Tech – Norton Unveils Advanced Deepfake Protection Powered by Intel® Core™ Ultra processors

September 17, 2025

Source: Botica Butler Raudon Partners for Gen Digital

Norton Deepfake Protection on Intel processors accelerates real‑time protection against AI-powered scams

AUCKLAND – 17 September 2025 – Norton, a leader in Cyber Safety and part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), has teamed up with Intel® to provide powerful detection against AI-powered scams on the newest generation of Intel® Core™ Ultra processors. Norton 360 customers with Norton Genie Scam Protection now have advanced deepfake protection on AI PCs with the latest Intel processors, enabling faster, always-on detection that proactively protects against today’s most sophisticated scams.

The partnership with Intel puts Norton Deepfake Protection at the heart of people’s devices without the need to send data up to the cloud and back. With Intel’s leading processing power, Norton instantly analyses suspicious material, providing immediate warnings to help people avoid potential personal or financial harm resulting from advanced deepfake scams.

“From the early days of fighting email and web scams to now tackling sophisticated video deception, Norton has always stayed a step ahead continuously evolving its protection to outsmart new threats,” said Leena Elias, Chief Product Officer at Gen. “Now, with scam detection for videos powered by the latest Intel processors, we’re raising the bar again. Norton Deepfake Protection delivers real-time, private, and ultra-fast protection right on people’s devices, so they can feel confident they’re a step ahead of scammers and their latest AI-generated tricks.”

Deepfake Protection for Videos: Reading Between the Lines

To detect scams in video content, Norton Deepfake Protection doesn’t just look for technical hiccups, it reads the message between the lines. Norton AI has been trained on an ever-expanding library of real-world scams including financial fakes, phony giveaways, crypto cons, and more. And it grows sharper with every scam it sees. Norton Deepfake Protection also analyses the audio in videos to identify deepfake content, operating like a team of expert sound detectives, combing through a recording with magnifying glasses, searching for the tiniest clues of audio manipulation. Each snippet of audio is examined like a piece of evidence, and when all the clues are put together, the truth in the audio content is revealed.

Private, Fast, and Efficient Protection

Through the partnership with Intel, Norton enables malicious deepfake scam analysis directly on the device by offloading the compute to the NPU. This on-device processing helps ensure sensitive data remains private while increasing the speed of detection.

“Today’s cyber threats demand real-time detection, which is why Intel is excited to partner with Norton to bring AI-powered cybersecurity directly to users’ devices.” said Carla Rodríguez, Vice President and General Manager, Client SW Enabling at Intel. “Together, we are demonstrating the power of local compute right on the AI PC, enabling instant detection of AI-generated scams in video content without compromising privacy or requiring cloud connectivity. We’re proud to help Norton deliver the protection that today’s digital landscape requires.”

Staying a Step Ahead of Scammers

The availability of Norton Deepfake Protection on Intel-based AI PCs is part of a longer journey, widening the scam detection net and adapting to new scam types over time. In July this year, Norton added Deepfake Protection to the Genie AI Assistant in Norton 360 products on mobile so that people who don’t have AI hardware can still benefit from protection against manipulated video content. Moving forward, Norton will continue to put scam busting technology in the hands of more people, faster.

Norton Deepfake Protection on Intel® Core™ Ultra processors supports YouTube and Facebook1videos, with support for other social media platforms planned for future releases. It is available now in the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand as part of Norton Genie Scam Protection and Scam Protection Pro in Norton 360 products. For more information, visit https://us.norton.com/feature/ai-scam-protection.

[1] Automatic Deepfake Detection is available for YouTube in any browser. Automatic Deepfake Detection for Facebook is supported on Chrome with compatibility for other browsers coming soon.

About Norton

Norton is a leader in Cyber Safety, and part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom with a family of trusted consumer brands. Norton empowers millions of individuals and families with award-winning protection for their devices, online privacy, and identity. Norton products and services are certified by independent testing organizations including AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs. Norton is a founding member of the Global Anti-Scam Alliance North America Chapter and the Coalition Against Stalkerware. Learn more at Norton.com and GenDigital.com.

