of the very real problems of the climate crisis, record homelessness, inequality and infrastructural decay.”

Swarbrick said Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language had been “fought for”, while English was “literally beaten” into people.

“In plain English, for all members of this government, this bill is bullshit, and you know it.”

Te Pāti Māori MP Oriini Kaipara delivered her contribution entirely in te reo Māori.

“This bill is a waste of time, and a waste of breath,” she said.

Labour MP Dr Ayesha Verrall spoke of her mother’s upbringing in the Maldives, where she worked hard to learn English, arrived in New Zealand on a Colombo Plan scholarship, and went on to become an English teacher.

“That’s pretty special, kind of ironic, to think that someone who, for whom English wasn’t their first language, gave so much in terms of enjoyment of English and English literature to her students.”

She said she sat in her mother’s classes in the 1990s when politicians were “race baiting”, warning of an ‘Asian invasion’, and using English in a “very powerful and destructive” way.

“When we speak in the English language, we have impact beyond our words. As politicians, we create permission for people to do things outside this House. So that’s what happens when politicians indulge in racism. The English language can be used as a weapon, and that can lead to people having violent acts committed against them,” she said.

Verall then referred to the 1990s politician directly – Peters.

First reading on hold

Peters had promoted his contribution, set to begin at 4pm, on social media.

But an opposition filibuster on the previous bill on the order paper meant his speech did not begin until 5:25pm.

With Parliament needing to break for the week at 6pm, government MPs did their best to hurry the bill along, with ACT’s Simon Court, and National MPs Tom Rutherford and Carl Bates rising for very short contributions to commend the bill to the House.

“It’s simply practical, constructive common sense,” Court said.

National’s Rima Nakhle took issue with Swarbrick’s use of the word “bullshit”, and accused the opposition of theatrics.

“How about we just calm it down a little, and stop the theatrics, and talk about what this is. And it’s OK. We’re only making English official. It’s not the end of the world.”

The House adjourned with two speeches still to go.

With Parliament in recess next week, it meant MPs would have to wait until 3 March for the debate to pick up again.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

The Black Caps have comfortably chased down Canada’s total in their T20 World Cup clash.

Canada scored a respectable 173 in the match at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, with batsman Yuvraj Samra scoring 110 in 65 balls.

But the Black Caps chased the total down with 29 balls remaining – Glenn Phillips top scored with 76 runs off 36 balls, while Rachin Ravindra also reached a half-century, scoring 59 in 39 balls..

The win has secured the Black Caps a place in the Super 8s, where they will be divided into two groups of four each, and play each other in a round-robin format.

The top two teams from each Super 8s group will progress to the semi-finals.

See how all the action unfolded with our live blog:

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Follow all the T20 cricket World Cup action as the New Zealand Black Caps take on Canada at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

A win will secure the Black Caps a place in the Super 8s, where they will be divided into two groups of four each, and play each other in a round-robin format.

The top two teams from each Super 8s group will progress to the semi-finals.

First ball is at 6.30pm NZT

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

For a sport that rarely commands the national spotlight, the New Zealand Black Sox say being recognised on one of the biggest sporting nights in Aotearoa is a huge moment, not just for the team, but for softball itself.

The New Zealand men’s side were finalists for ISPS Handa Team of the Year at the 63rd Halberg Awards in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, following their silver-medal finish at last year’s WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup in Canada.

The Black Sox are the most decorated sporting team in New Zealand, winning seven world titles and totalling 14 medals. They won a medal in 13 of the first 15 World Cups, and appeared consecutively in the World Championship Final 10 times from 1984 to 2017.

The other finalists were Black Ferns Sevens (rugby sevens), Auckland FC (football), New Zealand Kiwis (rugby league), Men’s Team Pursuit: Nick Kergozou, Tom Sexton, Keegan Hornblow and Marshall Erwood (cycling – track), Ben Taylor and Oliver Welch (rowing).

The Black Ferns Sevens took out the award on the night following an impressive 2025 performance.

Infielder and Black Sox Slugger Jerome Raemaki (Cook Island) said the recognition shines a light on a sport that continues to grow from the grassroots up.

“For us it’s a positive light on softball in general in New Zealand and our programmes are still strong with the youth coming through as well,” he said.

“I think we’ve put our best foot forward.”

New Zealand climbed back onto the world stage at the World Cup, finishing with silver in a campaign that signalled a resurgence for the Black Sox.

They were lead by a wealth of experience, with Hall of Famer and four-time World Champion Thomas Makea (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Marama, Ngāti Makea Ki Rarotonga), taking the reins of Head Coach.

Pitcher Pita Rona (Te Ātiawa) said belief had been central to that success.

“We actually believed in ourselves a hell of a lot more as individuals and then also we believed in each other like a hell of a lot more,” he said.

“There was a lot of things that was installed in us right from the get-go, like three, four years ago, building up to when it really mattered.”

He said support from whānau and management had played a key role in building that foundation.

“There’s also a lot of things that have helped us get to where we are today.”

The campaign also marked personal milestones. Brothers Ben and Thomas Enoka (Ngāpuhi) both brought up 100 caps for the Black Sox during the campaign in Canada – a moment that reflected the longevity within the squad.

Ben Enoka said the Halberg nomination was recognition of the collective effort.

“Just excited, you know, to be nominated amongst some of the high-performance athletes in New Zealand. Just happy to be here representing the Black Sox.”

Thomas Enoka said the exposure mattered for those coming through the pathways.

“To be on a platform where they can strive to and something they can look up to, I’d hope,” he said.

“To put us back on the Halberg map… for the next generation.”

Softball in Aotearoa has long had strong Māori and Pasifika representation, something reflected across the current squad. Several players spoke about the importance of whānau and whakapapa within the team environment.

Rona, the son of Black Sox Hall of Famer and four-time World Champion, Brad Rona, described the sport as grounded in family.

“Our sport is such a small community and family becomes a big part in our sport,” he said.

“You play for more than yourself. You play for your family. You play for the next generation. You play for the ones before us.”

Raemaki said that sense of whānau shaped the team culture during their World Cup run.

“We created a culture that was relaxing, where everyone felt comfortable. They had a voice,” he said.

“So we didn’t have to iron out any of that and we could just focus on the task at hand.”

Thomas Enoka said representing their whānau on the world stage carried weight.

“Our whānau is pretty proud of us to be on a stage like this or even on a world stage just in our own sport,” he said.

“If you look at things like that, I think that’s something that brings a lot of mana to yourself.”

For 22-year-old Canterbury pitcher Liam Potts – who was named WBSC Men’s Softballer of the Year following the tournament – the moment was unexpected.

“I never think of my softball career I’d get to come to an event like this,” Potts said.

“To see so many faces that you think, wow, I’ve watched you on TV … and be like, holy, you’re actually a real person.”

Potts said his individual accolade came from focusing on doing his job for the team.

“I didn’t think much of what I could do. I was just kind of competing the best I could for my team,” he said.

“Getting named WBSC Player of the Year, it’s just unreal.”

Potts is set to represent the fern on the World Stage in April, competing in the WBSC U-23 Men’s World Cup.

“You’ve just got to believe you can do it,” Potts said.

“It will never be a straight line up. You always have your ups and downs … you’ve got to enjoy the journey. And honestly, you do the work, it will pay off in the end.”

The Black Sox said whether they left with silverware or not, the recognition and accolades would offer a platform that could help inspire the next generation of softballers across Aotearoa.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

The Black Caps can secure their place in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup with victory over Canada tonight and shouldn’t have too many problems achieving it.

