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Immerse yourself in nature with these epic Auckland running and hiking tracks

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Source: Auckland Council

As the weather gets colder but not too cold, it’s the perfect time to get in some outdoor hiking and running adventures across the Auckland region. Check out these epic Auckland tracks and immerse yourself in nature while getting a vigorous work out – take in the scenic views, fresh air and enjoy the wonders of Tāmaki Makaurau. 

Coast to Coast Walk – Waitematā to the Manukau Harbour 

The Coast to Coast walk is a 16km hike across Auckland from Waitematā to the Manukau Harbour, ending in Onehunga. This scenic track takes you through landscapes shaped by the Auckland volcanic field and 600 years of Māori heritage, offering panoramic views along the way.  

The trail can be split into three easy parts, or those keen on a challenge can tackle all three in one day: 

Enjoy the views of nature with this scenic path from Cornwall Park to Manukau Harbour.

Bird lovers be prepared to encounter native birds along the way, from iridescent blue kingfishers (kotare), fantail (pīwakawaka), tūi and the wood pigeon (kererū). Other bird species that might be hanging about are the sparrow, blackbird, thrush, and rock pigeon.  

Watercare’s Coastal Walkway - South Auckland 

Another path that takes in the sights along the foreshore of the Manukau Harbour is the Māngere Foreshore Path – a 14km walkway that starts at Ambury Regional Park and takes you alongside the coast, where you’ll encounter several examples of volcanic activity, including remnants of lava flows running into the harbour and the Māngere Lagoon explosion crater. 

A quarter of the national wading bird population can be found in the Manukau Harbour at any given time; keep an eye out for eastern bar-tailed godwit, pied oyster catcher, banded dotterel and a range of other birds you may spot along the way.  Not to mention the many farm animals you’ll encounter as you make your way past Ambury Regional Park during your hike – perfect for an outing with whānau. 

Don’t miss out on the chance to see the lambs at Ambury Regional Park.

Arataki Visitor Centre & Loop Track – Waitakere Ranges 

This is a family friendly, scenic 6km loop walk that combines three trails, the Beveridge Track, Pipeline Road and Slip Track. Don’t forget to check out the magnificent Arataki Visitor Centre, otherwise known as the gateway to the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, before or after your walk and make the most of the exhibitions and nature activities on offer, as well as a wonderful gift shop selling locally made goods.  

Walk or run through lush native bush, with stunning views along the way; spot native wildlife like tūi, kererū and pīwakawaka. Whether you’re after a breath of fresh air and a leisurely walk or a fitness challenge, the Arataki Loop Track is a fantastic way to explore the Waitākere Ranges. 

Come visit Arataki Visitor Centre in the heart of the Waitākere Ranges.

Te Ara Hura - Waiheke Island 

For a unique way to actively explore Waiheke Island, check out Te Ara Hura. This track network spans 100km and gives adventurers access to Waiheke’s stunning coastlines, native bush and historic sites.  

The great thing about Te Ara Hura is that you can customise your experience, depending on what you’re after. Choose between a day trip or a multi-day adventure -there’s a great range of tracks from short and easy through to the more challenging. You can also build your workout around overnight stays, tastings or great meals at vineyards and cafes. Simply follow the Te Ara Hura marker posts to stay on the trail and enjoy! 

Te Ara Hura includes some of the best views on Waiheke Island, including Island Bay.

Protect our kauri 

Kauri dieback in Auckland is a serious problem and it’s important we all play our part to prevent the spread of the disease. 

If you enter or leave a forest/area with native trees anywhere across the region, here are three easy steps you need to remember: 

For more information about Kauri Dieback, visit Kauri Protection for more information.

Always check the Auckland Council kauri webpage before going for a walk to find out what tracks are currently closed.  

Be mindful of the threat of Kauri Dieback when traveling through tracks like Karamatura Track.

MIL OSI

Update: Appeal for information following possible sightings of missing man Travis Langford

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LiveNews Publisher
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Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Waikato Police have confirmed the reported sightings of a man matching the description of missing man Travis Langford on Sunday were not him.

Police received a number of reported sightings on Sunday, including State Highway 30, approximately 20-25km south of Te Kuiti.

Police would like to thank the members of the public who contacted us following these reported sightings and encourage anyone who sees a person matching the description of Travis to report that to Police.

