Source: New Zealand Police
Media are asked to remove the additional charges listed in our original media release on the youth charged with the murder of Kaea Karauria, as ordered by the Judge in Napier Youth Court today.
This is due to the charges being a separate matter to the murder charge, and these charges will go through separate Court proceedings.
We ask media to please update any stories to reflect this.
Thank you for your understanding.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Media Outreach
In the author’s view, the marketing field is plagued by intuitive yet fundamentally flawed assumptions that lead even seasoned, well-meaning businesspeople to repeat the same avoidable mistakes.
“The good news”, said Labarthe, “is that successful marketing is more accessible than most businesspeople realize. Thanks to the work of some smart, often contrarian thinkers, we now know much more about what to commit to and what to avoid. It’s thinking that’s starting to catch on among more advanced marketers, but it’s not much talked about, let alone applied, by the people for whom the stakes are highest: brand and business owners themselves.”
Swimming Downstream aims to change that.
The book is built around a clear idea: most companies are ‘swimming upstream’, wasting resources on popular but misguided tactics that may feel right but don’t actually help them compete. Instead, Labarthe offers readers a more appealing alternative: to ‘swim downstream,’ by recognizing, understanding and aligning with the powerful currents of evidence-based marketing.
“The title metaphor is deliberate,” Labarthe explained. “We’ve been sold this image of success as a noble battle where we bravely fight the current to work our way upstream. But in marketing, if you stop chasing trends and start understanding the currents that actually drive growth, you can swim with these currents instead. And that means building success with less effort – and a lot less waste.”
Drawing from marketing science, real-life case studies, and Labarthe’s decades of experience, Swimming Downstream provides a success framework that’s immediately actionable – in part because it’s built around the core questions all businesspeople face sooner or later.
Specifically, brand and business owners will learn how to break free from convention, to recognize and harness marketing’s real success drivers, and to avoid making the common and costly mistakes that limit competitiveness and growth. Marketing professionals will develop a convincing arsenal of arguments for doing more of what will help, and against doing what won’t but is often baked into company culture as “best practice.” And marketing students and others new to the field will gain a plain-language set of evidence- and experience-based alternatives to conventional wisdom, including what’s commonly taught in school.
The book is also a gateway to the thinking that drives Labarthe’s consultancy, Planner At Large LLP, whose clients benefit from an approach to growing their business that focuses on building fame and distinctiveness. Asked about this approach, Labarthe said “we strive to be more creative than the typical management consultant, and more commercially savvy than the typical brand consultant. And the proof is in the pudding: over my career I’ve helped my clients win almost 80 awards for marketing effectiveness.”
Labarthe concluded: “Marketing is much more than logos and package designs and social posts and clever stunts; it’s how a business competes. You can’t tack it on at the end of the process of becoming more competitive; marketing is that process.”
Swimming Downstream is a refreshing and necessary dive into what successful marketing can and should be.
Availability
Swimming Downstream is available now on Amazon.com, Amazon.sg, Google Play, and in major bookstores including Kinokuniya and Popular, and through the author directly.
Early Praise for Swimming Downstream:
Swimming Downstream takes a thoughtful, analytical, and well researched approach to helping business leaders re-think their marketing with a focus on long-term success. Labarthe reminds us, rightly in my view, that marketing and brand are the responsibility of the top of the house, not a department. His anecdotes are instructive, and the chapter end summaries provide a shorthand “to-do list” for the attention-challenged. Swimming Downstream is a useful, understandable, and practical guide to fixing marketing, so it can make the cash register ring.
Stephen Ban, former Fortune 500 CMO
Swimming Downstream crushes the conventional wisdom dished out by marketing veterans and self-styled “experts”, and it does so with a deft combination of rigor, creativity and a fun, conversational style I really loved. Better still, Labarthe doesn’t simply poke holes in traditional marketing tropes; he provides solid, practical solutions illustrated with insightful case histories based on his experience as a marketing consultant.
