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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Goldsmith did not speak at the first reading.

Instead, Winston Peters led the speeches on Thursday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Opposition MPs ridicule bill

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First reading on hold

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

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

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

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

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

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

The House adjourned with two speeches still to go.

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

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

“Human-machine teams” using leading-edge technology to defeat the enemy are part of the NZ Defence Force’s vision for the future.

The defence force’s new briefing to Parliament on the future of fighting technology contains visions of a digital twin for each soldier, laser weapons and drones using satellites to engage with targets before a human pulls the trigger

But it also includes warnings about the costs and ethical difficulties.

“Machines will increasingly operate systems, processes and capabilities independently of humans,” said the 66-page long-term insights briefing, which imagines a world after 2035.

“Machines will play an increasing role in targeting processes.”

The briefing said it was only talking about influences on military capabilities, and was not a shopping list, but some things were inevitable.

This included laser-fast targeting which integrated with other militaries’ systems and “will be a non-negotiable for defence forces to remain combat-capable and inter-operable with partners”.

The rise of machines looms larger than in previous briefings.

“It is not expected that autonomous systems will herald a wholesale replacement of human presence on the front-line,” but it added the more fluid and dangerous a situation was, the more machines would be a factor.

The future briefings are released every three years.

Three years ago, the defence ministry’s $12 billion Defence Capability Plan (DCP) was a long way off and the government was just beginning to ramp up its warnings about the state of world geopolitics.

Aukus was already well established, but while New Zealand has not joined up to it in the past three years, the country has made various arrangements and experiments with Five Eyes partners to develop emerging military technology – which is what Aukus Pillar Two was all about.

Public inclusion

The new briefing said one background shift would be from public engagement to public inclusion.

“Ensuring Defence maintains public trust will remain essential, and possibly more challenging.”

The defence ministry declined a request to be interviewed.

“The briefing itself provides a detailed overview of how technology innovations could influence New Zealand’s defence capabilities beyond 2035. We have nothing further to add at this time,” it said.

‘Who is going to build all of this?’

Defence analyst and former lieutenant colonel Josh Wineera said his main question was: “Who is going to build all of this?”

“Is the government thinking about declaring what are sovereign capabilities and therefore become priority investment areas for firms to be supported or even funded?” he asked.

That would help skirt global supply chain strictures, which Australia was doing. “Will the LTIB then see a similar investment?”

Wineera was speaking from Europe, where the Munich Security Conference is being held.

The US has struck a more conciliatory position towards Europe than at last year’s divisive conference.

But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also stressed in his speech how immigration was a problem and how the US and Europe shared the “deepest bonds that nations could share, forged by centuries of shared history, Christian faith, culture, heritage, language, ancestry, and the sacrifices our forefathers made together for the common civilization to which we have fallen heir”.

‘Profound’ effect

The new future briefing said the new tech’s effect on New Zealand’s strategic context was “profound”, because distance was no longer any protection.

The new technology was opening up more types of fighting aside from actual open warfare, such as cyber attacks.

One issue would be the costs – not just to the country’s pocket but potentially to its values – with questions over how the technical and warfighting benefits weighed against sovereignty, legality and public licence.

“For many defence forces, these trade-offs could be challenging to manage, particularly if partner positions begin to deviate from international norms, or where the cost of capabilities enabled by advanced technology becomes prohibitive.”

Machine speed, precision and autonomy – including “self-mending” drones – were key themes in the briefing.

“The precision, range, and lethality of strike weapons is increasing.

“These advances will also lead to decisions increasingly being made independent of human analysis and inference, where it is lawful, and ethically and operationally sensible to do so.”

Weapons of the future

The briefing’s focus was on four areas – as well as human-machine teams, there was discussion of seamless command-and-control for target weapons shared in a network across partners.

It covered likely weapons of the future as well as some which exist today: “Breakthroughs in biotechnology are gradually delivering brain-machine interfaces that detect brain activity to direct machines with thoughts,” it said.

The NZDF has set out to acquire some of these. The DCP envisaged spending hundreds of millions of dollars on things such as drones and space surveillance over the next four years.

Beyond that, technology advancements could include a large drone that could last ages at sea and launch masses of smaller drones to surveil and deter an adversary; a minituarised sensor/micro-drone so advanced it could track individual soldiers, or be used in search and rescue; a special forces soldier with night vision contact lenses and adaptive camouflage; and an ‘avatar’ that updated in real-time when the person was injured and could measure blood loss and stress – then recommend a treatment.

“Bio- technologies are set to enhance defence force personnel in entirely new ways, while simultaneously introducing novel risks from pathogens and other weapons,” the briefing said ominously.

Human-machine teams

Human-machine teaming (HMT) was the most “uncertain, encompassing, and ethically challenging technology” in the briefing.

“Algorithms detecting, classifying, and prioritising targets, shifting the human role to verification and authorisation” was one of six types of HMT mentioned in the briefing.

The NZDF has already engaged in exercises with the US over what the Pentagon called “human-machine integration”.

Seamless command-and-control, which the briefing said was non-negotiable, has also featured in exercises and experiments between the Five Eyes militaries, in particular since about 2020.

‘C5ISRT’ meant “increasingly, algorithms will detect, classify, and prioritise targets at machine speeds, shifting the human role to verification and authorisation”.

Drones and satellites would feed the system data about “the environment and battlespace”.

“This will be possible without human intervention and with the ability to occur at machine speeds.”

The briefing noted an example of C5ISRT – America’s Project Maven. The system was already several times faster at targeting than human analysts, and the US was now expanding Maven.

“C5ISRT technology innovations will continue to open new opportunities to integrate defence systems with international partners,” said the future-look briefing.

“For New Zealand, this may include new policy infrastructure such as data-sharing arrangements that are consistent with domestic policy and law.”

More autonomy was also in the future.

“Robotic Autonomous Systems (RAS) will share data quickly and securely between themselves and crewed systems.”

Organic networks that self-heal and can build ad hoc networks will also support ‘technical autonomy’ – so a damaged subsea drone could repair itself.

The briefing did not look at future defence doctrine or geostrategic considerations.

It mentioned warfighting and war just a few times.

Its main real-world reference point was Ukraine versus Russia, citing how acoustic sensors have boosted missile spotting.

However, it also said the Pacific stand-off between US and China was key.

“Of particular concern is the rapid and non-transparent growth of China’s military capability.”

‘Stretch future budgets’

None of this would come cheap.

“Growing costs, especially from investing in advanced software and hardware, along with rising military inflation (… significantly higher than regular inflation) will stretch future budgets,” said the briefing.

“Making investment choices that balance the investments needed for future technology while also managing short-term capability gaps will be increasingly difficult.”

One answer to escalating costs was 3D printing drones close by a battlefield.

But partnering would be the big enabler.

“The growing pace and scale of defence innovation will mean that maintaining technological interoperability will become increasingly expected by allies, partners, other government agencies, and industry.

“The increasingly integrated nature of future defence technologies meant the research needed to focus on connectivity and understand the macro-trends that transcend capability sets.”

The other big barrier was ethics – how to deliver an “innovative combat-capable force, with strong adherence to domestic and international law.”

The briefing meets reality most closely in the NZDF’s Surveillance (Air) Project funded in the last Budget.

Defence is looking for drones that can hover for ages over the ocean for maritime spotting.

Last month it invited local and foreign business and researchers to workshops to “increase the overall understanding of platform supply, technology applications, training” among other things.

Because the workshops made no decisions and did not cost much, the MOD refused to identify who attended them, in its OIA response.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HONG KONG SAR/DUBAI, UAE – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 February 2026 – Asia Business Centre (AsiaBC), a Hong Kong-based leader in corporate services and cross-border startup consultancy, has been named “Outstanding Company Formation Services of the Year“ at the HKCT Business Awards 2025.

Presented by the Hong Kong Commercial Times (HKCT), the award recognises AsiaBC’s excellence in helping global founders establish, scale, and succeed in business hubs across Asia and the Middle East. With deep expertise in regulatory frameworks and banking ecosystems, AsiaBC helps entrepreneurs overcome market-entry challenges faced by SMEs and new ventures.

AsiaBC plays a key role in simplifying and accelerating incorporation, bank account setup, and international compliance in Hong Kong, Singapore, and offshore centres.

AsiaBC’s Expertise Solves Hong Kong Setup Challenges

Since 2009, AsiaBC has turned entrepreneurial vision into operational businesses through end-to-end support. Beyond company registration, the team guides clients through structuring, documentation, bank onboarding, tax planning, and accounting, ensuring that each step fits the business model.

AsiaBC demystifies cross-border operations by leveraging market insight and ties with over 100 banks and FinTech providers. The firm delivers reduced setup time, guaranteed bank account results under its “No Win, No Fee” programme, and proven legal readiness. One recent case saw a client complete company formation and bank account opening in Hong Kong on the same day, just before flying home. Another client, a tech startup, secured banking approval within 48 hours, enabling rapid launch into the APAC market.

AI-Powered Compliance & UAE Hub to Serve Global Founders

To better serve international entrepreneurs, AsiaBC is broadening its presence and technology.

In 2026, AsiaBC will open its first advisory hub in Dubai to support UAE entrepreneurs entering Asia. Services will include offshore company planning, tax coordination, risk assessment, and compliance across jurisdictions.

AsiaBC is also launching AI-enabled tools to make bank onboarding more predictable. A smart matching engine will analyse each client’s profile – including business model and risk category – and map it to onboarding preferences across AsiaBC’s banking network. Drawing on 6,000+ cases, this tool aims to shorten approval time and improve success rates, especially for founders under scrutiny.

“For 16 years, we’ve followed one principle: ‘Professionalism is the foundation, but solving problems is the core,’” said Raymond Wong, Managing Director. “This award affirms our commitment to outcome-driven solutions that help clients expand smoothly and sustainably.”

Championing the Entrepreneurial Spirit
AsiaBC’s client-first strategy includes:

• Tailored support from incorporation to compliance
• Guaranteed banking results
• Strong ecosystem relationships
• Multilingual support in English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Mandarin

Hashtag: #AsiaBC

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

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

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – As China marks Xiaonian, or Little Chinese New Year, there is growing evidence of its ancient traditions evolving into global lifestyle trends. CGTN published an article analyzing how this prelude to the Year of the Horse – from the folk ritual of “sweeping the dust” to the cross-cultural fusion of the Spring Festival Gala – illustrates China’s growing global cultural resonance.

As the lunar calendar turns its final pages, China enters a period of joyful anticipation known as Xiaonian, or Little Chinese New Year. Often celebrated as the Festival of the Kitchen God, it marks the official start of the “busy year” – a traditional term for the intense, joyful period of preparing food, cleaning homes, and shopping for the upcoming Spring Festival.

The Spring Festival is a deeply significant time for family reunion. In 2024, UNESCO inscribed the “Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional Chinese New Year” onto the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

While daily routines continue to evolve, they remain anchored in rituals that provide a sense of normalcy and meaning. It is perhaps no wonder that in a climate of uncertainty, traditional Chinese lifestyles are finding a new audience beyond the country’s borders, with the Spring Festival chief among those unique traditions that are fast becoming a shared human experience.