It is also possible that Travis has travelled outside of the Waikato region since the time he was reported missing in January.

If you have any information that could assist Police, please get in touch by calling 105 or online here.

Please quote reference number 250119/4439.

ENDS

Statement from Angela Grocott, mother of Travis

Please make contact with me Travis, just a quick text message or phone call that you are safe and are okay. You are so missed by your brothers, Dad and I, Zeus and our entire whānau.

Our hearts are heavy. We don’t have the words to express how much you are loved and how much you complete our lives.

Please come home son. We love you.

Note for media:

The family are requesting privacy at this time and do not wish to speak to media and request that anyone with information about the whereabouts of Travis contact police.

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

OPPO Announces Enhanced AI Strategy to Deliver Next-level Mobile AI Experiences at OPPO AI Tech Summit during MWC25

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MIL OSI
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Source: Media Outreach

  • OPPO is one of the first smartphone brands to implement Private Computing Cloud and has further integrated applications with Google Gemini so users can soon take action across OPPO apps in Gemini.
  • During MWC2025, OPPO unveiled new AI features, including AI Call Translator and AI VoiceScribe, and has committed to releasing new AI updates roughly every month.
  • OPPO plans to bring generative AI features to around 100 million users by the end of 2025, doubling its 2024 target of 50 million.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 March 2025 – OPPO today announced its enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, positioning itself as a leader in AI experiences by delivering comprehensive, secure, and continuously evolving AI solutions at OPPO AI Tech Summit during MWC2025.

Billy Zhang, President of Overseas Marketing, Sales and Services at OPPO

“When it comes to AI, the user experience is ultimately all that matters,” said Billy Zhang, President of Overseas Marketing, Sales and Services at OPPO. “Smartphones are not just a vehicle for AI – they are the engines that power the best possible AI experiences. As a global leader in smartphones, OPPO is driving in-house innovation and open collaboration with industry partners to bring our users these unparalleled AI experiences.”

Collaboration with Google to deliver new advances in system-level and secure AI

Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director for Global Solution and Consumer AI, Google Cloud

As applications of AI continue to evolve, OPPO is advancing its AI experience from functional-level to system-level AI. This in turn is placing new demands on the extent of AI integration and security required on devices. OPPO is further integrating Google AI experiences across its smartphones, and Google Gemini can soon take action across native OPPO apps, such as Notes, Calendar, and Clock. These new capabilities will work alongside existing support for Gemini 1.5 Pro and Gemini 1.5 Flash on OPPO AI Phones to unlock unprecedented levels of performance and responsiveness. The two companies are working closely to bring the latest Gemini 2.0 to OPPO Phones soon.

To protect user security and privacy when accessing these deeply embedded AI features, OPPO is also implementing Private Computing Cloud (PCC) built with Confidential Computing from Google Cloud. Starting from AI Recording Summary, AI features including AI Search, AI Studio, AI Call Summary will be integrated with OPPO Private Computing Cloud this year.

“We are excited to collaborate with OPPO to shape the future of mobile AI by bringing together Google technologies with OPPO’s exceptional hardware and software,” said Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director for Global Solution and Consumer AI, Google Cloud. “Through our extensive partnership spanning apps, AI models and cloud solutions, we are unlocking immense potential to redefine the mobile AI experience.”

Extensive AI R&D delivers non-stop innovation in AI features

Darren Chen, Director of AI Technology Strategic Planning, OPPO

Under its latest AI development strategy, OPPO is focusing on the three core areas of AI Productivity, AI Creativity, and AI Imaging to deliver meaningful features that will make AI an essential part of users’ everyday lives.

Underlying these three pillars is a comprehensive AI R&D strategy that covers the entire AI ecosystem – from chips and devices to the cloud. OPPO is working closely with MediaTek to optimize chips for high-efficiency, real-time AI processing that enables powerful performance without compromising energy efficiency. Will Chen, Deputy General Manager of the Wireless Business Group at MediaTek said, “The partnership between MediaTek and OPPO is set to unlock new opportunities in AI. From AI-enhanced photography to next-generation gaming experiences, from intelligent security solutions to seamless device connectivity, the possibilities are limitless.”