However, there remains some concern about how the New Zealand side will perform against the top teams later in the tournament.

New Zealand were beaten 4-1 by India in last month’s T20 series and while they opened the world cup with wins over Afghanistan and the UAE, they crashed back down to earth with a seven wicket loss to South Africa in their last game.

The Black Caps weren’t at their best batting against South Africa, particularly in the power play. They were four down by the seventh over, leaving plenty of work for the middle order to do. The bowlers also struggled to make inroads into the Proteas batting line-up.

All-rounder Glenn Phillips didn’t think the inconsistency they showed in the series against India and the loss to South Africa is a major issue.

“There’s not necessarily been a pattern per se,” Phillips said.

“If our top order’s gone down, then our middle order stepped up. And, sometimes it just happens to be the way that the top order gets off to a start and then the middle can’t go through. So that’s just the nature of T20 cricket when you’re trying to keep the momentum going the whole time.

“If you look at the options the boys took, they’re in really clear mindsets. Obviously, it just comes down to execution at the end of the day.

“And then with the ball as well, we’re just trying to make sure that we’re hitting our straps as much as possible. If we didn’t bowl as well as we have on previous days, then we look at that and we go, we can be better on the next day and that’s fine.”

If New Zealand bats first against Canada in Chennai they would like to get close to setting a target of 200. A score they haven’t managed to score yet in the tournament.

With victory expected in this game the selectors may consider rotating a few players, however they may also be keen to play some of their regulars back into form.

The two sides have met three times in ODI World Cup’s with New Zealand winning all three, but this is their first clash in T20I’s.

New Zealand will be without Lockie Ferguson for the match as he has returned home for the birth of his child. Kyle Jamieson could take his place in the side, while spinner Ish Sodhi is another option.

Meanwhile, tournament organisers have approved the inclusion of off-spinning all-rounder Cole McConchie into the Black Caps squad as a replacement for the injured Michael Bracewell.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Workers, wine, and building new alliances – what New Zealand and India get from our free trade deal

It’s the free trade deal that was expected to take years more of relationship-building, but sprinted over the finish line.

Yet to be ratified by both parliaments, New Zealand’s agreement with India could be said to be very one-sided in our favour – access to 1.4 billion consumers with tariffs cut dramatically. India gets improved access for workers and students, in numbers that would seem like a drop in the bucket to such a populous country.

Yet it’s that aspect that has Kiwi politicians up in arms. Today on The Detail we look at a deal that the government has done a great job of nailing, but a poor job of explaining.

That lack of communication is especially puzzling when you consider that in order to enact ‘favoured nation’ status, we urgently need to get the ink dry on it. If the EU passes its free trade agreement with India first, any future drop in their tariffs won’t have to be matched in our deal.

Beyond trade, there’s also another aspect of the motivation behind the signing, and that’s the world’s changing geo-political scene, where countries are looking for fresh friends and alliances. New Zealand is the third Five Eyes nation to do a trade deal with India, and agreements with Canada and the US are in train.

Gaurav Sharma, a senior journalist with the RNZ Asia team, says when it comes to this deal, you can talk about immigrant visas and opportunities for students, but it’s mainly about geo-politics.

“Suddenly because of the rise of China, people have started looking at India differently,” he says.

That includes a new willingness to sit down at the table to discuss market access, but also talk about military alliances in the Indo-Pacific.

“In the last couple of years or so India has started looking at defence ties with New Zealand,” he says.

This includes visits from Indian military ships, and a visit by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to a military base in Mumbai. He gave a speech during that visit on international security. The motive is the increasing presence of China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Sharma says there is significance in the appointment of the new Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand, Muanpuii Saiawi, who was formerly responsible for international security in Delhi. “It’s an important marker.”

He says the Indian diaspora here is over the moon with the deal – “it’s a stamp that India and New Zealand relations are moving to the next level.”

But he says there’s no hope that at some stage the agreement will make room for our dairy products, a notable omission from the deal.

“You have to realise that earlier this year India did a deal with the European Union and the US – two of the biggest marketing blocs and powerful economies in the world – they also didn’t get dairy.

“For New Zealand to think that in the next hundred years that India will open the market for dairy for New Zealand exporters, it’s not going to happen.”

New Zealand has insisted on having a clause in the agreement that if other countries at some stage get a look in, we will too. But India’s trade minister has categorically ruled out ever giving dairy concessions to any country.

Newsroom’s national affairs editor Sam Sachdeva was one of the sceptics who doubted the National government would get a deal over the line in its first term.

“I think the government, to its credit, did walk the talk. You saw multiple visits by [Trade Minister] Todd McClay, I think he said he’s been there eight, nine, 10 times … Christopher Luxon went, that was the first visit by a New Zealand Prime Minister in, it must have been close to a decade I think. Winston Peters himself went a few times. So you’ve had those political-level visits but I think there’s been other business delegations that have gone over there. That has helped kind of smooth the path.”

Many of the details of the agreement are still a mystery – until recently, even to the Labour Party which has been asked to help it pass.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins wrote to the Prime Minister this weekend expressing concern that it still hasn’t received a formal request to support it, and was only provided with a complete text of the agreement more than a month after negotiations were concluded.

“Your decision not to involve Labour at any point in the negotiation process – without consultation, despite your public assurances to the contrary – and the expectation that Labour would unconditionally support the agreement once presented with it as a fait accompli, falls short of best practice and is not in the spirit of bipartisanship,” the letter reads.

It says Labour will support it on the provision that concerns over migrant worker protections and international students are addressed, and it wants assurances over the expectations that the private sector will invest $33 billion into India over the next 15 years.

If the government’s promotion of this aim falls short, India has the right to revoke market access for the apple, honey and kiwifruit sectors.

But Sachdeva says that clause is not a hard fail line, and he doubts it will be enacted if the amount falls a bit short.

Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.

You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.

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

MIL OSI

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

New Zealand has signed the global Call-to-Action on Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U), sending a strong signal of our commitment to ending HIV transmission and ensuring people living with HIV can lead healthy lives free from stigma and discrimination, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says.

“U=U is a clear, evidence-based principle that when someone living with HIV is on effective treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load, they cannot transmit HIV sexually,” Mr Doocey says.

“By signing this Call-to-Action, we are reinforcing U=U as a core part of New Zealand’s HIV response. Increasing awareness helps reduce stigma, encourages testing, supports earlier access to treatment, and strengthens prevention and long-term health outcomes.”

The Call-to-Action encourages countries to embed U=U within HIV guidelines and strategies, improve equitable access to testing and treatment, support community-led initiatives, and strengthen public understanding.

“Endorsing U=U aligns with New Zealand’s National HIV Action Plan, which sets out our goal of eliminating local HIV transmission by 2030 and addressing HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

“While treatment uptake and viral suppression rates are strong, it is clear stigma remains a significant barrier for many people. This commitment sends a clear message that discrimination has no place in New Zealand.”

Mr Doocey acknowledged the many advocates, community organisations and people with lived experience of HIV who have long called for New Zealand to formally endorse U=U.

“This milestone reflects years of dedicated advocacy and leadership from communities most affected by HIV. We thank those with lived experience who have shared their stories and challenged stigma. These voices have been instrumental in driving change.”

New Zealand is the fifth country to join the Call-to-Action. In addition, more than 1,100 organisations across 106 countries have signed on to share the U=U message with their communities.

This builds on the significant progress that has been made in recent years, including reductions in locally acquired HIV infections, increased uptake of combination prevention measures, and expanded testing options.

