When AI Meets Artistic Intelligence — Cross-City, Cross-Disciplinary Creative Education in Action

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

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 May 2026 – The Hong Kong Association for Customer Service Excellence (HKACE) hosted the HKACE Customer Service Excellence Award Presentation Ceremony cum 26th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon last week at The Regent Hotel Hong Kong. Over 100 awards were presented to recognize outstanding customer service practitioners, with MTR Corporation named the Grand Award Champion as the highlight of the occasion.

Held under the theme “High Tech, High Touch – AI Empowers a New Era in Customer Service”, the event attracted more than 450 guests. The Honourable Algernon Yau, JP, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. The award presentation ceremony was also privileged to have The Hon Shiu Ka Fai, BBS, JP, Member of the National Committee of the CPPCC and Member of the Legislative Council; The Hon Perry Yiu, MH, JP, Member of the Legislative Council; together with representatives of professional associations who served as award presenters. Members of the award judging panels and customer service industry leaders also joined the celebration to recognize the outstanding achievements of the award winners.

Hon Algernon Yau: Government Injected HK$200 Million into BUD Fund to Support AI-driven Digital Transformation

In his opening address, The Honourable Algernon Yau, JP, noted that artificial intelligence was driving customer service into a new era, shifting from human-led operations to a model that integrates data analytics and intelligent systems. Mr Yau stressed that as technology advances, human warmth becomes increasingly precious. He emphasized that true excellence in customer service is built on a customer-centric foundation, requiring service professionals to integrate technology with empathy, sincere communication and personalized attention to achieve a balance of efficiency and human warmth.

“2026 marks the start of the planning and layout for the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which prioritizes high-quality development, innovation-driven growth and the deep integration of the digital economy. Hong Kong is proactively aligning itself with the country’s development strategy, contributing its unique strengths to meet national needs. The services sector, in particular, must upgrade and transform. To help, the Hong Kong SAR Government has put HK$200 million into the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund), offering targeted support for AI adoption and helping businesses transform digitally.” Mr Yau stated.

Derek Choi: 40% Surge in Applications Reflected High Competitiveness and Recognition of the Awards

Mr Derek Choi, Chairman of HKACE, said “the Customer Service Excellence Award 2025 received 220 applications – a significant 40% increase from the previous year – reflecting the industry’s growing emphasis on service quality. A total of 102 awards were presented, making the competition exceptionally fierce.”

“Participants had to be nominated by the member companies and submit a written proposal in the first round to be shortlisted among the five finalists for a panel interview,” Mr Choi explained. “An independent judging panel, composed of industry elites and academics, then determined the gold, silver, bronze, and merit award winners. This rigorous assessment process upheld the award programme’s standing.” Mr Choi also extended his heartfelt gratitude to all judging panel members, noting that their selfless dedication and strong support had contributed significantly to the credibility of the awards programme.

Customer Service Excellence Award 2025 Winners Unveiled: MTR Crowned Grand Champion

The Customer Service Excellence Award 2025 featured three main categories – Individual Awards, Team Awards and Programme Awards – alongside the Grand Award. MTR Corporation scooped a total of 15 awards, standing out among a strong field of competitors to be named Grand Champion. HKT Limited and The Hong Kong Jockey Club also secured the 1st Runner-up and 2nd Runner-up of the Grand Award respectively.

Other gold award winners included AIA International Limited, BMW (Hong Kong) Limited, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Cathay Pacific Airways, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited, Hong Kong Fire Services Department, Hongkong Post, and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited.

Appendix 1: List of Winners of the HKACE Customer Service Excellent Award 2025

This press release is issued by Passion PR Limited on behalf of the Hong Kong Association for Customer Service Excellence.

Hashtag: #HongKongAssociationForServiceExcellence #HKACE

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

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

MIL OSI

MIL OSI

The government has confirmed legislation aiming to ban under-16s from social media is now on hold.

Parliament debated the matter on Wednesday after a select committee inquiry into the harms the online platforms cause.

Labour agreed to support National’s proposal for a ban – while the Greens and ACT were opposed to the idea, saying it would be too easy to get around the rules, that at-risk groups could become more isolated as a result, and that social media harms more than just young people.

National’s Catherine Wedd’s bill – which would impose the under-16s ban in line with Australia’s – was drawn from the biscuit-tin ballot in October, having been lodged last May.

When RNZ sought an update on how the committee’s findings would affect the legislation, Education Minister Erica Stanford – who had been tasked with reviewing legislation to reduce those harms – said it was on hold.

“The government is undertaking a wider programme of work in this area and Wedd’s bill is on hold for the moment. We are continuing to work through the process and will have more to say soon,” Stanford said.

“Papers are still working their way through Cabinet and we are aiming to introduce legislation this year.”

National had pushed ahead with the member’s bill rather than bringing the ban to Parliament as a government bill due to ACT’s refusal to support it.

On Thursday, Wedd’s bill remained at third among the member’s bills on Parliament’s order paper.

Stanford did not respond to requests for further clarification.

Wedd did not respond to requests for comment.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in November reiterated he was “deeply supportive” of a ban for under-16s, suggesting one would be introduced before the election.