MIL OSI

Health – Unsettled spring weather likely to spark asthma and allergy flare-ups

LiveNews Publisher

September 17, 2025

Source: Asthma and Respiratory Foundation

Spring has sprung, and with it comes the annual surge in sneezing, wheezing, and asthma flare-ups as unsettled weather drives pollen into the air.

This year’s season is already proving unsettled, with strong winds and fluctuating temperatures stirring up allergens – and more change is on the way.

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says these shifting conditions make spring one of the hardest times of year for people with respiratory conditions.

“Pollen loves warm, dry weather, and when the wind picks up, it gets everywhere, which is why this time of year can be so tough for people with respiratory conditions.”

“For people with asthma and allergies, that can quickly trigger symptoms.”

It is important for asthma patients to ensure their medication is up to date – and is always on hand, Ms Harding says.

“Being prepared and taking some simple steps can make all the difference.”

Earth Sciences NZ principal scientist Chris Brandolino says this spring will be a season of two halves – typical of La Niña weather conditions.

“The first part will be a bit like a teenager – lots of mood swings and ups and downs.

“We’ll see plenty of windy days, and a blend of cooler and warmer-than-usual days, and a fair bit of rain,” he says.

“But the second part of spring will pivot and bring more settled weather across the country.”

La Niña will bring high pressure, which Brandolino calls “happy weather” in the second half of spring – less wind and rain, more sunshine, and warmer temperatures.

Up to 80% of asthma is associated with allergies, with one in eight adults and one in eight children in New Zealand affected.

Top tips for the spring allergy season

Avoid going outside when the pollen count is very high (midday is usually peak)
Keep windows closed – at home and in the car – to avoid pollen coming inside with the breeze
Dry your clothes indoors because pollen will stick to them if they are outside
Invest in an air purifier with a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter
Keep your medication to hand in case of an emergency
Do a spring clean using allergy-friendly products
Take a shower at night to wash the pollen off.

MIL OSI

Government urged to act on harmful puberty blockers

LiveNews Publisher

September 17, 2025

Source: Family First

MEDIA RELEASE – 16 September 2025

Family First NZ has written to the Associate Minister of Health Matt Doocey requiring an explanation of why the Government continues to fail to take action on the findings of the Ministry of Health’s Evidence Brief which clearly indicates that the use of puberty blockers must be restricted for those under 18 years of age.

As a result of further legal advice obtained by Family First:

the Ministry of Health continues to contradict its own Evidence Brief by continuing to rely on, and refer people too, the PATHA guidelines.

the Government is breaching rights and freedoms under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act (NZBORA) by failing to protect gender dysmorphic children and teenagers against the prescribing of puberty blockers that have no quality evidence of safety, efficacy, or reversibility.

we also reminded the Minister that consent is not possible when there is insufficient evidence about the efficacy of the treatment or the resultant complications following use of puberty blockers; put another way, it is impossible for anyone – let alone an under 16 – to consent to a treatment that itself is not understood nor has sufficient evidence to support it.

Family First’s position remains that there should be an immediate end to new prescribing of puberty blockers due to the clear lack of quality probative evidence of efficacy and safety. Existing users need to be transitioned from Puberty Blockers in a medically appropriate way or at the very least, have the lack of quality evidence on safety, efficacy and reversibility explained to them with a view to confirming they and their parents or guardians do provide informed consent. This in turn also means the Ministry’s Position Statement must be updated immediately to remove the factually incorrect statements regarding efficacy, safety, and future risks, including any references to the PATHA Guidelines.

READ THE FULL LETTER TO THE ASSOCIATE MINISTER

MIL OSI

Tokoroa can’t take more job cuts

LiveNews Publisher

September 17, 2025

Source: NZCTU

NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to help the Tokoroa community after Carter Holt Harvey confirmed the likely closure of the plywood plant in the town.