Diverse traditions, shared aspirations

In a prelude to the broader celebrations, Xiaonian, observed on February 10 and 11 this year, kickstarts a focused period of preparation. According to ancient lore, families offer Zaotang, or sticky “Kitchen Candy,” to the Kitchen God to ensure he delivers a favorable report on the household’s conduct before he ascends to the heavens. This lighthearted tradition marks the beginning of several symbolic rituals aimed at welcoming a fresh start.

A key element of this transition is donning new clothes. In Chinese culture, the New Year represents a moment when “all things are renewed,” and wearing new garments symbolizes shedding the “dust” or misfortunes of the past to embrace auspicious energy for the year ahead. Alongside this personal renewal, families nationwide engage in “sweeping the dust,” a deep-cleaning ritual to purify the home and prepare it for new blessings.

Whereas these practices are universal, celebratory flavors vary by geography. In the north, families traditionally gather over steaming plates of dumplings, whereas in the south, the menu often features sweet rice cakes (Niangao) and glutinous rice balls (Tangyuan).

As Mao Qiaohui, a researcher at the Institute of Ethnic Literature at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, explains, these variations highlight the inclusive nature of Chinese civilization.

“Although folk customs differ between different regions across China, this diversity reflects the cultural pluralism within the Spring Festival tradition,” she notes. “Different regional identities contribute to a shared pursuit of harmony and reunion.”

The vitality of these traditions is also evident in local craftsmanship. In northern regions like Shandong and Henan, artisans are currently making Huamo, decorated steamed buns, featuring horse designs for the upcoming zodiac year. Meanwhile, in Shuozhou, Shanxi Province, intangible heritage inheritors are carving spirited stallions onto traditional gourds. These creations reflect the regional diversity of the festival and a collective desire for progress in the year ahead.

Cultural dialogue: From global stage to daily life

The festive atmosphere is reflected further in preparations for the Spring Festival Gala (Chunwan), produced by China Media Group.

Recent rehearsals show performances meshing traditional Chinese culture with international artistry. One performance piece combines the wooden clog dance of the Hani and Lisu ethnic groups with the rhythmic tap of Spanish Flamenco and Hungarian folk dance. And with global stars like Jackie Chan and Lionel Richie on the bill, the Gala’s stage is set to become a stage for the world to come together.

The reach of the gala has expanded far beyond a domestic audience. Through the “Spring Festival Gala Prelude” events held in the United States, Russia, France, Italy, and several African nations, the program has become a gateway to Chinese New Year customs and cultural exchange.

This interest extends beyond art and into the lives of people worldwide, as seen in the #BecomingChinese trend. This phenomenon features international social media users adopting elements of Chinese daily life – such as keeping a thermos of hot water handy, wearing quilted indoor slippers or practicing mindful movement with Baduanjin exercises.

The festival is no longer a distant event but a gateway to Chinese lifestyle, rooted in ancient wellness wisdom and constantly updated by modern convenience, and the first step to a journey of exploration into a culture that values ritual, safety and hospitality.

Whether through global broadcasts or shared daily habits, the Spring Festival increasingly strengthens a sense of cultural empathy between China and the rest of the world.

For more information, please click here:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-02-10/Little-New-Year-opens-big-window-to-China-s-soul-1KEhJjMX2fe/p.html

Hashtag: #CGTN

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

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

Defence Minister Judith Collins departs today for Germany to attend the international Munich Security Conference. 

“In a turbulent and unpredictable world, the Munich Security Conference is an important opportunity to debate key security issues that impact New Zealand,” Ms Collins says.

“This year the conference brings together global decision-makers and military leaders from more than 100 countries, working to bolster cooperation, collective security and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.”

During the three-day conference Ms Collins will hold bilateral meetings with a number of New Zealand’s long-standing defence partners, including the United Kingdom’s Secretary of Defence, John Healey, and NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte.

She will also speak at a session focused on the interconnected nature of security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions.

“I look forward to sharing New Zealand’s perspectives on a range of international issues, particularly the interconnected security challenges facing both of our regions such as Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and escalating strategic competition. 

“As a small nation reliant on trade at the bottom of the southwest Pacific, we must take every opportunity to sit at the table and advocate for our interests and values.”

Ms Collins will return to New Zealand on 16 February.

MIL OSI

While the country has been dragged into a devastating war, two Ukranians are ensuring that rugby stays alive in their home, and that young players have a potential path to safety.

Anton Shashero is coach of Ukraine’s national under-16 side, and thanks to a collaboration between some prominent rugby minds in Aotearoa, he and best friend Maksym Dulia have spent the past week in the country learning from some of the best in the business.

Shashero said the invasion has had an horrific impact on players and the sport in Ukraine.

“A lot of players from the senior national team and from the under-18 team have already died. A lot of them are in the war. In almost in every family now in Ukraine, someone have lost someone. It’s huge. It’s huge.”

He said rugby acts as a beacon for young men during dark times, and for Shashero and Dulia, it had a significant impact.

“When we were kids, rugby was everything for us. You can travel, you can have friends, you can share your moments with boys on the field and it’s the values rugby which rugby gave us.”

That path was able to be extended across the other side of the world,

“We knew that we wanted to come to New Zealand and try to learn from the best. So it was our dream.

“When our boys see that we’re here with the All Blacks, it has a huge impact for them, for their families and for everyone in Ukraine, when they see that we here, it’s big moment now for Ukraine.”

Upon arrival, the pair spent time with Sir Graham Henry, the Hurricanes and at the IRANZ institute.

The initiative is part of a broader plan to bring Ukrainian youth boys and girls teams to play in Aotearoa a joint effort between IRANZ, Henry and Brent Impey of Kiwi KARE, a foundation which provides New Zealand aid to Ukraine.

IRANZ general manager Wayne Taylor said it felt like the right thing to do.

“The country has been through a lot of hardship and sport can be something really positive, obviously the timing wasn’t great though with the war but it’s still something we are really keen to do, we are hoping to still get some funding and that it will still happen in the future.”

Impey said that despite everything going on in Ukraine, their passion for sport persists as the five team senior mens rugby competition continues to run.

“Their goal is to reach the 2032 Olympics in sevens, so i thought how can New Zealand help make that happen? We can be a part of reconstruction through sports diplomacy. It represents an opportunity, for New Zealand to be a visionary. “

Infrastructure in Ukraine has been significantly compromised as a result of Russian strikes, forcing Shashero to host junior camps to be held outside of the country.

“We usually do camps outside of Ukraine, in Poland and Georgia and now we go to Portugal for international tournament,” Shashero said.

Shashero and Dulia will take what they have learned home as his young side prepare to take on the best in the Northern Hemisphere.

“We have been given some fundamental things which we implement, now we have to fight to try to become the best team in the Europe. We want to show we can win against the best teams like France, Ireland, England.”

The game has come a long way in Ukraine, as Shashero vividly recalls his first trip to the European champs as a youngster where his team was soundly beaten.

“All we did was trained one week and went there and we couldn’t play well against them.”

Shashero said he has been blown away by the passion for rugby in New Zealand.

“I was at a rugby club and saw a boy maybe one years old, he cannot speak now but he already passing the ball and it’s amazing.”

Having seen some secrets behind competing on the global stage, Shashero also hopes to one day bring a Ukrainian side to Aotearoa.

“I hope that one day one will come in the future. I hope and I believe that if we prepare them for such long period, they can be on the same level with them, especially with New Zealand specialists helping us with this. I hope that it’s going to rise.”

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

While the country has been dragged into a devastating war, two Ukranians are ensuring that rugby stays alive in their home, and that young players have a potential path to safety.

Anton Shashero is coach of Ukraine’s national under-16 side, and thanks to a collaboration between some prominent rugby minds in Aotearoa, he and best friend Maksym Dulia have spent the past week in the country learning from some of the best in the business.

Shashero said the invasion has had an horrific impact on players and the sport in Ukraine.

“A lot of players from the senior national team and from the under-18 team have already died. A lot of them are in the war. In almost in every family now in Ukraine, someone have lost someone. It’s huge. It’s huge.”

He said rugby acts as a beacon for young men during dark times, and for Shashero and Dulia, it had a significant impact.

“When we were kids, rugby was everything for us. You can travel, you can have friends, you can share your moments with boys on the field and it’s the values rugby which rugby gave us.”

That path was able to be extended across the other side of the world,

“We knew that we wanted to come to New Zealand and try to learn from the best. So it was our dream.

“When our boys see that we’re here with the All Blacks, it has a huge impact for them, for their families and for everyone in Ukraine, when they see that we here, it’s big moment now for Ukraine.”

Upon arrival, the pair spent time with Sir Graham Henry, the Hurricanes and at the IRANZ institute.

The initiative is part of a broader plan to bring Ukrainian youth boys and girls teams to play in Aotearoa a joint effort between IRANZ, Henry and Brent Impey of Kiwi KARE, a foundation which provides New Zealand aid to Ukraine.

IRANZ general manager Wayne Taylor said it felt like the right thing to do.

“The country has been through a lot of hardship and sport can be something really positive, obviously the timing wasn’t great though with the war but it’s still something we are really keen to do, we are hoping to still get some funding and that it will still happen in the future.”

Impey said that despite everything going on in Ukraine, their passion for sport persists as the five team senior mens rugby competition continues to run.

“Their goal is to reach the 2032 Olympics in sevens, so i thought how can New Zealand help make that happen? We can be a part of reconstruction through sports diplomacy. It represents an opportunity, for New Zealand to be a visionary. “

Infrastructure in Ukraine has been significantly compromised as a result of Russian strikes, forcing Shashero to host junior camps to be held outside of the country.

“We usually do camps outside of Ukraine, in Poland and Georgia and now we go to Portugal for international tournament,” Shashero said.

Shashero and Dulia will take what they have learned home as his young side prepare to take on the best in the Northern Hemisphere.

“We have been given some fundamental things which we implement, now we have to fight to try to become the best team in the Europe. We want to show we can win against the best teams like France, Ireland, England.”

The game has come a long way in Ukraine, as Shashero vividly recalls his first trip to the European champs as a youngster where his team was soundly beaten.

“All we did was trained one week and went there and we couldn’t play well against them.”

Shashero said he has been blown away by the passion for rugby in New Zealand.

“I was at a rugby club and saw a boy maybe one years old, he cannot speak now but he already passing the ball and it’s amazing.”

Having seen some secrets behind competing on the global stage, Shashero also hopes to one day bring a Ukrainian side to Aotearoa.

“I hope that one day one will come in the future. I hope and I believe that if we prepare them for such long period, they can be on the same level with them, especially with New Zealand specialists helping us with this. I hope that it’s going to rise.”

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

The country would be better off burning the coal it has in reserve than building a billion-dollar liquefied natural gas terminal, a renewable energy advocate says.

The government said this week it would proceed with plans to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility in Taranaki, with the estimated $1 billion capital cost spread across all electricity users through a levy.

Energy Minister Simon Watts said that it would result in overall savings to households, because it would help to lower electricity premiums during dry years.

A rapidly declining domestic gas supply – with availability half of what was expected three years ago – had left the electricity sector exposed during such years, when hydro lakes ran low, Watts said.

Several reports, including one commissioned by the government, have found that LNG would be a feasible but costly option, and should only be used as a last resort.

Rewiring Aotearoa chief executive Mike Casey said there was no disagreement that New Zealand had a dry-year energy security issue that needed to be fixed urgently.