Will Chen, Deputy General Manager of the Wireless Business Group at MediaTek

On the device side, AI technologies like LoRA (Low-Rank Adaptation), Parallel Decoding Solution, and MoE (Mixture of Experts) are significantly boosting the performance of AI capabilities on OPPO devices. On the cloud, OPPO has built a comprehensive data security protection system that works across devices and the cloud.

Reaching more users with more features faster than ever

OPPO will offer monthly updates on average in AI features and experience

As AI technology and applications continue to develop, OPPO is evolving its own approach to redefine how AI enhances everyday experiences. After surpassing its goal of reaching 50 million users last year, OPPO now aims to double that, expecting nearly 100 million users by the end of 2025.

To meet users’ growing demand, OPPO will deliver an average of one new AI update per month. New AI innovations like AI Search and integration of OPPO applications with Google Gemini are coming to the OPPO Find N5 soon.

AI Call Translator, which interprets calls in multiple languages in real-time, and AI VoiceScribe, offering multi-use voice summarization across voice calls, online learning, and meetings, are coming to OPPO devices via a future update.

UCL Legendary football player David Villa joining OPPO AI Tech Summit

Spanish football legend David Villa also graced the event and experienced OPPO AI first-hand. With OPPO AI, Villa aims to explore new possibilities for enhancing his daily life and professional endeavors through cutting-edge, continuously evolving AI features.

OPPO AI Phones and AI Features showcased across MWC2025

Besides OPPO AI Tech Summit, OPPO AI features and AI phones, including the Find N5, Reno13 series, Find X8 series are widely showcased by leading partners such as Google, MediaTek, and Qualcomm at MWC2025.

From deep technical research to continuous enhancements in user experience and in collaboration with the strongest partners, OPPO is dedicated to leading innovations in AI experience.

Hashtag: #OPPO

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

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

Trend Micro Puts Industry Ahead of Cyberattacks with Industry’s First Proactive Cybersecurity AI

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MIL OSI
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Source: Media Outreach

New capabilities supercharge proactive risk management, threat modeling, attack path prediction, and actionable insights

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 March 2025 – Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), has launched a breakthrough AI Agent designed to change the way enterprises approach cyber risk. Today’s announcement introduces Trend Cybertron, the industry’s first specialized cybersecurity large language model (LLM) designed to drive proactive security outcomes. Using the most precise local risk assessments and deepest global threat intelligence in the industry, the new AI engine predicts and prevents threats across an organization’s entire attack surface in any environment.

Trend Cybertron combines the reasoning capabilities of Agentic AI with 35 years of data, threat intel, and human expertise to build a vastly capable cybersecurity agent. To learn more, visit: https://www.trendmicro.com/predictions/artificial-future-security-predictions-for-2025

Eva Chen, CEO: “Trend is building a cybersecurity AI agent unlike any other. We’re bringing together a massive quantity of the highest-quality data in the industry to supercharge our capabilities and make it easier than ever for customers to proactively manage their cyber risk. Our customers and partners are already seeing reduced costs and improved security posture.”

More than a standalone LLM, this new approach to AI for security will leverage all of the core technologies in Trend Vision One™—threat data, analytics, engines, and beyond—to provide a truly complete solution for organizations’ entire cybersecurity workload.

Organizations worldwide are grappling with increasingly complex security challenges. Understanding attack surfaces, managing siloed tech stacks, responding to threats, handling alert fatigue, and integrating AI are all leading to overwhelmed and fatigued security teams. Trend Cybertron connects real-time and historical data from around the globe to:

  • Accelerate security outcomes by anticipating needs and predicting risk
  • Reduce alert overload, increasing precision in prioritization and preventing fatigue
  • Unleash greater value and more powerful insights from existing risk sensors

Stuart MacLellan, CTO at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust: “This evolution of AI in the Trend platform is unique as it calculates our constantly changing risk profile and cross references millions of bits of data for custom threat intelligence. This has made it possible to be more proactive than reactive with our entire security strategy.”

Seamlessly integrated into the flagship Trend Vision One™ platform, Trend Cybertron is now available to customers worldwide. An industry-leading focus on proactive security enables IT teams to anticipate and predict risk and threat activity with exact precision across the entire attack surface. This makes it possible for teams to get ahead of breaches and mitigate risk before it has the chance to materialize.

