KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 April 2026 – As the 2026 MotoGP season roars to life, the landscape of motorsport media and fan engagement is shifting. From a spectacular street launch in the heart of Kuala Lumpur to a gruelling season opener in Thailand, the new racing year is already delivering thrilling action. Fans can look forward to a brand-new MotoGP season, featuring fresh talent, evolving machinery, and high-speed action across the globe.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Long-Term Partnership: GOD55 Sports and the Honda LCR Team have forged a three-year alliance (2026–2028) to deliver exclusive behind-the-scenes content and expand MotoGP’s footprint in the Southeast Asian market.
• Massive Regional Fan Engagement: A highly successful, immersive 2026 season street launch and interactive Fan Zone at KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre) demonstrated the region’s immense and growing passion for premier motorcycle racing.
• Promising Season Start in Thailand: Despite intense heat and demanding track conditions at the season-opening Thai Grand Prix, veteran Johann Zarco and rookie Diogo Moreira both delivered strong, point-scoring performances.
• High Anticipation for Brazil: Momentum is building as the MotoGP calendar shifts to the Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia, marking a highly anticipated home-soil race for Brazilian rookie Diogo Moreira.

Honda LCR Team Partners with GOD55 Sports for 2026–2028 MotoGP Seasons

In a major step for regional motorsport media, GOD55 Sports has secured a three-year strategic partnership with the Honda LCR Team, covering the 2026, 2027, and 2028 MotoGP seasons.

The team enters this collaboration with a strong rider lineup featuring experienced French competitor Johann Zarco and rising Brazilian talent Diogo Moreira, the 2025 Moto2 World Champion.

The partnership introduces Honda LCR brand activations at selected MotoGP rounds while expanding exposure for the team across Southeast Asia. As an official premium partner, GOD55 Sports will provide exclusive motorsport insights and behind-the-scenes access, offering fans a closer look at the dynamics of a top MotoGP operation.

With this long-term collaboration running through 2028, GOD55 Sports strengthens its role in international motorsport coverage while supporting the growing regional interest in MotoGP.

What Happened at the KLCC MotoGP 2026 Season Launch

The 2026 MotoGP season launch in Kuala Lumpur marked a historic moment for both Malaysia and the global MotoGP community. It was the second consecutive year that MotoGP organised a large-scale, centralised season launch in the country.

Held beneath the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, the event showcased the new season’s bikes, teams, and riders while offering fans an exciting blend of live entertainment and motorsport culture.

Thousands of fans gathered to celebrate the upcoming season, reinforcing Malaysia’s growing reputation as a key destination for major international racing events.

Spectacular MotoGP 2026 Street Launch in Kuala Lumpur

The street launch transformed the heart of Kuala Lumpur, particularly the Suria KLCC area, into an immersive motorsport festival.

Interactive bike displays, team exhibitions, and live demonstrations attracted thousands of racing enthusiasts eager to experience MotoGP up close. Throughout the week-long Fan Zone at KLCC, visitors enjoyed rare access to MotoGP machinery, team displays, and rider showcases.

The main evening event on Saturday, 7th Feb, delivered a high-energy celebration featuring an urban bike run, live music performances, and interactive fan activities. The combination of sport, entertainment, and city culture created a vibrant atmosphere that highlighted Kuala Lumpur’s capability to host world-class sporting events.

Beyond launching the new season, the event strengthened the connection between MotoGP and its global fanbase.

Honda LCR and GOD55 Sports Deliver Engaging MotoGP Fan Zone

The Honda LCR Team, together with GOD55 Sports, created one of the standout attractions at the MotoGP Fan Zone from 2 to 7 February.

The free-entry booth welcomed more than 10,000 motorsport enthusiasts, offering fans the opportunity to view official racing gear used by riders Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira, including racing leathers and helmets.

The booth’s distinctive red-and-gold design reflected the branding of both Honda LCR and GOD55 Sports. Fans also participated in several interactive activities, including:

• Time Attack Challenge
• Gashapon prize machines
• Social media engagement activities
• Participants had the chance to win exclusive merchandise and collectibles.

One of the biggest highlights of the week was a special rider meet-and-greet session, where fans received free autographed posters and interacted with the riders. Despite occasional rain during the event, the fan turnout remained strong, demonstrating the growing enthusiasm for MotoGP in the region.

Influencers and content creators also amplified the event through online coverage, expanding its reach across digital platforms and energising the wider motorsport community.

The successful Fan Zone experience showcased the Honda LCR team and GOD55 Sports’ commitment to creating immersive fan experiences, setting the tone for further engagement activities throughout the upcoming MotoGP seasons.

Zarco and Moreira Score Early Points at the Thai Grand Prix

The 2026 MotoGP season officially began on 1 March with a demanding race at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand.

Riders battled intense heat and tyre degradation in a gruelling opening round that tested both experience and endurance. While Marco Bezzecchi secured a commanding victory, attention also turned to the LCR Honda duo of Zarco and Moreira.

Johann Zarco delivered a composed ride in challenging conditions, finishing 11th and securing five valuable championship points for the team. Meanwhile, Diogo Moreira achieved a personal milestone by finishing 13th, earning his first MotoGP points in his debut full-length Grand Prix appearance.

Rookie Progress and Team Dynamics Shine Bright

Moreira’s performance highlighted his rapid development in the premier class. The 21-year-old Brazilian rookie, who stepped up from Moto2 for the 2026 season, credited Zarco’s experience and race craft as a key influence on his progress.

Throughout the race, Moreira stayed close to his veteran teammate, using the opportunity to learn race management and pace strategy at the highest level of motorcycle racing.

For Zarco, simply finishing the demanding opening round and scoring points was already an important achievement. The result provides valuable momentum for the team as they prepare for the next race of the season.

Eyes Now Turn to Home Soil Drama in Brazil

Following the season opener, attention now shifts to the highly anticipated Brazil Grand Prix, a historic addition to the MotoGP calendar.

The race will take place at the Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia Ayrton Senna, marking a major moment for Brazilian motorsport fans.

For Diogo Moreira, the event carries special significance as he prepares to compete in front of his home crowd. Opportunities for Brazilian riders in the MotoGP premier class are rare, making the upcoming race particularly meaningful for both the rider and his supporters.

The points earned in Thailand provide a strong foundation of confidence for the young racer as he continues his journey in one of the world’s most competitive championships.

Growing the Partnership Season by Season

Both the Honda LCR Team and GOD55 Sports share a clear vision for the future of their collaboration.

Richard Green, CEO of GOD55 Sports, emphasised that the partnership aims to bring fans closer to the team and the excitement of MotoGP. Meanwhile, Lucio Cecchinello, Team Principal of the Honda LCR Team, highlighted the importance of engaging motorsport enthusiasts across Southeast Asia.

Over the 2026 to 2028 seasons, the partnership will continue to evolve with:

• Exclusive behind-the-scenes content
• Expanded fan engagement initiatives
• Special activations at selected MotoGP events

From major season launches to key races throughout the calendar, the alliance promises to deliver deeper insights into team strategy, rider development, and the inner workings of a top-tier MotoGP operation.

As the collaboration grows, Southeast Asian fans can expect richer content, closer access to the team, and a front-row perspective on Honda LCR’s pursuit of success in MotoGP.

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Hashtag: #motogp #hondalcr #god55sports #racing #partnership #honda #motorsports #johannzarco #diogomoreira

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

New Zealand has joined Australia, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom in expressing “deep concern” about an Israeli bill expanding the death penalty for Palestinians.

Winston Peters posted on social media on Wednesday night, indicating New Zealand had joined the other nations, and emphasising the country’s opposition “for decades” to the death penalty “in all circumstances”.

It comes as the Green Party tried on Wednesday to move a motion in Parliament on the issue, but failed to get the support of all parties.

The ACT party told RNZ it did not support the motion being put without notice, and noted the Minister of Foreign Affairs was responsible for expressing New Zealand’s position on international issues.

Earlier this week, the Israeli parliament finalised a controversial bill that would effectively expand the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of terrorism and nationalistic murders.

The bill stipulated that residents in the West Bank who killed an Israeli “with the intent to negate the existence of the State of Israel” would be sentenced to death.

The Foreign Ministers of Australia, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom released a joint statementexpressing their “deep concern” about the bill, saying it would “significantly expand the possibilities to impose the death penalty in Israel”.

“We are particularly worried about the de facto discriminatory character of the bill. The adoption of this bill would risk undermining Israel’s commitments with regards to democratic principles.

“The death penalty is an inhumane and degrading form of punishment without any deterring effect. This is why we oppose the death penalty, whatever the circumstances around the world. The rejection of the death penalty is a fundamental value that unites us.”

The statement also urged the Israeli decision makers to “abandon these plans”.

The Green party wanted to highlight the issue in parliament, and sought support from across the House to move a motion without notice.

Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick told reporters on Wednesday afternoon convention stipulated motions without notice needed prior agreement from all parties.

“This stops spurious motions going up and clogging the time of our parliament.”

The motion read that the “New Zealand House of Representatives expresses deep concern about Israel’s new legislation which extends the use of the death penalty against Palestinians living under unlawful occupation; shares the concerns of Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy about the “de facto discriminatory character’ of the legislation; and calls on the Israeli Government to reverse this legislation”.

Labour and Te Pāti Māori both told RNZ they supported the motion.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said his party would firmly support a motion in the House to condemn Israel’s use of the death penalty against Palestianians.

“It clearly discriminates against Palestinians – a point underscored by the fact that the law does not apply to Israeli extremists who commit similar crimes. There are major issues with the process including that it removes the right to an appeal. By condemning Israel, we would stand alongside the United Nations, EU and the UK.”

Te Pāti Māori told RNZ it supported the motion, and queried why other parties had not.

“This law further embeds discrimination into Israel’s justice system by allowing Palestinians to be sentenced to death while others are not subject to the same punishment for similar acts,” a spokesperson for the party said.

“It sits within the context of the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people, and the backdrop of Israel and the United States’ illegal invasion of Iran and Lebanon.”

National and New Zealand First did not respond to queries but the ACT party told RNZ it did not support the motion being put without notice.

A spokesperson for the party said it noted the Minister of Foreign Affairs was responsible for expressing New Zealand’s position on international issues, and “ACT supports that approach over symbolic motions in the House”.

