Wellington Phoenix’s first A-League grand final appearance has been years in the making.

After a record-breaking season, the women finished the regular season in second place to qualify for the playoffs for the first time.

To secure a place in the grand final, they had to come back from a one-goal deficit to beat Brisbane Roar after ,extra time on aggregate goals across the two-legged home and away playoff.

The grand final also marks a special milestone of the team’s 100th game.

Two seasons ago, Phoenix director of football Shaun Gill told RNZ the women’s season deserved a grade of C-minus.

Gill must be at an ‘A’ now, with room to improve, should they defeat three-time Premiers Plate winners Melbourne City at AAMI park on Saturday night.

How did the Phoenix women go from the bottom to the top?

Previous results

The Phoenix joined the women’s A-League in 2021 and are the ‘newest’ club still in the competition. (Western United joined in 2022 but had to sit this season out, due to financial issues).

Before this season’s run to the grand final, the end-of-season standings were not good reading.

In their first season, the Phoenix finished last in a 10-team competition. They recorded only two wins in 14 games during a season in which they were based in Wollongong, New South Wales, due to COVID travel restrictions.

The next season produced the same outcome – last in a then-11-team competition.

After two wooden spoon seasons, the 2023/24 campaign saw the Phoenix finish eighth, which was their best-ever finish before this season.

Last season, they dropped to ninth with seven wins, three draws and 13 losses.

Coaches

The Phoenix have had four coaches in five seasons.

Bev Priestman has been the most successful and most controversial appointment.

Priestman joined the Phoenix this season, after serving a one-year ban from all football for her involvement in a drone spying scandal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Before her appointment in Wellington, Priestman coached the Canada women’s national team, which won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She also brought Canada to the 2023 Football World Cup, co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

The Englishwoman is considered the most-credentialed coach currently in the A-League and the Phoenix have her locked in for another season.

Over time, the Phoenix have now had three women as coaches, with Gemma Lewis as the inaugural coach, followed by Natalie Lawerence, before Paul Temple had two seasons in charge.

Captains

Being given the captain’s armband has often resulted in a player not spending much time on the pitch.

Goalkeeper Lily Alfeld was the team’s first-ever player signing and inaugural captain, and played all but one game of the first season, before injury curtailed her career. She missed all the 2022/23 campaign after off-season knee surgery and a back injury, before moving into an off-field role with the club.

Football Fern Annalie Longo then had a couple of injury-riddled seasons as captain and stepped away from football at the end of last season.

During her time as skipper, Longo also had to defend the team environment, when midfielder and vice-captain Chloe Knott quit during the 2023/24 season, citing the pressures of combining fulltime work and playing professionally.

This season, CJ Bott was named captain, but announced her pregnancy in January and sat out the remainder of the season.

Bott is still the club captain, with Mackenzie Barry taking the onfield captaincy duties.

International players

The Phoenix were on the back foot, when the club first entered the A-League, because they could not sign visa players for the first two seasons of their existence.

From the 2023/24 season, Football Australia relaxed the restrictions imposed on the women’s team, removing the limit on New Zealand signings and the quota of Australian players.

This season, their leading goalscorer is American Makala Woods, who signed as an injury replacement for Dutch midfielder Tessel Middag at the start of the year.

English forward Brooke Nunn has also made her mark in front of goal, being among the team’s leading scorers and the A-League leader in goal assists. Both Nunn and Woods will be back next season.

American defender Ellie Walker has been a constant in the backline this season, as has Spanish defender Lucía León, who the Phoenix picked up from Adelaide United in the off-season, as the first new signing of the season.

One Phoenix signing who made the biggest noise when she joined the squad was Nepalese international striker Sabitra ‘Samba’ Bhandari.

Before injury ended her season, the Nepalese community in New Zealand and Australia showed up in big numbers to support their national team captain in the A-League.

Locals

Defender Mackenzie Barry has seen it all with the Phoenix as a day-one player.

Barry is the team’s most-capped player and has started every game this season. She is a product of NZ Football’s Future Ferns domestic programme.

The Football Fern has said the Phoenix are the only A-League team she wanted to play for and she is signed up for next season as part of what she saw as Priestman’s two-year project.

By comparison, Football Fern Grace Jale has played for several A-League clubs, but this is the first time she is part of playoff football.

Under Priestman, Jale is having the best club season of her career and picked up several awards at the club’s awards night. She has also signed for next season.

Teenage star Pia Vlok has had a breakout season, including the club’s first hat-trick, and her success also lead to her first call-up to the Football Ferns.

Goalkeeper Vic Esson has helped the Phoenix to the best defensive record in the competition, returning to New Zealand after seven seasons overseas, where she won several trophies.

Attacker Manaia Elliott brought up her 50-game milestone for the Phoenix this season and has been a regular in the side in her third year as a professional.

Centreback Marisa van der Meer made a comeback to the Phoenix, after back-to-back anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injuries. More than 700 days after she last played for the club, she scored in their opening game and went on to play 22 games during the regular season.

Midfielder Macey Fraser rejoined Wellington Phoenix, after she was released by National Women’s Soccer League club Utah Royals, but the Football Fern took a mental health break and she returned to the team in March.

Knees

Female footballers are more at risk of knee injuries than their male counterparts, a phenomenon that is now so prolific, it is part a FIFA study.

This season, three Phoenix players suffered ACL injuries, including two in the same month (November).

The frequency of the season-ending injury at their club lead the Phoenix to investigate if something was wrong with their ACL injury prevention practices, but they found their practices were “comprehensive and aligned with industry standards”.

The team’s latest significant injury is to forward Emma Main, who has a chronic lumbar spine injury that meant she missed the playoff series and was rehabilitating for next season.

Support

The Phoenix had a record crowd of nearly 6000 at Porirua Park for Sunday’s semifinal win, but last season, the numbers were a lot lower with an average of 739 people at home games – the lowest in the league by far.

Not surprisingly, connection with the fans increased, as the Phoenix moved up the competition standings.

“We’ve always had a really good fanbase, but definitely this year, it’s grown a lot,” Barry said.

However, getting corporate buy-in was a struggle for the Phoenix early on, with general manager David Dome issuing a public plea in 2021 for commercial assistance to find a shirt sponsor for their new women’s team.

The Phoenix owners invested heavily into the women’s team and, in previous seasons, Gill highlighted that more was spent on the women’s programme than the men’s.

“We operate at a good level of budget for players and staffing, and we’ve probably got one of the biggest football departments in the league, so there is a high expectation on that programme,” he said.

Before the playoffs, Barry said the team trained at “one of the best facilities in the whole league”.

“I think, even though it’s not verbally said, there is an expectation for us to do well. I think we can see the investment that’s been put into our team and, compared to other women’s teams in the A-League, it’s miles ahead of them.”

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

• Telix to partner with companies developing advanced minimally invasive and image-guided ablative technologies for prostate cancer.
• Initial focus on patient selection, treatment planning and post-treatment monitoring; evidence generation to inform best practice.
• Aim to accelerate adoption of novel therapeutic workflows to enhance clinical decision making and patient outcomes.

MELBOURNE, Australia and INDIANAPOLIS, May 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, NASDAQ: TLX, “Telix”) today announces that it has entered into letters of intent to pursue collaborations with EDAP TMS S.A. (NASDAQ: EDAP, “EDAP”) and Profound Medical Corp. (NASDAQ: PROF, TSX: PRN, “Profound”), leading companies developing advanced minimally invasive and image-guided treatment ablative technologies for prostate cancer, including focal, subtotal, and whole-gland treatment approaches. These initiatives reflect Telix’s commitment to advancing the integration of molecular imaging into the evolving prostate cancer treatment landscape to help inform clinical decision-making.

The collaborations will explore the investigational use of Telix’s PSMA-PET¹ imaging agents Gozellix® (kit for the preparation of gallium Ga 68 gozetotide) and Illuccix® (kit for the preparation of gallium Ga 68 gozetotide) with robotic high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and other image-guided therapies designed to treat localized prostate cancer, such as transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA).

Telix’s intention is to work with select partners to explore how PSMA-PET imaging may support emerging therapy workflows, which aim to preserve healthy tissue and minimize the risk of side effects such as incontinence and impotence. Collaborative activities will focus on non-promotional scientific, educational, and research engagement².

“We are uniquely designed to enable the integration of PSMA-PET imaging with Focal One’s real-time ultrasound and fully robotic energy delivery to optimize treatment efficacy while minimizing side effects,” said Ryan Rhodes, EDAP Chief Executive Officer. “As the market leader in robotic focal therapy, with a growing global installed base, this collaboration will accelerate the development and standardization of treatment strategies to further personalize focal therapy treatments using Telix’s PSMA-PET imaging agents and Focal One Robotic HIFU.”

“Emerging clinical evidence suggests PSMA imaging may support prostate whole-gland, partial-gland, and focal ablation workflows, from treatment planning through post-treatment monitoring,” said Arun Menawat, Profound’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. “In collaboration with Telix, we look forward to exploring optimized workflows and generating clinical evidence that may help establish best practices and accelerate adoption of PSMA-PET imaging and the MRI-guided TULSA Procedure.”

“Precision medicine requires precision treatment strategies,” said Kevin Richardson, CEO, Telix Precision Medicine. “As disruptive technologies continue to transform prostate cancer care, we believe PSMA-PET imaging has the potential to play an important role in helping inform clinical decision-making across a range of minimally invasive and image-guided treatment approaches. We are excited to explore collaborations with market leaders in EDAP and Profound that may further advance personalized care for patients.”

About EDAP TMS SA

A recognized leader in robotic energy-based therapies, EDAP TMS develops, manufactures, promotes, and distributes worldwide minimally invasive medical devices for various conditions using ultrasound technology. By combining the latest technologies in imaging, robotics, and precise non-invasive energy delivery, EDAP introduced the Focal One® in Europe and the United States as a leading prostate focal therapy platform controlled by urologists, with the potential to expand to multiple indications beyond prostate cancer. For more information on the Company, please visit focalone.com.

About Profound Medical Corp.

Profound is a commercial-stage medical device company and an innovator in interventional MRI procedures. The company’s flagship platform, TULSA-PRO®, enables MRI-guided, incision-free prostate ablation. Physicians use the TULSA Procedure to see, ablate, and confirm therapy in real time, supporting personalized treatment strategies across the continuum of prostate care—from whole-gland to subtotal, hemi, multifocal, and focal treatment. This approach enables individualized care using prostate tissue ablation, while minimizing the potential of the side effects that are typically associated with surgery or radiation, such as urinary incontinence and/or erectile dysfunction.

