Source: OFX

Currency markets are set for another volatile month as resilient US economic data, diverging central bank policies and geopolitical uncertainty continue to weigh on investor confidence, according to OFX’s latest Monthly Currency Outlook.

The report highlights renewed US dollar strength and central banks each exploring different policy options as the key themes shaping foreign exchange markets, with investors closely monitoring economic data and monetary policy signals for further direction.

OFX Director, Luke Czirok, said currency markets are likely to remain highly sensitive to interest rate expectations and economic data.

“While inflation has eased in many economies, central banks are taking very different approaches to monetary policy, creating ongoing volatility across major currency pairs.

“The key challenge for businesses and individuals is navigating uncertainty. Currency markets can move quickly when expectations around interest rates or economic growth change, which is why staying informed and having a strategy in place can be critical when managing international payments,” he said.

The OFX Monthly Currency Outlook reports the US dollar remains well supported after stronger-than-expected economic data reinforced expectations that US interest rates will remain higher for longer. This has strengthened demand for the greenback while placing pressure on many major currencies, including the euro, Australian dollar, New Zealand dollar and Japanese yen.

At the same time, differing approaches from the world’s major central banks – particularly the US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan and Bank of England – are creating greater uncertainty for investors and businesses exposed to international markets.

The euro weakened throughout June as markets increasingly anticipated the European Central Bank (ECB) would leave interest rates unchanged while the US Federal Reserve maintained a more hawkish outlook. Investors will closely watch the ECB’s July meeting, along with fresh Eurozone economic data, for signs of improving growth.

In the United Kingdom, political developments are also expected to remain in focus following the appointment of Andy Burnham’s as Prime Minister and the formation of his cabinet, including the appointment of John Healey as Chancellor. While uncertainty initially weighed on sterling, expectations of a smooth leadership transition have helped the pound recover some recent losses.

The Australian dollar recorded mixed performance in June, weakening against the US dollar while remaining resilient against several trading partners thanks to stronger commodity prices and improving global risk sentiment. China’s economic outlook, commodity markets and global interest rate expectations are expected to remain the key drivers for the currency.

Similarly, the New Zealand dollar came under pressure from broad US dollar strength, softer commodity prices and reduced expectations for further domestic interest rate increases.

Meanwhile, the Japanese yen remains near multi-decade lows against the US dollar as investors continue to favour higher-yielding US assets despite the Bank of Japan’s gradual policy normalisation. Markets are watching closely for any signs of further policy tightening or potential government intervention to support the currency.

The Canadian dollar, Singapore dollar and Hong Kong dollar also remain heavily influenced by US dollar strength, with investors closely monitoring upcoming central bank decisions and economic data releases for further direction.

With central banks entering another critical policy period and global economic uncertainty persisting, OFX expects foreign exchange markets to remain highly responsive to incoming economic data throughout July.

For further information and access to the full OFX Currency Outlook see OFX websiteen-au/blog/currency-outlook/”>OFX Monthly Currency Outlook

Notes to editors:

OFX expected trading ranges, July 2026

• EUR/USD: 1.1200-1.1620
• EURGBP 0.8510-0.8730
• GBP/USD: 1.3100-1.3515
• GBPEUR 1.1455-1.1750
• AUDEUR 0.6036-0.6082
• AUDGBP 0.51648-0.52194
• AUDNZD 1.2132-1.2213
• AUD/USD: 0.6883-0.6960
• NZDEUR 0.4964-0.4998
• NZDGBP 0.4248-0.4289
• NZDAUD 0.8188-0.8243
• NZD/USD: 0.5658-0.5727
• USD/JPY: ¥158-¥164
• DXY: 100.300-101.200
• CADUSD 0.7000-0.7350
• USDSGD 1.2850-1.3020
• USDHKD 7.8350-7.8480

About OFX:

OFX is a leading financial operations company providing businesses and accounting firms with real-time financial control and visibility to do business anywhere in the world. With an innovative platform and 24/7 human support, OFX automates and simplifies doing business across borders, reducing risk and eliminating routine operational tasks. Offering global business accounts, payments to 180 countries in 30+ currencies and currency risk management solutions to simplify global payments. OFX further enhances business operations by providing corporate cards with spend management, bill payments, vendor management, and integrations with popular accounting and HRIS software, to help achieve better business solutions so accounting firms and businesses thrive.

Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, with offices globally, in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong. ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified globally, 700+ employees, listed on the ASX since 2013, licensed in 50 jurisdictions and regulated by over 50 regulators globally. OFX has been a trusted innovator in global money movement for over 25 years.

For more information about OFX and its financial automation solutions, visit OFX website

MIL OSI

MIL OSI

private open-air bathing experiences, refined dining, and Dusit’s

signature Thai-inspired gracious hospitality on the shores of Lake Tōya

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 June 2026 – Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, is continuing its strategic expansion in Japan with the opening of WE Hotel Toya, Dusit Collection, a serene lakeside retreat in Hokkaido designed by internationally acclaimed architecture studio Kengo Kuma & Associates.

Officially joining the Dusit Collection brand on 1 July 2026, WE Hotel Toya, Dusit Collection marks the first Dusit Collection hotel in Japan and Dusit’s third hotel in the country, building on the momentum established by ASAI Kyoto Shijo, a neighbourhood-inspired lifestyle hotel, and Dusit Thani Kyoto, a Michelin-Key recognised luxury hotel inspired by Kyoto’s rich cultural heritage.

Dusit Collection is Dusit International’s upper-upscale and luxury brand designed for distinctive hotels and resorts that celebrate individuality, local culture, thoughtful design, and a deep connection with each destination. Each property is carefully selected for its unique character and ability to create experiences shaped by the people, places, and stories that surround it.

Located on the shores of Lake Tōya, a scenic caldera lake at the heart of the Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark in southwestern Hokkaido, and approximately 100 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport, WE Hotel Toya, Dusit Collection welcomes guests to one of Japan’s most captivating natural destinations, celebrated for its volcanic landscapes, natural hot springs, outdoor adventures, and spectacular seasonal scenery.

Originally opened in 2018, the intimate luxury retreat features a striking architectural identity created by Kengo Kuma & Associates, whose extensive body of work includes the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo and Scotland’s V&A Dundee design museum. Inspired by the surrounding landscape, the resort’s design blends natural materials, warm textures, and a contemporary interpretation of Japanese craftsmanship to create a seamless connection between the interiors and the lake, forests, and mountains beyond.

The property features 55 lake-view guestrooms alongside three expansive two-storey villas offering additional space and privacy for families and small groups. Each guestroom offers approximately 37 sq m of living space and includes its own private open-air bath overlooking Lake Tōya, allowing guests to enjoy the calming tradition of Japanese open-air bathing in complete privacy. Guests can also enjoy a large communal bath with panoramic lake views, creating a restorative bathing experience deeply connected to the destination.

As part of its transition to Dusit Collection, the resort’s culinary concepts have been refreshed to create a thoughtful dialogue between Japanese craftsmanship and Dusit’s Thai heritage, showcasing the best of Hokkaido’s seasonal ingredients alongside signature Thai influences.

EZO Cuisine celebrates Hokkaido’s rich culinary heritage and highlights local producers through Japanese cuisine enhanced with refined international techniques. Breakfast highlights include Japanese and Thai set menus featuring locally sourced vegetables, premium Hokkaido rice, dairy products, seasonal juices, and original herbal teas, while dinner focuses on carefully crafted seasonal menus.

Guests can also discover authentic Thai noodle favourites at The Noodle Bar, including spicy and aromatic Tom Yum noodles and Khao Soi (a rich, coconut-based curry noodle dish from northern Thailand), while TARU Bar, named after the Japanese word for wooden cask, celebrates Japan’s traditions of ageing and craftsmanship through a curated selection of organic Japanese teas from Dusit’s tea garden in Kyoto, alongside sake, whisky, and craft liqueurs. Toya Bar completes the experience with creative cocktails, premium spirits, and relaxed lakeside evenings.