Frank Dickson, Group Vice President, Security & Trust at IDC: “Let’s face it. Cybersecurity has been detection centric for some time. Prevention was simply uncool. Trend is looking to change the market narrative; there is no need to detect an attack if it never happens. Leveraging AI in combination with its cyber risk exposure management, Trend enables organizations to see threats from an attacker’s point of view and thwart them before risk becomes reality, creating a massive ROI for overworked security teams. Trend promises to make proactive prevention cool again in 2025.”

Trend Cybertron will be trained on an unmatched foundation of intelligence and AI expertise, including:

  • Trend’s threat intelligence from over 250 million sensors that protect over 82 million assets at 500,000+ enterprises in 175+ countries—the broadest in the industry, blocking over 160 billion threats in 2023
  • Machine learning that enables data classification, vulnerability discovery, and detection of deepfakes, phishing techniques, malware, lateral movement, user anomalies, and scams
  • Decades of institutional knowledge from over 3,000 security experts, with over 700 patents in cybersecurity technology
  • 20+ years of advanced vulnerability and zero-day research from the Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative™ that enables protection of customers an average of 70 days ahead of the industry

The result is a highly resilient, rapidly evolving system that can independently perform risk management tasks and make decisions to anticipate, understand, and mitigate billions of cyber threats worldwide every month. This empowers customers to make informed security decisions and manage their cybersecurity posture, data privacy, and compliance.

Rachel Jin, Chief Enterprise Platform Officer at Trend: “Trend Cybertron represents a paradigm shift in cybersecurity—combining advanced AI with decades of human intelligence to deliver truly proactive security. By leveraging real-time and historical global intelligence along with comprehensive visibility across every attack surface, we empower enterprises to predict and prevent threats, reduce risk, and create a more resilient future.”

Trend Cybertron redefines industry standards in key areas:

  • AI for Security: Trend breaks down longstanding security silos via complete connection of all available information to build a comprehensive understanding of security, intelligence, and data. With the ability to securely access data from all layers, security teams can make informed decisions with a depth of understanding that exceeds any previous cybersecurity platform. Data breach risk was reduced by 17% on average, saving millions of dollars per year in potential risk.
  • Security for AI: The rapid expansion of AI has also raised concerns for data security. A growing number of enterprises and governments worldwide are training proprietary LLMs to reduce the associated risks. Trend has made it safer and easier than ever for organizations at all levels to protect training data, prevent misalignment, and stop cyberattacks against their AI models.
  • Actionable Insights: With complete telemetry across endpoint, cloud, network, email, identity, AI, and data, Trend makes real-time predictions and addresses the impact and likelihood of thousands of potential attack paths for each customer. The platform also learns and adapts to a customer’s unique environment to find and address new vulnerabilities and attack vectors. Comprehensive visibility and automatic prioritization equip organizations with fast and effective mitigation 24/7.
  • Simplifying Workflows: The new AI model is designed to enhance Trend’s flagship platform, ensuring organizations at any stage of their cybersecurity journey can seamlessly integrate this technology with their existing security stack. Security teams benefit from reduced workloads and improved accessibility at all levels of expertise.
  • Empowering Leadership: Going beyond other cybersecurity platforms, Trend Vision One™ empowers security leaders to change roles from reactive defender to proactive business enabler. By transforming security from a cost center into a driver of innovation, Trend enables leaders to effectively communicate cyber risk in the context of business risk—ensuring both operational protection and future growth. Trend research has shown this is a critical issue for many organizations worldwide.

AI is only as powerful as the data it’s trained on and the experts who build it. Trend’s experienced global team of security and AI specialists collaborated in Ottawa, Canada to refine every stage of development, ensuring that the new AI agent is fine-tuned to deliver the most effective proactive security.

Industry analysts have recognized Trend as a Leader across critical security categories including endpoint protection, attack surface management, cloud native application protection platforms, network analysis and visibility, network detection and response, and more. Trend is also a pioneer in AI deployments within cybersecurity, with AI-driven annual recurring revenue exceeding $200 million at the end of Q3 2024.

https://www.trendmicro.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/trend-micro-hong-kong-96353768/
https://twitter.com/trendmicroamea
https://www.facebook.com/tmhk1989/

Hashtag: #trendmicro #trendvisionone #visionone #cybersecurity

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

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

Closer look at Auckland’s pools welcomed by councillors

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LiveNews Publisher
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Source: Auckland Council

Councillors welcomed a closer look into Auckland’s swimming pool network at February’s Policy and Planning Committee. 