“Certainly before the term, yes we’ll have our first go at making sure we can put the ban for under-16s in place. And then I suspect it will be one of those issues that require ongoing work as well.”

Australia’s ban, which came into force this month, requires specified social media platforms to take “reasonable steps” to ensure under-16s do not access them, with fines of up to $AU49.5m for serious or repeated breaches.

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

Associate Education Minister David Seymour says students going on strike today would make a bigger difference by showing up to school, working hard, and taking every opportunity to learn.

“The previous government said protesting instead of attending school could be justified. In my view, that is unacceptable. My expectation is that schools will treat students protesting today as explained but unjustified absences,” says Mr Seymour.

“If students want to show how much this cause means to them, they could march on Saturday in their own time. That would send a stronger message than taking a day off school.

“The silver lining is that we’ve come a long way since 2019, when around 170,000 students took the day off school. Only a fraction of that number is taking part now. That is evidence that attitudes towards school attendance are improving as the Government, schools, parents, and students make it a priority.

“I appreciate some students have passionate views and feel anxious about their futures. To them I say: if you want to make real change in the world, you need to turn up to school and get a good education now.

“Attending school is the first step towards achieving positive educational outcomes. Those outcomes lead to better health, higher incomes, greater job stability, and stronger participation in communities. These are opportunities every student deserves.

“I encourage students, parents, and educators to prioritise education. That is what this Government is doing, and it is what New Zealand needs for a better future.”

MIL OSI

Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will continue delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme (the Programme) in 2027, saving taxpayers another $122 million. 

“When schools open in 2027, the programme will offer nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day, at a cost affordable to the taxpayer,” Mr Seymour says.

“Since the beginning of Term 1 2025, the Programme has delivered over 48 million meals to over 1,000 schools. By the end of 2027 the Programme is expected to save about $360 million compared to how Labour funded it.

“The Programme continues to improve. After fixing some teething issues, the Programme now delivers a good service. On time delivery is almost 100 per cent every day and complaints have fallen by over 92 per cent. We are getting the same results as the old programme, but cheaper.

“Under the Labour-led government, lunches cost up to $8.68 per student. Under this Government the weighted average meal cost across all suppliers is $3.58. Through innovation and embracing commercial expertise, we’re delivering a better programme.”

Budget 2026 provides $212.4 million of funding to extend the Healthy School Lunches and ECE Food programmes for another year. 

“The Healthy School Lunch programme is expected realise taxpayer savings of $122 million in 2027. $4.8 million of those savings each year will go to ensuring up to 10,000 children in early learning services receive a taxpayer funded lunch every day,” Mr Seymour says. 

“The ECE Food programme will continue in 2027. The Ministry of Education is going to market to strengthen this important programme. We need to be sure the best quality lunches are delivered in the way that works best for ECE services.

“$2.9 million from Budget 2026 will go towards exploring new approaches to make the Programme better. For example, the equity index based eligibility of the Programme means that some students who need taxpayer funded lunches don’t get them, because they are at an ineligible school. Funding will go towards piloting ways to best understand who should get taxpayer funded lunches, and how to get lunches to those children,” Mr Seymour says. 

“When the Government manages its accounts like families and businesses have to, money goes a lot further.”

MIL OSI

The Waitangi Tribunal has recommended an immediate halt to draft legislation weakening government obligations to the Treaty in education, which it says is as bad as the Treaty Principles Bill in its attempt to erase the Crown’s duty to the Treaty.

In its stage one report, the Tribunal found the Crown breached the principles of partnership and good government when it planned to either weaken or entirely erase the Treaty clauses in the Education and Training Act (ETA).

In her letter addressed to Ministers Paul Goldsmith, Erica Standford, David Seymour, Tama Potaka and Shane Jones, presiding officer Rachel Mullins said the Tribunal only found out about the Crown plans the night before their inquiry was due to start.

“On the eve of hearing, Crown counsel filed a memorandum revealing your intention, as agreed by Cabinet on 23 February 2026, to downgrade the treaty standard in multiple sections of the Act to no higher than ‘take into account’, to amend or repeal section 536A(1), and to replace references to te Tiriti with a reference to both texts.”

“Cabinet’s decisions were new to us and had been made without any consultation or engagement with Māori,” she said.

The report found the Crown failed to meaningfully engage with the Māori on the proposed changes by only reaching out to one national Māori body, the National Iwi Chairs Forum, after “substantive decisions” had been made.

“We found Minister Goldsmith’s view that the select committee would otherwise provide a sufficient opportunity for others to provide input to be manifestly inadequate and an insult to Māori.

“We considered that the Crown acted contrary to officials’ advice and demonstrated a reckless disregard for the (likely and advised) harm to the Māori-Crown relationship that would result from its approach,” Mullins said.

The inquiry was filed by Ngāti Hine, Te Kapotai and education union NZEI Te Riu Roa and was originally set to look into the removal of school boards’ legal obligation to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and plans to reset the national curriculum.

The Tribunal expanded the scope of the inquiry in light of last minute revelations and has granted urgency to a separate inquiry into proposed changes to Treaty clauses across eight other Acts.

‘Ripple effects’

The report also found the Cabinet agreed to the proposals despite “clear and repeated” advice from its own officials that not enough was known about the potential impacts of the proposals.

