Tech – Samsung Launches A New Premium Care Service Offering for Laundry and Fridge Products

February 28, 2025

Source: Samsung

A 0% interest-free payment plan, for up-to five years, including continuous product efficiency and cleanliness routine

AUCKLAND, NZ – February 28, 2025 – Samsung is excited to announce the launch of Premium Care Service, a new offering available when you purchase any one of 10 Samsung laundry and fridge products. Financing for this offer is available to customers at the convenience of a 0% interest free payment plan for up to 60-months[1], powered by Finance Now.

Premium Care Service offers customers an annual in-depth cleaning service from a Samsung–certified technician, to keep their appliance running hygienically. Kiwi’s will also get personalised AI setup tips to maximise the use of their new Samsung appliance and its AI features, as well as assistance in setting up the Samsung SmartThings App to enhance their home experience.[2] These benefits are in addition to a flexible up-to five-year payment plan through Finance Now, meaning customers can enjoy Premium Care Service on their Samsung laundry and fridge product(s),[3] while managing their budget effectively.

“Our mission is to make a high-quality in-depth appliance cleaning service accessible to kiwi households, and Premium Care Service does exactly that,” said Jens Anders, Vice President of Samsung New Zealand. “With a new maximum five year payment plan, we are ensuring that Kiwis can enjoy Samsung’s latest AI home appliance innovation with complete peace of mind.”[4]

The Premium Care Service is now available for eligible Samsung laundry and fridge products in the Auckland region. This service offers a convenient, annual in-depth cleaning service to allow your appliances to continue to perform at their best.

To celebrate the launch, customers can enjoy a special 50% discount on the Premium Care Service throughout the month of March[5].

Looking ahead, Samsung is exploring the expansion of its Premium Care Service to offer additional benefits for Kiwi customers. The Samsung online store is currently assessing plans to introduce a Premium Care Service offering for TV and A Series tablets, with the aim of extending these services nationwide in the future.

For more information visit: https://www.samsung.com/nz/offer/care-service/

[1] 0% interest from 12/24/36/48/60 Months with equal monthly repayments. Minimum purchase $200. Late payment fees may apply. No Establishment or Monthly Service fees. Customers must apply and, be approved for a loan subject to Finance Now Limited’s terms and conditions, fees and normal lending criteria apply. Full Disclosure of all of the terms of your loan (including the total amount payable over the term of the loan) will be provided to you prior to finalising the loan. Finance Now Limited reserves the right to amend, suspend, or withdraw the offer and these T&Cs at any time without prior notice. Trade In is not available with Finance Now. Samsung NZ reserves the right to amend, suspend, or withdraw the offer and these T&Cs at any time without prior notice

[1] Subject to compatible devices. The cleaning service, AI setup tips and SmartThings assistance will be completed on the first scheduled visit

[1] Premium Care Service is only available for Eligible Samsung Products. See Terms and Conditions for Premium Care Service for more information.

[1] Subject to responsible lending inquiries and affordability criteria.

[1] Premium Care Service has an original RRP of $1299.89. With the 50% promotional discount, the price is now $649.99. This promotion is available from 27 February 2025, 5pm to 31 March 2025, 5pm. Prices displayed for Premium Care Service does not include price of the Eligible Product. Premium Care Service is only available if purchased together with an Eligible Product. For a list of Eligible Products and further terms, please visit www.samsung.com/nz/offer/care-service/

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, home appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions, and delivering a seamless connected experience through its SmartThings ecosystem and open collaboration with partners.

[2] Subject to compatible devices. The cleaning service, AI setup tips and SmartThings assistance will be completed on the first scheduled visit

[3] Premium Care Service is only available for Eligible Samsung Products. See Terms and Conditions for Premium Care Service for more information.

[4] Subject to responsible lending inquiries and affordability criteria.

[5] Premium Care Service has an original RRP of $1299.89. With the 50% promotional discount, the price is now $649.99. This promotion is available from 27 February 2025, 5pm to 31 March 2025, 5pm. Prices displayed for Premium Care Service does not include price of the Eligible Product. Premium Care Service is only available if purchased together with an Eligible Product. For a list of Eligible Products and further terms, please visit www.samsung.com/nz/offer/care-service/

MIL OSI

Going for Housing Growth: New and improved infrastructure funding and financing tools

LiveNews Publisher

February 28, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

New and improved infrastructure funding and financing tools will help get more houses built and address New Zealand’s housing crisis, Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Local Government Minister Simon Watts say.

“Fixing New Zealand’s housing crisis will help lift economic growth, boost productivity and lift our living standards.

