The multi-billion-dollar sale of dairy co-operative Fonterra’s consumer brands business is one step closer, as shareholders overwhelmingly approve another regulatory hurdle to the international deal.

More than 98 percent of the co-op’s 8000 shareholders voted in favour of the capital return scheme resulting from the divestment of Mainland Group, at a special meeting this morning.

In October, shareholders approved the proposal to sell the consumer brands business – behind well-known brands like Anchor, Kāpiti, Perfect Italiano and Fresh’n Fruity – to French dairy giant Lactalis.

This week’s vote was one of the various approvals needed for the international transaction of $4.22 billion to be completed, with more to go.

Shareholders would receive $3.2 billion once the sale was complete in one lump sum, while up to $1 billion would go back into the co-op.

Board chairman Peter McBride said in the meeting that the sale process was progressing, before an expected completion by the end of next month.

“Your co-op has been working to deliver the proposed capital return as quickly as possible,” he said.

“We are targeting a tax-free capital return of $2 per share to shareholders and unit holders, equivalent to around $3.2 billion, once the sale is complete.”

McBride said shareholders did not have to do anything to prepare, as the co-op would ensure their shares ahead of the deal remained unchanged.

“Subject to approval by shareholders, settlement of the transaction and receipt of final court orders, the co-op continues to expect the transaction to be complete in the first quarter of this calendar year.

“That is, by 31 March 2026,” he said.

A co-op spokesperson said it planned to invest up to $1 billion it would get from the sale into value-add projects across ingredients and foodservice, including the butter factory expansion at Clandeboye.

Fonterra co-operative chair and Wairarapa cocky John Stevenson said farmers would likely bank their dividends and pay down debt with the cash injection.

He said farmers will also keep a close eye on how Fonterra executes its new strategy as a global dairy ingredients supplier.

“I’m not surprised, I think the original vote on whether to divest or not was certainly the one where farmers put significant effort into understanding the proposal in front of them,” he said.

“Whilst an important part of the process is essentially in farmers’ minds re-confirming that they’re happy with the outcome of that in terms of the capital return and happy for Fonterra to continue in that direction.”

The payment would result in a lump sum payment for shareholders after the subdivision.

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

Stormy weather has cut power to dairy sheds, brought down trees, shelter belts and wiped out vegetable and arable crops.

Ōtorohanga was one of five districts still under a state of emergency following the heavy rain and strong gusts over the weekend.

Michael Woodward, who runs a dairy and goat farm in south Ōtorohanga, said he had a blocked culvert and slips, but nearby farms were worse off.

“East of Ōtorohanga where the stepper country starts coming in, there’s been a lot of slips in those farms, fences have been taken out,” he said.

“There’s been a small amount of stock loss that we’ve heard of, but as a whole because the damage has been localised, nearby farmers who haven’t been affected are helping out.”

Woodward said farms along the banks of the Waipā River were most affected.

“Just where the water’s slowly backed up, a lot of damage towards the Ōtorohanga township as well, one of the local primary schools has gone under.”

Woodward said local families helped wash out silt from the school hall that was submerged by flood waters.

Ōtorohanga Primary School’s leadership team said on Facebook, initial investigations were now underway at the kura.

“Our absolute priority is returning to in-person learning as soon as it is safe to do so,” it read.

“However, current assessments indicate that the full school site is unlikely to be reoccupied for up to four weeks while remediation is completed. As each building is cleared and restored, we may be able to stage the return of classrooms to the site.”

Woodward said there was amazing community support for those most affected by the storms.

The wild weather has left thousands without power across the lower North Island.

Manawatū-Rangitīkei dairy farmer Hamish Easton who milked 500 cows near Foxton said most farmers were prepared for power cuts and had their own generators from previous events.

“We’ve had significant wind overnight, we lost power but it was back on by 5am which is good for the guys out milking early, but the wind has carried on, it’s pretty significant.”

Easton said there were road diversions across parts of the province due to fallen trees, and said farmers should stay local and avoid unnecessary travel or jobs if they could.

Fonterra said there were five farms in Manawatū they were unable to reach last night because of flood waters, but it was working to pick up that milk on Monday.

Vegetable and arable crops hit

Pirongia Mountain Vegetables said a major part of their winter root vegetable crop had been washed away.

Before photos show lush potato crops – now the same paddock is just a muddy mess.

On Facebook, the company said it was used to flooding and plants above historic high water marks but this time it was different.

Further south in Horowhenua, large scale commercial vegetable company Woodhaven Gardens has been affected by strong winds.

Owner Jay Clarke said it looked like the entire zuchinni crop had been wiped out.

“The wind escalated last night, it’s caused quite significant crop damage on some of our crops, especially some of the seasonal crops like zucchinis.

“The wind can snap the growing centre, meaning that you will lose that crop, so that’s quite a big hit on our income potentially because we won’t be able to harvest any of that crop now. That plant just won’t grow. It’ll die.”

Clarke said some other crops would be touch or go, “we’ll know in a week or so what the full impact will be”.

“We will just have to plough damaged crops back into the land, that has flow on effects for labour decisions and things like that.”

Clarke said the damage would have flow on effects for supply as well.

“There could be a lack of supply for some vegetables but it could take a few weeks for that to appear in the shops.”

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

A Taiwanese family in Auckland is turning a Lunar New Year staple into an everyday purchase, producing about 300,000 dumplings a week as demand grows on mainstream supermarket shelves.

While eaten year-round, many families in China eat dumplings around midnight on Lunar New Year’s Eve, which falls on 16 February this year.

The dumplings’ shape is traditionally believed to resemble ingots, signalling greater wealth in the year ahead.

Such symbolism helped fuel a seasonal rush each year, said Amy Sevao, chief executive of Old Country Food, an Auckland-based dumpling manufacturer.

The Lunar New Year was the company’s busiest time, she said.

The factory produces about 300,000 dumplings a week, or roughly 1.2 million a month, and orders from mainstream supermarkets typically rise by as much as 20 percent during the festival period.

Sevao, who moved from Taiwan to New Zealand with her parents in 1995, is married to a Samoan man. The couple has two young sons.

She said dumplings had become a thread that tied together different generations in her family.

“It’s such a traditional food,” she said.

“You get together for Lunar New Year, have dumplings and the parents or older relatives will say, ‘Oh, look, this looks like an old gold ingot. It means good fortune, money.’ Those stories get passed on, and that’s always really fun.”

Drawing on memories from her childhood, Sevao said dumplings were everyday fare in Taiwan and had steadily gained popularity in New Zealand.

In her view, that rise has tracked the broader story of Asian immigration in the country.

Old Country Food had been in business for about 35 years, she said.

It was founded by immigrants from Hong Kong and has since changed hands several times among Asian immigrant families, before Sevao’s parents bought the business in 2015.

“In a way, the history of OCF (Old Country Food) reflects the history of Asian immigration in New Zealand,” she said.

Sevao said breaking into the mainstream market could be challenging for businesses owned by migrants.

“When I first started in the business, we were 100 percent in Asian supermarkets,” she said.

“After a while, we thought the mainstream market was much bigger, we should give it a go,” she said.

“We started selling to independent grocery stores like Fresh World or Fruit World,” she said.

“Now we’re in PAK’nSAVE and New World [stores] across the North Island and also in the South Island.

She said immigrants had less support because they often didn’t have extensive networks in the community.

“We often have to overcome language barriers,” she said.

“There are lots of laws and regulations, and the way business is done in New Zealand can be very different from the way it is done in Asia.

“To overcome all of that, to have a great team working toward the same goal and to have that effort recognised not only by supermarkets, but by everyday people who go and buy our food, our products every single week, that’s a really great feeling.”

Sevao’s parents agreed that breaking into the mainstream market could be difficult for migrant-owned businesses, but said it was not impossible.

Bingnan Cai, 72, and Lingxin Huang, 66, bought the dumpling manufacturer a decade ago, hoping to help make dumplings a more mainstream part of New Zealand’s food landscape.

“After we moved here, we really missed the taste of our hometown,” Huang said. “Dumplings are one of them.

“We wanted to integrate into society,” she said. “We wanted to help popularise traditional cuisine, so we started this dumpling factory.”

Cai said sushi, long a symbol of Asian cuisine abroad, had gained popularity among New Zealanders.

Seeing that sushi was now sold in most shopping malls, he was confident his dumplings could also become part of everyday eating in New Zealand.

Cai said he wanted dumplings to become one of New Zealand’s signature foods.

“If you want to enter the mainstream market, you must accept this challenge,” Cai said. “The number of people eating dumplings here would not exceed 15 percent [of the whole population].

“It’s really challenging to grow such a small market into a big one,” he said. “But everything is possible.”

Sevao was confident dumplings had become a staple for many households in New Zealand.

“I think good food is cross-cultural,” she said.

