Moves announced by the Government today to modernise New Zealand’s universities will ensure graduates leave with the skills to better innovate and boost our economy, BusinessNZ says.
Education, Skills and Immigration Director Rachel Simpson says BusinessNZ supports the introduction of a new tertiary education strategy that places economic growth at the centre of higher education policy.
“For students entering higher education as a step toward a career in their chosen field, the reforms should provide greater confidence in their investment, and that the skills they are developing are relevant for a modern workforce.”
“By prioritising skills, innovation and growth, the Government is signalling that universities are key enablers of New Zealand’s prosperity. Businesses will welcome a sharper focus on how research and teaching can drive productivity, competitiveness, and high-value jobs too.
“The announced tertiary education strategy makes clear that universities must evolve to meet these challenges while working more closely with industry and government to lift our national performance.”
Simpson says there is greater need for coherence across our tertiary and vocational systems.
“We look forward to engaging with government and universities as this strategy is implemented, to make sure business and industry continue to have a strong voice in shaping the future of New Zealand’s tertiary education system.”
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.
– La Niña conditions are favoured during the spring and early summer 2025-26, with a 60% chance of emergence from September – November
– Alternating periods of settled weather and northeasterly flow anomalies will occur in October and November
– Temperatures are equally likely to be near or above average for all New Zealand, except the west of the South Island, where above average temperatures are most likely
– Rainfall will be near or above normal for the north and east of the North Island and the north of the South Island, near normal for the west of the North Island, and near normal or normal for the west and east of the South Island
– Above average sea surface temperatures are expected to continue around New Zealand through spring.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 September 2025 – Kenanga Futures Sdn Bhd (“Kenanga Futures“) has announced the launch of its latest nationwide campaign, “Futures Awaken”. Running until 30 November 2025, the campaign is dedicated to shaping a new generation of traders by enhancing their financial strategies and redefining Futures as a vital hedging and risk management tool amidst ongoing global economic uncertainties.
Azila Abdul Aziz, Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director & Head of Listed Derivatives, Kenanga Futures Sdn Bhd
Building on the spirit of Malaysia Day, Futures Awaken highlights Malaysia’s growing prominence in the global derivatives space by showcasing the vibrant and dynamic product landscape of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives (“BMD”) as a gateway to new opportunities. Reflecting Kenanga Futures’ commitment to Building a Smart Derivatives Trading Community, the campaign offers a curated digital learning journey featuring interactive e-modules and seminars – all designed to foster financial literacy and empower Malaysia’s New-Gen, which makes up 25% of the population, to take charge of their financial future in the ever-evolving derivatives landscape.
“At Kenanga Futures, we are building tomorrow, today. By staying true to our values, we strive to inspire and empower the next generation of traders through innovation and enhanced education to thrive in this dynamic derivatives industry. The Futures Awaken campaign is a timely initiative that celebrates the spirit of Malaysia Day by equipping Malaysians with a strong foundation in futures trading and advancing them to the next level. As the Gen-Alpha of today embraces disruptive technology and adopts AI-machine learning in trading strategy, the derivatives landscape is being redefined – unlocking new opportunities in this new era of trading,” said Azila Abdul Aziz, Chief Executive Officer/ Executive Director & Head of Listed Derivatives of Kenanga Futures.
Throughout the campaign period, account opening fees are reduced to a nominal RM10, lowering the barrier of entry for newcomers to capitalise on the current market landscape. Additionally, new clients who successfully register and open a futures trading account with Kenanga Futures during the campaign period, and trade a minimum of 10 BMD contracts, will be eligible to receive a RM100 e-shopping voucher, while the top 20 traders must fulfil the minimum requirement of trading more than 500 BMD contracts during the campaign period in order to qualify for the RM300 e-shopping voucher.
Looking ahead, Kenanga Futures plans to expand the campaign with advanced learning modules, collaborative initiatives, and partnerships with industry experts – reinforcing its commitment to Building a Smart Derivatives Trading Community.
Visit https://www.kenangafutures.com.my to start your futures trading journey today.
-Terms and conditions apply.