A review of current and future demand for public pools and aquatic services across Tāmaki Makaurau was presented to Auckland’s elected members for discussion. 

Councillor Richard Hills, chair of the Policy and Planning Committee, said the review is currently in its early stages, and will help develop a long-term plan for the provision of pools across Auckland in the future. 

“Our pools are very popular with Aucklanders – with over 8 million visits to pool and leisure centres each year, they are some of our most used facilities. Providing leisure opportunities is important, but it’s not just about recreation. Learning to swim is an incredibly valuable life skill and Aucklanders should be able to access safe, local facilities to do this. 

“We are now looking to put together a plan for the next 30 years so there are pools for Aucklanders to access across the region as it grows,” he said.  

The review outlines where public pools are currently available to Aucklanders, and where there are gaps that need to be addressed in the future to meet the needs of the region’s growing population.   

Deputy chair of the committee, Angela Dalton, who also chairs the Community Committee, welcomes the review and a refreshed approach to grow a network of pools across Auckland.  

“This review will help us create a plan for fair and equitable access to pools across the region, as our population increases, and so Aucklanders can access safe and enjoyable facilities near to where they live.  

“There is still plenty of work to be done and decisions to be made on funding and locations. But at this stage, it’s great to be looking at how we can improve and make the most of our pools.” 

Next steps 

Council staff will use the information from the review to put together a business case to present back to councillors early in 2026. 

Did you know?  

Access to Auckland Council’s public pools is free for young people aged 16 and under. Read more here.

MIL OSI

Diamond Verification Device, DiamondProof, Lands In Retail Stores For The First Time

By
MIL OSI
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Source: Media Outreach

The device, developed by De Beers Group, rapidly and reliably distinguishes natural diamonds from non-natural diamonds, such as laboratory-grown diamonds and diamond simulants, helping to underpin consumer confidence

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 March 2025 – De Beers Group announced that its innovative retail-facing diamond verification device, DiamondProof, has landed in select retail stores for the first time, giving consumers the ability to witness just how quickly the device can distinguish natural diamonds from non-natural diamonds, such as laboratory-grown diamonds (LGDs) and diamond simulants, providing a tool for retailers to help educate their customers on the differences between natural diamonds and other products. With research showing that almost half of consumers are unaware that LGDs can be readily detected, this easy-to-use device will enable retailers to show their customers just how quickly natural diamonds can be identified.

DiamondProof detects unique characteristics found only in natural diamonds, which formed deep within the Earth billions of years ago. In contrast, LGDs are grown under entirely different conditions in an accelerated process which takes just a few weeks. DiamondProof is able to detect the distinct chemical compositions of natural diamonds, which differ from LGDs, allowing for precise identification of natural diamonds.

Early adopters of DiamondProof include some of the largest jewellery retailers in the U.S. The device will also be available in a number of independent retail outlets to ensure this technology reaches consumers in a variety of retail environments.

The first DiamondProof prototype instrument was unveiled at the JCK show in Las Vegas in June 2024 and has been developed to rapidly and easily screen both loose diamonds and those set in jewellery. With a zero percent ‘false positive rate*,’ the device will never mistake a lab-grown diamond as a natural diamond and delivers results within seconds.

Sandrine Conseiller, CEO of De Beers Brands, said: “Natural diamonds and LGDs are two fundamentally different products. Natural diamonds are rare, one-of-a-kind miracles of nature that come to us from the earth through heat, pressure and time. This incredible journey is what makes them the ultimate marker of life’s most profound emotional moments. Consumers should be able to have confidence in such a meaningful purchase, and DiamondProof allows retailers to offer them greater peace of mind. We are in a new era of transparency at retail, and customers deserve to know what they are buying.”

Sarandos Gouvelis, SVP, Pricing, Product and Technology Development at De Beers Group said: “By rapidly and reliably identifying whether a diamond is natural, DiamondProof is instrumental in enhancing consumer confidence in natural diamond purchases. Consumers deserve clarity and having DiamondProof available in retail settings helps them make informed decisions, while appreciating the unique value and story behind each natural diamond. With decades of leadership in synthetic detection technology, we are committed to providing the level of transparency that consumers expect.”