“This is another body blow to a community already reeling from the loss of jobs at the OJI Fibre plant. 100 secure, well-paid jobs are being lost. The Government must act now to help,” said Wagstaff.

“It’s not just the workers directly impacted by this change who will feel its effect. Their families, communities, and the local economy have already suffered due to job losses.

“These workers could face a brighter future if the Government were to genuinely commit to delivering a just transition for Tokoroa. The skills and talents of workers don’t need to be lost if we could build sustainable industries that provide well-paid jobs.

“This Government lacks the political will to invest and seems content to sit by and watch these workers and the Tokoroa community suffer.

“These job losses are the latest in a trend of large employers closing their operations in New Zealand. Unemployment is rising. Businesses are not investing. Working people are suffering. Yet there is no plan except cuts and empty promises.

“With a different approach, different outcomes are possible. It’s time to change track, and invest in communities like Tokoroa, and not let them fall further behind,” said Wagstaff.

MIL OSI

Retirement Commission – New report reveals why women retire with less – and how to fix it

LiveNews Publisher

September 17, 2025

Source: Retirement Commission

The Retirement Commission has released new analysis revealing the gender retirement savings gap cannot be attributed to a single cause but emerges from cumulative disadvantages across women’s lifetimes.

The comprehensive report, compiled by Martin Jenkins to support the Retirement Commission’s 2025 Review of Retirement Income Policies, delves into how key events and moments contribute to poorer retirement outcomes for women and what can be done to address it.

Men’s KiwiSaver balances are on average 25% higher than women’s. This gap gets more significant with age: it is a 37% gap for those aged 56-65.

The Improving Women’s Retirement Income report identifies six critical life stages where policy interventions can make the most significant difference for women:

Formal education and training
Work
Relationship status
Parenting
Housing tenure
Retirement.

The report proposes changes across several policy areas such as education, employment, housing, caregiving, and health. Suggestions include extending the Government’s KiwiSaver contributions for parental leave, including for those not contributing, and automating entitlement to a spouse’s KiwiSaver when a couple separate.

Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson says the report lifts the lid on the setbacks women face on their path to retirement and where action should be taken.

“It’s no surprise that women in Aotearoa reach retirement with less in their KiwiSaver accounts than men — we’ve seen this pattern for years. What’s important now is that we understand why.

“This research gives us clarity: it’s not just about earnings, it’s about the cumulative impact of life events, caregiving roles, and structural inequalities that shape women’s financial journeys. If we want to close the gap, we need to confront these realities head-on.”

The report draws on research and evaluation findings from New Zealand and overseas, which show that preventative policy levers can have substantial social and economic benefits in the long run.

MartinJenkins researcher EeMun Chen says, “The evidence shows that while earlier, preventative measures during women’s working lives may be costly, when we look at them in the long-term, there are substantial positive social and economic returns.”

A panel of experts will discuss the research at the National Strategy for Financial Capability’s Connection Series event in Auckland on Wednesday 17 September.

Policy levers worth investigating further for New Zealand, to reduce the retirement income gap between men and women:

Formal education and training	Increase women’s financial capability through providing education and support at the right time and right place, with appropriate behavioural prompts and information
Work	Improve equity in KiwiSaver entitlements for low-income employees and sole traders Enable KiwiSaver contribution top-ups from different sources by lowering transaction and administration costs Revisit the default KiwiSaver fund strategy
Relationship status	Consider education, awareness raising, and automating the entitlement to a spouse’s KiwiSaver when a couple separate
Parenting	Extend the government’s KiwiSaver contributions for parental leave, including for women who are not contributing, and make employer contributions during parental leave easier for employers to administer
Housing tenure	Do further work to determine what proportion of older women (and men) who may be eligible for the Accommodation Supplement are not in fact receiving it Improve awareness of, and access to the Accommodation Supplement Raise the cash-assets limit, or make other similar interventions to improve the effectiveness of this policy
Retirement	Retain NZ Super and ensure there is cross-party support for a stable, long-term retirement income system Topping up of retirement contributions for caregiving

About the research

Prepared by MartinJenkins for Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission, the report takes a life-course approach to understanding the key events and moments that contribute to the gap. The report identifies six critical stages where policy interventions could improve women’s retirement income outcomes and reduce that gap. The report should be read in conjunction with the accompanying journey map, which highlights and summarises the diversity of women’s experiences within each stage, the differences between women’s experiences and men’s, the effects of those differences for women’s retirement income, and the key policy levers that are available to address those effects.