Hashtag: #Kenanga
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 September 2025 – Dachser, a global logistics provider with over 90 years of experience and more than two decades of specialized expertise in wine and spirits logistics, has expanded its service portfolio across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Through the expansion, Dachser Air & Sea Logistics (ASL) APAC, further strengthens its position to better support the region’s growing market demands.
Leveraging its deep industry expertise and robust multimodal network, Dachser offers an integrated end-to-end supply chain solution for wine and spirits businesses operating between Europe and APAC. The offering combines air and sea freight services with the well-established European network of Dachser Road Logistics, delivering efficiency, reliability, and product integrity from origin to destination.
The APAC wine and spirits market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5-6% until 2030, driven by rising consumer demand and expanding trade. “The region presents significant opportunities for Dachser to apply our established expertise in wine and spirits logistics,” said Roman Mueller, Managing Director for Air & Sea Logistics Asia Pacific. “At Dachser, we understand the unique needs of our customers and are committed to delivering wine and spirits with excellence, ensuring customers experience a first-class journey from European wineries to markets across APAC.”
Dachser’s participation at ProWine Hong Kong 2025 marked a key milestone in the regional expansion of its wine and spirits logistics portfolio. Held from May 14-16, 2025, the event provided a platform for the company to showcase its capabilities under the motto: “Wine and spirits, delivered with excellence.” Dachser engaged with trading companies, importers, distributors, and hospitality professionals to highlight how its solutions support business growth and supply chain resilience across the fast-changing beverage markets.
From European vineyard to Asia Pacific: built on global strength
Dachser’s integrated wine and spirits logistics offering includes multimodal transport services—air, sea (FCL and LCL), and European road freight—along with buyers’ consolidation, customs clearance, warehousing, temperature-controlled handling, and in-house insurance. All services are supported by Dachser’s proprietary digital systems, providing real-time tracking and ETA visibility.
“We consolidate shipments from multiple European suppliers to a single consignee and act as a one-stop logistics partner,” said Sébastien Ferrandiz, Business Development Manager Food and Beverage Logistics Asia Pacific. “By managing the entire European journey of wine and spirits products through our own European trucking network, own container freight stations and dedicated teams, we enable our customers to focus on growing their businesses, while we take care of the logistics with reliability and efficiency.”
Operating in the APAC region for more than 45 years, Dachser continues to expand with presence in currently more than 40 locations, including Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, and Singapore. In 2023, Dachser expanded its footprint to Australia and New Zealand through acquisition and opened a new office in Japan, along with sales offices in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Da Nang, Vietnam. With a solid regional presence and a strong European logistics backbone, Dachser is well-positioned to deliver a wide spectrum of logistics services tailored to the diverse needs of its customers.
Hashtag: #Dachser
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Regular users of State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill have some critical dates they need to plan for.
The Wellington Transport Alliance has confirmed the night closure schedule for State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill for the first half of 2026.
Roxanne Hilliard, Alliance Manager, says regular users of the route should be aware of the 2026 schedule.
“We do not want anyone to be caught out by the closures. That is why we are putting this information out as early as we can so people can plan ahead, be ready and avoid unnecessary delays as the nearest detour route is via the Pahiatua Track or SH3 Te Ahu a Turanga.”
“They are both significantly longer routes for people wanting to travel between Wairarapa and Wellington.” Ms Hilliard says.
State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill, planned night closures – January – June 2026
Number of nights closed
Start 9pm
Finish 4am
1
Sunday 11 January 2026
Monday 12 January 2026
5
Sunday 15 February 2026
Friday 20 February 2026
5
Sunday 15 March 2026
Friday 20 March 2026
1
Sunday 19 April 2026
Monday 20 April 2026
5
Sunday 3 May 2026
Friday 8 May 2026
5
Sunday 10 May 2026
Friday 15 May 2026
1
Sunday 14 June 2026
Monday 15 June 2026
In total, there will be 23 nights of closures on the route from January until the end of June.
Ms Hilliard says there are very good reasons why night closures are used and work is not done during the day under stop/go traffic management.“
They are far less disruptive for road users. Before regular night closures were introduced around five years ago, there were roadworks underway on the route for approximately 300 days of every year.”
