Wanted to arrest: Xilin Huang and Gongbao Fang

August 27, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are seeking to locate Xilin Huang and Gongbao Fang, who have several warrants for their arrest.

Huang, 39, and Fang, 46, are wanted to arrest on numerous drugs offences including possession for supply of methamphetamine, and other controlled drugs.

It is believed the two Chinese Nationals may be working as tradesmen.

Police believe these men are in the Auckland region and locating them is a priority.

Any sightings of Huang or Fang should be reported to Police on 111 immediately.

If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact Police on 105, quoting file number 250728/9750.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police

Note to Editors: Two images are attached to this release

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Reminder: Consultation closing soon for second toll point on Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road

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August 27, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is reminding people that public consultation for the proposed second toll point on the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) will close at 5pm this Thursday, 28 August.

Susan Collins, Regional Manager of System Design for NZTA is encouraging anyone intending to make a submission to do so before the deadline.

“We’re committed to hearing from the community and value your input as part of this important process.”

As a reminder, motorists travelling the full length of the TELTR will only be charged one toll per journey.

This means drivers will either pay at the existing toll gantry or at the new toll point when entering or exiting via the Pāpāmoa East Interchange – not both.

Feedback plays a vital role in shaping the future of transport infrastructure in the region. Don’t miss the opportunity to have your say:

Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road

View larger map [PDF, 311 KB]

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New Business Investor Visa to boost investment and support business succession – BusinessNZ

LiveNews Publisher

August 27, 2025

Source: BusinessNZ

A new Business Investor Visa will encourage more foreign direct investment and give New Zealand business owners greater succession options, says BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich.

“This is a positive step in the Government’s programme to support foreign investment and attract international expertise, and will help ensure greater business continuity, giving owners more choices for succession planning.”

Mrs Rich welcomed the shift away from the previous entrepreneur visa model. “It’s good to see the criteria focused on the skills and experience of the individual, without the overly prescriptive business plan requirements that were in place under the old system.

“Attracting global business skills and expertise will deliver real benefits to our economy and our communities,” Mrs Rich said.

The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

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Science – Unveiling Cascade: A $35 Million Leap Towards New Zealand’s Technological Future – Earth Sciences

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August 27, 2025

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand

New Zealand’s newest and largest supercomputer has produced its first weather forecast.

Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Shane Reti was there to celebrate the milestone and to help deliver this first weather forecast at Earth Sciences New Zealand’s office in Auckland.

He says the $35 million investment into Cascade, and its data archive Rapids, signifies a huge investment in New Zealand’s future.

“The Government’s science reforms are about turning world-class research into economic value and resilience faster. With Earth Sciences New Zealand bringing together NIWA and GNS Science, we’ve unified capability across hazards, climate, oceans and the solid Earth. As we integrate MetService, New Zealanders will see more accurate, timely, impact-focused warnings. Investments like Cascade show how advanced technologies – including AI today and quantum tomorrow – grow productivity, lower costs, and keep people safe,” he says.

Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA) Transition Chief Executive John Morgan says Cascade is three times more powerful than its supercomputing predecessor, capable of computing speeds of 2.4 petaflops. It would take a human the equivalent of 32 million years to do a similar calculation.

“This represents significant advancements in our science capabilities. Not only can it provide earlier and more frequent forecasts, but it also supports simulations of oceanographic systems, freshwater dynamics, and seismic activity – helping us to model natural hazards, including floods, earthquakes, and droughts. This will be critical for mitigating the impacts of severe events such as Cyclone Gabrielle.

“It can also assess climate change impact, helping us understand our weather under long-term environmental shifts. This level of detail will be crucial. If we can look ahead a few months and say with confidence how the coming season will shape up, we will be able to better plan and protect our people and infrastructure,” said Mr Morgan.

In initial testing, Cascade performed better than expected, including in its energy efficiency. CDC’s datacentre, where the supercomputer is housed, gets its electricity from 100 per cent renewable sources, and its liquid cooling system minimises water use significantly by being a fully closed loop. This ensures the computer’s environmental footprint is as small as possible.

Crown-funded access to Cascade and Rapids mean New Zealand’s entire science sector will benefit from the new supercomputing capability.

“This machine is incredibly impressive, it takes New Zealand’s supercomputing infrastructure to a new level,” says Mr Morgan.

Cascade has been built by Earth Sciences New Zealand’s supercomputing team and vendors Xenon, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, CDC, and it builds on the technology platforms from VAST Data, Versity Software, Spectra Logic, and Altair.

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University Research – Scientists find new cause of high blood pressure – UoA

LiveNews Publisher

August 27, 2025

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Scientists at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland have discovered a previously unknown cause of high blood pressure.

Researchers at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland have discovered that a small organ, linked to the brain, contributes to high blood pressure, which is expected to improve treatment in the future.

The carotid body in the neck responds to low oxygen by making people breathe harder by stimulating the brain’s ‘fight or flight’ response.