 Notes to editor:

• New Zealand joins Canada, the United States, Vietnam and Australia in signing the Call‑to-Action.
• The move is supported by findings from the latest HIV Monitoring Report, which highlighted ongoing progress in New Zealand’s HIV response. This included 98.5% of people diagnosed with HIV on treatment, and 91.7% achieving viral suppression.

MIL OSI

New Zealand SailGP

11.30am Sunday, 15 February*

Wynyard Point, Auckland

Live updates on RNZ

*Start time has been changed due to the weather

Kiwi SailGP driver Phil Robertson hopes the high-speed crash between New Zealand and France on Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour will force a rethink of racing format for the rest of the 2026 championship.

Competition was suspended during race three of New Zealand SailGP, after the two rivals collided during the sprint to the first mark. Replays showed the Black Foils apparently lose control of their rudder and spin into the path of the French, whose boat flew over the bow of Amokura.

All crew were quickly accounted for, but two sailors – one from each team – were injured and rushed ashore to hospital.

The rest of the fleet continued around the mark, but the contest was called off, as they headed back towards the scene of the crash, where the two boats were still entangled midcourse.

Soon after, organisers suspended racing for the day. The French boat was towed back to Wynyard Basin, but Amokura lay in pieces on the harbour and likely be out of action for quite a while.

The incident shook up the entire fleet, with Italian team driver Robertson recounting his own close call in the build-up.

“It’s obviously pretty hectic,” he said. “You never really want to see anything like that.

“It’s a bit shocking, but it’s racing and it was a racing incident that went on out there.”

Auckland-born Robertson described how the New Zealand boat initially veered towards his boat, but seemed to regain control to avoid that contact.

“I saw them in my peripheral, as they started sliding towards us, then took a glance over my shoulder and saw them spin out. I didn’t really see the rest, until we stopped and looked back, and saw two boats on top of each other – it’s not very nice to see that.

“These boats are pretty hard to control at those high speeds and everyone’s pushing like mad on those reaches. They got a bit slidey, which is very natural to happen, and slid towards us, but you trust they’re going to get grip again and they did.”

New Zealand SailGP is the first time the fleet has raced with 13 boats, with Artemis Sweden joining the championship this year.

At last month’s season-opener in Perth, the Spanish boat suffered damage in practice and was unable to compete.

Organisers hope to add another team next year and have experimented with splitting the fleet into two heats of seven.

[embedded content]

“I think it’s the shortest racecourse in SailGP and 13 boats… yeah, I don’t know,” Robertson offered. “I think questions will be asked.

“I think when it’s conditions like this, I think that [two fleets] will be the expectation. We know it’s going to be tricky and there will be crashes, but it just minimises the risk, when there’s a bit more space on the course.

“Bigger courses sure, 13 boats no problem, but I think small courses and big breeze, when everyone’s on the limit of control already, it’s probably a smart idea to start having that conversation seriously.

“I assume a few sailors will be asking a few questions.”

Despite the Auckland incident, British driver Dylan Fletcher still favours the bigger fleet.

“I’d rather it stay as one fleet,” the defending SailGP champion said. “It doesn’t honestly feel that different, whether you’ve got 11 or 13.

“It’s relatively similar. Even at the start, you’ve got that separation.

“From my point of view, I love the racing with 13 boats. It’s unfortunate we won’t have that for a little bit of while now, but that’s the way it is.”

Robertson has been a SailGP fixture since the professional sailing began in 2019, steering teams from China, Spain and Canada, before joining the Italian outfit last year.

With a weather bomb forecast for the North Island this weekend, the local lad was quizzed about the prospect of racing in big winds on the Waitematā at Friday’s official media conference.

His reaction: “You wet your pants a little and move on.”

Italy narrowly avoided their own disaster, when they were caught in a gust of win that almost tipped them over during the build-up to race one. They barely managed to regain equilibrium and bring their boat back down on both hulls.

Sunday racing has already been moved forward a few hours to avoid the worst of the weather, but most drivers anticipate even more testing conditions on day two.

“Look, the accident was obviously extremely unfortunate, but I don’t think anyone’s really going to change,” Robertson said. “It’s a little bit out of the ordinary and you trust everyone’s being careful out there.

“That’s probably a situation I don’t think anyone envisioned, a boat spinning out and getting run over. It’s always in our mind that someone may crash in front of you, but coming from that position the Kiwis were in and into the French like that, no-one’s really thought about that situation before.”

“I think all the sailors are pretty shaken up, seeing that sight. It’s not something you want to see and I’m sure it affects everyone a bit.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

MIL OSI

New Zealand SailGP

4pm Saturday, 14 February

11.30am Sunday, 15 February*

Wynyard Point, Auckland

Live updates on RNZ

*Start time has been change for the weather

Amid considerable fanfare, SailGP has returned to Auckland, building on a wildly successful – not for the home team though – debut in 2025.

The wait for availability of the Wynyard Point site proved well worthwhile, when spectators crammed the giant grandstand on the waterfront to watch Australia claim honours last year – and organisers promise bigger and better this time round.

Here’s what you should know about the professional sailing event.

History

Sail Grand Prix was created in 2018 by billionaire Larry Ellison and Kiwi sailing legend Sir Russell Coutts, loosely based on the America’s Cup, where both its founders originated from.

Unlike the ‘Auld Mug’, this format was designed for high-speed racing in identical F50 catamarans around spectator-friendly courses near the shoreline.

Many of the crews are also involved in the America’s Cup, so this event enables them to remain fully professional sailors between four-year cycles, albeit in a different class of boat.

The fleet began with just six teams, but has since doubled in size, with the addition of Brazil and Italy last year, before adding Sweden as the 13th entry for 2026.

Guided by Tom Slingsby, Australia have dominated the league, winning the first three editions and finishing runners-up in the last two. Spain were 2023/24 champions, while Great Britain triumphed in 2024/25.

Another feature of the competition is known as the ‘Impact League’, which rewards teams for promoting sustainability and inclusivity within their organisations. Winning teams receive prizemoney to donate to charities and New Zealand took 2021/22 honours.

Format

Each regatta takes place over a series of tightly contested fleet races (up to seven) across two days, with teams gaining points based on their placings and the top three qualifying for the final at the end of the weekend.

Overall results from each stopover count towards season rankings, with the top three again qualifying for the series final.

Black Foils

New Zealand did not contest the inaugural SailGP series, but joined the fleet in 2020, under the leadership of America’s Cup supremo Peter Burling and sidekick Blair Tuke.

Their distinctive boat Amokura was launched the following year and has suffered several accidents since.

In 2023, its mast was struck by lightning in Singapore, as it was being towed back to base, frying its electrical systems. The NZ crew were already ashore, collecting their winners’ prize, but Danish grinder Martin Kirketerp – who was helping return the boat to port – was taken to hospital with an electric shock.

Later that same season, Amokura’s wing collapsed while racing at Saint-Tropez. No-one was hurt, but the damage was too serious to continue racing and repairs could not be carried out before the next round at Taranto, Italy.

In March 2024, the NZ team announced their ‘Black Foils’ nickname, aligning with other famous Kiwi sporting outfits.

Burling and Tuke have won Olympic and world championship gold, won and defended the America’s Cup and sailed around the world (separately), but SailGP success has eluded them. They finished second in 2022/23 and third the last two years.

Form

The 2026 series has had only one stop so far, at Perth, with the defending champion British team picking up where they left off last year, heading off Australia and France in the event final.

Sweden won two of the seven preliminary races, but finished last in the seventh to place fourth, while Canada also showed their ability with victory in the last race.