The first batch of DiamondProof devices has been distributed to retailers in the U.S., with after-sales support and servicing available in country. The devices are available for purchase from now, with production scheduled to ramp up to meet the demand of retailers in other markets into next year.

For more information, email dvisales@debeersgroup.com. Information about De Beers’ full suite of diamond verification instruments is available here.

*By leveraging technology similar to that used in De Beers’ SynthDetect instrument, the vast majority of natural diamonds will pass DiamondProof without requiring referral for further testing, with less than 1% needing additional evaluation. This advanced technology also ensures a 0% false positive rate for natural diamonds, guaranteeing that no synthetic diamonds will be mistakenly identified as natural.

http://www.debeersgroup.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/company/de-beers
http://www.twitter.com/DeBeersGroup
http://www.facebook.com/DeBeersGroupOfCompanies/
http://www.instagram.com/debeersgroup

Hashtag: #DeBeersGroup #Diamondproof #NaturalDiamonds

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

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

Risk and Natural Disasters – Underwater canyon seafloor study reveals landslide and tsunami risk

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LiveNews Publisher
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Source: NIWA

The risk of undersea landslides and their potential to cause tsunamis along New Zealand’s east coast is being investigated by scientists aboard the German research vessel RV Sonne as part of a month-long international collaboration.
Researchers from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and GNS Science are examining underwater canyons alongside colleagues from German institutions GEOMAR and Kiel University on the deep ocean research vessel.
By surveying, mapping and sampling two different areas off the Wairarapa and Canterbury coasts which have previously experienced huge landslides, they hope to better understand the hazard and risk potential of large underwater canyons, says NIWA marine geoscientist Dr Joshu Mountjoy.
“Future undersea landslides could trigger tsunamis as well as impact seafloor infrastructure. If these landslides happened again, we know they could cause devastating tsunamis. What we are trying to understand is where and when they might occur in the future.”
To better understand what lies beneath the ocean, they are mapping the seafloor using RV Sonne’s multi-beam sonar to create contour maps and using seismic surveying, as well as collecting core samples from the seafloor to reveal the age and when landslides previously occurred.
Surveying and mapping will provide insights into the structure and geological formations below the seabed says GNS Science Computational Geophysicist Christof Mueller. “It is like a CAT scan of the Earth, with seismic surveying penetrating deep into the crust to map geological structures, while acoustic mapping maps shallower features like the seafloor depth and topography with greater detail. Sediment cores and geophysical data will be analysed to reveal the layers, because we are interested in the mechanical strength of the sediments and rocks and how they respond to earthquake motions.”
While the ocean floor covers more than 70 per cent of the planet’s surface, it isn’t flat or unchanging as some people assume, he says. “Like dry land, the seafloor has rugged mountains, long valleys, flat plains, steep-sided canyons and exposed rock. Covered in layers of marine sediments, it is a dynamic place continually changing. The ocean is roughly four times deeper than land is high.”
The distance from the sea surface to the seafloor makes deep canyons difficult to explore, along with the lack of light, cold temperatures, and high pressure, says Mountjoy. “From these extensive surveys, and analysis of the sediment cores, we hope to uncover the secrets of underwater landslides – how and where they form, when they last occurred and their frequency and magnitude, and their potential to trigger tsunamis. While we are studying two canyons less than 200km apart, they have contrasting geology, so we’ll be able to directly compare underwater canyons on active and passive continental slopes. In the Palliser Canyon study area, south of Cape Palliser in Wairarapa, the Pacific Plate moves beneath the Australian Plate, the geology is dominated by rock and earthquakes occur regularly. In the Pegasus Canyon study area, north-east of Banks Peninsula, the geology is dominated by softer sediments and earthquakes are less frequent. These factors should have a big influence on how and where landslides occur.”
He says the research aims to look at the past to understand future possibilities. “We often don’t know what causes individual undersea landslides, but we do know that some of these are vast, greater than 5 cubic kilometres in size, and can potentially generate tsunami waves up to 5 m high. What we don’t know is how often and what controls these landslides. So the outstanding science challenge is to identify what causes the big ones. This improved understanding will better position New Zealand to be one step ahead, as data will allow for better community resilience and protection of our national infrastructure and assets which keep New Zealand moving.”
The current 2025 voyage of the RV Sonne highlights collaboration between New Zealand research organisations, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR) and Kiel University, Germany, which spans more than 30 years. The 116m-long RV Sonne has worked for much of its life as a platform for scientific research around the Pacific Ocean.