“The Government’s Going for Housing Growth programme focuses on fixing the fundamentals of our housing crisis: land supply, infrastructure, and incentives for growth.”

Going for Housing Growth is split into three pillars:

Pillar 1: Freeing up land for development and removing unnecessary planning barriers,

Pillar 2: Improving infrastructure funding and financing to support growth, and

Pillar 3: Providing incentives for communities and councils to support growth.

“In July, the Government announced decisions on Pillar 1 which will make it much easier for our cities to grow both up and out

“We are not a small country by land mass, but our planning system has made it difficult for our cities to grow. As a result, we have excessively high land prices driven by market expectations of an ongoing shortage of developable urban land to meet demand.

“But, on its own, freeing up land is not enough to support more housing. We also need the timely delivery of infrastructure. Put simply, you can’t have housing without water, transport, and community facilities.

Pillar 2: Improving funding and financing tools

“The changes we are announcing today respond to the calls from councils and developers to make it much simpler and easier to fund and finance enabling infrastructure for housing.

“In short, the Government’s changes will create a flexible funding and financing system to match a new, flexible, planning system.

“Our infrastructure funding system for housing is broken, with councils unable to effectively recover the costs of enabling infrastructure for urban growth. This leads either to existing ratepayers picking up the tab (which is unfair), or it stops more houses being built (which perpetuates the problem).

“Our core objective is to create a system where “growth pays for growth”. We want to move to a future state where funding and financing tools enable a responsive supply of infrastructure in places where it is commercially viable to build new houses.

“This will shift market expectations of future scarcity, bring down the cost of land for new housing, and improve incentives to develop land sooner instead of land banking.”

The Government will make five key changes to New Zealand’s funding and financing toolkit that will support urban growth:

Replacing Development Contributions with a Development Levy system, which enables councils and other infrastructure providers to charge developers a proportionate amount of the total cost of capital expenditure necessary to service growth over the long term. Separate levies will be maintained for each infrastructure service, with levy zones expected to cover a pre-defined urban area. Levies will be calculated based on overall growth costs and expected levels of growth.
Establishing regulatory oversight of Development Levies to ensure charges are fair and appropriate by restricting local authority discretion about various matters, such as setting the methodology used to allocate project costs.
Increasing the flexibility of targeted rates by allowing councils to set targeted rates that only apply to new developments, and enabling targeted rates and levies to be used together where projects benefit existing residents and provide for growth.
Improving the effectiveness of the Infrastructure Funding and Financing (IFF) Act, particularly for developer-led projects. This work is being led by Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court.
Broadening existing tools to support value capture and cost recovery by enabling the IFF Act to be used for major transport projects (such as those led by NZTA).

“These are big changes to the infrastructure funding system for urban growth, but they will be worth it. Shifting to Development Levies will give developers more certainty around costs and give councils more flexibility to recover the actual costs of growth. The changes will increase transparency and reduce administrative complexity for councils.

“Most importantly, they mean that councils can properly cover the costs of housing growth.

“These changes, combined with the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms, will help ease the constraints on local government, developers, and other infrastructure providers and enable the delivery of infrastructure to land zoned for housing development.

“Detailed design work around the new system is underway now and there will be engagement by government officials with councils and developers in advance of legislation being introduced to Parliament in the second half of 2025. Our aim is to enact the legislation in mid-2026 for the new system to begin in 2027.”

Note to Editors:

Four fact sheets are attached.

For more information about the Going for Housing Growth programme, please visit the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development website.

MIL OSI

NZ-AU: From Romance to Runway: Daniela Kosti’s Fashion Journey on SHEIN’s Stars Aligned

MIL OSI

February 28, 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-NZ-AU)

SYDNEY, Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SHEIN’s Stars Aligned, a unique and fashion-forward dating show, brought viewers on an unforgettable journey of romance, self-discovery, and playful connections. The live-streamed event, which aired on SHEIN’s Instagram and TikTok channels on February 3rd, delivered a mix of heartwarming moments and unexpected twists that kept audiences on the edge of their seats.

Hosted by TikTok sensation Daniela Kosti of the Kosti Sisters, the show followed Daniela as she navigated dating highs and lows with three suitors, each bringing their own charm and personality to the table.

Stars Aligned not only brought viewers along for a rollercoaster of emotions, with plenty of surprises but also by the fashion-forward looks curated from SHEIN’s hottest collections, including SHEIN BAE, SHEIN MOD, SHEIN ICON, Romwe, Poéselle, Aloruh, MOTF and Musera.