“If it tastes good, it doesn’t matter what culture you come from. … I think dumplings are a very universal food.”

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

From ants inside clothing packages from Australia to potentially deadly European hornets, Auckland has recently become a hotspot for unwanted insects from overseas.

Aucklander Jayd Graham, 21, was disgusted to find ants inside the sealed packaging of one of two dresses she ordered from Australia.

“I opened the package in my room. The first dress was completely fine. But then I opened the second dress and started seeing ants all over my bed. In the package with the second dress, there were eggs and ants crawling everywhere. I literally ran outside and chucked it on the ground.

“I was like, that’s disgusting, and my mates said I should make a video on TikTok.”

Biosecurity officers confirmed the ants were an Australian species already present in New Zealand.

In response to RNZ’s questions about whether the package had ants in it upon arriving in New Zealand, Biosecurity acknowledged that some unwanted pests can slip through the border security system.

Graham said the clothing brand she ordered from, which did not respond to RNZ’s request for comment, ultimately replaced her order and gave her a voucher.

Meanwhile, also in Auckland, Biosecurity staff are searching for yellow-legged hornets and their nests after the invasive pest, which wreaks havoc on overseas agriculture, was spotted in the country for the first time in 2025.

To date, 51 queen yellow-legged hornets and 61 nests have been found on Auckland’s North Shore.

A retired Hawke’s Bay beekeeper, Peter Berry, who worked in the industry for about 50 years, said the possibility of a wider outbreak was still worrying.

“If these things get away, the problem will be huge. And it won’t just be for the environment or for beekeepers, because they make life really unpleasant for anybody who bumps into them. People will die, and people will be severely injured by these things, and certainly lots and lots of people will be terrified.

“We really need to keep an eye out throughout the whole country because they are so easily spread.

“As I understand it, they’re fairly like the wasps we’re used to seeing that hibernate in lumps of firewood over the winter. If a queen wasp has got into one of those lumps of firewood, in the bumper of somebody’s car, or under a tarpaulin somewhere, then it could be anywhere in the country.”

He said the economic cost of a nationwide outbreak would be worse than anything he dealt with during his career.

“For the whole country, you’re probably talking billions of dollars lost.

“Wasps are bad enough. The German and the common wasp used to cost us when we were a business something like $100,000 a year.

“And when the number of those gets up in a rural environment, they just eat everything. And there’s nothing left for the birds to eat. So something a lot worse than them, that would be an absolute bloody disaster.”

He said harmful species entering the country was not ideal, but almost inevitable.

“We have gaps in our biosecurity the size of containers. A queen yellow-legged hornet is half the size of your little finger. And it’s very, very difficult to find something like that. Obviously better and cheaper to stop them in the first place, but without curtailing trade, it’s virtually impossible.”

“I’d love to have better biosecurity, but the main thing is if it gets here, that they do something about it.”

The government had committed $12m to cover the cost of the hornet response until the end of June 2026.

Berry said that the investment was absolutely worth it.

“If you can catch it when it’s small and jump on it and spend millions of dollars to kill it while you’ve only got a couple of hundred of them, it’s an awful lot cheaper than ever trying to wipe out tens of thousands.

“I think they could possibly spend some more time trying to just check around over the whole of the country to make sure that there isn’t something popping up. But I think you’ll find that pretty well every beekeeper in the country will be looking.”

Fruit fly battle ongoing

In the central Auckland suburb of Mount Roskill, biosecurity staff were also trying to eradicate an obnoxious fruit fly from Australia.

Restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables are in place in the area after a single male Queensland fruit fly was found in a surveillance trap in January.

Kris Robb, the manager at Clyde Orchards, was hopeful that the fruit fly would not get to them in the South Island.

“It’s obviously concerning to the industry, but personally, I think we’ve got full faith in the processes in place to be able to contain it.

Our biosecurity measures are as strong as any country in the world. They do the best job they can to stop these incursions. It’s just unfortunate that the odd bug gets through. That’s a risk of a global economy.”

There have been 15 previous incursions of different fruit fly species in Auckland and Northland since 1996, and all have been successfully eradicated.

In a statement to RNZ, Biosecurity said only a small number of pests made it through the border, and that this was the first time the yellow-legged hornet had been detected here.

“It is impossible to eliminate the risk of live organisms getting past the border without stopping all trade and travel – something that would be unacceptable to most New Zealanders.

“Even with fully closed borders, some pests and diseases would still reach New Zealand through natural means such as wind, ocean currents or migratory species. Because some risk will always exist, Biosecurity New Zealand’s approach is to reduce this to an acceptable level.”

It said there were multiple safeguards in place to stop harmful pests from getting into the country.

“Biosecurity New Zealand operates a multilayered defence system that works offshore, at the border, and within New Zealand to stop harmful pests from entering the country. The system includes strict import rules for potential risk goods (eg. produce), screening of cargo, passengers, mail and vessels, detector dog teams, and surveillance programmes, including more than 36,400 insect traps nationwide.

“High-risk sites such as ports and approved facilities that receive international cargo are routinely inspected. Any insects detected that could pose a biosecurity risk are tested and dealt with immediately.”

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

A teenager who murdered another after months of feuding will spend at least eight years behind bars.

Maxwel-Dee Repia, 18, was killed on Turangi Rd in Grey Lynn in September, 2024.

Three others he was with were also injured in the shooting.

Kayden Stanaway, who was 19 at the time of shooting, pleaded guilty to murder and three counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Stanaway was sentenced to 16 years for murder at the High Court at Auckland, with a minimum period of eight years behind bars.

MORE TO COME…

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

The Media Council has found that four complaints against RNZ did not have sufficient grounds to proceed.

In the first, the chief executive of United Flower Growers, Pete Brown, complained about the article Auckland florists say industry ‘in shambles’, plagued by resentment, published on September 15, 2025. The story reported florists facing difficulties relating to the state of the economy and a raft of changes made by their key supplier, United Flower Growers.

The article was based on comment from five florists, and included responses from Brown on behalf of UFG.

The Council noted that a feature of this complaint was Brown’s concern about RNZ’s decision to grant anonymity to the florists. He challenged that on the basis that two florists spoken to by RNZ had told him they were prepared to be named. This was disputed by RNZ.

The Council said it was in no position to consider this issue as it had no information to establish with any certainty what the florists and reporter agreed to. “Besides, the granting of anonymity in these circumstances is a matter of editorial discretion. That is appropriate and not a matter for second guessing by the Media Council.”

Beyond that the Council was not convinced there was sufficient foundation for complaint about this article. The complainant cited Principles (1) Accuracy, Fairness and Balance but there was no evidence that the article was inaccurate. As for fairness and balance, Brown was given the opportunity to respond and key points made by him were reported, albeit at the tail of the article.

“This sort of investigative reporting is supported by the Council,” the judgment said.

***

In the second case, Martin Broadbent complained about a series of articles published between November 17 to November 22, 2025, on the problems caused by feral cats and the decision to allow them to be targeted as predators.

Broadbent complained that RNZ’s reporting on feral cats and Predator Free 2050 blurred the legal distinction between feral and stray cats, thereby misleading the public and undermining animal welfare protections under the law.

RNZ firmly rejected the suggestion that it was blurring the categories. The term feral was widely used and was included in Predator Free 2050’s list of species. It argued the first story in the series clearly explained the difference between companion, feral and stray cats.

The Council agreed the first article spelt out precisely how feral and stray cats were defined and two other stories in the series also defined the word feral to make it clear they are not referring to strays. On that basis it saw nothing to support a claim that this was of “an orchestrated blurring of categories that misleads the public into believing all unowned cats are “feral” and subject to lethal control.”

The Council ruled there was nothing to show the reporting breached Principle (1) Accuracy, Fairness and Balance.

***

In the third case, RNZ published an article on November 23, 2025, titled Israeli airstrikes kill at least 20 people in Gaza, local medics say. This was a Reuters news agency report and was based on information provided by medics and witnesses to the airstrikes. It also included comment from the Israeli military and Hamas, who accused each other of violating a truce which was agreed to six weeks earlier.

Eric Mattlin complained that the story breached Media Council Principles (1) Accuracy, Fairness and Balance; (4) Comment and Fact; and (7) Discrimination and Diversity. He argued: “The article demonstrates a pattern of asymmetrical attribution with uncritical adoption of Israeli military claims, and a lack of context that affected how readers understood the events being reported. This article concerns an ongoing and highly controversial international conflict involving profound power asymmetries. While balance does not require false equivalence, it does require that significant perspectives and relevant context be included.”

In response, RNZ rejected the complaint and sent Mr Mattlin its language guide to the Middle East Conflict, which explained why it used such terms as ‘militant’ and ‘hostage-prisoner’. It added that RNZ had broadcast and published hundreds of pieces over the past two years, providing a wide range of views and the historical context behind the conflict.