“Japan is an important strategic market for Dusit, and the arrival of Dusit Collection represents another exciting milestone in our journey to bring our unique style of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to destinations with distinctive character and strong cultural appeal,” said Chanin Donavanik, Group CEO, Dusit International. “WE Hotel Toya, Dusit Collection perfectly embodies the spirit of the Dusit Collection brand, demonstrating how thoughtful design, local connections, and personalised service can come together to create experiences that truly reflect their destinations.”

Reservations for WE Hotel Toya, Dusit Collection are now open, with a special introductory offer inviting guests to experience the newly rebranded lakeside retreat. Available for stays from 1 July – 30 September 2026, the offer includes 20% savings on a half-board stay, including two meals daily.

For more information, please visit dusit.com/dusitcollection-wehotel-toya

Hashtag: #Dusit

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

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

MIL OSI

MIL OSI

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 May 2026 – Immuno Cure Group (“Immuno Cure“), headquartered at Hong Kong Science Park, is pleased to announce the inauguration of the research facility for its HIV therapeutic DNA vaccine (“ICVAX^®“) at the Center of International Innovation for Technology and Science (“CIITS”) located in Hetao, Shenzhen. The facility aims for the development and application of key technologies for the clinical research and commercialization of Immuno Cure’s ICVAX^®. ICVAX^® is developed by Immuno Cure with the aim of achieving antiretroviral therapy (“ART“)-free functional cure for HIV infection. This project is carried out in collaboration with Prof. Zhiwei CHEN, the Founding Director of the AIDS Institute of Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (“HKU AIDS Institute“), and Prof. Hongzhou LU, President of the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, in the capacity as advisors.

CIITS is a national-level achievement transformation platform co-built by Guangdong Province, Shenzhen Municipality, and Tsinghua University, and is located at the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (“Hetao Co-operation Zone“). It is committed to building a world’s leading major technological innovation and industrialization platform with a global perspective. It focuses on key tracks including biomedicine, high-performance materials, and artificial intelligence (AI). It aims to aggregate global innovation resources, connect with leading enterprises, and conduct organized scientific research and achievement transformation to address national major strategic needs.

Since AIDS was first identified in 1981, 40.8 million people have died from HIV infection, with over 44.1 million people living with HIV globally. While antiretroviral therapy can effectively control HIV replication, it cannot cure the disease, highlighting the critical need for immunotherapies. Designed to enhance the host’s immune response, immunotherapies aim to achieve sustained viral control without lifelong ART, ultimately leading to complete viral suppression and functional cure. Immuno Cure’s proprietary innovative HIV therapeutic DNA vaccine, ICVAX^®, induces broad-spectrum, polyfunctional virus-specific T cells to achieve the ultimate goal of ART-free functional cure of HIV infection.

Immuno Cure completed the first-in-human Phase I clinical trial of ICVAX^® in November 2024, demonstrating excellent safety and promising immunogenicity. Two multi-center Phase II clinical trials—randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled—are scheduled to launch in Q2-2026 to evaluate the vaccine’s mechanism of action and efficacy. The trials will be conducted at Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, as well as eight top-tier hospitals in China, including the Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, Beijing Ditan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing Youan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, the Eighth People’s Hospital of Guangzhou, the Second People’s Hospital of Tianjin, the Sixth People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou, Chengdu Public Health Clinical Medical Center, and Chongqing Public Health Medical Center.

Notably, standardized testing systems for evaluating immunological and virological indicators are crucial for HIV vaccine clinical trials. However, the lack of domestic standard operating procedures (SOPs) for infectious samples in clinical trials hinders the clinical development and regulatory approval of novel infectious disease therapies like ICVAX^®. The mission of this research facility at CIITS is to establish an internationally aligned standardized clinical testing system for T-cell immunogenicity and viral reservoirs, as well as identify core biomarkers associated with vaccine efficacy — filling a domestic technical gap. Immuno Cure will offer the ICVAX^® Phase II clinical trial to facilitate the development of this standardized precision testing method for clinical sample analysis.

Dr. Xia JIN, CEO of Immuno Cure, stated, “I am delighted to be appointed to lead this key project of CIITS. I would also like to thank CIITS for the fully fitted modern laboratory space and the RMB10.0m funding support for this 2-year initial phase. My whole scientific team is committed to contributing diligently to the success of this project. I have no doubt that the development of a standardised testing regime would not only enhance the quality of our clinical trials for ICVAX^® but would also eventually be adopted as industry and national standards for the clinical translation of medicine for HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases.

Renchen LIU, Executive Deputy Dean of Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen and Director of CIITS, stated, “Warmest congratulations on the inauguration of the research facility for ICVAX^® at the CIITS. In the future, CIITS will continue to leverage its platform resources to implement full-chain incubation services. Project managers will provide service support throughout the entire project period, ensuring the smooth progress of the project through resource integration, talent recruitment and development, clinical collaboration, and achievement transformation. These efforts will safeguard the steady progress of the project.”

As the project advances, Immuno Cure’s ICVAX^® is positioned to become the world’s first therapeutic DNA vaccine to deliver an ART-free functional cure for HIV infection, bringing new hope to people currently living with HIV. In parallel, the standardized testing platform and collaborative innovation model developed through this effort will provide a scalable, replicable blueprint for R&D of novel therapies targeting other major infectious diseases. Together, these outcomes will strengthen the global competitiveness of biomedicine development in GBA and contribute to the development of national biosecurity capabilities and a more resilient public health system.

https://immunocure.hk
https://www.linkedin.com/company/immuno-cure

Hashtag: #ImmunoCure

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

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

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – Amplexd Therapeutics, Inc. (“Amplexd”), a U.S.-based clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on women’s health and underserved therapeutic areas, today announced authorization from the Hong Kong Department of Health to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating its novel EGCg-based investigational therapy for precancerous cervical lesions associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV).

High-risk HPV is the primary driver of cervical cancer, which remains a significant public health burden, particularly across the Asia-Pacific region. High-risk HPV prevalence amongst Chinese women is estimated at 12.8%[1] with China representing 23% of cervical cancer cases globally[2].

The randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study is being conducted at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in collaboration with Prince of Wales Hospital, with recruitment currently underway. The study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of Amplexd’s investigational therapy in women diagnosed with ASC-US and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) alongside confirmed hr-HPV infection. Clinical data are expected in Q1 2027.

Amplexd’s investigational therapy is a proprietary, shelf-stable vaginal suppository formulation containing epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), a bioactive compound derived from green tea, designed for localized self-administration at the site of disease.

“Currently, there is a significant unmet medical need for localized, non-surgical therapies specifically indicated for low-grade lesions associated with high-risk HPV. The standard of care is largely limited to increased surveillance and ‘watchful waiting,’ which can impose both psychosocial and financial burdens on patients,” said Alia Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of Amplexd. “Moreover, in many resource-constrained settings including large swaths of Asia-Pacific, access to surgical intervention and specialized follow-up care is limited. Previously published, peer-reviewed clinical and preclinical studies have explored the use of EGCg-based topical formulations in the treatment of HPV and cervical lesions. Building on this body of research, we developed a shelf-stable formulation designed for self-administration and early therapeutic intervention.”

The Phase 2 trial will evaluate endpoints including lesion regression, viral clearance, and overall safety profile, with the goal of generating data on the potential for early therapeutic intervention in hr-HPV-associated disease.

Additional information about the study can be found at www.drugoffice.gov.hk under trial identifier eCTS-2026-021 and at www.clinicaltrials.gov under trial identifier NCT07572396.

Important Information

This clinical trial has been authorized by the Hong Kong Department of Health. Participation will be subject to eligibility criteria and informed consent. This investigational therapy has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and its safety and efficacy have not been established.

