CoronaVirus – LiveNews.co.nz

Te Huia service extension welcomed

LiveNews Publisher — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 04:07:34 +0000

Source: New Zealand Government

The New Zealand Transport Agency’s decision to extend the Waikato-Auckland passenger rail service Te Huia is welcomed, Rail Minister Winston Peters says.

“Te Huia came into existence because we funded KiwiRail to refurbish the carriages and build a dedicated mechanical depot in Hamilton,” Mr Peters says.

“The five-year trial service was negatively impacted by the Covid-19 Auckland shutdowns in its first year, so a one-year extension is pragmatic and means a fair assessment can be given.

“This Waikato Regional Council’s service has received strong patronage, developed into a weekday commuter and weekend city connector, and has 98 percent customer satisfaction rates which are a credit to operator KiwiRail’s crews.

“We are pleased to see the service will continue,” Mr Peters says.

MIL OSI

Events

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:25:28 +0000

Source: Privacy Commissioner

Events are a great way for us to promote privacy issues, and answer questions. Our people speak to a range of audiences across New Zealand about privacy issues. The Commissioner is often asked to be a keynote speaker at conferences.

Privacy Week speaker applications are now open

During May each year we run Privacy Week, a series of free webinars that promote privacy awareness regardless of how much you already know. Applications for speakers for this year’s event opened on Wednesday 18 February.

Apply now using our form. Applications close Friday 20 March.

About Privacy Week

Privacy Week is held in conjunction with Privacy Awareness Week, an initiative by the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA) network. Find out more about APPA and Privacy Awareness Week.

Privacy Week 2025
Privacy Week 2024

Previous years’ webinar recordings can be watched on our YouTube page.

Request a privacy speaker

If you’d like to request a speaker please fill in our speaker request form.

We meet every two weeks to discuss requests for speeches and will accept or decline the request soon after that. Declines are almost always owing to resourcing – we are a very small office. If you have questions please email our communications team at commsteam@privacy.org.nz

Sir Bruce Slane Memorial Lecture

The Sir Bruce Slane Memorial Lecture is delivered every two years by an invited guest, and always on a topic of privacy law. Sir Bruce Slane was New Zealand’s first Privacy Commissioner. Read more about his life.

2025 lecture (happening in 2026)
This year’s lecturer is Justice Christian Whata who will speak in February about the concept of privacy through a tikanga lens. Sign up to watch the webinar online via Teams.

2023 lecture
Professor Nicole Moreham
Balancing privacy and other interests in the social media age

(Regular lectures interrupted by COVID-19 pandemic).

2018 lecture
Hon Justice Helen Winkelmann
Privacy law at a cross roads: can the courts provide

Right to Know Day

Right to Know Day is on 28 September each year and promotes the legal right all New Zealanders have to see the information that organisations hold about them. Under the Privacy Act, you have the right to ask for personal information about you. You can do that using our About Me tool.

Personal information can include simple details such as your name, address and your pay slips. It can also include any sensitive records such as medical test results and notes.
Download a Right to Know factsheet.

Watch us on YouTube

Our recorded events and webinars can be watched on our YouTube channel.

MIL OSI

The ‘sausage sensei’ who says his snags are art

MIL OSI — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:07:33 +0000

Source: Radio New Zealand

If you’ve ever wanted to craft the perfect sausage, Texan Bill Dumas could make your dreams come true.

Known as the Sausage Sensei, Dumas is on his second visit to New Zealand for two sausage-making workshops.

And while sausages are a beloved barbeque staple in many parts of the world, for Dumas, they’re much, much more.

The sausage sensei’s creations.

Supplied

. I think of this as art, consumable art,” Dumas says.

His sausages certainly back that statement up. While in New Zealand, he’s created two types of sausage to appeal to Kiwi tastebuds. The first features green-lipped mussels combined with pork, bacon, white wine seasoning and galangal and lemongrass. The second is a re-interpretation of the classic meat pie – pastry and all.

“We wanted to do something that just screamed New Zealand. With my sausages, they’re not just like a regular snag, you know. Like the Aussies say, it ain’t a Bunnings snag, right?” he says with a laugh.

And while jokes come easily to the laidback Texan, he’s serious about preserving the culinary traditions of the Lone Star state.

“Barbecue’s kind of pivotal. It has quite a bit of cultural significance.”

Dumas explains the Texan style generally uses very simple seasoning.

“A brisket, nine times out of 10, just salt and pepper. That’s it. Salt, pepper, times smoked. Pork ribs traditionally would be the same way. When you start getting into sauces and glazes, now we’re talking about Kansas City, Missouri, the Carolinas. That’s not Texas.”

The Texan Sausage Sensei bringing art of sausage making to NZ

First Up

According to Dumas, that simple style of barbequing was heavily influenced by the mid-19th century arrival of Bohemian and Bavarian immigrants in Texas.

“One of the key things in German charcuterie and butchery is Wurst. Sausage.”

The hot climate meant smoking and sausage making became important both for cooking and as a means of meat preservation. That led to the development of the archetypal Texan sausage, the hot gut.

Bill Dumas is in New Zealand giving sausage-making classes.

Supplied

“It’s a 100 percent beef-based sausage, very coarsely ground, salt, a good copious amount of black pepper, a hint of garlic, and red chili pepper.”

Whether it’s a Texas hot gut, or confit duck, here’s a a lot of thought and technique that goes into creating a the perfect banger. The texture of the grind must be right.

“It really depends upon application versus the type of protein versus personal preference.” Dumas says.

“I reckon there’s really no rules, except to say that the coarser the grind the more difficult it will be to retain that tight compact inner.”

Fat content also plays an important part. Dumas says generally 70 percent protein to 30 percent fat is used, but 60 to 50, and 50-50 are also used in some sausages.

Dumas prefers to use a natural casing for his sausages, despite collagen becoming a common alternative.

Ground meat ready to become sausages.

Supplied

“I reckon you don’t get really good colour retention or snap on the casing, and it doesn’t eat as well as a natural casing,” he says.

“I like to use hog casings, which are like Goldilocks and the Three Bears in respect to size.”

Dumas says his love for making food started when he was a child, spending time with his grandfather, who had developed his barbequing skills while working as a cowhand on ranches.

“As a matter of necessity, those guys knew how to cook out on the open range and rather very well.”

In his later years, Dumas’ grandfather had a business cooking and selling chicken.

“Having the meat, the fat, dripping on the hot coals and ssssssssss, coming back up on those chickens was really good. So he would put me to work, hauling wood, cleaning ash cans, do this, do that, and it just imprinted itself on me.”

And while he’s been involved with sausage production for 15 years, he didn’t start running classes until an Italian chef suggested it during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some of the “sausage sensei’s” creations on the grill.

Supplied

“I was booked every single Saturday or Sunday for four, five years, unless I was on the road,” he says.

Since then, Dumas has taken his sausage making expertise to six countries, grateful to spread his knowledge internationally.

“I’ve had a lot of jobs that I don’t really like. I’m a Marine Corps veteran. I’ve been an industrial refrigeration technician. I’ve driven 18-wheeler semi-trucks, cross-country. None of those things have ever spoken to me quite in the same manner as the barbecue universe.

“I reckon it really does go back to my grandfather and those roots.”

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

Adolescence writer Jack Thorne on his new TV adaptation of castaway novel Lord of the Flies

MIL OSI — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 22:09:41 +0000

Source: Radio New Zealand

Adolescence writer Jack Thorne hopes the UK will follow Australia in introducing a social media ban for children under 16.

“I think it’s amazing that Australia is ahead of the world in terms of the social media ban,” Thorne says.

“It’s hopefully going to spread like wildfire through the world, because I think it’s an incredibly important thing.”

Lord of the Flies and Adolescence were written and filmed at the same time.

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Adolescence, the story of 13-year-old Jamie being arrested for the murder of his classmate Katie, won a slew of Golden Globes and Emmys and landed on many lists of the best TV shows of 2025.

It sparked conversations around the world about toxic masculinity, boyhood and how social media can be used to disseminate harmful ideas.

Thorne — who won an Emmy for writing Adolescence — has long supported a ban like the one in Australia, where social media companies face fines of up to $49.5 million, to address some of the issues raised in the show.

In an opinion piece last year, he called for the introduction of a “digital age of consent” in the UK, which would restrict access to social media for children under 16.

“Spend any time on most social media platforms and you end up, quite quickly, in some dark spaces,” he wrote.

“Parents can try to regulate this, schools can stop mobile phone access but more needs to be done.”

The latest project from the writer of Adolescence, Jack Thorne, is the first-ever TV adaptation of Lord of the Flies.

Stan

But while Australia’s eSafety commissioner says 4.7 million under-16s social media accounts have been deactivated or removed since the ban was implemented in December, many, including young people, have concerns about its efficacy.

The conversation about social media, childhood and ideas of masculinity spurred by Adolescence continues this month, as Thorne releases his next project, a new TV adaptation of British author William Golding’s 1954 novel Lord of the Flies.

Today’s crisis in masculinity

Thorne’s new TV show is another harrowing story that sits at the intersection of vulnerability, violence and masculinity.

“In Adolescence, we were looking at the context in which teenage boys currently live,” Thorne tells ABC Arts.

“At the moment, teenagers are navigating a world where hate has been given an outlet in all sorts of different places: in government, in social media spaces and everywhere else.”

Thorne sees resonances between today and the “climate of populism and hate” in which Lord of the Flies author William Golding was writing during the 50s, in the wake of World War II, where he served in the navy, and in the early days of the Cold War.

“He was terrified by it,” Thorne says. “Obviously, we are not living in as extreme a moment as that.

“But it does feel like we are living at a time when opposition to others is more attractive than agreement.”

When Thorne set out to write Adolescence with actor Stephen Graham, the pair were thinking about that climate and the influx of knife crimes perpetrated by teenage boys against girls in the UK.

Thorne and Graham started the process of writing by talking about masculinity and their younger selves.

“We talked about our rage, our cruelty, and moments when we weren’t the people we wanted to be,” he says.

It was an interesting exercise — partly because the two are so different, even just in terms of their physicality.

If someone was asked to draw a man, I think they would draw some version of Stephen,” Thorne says. “They wouldn’t draw me.”

Still, they found similarities between their experiences — particularly their relationships with shame.

“It wasn’t healthy for us and certainly wasn’t healthy for the people around us.”

Those feelings of cruelty and shame fed into Adolescence — and now Lord of the Flies.

British playwright Jack Thorne (L) and British actor Stephen Graham at the Emmy Awards, September 2025.

FREDERIC J. BROWN

Why adapt Lord of the Flies in 2026?

Lord of the Flies is the story of a group of boys left stranded on a remote island after they survive a plane crash.

First, they work together to survive, after they elect the kind and fair Ralph as their leader. But their camp soon descends into warring factions, violence and brutality.

Though Golding’s book has been adapted for cinema and stage before, Thorne’s new version is the first for TV.

It’s something the 47-year-old writer has wanted to do for almost 20 years, first pitching it to a British TV channel when he was in his early 30s.

He was nine years old when he first read the book and over-identified with Simon, the dreamer of the group of castaways, who is drawn to nature, rather than either faction.

“I was quite an emotional kid, but quite a privately emotional kid,” Thorne says.

“I found huge understanding in the book for the kid I was then, which is sort of an outsider.”

Like many young readers, Thorne was reminded of school bullies when he encountered the character of Jack, who uses his strength and arrogance to encourage the other boys to hunt and follow their base instincts.

Returning to Lord of the Flies as an adult Thorne felt a lot more empathy for Jack, something he attributes to Golding’s writing.

“[The book is] full of a lot of care for all of the boys,” he says.

“People see this book as being about opposition and hate and, actually, it’s a lot more complicated than that and a lot more beautiful than that.”

The audience for the Lord of the Flies TV show is invited to care for each of the boys by hewing closely to one per episode, starting with Piggy (David McKenna). He’s a chubby, bespectacled, somewhat anxious boy who tries to establish order and structure in the camp but soon finds himself bullied.