The Council noted that RNZ and all other major New Zealand news outlets rely on international news agencies for most of their world news. Agencies like Reuters report for a wide and diverse international audience which requires coverage to be even handed.

The Council considered this story to be a fairly typical news report from Gaza. In accordance with standard journalistic practice it identified where information was obtained, and comment about the alleged ceasefire breaches was attributed to the Israeli military and Hamas. It also provided brief background on how the Gaza war started two years earlier.

Dealing with the complaint about terminology, the Council refered back to its decision on Mr Mattlin’s earlier complaint (No.3725) which stated: “The Council notes RNZ and other New Zealand media outlets are reliant on overseas news agencies for their coverage of the conflict, and it would be risky or possibly even a breach of RNZ’s agreement with those agencies to change the terminology used.”

The Council noted the story cited in this latest complaint was one of many that have been published on the Gaza War. “This is a long and complex story which has been reported extensively, and it is impractical to expect every report to cover all the context and background. It is clear that balance has been provided over time.”

The Council saw no evidence of bias or that the coverage and terminology was unfair or asymmetrical.

***

In the fourth case, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) published an article on December 22, 2025, Winston Peters makes u-turn on Chorus debt sell-off. The story was about the NZ First leader Winston Peters reversing his previous opposition to the Chorus debt sell-off, which in turn would clear the way for the Government to proceed with a plan to sell about $650m in interest-free loans that Chorus owes the government.

Hector O’Brien complained that the comment – “The Government does not have an (equity) stake in Chorus” – was factually incorrect as the Government-owned holding company National Infrastructure Funding and Finance Ltd had around 61.6 percent of shares in Chorus.

RNZ said the article was correct. The Government did not have an equity stake in this privately owned company. However, it was owed debt by Chorus, more specifically Ultra-Fast Broadband securities. It said the word “stake” had been used in a previous report, but this was updated in this story to make it clear that the Government had no equity or ownership in Chorus.

The Council noted that the line was taken directly from the December 17 press statement in which Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop said: “It is important to note the government does not have an equity stake in Chorus and the securities involved are not ordinary shares.”

It further noted that NIFFCO is not listed as a major Chorus shareholder. Rather, it is shown through official documents and ministerial statements that the company was used to provide Government loan finance to Chorus.

In the circumstances no inaccuracy was shown, nor any unfairness.

All judgments can be found here: Media Council – Search

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

Marvel at the Whimsical Gallop of Horses Adorned in Embroidered Artistry, Alongside an AI Fai Chun Photo Booth and Joyful New Year Rewards

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

Government investment in two horticulture developments on underutilised Māori land will unlock economic potential in Northland and Waikato, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka say.

“These Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) investments will bring collectively owned Māori land into productive use in these regions. They will strengthen local horticulture supply chains and accelerate a shift in land use,” Mr Jones says.

The two initiatives being funded are: 

• The Mid-North Kiwifruit Project – a kiwifruit development in Te Tai Tokerau, to be delivered by Oromahoe and Rangihamama Omapere trusts – will receive a $4m loan and $200,000 grant.
• Ngāti Hauā Horticulture – a horticulture development in Waikato, to be delivered by Ngāti Hauā – will receive a $2.05m repayable grant. 

The Mid-North Kiwifruit Project will use its funding for orchard preparation and infrastructure including irrigation, drainage, access tracks, orchard structures and shelter belts. 

“With a total project value of $20.7 million, the RIF’s $4.2 million contribution has unlocked major local co-investment from key players in the local horticulture sector,” Mr Potaka says.

“This opportunity transforms underutilised land into high value horticulture and delivers long-term economic benefits for whānau in Te Tai Tokerau.” 

The Ngāti Hauā horticulture project will bring nine whānau-owned land blocks, totalling more than 90ha, into commercial production, growing asparagus, strawberries and blueberries. The RIF funding will be used to build infrastructure, expand packhouse capacity and support the first crop plantings.

“This project is helping build a sustainable horticulture industry to support whānau for generations in Waikato,” Mr Jones says.

The project has a total cost of $5.1m and has co-funding from investors and joint venture partners Peria LP under the Ngāti Hauā Iwi Trust. 

“These initiatives show what is possible when iwi leadership and government support align behind a shared vision. They are delivering productive whenua Māori, stronger regional economies and generational opportunities,” Mr Potaka says.

Note to Editors:

Funding is approved in principle and announced, subject to conditions being met, after which contracts are negotiated. Some funding may depend on updated information as agreed in contract negotiation. Payments are made once agreed milestones are met. These are set as part of contract negotiations and differ from project to project.

MIL OSI

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 February 2026 – Yung’s Bistro, the first contemporary brand of the renowned Yung Kee Restaurant Group, announces that, in line with mall development plans, its outlet at Shop 701, 7/F, K11 MUSEA will be relocating to another space on the same floor after mid March. The restaurant will continue to serve authentic Cantonese cuisine with a modern twist.

The current venue features a spacious terrace with one of the most spectacular 180 degree views of Victoria Harbour within the mall – a panoramic dining experience that may be difficult to replicate in the future. Guests are warmly invited to seize this final opportunity and indulge in an extraordinary dining experience, where exquisite Cantonese cuisine and stunning surroundings create unforgettable memories before we embark on a new chapter.

Harbour Fireworks, Festive Bites

Yung’s Bistro has long been a favored destination for guests to take in the day and night vistas of Victoria Harbour from its expansive outdoor terrace. On the second day of the Lunar New Year (February 18), when the Harbour stages its grand fireworks display, the terrace offers an ideal vantage point to embrace the festive atmosphere. Diners can enjoy the dazzling spectacle up close in a spacious outdoor setting, framed by the glittering night skyline.

To celebrate the Year of the Horse, our culinary team is delighted to present a series of “Chinese New Year Selected Delicacies,” thoughtfully crafted to bid farewell to the old year and usher in blessings and joy for the new one.

Featured dishes include:

• “Lo Hei” with Abalone — symbolizing prosperity and rising fortune
• Braised Dried Oyster with Black Moss in Oyster Sauce — representing wealth and flourishing business
• Sautéed Prawns with Sweet and Sour Sauce — signifying happiness and good cheer
• Homestyle Braised Pork with Preserved Vegetables in Soy Sauce — wishing abundance year after year

Beyond the Lunar New Year festivities, Yung’s Bistro has curated a memorable Valentine’s special for couples. On February 14, we will present a “Lifetime of Love” Set Menu, priced at HK$1,314 per person — a symbolic gesture wishing for everlasting love. The menu is designed to celebrate romance:

• Sweet Prologue: A delightful trio featuring the crispy Deep-fried Shrimp Ball with Fermented Bean Curd, our signature Premium Barbecued Pork Belly and refreshing Preserved Egg and Pickled Ginger.
• Vows of Love: Nourishing Double-boiled Sea Whelk Soup with Fish Maw and Bamboo Fungus, followed by two premium mains featuring the aromatic Pan-fried Spotted Garoupa Fillet with Truffle Salt and tender Braised Abalone and Sea Cucumber in Oyster Sauce.
• Endless Warmth: Heartwarming Fried Sticky Rice with Cured Meat.
• A Sweet Note: The meal concludes with our adorable White Rabbit Candies Custard (served as a pair), accompanied by Pink Rosé or Fresh Juice to mark a sweet note to the evening.

Yung’s Bistro sincerely thanks all our guests for their continued support over the years, and we look forward to welcoming you soon at our refreshed new location.

Reservations & Enquiries: +852 2321 3800

High-resolution images: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ykFXWYa3phkGFWlvLFj8tO_Mh1iAgCoL?usp=drive_link

Hashtag: #鏞記 #YungKee #鏞鏞藝嚐館 #Yung’sBistro

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

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

Source: Child Poverty Action Group

MIL OSI

Explainer – Trade Minister Todd McClay and his Indian counterpart, Piyush Goyal, announced the recommencement of free trade negotiations as part of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s trip to the South Asian nation in March last year.

Nine months later, shortly before Christmas, the government said the trade negotiations had been concluded, achieving significant wins for several industries but limited gains for dairy.

Indeed, both sides have described the free trade agreement (FTA) as a shot in the arm for their respective economies.

The Indian government said the trade deal was a “forward-looking partnership” that promised to give labour-intensive sectors such as textiles and leather a significant boost.

For New Zealand, the agreement provided new business opportunities through enhanced access for the first time to a rapidly growing Indian middle class – expected to exceed 700 million within five years.

McClay even called the deal a “once-in-a-generation” achievement.

Below is a deeper look at what has been negotiated and announced to date.

First things first. What’s the current status of the New Zealand-India free trade agreement?

The concluded negotiations of the proposed FTA will become a ratified treaty after enabling legislation is passed by New Zealand and India parliaments.

The passing of such legislation is relatively straightforward in India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads a coalition government that is united on the deal.

