European Union Pavilion Showcasing Excellence of EU Food and Beverages at FHA 2026

Source: Media Outreach SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 March 2026 – The European Union (EU) announces its participation as Region of Honour with dedicated Pavilions at FHA-Food & Hospitality Asia 2026, one of the region’s most important food and beverage exhibitions. Taking place from 21st to 24th April, visitors will be able to … Read more

Black Ferns grapple with eligibility rules as players seek more rugby

Source: Radio New Zealand Amy Rule and Georgia Ponsonby during the anthem before a test against Canada in 2025. © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz Amy Rule knows how much playing top flight rugby in the UK has elevated her game – but it has also left her facing a dilemma that the Black Ferns have … Read more

Who will be eligible to get an extra $50 a week as part of the fuel crisis package?

Source: Radio New Zealand The policy was estimated to cost $373 million if it ran for a full year. (File photo) RNZ / Quin Tauetau The government announced almost 150,000 families will receive an extra $50 a week to help ease the pain caused by soaring petrol prices, but who can expect to see that … Read more

Etiqa Insurance Singapore and AIA Singapore Join Forces to Expand Accessibility of Takaful for Customers

Source: Media Outreach SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 March 2026 – Etiqa Insurance Singaporeand AIA Singapore today announced a strategic distribution partnership to broaden access to Shariah-compliant, values-based Takaful solutions across Singapore. This collaboration marks an important milestone in advancing the Islamic insurance landscape locally and enabling more customers, both Muslim and non-Muslim … Read more

$50 a week for lower-income working families

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is moving quickly to provide extra support for low-to-middle-income working families as conflict in the Middle East drives up fuel prices and adds pressure to household budgets. From 7 April, about 143,000 working families with children will get an extra $50 a week through a boost to the in-work … Read more

Orange heavy rain warnings issued for parts of North Island

Source: Radio New Zealand An orange heavy rain warning is in place for Northland. MetService/Screenshot Some heavy rain watches forecasted for the Upper North Island have been upgraded to an orange heavy rain warning. The heavy rain watch which was in place for Northland is now an orange warning from 7pm Wednesday until 9am Friday. … Read more

Green light for Te Awa Lakes

Source: New Zealand Government Around 1,500 new homes are set to be built as part of the new Te Awa Lakes development thanks to the Government approving the use of an Infrastructure Funding and Financing (IFF) Act Levy for this development, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “To make New Zealand’s housing more affordable, our cities … Read more

Conflict – Israeli forces using Gaza playbook in Lebanon, decimating water infrastructure – Oxfam

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa Oxfam fears that Israel’s military blueprint of attacking water infrastructure, used throughout its genocide in Gaza, is now being rolled out across parts of Lebanon. Israeli forces are destroying water and sanitation infrastructure including strikes near sites that were being rehabilitated after having been destroyed or damaged in the last war, Oxfam analysis … Read more

Fuel crisis package: Nearly 150,000 families to receive $50 a week

Source: Radio New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis announcing the fuel support package on Tuesday. Samuel Rillstone/RNZ Almost 150,000 families will receive an extra $50 a week for up to a year to help ease the pain from soaring petrol prices driven up by the war in the Middle East. … Read more

Wellington businessman pleads not guilty to posting harmful digital communications

Source: Radio New Zealand The Wellington businessman appeared in Wellington District Court on Tuesday. RNZ / Alexander Robertson A Wellington businessman has pleaded not guilty to posting harmful digital communications. The 57-year-old man appeared in Wellington District Court on Tuesday on charges of making a Facebook post that would cause harm to an ordinary or … Read more

Man from religious organisation with Pacific links charged with rape, strangulation, indecent assault

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon Police have laid several serious charges against a man connected to a religious organisation with links around the Pacific. Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Baillie said a 45-year-old man would appear in the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday. “Police executing search warrants have arrested one person from a … Read more

Watch: $50 a week for some families as fuel crisis relief package unveiled

Source: Radio New Zealand People struggling with fuel costs will be eligible for an extra $50 a week – if they qualify for the in-work tax credit. Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced the support package at Parliament on Tuesday afternoon. It would be available from April 7. Petrol prices in some locations have reached $4 … Read more

Social Issues – Where is the support for benefit-dependent households? – CPAG

Source: Child Poverty Action Group Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is calling for an increase to the Winter Energy Payment (WEP) to help offset the current surge in an already desperate cost of living crisis for families living on core benefits. Minister Nicola Willis announced today that from April, 143,000 low-to-middle income families with working parents … Read more

Govt. response fails home support workers facing fuel crisis – must do better – PSA

