Work about to begin for State Highway 2/Moonshine Hill Road safety improvements

August 29, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

People travelling on State Highway 2 through Upper Hutt can expect to see activity at one of its more notorious intersections with safety improvement nightworks beginning in September.

Safety upgrades for the SH2/Moonshine Road intersection were confirmed by the Minister of Transport in July.

SH2 Riverstone Terraces safety upgrades(external link)

The upgrades will see new traffic lights installed at the intersection to reduce crash risk, and extra safety measures put in place to protect cyclists. The new measures are a response to community concerns about the intersection’s safety.

SH2 Moonshine Hill Road intersection

Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Alliance Manager, says construction work is about to begin at the intersection.

“We have brought the schedule forward slightly from the earlier planned start date of October. This is because we want to make sure the intersection is complete and operating before the end of year holiday season.”

“Initially, contractors will do ground and pavement investigations and minor concrete works. Construction will begin around 21 September. Road users can expect to see heavy machinery near this intersection day and night, but the road will be fully open during the day and weekends,” Ms Hilliard says.

Safety benefits

The new design and introduction of traffic lights will help vehicles move through the intersection more safely and will help avoid confusion and crashes. A traffic light-controlled intersection will significantly reduce the risk of crashes from vehicles turning across this busy section of State Highway 2.

Ms Hilliard says while people may think traffic lights will slow people down, safer intersections help prevent the significant disruption crashes cause.

“Serious crashes can and do close roads and, when they require a full police investigation, these closures can last for hours, and even minor crashes can have major impacts on traffic flows.”

“Add into that the devastating impact serious crashes have on victims and their families, making intersections like this safer is the right thing to do,” Ms Hilliard says.

View larger intersection upgrade map [PDF, 2.2 MB]

Other works

The Moonshine Hill Road project coincides with planned resurfacing work on State Highway 2 between Moonshine Hill Road and Totara Park Road. It is scheduled to run from mid-September to late October. The two programmes will require weeknight road closures and local road detours.

Ms Hilliard says it means drivers and Riverstone Terrace residents can expect some disruption and delays when accessing State Highway 2 while both projects are completed.

View larger detour map [PDF, 79 KB]

Riverstone Terraces access

While Riverstone Terraces will be within the road closure area, residents will retain access to their properties.

This will only be available via the northbound lanes on State Highway 2 – residents will need to enter this section of the highway from Silverstream and travel north towards Moonshine Hill Road.

Drivers will also have to stop at a waiting area for a short period before being allowed through. This is to ensure contractors are aware of traffic movements and can allow drivers to safely move through the works area.

Speed review consultation

The intersection changes are just part of the planned safety improvements for this section of State Highway 2. Consultation continues on a proposal to reduce the speed limit from 100 km/h to 80 km/h. This is due to close on Friday, 12 September.

Further announcements will be made after submissions have been considered and analysed, and a decision made by the Director of Land Transport.

The outcome of the consultation will inform what speed signs are installed at the State Highway 2/Moonshine Hill Road intersection once it is finished.

View larger speed limit review map [PDF, 444 KB]

More information

SH2 Hutt Valley intersection safety improvements – Moonshine Hill Road

Moonshine Hill Road to north of Whakatiki Street – Speed Review

MIL OSI

Privacy News – August 2025

LiveNews Publisher

August 29, 2025

Source: Privacy Commissioner

29 Aug 2025, 09:00

Read about the Biometrics Code, the Device Location Information (DLI) service, and a new Compliance Comment we’ve published. Our privacy tool, Poupou Matatapu, has also been shortlisted for one of the Global Privacy and Data Protection Awards. Read the August 2025 issue.

MIL OSI

Dataplugs launches Tokyo Dedicated Servers to power low‑latency workloads across Japan and Asia-Pacific

MIL OSI

August 29, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 August 2025 – Dataplugs announced the launch of its Tokyo Dedicated Server platform, bringing enterprise‑grade bare metal performance, low‑latency connectivity, and 24/7 onsite technical support to customers targeting Japan and the wider Asia‑Pacific region. The new location is engineered for latency‑sensitive workloads and compliance‑focused deployments, with a default 250Mbps BGP International bandwidth and an optional upgrade to CN2 Direct China routing for optimized access to Mainland China.