“What was known, however, was the proposals carried a risk of harm to the Māori-Crown relationship and, as treaty provisions can act as safeguards for Māori interests, reducing or repealing obligations therein could disproportionately impact Māori. We agreed with officials that downgrading treaty standards in the Act to as low as ‘take into account’ would signal a shift in the Crown’s commitment to the treaty as it applies to education.”

“Minister Goldsmith is yet to make decisions on changes to the purpose provisions in the Act, which refer to giving effect to and honouring the treaty. He seems likely to downgrade those commitments too, the potential impact of which would send ripple effects across the Act.”

Mullins wrote that the decision to diminish the Crown’s treaty obligations in the Education and Training Act to one of the lowest standards of ‘take into account’ – despite the lack of engagement and the strongly worded official advice not to do so – represents a major breach of the treaty and its principles.

“It is as bad as the Treaty Principles Bill in its attempt to erase the Crown’s duty to comply with the agreement made between Māori and the Crown in 1840. It may even be worse, because the Treaty Principles Bill in theory was never going to be enacted.

“It is, as we put it, an attempt by the Crown to takahi the mana of the treaty and its place in the laws of Aotearoa. We do not have jurisdiction to discuss the amendments intended for other pieces of legislation, but we would be surprised if our findings did not apply equally to those as well.”

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

The Green Party is urging Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to abandon amendments to the Education and Training Act following the Waitangi Tribunal’s scathing report on the proposed changes.

“The Waitangi Tribunal has been clear: Luxon’s Government has breached its Tiriti obligations. It can no longer mask the racism in its education reforms,” says Green Party Co-leader, Marama Davidson. 

“Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a promise to take the best possible care of each other. Its place in the education of our tamariki, our taonga, our tomorrow, is not up for debate.

“Our Tribunal mātanga, our experts, have found that the failure of Luxon’s Government to engage meaningfully with Māori represents an affront to the mana of Māori.

“They have also found that these reforms have a similar purpose to the Treaty Principles Bill. If this doesn’t tell Luxon’s Government what it needs to know to immediately halt its changes, we don’t know what else can.

“The Green Party is committed to reinstating te Tiriti o Waitangi in section 127 of the Education and Training Act, re-centring Te Mātaiaho to its original intent and direction, and halting any changes to the curriculum until there has been meaningful consultation with the sector and engagement with Māori.

“In short: The Green Party is committed to upholding its obligations to te Tiriti and to our tamariki.

“The Tribunal ruled that Luxon’s Government’s Tiriti-inconsistency is calculated. We can’t let our tamariki pay the price for political games,” says Marama.

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Space Minister Chris Penk today announced the first recipients of the Kiwi Space Activator, a pilot programme helping to move novel space technology from the lab to the skies.

“Dawn Aerospace, the University of Canterbury and the University of Auckland have been awarded a total of $1.48 million in round one for their exciting and sophisticated projects,” Mr Penk says.

“These projects address real-world challenges identified by government agencies, and boost New Zealand’s reputation as a hub for space innovation.

“The University of Auckland project also includes a school payload, which provides an excellent opportunity to engage our next generation of space innovators.

“The Kiwi Space Activator is reducing barriers for Kiwi organisations to test new space technologies, including in orbit. 

“This pilot is a stepping stone, allowing us to develop New Zealand’s space capabilities and support innovative projects that could contribute to a national space mission in the years ahead.”

Successful round one recipients and their funding allocations are:

Dawn Aerospace for their Hōpara project to build and fly a small satellite, $600,000 
University of Canterbury for their demonstration of biological microgravity experimentation on a spaceplane, $600,000
University of Auckland for their CubeSat TPA-2 hosting a group of curated New Zealand payloads, $283,827

“Due to the high calibre of applications, the total funding available across rounds one and two has increased from $1.8 million to $2.08 million,” Mr Penk says.

“I encourage Kiwi organisations to apply for round two so we can continue to build the future of New Zealand’s space industry.”

Applications are currently open for round two and close at 11:59pm on 25 May 2026.

Information about the round one recipients, selection panel, and criteria is available on the MBIE website.

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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

Immigration advisers say residency rules are driving an unprecedented surge in the number of foreign students paying $30,000-50,000 a year to study masters degrees.

Education Ministry figures showed 14,840 full-time equivalent international students were enrolled in masters programmes last year, enough to outnumber domestic masters students (10,830) for the first time.

Last year’s figure was 48 percent higher than 2024, two-and-a-half times the previous high of 5705 full-time equivalents in 2020 and well above 2022’s Covid-driven low of 2820.

Nearly all the enrolments came from Asia, especially China (4465) and India (4235), and most (9535) were in universities, with a further 2125 in polytechnics and 3175 in private institutions.

The total was also close to the 16,100 full-time equivalent international students enrolled in bachelors degrees.

Immigration advisers contacted by RNZ said work and residence rules were behind the increase.

Immigration lawyer Alastair McClymont said the rules would become even more favourable for masters graduates in August.

“The view out there now is that, by doing a master’s degree in New Zealand, you can get all of the points that you need to apply for residency,” he said. “The only thing that’s then going to be required is a skilled job after graduating to enable the students to then apply for residency and that’s what’s really driving the demand in these master’s degree courses.”