New Zealand were off to the worst-possible start to their campaign, damaging their stern in a collision with Switzerland during the opening race and, while the Swiss were able to return to the water on the second day, the Kiwis were shorebound for the rest of the weekend and faced some time pressure to repair their board for the Auckland leg.

They are now at the bottom of the table with no points, alongside Switzerland and Spain, who also suffered malfunctions off Perth.

New Zealand SailGP

New Zealand was originally included on the 2021/22 championship schedule, with Lyttelton Harbour, Christchurch, as the venue on an alternating arrangement with Auckland’s Wynyard Point.

Covid-19 delayed the NZ stopover until 2023, with Christchurch hosting the very successful event, and it returned there the following year, when the Auckland waterfront site was unavailable.

This time, racing was not possible on the opening day, due to dolphins on the course, and Coutts vowed not to use the venue again.

Instead, Auckland staged the 2025 event, fully justifying the decision to develop Wynyard Point, with a grandstand that is expected to hold more than 10,000 spectators and break the SailGP attendance record, along with unticketed viewing along the shoreline.

Kiwi Phil Robertson skippered Canada to victory at the inaugural 2023 NZ SailGP, Burling steered the Kiwis home in 2024, but the Black Foils struck electrical problems at Auckland, with the Aussies dominating the weekend.

Teams

Australia: Tom Slingsby (driver), Tash Bryant (strategist), Nina Curtis (strategist), Iain Jensen (wing trimmer), Kinley Fowler (flight controller/grinder), Sam Newton (grinder), Jason Waterhouse (flight controller/tactician), Tom Needham (reserve)

Brazil: Martine Grael (driver), Marco Grael (grinder), Mateus Isaac (grinder), Rasmus Kostner (flight controller), Pietro Sibello (wing trimmer), Paul Goodison (strategist), Richard Mason (reserve), Breno Kneipp (grinder)

Canada: Giles Scott (driver), Billy Gooderham (flight controller), Paul Campbell-James (wing trimmer), Annie Haeger (strategist), Georgia Lewin-LaFrance (strategist), Tom Ramshaw (grinder), Tim Hornsby (grinder/technical director), Alex Sinclair (grinder)

Denmark: Nicolai Sehested (driver), Tom Johnson (wing trimmer), Ed Powys (flight controller), Anee-Marie Rindom (strategist), Hans-Christian Rosendahl (grinder), Luke Payne (grinder), Kahena Kunze (strategist)

France: Quentin Delapierre (driver), Manon Audinet (strategist), Leigh McMillan (wing trimmer), Jason Saunders (flight controller), Olivier Herledant (grinder), Bruno Mourniac (grinder), Timothy Lapauw (grinder), Enzo Balanger (reserve), Amelie Riou (reserve)

Germany: Erik Kosegarten-Heil (driver), Kevin Peponnet (wing trimmer), James Wierzbowski (flight controller), Anna Barth (strategist), Will Tiller (grinder), Linov Scheel (grinder)

Great Britain: Dylan Fletcher (driver), Hannah Mills (strategist), Stuart Bithell (wing trimmer), Luke Parkinson (flight controller),, Nick Hutton (trimmer/grinder), Neil Hunter (grinder), Kai Hockley (development), Ben Cornish (reserve), Ellie Aldridge (development)

Italy: Phil Robertson (driver), Ruggero Tita (alternate driver), Kyle Langford (wing trimmer), Andrea Tesei (flight controller), Will Ryan (grinder), Enrico Voltolini (grinder), Jana Germani (strategist), Maelle Frascari (strategist), Jimmy Spithill (reserve driver)

New Zealand: Peter Burling (driver), Blair Tuke (wing trimmer), Leo Takahashi (flight controller), Liv Mackay (strategist), Louis Sinclair (grinder), Marcus Hansen (grinder)

Spain: Diego Botin (driver), Florian Trittel (wing trimmer), Joel Rodriguez (flight controller), Nicolle van der Velden (strategist), Joan Cardona (tactician/grinder), Bernard Freitas (grinder), Matthew Barber (grinder)

Sweden: Nathan Outteridge (driver), Julia Gross (strategist), Chris Draper (wing trimmer), Any Maloney (flight controller), Brad Farrand (wing trimmer), Julius Hallstrom (grinder)

Switzerland: Sebastian Schneiter (driver), Arnaud Psarofaghis (wing trimmer), Bryan Mattraux (flight controller), Stewart Dodson (grinder), Arno de Planta (reserve), Maud Jayet (strategist), Matt Gotrel (grinder)

USA: Taylor Canfield (driver), Michael Menninger (wing trimmer), Hans Henken (flight controller), Andrew Campbell (strategist), Anna Weis (grinder), Peter Kinney (grinder), Mac Agnese (grinder), Harry Melges IV (reserve)

Weather

In a case of imperfect timing, New Zealand’s North Island – including Auckland – is under storm warning this weekend, which has already forced a couple of changes to event scheduling.

Friday practice racing was cancelled, with only New Zealand, Spain and Germany allowed out on the water to test their recent modifications before racing begins in earnest.

In anticipation of worsening conditions on Sunday afternoon, the second day’s racing has been brought forward to 11.30am.

Everyone is talking glowingly of great sailing conditions, but maybe not so great for spectators.

Asked about the expected big winds, Auckland-born Italy driver Phil Robertson replied: “You wet your pants a little and you move on.”

Where to watch

Organisers have increased the size of the already impressive Wynyard Point grandstand by 30 percent to more than 10,000 seats. Boats will whistle past so close, you can almost reach out and touch them.

Other vantage points around the harbour include any of the wharves as far as Bledisloe Wharf on the city side, Westhaven Marina and Stanley Point on the North Shore.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

About De Beers Group

Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group’s strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers Jewellers and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services via De Beers Institute of Diamonds and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology systems via De Beers Group Ignite. De Beers Group is committed to ‘Building Forever,’ a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future – where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; where communities thrive and the environment is protected; and where there are equal opportunities for all. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American PLC group. For further information, visit www.debeersgroup.com.

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

PERTH, Australia, Feb. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX:PDN, TSX:PDN, OTCQX:PALAF) (“Paladin” or the “Company”) advises that it has released a presentation for the Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM) investor site visit being held on 12 February 2026, in Namibia.

The presentation is available on the Company’s website (https://www.paladinenergy.com.au/investors/asx-announcements/).

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Directors of Paladin Energy Ltd.

Contacts

About Paladin

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX:PDN TSX: PDN OTCQX:PALAF) is a globally significant independent uranium producer with a 75% ownership of the world-class long life Langer Heinrich Mine located in Namibia. In late 2024 the Company acquired Fission Uranium Corp. in Canada, resulting in a dual-listing on the both the ASX and TSX. With the integration of Fission’s operations, the Company now owns and operates an extensive portfolio of uranium development and exploration assets across Canada, which include the Patterson Lake South (PLS) Project in Saskatchewan and the Michelin project in Newfoundland and Labrador. Paladin also owns uranium exploration assets in Australia. Paladin is committed to a sustainability framework that ensures responsible, accountable and transparent management of the uranium resources the Company mines – both now and in the future. Through its Langer Heinrich Mine, Paladin is delivering a reliable uranium supply to major nuclear utilities around the world, positioning itself as a meaningful contributor to baseload energy provision in multiple countries and contributing to global decarbonisation.