Low‑Latency Performance Across APAC

Built in state‑of‑the‑art Tokyo data centers, the platform delivers fast, consistent reach across Japan, China, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. Dataplugs’ BGP‑optimized multi‑carrier backbone and 99.9% network uptime help ensure responsive user experiences for real‑time applications.

High‑Speed Connectivity and Stability

Default 250Mbps BGP International Bandwidth, unmetered traffic
Optional CN2 Direct China routing for reduced latency to Mainland China
BGP multi‑carrier architecture for resilience and route optimization
99.9% network uptime backed by redundant power and network infrastructure

Enterprise Hardware and Rapid Provisioning

Latest‑generation Intel Xeon and AMD EPYC CPUs
NVMe SSD storage and ECC DDR4/DDR5 memory
Dedicated IPMI out‑of‑band management
Preconfigured servers deploy within 1 hour

Security, Management, and Add‑ons

Anti‑DDoS protection
Acronis Backup Service
Web Application Firewall (WAF)
Bandwidth Upgrades and Managed Services

Designed for Demanding Use Cases

Ideal for e-commerce, gaming, financial trading, RTC/communications, AI/ML pipelines, video streaming, and other mission‑critical workloads that require consistent throughput and predictable performance in Japan and across APAC.

Executive Statement

“With our Tokyo Dedicated Servers, customers gain strategic access to Japan and the broader Asia‑Pacific region,” said a Dataplugs spokesperson. “The combination of default 250Mbps BGP International connectivity, an optional CN2 Direct China upgrade, and enterprise hardware gives teams the performance headroom and routing flexibility they need to scale with confidence.”

Availability and Links

Tokyo Dedicated Servers are available now. For configurations and deployment options, please visit:
Dataplugs Homepage: https://www.dataplugs.com/en/
Japan Dedicated Server: https://www.dataplugs.com/en/product/japan-dedicated-server/

https://www.dataplugs.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dataplugs-limited/
https://x.com/dataplugs
https://www.facebook.com/dataplugs

Hashtag: #Dataplugs #DedicatedServers

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

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

Appeal for information to locate missing man, Chartwell

LiveNews Publisher

August 29, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are continuing to appeal to the public for sightings of missing 39-year-old Aydan, who has not been seen for nearly two weeks.

Aydan was last seen in Chartwell in the early hours Sunday 17 August in Snell Drive, believed to be driving his 2016 Grey Mazda ute, registration QYA209.

Police and Aydan’s family have serious concerns for his wellbeing.

We’re asking any residents of Snell Drive, or the surrounding areas to please check any CCTV or dashcam footage for sightings of this vehicle between 9pm on Saturday 16 August and 4am Sunday 17 August.

We also ask that anybody who sees a vehicle matching the above description, to please get in contact with Police.

If you have any information, please contact Police via 105, either over the phone or online, referencing file number 250819/5160.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

Man arrested for burglary, theft, assaulting a dog handler and police dog

LiveNews Publisher

August 29, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Inspector Andrea McBeth, Hamilton City Area Commander:

One man has been arrested for stealing a phone off a passerby, cash from one restaurant and attempting to steal cash from another restaurant in central Hamilton yesterday evening.

At about 9.30pm last night Police were made aware of a man who had stolen a mobile phone from a member of the public walking near Alma Street.

The same man had been seen earlier in the evening, stealing cash from the till at a Victoria Street restaurant and attempting to steal cash from an Alma Street restaurant before staff members intervened.

The man ran towards the river path with the stolen phone and Police moved swiftly to locate him outside a nearby Mexican restaurant.

While police were placing him under arrest he smashed a glass storefront window of a business premises. The offender then threw shards of glass at a dog handler and Police dog, causing the handler to receive cuts to his hand, and the dog to suffer cuts to his paws.

The offender also received large gashes to his own arm while in the process of breaking the window, and a dog bite after the Police dog was deployed to aid in his arrest.

During this apprehension, another man has intervened, who was then arrested and charged with obstruction.

This was a cowardly assault on our staff and dog, and the violent behaviour exhibited last night is not acceptable.

This arrest serves as a clear message to anyone who steals from retailers or the public and assaults Police executing their duty. We do not condone this offending and if people choose to engage in this behaviour they can expect to be held to account.

We continue to ask our retailers to report any offending – reporting offences is the first step to help Police locate these individuals and put them before the court.

The dog handler and dog are receiving support and both are expected to make a full recovery.

The offender was taken to hospital by ambulance for medical attention.