“That saw drivers being delayed or disrupted almost every day. Night closures have reduced this significantly,” Ms Hilliard says.
She says the other advantage of night works is that far fewer vehicles use the route at night.
“On average, State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill carries around 7,000 vehicles daily, but only around 300 travel at night.”
“While roadworks will, inevitably, have an impact on traffic, we do try to plan them so that we inconvenience as few people as we possibly can,” Ms Hilliard says.
Because the highway over Remutaka Hill is narrow and windy, there is often not enough space to accommodate traffic and maintenance equipment. Full closures mean maintenance works can be finished faster, reduce costs and are safer for road crews.
Upcoming night closure – 7 September
While the schedule for the first half of 2026 is out, Ms Hilliard says people need to know there are planned closures happening this year that they need to be ready for.
“Our next single-night closure is coming up this weekend, Sunday, 7 September.”
“Please remember if you need to use the route on the night to book an escorted crossing. Our crews always make every effort to help but without a booking you may be turned away if crossings are already full,” Ms Hilliard says.
Important information for Remutaka Hill closures:
Escorted crossings are available during closure nights but must be booked in advance. We always communicate well before planned closures and provide contact details so bookings can be made.
Bookings are essential – drivers who turn up without one risk being turned away. If you have a genuine emergency on the night, the hill manager will decide how best to help you.
The escorted crossings are for light vehicles only. To keep our contractors safe, heavy vehicles cannot be accommodated.
Full access is always available for emergency services.
State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill upcoming planned night closures – 2025
Number of nights closed
Start 9pm
Finish 4am
1
Sunday 7 September 2025
Monday 8 September 2025
5
Sunday 12 October 2025
Friday 17 October 2025
5
Sunday 16 November 2025
Friday 21 November 2025
More information about planned maintenance closures for Remutaka Hill can be found on our website:
The long-awaited second Ashburton Bridge is a step closer with the signing of a key agreement, Minister for the South Island and Associate Transport Minister James Meager has announced.
“The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has signed a contract with Fletchers Construction to progress the detailed bridge design, so that construction can kick off next year,” Mr Meager says.
“This is real progress towards the National Party’s campaign promise to start construction of the bridge in our first term.
“A second crossing has been a long-time coming, with around 24,000 vehicles using the current bridge daily. This is a key route for ensuring our people and goods can get up and down the South Island and needs to be future proofed.
“The new bridge will be a vital connection for Tinwald to Ashburton, relieving congestion on State Highway 1, and improving network resilience south to Otago in the case of emergency events like flooding.”
Crown delivery funding was secured for the project in December last year, with NZTA approving the business case and signing a partner delivery agreement with Ashburton District Council in April.
“Geotechnical investigations in and around Ashburton River have been completed and borehole samples are being analysed to better understand the ground conditions for the new bridge,” Mr Meager says.
“The project team is progressing property purchases, statutory approvals, and procurement. Fletchers Construction, together with its main design consultant AECOM, will refine the design, explore better construction methods, make the most of local opportunities, and address any potential challenges.
“A Design and Construction contract is expected to be signed at the end of the year. I look forward to announcing next steps once negotiations have concluded.”
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 September 2025 –Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, has released insights from its 2025 Malaysia Employee Benefits and Wellbeing Report, which provides a comprehensive view of the current workplace dynamics for more than 130 companies and 507 employees highlighting the evolving landscape of employee benefits and wellbeing in Malaysia.
The report highlighted that 40 percent of employees, under 29 years old, and 53 percent of those ranging from age 30-34 are considering seeking new employment within the next 12 months. Furthermore, the report also found that 51 percent of employees who have worked for three to five years are also considering changing jobs in the coming year. These groups include workers involved in execution roles and mid-level managers with several years of experience and institutional knowledge, whose potential departure could affect business continuity and productivity.
The report also found that as prospective employees make decisions about choosing an employer, 57 percent valued work flexibility, while 50 percent valued work-life balance and opportunities for career growth and development.
Healthcare costs on the rise
Healthcare cost is a key concern for employers in Malaysia. Employers are seeing five to 10 percent annual benefits cost increases, primarily due to rising medical costs and increased benefits usage. This financial pressure may lead employers to reconsider benefit levels, challenging employers to maintain or curate a competitive benefits package. This also influences the design of benefits, which impacts employees.