In the long term, large-scale renewables along with small-scale household and business solar would solve the problem, he said.

“The issue is how do we solve it in the next few years, because we can’t see what happened [in 2024] when prices spiked and businesses started shutting down.”

LNG was the wrong solution, because it had an expensive upfront capital cost and locked the country into yet another imported fossil fuel option, he said.

Instead, the country should be eyeing diesel and “our giant mountain of coal” at Huntly Power Station, Casey said.

“What’s the cheapest capital option to keep the lights on in New Zealand, keep power prices lower and to increase our energy security?

“To me, that is probably a combination of the coal seam that we already have available, the coal that we already have in the country, combined with potentially diesel peakers, which is running those peaker power plants using diesel.”

Casey acknowledged the “mild” irony of a renewables advocate pushing for coal and diesel.

“But we’re in a situation, through an energy system that hasn’t been serving New Zealanders for so long … where unfortunately we do need some fossil fuels,” he said.

“The way we get out of it is not investing in more fossil fuels, it’s using the fossil fuels that we currently use, and figuring out how to reduce that consumption as fast as we can.”

Late last year, the Commerce Commission granted permission to the four gentailers – Genesis, Meridian, Mercury and Contact – to stockpile coal at Huntly Power Station.

The government considered, and rejected, diesel peakers as an option but did not provide detailed reasons for doing so in its announcement on Tuesday.

Additional details would be available when the relevant Cabinet paper was published, a factsheet accompanying the announcement said.

Diesel was more expensive per megawatt-hour, but had “much, much cheaper” upfront capital costs, Casey said.

“I think the diesel peakers solve the dry-year problem. Marsden Point is set up – it’s already got all the cables going away from it, that’s where all the diesel comes into New Zealand.”

The peakers could then be sold when long-term energy security had been locked in through the pipeline of renewables, he said.

A Boston Consulting Group report commissioned by the gentailers last year said diesel was “easily accessed and [could be] used immediately in current facilities for generation”.

It found that LNG would be cheaper – but only if the capital cost was spread across the entire electricity system through a levy, similar to the one now proposed by the government.

“Importing LNG is then not economically justified when LNG fixed costs are recovered via fuel, knowing diesel would be cheaper and entails lower capital and infrastructure risk.”

The cost-comparison to diesel, and the projected savings to households, were not at all guaranteed, Casey said.

“The price of LNG is very volatile. We saw the prices spike massively when Russia invaded the Ukraine.”

Casey believed the government was also overstating the dry-year benefit.

“I think dry-year is also solved very conveniently with an LNG terminal, but this is really about prolonging industry use of gas, prolonging household use of gas.”

Diesel peakers would not solve that problem, and the government needed to pay attention to how to transition large industrial users off gas as fast as possible,

Analysis from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) showed about two-thirds of current industrial gas use could be electrified.

“A third of it could be electrified with no subsidy, and for the billion dollars that they’re suggesting that they put on the LNG gas terminal, that could be put towards the electification of a lot of our industry, which would free up an awful lot of our domestic supply.”

The government had “lambasted” the now-scrapped Government Investment in Decarbonising Indiusrty (GIDI) fund as corporate welfare when it was in opposition, he said.

“I can agree with that argument but on the other side of that, we’re now basically forcing New Zealand’s electricity consumers to subsidise another solution that also costs a billion dollars – and this time it’s to keep gas going for longer.”

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

JAKARTA, INDONESIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 February 2026 – 2026 marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN and the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It also coincides with the Year of the Horse in Chinese Spring Festival. On February 5, the “Steeds Herald Spring, Blessings Fill ASEAN”—Spring Festival @ ASEAN Headquarters 2026 was successfully held at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The event, supported by the Mission of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN, the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to ASEAN, and the ASEAN Secretariat, was hosted by the Information Office of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, and jointly organized by Guangxi Daily (Guangxi International Communication Center), Guangxi Radio and Television, Guangxi Tourism Development Group, and Guangxi Cultural Industry Group. More than 250 guests attended the event, including envoys from the 11 ASEAN countries and external partners such as Russia, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil, senior officials from the ASEAN Secretariat, representatives from mainstream ASEAN media, local university faculty and students, and representatives from Chinese-funded enterprises.

I. A Gathering of Distinguished Guests, Sharing a Common Vision

This marks the first time that Chinese Spring Festival cultural activities have been held at the ASEAN Headquarters. With the deepening of globalization, the traditional festival of Spring Festival is not only a time for family reunions for the Chinese people, but also a new bond for dialogue between different civilizations. The Chinese Spring Festival embodies the philosophy of “harmony and coexistence”, which aligns perfectly with the ASEAN countries’ pursuit of “unity and cooperation”. Furthermore, the sustainable development concept of “rejuvenating the old and welcoming the new” resonates strongly with the ASEAN region’s vision of “common prosperity”.

Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, stated in his video address that over time, the Spring Festival has evolved into a global celebration. Its inscription on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2024 underscores the rich significance of this precious human heritage. Within ASEAN, many member states celebrate the Spring Festival, reminding people of the deep emotional bonds that transcend national borders. ASEAN will continue its commitment to fostering a community proud of its identity, actively undertaking the responsibility of protecting, preserving, and creating culture, arts, and traditions, and promoting the development of the cultural and creative industries. As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we hope everyone will embrace the elegance, vitality, and forward momentum that the horse represents, and embark on the new year together with hope, resilience, and unity.

Wang Qing, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN, stated in his address that the Spring Festival symbolizes reunion, joy, and harmony. Celebrating the holiday together exemplifies the close bonds between the people of China and ASEAN, the integration of our civilizations, and our harmonious coexistence. The China-ASEAN community with a shared future is growing ever closer, demonstrating powerful vitality and setting an exemplary model for building a community with a shared future for mankind. He specifically noted that Guangxi serves as a vital “connection point” and “intersection point” for China-ASEAN friendship, exchanges, and cooperation, functioning as both a “gateway and engine” within the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In the new year, he extended heartfelt wishes for China-ASEAN friendship and cooperation to surge forward like galloping horses, unstoppable in its momentum.

Ambassador Sarah, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to ASEAN, noted in the address that as the Country Coordinator for China-ASEAN Relations, Malaysia has been privileged to witness and foster the flourishing development of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Cultural celebrations like today’s Spring Festival event vividly demonstrate that our partnership extends far beyond trade agreements and diplomatic protocols. ASEAN and China share a deep, mature, and resilient relationship that will continue to grow and strengthen on the solid foundation of mutual respect, shared interests, and a common vision for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Li Pan, Director of the Information Office of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, stated in his address that Guangxi is honored to host this event at the ASEAN Headquarters. As the permanent host city of the China-ASEAN Expo, Guangxi serves as an important platform for China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges. Guangxi is working with ASEAN countries to build an artificial intelligence development path of “R&D in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou + Integration in Guangxi + Application in ASEAN”, and actively creating a new trade chain of “Production in ASEAN + Distribution in Guangxi + Sales in China”. In 2026, Guangxi will work hand in hand with all sectors of ASEAN to forge ahead and strengthen the neighborly bond between China and ASEAN over time.

II. Celebrating the Spring Festival and Savoring the Festive Flavors

The event invited guests from around the world to gather together, celebrating the Spring Festival for the Year of the Horse, savoring the flavors of the Chinese Spring Festival, and appreciating the beauty of the arts. The opening performance, “The Beauty of China: Guangxi’s Zhuang Ethnic Charm”, featured a symbolic dance and connected it with a classic excerpt from the Caidiao Opera “Liu Sanjie”, including the “Antiphonal Song”, creating an artistic masterpiece that blends Eastern poetry with innovative ingenuity. The Chinese instrumental performance, “Chinese Chic Performance for Celebrating the Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse”, featured erhu and suona as the main instruments, playing classic melodies such as the theme song from “Journey to the West” and “Black Myth: Wukong”, converging into a “National Trend IP Music Festival”. When Guangxi ethnic instruments, the maguhu (horse-bone fiddle) and the bolie, met Indonesian gamelan, Chinese and Indonesian musicians jointly performed classics like “Jasmine Flower” and “Folk Songs Like Spring River Water”making the phrase “high mountains and flowing water meet a kindred spirit” more concrete and creating a lasting artistic resonance.

During the event, Guangxi Daily (Guangxi International Communication Center), Guangxi Radio and Television, together with ASEAN media such as TVRI, El John TV, and Harian Inhua, jointly launched the China-ASEAN Spring Festival Short Video Exhibition Week. Using short videos as a link, the event showcased the joyous scenes of China and ASEAN countries celebrating the Spring Festival together from multiple dimensions, inviting netizens around the world to jointly celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival as a global festival through the Internet.

III. Savoring the Cultural Gathering, Welcoming the Prosperous Spring Festival

On the same day, the “Spring Blessings for Success at the Year of the Horse” Chinese Spring Festival Cultural Exhibition and the “Instant Joy Market” Spring Festival Cultural Market were held simultaneously at the ASEAN Headquarters. Guests from various countries experienced the hospitality of “Tea Harmonies the World” through immersive experiences that included playing, appreciating, and tasting, creating “Ancient Charm and Blessings” calligraphy and painting rubbings, admiring the exquisite paper-cutting art, and enjoying a feast of Spring Festival delicacies from all directions.

The most surprising experience for the guests was exploring the smart future using Guangxi’s cutting-edge AI technology. Guests from various countries experienced intelligent translation devices and wore AR glasses, immersing themselves in barrier-free communication and exploring the thousand-year-old legend of the Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape. Hardy Chung, a reporter from Harian Inhua, remarked that China’s AI technology not only accurately depicted the beautiful scenery of the Spring Festival but also vividly expressed the touching story of ASEAN and China being connected by mountains and seas and sharing good neighborly friendship, presenting a beautiful picture of cooperation towards the future.

On February 4th, two “Instant Blessings” Pop-Up Events were held at the Halim Station of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and the Mall Central Park in Jakarta, Indonesia, creating a festive atmosphere for the Chinese Spring Festival. Performers from Guangxi presented a variety of acts including song, dance, opera, and puppetry, attracting many locals to participate in interactive activities, join in the “Guangxi Kemusan Dance”, and share the joy of the Spring Festival. Yi Yan, a social media blogger traveling and living in Indonesia, exclaimed, “This year’s Spring Festival atmosphere in Jakarta is different!”

This event attracted more than 20 media outlets, including People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China Media Group, China News Service, TVRI, METRO TV, bolong.id, and Vietnam News Agency to report on the event and widely spread the concepts of peace, amity, and harmony in the Spring Festival to people at home and abroad.

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

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

HONG KONG SAR/DUBAI, UAE – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 December 2025 – Asia Business Centre (AsiaBC), a Hong Kong-based leader in corporate services and cross-border startup consultancy, has been named “Outstanding Company Formation Services of the Year“ at the HKCT Business Awards 2025.

Presented by the Hong Kong Commercial Times (HKCT), the award recognises AsiaBC’s excellence in helping global founders establish, scale, and succeed in business hubs across Asia and the Middle East. With deep expertise in regulatory frameworks and banking ecosystems, AsiaBC helps entrepreneurs overcome market-entry challenges faced by SMEs and new ventures.