Profound Medical’s technologies are approved across major global markets. TULSA-PRO is cleared by the FDA in the United States for transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA) of prostate tissue. In addition, TULSA-PRO is cleared for use in various jurisdictions including Europe, Canada, Saudi Arabia, India, Australia/New Zealand, and the UAE. 

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION (GOZELLIX)

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Risk for Misinterpretation
Image interpretation errors can occur with GOZELLIX PET. A negative image does not rule out the presence of prostate cancer, and a positive image does not confirm the presence of prostate cancer. Gallium Ga-68 gozetotide uptake is not specific for prostate cancer and may occur with other types of cancer as well as non-malignant processes such as Paget’s disease, fibrous dysplasia, and osteophytosis. Clinical correlation, which may include histopathological evaluation of the suspected prostate cancer site, is recommended.

Imaging Prior to Initial Definitive or Suspected Recurrence Therapy
The performance of GOZELLIX for imaging of biochemically recurrent prostate cancer seems to be affected by serum PSA levels and by site of disease. The performance of GOZELLIX for imaging of metastatic pelvic lymph nodes prior to initial definitive therapy seems to be affected by Gleason score.

Radiation Risks
Gallium Ga-68 gozetotide contributes to a patient’s overall long-term cumulative radiation exposure. Long-term cumulative radiation exposure is associated with an increased risk for cancer. Ensure safe handling to minimize radiation exposure to the patient and healthcare providers. Advise patients to hydrate before and after administration and to void frequently after administration.

Hypersensitivity Reactions to Sulfites
Ascorbic Acid Stabilizer contains sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown and probably low. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than in non-asthmatic people.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
The safety of gallium Ga-68 gozetotide was evaluated in 960 patients in the PSMA-PreRP and PSMABCR studies, each receiving one dose of gallium Ga-68 gozetotide. The average injected activity was 188.7 ± 40.7 MBq (5.1 ± 1.1 mCi). The most commonly reported adverse reactions were nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness, occurring at a rate of

DRUG INTERACTIONS
Androgen deprivation therapy and other therapies targeting the androgen pathway Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and other therapies targeting the androgen pathway, such as androgen receptor antagonists, can result in changes in uptake of gallium Ga-68 gozetotide in prostate cancer. The effect of these therapies on performance of gallium Ga-68 gozetotide PET has not been established.

Please note that this information is not comprehensive.

Please see the Full Prescribing Information here.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION (ILLUCCIX)
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Risk for Misinterpretation
Image interpretation errors can occur with Illuccix PET. A negative image does not rule out the presence of prostate cancer, and a positive image does not confirm the presence of prostate cancer. Gallium Ga 68 gozetotide uptake is not specific for prostate cancer and may occur with other types of cancer as well as non-malignant processes such as Paget’s disease, fibrous dysplasia, and osteophytosis. Clinical correlation, which may include histopathological evaluation of the suspected prostate cancer site, is recommended.

Imaging Prior to Initial Definitive or Suspected Recurrence Therapy
The performance of Illuccix for imaging of biochemically recurrent prostate cancer seems to be affected by serum PSA levels and by site of disease. The performance of Illuccix for imaging of metastatic pelvic lymph nodes prior to initial definitive therapy seems to be affected by Gleason score.

Radiation Risks
Gallium Ga 68 gozetotide contributes to a patient’s overall long-term cumulative radiation exposure. Long-term cumulative radiation exposure is associated with an increased risk for cancer. Ensure safe handling to minimize radiation exposure to the patient and healthcare providers. Advise patients to hydrate before and after administration and to void frequently after administration.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
The safety of gallium Ga 68 gozetotide was evaluated in 960 patients in the PSMA-PreRP and PSMA-BCR studies, each receiving one dose of gallium Ga 68 gozetotide. The average injected activity was 188.7 ± 40.7 MBq (5.1 ± 1.1 mCi). The most commonly reported adverse reactions were nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness, occurring at a rate of

In the VISION study, 1003 patients received one dose of gallium Ga 68 gozetotide intravenously with the amount of radioactivity 167.1 ± 23.1 MBq (4.52 ± 0.62 mCi). Adverse reactions occurring at ≥0.5% in patients with metastatic prostate cancer who received gallium Ga 68 gozetotide injection in the clinical study were fatigue (1.2%), nausea (0.8%), constipation (0.5%), and vomiting (0.5%).
Adverse reactions occurring at a rate of

Injection site pain has been identified during postapproval use of ILLUCCIX.

DRUG INTERACTIONS
Androgen deprivation therapy and other therapies targeting the androgen pathway
Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and other therapies targeting the androgen pathway, such as androgen receptor antagonists, can result in changes in uptake of gallium Ga 68 gozetotide in prostate cancer. The effect of these therapies on performance of gallium Ga 68 gozetotide PET has not been established.

Please note that this information is not comprehensive.
Please see the Full Prescribing Information here.

You are encouraged to report suspected adverse reactions of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit MedWatch at www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report adverse reactions to Telix by calling 1-844-455-8638 or emailing: pharmacovigilance@telixpharma.com.

About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

Telix is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of radiopharmaceuticals with the goal of addressing significant unmet medical need in oncology and rare diseases. Telix is headquartered in Melbourne (Australia) with international operations in the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, Europe (Belgium and Switzerland) and Japan. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX) and the Nasdaq Global Select Market (NASDAQ: TLX).

Visit www.telixpharma.com for further information about Telix, including details of the latest share price, ASX and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, investor and analyst presentations, news releases, event details and other publications that may be of interest. You can also follow Telix on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

Legal Notices

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. 

You should read this announcement together with our risk factors, as disclosed in our most recently filed reports with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC, or on our website.

The information contained in this announcement is not intended to be an offer for subscription, invitation or recommendation with respect to securities of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (Telix) in any jurisdiction, including the United States. The information and opinions contained in this announcement are subject to change without notification. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Telix disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any information or opinions contained in this announcement, including any forward-looking statements (as referred to below), whether as a result of new information, future developments, a change in expectations or assumptions, or otherwise. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained or opinions expressed in the course of this announcement.

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that relate to anticipated future events, financial performance, plans, strategies or business developments. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as “may”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “outlook”, “forecast” and “guidance”, or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on Telix’s good-faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other risks and considerations that exist and affect Telix’s business and operations in the future and there can be no assurance that any of the assumptions will prove to be correct. In the context of Telix’s business, forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress, completion and results of Telix’s preclinical and clinical trials, and Telix’s research and development programs; Telix’s ability to advance product candidates into, enroll and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals for Telix’s product candidates, manufacturing activities and product marketing activities; Telix’s sales, marketing and distribution and manufacturing capabilities and strategies; the commercialization of Telix’s product candidates, if or when they have been approved; Telix’s ability to obtain an adequate supply of raw materials at reasonable costs for its products and product candidates; estimates of Telix’s expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; Telix’s financial performance; developments relating to Telix’s competitors and industry; the anticipated impact of U.S. and foreign tariffs and other macroeconomic conditions on Telix’s business, including as a result of war or other geopolitical conflicts; and the pricing and reimbursement of Telix’s product candidates, if and after they have been approved. Telix’s actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, and the differences may be adverse. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Trademarks and Trade Names. All trademarks and trade names referenced in this press release are the property of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (Telix) or, where applicable, the property of their respective owners. For convenience, trademarks and trade names may appear without the ® or symbols. Such omissions are not intended to indicate any waiver of rights by Telix or the respective owners. Trademark registration status may vary from country to country. Telix does not intend the use or display of any third-party trademarks or trade names to imply any affiliation with, endorsement by, or sponsorship from those third parties.

©2026 Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited. All rights reserved.

^{______________________________________
1} Imaging of prostate-specific membrane antigen.
² PSMA-PET imaging is not currently approved for specific treatment-planning indications associated with these emerging therapies.

– Published by The MIL Network

Māori immunisation rates for two-year-old children are rising, according to new Health New Zealand (HNZ) figures.

Between late 2024 to the end of last month, immunisations for the age group had gone up by about 10 percentage points.

Rates for full immunisation at two years old went from 60 percent to 71.5 percent.

However, a gap remained between Māori and non-Māori immunisation rates.

“While the increase is encouraging, we acknowledge there is more work to be done,” HNZ said.

For the same period, the gap between Māori and non-Māori immunisation rates narrowed by 2.3 percentage points, from 14.3 percent to 12 percent.

Health New Zealand said the progress reflected the continued efforts of whānau, communities, and health providers working together to protect tamariki and support healthy futures.

The agency said it had been focused on improving immunisation uptake by bettering access to care, offering home visits to tamariki who are overdue on an immunisation.

“We remain committed to continuing this momentum, working alongside iwi, Hauora Māori partners, and communities to further improve immunisation rates.”

The government’s health targets set out in 2024 included improved immunisation.

Its goal was to see 95 percent of children fully immunised at 24 months of age, the same target as Australia, the UK and Canada.

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– 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

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

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 May 2026 – Fuutura has introduced a unified trading protocol that combines self-custody, on-chain identity, and access to multiple asset classes within one connected architecture. At the centre of the design sits a single rule: each user verifies once, holds their own keys throughout, and operates independently across every product the platform offers.

Where much of the crypto industry has pursued visibility through disconnected tools running on competing chains, Fuutura has worked outside the spotlight for years. The team has been engineering the foundational infrastructure required to deliver financial access to the billions whose participation has been blocked by the legacy system.

The launch brings three products to market under the Fuutura name. Fuutura Identity, Fuutura Wallet, and Fuutura Trade have each been designed to stand alone while reinforcing the capabilities of the others.

Fuutura Trade has been described by the team as the trading layer crypto has spent fifteen years trying to build. The protocol is non-custodial and multi-chain, engineered for traders unwilling to compromise on architecture. On-chain execution. Cross-chain liquidity. A revolutionary single environment for the full range of on-chain digital assets: cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, governance and utility tokens, liquid staking tokens, wrapped assets, LP tokens, and other digital and tokenised assets. The protocol already knows the trader is verified, recognises the keys they hold, and trusts them to act on their own behalf.