Hashtag: #AmplexdTherapeutics #hrHPV #HPVtherapy #HPV #cervicaldysplasia #LSIL #ASCUS #Phase2clinicaltrial #womenshealth #EGCg #cervicalcancer #investigationaltherapy #clinicaltrial

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

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

An Australian with a calling and an Auckland radio host running on pure determination are the newly crowned national champions of stone skimming.

In pristine conditions, hundreds flocked to a remote corner of Lake Hāwea on Saturday to watch or toss a rock at the inaugural national competition.

Abbey McDonald, an Australian living in Queenstown, described her decision to enter the event as a feeling of destiny.

She quickly stole the show with a skim of 72 metres – the furthest of the day – then clinched the women’s final and a ticket to the World Stone Skimming Championships in Scotland in September. Her throw in the final was 42 metres.

“I’ve been waiting to find my career. I’ve been saying ‘should I go to uni? Should I not?’ And travelling around. And then this popped up and I just knew it was for me,” she said.

Stepping up to the platform, McDonald said she felt a sense of belonging.

“I had my support crew there, they had their hats on… and I just felt right at home.”

Auckland-based The Rock host Jay Reeve said his 51 metre winning throw in the men’s final using “a real dog” of a stone with a chunk of quartz in it was as much of a shock to him as anyone.

“Not even in my wildest dreams. Look at me, I’m not an athlete. I’m held together by duct tape, and pure determination and will, pretty much,” he said.

Reeve, originally from Tauranga, said he had not skimmed a stone in quite some time.

“That showed early, and then I managed to get one across the line in the final.”

They were among more than 130 competitors chasing glory – some competing under their real names while others opted for aliases such as Hans Skimmer, Splash Bandicoot and Skim Shadbolt.

Each had three attempts to send a stone dancing across the lake as far as possible down a designated lane.

Throws had to bounce at least twice and competitors had to keep both feet planted, while any that strayed too far to the side were instantly disqualified.

Competitor Sam Lockwood, from Arrowtown, said the perfect skim began with finding the perfect stone, which could not be wider than three inches (7.61cm).

“It’s got to be quite thick. I think the main problem for today is everyone’s been picking really thin stones. So it’s been catching at the end and it curls….I’ve got big hands luckily and I can handle a big wide stone,” he said.

Event organiser Richie Laming said Lake Hāwea offered smooth waters and near-perfect skimming conditions throughout the day.

“We’ve got an incredible high pressure system exactly over Lake Hāwea at the moment – sublime, calm conditions. If there was a day that New Zealand records were to be set, it is today,” he said.

Queenstown resident Ben Davies, better known as Skim Shady, said he made a last-minute call to enter after a few too many drinks one night.

He quickly found himself near the top of the leaderboard.

“I’ve been living down in Otago for years so there’s lakes everywhere, and as I’ve been walking my dogs and hanging out down by lakes, I just throw rocks now and again, and been doing pretty well at it,” he said.

“Here we are – top of the table, living the dream. It feels pretty good.”

For Wānaka competitor Don Elder, the real prize was simply a good day out.

“I’ve been training for months. It’s been a lot of hard work, sacrifices, and it all comes down to the day – and it wasn’t going to be me. But that’s okay. I had a huge amount of fun. It’s been one of the best days I’ve had here for a long time,” he said.

The championship was organised as a fundraiser for Melanoma New Zealand and to help raise awareness that the country has one of the leading melanoma diagnosis rates in the world, Laming said.

It would be the first of many, he said.

“We’ll definitely be having it as an annual, but we’re just discussing the biannual option or even having regionals or inter-provincials… the lake’s the limit,” he said.

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/18/first-ever-stone-skimming-champions-crowned-in-lake-hawea/

Kiwi forward Briton Nikora will make his State of Origin debut next week after being named in the Queensland team.

Nikora is the first Kiwi international to be allowed to play in rugby league’s biggest showpiece after a change in eligibility rules.

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) announced the amendment in February.

Players were previously required to represent Australia or a tier two nation as defined by International Rugby League to be eligible for Origin.

This ruled out players who had represented the Kiwis or England.

The updated rules remove this restriction, allowing players who who meet the traditional State of Origin criteria and represent tier one nations to be eligible.

That criteria includes being been born in New South Wales or Queensland, residing in either state prior to their 13th birthday, or if a players father played State of Origin.

Nikora has played 15 tests for new Zealand, though qualifies for Queensland having moved to Brisbane at the age of nine.

He has played his senior career exclusively for the Cronulla Sharks, playing 168 NRL games since 2019.

Two Warriors will also play in Origin I- Co-captain Mitch Barnett for New South Wales and second rower Kurt Capewell for Queensland.

Team lists

NSW Blues squad

1. James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)

2. Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers)

3. Stephen Crichton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

4. Kotoni Staggs (Brisbane Broncos)

5. Tolutau Koula* (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

6. Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)

7. Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)

8. Addin Fonua-Blake* (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

9. Reece Robson (Sydney Roosters)

10. Mitchell Barnett (Warriors)

11. Hudson Young (Canberra Raiders)

12 Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

13. Isaah Yeo (c) (Penrith Panthers)

14. Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

15. Victor Radley* (Sydney Roosters)

16. Jacob Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)

17. Blayke Brailey* (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

18. Ethan Strange* (Canberra Raiders)

19. Casey McLean* (Penrith Panthers)

20. Dylan Lucas* (Newcastle Knights)

Coach: Laurie Daley

* Yet to play for NSW

QLD Maroons squad

1.Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights)

2. Selwyn Cobbo (Dolphins)

3. Robert Toia (Sydney Roosters)

4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)

5. Jojo Fifita (Gold Coast Titans)

6. Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm)

7. Sam Walker (Sydney Roosters)^

8. Thomas Flegler (Dolphins)

9. Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm)

10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans)

11. Reuben Cotter (North Queensland Cowboys)

12. Kurt Capewell (Warriors)

13. Max Plath (Dolphins)^

14. Briton Nikora (Cronulla Sutherland Sharks)^

15. Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters)

16. Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos)

17. Trent Loiero (Melbourne Storm)

18. Ezra Mam (Brisbane Broncos)^

19. Gehamat Shibasaki (Brisbane Broncos)

20. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Dolphins)

^ Potential debutant

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

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

New Zealand’s walking football team is expecting to punch above its weight on the world stage this month.

The 2026 International Walking Football Federation World Championships kicks off in Brisbane at the end of May and it will be New Zealand’s first time competing at the championships.

The team’s coach and manager, Neil Haines – who formerly represented New Zealand – told RNZ the walking game is six-aside, played on smaller fields, and has rolling substitutes.

Crucially, the players are aged 50 and over.

Haines said the New Zealand team of 12 began training about three weeks ago on Sundays, but will be upping that to twice a week ahead of their first match against England on May 28.

“We’re looking forward to it! And then, we playing Australia. The best part of it, we will give them a run for their money.”

Haines said it was a fantastic line-up, with teams from across Europe also competing – some of whom had been playing for at least 10 years.

He said it would be a challenge, but the team was up for it.

“We’ve just started out here in New Zealand and we feel that… like most New Zealand sport we’re going to punch above our weight.

“I hope that we can cause some surprises and the players are keen to do very well, so we are hoping we will get further than just making the numbers up.”

Haines said he came across the sport a couple of years ago and has been promoting it through the local trust he chairs ever since.

From an initial gala day at the North Shore United Club, between 20-30 people now turn up for games twice a week on summer evenings, he said.

Haines said the game enabled men and women to continue to play a sport they loved and – although mainly about participation – players retained a competitive streak.

“Just because people are over 50, they have not lost their competitiveness and that makes it really interesting, because walking football allows the body to work without too much stress.”

Haines said it would be great if the world cup inspired more people to join.

“I’d love it if this… got people into activities where they can enjoy the company of each other, the banter, and also doing something they thought they possibly could never do again – that’s playing football on a pitch, but they’re just walking.”