In the following episodes, the focus moves to Jack (Lox Pratt) in his efforts to hunt a wild pig and overthrow Ralph, to dreamer Simon (Ike Talbut), and finally, Ralph (Winston Sawyers) as the camp falls further into chaos.

It was especially important, Thorne says, to get inside the mind of Jack.

“Faces are the way we tell stories in our medium,” he explains.

“Just spending that much time on Lox’s face, on Jack’s face, you do get brought into his view of the world, and you do, I hope, care for him in the way that Golding cares for him.”

Thorne wanted to create a conversation around the book and its themes: “People talk about books without reading them.”

Stan

A distinct voice

Thorne is best known for his shows tackling social issues in the UK.

The Hack, released last year, stars David Tennant (Doctor Who) as a journalist determined to get to the truth of the News of the World phone hacking scandal.

In Toxic Town, released on Netflix last year, Jodie Whittaker (also Doctor Who) plays Susan, a mother of a child with a congenital birth defect, who becomes one of the main organisers behind the Corby toxic waste case in England in the 00s.

Thorne recalls reading the brief for Toxic Town and thinking, “My dad is Sam Hagen”, the Corby council worker who leaked documents to Susan’s legal team.

He says he’s drawn to shows where “there’s something of me that can play a role”.

“I knew people like Susan,” he says. “I felt like there was enough there for me to grapple with.”

In 2021, Thorne and Graham, as executive producer, collaborated on the TV movie Help, about Sarah (Jodie Comer) who works in a care home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The telemovie won an International Emmy in 2022, but Thorne says it was difficult to find international distribution.

“I was told, ‘The accent’s too strong, it’s about British issues that don’t travel, and it’s about British governmental institutions that aren’t interesting to the rest of the world’,” he recalls.

He says an international streamer like Netflix, meanwhile, has celebrated the distinctness of the stories he tells.

What Netflix have done — not just with Adolescence, but with Baby Reindeer, Squid Game, Narcos — is realise that when you tell a story with detail and with precision, then people can get it wherever they are in the world.”

Lord of the Flies is streaming on TVNZ+

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

Media Architects Celebrates 25 Years of Innovation in Live Production Streaming and Video Learning Technologies

MIL OSI — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 07:42:41 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 February 2026 – Media Architects Pte Ltd, a systems integrator specialising in live production streaming and education technology solutions, marked its 25th anniversary in January 2026. Established in 2001, the company has spent the last two and a half decades supporting institutions, organisations, and government agencies in Singapore, providing integrated systems for video production and educational use.

Media Architects Celebrates 25 Years of Innovation in Live Production Streaming and Video Learning Technologies

From DVD Authoring to Systems Integration
Founded on 20 January 2001 as DVD Power (Asia) Pte Ltd, the company was launched to address a gap in the local video production landscape. Its founder, a key member of Singapore’s first film school at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, had recently produced an award-winning interactive DVD and identified a gap in the market for professional DVD authoring services in Singapore.

Early milestones included authoring projects for New Line Cinema, Miramax Films, Columbia TriStar and Sony Pictures, as well as locally commissioned educational and heritage content for the Ministry of Education and the National Heritage Board. As DVD technology matured, the company shifted into systems integration, rebranding as Media Architects and expanding its offerings to support professional video workflows and technical training.

Following its 25th anniversary, Media Architects continues to evolve with the industry, building on its original vision while adapting to new technologies and client needs.

Continuous Evolution with Industry Trends
Over the past two decades, Media Architects has kept pace with the evolution of media technologies. These include collaborative editing systems (2006), computer-based live production systems (2008), file-based post-production workflows (2010), and bonded cellular streaming systems for remote broadcasting (2012). More recently, the company has focused on video learning platforms, auto-tracking camera solutions, and hybrid classroom systems.

Today, Media Architects supports more than 10 higher education institutions in Singapore with integrated systems that enable lecture recording, hybrid learning, and streamlined content delivery.

Pandemic-Era Pivot to Live Streaming Services
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted live events, Media Architects adapted quickly. Drawing on its early experience in bonded cellular systems, the company developed compact live production setups with robotic cameras and a minimal crew, allowing clients to conduct virtual AGMs and live broadcasts under social distancing restrictions.

These efforts led to the establishment of a new business vertical focused on live event video streaming services and virtual event service platforms, which continued to support clients throughout the pandemic and beyond.

Future Growth: AI Tools, Partnerships, and Regional Reach
A Milestone Tender Reflecting the Next Phase of Growth
Upon celebrating its 25th anniversary, the company has secured a significant milestone tender to design and implement a clinical observation and recording system with AI-powered video analysis and reporting for a major medical institution in Singapore. This project represents a clear step forward in the company’s transition from traditional AV integration to intelligent, data-driven ecosystems that support high-stakes education and training.

The deployment spans more than 20 specialised clinical training rooms and shared spaces, with provisions for future expansion. At the system’s core is a fully redundant Q-SYS architecture powered by dual Core X10 DSP engines. This setup ensures operational continuity during critical simulations and medical examinations. Audio is captured through high-fidelity, beamforming ceiling microphones, and all network traffic is handled by NETGEAR AVLine switches configured for high-throughput, low-latency AVoIP environments.

Centralised control is achieved through the Q-SYS platform, which unifies audio, video, and automation under a modern IT framework.

What distinguishes this project is the integration of AI-powered video analytics. The system leverages a SaaS platform to enable real-time transcription, video tagging, and structured AI-powered analysis based on clinical rubrics such as SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation). This allows users to reference specific tagged moments during debriefs, providing objective, measurable feedback aligned with learning outcomes.

Students benefit directly from recorded sessions, instructor notes, transcripts, AI analysis, and reports saved to their accounts. This supports reflective practice, skill tracking, and individual learning progress. The implementation reflects Media Architects’ ongoing focus on scalable, systems-based innovation that transforms live video into actionable educational intelligence.

As the company embarks upon its next chapter, this project illustrates how its technical capabilities are now being applied to future-focused environments where reliability, adaptability, and data integration are essential.

Preparing the Team for the Next Chapter
In anticipation of future growth, Media Architects is focusing on organisational development and leadership transition. Current team leads are being supported through new hires and strategic mentorship, with plans for the founder to move into an advisory role. The company is also evaluating the addition of industry practitioners to strengthen its system solutioning capacity and broaden its technical depth.

“Our mission at Media Architects has always been to harness the transformative power of video technology. With the latest system, we aren’t just installing cameras; we are architecting an intelligent feedback loop for self-reflection and self-improvement. By integrating AI-powered transcription and analysis, we are turning clinical simulations into objective, measurable data that empowers the next generation of medical professionals.”

— Nick Tay, Founder and Managing Director, Media Architects Pte Ltd

Looking Ahead
Following its 25th anniversary, Media Architects remains committed to helping clients deliver high-impact content through integrated, future-ready technologies. Visit their website to learn more about their products and services.

Home

Hashtag: #MediaArchitects #ProductionStreamingSolutions #25thAnniversary #TechInnovation

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

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

New Zealand SailGP: What you need to know

MIL OSI — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 20:43:26 +0000

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand SailGP

4pm Saturday, 14 February

11.30am Sunday, 15 February*

Wynyard Point, Auckland

Live updates on RNZ

*Start time has been change for the weather

Amid considerable fanfare, SailGP has returned to Auckland, building on a wildly successful – not for the home team though – debut in 2025.

The wait for availability of the Wynyard Point site proved well worthwhile, when spectators crammed the giant grandstand on the waterfront to watch Australia claim honours last year – and organisers promise bigger and better this time round.

Here’s what you should know about the professional sailing event.

History

Sail Grand Prix was created in 2018 by billionaire Larry Ellison and Kiwi sailing legend Sir Russell Coutts, loosely based on the America’s Cup, where both its founders originated from.

Unlike the ‘Auld Mug’, this format was designed for high-speed racing in identical F50 catamarans around spectator-friendly courses near the shoreline.

Black Foils win a race at 2025 New Zealand SailGP on the Waitematā Harbour. Felix Diemer for SailGP

Many of the crews are also involved in the America’s Cup, so this event enables them to remain fully professional sailors between four-year cycles, albeit in a different class of boat.

The fleet began with just six teams, but has since doubled in size, with the addition of Brazil and Italy last year, before adding Sweden as the 13th entry for 2026.

Guided by Tom Slingsby, Australia have dominated the league, winning the first three editions and finishing runners-up in the last two. Spain were 2023/24 champions, while Great Britain triumphed in 2024/25.

Another feature of the competition is known as the ‘Impact League’, which rewards teams for promoting sustainability and inclusivity within their organisations. Winning teams receive prizemoney to donate to charities and New Zealand took 2021/22 honours.

Format

Each regatta takes place over a series of tightly contested fleet races (up to seven) across two days, with teams gaining points based on their placings and the top three qualifying for the final at the end of the weekend.

Overall results from each stopover count towards season rankings, with the top three again qualifying for the series final.

Black Foils

New Zealand did not contest the inaugural SailGP series, but joined the fleet in 2020, under the leadership of America’s Cup supremo Peter Burling and sidekick Blair Tuke.

New Zealand celebrate victory at Portsmouth 2025. Kieran Cleeves for SailGP

Their distinctive boat Amokura was launched the following year and has suffered several accidents since.

In 2023, its mast was struck by lightning in Singapore, as it was being towed back to base, frying its electrical systems. The NZ crew were already ashore, collecting their winners’ prize, but Danish grinder Martin Kirketerp – who was helping return the boat to port – was taken to hospital with an electric shock.

Later that same season, Amokura’s wing collapsed while racing at Saint-Tropez. No-one was hurt, but the damage was too serious to continue racing and repairs could not be carried out before the next round at Taranto, Italy.

In March 2024, the NZ team announced their ‘Black Foils’ nickname, aligning with other famous Kiwi sporting outfits.

Burling and Tuke have won Olympic and world championship gold, won and defended the America’s Cup and sailed around the world (separately), but SailGP success has eluded them. They finished second in 2022/23 and third the last two years.

Form

The 2026 series has had only one stop so far, at Perth, with the defending champion British team picking up where they left off last year, heading off Australia and France in the event final.

Sweden won two of the seven preliminary races, but finished last in the seventh to place fourth, while Canada also showed their ability with victory in the last race.

New Zealand were off to the worst-possible start to their campaign, damaging their stern in a collision with Switzerland during the opening race and, while the Swiss were able to return to the water on the second day, the Kiwis were shorebound for the rest of the weekend and faced some time pressure to repair their board for the Auckland leg.

They are now at the bottom of the table with no points, alongside Switzerland and Spain, who also suffered malfunctions off Perth.

Great Britain claim victory off Perth in January. James Gourley for SailGP

New Zealand SailGP

New Zealand was originally included on the 2021/22 championship schedule, with Lyttelton Harbour, Christchurch, as the venue on an alternating arrangement with Auckland’s Wynyard Point.

Covid-19 delayed the NZ stopover until 2023, with Christchurch hosting the very successful event, and it returned there the following year, when the Auckland waterfront site was unavailable.

This time, racing was not possible on the opening day, due to dolphins on the course, and Coutts vowed not to use the venue again.

Instead, Auckland staged the 2025 event, fully justifying the decision to develop Wynyard Point, with a grandstand that is expected to hold more than 10,000 spectators and break the SailGP attendance record, along with unticketed viewing along the shoreline.

Kiwi Phil Robertson skippered Canada to victory at the inaugural 2023 NZ SailGP, Burling steered the Kiwis home in 2024, but the Black Foils struck electrical problems at Auckland, with the Aussies dominating the weekend.