“Wellbeing factors such as emotional, physical, work-life, social and financial are closely linked and interconnected to each other and contribute to the strength of a workforce,” said Surendran Ramanathan, head of Wealth Solutions in Malaysia at Aon. “Improving one area can impact others. Prioritising benefits and wellbeing are not merely a strategic choice; it is necessary for organisations to thrive in a competitive landscape. By investing in comprehensive benefits packages and robust wellbeing initiatives, companies can significantly enhance employee health, engagement and productivity, leading to a more motivated workforce which is crucial for driving the organisation’s success,” Ramanathan added.
Eighty-one percent of employers and 77 percent of employees acknowledged that flexible working improves work/life balance and flexibility. However, 73 percent of employers were concerned with collaboration among teams and 57 percent of employees are concerned about reduced interaction highlighting the challenge of maintaining workplace culture.
While both employers and employees value wellbeing, a gap exists between its importance and actual outcomes. Although 96 percent of those surveyed rated financial wellbeing as a top priority, only 30 percent have assessed their retirement income and feel on track with savings, highlighting a disconnect between current financial habits and retirement planning.
Connie Chung, principal consultant for Wealth Solutions in Malaysia at Aon, said, “Retirement savings are a growing concern. Despite the Employees Provident Fund being key to retirement savings, many retirees lack sufficient funds to cover post-retirement expenses, highlighting the importance of financial literacy and better saving strategies. Financial education is essential for employees’ financial planning across different life stages, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and tools.”
Aon’s 2025 Malaysia Employee Benefits and Wellbeing report can be found here.
Hashtag: #Aon
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Another piece of red tape potentially curtailing the growth of the aquaculture industry has been cut with the passing of a bill that protects marine farmers from costly consent reviews, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says.
“We’ve set the ambitious goal for the aquaculture industry to generate $3 billion in annual revenue by 2035. The Coalition Government is doing its part by providing a regulatory environment where this kind of growth is possible,” Mr Jones says.
The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill, passed last month, restricts the ability of councils to use section 128 of the Resource Management Act to review conditions of coastal permits until September 2030.
“This removes a bureaucratic barrier that potentially undermined efforts to grow aquaculture. Our marine farmers should be using their time, energy and funds to innovate and grow rather than engaging in tick-box exercises with overzealous regulators,” Mr Jones says.
The change follows the Resource Management (Extended Duration of Coastal Permits for Marine Farms) Amendment Bill last year which extended coastal permits for marine farms by 20 years.
Last year’s amendment also introduced a new process for councils to review marine farm consent conditions with some restrictions, such as councils covering the costs of the review, and only allowing one review per consent. This process, available until September 2030, means that a review of conditions can occur when absolutely necessary, while reducing the impact of reviews on marine farmers.
“These changes are allowing marine farmers to focus on growing their operations, hiring more Kiwis and bringing in more export dollars, rather than dealing with endless red tape and costs stemming from an inefficient permitting process,” Mr Jones says
Launch your own branded mobile app with omni-channel loyalty, online ordering, and CRM in days—no coding required
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 September 2025 – Cata today launches its groundbreaking commercial Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) app platform for F&B operators and retailers in Singapore and beyond. One of the world’s first, the SaaS white-label app platform enables businesses of any size—from single outlets to global chains across multiple markets—to seamlessly launch their own branded native mobile app for ordering, marketing, omni-channel loyalty programs, CRM and more in days and without upfront investment.
Cata’s SaaS app platform is now live in Guzman y Gomez outlets across Singapore.
Cata’s SaaS app platform has already been deployed in Singapore with Guzman y Gomez (GYG)—one of Australia’s fastest-growing quick-service restaurant businesses that operates over 230 locations globally—with 21 locations island wide in Singapore and counting.
By focusing specifically on chains and Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), Cata has achieved what few startups accomplish on day one—securing established, renowned brands as founding partners rather than starting with smaller independent operators.