No platform-managed orderbook. No off-chain matching. No third party with the keys.

The protocol works for the trader. Not the venue. Not the custodian. Not the intermediary.

That’s the difference.

“We didn’t set out to build another exchange. We set out to build the trading layer that’s missing from crypto. Non-custodial, on-chain, multi-chain, with identity attestation handled at the protocol layer rather than at every product. Once you build that architecture, the rest of the ecosystem becomes possible. Wallet, Identity, Trade. They all run on the same foundation, and that’s why the protocol can recognise the user and trust them to act on their own behalf without intermediaries getting in the way,” said Ellis McGrath, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Fuutura.

The Fuutura Identity product sits beneath the wider ecosystem as its trust layer. Verification runs through biometric authentication and liveness detection, paired with document recognition and AML screening, before producing an on-chain attestation linked directly to the user’s wallet. That attestation is then recognised across every product Fuutura operates. A single verification covers all subsequent interactions, with compliance happening within the protocol rather than at the entry to each individual product.

This is what gives Trade the ability to identify its user without running KYC a second time. It is also what allows Wallet to function with no intermediary involvement. Identity becomes the architecture itself.

Fuutura Wallet sits at the centre of the ecosystem as its custody and control layer. The wallet is non-custodial and multi-chain. Users retain their keys, direct the movement of their assets, and authorise their own transactions. It operates across blockchains and serves as the entry point to every Fuutura product, without surrendering custody to a third party at any stage.

The principle is simple: ownership is not delegated.

“The promise of crypto has always been that users could participate in finance without giving up custody, identity, or access. The reason that promise hasn’t delivered is that the architecture wasn’t there. Identity, custody, and execution have lived in separate places, and the user has paid the cost. Fuutura is being built so they live in one place, at the protocol layer, where they belong,” said Oliver Cook, Co-founder of Fuutura.

Three products are ready for launch. Additional products are under active development, each engineered to broaden identity usage, deepen wallet integration, and expand the reach of the ecosystem as Fuutura scales.

This is the broader vision Fuutura is working toward: a compliance-first financial ecosystem designed to deliver inclusion at a global scale, with the user positioned at its centre.

Digital asset risk.

Digital assets are high-risk and their value may fall as well as rise. Trading digital assets involves significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Forward-looking statements.

This document contains forward-looking statements regarding Fuutura, its technology, products, business plans and future conduct, including statements relating to the phased rollout of the ecosystem, regulatory engagement and licensing outcomes, geographic expansion, and market ambitions. Forward-looking statements are identifiable by words such as “building,” “plans,” “intends,” “expects,” “designed to,” “anticipates” and similar expressions, as well as by statements regarding future outcomes, ambitions or strategic direction.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those expressed. These include, without limitation, changes in the regulatory environment across jurisdictions; the availability and timing of licensing or authorisation; developments in digital asset markets; technological and cybersecurity risks; operational risks; counterparty and third-party risks; the pace of product development; and other factors beyond Fuutura’s control.

No offer or advice.

Nothing in this document constitutes an offer to sell, a solicitation to purchase, investment advice, or a recommendation in respect of any digital asset, crypto-asset, token, security, or financial product or instrument. Fuutura’s products and services may not be available in all jurisdictions and may be subject to regulatory restrictions. Access to Fuutura’s platform is restricted to residents of jurisdictions where its services are permitted.

No duty to update.

Fuutura undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Restricted Jurisdictions.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO, OR USE BY, PERSONS IN RESTRICTED JURISDICTIONS.

This communication is directed exclusively at persons outside, and must not be acted upon by any person in or resident of, the United Kingdom, the European Union or European Economic Area (including Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), Switzerland, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, Japan, any FATF-listed high-risk or monitored jurisdiction, or any jurisdiction subject to comprehensive United Nations, European Union, United Kingdom or United States sanctions (the “Restricted Jurisdictions”). It is not an offer, solicitation, inducement or recommendation in respect of any digital asset, token, security or financial product. Fuutura holds no regulatory authorisation in any Restricted Jurisdiction; its products and services are not available to persons in or resident of any Restricted Jurisdiction; and access to Fuutura’s platform is restricted at the onboarding and protocol level.

https://fuutura.com/

Hashtag: #Fuutura

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

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

Pharmac has added the weight-loss drug Wegovy to its list of medicines suitable for future funding.

In a decision released Thursday, the drug-funding agency confirmed it had added Semaglutide – brand name Wegovy – to its list of ‘Options For Investment’, which includes all the medications that Pharmac would fund, if the budget allowed.

The order of that list is not made public for commercial reasons.

If chosen for future funding, Wegovy would be available to people with a Body Mass Index of 35 or more with at least two comorbidities.

In February, Pharmac’s obesity treatments advisory group recommended the drug be funded with high priority.

Currently unfunded, Wegovy would cost someone about $400 a month.

The original application was for Wegovy to be funded for chronic weight management in adults with a BMI of more than 30.

According to the 2024/25 New Zealand Health Survey, that would apply to an estimated 34 percent of New Zealanders over 15 years of age, but the committee’s recommendation bumped that up to a BMI of 35, in line with comparable countries like Canada, England and Scotland.

“However, the group also considered that this threshold could be raised to a BMI of 40… if funding treatment down to this level proved to be cost-prohibitive or not cost-effective.”

With a BMI over 50, a person would not need comorbodities to qualify, according to the recommendation.

Below that threshold, a person would need to have at least two of the following – dyslipidaemia, hypertension, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea or established cardiovascular disease.

It also included a condition that treatment would stop, if someone did not experience at least a 10 percent reduction in weight after six months.

It noted that, due to the “relatively high prevalence of obesity and weight-related comorbidities, the budget impact of funding semaglutide for weight management would be very high”.

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

Chris Wood will captain the All Whites for their FIFA World Cup campaign in North America.

New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley named his 26-player squad for the Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, starting on 11 June.

The squad is:

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Michael Woud

Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Francis de Vries, Callan Elliot, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, Finn Surman

Midfielders: Lachlan Bayliss, Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic, Ryan Thomas

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Eli Just, Callum McCowatt, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine, Chris Wood (captain).

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

The All Whites squad that will carry New Zealand onto football’s biggest stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will today be unveiled at Eden Park.

Coach Darren Bazeley will name his 26-man squad as New Zealand prepares for its first World Cup appearance since the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The All Whites open their World Cup campaign on June 16 against Iran in Los Angeles.

The team announcement is due to begin about 11am at the top of this page, followed by a stand-up afterward. There may be a small break in streaming.

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

Date:  14 May 2026

The trip into the Matemateāonga Range was Department of Conservation Ranger Shane Woolley’s last helicopter mission prior to his retirement at the end of this month.

“We had a good team in there,” says Shane. “We removed all the burnt iron from the old hut, cleaned up a few trees for safety – it’s all clean and level now, like there was never a hut. We also brought in a water collector, so visitors don’t get caught out.

“The three days out there were all hard work and laughter, which is what my time at DOC has been about,” says Shane, while packing up his DOC accommodation in Pipiriki.

Shane’s initial job with DOC in Pipiriki was meant to last six months.

“Then 26 years later…,” he laughs.

“The place grabs a hold of you, it’s hard to get away from the river. And there’s nothing like this team, you can’t beat these funny, cheeky buggers!”

“It’s been an amazing time and not just on the home front, either. Working with DOC gave me the opportunity to deploy internationally to fight fires in Canada, and Australia several times in the last ten years or so. Their fires are huge and angry; I will never forget those life-changing experiences.”

“But we all gotta move on sometime, and I’ve got mokos to spoil”, Shane says.

“I’m definitely going to miss it all.”

The 11 December 2025 fire destroyed the Pouri Hut, with Fire and Emergency New Zealand unable to determine a cause. Wood burners and cooking equipment were ruled out.

Visitors planning on naturing along the Matemateonga Track are urged to bring their own tent if they plan to stay overnight between Oamari and Ngapurua Huts.

DOC Whanganui is working on options for a replacement hut.

Contact

MIL OSI

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

Transformational Acquisitions Expected to Contribute to Long Term Growth Starting 2Q26

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

Good evening, everyone. Thank you to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs for the invitation to deliver this year’s annual lecture. It’s a pleasure to be here.

I would like to acknowledge NZIIA Patron and former Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, members of the diplomatic corps, distinguished guests. I would also like to acknowledge the outgoing members of the NZIIA Board, Dr James Kember and Suzannah Jessep and new board members Rosemary Banks and Dr Julia Macdonald.

The NZIIA has been asking hard questions about New Zealand’s place in the world for over seventy years. Tonight those questions are as relevant as at any point in that history.

I want to start with a simple observation. New Zealand is a trading nation. Not in the casual sense that politicians invoke when they want to sound economic – but fundamentally, and structurally.

One in four jobs in this country depends on our ability to sell to the world. A quarter of our GDP is generated offshore. We know that exporters pay higher wages at home and are more productive than domestically focused firms. We are geographically remote, domestically small, and globally dependent. That is not a problem to be solved. It is the defining condition of our economic prosperity.

And the system that has underwritten that economic life – the rules-based international trading order – is under more pressure than at any time since it was constructed after the Second World War.

The Global Trade Landscape
Two developments in the past twelve months have made that pressure acute.

The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global supply chains in ways our exporters are feeling directly. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz – which carries around 20% of the world’s daily oil supply – has driven up fuel costs and made getting products to market harder and more expensive.

The ceasefire is welcome, but the situation remains fragile, and the impacts on our exporters are real. They are navigating challenges with sourcing key inputs, maintaining competitiveness in the face of rising production and distribution costs, and finding reliable routes to market.

And even before that conflict, our exporters were already navigating a fundamentally changed approach to tariff policy from the United States. And the US is not the only one. Just ask our dairy exporters to Canada. The major economies really are playing outside the rules with very sharp elbows. These shifts are the clearest signal yet of a broader global trend: we are moving from a world governed by shared rules to one increasingly shaped by power.
For a small trading nation, that shift matters more than it does for many other countries.

I want to be clear about the stakes. Our exports rose 11.8% last year in 2025 – growth that happened because Kiwi exporters are world class and consumers will pay a premium for what we produce. That is a remarkable achievement in a difficult environment.

But it is not an achievement we can take for granted. It depends on continued access to markets, continued investment in relationships, and a continued commitment to the rules that provide certainty and transparency and enable our exporters to compete on a level playing field.