Sir Russell Coutts makes the decision to cancel racing at Lyttelton 2024, as dolphins invade the racecourse. Chloe Knott for SailGP

Teams

Australia: Tom Slingsby (driver), Tash Bryant (strategist), Nina Curtis (strategist), Iain Jensen (wing trimmer), Kinley Fowler (flight controller/grinder), Sam Newton (grinder), Jason Waterhouse (flight controller/tactician), Tom Needham (reserve)

Brazil: Martine Grael (driver), Marco Grael (grinder), Mateus Isaac (grinder), Rasmus Kostner (flight controller), Pietro Sibello (wing trimmer), Paul Goodison (strategist), Richard Mason (reserve), Breno Kneipp (grinder)

Canada: Giles Scott (driver), Billy Gooderham (flight controller), Paul Campbell-James (wing trimmer), Annie Haeger (strategist), Georgia Lewin-LaFrance (strategist), Tom Ramshaw (grinder), Tim Hornsby (grinder/technical director), Alex Sinclair (grinder)

Denmark: Nicolai Sehested (driver), Tom Johnson (wing trimmer), Ed Powys (flight controller), Anee-Marie Rindom (strategist), Hans-Christian Rosendahl (grinder), Luke Payne (grinder), Kahena Kunze (strategist)

France: Quentin Delapierre (driver), Manon Audinet (strategist), Leigh McMillan (wing trimmer), Jason Saunders (flight controller), Olivier Herledant (grinder), Bruno Mourniac (grinder), Timothy Lapauw (grinder), Enzo Balanger (reserve), Amelie Riou (reserve)

Germany: Erik Kosegarten-Heil (driver), Kevin Peponnet (wing trimmer), James Wierzbowski (flight controller), Anna Barth (strategist), Will Tiller (grinder), Linov Scheel (grinder)

Great Britain: Dylan Fletcher (driver), Hannah Mills (strategist), Stuart Bithell (wing trimmer), Luke Parkinson (flight controller),, Nick Hutton (trimmer/grinder), Neil Hunter (grinder), Kai Hockley (development), Ben Cornish (reserve), Ellie Aldridge (development)

Italy: Phil Robertson (driver), Ruggero Tita (alternate driver), Kyle Langford (wing trimmer), Andrea Tesei (flight controller), Will Ryan (grinder), Enrico Voltolini (grinder), Jana Germani (strategist), Maelle Frascari (strategist), Jimmy Spithill (reserve driver)

Australia celebrate their 2025 victory at New Zealand SailGP. Brett Phibbs for SailGP

New Zealand: Peter Burling (driver), Blair Tuke (wing trimmer), Leo Takahashi (flight controller), Liv Mackay (strategist), Louis Sinclair (grinder), Marcus Hansen (grinder)

Spain: Diego Botin (driver), Florian Trittel (wing trimmer), Joel Rodriguez (flight controller), Nicolle van der Velden (strategist), Joan Cardona (tactician/grinder), Bernard Freitas (grinder), Matthew Barber (grinder)

Sweden: Nathan Outteridge (driver), Julia Gross (strategist), Chris Draper (wing trimmer), Any Maloney (flight controller), Brad Farrand (wing trimmer), Julius Hallstrom (grinder)

Switzerland: Sebastian Schneiter (driver), Arnaud Psarofaghis (wing trimmer), Bryan Mattraux (flight controller), Stewart Dodson (grinder), Arno de Planta (reserve), Maud Jayet (strategist), Matt Gotrel (grinder)

USA: Taylor Canfield (driver), Michael Menninger (wing trimmer), Hans Henken (flight controller), Andrew Campbell (strategist), Anna Weis (grinder), Peter Kinney (grinder), Mac Agnese (grinder), Harry Melges IV (reserve)

Weather

In a case of imperfect timing, New Zealand’s North Island – including Auckland – is under storm warning this weekend, which has already forced a couple of changes to event scheduling.

Friday practice racing was cancelled, with only New Zealand, Spain and Germany allowed out on the water to test their recent modifications before racing begins in earnest.

In anticipation of worsening conditions on Sunday afternoon, the second day’s racing has been brought forward to 11.30am.

Everyone is talking glowingly of great sailing conditions, but maybe not so great for spectators.

Asked about the expected big winds, Auckland-born Italy driver Phil Robertson replied: “You wet your pants a little and you move on.”

Where to watch

Organisers have increased the size of the already impressive Wynyard Point grandstand by 30 percent to more than 10,000 seats. Boats will whistle past so close, you can almost reach out and touch them.

Other vantage points around the harbour include any of the wharves as far as Bledisloe Wharf on the city side, Westhaven Marina and Stanley Point on the North Shore.

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

Net migration gain of 14,200 – International migration: December 2025 – Stats NZ news story and information release

LiveNews Publisher — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:09:26 +0000

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Net migration gain of 14,200 – news story

13 February 2026

New Zealand had a net migration gain of 14,200 in 2025, down from a net gain of 23,800 in 2024, according to provisional estimates released by Stats NZ today.

The net migration gain in 2025 was the lowest for a calendar year since 2013 (excluding 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic).

New Zealand had an average net migration gain of 30,600 a year from 2001 to 2025.

“Annual net migration fell from a record 135,500 in the October 2023 year to a provisional low of 8,600 in the August 2025 year, before increasing in late 2025,” international migration statistics spokesperson Bryan Downes said.

“The fall in net migration in 2025 compared with 2024 was driven by 6 percent fewer migrant arrivals, while migrant departures rose 1 percent to a provisional record for a calendar year.”

Visit our website to read the full news story and information release and to download CSV files:

For media enquiries contact: Media team, Wellington, media@stats.govt.nz“>media@stats.govt.nz, 021 285 9191

The Government Statistician authorises all statistics and data we publish.

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MIL OSI

Nicola Willis urges Adrian Orr to front up in inquiry into economic responses to Covid-19

MIL OSI — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:04:03 +0000

Source: Radio New Zealand

Finance Minister Nicola Willis. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Finance Minister Nicola Willis is urging the previous Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr to front up to the inquiry into the economic responses to Covid-19.

The government announced the independent review on Wednesday, saying it would identify key lessons from the spike in inflation and house prices.

The central bank’s actions – including official cash rate cuts and money printing – as well as its interaction with government policy, will all be in scope.

Willis said it was up to Orr whether he appeared, but had a message for him.

“Put New Zealand’s interests at the heart of your decision,” she said.

“It’s in New Zealand’s interests that you are candid about the decisions the Reserve Bank made in response to the Covid pandemic so that our country can learn from any mistakes that you made.”

Willis said she would still be going ahead with the inquiry whether Orr was still governor or not.

“Yes. I first sought advice on the shape of a potential inquiry when we first came into government. The decision I made at that time was to first focus on the legislating of a singular inflation-fighting target; the renegotiation of a funding agreement,” she said.

“At the point of Adrian Orr’s resignation, which occurred of course just a few months into our term as government, I determined it wouldn’t be appropriate while we were recruiting for a new governor to initiate the review, but the appointment of Dr Anna Breman has provided an appropriate juncture.”

Previous Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr’s resignation came more than a year after the government took office. RNZ / Dom Thomas

Opposition parties have criticised the timing of the review – with the findings set to be released in September, just weeks before the 7 November election – labelling it a politically motivated hit-job and an attack on the central bank’s independence.

Willis said the reviewers – former Cyprus central banker Athanasios Orphanides and former RBNZ assistant governor David Archer – would be travelling to New Zealand to carry out their work including conducting interviews.

They would have access to all Reserve Bank information, she said, and she expected it would also look at wealth inequality.

Orr led the bank during the pandemic but resigned unexpectedly last March over a lack of funding for the central bank.

His resignation came more than a year after the government took office.

Messy handling of his exit later led chair Neil Quigley to resign too, putting Willis under pressure over what she knew and when.

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

Reserve Bank review set for completion in September, originally due to be done by March

MIL OSI — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 04:02:52 +0000

Source: Radio New Zealand

The independent review will look at the Reserve Bank’s response to the pandemic. RNZ / Alexander Robertson

A review into the Reserve Bank’s monetary policy decisions during the Covid-19 pandemic was originally intended to be completed by March.

The Finance Minister says the delay was due to how long it took to appoint the right people to lead the review.

On Wednesday, Nicola Willis confirmed she had commissioned an independent review into the Reserve Bank’s response to the pandemic, including cuts to the Official Cash Rate, and the Large Scale Asset Purchase programme.

The opposition has criticised the government for the timing of the review, given it is set to be published in September, just weeks before the election.

The review will be led by monetary policy experts Athanasios Orphanides and David Archer.

Orphanides was a former governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus, and member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank.

Archer was a former Reserve Bank assistant governor and former head of the Central Banking Studies Unit at the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland.

On Thursday, the Treasury released a series of documents related to the review’s establishment, which show Willis first informed the Reserve Bank in July 2025 she was considering a review, and took the matter to Cabinet for sign-off in August 2025.

At the time, Willis expected the review would be completed by March 2026.

The documents also show parts of the review’s terms of reference were changed to factor in the benefits of its decisions, after a suggestion from the Reserve Bank.

Why the delay?

Willis told RNZ the hold-up was due to the appointment of the international reviewer.

She said following the Cabinet mandate, it was her job to find the appropriate reviewers, with Treasury making recommendations.

“First, people we approached weren’t available in the appropriate timeframe. We then had a challenge where one reviewer we proposed was available in the timeframe, but another wasn’t. And so we were both trying to balance getting a balance of someone with domestic perspective and international perspective, the appropriate international credentials, and being available for their time period,” she said.

“So there was a bit of a back and forth on finding appropriate reviewers. And at all times, I was very mindful of Treasury advice on the credentials that they needed to fulfil.”

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the delay was due to the appointment of the international reviewer. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Willis said it was “frustrating,” but ultimately felt the most important thing for the credibility of the review was the quality of the reviewers.

“I’m satisfied that we’ve landed on very credible reviewers. No one’s questioning their authority, their credibility. Clearly, these are people who are independent. There’s not a political bone about them.”

The Cabinet minute shows Willis had the authorisation to approve the selection of the experts and make changes to the terms of reference, in consultation with the associate finance ministers.

What do the documents say?

In a letter dated 10 July 2025 and sent to then-Reserve Bank chair Neil Quigley and Governor Christian Hawkesby, Willis said the Monetary Policy Committee took “unprecedented” actions in response to the “significant economic challenges” caused by the pandemic.

She acknowledged the Bank’s review and assessment of its monetary policy performance between 2020 and 2022, which commissioned independent experts to provide peer review but was not independent of the Bank.

“As such, I am considering an external review to provide the Government with an independent perspective on the MPC’s performance during 2020 to 2022. This will ensure there is appropriate transparency over the MPC’s performance during a period of significant economic challenges, and will help identify lessons for future episodes of instability,” she wrote.

Feedback from then Governor Christian Hawkesby about changing the terms of reference were taken on board. RNZ / Dom Thomas

In response, Hawkesby said the Bank had made “significant progress” in implementing the recommendations of the 2022 review, but would fully cooperate with the external review if Willis chose to proceed with it.

Hawkesby had suggested the draft terms of reference be amended, particularly a section on whether the “stimulus” provided by the Large Scale Asset Purchase and Funding for Lending programmes “justified the risks to the public balance sheet and other costs”.

“We note that this frames the benefits and costs associated with these tools in narrow terms and should be widened to capture the impact LSAPs played in stabilising markets, and their broader fiscal benefits through lowering Crown borrowing costs and increasing tax revenue,” he wrote.

This feedback was taken onboard, with the final terms of reference changed to reviewing whether the “benefits” provided by the programmes “justified the risks and costs”.

Hawkesby also raised another section which referred to the review making “recommendations to improve the monetary policy response to future shocks, including commentary around potential changes to the frameworks, having regard to the benefits of hindsight”.

He said the Monetary Policy Committee’s remit was an important part of the policy framework, and while it could be reviewed at any time there were benefits to stability in the objectives of monetary policy.

“We suggest that any recommendations related to the objectives of monetary policy would be best addressed as part of the 5-yearly formal review of the MPC Remit, which is due by mid-2028.”

This was not changed.

On 9 February she told the new chair Rodger Findlay and new Governor Anna Breman that the government had finalised the establishment of the review, with the final terms of reference showing the new expected completion date of August.

“Independent monetary policy is a central pillar of New Zealand’s macroeconomic frameworks. The review strengthens this by supporting accountability and public confidence in the operational independence of monetary policy and informing its ongoing effectiveness,” Willis wrote.