The path is less clear in New Zealand, after a coalition member has expressed its opposition to the agreement.

New Zealand First has invoked an “agree to disagree” clause of its coalition agreement with the National Party, with leader Winston Peters calling the deal “neither free nor fair”.

As a result, the government will need support from the opposition to make the trade deal with India a reality.

If one of the opposition parties does support the deal, National would seek to pass enabling legislation as soon as possible with an eye on the general election that must be held by the year’s end.

Once both nations have done so, the agreement could be signed sometime in the first half of the year.

Both sides have also agreed to review the agreement one year after it comes into force, which provides a mechanism to pursue further improvements in future, according to McClay.

What has been the reaction to the deal so far?

Overwhelmingly positive.

Export NZ, the NZ Forest Owners Association, the Meat Industry Association, Beef + Lamb NZ, Horticulture NZ, NZ Timber Industry Federation, Wools of NZ, have all expressed support for the deal.

The Dairy Companies Association recognised the deal was good for the country but not for dairy, with core products such as butter and cheese being left out.

However, the association welcomed the inclusion of duty-free re-exports that would see New Zealand export ingredients to India for manufacture.

ExportNZ highlighted existing prohibitive tariff barriers – typically 30-60 percent and up to 150 percent for wine – the trade deal would bring down, giving New Zealand exporters more certainty and options.

The Meat Industry Association described the deal as a “strategically significant milestone” for the country’s red meat sector.

New Zealand Forest Owners Association believed the deal would provide a platform to lift forestry export volumes over time and grow higher-value trade in processed wood and building products.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand said the announcement was positive for sheep farmers, putting the country on a level playing field with Australia.

Horticulture New Zealand said improved access to India would further diversify horticulture’s export portfolio.

The NZ Timber Industry Federation also welcomed news of the agreement, saying it created “huge opportunities” for saw-millers and wood processors nationwide.

Since the announcement before Christmas, several media commentators have also expressed their support in the deal.

New Zealand Herald business commentator Fran O’Sullivan said the free trade agreement “could reshape our exports – and our politics”.

Meanwhile, Stuff political editor Luke Malpass described the deal as “1.4 billion reasons to cheer”.

Let’s talk trade numbers

Total two-way trade between New Zealand and India, which is forecast to become the world’s third-largest economy by around 2030, was valued at $3.68 billion in the year to June 2025.

Of this, New Zealand exported goods and services valued at $1.79 billion to India over that period.

This makes India the country’s 21st-largest goods export market and fifth-largest services export market.

New Zealand’s key exports to India in year ending June 2025 were travel services ($948 million), industrial products ($265 million), forestry and forestry products ($134 million, of which logs constituted $77 million), horticulture ($118 million, of which apples were $79 million and kiwifruit $36 million), dairy and dairy products ($76 million, of which albumins was $62 million) and wool ($76 million).

While travel is the largest services export between the two countries, other key services exports from New Zealand to India include education and government services.

Key Indian imports in New Zealand in 2024 included machinery and equipment ($174 million), textiles and apparel ($147 million), pharmaceuticals ($131 million), vehicles ($62 million), precious stones and metals ($60 million) and paper products ($44 million).

What did New Zealand and India agree on in terms of tariffs in the negotiations?

The free trade agreement eliminates duty on 100 percent of Indian imports (8284 tariff lines), while 95 percent of New Zealand’s current exports will be tariff-free or benefit from reduced tariffs.

According to the Indian government, New Zealand has generally maintained tariffs of around 10 percent for around 450 lines of key Indian exports, with the average applied tariff being 2.2 percent in 2025. The tariffs are expected to be zero from day one of the agreement coming into force.

India’s labour-intensive sectors – textiles, clothing, leather and footwear – as well as automotive companies are poised to benefit significantly from this.

Meanwhile, the average tariff applied to New Zealand’s current exports to India will decrease to 3 percent.

Tariffs have been eliminated from almost all forestry products, wool, sheep meat and coal.

Current tariffs for forestry products to India range between 5.5 and 11 percent, while current tariffs on sheep meat exports are 33 percent.

What’s more, the current 33 percent tariff applied to fish and seafood exports will be eliminated on most goods over seven years.

Most of New Zealand’s existing trade in industrial products with India will be tariff-free within 10 years.

The current 33 percent tariff placed on cherries and avocados will be eliminated over 10 years.

According to the Indian government, New Zealand has agreed on focused action plans for kiwifruit, apples and honey to improve productivity, quality and sectoral capabilities of these fruit growers in India.

For this, centres of excellence will be established, which will work on capacity building for growers, provide technical support for orchard management and impart knowledge on post-harvest practices, supply chains and food safety.

In return, there will be paired market access for New Zealand exporters managed through a tariff rate quota system with minimum import prices and seasonal imports.

The current 66 percent tariff on mānuka honey exports will be cut by 75 percent over five years to 16.5 percent.

For apples, the current 50 percent tariff will reduce to 25 percent for 32,500 tonnes from day one, growing to 45,000 tonnes over six years.

For kiwifruit, the current 33 percent tariff is eliminated for 6250 tonnes from day one, growing to 15,000 tonnes over six years.

In addition, there will be a 50 percent tariff reduction on kiwifruit exports exceeding the quota to 16.5 percent as soon as the trade agreement is in place.

There is good news for New Zealand wine exporters as well, which currently face a tariff of 150 percent.

Tariffs on wine exports will be reduced by 66-83 percent over 10 years from the date the agreement comes into force, ultimately ending on a tariff of 25-50 percent and levelling the playing field with India’s existing FTA partners.

There is also a commitment by India that any better outcome for wine exporters offered in the future to any other country will automatically be extended to New Zealand.

According to the Indian government, it has offered New Zealand market access in about 70 percent of the tariff lines, while keeping almost 30 percent in exclusion.

As expected, exclusions include dairy (milk, cream, whey, yoghurt, cheese, etc), animal products (other than sheep meat) and vegetable products.

That said, the current 33 percent tariff placed on bulk infant formula and other dairy-based food preparations and the 22 percent tariff placed on peptones (a dairy-based product) will be phased out over seven years.

The free trade agreement also creates a new quota of 3000 tonnes for albumins (a milk protein product), which is above recent average export volumes to India. The 22 percent tariff will be halved on exports within the quota.

Finally, there is a commitment in the agreement that India could increase New Zealand access to dairy if the South Asian nation offered improved access to “comparable countries” – that is, similar per capita GDP, economic size and dairy production levels – in future.

However, Goyal told reporters that “India [is] never going to open up dairy” to any nation when announcing the conclusion of trade talks with New Zealand in December.

What about delays at the border and customs?

According to the government, the free trade agreement aims to streamline customs processes at the border, reduce transaction costs, increase transparency, cut red tape and provide greater certainty to New Zealand exporters.

“India Customs will release all goods within 48 hours, and, in the case of perishable goods and express consignments, endeavour to release within 24 hours,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

“The FTA codifies access to, and procedures around, advance rulings and a single window for customs clearance import procedures, as well as codifying the ability for traders to submit customs import documentation to India electronically.

“New Zealand exporters will have a choice of the type of proof of origin they can use, either a certificate of origin or self-declaration for approved exporters.”

What other commitments has New Zealand made?

New Zealand has made a commitment to promote investment into India, with the aim of increasing private sector investment by US$20 billion (NZ$34 billion) over 15 years.

To facilitate New Zealand investments, India will establish a bespoke New Zealand Investment Desk to assist New Zealand investors with issues that may arise across the investment lifecycle.

According to the Indian government, a rebalancing clause is in place in the trade agreement “enabling India to take remedial measures should delivery on investment be below commitment levels”.

What about healthcare, pharmaceuticals or traditional medicines?

According to the Indian government, the free trade agreement boosts India’s pharmaceuticals and medical devices sector by making provision for faster regulatory access.

“The FTA streamlines access for pharmaceuticals and medical devices by enabling acceptance of GMP and GCP inspection reports from comparable regulators, including approvals by the US FDA, EMA, UK MHRA, Health Canada and other comparable regulators,” the Indian government said.

“These will reduce duplicative inspections, lower compliance costs and expedite product approvals, thereby facilitating smoother market access and supporting growth of India’s pharmaceutical and medical devices exports to New Zealand.”

In addition, the Indian government says, New Zealand has signed an annex in the agreement to facilitate trade in Ayurveda, yoga and other traditional medicine services with India.

“It gives centre stage to India’s AYUSH disciplines (Ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, Unani, Sowa-Rigpa, Siddha and homeopathy) alongside Māori health practices,” the government said.

Ayurveda is a traditional form of medicine based around herbs and massage that is popular with the Indian community in New Zealand.

But, as Medsafe has told RNZ in the past, “there are no approved Ayurvedic medicines in New Zealand”.

New Zealand’s health agency does not directly regulate Ayurvedic practitioners or their practices and routinely publishes reports around concerns on products such as Ayurvedic medicines on its website to keep the public and health practitioners informed.

