Rothman Consumer Reputation Index 2026: In Central and Eastern Europe, China Is Closing the Consumer Trust Gap with the West

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Source: Media Outreach Consumer trust in the four most reputable Asian countries, China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, has strengthened significantly in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) over the past five years. Western Europe’s reputation in the region has remained stable, but trust in the United States has declined sharply, the Rothman Intelligence Unit’s 2026 … Read more

Update: Body found in search for Braydon Hepworth

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Source: New Zealand Police Attribute to Detective Inspector Scott Anderson, Christchurch Metro Crime: Police have located the body of a person during a search warrant at a residential property on Hereford Street, Christchurch, this morning. Formal identification procedures are under way, however, we believe this to be missing 21-year-old Braydon Hepworth. The death is being…

EU Rules and Supply Limits Test Asia’s Access to Key Export Markets as Plasticity Forum Returns to Malaysia for Solutions

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Source: Media Outreach Why manufacturers, businesses, brands and policymakers across Asia-Pacific should be in the room as new rules reshape how materials move. KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 October 2026 – Companies selling into Europe are about to find out whether their supply chains are ready for the rules. On 21 … Read more

Reserve Bank of NZ Recruitment for two new Assistant Governors and Chief of Staff underway

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Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua 8 October 2026 The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua (RBNZ) has commenced recruitment for the two new roles of Assistant Governor Monetary Policy and Assistant Governor Payments and Cash. The new roles follow the departure of Assistant Governor Money Karen Silk, … Read more

Homicide investigation launched: Dargaville

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Source: New Zealand Police A homicide investigation is underway following the death of a man in Dargaville.  Police were called to Hoeroa Street at around 2.40pm yesterday after a man was found deceased at a residential address.  Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer, Whangārei CIB, says an investigation is now in the early stages to determine…

Okinawa City schools strengthen digital learning with Alcatel-Lucent’s Wi-Fi 7 network

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Source: Media Outreach Future-ready infrastructure supports digital learning across 24 schools and approximately 10,000 students OKINAWA, JAPAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 October 2026 – ALE International, operating under the trade name Alcatel-Lucent, in collaboration with Rikei and Prostaff, has deployed a future-ready Wi-Fi 7 network for the Okinawa City Board of Education, supporting … Read more

ASB Business Survey: Energy now a top two concern for Kiwi businesses

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Source: ASB Bank 8 October 2026 Energy is now the second biggest concern of Kiwi businesses, with 73% concerned about current energy costs, closely behind the 79% concerned about general economic uncertainty. Fewer than 40% of businesses expect they could continue operating for more than three days if their primary energy source was down. ASB … Read more

Election 2026 – GPs demand next government to fund the work that keeps patients healthy and general practice open

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Source: Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners 8 October 2026 Almost half of specialist GPs’ work takes place outside funded face-to-face consultations. This work is essential to safe patient care, but the health system often relies on GPs and practices to absorb the cost or recover it from patients, creating further barriers to equitable … Read more

Expect a checkpoint – anytime, anywhere

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Source: New Zealand Police Southland Police are disappointed by the high number of people drink driving in the region last weekend. From Friday to Sunday, Police apprehended 20 people for drink driving offences: 16 around Invercargill, 2 in Tuatapere, 1 in Gore, and 1 in Te Anau. Acting Senior Sergeant Blair Shirley says if you’re…

RMA national direction reforms complete

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Source: New Zealand Government The Government has completed the biggest overhaul of national direction in the history of the Resource Management Act – with the final changes making it faster, easier and more affordable to build and upgrade New Zealand’s electricity and telecommunications networks, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says. “Over the past two years…

More Kiwis choosing teaching

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Source: New Zealand Government More New Zealanders are choosing to become teachers, with initial teacher education enrolments up 40 per cent since 2023. Education Minister Erica Stanford says the increase shows more Kiwis want to be part of New Zealand’s teaching workforce. “We’ve had a real focus on getting more New Zealanders into teaching so…

A lesson in consequences for burglar

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Source: New Zealand Police Playtime is over for an alleged burglar who targeted childcare centres and kindergartens in south Auckland. Across September and October of this year, Police received six reports of break-ins at early learning facilities in the Papatoetoe and Ōtāhuhu areas. A range of items, including electronics and cash, were allegedly taken at…

Improving the assessment of medical devices

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Source: PHARMAC Medical Devices Director, Catherine Epps, says Pharmac and Health NZ are working together on a coordinated national approach to medical device assessment, with a strong focus on improving transparency and collaboration. “Our goal is to make assessment processes clearer, engage meaningfully with suppliers and clinical communities in the design of these processes, and…