She told Findlay and Breman she had adopted the Bank’s suggestion to broaden the review’s assessment of the costs and benefits of alternative monetary policy.

Willis told RNZ she thought it was important to engage with the Bank about how to get the best lessons out of the review.

“I think the final terms of reference allow for a full and penetrating review. So the questions will be asked, the information will be furnished, and those reviewers will be able to reach conclusions.”

She said it was up to former governor Adrian Orr and former chair Neil Quigley to decided if they wanted to front up to the inquiry, but said “if they’re wise, they will.”

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

Former Reserve Bank Governor supports review into Bank’s decisions during pandemic, but questions timing

MIL OSI — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:27:53 +0000

Source: Radio New Zealand

Former Reserve Bank Governor Don Brash. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Former Reserve Bank Governor Don Brash is supportive of the government’s decision to review the Bank’s decisions during the Covid-19 pandemic, but concerns from the opposition over the review’s timing so close to the election are a “fair question”, he says.

On Wednesday, finance minister Nicola Willis announced she was launching an independent review into monetary policy decisions during the pandemic, including cuts to the Official Cash Rate, and the Large Scale Asset Purchase programme.

Willis is touting the exercise as a fact-finding, lessons-learned mission.

“This is simply about New Zealand learning the lessons of history. The Reserve Bank, during the response to Covid-19, did a huge amount of money printing,” she said.

“The result, in part due to those decisions, in part due to Labour’s decisions to spend and borrow a huge amount of money, was very high inflation, house prices going up 30 percent in a year, and more than $10 billion of losses after the printing of that money. So it is appropriate for the government to look at, did we get it all right, what could we do better in the future?”

Finance minister Nicola Willis. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Brash, also a former National leader, said the effects of monetary policy were “substantial” during the pandemic, and given the costs to the taxpayer an ex-post review “almost certainly” made sense.

“The Reserve Bank did two main things: they cut the Official Cash Rate to a very low level, 0.25 [percent], and would probably have cut it below that level had they felt the banks were able to handle that,” he said.

“In the end, they didn’t cut it below 0.25, but instead, of course, they bought many billions of dollars of government bonds at low interest rates in an attempt to stimulate the economy, but at a cost to the taxpayer, which was very substantial. So I think it’s worth having a having a good look at that.”

The current governor Anna Breman said she welcomed the review, but pointedly referenced a mandatory review undertaken by the Bank of the 2017-22 time period, which found the “large scale asset purchase programme was successful in correcting financial market dysfunction and reducing long-term interest rates”.

The review also found that “in hindsight, earlier, or stronger monetary tightening could have curbed the subsequent hike in inflation,” Breman said.

Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Willis was not impressed by that previous review.

“The Reserve Bank went through a window-dressing exercise of doing their own review of what they’d done, and gave themselves essentially full marks at the time,” she said.

“In opposition, I was frank. I said they’ve marked their own homework, that’s not good enough. If I was the finance minister, I would commission an independent review, and today that’s what I’ve done.”

The opposition has questioned why, if Willis had wanted a review all along, she had waited until now to commission it – especially as it is set to be made public in September, just a few weeks before the election.

Labour leader – and former Covid-19 response minister – Chris Hipkins said it was “an exercise in cynical, political manipulation,” pointing to other occasions the government could have done a review, including when it expanded the terms of reference for the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry.

“The timing of it is very transparent. This is a very clear political exercise in the middle of an election campaign. It’s not designed to provide some impartial view of the Reserve Bank’s actions, bearing in mind that the Reserve Bank took all of these actions independently of the government of the day,” he said.

“I think the whole world has learned a lot of lessons around monetary policy in a global crisis like a global pandemic. New Zealand’s Reserve Bank, the actions they took weren’t out of line with the actions being taken by central banks around the world. And there have certainly been lessons, I think, the whole economic system have learned from that.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Hipkins described the review as an “attack” on the Bank’s independence.

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has also questioned the timing, noting she had called for a Select Committee inquiry into the economic response in 2022.

“The timing of this is so sus. Nicola Willis has been talking about these concerns since I was on the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee with her back in 2020. And it also obviously was an election issue throughout 2023. So if the minister’s intent, if the government’s intent, is pure, they would have got this out of the way with the broader Covid inquiry.”

Swarbrick said she had held former Finance Minister Grant Robertson’s “feet to the fire” on the effects of monetary policy on inequality, and did not believe Willis had any intention of addressing inequality with the new review.

“The Greens have actually been concerned since the outset of Covid-19 with unconventional monetary policy’s deployment. Because, as reflected in advice from RBNZ and Treasury at the time, that to do the Large Scale Asset Purchases and associated unconventional monetary policy without intervening or mitigating fiscal policy, we would see massive house price inflation and growing inequality,” she said.

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. RNZ / REECE BAKER

“Of course, that’s exactly what happened.”

Willis has denied the review is timed for the election, and said she had not received advice on its timing.

“I don’t need to have that raised with me. It turns out that it’s quite top of mind that there’s an election in November. I don’t need officials to give me advice on it,” she said.

“The more political question you should all be asking is why are there politicians who are afraid of an independent review of the decisions of the independent Reserve Bank? Riddle me that.”

Brash noted that when he was Governor, the incoming Labour government in 1999 commissioned a “complete review” of the Bank’s framework.

That review, published in 2001 by Swedish economist Lars Svensson, recommended the formal establishment of a Monetary Policy Committee, something then-Finance Minister Sir Michael Cullen rejected.

The Committee was later established in 2019, following a further review of the Reserve Bank Act in 2017.

Svensson found the Bank had tightened its policy too late in 1992/93, and eased it too late in 1997/98.

He also recommended the Bank change how it reported and discussed alternative measures of inflation expectations for the medium and long term, but generally found its communication of monetary policy decisions to be “exemplary”.

Brash described that review as a “fair cop,” and a reasonable thing for a government to do.

He said it was a “fair question” of why Willis had waited until an election year to commission a review of her own.

“You can debate whether the timing should have been a few months earlier or a few months later, but that there should be a review seems to me to make good sense.”

Former Reserve Bank Governor Don Brash says it’s fair to question why Willis has waited until an election year to commission a review of her own. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Brash said he could “see some logic” in having it now, rather than earlier, as Willis would have wanted to wait until a new Governor came in.

He said he was not familiar with one of the reviewers, Athanasios Orphanides, but was familiar with David Archer from when he was the Reserve Bank’s assistant governor.

Brash said he was “pleased” at Archer’s involvement, and he had a “high regard” for him.

“Not only at the Reserve Bank of course, but he was also at the Bank for International Settlements in Basel for a number of years. So he’s had very wide international experience.”

Willis said the two reviewers were “objectively credible” and had significant experience.

“They are not political figures in any way. And I actually went to great pains to work through with the Treasury who, in a domestic context, would be able to do the review, who wasn’t conflicted by previous statements, and who would be able to give this credibility and weight, so I stand by the decision.”

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

Government launches independent review into Reserve Bank’s Covid-19 response

MIL OSI — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 01:12:54 +0000

Source: Radio New Zealand

The review into the Reserve Bank was to identify key lessons, the government said. (File photo) RNZ

The government is launching an independent review of the Reserve Bank’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, due to be published just months out from the election.

The review – to be released in September – will focus on the central bank’s actions, including cutting the official cash rate to 0.25 percent and engaging in money printing.

It would also look at the coordination of monetary and fiscal policy – that is, how the bank’s response interacted with the government’s.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the review’s purpose was to identify any key lessons, in light of the associated spike in inflation and house prices.

“The Reserve Bank of New Zealand took unprecedented action in response to the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis. (File photo) RNZ / Nathan McKinnon

“These actions helped to preserve jobs and keep businesses afloat, but the indirect impacts included decades-high inflation, and losses of about $10.3 billion on the LSAP [Large Scale Asset Purchase] programme and a significant spike in asset values with house prices increasing 30 per cent in one year.”

In October, Reserve Bank chief economist Paul Conway told a Sydney investment conference the LSAP scheme, commonly referred to as money printing, had effectively paid for itself and helped the economy to function at a time of stress.

“By boosting economic activity during the pandemic, LSAPs increased government tax revenues,” Conway said.

“This higher revenue almost entirely covered the direct losses from LSAPs, leaving consolidated crown debt virtually unchanged over the medium term.”

Other commentators have strongly criticised the LSAP programme, the cost and the related programme of $19b of cheap loans to banks.

Monetary policy experts Athanasios Orphanides and David Archer have been appointed to carry out the independent review.

Orphanides was a former governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus and member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank.

Archer was a former Reserve Bank assistant governor and former head of the Central Banking Studies Unit at the Bank for International Settlements.

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

Independent review of Covid-19 monetary policy

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 23:48:00 +0000

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has instigated an independent review of New Zealand’s monetary policy response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the purpose of the review is to identify any lessons New Zealand could learn to improve the monetary policy response to future major events.

“An independent review means the conclusions found can be objective and constructive.

“The Reserve Bank of New Zealand took unprecedented action in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This included reducing the Official Cash Rate to 0.25 per cent, and the use of additional monetary policy tools, including a Large Scale Asset Purchase (LSAP) programme.

“These actions helped to preserve jobs and keep businesses afloat, but the indirect impacts included decades-high inflation, and losses of about $10.3 billion on the LSAP programme and a significant spike in asset values with house prices increasing 30 per cent in one year.

“The purpose of the review is to learn from experience. It will focus on decisions by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), and analysis provided by the Reserve Bank to support those decisions. This includes MPC decision making and communication, the use of additional monetary policy tools, and the coordination of monetary and fiscal policy.”

Monetary policy experts Athanasios Orphanides and David Archer have been appointed to conduct the independent review.

Dr Orphanides is a former governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus and member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, and a professor of the Practice of Global Economics and Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Mr Archer is a former Reserve Bank assistant governor and former head of the Central Banking Studies Unit at the Bank for International Settlements.

The review is expected to be completed in August 2026 and publicly released in September 2026.

MIL OSI

Tax Reform – State of the Nation report shows persistent inequality, requires rebalancing of tax system – Better Taxes

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 23:12:49 +0000

Source: Better Taxes

The State of the Nation report released today by Better Taxes Coalition member, The Salvation Army, shows persistent inequality across most measures, from child poverty and food insecurity, to unemployment and housing affordability.

The Better Taxes campaign endorses the remarks of Dr Bonnie Robinson, Salvation Army Director Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit, at the launch that something significant is required to address inequality and poverty in Aotearoa New Zealand:

“Rebalancing our tax system to gather more revenue from those who can most afford to contribute, and to fund the things that will improve living standards for everyone in Aotearoa is critical to shifting the dial on the shocking picture painted by the Salvation Army report,” said Glenn Barclay, spokesperson for the Better Taxes campaign.

The report lays bare numerous areas where we need to do more to support the most vulnerable in our communities:

Child poverty rates have increased and the number of children in material hardship in 2024 was higher than the in 2018 (baseline measure).
Numbers receiving welfare assistance rose over the last year, but restricted access to hardship support meant there was less support for households at this time of greater need.
Food insecurity remained high in 2025. Salvation Army food assistance through food parcels increased with some 90,000 food parcels distributed, 7 percent higher than in 2024 and almost 50 percent more than in 2019 pre-Covid-19.
Although household living cost increases eased over the last year, this was uneven and lower-income households still faced higher household costs increases compared to high earners.
Public housing units increased, but new-builds are poised to fall off the cliff. While homelessness continued to rise and thousands remain on public housing lists, some specialised housing services for people facing homelessness actually reduced over the course of 2025.
The data shows that structural settings continue to produce inequitable outcomes for tangata whenua and vulnerable communities.

“These are the kinds of pressures that are driving the fiscal challenges that the Treasury and Inland Revenue have identified in a number of recent reports. In order to address these pressures and enable everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand to live good lives we need to gather more revenue”, said Barclay.

The Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign is a coalition of over 20 organisations led by Tax Justice Aotearoa.