MIL OSI

Updated – Wellington Water Committee Statement

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LiveNews Publisher
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Source: Porirua City Council

Please note meeting time, now 3pm
[Statement issued on behalf of Wellington City, Porirua City, Hutt City, Upper Hutt City and Greater Wellington Regional Councils.]
Today representatives of the shareholding councils of Wellington Water Limited (WWL), along with iwi leaders, met to discuss the implications of WWL efficiency and value for money reports for water reform.
All members of the Wellington Water Committee agree that it is utterly unacceptable that the operations and maintenance costs incurred by Wellington Water do not represent good value for ratepayer money. Members unreservedly apologise to the people of the Wellington region for the high costs identified and the failure to provide oversight on appropriate practices and organisational culture to ensure competitively priced services.
“The impact on our communities is simply intolerable and it cannot continue,” said Councillor Ros Connelly, Acting Chair of the Wellington Water Committee. “We will be urgently convening a meeting of the WWL Committee where the reports, implications and response can be confirmed, and we will ensure clear accountability going forward.”
All those in attendance reconfirmed a commitment to the need for water reform and for Wellington Water Limited to develop a robust transition plan so that a new entity can start off on the right footing.
“As part of the transition planning, further work will be done to test the cost assumptions being used to inform planning for the new water organisation. These assumptions must be robust and reliable in preparation for our water services delivery plan being submitted by 3 September 2025,” Connelly said.
The Extraordinary Wellington Water Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday at 3pm. 

MIL OSI

J-pop Boyband timelesz Announce New Group Members – The Last Episode of Docuseries “timelesz project -AUDITION-“

By
MIL OSI
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Source: Media Outreach

Revealing New Faces Now Available on Netflix, New Song “Rock this Party” Drop Worldwide February 28

TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 March 2025 – Tokyo-based J-Pop group timelesz have officially announced their new members at the press conference taken place at the Universal Music Japan office on February 15, after the last episode of docuseries “timelesz project -AUDITION-“ was released on Netflix.

J-pop Boyband timelesz Announce New Group Members

Previously known as Sexy Zone, consisting of Fuma Kikuchi, So Matsushima and Shori Sato, the group changed their name to timelesz (pronounced “timeless”) on April 1, 2024, and at the same time announced their audition process for recruiting new members released as the Netflix docuseries titled “timelesz project -AUDITION-“. The series premiered worldwide in September 2024 and concluded on February 15, 2025, with the last (18th) episode revealing new members.

The announced new members are Takuto Teranishi, Yoshitaka Hara, Masaki Hashimoto, Shuto Inomata, and Taiki Shinozuka rebranding timelesz as an 8-member group. Sho Sakurai of Arashi joined the final round of audition as a special host, which came as a big surprise for timelesz fans who witnessed the candidates’ last challenge.

At the press conference titled “timelesz name succession ceremony”, with excitement Fuma Kikuchi of timelesz noted “From now we call ourselves ‘family’, and our family name is timelesz.” During the conference he also emphasized the importance of having fun for the group to keep thriving for many years to come, sharing his dream of holding a dome tour at the soonest time possible.

A total of 18,922 applications entered to join the first round of audition and of those, about 350 were selected for the second round. Thirty-six contestants moved on to the third round where twenty-one members were eliminated for the 4th round. The 4th round was joined by three new contestants from STARTO ENTERTAINMENT Juniors, and twelve members proceeded to the 5th round. The final round with the last eight candidates took place on February 5,, 2025.

Their brand-new song as the renewed group, “Rock this Party”, known as the song for the last round where three original members and eight contestants performed together, is confirmed for global release on February 28, 2025. Along with the new single, the compilation “Hello! We’re timelesz” including 12 previous tracks including “Anthem”, the theme song for the “timelesz project -AUDITION-“, and the group’s iconic smash-hit song “RUN”, will be available on all streaming platforms.

timelesz also revealed their plans for the first studio album as the renewed group.

Stay tuned for more exciting news from timelesz who just started a new chapter of their journey.