McClymont said the looming August rule changes had shifted students’ interest away from qualifications in skill-shortage areas and towards any masters degree at all.

“There was a particular interest in things like early childhood teaching and healthcare workers, and those sorts of qualifications, because there were pathways to residency,” he said. “Now that they’re going to have the potential of getting maximum points simply by having any masters degree, then really people are just looking for the cheapest and easiest masters degrees that they can do, so that they can get the postgrad work visa, then look for a skilled job.”

University of Waikato had 555 international EFTS in masters’ programmes in 2019 and 1700 last year. Vice-chancellor Neil Quigley said the “very substantial increase” was the result of a deliberate strategy.

“Pre the pandemic, so up to 2019, most of our international students were in undergraduate programmes, but even by then, we’d seen international demand shifting more towards the masters degrees, so we used the pandemic to bring on a new range of masters programmes that were aimed at the international market,” he said.

Professor Quigley said most courses were focused on pathways to employment, such as digital business and cyber-security.

He said the growth in masters enrolments at Waikato appeared to have levelled off this year, but international undergraduate enrolments were rising, particularly from China.

Quigley said work and residence rights affected international demand for masters courses, but domestic students were also increasingly interested in postgraduate courses.

Recent international masters graduates Alka Chaurasia told RNZ residence and work rights did not drive her decision to study there last year.

“When I started doing the research, I realised that New Zealand has got a very strong reputation for education,” she said. “It offers a multi-cultural environment so, for me, it looked like a good balance of quality education, natural beauty and quality of life.”

Education New Zealand acting chief executive Linda Sissons said three factors contributed to the growth in masters enrolments – a general shift globally toward postgraduate study, the relatively short-duration of masters courses, and the stability of New Zealand’s post-study work rights and residency rules compared with other countries.

“We’re finding, with global research, that prospective students are increasingly prioritising the return on investment for international education, the labour market relevance and flexibility, and a Masters degree is at a high enough level and it’s a brief enough that it can be seen as as leading to employment.”

Dr Sissons said more postgraduate students were good for tertiary institutions and good for the economy, although she sounded a note of caution.

“Masters programmes are relatively short, so enrolments turn over more quickly and can be sensitive to market changes,” she said.

“There’s a there’s an upside and a downside, but I think, in terms of New Zealand being seen as a focus for people who want higher level qualifications and ones that have a good quality reputation, it’s a very positive trend.”

Sissons said PhD enrolments also increased to an all-time high of 4120 full-time students, compared to 3630 domestic PhD students last year.

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

Rangatahi from across Aotearoa took to the stage to share powerful messages of unity and belonging at the 2026 Race Unity Speech Awards, an important kaupapa of which NZ Police have been a Principal Sponsor since 2008. Amanjot Singh from Hastings Boys High School was announced as this year’s winner.

A Year 13 student and current head boy, Amanjot stood out for his compelling speech “A Courtroom of Life”, which explored the concept of a courtroom and delivered a strong message that challenged listeners to reflect on their own biases and assumptions.

“Close your eyes for a moment. Imagine a taxi driver. A fast-food worker. Someone stacking shelves late at night. Now ask yourself: Who did you see? Because I never described a face. And yet, most of us saw colour,” they said.

The awards, held at Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae in Ōtara, brought together 21 finalists representing 19 different ethnic backgrounds — reflecting the rich diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand and the strength of youth voice.

Assistant Commissioner Tim Anderson said the event highlights the leadership of young people.

“Every year the speeches are enriching and something we look forward to on the Police calendar,” he says.

“This year’s speakers showed incredible courage and insight. These are young people who are not afraid to speak about identity, challenge perspectives and advocate for inclusion.

“They are the leaders of today and tomorrow, and their voices are helping shape a more connected and understanding Aotearoa.”

Amanjot said, “When I was young my skin was my burden, now it’s my blessing.”

This year’s awards saw 193 entries, the highest in many years and a 20 percent increase on last year, with 126 students delivering speeches in 20 heats nationwide.

The Race Unity Speech Awards provide a platform for young people to share ideas on building harmonious relationships across cultures and communities, amplifying voices that are critical to New Zealand’s future.
 

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

MIL OSI

The Waitangi Tribunal has heard of the violence directed at Māori women in public positions including online abuse, stalking and threats of physical violence.

The tribunal has been hearing from wāhine in leadership roles this week as part of the long-running Mana Wahine inquiry – which is examining the alleged denial of the inherent mana of Māori women and the systemic discrimination, deprivation, and inequities experienced as a result.

Among those giving evidence on Thursday was Green Party MP Tamatha Paul, who spoke of how she has been a public figure her entire adult life and had become desensitised to the violent comments she receives and was only reminded that it was not normal when her family was exposed to it.

“My partner picks me up and drops me off to everything because he doesn’t trust that someone won’t be waiting for me outside of my workplace because of everything that’s happened to me and it’s a tremendous sacrifice that he makes.”

Paul said when she was in local government the violence she experienced happened mostly online; since moving into Parliament, that violence had become real.

“The nature of the violence that I experience is not casual, it’s not someone being mean to me because they don’t like what I say and they don’t like my views. These are people who have fallen victim to extremist ideologies about women and about Māori.”