Using a rat model, the scientists found that the ‘carotid body’ responds to high blood pressure by activating the sympathetic nervous system, similar to a ‘fight or flight’ response. Authors suggest that this may explain why some patients remain at high risk of cardiac events – heart attack and stroke – even when elevated blood pressure is brought down.

See Circulation Research.

“This is significant because we know that, for a lot of people, lowering their blood pressure doesn’t necessarily reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke,” says Dr Audrys Pauza, lead researcher.

“That means current medications are not working for all patients and could be treating the wrong culprit.”

Pauza likens it to trying to slow a speeding car by applying the brake (lowering blood pressure) but not reducing pressure on the accelerator (the carotid body).

There are currently two medications that reduce activity in the human carotid body, which could be candidates for reducing people’s risk of heart attacks and strokes. But first, scientists need to confirm humans respond in the same way as the rats in this study.

Professor Julian Paton, director of the University’s Manaaki Manawa, Centre for Heart Research, has already found in earlier studies that the activity of the carotid body is stimulated by the same mechanism in both rats and humans, meaning scientists are hopeful this discovery could help human patients in the future.

“We have found that the carotid body doesn’t just detect low oxygen and promote breathing, it actively causes high blood pressure,” Paton says. “If we can successfully target the carotid body, we may have a lot more success in both bringing blood pressure down and preventing heart attacks and strokes.”

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Government must front up on plans for Ministries – PSA

LiveNews Publisher

August 27, 2025

Source: PSA

Women, Māori, Pacific Peoples, and disabled people fought hard for a voice in government decision-making; their Ministries must not be taken away by a government struggling with a fiscal hole of its own making, says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi national secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons.

“From the Ministry of Women, in 1984, through to Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People, in 2022, each of these Ministries has only been established following a long fight by their respective communities for a voice in government.

“These standalone Ministries provide vital free and frank advice to the Government on the impact policies have on groups that can, otherwise, be overlooked.

“It is not good enough for the Government to avoid questions on its plans for these Ministries and try to hide behind the Public Service Commissioner. It is well-known that ACT wants to close them down. David Seymour even said he would like to see the Ministry for Pacific Peoples blown up.

“Along with its gutting of pay equity and clamp-down on the use of te reo Māori in the public sphere, this move is part of this Government’s attacks on under-represented New Zealanders. The hardworking staff of these Ministries deserve better than to be used as part of the Government’s culture wars.

“These Ministries cost less than 0.1% of the Government’s annual budget. That’s a tiny fraction of the money this Government has wasted on tax cuts for landlords and the ferry fiasco. The voice of under-represented New Zealanders should not be cut off because the Government is in a fiscal hole of its own making,” says Fitzsimons.

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NZ economy: Differences & Challenges – BusinessNZ

LiveNews Publisher

August 27, 2025

Source: BusinessNZ

BusinessNZ Chief Economist John Pask says the divide is reflected in a range of economic indicators including export sales, employment growth, unemployment rates, house price movements, construction activity and broader business and consumer activity.

Overall, however, international factors continue to influence all aspects of the economy.

“At the international level, the economic outlook remains challenging, although financial markets are becoming so used to pricing in upheavals and geopolitical risk that they are taking those challenges in their stride,” Mr Pask said.

“But for NZ, the challenges remain, and are resulting in low levels of demand and unwillingness to invest.

There are no quick fixes for any of these symptoms, however a good starting point would be to get more certainty in the business environment, and for NZ’s main political parties to reach a greater level of agreement on the issues affecting investment – particularly in much-needed infrastructure – rather than promising to cancel previous decisions whether they are sound or not.”

The BusinessNZ Economic Conditions Index, a measure of NZ’s major economic indicators) sits at 3 for the September 2025 quarter, an improvement of 2 on the previous quarter, and the same as a year ago. (An ECI reading above 0 indicates economic conditions are generally improving; below 0 that economic conditions are generally declining.)

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Greenpeace – Power company ‘vampires’ bleed households dry to fund 1.4 billion dollar shareholder payout

LiveNews Publisher

August 27, 2025

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace is labelling the big four power companies ‘vampires’, for an expected record payout of $1.4 billion to their shareholders. Mercury, Contact and Genesis have already announced an increase to their shareholder payouts in their annual results. The final gentailer, Meridian, is expected to confirm its increased shareholder payouts today and bring the total to $1.4 bn.

Stats NZ confirmed electricity prices jumped 4.9% in the June quarter, the steepest rise in over a decade, with prices increasing 10.4% in the year ended June. Consumer NZ found 20% of people have had difficulty paying their power bill in the past year – up from 18% last year.

“Families and businesses are being slammed by record high power bills, all so that the big four power companies can siphon off an expected $1.4 billion for their shareholders,” says Greenpeace Aotearoa campaigner Gen Toop

“This is corporate blood-sucking at its most brutal”.

“Instead of re-investing their revenue into building more clean, cheap renewables that would bring power bills down, these corporate vampires are bleeding households and the economy dry to fund their record shareholder payout. And the Government is just letting them do it.”