Marty Horn, former SVP, DDB Worldwide and author of the forthcoming The Marketing Researcher’s Edge
As a nonfiction book editor who has co-written four books on marketing and sales, it’s safe to say I’ve read dozens of marketing books. Swimming Downstream offers two things I rarely see together: clear, practical, and actionable guidance for growing brands and businesses, and also a ripping great read! If you’re looking for a serious (and seriously witty) book that will change the way you think about marketing and how you do it, this book is for you.
Helena Bouchez, Principal, Executive Words
The most unconventional marketing book I have ever read. Labarthe is a critical thinker who questions and refutes the typical marketing concepts and buzzwords, the models taught in business schools and marketing classes. Instead, his book is a celebration of logical thinking and common sense. It’s both refreshing and entertaining. Will recommend it to my students!
Prof. Dr. Michael Bahles, BSP Business & Law School Berlin
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
Source: Media Outreach
The Dilemma: From Workers to Foremen
AI is everywhere. Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and MidJourney have become tireless “digital workers” — writing, coding, designing on demand. Yet instead of leading these AI teams, humans have slipped into the role of foremen: endlessly prompting, editing, and micromanaging outputs.
The result is stalled productivity and growing digital fatigue. The situation mirrors the industrial era a century ago, when factories had machines but lacked management. It wasn’t until scientific management emerged that productivity truly soared. Today, the same principle applies: we don’t need more AI workers. We need an AI Organizer.
The Solution: Bika.ai, the AI Organizer
Unlike ordinary AI assistants, Bika.ai acts as the Organizer of AI teams. It coordinates, delegates, and oversees multiple AI agents, transforming scattered tools into a coherent organizational structure.
With Bika.ai, individuals can lead AI as if running their own companies:
The Vision: From Chatbots to Organizers
Industry observers often describe AGI’s development as five levels:
1. Chatbot — simple Q&A
2. Reasoner — logical problem-solving
3. Agent— task execution
4. Innovator — creative generation
5. Organizer— orchestrating and managing other AI entities
Most current AI tools remain at Levels 2–3. Bika.ai aims for Level 5: the Organizer —where AI is no longer just a tool, but a coordinated digital workforce.
“The future of AI is not about adding more agents, but about managing them better,” said Kelly, Founder and CEO of the Bika.ai team. “Our mission is to make Bika.ai the scientific management system of the AI era — freeing people from digital busywork so they can focus on vision, creativity, and leadership.”
Hashtag: #Bika
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
Source: New Zealand Government
Landcorp has launched a new livestock equity partnership opportunity, designed to support equity-building pathways for farm operators and strengthen the future of farming in New Zealand, State Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown says.
“This is a welcomed initiative that directly supports the Government’s priorities to strengthen rural employment, improve farm productivity, and create genuine pathways to ownership for the next generation of farmers,” Mr Brown says.
“By enabling operators to take financial responsibility behind the farm gate, we’re backing high performance and helping unlock the full potential of New Zealand’s farming sector.”
The equity partnership model builds on the State Owned Enterprise’s 2024 introduction of contract farming options for dairy farmers, including sharemilking and contract milking arrangements across four farms: Quarry and Otago in the Central Plateau, Waimakariri in Canterbury, and Ruru on the West Coast.
The first property available for expressions of interest is Mahiwi Farm, a 708-hectare livestock operation located 35 minutes west of Wairoa. The farm offers a strong balance of breeding and finishing country, with clear potential for improved performance.
“This model is about opening the gate and creating opportunities for the next generation of Kiwi farmers.
“The benefits extend beyond individual farms. It supports local employment, develops skills in rural communities, and helps ensure that high-performing farms stay in Kiwi hands, contributing to a resilient and productive agricultural sector for the long term.
“By offering equity options, we’re providing real pathways for more New Zealanders to take ownership and shape their future on the land,” Mr Brown says.
Source: New Zealand Government
More than 21,000 consultations have already been delivered through the Government’s new 24/7 digital health service launched in July, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“This service is giving New Zealanders faster access to care when they can’t see their usual GP, helping them get the support they need, when they need it,” Mr Brown says.
In its first months, the service has:
“Most people were able to get answers and treatment straight away, easing pressure on emergency departments by addressing non-urgent issues earlier and in the right setting.