As Daniela connected with her suitors – her outfits played a key role in her dating experience. Indigo seemed to vibe with Daniela’s laid-back yet bold fashion choices, while Will was drawn to her more refined and elegant moments, and Ethan couldn’t help but notice her ultra-feminine and flirtatious styling choices.

Daniela wowed in the stunning SHEIN ICON Red Formal Dress, the perfect outfit for any formal event.

To show her fun personality, Daniela wore the Poéselle Pink Sequin Top and ROMWE Grey Pleated Skirt for her first date with Ethan, a great outfit for a summery day out.

As the dating experiment concluded, Daniela channelled her feminine energy and stepped out in the trending SHEIN MOD Bubble Skirt and SHEIN MOD Floral Charm Vest. An outfit that exudes confidence, the perfect day-to-night look for these hot summer nights.

Cementing her spot as the leading lady, Daniela went out with a bang and stepped out in the sought-after Aloruh Cinched Waist Red Mini Dress. An outfit that commands attention in any room, sophisticated yet playful, the perfect outfit for dinner and drinks or a professional scene.

From the whimsical romance of SHEIN BAE to the bold statements of SHEIN MOD and the sophisticated elegance of Musera, Daniela’s wardrobe is undeniably date-night-approved. Whether you’re drawn to her show-stopping red maxi dress or her chic school-girl inspired skirt, finding your perfect look is effortless with SHEIN’s search bar feature – simply search your desired look and enjoy hundreds of trending styles for everyone and everything.

Media Contact:
shein@glowbored.com
+61 7 3556 7756
+61 2 9059 2502

– Published by The MIL Network

Getting Auckland moving again

LiveNews Publisher

February 28, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

Auckland Minister Simeon Brown has today welcomed Auckland Transport’s confirmation of speed limit changes on local streets and key arterial roads in Auckland, which will enable Aucklanders to get to where they want to go, quickly and safely.

“Auckland Transport has now confirmed the local roads where Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions will be reversed as a result of our Government’s new sensible speed limit rule,” Mr Brown says.

“Our Government campaigned on reversing Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions on local streets and key arterial roads. An overwhelming 57.8 per cent of Auckland voters elected our Government, and we are delivering on this commitment.”

Key changes include returning local streets like Weymouth Road from 30km/h to 50km/h, while key arterial roads such as Pakuranga Road will reverse from 50km/h to 60km/h.

“These changes strike a balance by ensuring slower speed limits during pick up and drop off times outside schools but not slowing everyone down during other times of the day.

“It makes no sense to make a shift worker travelling to work at four o’clock in the morning crawl along key arterial roads like Weymouth Road at 30km/h.

“Aucklanders expect a sensible approach to speed limits on our roads, and that’s what our Government is delivering and I welcome Auckland Transport’s decision to move quickly to implement these changes.”

MIL OSI

High hazards newsletter – February 2025

LiveNews Publisher

February 28, 2025

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

28 February 2025

Welcome to the sixth WorkSafe High Hazards newsletter where we’re covering:

Update from the Chief Inspector
Industry alerts – floating roof tank corrosion, critical fastener material selection
What we’re seeing – RPE failures, machine guarding failures
Lock out/tag out system safety minute
Forklifts in hazardous areas
Flixborough – 50 years on
High hazards notifiable incidents – quarterly data
Incidents in the news

Read the full newsletter(external link)

MIL OSI

Going for Housing Growth: Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act changes to enable flexible growth

LiveNews Publisher

February 28, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Infrastructure Simon Court has today announced decisions to reform the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act (IFFA) to help growth pay for growth in a way that is more responsive to demand.
“The IFFA’s primary focus is to facilitate the delivery of infrastructure for housing in a responsive way. Providing for this ‘demand-led’ growth is a key part of Minister Bishop’s ‘Going for Housing Growth’ programme.
“The IFFA involves the establishment of a ‘special purpose vehicle’ to finance the infrastructure needed to enable development, which is repaid by levying the properties which benefit – all off councils’ balance sheets. This reduces reliance on ratepayers to cross-subsidise growth infrastructure, facilitating growth that is more commercially viable.
“It was born out of a market innovation success story, where a developer established a pathway to build the infrastructure needed for the Milldale development without having to contend with council infrastructure funding and debt constraints.
“Yet, while it was intended to codify this approach to replicate this success, the IFFA has fallen short of delivering additional infrastructure needed to respond to growth.
“We’re aware of limitations and unnecessary, bureaucratic hurdles that add cost and inhibit its potential to deliver, which is why we’ve committed to a range of changes.”
Key changes include:
Expanding uptake and use cases