Hashtag: #timelesz

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Te Aka Raataa: Regenerating Te Puhinui for a Greener Future

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Source: Auckland Council

A major transformation is underway for Te Puhinui / Puhinui Stream, with Te Aka Raataa Stage 1 leading the charge to regenerate the mauri of this vital waterway and its surrounding communities.

A Healthier Future for Manukau

After years of declining water quality and environmental degradation, Te Aka Raataa is breathing new life into the stream and surrounding areas. This initiative reconnects people with nature, ensuring a healthier future for Manukau.

As part of the Eke Panuku Transform Manukau regeneration programme, this project will revitalise Rata Vine Stream Reserve, creating green spaces that connect communities and link to the town centre, Hayman Park, and beyond.

Councillor Daniel Newman is a strong advocate for seeing this investment in the south.

“At its heart this project is about the health of urban streams and waterways, and how they relate to the neighbours and the surrounding community.” 

“I am proud to have been able to help secure the budgets necessary to deliver these projects, and I know we can make a meaningful difference to the Puhinui Stream.

My thanks to all of the staff and the contractors who are working on the front line to deliver a successful project, “says Councillor Daniel Newman.

Also representing the Manurewa-Papakura ward, Councillor Angela Dalton sees the project as positive place-shaping for Auckland’s south.

“I’m wholeheartedly behind Te Aka Raataa Stage 1 because it’s about shaping a sustainable future for our communities. By regenerating the awa, we’re making meaningful strides for the future – improving water quality, creating green spaces for people to reconnect with nature and each other, and strengthening links to the Manukau area. This is a wonderful opportunity to build a healthier, more resilient community, and I’m proud to be part of it.”  

Te Whakaoranga o Te Puhinui: A Bold Regeneration Plan

Te Puhinui, a cherished ecological and cultural taonga, has long been disconnected from its surrounding communities. The launch of Te Aka Raataa Stage 1 marks a significant milestone—an ambitious collaboration aimed at regenerating this natural treasure while transforming Manukau into a greener, more connected city.

Grounded in mātauranga Māori, the initiative places iwi leadership at its heart, ensuring that the regeneration of Te Puhinui benefits future generations. Te Whakaoranga o Te Puhinui sets out a long-term vision for intergenerational well-being, emphasising the profound connections between people, place, and nature. This initiative is a key part of the broader Transform Manukau programme.

Eke Panuku Priority Location Director, Richard Davison, says “This marks an exciting milestone in a project that has been years in the making as part of the Transform Manukau programme. Te Aka Raataa Stage 1 is about more than just regenerating a stream—it’s about reconnecting people with nature and strengthening community ties.

“This first stage moves us closer to the vision of a continuous link from the Botanic Gardens to Hayman Park and Manukau city centre, creating a vibrant accessible pathway through a revitalised green space that everyone can enjoy, while also supporting new housing development in the area.”

A Collaborative Effort for Lasting Change

Bringing together Eke Panuku, Healthy Waters & Flood Resilience, Ngaati Tamaoho, Te Ākitai Waiohua, Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua, and the Manurewa Local Board, this project is a shared commitment to restoring the health of the Puhinui catchment and its people.  By restoring the stream to a more natural state, Eke Panuku and Auckland Council aim to improve water quality, support biodiversity, and create a healthier, more attractive and resilient environment for both people and wildlife.

Local Board Chair Matt Winiata acknowledges the collaboration with iwi and wider community groups that have progressed this important kaupapa.

“Undertaking a project like this would not be possible without the time, skill and mātauranga knowledge of our community.

“Stage 1 is an exciting time for residents who live near the awa, the long-term benefits of a revitalised Puhinui Stream will be felt for generations to come.” 

Project Benefits

Awa-First approach: We’re helping the stream flow more like it used to by bringing back its natural state to improve its flow. By adding planting and wetlands, we’ll help protect the banks from washing away and improve the water quality.

Revitalising green spaces: providing quality open spaces for people to relax, gather, learn and play.

Connecting people to nature: Providing better community access to the stream with new boardwalks and improving connections with wider pathways for walking and cycling

Supporting native wildlife: Creating healthy habitats for birds, insects, and aquatic life.

This is just the beginning – Te Aka Raataa is laying the foundation for a greener, healthier Manukau, where both people and nature thrive together.  Works are scheduled to be completed by December 2025.

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