AsiaBC plays a key role in simplifying and accelerating incorporation, bank account setup, and international compliance in Hong Kong, Singapore, and offshore centres.

AsiaBC’s Expertise Solves Hong Kong Setup Challenges

Since 2009, AsiaBC has turned entrepreneurial vision into operational businesses through end-to-end support. Beyond company registration, the team guides clients through structuring, documentation, bank onboarding, tax planning, and accounting, ensuring that each step fits the business model.

AsiaBC demystifies cross-border operations by leveraging market insight and ties with over 100 banks and FinTech providers. The firm delivers reduced setup time, guaranteed bank account results under its “No Win, No Fee” programme, and proven legal readiness. One recent case saw a client complete company formation and bank account opening in Hong Kong on the same day, just before flying home. Another client, a tech startup, secured banking approval within 48 hours, enabling rapid launch into the APAC market.

AI-Powered Compliance & UAE Hub to Serve Global Founders

To better serve international entrepreneurs, AsiaBC is broadening its presence and technology.

In 2026, AsiaBC will open its first advisory hub in Dubai to support UAE entrepreneurs entering Asia. Services will include offshore company planning, tax coordination, risk assessment, and compliance across jurisdictions.

AsiaBC is also launching AI-enabled tools to make bank onboarding more predictable. A smart matching engine will analyse each client’s profile – including business model and risk category – and map it to onboarding preferences across AsiaBC’s banking network. Drawing on 6,000+ cases, this tool aims to shorten approval time and improve success rates, especially for founders under scrutiny.

“For 16 years, we’ve followed one principle: ‘Professionalism is the foundation, but solving problems is the core,’” said Raymond Wong, Managing Director. “This award affirms our commitment to outcome-driven solutions that help clients expand smoothly and sustainably.”

Championing the Entrepreneurial Spirit
AsiaBC’s client-first strategy includes:

• Tailored support from incorporation to compliance
• Guaranteed banking results
• Strong ecosystem relationships
• Multilingual support in English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Mandarin

Hashtag: #AsiaBC

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

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

The most pulsating, unpredictable and primal sport on the planet is set to deliver more chaos, drama, and stunning feats of violence in 2026.

Vicious knockouts, ingenious submissions, blood feuds, and iconic mic moments

Jonty Dine looks at the year ahead in the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation.

History at the White House

In news that feels more like a deleted scene from Idiocracy, the house in which the Emancipation Proclamation was drafted, the New Deal was conceived, and the Cuban Missile Crisis was avoided, is set to play host to cage fighting. Historically the fighting at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave has been of the verbal variety, but in 2026 the decorum will be dropped as President Donald Trump invites the UFC to his backyard.

Heavyweight score settled

The sport’s most prestigious title has been held hostage for the better part of two years as Jon Jones refused to defend his tile before finally vacating. However, continuing the curse, the long awaited unification bout between Tom Aspinall and Cyril Gane ended in a brutal eye poke, rendering Aspinall unable to continue. With the rematch all but locked in, here’s praying the fight gods finally allow for an undisputed baddest man on the planet.

Black Jag ready to pounce

New Zealand’s most promising title prospect heading into 2026 has all but guaranteed his shot at gold this year. Ulberg has been on a tear since his sole loss inside the octagon in 2021, blitzing his way through the division with a stunning nine-fight winning streak. The City Kick Boxing star can no longer be denied and a fight with champion Alex Pereira will bring together two of the most powerful strikers in the sport.

Women’s renaissance

With the Lioness back to claim her throne and a superstar arrival in Kayla Harrison, the women’s division is set for a much needed injection of excitement. Amanda Nunes relinquished her title in 2023 after conquering the MMA world, but she is back to prove the cage is only big enough for one queen of the jungle.

A Notorious return

Once the face of the sport, rewriting the book and ascending to mainstream superstardom, it’s been a depressing downfall for Conor McGregor. Since snapping his leg in a round two TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021, the Irishman has not stepped back into the cage, indulging in the party lifestyle he once described as ‘weakness for the soul.’ It’s been a disastrous few years for the former double champ, and with his stock at an all time low, a return to the octagon remains his only hope of redemption.

Poatan’s treble

Without a doubt the most exciting man in the sport today, Alex Pereira’s rise came in devastating fashion as he left a trail of destruction in his wake. Having surged through both middleweight and light heavyweight, Poatan could yet pull off the greatest feat in mixed martial arts history and become a three division champion in the worlds biggest combat sports organisation with a move to heavyweight.

Kiwi comeback

Titles are likely out of reach now for three of the greatest kiwis to enter the cage in Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker and Kai Kara-France. However, the trio still have plenty of fight in the tank and all popular with the fan base. Adesanya is set to make his comeback in March against Joe Pyfer following his brutal KO loss at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov. In the twilight of his fight career, Adesanya will want to go out on his feet.

Hooker BMF

Few fighters embody the BMF life quite like New Zealand’s Dan Hooker. The Hangman has stood toe to toe with the best lightweights in the world and has engaged in some of the bloodiest battles in UFC history, most notably, his war with Dustin Poirier. Hooker vs Max Holloway for the BMF title would be a savage exhibition of violence, exactly what the belt was born to represent.

The Prates problem

Current pound for pound king Islam Makachev made an underwhelming welterweight debut despite stealing the strap from Jack Della Maddalena through a suffocating grappling performance, fans will be desperate for some fireworks during his title reign and Brazilian boogeyman Carlos Prates, who has won all his UFC fights by way of knockout, could be just the spark.

Talbot’s time

Bantamweight looked set for a long reigning champion in Merab Dvalishvili who had three effortless defences in the bank and was nearing GOAT status. However, Russia’s Petr Yan put an emphatic end to Dvalishvili’s dominance with a stunning upset in December, taking back the title he loss via disqualification in 2022. Fresh off his win over another former champ in Henry ‘Triple C’ Cejudo, fan favourite Payton Talbot presents a thrilling challenge to the new division king.

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

By Brad Lendon, CNN

The world passed a nuclear milestone this week. And, perhaps surprisingly given the recent run of saber-rattling from the likes of Russia and the United States, it’s a positive one.

“As of today, the world has gone eight years, four months, and 11 days without a nuclear test … From now on, every day without a nuclear explosion will set a new record,” Dylan Spaulding, senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), wrote in a blog post Wednesday noting the milestone.

Wednesday’s (local time) watershed means the planet has seen its longest period without a nuclear explosion since the dawn of the nuclear era on 16 July , 1945, when the US exploded an atomic device in Alamogordo, New Mexico – the Trinity test – leading up to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, near the end of World War II.

North Korea conducted the world’s last nuclear test on 3 September 2017.

The previous longest period without a test was from May 30, 1998, when Pakistan conducted its last test, to 3 October, 2006, when North Korea conducted its first.

Spaulding cautions how fragile this “winning streak” has become, given threats by US President Donald Trump to resume nuclear testing.

“Reopening this Pandora’s box is both unnecessary and unwise,” Spaulding wrote.

“Unrestrained tests lead to competition, instability, and a degree of uncertainty that can scarcely be afforded on top of our existing global precarity,” he wrote.

In another warning sign, Trump has said he’s willing to allow the expiration on 5 February of a US-Russia treaty that caps the number of deployable nuclear weapons each side has.

Russia maintains the world’s biggest stockpile of nuclear weapons with more than 4300, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The US has about 3700, with Moscow and Washington together accounting for 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons, the SIPRI says.

Decades of nuclear testing

Since the Trinity test, the world has seen 2055 nuclear tests by eight nations, according to the Arms Control Association.

The US has conducted the most tests – 1030, followed by Russia/USSR, 715; France, 210; China and the UK, 45; North Korea, six; India, three; and Pakistan, two.

Those tests have occurred in places ranging from Pacific atolls to deserts in the US and China to the Russian Arctic, often with heavy tolls on human and environmental health.

Widespread nuclear testing stopped in the late 1990s, when the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was opened for signature.

Though it’s never come into force – mainly because the US signed but never ratified it – nations have largely abided by its conditions, with the exception of North Korea, which has been regarded as a rogue state and put under United Nations sanctions.

And since that 2017 test at North Korea’s Punggye-ri test site, much of the world has been on watch for Kim Jong Un to conduct another, given his enormous investment in a missile program that has given him weapons capable of reaching the continental US.

But in recent months, attention has turned to Washington and Moscow as Trump and subsequently Russian leader Vladimir Putin have threatened to restart nuclear testing in their countries.

The US last tested a nuclear weapon on 23 September, 1992. And Russia last exploded a nuclear device in 1990, when it was still the Soviet Union.

New threats to test

During a visit to South Korea in October, Trump vowed to begin testing US nuclear weapons “on an equal basis” with Russia and China, saying he had instructed the Defense Department to begin immediate preparations for such testing.

A week after Trump’s announcement, on November 5, Putin directed the Russian military to begin preparing for weapons tests.

Nuclear weapons tests are conducted to gauge the effects of new advances in the bombs or to ensure existing weapons will still work if fired.

Spaulding and other scientists say it’s all unnecessary. That’s because the nuclear powers now have the technology to conduct “sub-critical” tests, which can mimic a nuclear process right up to the point of detonation.

“Advanced nuclear states are technically well beyond the point of exploring whether their weapons will detonate reliably,” he wrote.

Any US testing now brings into question whether Washington has been a reliable steward of its huge nuclear arsenal, according to Spaulding.

“While the Trump administration may view a test as a contribution to deterrence, it may actually have the opposite effect by projecting an irreconcilable lack of confidence in the US stockpile,” he said.

START treaty to lapse

The fears of renewed nuclear testing are being exacerbated by the impending lapse of the New Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (START), implemented in 2011, which limits the number of nuclear warheads the US and Russia can deploy to 1550.

According to a report this week from the Union of Concerned Scientists, those numbers could spike quickly after 5 February.

“Within weeks, the United States could field another 480 nuclear weapons at bomber bases. Within months, it could load almost 1000 additional nuclear warheads onto submarines. And within years, it could load an additional 400 nuclear warheads onto land-based missiles. Russia could do the same, increasing the stakes of political tension and the possibility of deeply catastrophic miscalculations,” the UCS said.

“Both Russia and the United States already have more than enough nuclear weapons to devastate each other many times over. Adding more to the mix increases the chances of an accident, and the consequences of miscalculation or escalation,” said report author Jennifer Knox, a policy and research analyst at the UCS.

START has been on shaky ground since 2023, when Putin suspended Russian participation in it, citing among other reasons US support for Ukraine in the aftermath of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour.

Moscow has stopped allowing verification inspections, and the US has reciprocated.

But the Russian leader last September offered to extend observance of START’s limits by a year after 5 February.

Trump, however, seems inclined to let it lapse.

“If it expires, it expires,” he said. “We’ll do a better agreement,” he told The New York Times earlier this month, while indicating China should be part of any new pact.

So in this record-setting week, there is more unease than celebration among those who watch nuclear proliferation closely.

“While the world has quietly broken a record for the longest period of time without a nuclear test, it is clear that this stability is fragile,” the UCS’s Spaulding wrote.

– CNN

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

Summer would normally be a quiet period for The Gold Exchange in Wellington.

But this year there has been no let-up.

Visitors are buying 50 silver coins at a time, and orders for gold are running hot, even as prices continue to rise.