Any other regulatory provisions worth highlighting?

According to the Indian government, there’s a binding commitment in the free trade agreement from New Zealand to amend its laws within 18 months to provide EU-level protection for India’s geographical indications (GIs).

“The current GI Law of New Zealand only allows for India’s wines and spirits to be registered,” the Indian government said.

“Commitment is now in place to taking all steps necessary including amendment of its law to facilitate the registration of India’s wines, spirits and ‘other goods’, a benefit that was accorded to the EU by New Zealand,” it said.

“Timelines for this are 18 months from agreement entering into force.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade noted this in its summary of the agreement.

“New Zealand agreed to undertake a review of GI protections with a view to matching protections we agreed with the European Union, including to allow for protections of individual GI names,” the summary said.

“That process will start when the agreement is signed, and we will seek public input.”

On immigration, what has been included in the free trade agreement?

In a nutshell, the agreement includes enhanced provisions for student mobility, post-study opportunities, skilled employment pathways and working holiday visas in the negotiated deal.

Accordingly, 1000 Indians aged 18 to 30 years old will be granted multiple-entry 12-month working holiday visas each year, giving them an opportunity for global exposure, skills acquisition and people-to-people linkages.

In addition, eligible Indian students graduating from a New Zealand institution will be eligible for a post-study work visa, ranging from two years for a bachelors’ degree, three years for STEM bachelors and masters, and four years for doctorates.

The free trade agreement codifies the right for Indian students to work for up to 20 hours a week (within the current domestic policy of up to 25 hours).

The trade deal also simplifies entry arrangements for Indian service providers and professionals for short periods of stay, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“This includes an equivalent of 1667 temporary employment entry (TEE) visas per year for a number of occupations where New Zealand has a skills shortage such as certain ICT fields, engineering and specialised health services, as well as certain iconic Indian professions such as Ayush (Indian traditional medicine) practitioners, music teachers, chefs and yoga instructors,” the ministry said.

“These TEE visas are for three years and the total number available under the commitment is capped at no more than 5000 at any one time over that three-year period.”

The ministry did not anticipate this to prompt a surge in applications.

“This [1667 TEEs per year] represents less than 6 percent of the current average total number of skilled visas issued to Indian nationals each year by New Zealand,” the ministry said.

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

From intimate family dinners to grand corporate feasts, Kryston’s Chinese New Year menus bring abundance and prosperity to every table. Let the spirit of reunion take centre stage while hosts embrace meaningful moments with loved ones.

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

Biosecurity is confident they will eradicate the obnoxious Queensland fruit fly with officers back out in force in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill today.

Biosecurity Commissioner Mike Ingliss said additional traps have been set, and control zones have been set up, restricting the movement of fresh fruit and vegetables out of the area.

“What our success in the past has been is that collaboration with the community. The community absolutely, in New Zealand, know the impact of what that pest can do so that everybody is chipping in to do what they can.”

He said the key has been to go hard early.

“We’ll take it day by day, we’re never complacent. The real thing here is to go hard and early.”

The pest, which damages a wide variety of fruit and vegetable crops overseas, was identified in one of Biosecurity New Zealand’s national surveillance traps, placed in fruit trees in residential backyards.

Inglis said bins will be out so residents can dispose of fruit and vegetable waste.

A controlled area surrounding where the fruit fly was found has been established and the area has been divided into two zones.

In Zone A, including 262 properties, no whole fresh fruit and vegetables, except for leafy vegetables and soil-free root vegetables, could be taken outside the zone.

In Zone B, including 8300 properties, fruit and vegetables grown in the area cannot be taken out of the zone.

Inglis said no other fruit flies have been found since the initial find on Wednesday.

He said the restrictions would likely be in place for at least one month.

“We know it’s a major commitment, and it’s an inconvenience for residents, so we really appreciate everyone getting involved. It’s essential to make sure we eradicate this pest.”

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A vigil is being held in Minnesota after a woman was shot and killed by an immigration officer.

The woman’s death has caused outrage by local leaders in the US while President Donald Trump claims the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officer acted in self defence.

According to CNN, thousands of Minnesota residents and activists are attending the vigil.

Flowers have been perched in the snow and candles lit near where the 37-year-old woman was killed.

CNN has named the woman as Renee Nicole Good.

“Say it once. Say it twice. We will not put up with ICE,” CNN reported the attendees chanting. It said some signs being held said “Killer ICE off our streets”.

CNN said speakers said the actions of ICE officers were unacceptable and a “direct result of a what they called militarized state with no accountability”.

They called for the officer responsible for Good’s death to face charges, CNN reported.

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The discovery of a Queensland fruit fly in Auckland presents a huge threat to growers and exporters, a horticulture sector advocate says.

A biosecurity operation is underway after the pest, which damages fruit and vegetables, was identified in a surveillance trap in the suburb of Mount Roskill on Wednesday morning.

Horticulture chief executive Kate Scott said while the fly did not pose a health risk to humans, an outbreak would have a significant economic cost.

“The horticulture sector is naturally concerned about the impacts of a new pest being established here and the impact that could have on our ability to produce a wide range of fruit and vegetables.

“The Queensland fly likes to call more than 200 fruit and vegetables home. That could have a massive impact on the quality of our fruit and vegetable crops.”

She warned the country would not be able to export to key markets if the pest took hold here.

But she was confident in New Zealand’s track record of eradicating harmful fruit flies.

“We certainly support the ramping up of trapping and inspections and the movement control areas that are to be implemented.

“We’ve certainly seen last year and in other previous instances where a quick and immediate response is rolled out, that we have been able to successfully contain any threat.”

Biosecurity staff were expected to be on the ground in Mount Roskill over the coming days.

“As part of our response protocol over the next 72 hours, we will be ramping up trapping and inspection, with daily checks in a 200-metre zone from the original find and checks every three days in a second zone out to 1500m,” Biosecurity New Zealand’s Mike Inglis said.

“You may notice increased activity in the neighbourhood as we go about inspections and trapping. Our field officers may ask to look at fruit trees on your property. They will always show you a form of official identification and will only enter your property with your permission.”

Instructions about restrictions in the affected area were expected to be made clear on Thursday.

In the meantime, Biosecurity asked Mount Roskill residents not to take whole fresh fruit and vegetables out of their property.

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 December 2025 – Asian Agri reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable palm oil development by recognising its scheme smallholders in Riau and Jambi through the 2024 Certified Palm Oil Premium Sharing Programme. The appreciation event, held at Hotel Santika, Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, highlighted the consistent efforts of smallholders in applying sustainable plantation practices aligned with international certification standards.

The programme generated approximately Rp5.5 billion in premium sharing, which will be distributed to 76 Village Unit Cooperatives (KUDs), benefitting more than 30,000 smallholders. The initiative underscores Asian Agri’s long-term commitment to improving smallholder welfare while advancing environmentally responsible palm oil management.

Head of Partnership at Asian Agri, Rudy Rismanto, said RSPO certification plays a critical role in expanding market access for smallholder-produced palm oil.

“Through RSPO certification, palm oil produced by our partner smallholders can be accepted in global markets, including Europe, which requires sustainably produced products,” Rudy said. “The premiums received are reinvested to improve productivity, upgrade infrastructure, strengthen KUD facilities and support alternative sources of income. In this way, sustainability delivers tangible economic benefits for smallholders.”

Rudy emphasised that Asian Agri’s sustainability approach goes beyond environmental stewardship to include social and economic impact.

“Through strong collaboration with smallholders, we ensure that sustainable practices also translate into improved livelihoods. This reflects Asian Agri’s philosophy of creating benefits for society, the environment, customers, and ultimately the company itself—so that sustainability and prosperity grow together.”

Representing partner cooperatives, Subiyono, Head of Karya Bersama KUD, said the premium sharing scheme has delivered clear and measurable benefits.

“The premium has provided meaningful support to both smallholders and the cooperative,” he explained. “In 2026, we plan to allocate these funds to improve and maintain roads that serve as the main access routes for transporting Fresh Fruit Bunches to palm oil mills. Better infrastructure will help ensure smoother operations for smallholders.”

Karya Bersama KUD is currently participating in a replanting partnership with Asian Agri. The replanted oil palm area, now 49 months old, has achieved an average productivity of 2 tons per hectare per month.

Similarly, Waluyo, Head of Makmur Rezeki KUD, highlighted how the premium strengthens institutional capacity while supporting sustainable practices.

“The funds are allocated to strategic priorities, including improvements to fertiliser and herbicide warehouses, road upgrades, provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) for smallholders, and the installation of owl nesting boxes as part of natural pest control,” he said. “These initiatives enable more environmentally friendly and efficient plantation management.”

According to Waluyo, the programme also reinforces smallholders’ commitment to sustainability.