Source: PSA Time to raise mileage allowance for first time in four years The Government’s decision to increase income support for low paid workers will not go far enough for 23,000 home support workers hit hardest by sharply rising petrol prices, and that a faster, simpler fix remains available right now. Today’s announcement on increases to … Read more

Discover a season of arts and sports mega events in Hong Kong

Source: Media Outreach HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 March 2026 – Hong Kong’s annual arts season moved into its peak last weekend with ComplexCon (21-22 March) returning for its third edition at AsiaWorld-Expo, bringing an eclectic blend of pop culture to the heart of Asia. It marks the start of a … Read more

NZ Drug Foundation – Alarming increase in low-level drug prosecutions undermining health efforts

Source: New Zealand Drug Foundation An alarming increase in drug possession charges is causing harm and undermining progress on health-based approaches, the Drug Foundation says. New Ministry of Justice data shows 2025 had the highest number of low-level charges for drug possession or use in a decade. Drug Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm says the … Read more

NZNO apologises for abuses in state care

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO apologises sincerely and unreservedly for the involvement of nurses in historic abuses in state care. The apology was made in a video by NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku and published today on the organisation’s website. It has already been shared with survivors and their whānau. https://www.nzno.org.nz/resources/apology_for_abuses_in_state_care NZNO has … Read more

Advocacy – Call for Ethical Review of University of Otago Corporate Partnership

Source: Statement by the Palestine Forum of New Zealand The Palestine Forum of New Zealand expresses deep concern regarding the reported partnership between the University of Otagoand Palo Alto Networks, a company with well-documented ties to Israel’s military and intelligence infrastructure. At a time when the world is witnessing unprecedented devastation in Gaza Strip and … Read more

Greenpeace – Worst in a generation, environmentalists slam Fisheries Reform Bill

Source: Greenpeace The Fisheries Amendment Bill, which will likely have its first reading in parliament this week, is being labelled the worst fisheries policy in a generation by environmental groups who are calling for it to be rejected to protect ocean health. The bill, pushed by Fisheries Minister Shane Jones, would significantly reduce public input on … Read more

Greenpeace – We need solutions not bandaids on the energy crisis

Source: Greenpeace Greenpeace is calling on the Government to implement actual solutions to the energy crisis, not just short-term band aids. The Government plans to release its response to the energy crisis today. “As a nation we need to free ourselves from fossil fuel dependency if we are to deal with the energy crisis and the … Read more

Universities – Climate in the courtroom- UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA) Around the world, climate lawsuits are reshaping environmental law. Experts in Auckland are examining what this means for New Zealand. The effects of climate change, government responses and accountability are debated by politicians, protested in the streets, and increasingly, tested in court. More than 3,000 climate litigation cases have been … Read more

Economy – RBNZ Governor discusses impact of Middle East conflict on NZ economy

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) 24 March 2026 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) is well positioned to handle the challenges to our price stability and financial stability mandates caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Governor Anna Breman says in a speech published today. “We are likely to see … Read more

Applications close for Molesworth farm operation

Source: New Zealand Government The application period has closed for operators seeking to run commercial farming at Molesworth Recreation Reserve, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “Rangitahi/Molesworth is New Zealand’s largest farm, with a long history of high-country farming alongside significant conservation, cultural and recreation values.” The Department of Conservation has received five applications through the … Read more

Landlords and tenants to be better off under more effective regulation

Source: New Zealand Government Landlords and tenants will be better off with effective regulation of residential property managers and organisations under a new Government-backed framework, Associate Minister of Housing Tama Potaka says. Under the proposed regime landlords and tenants will be able to check if a residential property manager and organisation is registered. There will … Read more

Government’s fossil fuel relief package fails to meet the crisis

Source: Green Party The Green Party says the Government’s fossil fuel crisis relief package leaves too many New Zealanders behind.  “The Luxon Government has turned its back on hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders, asking them to foot the bill for Trump’s war on Iran,” said Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson.  Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says, “The Government’s narrow tweaks to tax credits leaves behind the tens … Read more

Arrest in Operation Aurora

Source: New Zealand Police Please attribute the following to Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Baillie: Police executing search warrants have arrested one person from a religious organisation that has a presence in New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and Fiji. A 45-year-old man will appear in the Christchurch District Court today charged with unlawful sexual connection, indecent assault, … Read more

‘I got goosebumps’ – Te reo Māori song in new Ryan Gosling blockbuster

Source: Radio New Zealand A Hollywood film starring Ryan Gosling is drawing attention for featuring the track ‘Pō Atarau‘, believed to be a 1992 recording by Turakina Māori Girls’ College Choir. Project Hail Mary, about a science teacher on a lone mission to save the Earth, topped the New Zealand box office on its opening … Read more