“If the House passed a motion every time a country passed a law of concern, we would spend more time talking about other countries’ legislation than our own.

“All MPs have the right to put a motion on notice under Standing Orders.”

In response, Swarbrick said it was “deeply disappointing” and acknowledged the point was “symbolism”.

“I can point to many different examples when the ACT Party, for example, has put forward very similar motions, evidently for the very purpose of that same symbolism, which in turn means something on the international stage.

“It felt particularly pertinent for our country to take a stand against the perpetuation of abuse of human rights with the Israeli parliament passing the ability to effectively murder, to slaughter Palestinian hostages and prisoners.”

She said a motion on notice did not have the status of being read out in Parliament and having the backing of every single parliamentary party.

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

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 April 2026 – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) celebrated the launch of ‘Global Connect – Global Innovation Exchange (GIE),’ a platform that creates a pull for innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystems from the World to Hong Kong, to pour collective efforts into maximising exposure and impact of emerging startups and solutions.

The GIE was designed to bridge for China-HK-International with I&T developments, where year-long international engagement activities are in the works, including a curated series of country-and market-focused networking events, with UK, France, and Germany lined up from April to June, as well as success story sharing sessions, opportunity overviews, and potential partnership projects examinations, building as a two-way gateway enabling overseas innovators leverage the city as a springboard into the vast opportunities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) opportunities, while supporting companies moving from the Chinese Mainland to Hong Kong and onward to international markets.

Representatives of 17 countries were in presence, apart from local bodies, in supporting the cause that tech ventures are to be introduced to markets overseas, and vice versa. Maurits ter Kuile, Consul General of the Netherlands in Hong Kong and Macao, stated: “Hong Kong is an interesting spot for Dutch companies that are looking to explore the Chinese market. Language, regulations, taxes and an international orientation, are part of the attraction. As a Dutch government body that is looking to support them, we would say that the GIE looks like an appealing concept to give them a leg up.”

Panel discussions on Hong Kong’s unique position on the world stage as a multicultural anchor for the flow of capital in and out of Asia, echoed the notion. Johannes Hack, Chairman of European Chamber of Commerce, said “One of the challenges when setting up a partnership is understanding the other side’s value drivers. Only when you truly match what each side expects can the joint business flourish. Hong Kong is an excellent place to establish common ground and HKSTP is a great partner to support finding a shared vision.”

Terry Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said “We introduced ‘Global Connect – Global Innovation Exchange’ with heart full of confidence that it will bring convergence of all efforts under one platform, so that international networks, delegations, and I&T communities are able to connect better with more seamless access to even broader resources.”

The Network represented not an event, but an enunciation of commitment to contribute in driving an influx of cross-border business matching and investment opportunities, further strengthening the city’s appeal as an international I&T hub, and continuing the momentum of technological advancement in the GBA and beyond.

Hashtag: #HKSTP

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

A body has been found in a central Otago lake during the search for missing French national Antoine Richard.

Richard, 21, was last seen on 21 March, about 11.45pm at the Victoria Arms Hotel on the corner of Achil St and Melmore Terrace in Cromwell.

A police spokesperson said a body had been found at Cromwell’s Lake Dunstan by a member of the public just after 2.30pm on Wednesday.

While no formal identification had been completed, the spokesperson said it was believed to be Richard.

The death would be referred to the Coroner.

“The community support and search efforts have been extremely appreciated. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time.”

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

Explainer – Cocaine isn’t cheap, but its use is skyrocketing in New Zealand according to new figures. What’s driving the snowstorm?

Until relatively recently, cocaine was somewhat of a rarity in New Zealand, explained Massey University professor Chris Wilkins, leader of the drug research team at SHORE & Whariki Research Centre.

“In those times that you most associate with cocaine in the ’80s and ’90s, New Zealand really didn’t have almost any cocaine,” he said.

Our geographical and trade isolation shielded New Zealand when cocaine had its big cultural moment in those decades.

But things have changed – a global glut has now led to a surge in demand in New Zealand.

Police recently released wastewater testing figures that showed cocaine use has hit an all-time high.

The latest wastewater figures were collected between October and December 2025, and testing sites cover up to 77 percent of Aotearoa’s total population.

The testing calculates drug use from the concentration of each drug’s biomarker detected in the water and reflects the amount of pure drug being consumed, the National Drug Intelligence Bureau says.

The figures showed methamphetamine use continues to be high, averaging about 34.7kg per week.

But it’s cocaine that showed the biggest proportional jump of all.

“We are seen as a lucrative albeit small market” for cocaine dealers, said Sarah Helm, executive director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation.

So how much more cocaine are we using?

While cocaine use is still less overall than methamphetamine or cannabis, it’s the size of the rise that has drawn attention.

Cocaine nearly doubled in a year, rising to an estimated 9.4kg of use per week – 98 percent, or 4.7kg, above the average amount consumed the previous four quarters.

That’s a lot of cocaine.

Part of this is simply because there’s a lot more of it out there.

“From the global level, there’s been a real glut in coca production,” Wilkins said. Cocaine comes from the leaves of the coca plant and is primarily produced in South American countries like Colombia, Peru and Bolivia.

But there’s another reason for the rise.

In New Zealand, cocaine has sniffed out an image that it is somehow safer and hipper than methamphetamine or other drugs. Iconic images like Al Pacino’s cocaine kingpin in Scarface and white powder hitting the dance floors in American pop culture mostly passed Aotearoa by in the 1980s.

“It was (seen as) a very exotic drug,” Wilkins said. “Of course, it was associated with that kind of Hollywood glamour.”

“Cocaine I think at the moment is presenting itself as a kind of cleaner, healthy, more manageable drug, and that’s basically driving demand at the moment.”

NZ Police Assistant Commissioner Corrie Parnell told RNZ that there’s a “strong demand” for cocaine.

The New Zealand Drug Trends Survey is an anonymous online survey of 8883 people conducted in 2025 designed to provide an annual snapshot of drug market trends. It’s not a representative sample but it’s described as “broadly representing the demographic profile and regional population distribution” of New Zealand.

And what it’s got to say about cocaine use backs up the wastewater figures.

The number of those surveyed saying cocaine was “easy” to get jumped from 17 percent in 2018-19 to 43 percent in 2025, while the proportion of those using cocaine at least weekly increased from 6 percent to 10 percent over the same period.

Just 23 percent of respondents to the survey said they’d used cocaine in the last six months – but that’s higher than pretty much every other type of illegal drug other than cannabis (69 percent) and MDMA (35 percent), and far higher than meth (11 percent).

The Drug Use in Aotearoa 2023/24 Report released last year also backed up the steady rise – just an estimated 1kg per week of cocaine was consumed by New Zealanders in 2019, compared to the more than 9kg estimated in the new wastewater figures.

Is it because it’s cheap?

Just the opposite, actually. New Zealanders pay some of the highest prices for cocaine in the world.

The average price per gram of cocaine was $360 a gram, according to the drug trends survey, just above meth at $334/gram and far more than MDMA or ketamine.

“The growth of the cocaine market has occurred over the space of a few years and has largely occurred without significant reductions in street level pricing,” Parnell said.

“This indicates strong demand for cocaine, as dealers are able to offload increased quantities without dropping the price.”

Who’s using all this cocaine?

The New Zealand Drug Trends Survey carried some surprises.

Respondents who said they’d used cocaine in the past six months were overwhelmingly European (74 percent), male (66 percent) and financially pretty well off.

Seventy-nine percent of those surveyed worked full or part time, and 42 percent of them made more than $80,000 a year.

“It’s kind of like almost a sign of affluence and status in New Zealand just because it’s so exotic,” Wilkins said.

“The affluent association with cocaine kind of presents this veneer that it’s a high-end drug and that it can be used quite manageably. But if you do go to North America and Europe, there’s pretty clearly a lot of people that have problems.”

Cocaine use has particularly skyrocketed in Auckland, Wellington and the Bay of Plenty, police said.

Is this just specific to New Zealand?

“New Zealand continues to be an attractive market for organised criminal groups to supply drugs due to the high profit margins,” Parnell said.

“New Zealand and Australia continue to have the highest prices for illicit drugs in the world. As is the case globally, there is a large supply, consumption is high and pricing is stable.”

But cocaine is booming worldwide – the United Nations’ World Drug Report 2025 said cocaine was the world’s fastest growing illicit drug market. It said cocaine use grew from 17 million users in 2013 to 25 million users in 2023.

“Police have seen an increase in large volumes of cocaine seized” with police and Customs Service operations, Parnell said.

“The increase in supply is part of a global trend and has been driven by record levels of coca cultivation, increasingly efficient methods of cocaine production, and diversification of supply chains into New Zealand,” Helm said.

“In an unregulated black market, we are at the mercy of these global changes that can alter our drug supply very quickly.”

Cocaine traffickers are breaking into new markets across Asia and Africa, the UN report notes.

“The vicious violence and competition characterising the illicit cocaine arena, once confined to Latin America, is now spreading to Western Europe,” it said.

Global instability is “empowering organised crime groups and pushing drug use to historically high levels,” the UN noted.

“The glut of supply means that cocaine is being pushed into countries that haven’t had much presence of cocaine before,” Helm said.

Is cocaine truly as dangerous as other drugs?

“New Zealand culture is kind of cocaine naive … in that it has probably an exaggerated or inflated perception as a harm-free drug and a better alternative to methamphetamine,” Wilkins said.

New Zealand has had three decades to see how methamphetamine use causes harm that is “pretty cemented in the public culture,” he said.

“It looks risk free, but there’s really serious problems with cocaine related to short-term effects in terms of agitation and violence and sometimes psychosis by heavy users, and also the longer term effects on cardiovascular health and things like that.”

Like any other drug, cocaine carries risks, Helm said.

“Cocaine carries a higher risk of addiction and harm than some other drugs that New Zealanders may be used to, like MDMA, so we are concerned that the community may be less aware about what to look out for to stay safer.

“For example, mixing cocaine and alcohol can be risky as they combine to make a substance called cocaethylene, that can put more strain on your body, particularly your heart.