“This support not only improves cooperative facilities and operations but also strengthens members’ dedication to sustainable practices. We hope Makmur Rezeki KUD can continue to grow together with Asian Agri, so the benefits can be felt more widely by our members and surrounding communities.”

Through the Certified Palm Oil Premium Sharing Programme, Asian Agri, a member of the RGE group of companies founded by Sukanto Tanoto, continues to invest in the long-term resilience of smallholders and cooperatives, ensuring that sustainable palm oil development delivers enduring social, economic, and environmental benefits for generations to come.

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Hashtag: #RGE #AsianAgri #CSR #palmoil #Indonesia #smallholders #sustainability #RSPO #certification #KUD

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After the rollercoaster year that was 2024 te ao Māori may have expected that to continue into 2025 and in many ways it did with so many stories making for another unprecedented year.

The national Kapa Haka competition Te Matatini returned in February, rising to new heights of popularity with Te Tauihu group Te Kuru Marutea capturing hearts well beyond Māori circles with their powerful solos and of course there was that Waiata ā Ringa from eventual winners Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue.

The festival has also grown to record size, this year saw 55 haka groups competing the most ever and concerns over infrastructure in smaller regions eventually led organisers to move the next festival in 2027 to Waikato, rather than to the Nelson region which had been expected to host.

2025 was also a status qou breaking year in Māori politics, which saw the deaths of influential political leaders, an unprecedented suspension from Parliament, a by-election in Tāmaki Makaurau and a bitter feud within Te Pāti Māori.

But it began with a long and drawn out Select Committee process for the Treaty Principles Bill, a record-breaking 300,000+ submissions were made on the controversial bill which was ultimately defeated near-unanimously at its second reading in April – although its architect David Seymour has promised to reignite the debate in 2026.

The first Koroneihana of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po took place in September, one year on from her ascension as Māori Monarch and the death of her father Kiingi Tuheitia.

Te Ao Māori awaited eagerly to hear what Te Arikinui would say after a year of silence – and her kōrero did not disappoint. She told listeners there were many ways to manifest being Māori, “Kaua tātou e tuku mā ngā porotū kau noa e Māori ai tātou – Tino Rangatiratangatia tō reo, Mana Motuhaketia te taiao, Tino Rangatiratangatia tō hauora, Mana Motuhaketia tō pā harakeke, kei aua kaupapa rā te tino oranga mai o te Māoritanga,” she said.

She also took the opportunity to launch two new economic initiatives, including a multi million dollar Kotahitanga Fund. Could that be a catalyst to take Māoridom into a post Treaty Settlement era?

Here are just a few of the stories that we had the privilege of sharing in 2025:

Dame Tariana Turia

The year had barely begun when news broke that Dame Tariana Turia, the former co-leader of Te Pāti Māori, had died at the age of 80.

At her tangihanga at Whangaehu Marae near Whanganui she was remembered as a principled politician, a fighter for her iwi, including during the 79-day occupation of Whanganui’s Moutoa Gardens in 1995, but by most people simply as Nanny Tari.

She was the first of many of many Māori leaders taken in Te Kupenga o Taramainuku in 2025, less then a month later the Turia whānau were rocked again by the death of Dame Tariana’s grandson Pakaitore Turia.

Rātana

The annual Rātana celebrations in January commemorate the birthday of the movements founder Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana and traditionally mark the beginning of the political year.

While the political talk was dominated by the Treaty Principles Bill the event also marked the first visit of the Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po to Rātana since the death of her father Kiingi Tuheititia.

Tainui leader Tuku Morgan described the Kiingitanga and Rātana Church as two movements inextricably bound together.

Waitangi

Waitangi commemorations began with the re-opening of the historic wharenui at Te Tii Marae, where at least 300 people gathered to witness the whare’s new carvings, paved courtyard and earthquake strengthening.

Among the annual attractions was the annual waka parade; a staple of Waitangi commemorations and a celebration of the various vessels used by early Māori settlers.

Keen-eyed beach onlookers would also have noticed Bosco, the water surfing French bulldog, who made headlines for his aquatic antics.

Iritana Tawhiwhirangi

Māori educator Dame Iritana Te Rangi Tāwhiwhirangi, a founder of the Kōhanga Reo movement, died in early February, she was 95.

During her tangihanga at Gisborne’s Te Poho o Rawiri Marae she was remembered as a stern but caring mentor, a lion, a taniwha and a keen golfer.

Many mourners made their way to Te Tairāwhiti, including Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, now the patron of the Kōhanga Reo National Trust and for whom Dame Iritana was a mentor.

Te Matatini

The largest event in Māoridom, the “Olympics of Kapa Haka” Te Matatini, returned in 2025 with Taranaki and Whanganui hosting the biggest competition ever.

Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue from the Te Arawa region emerged as Toa Whakaihuwaka, as champions on the final day at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth.

Matariki mā Puanga

For it’s fourth year the Matariki Public Holiday celebrations highlighted the star Puanga (Rigel) and the communities who observe the star in their astronomical traditions.

The national hautapu ceremony was hosted this year by central North Island iwi Ngāti Rangi at Tirorangi Marae near the base of Ruapehu.

Takutai Tarsh Kemp

The MP for Tāmaki Makaurau Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp died suddenly in June at the age of 50, the Pāti Māori MP had been at Parliament working only the day before.

Before Parliament she founded the Rangatahi Mental Health Youth Hub, managed the first crew from Aotearoa to qualify for the World Hip Hop Championships in the US and lead Manurewa Marae as its chief executive through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Koroneihana

The first Koroneihana of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po took place one year on from her ascension as Māori Monarch and the death of her father Kiingi Tuheitia

After a year of mourning many people were eagerly awaiting her first national address. In an emotional speech she told listeners that being Māori was not defined by having an enemy or a challenge to overcome.

Te Pāti Māori ructions

Ructions within Te Pāti Māori dominated the headlines throughout the second half of the year. It began with what should have been a moment of celebration for the party with former broadcaster Oriini Kaipara winning the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election in a landslide.

But allegations by former staffer Eru Kapa-Kingi of a “dictatorship” among the party leadership soon spiralled with Te Pāti Māori’s national council voting to expel MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, mother of Eru, and Tākuta Ferris.

Kapa-Kingi has since been reinstated as a member of the party, but the court decision which forced the issue will be revisited at a full hearing in early February next year. Just in time for Waitangi.

Marine and Coastal Area Act (MACA)

In October the government’s changes to the Marine and Coastal Area Act (MACA) passed, making it harder for Māori groups to secure Customary Marine Title (CMT) over parts of New Zealand’s coast.

The law is also retrospective meaning groups who had their title confirmed after 24 July 2024, such as the whānau of Ruapuke Island, will have to go back to court.

Veteran Māori rights activist Reuben Taipari gathered almost 20,000 signatures in only four days on a petition opposing the Bill, which he called worse than the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004.

Ngātiwai chairman Aperahama Kerepeti-Edwards also made his feelings on the Bill clear during a debate and was ejected from Parliament’s gallery for it, then a few weeks later the iwi upped the ante by landing on the Poor Knights Islands to raise a flag and erect a carved pou in protest.

Sir Tumu Te Heuheu

In September Sir Tumu Te Heuheu Tūkino VII, the Ariki or traditional leader of central North Island iwi Ngāti Tūwharetoa died, he was 84.

Succeeding his father Sir Hepi Te Heuheu as Ariki in 1997, he left behind a legacy of commitment to his iwi and to the environment. His son was named his successor, Te Rangimaheu Te Heuheu Tūkino IX.

WIPCE

After 20 years the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education (WIPCE) returned to Aotearoa. Some 4000 delagates representing indigenous nations the world over descended on Tāmaki Makaurau.

The conference covered many different themes on education and many more beyond including Pacific wayfinding and indigenous food, the conference also saw the return of the Hawaiian double-hulled voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa to Auckland 40 years since its voyage to Aotearoa that helped spark a revival of Pacific navigation.

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

A calmer day is in store for parts of the South Island battered on Saturday by hail, and lashed by torrential downpours and lightning.

One of the storms was a rare, powerful and long-lasting ‘supercell’ in the Canterbury Plains.

In Ashburton, the council dispatched a contractor to clear street gutters after a big hail storm there.

New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) sent crews between Timaru and Fairlie to reports of hail blocking the road and cars being flooded.

MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden says the thunderstorms will ease.

“Although there still is a moderate risk for northern parts of the South Island, however, the southern parts that have seen that significant thunderstorm activity yesterday, they are not in the firing line of thunderstorms.

“However, there will still be a few showers about.”

It’s been an active afternoon in the south
Here is a video looking south from Rakaia of an active supercell.

While there have been a number of severe hailstorms around this afternoon, we can confirm (based on radar reflectivity and Doppler analysis) that the most severe… pic.twitter.com/e5N62XxU62

— MetService NZ (@MetService) December 27, 2025

Horticulture New Zealand had no reports of damaged crops.