A 35-year-old man has been charged with aggravated assault, assaulting Police, burglary and receiving property.

A 50-year-old local man has been charged with assaulting and obstructing Police and injuring a Police dog.

Both appeared in the Hamilton District Court today and the 35-year-old has been remanded in custody to appear at a later date.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.

MIL OSI

Seconds count: New tech already proving its worth

LiveNews Publisher

August 29, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

A world-first tool to assist emergency services in locating people in need is proving it’s weight in gold after being put to the test this week.

The Device Location Information (DLI) technology was launched last week, making it faster for Police to narrow the search area for people who are unable or unwilling to say where they are, in circumstances where it is neccessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to the life or health of the individual concerned or another individual.

Northern Emergency Communications and Dispatch Centre Manager, Inspector Dan Weir, says the technology can be used by emergency services to find the network location of a mobile phone of the person in need.

“Last night, Police received a report of a person with an intellectual disability missing from their home in Matamata.

“The person hadn’t been seen for 30 minutes and had left their Wandatrak at home; it was raining and the persons family were becoming increasingly worried.”

Inspector Weir says the decision was made to allow the DLI service to be used, sending officers to the person’s location at a nearby park.

“The person was returned home 37 minutes after being reported missing, which is an incredible result.

“When every second counts, this service is yet another tool to help our teams get people the help they need to keep them safe.

“One of the most stressful parts of our job is trying to find out where people are when they’re distressed and in need of help but can’t tell us or don’t know where they are, or equally if someone is reporting a loved one missing and doesn’t know where they could be.”

The DLI service delivers an improvement on the previous capability, which meant manual requests had to be made to mobile network operators to try and locate a device.

“Earlier in the week the service was used to assist in locating a person who’s family had immediate concerns for their welfare.

“The person was found after being involved in a single vehicle crash in Piha, thankfully uninured, and was able to get the help they needed.

“Time can often be the difference between life and death and we’re thrilled to have access to this service.”

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

MIL OSI

Nearly 60% of Wildberries Pickup Points Are Run by Women, Company Survey Finds

MIL OSI

August 29, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 August 2025 – Wildberries, a leading digital platform in Eurasia, carried out a study finding that the majority of owners of its marketplace pickup points are women who started their business on their own.

A survey conducted among nearly 700 respondents showed that 59% of pickup points are owned by women aged 36 to 45, who are married and raising multiple children. Meanwhile, 76% of respondents said they opened their pickup points independently, and 74% said their partnership with Wildberries marked their first entry into entrepreneurship.

Wildberries’ marketplace infrastructure relies on a network of more than 87,000 pickup points across eight countries of operation, more than three-fourths of which are run by local entrepreneurs under a franchise model. Pickup points offer customers a convenient alternative to home delivery while creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs to open their own pickup point as part of the Wildberries network.

Support for women and entrepreneurship lies at the heart of the Wildberries story. The company was founded in 2004 by Tatyana Kim, who was on maternity leave and wanted to make shopping easier for young mothers. She is now the mother of seven children.

Today Wildberries actively supports the development of SMEs, as well as women’s entrepreneurship and tech education, in the countries where it operates. Of the more than 1 million sellers on Wildberries, 58% are women.

“Digital platforms open new opportunities for women entrepreneurs, boosting their business activity and engagement in the economy,” Tatyana Kim said at the Central Asian International Economic Forum in Tajikistan last month. “This is an important step towards greater gender balance, financial independence and new horizons for the development of women’s entrepreneurship in the region.”

In 2024, Wildberries signed a memorandum with the Association of Women and Girls of Uzbekistan to support women’s entrepreneurship in the country, and in 2025, the company became a partner of the Women in Tech Kyrgyzstan initiative.

Hashtag: #Wildberries

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

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

Tasman flood waste recovery receives $2M boost

LiveNews Publisher

August 29, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has granted Tasman District Council up to $2 million to support the region’s recovery from the severe flooding this winter, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says.

The grant – drawn from the recently established emergency waste funding – will help cover the costs of flood-related waste cleanup, waste and resource recovery infrastructure repairs, and the removal of silt from affected properties.

“The Tasman district was hit multiple times by severe flooding this winter, leaving in its wake vast volumes of waste from households, orchards and farms, the scale of which was beyond the region’s capacity to manage alone,” Ms Simmonds says.