Gold was selling for just over $8000 an ounce on Wednesday morning and silver, $153.

Silver prices rose 150 percent in 2025 while gold rose by 65 percent.

“We have a lot of people buying quite large quantities lately,” sales manager Eli O’Donnell said.

Activity had picked up through last year and continued rolling, he said.

“It’s been non-stop really. It’s usually a quiet period for us around January but it’s been flat out at the moment. My colleague and I have been having a lot of fun.”

Many people were those who were new to buying gold and silver, he said.

He said silver could be a bit difficult to source because of the high level of demand.

“What’s available and in comparison to what’s this year’s volume that’s being purchased around the country right now. It’s a little tricky but there is availability … we can definitely look at supplying the majority of orders that come through, it’s still not a problem, you might just have to wait a little while.”

Rupert Carlyon, founder of Kōura KiwiSaver, said demand for precious metals was being driven by concern about inflation and fears about the US dollar.

“Post Russia-Ukraine, everyone is scared of what’s happening, that they’ll have all their USD-denominated assets taken away. That’s why we’re seeing central banks starting to buy more gold. Russia and China are starting to move back into the gold world.”

He said exchange-traded funds were also making it easy for retail investors to purchase.

“It doesn’t require huge changes in buying patterns for there to be market swings in prices. It’s a volatile asset.”

That volatility was why people should not put too much of their money into precious metals, he said, although it could work as a diversifier in a portfolio. “We’ve chosen bitcoin as an alternative to gold because we see more upside.”

Neale Muston, Excalibur Trading principal, agreed gold was traditionally a haven for people worried about geopolitical and inflation issues.

Silver was cheaper but had recently been the subject of more global demand, he said.

“Much of this global demand is hype and influencer-driven paranoia about government debt and paper currencies globally – particularly the United States – becoming worthless, the US dollar losing its reserve status, and the US Administration’s shift from being a somewhat benevolent global player, to a far more disruptive actor.

“It seems clear that momentum is swelling from a far broader investor base for both gold and silver, despite neither paying interest to an investor holding them.”

BNZ chief economist Mike Jones said it was hard to isolate the exact driver of the recent activity.

“Some of the more likely candidates include central banks diversifying more of their reserves into gold, speculative activity, and more general demand for assets perceived as offering safe-haven characteristics.

“I think this safe-haven demand, particularly as an alternative to the US dollar, has become more prominent this year as geopolitical risk has become even more elevated and markets have worried about the independence of the Federal Reserve.”

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

The Cook Islands says a US sanctioned oil tanker is falsely using their country’s identifiers to evade capture.

The Bertha, which flew under the Cooks flag for almost nine months in 2024, is among at least 16 vessels that have reportedly attempted to evade US blockades in Venezuela.

The New York Times reported the Bertha, under the false name of Ekta, has been located by US authorities in the Carribean, but has yet to be captured.

Others have either been captured, or have spoofed (turned off) their signals to evade tracking, the NYT reported.

A major American naval blockade on Venezuela’s energy exports was introduced last month.

The Bertha was sanctioned for transportation of Iranian crude oil in December 2024, less than a month after it was deregistered by Maritime Cook Islands in November.

“It appears that Bertha is continuing to use Cook Islands identifiers (MMSI 518999103 and Call Sign E5U5084) in her Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmissions.” the authority said in a statement today.

This deceptive practice enables the vessel to show falsely as being registered with the Cook Islands on commercial tracking platforms.”

Numerous Cooks-flagged ships have been identified with Russia’s “shadow fleet” of vessels illicitly trading in Russian and Iranian crude oil.

Maritime Cook Islands said vessels within the “shadow fleet” are usually deceptive in their location signalling through Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmissions. This typically includes spoofing locations and broadcasting false vessel identities.

MarineTraffic.com, which lists the Bertha under the Cooks flag, reported the vessels last location near the Gulf of Guinea on December 23rd.

The Cook Islands Maritime Authority has been approached for further comment.

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

New Zealand is an active participant in the Coalition of the Willing – but sending troops to support a ceasefire in Ukraine would need cabinet sign off, the Foreign Ministry says.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed to RNZ that New Zealand was represented at the meeting in Paris overnight by the ambassador to France Caroline Bilkey.

The meeting resulted in a joint declaration setting out that that Britain, France and European allies would deploy peacekeeping troops in Ukraine if a ceasefire with Russia was secured.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said this would include the UK and France establishing military hubs, which could also store weapons and military equipment.

The declaration was hailed as “more than just words” by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, who named New Zealand and Australia in his speech.

The ministry said New Zealand welcomed progress made towards negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.

“We welcome recent progress made towards negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.

“Any lasting peace will require robust security guarantees for Ukraine which was a key focus of the discussions at the latest meeting held in Paris. New Zealand supports the ongoing efforts of the Coalition.

“New Zealand is an active participant in the Coalition of the Willing discussions but contributions to post-conflict security efforts would require a Cabinet decision.”

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

Explainer – The hackers behind the cyber attack on Manage My Health have a track record of targeting other institutions – from the Nepali police to a US medical records company.

The cyber attack on Manage My Health has dominated local headlines since New Year’s Eve.

The ransomware group behind the attack, Kazu, demanded $US60,000 after hundreds of thousands of medical files were stolen from the country’s largest patient portal.

More than 120,000 of its users have been affected by the massive data breach.

It was believed the deadline to pay expired at 5.37am on Tuesday, however unverified reports now appear to put the new deadline at 5am on Friday morning. The hacker has not leaked any further data since initially releasing a sample of the stolen documents on December 30.

But who are Kazu? And just how prolific are the hackers?

Firstly, it’s unclear if Kazu is a single hacker or a group.

In July 2025, a digital forensics and cyber security company in Nepal reported a hacker going by the name Kazu allegedly stole 1.4TB of data from the Nepali Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, including student information and academic transcripts.

The company, Cyber Alert Nepal, reported the data was posted publicly after demands were ignored.

Nepali media reported that local police lost photos, passports, and personal identification information of Nepali citizens in another hack.

Four months later, the Doctor Alliance in Dallas, Texas, was targeted, after a hacker – also calling themselves Kazu – claimed to have stolen 1.24 million files, demanding $US200,000 as ransom, according to an American HIPAA Journal.

The journal also said Kazu had targeted victims in Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Iran, Mauritania, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Venezuela.

A ransomware tracking website also claimed Kazu had targeted the Colombian National Civil Service Commission, as well as companies in Saudi Arabia and the UK.

A messaging platform attributed to Kazu lists a number of prior targets from 2025.

The channel appears to include the leaks from Nepal, and the Doctor Alliance, as well as the Colombian Ombudsman, the Thai Department of Agricultural Extension, the Kuwait Ministry of Public Works, and the Bolivian Navy and many more.

Alleged samples of the data have also been posted on the channel.

There was also a post from 6 January, in which Kazu wrote ‘Free Nicolás Maduro !!!!!’, following the capture of the Venezuelan President by the United States last week.

The author of the account claims to be in Cuba, according to a now deleted post.

Meanwhile in New Zealand, Manage My Health has been granted a High Court injunction preventing anyone from accessing or sharing the stolen data.

All posts referring to the Manage My Health hack have been removed from an account purporting to be used by Kazu on Wednesday morning.

Official advice from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet strongly discouraged paying out ransoms to cyber criminals, and urged anyone targeted to report ransoms to the relevant agencies.

Cabinet agreed government agencies would not pay cyber ransoms.

“Paying a ransom does not guarantee the end of an incident, or the removal of malicious software. It does not guarantee that you will get your data back.

“Paying a ransom does create a financial incentive for criminals to continue or expand their activities, including potentially targeting you again.”

The government said any payments to a group operating from a sanctioned state may violate the Russia Sanctions Act 2022 or the United Nations Act 1946.

Those in breach face up to seven years in prison and/or a fine of $100,000 for individuals, and a fine of up to $1 million for organisations.

When asked by RNZ if they had encountered Kazu before, police said they were not in a position to provide comment.

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

A Venezuelan woman living in New Zealand says her family and friends in Venezuela are happy – but anxious – about the move by the United States to capture the Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

Ari Ruiz and her sister Katherine Halkett have both lived in New Zealand for more than 10 years.

Ruiz said she rang her parents in Venezuela this morning to tell them the news, and her mother broke into happy tears.

Ruiz said her parents hoped this will be the first step towards change for the country.

“There has also been a lot of uncertainty about what comes next,” said Katherine Halkett.

“I think that is where a lot of the anxiety comes from, but the mood in Venezuela, of most Venezuelans, is of happiness and hope. The attacks started at about 8 o’clock (pm) New Zealand time, and we haven’t stopped watching the news since and it very scary.”

Halkett said their parents are in Barquisimeto – about five hours drive from Caracas where the attacks were – and knew nothing of the attacks until their phone call.

Other friends and family members who live in Caracas had a very different experience.

“None of them were in any danger at any point, but there were loud noises, windows shaken by the explosion, and smoke. Very scary of course.”

Halkett said America’s reasons for the attack may be complicated, but she said people who say it was all about oil did not understand the situation in Venezuela.

“To all the people in New Zealand, from the comfort of their couches with all their human rights, I tell them that we in Venezuela have not had access to the petroleum money from the Venezuelan government for many years.

“They have given away our petrol to Iran, to Cuba, to Russia, to China. So for them now to be worried about our petrol when we haven’t had our petrol for many years.

“That’s why Venezuelans are not really worried about that.”

Halkett said people in New Zealand were worried about what will happen with the petrol, but not the torture, state violence and political detainees.

Halkett said about 90 percent of the population lived in poverty, with about half the population in extreme poverty.

“My mum’s pension is $US4 a month, and box of 20 eggs is $US10, so people are dying,” said Ruiz. “People don’t have access to food.”

Ruiz said their family and friends say the streets have been very quiet, and it felt as if everyone was waiting to see what will happen next.

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

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made the government’s first statement following the US military action against Venezuela, saying New Zealand is “concerned”.

On Saturday, the US attacked the Venezuelan capital Caracas and captured the South American nation’s president and his wife, citing alleged drug offences.

US President Donald Trump said in the meantime, the US would “run” the country, which has some of the world’s largest oil reserves.

“New Zealand is concerned by and actively monitoring developments in Venezuela and expects all parties to act in accordance with international law,” Peters said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), using the official Minister of Foreign Affairs account.

New Zealand is concerned by and actively monitoring developments in Venezuela and expects all parties to act in accordance with international law.  New Zealand stands with the Venezuelan people in their pursuit of a fair, democratic and prosperous future.

We continue to advise…

— Winston Peters (@NewZealandMFA) January 3, 2026

“New Zealand stands with the Venezuelan people in their pursuit of a fair, democratic and prosperous future.

“We continue to advise that New Zealanders do not travel to Venezuela. New Zealanders requiring urgent consular assistance can contact the 24/7consular emergency line on +64 99 20 20 20.”

The military action comes after months of accusations from the Trump administration that Venezuela has been shipping narcotics into the US, but Trump has made no secret of his desire to access Venezuela’s natural reserves.

“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure,” he said. “We’ll be selling large amounts of oil.”

The United Nations is set to have an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the action, which has recieved both praise and condemnation from world leaders.