“This service is reaching people in every corner of the country, from our busiest cities to our smallest rural towns. That shows it is making a real difference for those who might otherwise face long waits or long drives just to see a doctor.”
Working-age adults and parents are the biggest users, with strong uptake among 20–39-year-olds and children under 10. It’s also being used across all communities, with every ethnicity well represented.
“This digital service provides easily accessible healthcare when it’s needed, bridging the gap when people might otherwise be left waiting, worrying, or unsure where to turn. For many families, that makes a real difference in their daily lives.
“Our Government is committed to ensuring every New Zealander can access timely, quality healthcare. Digital health solutions are a key part of delivering that,” Mr Brown says.
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Important work is being carried out to reduce the avalanche risk to visitors at one of New Zealand’s top tourist attractions, Milford Sound.
The road from Te Anau to Milford Sound, State Highway 94, has been subject to several closures in recent days, from Hollyford Road Junction to the Donne River Bridge, due to snow blocking the highway and the avalanche risk.
Check out some helicopter video footage of avalanche mitigation work on Saturday, where the avalanche lands on the western side of the Homer Tunnel at a location called Avalanche Creek.
[embedded content]
The Milford Road/SH94 is open this morning but will close again between Hollyford Road Junction and the Donne River Bridge at 5pm today for forecast overnight snow. It is likely to reopen mid-morning tomorrow after snow clearing, but snowfall is expected to continue on and off for much of the day tomorrow and there may be minor delays while snowploughs are operating.
Closures and management of the avalanche risk on the Milford Road are among the roles of the Milford Road Alliance, which is an alliance between New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and Downer. It manages and maintains the critical roading connection to Milford Sound.
“The work the alliance does in this extreme environment around managing and maintaining the roading and Homer Tunnel assets, and including incident response, is critically important for this region and for New Zealand tourism in general,” says Milford Road Alliance Manager, Kevin Thompson.
“The avalanche programme that we undertake each year is internationally recognised. We take very seriously the responsibility to keep visitors to Milford safe.”
In 2023, the Milford Alliance avalanche programme won the International Road Federation’s Global Road Achievement Award for Programme Management. The selection was made by an independent, international panel of judges with expertise in the road development industry.
Until the late 1970s, the avalanche danger saw the Milford Road closed all winter. The avalanche control programme was established in 1983 to predict and manage risk from snow, ice and avalanches more effectively, while allowing year-round operation.
Avalanche clearing work carried out at the weekend (with the highway visible at the centre-left of the image).
Source: New Zealand Police
A teenager has been charged with murder following an investigation into the death of 15-year-old Kaea Karauria.
Today, Police arrested and charged the youth for the fatal stabbing of Kaea in Napier on 11 May.
Detective Inspector Dave de Lange says the investigation into the matter will continue and Police cannot rule out further charges.
“What happened to Kaea was devastating, and Police will remain focused on establishing the exact circumstances on what has occurred.
“Kaea deserves justice, and while nothing will undo this terrible act, we hope this arrest can bring a small amount of closure to his family and loved ones.
“I would like to acknowledge the determination of the investigation team over the past four months, who have worked tirelessly to reach this result.”
Police would also like to thank members of the public who have provided information that has assisted in our investigation.
“This information has been crucial in allowing us to piece together the tragic events of that night,” says Detective Inspector de Lange.
The youth is due to appear in Napier Youth Court today, charged with murder.
The youth will also appear on a number of additional charges unrelated to the murder charge. These include two charges of male rapes female (12-16), one charge of possession of methamphetamine, and one charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.
A 21-year-old woman and another teen have previously been charged with wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to the matter.
Anyone with information who has not yet contacted Police is urged to get in touch online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or by calling 105.
Footage can also be uploaded anonymously here.
Please quote the reference number 250511/1317.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney is saying that new data released by Statistics New Zealand shows that the labour market is even more bleak than feared, with the loss of more than 10,000 jobs in just three months.
“What we are seeing is an unemployment crisis in New Zealand, and this Government is failing to do anything about it. Working people are paying the price of their inaction,” said Renney.