We believe that tax reform is the only solution to the current challenges facing Aotearoa NZ. We need the tax system to:

be transparent
raise more revenue to enable us address the challenges we face
make sure people who have more to contribute make that contribution: that we gather more revenue from wealth, gains from wealth, all forms of income, and corporates
make greater use of fair taxes to promote good health and environmental health
address the tax impact on the least well off in our society.

MIL OSI

University Research – Stark differences in COVID-19 vaccination rates between Māori and non-Māori, research finds – VUW

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 22:18:38 +0000

Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

A new study analysing COVID-19 vaccine uptake has found markedly lower vaccination rates among Māori, which researchers link to existing inequities in healthcare access.

The study looked at vaccination rates from December 2020 to May 2023, finding 28.4 percent of Māori were unvaccinated during this period, compared with 14.7 percent of non-Māori.

“Based on these numbers, we estimate 78,880 fewer Māori were fully vaccinated than would have been the case if vaccination rates were the same for both groups,” said Dr James Mbinta, lead author of the study and a research fellow at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

The study also found marked differences in rates of partial vaccination, with Māori more likely to receive only the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and not go on to get the second dose.

Enrolment in a primary health organisation (PHO) was flagged as a key factor influencing whether Māori received at least one dose of the vaccine. The study also found those living in lower-income households and in lower-quality and crowded housing were less likely to be vaccinated.

“For Māori, the likelihood of being partially or fully vaccinated was higher among those enrolled in a PHO. This highlights the need for vaccination strategies that include improving PHO enrolment, especially for populations that have a known higher risk of severe health outcomes from COVID-19,” said co-author Andrew Sporle (Ngāti Apa, Rangitāne, Te Rarawa), an honorary academic in the Department of Statistics at Auckland University and managing director of research firm iNZight Analytics.

Previous research has shown Māori have higher rates of both hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 compared with the general population.

“Our findings highlight the crucial need to ensure vulnerable populations can access healthcare. Targeted approaches, using evidence from data generated by rigorous studies such as this, are needed to address health disparities and ensure equitable access to healthcare resources,” said co-author Professor Colin Simpson, a senior adviser in the School of Health at Te Herenga Waka and professor in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Auckland University.

Results of the study are published in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. The research was funded by the Ministry of Health.

MIL OSI

Meet the rangatahi Māori breaking ground in both law and fashion

MIL OSI — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 22:45:46 +0000

Source: Radio New Zealand

Ellis works in Treaty law and hopes her journey shows other rangatahi Māori- particularly those from small towns – that they belong in both academic and creative spaces. Supplied

From a town of less than 4000 people, Siadin Ellis (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tūhoe) is carving out space for rangatahi Māori in places they are still rarely seen.

At just 23, Ellis has walked the runway at New Zealand Fashion Week twice while also graduating with a Bachelor of Laws and being admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court.

Now the youngest lawyer at Tāmaki Legal, she works in Treaty law and hopes her journey shows other rangatahi Māori- particularly those from small towns – that they belong in both academic and creative spaces.

“We as Māori are so much more than the stereotypes and the statistics portray us as,” she told RNZ.

“We deserve as much as anyone else to be present in these spaces, whether it be academically or creatively.”

Supplied

Ellis was born in Taupō and spent her early childhood in Tūrangi before moving to Australia at age four. Her whānau returned home when she was 11, and she later moved to Tāmaki Makaurau in early 2020 to study law.

“There wasn’t a lot of opportunity in such a small town. I was a bit lost at that age, and I felt like law would have a lot of different opportunities that I could branch out into,” she said.

Tūrangi sits on the west bank of the Tongariro River and has a population of less than 4000 people, with more than 60 percent identifying as Māori.

Ellis said growing up there shaped her desire to challenge negative narratives.

“In our town, the statistics are so bad – teenage pregnancy, suicide, gang affiliation,” she said.

“In a way, my journey is giving back to my town, family and iwi.”

While Ellis now stands confidently in her Māoritanga, identity has been something she has grappled with throughout her life, particularly after spending her early years in Australia.

“I still feel too white for Māori spaces and too Māori for white spaces sometimes,” she said.

She recalled being teased after returning to Tūrangi for not speaking te reo Māori fluently.

“That made me whakamā to even learn back then.”

Ellis said a major driving force behind her success is making her whānau proud and being a positive role model for her younger siblings. Supplied

Now working in Treaty law and involved in the Mana Wāhine Kaupapa inquiry, Ellis said her identity is a strength – both professionally and personally.

“It’s almost the only space where I’ve felt like being Māori is a privilege,” she said, describing her Māoritanga as a “superpower.”

“Understanding tikanga, it’s a strength, not a weakness.”

The transition from a small town to Auckland was not without its challenges. Ellis said isolation, financial pressure and self-doubt weighed heavily during her studies.

“I always had impostor syndrome, and I still do to this day,” she said.

“I felt like I wasn’t in the right place, like I wasn’t as smart as everyone around me.”

Being the only person from her school year to attend university added to that pressure, as did starting during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I didn’t know anyone up here besides my partner. I went to uni, put my head down and didn’t even speak to anyone.”

What kept her going, she said, was her whānau – especially her 16-year-old brother and eight-year-old sister.

“Doing it for them and letting them see that they can do more and be more, it means so much.”

Ellis walked at New Zealand Fashion Week for the first time in 2023, returning again in 2024. Supplied

Alongside law, Ellis was also building a presence in the fashion industry. She began modelling soon after moving to Auckland, despite being told she didn’t fit traditional standards.

“I’m on the shorter side, and I had some really bad experiences with agencies declining me,” she said.

She describes herself as a “bigger-bodied model” and said visibility was a major motivation.

“I always kind of felt like a background person,” she said.

“But when I’m on the runway, I feel seen. Not in an attention way, but like people can actually see me.”

Ellis first walked at New Zealand Fashion Week in 2023, returning again in 2024. She said modelling became a vital creative outlet alongside the intensity of legal study.

“I’m a very creative mind, and when I’m doing so much theory and old legal jargon, I need something else, and that was it.”

Representation in fashion, she said, matters – particularly for Māori and curvy wāhine.

“There’s not a lot of bigger Māori models,” she said.

“It felt like I wasn’t just representing me, it was for others as well.”

Supplied / KWEST

One standout moment, Ellis said, was when she appeared in a Mi Piaci campaign where her ankle tāmoko was visible across billboards and store displays.

“I thought it was going to be really whitewashed,” she said.

“But you could see my tāmoko, and that was huge for me.”

Feedback from others reinforced the importance of that visibility.

“I had a lot of people say, ‘It’s amazing to see that.’”

Ellis hopes her haerenga encourages rangatahi Māori to push boundaries and back themselves, no matter where they come from.

“It will often feel like the whole system is against you and that’s because it is,” she said.

“It wasn’t designed for us. But we owe it to ourselves, our tūpuna, our whānau and the next generation to knock down those barriers.”

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

Communities Against Alcohol Harm – F-Bombs away: High standards for alcohol advertising reaching new lows

LiveNews Publisher — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 03:35:50 +0000

Source: Communities Against Alcohol Harm

“If you want to drop F-bombs in your advertising, now you can, thanks to a new decision from the Advertising Standards Authority” said Nathan Cowie, Community Affairs Advisor with Communities Against Alcohol Harm.

“Dropping an F-bomb is now considered to be consistent with a high standard of social responsibility to consumers and society. Dropping an F-bomb does not meet the threshold to be likely to cause serious or widespread offence” Mr Cowie said.

Alcohol company Good George markets a range of gin, known as the Fuckery series, the self-proclaimed “Official Gin of the Ongoing Clusterfuck”, since the onset of the COVID-19 period and through the post-COVID era.

Good George marketed eight gin products named, labelled, and listed on their website as:

– Fuck Off 2020

– For Fuck’s Sake 2021

– What’s Fucking Next 2022

– What Sort of Fuckery is this?!

– The Fuck Stops Here 2023

– Fuck This Shit 2024

– Fuck Off 2024 (Black Edition)

– The Fuckening 2025

Under the Alcohol Advertising and Promotion Code, all alcohol advertising is required to be prepared and place with a ‘high standard’ of social responsibility, a higher standard than the Advertising Standards Code, which requires a ‘due sense’ of social responsibility.

“We submitted a complaint on behalf of a concerned community stakeholder who works as a counsellor dealing with the aftermath of sexual assault and alcohol abuse. They were concerned about the harm they see from alcohol in the community, and the incredibly poor standards of social responsibility on display from this advertiser.”

“The Advertising Standards Complaints Board has not upheld parts of this complaint related to the liberal use of F-bombs in the naming, labelling and advertising of these products.”

“Unless fixed by a higher authority, this creates a precedent where advertising standards are very permissive of profanity, and the bar for a high standard of social responsibility is significantly lowered.”

“The Advertising Standards Authority’s own guidelines are very clear, that advertisers must not use offensive or provocative copy to attract attention or promote the sale of products, however this seems to have been ignored in the decision.”

Crisis Management Pack

The Advertising Standards Complaints Board, along with the advertiser Good George did acknowledge the website advertising for a gin and tonic combo pack was breaching Rule 1(d) of the Alcohol Advertising and Promotion Code.

The rule stipulates alcohol advertising and promotion must not suggest that the effects of consuming alcohol can improve or enhance a situation.

Advertising for the Crisis Management Pack suggested that a year like 2025, with all the challenges it presented, could be enhanced by pouring a stiff G&T and riding out whatever large or small clusterf-cks needed surviving.

See copy removed from the Good George website below:

When life throws a year like 2025 at you, sometimes the only strategy is to pour a stiff G&T and ride it out. The Crisis Management Pack is your emergency kit for surviving clusterf-cks large and small.

Inside you’ll find:

1 x The Fuckening 2025 Gin, because this year needs its own spirit.
1 x What Sort of Fuckery Is This?! Gin, for the moments that leave you speechless.
1 x Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic (500ml bottle), Crafted with a blend of essential oils from herbs gathered from around the Mediterranean shores.

Whether you’re dealing with Monday, managing the family group chat, or just bracing yourself for whatever fresh nonsense 2025 dishes up, this pack has you covered. Think of it as your personal survival kit, less first aid, more first pour.

Disclaimer: Won’t fix your problems, but will make them a hell of a lot funnier.

“The Crisis Management Pack advertising copy clearly articulated the suggestion that consuming alcohol could enhance a situation, and that clearly breached the Code. The Advertising Standards Complaints Board acknowledged the “Fuckery” series of gin products was created during the COVID-19 pandemic as a response to the major strife that was experienced by many people.”

“In naming these products they way they have, it’s hard not to reach the conclusion that the consumer takeout of this series of products is that consuming them will enhance the situation that was the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing challenges of the post-COVID era.”

“The Crisis Management Pack said the quiet part out loud, but the Advertising Standards Complaint Board has failed to pick up on the advertiser’s suggestion that these products, stylised as the ‘official gin of the ongoing clusterf-ck’ would enhance a situation they have labelled an ongoing clusterf-ck.”

“The real clusterf-ck here is the lowering of standards of advertising self-regulation, and the cavalier attitude of the alcohol industry to marketing their harmful products” Mr Cowie said.

MIL OSI

From CVs to interviews: How to job hunt in a tough employment market

MIL OSI — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 20:31:07 +0000

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellingtonian Annalese Booker sometimes spends up to 12 hours on a single job application, in the hopes of standing out in a tough market.

She took voluntary redundancy in 2024 after nearly a decade at the same organisation. She planned to sample different industries through contract work before settling into a permanent role. In hindsight, she feels she chose the worst possible time.

New Zealand’s unemployment rate has risen to 5.3 percent, according to Stats NZ, with nearly 15 percent of unemployed people out of work for more than a year.

Annalese Booker is a senior marketing leader.

Supplied / Annalese Booker

. Jared Luff, general manager of The Recruitment Network, says summer event roles that once absorbed young job seekers have largely dried up over the past two years.

His agency, which covers roles from “paddock to plate”, now receives about 500 applications a day. Career Development Association of New Zealand executive director Jennie Miller likens it to the influx seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, when dozens of applicants quickly became hundreds.

Is now a good time to apply?