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

NRL Magic Round: NZ Warriors v Brisbane Broncos

Kickoff 6pm NZT, Sunday, 17 May

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

For the first time in 2026, NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster will finally unleash his two-headed beast – co-captains Mitch Barnett and James Fisher-Harris – in a formidable starting front row against Brisbane Broncos on Sunday.

While Kiwis colossus Fisher-Harris has been a pillar of strength for the 7-2 Warriors, Barnett has struggled to stay on the field, since starting his campaign late, as he completed rehab on his season-ending knee injury from last June.

After quietly bringing up 50 games for the Auckland club on the road against his old Newcastle Knights outfit, he broke a thumb in his next outing, missed two games, then played two games, but suffered concussion and had to sit out another week under protocols.

Then came last week’s bye.

“I’ve become a bit used to it, after last season, but it’s good to be back,” Barnett acknowledged. “I’m hoping I can get a bit of a run going now and string some games together.”

All four of his appearances have come off the interchange, as in-form dynamo Jackson Ford seemingly made the No.10 starting jersey his own, with a series of performances that have put him into Dally M Medal contention, sometimes going the full distance.

Webster has taken a risk tinkering with his winning line-up for NRL ‘Magic Round’, but is comforted by the knowledge he has re-united two of the game’s best front-rowers in tandem.

“We never intended to play Jackson Ford for 80 minutes each week,” he explained. “I think there have been three occasions when he hasn’t played 80 this year.

“We always wanted to get Fish and Barney pairing up together, with a passer, which is Erin Clark. We always wanted Jackson Ford to come on and finish the game.

“He could come on after 15-20 minutes and you almost don’t have to worry about Jacko – he can go 100mph right through to the end. That’s always what we thought would be the best dynamic, but Mitch obviously hasn’t got that momentum going.

“That’s why we wanted to do it – we’ve got our two skippers out there in the front row, and Jackson gets to come on and do his job.”

Barnett admits to being somewhat blindsided by Webster’s call.

“That’s not really a question for me, but for Webby,” he said. “He approached me and I just said yeah.

“I feel for Jacko, he’s been going really well, but I’m just here to do my role. Webby has obviously picked me, because he wants my style of game at the kickoff.

“The big fella, instead of playing 80 minutes, he might play 70 this week, so nothing really changes for him.”

With State of Origin looming, this weekend represents the last chance for contenders to push their cases, before selectors name their squads.

Barnett has made two appearances off the bench for New South Wales, both wins. Four days after last year’s 18-6 victory in the series opener, a torn anterior cruciate ligament curtailed his involvement.

Given his rotten run with injuries, he hasn’t had a chance to build any kind of form and would have to rely on past feats.

“I’m just trying to play rugby league at the moment, and put my best foot forward for the Warriors first and foremost,” Barnett conceded. “That other stuff takes care of itself, but if that opportunity comes, I’d be stoked.”

NSW fanatic Webster absolutely denies he’s switched his line-up to give his skipper his best chance to push for Origin inclusion, but is adamant Barnett deserves that call-up.

“I’m not trying to prepare Mitchell for Origin,” he said. “Personally, I think Mitchell is one of the game’s best players, particularly front-rowers.

“I know what leadership he brings. I thought, when he didn’t play last year, after he got injured, they missed him and I think great players like Mitchell have enough runs on the board, but I don’t pick the team.”

Ironically, Barnett and Ford may be competing for the same spot on the Blues’ roster.

Ford has been the best front-rower in the league this season, leading his team in running metres and tackles, and pacing the competition in post-contact metres.

As a starter, his ability to go wire to wire has essentially given Webster the luxury of an extra second-half substitution.

Barnett considers his teammate has done more than enough to deserve the call-up.

“Bloody oath,” he said. “I think he’s made for Origin.

“I just think he wouldn’t let anyone down. He does all the stuff that people don’t really see – the kick chase and the tidy-up stuff that Origin is built on.”

Another on the cusp of selection is second-rower Kurt Capewell, a 13-game Queensland veteran who wasn’t wanted for their opening loss last year, but helped turn them around with back-to-back wins to take the series.

At the time, he inexplicably led the NRL in missed tackles, but made some big stops in the Origin decider.

“I’m not particularly fond of Queensland, but I am fond of Kurt Capewell and think he should be in the team too,” Webster offered. “The way he played against Parramatta last week was an Origin performance.

“We weren’t playing our best football at times, but the way he defended and the effort areas, he’s made for Origin.

“If you look at his history, he’s got a great strike rate in Origin, so if they pick him, he won’t let them down.”

Over the past week, since Maroons halfback Tommy Dearden fell to an ankle injury, some pundits have even built a case for in-form Warriors half Tanah Boyd to replace him, while hooker Wayde Egan is another outsider on the NSW radar.

Chances are the successful candidates – or at least the contenders – will already know by now.

They will have been told to pack an extra bag for their trans-Tasman road trip.

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

The New Zealand women’s cricket team continue to show promising signs ahead of the defence of their T20 World Cup crown next month, after beating England in Cardiff, in the final of a three match ODI series.

The White Ferns won by 17 runs by the DLS method, after rain interrupted the match.

England batted first scoring 181 for seven in a shortened innings of 33 overs, with Bree Illing and Rosemary Mair both taking two wickets for New Zealand.

The White Ferns initial target for the win was 184, and when England’s opening bowler Lauren Bell took three quick wickets, removing Suzie Bates, Melie Kerr and Georgia Plummer, all lbw, New Zealand’s task looked grim.

But Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday and Izzy Gaze steadied ship in the rainy conditions, as New Zealand got to 141 for four midway through the 25th over, before play was abandoned.

Halliday was named player of the match for scoring an unbeaten 42 off 54 balls.

The series finished tied 1-1 after England won the first match by one wicket, while the second game was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain.

Green was named player of the series, largely in the back of scoring 88 in the opening game.

The teams now switch to a best of three T20 series, which begins on May 20 in Derby, ahead of the T20 World Cup, which starts on June 12.

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

Wellington Phoenix’s first A-League grand final appearance has been years in the making.

After a record-breaking season, the women finished the regular season in second place to qualify for the playoffs for the first time.

To secure a place in the grand final, they had to come back from a one-goal deficit to beat Brisbane Roar after ,extra time on aggregate goals across the two-legged home and away playoff.

The grand final also marks a special milestone of the team’s 100th game.

Two seasons ago, Phoenix director of football Shaun Gill told RNZ the women’s season deserved a grade of C-minus.

Gill must be at an ‘A’ now, with room to improve, should they defeat three-time Premiers Plate winners Melbourne City at AAMI park on Saturday night.

How did the Phoenix women go from the bottom to the top?

Previous results

The Phoenix joined the women’s A-League in 2021 and are the ‘newest’ club still in the competition. (Western United joined in 2022 but had to sit this season out, due to financial issues).

Before this season’s run to the grand final, the end-of-season standings were not good reading.

In their first season, the Phoenix finished last in a 10-team competition. They recorded only two wins in 14 games during a season in which they were based in Wollongong, New South Wales, due to COVID travel restrictions.

The next season produced the same outcome – last in a then-11-team competition.

After two wooden spoon seasons, the 2023/24 campaign saw the Phoenix finish eighth, which was their best-ever finish before this season.

Last season, they dropped to ninth with seven wins, three draws and 13 losses.

Coaches

The Phoenix have had four coaches in five seasons.

Bev Priestman has been the most successful and most controversial appointment.

Priestman joined the Phoenix this season, after serving a one-year ban from all football for her involvement in a drone spying scandal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Before her appointment in Wellington, Priestman coached the Canada women’s national team, which won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She also brought Canada to the 2023 Football World Cup, co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

The Englishwoman is considered the most-credentialed coach currently in the A-League and the Phoenix have her locked in for another season.

Over time, the Phoenix have now had three women as coaches, with Gemma Lewis as the inaugural coach, followed by Natalie Lawerence, before Paul Temple had two seasons in charge.