“There are more than 50,000 fewer jobs than in December 2023, with widespread falls across a wide range of sectors, including construction (16,230 fewer jobs), manufacturing (8,707), retail (6,091), professional services (7,228), IT and telecommunications (3,527), and public administration (6103).
“Every region has seen job losses. Since December 2023 there have been 23,000 jobs lost in Auckland – 35 jobs lost every day. Nowhere in the country has escaped the pain of rising unemployment, even in areas where the local economy is stronger.
“The economy is particularly difficult for younger workers, with 19,842 fewer filled jobs for 15–24-year-olds than this time last year, and 41,000 fewer filled jobs than this time 2 years ago.
“Total gross earnings rose 1.5.% last year – well below current inflation of 2.7%. This supports data we have seen elsewhere that many workers are falling further behind the current cost of living. This has likely been compounded by real-terms cuts in the minimum wage, and fewer jobs being available.
“For the past 9 months, the number of jobs being lost was declining, but is now rising quickly again. Outside of a COVID-affected quarter, there was not a single quarter where filled jobs declined going back to June 2019. Now we have had more than a year of continued job losses across the country.
“The Government has no plan to manage this crisis and has resorted to sanctions and removing people from jobseeker support rather than tackling the issue.
“More job losses and business closures are being announced every day, and the Government does not seem to have any ability to recognise the growing scale of the challenge,” said Renney.
Source: Exercise New Zealand
Exercise New Zealand’s Subsidised Gym Membership Programme is one of the country’s largest initiatives to help more Kiwis get physically active. Available year-round, the programme provides 40-70% off gym memberships at over 350 participating facilities nationwide, breaking down financial barriers and creating more equitable opportunities for people to begin, or return to, their exercise journey. With the September rollover upon us, all memberships are restocked, making now the perfect time to secure a subsidy.
“There is high demand for these memberships, and while the subsidy is available at over 350 facilities, each has only a limited number of subsidies available, so we encourage people to get in quick,” says ExerciseNZ CEO Richard Beddie.
Beddie adds:
“Starting an exercise journey is personal, but it benefits everyone, your own health, your whānau through a longer life span, and the taxpayer through reduced health costs. Above all, people simply feel better when they do it. The side effects are all positive, exercise really is the closest thing we have to a magic pill.”
Why Getting Active Matters
Research consistently shows that regular physical activity is one of the most effective tools for improving health, often outperforming pharmaceuticals in both prevention and treatment. The former United States Surgeon General Dr Regina Benjamin has described exercise as a “miracle pill”, highlighting its power to improve physical and mental wellbeing across all populations.
Exercise is now considered a front-line therapy for conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and mental health conditions, delivering benefits that are broader and safer than many medications.
Physical activity also plays a powerful role in reducing pressure on the healthcare system. The latest studies show that exercise lowers the incidence and severity of chronic diseases and age-related decline, potentially delaying or avoiding costly medical interventions (Saini et al., 2025). Making gym access more affordable could therefore result in significant long-term savings for the public health sector.
Beyond physical health, the mental health benefits of regular exercise are profound, from boosting mood to reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, and enhancing resilience (Nascimento & dos Santos, 2025).
Exercise also plays an important role for populations such as people with disabilities, who report not only improved physical health but also greater daily motivation, psychological stability, and overall happiness when they have access to exercise facilities (Cho & Chang, 2025).
Alarmingly in New Zealand, physical inactivity costs taxpayers over $600 million annually in direct health costs and results in a loss of more than $2.3 billion to GDP (source: Deloitte’s Cost of Physical Inactivity, 2024).
How It Works
The subsidy is available to:
There’s no complex application process. Instead, you simply:
Key Details:
With the September rollover around the corner, there’s never been a better time for eligible New Zealanders to access affordable, life-changing fitness opportunities. Exercise New Zealand urges individuals, whānau, health providers, and community leaders to help spread the word and support those who may benefit most. By making exercise more accessible, we’re not just helping people move, we’re investing in a healthier, more resilient Aotearoa.