It depends on the role. Luff says summer can still offer opportunities in aged care, health and hospitality as permanent staff take leave, while education-related work often slows or shuts down.

The Recruitment Network general manager Jared Luff.

Supplied

For short-term or entry-level roles, applying late in the year can pay off. For senior or long-term positions, Luff advises applying early, as recruiters often shortlist candidates as soon as they return from leave.

What makes a strong CV and cover letter?

Miller says the process starts well before writing a CV. Job seekers need to be clear on their needs and goals (what level of preparedness are you at, what have you already tried, what do you like doing and who might pay you for it, what is your financial position) — and target roles accordingly.

CV consultant Sarah Wrightson, who has helped Booker in her job search, recommends keeping it simple, relevant and results-focused. Two pages is ideal for most roles; one page is fine for those starting out. Recent achievements should be written clearly in bullet points. Volunteering and courses can add value.

Sarah Wrightson runs a Waikato-based service helping job-seekers tailor their profiles and prepare them for job interviews.

Ryan’s Daughter Photography by Kate Ryan

If a recruiter can’t find the information they need within 30 seconds, they’ll probably move on, Wrightson says. So structure is important: Start with a short profile, move into your skills, work history, qualifications and end with referees (these should be chosen for their insight into you – not just seniority).

Many employers use automated Applicant Tracking Systems so use keywords from the job listing, include clear headings instead of creative ones like ‘my journey’, and save your file as a Word or PDF file.

Cover letters should be brief and personal, Wrightson adds, and never repeat the CV. Miller advises cutting generic openings and addressing the letter to a named recruiter where possible.

“You get about seven seconds with the eyes of a recruiter, apparently. You’ve got to really be personal and relevant.”

Should you pay for professional help?

Miller says paid career support can be worthwhile for people feeling stuck. A 2014 US meta-analysis found job search interventions helped people find work more than twice as fast.

Luff says professional help is usually unnecessary for lower-skilled roles but can be useful for senior or executive positions.

Wrightson, who turned her Waikato-based service into a full-time job after being made redundant herself, says most clients either undersell themselves or overcomplicate their experience.

“My job is to pull out the gold, the good stuff, the gold nuggets. So like the results, the stories and put it in a language that employers can understand.”

How important is LinkedIn?

Being active on LinkedIn can show you’re serious about getting a job, Sarah Wrightson says. (file image)

Unsplash / Souvik Banerjee

Wrightson describes it as a “digital elevator pitch” that shows your voice, values and network.

A half-finished profile can signal a lack of seriousness in searching for a job, she says. Focus on your headline, ‘about you’ section and try to comment or make posts every now and then to show you’re active.

Luff says LinkedIn can be used to cross-check experience, particularly for senior roles.

Is it okay to use AI?

Booker uses AI to research industries and refine her writing.

Wrightson says you can use AI to help, but “write for humans”. “Once it gets past the system, a real person is still going to want to like what they see and you want to make it easy for them to quickly see that you are a strong match for the job.”

Miller notes employers can usually spot AI use and extensive use can throw doubt on your CV.

Is applying online enough?

Not always. Networking, while it may be uncomfortable, can make a difference. That might mean attending events, reaching out on LinkedIn, or requesting informational interviews to learn about organisations without immediately pitching for a role. Miller says these conversations can and do lead to jobs – as she’s tried it herself.

If you’re looking local, drive around your neighbourhood to give you an idea.

Booker has even tried “left-field” approaches such as sending small gifts with links to her online profile. While these sometimes sparked conversations, she believes referrals were most effective — though increasingly competitive.

On the other hand, Luff believes the jobs his agency caters for would be mostly filled through the standard process but occasionally referrals may work.

I’ve got an interview – what now?

Attitude and preparation are key for job interviews. (file image)

Unsplash / Getty Images

Luff says personality can matter more than experience in junior hospitality roles.

Wrightson advises revisiting the job ad, preparing examples, practising answers out loud, and dressing one step up from usual workwear

“Interviews are a two-way conversation. They’re not an interrogation. So you’re also trying to figure out if they are the right fit for you.”

Candidates should avoid oversharing about toxic workplaces, Luff warns, but can be open about redundancies. Salary negotiation depends on experience, though going more than 10 percent above an offer may be unrealistic.

If you don’t hear back, Luff recommends waiting at least a week before following up.

Coping with rejection

Repeated rejection can be demoralising, particularly after redundancy. Wrightson stresses the importance of being kind to yourself.

Miller agrees it’s hard but says the process can ultimately lead to a better-fit role.

For Booker, short-term contracts have helped her see how transferable her skills are – even if the process has been exhausting.

“It’s an emotional rollercoaster looking for work and sometimes you sort of have regrets that you left what you had,” she says. “It’s just finding those opportunities more often when, again, you’re up against a really competitive market, and will next year be any different?”

*Get personalised career advice via 0800 222 733 or email direct_careers@msd.govt.nz. University students and graduates can also access career development services through their institutions, sometimes for up to three years after graduating.

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

Chasing delicious (and unusual) food around the world as a job

MIL OSI — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:26:09 +0000

Source: Radio New Zealand

For more than a decade, Kiwi couple Thomas and Sheena Southam have been chasing the world’s best food — not through fine-dining lists, but by following the locals.

Through their YouTube channel Chasing a Plate, the pair have built a following by immersing themselves in food cultures across the world.

The journey began in Melbourne, when Sheena — then a lawyer — was made redundant. New to the city and tired of endlessly applying for jobs, she started a food blog as a way to meet people.

This video is hosted on Youtube.

.

“Was it the right decision at the time? Yeah, looking back [in hindsight], but it probably wasn’t [at the time]. The numbers didn’t say we should have kept going, but we did and we’re still here,” Thomas told Summer Times.

From the outset, they say they chose to rely on advertising rather than restaurant sponsorships, allowing them to eat where they wanted and stay honest. The couple says critics accuse them of being too positive, but they say that’s because they intentionally only seek good food.

“If something’s not great, we will stop filming. We’ll just finish the meal. We’ll put the camera away quietly and we just won’t publish the content, because we’re not here to bag on a small business and be negative. We want a positive outlook. We want people to enjoy amazing food,” Thomas says.

They’ve also decided not to country-hop as a tick-box exercise. Instead, they focus on the quality of their trip. India alone has taken up more than six months across three trips; Mexico and Turkey, several months each.

That depth has led them to some dishes that may be unusual for Kiwis, including brains, insects and uterus tacos (which had a slight crunch and inner softness). In Malaysia, there was torpedo soup — made from “chewy” bull’s penis. In Turkey, breakfast once involved scooping brains from a roasted sheep’s skull.

“It was delicious,” Sheena says. “Yeah, that was a really great meal,” Thomas adds.

But there are some things Sheena draws a line on. For months, she’d been fixated on trying a bread bowl filled with goulash in Budapest and savoured it for the last day of that trip, until she found out it was kidney.

“Kidney is the one thing that I’ve tried so many times to like it, but I just don’t. I don’t like the texture. I don’t like the taste. I’ve tried it in various forms and ways that it’s been prepared and cooked. I just can’t do it,” she says.

“I was just so upset. I almost wanted to cry because I’d been fantasizing about this meal for months.”

With about “a litre” of kidney goulash each, and keen to not waste food, she told Thomas he had to eat both.

“To top it off, as we started, the power went out,” Thomas says. “So we sat there in the dark, eating these two massive bread bowls.”

Their travels came to a halt when borders closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing them home to Aotearoa. And despite all they’ve eaten around the world, the couple say New Zealand holds its ground.

“There’s people doing such incredible things, be it producers, chefs, fishers, hunters, growers. I think more people need to realise that we are spoiled in New Zealand with incredible food.”

Now, they’re heading to Melbourne to grow their business but plan to be backwards and forwards across the ditch for some time to come.

Tips for foodie travellers

The pair say walking around is not only great exercise to digest food but also to discover new local spots.
Find travel or food content creators or reviewers who align with your tastebuds.
You don’t have to go far off the beaten track to find special spots. Even just a block or two away from the tourist hot spots to find the local hot spots – even the prices might drop.
Don’t eat at places just because it’s convenient with an English menu. There are many easy ways to translate menus now with phone apps, Thomas says.

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

Singapore’s Quantum Ambitions Accelerate as Homegrown Company Aires Applied Quantum Technology Advances Region’s First PQC and Quantum Technology Patents

MIL OSI — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 04:05:42 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 January 2026 – Singapore has opened doors to commercialise quantum technology in 2026, and Aires Applied Quantum Technology has built itself to become a key player in strengthening the nation’s homegrown quantum capabilities. Founded and developed entirely in Singapore, Aires pioneers Southeast Asia’s internationally filed post-quantum cryptography (PQC) patents, spanning encryption, IoT security and quantum simulation algorithms.

As one of the only deep-tech startups in the region to eye profitability at a stage where most quantum companies remain in research or pilot phases, the company’s technology is built by an independent Singapore-based research team rather than through external licensing, overseas dependencies or defence-restricted collaborations. Its IP portfolio currently includes three in-house developed patents filed in Singapore, the United States and Japan, and two patents developed from the founding team. The patents are locally and internationally recognised with grant awards from government bodies and agencies like Enterprise SG, Innovate UK, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Eureka and Tubitak.

Local innovation that gained momentum in a global deep-tech race

Aires began during the COVID-19 period, when Co-founder and mathematician Lim Meng Liang revisited his earlier research in Diophantine equations. That work became the mathematical foundation for Aires’ first patent, which drew early support from Enterprise Singapore and NUS Enterprise.

Since its launch in 2023, the company has been selected for international quantum showcases in Berlin, Tokyo, and Korea, including the inaugural Berlin Quantum Pioneer, where it was one of six and the only Asian company selected among more than 60 global entrants. Interest began pouring in from the US, UK, Spain, Canada, Norway, Japan, and even national intelligence and research communities, underscoring global demand for independent IP holders in the quantum landscape.

From research to real-world applications

Singapore’s quantum technology landscape is entering a new phase of maturity, and as global players race to consolidate critical intellectual property, the expansion of the nation’s own ecosystem is increasingly aligned with these international shifts.

In this evolving environment, Aires intends to support the national efforts through cost-efficient deep-tech innovation with a highly specialised research team capable of building proprietary quantum technologies from Singapore. As part of this approach, the company has focused on practical software-based applications that do not require capital intensive hardware, extending quantum-safe cryptography to organisations with limited capital and, for the first time in Asia, to individual users.

Their quantum-resistant encryption APIs integrate into common enterprise systems such as HRMS, payroll, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and cloud platforms. LionGuard, Aires’ proprietary consumer app provides quantum-safe cryptography and encryption on Windows, iOS and Android; and their quantum education and training programmes, accredited by Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) Singapore, are used in financial sector upskilling.

“The quantum sector is clearly shifting toward an IP-driven model,” shares Ken Lin, Co-founder and Managing Director at Aires. “Recent patent consolidations by leading global firms underline how quickly proprietary algorithms and in-house research are becoming the core determinants of value. That is where our patents, technology and R&D capabilities contribute meaningfully to both Singapore and Southeast Asia at large, as they are developed end-to-end right here at home.”

A rare commercially viable deep-tech model in the region

Quantum startups globally often face long R&D cycles, high capital expenditure and extended pre-revenue phases. Aires has taken an alternative path by focusing on lean algorithmic development supported by an efficient cost leadership model, which would enable the company to operate profitably while continuing to build its patent portfolio and international partnerships. This approach allows Aires to develop quantum technologies at notably lower R&D overheads than is typical in the sector.

The company has been approached by investors for fundraising and is exploring global expansion as Singapore strengthens its quantum ecosystem in collaboration with partners across Europe and Asia.

Part of the Singapore story

Singapore’s long-term quantum strategy aims to secure digital infrastructure, develop sovereign capabilities and strengthen economic competitiveness in emerging technologies. Aires’ development reflects a growing recognition that local innovation must be built not only in universities and national laboratories, but also within private companies capable of commercial delivery, so that the country and the region at large remains competitive.