– Published by The MIL Network

PERTH, Australia, Feb. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX:PDN, TSX:PDN, OTCQX:PALAF) (“Paladin” or the “Company”) advises that it has released its December 2025 Half Year Financial Accounts and Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) for Paladin Energy Ltd and its controlled entities for the three and six month periods ended 31 December 2025 (“FY2026 Interim Financial Results”).

Half Year Highlights

• Revenue of US$138.3M driven by strong sales of 1.96Mlb U₃O₈ at an average realised price of US$70.5/lb U₃O₈¹, reflecting the quality of the Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM) contract book and strengthening uranium pricing environment
• Cost of sales totalled US$112.3M in the period, reflecting the continued ramp up of production at LHM
• Gross profit of US$26.0M for the period, a significant increase from previous period
• Net loss after tax of US$6.6M driven by the ongoing production ramp-up at LHM, business expansion following the Fission Uranium Corp (now Paladin Canada Inc.) acquisition and TSX listing and financing activities
• Successful completion of a fully underwritten A$300M equity raising and a A$100M share purchase plan (SPP), primarily to advance the development of the Patterson Lake South (PLS) Project towards a final investment decision alongside the ongoing ramp up of the LHM
• Enhanced balance sheet following completion of the equity offering, and the restructure of the syndicated debt facility with cash and investments of US$278.4M and an undrawn US$70M Revolving Credit Facility at year end

“The first half of the year demonstrated strong and continually improving performance at Langer Heinrich Mine as our team increased its knowledge and experience of how to optimise the production process, including the mining activities that were gathering pace at the start of this financial year. With the remaining mining fleet arriving on site, the foundations are now in place to successfully complete our ramp-up at Langer Heinrich Mine during the remaining months of the year.

The half year results also highlight the robust financial position of Paladin Energy with increasing revenue from strong sales augmented by a successful equity raising and a restructure of the debt portfolio that will enable us to complete our ramp-up activities at the LHM and continue to progress the PLS Project in Canada, including our winter drilling program.”

Paul Hemburrow
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

Financial Performance

LHM sold 1.96Mlb of U₃O₈ at an average realised price of US$70.5/lb, generating sales revenue of US$138.3M. Cost of sales totalled US$112.3M, reflecting the continued ramp up of production, with a higher proportion of mined ore fed into the plant resulting in higher production and sales volumes.

This resulted in an increased gross profit for the period of US$26.0M (H1FY2025: US$0.9M).

Net loss after tax of US$6.6M (H1FY2025:US$15.1M) was driven by the ongoing production ramp-up at LHM, business expansion following the Fission Uranium Corp (now Paladin Canada Inc.) acquisition, TSX listing and financing activities.

Financial Position

Total unrestricted cash and investments increased by 213% during the period to US$278.4M (30 June 2025: US$89.0M), following the successful completion of a fully underwritten A$300M equity offering and a A$100M share purchase plan (SPP) (both before transaction costs).

On 19 December 2025, Paladin completed the restructure of its Debt Facility with its lenders, Nedbank Ltd (acting through its Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking division), Nedbank Namibia Ltd and Macquarie Bank.

The restructure aimed to right-size the overall debt capacity, reducing it from US$150M to US$110M leveraging Paladin’s enhanced liquidity position following the successful completion of the equity raise and SPP. The restructure also reflects Paladin’s increasing maturity as a uranium producer as it continues to progress the ramp up at LHM, while providing greater undrawn debt capacity and balance sheet flexibility.

The restructure provides Paladin with a US$110M Debt Facility including a US$40M Term Loan Facility (following a repayment of US$39.8M as part of the restructure) and an undrawn Revolving Credit Facility of US$70M (US$50M prior to the restructure). No additional debt was drawn during the period.

Presentation of information
This announcement should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Interim Financial Report lodged on 11 February 2026 and available on Paladin’s website (https://www.paladinenergy.com.au/investors/asx-announcements/). The Condensed Interim Financial Report relates to the six month period ended 31 December 2025. This Condensed Interim Financial Report also includes information relating specifically to the three month period ended 31 December 2025, which has been included in this Condensed Interim Financial Report to comply with quarterly reporting disclosure requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Further information regarding the inclusion of the 31 December 2025 quarterly information is included in Note 1 to the Condensed Interim Financial Report.

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Directors of Paladin Energy Ltd.

Contacts

About Paladin

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX:PDN TSX: PDN OTCQX:PALAF) is a globally significant independent uranium producer with a 75% ownership of the world-class long life Langer Heinrich Mine located in Namibia. In late 2024 the Company acquired Fission Uranium Corp. in Canada, resulting in a dual-listing on the both the ASX and TSX. With the integration of Fission’s operations, the Company now owns and operates an extensive portfolio of uranium development and exploration assets across Canada, which include the Patterson Lake South (PLS) Project in Saskatchewan and the Michelin project in Newfoundland and Labrador. Paladin also owns uranium exploration assets in Australia. Paladin is committed to a sustainability framework that ensures responsible, accountable and transparent management of the uranium resources the Company mines – both now and in the future. Through its Langer Heinrich Mine, Paladin is delivering a reliable uranium supply to major nuclear utilities around the world, positioning itself as a meaningful contributor to baseload energy provision in multiple countries and contributing to global decarbonisation.

Forward-looking statements

This document contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Australian securities laws and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively referred to in this document as forward-looking statements). All statements in this document, other than statements of historical or present facts, are forward-looking statements and generally may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate”, “expect”, “likely”, “propose”, “will”, “intend”, “should”, “could”, “may”, “believe”, “forecast”, “estimate”, “target”, “outlook”, “guidance” and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding continued development of the PLS Project; permitting approvals and community engagement; advancement of the PLS Project through to FID; development and ramp-up of operations at the LHM; LHM guidance for FY2026; the equity offering; debt and related restructurings and the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals.

Forward-looking statements involve subjective judgment and analysis and are subject to significant uncertainties, risks and contingencies including those risk factors associated with the mining industry, many of which are outside the control of, change without notice, and may be unknown to Paladin. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to liabilities inherent in mine development and production, geological, mining and processing technical problems, the inability to obtain any additional mine licences, permits and other regulatory approvals required in connection with mining and third party processing operations, Indigenous Peoples’ engagement, competition for amongst other things, capital, acquisition of reserves, undeveloped lands and skilled personnel, incorrect assessments of the value of acquisitions, changes in commodity prices and exchange rates, currency and interest fluctuations, various events which could disrupt operations and/or the transportation of mineral products, including labour stoppages and severe weather conditions, the demand for and availability of transportation services, the ability to secure adequate financing and management’s ability to anticipate and manage the foregoing factors and risks. Readers are also referred to the risks and uncertainties referred to in the Company’s “2025 Annual Report” released on 28 August 2025, in Paladin’s Annual Information Form for the year ended June 30, 2025 released on 12 September 2025, and in Paladin’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, released on 11 February 2026, each of which is available to view at paladinenergy.com.au and on www.sedarplus.ca.

Although as at the date of this document, Paladin believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements due to a range of factors including (without limitation) fluctuations in commodity prices and exchange rates, exploitation and exploration successes, environmental, permitting and development issues, political risks including the impact of political instability on economic activity and uranium supply and demand, Indigenous Peoples engagement, climate risk, operating hazards, natural disasters, severe storms and other adverse weather conditions, shortages of skilled labour and construction materials, equipment and supplies, regulatory concerns, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions and risk factors associated with the uranium industry generally. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate.

Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and should rely on their own independent enquiries, investigations and advice regarding information contained in this document. Any reliance by a reader on the information contained in this document is wholly at the reader’s own risk. Recipients are cautioned against placing undue reliance on such projections without conducting their own due diligence with appropriate professional support. The forward-looking statements in this document relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made. Paladin does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No representation, warranty, guarantee or assurance (express or implied) is made, or will be made, that any forward-looking statements will be achieved or will prove to be correct. Except for statutory liability which cannot be excluded, Paladin, its officers, employees and advisers expressly disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the material contained in this document and exclude all liability whatsoever (including negligence) for any loss or damage which may be suffered by any person as a consequence of any information in this document or any error or omission therefrom. Except as required by law or regulation, Paladin accepts no responsibility to update any person regarding any inaccuracy, omission or change in information in this document or any other information made available to a person, nor any obligation to furnish the person with any further information. Nothing in this document will, under any circumstances, create an implication that there has been no change in the affairs of Paladin since the date of this document. To the extent any forward-looking statement in this document constitutes “future-oriented financial information” or “financial outlooks” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, such information is provided to demonstrate Paladin’s internal projections and to help readers understand Paladin’s expected financial results. Readers are cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose and readers should not place undue reliance on such information. Future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks, as with forward-looking statements generally, are, without limitation, based on the assumptions, and subject to the risks and uncertainties, described above.

Non-IFRS measures
Paladin uses certain financial measures that are considered “non-IFRS financial information” within the meaning of Australian securities laws and/or “non-GAAP financial measures” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively referred to in this announcement as Non-IFRS Measures) to supplement analysis of its financial and operating performance. These Non-IFRS Measures do not have a standardised meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

The Company believes these measures provide additional insight into its financial results and operational performance and are useful to investors, securities analysts, and other interested parties in understanding and evaluating the Company’s historical and future operating performance. However, they should not be viewed in isolation or as a substitute for information prepared in accordance with IFRS. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any Non-IFRS Measures. The Non-IFRS Measures used in this announcement are described below.

Average Realised Price
Average Realised Price (US$/lb U₃O₈) is a Non-IFRS Measure that represents the average revenue received per pound of uranium sold during a given period. It is calculated by dividing total revenue from U₃O₈ sales (before royalties and after any applicable discounts) by the total volume of U₃O₈ pounds sold. This measure provides insight into the actual pricing achieved under the Company’s uranium sales contracts and spot sales during the reporting period, taking into account the mix of base-escalated, fixed-price and market-related pricing mechanisms within contracts. The Company uses Average Realised Price to assess revenue performance relative to market prices, contractual pricing structures, and production costs. It is also a key measure used by investors and analysts to evaluate price exposure, contract performance, and profitability potential.

It is important to note that Average Realised Price is distinct from both the spot market price and the term market price for uranium, and it may vary significantly from quarter to quarter based on timing of deliveries, customer contract structures, and the prevailing market environment.

Revenue from uranium sales is reported in the Company’s financial statements under IFRS. The Average Realised Price is derived directly from IFRS revenue figures and disclosed sales volumes.

The table below reconciles the Average Realised Price for the quarters ended 31 December 2025 and 31 December 2024:

1.   Includes 85,000lb loan material delivered into existing contracts
2.   Includes 200,000lb loan material delivered into existing contracts

Cost of Production 
The Cost of Production per pound represents the total production costs divided by pounds of U₃O₈ produced. The Cost of Production is calculated as the total direct production expenditures incurred during the period (including mining, stockpile rehandling, processing, site maintenance, and mine-level administrative costs), excluding costs such as cost of ore stockpiled, deferred stripping costs, depreciation and amortisation, general and administration costs, royalties, exploration expenses, sustaining capital and the impacts of any inventory impairments or impairment reversals. This measure helps users assess Paladin’s operating efficiency.

Cost of Production per lb = Cost of Production ÷ U₃O₈ Pounds Produced.

Cost of Production is a unit cost measure that indicates the average production cost per pound of U₃O₈ produced. This is not an IFRS measure but is widely used in the mining industry as a benchmark of operational efficiency and cost competitiveness. Paladin’s Cost of Production metric is calculated as the total direct production expenditures as defined above (in US dollars) incurred during the period, divided by the volume of U₃O₈ pounds produced in the same period. The Company uses Cost of Production per pound to track progress of operational performance, to assess profitability at various uranium price points, and to identify trends in operating costs. It is also a key metric for investors and analysts to evaluate how efficiently the Company is producing uranium, independent of depreciation and accounting adjustments.

This measure allows stakeholders to monitor trends in direct production costs and to assess the Company’s operating breakeven threshold relative to uranium market prices. Investors are cautioned that our Cost of Production metric may not be comparable with similarly titled “C1 cash cost” metrics of other uranium producers, as there can be differences in methodology (e.g., treatment of royalties or certain site costs). Paladin’s Cost of Production figure as defined above, focuses strictly on the on-site cost to produce uranium concentrate in the current period. All figures are in US$/lb U₃O₈. We provide this information in good faith to enhance understanding of our operations; however, the IFRS financial statements (particularly the Cost of Sales line in the income statement) should be considered alongside this metric for a complete picture of our cost structure.

The table below reconciles the Cost of Production for the for the quarters ended 31 December 2025 and 30 December 2024:

Net Cash/(Debt)
Net Cash/(Debt) is a non-IFRS liquidity measure that represents the surplus of cash and cash equivalents over total interest-bearing debt. It is calculated by subtracting gross debt (including face value and accrued interest on borrowings) from unrestricted cash and cash equivalents. The Company uses Net Cash/(Debt) as an indicator of the Company’s net liquidity position at a point in time, providing a simple measure of financial flexibility after accounting for existing debt obligations. This measure is useful to investors and analysts because it isolates the Company’s net cash or net debt balance, enabling better assessment of balance sheet strength and funding capacity, particularly as it relates to capital allocation decisions and ability to finance operations and growth.

Net Cash/(Debt) is distinct from individual IFRS line items as it combines and offsets gross financial liabilities and cash balances into a single figure. As such, it is classified as a non-IFRS measure.

The table below reconciles the Net Cash/(Debt) at the end of the quarters ended 31 December 2025 and 30 June 2025:

^{_______________________________________
1} Average Realised Price is a Non-IFRS Measure. See “Non-IFRS Measures” for more information
² Refers to LHM’s operational results on a 100% basis
³ Cost of Production is a Non-IFRS Measure. See “Non-IFRS Measures” for more information
⁴ The percentage movement is not meaningful due to nil balance in the prior period
⁵ Excludes shareholder loans from CNNC Overseas Limited (CNOL) and capitalised transaction costs
⁶ Net Cash/(Debt) is a Non-IFRS measure. See “Non-IFRS Measures” for more information

– Published by The MIL Network

The remaining two fixtures of the Pacific Four Series have been revealed by hosts USA Rugby, with the Black Ferns playing matches in Sacramento and Kansas City.

The Black Ferns’ schedule will start against the US at Heart Health Park on Sunday, 12 April at 11.00am NZT.

Kansas City will then host the Black Ferns clash with Canada on Saturday, 18 April at 10:15am NZT.

The Black Ferns last played the US last year in Auckland with the hosts winning 79-14 on their way to winning the Pacific Four Title.

Canada beat the Black Ferns 34-19 in last year’s World Cup semi-finals, with the two teams drawing 27-27 in the 2025 Pacific Four series.

New Zealand Rugby general manager of professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum said it’s a great opportunity for the Black Ferns to showcase their talent in front of new audiences.

“The United States is an important market for rugby, as we build toward the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2033.