“Moreover, some substances like cocaine have a ‘compulsive redosing effect’, where the person taking it has an increased urge to consume more. This, coupled with its short-lived effects, adds to the risk of addiction.”

Police said that cocaine use across sample wastewater sites in the last quarter of 2025 would equate to an estimated weekly social harm cost of $3.5 million, as calculated by the New Zealand Illicit Drug Harm Index.

People need to be informed and seek out information about the health risks, Wilkins said.

“At the moment now (cocaine) is kind of in this honeymoon phase,” meaning it’s harder to communicate any dangers in a credible way, as people often rely on information from their peers and there hasn’t been as much negative experience with cocaine here.

“In terms of harm, it’s a lot to do with how frequently you’re using and how much you’re using it,” he added.

“If you’re just using a drug once a month, once every six months, the risk of you having problems is much lower than weekly or daily use.”

People should also keep in mind what their underlying risks are, in terms of health conditions and their mental health.

How you use cocaine is also a factor in the harm it can cause, Wilkins said.

“Nasal use has physical issues, but it’s probably the low risk option, whereas smoking cocaine, of course, crack, really changed the image of cocaine in North America and other places.”

Smoking or injecting cocaine are “extremely high risks,” he said.

“If people plan to use cocaine, we’d advise visiting thelevel.org.nz for tips on how to stay safer,” Helm said.

So what is New Zealand doing about all this cocaine?

Parnell said police are focused daily on enforcement of drug laws.

“Our message to the community is that we can all play a part in reducing the social harm and misery that drugs cause by reporting any suspicious activity or information which may help us to stop those involved in these types of crimes.”

Large shipments of cocaine have been seized at ports and Operation Matata, a joint Customs/police operation, targeted a syndicate smuggling drugs through unattended baggage at Auckland Airport.

“This operation resulted in eight associates from the TwoEight Brotherhood arrested. Twenty consignments of methamphetamine and cocaine were seized, weighing 630 kilograms and 112 kilograms respectively,” Parnell said.

There have also been massive cocaine seizures intercepted in the Pacific by other nations.

Parnell said police are working with many agencies and community groups to tackle the drug problem.

“One initiative to break the cycle of harm is the Resilience to Organised Crime in Communities (ROCC) programme, a collaborative, community-led initiative designed to address the social conditions that enable organised crime,” he said. “The programme recognises that enforcement alone is not enough.”

The drug foundation has also called for a “fundamental shift” in drug policies.

Helm said that current laws aren’t doing the job.

“For the past 50 years, New Zealand’s approach has been to focus heavily on banning the drug and then undertaking supply busts and criminalising people for using drugs, but this is clearly not working,” she said.

“Across every measure, this approach has been a failure – not only has drug use continued to grow and diversify, but addiction has increased, overdoses now claim three lives a week, and more new potent drugs are entering the market.

There needs to be more investment in help and harm reduction, she said, and the foundation has also issued a report calling for changes to drug laws.

“We need to learn from the evidence and stop making the same mistakes,” Helm said.

She said other countries can also lead the way.

Two decades ago, Portugal removed criminal penalties for drug use and increased their investment into health and harm reduction,” she said, as a result overdose death rates fell and pressure on the justice system eased without an increase in drug use.

“No one has all the answers on solving drug issues, but it’s very clear that our current approach is not it.”

Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey recently told RNZ it was “incredibly important for the health system to step up and respond to the harm caused by drugs”.

The Ministry of Health has put forth a four-year action plan to reduce addiction.

Doocey said the government had no intention of liberalising drug laws.

“Our focus is on strengthening prevention, reducing overdose harm, and improving access to treatment and recovery support.”

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

Greenpeace Aotearoa is claiming victory against dairy giant Fonterra for misleading butter packaging it labels as “greenwashing”.

The activist group filed the lawsuit in September 2024 for logos featured on Fonterra Brands’ Anchor butter sold between December 2023 and April 2025 that said “100-percent New Zealand grass fed”.

But it argued the co-operative’s dairy cows were also fed imported supplementary feed like palm kernel expeller (PKE), produced in countries like Indonesia.

The use of the two phrases “100 percent New Zealand” and “grass-fed” in combination were found to be misleading and breached the Fair Trading Act 1986.

Fonterra has discontinued using the logo on Anchor butter packaging, however the co-operative has sold its consumer brands business Mainland Group, that Anchor sits under, to French dairy giant Lactalis.

Greenpeace spokesperson Sinéad Deighton-O’Flynn serving Fonterra with a lawsuit on 30 September, 2024. Photo: Supplied/ Greenpeace

Greenpeace spokesperson Sinéad Deighton-O’Flynn said it was a win against corporate greenwashing.

“This admission from the world’s biggest dairy exporter is a win against corporate greenwash,” she said.

“It exposes the cynicism of Fonterra and its intensive dairy model: instead of ending its links to rainforest destruction, Fonterra just slapped a misleading label on its packaging and continued business as usual.”

She said New Zealanders were getting ripped off during a cost-of-living crisis.

“We’ve been paying at times upwards of $20 a kilo for butter, while also being misled about the quality of that butter.”

But a spokesman for Fonterra said it stood by its grass-fed claims.

“However, [Fonterra] recognises that the combined use of the two phrases would have been likely to mislead some consumers and has accepted this in the settlement with Greenpeace, the details of which are confidential.”

He said the co-op’s cows were 96 percent grass-fed, including grass, grass silage, hay and forage crops like legumes and brassicas.

The two parties settled outside court on Wednesday.

Greenpeace was a staunch opponent to the use of imported feed products due to its links to deforestation, such as in Southeast Asian rainforests.

“Most New Zealanders would be horrified to know that rainforests are being destroyed, with precious wildlife pushed to the brink of extinction, to grow cheap feed for Fonterra’s oversized dairy herd. And that’s likely why Fonterra tried to hide the truth.”

A worker at a palm plantation area in Indonesia’s Sumatra island. Palm kernel expeller (PKE) is a by-product of the palm oil industry. Photo: AFP

Deighton-O’Flynn said PKE was a dry, gravelly feed that originated from destroyed rainforests.

“The reality is Fonterra has only changed the label. It hasn’t changed its destructive practices. Instead of greenwash tactics, Fonterra should take action to phase out palm kernel on all of its farms.”

New Zealand imported around 2 million tonnes of PKE each year largely for the dairy industry.

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

MIL OSI

The family of French national Antoine Richard is appealing for more help in the search for the 21-year-old who was reported missing in Cromwell on the weekend of 21-22 March.

Richard was last seen on 21 March, around 11.45pm at the Victoria Arms Hotel on the corner of Achil Street and Melmore Terrace.

A statement issued by police on behalf of the family on Wednesday said: “An enormous amount of work has already been carried out by the police, the Search and Rescue team, Carrick winery where he worked, his friends, the Cromwell Rugby Team, local residents, and everyone who has taken part in the search.

“We are infinitely grateful to them.”

The family, Hervé, Marithé, Claudine, Elise, Noémie, Valentin and Corentin Richard, said they were asking for people’s help with these aspects of the case:

• A Croc shoe that had been found
• If you or someone you know owns a property in Cromwell, please check your surroundings, gardens, and outbuildings
• If you have a security camera, please review the footage from after 11:30pm on 22 March
• Anyone who gave a lift to Richard in the early hours of 22 March

“We have been devastated with worry since we heard the news.

“We are writing on behalf of his entire family, his friends, his colleagues in France and New Zealand, and all the people he loves, in the hope of finding him as soon as possible.”

Police are also appealing for residents to check their properties and any CCTV footage which can be uploaded here.

They also want to hear from anyone who may have seen a person matching Richard’s description either hitchhiking or walking in Cromwell in the early hours of 22 March.

Detective Phill Hamlin said searches have been conducted by LandSAR members from throughout the Otago and Southland area, police, Coastguard and many members of the community.

“We remain dedicated and focused on locating Antoine,” he said.

The Police National Dive Squad will also search areas of Lake Dunstan.

Search teams located a grey rubber Croc branded sandal from the shore of Lake Dunstan and would like to speak to anyone who may have seen somebody wearing the footwear.

Richard was last seen also wearing light coloured knee length shorts and a black t-shirt, police said.

Anyone who has seen him or has information regarding his whereabouts, is urged to contact police via 105, using the reference file number 260324/5771.

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

Please attribute to Detective Phill Hamlin:

The search for missing 21-year-old French national Antoine Richard is continuing, after he was reported missing in Cromwell last weekend.

Antoine was last seen around 11:45pm on Saturday 21 March at the Victoria Arms Hotel.

Further appeal for sightings or information

Police are appealing to residents in Cromwell to check their properties if they have not done so already, as well as review any CCTV footage from Saturday 21 March 11.45pm onwards.

If you have relevant footage, register your camera system with Community Cam to help with our search for Antoine.

We’re also wanting to hear from anybody who may have seen anyone matching Antoine’s description either hitchhiking or walking in Cromwell in the early hours of Sunday 22 March.

Large number of search teams assisting

Searches have been conducted by a large and dedicated team of LandSAR members from throughout the Otago and Southland area, Police, Coastguard and many members of the community.

We remain dedicated and focused on locating Antoine.

The Police National Dive Squad will also assist efforts by searching areas of Lake Dunstan.

Search teams located a grey rubber Croc branded sandal from the shore of Lake Dunstan and would like to speak to anyone who may have seen somebody wearing the pictured footwear, or if anyone locates a sandal like the one pictured.

Police would like to thank the Cromwell community for their unwavering support and assistance.

Anyone who has seen Antoine, or has information regarding his whereabouts, is urged to contact Police via 105, either over the phone or online at police.govt.nz/use-105 and selecting “Update Report”.

Please reference file number 260324/5771.

Statement on behalf of Antoine’s family

We are the family of Antoine Richard, who has been missing since Saturday, March 21st. That day, after playing a rugby match with the Cromwell rugby team, he went to the Victoria Arms Hotel at 11:30 PM, the last identified location before his disappearance.

The venue’s cameras show him leaving around midnight. He was wearing a black T-shirt, light denim shorts, and Crocs.

We have had no news from him since.

An enormous amount of work has already been carried out by the Police, the Search and Rescue team, Carrick winery where he worked, his friends, the Cromwell Rugby Team, local residents, and everyone who has taken part in the search. We are infinitely grateful to them.