“I understand growers in Riwaka and other settlements along the Motueka River have been among the hardest hit, with many facing devastating crop losses and serious damage to essential infrastructure like sheds, cool stores, packhouses and worker accommodation.

“Silt has also been a major challenge for the region, with thick deposits left across orchards, paddocks and residential areas, making clean-up efforts more complex and costly.

“The impact on livelihoods and the wider community is significant, and this funding will help ease the clean-up costs and support the council and community as they continue to recover.”

Ms Simmonds says the emergency waste funding was set up to help councils with the cost of managing waste following an emergency, giving them timely access to a cash injection when communities most need it.

“The Government is committed to supporting councils and communities in dealing with the aftermath of severe weather.

“Tasman has a long recovery ahead, and this funding will help ease some of the pressure and support the community as it gets back on its feet.”

To further support the council, the Ministry for the Environment is helping it apply for a waiver of the waste disposal levy to further reduce the financial burden of disposing of silt and other flood-related waste.

“We know how hard people have been working to clean up and rebuild, and we’re grateful for the resilience and care they’ve shown for one another.”

For further information visit: Emergency waste funding | Ministry for the Environment

MIL OSI

More than 60% of Malaysians Lack Vitamin D Alpro Pharmacy Subsidises RM1.6 Million for Project :D to Tackle Malaysia’s Silent Vitamin D Crisis

MIL OSI

August 29, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 August 2025 – Despite Malaysia’s year-round sunshine, Vitamin D insufficiency has become a widespread and often overlooked health challenge. A systematic review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2022) reported that 64% of Malaysians have suboptimal Vitamin D levels, while more than 20% are deficient. Pregnant women are among the most vulnerable, with a study in Nutrients (2022) finding that up to 96% of expectant mothers were deficient by the time of delivery. It can weaken bones, increase the risk of fractures and falls among the elderly, compromise immunity, affect mood and energy, and in pregnancy it is linked to gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, and impaired bone development in newborns.

(From Left: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Shahezwan Abd Wahab (Project leader and Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation, UiTM); Prof. Winnie Chee Siew Swee (Professor, Nutrition & Dietetics, IMU University; Director, Institute of Research, Development and Innovation, IRDI); Ms Elsie Low (General Manager of Powerlife Malaysia); Pharmacist Ng Yi Ling (Professional Care & Development Manager, Alpro Pharmacy); Dr. Ng Ming Lee (Medical Director, Alpro Clinic); Dr Nagammai Thiagarajan (Vice President, Malaysian Falls Prevention Network, MyFalls); Mr. Too Jia Leong (Managing Director, Global Science)

To confront this widespread and often overlooked health challenge, Alpro Pharmacy has launched Project 😀 with an RM1.6 million nationwide subsidy, making Vitamin D testing and education accessible to Malaysians. The initiative aims to screen 30,000 people, raise awareness, and provide personalised counselling by pharmacists, doctors, and dietitians.

Project 😀 will begin in September 2025 with 30 pilot outlets, before expanding nationwide in October 2025. Screening is priced at RM1 ONLY for high-risk groups (elderly, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, or individuals with limited sun exposure) and RM15 for the general public (normal price RM35). Each test comes with professional counselling and a tailored health plan.

“Vitamin D deficiency is more than a nutritional issue; it is a public health challenge that affects immunity, mood, energy, and even the risk of falls among our elderly. At Alpro, we believe every Malaysian deserves access to the tools and care they need to live healthier, brighter lives. Project 😀 is our commitment to walk this journey together with the public — towards a healthier and vibrant Malaysia,” said Ph. Lim En Ni, Chief Pharmacist and Engagement Director of Alpro Pharmacy.

Supporting this mission, Powerlife, a leading health supplement provider in Malaysia, has stepped forward as the main partner of Project :D. They have contributed 300 advanced Vitamin D analysers to Alpro outlets nationwide. These devices, powered by Global Science’s handheld fluorescence technology, deliver accurate results within minutes and bridge the accessibility gap between costly laboratory tests and less reliable rapid kits.

To strengthen the initiative’s long-term impact, Alpro is also collaborating with two leading academic institutions. The International Medical University (IMU) will conduct research on Vitamin D’s role in maternal and infant health, while Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) will study its impact on elderly care, particularly in preventing falls and fractures.