Tonight I want to talk about how this Government is responding to that challenge. Not reactively. Not defensively. But with a clear plan. Our plan has three parts: 
•    shoring up and creating new rules that underpin our trade. 
•    building resilience so our exporters can weather disruption. 
•    and innovating – because in a world where the old rules are contested, New Zealand has to earn its seat at the table.

Shoring Up Trade Rules
For a small trading nation like New Zealand, the rules-based system has always mattered more to us than it does to the large economies that can apply asymmetrical bilateral leverage.

Kiwis believe in fairness and the rules deliver exactly that. They level the playing field. They give our exporters the certainty, the transparency, and the market access that no amount of diplomatic relationship-building can substitute for.

It is worth remembering that despite everything, 72% of world trade still takes place under WTO rules. The system is battered. But it is not broken – and New Zealand has a clear national interest in saving as much of the multilateral furniture as possible.

That said, we are pragmatic. Progress at a multilateral level moves slowly. Too slowly for our exporters, who need better and certain access now. Which is why this Government has invested heavily in free trade agreements – the bilateral and regional deals that lock in the access we need and provide certainty that WTO processes alone cannot deliver.

FTAs
In 2025, 71% of New Zealand’s exports were covered by 17 high-quality FTAs. That is not an accident. It reflects a sustained, deliberate investment in trade architecture over 25 years – and this Government has moved faster and further than any that came before.

The results are tangible. Since our EU FTA entered into force in May 2024, New Zealand’s exports to the EU have grown by NZ$3 billion. Our exports to the UK grew 13% in the year to December 2025, following the conclusion of our UK FTA. 
Our exports to the UAE have seen record growth of 33% following that agreement’s entry into force.

And we have now concluded a deal with India – the world’s soon-to-be third largest economy, with 1.4 billion people and within the next 5 years a middle class of 700 million. That’s greater than the entire population of the EU or ASEAN.

When our Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreement enters into force, 75% of New Zealand’s exports will be covered by FTAs. These are not theoretical gains. These are the binding international treaties that are the building blocks of long-term prosperity for New Zealand.

Shoring up trade rules is not only about securing new FTAs – equally important is investing in existing FTAs to make sure they continue to deliver for the evolving needs of our exporters. This means upgrading and expanding these FTAs. We upgrade them by negotiating new rules to meet the new issues and challenges our traders are grappling with – for example last year an upgrade negotiation for Asean- Australia New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA) was informed by the COVID supply shock experience and delivered outcomes which make trade of essential goods easier and more efficient during times of crises.

We are working energetically to expand our plurilateral FTAs through accession negotiations. This brings more economies within the umbrella of FTA rules our exporters rely on and provides new preferential market access. CPTPP already consists of 12 economies that represent around 16% of global GDP, and we have concluded accession negotiations with Costa Rica, with an ever-growing list of countries queueing up to join.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is the world’s biggest FTA globally by population and total GDP, and we are working to expand it further including into important markets where New Zealand does not currently have FTAs, such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

WTO
These agreements will continue to be an essential component of New Zealand’s economic resilience strategy. And we will continue to prioritise the WTO which provides the foundation for the global system of trade rules that matters so much to New Zealand.

But let me be direct about the WTO. The 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Cameroon was deeply disappointing. And I say this as the Vice Chair of the Conference and as the facilitator for the negotiations on reform.

The absence of multilateral outcomes – extending WTO reform, on the e-commerce moratorium, on agriculture and fish subsidies – reflected the entrenched positions of major economies unwilling to compromise. That is a real setback, and we should not pretend otherwise.

New Zealand will not walk away. We will continue to be a constructive, pragmatic broker. We will continue to push on agricultural trade reform, harmful fisheries subsidies, trade-distorting industrial policy, and digital trade rules. Because in a world shifting from rules to power, every institution we can support and every norm we can embed makes New Zealand safer. The alternative – abandoning the multilateral system – is not an option for a country like ours. And we will invest in the institution. I am delighted that the 165 WTO members have endorsed the appointment of the New Zealand Ambassador to Geneva to lead the WTO peak body, the General Council.

Building Resilience
Trade rules alone are not enough. Our second pillar is resilience – the ability to keep New Zealand’s trade flowing when the system is under stress. I see our resilience agenda through three lenses: engagement with our exporters, diversification in our international relationships, and the unglamorous but high-value and critical work of removing non-tariff barriers.

Engaging our exporters
When the US tariff announcements hit, we moved immediately to get real-time information out to exporters and to hear from them directly. We have run regular, well-attended webinars since then. And MFAT’s website contains 754 market intelligence reports for New Zealand traders.

I have already done five India FTA roadshows around the country over the past few months with more to come. Getting out and hearing from our exporters and the public – not just in Auckland and Wellington, but across the regions – is one of the most valuable things I do as a Minister. It shapes our priorities and it builds trust.

We will continue to prioritise this kind of engagement, particularly in the current tumultuous environment. Kiwi exporters have shown time and again that they are resourceful and resilient. Our job is to make sure they have the information, the access, and the support they need to make the most of the opportunities we have secured for them.

Take for example an ice cream company that established a New Zealand and Asian plastic packaging supply chain following COVID 19.  Given the low stocks, they are now exploring how cardboard could be used instead.

Investing in relationships
This Government has prioritised both investing in our partnerships and diversifying our trade relationships.  This has included more international visits than any previous government in a parliamentary term to build and strengthen New Zealand’s relationships with key partners.  

Trade missions are about opening doors for New Zealand exporters – helping them build relationships, understand markets, and turn opportunities into real contracts, and the trade missions we’ve achieved to date have helped deliver over 200 commercial outcomes valued at more than NZ$2 billion. Those are not just numbers. They represent new connections, new contracts, and new confidence for Kiwi businesses in markets they might not have entered alone.

Our Saudi Arabia mission is a good example. We unlocked five commercial deals worth over $100 million. The 21 businesses who came with us opened doors in premium food, technology, services, construction, and the creative industries. Those doors opened because we showed up.  We invested in the relationship, and we demonstrated that New Zealand is a serious partner.

Our relationship with Singapore tells a similar story. New Zealand’s original trade agreement with Singapore was one of our first. We have invested in that relationship for over two decades. And that investment recently produced something genuinely new – the world’s first Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies, designed specifically to keep essential goods moving in times of crisis. It delivers better fuel predictability for New Zealand and food security for Singapore. 
It only became possible because we had built the relationship long before we needed it.

Not only have we prioritised engagement with our long-standing partnerships – such as Australia and the EU- but we are also future-proofing our trade resilience through diversification, which can help open alternative markets and sources of supplies.

This is why we saw the China market as a good opportunity back in 2008 – when no other developed country had an FTA with China. China is now New Zealand’s largest export market and the value of our exports to China has soared from between $2 to $3 billion to around $23 billion per annum.

Another approach we have taken to strengthening partnerships is through our leverage of CPTPP to establish formal dialogues with the EU and ASEAN – something the PM and I have prioritised in these challenging times.  This provides a valuable opportunity for large trade blocs (with the EU and CPTPP representing a third of global trade) to move on issues that are currently paralysed at the WTO.

And our partnerships with the Pacific, through the PACER Plus agreement, are essential to the prosperity and resilience of our region. That is why our government, alongside Australia, has invested NZD 38 million in Aid for Trade initiatives that strengthen countries’ trade capacity under the agreement.
I will also continue to strengthen relationships with Pacific Island Countries that have yet to join PACER Plus, including Fiji, because regional economic integration through trade makes us all more resilient.

Removing non-tariff barriers
Our relationships are also critical to resolve many of New Zealand’s non-tariff barriers (NTBs) – from certification requirements, labelling rules, testing regimes, to environmental regulations – these issues slow growth.

NTBs currently affect almost NZ$9 billion worth of New Zealand’s exports across more than 50 markets, and this government is committed to finding solutions. 
Last year alone, we resolved NTBs affecting around $600 million of exports. Some examples include unlocking access to China’s $200 million cosmetics and skincare market, signing and implementing a deer velvet arrangement with China providing market growth worth $64.5 million in the year to December 2024, and expanding access for New Zealand dairy products and blueberries to Korea worth $5 to $10 million, and $5 million, respectively.

We are also progressing a new plurilateral arrangement with like-minded partners to tackle NTBs in third markets cooperatively. This work does not generate headlines. But it directly affects whether Kiwi exporters can compete.

Innovation: Securing Our Seat at the Table
Our third pillar is innovation. I have heard the phrase: “New Zealand needs the world to trade, but the world doesn’t need New Zealand.” That just means we have to earn our place. And innovation is how we do that.

New Zealand has a record of bringing trade ideas to the world that larger countries haven’t thought of yet. The Digital Economy Partnership Agreement – DEPA – is a clear example. New Zealand, Singapore, and Chile created the world’s first standalone digital economy agreement, covering everything from business facilitation and digital trust through to AI and digital inclusion. The Republic of Korea has since joined. Costa Rica and Peru are seeking membership. That agreement started as an idea from three small, like-minded countries, and it is now shaping the architecture of global digital trade.

Similarly, we are working to maximise the commercial value of indigenous business connection through the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPECTA).

Our leadership in institutions like APEC, the OECD, and the Small Advanced Economies’ Initiative has gradually found its way into the hard rules of agreements like CPTPP. That is how small countries shape the world.

We are building on that legacy with the Green Economy Partnership Agreement. Working with Chile and Singapore, GEPA will make the green transition easier for producers, exporters, and investors, and position Kiwi businesses to compete in a global green economy projected to be worth US$11 trillion by 2040.

And through the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership – FIT-P – New Zealand is working with 16 like-minded, trade-dependent economies with a global reach ranging from Norway to Rwanda to Malaysia. Our approach is to cooperate on practical solutions for supply chains, paperless trade, non-tariff barriers, and trade-distorting subsidies. This initiative came about when I got together with trade colleagues from Switzerland, Singapore and the UAE. We knew we needed to find a way to support each other, reinforce the rules-based system, and work together to create new rules that give our traders more certainty.

Most recently at MC14, Eleven FIT-P members released a Joint Statement on maintaining open and resilient supply chains given the impact on global trade of the Middle East conflict. New Zealand and these FIT partners have committed to working together to identify disruptions to the trade of essential goods and exchanging information on how we will approach and mitigate these.