Invasion unlawful – expert

International law expert Professor Alexander Gillespie of the University of Waikato said while it was “very good that Peters has called upon all countries to ‘act in accordance with international law’”, he was curious to know whether Peters believed the US action was lawful or not, or if Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro had diplomatic immunity.

In theory, Gillespie said it appeared the US military action was unlawful.

“You can only attack another country in times of self-defence and that situation must be urgent, proportionate in action, and no alternative to the use of force,” he told RNZ via email.

“Trump is not wrong to be concerned about the problem of illegal drugs and transnational criminal/terrorist groups, but the pretext of illegal drugs in this area is fanciful; where the ‘war on drugs’ has turned into something completely different. To say it is self-defence stretches the doctrine way beyond what it has previously been understood as.”

But it was unlikely Trump would face any legal retaliation, as the US has a veto on the UN Security Council and would “just laugh” at the prospect of being taken to the International Court of Justice.

Gillespie said there was a risk the US arrest of another country’s president would give others such as Russia, China and Iran “a green light to intervene in countries they disapprove of unilaterally – without going through the UN”.

“It will be a small step for countries like China to take Taiwan on this precedent; or Russia to push even harder into Ukraine.”

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

An Auckland woman who is self-funding treatment for her rare, aggressive breast cancer is fed up after years of asking the government to fund a “life-saving” medicine for more patients.

Catherine Cook, 54, was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) in November 2024 after her yearly mammogram.

Cook sold her business to pay for Keytruda (also known as pembrolizumab), the only targeted treatment to fight TNBC, given to patients alongside chemotherapy.

Around 10 to 15 percent of breast cancer diagnoses are triple negative, and it is the most challenging type of breast cancer to treat – particularly at the advanced stages, according to Breast Cancer NZ.

But despite Keytruda being recommended by Medsafe for both early and advanced stage of TNBC over two years ago, it had only been funded for advanced patients – not for patients like Cook with early-stage TNBC.

All up, Cook said she expected to pay about $100,000 for Keytruda, with one cycle every three weeks costing her $3000.

“We put the house and the business on the market to see if one or both would go. We ended up selling the business at a $700,000 loss because we simply couldn’t afford to pay for a business and treatment at the same time.

“It’s absolutely devastating. The guilt that I feel, I mean, basically, I’ve worked my whole life pretty much for nothing.”

Keytruda is funded for early stage TNBC in more than 40 countries, including Australia, the UK and Canada.

In New Zealand, Keytruda is only funded for patients with advanced TNBC, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma.

“You get this diagnosis, and you would think there’s treatment available because it’s standard worldwide to give people Keytruda for early-stage TNBC, and to not have it here is absolutely gut-wrenching,” Cook said.

“I had to make a decision to either pay to live or not pay and go Russian roulette, which is what most people have to do. Right now, only a handful, a minority with money, can access treatment through the private health care system.”

In November 2025, Cooke presented a 17,000-signature strong petition to widen access to funded Keytruda to the Petitions Select Committee.

She said the committee told her Keytruda for early-stage TNBC had been placed on the Options for Investments List, but there was no timeline for when or if it would be publicly funded.

She said she was told it could take up to a year for an update.

“That absolutely blew me away. In fact, it left me distraught and in tears, wondering why I’d even turned up.

“All we’re doing is moving a chess piece on the board. I want to know what the actual plan is.

“But I have to have hope that now it’s on the investment list for funding, the problem sits with the government and not with Pharmac.”

In November 2025, Pharmac [​https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/577655/pharmac-could-trim-list-of-medicines-awaiting-funding said it was considering trimming the list of over 100 medicines awaiting funding] to provide patients with more clarity.

Cook said she wanted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to meet with her in person.

“I want to sit down with her woman-to-woman to let her know that early intervention not only saves lives but will save the government money long-term.

“Dragging people on a journey where they can’t afford treatment and have to be a burden on the health system, the mental health system and welfare, is costing the government a huge amount of money.

“Nicola, if saving lives is not your top priority – which it should be, – let me show you how to save money.”

The Breast Cancer Foundation’s head of research and strategic programmes Mehdi Shahbazpour said New Zealand was missing an opportunity to save lives by not treating breast cancer earlier.

He said, unlike other countries, New Zealand only had funding to extend the life of breast cancer patients who had reached an advanced, incurable stage.

Kisqali (also known as ribociclib), a treatment for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, started being funded for early stage patients in Australia in 2025. But in New Zealand, it was also only funded for advanced patients.

“A lot more targeted therapies are the standard of care internationally. Women have had access to these medicines funded in comparable nations for many years,” Shahbazpour said.

“If we get more funding for medicine for early breast cancer patients, we actually have an opportunity to reduce the chance of cancer coming back and spreading to the rest of the body and making it terminal.”

“Time is the enemy of breast cancer patients. This is our best chance to contain the cancer as early as possible.”​

Shahbazpour said the government needed to ensure Pharmac had the budget it needed, so women like Catherine were not forced to fork out thousands of dollars or go without.

“We have a medicines crisis. We are way behind comparable nations when it comes to funding medicines.

“It’s costing lives and destroying lives. People have to put their homes up for a mortgage or go to Australia to afford these life-saving medicines through private channels.”

In a statement, Pharmac pharmaceuticals director Adrienne Martin told RNZ they could not give any indication of when or if Keytruda specifically would be funded for early stage TNBC, or where it was ranked on the Options for Investment List.

“We understand how difficult it can be when someone is living with a serious health condition and needs access to medicines. We acknowledge there is a high unmet health need for people with breast cancer and a need for more effective treatments.

“Our team works hard to fund as many medicines as possible using the best available clinical evidence, expert advice, and the lived experiences of New Zealanders.

“In September, following a petition from a member of the public, Pharmac was invited to present a submission to the Petitions Select Committee. In the submission, Pharmac confirmed that it was close to finishing its assessment of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for early-stage triple negative breast cancer. After this, the application would be ranked on Pharmac’s Options for Investment List (OFI).

“Pharmac’s submission also included information about the length of time it had taken for the medication to be added to the OFI. The assessment process began in 2023, and the medicine was added to the OFI in 2025.

“We noted in our submission that when this funding application was considered by Pharmac’s Cancer Treatments Advisory Committee in October 2023, the Committee recommended that this medicine be funded for people with early-stage triple negative breast cancer with a low priority. This information was provided to help explain the length of time the assessment process had taken.”

In New Zealand, women between the ages of 45 and 69 years can get free breast screening every two years.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Pharmac Minister David Seymour both declined to comment directly.

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

The near year has started with a bang across the country.

In Auckland, more than half a tonne of fireworks launched high up the Sky Tower.

Thousands poured into the central city after streets were closed to get a prime viewing spot for the five minute display that had taken half a year of planning.

Bipin Bhattarai and his family from Whangārei came prepared with camping chairs.

“We do a lot of camping, so why not?!” he said.

“We just take this all the time in our car so we’re just making use of it.”

He had only seen Auckland’s New Year fireworks on YouTube and said before they were let off that they looked “amazing”.

“So hopefully it will be nice this time as well.”

For others, it was a temporary homecoming.

Chris, who lives in Australia caring for her grand-daughter, also got a perfect spot near the base of the Sky Tower and had never come to see the fireworks before.

“No, never, I think it will be fabulous.”

But she was expecting more people, she said.

As it got closer to midnight, more people flooded in leaving standing room only on Victoria Street from Albert Park up to the tower.

Tourists were among them, a pair in the country from the UK had come from New Plymouth to see the fireworks.

There was also a group from Las Vegas armed with celebratory horns who took to dancing in the street.

“We travelled here for Christmas and family time,” one of the group said.

“We’ve never been and it was a long trip but it was worth it.”

Another in the group said they heard the excitement would be in the central city.

“So we came out, we wanted to bring some energy and this is a fun place to be to celebrate New Year’s Eve.”

Carnival on capital’s Courtenay Place

Wellington’s entertainment strip, Courtenay Place, was also partly closed to traffic and turned into a carnival zone for the night.

Kushla Pullman (aka Little Red Riding Hood) and husband Keith (the Big Bad Wolf) came from Wairarapa with their friends Chloe and Lee Dancey to see in the New Year.

“We actually dressed up because it’s meant to be a dress up party – it said that online – but nobody else is!”

Amid the hedonism of party central, Derryn and Chris Hunt from Palmerston North were enjoying a cold one of the cone variety.

“My New Year’s resolution is to eat healthier,” Chris said. “Hopes and dreams for 2026? For the war in Ukraine and Russia to end soon, that’s one of my bigger ones.”

Seven-year-old Naiya, who was at Whairepo Lagoon for the Kids’ Countdown, also had high hopes for 2026: “I hope there’s lots of fruit in my garden.”

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

2024 set a high bar to beat when it came to things being generally weird, but 2025 comfortably rose to the occasion.

That was perhaps a certainty set in motion late last year, when Americans took a look around and decided four more years of chaos was just what the world needed.

Things were no less unpredictable at home either, with no shortage of strange news filed by RNZ’s own reporters in the past 12 months.

January

It didn’t take long for the first ‘I cannot believe this is an actual headline’ news time to appear, with ‘Kiwi Water Park owner feels “victimised” by iPhone weather app’ appearing before midday on 1 January.

A few days later Meta scrambled to delete AI characters it put on Instagram after it emerged “proud black queer Momma” Liv was actually the creation of a dozen people, most of them white men and none of them Black. Another, presenting himself as a “warm grandpa”, eventually admitted he was nothing more than “a heart of algorithms and profit-driven design”. And before it had a chance to cry tears in rain, Brian too joined Roy Batty in silicon heaven.

Then we had a report of a fun new thing to do in the capital – go on a “tour of sites of murder, execution, suffering”. Should probably mention the tour focused on historical events, not the present day.

Later in the month RNZ met a woman whose “bread and butter” was removing cockroaches from people’s ears, and a mayor so fed up with his own council he removed a view-blocking abandoned double trailer unit himself.

A man in Invercargill was arrested after choosing to rob perhaps the worst possible victims – a group of elite cyclists.

You’d think selling a house once inhabited by a globally adored singer like Adele would be easy, right? Not if she once suggested the place was haunted, apparently.

In Napier, a woman was embarrassed to tell her visitors to find her house on ‘Pornwall Road’ after someone changed the C to a P. “It’s blatant unnecessary exposure to crude words,” a local shop owner said.

And rounding out an eventful first month of 2025 was a report that concluded the New Zealand economy would be significantly smaller if we didn’t drink so much beer.

February

“I’d ask if she could change her name for starters,” rising MMA fighter Taylor Swift told CNN, sick of the jokes and sniggers that greeted his every entrance.

New Zealand First MP Shane Jones, fresh off yelling “send the Mexicans home” in Parliament, dug a deeper hole by saying he’d had “exciting nocturnal experiences with the Latin American people” then offered the ambassador a shot of tequila.

Scientists in Italy came up with what they claimed to be the perfect way to boil an egg, unconcerned their method required more than half an hour of constant attention.

Saturday Morning spoke to a woman who had lived nearly a decade without using money who was beginning to wonder how she was going to pay a for a much-needed dentist appointment.

‘Africa’ by Toto this month was declared the ‘perfect’ song by a group of presumably tone-deaf neurologists and music enthusiasts.