Captains

Being given the captain’s armband has often resulted in a player not spending much time on the pitch.

Goalkeeper Lily Alfeld was the team’s first-ever player signing and inaugural captain, and played all but one game of the first season, before injury curtailed her career. She missed all the 2022/23 campaign after off-season knee surgery and a back injury, before moving into an off-field role with the club.

Football Fern Annalie Longo then had a couple of injury-riddled seasons as captain and stepped away from football at the end of last season.

During her time as skipper, Longo also had to defend the team environment, when midfielder and vice-captain Chloe Knott quit during the 2023/24 season, citing the pressures of combining fulltime work and playing professionally.

This season, CJ Bott was named captain, but announced her pregnancy in January and sat out the remainder of the season.

Bott is still the club captain, with Mackenzie Barry taking the onfield captaincy duties.

International players

The Phoenix were on the back foot, when the club first entered the A-League, because they could not sign visa players for the first two seasons of their existence.

From the 2023/24 season, Football Australia relaxed the restrictions imposed on the women’s team, removing the limit on New Zealand signings and the quota of Australian players.

This season, their leading goalscorer is American Makala Woods, who signed as an injury replacement for Dutch midfielder Tessel Middag at the start of the year.

English forward Brooke Nunn has also made her mark in front of goal, being among the team’s leading scorers and the A-League leader in goal assists. Both Nunn and Woods will be back next season.

American defender Ellie Walker has been a constant in the backline this season, as has Spanish defender Lucía León, who the Phoenix picked up from Adelaide United in the off-season, as the first new signing of the season.

One Phoenix signing who made the biggest noise when she joined the squad was Nepalese international striker Sabitra ‘Samba’ Bhandari.

Before injury ended her season, the Nepalese community in New Zealand and Australia showed up in big numbers to support their national team captain in the A-League.

Locals

Defender Mackenzie Barry has seen it all with the Phoenix as a day-one player.

Barry is the team’s most-capped player and has started every game this season. She is a product of NZ Football’s Future Ferns domestic programme.

The Football Fern has said the Phoenix are the only A-League team she wanted to play for and she is signed up for next season as part of what she saw as Priestman’s two-year project.

By comparison, Football Fern Grace Jale has played for several A-League clubs, but this is the first time she is part of playoff football.

Under Priestman, Jale is having the best club season of her career and picked up several awards at the club’s awards night. She has also signed for next season.

Teenage star Pia Vlok has had a breakout season, including the club’s first hat-trick, and her success also lead to her first call-up to the Football Ferns.

Goalkeeper Vic Esson has helped the Phoenix to the best defensive record in the competition, returning to New Zealand after seven seasons overseas, where she won several trophies.

Attacker Manaia Elliott brought up her 50-game milestone for the Phoenix this season and has been a regular in the side in her third year as a professional.

Centreback Marisa van der Meer made a comeback to the Phoenix, after back-to-back anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injuries. More than 700 days after she last played for the club, she scored in their opening game and went on to play 22 games during the regular season.

Midfielder Macey Fraser rejoined Wellington Phoenix, after she was released by National Women’s Soccer League club Utah Royals, but the Football Fern took a mental health break and she returned to the team in March.

Knees

Female footballers are more at risk of knee injuries than their male counterparts, a phenomenon that is now so prolific, it is part a FIFA study.

This season, three Phoenix players suffered ACL injuries, including two in the same month (November).

The frequency of the season-ending injury at their club lead the Phoenix to investigate if something was wrong with their ACL injury prevention practices, but they found their practices were “comprehensive and aligned with industry standards”.

The team’s latest significant injury is to forward Emma Main, who has a chronic lumbar spine injury that meant she missed the playoff series and was rehabilitating for next season.

Support

The Phoenix had a record crowd of nearly 6000 at Porirua Park for Sunday’s semifinal win, but last season, the numbers were a lot lower with an average of 739 people at home games – the lowest in the league by far.

Not surprisingly, connection with the fans increased, as the Phoenix moved up the competition standings.

“We’ve always had a really good fanbase, but definitely this year, it’s grown a lot,” Barry said.

However, getting corporate buy-in was a struggle for the Phoenix early on, with general manager David Dome issuing a public plea in 2021 for commercial assistance to find a shirt sponsor for their new women’s team.

The Phoenix owners invested heavily into the women’s team and, in previous seasons, Gill highlighted that more was spent on the women’s programme than the men’s.

“We operate at a good level of budget for players and staffing, and we’ve probably got one of the biggest football departments in the league, so there is a high expectation on that programme,” he said.

Before the playoffs, Barry said the team trained at “one of the best facilities in the whole league”.

“I think, even though it’s not verbally said, there is an expectation for us to do well. I think we can see the investment that’s been put into our team and, compared to other women’s teams in the A-League, it’s miles ahead of them.”

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

For the first time in her career, CJ Bott has had to learn how to lead without crossing the white line.

The Wellington Phoenix captain has spent much of the club’s breakthrough A-League season watching from the sidelines, since her https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/584796/phoenix-captain-cj-bott-announces-pregnancy pregnancy announcement] i January.

There was never any chance she would miss Saturday’s grand final against Melbourne City at AAMI Park though.

“I’m definitely travelling,” Bott said. “You wouldn’t be able to hold me at home just yet.

“I’ve still got a few more weeks until I’m medically unable to travel, so I’m making the most of it. I’ll be there with bells and whistles, and I’ll lose my voice screaming on the sidelines.”

Bott played seven matches at the start of the season, before stepping away from playing duties, remaining involved with the squad in an off-field leadership role, as the Phoenix surged to the first grand final in the team’s five-year history.

She described her second season with the Phoenix was “definitely a different season”.

“It started off well, being on the field, and then having to take a step back, because of the pregnancy, it took a little bit to get used to and was a tough pill to swallow in many ways, because all I want to do is be out there and doing my part with the team.

“I think as the season’s progressed, and our new signings have stepped up and really embraced their roles, and the rest of the girls have also stepped up, they’ve done such an incredible job.

“I mean, there’s been some nailbiting moments of the season, but overall, they’ve done incredibly well and I’m just so proud of how they’ve handled the season.”

Coach Bev Priestman was determined to keep Bott closely involved this season, because of her leadership and experience within the group.

“It did take a little while to see where I best fit into that role, because I wanted to give [Mackenzie Barry] the time and the space and the energy and support to do her role as captain as well.

“It’s taken a bit of adjustment, but I think now I’ve figured out where I’m best fitted, and I really just try and support the girls in whatever way and whatever capacity they need me.”

Defender Emma Pijnenburg, who replaced Bott in the squad, said the Football Ferns international remained an influential figure within the team.

“She just has this aura and, when she speaks in the circle, everybody is hanging on to every word,” Pijnenburg said. “She has a lot of experience as well, a senior player in the team, and she brings a lot to the team, whether she is on the field or not,” .

The Phoenix finished the season in second place and came from behind to win the two-legged semifinal against Brisbane Roar to secure the grand final match-up, but Bott said it was not all plain sailing to get to the pinnacle game of the season.

“I don’t think it’s a shock, given the team we had at the start of the season, but based on all our injuries and unfortunate events that have occurred during the season, it is somewhat of a surprise that we’ve somehow managed to keep our heads above water and still perform, given all the difficulties this team’s been through.

“The season has been so important towards the development of women’s football in this country, in this city specifically, and I’m so excited to see what can happen in the weekend.”

Watching from the sidelines has not come naturally to Bott.

“I hate it,” she said. “It is so hard just sitting there and not being able to do anything, but I’ve had to embrace it.

“I’ve got no other choice in the matter and the girls need me no matter what. I’ve just had to bite my nails quietly and just be their biggest cheerleader.”

Bott arrived at her hometown club last season, after eight years playing professionally in Germany, Sweden, Norway and England, and was surprised by the level of professionalism at the Phoenix.