Paul said people with a fixation on her have attended public events with the intention of speaking with her.

“I’ve had messages from a person who showed up to one of my public events and told me that he was waiting by the bathrooms for me, [for] that whole event for me to go to the bathroom.

“And what happens in these situations – and they’re not just one, they are many – is that these people are referred on by Parliamentary Services to the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre, and one solution I’d like to put to the Tribunal for consideration is that this centre needs to be better resourced.”

Paul told the tribunal she wanted to put an emphasis on the experience of rangatahi.

“We live in a completely different world and I think in order for the recommendations of the tribunal to be enduring they need to consider the world that future mana wahine will live in.”

A long-runninginquiry

The Mana Wahine Kaupapa Inquiry is one of the Waitangi Tribunal’s kaupapa or thematic inquiries which deal with nationally significant issues affecting Māori as a whole.

It stems from a claim originally lodged in 1993 by 16 prominent Māori women leaders, including Dame Whina Cooper and Dame Mira Szaszy.

The central question in the inquiry is the alleged denial of the inherent mana of wāhine Māori and the systemic discrimination, deprivation, and inequities experienced as a result. Four pou frame the inquiry: rangatiratanga, whenua, whakapapa/whānau, and whai rawa.

In 2018 the chairperson of the tribunal formally initiated the Mana Wahine Kaupapa Inquiry and appointed Judge Sarah Reeves as the presiding officer, with Dr Robyn Anderson, Dr Ruakere Hond, Kim Ngarimu and Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith appointed later as panel members.

The tribunal conducted a range of initial hearings beginning in 2021, to provide a tūāpapa (foundation) for the wider inquiry.

Hearings continue at the Tribunal on Friday.

‘If you’renot visible your experiences tend to get averaged out’

The tribunal also heard from University of Waikato professor of demography Tahu Kukutai on Thursday, who spoke about gaps in high-quality statistics about wāhine Māori.

Data was a tool of power and was absolutely indispensable in the modern world, she said

“Data makes visible groups and statistics, if you’re not visible your experiences tend to get averaged out or hidden in broader population data, so we become all women, or we become all Māori rather than wāhine Māori.”

Kukutai said there was an urgent need for Māori data sovereignty and advocated for the implementation of the Māori Data Governance Model which would see Māori data, including data about wāhine, in Māori hands.

“Data is power and I think that’s never been more true than now. And that would fundamentally mean rewiring those power relationships and vesting authority in Māori, and I think agencies will find that hard, but one of the useful things about the model is it provides a clear pathway.”

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

The country’s largest education union is describing a delay in the introduction of the government’s new curriculum as a significant win for teachers and school leaders.

The Ministry of Education has announced it will not mandate its new national curriculum for Years 0-8 until 2029.

Previously, the government wanted schools teaching the new science, social sciences, and health and physical education curricula for years 0-10 from 2027, and arts, technology and languages from the start of 2028.

The new curriculum for years 9-10 will still stick to that timeline.

The Ministry of Education said its new science and social science curricula would still “need” to be taught from 2027, but Educational Institute Te Riu Roa (NZEI) national secretary Stephanie Mills told RNZ, despite what the ministry said, those curricula would not be mandated until 2029.

“They’re saying that schools can start looking at the curriculum, trying it out between 2027 and 2028, but it won’t be mandated until 2029.”

That same year, schools would begin rolling out the new curricula for health and physical education, the arts, technology and learning languages, NZEI said.

Principals and teachers across the country had united against the new curriculum’s criteria and timeline, and would be “very pleased” to see Education Minister Erica Stanford had listened to their concerns, Mills said.

“We’ve had submissions, we’ve had letters, we’ve had select committee hearings, we’ve had conversations with the minister and ministry for months now, so I think the fact that there’s been a back down is very belated, but welcome.”

The delay was significant, because it would give teachers more time to learn the curriculum themselves, before they had to teach it, she said.

“They need to learn things themselves in order to be able to teach well and that is a process. It can’t happen in six minutes or six months across six new learning areas.

“The fact that they’ve now got two years to unpack their curriculum, get to know it, work out how it works for the children and the year levels they teach, work out how to make it personalised to the children in front of them is really important.”

On it’s website, the Ministry of Education said the full and final curriculum would be available to schools from mid-2026.

“Schools that are ready to start using it earlier can do so then,” it said.

Mills hoped Stanford and the Ministry for Education would keep listening to the sector.

“There is still concern about the content of the curriculum,” she said. “It’s very Eurocentric, it’s very overstuffed with facts and is focused on instruction from the front of the class, rather than building children’s understanding of how the world works.”

She was concerned that the framework of Te Tiriti o Waitangi had been “erased” from the new documents.

Where the old curriculum had asked students to “know, understand and do”, the new curriculum had dropped the “understand”, she said.

“The really critical things we need to develop in our students is the ability to analyse, to critique, to question… so that they’re questioning whether it’s AI, whether it’s legitimate, whether it’s valid information, whether they can triangulate it with what they know already.”

The Ministry for Education declined to comment, when approached by RNZ.

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

A paediatrican who treats obese teens expects funding to come swiftly for weight loss drug Wegovy.