On 27 February, RNZ reported on a woman who had given birth on a flight from Auckland to New Plymouth. Sadly for the baby, its arrival happened after the plane had landed, so its birth certificate will always say ‘New Plymouth’.

Meanwhile in Hamilton, people are “defecating, hanging clothes lines, taking drugs, begging and displaying threatening behaviour” in the city centre, but it’s those taking showers in the Garden Place fountains that really ground one councillor’s gears.

March

In March, England’s top cricketing body was forced to apologise for a joke about the pope that failed to hit the stumps, claiming his heartfelt post about an important day on the Catholic calendar was actually about a cricket match.

Government coalition partner New Zealand First announced it wanted to “remove woke ‘DEI’ regulations” from legislation that it helped put into place five years ago, despite its own constitution urging diversity in candidate selection. Amazingly, this wasn’t even the party’s most circus-level flip-flop this year (more on that below).

The ACT Party took offence at a social media post by Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi that said his lawns were getting a “good f… hiding” because he was treating them like David Seymour.

Speaking of Seymour, in March his much-maligned school lunch programme delivered a lunch consisting of simply just a single bread roll.

April

The second Trump administration’s tough new tariffs spared virtually no one, even slapping a 10 percent levy on “a barren sub-Antarctic Australian territory without a human population, but four different species of penguin”. The president then posted an AI-generated picture of himself as the pope (and that wasn’t even the most offensive of his posts this year).

Meanwhile in Wellington, about 700 people squashed together on Cuba Street to watch a man fold a fitted sheet.

In Queensland, a woman gave birth to someone else’s baby after the wrong embryo was implanted.

A Far North man’s foot was lost in the mail, or possibly stolen.

A Napier man running on the lime paths in Ahuriri was “a bit shocked” to see a few dozen cows break into an estuary for a paddle.

The US Navy lost a $100m jet when it literally fell off the side of an aircraft carrier.

May

Insert your own ‘but would you want to?’ reply here, but in May researchers decided to find out if it was possible to survive a nuclear war in Palmerston North.

Chinese scientists were looking into far more important matters, like if it was possible to use AI to speak to a cat.

The US Navy lost a second jet off the same aircraft carrier it did in April.

The Livestock Improvement Corporation’s hall of fame for cattle that sire children received only its second female entry in 70 years, following 59 males and just one other female.

An Auckland kitten used up one of its nine lives when it was found in the bonnet of a vehicle travelling down one of the city’s motorways.

Some Southland Hospital staff were told they could only talk to each other for a maximum of five minutes a day.

Japan’s tourism industry took a hit mid-year when psychics, inspired by a comic book, began predicting a huge disaster.

Mutton Birds singer Don McGlashan had his biggest hit in years at the Aotearoa Music Awards when he told National MP Chris Bishop to “shut up”, calling him a “dickhead” for heckling a performance by Stan Walker. Later in the year he told RNZ he would have said “honourable dickhead” if he knew it was a government minister he was speaking to.

May ended the way every month should, with a truck crash that results in the release of 250 million bees.

June

At the start of June, the first Tasman War broke out with an Australian Navy attack on New Zealand communications infrastructure. Okay, perhaps that’s twisting the truth a bit – but the HMS Canberra did ‘accidentally’ knock out internet and radio transmission across parts of New Zealand. There was no apology noted in the story, so tensions remain high.

Two men were jailed for stealing an 18-carat golden toilet called ‘America’, on exhibition at the birthplace of Winston Churchill.

Aussies complained they had been fooled into buying ‘teacup’ pigs that grow into enormous hogs.

In a scene that would make John Cleese proud, a British man robbed a post office armed only with a banana.

Nelson began wondering whether displaying one of only two statues in the world of disgraced former US President Richard Nixon was on-brand for the city.

July

The second half of the year began with the Dalai Lama announcing that unlike the recently deceased Pope Francis, he planned to live well beyond 130.

After successfully reviving Lord of the Rings, the Beatles and nimbyism, Sir Peter Jackson in July said he was investing money into efforts to bring back the moa.

Some people might that’s cool – but at least thanks to scientists in Chile, we now have a way to test it.

Trump’s silliest utterance of July (at least in front of cameras) was telling the president of a country whose national language is English that he spoke good English.

Did you know the big bang’s source was found this year? In Wellington Hospital, of all places? Okay, might have been a slightly smaller big bang.

Moviegoers at Auckland’s Hollywood Cinema were blindsided by a “baffling” and “uncomfortable” AI-generated video of Russell Crowe as a medieval monk on a 14th century pilgrimage to “the Hollow Wood”, a medieval cinema “established by the first European settlers in 1349AD”.

A real video that made headlines in July was the infamous affair caught on the big screen at a Coldplay concert.

Good news! Asteroid 2024 YR4 in July was confirmed to not be on a collision course with the Earth. Instead, it might hit the moon.

August

A senior public servant’s remains were taken to his government department’s office for a memorial service.

A woman who bought a bag of potatoes and found a rock in it was told by the Pak’nSave she bought it from she could keep it.

The Ministry of Education canned a book for young rangatahi readers because it had too many Māori words,

Also in August, the government confirmed for the small price of $671 million, it had locked in a contract to receive no ferries at all.

New obesity research from Auckland University found a single pill of ‘good’ faecal bacteria could significantly improve a patient’s health.

And is anything sacred? A low fat yoghurt won NZ’s best ice cream award this year.

In Morocco the coolest-ever dinosaur skeleton was found, “lavishly adorned with armour and spikes”.

September

The month began with a multimillionaire businessman making a “huge mistake”, caught on camera snatching a tennis star’s hat from a child at the US Open.

Looking to one-up the Dalai Lama, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were caught on a hot mic discussing organ transplants and the possibility that humans could live to 150 years old.

Argentina police recovered a painting stolen by the Nazis decades ago after it was spotted in a real estate photo.

Too much time on the porcelain throne can make you nearly 50 percent more likely to develop haemorrhoids, scientists confirmed.

In 1995, Mount Ruapehu exploded in spectacular fashion, triggering a somewhat haphazard emergency response – but reminiscing to RNZ at the 30th anniversary, one volcanologist admitted it was the “best day of my life”.

This month’s dumbest Trump-adjacent news emerged in the final week, when a statue of the president and his old party buddy Jeffrey Epstein was erected in front of the US Capitol.

That same day, the following quote appeared in a legit, real news story: “I believe adding more sausages to the situation will certainly improve our democracy rather than harm it.” Cannot be explained succinctly, you’ll have to read the whole story.

The month ended with the head of the FBI giving the head of the NZ Police an illegal 3D-printed firearm.

October

Nico the Great, a literal cat burglar in Hamilton, since June was reported to have stolen more than 200 items – “many of them women’s undies.”

Canadian rapper Drake lost a legal battle with his own record label, which released a song by a rival artist that called him a “certified paedophile”.

Russia proposed building a tunnel between itself and the United States.

And Trump (you thought we’d get through a month without him?) told former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd what a lot of Australians have probably always wanted to tell him: “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will.”

A surfboard lost in Tasmania’s in 2024 washed up thousands of kilometres away in Raglan.

For reasons probably indeterminable, Dictionary.com decided to reveal its word of the ‘year’ at the end of October, and even more baffling, they awarded it to two numbers – six and seven, or as the kids have been saying, ‘six-seven’.

November

Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood casually walked in and surprised a Rotorua couple at their Hobbit-themed wedding at the Hobbiton movie set in Waikato.

‘Prank star’ Daniel Jarvis lined up with the Kangaroos during the national anthems before the second Ashes Test in Liverpool, and was arrested.

Paris unveiled a lottery with a macabre twist: Instead of a cash, entrants could win the right to share cemetery space with Doors singer Jim Morrison and writer Oscar Wilde.

Leroy Carter’s dream All Blacks call-up nearly turned sour when he discovered his passport had been chewed up by his dog, days before leaving for Argentina.

The funniest story of November was no doubt the brazen Louvre heist, specifically when it emerged one of the famous museum’s security passwords was just ‘LOUVRE’.

Some in France however found riches in their own back yard – a man in Lyon finding $1.4m worth of gold bars and coins while digging a swimming pool.

A Taranaki-based honey maker unveiled a two-litre jar of Manuka with a $500,000 price tag. Not to be beaten, Apple – the computer company, need I remind you – unveiled a $230 sock).

Hollywood star Jennifer Lawrence revealed she had been getting into anonymous fights on TikTok.

In ironic twists, New Zealand’s biggest landlords group on Facebook got evicted and the country’s top cop got busted for speeding then caught taking an ocean dip during a tsunami advisory.

An Australian restaurant chain apologised for cursing Oscar Piastri’s Formula 1 title hopes with an offer of a free burger every time he placed on the podium, the driver constantly losing since the promotion began.

Trump’s (yay, there he is again!) daughter made her debut in the LPGA and came dead last.

A well-timed photograph of a Kiwi runner about to get his face stomped in a race at the World Championships in Tokyo was nominated for the 2025 World Athletics Photograph of the Year.

Gareth Morgan declared victory over his haters with the addition of feral cats to the government’s Predator Free 2050 eradication programme.

NZ First promised to repeal a bill they had literally just voted into law. (Told a bigger flip-flop was on its way!)

People expressed surprise Millennials, with everything they’ve had to endure, were getting more left-wing as they grew older.

December

A Wellington dad did more than 4000 pull-ups in a row and almost died.

Local fashionistas were concerned the ‘ugly shoe trend’ in the northern hemisphere would soon make its way to New Zealand.

A cat that vanished 14 years ago was reunited with its owner, begging the question whether someone out there was under the impression their cat of 14 years had gone missing.

And finally – because what could follow it? – a Fabergé locket worth more than $33,500, swallowed by a man during an alleged theft at an Auckland jewellery store, was later “recovered” by police. And yes, ‘recovered’ means exactly what you think it does.

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

The year 2025 will not go down as a golden period for the UFC.

A dearth of star power, GOATS turned to ducks, a dis-interested president, a plethora of eye pokes, injuries, lacklustre PPV’s, waning competition, inconsistent judging, inactive champions, and plenty of Trump pandering made for a forgettable 12 months in the world’s premier combat sports promotion.

However, the fight game still can’t help but deliver highlight reel moments.

Sports reporter Jonty Dine takes a look back at the year that was.

Eyes wide shut

The blight that continues to plague the UFC, most egregiously in the biggest fight of the year which came to a depressingly premature end, as Cyril Gane went two knuckles deep into Tom Aspinall’s eye sockets, rendering him unable to see and unable to continue in the highly anticipated heavyweight clash.

Heavyweight held hostage

The supposed GOAT of the game proved he was anything but a fighting champion as Jon Jones continuously ducked the number one contender in Aspinall for what should have been a mandatory unification bout before inexplicably retiring and vacating with just one defence over a 42 year old Stipe Miocic.

Islam underwhelms at welterweight

What should have been the biggest moment of the year as the pound for pound greatest Islam Makhachev ascended to double champ status, but was undercut by a ‘lay and pray’ performance by the Daegestani, as he smothered his way to the win over fan favourite Jack Della Maddalena.

‘I can’t wait to go to war for you’

Sean Strickland has always written cheques with his mouth that his fighting style couldn’t cash but his talk in the build up to his title bout with Du Plessis reached a new low as he promised a bloody battle for the ages, only to jab and teep his way to a one sided decision loss in a five-round snoozer.