I will host my fellow trade ministers at the next FIT-P Ministerial in Auckland later this year. That is a leadership role, and we intend to use it to find new ways to support our exporters and their jobs, incomes and productivity in New Zealand.

The Long Game
Our goal is ambitious: to double the value of New Zealand’s exports in ten years. That requires growth in trade relationships – but it also requires growth in investment.

New Zealand is well below the OECD average for foreign direct investment as a share of GDP. That gap has a direct cost in productivity and wages. That is why this Government established InvestNZ – New Zealand’s first dedicated foreign investment agency – to attract more capital into sectors with the highest growth potential: renewable energy, technology, data infrastructure, advanced manufacturing. More capital means higher productivity. Higher productivity means better wages for New Zealanders.

And we are also seeing our export base diversify in ways that are genuinely exciting. Technology, commercial services, and education are growing fast. Companies like Auror – which exports retail crime prevention software to Australia, the UK, and North America – and Halter, exporting high-tech livestock management solutions globally, are proving that New Zealand innovation can compete anywhere. These are exactly the kinds of businesses we want to see more of, in more markets, with more support behind them.

We also want to venture deeper into global markets that are bursting with opportunities – like Latin America, which is fast becoming a key growth market for New Zealand exporters, with our exports to the region rising by 41% since 2021.  

This Government has already started making inroads – the Minister of Foreign Affairs led a Parliamentary and large business delegation to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay earlier this year to strengthen our partnerships, deepen our people-to-people links, and boost our profile.  

The visit was a huge success, with a range of New Zealand exporters announcing new commercial agreements with companies in Argentina – fostering connections, and growing partnerships.  

We’re also exploring additional markets in Asia and looking at opportunities in Africa.  Diversification is not just an economic strategy – it is insurance.

Conclusion
Let me finish with this.

The world New Zealand trades in today is harder and much more uncertain than the one we were trading in five years ago. The rules are more contested. The relationships are more complex. The disruptions are more frequent. I do not expect that to change anytime soon.

But this is not a new challenge for a country like ours. New Zealand has always had to work that much harder and smarter than larger economies to secure and protect its access to markets. We have always had to be more creative, more constructive, more persistent, and more present.

What this Government has done is bring that same mindset – and more energy, and more urgency – to the task.

That’s why this Government has run more trade missions than any previous administration in a parliamentary term.

That’s why this Government established New Zealand’s first dedicated investment agency.

Because 400 million people around the world get around 10% of their diet from New Zealand. Our farmers, our food producers, our tech companies, and our service exporters are among the best in the world. They deserve a government that fights for them on the world stage.

We are fighting for them. And we are not finished.
 

MIL OSI

The Wellington Phoenix women are playing for more than just a trophy when they compete in their first ever A-league grand final on Saturday, says head coach Bev Priestman.

The squad flew out to Melbourne today ahead of Saturday’s final against Melbourne City.

Speaking to media at Wellington Airport, Priestman said as the only professional women’s football team in New Zealand, the players felt a huge sense of responsibility.

“I think that’s been one of our bigger purposes, is that we want to put women’s professional sport, but we want to put women’s football in New Zealand on the map,” Priestman said.

“I think for a New Zealand team to be competing, beating Australian teams in football, that’s great, we’re flying the flag in that sense but it’s not just about representing Wellington, it is about representing New Zealand.

“I think to go and do what we hope to do would be a great feat and really would put New Zealand football on the map.”

The Phoenix women earnt a place in the final after a semi-final aggregate win over Brisbane Roar in front of a big home crowd on Sunday.

Priestman said it was important they found another level.

“We’ve just got to be careful that the last game doesn’t become our final, we’ve got a final in front of us, I think you have such a high that if you’re not careful you go into that game and your energy is gone, so I think get the energy back, finals football is about turning up fresh, hungry and enjoying the moment.”

Priestman said they would have to prepare mentally for a parochial Melbourne crowd, after enjoying a passionate home crowd in Porirua – “it will feel very very different.”

Many of the side’s younger players are preparing for the biggest occasion of their career so far.

“I want them to go out and do what they’ve done all season, we’ve got to approach it like just another game so we get the performance that we’ve had consistently across the season … we want to turn up give the best version of us and finals football anything can happen.

“Of course there’s nerves but it’s where you want to be nerves. I’ve said to the players ‘if you feel butterflies in your stomach, you’re exactly where you want to be’.”

Priestman said they won’t be reading too much into their head-to-head results against Melbourne City this season, with their opponents enjoying one goal wins in their two match-ups.

“I think if I read into every record we wouldn’t be where we were this season, we’ve talked about firsts, we’ve talked about breaking records and that just takes a mindset to be the first.

“We also have to respect, ultimately the team we’re coming up against have been in the finals a lot, they’ve won the league, they’re a very good side and we have to respect that turning up. In many ways we’re the underdog, we can turn up and try and swing and get another first and beat Melbourne City and play our 100th game in a grand final.”

As the former coach of the Canadian women’s team, Priestman has coached at the highest level, including at the 2023 FIFA World Cup where Canada played two matches at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.

“You can’t buy experience in that sense, you know understanding maybe what the players need to hear, feel, in critical moments where pressure comes. I’ve played at this stadium a couple of times at the world cup and I’m hoping the outcome might be a little bit different.”

The Phoenix women are also tapping into the experience of Brooke Nunn, who won the A-league title with the Central Coast Mariners last season, before signing with the Phoenix.

“I think it’s just mostly about managing your emotions, it’s going to be such a big game but it’s all about going out there, enjoying it, like we deserve to be here so just going out there and having fun,” Nunn said.

Nunn has been a huge asset for the Phoenix and said Priestman brought the best out of her.

Nunn generally played as a forward throughout her career, but has excelled at wing back this season under the vision of Priestman.

“She’s really believed in me, she’s trusted me in a position I’ve never played before so I just wanted to do her proud and make the team proud.”

Since the Phoenix women entered the A-league five years ago, they had never made the finals before this year. In their first two seasons, the side finished with the wooden spoon.

Nunn said Priestman’s influence in her first year in charge of the Phoenix had a ‘life changing’ impact on the players’ careers.

“I think Bev’s experience … you can see from the results that she’s really come and turned a new page so it’s been beautiful to be a part of.”

As for Priestman’s motivational team talks?

“She’s really deep and she’s really inspirational, she knows how to play on our heart-strings so yeah, she does such an amazing job.”

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World-First Innovations Showcase Hong Kong’s Thriving Life and Health Tech Ecosystem from Bench to Bedside

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

Sun Life Important Information:

Buying a life insurance policy is a long-term commitment. An early termination of the policy usually involves high costs and the surrender value payable (if any) may be less than the total premiums paid. This media release is for general information only and does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any specific person. You should seek advice from a financial adviser regarding the suitability of the policy before making a commitment to purchase. In the event that you choose not to do so, you should consider whether the product in question is suitable for you. This media release is not a contract of insurance. Please refer to the policy contract for the exact terms and conditions, specific details and exclusions.

The policy mentioned in this media release are protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). Coverage for your policy is automatic and no further action is required from you. For more information on the types of benefits that are covered under the scheme as well as the limits of coverage, where applicable, please contact us or visit the Life Insurance Association, Singapore or SDIC websites (www.lia.org.sg) or (www.sdic.org.sg).

This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Information is correct as at April 2026.

While Sun Life believes that the information set out here is correct and accurate as at the date on which it is issued, Sun Life does not guarantee the correctness, accuracy or completeness of its contents. Further, Sun Life does not assume any responsibility, and has no obligation, to update this media release or inform recipients of its updated contents in due course, if any of its contents changes. Sun Life is not liable for any loss, damages or expenses that may be incurred from reliance upon the contents herein.

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• Innomotics wins several orders to provide motor and drive technology for eLNG projects, totaling a volume in the higher double-digit million EUR range
• Innomotics advances electrification of LNG production with eLNG solutions based on electric drive systems
• Significant operational, environmental, and financial benefits compared to conventional turbine-based LNG plants
• Enables decarbonization and supports global transition to sustainable energy systems

NUREMBERG, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 11 May 2026 – Innomotics, a globally leading supplier of electric motor and large drive systems, has won several major orders for electrified LNG projects in Europe, Canada, Middle East and Australia. The total volume for all orders is in the higher double-digit million EUR range.

Innomotics is driving the transformation of LNG production with its innovative eLNG solutions. By replacing conventional gas turbine-based liquefaction processes with electrified drive systems, LNG operators can significantly increase efficiency, reduce emissions, and lower operating costs.

As global demand for cleaner energy continues to grow, LNG remains a key component of the energy mix. However, traditional LNG production is energy-intensive and associated with high greenhouse gas emissions. eLNG addresses these challenges by using electricity – including renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower – to liquefy natural gas, enabling a more sustainable and efficient production process.

The electrification of LNG plants is a key step in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and achieving decarbonization targets. Electric drive systems from Innomotics offer system efficiencies of up to 95%, significantly exceeding the performance of conventional gas turbines. At the same time, operators benefit from reduced maintenance requirements, with systems capable of running up to five years without scheduled shutdowns, and increased plant availability of up to 99.9%.

By integrating high-voltage motors and variable speed drives across the entire LNG value chain – from compression and refrigeration to storage and gas treatment – Innomotics enables a fully electrified production process. When powered by renewable energy, eLNG solutions can eliminate direct CO₂ emissions and reduce annual emissions by up to 500,000 tons, supporting operators in meeting regulatory requirements and sustainability goals.

“Electrification is the foundation for a sustainable future of LNG production. With our eLNG solutions, we enable operators to significantly improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and enhance reliability across the entire process. This not only strengthens competitiveness but also accelerates the transition towards net-zero operations,” says Michael Reichle, CEO of Innomotics.

He adds, “Operators are under increasing pressure to balance sustainability with profitability. Our electric drive systems deliver a compelling business case by lowering lifecycle costs, minimizing downtime, and ensuring maximum operational performance in demanding LNG environments.”