Pharmac has added the drug to its list of medicines suitable for future funding.

In a decision released on 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.

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

The order of Pharmac’s list is not made public for commercial reasons, but if chosen, the drug would be available to people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of more than 50 and also to those with a BMI of more than 35 with at least two co-morbidities.

Auckland University paediatric endocrinology professor Wayne Cutfield said questions remained over final eligibility criteria, whether the drug would be fully funded or subsidised, and – crucially – when, but he did not expect to wait long.

“This isn’t the only drug in their cross-hairs that they [Pharmac] are considering,” he said. “Yes, it’s big and, yes, it’s important, but I don’t know if it will be weeks or months.

“I have no idea, but it’s not going to be years.”

Cutfield said the cost of the drug was prohibitive for many and, if approved as recommended, a huge number of New Zealanders – including teens – would benefit.

“They use the term ‘people’, which doesn’t exclude teenagers, because Wegovy in New Zealand [is] licensed for those over the age of 12. In Australia, it is a far more exclusive recommendation that has been imposed.”

Weight loss specialist Gerard McQuinlan said the addition of Wegovy to Pharmac’s list was significant and the recommended eligibility criteria made sense.

He said comorbidities, such as high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes, were all improved by weight loss and funded Wegovy could potentially deliver savings to the healthcare system.

McQuinlan hoped approval would come before 2030 and expected Wegovy to be fully funded, with people paying no more than the standard $5 prescription fee.

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

The government has confirmed legislation aiming to ban under-16s from social media is now on hold.

Parliament debated the matter on Wednesday after a select committee inquiry into the harms the online platforms cause.

Labour agreed to support National’s proposal for a ban – while the Greens and ACT were opposed to the idea, saying it would be too easy to get around the rules, that at-risk groups could become more isolated as a result, and that social media harms more than just young people.

National’s Catherine Wedd’s bill – which would impose the under-16s ban in line with Australia’s – was drawn from the biscuit-tin ballot in October, having been lodged last May.

When RNZ sought an update on how the committee’s findings would affect the legislation, Education Minister Erica Stanford – who had been tasked with reviewing legislation to reduce those harms – said it was on hold.

“The government is undertaking a wider programme of work in this area and Wedd’s bill is on hold for the moment. We are continuing to work through the process and will have more to say soon,” Stanford said.

National had pushed ahead with the member’s bill rather than bringing the ban to Parliament as a government bill due to ACT’s refusal to support it.

On Thursday, Wedd’s bill remained at third among the member’s bills on Parliament’s order paper.

Stanford did not respond to requests for further clarification.

Wedd did not respond to requests for comment.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in November reiterated he was “deeply supportive” of a ban for under-16s, suggesting one would be introduced before the election.

“Certainly before the term, yes we’ll have our first go at making sure we can put the ban for under-16s in place. And then I suspect it will be one of those issues that require ongoing work as well.”

Australia’s ban, which came into force this month, requires specified social media platforms to take “reasonable steps” to ensure under-16s do not access them, with fines of up to $AU49.5m for serious or repeated breaches.

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

With AI+ at its core and the vision to bring positive impact to local industries and societal wellbeing, PolyU IFC 2026 strategically focuses on five industry domains: Life Sciences and Healthcare, Advanced Manufacturing and Microelectronics, Digital Economy and FinTech, Smart City and Green Living, as well as Aerospace and Aviation Technology. The focus domains of each competition region are outlined as follows:

Hashtag: #PolyU

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

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Hashtag: #ACESInstitute

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

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Explainer – The weather is getting colder and the sneezes are getting louder – which means it’s influenza season.

This year’s season has seen warnings it might be more severe thanks to the H3N2 Subclade K or “super-k” flu strain, which saw flu season in places like the UK ending up particularly brutal this year.

“It is difficult to predict the severity of this year’s influenza season in New Zealand, but we do know that vaccination is the most effective means to reduce hospitalisations and severe outcomes from influenza,” said Dr Joan Ingram, medical advisor for the Immunisation Advisory Centre at the University of Auckland.

There has been a disruption of normal seasonal respiratory virus patterns following the Covid-19 pandemic, University of Otago Professor and Head of Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Peter McIntyre recently told RNZ.

“Covid is with us all year round, although more so in the winter, and the way that flu strains work during the year has changed a bit from the predictable winter peak with not much going on in the rest of the year to a lot more unpredictability with late and early seasons.”

The flu vaccine campaign is now underway – here’s what you need to know about it and how ‘super-k’ factors into it.

Why do we need a new vaccine every year?

Influenza changes a little bit every year, and vaccines are modified each year to match prevailing new strains.

“Everyone from 6 months of age, who is eligible for a funded vaccine and those who can afford a flu vaccine if not already funded, should have one,” Ingram said.

More than 1 million influenza vaccines are administered in New Zealand each year.

Typically around 500 people die each year from the flu, Health New Zealand said.

“For those at higher risk of complications from the flu, which is anyone over the age of 65, and particularly those over the age of 75 or 80, then it’s a very good idea to get in right now with your flu vaccine,” McIntyre said.

This year’s goal is to vaccinate 75 percent of the population over 65 years old.