This year Contact Energy increased its total payout to $384 million, Mercury paid $202 million despite its profits collapsing to just $1m, and Genesis Energy handed out $157 million, even as it hiked household bills by 7.6% and corporate bills by 10.6%.

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New Business Investor Visa to support growth

LiveNews Publisher

August 27, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is modernising visa settings to attract experienced businesspeople to help grow New Zealand’s future.
“The Business Investor Visa (BIV) will provide a pathway to residence for business migrants who are ready to invest in, operate and grow established businesses here,” Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says.
“This new visa will bring overseas investment to maintain and create jobs, grow incomes, and breathe new life into existing businesses across the country.”
The new Business Investor Visa, which opens for applications in November 2025, offers two investment options:
• A $1 million investment in an existing business, with a three-year work-to-residence pathway.
• A $2 million investment in an existing business, with a 12-month fast-track to residence pathway.
“We are introducing a more targeted pathway for experienced businesspeople with capital to invest and the hands-on experience and skills needed to run a successful business. It has clearer settings that are easier for applicants to understand and for Immigration New Zealand to process, and it’s designed to deliver real economic benefits.
“The Business Investor Visa forms part of our broader refresh of business visa settings, alongside our improved Active Investor Plus visa.
The introduction of the Business Investor Visa sees the retirement of the Entrepreneur Category. It had low application volumes, high decline rates, and didn’t deliver strong economic impacts.
“Work is also underway on a visa pathway for startup-entrepreneurs with scalable, innovative business ideas, designed to complement existing settings and complete the suite.
“Our Government is focused on smart, flexible and nuanced immigration solutions to help stimulate the New Zealand economy. These changes will help bring brighter days ahead for all Kiwis,” Ms Stanford says.

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Consumer NZ – Rising cost of insurance prompts call for action on affordability and climate risks

LiveNews Publisher

August 27, 2025

Source: Consumer NZ

Consumer NZ releases a sobering report that highlights how house insurance is becoming increasingly out of reach for New Zealanders.

Consumer NZ’s report reveals that house insurance costs have risen by a staggering 916% since 2000, according to Stats NZ. Consumer calls for urgent action to prevent insurance becoming inaccessible for New Zealanders.

The consumer watchdog is calling on central government to take the lead and work with local government and insurers on a national solution to ensure insurance remains available and affordable. Consumer wants to see the development of a climate adaptation framework, increased oversight of the insurance industry and increased consumer protections.

“Insurance is getting harder to access and the need for it will only grow,” says Rebecca Styles, Consumer investigative team leader and author of the report ‘Will you be able to get home Insurance by 2035?’

“If we don’t act now, it’s entirely possible that many New Zealanders won’t be able to get insurance at all by 2035,” says Styles.

A crisis of cost and access

Among those without cover, more have cancelled or not renewed their house insurance because of cost. Up from 7% in 2022 to 17% in 2025.

“Insurance now ranks as one of New Zealanders’ top four financial concerns, behind housing, food and household debt,” says Styles.

“Our research shows people are dropping cover or being priced out entirely, and this will only get worse without serious intervention.”

The report includes major concerns with how the market is working, noting:

low trust in insurers, with dissatisfaction in claims handling and poor communication

a lack of transparency in risk-based pricing, leaving homeowners unclear about what they’re paying for

limited ability to shop around, especially in high-risk areas where quotes are hard to get

insurers’ profits rebounding, with trans-Tasman companies appearing to be charging New Zealanders more than Australians for equivalent cover.

Consumer is calling for action on five fronts

1. An effective government-led national climate adaptation framework

This framework should identify homes at risk and outline mitigation or retreat options. Nearly three-quarters of New Zealanders agree such a plan is urgently needed.

2. Greater oversight of the insurance industry

The FMA should investigate whether risk-based insurance pricing is being applied fairly.

The Commerce Commission should carry out a market study into competition and consumer choice in the house insurance sector.

3. Improved transparency and claims standards

Insurers should clearly show how risk affects pricing and explain policy and price changes when policies are renewed.

There should be set time frames for settling claims, with consequences for unreasonable delays.

4. Stronger consumer tools and innovation

Improve access to online quotes, comparison tools and risk data for homeowners.

Insurers should incentivise resilience, for example, by rewarding homeowners who take steps to reduce flood risks around their homes.

5. A stronger national safety net

The government should ensure the Natural Hazards Commission is future fit to serve communities facing the challenges of climate change.

“If insurance becomes a luxury only available to a privileged few, the impacts on communities, our economy and society will be severe. We need a plan, and we need to start implementing that plan now.”

The Brian Gaynor Initiatives – Business Writing and Journalism Excellence Award made it possible for Consumer’s investigative team leader Rebecca Styles to pursue this topic.

Read the Full Report: https://consumernz.cmail20.com/t/i-l-firudkl-ijjdkdttjk-j/

About Consumer

Consumer NZ is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to championing and empowering consumers in Aotearoa. Consumer NZ has a reputation for being fair, impartial and providing comprehensive consumer information and advice.

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