The presence of homegrown firms with independent IP, practical applications and sustainable business models like Aires contributes to Singapore’s aim of establishing a diverse and resilient quantum ecosystem. As quantum hardware and computing becomes more accessible through public-private partnerships, it plays an increasingly important role in helping businesses adopt quantum-safe practices.

https://airesatech.com/

Hashtag: #AiresAppliedQuantumTechnology

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

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

Nurses pay tribute to Dame Poutasi

LiveNews Publisher — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 05:36:12 +0000

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

The passing of Dame Karen Poutasi has seen Aotearoa lose one of its foremost health leaders and a woman of high integrity, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says.

“Dame Karen was an extraordinary woman who led from the front. She was principled, devoted and deeply committed to the health and welfare of people and communities,” Ms Nuku says.

“Her decades-long devotion in trying to reduce the significant health inequalities gap that exists among different groups of New Zealanders, especially Māori and Pacific peoples, will always be acknowledged.

“It was her selflessness and deep care for others, no matter who they were, that made her such an amazing leader and person.

“During Dame Poutasi’s brief tenure as Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand chair from 2023 to 2024 at a difficult time, we found her to be very engaging and willing to listen to the nursing profession to make delivery of health services better,” Ms Nuku says.

Her mahi during the implementation of New Zealand’s early response to HIV/Aids and the governance of the Covid-19 vaccination programme will never be forgotten, Ms Nuku says.

MIL OSI

Dame Karen Poutasi, first female director-general of health, dies aged 76

MIL OSI — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 22:51:59 +0000

Source: Radio New Zealand

Karen Poutasi Supplied.

One of the country’s top health leaders has died.

Tributes are being paid to Dame Karen Poutasi, who was the first female director-general of health.

Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said Dame Karen led the implementation of the recommendations from the Cartwright Inquiry, guided New Zealand’s early response to HIV/AIDS and saw through significant reform in primary care.

She said Dame Karen took on some of the toughest public service assignments, including contributing to the governance of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

She said the qualities that defined her career include professionalism, humility and a no-nonsense approach to getting things done.

Dame Karen was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2020 for her services to education and the state.

She was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006 for her services to health administration.

She worked for 30 years in the health sector, served as director-general of health at from 1995 to 2006 and briefly chaired Health New Zealand in 2023/4 after the resignation of Rob Cambpell.

Dame Karen was also chief executive of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) for 14 years.

She was 76.

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

New Year Honours: Wellingtonians in line for applause

MIL OSI — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:32:00 +0000

Source: Radio New Zealand

Professor Graham Le Gros, Coral Shaw, Dorothy Spotswood and Scott Dixon are four of the seven being named Dames and Knights. RNZ

A philanthropist, an art collector and a medical scientist are among those made knights and dames in this year’s New Year Honours. Nationwide, three new dames and four knights have been announced – and the capital is home to three of them. Reporter Kate Green spoke to the Wellingtonians about their work, their motivation, and their new titles.

Supplied

Sir Graham Le Gros is on his gap year.

It’s a little later than most, but the recently retired director of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research told RNZ he firmly believed in taking time to “calmly” think through his next step.

“I very much believe one has to retire from the job and let the other younger ones come over and do things before they get too old, so it’s been great passing on the role to Kjesten Wiig, who’s the new director.”

Now, with a little more free time, he spent his days trapping pests in the Orongorongos and catching up on 30 years of home maintenance – while still maintaining a seat on the institute’s trust board.

On Wednesday, Sir Graham is being appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to medical science.

He said it was those young patients with cancer – one 30-year-old mother of three still stuck with him – that pushed him to explore what was, at the time, a novel concept: using the immune system to treat cancer, and help people who “don’t deserve to die so young”.

“Science was the way to solve problems,” he said.

Under his directorship at Malaghan, which began in 2014, the institute more than doubled in size to some 130 staff, and grew its operating budget from $7.5 million to more than $30m by 2024.

Malaghan developed major new programmes in cancer immunotherapy, vaccine development, inflammatory disease and RNA technologies. Sir Graham’s leadership in bringing CAR T-cell therapy to New Zealand to build the institute’s cancer immunotherapy capability was a defining achievement.

“Now, you take it for granted that of course you use the immune system to fight cancer. But 30 years ago, there was a whole lot of people who thought, no, it may work in mice Graham, but it won’t work in humans.

“We just put our heads down and found part of the whole wave of new immune therapies for cancer.”

The Covid-19 pandemic brought a whole new set of challenges – but also, opportunities.

Sir Graham played a key role in the local development of vaccines, and under his leadership the Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand was established.

“I was very proud to be a part of that coming together of a group of New Zealand scientists to make a vaccine for Covid, on-time, have it in the fridge ready if we needed it in case the Pfizer vaccine didn’t work – you know, we had to stand up for ourselves.”

In a statement alongside the announcement, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Sir Graham had “helped shape a generation of scientific leadership in New Zealand”.

Chris Parkin, arts philanthropist Photography By Woolf

For Sir Christopher Parkin, it was a successful property development career that fuelled decades of support for the arts – from visual arts, to music and film, theatre and dance.

On Wednesday, he is being made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to philanthropy and art.

“I was brought up in a family that was inclined to be generous, I suppose,” he said. “The arts itself has always been in my life.”

In 2013, he established the Parkin Drawing Prize, a national art competition which has awarded more than $300,000 in prize money, mostly to emerging artists, and he’s the principal financial supporter of the arts funding website Boosted, which has so far raised more than $16m for more than 2000 creative projects.

But his initial response to the news was disbelief.

“They basically send you an email saying that you’ve been recommended [for a knighthood], and they’re going to recommend you to King Charles. My immediate reaction was this is just another scam – I was just waiting for the line that says if you just send us your bank details…” he laughed.

“It was a pretty emotional experience really when it comes out of the blue like that,” he said. “A very warm feeling – obviously you start reflecting on your life, and what you’ve done to deserve it.”

As an art collector, more than 150 pieces of a 250-strong art collection are displayed at the QT Hotel Wellington, which he previously owned as the Museum Art Hotel, and still lives in today.

Some of it hung in his Wellington apartment and the hallway outside (“much to the delight of our neighbours”), and throughout a property in Martinborough.

A career highlight, he said – or perhaps the moment that really “turned a few lights on” – was a speech by New Zealand painter and graphic artist Robyn White, who gave a stirring address about the arts at Te Papa and strong desire to paint being one of her earliest memories.

Why the arts? Parkin said he, too, had spent a long time pondering this exact question.

In the end, he’d steered away from platitudes like “art for art’s sake”, and instead took a practical view.

“We’re unique as a species in that we put an enormous amount of effort into the arts for, really an activity, in terms of preserving life, [that] is almost completely pointless. It doesn’t feed us, it doesn’t strengthen us.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that the artistic way of thinking contributes to our intellectual capabilities in other areas that in fact allows us to make the incredible scientific breakthroughs that really do contribute to our quality of life.”

Luxon in his comments called Sir Christopher’s contribution “significant”.

RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

News of her honour might have been “very surprising” for Dame Dorothy Spotswood, but for anyone who knows the extent of her philanthropic work, both alongside her partner Sir Mark Dunajtschik and independently, it’s no surprise at all.

The couple donated $53m for the build of the Wellington Children’s Hospital, Te Wao Nui, which opened in 2022, and earlier this year, they announced $10m for the base build of a new charity hospital – to be known as the Dorothy Spotswood Charity Hospital.

Dame Dorothy told RNZ it was about giving back to the city. On Wednesday she is being appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to philanthropy.

“As Mark said, it’s been a kind city to him, and a kind city to me – we’ve always had work,” she told RNZ. “So we repaid the city with a children’s hospital.”

Sir Mark was made a knight in 2022.

The couple had made their money through property development. “When we started off, we had flats. Mark had his business, and I was working for an insurance company,” Dame Dorothy said.

In their spare time, they worked on their properties and kept investing.

“Mark is a very hands-on person, we did all the renovations ourselves, the fixing ourselves, and if we built new, we did the building ourselves. I’ve poured concrete. We were a hands-on couple.”

More recently, Dame Dorothy had bought land and funded several homes for the Hōhepa Trust, to help establish care facilities for children and adult residents with intellectual disabilities in Kāpiti.

That was a cause close to her heart – the Spotswoods’ adult niece, who had Down Syndrome, died earlier this year.

The Prime Minister said: “In honouring Dame Dorothy as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit we are reflecting the enormous contribution she alongside Sir Mark have made to New Zealand, particularly the Wellington region.”

The country “remains humbly grateful” for their contributions, he said.

To all the recipients, Luxon expressed his appreciation.

“Thank you for your dedication, hard work, and service to New Zealand. I would like to congratulate all 177 recipients of this year’s New Year honours and on behalf of the thousands of people who have benefited from your efforts, please accept my personal thanks.”

Read the full list of recipients here

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

Ngā Kaupapa Hirahira o te Tau: A look back at the year that was in Te Ao Māori

MIL OSI — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:56:22 +0000

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wiremu Keretene (Ngāti Hine) holds a sleeping child during the waka display at Tii Beach this morning. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

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.

Then-Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia poses during a portrait session at Parliament on 29 July 2014 in Wellington. Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images

Dame Tariana Turia is carried from Whangaehu Marae to the nearby urupā where she was laid to rest. Pokere Paewai

Several thousand people attended the tangihanga of Dame Tariana Turia. Pokere Paewai

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.

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po being welcomed to Rātana. RNZ / Pokere Paewai

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Kamaka Manuel. RNZ / Reece Baker

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.

Diving of the Waitangi bridge to cool off – a Waitangi tradition. RNZ/ Peter de Graaf

The Ngāti Kahu waka Te Rangimarie is launched next to Waitangi Bridge. RNZ/ Peter de Graaf

Three-year-old French bulldog, Bosco lives the boat life in Paihia and has been surfing for over a year and a half. Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ

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.

Dame Iritana Tāwhiwhirangi Supplied / Te Tai

Mourners arriving at Te Poho o Rawiri Marae in Gisborne. RNZ / Pokere Paewai

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.

The pōwhiri at Stadium Taranaki kicked off Te Matatini. Emma Andrews

Mōtai Tangata Rau performing at Pukekura, the Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth. Te Matatini Enterprises

Te Matatini champions Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue. Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises

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.

The stars of Matariki pictured between the clouds as viewed from Tirorangi Marae. Supplied by Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Richie Mills

Kaikarakia group at 2025’s Matariki celebrations at Tirorangi Marae. Supplied / Richie Mills

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.

Takutai Tarsh Kemp. RNZ / Simon Rogers

Flowers on the House seat of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Takutai Tarsh Kemp being laid to rest on the church grounds behind Opaea Marae near Taihape. Pokere Paewai / RNZ

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 Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po receives a koha from Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa, as she marked the first day of her first Koroneihana celebrations. Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po. Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga

Te Arikinui with the poi after her first official address. Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga

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.

Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi. RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. RNZ/Liam K. Swiggs

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.

Rueben Taipari after delivering the petition to parliament. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Ngātiwai members travelled to the Poor Knights Islands about 20km off Northland’s Tūtūkākā Coast, by waka hourua Supplied

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.

Sir Tumu Te Heuheu outside his wharenui Tapeka at Waihī. Supplied/The Hui

Sir Tumu (centre). (He is shown here at the tangihanga for Kiingi Tuheitia, in September 2024). Supplied/ Kiingitanga – Tuteri Rangihaeata

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.

Pōwhiri for the start of four-day WIPCE 2025 conference. Tamaira Hook

The historic waka hourua Hōkūleʻa returns to Tāmaki Makaurau after 40 years. Tamaira Hook / WIPCE

Hawaiian Chef Kealoha Domingo prepares kina during a foraging excursion for indigenous chefs at WIPCE. RNZ/Nick Monro

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

NIA Joins Forces with TAT to Reignite ‘Amazing Thailand’ Through Innovation Power, Transforming Thai Tourism and Leveraging Creativity and Culture to Drive a New Tourism Economy

MIL OSI — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 09:51:21 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 December 2025 – Tourism remains one of the most important engines driving Thailand’s economy. Beyond generating revenue, it plays a vital role in job creation, nation branding, and even influencing investment decisions. However, fostering sustainable growth in the tourism sector is far from straightforward. The industry continues to face multiple challenges, including convenience and accessibility, intensifying competition among destinations worldwide, and changing traveller behaviours — all of which directly affect tourists’ travel decisions.