“I didn’t quite know what to expect coming in,” she said. “I knew they had access to world-class facilities, but I think that’s one thing, having the backing from the wider club and having the staff involved.

“Our staff are incredible, they are probably some of the most professional staff I’ve ever had.

“Besides the fact that a lot of our girls have to, unfortunately, work two jobs, it is the most professional environment I’ve probably been a part of and it’s the most enjoyable environment I’ve been a part of in a long, long time.”

Bott is off contract at the end of this season and definitely has plans to return to football in the future, and “absolutely” would like that to be with the Phoenix.

Before she can think about her playing future, she will have to handle a few more “nervewracking” moments in the stands, as the Phoenix women play for the club’s first piece of silverware.

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

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

An urban renewal project in New Plymouth’s CBD is revealing traces of the city’s past – piece by piece.

The derelict Metro Plaza is being demolished to allow a stretch of the Huatoki Stream – which has been hidden from view for about a century – to be uncovered.

The Devon Street address has been home to a multitude of businesses over the years including a bakery, drapery, tearooms, and furniture store before in more recent years hosting a cafe, night club and even a Subway outlet.

Senior project manager Steve Ilkovics said the May and Arrowsmith bakery was the earliest to leave its mark.

“The bakehouse was the first building on this site probably built about 1908 or 1910 and there’s some interesting history around how it linked up with some of the old flour mills and the mill building across the way at Powderham Street.

“Potentially it had the capacity to bake all the bread Taranaki needed back in those days.”

An article published when the bakehouse opened in 1918 by the Taranaki Daily News proclaimed it “would be hard to find its equal among the bakehouses of the Dominion”.

The top floor held up to 305 tonnes of flour, which was fed through to two large hoppers to mixing machines on the second floor, where the dough was fed down to the ground floor where there were “five big ovens, each capable of holding 480 to 500 loaves”.

About “9000 dozen eggs” could be stored in the cellar and a concrete platform was specially constructed on the ground floor for breaking the vast quantities needed each day.

Ilkovics said experts had been bought in to examine the wooden beams which held up the three-storey bakehouse.

“They identified this wood as being Oregon pine, know as Douglas Fir here in New Zealand as well.

“These are 14m-long beams, which are probably from the heart of the tree, but interestingly we didn’t start growing Douglas Fir in New Zealand until around about the 1870s or 1880s, so we can only assume these were imported from the United States.”

New Plymouth District Council intends to repurpose the beams as street furniture, decking, handrails and other public‑space features.

Demolition manager Brett Wheeler, of Wheeler Demolition, said the job had not been without its challenges.

“Probably managing the stream, the awa looking after that has been toughest. If it was a different kind of demo we would’ve just caved all this in and loaded it out.

“But the methodology of this one had to be cut and carry because we can’t put too much weight on certain parts of the floor especially at the front where it’s all timber framing, so we’ve had to crane diggers into certain points.”

His crew had made several surprising finds.

“So a good one’s just down here. We pulled one of the walls away and the foundation for this building, we’re standing on, is like a pretty old bluestone masonry wall, which is pretty cool.

“No one knew it was there until we ripped down three layers of walls and found it.”

Ilkovics had a theory about that wall.

“The blockwork that you can see under the old wooden building there. We believe that is part of the old railway embankment.

“A trainline used to run through this site, along this edge, and that was the original Waitara to New Plymouth line.

“This section was made redundant when the line was diverted along the coast, but a lot of the old brickwork, stonework was just sort of left in place.”

Ilkovics, who said it was a privilege to work on such a project, said another find was the steel framing of a drapery that once occupied the site.

“This beam on the ground here was part of the old McGruer’s building, which was constructed in the 1930s, again we didn’t know much about it until we peeled back the cladding.

“We found it was an import and you can actually see here from the stamp that it’s come from a company called Dorman Long & Co in Middlesbrough, England which still fabricates steel components and exports them around the world today.”

The company famously supplied steel for both the Auckland and Sydney harbour bridges.

The New Plymouth District Council had partnered with property developer K.D. Holdings and Ngāti Te Whiti to create the Huatoki public space which is part of its $10 million centre city strategy.​

Construction of the wider project – which included new retail, office, and hospitality spaces on both sides of the stream, was due to begin next year

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

Pharmac has added the weight-loss drug Wegovy to its list of medicines suitable for future funding.

In a decision released Thursday, the drug-funding agency confirmed it had added Semaglutide – brand name Wegovy – to its list of ‘Options For Investment’, which includes all the medications that Pharmac would fund, if the budget allowed.

The order of that list is not made public for commercial reasons.

If chosen for future funding, Wegovy would be available to people with a Body Mass Index of 35 or more with at least two comorbidities.

In February, Pharmac’s obesity treatments advisory group recommended the drug be funded with high priority.

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

The original application was for Wegovy to be funded for chronic weight management in adults with a BMI of more than 30.

According to the 2024/25 New Zealand Health Survey, that would apply to an estimated 34 percent of New Zealanders over 15 years of age, but the committee’s recommendation bumped that up to a BMI of 35, in line with comparable countries like Canada, England and Scotland.

“However, the group also considered that this threshold could be raised to a BMI of 40… if funding treatment down to this level proved to be cost-prohibitive or not cost-effective.”

With a BMI over 50, a person would not need comorbodities to qualify, according to the recommendation.

Below that threshold, a person would need to have at least two of the following – dyslipidaemia, hypertension, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea or established cardiovascular disease.

It also included a condition that treatment would stop, if someone did not experience at least a 10 percent reduction in weight after six months.

It noted that, due to the “relatively high prevalence of obesity and weight-related comorbidities, the budget impact of funding semaglutide for weight management would be very high”.

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

Moana Pasifika is not the only club facing closure since the Super Rugby Pacific competition kicked off in 2022.

The Melbourne Rebels suffered a similar fate at the end of the 2024 season, which reduced the then-12-team competition to 11.

There are calls for changes to mitigate what many believe is the growing risk of the competition going under.

Last weekend’s New Zealand Rugby (NZR) annual general meeting (AGM) heard all five of New Zealand’s franchises – the Blues, Chiefs, Crusaders, Highlanders, and Hurricanes – were bleeding money in 2025.

Moana Pasifika, which could be called the financially weakest of all the clubs, was doomed to follow the Rebels into oblivion for many reasons.

That reality was announced last month, with funders and current licence holders, the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA), announcing they were backing out because of financial challenges.

This decision comes after extensive consideration of the financial, operational and strategic realities facing the franchise, as well as professional rugby in New Zealand.

Moana Pasifika said on 15 April, that despite the tireless dedication of players, staff, and supporters, it is no longer viable to continue the franchise at this level of competition.

“This is one of the hardest decisions we have ever made. We are immensely proud of our players, staff, and the community who have supported our team over the years,” Moana Pasifika chair Dr Kiki Maoate said.

“Across our rugby, pathways and community programmes, we have been able to support a growing hub of Pacific talent across multiple sporting codes, both locally and in the Pacific region. This is something we are extremely proud of and will continue to support and advocate for as best we can.

“Our commitment now is to ensure a smooth transition for everyone affected and to celebrate our legacy by finishing the season strong.”

The Moana Pasifika Charitable Trust was founded by Savae La’auli Sir Michael Jones KNZM and Tuifa’asisina Sir Bryan Williams KNZM in 2021, with a mission to create the first professional Pacific rugby team.

It is that ‘Trust’ model which is now believed to have been a downfall that has limited the franchise’s ability to secure long-term funding from sponsors.

World Rugby and NZR both stepped in the initial stages, but both organisations have stated publicly they will not do that now, leaving the club and its owners to either stay firm on their decision to close or sell to interested buyers.

Enter Kanaloa Consortium – backed by a number of Pasifika heritage former All Blacks.

Kanaloa’s CEO Tracy Atiga said they have been given until 15 May – tomorrow – to send in their proposal to NZR to save Moana Pasifika for disbanding.