MIL OSI

Police make arrest over Hobsonville incident

LiveNews Publisher

September 17, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

A 24-year-old Auckland man has been charged with Wounding with Intent and Reckless Discharge of a Firearm in relation to an incident in Hobsonville, Auckland, around 4.40pm yesterday, 16 September.

The man will be appearing in the Waitākere District court later today.

Police believe this is an isolated incident and reassuring the Hobsonville community there is no ongoing risk.

Enquiries are ongoing to identify further offenders

Anyone with information that can assist enquiries is asked to please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz or call 105.

Please use the reference number 250916/8726.

ENDS

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police

MIL OSI

“Vapes and Energy Drinks”: Combining the 90s and the Now

LiveNews Publisher

September 17, 2025

Source: Press Release Service

Headline: “Vapes and Energy Drinks”: Combining the 90s and the Now

Vapes and Energy Drinks introduces a new album that bridges New Zealand’s hip hop legacy across generations. Blending boom-bap rhythms and storytelling flow of the 1990s with the modern production, and melodic hooks of today’s scene, the project reflects homage and innovation

The post “Vapes and Energy Drinks”: Combining the 90s and the Now first appeared on PR.co.nz.

MIL OSI

Serious crash, Silverdale – Auckland

LiveNews Publisher

September 17, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Emergency services are attending a serious crash involving a car and truck on Central Boulevard, Silverdale.

Police were called to the scene around 6.50am, where one person is in a critical condition.

Central Boulevard has been closed, with Police advising motorists to avoid the area.

WorkSafe have been advised.

The Serious Crash Unit is in attendance and an investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the crash.

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

MIL OSI

Tahatū Career Navigator – frequently asked questions

LiveNews Publisher

September 17, 2025

Source: Tertiary Education Commission

What is Tahatū Career Navigator?
Tahatū Career Navigator is the Tertiary Education Commission’s (TEC’s) new career planning website for all New Zealanders. It is the next generation of the careers.govt.nz website, refreshing the best of its content, tools and functions.
Tahatū Career Navigator offers an interactive experience to help people figure out what kind of work they might like to do, and the steps they can follow to get there.
Tahatū Career Navigator
Tahatū Career Navigator connects information such as NCEA subjects, qualifications and career ideas in one place to help people make informed decisions.
Tahatū Career Navigator is an important initiative under the National Careers System Strategy and Action Plan.
Read the National Careers System Strategy
Read the Action Plan
What does Tahatū mean?
The name Tahatū means ‘horizon’, especially in relation to the sea, and reflects our focus on a lifelong learning journey, heading towards the future.
The Tahatū Career Navigator logo depicts Ngā hau e whā, the four winds. The changing winds were the tohu (signs) our ancestors read to guide them. Tahatū Career Navigator will help users read the signs around them as they navigate their career journey.
How do you pronounce Tahatū?
We’ve created a short video with a simple guide to give people confidence when saying Tahatū.
[embedded content]
Video transcript: How to pronounce Tahatū
Who is Tahatū Career Navigator for?
Tahatū Career Navigator is for:

anyone who wants help finding out what career they might like to do in the future, and the steps they can take to get there
people returning to the workforce after an absence
people wanting a career change
whānau, friends, school career advisers, and community or agency career practitioners.