“It would be wonderful if our flu vaccine uptake was higher,” Ingram said.

“All people 65 years and over are eligible for funded flu vaccine, but last year only around 60 percent had one – so cost is not the only barrier.”

New Zealand’s flu season usually runs from May to October, and the immunisation programme runs from 1 April to 31 December.

In both 2024 and 2025, flu cases saw a later than usual peak towards the end of August, the Immunisation Advisory Centre said.

This year’s funded vaccine is Influvac Tetra, which is free for those who meet certain conditions (see below).

There are also three unfunded flu vaccines available – Flucelvax, Fluzone and Fluad. More on those in a minute.

How do you book a flu shot?

You can make an appointment through Book My Vaccine or by ringing 0800 28 29 26 from 8.30am to 5pm Monday through Friday.

You can also contact your GP for a vaccination, and most pharmacies will also be offering the vaccine – check with your local.

Who gets it for free?

The flu vaccine is free for those who are at the highest risk of getting very sick. This includes:

• people aged 65 years and over
• people aged 6 months and over who have a long-term medical condition like diabetes, asthma or a heart condition
• pregnant people
• children aged 4 years and under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness, or have a history of significant respiratory illness
• people with mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder
• people who are currently accessing secondary or tertiary mental health and addiction services

Anyone who doesn’t fit into those categories will likely have to pay.

So how much does it cost?

The price for the vaccine is variable, but a check of multiple pharmacies showed it typically runs between $25 to $40 for the funded vaccine Influvac Tetra.

The three unfunded vaccines will cost more – ask your provider for details.

What happens when I get the jab?

You’ll typically be asked to wait for 15 minutes after getting the vaccine to ensure there’s no adverse reactions.

Vaccines can cause mild reactions, like a slight fever or pain where the needle went in.

Serious allergic reactions are rare and should be closely monitored at vaccination sites. They can also be reported online to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring, CARM.

For those concerned about vaccines, the Health New Zealand flu kit notes that “The flu vaccine has been around for many decades and has a great safety record. The vaccine does not contain live influenza viruses and cannot cause influenza.”

The vaccine doesn’t guarantee you’ll never catch the flu, but it does substantially lower the risk of serious illness or hospitalisation, health authorities say.

The government research organisation PHF Science said that in 2025, those vaccinated had about a 69 percent lower chance of being infected than those unvaccinated.

For now, you’re going to have to just grit your teeth and deal with the needle, but nasal spray flu vaccines are in development and may come here in the near future.

What is this ‘super-k’ influenza strain and why is it a worry?

Subclade K or H3N2 Subclade K is a strain of influenza that “has spread earlier and faster than typical seasonal influenza,” Australia’s science agency CSIRO said.

While it’s led to a more severe flu season in parts of the world, vaccines still work against it.

And New Zealand is fortunate, as vaccines have been changed for our part of the world to better deal with super-k.

“It is expected that all the flu vaccines in use in New Zealand this winter will provide protection against the K variant,” Ingram said.

“One of the strains in each vaccine is expected to provide protection against the K variant and was not included in the northern hemisphere vaccines – so we should have better protection.”

“It’s a good deal better than what they had in the Northern Hemisphere so hopefully that’s going to help us,” McIntyre said.

The super-k is not a new virus, but has undergone mutations in one of its key proteins that affect how it behaves and spreads. CSIRO said “the current best evidence suggests subclade K does not cause more severe disease.”

When it hit the UK last December, it led to record hospitalisations. The NHS’s national medical director called it a “worst-case scenario for this time of year.”

It has already arrived in this part of the world, McIntyre said.

“It turned up actually early in both Australia and New Zealand at the end of last year which was the reason why there was more flu around than would usually be the case in October and November.”

What other flu vaccines are there?

Pharmac funds the Influvac Tetra vaccine for those eligible, but three other flu vaccines are also offered at extra cost. Each is manufactured in a slightly different way.

“Influvac Tetra (funded vaccine) and Fluzone are very similar,” Ingram said, with Influvac containing an extra strain but not one that makes a “meaningful difference” to effectiveness against current strains.

Flucelvax, on the other hand, is a cell-based vaccine using cultured mammalian cells rather than the other, egg-based vaccines that are created in embryonated chicken eggs.

That “can be more effective than egg-based flu vaccines,” Ingram said. “The difference in benefit varies from season to season.”

“Over multiple seasons, Flucelvax was 8 percent more effective than egg-based vaccines. In one Northern Hemisphere season, it reached almost 20 percent more effectiveness in children and adults aged under 65 years.”

The fourth vaccine, Fluad, is free for adults over 65 in Australia, but not in New Zealand, even though McIntyre said there is evidence it’s even more effective for the elderly.

Here, Fluad is only approved for adults over age 50.

“As the name suggests it’s got this added bit in it, which is a thing called an adjuvant, which basically helps kick the immune system along to produce a stronger response,” McIntyre said.

Fluad “provides the greatest additional benefit for older adults aged 75 years and over, and those with multiple health problems,” Ingram said.

As it’s not funded, it will typically run around $50 to get Fluad, McIntyre said.

“In New Zealand, unfortunately, if you want that vaccine … you’ll have to pay for it.”

McIntrye said there are “good arguments” in favour of funding it for over 65s.