She has also said that part of that NZR agreement is for Kanaloa to get the support of both PMA and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA).

She has been outspoken about what she calls unsupportive stance taken by both the PMA and the NZRPA who had, as she claimed, shown no interest in getting Kanaloa’s proposal or bid supported.

However, both PMA and Moana Pasifika chief executive Debbie Sorensen and NZRPA’s Rob Nichol have stated that Kanaloa should send their proposal to NZR, if they were serious about their bid.

Kanaloa, which was known to many until the revelation that Moana Pasifika was going to close, had initially sent a proposal to PMA’s Sorensen last year but did not get any response, and had also bid for a franchise license in 2020/2021 but were also unsuccessful.

A point of interest: Kanaloa threatened to sue NZR in November 2020, because they claimed the union breached its own rules by granting Moana Pasifika a licence, even though the new franchise did not properly participate in the tender process.

Anyway, NZR has also stated they are open to discuss any proposal that would save Moana Pasifika.

“NZR is open to receiving proposals that present a long-term and sustainable plan for Moana Pasifika,” a NZR spokesman said, adding “that opportunity is available for the next few weeks”.

For Kanaloa that period ends on Friday.

‘The model doesn’t work’

It is going to be telling to see how things play out in the next few days and week.

Media reports in Aotearoa say that reports tabled at the NZR AGM indicate all five of New Zealand’s teams made losses last year and the private equity investors who hold varying stakes in those teams have called for changes, including a possible move to full private ownership.

“When we got involved, we knew the Hurricanes were losing money. The model doesn’t work,” Malcolm Gillies, a co-owner of the Wellington-based Hurricanes, told the Rugby Direct podcast.

“Unless there’s change, it’s not going to work. You’ve got five franchises in New Zealand and none of them are making a lot of money. The whole system has to change.

Gillies believes the competition in its current form is unsustainable.

“If it stays the way it is now, I fear for it. If there’s change then I believe we’ve got a product. But if it doesn’t, I believe it’s going to die. That’s my honest opinion.”

NZR contracts and retains control over Super Rugby Pacific players under the current system.

Full private ownership would follow the England and France situation, where clubs directly contract the players.

Moana Pasifika players basically come under the Pacific Rugby Players (PRP) association, which has stated their ultimate focus is making sure players’ welfare are looked after.

It is their number one job, chairman Valentine Tauamiti told RNZ Pacific this week.

So right now, PRP will request discussions on any proposal they see might fit the bill. Thus, their request to NZR that the Kanaloa bid gets discussed.

While Atiga and Kanaloa have yet to send their proposal through, a number of things needs to be verified:

• How has their management record been? Has Kanaloa successfully managed sports teams to the magnitude of a Super Rugby franchisee in the past?

Records show Kanaloa had tried to get into the Major Rugby League in the USA three years ago also but failed. But Atiga is confident they have the money, the experience and the people to fund and manage Moana Pasifika, fulfilling all the requirements that needs to be met, with international player fees paid out on top of players’ contracts.

• Do they have a viable and sustainable business plan?

The reality on the ground is Super Rugby clubs need more than NZ$15 million to survive annually. And there is no guarantee ticket sales, TV rights and sponsorship endorsements will meet that need annually. Atiga and Kanaloa believe their model will work and ensure financial safety going forward.

• Will Kanaloa be able to have security, or guarantee, that would cover the costs if the franchise folds?

This is a critical factor that would need to be part of any sale agreement. Buyers must prove they have the added security, in the form of a building or assets, that can be used to meet the financial demands, ensuring there are no debts left when a franchise folds. RNZ Pacific understands this is one area both the PRP and the NZRPA demand as being part of any proposal.

RNZ Pacific has been reliably informed that the PMA is selling its Christchurch building, the Maoate House, which is now on the market.

Sorensen has been asked to confirm the sale, but it is believed that is being done as part of the funding agreement when the PMA took up Moana Pasifika.

Moana Pasifika has two more games to go this season, one at home next weekend and the other away in Australia.

Whether those two matches will be their last as a Super Rugby Pacific team – or the start of a revamp – is anyone’s guess right now.

One thing is clear: NZR and the stakeholders involved will need to act fast if Moana Pasifika is to be saved.

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

Former England women’s wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor has been appointed as fielding coach for head coach Brendon McCullum’s men’s team for their test series against the Black Caps.

She is the first woman to coach an England men’s side in a major sport, the BBC reported.

Taylor, 36, had 226 caps in all three formats at international level for England, playing no small part in their World Cup victory in 2017.

Taylor has been appointed as short-term cover for Carl Hopkinson, who is involved with the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.

She has been working with the second tier England Lions team coached by former all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and has clearly made a big impression.

“I just think she’s one of the best in the business at what she does,” England men’s director Rob Key told reporters.

“She’s been outstanding, and she’s worked a lot with Andrew Flintoff and (England performance director) Ed Barney. They can’t speak highly enough of her. So from what we can see, she’s one of the best in the business.”

The men’s side was criticised for poor fielding during their Ashes series in Australia last summer, after they didn’t take a specialist fielding coach on tour.

Hopkinson was reappointed as fielding coach after that series.

England have named [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/595137/england-drop-zac-crawley-bring-in-three-uncapped-players-for-black-caps-first-test their squad for the first test against New Zealand, which starts on 4 June at Lord’s.

Zac Crawley has been dropped, replaced by newcomer Emilio Gay, with fast bowler Sonny Baker and wicketkeeper-batter James Rew also uncapped.

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

The White Ferns will attempt to level their ODI series against England on Saturday after the second match was washed out in Northampton.

Showers arrived just as the toss at the County Ground was due, resulting in a two-hour delay this morning NZT.

When the weather did clear, Melie Kerr won the toss and opted for New Zealand to bowl, telling broadcasters they wanted to know what they would be chasing with rain interruptions likely.

The rain immediately returned and 75 minutes later the match was abandoned.

England won the first match in Durham on Monday by one wicket, with their final pair just managing to overhaul the White Ferns’ total of 210.

The third match is in Cardiff, with a scheduled start time of 10pm NZT.

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

A broken collarbone couldn’t stop Kiwi equestrian Tim Price from delivering one of his best-ever results, as he surged to silver at the Badminton Horse Trials.

In a remarkable finish on Monday (NZ time), Price climbed from 10th after the dressage on the opening day, to sixth in the cross country phase, before jumping clear to secure silver.

The experienced multiple Olympian credits his upbringing with his parents and two brothers on a Canterbury farm for sparking his interest in the global equestrian stage.

“We had a small horse stud, 50 acres odd in Oxford, and there were horses coming out our ears,” the 46-year-old, Price said.

“I was working with horses young and old, and it was very normal to be dealing with horses every day.”

At the family-run block, stallions were bred to mares, before the pony club, show jumping and eventing competitions shaped the direction of Price’s life.

The three-time Olympian calls England home where he’s found a special rural corner of countryside with his wife Jonelle, who also competes at the highest level in three-day eventing for New Zealand.

“Down here in Dorset we’re in the middle of nowhere. It’s a beautiful farm with an excellent equestrian facility, owned by a great man who puts a lot into this estate,” Price said.

Of the husband and wife duo, Jonelle was the first to wear the silver fern at the 2012 Olympics Games in London.

The eventing power couple have represented New Zealand together now at Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

Price said his silver medal at Badminton is only just starting to sink in after a couple of days.

Before the event, he tried his best to keep his broken collarbone from a biking injury under wraps.

“It wasn’t something I really wanted to make public in the last few big events, so I just said I had a busted shoulder,” he said.

“Badminton has eluded me. It’s a very difficult event to win. It’s tricky to get the best out of your horse so early in the northern hemishpere season.”

“I was really happy with the result with Falco, he was just class all the way through.”

The 17-year-old gelding is a superb jumper, however only time will if he can compete at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“He’s now been second at one of the biggest five star events at Badminton, he was sixth at the Paris Olympics, he’s been a great horse, not just for me, but for New Zealand in teams.”