What happens to careers.govt.nz?
While careers.govt.nz has served millions of New Zealanders over the last 20 years, technology has evolved. Tahatū Career Navigator offers an updated platform to support new, interactive careers planning technology.
Careers.govt.nz will be retired in early December 2025, with targeted redirects to Tahatū Career Navigator in place from that time until the end of February 2026.
What happens to the resources on careers.govt.nz?
Most of the careers.govt.nz resources will continue to be available through a new career practice hub currently being developed for practitioners. The hub will be accessible via the Tahatū Career Navigator website and available ahead of careers.govt.nz being retired.
As part of this transition, we’ve completed a comprehensive review and, where needed, refreshed the resources to ensure they remain relevant, practical, and fit for the future of career practice. Resources will continue to be added to the hub over time.
Who do I contact if I have other questions?
If you have any questions about Tahatū Career Navigator, please email us at customerservice@tec.govt.nz.
For more information about Tahatū Career Navigator, see Tahatū Career Navigator.

MIL OSI

Step 1: Business case scoping document

LiveNews Publisher

September 17, 2025

Source: Tertiary Education Commission

Last updated 3 November 2016

This page sets out the first step for a tertiary education institution (TEI) developing a business case for an investment.

A TEI wishing to develop and submit a business case must first send us a scoping document for the proposed investment. This may be accompanied by a completed Risk Profile Assessment (RPA) depending on the size and risk of the investment.
Risk Profile Assessment Tool
These documents will enable writers and assessors to agree on the next steps in developing the business case before any detailed writing or analysis is done. Completed scoping and RPA documents should be emailed to us.
We will agree with you:

the scale and risk of the proposal, using the Risk Profile Assessment tool (where applicable) and the scalability matrix
whether the solution to the problem the business case addresses is likely to be a discrete project, or would be better dealt with through a larger programme of work
whether further work is required to clarify the problem/opportunity and the possible options, benefits, strategic responses and solutions. Most programme business cases require a Strategic Assessment and some project business cases, particularly projects that require a two-stage business case, require an Investment Logic Mapping (PDF 37 KB) exercise
the level and depth of analysis required in various stages of developing the business case
the level and depth of independent quality assurance required in various stages of developing the business case
the level of effort and cost for development and assurance
the timing and nature of engagement and decisions required including how these fit with other processes required by the TEI (ie, council approval) or by us (ie, budget processes).

How to complete a scoping document
The content required in scoping documents is determined by the scale and risk of the proposal under consideration. Large-scale or risky business cases, or large programmes containing many individual projects, require more content and depth of analysis than smaller or less risky proposals.
A copy of the scoping document can be downloaded from the The Treasury’s website – Better Business Cases – Guidance. For questions on which scoping document to use, read the information below and/or email us.
How to determine whether a proposal is large scale
Proposals that require Cabinet or ministerial approval and/or that require Crown funding are considered significant proposals. These are usually large-scale, high-risk proposals in terms of financial or risk thresholds. These are proposals with whole-of-life costs (WOLC) in excess of $15 million. WOLC are based on The Net Present Value (NPV) of cash costs of the proposal under consideration. Cash costs include the initial capital or operating costs, plus cash operating costs for the expected life of the asset, discounted using the Public Sector Discount Rate. Operating costs may include costs of operational personnel if this is an essential part of the proposal.
Refer to Cabinet Office circular CO (15) 5 Investment Management and Asset Performance in the State Services for more information.
How to determine whether a proposal is high risk
The risk of a proposal is determined using the Risk Profile Assessment (RPA) tool available on the State Services Commission’s website.
This tool comprises 26 multiple-choice questions that identify, at a high level, a project’s risk. It is not an exhaustive risk analysis model and it does not replace the need for you to perform your own detailed risk analysis and management throughout a project’s lifecycle.
If a proposal, not including programmes, is deemed to be high risk it must go through the Gateway Review Process. You may choose to also obtain assurance for moderate risk or large scale programmes or projects via the Gateway Review Process.
The timing of when a Gateway Review is started depends on the nature of the business case. For programme business cases, the Gateway Review process may not be required until individual projects have begun. Assurance for programmes may be better met through a third party (independent) quality assurance process.