The restaurant and retail industries, especially chains and QSRs, are at an inflection point. While mobile convenience has become an expectation among consumers—shaped by e-commerce giants and super apps—most F&B and retail businesses still rely on outdated tools: paper-based loyalty cards, manual ordering at the POS, and siloed, unintegrated systems. Rising labor costs and shrinking margins make it increasingly important to look for innovative ways to grow revenues and increase profits.
Meanwhile, advanced digital solutions that connect mobile ordering, loyalty, and CRM remain exclusive to global giants like McDonald’s and Starbucks who spend millions on custom development each year and maintain large internal tech teams to secure their competitive edge. For everyone else, building such capabilities is too expensive, too fragmented, and too slow, leaving 99% of the industry digitally underserved and unable to compete.
Cata directly addresses these challenges by enabling businesses to rapidly deploy their own fully branded mobile apps without technical knowledge within days, equipped with integrated online ordering, payments, customizable omni-channel loyalty programs, and data-driven CRM, without the need for expensive custom apps that are rarely able to meet evolving customer requirements over time – especially without continuous investment. This democratizes sophisticated digital capabilities previously exclusive to enterprise giants and leading e-commerce platforms.
Leveraging robust infrastructure, a holistic and ever-evolving product suite, and deep operational knowledge, Cata is built for global scale from day one and aims to become the invisible infrastructure behind thousands of outlets over the coming years. With Cata, partners can truly know and own their customers for the first time, revolutionizing historically offline industries by transforming anonymous transactions into direct customer relationships, and turbocharge growth via targeted customer acquisition, increased purchasing frequency, and higher basket sizes.
“After exploring numerous options, Cata was the only solution that works as a true one-stop platform, eliminating the complex tech stacks we’d otherwise need for a sophisticated app,” says Josh Bell, Principal at Guzman y Gomez Singapore. “What sets Cata apart is their operator-built approach – they understand exactly what F&B businesses need because they’ve been in our shoes. Unlike other providers, Cata works as a genuine partner with aligned incentives through transaction-based pricing, allowing us to launch a premium app without the financial risk of custom development. While we’ve seen competitors spend millions on custom apps that customers ultimately didn’t love, Cata’s platform keeps evolving with customer expectations and delivers the digital convenience our customers actually want, all while driving additional efficiency across our operations.”
Cata is aiming to generate up to 5-10x ROI for their partners if fully rolled out. This significant ROI is achieved through the ability to leverage digital marketing channels to drive customer acquisition and retention, significantly increased purchasing frequency and average order values (AOVs), and competitive differentiation via Cata’s omni-channel loyalty platform, data-driven business optimization, and the opportunity for critical POS staffing cost reductions.
“Offline retail is at a tipping point. The next generation of physical businesses won’t rely on POS, self-checkout terminals, or cashiers—they’ll run on mobile apps, deep consumer data to power individualized experiences, and automated growth engines. Cata is building the infrastructure to make that future possible. From digital brand exploration and omni-channel online ordering and loyalty to AI-driven campaigns, we’ll put enterprise-grade capabilities into the hands of every merchant—turning daily operations into digital advantage.” said David Brunier, Founder and CEO of Cata.
With an initial focus on F&B chains, Cata plans for aggressive geographic expansion from Singapore into developed markets across Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, and the Middle East, with long-term global ambitions to cover verticals including wellness and beauty, convenience stores, groceries, specialty retail, and fashion.
Cata’s founding team combines deep domain expertise and proven capability to scale across markets, which include CEO David Brunier (ex-Flash Coffee CEO, ex-Foodpanda CMO), CRO Marija Brunier (ex-Delivery Hero Global Director of International Sales), and CFO Sebastian Hannecker (ex-Flash Coffee COO/CFO, ex-Bain). Cata also secured top regional tech talent by appointing Ashwin Irappa as CPO (ex-Grab Head of Product, ex-Foodpanda Senior Director of Product) and Ali Irawan as CTO (ex-Flash Coffee CTO, ex-Rocket Internet Venture CTO) to complete their management team. Other prominent collaborators and advisors include Anand Thakur (CTPO at Reliance Retail) and Felix Haas (UI/UX Design for Cata, Lovable and Gorillas).
https://www.cata.sg/
Hashtag: #Cata
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