“He’s getting a little on the older side, in two years time is the Los Angeles Olympics – that might just be a little late in his career for him.”

Nonetheless, Price has his sights firmly set on the World Championships with Falco later this year in Aachen in Germany.

“Possibly Burghley in the autumn – just to show everyone how cool he is.”

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

Sir Graham Henry wants to bring a simplistic approach to the table as he returns to the All Blacks fold as a selector.

Head coach Dave Rennie confirmed on Tuesday that Henry would join him and assistant coach Neil Barnes as selectors, with the All Blacks having their first test of the year against France in Christchurch’s new Te Kaha Stadium on 4 July.

Henry, 79, said one of the things he had learned during his coaching career, which included a Rugby World Cup title with the All Blacks in 2011, was sharing responsibility with the players.

That involves “everybody being on the same page and spending the time to ensure that happens so that everybody feels comfortable with what they’re trying to do”, he told Morning Report.

“I think that’s the key, giving players additional responsibility and ownership, and the more ownership they have, I think, the better they play. That’s how we approached it 20 years ago.”

The sport appears different now, but Henry said the same approach should ring true.

“I haven’t been in a coaching group for some time. It appears to be more complicated. And maybe that’s more difficult, but simplicity is key, I think. The more simple we can keep the game, I think the better the boys will play,” Henry said.

“The pressure is even greater today because the athletes are bigger and faster, so you’ve got less time to make decisions. The simplicity of what you’re trying to do is key, so that you actually can function. If it gets too complex, it makes it extremely difficult.”

Henry said the selectors had an extensive list of players to consider. “The competition for the All Black team is very real, and there’s a lot of very good players, and there’s going to be some very good players who don’t get selected, which is a healthy situation, but difficult for them, obviously.”

He said it was tough leaving players out. “But that’s the job, isn’t it. So you’ve just got to do your best. And I think making sure that you select correctly is a very important part of the side playing the best it can play.”

Henry coached Wales from 1998 to 2002 and the British and Irish Lions in 2001, before being All Blacks head coach from 2004-11. His record with the All Blacks was 88 wins from 103 tests. More recently, he was involved with the Black Ferns set-up during their World Cup winning campaign in 2022.

He gave an insight into the role of a selector, saying there was a huge amount of statistical information now available on players compared to his time with national side, but that was a back-up to the main job.

“At the end of the day, you watch players play, and if you watch them for a long time – you don’t watch the game when you’re selecting, you just watch the individuals – you get a very good sense of whether they can do the job or not,” he said.

Players could be observed over an extensive period of time. “You know by viewing them whether they can put it in at the next level.”

Henry said he hadn’t missed the pressure of being involved at the top level, but was “very humbled” to be asked by Rennie and excited by the opportunity.

“I love the game. I think the game has got some challenges right now, so I’d like to try and help improve the game in this country, if I can.”

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

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, the Māori queen, has met with Prince William at Windsor Castle in London.

They discussed “a range of global topics”, a post on the Kiingitanga Facebook page said.

“Te Arikinui affirmed her belief in the power of indigenous knowledge and intergenerational stewardship to help solve the world’s environmental and social challenges.

“During the visit, Te Arikinui also attended a celebration of rangatahi who have improved their lives with support from The King’s Trust Aotearoa New Zealand, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.”

A pleasure to meet with Māori Queen Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po today at Windsor Castle. pic.twitter.com/ILFeMSmDqX

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 12, 2026

Kiingitanga said she was “following in the footsteps of her tūpuna and continuing eight generations of engagement with the British Royal Household”.

Prince William also posted about the encounter on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, saying it was “a pleasure”.

Te Arikinui was elected queen in 2024 following the death of her father, Kīngi Tūheitia.

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

The Wellington Phoenix women’s inaugural captain Lily Alfeld saw her playing career end prematurely. Now she has a front row seat to a season that is reshaping the club.

Alfeld was the first signing in the club’s history ahead of the Phoenix entering the A-League women competition in 2021. She played all but one game in goal during the team’s inaugural campaign as the expansion side battled to get a foothold in the league.

But injuries soon took their toll.

Alfeld missed all of the following season with knee and back injuries, before back surgery in 2023 that ultimately ended her playing days.

But the Phoenix were determined not to lose one of the foundational figures of the women’s programme. The club created an operations role that allowed Alfeld to rehabilitate her injury and continue to have a positive influence on a women’s programme that was still in its infancy.

“I was hoping for a slightly longer career, so when it was cut a bit shorter than planned that was a tough six months to just get my head around,” Alfeld said of the transition from player to staff member.

Now Alfeld is at the coalface of the club in the community, leading culture and community engagement.

While sidelined with injury Alfeld, she became known for her vocal support from the stands, “that was about the only way I thought I could contribute”.

“But now my role looks slightly different, I’m a little bit less vocal and more behind the scenes. I’m still the team’s biggest cheerleader.

“I’m just so stoked to see them finally start to get the reward for all the efforts that they are putting in.”

That reward has come in the form of a historic campaign.

The Phoenix are preparing for their first grand final appearance on Saturday against Melbourne City in Melbourne, Alfeld said it was the “perfect time” to be in her role promoting the club.

The former goalkeeper said the Phoenix have changed a lot since she lead them out for their first game against Western Sydney Wanderers in December 2021 during the Covid era when their home base was in Wollongong in New South Wales.

“The thinking that first season [was] we’re just like so happy to be here. But as that time has evolved, and as the years have gone on, I think every year it’s been how do we get better? How do we push? How do we increase our investment, our standards, our expectations?” she said.

“I think every year it’s been slowly chipping away, and I think they’ve just finally nailed making an incredible programme.

“I have no doubt that this is the best female programme in the league and they’re finally getting that result.”

Alfeld was part of a squad that made football history in New Zealand in 2021 when the club entered the league, Saturday night will be another historic moment regardless of the result against Melbourne City.

Prior to this season the Phoenix had never made the top six in the competition to progress to finals. Meaning they had never been in a semifinal, or even close to being in a showpiece of the women’s game with silverware on the line.

“When they announced Bev as the coach and then they secured a lot of incredible signings, I think it all of a sudden went from let’s push for top six to, wow, we really are contenders here,” Alfeld said of this season.

“There was almost this added pressure and expectation that anything less than probably a final would be, for lack of a better word, a failure.

“We had the right ingredients, so it’s been really interesting to see how the team has dealt with that, and I think Bev has been an incredible leader that has kept everyone focused and on the task at hand and game by game, because it is so easy to get carried away, especially when the success hasn’t always been there.

“It is a long time coming, but I think they’ve just got all the ingredients right this year and it’s all come together perfectly.”

Alfeld was impressed with the “incredible resilience” of the players who had to overcome a one goal deficit from the first leg of the home and away semifinals against Brisbane Roar to win the second in front of their home supporters at Porirua Park to secure the grand final berth.

“It just shows the grit and the mental strength this team has to overcome a challenge that they haven’t faced before. “

The second semifinal on Sunday was played in front of a record crowd of nearly 6000 people.

Alfeld remembered the early days of playing in closed stadiums in Australia during Covid, with a bit of online support “from mainly family and friends”.

“It felt like a small supporter base to where it is now.

“It’s not just young girls, it’s young boys that you see are just so excited to meet these players, to hear about their stories and their journeys.

“My favourite part is just going into that school and meeting a kid that is just so excited to meet this player and that aspires to be like them. It’s pretty special that these players get the opportunity to be those role models.”

Alfeld grew up as a Phoenix supporter – of the men’s team.

She started her top level playing days at college in America and then for Perth Glory in the A-League before she got the opportunity to come home and have an influence on the next generation of players.

As the Phoenix women play out their best season Alfeld was happy with where she was.

“I’m very lucky I have that front row seat to witness all that and to see the effects on the community and our supporters.”

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