“The Pacific Four Series is a chance for the Black Ferns to inspire and connect with other sports fans, through fast-paced, dynamic and entertaining rugby.”

USA Rugby boss Bill Goren said he was excited to bring the world-class tournament and teams to the US fanbase.

“With the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2033 now one year closer, these multi-match events act as building blocks towards our goal of record success in 2033.

“Last year was a historic year for women’s rugby, we’re ready to continue that momentum this spring with a strong collective of host cities, partners and players.”

The Black Ferns will end their Pacific Four Series run when they meet the Wallaroos in a historic match at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Anzac Day as previously announced.

Black Ferns Pacific Four Series 2026 Schedule:

Black Ferns v USA

Saturday, April 11, 4.00pm PT (Sunday, April 12, 11.00am NZT) kick-off

Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California

–

Black Ferns v Canada

Friday, April 17, 5.15pm CT (Saturday, April 18, 10.15am NZT) kick-off

CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

–

Black Ferns v Australia

Saturday, April 25, 7.45pm AEST (9.45pm NZT) kick-off

Sunshine Coast Stadium

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

The remaining two fixtures of the Pacific Four Series have been revealed by hosts USA Rugby, with the Black Ferns playing matches in Sacramento and Kansas City.

The Black Ferns’ schedule will start against the US at Heart Health Park on Sunday, 12 April at 11.00am NZT.

Kansas City will then host the Black Ferns clash with Canada on Saturday, 18 April at 10:15am NZT.

The Black Ferns last played the US last year in Auckland with the hosts winning 79-14 on their way to winning the Pacific Four Title.

Canada beat the Black Ferns 34-19 in last year’s World Cup semi-finals, with the two teams drawing 27-27 in the 2025 Pacific Four series.

New Zealand Rugby general manager of professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum said it’s a great opportunity for the Black Ferns to showcase their talent in front of new audiences.

“The United States is an important market for rugby, as we build toward the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2033.

“The Pacific Four Series is a chance for the Black Ferns to inspire and connect with other sports fans, through fast-paced, dynamic and entertaining rugby.”

USA Rugby boss Bill Goren said he was excited to bring the world-class tournament and teams to the US fanbase.

“With the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2033 now one year closer, these multi-match events act as building blocks towards our goal of record success in 2033.

“Last year was a historic year for women’s rugby, we’re ready to continue that momentum this spring with a strong collective of host cities, partners and players.”

The Black Ferns will end their Pacific Four Series run when they meet the Wallaroos in a historic match at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Anzac Day as previously announced.

Black Ferns Pacific Four Series 2026 Schedule:

Black Ferns v USA

Saturday, April 11, 4.00pm PT (Sunday, April 12, 11.00am NZT) kick-off

Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California

Black Ferns v Canada

Friday, April 17, 5.15pm CT (Saturday, April 18, 10.15am NZT) kick-off

CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Black Ferns v Australia

Saturday, April 25, 7.45pm AEST (9.45pm NZT) kick-off

Sunshine Coast Stadium

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

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

An endocrinologist says more than half the women she sees on testosterone for low libido are taking too high a dose, and she and her colleagues are calling on Pharmac to finally fund a female-specific product.

Pharmac is set to consider funding AndroFeme 1 on Thursday, which unfunded costs anywhere between $150 and $250 for a three-month supply, depending on the pharmacy.

To avoid that cost, many women are prescribed a funded alternative, called Testogel, which is formulated for men.

Testosterone is usually thought of as a male hormone, but it is also found in women. It is prescribed to treat low libido, also know as Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), in women who are postmenopausal.

Women’s health advocate and director of Cala Clinic, Jenna Scullin, explained: “Similar to males, women’s testosterone levels decline gradually over their lifetime.

“By the time a woman is at a menopausal age, it has often halved.”

Men who needed a boost of the hormone had the choice of four funded products, whereas women had no funded options.

Pharmac has twice declined to fund AndroFeme 1, first in 2024, saying the eligibility criteria (“postmenopausal women with HSDD”) was not appropriate and posed significant barriers to equitable access for women – particularly for women who, for cultural reasons, did not wish to undergo aspects of an HSDD diagnosis.

It also considered there was an “uncertain health benefit” in using AndroFeme 1 over the unapproved, or off-label use of Testogel, saying that if equivalent doses were administered, there should not be a significant difference in their effect.

At that stage, the discussion document showed there were 2300 people dispensed Testogel between February and November, and approximately 46 percent of those identified as female.

In 2025, the decision was reassessed, and the result was “no formal recommendation” which meant the previous decision stood – but this time Pharmac noted there was a need to fund a product with an appropriate dose for women, to minimise potential harm.

Endochrinologist Dr Anna Fenton from Oxford Women’s Health explained there was no research on how testosterone was metabolised by the female body.

“Women are being prescribed this without the appropriate baseline testing without, often, follow-up blood testing to make sure the level is appropriate.”

And it could be difficult for women to work out the correct dose of Testogel when it came out of the pump bottle, she said.

“It’s very hard to titrate the dose of a blob of gel, which is what you get from the pump dispenser, into something that is a quarter or a fifth of that dose, which is possibly what’s appropriate for women.”

Fenton said more than half of the women she treated who had been prescribed Testogel were showing testosterone levels that were too high.

“I had a woman the other day who had 12 times the upper end of the female range, so it was well into the male range.”

Side effects included greasy skin, acne or extra body hair growth, but at the extreme end, it could lead to changes in voice or enlargement of the genitals – and those effects were permanent, Fenton said.

New Zealand had “the bare minimum” available when it came to hormone replacements, which included things like oestrogen patches, trailing behind the likes of Australia, the UK, US, and Canada.

She, along with fellow endocrinologists Dr Megan Ogilvie, Dr Sylvia Rosevear, Dr Susannah O’Sullivan and Dr Sasha Nair, have made a joint submission to Pharmac ahead of its meeting, endorsed by the Australasian Menopause Society, urging it to prioritise “evidence-based, female-specific therapies” and fund AndroFeme 1.

“We urge Pharmac to refrain from normalising the use of male-formulated testosterone products in women.”

The company behind Testogel, Pharmaco, has made no claims of its safety for women.

It supplied RNZ with a statement, saying: “Testogel is a prescription medicine specifically formulated and approved to be used by men with low testosterone levels. The relevant data sheets and Consumer Medicine Information clearly state that the medicine should not be used by women.”

Pharmac director for advice and assessment David Hughes confirmed AndroFeme’s application was on the agenda for the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC) meeting on Thursday.

“PTAC gives Pharmac clinical advice to help us make decisions about how to use our funding,” he said in a statement. “The committee reviews the evidence behind funding applications and looks at how strong and reliable that evidence is.”

He said a recently-received a submission would be discussed at the meeting.

Pharmac would aim to publish the provisional recommendation online within 30 days of the meeting, although that could be subject to change.

Female testosterone deficiency ‘more than just a low libido’ – health advocate

Scullin said one in three women between the ages of 40 and 64 experienced the effects of reduced sexual desire.

“It’s more than just a low libido, we see that it affects women’s mental health, it affects their social functioning, their relationships, their confidence and their overall wellbeing.

“There’s this view sometimes that a woman’s sexual function is not essential,” she said. “But when a man comes forward with needing assistance, there’s one of four funded options accessible to him.”

She said while some GPs and specialists were comfortable prescribing Testogel to women despite the lack of safety data, a number were not, “so it’s not just that we’re asking for a female-formulated option, but in many cases we’re actually asking for an option for women”.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

The mother of a child who died after becoming caught in a window blind cord is asking how many other children have to die before mandatory safety regulations are introduced.