You may have already been involved in the search efforts, but we still need your help:

• If you find a Croc shoe matching the photo attached, please contact the Police.
• If you or someone you know owns a property in Cromwell, please check your surroundings, gardens, and outbuildings.
• If you have a security camera, please review the footage from after 11:30pm on March 22nd 2026.
• If you or someone you know saw or gave a lift to anyone matching Antoine’s description in the early  hours of March 22nd, please contact the police.

We have been devastated with worry since we heard the news. We are writing on behalf of his entire family, his friends, his colleagues in France and New Zealand, and all the people he loves, in the hope of finding him as soon as possible.

Thank you so very much in advance.

Hervé, Marithé, Claudine, Elise, Noémie, Valentin and Corentin.

Note to media: the family will not be providing any further comment and ask that their privacy be respected.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

A grand old dame who survived World War I and emigrated from Europe to New Zealand with a Kiwi solider has made a surprise visit to Te Papa to see an exhibition which tells her story.

Torty the tortoise is well over a hundred years old and had been taken care of by three generations of the same family.

She was brought to New Zealand by Stewart Little, a stretcher bearer who cared for her in Greece after she was run over by a French gun cart. He shipped her home in his rucksack in 1916.

After Stewart Little died, Torty was cared for by his son and daughter-in-law. After their deaths, Little’s late grandson and his wife Christine Little took on caring duties.

On Monday, Christine Little took Torty on an impromptu visit to see Te Papa’s Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition, which featured a replica of the tortoise.

“We thought we would just pop into Te Papa and see if we could grab a photo with her replica. But she caused quite a sensation, and the next thing we had many staff and lots of members of the public very interested to meet her.”

Torty’s story began when Stewart Little spotted her run over on a road. Christine Little said he was not expecting the animal to survive, so was surprised to see this resilient little tortoise had stood up and was carrying on trying to walk, despite her quite serious injuries.

“And given that obviously he was a man of kindness and compassion, being part of the medical corps, he picked her up and looked after her. I mean, she was, after all, wounded in the war.”

Christine Little’s husband was one of Stewart Little’s grandchildren and she said Torty once lived with Christine Little’s mother-in-law in her rest home.

“It is a complete family affair.”

If Torty could talk, Christine Little thinks she might want to thank Stewart Little for the kindness he showed lifting her out of the mud that day in Greece.

“And I guess that she would have some pretty horrible stories about what she saw during that time in the war. She’s also had a number of adventures along the way, like being stolen in the 1930s and turning up in a circus in Dunedin!”

Now well into older age, Torty still makes school visits and had her Te Papa outing but mostly her days were spent with a regular routine of waking about 8am, eating and sleeping and then bed at 5pm.

“She’ll wander out onto my lawn. She lives out just in my backyard, which I’ve let grow, and it’s grown into a bit of a meadow. And she’ll graze. Just eat until she feels tired and ready for a nap, and then she’ll have a nap. And then she might wake up and have some more to eat, and that’s sort of how her day goes.”

In the next couple of weeks Torty would go into brumation and wake up in September. It’s not known how long she could live for, but the family had a plan for when she passes on.

“A number of years ago we had a discussion about this as a family. It has been decided that when it’s her time, she will come back to the Manawatū and she will be buried with Stewart and his wife, Maud.

“So that’s all been organised with the cemetery and it’s all good and that is what will happen.”

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

Growing demand from British buyers, strengthened long-haul connectivity, and the continued evolution ofLaguna Phuket are reinforcing the appeal of Thailand’s largest island as a secure and globally connected place to live and invest.

PHUKET, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 March 2026 – Phuket’s transformation from world-renowned holiday destination into a fully established international residential hub is entering a new phase, supported by rising long-haul arrivals and improving access from the United Kingdom and Europe.

UK buyers represent one of the fastest-growing segments of Phuket’s European residential market, alongside France, Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavia. The island’s year-round climate, quality of life, international schools, structured long-term residency pathways and expanding long-haul connectivity are key factors driving interest from British families and investors.

Thailand welcomed more than 35 million international visitors in 2025, underscoring global confidence in the country as a safe and accessible destination. Long-haul arrivals exceeded 11 million, rising 13% year-on-year and generating approximately 668 billion baht in tourism revenue. The Tourism Authority of Thailand continues to prioritise sustainable, high-value travel, targeting 14 million quality international visitors annually under a value-over-volume strategy.

International connectivity continues to strengthen. European flight capacity increased by more than 16% year-on-year and now stands approximately 5% above pre-pandemic levels. According to Immigration Bureau data, European arrivals reached approximately 7.8 million in 2025, up from 7.2 million in 2024. Direct services from London and Paris, alongside new Scandinavian routes, are reinforcing Phuket’s accessibility for UK travellers.

Improved access is translating into extended stays, remote working flexibility and lifestyle-driven property ownership. Increasingly, visitors are returning not only for holidays, but to explore long-term residency and residential investment opportunities.

Beyond its island setting and established hospitality sector, Phuket offers international-standard healthcare, leading international schools, yacht marinas, championship golf courses and reliable high-speed connectivity. The island combines year-round resort living with the infrastructure required for full-time residence and professional activity.

Industry research ranks Phuket among the world’s leading destinations for branded residences, alongside Dubai, Miami and New York. Foreign buyers account for more than 60% of condominium purchases, reflecting sustained international confidence in the market. Direct air links to more than 80 cities further support its global integration.

At the centre of this residential evolution is Laguna Phuket, developed by Banyan Group. Over 35 years, it has become one of Asia’s most established integrated resort and residential communities. Spanning more than 1,000 acres along Bang Tao Beach, Laguna Phuket includes six hotels, an award-winning golf course, RAVA beach club and more than 3,000 branded residences. Residents from over 70 nationalities call it home within a master-planned environment supported by on-site education and comprehensive lifestyle amenities.

With approximately 5,000 additional residences planned across Laguna Phuket and neighbouring Laguna Lakelands, Phuket’s long-term residential trajectory continues to strengthen.

Phuket today represents more than a holiday destination. It has matured into a secure, internationally connected residential market offering stability, accessibility and enduring value for globally-minded UK families.

Hashtag: #BanyanGroup

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

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

A grand old dame who survived World War I and emigrated from Europe to New Zealand with a Kiwi solider has made a surprise visit to Te Papa to see an exhibition which tells her story.

Torty the tortoise is well over a hundred years old and had been taken care of by three generations of the same family.

She was brought to New Zealand by Stewart Little, a stretcher bearer who cared for her in Greece after she was run over by a French gun cart. He shipped her home in his rucksack in 1916.

After Stewart Little died, Torty was cared for by his son and daughter-in-law. After their deaths, Little’s late grandson and his wife Christine Little took on caring duties.

On Monday, Christine Little took Torty on an impromptu visit to see Te Papa’s Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition, which featured a replica of the tortoise.

“We thought we would just pop into Te Papa and see if we could grab a photo with her replica. But she caused quite a sensation, and the next thing we had many staff and lots of members of the public very interested to meet her.”

Torty’s story began when Stuart Little spotted her run over on a road. Christine Little said he was not expecting the animal to survive, so was surprised to see this resilient little tortoise had stood up and was carrying on trying to walk, despite her quite serious injuries.

“And given that obviously he was a man of kindness and compassion, being part of the medical corps, he picked her up and looked after her. I mean, she was, after all, wounded in the war.”

Christine Little’s husband was one of Stuart Little’s grandchildren and she said Torty once lived with Christine Little’s mother-in-law in her rest home.

“It is a complete family affair.”

If Torty could talk, Christine Little thinks she might want to thank Stuart Little for the kindness he showed lifting her out of the mud that day in Greece.

“And I guess that she would have some pretty horrible stories about what she saw during that time in the war. She’s also had a number of adventures along the way, like being stolen in the 1930s and turning up in a circus in Dunedin!”

Now well into older age, Torty still makes school visits and had her Te Papa outing but mostly her days were spent with a regular routine of waking about 8am, eating and sleeping and then bed at 5pm.

“She’ll wander out onto my lawn. She lives out just in my backyard, which I’ve let grow, and it’s grown into a bit of a meadow. And she’ll graze. Just eat until she feels tired and ready for a nap, and then she’ll have a nap. And then she might wake up and have some more to eat, and that’s sort of how her day goes.”

In the next couple of weeks Torty would go into brumation and wake up in September. It’s not known how long she could live for, but the family had a plan for when she passes on.

“A number of years ago we had a discussion about this as a family. It has been decided that when it’s her time, she will come back to the Manawatū and she will be buried with Stuart and his wife, Maud.

“So that’s all been organised with the cemetery and it’s all good and that is what will happen.”

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

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

Date:  31 March 2026

At the Convention’s Conference of Parties (COP15) in Campo Grande, Brazil, Parties yesterday (NZ time) agreed to list flesh-footed shearwaters and 26 species of gadfly petrels under the Convention.

DOC Principal Science Advisor and seabird specialist Graeme Taylor says New Zealand proposed the listing to increase global awareness of these seabirds and provide an avenue for international cooperation to ensure their survival.

“Gadfly petrels are among the rarest seabirds in the world. They’re named for their speedy, erratic, and weaving flight pattern, which resembles the behaviour of gadflies – biting insects that pester livestock,” Graeme says.

“Unfortunately, gadfly petrels also face many threats at their breeding sites and on their migratory paths, such as invasive species, habitat loss, climate change and light pollution.

“We have a special interest in them because five of the now-listed gadfly petrel species breed on New Zealand’s offshore islands, notably the critically threatened Chatham Island taiko, with fewer than 200 mature individuals left.”

Flesh-footed shearwaters also breed on our offshore islands and are at risk from fisheries bycatch.

The listing will require strict protection for the most at-risk species and promote increased research and knowledge-sharing on the species and the threats they face. It also provides a catalyst for international bodies to enhance measures to address threats at-sea such as vessel lighting and fisheries bycatch rules on the high seas.

New Zealand worked closely with other Parties to the Convention to get the proposal through, particularly the countries where these birds breed, including Australia, Brazil, Chile, Cook Islands, Dominican Republic, Fiji and France.