Recently awarded eLNG Projects

Pioneering eLNG success for Hammerfest in Norway:

Hammerfest is home to the world’s first all-electric LNG plant, operational since 2007. Equipped with two 65 MW refrigeration compressor drives, the facility has achieved over 15 years of successful operation with minimal maintenance and an exceptional availability rate of 99.88%. This project set a new standard for reliability and efficiency in the LNG sector, proving the long-term value of electric drive systems in demanding environments

Innovative floating LNG project in Canada:

This project represents the world’s first floating all-electric LNG facility. With four complete drive train systems of 35 MW each powering the main refrigeration compressors, the plant is designed to export three million tons of eLNG per year. The project demonstrates the scalability and flexibility of Innomotics technology, delivering high performance and low emissions in a unique offshore setting

Setting the global benchmark for an LNG plant in Qatar:

This LNG plant features multiple 60 MW and 45 MW trains, each with three refrigeration compressors. As the world’s LNG market leader, Qatar relies on Innomotics systems to deliver maximum availability and operational excellence. This large-scale deployment showcases our ability to support complex, high-capacity facilities with proven reliability and efficiency.

Lowest emissions through renewables at an LNG project in Canada:

The LNG plant is powered by renewable hydropower and features 50 MW LCI eLNG trains. The facility is designed to produce 2.1 million tons of LNG per year with the lowest emissions in the global LNG export industry. This reference highlights the environmental benefits of integrating electric drive technology with renewable energy sources.

Driving sustainability with carbon capture at a CCUS LNG project in Australia:

This project utilizes multiple medium voltage motors and drive systems totalling 297 MW for LNG production, combined with a carbon capture project. This installation demonstrates the compatibility of Innomotics solutions with advanced sustainability initiatives, enabling operators to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining process efficiency

Additional eLNG materials:
Whitepaper on eLNG
Expert Video concerning electrified LNG
Reference projects and success stories
3D visualization in our virtual world: Innomotics Electrosphere

For more information, visit https://www.innomotics.com/hub/en/applications/electrified-lng

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The New Zealand Army has completed its first Exercise Balikatan in the Philippines, improving its ability to fight a modern war amid the heat, humidity and venomous snakes and insects of the jungle.

New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, United States, Canada, France and Japan celebrated the successful completion of Balikatan 2026 during a closing ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila last week.

Balikatan, meaning “shoulder to shoulder” in the local Tagalog language, is a bilateral US-Philippines annual exercise designed to strengthen regional security through combined air, land, sea, cyber and space operations featuring maritime drills, coastal defence training, joint live-fire exercises and humanitarian projects.

Around 70 New Zealand Defence Force personnel, primarily from the NZ Army, have been in the Philippines for Exercise Balikatan since mid-April.

About 40 of those personnel are a NZ Army light infantry platoon group from 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, which was integrated into an Australian Army light infantry company from 5th/7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, to form Combat Team Jackal.

The NZ Army light infantry platoon has participated across a range of scenarios, shoulder to shoulder with Australian, Philippine and US personnel against a fictitious opposing force, as part of larger formations that cannot be easily replicated in New Zealand.

They also took part in jungle training delivered by the Philippine Marine Corps, and close-combat shooting in the jungle environment.

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) also deployed movement operators, health specialists, cyber specialists, communications experts, and other supporting personnel, gaining valuable experience and demonstrating capability to partners.

In the lead up to Balikatan, defence cooperation between New Zealand and the Philippines has been strengthened.

In the past two years, New Zealand and the Philippines have signed a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement, held bilateral defence talks, signed the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, participated as an observer to Exercise Balikatan in 2025, and held an inaugural maritime dialogue.

The NZDF’s participation in Balikatan reflects a strategic commitment to strengthening regional partnerships, enhancing tactical and operational interoperability, and contributing to regional stability in support of the international rules-based system in the Indo-Pacific.

Lieutenant Colonel Jason Tinsley, Senior National Officer for the contingent says New Zealand is fortunate to have likeminded partners within the Indo-Pacific region.

“A shared sense of purpose for maintaining stability and promoting the international rules-based order has made for an excellent working relationship with our partners on Exercise Balikatan.”

The unique environment of the Philippines has provided a valuable training ground.

“Unlike our Australian and Filipino colleagues, we are not routinely exposed to the dangers of heat, poisonous snakes, and virus-carrying insects,” Lieutenant Colonel Tinsley said.

“Facing and overcoming these challenges provides an excellent opportunity to enhance combat effectiveness in environments very different to New Zealand.”

The NZ Army light infantry platoon group as part of Combat Team Jackal is now taking part in Exercise Salaknib, also in the Philippines and involving the host country, Australia, Japan, the United States, and for the first time New Zealand.

Salaknib’s focus is conducting complex, multi-domain operations, including live-fire events, aviation and counter mobility operations and jungle training.

MIL OSI

Major research to test whether lowering the ocean’s acidity could help to fight climate change will get underway in Hawke’s Bay on Tuesday.

Over the next three weeks, New Zealand and Canadian researchers will use a small fleet of boats and watercraft to sample and map the chemistry of coastal waters in the region, especially around river mouths.

The voyage is part of a five-year, $11 million Endeavour Fund project, led by Earth Sciences New Zealand (ESNZ), to research the potential of several marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) techniques.

The ocean is already a massive natural carbon sink, but mCDR aims to draw extra carbon dioxide out of the rapidly warming atmosphere and lock more of it away in the deep ocean.

It has therefore attracted growing interest over the last decade or so, but many of the techniques – which involve adding things to the ocean to stimulate carbon removal – are only at a theoretical or lab testing stage.

ESNZ marine biogeochemist Cliff Law said that was partly because of how difficult it was to prove that any of them worked.

“When things spread in the ocean, it’s very difficult to actually have instruments in place to monitor it, because obviously the ocean’s a big wide place and it disperses quite randomly.”

There are also concerns about what effects marine carbon dioxide removal might have on the marine environment, which have driven a growing body of international law to restrict how the techniques are researched and deployed.

RNZ reported earlier this year on the international start-up Gigablue, which has attracted scepticism from some marine science experts over plans to carry out its own type of mCDR in New Zealand waters.

Instead of deliberately deploying any mCDR techniques, the ESNZ research would instead study their naturally-occurring equivalents, Law said.

Hawke’s Bay was the proving ground for the first of three processes, called ocean alkalinity.

“Alkalinity has been going into the oceans for millions and millions of years through things like rivers and from sediments,” he said.

“It provides a natural mechanism by which it offsets the acidity of the water. So in other words, it raises the pH and it absorbs the carbon dioxide, and it converts that into a dissolved form, which is no longer carbon dioxide, so it can’t be exchanged with the atmosphere.”

Rather than deliberately adding alkalinity to the ocean, the team would test how much carbon dioxide was being taken up as a result of Hawke’s Bay’s many rivers disgorging alkaline sediments and groundwater into the ocean.

“The reason why we looked in this region first of all was that we knew that there were limestone catchments and they tend to release more alkalinity into the fresh water,” Law said.

Canadian scientists would use ESNZ’s launch, Kimiora, to set a moored buoy with sensors, and would also operate an unmanned surface craft around the plume of water entering the bay from the Esk River.

“It’ll be mapping the surface waters and making measurements of… the carbon dioxide and the pH in the water, and from that, we can calculate the alkalinity.”

Further offshore, the ESNZ research vessel Tangaroa would move around southern Hawke’s Bay, Law said.

“We will be mapping the alkalinity, the salinity and the other things that will be indicators of the river input in the surface water. But we’ll also be making measurements throughout the water column.”

The team also planned to use an autonomous ‘glider’ craft that would move independently around the bay, collecting further measurements, including from the seafloor.

That would help the researchers to measure the effects of increased alkalinity on the marine environment, he said.

“If alkalinity has increased, what effect does it have on things like the phytoplankton and the sediments [on the seafloor]?”

ESNZ had already developed a good model of how river water and the alkalinity it carried mixed with the ocean, he said.

“The information we’ll get on this voyage will allow us to use the observations… to actually develop our measurements and our models.”

Later stages of the research would study natural equivalents for ocean fertilisation – when nutrients are added to the ocean to stimulate the growth of carbon-absorbing phytoplankton – and how much extra carbon can be stored if wood is deposited on the seafloor.

Rather than deliberate ocean fertilisation, the team would study what happened during a natural algal bloom, Law said.

“We’ll have a voyage in coming years down there to measure one of these phytoplankton blooms and measure the amount of carbon that’s falling out below it – how much is actually sequestered away in the deep ocean and where it goes.”

To study the effect of wood deposits, the team would look at the forestry slash that ended up on the seafloor in Hawke’s Bay because of Cyclone Gabrielle.

“We can look at how much of the carbon is still there and how much has been lost and how it’s impacted the biological communities in the sediment around it.”

Unlike the other two techniques, ocean alkalinity was a chemical process, making it slightly easier to monitor and measure, Law said.

“The real trouble with a lot of the biological marine CDR techniques is tracking the carbon, what its fate actually is, how much of it is going to get down into the deep ocean and be sequestered away for a long time?”

There were “all sorts of problems” with that.

“It can be broken down by feeding by animals and by bacteria, and it can be converted not only back into carbon dioxide quite quickly, but it can also be converted into other forms of carbon, which makes it difficult to monitor and measure and follow.”

Alkalinity, on the other hand, was a more straightforward chemical conversion of carbon dioxide into forms like bicarbonate.

“We know that it’s fairly stable in those forms for long periods of time – longer than 1000 years.”

The full research project aimed to answer important questions about what might happen if marine carbon dioxide removal did go ahead in future, Law said.

“What do we need to know? What are the risks? What are the benefits of these things? How will they impact ecosystems and the ocean’s chemistry? How much carbon dioxide could be removed? How do we actually monitor and verify them?”

That would help to inform New Zealand’s ministries and government “about whether this is an appropriate thing for us to be doing or not”, he said.

“If we were to go down this line, what do we need to know? What regulations do we need in place before we can even consider deploying something in our waters?”

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

The Wellington Phoenix women made history on Sunday when they won a place in the club’s first A-league grand-final; they also won the hearts and minds of a legion of new fans.

In front of record home crowd, the Phoenix women won the second semi-final leg 2-0, to overcome a one-goal first-leg deficit to the Brisbane Roar.

Wellington secured the 3-2 advantage on aggregate in extra-time, sending them through to Saturday’s A-League decider with Melbourne City in Melbourne.

The Wellington women ended the football club’s 19-year grand final drought – the Phoenix men were eliminated in the preliminary final in 2010.