MetService had two heavy rain watches in place for Sunday:

• Coromandel Peninsula from 9am Monday into Tuesday morning, with a moderate chance of being upgraded to a warning

“I think there will be some fine breaks in there,” Lynden said of Sunday’s expected weather.

“The people will see sun today, which is brilliant, but there still will be those showers, particularly in the afternoon and particularly for inland areas.”

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The thunderstorm that lashed the South Island and brought widespread and large hail is one of the year’s most intense storms, MetService says.

Large parts of the mainland have been under brief severe thunderstorm warnings through Saturday afternoon.

The severe thunderstorm watch that had been in place for several parts of the South Island has now been lifted.

Regions including Timaru, Ashburton, Central Otago, Southern Lakes, Dunedin and Southland were under watch throughout Saturday afternoon and evening, with some parts experiencing heavy rain, lighting and hail.

At one point NZTA dispatched crews to State Highway 8 between Timaru and Fairlie after reports of hail blocking the road, and cars getting flooded.

“There has been some very active weather in parts of the South Island, that east and south eastern area, all the way down to Southland, Clutha, North Otago and Dunedin and up the Canterbury coast as well, there’s been lots of lightning, lots of thunder and also hail,” MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden said

“We’ve seen reports of widespread hail particularly in that Canterbury Plains area, as well as very long-lived thunderstorms and heavy downpours in that Canterbury area.”

He said storms like this could happen at any time of year.

“Particularly in summer, it’s often we see thunderstorms in summer,” he said.

“But what is unusual just how intense some of these thunderstorms have been, one of our forecasters was saying the cell over Canterbury is one of the strongest he’s seen this year,” Lynden said.

MetService confirmed that the most severe hailstorms have been from a supercell storm in the southern Canterbury Plains region, which is a powerful thunderstorm with a rotating updraft.

“This rotation allows the storm to last longer and become more intense than typical thunderstorms, increasing the risk of severe weather such as large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rain,” MetService said.

“That was some hail storm this afternoon!” Ashburton District Council said in a Facebook post.

It said its roading maintenance contractor was out after the hail storm clearing street gutters to make sure stormwater could drain away.

Horticulture New Zealand’s regional representative, Chelsea Donnelly, said there had been no reports so far of any damage to crops.

Two farms near Ashburton contacted by RNZ said the severe hail storms did not reach them.

MetService had said that very heavy rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas.

Poor visibility and surface flooding could make driving difficult, and large hail had the capacity to “cause significant damage to crops, orchards, vines, glasshouses and vehicles”.

“Should severe weather approach or if you feel threatened, take shelter immediately.”

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

The thunderstorm that has lashed the South Island and brought widespread and large hail is one of the year’s most intense storms, MetService says.

Large parts of the mainland have been under brief severe thunderstorm warnings through Saturday afternoon.

Selwyn and Ashburton are currently still under severe thunderstorm warning.

Other parts of the South Island including Timaru, Christchurch city, Central Otago, Southern Lakes, Dunedin and Southland are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 9pm on Saturday.

At one point NZTA dispatched crews to State Highway 8 between Timaru and Fairlie after reports of hail blocking the road, and cars getting flooded.

“There has been some very active weather in parts of the South Island, that east and south eastern area, all the way down to Southland, Clutha, North Otago and Dunedin and up the Canterbury coast as well, there’s been lots of lightning, lots of thunder and also hail,” MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden said

“We’ve seen reports of widespread hail particularly in that Canterbury Plains area, as well as very long-lived thunderstorms and heavy downpours in that Canterbury area.”

He said storms like this could happen at any time of year.

“Particularly in summer, it’s often we see thunderstorms in summer,” he said.

“But what is unusual just how intense some of these thunderstorms have been, one of our forecasters was saying the cell over Canterbury is one of the strongest he’s seen this year,” Lynden said.

MetService confirmed that the most severe hailstorms have been from a supercell storm in the southern Canterbury Plains region, which is a powerful thunderstorm with a rotating updraft.

“This rotation allows the storm to last longer and become more intense than typical thunderstorms, increasing the risk of severe weather such as large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rain,” MetService said.

“That was some hail storm this afternoon!” Ashburton District Council said in a Facebook post.

It said its roading maintenance contractor was out after the hail storm clearing street gutters to make sure stormwater could drain away.

Horticulture New Zealand’s regional representative, Chelsea Donnelly, said there had been no reports so far of any damage to crops.

Two farms near Ashburton contacted by RNZ said the severe hail storms did not reach them.

MetService had said that very heavy rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas.

Poor visibility and surface flooding could make driving difficult, and large hail had the capacity to “cause significant damage to crops, orchards, vines, glasshouses and vehicles”.

“Should severe weather approach or if you feel threatened, take shelter immediately.”

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

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

Business groups have welcomed the announcement of a new Free Trade Agreement with India, but a partner in the coalition government will not support it, saying it is a “bad deal”.

The government announced this evening that it had reached conclusion of free trade negotiations with India

It said the deal will eliminate or reduce tariffs on 95 percent of exports, with wins for kiwifruit, apples, meat, wool, coal, forestry, and more.

But only limited gains were secured for dairy, with duty-free access for re-exports, bulk infant formula, and a 50 percent tariff cut for high-value milk albumins under a quota.

Export NZ, the NZ Forest Owners Association, the Meat Industry Association, Beef + Lamb NZ, Horticulture NZ, NZ Timber Industry Federation, Wools of NZ have all expressed support for the deal, but NZ First is withholding political support – which means it is now in the hands of the opposition whether it passes or not.

‘A bad deal for New Zealand’

In a statement released just as the deal was announced on Monday, NZ First leader Winston Peters said it was a bad deal for the country.

“It gives too much away, especially on immigration, and does not get enough in return for New Zealanders, including on dairy.”

New Zealand First exercised the agree to disagree provision of its coalition arrangements when Cabinet approval for the deal was sought last week, and made it clear that it would vote against enabling legislation if and when it was introduced to Parliament.

“While New Zealand is completely opening its market to Indian products under this deal, India is not reducing the significant tariff barriers currently facing our major dairy products,” Peters said.

NZ First also expressed concerns about the proposed changes on migration. The trade deal creates a new employment visa for Indian citizens, and according to the party will likely generate greater interest in Indian migration to New Zealand during a tight labour market.

Peters said his party’s approach to trade deals has been consistent, longstanding and principled.

“New Zealand First’s long-standing approach has been to support those FTAs that deliver a good deal for New Zealanders and to oppose those that do not.”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was confident the government would be able to pass the legislation, despite requiring Labour’s support to do so.

“We’ve seen a lot of good bipartisan support for trade across the Parliament, and we’ll continue to build the case for that.”

He said he had “tried to deal” with NZ First’s objections, and “reassured them” about the parts that were in the interests of New Zealand.

“At the end of the day, this is going to be the third biggest economy in. In the world. This is an economy that New Zealand needs to be in.”

‘Unwilling to deliver more than the small changes’

The Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) – which represents exporters and manufacturers – said the deal was good for the country, but not for dairy, with core products like butter and cheese being left out.

“We are disappointed that India has been unwilling to deliver more than the small changes,” said DCANZ chair Guy Roper.

But he pointed out no country had managed to secure a deal including core dairy, given India wanted to protect its domestic market – so New Zealand still had parity.

Roper said the sector wanted to work with the government on a strategy to break down the dairy trade barrier: “The reality is, we’ve got over 85 percent of global dairy consumption… still locked behind tariff walls of ten percent or more.”

He was pleased to see the agreement included the ability to renegotiate dairy access if India negotiated better terms with other comparable countries.

Roper also welcomed the inclusion of duty free re-exports, which would see New Zealand export ingredients to India for manufacture “to help their growing export business”.

“Maybe that’s an opportunity for us to explore further in 2026,” said Roper.

New Zealand International Business Forum head Felicity Roxburgh said it was important to keep up the pressure for dairy to be included in future.

“Whether it’s realistic or not, we need to keep at it, because dairy is our largest export, it’s 30 percent of our total exports, it provides umpteen jobs in New Zealand, and to have a broad ranging FTA we would need to see dairy included in the future,” she said.

But overall, Roxburgh said it was an important agreement that secured opportunities for exporters who were at a commercial disadvantage, and provided certainty during “total global trade turbulence.”

“To see two countries, large and small, commit to an agreement which has enforceable rules, clear structures and provides certainty for our firms is very heartening.”

‘An important step for future resilience and profitability’

Despite NZ First’s concerns, many in the primary industry business community are heavily in favour of the deal.

ExportNZ executive director Joshua Tan said many exporters had been looking at India as a potential market for years.

“The problem is that prohibitive tariff barriers, often 30 percent to 60 percent, and up to 150 percent for wine, have limited what businesses can realistically do in India. This new agreement begins to bring those barriers down, gives exporters more certainty and more options.