Background information

Gadfly petrels are found in all ocean basins, with many species breeding in New Zealand and ranging throughout the Pacific region.

Five of the gadfly petrel species now listed under the Conventional on Migratory Species breed on New Zealand’s offshore islands: Chatham Island taiko/tāiko (Nationally Critical), Chatham petrel/ranguru (Nationally Vulnerable), white-naped petrel, Cook’s petrel/tītī and Pycroft’s petrel. Flesh-footed shearwater/toanui (Relict) also breed on New Zealand’s offshore islands.

Contact

MIL OSI

Teenage star Braxton Sorensen-McGee will chase glory in both sevens and fifteens after recommitting to New Zealand Rugby to the end of 2027.

The 19-year-old’s primary focus will be with the Black Ferns Sevens, but the new deal gives her the chance to also represent the Black Ferns.

Sorensen-McGee is in her debut season for the Black Ferns Sevens, who successfully defended their World Series title earlier this month.

She will make her return to fifteens through Super Rugby Aupiki, with the aim of joining the Blues Women’s squad from round two.

She will be available for the Black Ferns, who kick off their year with the O’Reilly Cup Test against Australia in Auckland in August.

She could also be selected for the historic clash against the Springbok Women’s team in Johannesburg in September, October’s three-Test home series against France and an end of year Northern tour.

Sorensen-McGee said she’s stoked to be able to continue in both codes.

“I’ve been loving my first season with the Black Ferns Sevens and the opportunity to play on the world series with my sevens’ sisters. This environment has helped me grow so much as a player and as a person, and I’m excited about what’s still ahead.

“But I’ve also set some goals in fifteens and feel like I’ve got more to offer in the Blues and Black Ferns jerseys. I’m looking forward to challenging myself in both formats and doing everything I can to contribute to those teams.”

Sorensen-McGee debuted for the Black Ferns in 2025 and was one of New Zealand’s best players at the women’s Rugby World Cup, where they finished third.

She won World Rugby’s Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year award, before going on to make her Black Ferns Sevens debut during the 2025-26 World Sevens series.

Black Ferns Sevens Head Coach Cory Sweeney said Sorensen-McGee’s re-signing was great news.

“Braxton is an exciting athlete and an important member of our environment, so we’re thrilled to have her recommit through to the end of 2027.

“She has a strong skillset, a real competitive edge and a huge appetite to learn. What’s especially pleasing is her desire to keep growing, and this contract gives her the ability to do that while maintaining her core focus with the Black Ferns Sevens.”

NZR head of women’s high performance Hannah Porter said it was nice to be able to come up with a deal that allowed Sorensen-McGee to play both sevens and fifteens.

“Braxton’s re-signing is great example of how we can provide flexibility for our leading female athletes to pursue their goals across the year.

“Her primary commitment remains with the Black Ferns Sevens, but we’re delighted we can also create opportunities for her to contribute to the Black Ferns programme during an important international season and reconnect with the Blues Women in Super Rugby Aupiki.

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

The Crusaders will be without All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams for the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season as he receives treatment for a serious infection.

Williams is currently in hospital after being diagnosed with discitis – an infection in one of the discs in his spine.

He’ll remain under close medical supervision until his condition is stable enough for him to return home.

He will miss the rest of the Crusaders season and his return to rugby after that remains unclear, putting him in doubt for the All Blacks home tests against France, Italy and Ireland in July.

Williams said it’s not the news he had hoped for.

“I’ve had a sore back for a couple of weeks and had to come in for some scans and blood tests,” Williams said.

“They found an infection in my back called discitis, which means I’m going to be on antibiotics for a pretty long time. Unfortunately, my Crusade for 2026 is over.”

Williams said he was trying to remain philosophical about the infection.

“I’m feeling gutted, but I’m also grateful that the news isn’t as bad as what it could be,” he said.

“Being in hospital, you see a lot, and it makes you appreciate that this place is here to save us. I’ve been told I’m going to make a 100 percent recovery, so I’m thankful for that.”

The Crusaders host the Fijian Drua on Friday night in their final game at Apollo Projects Stadium in Addington before they move to Christchurch’s new roofed Te Kaha Stadium in the central city.

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

The All Whites have more players than ever chasing their dreams overseas and, for some, the national team can be a solace when club football is a struggle.

The countdown to the Football World Cup is on and the final squad for New Zealand’s third appearance at the tournament will be named in May.

For years, nearly 60 players have been on coach Darren Bazeley’s radar.

These players are spread around the world at different stages of their professional careers and with varying experience with the All Whites.

Not everyone will make the World Cup and Bazeley will have to make some tough decisions.

Getting a call-up to the national team – as 23 players were for the Fifa series this week – means different things to different players and RNZ has heard from some who have been in Auckland for the two games against Finland and Chile that Bazeley’s faith in them when times are tough has been invaluable.

Ben Old has been on a “rollercoaster” since making the move from Wellington Phoenix to AS Saint-Etienne in France just over 18 months ago.

“I went from Ligue 1, one of the top five leagues in the world, playing to having an injury to being relegated to not playing in Ligue 2.

“Last season, that was the first relegation I experienced, but just the excessive amount of losses that we had, it just consumes you. It’s a really horrible feeling just losing and it just really affects your confidence.

“We’ve got the best players, biggest crowd, best team, but we weren’t performing.”

In the latter half of last year, when Old was out of favour at Saint-Etienne and getting less than 15 minutes a game for his club team, Bazeley was still prepared to get him on the field for the All Whites.

“It was a really tough period for me towards the back end of last season, because I wasn’t playing. I was expected to go on loan.

“It’s just hard in general being over in Europe, but not playing was really tough mentally, so to be able to be involved in the three [international] windows of that period was just a nice escape for me.

“For them to be able to have confidence in me, to be able to play me and be able to have good performances there as well, I felt helped me tackle on and helped me be prepared for when I was able to take my chance further on to start this year.”

Now Old, who made a positional switch from midfield to left-back at club level, which co-incided with more game time, is “thriving” and Saint-Etienne are on the cusp of promotion.

“I’ve got the full Europe experience, but it’s taught me so much and I feel like I’m in a great club with a great project.”

Old has been around the All Whites since 2022 and will hope that he is still in Bazeley’s plans for June.

“I’ve spoken to players like Kosta Barbarouses, Chris Wood that have been here for a long time and they said that this is the most competitive it’s ever been.

“I think that brings out the best in players to perform, but it also means that you have to be playing at your best to perform and I think that’s just a sign of a really great team that you’ve got so much depth in your team to be able to perform, which at a World Cup is essential.”

Motherwell midfielder Eli Just has been in Scotland for eight months and is enjoying his football now more than he has for years.

Just has scored goals regularly this season, as Motherwell challenge the Scottish Premiership’s bigger clubs, but the 25-year-old, who has been with the national team since 2019, has previously had times while playing in Europe that he wondered where his next goal was coming from.

“I definitely look back at some stages in my career where I think I was playing well, but maybe not scoring, and in football, especially as an attacking player, you need to score goals.

“I’ve been really working on it and enjoying the result of that hard work this season.”

Just feels like he is now in the right place at the right time of his career.

“I’ve been lucky to be involved quite often for the national team. There have definitely been some periods in my career where I’ve not been doing so well at club and then I come into national team, and kind of recharge and get a lot of energy, positivity from the boys.

“I think maybe the difference this year has been that now I can come in, and I’ve kind of got that confidence and that positivity that I can help the group.

“The best part, I think, about the squad is that we’re all so close. We’ve been playing together for a long time.

“The playing style hasn’t changed so much, so you know what is going to be required of you when you come.”

Midfielder Callum McCowatt last played in a winning club side last October. Since then, his Danish Superliga side Silkeborg IF has failed get to win in nine matches.

McCowatt has played significant minutes in most of the games and proved that a strong showing in a run of losing results can get the attention of the national team coach.

“Personally, it’s going quite OK in terms of my numbers and stats, but for the club, it’s a little bit down at the moment.

“We’re under the relegation zone line, so it can be difficult at times. Of course, it’s not done yet, so we can still work our way out of it.”

When things are not going well for a club team, the pressure can pile on to the players.

“It’s difficult, if I have to be honest. Day to day, you have to find a new way to bring your energy up, because winning brings a lot of energy and a lot of good feeling to your body.

“When this doesn’t happen, you have to find different ways and different motivations, so it’s been a learning process. At the end of it, I’ll probably have grown as a person.”

McCowatt wants to bring some of his individual form at club level to the All Whites.

“I think that a lot of footballers worldwide struggle to take that consistency from club into country, because of the lack of games and the feeling where you kind of feel on a roll.

“When you’re in a club environment every day for, I’ve been there two-and-a-half years, nearly three years, then you become comfortable in a way where it’s your home.

“When you play for the All Whites, you play two games every couple months, five times a year, so that’s 10 games a year outside of World Cup year, it’s kind of hard to find the consistency.

“I’m trying to navigate that as good as I can, because I really want to perform for the All Whites.”

PEC Zwolle midfielder Ryan Thomas was recalled to the All Whites squad last September, nearly ​six years after his last appearance.

Injury and being on the outer at club level meant that Thomas thought his international playing days were over, but Bazeley had different ideas.

“It’s nice to obviously have the confidence from Darren. I spoke with him a lot over the last three years and, obviously, it was a lot more other conversations than what we wanted.

“I talked with him a lot about how it was going and what he thought was the plan for me going forward, and it was always the plan, if I was fit enough, to bring me straight back in.

“I’m just really happy to be able to have the opportunity to play again for the national team and, when you get to play on the bigger stage with a bunch of your good friends to play for your country, it’s something you can’t really take for granted and I’m just making sure that I’m enjoying every moment.”

Closer to home, defender Tim Payne’s A-League club Wellington Phoenix has had a dramatic change of coach and a period of sitting near the bottom of the table.

Payne missed most of the first half of the season with a broken collarbone that needed surgery and, earlier this month, he missed a couple of games with a hamstring injury – including coach Giancarlo Italiano’s last game and Chris Greenacre’s first in charge.

After an “interesting” seventh season with the Phoenix, Payne came into All Whites camp for the Fifa series off back-to-back wins in the A-League.

It was the first time the Phoenix had achieved two wins in a row in the 2025/26 season.