Courtney Cambie said her youngest daughter Tilly was a joy to be around.

“Tilly was your typical three-year-old, adventurous, loved climbing and adored her big sister Lainey. They were best friends. She loved dressing up and putting on different necklaces and bracelets and bangles, and was a very, sparkly, shiny little girl, and very happy.”

It was her then five-year-old sister Lainey who discovered Tilly hanging in the cords in the family’s lounge in Hāwera on 1 January 2023.

Tilly’s father Ryan Cambie began CPR and ambulance officers were able to revive her before she was taken to Waikato Hospital by helicopter, but her condition deteriorated and given her poor prognosis, she was taken off life support and died later that day surrounded by family.

Courtney Cambie said window cords should be designed to break under pressure and come with safety clips – which keep the cords under tension on the window frame.

Tilly – who had a history of playing with the cords – had left Lainey and her father watching a movie in the master bedroom when the accident occurred.

Cambie still wrestled with guilt over the tragedy.

“We were only supplied a YouTube clip to install ours. We were in that situation. If I could go back in time I would’ve done the lounge at the same time as I did her bedroom and it’s just one of those things where I have instant mother guilt that it didn’t happen.”

The couple installed clips for the cords in the bedroom on their own account – they did not come with the blinds – but had yet to do the lounge.

Cambie said the loss of Tilly was too raw for the couple to submit to a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment consultation document on “options to address safety risks of corded window coverings” which closed 31 March 2023.

The consultation followed the death of six New Zealand children due to cords on blinds since 2009.

The government of those times’ preferred option was to introduce mandatory standards.

Cambie said reading Coroner Bruce Hesketh’s report into Tilly’s death – which was released on Thursday – had been tough.

“To read that the coroner feels exactly the same towards the fact that this is something (regulation) that’s been in play in other countries for years and years and we’ve just not adopted it because we haven’t got the number, the cases.

“I agree completely with the coroner that Tilly is that case and it was something that should’ve been changed a long time ago.

“It’s sad that it probably won’t be until it’s someone in their family that is impacted by this that they understand the impact of it and I just feel if they don’t how many more children are they willing to sacrifice if they don’t make that change.”

Hesketh found Tilly’s death had been a tragic accident.

She suffered a non-survivable hypoxic brain injury due to accidental neck compression.

In his findings, Hesketh lent heavily on the previous recommendations of Coroner Mary-Anne Borrowdale and Coroner Heather McKenzie, who had investigated similar deaths.

In 2021, Borrowdale reported on the death of a 19-month-old child from accidental asphyxiation from a roman blind cord.

She noted that New Zealand differed from comparable major jurisdictions in having no product regulation designed to ensure the safe supply and use of corded blinds.

Although efforts to educate consumers about safety were laudable “the incidence of window cord fatalities in this country, and the availability of preventative devices, to my mind readily make the case for mandatory regulation to address the risks”, Borrowdale said.

Hesketh made no new recommendations, but noted the MBIE consulted on the safety risks of corded window coverings in 2023, but little change had been forthcoming.

“Sadly New Zealand still lacks mandatory regulations for corded window coverings, despite the number of deaths increasing. MBIE continues to consider the introduction of standards to prevent child strangulation deaths from the options above and I would encourage MBIE to make progress sooner rather than later.”

There have been two further deaths since the consultation period in ended in March 2023, one of which was Tilly.

MBIE general manager commerce, consumer and business policy Andrew Hume acknowledged the tragic death of Tilly.

“My deepest sympathies are with the family and friends.”

Hume confirmed MBIE had consulted on options to address safety risks of corded window coverings in 2023.

“Our role is to provide advice and options for product safety regulation to the Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister. At this stage, the government is not considering introducing regulations for corded window coverings.”

Hume said non-regulatory options to improve safety, such as public information and education campaigns, played an important role in increasing awareness for parents and caregivers and that since Coroner Borrowdale’s report in 2021, MBIE had taken a number of steps to address safety issues with corded window coverings.

“In light of this tragic event, MBIE strongly encourages anyone with corded window blinds to inspect them, review the material on our website and take action where necessary to minimise the risk of corded blinds becoming a danger in the home.”

Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Scott Simpson also offered his thoughts and sympathies to Tilly’s family.

“I will consider the Coroner’s report, however I am not currently looking to introduce regulations.”

Simpson said education campaigns played an important role in increasing awareness about the risks associated with corded blinds and MBIE runs had developed information for businesses to make corded blinds safer.

That was of little comfort to Cambie who wanted New Zealand to adopt similar standards to Australia.

“Option 4a was to adopt exactly as Australia has and make sure the cords break free under pressure. So, the cords we had were metal chains, they should only supply plastic ones that break and that all suppliers must supply the clips.

Education could only go so far, she said.

“As a parent you can’t watch your child every minute of the day, they like to play and how do you explain to a three year old the hazards – in their entirety – of corded blinds.”

Consumer NZ head of research and advocacy Gemma Rasmussen supported the call for regulation.

“If you look at other jurisdictions like Australia, the UK and Canada, they all have standards in place for corded window coverings. This seems like a really straightforward thing to do, particularly when you’re considering what the ramifications are when things go wrong.

“We’re talking about babies, toddlers and children dying. You know, we have a number of product safety standards that are set by regulation under the Fair Trading Act and these standards are created to reduce the chance of accidents.”

Rasmussen said it was relatively straightforward to introduce a new standard compared to legislation.

“We see this as a disappointing example of the minister not prioritising product safety and it’s an example of where we’re really behind the eight ball when you compare ourselves to other jurisdictions.

Rasmussen said Consumer NZ would like to see a product safety standard created so that when blinds with cords were installed, it would be mandatory that there would be a fastening over them so that chains or cords wouldn’t be able to come loose and pose a safety risk.

She said education programmes alone were not enough.

“Often when parents are setting up blinds and other things in their homes, they’re tired, there’s a number of different things they need to do and we can’t be assuming that they’re going to go to a website to be reading safety guidelines.”

MBIE initiatives on corded window blinds safety include:

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Nine people have been killed in a secondary school shooting in the province of British Columbia.

Canadian police say a shooter has been found dead with what’s thought to be a self-inflicted injury.

In a statement, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said they received an active shooter report at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School at approximately 1.20pm local time.

Police entered the school and found six deceased victims, and another died on the way to hospital.

“An individual believed to be the shooter was also found deceased with what appears to be a self-inflicted injury,” Superintendent Ken Floyd, North District Commander, said.

He said in a press conference that police had determined the person’s identity, but were not releasing it at this time.

However, Floyd confirmed it’s the same person described in the active shooter alert sent to phones in the area during the shooting.

In the alert, police described the suspect as a woman in a dress with brown hair.

Police had identified a residence believed to be connected to the shooting, where two additional victims were located deceased.

Officers were conducting further searches of additional homes and properties to determine if anyone else was injured or linked to the shooting, police said.

Two people had serious injuries and another 25 were being assessed and triaged at the local medical centre for non-life threatening injuries.

Police said all remaining staff and students were safely evacuated from the school and a reunification process was underway for the school families.

The active shooter alert had been lifted by 5.45pm local time, because police “did not believe there were any outstanding suspects or ongoing threats to the public”.

Floyd said additional RCMP resources continued to be deployed into the community to support the response and investigation.

“This was a rapidly evolving and dynamic situation, and the swift cooperation from the school, first responders, and the community played a critical role in our response,” he said.

“Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones, and all those impacted by this tragic incident. This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional day for our community.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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