“The FTA will also streamline certain customs procedures at the border, reduce costs, and guarantee that all goods will be released by India’s customs within 48 hours.”

New Zealand Forest Owners Association chief executive Dr Elizabeth Heeg said forestry was already New Zealand’s largest export to India, worth NZ$126 million.

Heeg said the new FTA provided the platform to lift volumes over time and grow higher-value trade in processed wood and building products.

“India has scale, strong demand for New Zealand wood products, and significant momentum, with its economy forecast to grow to NZ$12 trillion by 2030.”

The deal was a “strategically significant milestone” for New Zealand’s red meat sector, according to Meat Industry Association chair Nathan Guy.

“An FTA with India will unlock a promising market that has been constrained due to the 30 per cent tariff currently on New Zealand sheepmeat.”

Beef + Lamb New Zealand chair Kate Acland said the announcement was also positive for sheep farmers, and “puts us on a level playing field with Australia”.

“Although the impact on farm-gate returns may not be significant in the short-term, this is an important step for future resilience and profitability in the sector.

Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) chief executive Kate Scott said improved access to India will further diversify horticulture’s export portfolio.

“With India forecast to become the world’s third-largest economy, this FTA offers our growers and exporters an opportunity to build scale and value over time.

“While the full commercial impact will take time to be realised, especially for products with phased access, it sets the industry up for growth in the future.

The NZ Timber Industry Federation also welcomed the news of the agreement, saying it created “huge opportunities” for sawmillers and wood processors in New Zealand.

“The potential market in India is huge and while there are difficulties such as transport and logistics the industry is excited by the opportunities the FTA will provide to New Zealand.”

India was home to some of the world’s leading premium handmade carpet and rug manufacturers, Wools of New Zealand pointed out.

Chief executive John McWhirter said Wools of New Zealand was already working closely with these producers to sell finished wool products into the New Zealand market.

“At the same time, we are partnering with Indian manufacturers supplying finished wool products to major European brand retailers.

“A Free Trade Agreement with India will strengthen these relationships and improve the commercial settings for doing business. Lower barriers and greater certainty will help make wool products more cost-effective and competitive, particularly as we work to displace plastic-based alternatives.”

‘This is just the beginning’

Dr Rahul Sen, a senior economics professor at AUT, agreed that it was a good deal.

“This is just the beginning… this is basically opening the door for New Zealand to build up a long term economic relationship with India,” he said.

The agreement would be reviewed annually, he said.

“So it’s not necessary that everything is agreed immediately … but, you know, a foundation is laid,” he said.

It gave New Zealand businesses the chance to engage with one of the world’s fastest growing economies, said Sen.

“When you get that kind of an opportunity, you first have to grab that opportunity, and … look for how you can build this up later on.”

Sen wanted to see a think tank established, similar to the Centre for Australia-India Relations, to monitor how the agreement delivered the benefits it was meant to.

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

Fruit exports surpass $6 billion for the year ended November 2025 – news story

19 December 2025

Fruit exports were valued at $6.1 billion for the year ended November 2025, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. This is the second time that fruit exports reached $6 billion, first getting to this value in the year ended October 2025.

The value of fruit exports in the year ended November 2025 increased $1.3 billion (28 percent), compared with November 2024.

Leading the rise in fruit exports were kiwifruit and apples.

“Kiwifruit and apples contributed over 90 percent of total fruit export value in the year ended November 2025,” international accounts spokesperson Viki Ward said.

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The man charged with murdering a woman on an Auckland bus a year ago has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Bernice Louise Marychurch was killed on the Number 74 bus travelling through Onehunga in October 2024.

The man charged with her murder, Kael Leona, handed himself in to authorities shortly after.

In the High Court at Auckland on Wednesday morning, Leona’s lawyer entered a not guilty plea by reason of insanity on his behalf.

Leona himself was not present in court.

He was remanded in custody until his trial in March.

The killing sparked a significant response from transport officials, with Auckland Transport deploying extra transport officers for the route the bus was taking at the time.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also commented on the crime, saying he was “incredibly saddened and shocked”.

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

Kiwi farmers, growers, and primary producers are driving New Zealand’s economy with food and fibre exports set to reach a record $62 billion next year, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has announced.

The forecast is for the year to 30 June 2026 and is in the latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) report, released today.

“The projection builds on this year’s record-setting $60.4 billion – from meat and wool to kiwifruit and cherries, our producers are remarkable. The world wants New Zealand’s high-quality, sustainable, safe food and fibre,” Mr McClay says.

Exports are forecast to rise 3 per cent from the previous year, and an impressive 16 per cent higher than two years before. Exports are expected to climb to more than $63 billion in the year to 30 June 2027.

The sector is well positioned to capitalise on robust demand and strong prices, supported by good growing conditions and higher production in most areas.

“It’s an outstanding result, especially considering a tough year with challenging global conditions and extreme weather impacting producers,” Mr McClay says.

“The Government is backing the sector’s success, and the growth reflects a lot of on-the-ground hard work.

“The food and fibre sectors now account for 83 per cent of all New Zealand goods exports.”

Key forecasts for the year ending 30 June 2026 include:

• Meat and wool export revenue lifting 7 per cent to $13.2 billion
• Horticulture export revenue lifting 5 per cent to $9.2 billion
• Forestry export revenue lifting 2 per cent to $6.3 billion
• Dairy export revenue lifting 1 per cent to $27.4 billion

“We’re cutting red tape through significant reforms, building trade, driving higher producer returns, delivering tools and technology to tackle agricultural emissions, and investing in the health of rural New Zealand,” Mr McClay says.

“Farmer confidence is back up, farm profitability is improving for many producers, and New Zealand is turning the corner out of recession thanks to our export-led economic recovery.

“We’re also taking steps to boost productive and sustainable growth through more flexible land use.

“Farmers and growers should be able to choose what they do behind the farmgate if they can show it will have a lower or no greater environmental impact.

“One in every seven people work in food and fibre – a successful sector means thriving communities, a growing economy and a prosperous New Zealand.”

The December 2025 SOPI is available at: www.mpi.govt.nz/sopi 

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Longstanding Otago business Harraways and Sons is investing millions of dollars into its oat mill, the only operational one in Aotearoa, to meet growing demand for the healthy and humble locally-grown oat.

The company, known as Harraways, opened at Dunedin’s Green Island suburb in 1867 and its breakfast range among other products are found in most New Zealand supermarkets.

It also supplies oats to local oat milk producers, and for biscuits and muesli bars producers.

Chief executive Henry Hawkins said it was investing $11 million of capital expenditure into the factory to grow capacity.

“People eating healthier and returning to New Zealand made for some good growth for Harraways,” he said.

“We’ve reached a good point in our business where we are at capacity in terms of volume through our mill particularly, and we just need to plan for the future.

“Therefore, we need to upgrade some of our equipment to cope with that, and that includes new boilers, new grain intakes for all of our oat that we bring in, and also our milling equipment.”

He said each month, the factory employing 60 full-time staff and casual staff (like students from the nearby University of Otago) produced around 1500 metric tonnes of products, like rolled oats.

“We just really need to automate some of our production to be able to keep up with demand and try and reduce some overhead costs that come with manual labour.”

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Ninety-five percent of the company’s oats and grains were sourced in New Zealand, with the remainder being imported for its organic range.

The business contracted around 50 growers across Central Otago, Queenstown and Southland to process around 16,000 metric tonnes of oats and grains each year.

Growers were subject to the company’s zero-tolerance stance on the use of chemical defoliants and glyphosate on the crops.

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) recently reviewed and ultimately maintained the ingredient’s maximum residue limits (MRL) on food at 0.1 milligrams per kilogram for wheat, barlet and oat crops, but increasing it to 6-milligrams per kilo for field peas.

Hawkins said he was “very pleased” to see that NZFS “have seen and made sense” not to increase the MRL for glyphosate on oat crops, following public consultation.

“That has been a particular hot topic and something that we understand and know consumers are very concerned about,” he said.

“The medical information speaks for itself. It’s not the best thing for your health.

“And so we’re very watchful and want to make sure that we are able to keep our position which is no glyphosate in our product.”

It came as the Environmental Protection Authority was facing further court action by the Environmental Law Initiative around the regulator’s decision not to reassess the active ingredient in herbicide Roundup.

Hawkins said the company was well-supported by New Zealand retailers and shoppers, despite continued competition from imports on the shelf.

Harraways exported for several decades to Singapore, and was capitalising on adding oats to the region’s popular rice porridge congee, he said.

He said it “fully intended” to obtain a GrainMark certification by the Foundation for Arable Research to showcase its use of New Zealand oats only in the majority of its range, following the renovations.

Harraways Rolled Oats received the Product Lifetime Achievement Award at the NZ Food Awards in October.

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