“I think there’s always room to make an impression,” Payne said of the final international window at home before the World Cup squad was announced.

“Everyone’s playing week in, week out at their respective clubs, so if someone’s performing at a very high standard, there’s no reason why they can’t be involved come June.”

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

“Culinary Capital” Title Reaffirmed with Over 200 Restaurants Listed in Internationally Acclaimed Gourmet Guides

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

Cure Kids warns 60,000 children in New Zealand each year are admitted to hospital with a preventable disease.

It is calling for the government to take action, following the release of the fifth State of Child Health report on Friday.

The report found the hospitalisation rate for children with respiratory conditions had increased by 60 percent since 2000.

“These are not rare or unavoidable illnesses,” Cure Kids chief executive Frances Soutter said. “They are, in many cases, preventable and our youngest children are carrying the greatest burden.”

Soutter said those under the age of one accounted for half the children in hospital for a respiratory condition.

The report called for a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus or RSV to be funded.

Auckland University professor of paediatrics and emergency medicine Stuart Dalziel said RSV was the leading cause of bronchiolitis, which hospitalised one in 12 children per year.

Nirsevimab would prevent that, Dalziel said.

The report also called for the influenza vaccine to be funded for children under five.

“We know that young children have the highest hospitalisation rates for flu and it plays a major role in spreading it within communities,” Soutter said. “This is a really practical, really cost-effective step that would protect our children and those around them.”

Tamariki Māori and Pacific children were disproportionately affected in every health concern.

While the hospitalisation rate for those with rheumatic fever or heart disease had returned to the same level as before the pandemic, Pacific children were 43 times more likely to be admitted to hospital with the disease than other children.

University of Auckland researcher and associate professor Anneka Anderson said that rate could be reduced by more than 85 percent, if the inequities were eliminated.

“Rheumatic fever is one of our country’s most glaring health inequities, and the extreme disparities we see in hospitalisation rates for our tamariki Māori and Pacific children, compared to non-Māori, non-Pacific children, are unacceptable in a country with the resources Aotearoa has,” she said.

“With co-ordinated prevention strategies and sustained investment in research, this disease is entirely preventable.”

Health Minister Simeon Brown told RNZ that the government was focused on prevention, as well as improving the health of children and young people.

“Making sure children can access timely, quality healthcare close to home is a fundamental part of that.

“That is why we are so focused on ensuring families can see a doctor when they need to, including through free GP appointments for children aged 13 and under.”

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

The All Whites lost 2-0 to Finland in their penultimate home game before Football World Cup during the FIFA Series game at Eden Park on Friday night.

This was the first time a European men’s football team had visited New Zealand in over 30 years and the first time for many of Finland’s players to play outside of Europe.

Finland opened the scoring in the 24th minute from a corner with captain Joel Pohjanpalo having the finishing touch.

Defender Tim Payne was in a lot of the action in the first half and had one of the best chances for the All Whites to level the score before the half hour mark but was just wide.

The durable Auckland FC defender Francis de Vries was substituted just before half time with an injury and was replaced by James McGarry. It was the first time de Vries had left the field all year after playing every minute of every game at club level.

New Zealand made a change at the break up front with Callum McCowatt off for Jesse Randall while the visitors made four changes including their goal scorer.

The All Whites applied a lot of pressure on Finland’s defence to start the second half but could not get a breakthrough as their finishing let them down.

Lachlan Bayliss made his All Whites debut off the bench and was given 30 minutes as part of three changes that coach Darren Bazeley made in the 64th minute.

Finland went very close to doubling their lead in the 73rd minute when they struck the crossbar and minutes later Randall wrong-footed his defender in the box to go close to getting one back for the All Whites but it was not to be.

However Finland did get their second in the 85th minute via Jaakko Oksanen.

There were 17,603 football fans who turned out for the match.

The All Whites play Chile on Monday at Eden Park in their final home game before the Football World Cup and Finland play Cape Verde in the first game of the Fifa Series double-header.

See how the match unfolded here:

All Whites squad for Fifa Series

Kosta Barbarouses (70 caps, 9 goals) Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia

Lachlan Bayliss (debut) Newcastle Jets, Australia

Joe Bell (28/1) Viking FK, Norway

Tyler Bindon (20/3) Sheffield United, England (on loan from Nottingham Forest)

Max Crocombe (19/0) Millwall, England

Andre De Jong (11/2) Orlando Pirates, South Africa

Francis De Vries (15/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand

Callan Elliot (7/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand

Eli Just (38/8) Motherwell, Scotland

Callum McCowatt (28/4) Silkeborg IF, Denmark

James McGarry (3/0) Brisbane Roar, Australia

Ben Old (18/1) AS Saint-Étienne, France

Alex Paulsen (5/0) Lechia Gdańsk, Poland (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)

Tim Payne (48/3) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand

Jesse Randall (5/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand

Logan Rogerson (16/2) Auckland FC, New Zealand

Alex Rufer (22/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand

Marko Stamenic (33/3) Swansea City, Wales

Finn Surman (13/2) Portland Timbers, USA

Ryan Thomas (23/3) PEC Zwolle, Netherlands

Bill Tuiloma (45/4) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand

Ben Waine (26/8) Port Vale, England

Michael Woud (6/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand

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Follow all the football action as the All Whites take on Finland in their Fifa Series match at Eden Park.

The All Whites want to leave a lasting impression in their final two games on home soil before the Football World Cup.

Friday’s game against Finland and Chile on Monday – also at Eden Park – will be the last chance for many New Zealand football fans to see the team live before the global tournament in June and the opportunity to showcase what the All Whites can do is not lost on the playing group.

Kick-off is at 7pm.

All Whites squad for Fifa Series

Kosta Barbarouses (70 caps, 9 goals) Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia

Lachlan Bayliss (debut) Newcastle Jets, Australia

Joe Bell (28/1) Viking FK, Norway

Tyler Bindon (20/3) Sheffield United, England (on loan from Nottingham Forest)

Max Crocombe (19/0) Millwall, England

Andre De Jong (11/2) Orlando Pirates, South Africa

Francis De Vries (15/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand

Callan Elliot (7/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand

Eli Just (38/8) Motherwell, Scotland

Callum McCowatt (28/4) Silkeborg IF, Denmark

James McGarry (3/0) Brisbane Roar, Australia

Ben Old (18/1) AS Saint-Étienne, France

Alex Paulsen (5/0) Lechia Gdańsk, Poland (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)

Tim Payne (48/3) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand

Jesse Randall (5/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand

Logan Rogerson (16/2) Auckland FC, New Zealand

Alex Rufer (22/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand

Marko Stamenic (33/3) Swansea City, Wales

Finn Surman (13/2) Portland Timbers, USA

Ryan Thomas (23/3) PEC Zwolle, Netherlands

Bill Tuiloma (45/4) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand

Ben Waine (26/8) Port Vale, England

Michael Woud (6/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand

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

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

• Sailors representing New Zealand stopped off in the most countries (8) of any team in the last 12 months.
• New Zealand cricketers went to Zimbabwe for the first time in nine years and spent nearly three months in the subcontinent.
• Footballers travel the longest distances to be with the national teams.
• Basketballers play in locations other New Zealand sportspeople do not.

Each year, New Zealand athletes crisscross the world, some come close to circumnavigating the globe, and some stop off in places athletes in other codes never will.

In the coming months athletes will take detours, extend travel days and deal with cancellations as they do their jobs while travel is disrupted by the Iran war.

Costa Rica, Taiwan, Spain, Mexico, United States, Australia and Solomon Islands are the places where Football Fern Maya Hahn has put on her boots for the national team in the last 12 months.

The globe-trotting midfielder plays club football in Germany and after committing to New Zealand for senior football in 2025 she has been a regular in the squad.

Where the Football Ferns play in any given year comes down to a number of factors. Fifa and Oceania Football Confederation decide where the Football World Cup qualifying tournaments are held, for instance last month in Solomon Islands, and New Zealand Football negotiates with other national associations to get games during the set international windows each year.

Scoring the winner with her first senior international goal behind closed doors in a tiny Costa Rican stadium, the unplayable pitches in Taiwan, facing Venezuela at a popular Spanish training hub, a heavy defeat at a sold out Australian stadium and surviving the heat of the Solomon Islands are some of the tales Hahn can tell from the first year of her Football Ferns career.

“Through football, you’re able to go to all these crazy random countries and travel all over the world, places you might not even typically choose to go to,” Hahn said.

“Definitely, I need to plant a rainforest or something with my carbon footprint now.”

Hahn quickly found out that not everything goes to plan in international football and sports administration works differently in different parts of the world. Scheduled to make her debut at Costa Rica’s Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium, the host nation caught the Football Ferns off guard by switching venues to a smaller stadium a day before kick off and limiting supporters for game two.

Her next trip, to Taiwan, did not result in any competitive football being played after the pitches were deemed too dangerous to play on, meaning the games in April last year were cancelled.

“There were some issues with the field and what was promised and what they had said that would be available and it wasn’t really at the same standard,” Hahn said of the Taiwan tour.

“We were just training and using the time to connect as a team. So that was definitely a different experience and not one that we expected, especially when you travel that far.”

Games against Venezuela at Estadio Nuevo Mirador in southern Spain did provide an off-field highlight for Hahn and her team mates.

“There was a lot of like English teams there. [Manchester City and Norway striker] Erling Haaland was there at the same time as us as well.

“It was crazy. He just shows up in a Lamborghini and then he’s kicking a ball around with his girlfriend on the field while we’re in the gym.”

To get back to New Zealand for next month’s Fifa Women’s World Cup 2027 Oceania Qualifiers, Hahn has an even longer route than normal.

Unable to transit through Dubai, as she normally would, Hahn will now play an away game for her club side Viktoria Berlin in Munich on the Sunday, stay overnight then board a flight for Vancouver and then arrive in Auckland on Wednesday and play in the World Cup qualifiers semi-final in Hamilton four days later.

“I think our managers with the travel agency, they do a good job of making sure we’re well looked after and getting the best connections possible. But that’s definitely a lot of work, I think.”

All White Ben Old, who plays for AS Saint-Etienne in France, was among the players who experienced the current travel conditions in reverse, coming to Auckland for this week’s Fifa Series.