More psychology hubs to grow the frontline

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Source: New Zealand Government The Government is growing the frontline psychology workforce by ensuring more psychology students have access to internships, with the number of Psychology Intern Hubs increasing next year, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey says. “We know there are students coming through our universities who want to become psychologists, but getting the…

Strengthening the Pharmaceutical Schedule

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Source: PHARMAC The Schedule is key to medicines funding in New Zealand. It lists the medicines publicly funded for New Zealanders, and the medical devices used in public hospitals. It’s used by health professionals to check what is funded, understand any conditions that apply, and ensure people receive the funded treatments they are eligible for.…

Bringing funded flu vaccines forward for under 5s

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Source: PHARMAC When influenza cases among young children rose sharply this season, Pharmac was able to move quickly and widen access immediately, making funded flu vaccination available for all children aged 6 months up to their fifth birthday, from 1 September 2026. Director Pharmaceuticals, Geraldine MacGibbon, says the change means 260,000 tamariki are now eligible…

Next stage of Pharmac improvement programme underway

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Source: PHARMAC The Timely Assessment Programme (TAP) marks the next phase of Pharmac’s organisation-wide improvement work. The programme will be delivered over the next four years and build on the progress made through the Reset Programme and the Consumer and Patient Working Group, which concluded at the end of June. Director Strategy, Policy & Performance, Michael…

Changes to support increased access to Estradiol TDP Mylan amid ongoing Estradot supply constraints

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Source: PHARMAC Pharmac Chief Advisor, Pharmaceuticals, Adrienne Martin says two oestradiol patch brands, Estradiol TDP Mylan and Estradot, are funded in New Zealand and are used as hormone replacement therapy to manage menopause symptoms. People using Estradiol TDP Mylan patches can now collect more patches at once, meaning fewer trips to the pharmacy and a…

Universities – Finding the ‘sweet spot’ for online reviews – UoA

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Source: University of Auckland (UoA) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2026 Five stars might catch your eye, but it’s how a review is written that determines how helpful it actually is, according to new University of Auckland research. Looking for a top-rated movie or a captivating new book? Chances are you’ll check a few reviews first. You … Read more

Updated: Kids waiting in pain as children’s dental service starved of funding – new report

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Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Key findings: Children’s dental workers report long waitlists and children in pain. A system stretched by staff shortages, lack of investment in equipment and infrastructure, and a lack of clerical support. Free dental care for young people shows how a properly funded free system could work … Read more

Home support workers can’t afford to do their jobs as petrol prices hit record high

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Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi As petrol prices hit an all-time high this week, 23,000 home support workers are struggling to make ends meet while the Government is silent on a review of their mileage rate. “These workers travel between clients all day caring for elderly and disabled New Zealanders in … Read more

First Responders – Walter Peak Update #7

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Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Cooler temperatures and light rain overnight have helped suppress the vegetation fire at Walter Peak, providing firefighters with more favourable conditions as operations continue today. An early morning flight found that the fire has significantly reduced, with no visible flames observed around the fire perimeter. District Commander Blair Kiely … Read more

First Responders – Walter Peak Fire Update #6

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Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Firefighters will work until dusk this evening as they continue to tackle the vegetation fire burning in the high country above Lake Whakatipu. The fire is estimated to have burnt 1,400 hectares of mainly tussock and scrub, with areas of trees. It is not yet controlled or contained, with … Read more

Northland News – Award for outstanding botany work goes to NRC staffer

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Source: Northland Regional Council A Northland Regional Council botanist has received a national award from the New Zealand Botanical Society to acknowledge her outstanding contribution and work over a more than 40-year career. Council’s Biodiversity Manager Lisa Forester was officially presented with the ‘Allan Mere award’ at a ceremony in Auckland last night. (subs: Weds … Read more

NZ home-building costs rise at fastest pace since 2022 – Cotality

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Source: Cotality New Zealand New Zealand home-building costs rose 1.7% in the September quarter, the fastest quarterly increase since late 2022, as higher material prices and increasing construction activity added to cost pressures. The latest Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI) shows the quarterly increase accelerated from rises of between 0.9% and 1.1% during the previous … Read more

No off-season for copper thieves

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Source: New Zealand Police Attribute to Inspector Peter Cooper, Area Commander – Canterbury Rural:  Police have identified an emerging series of thefts involving the removal of copper cabling from centre pivot and lateral irrigation systems throughout North Canterbury.  Our enquiries have identified 12 occurrences across Swannanoa, West Eyreton, Fernside, Oxford and Darfield.  Current reported losses…