Our research is not just about data — it is about people. By understanding how Vitamin D shapes the health of mothers, babies, children & adolescents and the elderly, we can turn science into action. Through this collaboration with Alpro, we are taking meaningful steps to improve lives in Malaysia,” said Professor Winnie Chee, Professor of Nutrition & Dietetics at IMU and Director of the Institute of Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI).

Beyond screenings, Project 😀 will also roll out educational campaigns, community talks, and awareness programmes in partnership with MyFalls, focusing on fall prevention among the elderly and raising awareness of the crucial role Vitamin D plays in everyday wellness.

Malaysians are encouraged to take the first step towards better health by joining Project :D. Visit your nearest Alpro Pharmacy or Alpro Clinic to learn more and locate participating outlets. For updates and expert advice, follow Alpro Pharmacy’s official social media channels.

Hashtag: #AlproPharmacy

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

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

CUHK Faculty of Education Leads Global Innovation in Education Research and Teaching

MIL OSI

August 29, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 August 2025 – The Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Education continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in education, achieving remarkable rankings across international university assessments and pioneering groundbreaking research in educational innovation.

Global Excellence Recognized
The Faculty of Education has secured outstanding positions in prestigious global rankings, placing #20 in Education (QS World University Rankings 2025), #11 in Education Studies (Times Higher Education 2025), and an impressive 2nd place globally in Education & Educational Research (U.S. News & World Report 2025-2026). These achievements reflect the Faculty’s commitment to excellence in both research and teaching, as further highlighted by the recognition of 13 faculty members among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University in 2024.

Through its four specialised departments—Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Administration and Policy, Educational Psychology, and Sports Science and Physical Education—the Faculty offers a comprehensive range of postgraduate programmes including doctoral degrees, master’s degrees, and postgraduate diplomas in Education, nurturing and empowering the next generation of outstanding educators to transform education responsibly to meet the society’s evolving needs.

Pioneering Research and Innovation
As a dynamic academic hub, the Faculty pioneers educational research and scholarship in Hong Kong, sharing insights with researchers, scholars, school leaders, and practitioners through conferences and seminars. Through the Centre for University and School Partnership (CUSP), the Faculty maintains strong connections with over 2,000 educational institutions and has successfully completed more than 45 development and research projects, focusing on quality education, positive learning environments, small class teaching, strong curriculum leadership and development in kindergartens, financial literacy for children, and gifted education programmes.

The Faculty’s commitment to innovation is evident in its current research projects, which address crucial contemporary education areas and challenges such as AI in education, curriculum reform, and academic integrity in the age of generative AI. A standout example is the Robot for Autism Behavioral Intervention (RABI) project, led by Professor Catherine So of the Department of Educational Psychology, which advances autism diagnosis and early intervention through robotics. The project earned international recognition, receiving the Silver Award in the “Access, Diversity, and Inclusion” category at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2024.

Professor Catherine So’s Robot for Autism Behavioral Intervention (RABI) project received the Silver Award in the “Access, Diversity, and Inclusion” category at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2024. The recognition highlights RABI’s impactful contribution in improving social and behavioral skills among more than 2,500 autistic individuals aged 3 to 18 since its launch in 2020

International Student Success
The Faculty’s global impact is reflected in its diverse student body of over 2,600 students. Dr. Ma. Jenina Nalipay, a recent PhD graduate from the Philippines, highlights the Faculty’s strength in nurturing international talent: “CUHK has provided me with numerous opportunities to flourish as a PhD student and prepare for success after graduation. The holistic approach to student development and excellent supervision have been invaluable to my career goals.”

Dr. Ma. Jenina Nalipay (right) valued the holistic education at CUHK, which enriched her academic journey through interdisciplinary research training with local and international scholars.

Looking to the Future
As education continues to evolve, the Faculty remains dedicated to its vision of nurturing the next generation of educators and education leaders with global perspectives. Its focus on combining research excellence with practical application ensures graduates are well-equipped to address future educational challenges.

Discover the diverse postgraduate programmes offered by CUHK’s Faculty of Education: https://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/admissions/programme/education.

Application for the 2026-27 intake starts from 1 September 2025. CUHK provides a wide range of scholarships and financial support for outstanding students to pursue their postgraduate studies at CUHK. Join the upcoming CUHK Postgraduate Virtual Info Week 2025 to learn more: https://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/admissions/admissions/admission-events.

Hashtag: #CUHK

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

– Published and distributed with permission of

Media-Outreach.com.

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