Extending access to a variety of users including water entities under Local Water Done Well and NZTA as part of a funding stack for transport infrastructure investment where it increases development capacity.
Supporting developer-led proposals including by requiring levy and infrastructure authorities like councils to provide the necessary endorsements where statutory requirements are met, limiting avenues for councils to obstruct approval.
Enabling levy deferrals so where affordability is an issue there are options for property owners to defer payment to a later date or until a specified triggering event.
Clarifying project eligibility to explicitly include projects commissioned up to two years prior to the levy proposal submission.
Enabling use for development levies by removing the requirement that there be a direct link between an IFFA levy and an infrastructure project where the IFFA is to be used to finance payment of development levies.

Streamlining levy development and approval

Rationalising information and endorsement requirements by removing duplicative and largely redundant requirements and ensuring levy documentation delivers the right information, in the right format, to the right people, to get the right decisions.
Removing unnecessary steps, including removing the ministerial affordability assessment where a developer has either been the proponent, or where all affected parties have agreed.

Other changes to increase certainty and confidence

Providing SPVs certainty by clarifying their ability to directly commence recovery action for unpaid levies.
Ensuring that councils can request to be reimbursed for costs which are incurred in administering levies, as a condition for providing the necessary endorsements.
Clarifying protected Māori land provisions to fix an ambiguity around protection as it relates to general land which was formerly Māori freehold land.
Preventing double dipping by ensuring IFFA levies and development levies cannot be used to pay the same cost twice.

“These changes will deliver a more usable pathway that can be accessed by developers and others to deliver infrastructure that may not have been planned for by councils.
“Together with the other infrastructure levers announced today, and the wider programme of change through Going for Housing Growth, these changes will contribute to a more balanced system that accommodates flexible, demand-led growth.”

MIL OSI

Two arrests following Queenstown assaults

LiveNews Publisher

February 28, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Attributable to Inspector Paula Enoka

Two people have been arrested and charged following a search warrant at a local Queenstown address on Wednesday 26 February.

The warrant was executed in relation to two assaults in Jardine Park on Sunday 23 and Tuesday 25 February.

In both assaults, the victims were left with injuries requiring hospital treatment.

Two young males have been charged with aggravated burglary, threats to kill, assault with a weapon and possession of an offensive weapon.

Both males have also been charged with burglary following a burglary in the area earlier in February.

The pair are set to appear in the Queenstown Youth Court on 12 March.

Police are still seeking any further information in relation to these young people, and appealing to anyone who has been the victim of their offending.

We are also seeking information in relation to any suspicious activity in the Jardine Park area over the last week.

Please contact Police on 105, either by calling or making a report online here and quote the reference number 250224/8050.

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

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

Development News – Development Contribution Fee Overhaul Sparks Cautious Optimism, Says Property Council

LiveNews Publisher

February 28, 2025

Source: Property Council New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand – Property Council New Zealand has welcomed today’s announcement regarding the overhaul of development contribution fees, a move it believes will pave the way for more commercial viability and the construction of much-needed homes across the country.

Leonie Freeman, Chief Executive of Property Council New Zealand, expressed support for the changes:

“Today’s announcement on the overhaul of development contribution fees is a welcome move, paving the way for greater commercial viability and supporting the construction of more homes. With housing affordability becoming an increasingly pressing issue, this reform could go a long way in ensuring that development is not unnecessarily hindered.”

Freeman noted that development contribution fees have a significant impact on growth, both positively and negatively.

“Development contribution fees have the power to either drive or hinder growth. Recently, some councils have raised these fees by an astonishing 289%, pushing the total cost to approximately $100,000 per home, ultimately adding to the final purchase price for buyers. These increases are unsustainable and limit the ability to address the growing housing shortage.”

For years, Property Council has advocated for a more consistent and transparent approach to these fees.

“For too long, development contribution fees have lacked consistency, been used to fund infrastructure unrelated to the development area, and remained entirely at the discretion of councils. This has led to unpredictable and, at times, unjustifiable costs for developers and, ultimately, homebuyers,” said Freeman.

Property Council has been a vocal proponent of an independent regulator to oversee development contribution fees and ensure greater consistency.
“Property Council has strongly advocated for an independent regulator to bring much-needed consistency to a system that has long been unpredictable. We hope this step will provide greater long-term certainty for development, benefiting both developers and the communities they serve.”