Should more vaccines be free?

Cost and access are still factors keeping flu vaccine takeup from being higher.

Ingram said on behalf of the Immunisation Advisory Centre that “we do wish that the flu vaccine was funded for all children under 5 and that older adults could have a funded enhanced vaccine.”

Last year, only 5 percent of children had a flu vaccine despite around 20 percent being eligible for a free vaccine because of health conditions.

“Funding it for all children would improve uptake and reduce sickness, hospitalisations, complications, antibiotic use and transmission in families and communities,” Ingram said.

If you’re making a flu vaccine appointment, it’s worth considering getting other vaccines done too, she said.

“When getting a flu vaccine, it is sensible to also have a dose of the updated Covid-19 vaccine if you are older or have health conditions that will increase your risk of severe Covid-19.”

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

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MIL OSI

The Education Ministry says it granted deceased fugitive Tom Phillips the right to home-school his children before he disappeared with them in late 2021.

Phillips died in a shootout with police in September after taking his children on the run for nearly four years.

Information provided under the Official Information Act after the New Zealand Herald complained to the Ombudsman, said the ministry approved Phillips’ home-schooling application before July 2021.

“All three of the children had valid certificates of exemption for home education,” it said.

“The home education applications followed the ministry’s standard assessment process. The certificates were applied for by their legal guardian Tom Phillips and were awarded prior to July 2021.”

The ministry said education officials did not visit the family.

“In New Zealand, parents who wish to home educate must first obtain a Ministry of Education exemption by demonstrating in advance that their child will be taught “at least as regularly and as well” as in a registered school, including providing a detailed teaching plan,” it said.

“However, the home education framework does not include routine in-home visits, with follow-up generally limited to situations where concerns are raised. In this case, no concerns were raised. “

The ministry initially refused the NZ Herald’s request last year for information about the Phillips’ children’s home-schooling application and school attendance on privacy grounds.

“In this case the information relates to children whose privacy interests are significant, and any disclosure would represent an unreasonable intrusion into their private lives,” it said.

However, it provided some of the requested information earlier this week after an Ombudsman’s investigation.

“While the Ombudsman agreed that section 9(2)(a) of the Act was properly relied on, the Ombudsman has formed the final opinion that public interest considerations favour release of this information,” the ministry said.

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

SINGAPORE- Media OutReach Newswire – 14 May 2026 – Beyond academic rankings and programme offerings, students today are placing increasing emphasis on campus life, wellbeing support, and a sense of belonging when choosing where to pursue higher education.

This shift reflects a broader trend across the sector, where institutions are being evaluated not only on academic outcomes, but also on their ability to provide holistic student experiences that support mental wellbeing, social integration, and career readiness.

At the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), student engagement has become a central pillar of the learning experience, with a wide network of student led clubs and communities designed to support both personal and professional development.

A Growing Priority: Belonging and Wellbeing

Industry observations indicate that students, particularly those transitioning from secondary education or arriving from overseas, often face challenges such as social isolation, cultural adjustment, and limited peer support networks. Research also highlights that being away from familiar support systems and adapting to a new cultural and academic environment can be an isolating process, contributing to increased stress, anxiety, and reduced perceived social support

To address this, SIM has developed a structured student life ecosystem supported by its Student Development initiatives and programmes such as Project1095, which emphasises learning beyond the classroom and holistic growth. With close to 80 student clubs and co-curricular activities available, students are provided with multiple avenues to build connections and integrate into campus life.

From Co-Curricular Activities to Career Readiness

Student clubs are increasingly seen as more than recreational clubs, playing a meaningful role in preparing students for the workforce. Participation in such communities enables students to develop transferable skills aligned with employer expectations, including leadership, collaboration, and communication.

At SIM, student led initiatives span a broad spectrum, from arts and cultural groups that foster creativity and teamwork through performances and events, to sports and wellness communities that promote physical resilience and discipline. Leadership platforms such as student councils provide opportunities for students to organise initiatives and represent the student body, while international student communities support cultural integration and inclusivity.

In addition, special interest and professional clubs offer exposure to industry trends and peer led learning. Collectively, these platforms provide practical experiences that complement academic programmes and contribute to graduates’ overall employability.

Reflecting a Broader Shift in Higher Education

The increasing importance placed on student life reflects a wider evolution in higher education, where institutions are expected to support both academic achievement and personal development.

By investing in student communities and engagement, institutions like SIM are responding to this shift, providing environments where students can not only gain qualifications, but also build networks, resilience, and a strong sense of identity.

As prospective students weigh their options, the availability of vibrant campus communities and support systems is likely to remain a key differentiator in the higher education landscape.

Reference:

1. The experience of loneliness among international students participating in the BBC Loneliness Experiment: Thematic analysis of qualitative survey data – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666518223000189?
2. Mental health concerns and needs of international students in higher education settings: A scoping review protocol – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12334020/
3. SIM CCA – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/life-at-sim/co-curricular-activities
4. SIM Project 1095 – https://project1095.simge.edu.sg/

https://www.sim.edu.sg/

Hashtag: #SIMGlobalEducation #SIMGE #GlobalEducation #InternationalDegree #CareerReady #FutureSkills

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