Nearly 6000 fans filled Porirua Park, north of Wellington, hoping to witness history.

Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman said there was a sense running through the team that they were going to win – “there was something in the air.”

Priestman said it was a special day for the club.

“Moments like tonight is why you do it right, I think there’s young kids in that stand today who fell in love with the game and I think in five, 10 years’ time they could be on that pitch right. So I think it’s incredible, a big shift and I’m just so happy to be on that plane to Melbourne,” Priestman said.

American striker Makala Woods scored for the Phoenix in the first half. Woods eventually slotted the winner in extra time after missing two attempts just before regular time.

“Oh, I wanted to die,” she laughed. “That was really hard, I think I would have taken that very heavily, it’s still probably going to be in my nightmares.

“But I just have a great group of girls around me, every single one of them lifted me up and continued to feed me balls and Bev and the staff …when you have that great of a group of people believing in you, how can you not believe in yourself,” Woods said.

“I feel like I owed it to them to put that ball in the back of the net … so I was really happy I could put it away.”

Woods said the tension in extra-time was palpable.

“I felt like I was going to throw-up on the sideline, I’ve never been so anxious … that’s just how much it means to this group of girls.”

Woods, who only joined mid-season as an injury replacement, said she was most happy for inaugural club player Mackenzie Barry.

“She’s been here since day one, she deserves this more than anyone in this league and she proved why she’s one of the best defenders in the league today.”

Since the Phoenix women entered the A-league five years ago, they had never made the finals. In their first two seasons, the side finished with the wooden spoon and looked out of its depth at times.

Barry, now captain, found it hard to express the joy she felt.

“It means so much to me, it’s hard to feel all the feelings right now, it’s amazing, the club’s worked for year’s for this and the season has been really tough so I think no other club deserves it more than us,” Barry said.

Extra stands were erected to accommodate the fans, triple the number the Phoenix usually play in front of in Porirua.

“Even right from the warm-up it was starting to get packed and I was like ‘wow this is going to be amazing’ so as soon as we walked down the crowd was cheering the whole game,” Barry said.

Woods said they felt buoyed by the fans.

“I’ve never played in front of that many people in my life, it was so amazing …they really showed up and I’m so thankful,” the American said.

Priestman has achieved a lot on the international stage, including an Olympic Gold with Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. But she said helping the Phoenix women get into the grand final ranks highly.

“It’s right up there, I was reflecting on the win today, it’s been a hell of a ride, and I wouldn’t [want] do it with anybody else, these lot are a special bunch,” Priestman said.

The Wellington Phoenix went big when they recruited Priestman, who served a one-year ban for her role in a drone spying scandal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Phoenix were looking for a coach just as her ban was about to lift.

Still, the Phoenix women have exceeded expectations, given they also lost key players to season-ending injuries.

Now some fans are affectionately crediting Priestman for a ‘Bev-olution’ at the club.

Melbourne City have dominated recent matchups against Wellington Phoenix Women, with 1-0 and 2-1 wins this season, but Priestman insists the Phoenix are not done yet.

“We’ve only ever lost by a goal, we’ve scored some goals, and we’ve worked our arses off and I think when you do that you get your rewards and I think we absolutely can beat Melbourne City, I have got no doubt about it.”

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

Wellington Phoenix coach Bev Priestman has no doubt her side is good enough to perform under pressure in their do or die second-leg semi final on Sunday to reach their first ever A-league final.

Despite losing 2-1 to Brisbane Roar in their opening encounter across the Tasman last weekend, the Phoenix women are confident they can overcome the deficit and advance to the final.

They have home advantage for the return leg and the head coach’s main message to her players is to enjoy it.

“If you can’t enjoy an occasion like this weekend, you know, we shouldn’t be playing the game,” she said. “It’s a semi-final that we’ve earned, it’s at home, it’s the moment we want to create, and we got to go out and enjoy ourselves, and stay together.”

Priestman said they would tweak some things after last week’s loss to Brisbane.

“We have to also try and get the best out of our group, and we’ve set ourselves up well this season to do that, so very much I am focussed on what we need to do better, but also adapt to some of the things they did that try to shut us down.”

An extra stand has been erected at Porirua Park to accommodate as many as 6000 fans, more than the team has ever had at the ground.

“I’ve been thinking about it all week and no doubt the players have too,” Priestman said. “The excitement, it’s always a buzz.

“I can only imagine, everywhere I go at the moment, people are talking about this team.”

Priestman said scoring first would be great, but not fatal, if they didn’t.

“We know that football doesn’t always give you what you want. Finals football is for the team that responds to bumps in the road on the day and gets the job done, however that is done.

“We’ve got to be dialled in mentally, because it’s not the football at this point right… it is just now about who wants it more.

“Sometimes luck works in your favour, sometimes it doesn’t… all we can do is give it our best and, if we give it our best, sometimes the football gods reward you.”

Priestman confirmed that, after an injury layoff, striker Pia Vlok, who has had a breakout season, was ready to go.

Despite being down one goal on aggregate, she said the pressure was on Brisbane in many ways.

“Did they put us away enough? No, if I was them I’d been kicking myself a little bit that it should have probably been more.

“It wasn’t, so now we get to play our advantage and, in many ways, the pressure is on them.”

The pressure of finals football came into sharp focus last weekend, when Auckland FC advanced to the A-league men’s semifinals, after a dramatic penalty shootout.

Priestman said it was not something they focussed on this week, but they did the work earlier in the season to prepare for all kinds of end-of-game scenarios.

“We couldn’t have done anymore,” she said. “If it goes to penalties, I’d back us.

“I think our penalties have looked very, very good. The good news is we’ve not had penalties for people to scout, which is even better.

“We know what we need to do if that happens. You have to be brave enough if it comes to that, but I am convinced that this group, if we settle into the game well, the game can be ours for the taking.”

The Phoenix made a bold move in signing Priestman on a two-year deal last year.

The former head coach of Canada’s women’s team served a one-year ban for her role in a drone spying scandal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Priestman, who also guided Canada to Olympic glory in Tokyo, said she would savour the game on Sunday.

“For me personally, I think back to a year ago and I think this weekend is where I want to be. This is where these players want to be.

“Some of them have had adversity in their career, they’ve worked their whole career to get to these moments.

“I’ve got no doubt in this group, I’ve got all the belief in the world, I’ve been dreaming about the moment and then hopefully a grand final.”

The team is 90 minutes away from a first-ever grand final for the club in 19 years of trying. It has eluded the Phoenix men since their inaugural 2007/08 season.

The women’s team joined the A-league in the 2021/22 season and goalkeeper Victoria Esson said the significance of the occasion was not lost on them.

“We’re the only professional women’s team in New Zealand, so that comes with a sense of responsibility and also a sense of pride, and I can’t wait to show everyone what we can do,” she said.

Esson said players couldn’t wait to play at Porirua Park.

“There’s a bit of a buzz around the city and we appreciate everyone getting behind the team, and it’s finals time, there’s no turning back now.”

Esson said they had nothing to lose.

“They’ll come out firing at the start, but depending on how the game goes, at some point in time, they’ll need to try and defend the lead, so I think we can try and make the most of that, and get them on the back foot.

“It’s well within our reach, but they are going to be coming here to battle as well and they are not gong to roll over, so it’s going to be a fight, but I’m confident the team can do what we need to do.”

Priestman said it would be a day to remember for the club.

“Who have put in a lot of work to get to this point – a lot of people before me, a lot of players before this group and an ownership group that believes in women’s football,’ she said. “It’s going to be a great day and I hope we can make it even greater.”

Auckland FC men host Adelaide in their semifinal first leg at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium on Saturday at 6pm.

The Phoenix women host Brisbane Roar in Porirua on Sunday with a 2.30pm kickoff.

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

Test rugby is serious business, but that doesn’t stop new Black Ferns coach Whitney Hansen cracking a joke or two in the sheds, before sending her side to battle.

Hansen has brought a more grounded, humorous approach to the Black Ferns pre-test pep talks. War analogies and red-faced tirades have been replaced with jokes and games.

Skipper Kennedy Tukuafu said the approach was refreshing.

“She is so funny, honestly. At first, I was a bit unsure, because she would come into our meeting and crack a joke, and I’m, like, ‘We’re about to go into combat’, but I’m used to it and everybody is on the same page.

“We can have a laugh, but we can turn into gameface, game mode. She’s very clear with what she wants and she just makes you feel like you belong there.

“It’s a privilege to be a part of.”

After falling short at last year’s World Cup, Tukuafu said the rebuild had begun.

“We are growing something great,” she said. “We’ve got some awesome coaches who are really aligned.

“They’re very clear about their expectations of us and where we’re going. I love that our philosophy is just feel and react.

“It allows us to build our rugby instincts – ‘don’t think, just do’ – and I’m excited for where we’re going.”

While the demons of that World Cup are still fresh in the minds, they were largely buried by last month’s avenging victory over Canada, who beat them in the tournament semifinal.

“For me, it’s always going to sting, but it was nice to get that win,” Tukuafu said. “I think the biggest thing about that win was that, when the final whistle went, we all just came together and it wasn’t a huge celebration.

“It was just, ‘Yeah, that’s what we’re capable of. This is what it feels like. This is where we should be’.

“We went back to the changingroom, all low key. Our team is very unique, but I love it.”

The attention now shifts to Super Rugby Aupiki and Tukuafu said the new season structure had the Ferns coming in firing.

“For us who got to go away and play some rugby, we’re just ready to get back into it, and I can just tell that the girls that didn’t come away are over the training routine and want to play some rugby.

“We’re excited to go.”

She said it was important to put international duties to the side for Aupiki.

“It’s about parking it, because if we focus on Black Ferns, we’re not putting all our effort into the girls next to us. I know it can be a challenge.

“You want to play well so you can make it to the next level, but for me, it’s about playing well, so we’re all connected to win that competition. It’s more important for me to be connected as one here, instead of trying to get myself ahead.”

With the game continuing to grow, including a record attendance for last year’s rugby World Cup final at Twickenham, Tukuafu hoped to see this translate into bigger crowds and more bumper match-day atmospheres.

“There’s definitely more bums on seats for us, but I would love to see more.

“I think, too, my husband plays in France. Seeing those fans and that atmosphere, if we could mimic something like that, have chants and songs and merchandise, I think that would be cool.

“I think that would be a good way to grow some more.”