Source: Ingram Micro New Zealand
Supporting life-changing research to improve health outcomes for children
across Aotearoa
Auckland, New Zealand 9 September, 2025 – Ingram Micro New Zealand celebrates its continued commitment to Cure Kids to support child health research.
Since first partnering with Cure Kids in 2014, Ingram Micro New Zealand’s ongoing relationship has helped raise over NZ$540,000 for the non-profit organisation. This joint effort has enabled crucial advancements in paediatric health research, benefiting the lives of thousands of children across the country.
So far in 2025, Ingram Micro New Zealand has helped raise more than NZ$40,000 to work towards its commitment to improving health outcomes for children across Aotearoa, including life-saving paediatric research, such as stillbirth prevention, improved care for babies born prematurely, and treatment for childhood diseases.
“Ingram Micro is honoured to continue our support of Cure Kids and the critical research it funds,” said Ingram Micro New Zealand Managing Director Leon De Suza. “Our ongoing support for Cure Kids is part of our dedication to the charity’s mission of undertaking critical research that is tangibly improving the lives of children and families across the country.”
Ingram Micro New Zealand’s 2025 support has included last month’s Riccarton Park Red Nose Day Races in Christchurch and the inaugural Wellington Rugby for Research event held on July 10, which alone raised NZ$16,000.
Rugby for Research featured Cure Kids ambassador Finn, who bravely shared his journey of living with type 1 diabetes, offering a personal insight into the daily challenges faced by many tamariki. His story puts a human face to the vital work Cure Kids is doing to change health outcomes and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of funding research that can improve – and even save – young lives.
The event also attracted a strong turnout from current and former elite athletes, including Black Ferns alumnae Melodie Robinson, Monalisa Codling and Shannon Willoughby, as well as former All Blacks coach and Cure Kids patron Sir Graham Henry.
“The breadth of activity we support, from race days and ladies’ lunches to our own Red Nose Day morning tea events, golf days and the Rebel 24-hour challenge, reflects how close this cause is to our hearts.” said De Suza. “This means so much to our team because everyone knows someone who has been affected. Cure Kids puts family first through its research and events, and that resonates deeply.”
Founded in 1971, Cure Kids is New Zealand’s leading charity focused on raising funds for research into serious childhood health conditions. Over the past five decades, Cure Kids has invested more than NZ$65 million into New Zealand-based research, which has helped transform diagnosis, treatment and care for thousands of seriously ill children.
For 11 years, Ingram Micro New Zealand has been a constant champion of Cure Kids, during which time the leading child health research charity has achieved numerous breakthroughs. Some of these notable advancements include proof that vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and infancy prevents doctor visits for acute respiratory infections in early childhood, the development of a robotic gait trainer to help children with cerebral palsy walk, evidence that sleeping on one’s side during pregnancy can reduce the risk of stillbirths by 50 per cent, and evidence that babies born prematurely at 23 to 24 weeks can survive and thrive.
“Cure Kids extends heartfelt thanks to Ingram Micro for its steadfast commitment to our mission, raising more than NZ$540,000 during the past 11 years,” said Frances Soutter, CEO at Cure Kids. “As a long-term supporter of Cure Kids, the Ingram Micro New Zealand team has a genuine passion for what we do and their unwavering commitment to fundraising events. We genuinely feel that we are part of the Ingram Micro whanau.”
For more information on how to support other Cure Kids initiatives or get involved, please visit https://www.curekids.org.nz/.
About Ingram Micro
Ingram Micro is a leading technology company in the global information technology ecosystem. With the ability to reach nearly 90% of the global population, we play a vital role in the worldwide IT sales channel, bringing products and services from technology manufacturers and cloud providers to a highly diversified base of business-to-business technology experts. Through Ingram Micro Xvantage™, our AI-powered digital platform, we offer what we believe to be the industry’s first comprehensive business-to-consumer-like experience, integrating hardware and cloud subscriptions, personalised recommendations, instant pricing, order tracking, and billing automation. We also provide a broad range of technology services, including financing, specialised marketing, lifecycle management, and technical pre and post-sales professional support. Learn more at www.ingrammicro.com.