“France to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Singapore, Singapore to Auckland, I landed at 1am [on Monday] and I had my game at 8pm on Saturday [France time] I had my flight in the morning at 6am so I didn’t sleep because it’s so hard to sleep after a game.”

Bucket list locations or places not on the radar

The global nature of basketball means New Zealand’s national teams, from age-group to senior sides, play in locations that other New Zealand sportspeople do not.

Tall Blacks coach Judd Flavell and many of his roster had never been to the Micronesian island of Guam before playing a World Cup qualifier there this month.

The New Zealand team was only in the United States territory for a short period of time, arriving from the Philippines, playing the next day and then heading back to their respective bases around the world after a big win.

In the last 12 months the Tall Blacks have also been to Saudi Arabia, Australia and the Philippines.

Tall Black Jordan Ngatai, now based in Japan, has played for New Zealand since 2013.

He was one of the few current players who had been to Guam – “a mini Hawaii, with a similar type of vibe” – before, just one of a number of places basketball has taken the 33-year-old including Lebanon, Jordan, Korea and Hong Kong.

Sometimes the Tall Blacks were met by relaxed vibes other times security was amped up.

Police escorts to stadiums for Fiba tournaments are common and sometimes complex.

“The last World Cup we were at [in the Philippines] we had a police escort from our hotel to the arena but the arena was only a 10 minute walk but we had to catch the bus because it lead around to the player’s entrance a process that would of took a 10 minute walk, or not even that, was a 10 to 15 minute bus ride.”

Seeing much beyond the basketball court, training gym and hotel is not always possible

“Whenever we do get our little days off we make the most of it as, yes, we’re there for basketball, but as people, as human beings, we want to explore different cultures and explore the country that we’re in.

“I feel like we try and do, sometimes the most touristy things, but also some of the things that the locals kind of do as well.”

Turkey, for the coffee and markets, and Lebanon, for the fans, have been memorable for Ngatai.

Ngatai said a stadium of less than 7000 people in Beirut sounded more like 25000 fans.

“Just by the drums that were playing, the whistles, just the whole environment of them yelling.

“I remember it was our first time at Asia Cup and we were performing our haka and from start to finish, the boys could not hear me.

“I just said that my main message before we did it was just try and I’m going to be as loud as I can, just try and hear it and copy the person in front if you can’t hear.

“So we got through it, it was good, but that’s probably one of the loudest environments I’ve been in from that aspect of it.”

On Lebanon’s return trip to New Zealand the players wondered if the New Zealand fans were “ok” given how quiet they were in comparison to other basketball playing countries.

“People probably think that Tall Ferns and Tall Blacks just go play in the same countries but there’s two different ways of the women’s side and the men’s side of how they can qualify for the World Cup and so they get to probably see more of South America and the other side of Europe compared to what we get to see.”

Tall Ferns captain Tayla Dalton spoke to RNZ from a hotel in Puerto Rico before the World Cup qualifiers tipped off this month. The team had been in a training camp in Melbourne before travelling as a group to San Juan.

“It’s stunning, it’s so pretty we’re staying right on the beach so we’re so spoilt,” Dalton said of the Caribbean island.

“I’ve gone and played in Mongolia and Belarus places I would never have gone to without basketball but Puerto Rico is a good one let me tell you that.”

The Tall Ferns had also been in China in the middle of last year for the Asia Cup.

Sailing around the world

SailGP gives competing boats a ‘home’ event.

This year the series has moved to align with the calendar year, but in the 2024/25 season the Black Foils were off-shore in Dubai, Australia, United States, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Abu Dhabi.

In January this year New Zealand started the series in Perth had a crash, got the boat back together for their home race in Auckland before having another crash which has prevented them competing in the following events in Sydney or Brazil in April.

If the Black Foils are back in the water by the Bermuda Grand Prix in May, the team will then travel to United States, Canada, England, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Dubai and Abu Dhabi all before the end of November.

Sailors can return home between some legs of the racing or just travel on with their boat to the next location if time is tight.

Across the sporting disciplines New Zealand teams took part in last year – the eight different locations took the sailors to the top of the charts for miles covered.

Months on the road

Cricketers, from this part of the world, across their careers get to know India well.

Some members of the Black Caps spent nearly three months in the subcontinent this year with a white ball series against India followed straight after by the T20 World Cup hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Coach Rob Walter, at the airport after the World Cup about to board his flight back to New Zealand for the series against South Africa, reflected on the time away from home.

“It was a pretty intense nine weeks to be fair in India and Sri Lanka.

“That’s the nature of the beast right now in international cricket and understanding we also have to take care of our players. Those guys left everything out there from a World Cup point of view.”

Eight World Cup players were rested for the home series against South Africa.

“You still need to be in a mental space to put your best foot forward for your country when you’re competing and [I’m] trying to ensure that that’s the case.”

The cricket calendar is decided years in advance by the International Cricket Council via the Future Tours Programme.

Politics can also play a part, particularly when India and Pakistan are involved.

In 2025 the Black Caps played in Pakistan, Dubai and for the first time in a decade played ODIs in Zimbabwe.

The Middle East hosted more cricket in recent years as a neutral venue but traditionally New Zealand was scheduled to play in other major cricket playing nations.

Next month, New Zealand will play T20s in Bangladesh, followed by Tests in England in June.

It is not unusual for cricketers to spend long periods way from home. New Zealand Cricket gave former Black Caps coach Gary Stead a break in 2020 after he had spent just four of the last 16 months at home.

Similar to the Black Caps, the White Ferns were in India and Sri Lanka late last year for a global tournament and will head to England for a World Cup warm up series before the T20 World Cup starts there in June.

Rugby and netball playing nations

New Zealand’s traditional codes have a regular rotation of places they go to play.

The Silver Ferns stick to Commonwealth countries.

In a disrupted end to 2025 the netballers played the Constellation Cup in Australia and then had a quick turnaround to the Northern Tour in England and Scotland.

Argentina, Australia, United States, Scotland, England and Wales was where the All Blacks went in 2025.

All places they had played before and, minus Argentina, will play in again this year.

This year they will also tour South Africa to play professional franchise sides as well as the Springboks.

The Black Ferns’ away games were in Australia in the Pacific Four Championship last season as well as the Rugby World Cup in England in August and September.

Next month the Black Ferns play in the Pacific Four Series in the United States and Australia.

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The All Whites want to leave a lasting impression in their final two games on home soil before the Football World Cup.

Fifa Series games against Finland on Friday and Chile on Monday at Eden Park will be the last chance for many New Zealand football fans to see the team live before the global tournament in June and the opportunity to showcase what the All Whites can do is not lost on the playing group.

“For a long time we didn’t think we were going to have another game before the World Cup,” midfielder turned left back Ben Old said.

“So it was a great surprise for me and a lot of these boys to be able to come back to New Zealand.

“Being the last tour before the World Cup, I think it’s a cool send-off to show our quality and where we are as a team and hopefully build a bit of excitement for the World Cup.”

Old and many of his teammates shared the view that the upcoming two games are about performance as well as results.

“At the World Cup it’s ultimately about winning games. You can perform as well as you want, but to push on and create history we’re going to have to win games.

“So I think these are some great opponents, but also a great opportunity for us to be able to perform and show that we can win games as well.

“On previous tours we often seem to have one quite good game and then we maybe drop in another.

“So we’ve been working on that a lot and I think for us to be able to show some consistency in two games is going to build us a lot of confidence for the World Cup.”

The All Whites have played eight games in the year since qualifying for the World Cup for one win, one draw and six losses.

All games have been against high-ranked opponents and world number 75 Finland and world number 55 Chile will provide two different playing styles for the world number 85 All Whites to test themselves against.

Several players in the Finland squad have never played so far from home.

“We have players that have been in the national team for many, many years and they have never played against opponents outside Europe, so of course it is a big experience for everybody, it seems that the players is coping really well with that part of travelling so far,” coach Jacob Friis said.

Nothing can replicate the pressure the All Whites will be under at the World Cup but experienced midfielder Joe Bell said the Fifa Series, against opposition who missed out on qualifying for the World Cup, was a good warm up.

“There’s not so much we can do as players in terms of deciding who we want to play against but we’ve always demanded to try play against the best opposition we can and I think we get that with Finland and Chile, I think that’s a huge huge benefit for us because I think it replicates the games we’re most likely going to experience at the World Cup.

“We need more than just one draw or one win at the World Cup we need to get back-to-back results and that’s something we’re working on [but for this series] obviously there’s the physical component to it as well, we play Friday, Monday so it’s going to be difficult to put out two teams that are the same.”

Midfielder Eli Just recognised winning in Auckland would be a boost for the team but the bigger picture was more important.

“If you win all your games leading up to the World Cup and lose at the World Cup it means nothing

“We’ve definitely been focusing as a group each game just learning, trying to work out where we can get better and how best to prepare for the World Cup.

“You can’t guarantee anything but I think the squad we’ve got is definitely in a really healthy position and we have expectations on ourselves that we want to go and achieve something at the World Cup.”

The All Whites are without six players due to injury for the Fifa Series but defender Finn Surman said there was still a level of familiarity amongst the players who were involved in this international window.

“We are all essentially on the same page about how we want to play as a team. We’ve been doing a lot of work over the last two, three years on that.

“So we all know what is expected of us when we come into camp.

“It’s just about fine-tuning those little details and things when it comes to different players playing together and all that sort of stuff.”

Coach Darren Bazeley has welcomed being at home for this international window.

“Any game in football, across club football or international football the home team has an advantage, the conditions, the crowd, and it’s been tough for us we travel a lot and play away games a lot and deal with crowds in opposition environments so we’ve got used to doing that but this is the first time really that we’ve been able to play competitive ranked teams here in New Zealand and I think the rankings of Finland and Chile they’re good competitive games that are going to be a challenge for us.”