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

Explainer – New Zealand has announced would-be citizens will have to pass a test about starting next year. What might that look like and how do other countries do similar tests?

The test on various topics around New Zealand life and government would be required for many applying for citizenship from next year.

“Becoming a New Zealand citizen is a significant milestone in a person’s life and a great honour,” Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden said in announcing the change.

“This change reinforces the value of New Zealand citizenship, and what it means to obtain it.”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told Morning Report on Thursday that New Zealand was following similar tests in other nations.

“I just don’t think there’s any harm,” Luxon said of introducing the tests.

The exact date the test will launch hasn’t been set, but the announcement said late 2027.

While it will be new to New Zealand, tests like this aren’t uncommon – they’re already in use in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States among others.

Here’s what we know so far about citizenship tests and what we can learn from other countries.

Who has to take the test?

If you’re applying for citizenship by grant from late 2027, you’ll have to take it in addition to any other application requirements.

There are three ways to become a citizen – by birth, by descent (being born overseas but having at least one parent who was a NZ citizen when you were born), or by grant – which means you’re a foreign national who has usually been a permanent resident of NZ for at least five years.

Most people who apply by grant will have to take the new test, but there are some exceptions – you don’t have to sit the test if you:

• are under 16 years old
• are aged 65 or over
• have been granted a waiver for the English language requirement for citizenship
• are not of full capacity
• have a severe medical condition that would prevent completing the test
• have unique personal circumstances that would prevent completing the test
• are a New Zealand citizen by descent applying for citizenship by grant
• are applying from overseas but meet the presence requirement – for example, if they live in Niue, the Cook Islands or Tokelau, or are working overseas for the NZ government.

“Exemptions from the test are intended to ensure the approach is proportionate, fair, and in line with approaches taken in comparable countries,” van Velden said.

Van Velden also told RNZ’s Checkpoint there would be no exemptions based on income levels.

How’s test taking going to work?

The test will consist of 20 multiple-choice questions and applicants must get 15 answers, or 75 percent, correct to pass.

The test will be only offered in person, at locations throughout New Zealand.

The aim is not to just have testing spots in main centres, the announcement said. Service accessibility to all will be a key consideration, van Velden said.

“I did consider an online test, however, with rapid development of AI and ability for individuals to have help at home, I considered this a less robust test than an in-person test,” van Velden said.

What’s it going to cost?

There will be a fee to take the test in addition to existing citizenship application fees, but a specific amount hasn’t been chosen yet.

“The cost itself hasn’t been borne out yet,” van Velden told Checkpoint.

The Department of Internal Affairs plans to look for a potential third-party provider to provide the test and the cost would be determined then, she said.

“I do believe it is important that there is a cost to the test because we do want people to study for it, and when there’s a user-pays component … people do take that seriously and if there wasn’t a cost, it is possible that people might sit multiple times without looking at the guidance that DIA provide.”

Currently, applying for citizenship by grant costs $560 for adults and $280 for children aged 15 and under.

If you fail the test, you can take it again but the government says applicants “will likely” have to pay a new fee each time they sit the test.

If you fail to pass the test three times, you have to wait 30 days. You’ll only get six tries in total to pass the test, however, and then you’ll be “provided options” including withdrawing your citizenship application and getting a partial refund of application fees.

What kind of questions will they be asking?

In the announcement, van Velden said the topics will include the Bill of Rights Act, human rights, voting rights and democratic principles, New Zealand’s system of government, some criminal offences and questions about travelling overseas on a New Zealand passport.

Notably, there was no mention of Te Tiriti o Waitangi or Māori tikanga in the announcement.

However, there will be a Treaty of Waitangi question in the test, van Velden confirmed to RNZ.

She said the questions themselves have yet to be decided.

“I won’t go into any particular question itself because we won’t be releasing those, but the questions are revolving around freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of association, the fact that men and women have equal rights, that we have protection from discrimination, that we have free elections … all the things that have made our country good.”

The Department of Internal Affairs is handling the details of how the test will be implemented. There will be guides and other resources ahead of the test introduction to allow people to prepare and pass.

“On balance, it’s very, very similar to what the UK and Australia have been doing for years,” Luxon told RNZ.

“It’s probably not a bad thing to remind people that things like freedom of expression, freedom of speech and women having equal rights, all those kind of things, to have them positively affirmed is probably a good thing.”

Will the test remain even if the government changes before 2027?

Of course, there’s also an election this year, so will that have an impact?

When asked by RNZ if he supported the exam, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he was open to strengthening citizenship rules, but expressed concern about no mention of the Treaty of Waitangi in the original announcement.

“Do we want those who are gaining New Zealand citizenship to basically be signing up to adhering to New Zealand’s rules and so on? Yes, of course, that’s inherent in the citizenship process, but excluding a big part of our own history from that seems to undermine what they’re trying to do.”

As noted, van Velden has since indicated there will be one question on the Treaty.

How do tests work in other countries?

As mentioned, Australia, the US and UK all have some form of test most applicants for citizenship must take.

“New Zealand has looked at approaches used in comparable countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada when developing the test,” van Velden said.

“This includes elements like the number of questions, passing rates, exemption categories, and delivery approach.”

Sample questions available online in training sites and apps show these tests have a wide spectrum of possible questions would-be citizens might be asked – and perhaps a guidepost for how New Zealand’s test might work.

Australia requires a test and has a 20-question multiple choice exam that asks questions about Australian values and history. A practice test is also available online where questions such as “Who can deliver a Welcome to Country?” and what Anzac Day commemorates can be found.

In the United Kingdom, most applicants must take the “Life in the UK” test with 24 multiple-choice questions about British traditions and customs and show English language proficiency. Practice tests on an unofficial test preparation website ask questions such as who William Shakespeare was and whether pool and darts are traditional pub games, plus somewhat harder questions such as “Who was reigning in England when Wales became formally united with England by the Act for the Government of Wales?” (If you answered Henry VII, you’re correct!)

Over in the United States, a two-part test covering English language skills and civics is required for many applicants. The civics test is conducted as an oral test of 20 questions from a possible 128. Sample questions for that one cover how the three branches of American government work, who wrote the Declaration of Independence and why America entered the Vietnam war.

There’s also a few freebies such as “What is the name of the President of the United States now,” in case the applicant hasn’t been paying attention to, well, anything, the last 10 years or so.

Sometimes questions on a test can be controversial. For instance, The Washington Post reported many took issue with a question that asked “When did all women get the vote?” The test’s answer was in 1920 – after the US Constitution was amended to allow women to vote – but many pointed out that Black and Native American women voters actually faced barriers to voting for decades after 1920 and the wording of the question to say “all women” was misleading.

It goes to show that the questions – and how they’re phrased, especially around touchy issues – could be a tricky road to navigate in putting together New Zealand’s future citizenship test.

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

New Zealand is exporting much of its premium product – and then importing cheaper options for New Zealand shoppers, economists say.

Pak’nSave’s move to sell United States butter more cheaply than local butter has prompted conversations about how it is possible for imported items can be offered at a lower price than those produced in the country.

But trade data shows that butter is far from the only item that has a higher price when it’s made in New Zealand.

Cat and dog food was cheaper when imported. Dog biscuits – most imported from Australia, Canada, and China – were 87.6 percent cheaper than the export price of New Zealand products.

Water with added flavouring was also 25 percent cheaper when brought in from countries like the United States than the local product was exported.

Jams and marmalades were 21.9 percent cheaper when imported – often from Chile and Poland.

We also import cheaper wine than we export – among still wines, imported products were 25 percent cheaper. Australian wines were 54 percent of imports.

Confectionary, including white chocolate, was 37.8 percent cheaper when imported, mostly from Australia and China. Sweet biscuits were 64.4 percent cheaper imported, usually from Australia,

Some beef and lamb cuts imported for New Zealand consumers were also cheaper than those exported.

“We’re quite often exporting premium products to a premium market segment, whereas we’re importing the commodity stuff for the mass market,” economist Shamubeel Eaqub said.

“It’s picking up that difference in what we export versus what we consume. But it still begs the question, if we’re so good at making these things, why is it that we can’t have some of those other products, as well? Why is it that we’re reliant on imports? It’s not necessarily a good or bad thing, it’s just a question.

“I think to me it raises the question of is it really not possible to produce pet food for our pets in New Zealand given all the bobby calves we have? The fact we’re importing beef from Aussie and lamb from Aussie… I’m driving through Southland at the moment and seeing a lot of cows and sheep.”

He said there was a “spaghetti junction” of food going out and food coming in to meet different needs.

Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold said it was probably driven by economies of scale.

“It could be that these things are being manufactured in large facilities in Australia or up in Asia. They just have that economy of scale, perhaps reflecting lower input costs as well if these are energy-intensive products.

“Canned vegetables, fruit juice things like that… you wouldn’t automatically think that these would be energy-intensive processes but they kind of are. Countries like China are quite competitive because their costs of production are lower.”

He said New Zealand wine would be more of a premium product than much of the product that was being imported more cheaply.

“If you had it broken down by colour, I bet you would find that if we export red wine it’s probably pinot noir, but it would be more expensive than the typical red wine that would be imported into this country.

“In some of these industries if we’re exporting it’s because we’re a niche or premium end of the market.”

ANZ economist Matt Dilly said it would help to think of how competitive New Zealand was in various products. “I’d say most of our wine exports are in a category that I’d call affordable luxury. A typical bottle maybe $20 a bottle, maybe a bit less, maybe a bit more. But we do import a lot of cheaper wine from Australia. I think that’s a situation where we have a competitive advantage. We make excellent wine and export a lot of it but that doesn’t mean there are zero imports.

“We do import beef and lamb even though we’re really great at that. We import some cheese and some of those varieties we don’t make ourselves, especially European varieties.

“This framework about what we’re competitive in and what’s easily traded, there’s always going to be exceptions.”

“We import a lot of wheat, a lot of pork, vegetable oil. So these are things that are really tradable that, we don’t have a great competitive advantage in like we do for dairy and some of our other large products.

“Then there’s those other things that are naturally very difficult to trade, especially from an island country. So we make really good eggs, but we don’t export them because they’re fragile and perishable… have a (pretty robust two-way trade with Australia, going in both directions across the Tasman and, and that’s a function of our shared food safety system. So that’s something that’s really good for processed food products rather than the raw materials.”

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