The new system promises to focus on ensuring development contributions are spent directly on infrastructure tied to the specific development areas.
“We’re encouraged that the new system aims to ensure development contributions are dedicated to infrastructure spending related to the area being developed. In the past, we’ve seen fees collected in Drury used to fund projects like the Devonport Library – an approach that simply doesn’t add up,” Freeman said.

Looking ahead, Freeman expressed cautious optimism about the potential of the new system, should it adhere to core principles.

“If the new system upholds principles of consistent pricing, accountability, and a standardised methodology nationwide under the new regulator, we can look to the future with cautious confidence. This reform is an important step towards creating a more sustainable and transparent approach to development in New Zealand.”

“Our members need certainty to develop. They need a system that guarantees consistent pricing and application across the country, where levies collected from a development are reinvested into the same area. A system that is transparent and well-regulated. Today, we believe we are one step closer to realising that goal.”

The Property Council will continue to monitor the rollout of the new system, advocating for measures that prioritise long-term benefits for communities and the housing market.

About Property Council New Zealand

Property Council is the leading advocate for Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest industry – property.

Property Council New Zealand is the one organisation that collectively champions property. We bring together members from all corners of the property ecosystem to advocate for reduced red tape that enables development, encourages investment, and supports our communities to thrive.

Property is New Zealand’s largest industry, making up 15% of economic activity. As a sector, we employ 10% of New Zealand’s workforce and contribute over $50.2 billion to GDP.

A not-for-profit organisation, the Property Council connects over 10,000 property professionals, championing the interests of over 550 member companies.

Our membership is broad and includes some of the largest commercial and residential property owners and developers in New Zealand. The property industry comes together at our local, national and online events, which offer professional development, exceptional networking and access to industry-leading research.

Our members shape the cities and spaces where New Zealanders live, work, play and shop.

www.propertynz.co.nz

MIL OSI

First Responders – Waipoua River fire update #5

LiveNews Publisher

February 28, 2025

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

There were no significant flareups at the Waipoua River fire overnight.

Three helicopters, four heavy machinery, 50 ground crew and 15 Incident Management Team personnel are back at work this morning keeping on top of the fire and working to achieve full containment.

Incident Controller Corey Matchitt says it is still not safe for evacuated residents to return to their home.

“We are working hard to secure the area around the settlement of vegetation so we can get residents back as soon as it is safe.

“Today we have been able to arrange for people to go back to their homes briefly to pick up essentials.

“We know this is a really hard time for everyone who is away from their home during this fire. Evacuating has meant everyone is safe and we are grateful to the whanau and everyone supporting them at this time.”

The fire remains 50 percent contained. The fire size is 100 hectares with a 4.5-kilometre perimeter. We are aiming to have the fire fully contained by tomorrow evening.

“This increase in size is a reflection of the fire moving out to our containment lines as planned,” Corey Matchitt says.

“We have favourable conditions today with light winds, however, we still have very dry conditions, so we will be remaining vigilant.

Corey Matchitt reminded the public to stay away from the fire area.

“For the safety of the public and our crews, people are asked to stay away from the area.”

The next update will be later today unless significant developments occur.

MIL OSI

Local News – Feel the benefits of going outdoors during Parks Week – Porirua

LiveNews Publisher

February 28, 2025

Source: Porirua City Council

Did you know that spending time outside can help to reduce stress and put you in a better mood?

Luckily for Porirua residents, there are more than 180 parks and reserves dotted across the city, offering green spaces and a chance to get back to nature.

While the benefits of exercising or going for a run, walk or bike ride through a beautiful park are well known, even just spending time sitting on the grass or under some trees can be good for you.

“Regular park visits can contribute to lowering blood pressure due to the calming effects of nature,” says Porirua City Manager Parks, Julian Emeny.

“Spending time in natural light can help boost your Vitamin D levels, increase the chances of having a better sleep, and has even been known to ease some symptoms of stress and anxiety.”

Parks Week 2025 begins next week, running 3-10 March, and Julian wants people to get out into their local parks and reserves and notice the personal benefits.

“One of our popular reserves, Bothamley Park, has now reopened to the public, and is a great place to exercise or spend quiet time in a shaded spot.”

The city’s youngest residents will also have something fun to do during Parks Week, with free play events happening in Cannons Creek, Whitby and Plimmerton.

With the 2025 planting season starting in May, Julian is also encouraging residents to think about getting involved in a volunteer planting event.

Most Porirua residents are likely to live within walking distance of a park, playground, walking track or reserve and many of these places are accessible for people with limited mobility.

MIL OSI

1...827828829...1,071 Page 828 of 1,071