All Whites squad for FIFA Series

Kosta Barbarouses (70 caps, 9 goals) Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia

Lachlan Bayliss (debut) Newcastle Jets, Australia

Joe Bell (28/1) Viking FK, Norway

Tyler Bindon (20/3) Sheffield United, England (on loan from Nottingham Forest)

Max Crocombe (19/0) Millwall, England

Andre De Jong (11/2) Orlando Pirates, South Africa

Francis De Vries (15/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand

Callan Elliot (7/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand

Eli Just (38/8) Motherwell, Scotland

Callum McCowatt (28/4) Silkeborg IF, Denmark

James McGarry (3/0) Brisbane Roar, Australia

Ben Old (18/1) AS Saint-Étienne, France

Alex Paulsen (5/0) Lechia Gdańsk, Poland (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)

Tim Payne (48/3) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand

Jesse Randall (5/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand

Logan Rogerson (16/2) Auckland FC, New Zealand

Alex Rufer (22/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand

Marko Stamenic (33/3) Swansea City, Wales

Finn Surman (13/2) Portland Timbers, USA

Ryan Thomas (23/3) PEC Zwolle, Netherlands

Bill Tuiloma (45/4) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand

Ben Waine (26/8) Port Vale, England

Michael Woud (6/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand

Fixtures

• Friday, March 27, 7.15pm: v Finland; Eden Park, Auckland
• Monday, March 30, 7.15pm: v Chile; Eden Park

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

Amy Rule knows how much playing top flight rugby in the UK has elevated her game – but it has also left her facing a dilemma that the Black Ferns have not encountered until now.

Before this season, no Black Fern had played in the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) competition in the UK. Eight New Zealand internationals took up contracts for the current 2025/26 season.

Rule was the first Black Fern to sign to the competition when she announced in June last year that she was joining Exeter Chiefs after the World Cup.

Five of the eight players provided injury cover for respective clubs.

Maia Roos, Tanya Kalounivale, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, and Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant are in that group and will travel from England at the end of this month to join the squad for the Pacific Four series.

Loose forward Layla Sae will miss much of the 2026 season after suffering a serious knee injury on duty for her English club Harlequins.

Three veterans – Amy Rule, Alana Borland (nee Bremner), and Georgia Ponsonby – gave up Black Ferns contracts to play full seasons in the UK competition, making them ineligible for Whitney Hansen’s first squad as Black Ferns coach.

Ponsonby however, was granted an exemption by the NZR board due to injuries leaving depth at hooker thin, and was on Monday named in Hansen’s 30-strong squad for next month’s series.

Rule said she wanted a new experience after last year’s World Cup, which was a disappointing campaign for the Black Ferns when they finished third.

“I ended my contract with the Black Ferns to play a full season here because I had been with New Zealand Rugby and the Black Ferns for over five years and I wanted to live in a different country, and experience a different type of rugby. We can’t play this game forever, and I just want to play as much rugby as possible,” Rule said.

The tighthead prop said unless she plays some domestic rugby in New Zealand later this year, she will not be eligible for the Black Ferns for the whole of 2026.

“I want to finish off the season with Exeter Chiefs and when I finish I don’t know what that looks like after, it’s still up in the air.

“New Zealand Rugby have been pretty strict on how they do their rulings and to be eligible for Black Ferns you have to play in the New Zealand domestic competition. I’m not showing 100 percent intention of coming back this season but time will tell.”

The 25-year-old admits she will have some “big decisions to make” in the next couple of months, knowing if she were to re-sign with Exeter for the 2026/27 season it could rule her out of a big year for the Black Ferns.

The inaugural British and Irish Lions Women’s Series will take place in New Zealand in September 2027.

“It is historic and I definitely want to be a part of it and put my hand up for it but it’s just going to be dependent on how the calendar falls into place, what I decide to do this year and moving through into next year.

“Time will tell, it’s all kind of happening at the moment what the next couple of years look like, or even heading towards the 2029 World Cup.

“Definitely got a close relationship with New Zealand Rugby and having those conversations, obviously I’ve got a good relationship with Whitney and all the management so conversations are being had.”

Ponsonby and Borland too will have to start thinking about whether they sign on for another year with Ealing Trailfinders.

It remains to be seen whether NZ Rugby will continue to allow players to sign with UK-based clubs on short-term contracts, without it affecting their eligibility.

Ponsonby said those conversations would happen shortly.

“I’m not really sure what path I want to take but I need to have conversations with coaches here and coaches back home to see what can or cannot happen,” Ponsonby said.

“I think the Black Ferns are still having conversations about what they will and won’t allow. Obviously there are girls who have come over here this season for injury cover, who are just signed until the end of March.

“Whether or not that will be an option for players again for the next season I’m not sure. I hope they create that opportunity for players to come over here and play a half season because it’s really beneficial. I’m not sure if the option will be available again or not.”

More rugby needed

One of the reasons so many Black Ferns took up contacts in the UK was the fact that they faced months without playing.

Last year New Zealand Rugby announced it was shifting the dates of Super Rugby Aupiki so it would not clash with new international windows.

Previously played through March and April, Super Rugby Aupiki has been pushed back to June, with six regular season games and a grand final.

It meant from October to April there was no top-level rugby for women’s players in New Zealand.

The quirk with PWR is that it breaks for seven weeks during April and May, before resuming for the final two rounds of regular season, then semi-finals and a final.

During that break the northern hemisphere players can compete in the Six Nations for their respective countries, while Rule and Borland will watch the Black Ferns Tests from afar.

As for what she’s getting out of playing PWR, Rule said it was pushing her to a new level.

“In New Zealand the only real opportunities to really hone your craft was in Aupiki and then international level – so I had six games to grow my craft before playing international rugby.

“Whereas here week in week out, I can really push myself, take risks, make mistakes and you just can’t beat playing rugby compared to training, I think it’s helped my game immensely.”

While it’s seen as a semi-professional competition, with some players working full-time jobs, Rule said the amount of training resembled a full-time programme.

Rule said the sheer number of minutes players got across the 18-game regular season made a huge difference.

“Here we are training nearly every day, we do Monday, Tuesday, we have Wednesday as recovery day, and Thursday is another training day and then you play on the weekends. And we get about triple the amount of games here so it’s intense.”

Change needed?

Hansen said the feedback from Black Ferns who took up contracts in the UK had been overwhelmingly positive.

“They’ve really enjoyed it, they’ve had some really good learnings across that time and I think it’s been cool having that come back and help to grow us as well. It’s been the right thing for them in this moment and we’re excited to have them back with us for the next bit of their journey,” Hansen said.

The All Blacks eligibility rules have been thoroughly dissected over the years but this is the first time it has really been tested when it comes to the Black Ferns.

Apart from exceptions for senior All Blacks on approved sabbaticals, players must play for a New Zealand-based Super Rugby team to be eligible for New Zealand.

The policy aims to protect the domestic game and prevent a talent exodus to overseas leagues in countries like France and Japan, which attract top international talent with high salaries.

But Black Ferns players haven’t been lured by big salaries because they don’t exist. What they have been drawn to is the level of competition they are getting in the PWR.

The Black Ferns also have some ground to make up if they want to be on top of the world again. England looked untouchable at last year’s World Cup, winning the title on the back of a record-breaking streak of 33 consecutive Test wins.

Hansen said any exemptions under the eligibility rules, would have to go through the NZR board.

“We’ve got an exemption around Georgia [Ponsonby] because we’ve got a couple of injuries and niggles that are sitting in our hooker depth at the moment, so we had to go back to the board and talk about that and what that would look like and ultimately it was the best decision for the team to ask her to come back in and to make that exemption.”

Hansen confirmed Rule and Borland could become eligible for Black Ferns tests in the back end of this year if they played some domestic rugby.

“It’s for this campaign they are ineligible, essentially we’ll go in to Super Rugby Aupiki and we might still see someone come in the back end of that, cover a position or end up in that space, playing NPC. There’s lots of opportunities to be selected again or contracted again for the Black Ferns but that will really depend on what they decide to do next for their rugby journey.”

At this stage Hansen does not believe the eligibility rule needs re-visiting for the Black Ferns.

“I don’t think so at the moment, it’s been really clear on what is and isn’t and when we’ve needed to go back to the board to talk about that then we’ve got the exemption that we’ve needed because it’s been a clear and obvious choice that it was the right thing to do so not at this time.

“We’ve got some athletes who we’ve worked together with clubs that are over there who are covering injury. And for those other three, it was a look at like what’s next for them, it’s at the back of a world cup and them making some decisions on what’s next in their rugby.”

Ponsonby said playing PWR had “massively” helped her game.

“Getting to play with world class players …in our team we’ve girls from England, Ireland, Wales, Spain, Canada, USA … all over the show. I think that’s the beauty of this competition, it is the best in the world for that reason.

“You’ve got the best players in the world spread out across the teams and it shows in the results so far. Every single game is a tough match and you don’t know who’s going to win.”

Borland was the first to sign with Ealing Trailfinders, then Ponsonby received a message from the coach gauging her interest and ultimately decided it was an opportunity she couldn’t turn down.

The 26-year-old is flatting with Borland and her husband, who she lived with for two years in Christchurch.

“We moved our lives over here, I’m just the third wheel,” she laughs. “But it’s great, we love our life over here.”

Ponsonby had got used to the idea that she was not going to be part of the Black Ferns this year so was grateful to be given an exemption for the PAC4 series.

Ponsonby said the demand for New Zealand players was high.

“There’s definitely the appetite over here, they love us as rugby players and what we bring. There’s other countries, the likes of France and Spain that are trying to recruit international players.

“I hope NZ Rugby do open those doors for people, but at the same time we’ve got a great competition back home with Aupiki and my hope is that expands into something bigger and we get to play Australia because that would only grow our own competition as well, I see the merit in both.”

Competition dates

PWR 2025/26

• 25 October – 30 March
• Two month break for international window
• Resumes 30 May – Final 29 June

Black Ferns 2026 Pacific Four Series

• 12 Apr – v USA, Sacramento
• 18 Apr – v Canada, Kansas City
• 25 Apr – v Wallaroos, Sunshine Coast

Super Rugby Aupiki 2026

• 13 June – 25 July
• Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Final – 1 August

Farah Palmer Cup 2026

• Kicks off 29 August
• Finals set for late October

Remaining Black Ferns Tests confirmed for 2026

• O’Reilly Cup – 22 Aug vs Wallaroos
• 5th Sept vs South Africa, Johannesburg
• 26 Sept vs England, Twickenham
• Home Series vs France – 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 31 Oct

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