NIA Joins Forces with TAT to Reignite ‘Amazing Thailand’

Towards the end of this year, Thailand is preparing to reignite global attention with a renewed wave of ‘Amazing Thailand.’ The government and private sector are rolling out a comprehensive set of tourism-stimulus measures that address both economic impact and national image. One of the most talked-about highlights is the appointment of Lalisa ‘Lisa’ Manobal as the new brand ambassador — not only a global-level artist, but also a powerful representation of Thailand’s contemporary image on the world stage.

Another key highlight to watch closely is the launch of the ‘Amazing Thailand Innovation Gadget’ platform, developed through a collaboration between the National Innovation Agency (Public Organisation), or NIA, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). This initiative aims to elevate Thailand’s tourism industry into the era of Smart Tourism in a tangible and comprehensive way.

The platform is designed to function as Thailand’s first-ever tourism innovation repository, bringing together tourism-related technologies and solutions in one centralised space. These range from route-planning technologies, accommodation booking systems, and tourist-data management, to experience-creation tools that personalise journeys and enhance engagement. More than a simple innovation directory, the platform represents a turning point — a mechanism that connects entrepreneurs, developers, and creative talents to co-create new ‘Amazing’ experiences, spanning the entire traveller journey from trip planning to the final moment of travel for visitors worldwide.

Learning from Global Leaders Where Tourism Meets Technology

The world has entered an era where tourism is no longer driven solely by beautiful destinations and cultural heritage. Instead, competitiveness increasingly depends on experiences and technology. As a result, many countries are rapidly upgrading their tourism sectors to become smarter, more emotionally engaging, and better aligned with the expectations of modern travellers.

Japan, for example, stands as a model of cultural-innovation integration, leveraging anime, music, cuisine, and fashion as globally recognisable soft power. Recently, the Japanese government has rebooted efforts to fuse cultural roots with advanced technology through initiatives such as Virtual Remix Japan, which enables global audiences to participate in art exhibitions, festivals, and anime worlds in real time via VR and AR. This exemplifies a seamless blend of past and future.

Meanwhile, South Korea has aggressively combined technology and tourism to enhance attractiveness and vibrancy. The country actively promotes start-ups offering cloud-based hotel-management platforms, real-time translation technologies, blockchain services for international tourists, and platforms linking tourism with overseas education. South Korea has also built a tourism ecosystem that integrates smart cities, digital technology, and contemporary culture, using K-pop artists as a major driving force.

In Barcelona, Spain, one of Europe’s leading smart cities, tourism has been elevated through intelligent urban and visitor-experience management. From smart traffic systems and energy-saving public bike services to big-data-driven analysis of tourist behaviour, visitors can plan accommodation, restaurants, and travel routes through a single integrated application. This approach creates a balanced coexistence between tourism and urban life. Together, these examples demonstrate that technology is no longer merely a supporting tool, but the core differentiator in the modern tourism economy.

Amazing Thailand Innovation Gadget: Elevating Thai Tourism Through a Fully Integrated Innovation Ecosystem

NIA and TAT have officially announced a landmark collaboration with the launch of the ‘Amazing Thailand Innovation Gadget’ platform, which serves as Thailand’s first tourism innovation repository. The initiative aims to propel Thai tourism fully into the Smart Tourism era.

The platform aggregates tourism-related technologies and innovative solutions from start-ups and entrepreneurs nationwide, enabling real-world deployment across the entire Thai tourism value chain. Its objective is to build a strong tourism-innovation ecosystem through integrated collaboration across all sectors, while enhancing entrepreneurs’ capacity to apply innovation and technology suited to the specific contexts of different destinations.

This approach is designed to create premium tourism experiences for both domestic and international travellers, delivering sustainable economic and social benefits for Thailand. Importantly, the country will gain a continuously expandable tourism-innovation repository, strengthening long-term competitiveness in the global tourism market.

From Creative Power and Culture to Driving Thailand’s Tourism Economy

Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency, stated that the innovations featured on the platform will primarily be Travel Tech-related technologies. The platform is open to start-ups, entrepreneurs, developers, and business partners with the interest and capability to co-create elevated tourism experiences while advancing Thailand’s Smart Tourism ecosystem.

Currently, NIA supports and has incubated more than 80 high-potential tourism-technology start-ups and entrepreneurs, spanning areas such as community-based tourism (Local Alike), hospitality solutions (Ascend Travel), urban mobility (MuvMi), social impact marketplaces (SocialGiver), and backend customer-journey management systems (Appointment Anywhere). These solutions enable entrepreneurs and developers to access tools tailored to their specific contexts.

NIA believes that all stakeholders play a vital role in elevating Thailand’s tourism industry by integrating technology with creativity, culture, and local identity. This integration goes beyond artists, cuisine, or traditional culture, extending into tangible, scalable innovations that create new economic value for local communities.

Thai – Tech – Tourism: A Major Integrated Leap Forward

Dr Krithpaka further noted that tourism is one of the core engines of the global economy, particularly following recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in 2024 the global travel and tourism sector contributed USD 10.9 trillion, or 10% of global GDP, and supported 357 million jobs worldwide.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) has emphasised that innovation is a critical driver of economic growth, enabling new business models, attracting investment, and differentiating destinations through unique tourism formats.

Another crucial factor not to be overlooked is the global TravelTech investment ecosystem, which remains robust. In the post-pandemic era, major tourism companies have increased technology investment by an average of 14% in 2024, reflecting strong confidence in technology as a competitive advantage.

Key areas of investment focus include Smarter Retailing and Personalisation, which deliver highly tailored customer experiences; GenAI and Autonomous Agents, next-generation AI capable of analysing, planning, and executing tasks independently — such as automated travel recommendations, trip planning, and booking management; and Sustainability, with growing investment in start-ups that reduce carbon emissions through diverse solutions.

These global trends align closely with the capabilities and diversity of Thai start-ups, positioning Thailand to connect seamlessly with international movements and deliver truly tangible ‘Amazing’ experiences.

NIA stands ready to connect knowledge, technology, and innovation capital across public agencies, private enterprises, and Thai start-ups to drive concrete outcomes in the tourism-innovation ecosystem. This effort extends beyond enhancing tourism businesses; it represents the creation of a future-oriented industry that fuses creativity and culture with technological power.

Through this integrated approach, Thailand aims to elevate economic value, cultural richness, and sustainability — and to advance decisively towards becoming a Global Innovation Tourism Hub in a meaningful and lasting way.

https://www.nia.or.th/

Hashtag: #NIA #NationalInnovationAgency

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

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

Celebrating Christmas with Indian culinary favourites

MIL OSI — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 04:46:35 +0000

Source: Radio New Zealand

Appam is a rice pancake – a favourite within the Malayali community. 123rf

The aroma of spices instead of mint sauce signals the arrival of Christmas Day in kitchens across the country, as Indian New Zealanders celebrate with dishes shaped by region, faith and migration.

While many households across New Zealand will serve roast ham and pavlova, Indian families are gathering around tables laden with rice and meat dishes, rich curries and sweets infused with cardamom and ghee.

From Kerala and Goa in the southwest to India’s northeastern hills, Christmas food traditions are being re-created in Aotearoa, adapted to local ingredients but rooted firmly in memory, community and faith.

In one South Auckland household, the aroma of coconut, curry leaves and roasted spices fills the air – signalling a festive season straight from Kerala rather than a traditional Kiwi roast.

For many in New Zealand’s Malayali community, Christmas typically includes elaborate spreads of beef fry, appam (rice pancakes), stew and cardamom-scented cakes known as plum cake.

“Christmas is huge for Kerala’s Christian community,” Philips Augustine said.

Augustine moved to New Zealand in 2017, now living in the South Auckland suburb of Favona with his family.

“Food is really important and one of the main attractions for our family,” he said.

Preparations usually begin on Christmas Eve, winding up before the midnight church service.

Some families also observe a strict 25-day Christmas Lent, which makes the festive meal all the more significant.

He said his family members typically gathered at the family home, along with friends and people of other religions, to enjoy the feast at lunchtime on Christmas Day.

“There will be a lot of meat like beef, chicken, pork and duck along with homemade wine,” he said.

“We also make appams in the morning with a chicken or beef stew to begin with, and lunch will be a feast of many meat curries, cutlets (deep-fried meat patties), rose cookies and rice or biriyani.”

In Kerala’s Malabar region, some households also make neychoru, a rice dish cooked with ghee.

Many families in New Zealand are adapting these recipes to local ingredients while keeping the flavours of Kerala alive.

“After lunch, some households also visit other families and friends but also go out to the beach or for a movie as well,” Augustine said.

Goan dodol (top left), doce de grao (top right) and bolinhas are Christmas favorites. Supplied

On Auckland’s North Shore, Sofia Furtado is busy finishing her Goan Christmas sweets orders.

Originally from Goa, Furtado moved to New Zealand nine years ago.

“Food is something very close to my heart,” she said.

“I was looked after by my granny and she always cooked with our own produce and curry paste, and the freshness of that stayed with me.”

Her parents lived in Dubai, and she later moved to the Middle East, where she first began cooking more seriously.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Furtado set up a Facebook page and started a small cooking business.

With the support of Auckland Council’s Kitchen Project, an initiative supporting local food and beverage start-ups with a focus on culture, health and sustainability, she launched Sofie’s Goan Delicacies, an online restaurant offering Portuguese-influenced Goan food alongside her full-time corporate job in the dairy industry.

Goa, on India’s southwestern coast, was a Portuguese colony from 1510 to 1961.

“Christmas is one of the biggest celebrations for the Christian community in Goa, starting with Advent, going to church every day, and then making a lot of sweets,” she said. “When I was growing up, we made at least seven varieties of sweets.”

Popular Goan Christmas treats include nueries (deep-fried pastries filled with coconut, raisins, nuts and sesame seeds), doce de grao sweets made from coconut and dal cooked on firewood, dodol toffee made with coconut milk, jaggery and nuts, bolinhas baked with coconut and semolina, and bebinca – a layer cake that is considered the queen of Goan desserts.

“[Bebinca is] a labour of love and takes four hours to bake,” Furtado said.

Bebincas are layer cakes that are considered the queen of sweets in Goa. Supplied

She continues the Goan tradition of sending platters of sweets to neighbours in New Zealand.

In Paekākāriki on the Kāpiti Coast, Helen Ruolsingpui Keivom recalls Christmas in her home state of Manipur, northeastern India – a region that is home to more than 166 tribes.

“There’s a significant number of Christians in that part of the country, and Christmas is particularly huge – very much a community event,” she said.

Keivom moved to New Zealand in 1984 as a teenager after her father’s posting as an Indian diplomat.

“Unlike New Zealand, where it’s families that celebrate Christmas together, it is the church community in the northeast,” she said. “It’s followed by a big community feast.”

Cooking is done outdoors in giant pots, with the community contributing money towards the meal.

Chartang (a very spicy stew made with beef or pork and tribal herbs) is typically served as a main dish alongside hmepok, a porridge-like dish cooked with rice, meat and dried herbs.

Fermented pork fat is a key flavouring ingredient.

Chartang is a very spicy stew made with beef or pork and tribal herbs in northeastern India. Supplied

Other dishes include hmarchadeng, a side dish made with roasted green chillies, garlic, ginger and onions, sometimes including fermented pork fat or soybeans.

Keivom said the festive feast included plenty of meat and fat-rich dishes, as many people in the region could not afford meat every day.

She said she missed these delicacies during the holiday season, with only a small community around her in Wellington.

Across regions and generations, families agreed that Christmas remained a time for togetherness – and that food sits at its heart.

“Christmas is that time of the year where you eat delicious food, meet your loved ones and forget about your problems,” Augustine said.

Hmepok is a porridge-like dish cooked with rice, meat and dried herbs. Supplied

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