The Chimaev era

It was inevitable after his rampaging, record-breaking entrance into the promotion that Khamzat Chimaev would one day be champion. However, it took years of cancelled fights, missed weight cuts, and faux retirements until he finally won the strap, dismantling Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319.

Stonehands crumbles

The one shining light in the UFC over the past 12 months has been the incredible rise of Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira. Dismantling his competition in cold, and exhilarating fashion. But after conquering a second division, his run was unceremoniously halted by Magomed Ankalaev in a decision loss at UFC 313.

Return of Poatan

However, the age of Ankalaev was short lived as Pereira regained his throne in vicious style at UFC 320, needing just 90 seconds to send the champ crumbling to the canvas after weeks of the Russian trash talking. Karma? Chama!

Unexpected bloodbaths

While plenty of bouts didn’t live up to the hype this year, a few which flew under the radar in the build up became absolute classics. Josh Van and Brandon Royval put on a barnburner at UFC 317 while Jiri Procházka produced back to back bangers against Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr.

The Baddy gets good

Entering the UFC with a heap of hype, Paddy Pimblett was quickly brought down to earth after some lacklustre performances against low-ranked competition. However, ‘the Baddy’ proved he is more than just a haircut as he destroyed former lightweight title contender Michael CHandler at UFC 314, earning a title eliminator in the process.

Merab mauls O’Malley again

So desperate were the UFC for the Suga Show to carry the division, they gifted Sean O’Malley a rematch at UFC 316 only for him to be even more humiliated by a second serious whooping at the hands of the champion Merab Dvalishvili.

Endangered Kiwis

An unsuccessful title bid, a grudge match loss, and a failed comeback made for a tough year for New Zealand MMA. Kai Kara-France fell to the suffocating style of Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 317, Dan Hooker was choked out by Arman Tsarukyan and Israel Adesanya was knocked out cold at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov.

A shining light-heavyweight

First taking a decision win over former champion Jan Blachowicz in March, backed up by an emphatic first round knockout of American Dominick Reyes in September, Carlos ‘the Black Jag’ Ulberg is carrying the New Zealand flag as he has surged to title contention. Elsewhere in the division, fellow CKB product Navajo Stirling is making his rise through the ranks, picking up another two wins in 2025 to take his unblemished record to 8-0.

Harrison proves the hype

In what could be the closest the UFC will come to their never-ending quest to replace Ronda Rousey, Kayla Harrison arrived in style, submitting Julianna Pena at UFC 316 to declare herself a potential superstar of women’s MMA.

Bo loses his O

Another hype job fallen flat, the decorated wrestler tasted his first loss inside the octagon in May against a resurgent Reinier de Ridder courtesy of a crisp knee to the gut which is exactly how Dana White felt seeing his potential future cash cow crumble to the canvas.

Champ goes from cage to court

While he has ensured the fans soured on him quickly due to his embarrassing Connor McGregor impressions and social media antics, Illia Topuria continues to prove he is on an elite level after a crushing win over Charles Oliveria at UFC 317. However, it would be the sole time El Matator was sighted in 2025 and he has since taken a hiatus to focus on a court battle with his ex wife.

Black Beast stands alone

KO king Derek Lewis needed just 35 seconds to shut Tallision Texeria’s lights out and register his 16th knockout in his storied UFC career, the most in UFC history.

Volk smash

After being finished by back to back knockouts at the hands of current champions Illia Topuria and Islam Makhachev, many saw Alexander ‘The Great’ Volkanovski’s time at the top as over. But the Aussie lived up to his moniker at UFC 314 as he ascended back to the top of featherweight in a clinic against Diego Lopes.

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

Seven-year-old Zakhar Manktelow has just met Ded Moroz and wrote him a wishlist.

“I wrote snowman, snow globe, Nintendo Switch, and Super Mario Kart game for the Nintendo Switch.”

Ded Moroz, which means Grandpa Frost, is the Santa known in Russian cultures. Zakhar, born to a Russian mother and a Kiwi father, was yet to see snow.

But that did not stop him from reciting a 14-line poem in Russian. He explained what it meant in English.

“When you are waiting for Christmas, then it comes, then you get all your presents, and you build a snowman.”

While it is too hot to snow in Auckland during the Christmas season, a group of Russian-speaking parents like Zakhar’s mum Valentina Manktelow, were keeping the language and the traditional celebration alive for their children.

Plunket’s Russian playgroup had been gathering once a week for a year-and-a-half after Justyna Szarek, Plunket’s community services coordinator, started talking to some Russian-speaking parents who attended the Meadowbank playgroup.

“One thing that’s really amazing about the Russian community is that they keep their language very strong.”

Born in Poland and raised by Ukrainian and Polish parents in Canada, Szarek said her mother kept the tradition for the family.

“We always had two Christmases, we had the 24th of December and January 6th and 7th. We had two sets of presents, two sets of dinners.”

Despite growing up away from her homeland, Szarek said she tried to pass on the tradition to her children, although not entirely successful.

“For example, on the 24th of December, we are not supposed to eat meat. It’s very hard to do that with a meat-eater in the family, but we try as hard as possible.”

Keeping the playgroup filled with activities was Daria Barbashina, who was a mother of two young daughters, and the volunteer coordinator at the playgroup.

“Because my parents they don’t speak English or any other languages, and I want my kids to be able to connect with them.”

Barbashina said speaking at home was not enough in keeping the language alive, so the playgroup community played a critical role.

A meet-up at Plunket’s toy-filled site organised by Barbashina was usually scheduled with story time, sing-along time, arts and crafts, and water play.

But the activities were more than just for the children.

“The kids would not celebrate (festivals) this way when they grow up because it’s from our childhoods. Many of the parents say it reminds them of their childhood when they were in kindergarten.”

At the Christmas celebration, Barbashina’s husband volunteered to dress up as Ded Moroz, who wears a long coat, long beard, has long hair and a magic stick.

“The dress is different too. Grandpa Frost has a long coat, long beard, long hair and has a magic stick. Just because Russia is a very cold country.”

Manktelow fully understood the appeal of the community.

Every month, the mother of two drove 45 minutes from Pukekohe to join the playgroup.

Married to a Kiwi, Manktelow had a strategy to keep the language alive for her children.

“We do one parent one language.”

She only spoke Russian to her children, while her husband only spoke English to them.

“Even when we are in an English-speaking environment, I only speak Russian to my boys and if I want their friends to understand what I was saying, I translate that again to English for them.”

She hoped by keeping the language alive for her children, they would be able to understand the Russian culture in the future.

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

What were the most popular stories of the year on RNZ? They included major breaking news events, but there was also a lot of talk about laundry.

RNZ is setting audience records regularly and is now the third most popular news site in New Zealand.

In November, our digital audience was up to 1.73 million – a new record for unique audience.

RNZ has come close to matching the audience for the New Zealand Herald – 1.92 million for November – and market leader Stuff (2.17m).

Media columnist Tim Murphy of Newsroom has called RNZ’s website “the media performance of the year” and noted it is the best performing news website this year for audience growth.

That’s thanks to all of you, and we’ll continue bringing you the latest headlines and features in 2026. Here are some of the stories that you read the most, and the ones that you spent the most time with on RNZ in 2025.

What you read the most

Our most read stories included some of the year’s biggest news events, including weather storms and the final fate of fugitive Tom Phillips. But it turns out you were also really interested in tips for your laundry routine, and anything about big Lotto winners.

Here’s a list of the top 10 most read stories on RNZ for 2025. Stories without bylines were written by general news staff or our content partners:

1. Live: Marokopa dad Tom Phillips killed in shootout with police (8 September)

2. Three laundry detergents no better than water – Consumer NZ (24 July)

3. Two large retailers preparing to lay off staff as sector far from optimistic by Nona Pelletier (9 September)

4. Weather live: Gales hit Wellington, South Island (23 October)

5. Australian Tradie dies after winning $22 million lotto in NZ and descending into drug underworld (10 June)

6. She’s won Lotto, so where is her money? by Susan Edmunds (13 November)

7. Tsunami activity after 8.8 quake near Russia (30 July)

8. Thousands of bank accounts closed, transferred to Inland Revenue by Susan Edmunds (21 October)

9. How to dry laundry without a dryer when it’s cold or wet outside (3 June)

10. Daylight saving: When it starts, why we have it and how to change the time on your phone (24 September)

What you read the longest

What’s the different between “page views” and “engagement time”? They’re quite different metrics – page views count the number of times a particular story was clicked on, but engagement time counts the length of time users are actively engaged with a story, scrolling, clicking and moving their mouse, et cetera.

Both are valuable metrics and news sites like to consider both in looking at how readers dig in to their content.

Some stories that perhaps didn’t get as many page views still led the field in engaged minutes for RNZ this year, including many essential reads from our In-Depth reporting team and others.

Here’s a look at some of those stories you spent the most engagement time with:

1. In death, Olivia Podmore is finally seen by a system that failed her by Dana Johannsen (24 April)

Just hours after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics ended, elite Kiwi cyclist Olivia Podmore was found dead in a suspected suicide at her Cambridge home. Six months of harrowing coronial hearings have revealed the disturbing truth about her treatment within New Zealand’s national cycling organisation. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen followed every day of the inquest.

2. Teen was told the crippling stomach pain she suffered was in her head – it wasn’t by Venetia Sherson (8 July)

At the start of last year, 13-year-old Amelia Turner was busy. She had started secondary school, made new friends and enjoyed hanging out with them. Today, Amelia is fed through tubes. She is bed-ridden and one leg is immobile.

3. ‘Awful error’: Two-month-old dies following overdose after pharmacy allegedly gives medication at wrong dosage by Sam Sherwood (28 July)

A two-month-old baby died following an overdose after she was allegedly given medication at an adult dosage by a pharmacy, RNZ revealed. Her grieving parents called for a law change that would make it mandatory for medication to be checked by two people before it is dispensed.

4. ‘Questions about the Marokopa Children as Tom Phillips Killed’ by Kirsty Johnston (8 September)

5. Three laundry detergents no better than water – Consumer NZ (24 July)

6. How the Silver Ferns culture clash reached boiling point by Dana Johannsen (11 September)

The shock decision to stand down netball coach Noeline Taurua marked a dramatic turning point in a months-long dispute between team management and the playing group.

7. ‘Who decided Tom Phillips was safe enough to leave alone with his kids?’ by Kirsty Johnston (12 September)

8. Crippling stomach pain was not in her head – teen has surgery in Germany by Venetia Sherson (21 October)

Following up a popular story earlier in the year, we return to the mysterious case of ailing teenager Amelia Turner and how a surgery in Germany changed everything for her.

9. Mother died in crash after boat and trailer unit from oncoming car broke free by Sam Sherwood (12 August)

A mother driving home to Auckland with her three-year-old son in the back seat was killed when a boat and trailer unit broke free from an oncoming vehicle and slammed into their car. When emergency services arrived, the little boy – who suffered whiplash and bruises – told them his mother was dead and showed them where her phone was so they could contact his family.

10. How does Jenny-May Clarkson feel about leaving TVNZ? by RNZ Sunday Morning (21 November)

As Jenny-May Clarkson signed off from TVNZ, she looked back at the cost of those predawn years and the strength she felt from her late father as she prepared to step away.

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